The Holy Post

What story are we in?  A rescue plan to get us out of a dying world?  God's mission to save us from sin?  Is my true purpose in life to "go to heaven and take as many people with me as I can?"  Is the Bible all about Jesus?  Phil sits down with the ever-provocative New Testament Bible scholar Timothy Gombis to talk about the BIG story of the Bible and God's plan for us that's even bigger than "rescue from sin."  After the interview, Skye and Christian join Phil to debrief and sing, in the words of a certain tomato, the "what have we learned?" song.   Patreon Bonus: Christian Asks “How should we use the Lord’s Prayer?” https://www.patreon.com/posts/77369993/   Holy Post merch store - https://www.holypost.com/shop    Interview with Timothy Gombis https://timgombis.com/ https://twitter.com/faithimprovised Power in Weakness- https://amzn.to/3XMv9Zf Paul: A Guide for the Perplexed - https://amzn.to/3J2m9Lg   0:00 - Intro1:29 - Timothy Gombis Interview 7:07 - Labels and Categories 17:05 - Purpose in life 29:11- Defining evangelism 37:19 - Summarizing the Gospel   Sponsor 48:26 - Sponsor: World Relief Join the Path -  https://worldrelief.org/holypost/   50:26 Phil, Skye, Christian debrief    1:08:36- End Credits   Other resources:   https://www.holypost.com/   Support us and find premium content by going to https://www.patreon.com/holypost   The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Martin Luther King Jr. is widely celebrated today, but that wasn’t the case when he was killed in 1968. Esau McCaulley’s editorial explains how King’s current popularity comes from the tendency to cherry pick a few MLK quotes about race, but conveniently overlook his more controversial sermons about poverty, justice, and reparations. What does it mean to take King’s words seriously today? Then, scientists have discovered the enormous psychological benefits of awe—the simultaneous feeling of overwhelming wonder and one’s own insignificance. But are they simply affirming what every religion has known forever, and why have evangelicals given up on awe-inspiring architecture? Plus, the remarkable longevity of a lost turtle.   Patreon Bonus: Christian Asks “How should we use the Lord’s Prayer?” https://www.patreon.com/posts/77369993/ Holy Post merch store - https://www.holypost.com/shop  News Segment 0:00 - Intro 3:33 - Animal News 11:14 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Discussion 18:33 - MLK continued; reparations Sponsor 36:44 - Sponsor: Abide abide.com Get 25% off your first year when you text HOLYPOST to 22433   38:03 - The value of AWE and WONDER   Links mentioned in news segment: “Missing Pet Tortoise Found In Attic 30 Years Later — Still Alive And Well” - https://www.thedodo.com/daily-dodo/missing-family-pet-tortoise-lost-for-30-years-found-in-attic-still-alive-and-well “The Kind of Revolution That Martin Luther King Jr. Envisioned” by Esau McCaulley (New York Times Opinion) - https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/15/opinion/martin-luther-king-woke-reparations.html “How A Bit of Awe Can Improve Your Health” by Hope Reese (New York Times) - https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/03/well/live/awe-wonder-dacher-keltner.html Other resources: The Divine Commodity by Skye Jethani - https://amzn.to/3XiaOLh Holy Post Race in America Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGUwcs9qJXY The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee - https://amzn.to/3iPTvSK https://www.holypost.com/   Support us and find premium content by going to https://www.patreon.com/holypost   The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

When Damar Hamlin collapsed during Monday Night Football we witnessed an outpouring of public prayer. We also saw a flood of vaccine conspiracy theories hit social media. Phil asks, why are conservative Christians so distrustful of experts and enamored with fringe conspiracies? Then, David French has joined The New York Times. Progressives are upset about his Christian views, and conservatives are accusing him of selling out for acceptance among liberal elites. This launches the hosts into a broader discussion about the difference between principled pluralism and cultural accommodation. And Christian theologians universally agree that the God revealed in the Bible is neither male nor female, but Jesus was a man and he taught us to pray to “Our Father.” How do we reconcile these facts? Kaitlyn Schiess interviews Dr. Amy Peeler about her new book, Women and the Gender of God.     News Segment 0:00 - Intro 4:05 - Damar Hamlin and conspiracy theories 21:14 - Principled pluralism & cultural accommodation   46:22 - Sponsor: Faithful Counseling Get 10% off your first month at faithfulcounseling.com/holypost     Interview with Amy Peeler "Women and the Gender of God" - https://amzn.to/3CDLzLo Amy Peeler - https://amypeeler.com   47:36 - Guest intro 49:08 - About Amy Peeler 52:27 - Gender and God 55:41 - Inclusion in Christ 1:01:18 - Feminist criticisms 1:08:52 - Fatherhood language 1:16:05 - Masculinity and God 1:20:28 - Roles of women   1:29:23 - Credits   Links mentioned: “David French Joins The Times as an Opinion Columnist” - https://www.nytco.com/press/david-french-joins-the-times-as-an-opinion-columnist/   “David French and the Future of Orthodox Protestantism” by Carl R. Trueman (First Things) - https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2022/11/david-french-and-the-future-of-orthodox-protestantism   “Pluralism Isn’t Just for Political Losers” by John Inazu - https://johninazu.substack.com/p/pluralism-isnt-just-for-political   Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/ Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost   The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

