The Holy Post

Two things are simultaneously true about America: More Americans than ever before are abandoning religion, and America remains the most devoutly Christian industrialized country in the world. Today's episode navigates this tension. First, a recent article by Helen Lewis says non-believers still have religious impulses that are now being expressed through political activism. Is Christian faith being replaced by Wokism on the left and Nationalism on the right? Then, David French asks why our politics are so toxic and hateful if both parties are still dependent on devoutly Christian voters. What will it take for believers on both sides to put Christian virtue ahead of just winning elections? And Kaitlyn Schiess