The pandemic was miserable for mothers, right? New research disputes that claim and shows moms were actually happier than childless women. But not ALL moms. What makes the difference? A survey shows both conservative and progressive Americans believe the absolute worst about each other. Is there any hope for healing the divide? What makes human leg muscles different from other primate species? Phil gets to the bottom of it. And Skye interviews Walter Kim, the president of the National Association of Evangelicals, about what’s broken in the evangelical movement in America and how to repair it. Plus, drunk Santas crash a tank and hormonal Rwandan elephants. Patreon Bonus: Getting Schooled by Kaitlyn Schiess: Liberation Theology 101 - https://www.patreon.com/posts/76760813/ News Segment 0:00 - Intro 1:30 - Kaitlyn’s trip 6:23 - Santas stuck in hedge 9:55 - News of the Butt 17:41 - “The Married-Mom Advantage” 35:14 - Partisan animosity Sponsors 48:50 - Sponsor: Abide Get 25% off your first year when you text HOLYPOST to 22433 49:55 - Sponsor: Faithful Counseling Get 10% off your first month at faithfulcounseling.com/holypost Interview with Walter Kim National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) - https://www.nae.org 51:05 - Walter Kim intro 52:57 - NAE’s biggest challenges 55:02 - Evangelical label 1:06:15 - Public discipleship 1:20:27 - Evangelicals and pluralism 1:27:30 - Priorities for NAE in 2023 Links and resources mentioned: “Pub-crawling Santas get armoured vehicle stuck in Cornish hedge” (The Guardian) - https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/dec/24/pub-crawling-santas-get-armoured-vehicle-stuck-in-cornish-hedge “Why Do We Have Butts?” (Gizmodo) - https://gizmodo.com/why-do-we-have-butts-1826004199 “The Married-Mom Advantage” (The Atlantic) - https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/12/motherhood-marriage-pandemic-covid-children/672563/ “Activism and Apathy Are Poisoning American Politics” by David French (The Dispatch) - https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/frenchpress/activism-and-apathy-are-poisoning-american-politics/ Coming Apart: The State of White America, 1960-2010 by Charles Murray - https://amzn.to/3X4UNHY Why We’re Polarized by Ezra Klein - https://amzn.to/3jOVQ0z Percent of Babies Born to Unmarried Mothers by State - https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/sosmap/unmarried/unmarried.htm Unmarried Childbearing (U.S.) - https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/unmarried-childbearing.htm “Presbyterian Church in America Leaves National Association of Evangelicals” (Christianity Today) - https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2022/june/presbyterian-church-leaves-nae.html Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/ Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Voices on the right, from Elon Musk to Fox News, are accusing social media companies of violating the First Amendment's protection of free speech. David French is back to talk with Skye Jethani about what speech the First Amendment does, and does not, protect. And he explains why the decision of a private citizen or company, like Twitter, to remove content or limit free speech is not unconstitutional. They also debate what responsibility social media companies do have for the speech they allow on their platforms, as well as court cases in Texas and Florida that could dramatically change how social media functions for all Americans. 0:00 - Intro 2:15 - Free speech and social media 53:24 - Free speech and journalism 1:05:10 - Credits "Elon Musk and Tucker Carlson Don't Understand the First Amendment" by David French (The Atlantic) - https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/12/elon-musk-and-tucker-carlson-dont-understand-the-first-amendment/672352/   "The 'Twitter Files' Show It's Time to Reimagine Free Speech Online" by David French (The Dispatch) https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/frenchpress/the-twitter-files-show-its-time-to-reimagine-free-speech-online/ David French: https://twitter.com/DavidAFrench Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/ Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost

or our final episode of 2022, we are sharing with everyone two bonus features that are normally exclusively available to Holy Post supporters. First, you’ll hear an episode of “Christian Asks” where Skye explains what the Bible says, and does not say, about what happens to us after we die. Then, we’re sharing one of the most popular episodes of “Getting Schooled by Kaitlyn Schiess” about the doctrine of the harrowing of hell. After that, Kaitlyn interviews Michael Wear, the founder and president of The Center for Christianity and Public Life. 0:00 - Intro 2:01 - Christian Asks... What actually happens after we die? 19:21 - Getting Schooled by Kaitlyn Schiess: The Harrowing of Hell 101 52:23 - With God Daily Interview with Michael Wear Michael Wear - https://www.michaelwear.com The Center for Christianity & Public Life - https://www.ccpubliclife.org 53:19 - Michael Wear intro 53:55 - Faith journey 1:01:46 - Politics journey 1:07:15 - Center for Christianity and Public Life overview 1:12:21 - Spiritual formation and policies 1:25:25 - Pre-2024 formation 1:30:09 - Credits Resources “He Descended to the Dead: An Evangelical Theology of Holy Saturday” by Matthew Y. Emerson - https://amzn.to/3Kjqg4o “The Crucifixion: Understanding the Death of Jesus Christ” by Fleming Rutledge - https://amzn.to/3QEiJ2h “Forsaken: The Trinity and the Cross, and Why It Matters” by Thomas McCall - https://amzn.to/3cno66W Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/ Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

What were the most important stories of 2022? Phil, Skye, and Christian discuss the embrace of Christian Nationalism, political and cultural issues dividing evangelicalism, and how Twitter has deteriorated into a middle school lunchroom food fight. They also discuss their predictions for 2023 including the frightening rise of A.I., and how a bus could bring Americans together. The hosts are also interrupted by an unexpected guest who wants to set the record straight about the War on Christmas, and why Phil is on the “Naughty List.” Plus, everyone’s favorite Christmas songs, hymns, and movies, and cows flee a live Nativity. Patreon Bonus: Christian Asks... What is the biblical definition of “heaven”? - https://www.patreon.com/posts/76174103 0:00 - Intro 3:10 - Favorite carols and movies 7:32 - Cows escape nativity event 10:51 - Secret guest segment 25:39 - Stories from 2022 1:08:28 - Predictions for 2023 1:13:15 - Credits Links: “After cows escaped its live nativity event, this North Carolina church had a not-so-silent night” - https://www.deseret.com/faith/2022/12/12/23506219/animals-escape-church-live-nativity “Unitarians and Episcopalians Created American Christmas” by Daniel K. Williams (Christianity Today) - https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2022/december-web-only/christmas-advent-history-unitarians-episcopalians-created.html “13 stranded strangers took a road trip to Knoxville - here’s what happened” - https://www.local3news.com/local-news/13-stranded-strangers-took-a-road-trip-to-knoxville---heres-what-happened/article_d2c0e4f2-764d-11ed-8c34-73e8efc61ef8.html “Nostradamus predictions 2023: World War III, new Pope, Mars landing and more” - https://www.timesnownews.com/viral/nostradamus-predictions-2023-world-war-iii-new-pope-mars-landing-and-more-article-95614887 Mike Erre - https://twitter.com/mikeerre Mike Erre’s podcast - https://voxologypodcast.com Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/ Thanks to Patreon supporters for sitting in on the live recording of this week’s episode! For more information about our Patreon, visit: https://www.patreon.com/holypost

A Texas megachurch is facing criticism after a viral TikTok video showed a rehearsal of its Christmas production with drummers flying over the crowd on wires. The church says it’s simply offering its best to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Critics say it’s an extravagant violation of Jesus’ humble spirit. Who’s right? New data says Americans are far more isolated and lonely than ever before, and it’s not because of Covid. Is the church the solution or part of the problem? And a researcher offers three surprising explanations for why the decline of religion in the U.S. didn’t start until the 1990s. Then, Old Testament scholar Carmen Imes answers questions about the book of Exodus. Why did God harden Pharaoh’s heart? What does it really mean to take God’s name in vain? And how do all of the details about the tabernacle apply to Christians today? Patreon Bonus: Getting Schooled by Kaitlyn Schiess: Mary 101 - https://www.patreon.com/posts/75878590/ Holy Post merch store - https://www.holypost.com/shop News Segment 0:00 - Intro 2:49 - Megachurch Christmas production 21:12 - Loneliness 39:01- Why Americans are leaving their churches Sponsors 53:29 - Sponsor: Faithful Counseling Get 10% off your first month at faithfulcounseling.com/holypost 54:35 - Sponsor: Biola University’s Talbot School of Theology Visit www.biola.edu/talbot for more information and to apply today. Interview with Carmen Imes BibleProject Classroom on Exodus - https://bibleproject.com/classroom/overview/exodus-overview/ Carmen Imes - https://twitter.com/carmenjoyimes 55:42 - Interview intro 57:16 - Why Exodus is important 58:55 - Pharoah’s heart being hardened 1:03:58 - Taking the Lord’s name in vain 1:10:54 - Tabernacle 1:19:05 - Golden calf story 1:26:05 - BibleProject Exodus course Links mentioned in news segment: Holy Post 529: Rapture Anxiety and Why Analog Discipleship is Better with Jay Y. Kim - https://www.holypost.com/post/episode-529-rapture-anxiety-why-analog-discipleship-is-better-with-jay-y-kim “Texas Megachurch responds to backlash over opulent Christmas show” (Houston Chronicle) - https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/texas-megachurch-tiktok-17616329.php “Americans are choosing to be alone. Here’s why we should reverse that” (Washington Post) - https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/11/23/americans-alone-thanksgiving-friends/ “Why Americans are leaving their churches” (Religion News Service) - https://religionnews.com/2022/12/01/why-americans-are-leaving-their-churches/ Other resources: “Bearing God’s Name: Why Sinai Still Matters” by Carmen Joy Imes - https://amzn.to/3uQbKKp Carmen Imes on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/CarmenJoyImesPhD Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/ Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Reactions to last week’s show were strong. The Holy Post crew responds to listener feedback about LGBTQ representation in movies and Al Mohler’s defense of conservatism. Former SBC president, Johnny Hunt, was removed from ministry for sexual assault, but last week four ministry colleagues decided it was time to “restore” him. When should disgraced pastors return to ministry, and have congregational and non-denominational churches proven to be incapable of holding toxic leaders accountable? A new Twitter scandal offers more evidence that Christian Nationalism is a mask for racism and misogyny. Then, friend of the podcast Drew Dyck is back to recommend four books covering topics like the formative power of suffering, new medical research about addiction, the best way to read through the Bible, and a novel about Ireland in the 1980s. Plus, Drew’s war against fake Christmas trees. Patreon Bonus: Christian Asks...Does God use calamities to discipline us? - https://www.patreon.com/posts/75597211 Holy Post merch store: https://www.holypost.com/shop News Segment 0:00 - Intro 3:36 - Last week debrief 21:22 - Rotten pastoral restoration 31:25 - Christian nationalism and kinism 47:43 - Sponsor: Faithful Counseling Get 10% off your first month at faithfulcounseling.com/holypost Interview with Drew Dyck Drew Dyck - https://www.drewdyck.com 48:49 - Drew’s Views intro 49:48 - Christmas trees 52:53 - Book 1: “Beautiful People Don’t Just Happen” 58:05 - Book 2: “The Myth of Normal” 1:14:20 - Book 3: “Small Things Like These” 1:18:44 - Book 4: “52 Weeks in the Word” Drew’s book recommendations: “Beautiful People Don’t Just Happen: How God Redeems Regret, Hurt, and Fear in the Making of Better Humans” by Scott Sauls - https://amzn.to/3VylJQa “The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture” by Gabor Maté - https://amzn.to/3uvclkv “Small Things Like These” (a novel) by Claire Keegan - https://amzn.to/3FwCUfr “52 Weeks in the Word: A Companion for Reading Through the Bible in a Year” by Trillia J. Newbell - https://amzn.to/3usdTf2 Other links mentioned: Last week’s Holy Post episode, 537 - https://www.holypost.com/post/537-the-war-over-christmas-movies-gen-z-s-mental-health-with-josh-packard Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/ Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

For more than a century, the American church has been arguing about the exact scope and boundaries of God’s mission. Is the gospel narrowly about the redemption of people’s souls, or does it also care about redeeming the world, society, and broken systems? In other words, is justice part of God’s gospel mission? The way we answer that question has massive implications for what work we believe ultimately matters. This debate has torn the American church apart, but it’s not one shared by many of our sisters and brothers around the world where a holistic vision of God’s mission is just assumed rather than contested. Pastor Luis Luna from Honduras joins Skye Jethani to discuss why he doesn’t separate the care of people’s souls, from the care of their bodies, or the reformation of society. And how this holistic approach to mission sometimes creates problems when well-meaning American Christians bring their narrow definition of the gospel to Central America.   “Inalienable: How Marginalized Kingdom Voices Can Help Save the American Church” by Eric Costanzo, Daniel Yang, and Matthew Soerens - https://amzn.to/3RyObjc 0:00 - Intro Interview with Luis Luna 2:41 - Luis’ community and immigration 7:51 - Americans and cross-cultural mission 16:45 - Collaborative vision of mission 20:08 - Social justice and the gospel 26:43 - Social reform Sponsor 35:09 - Sponsor - World Relief Join the Path: https://worldrelief.org/holypost/ Debrief with Matthew Soerens and Eric Costanzo 37:22 - Positive role of short-term missions? 43:15 - Measuring successful mission 47:25 - Systemic problems and changes 57:50 - Gen Z hope 1:02:54 - Credits Other resources mentioned: Association For a More Just Society - https://www.asj-us.org Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/ Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.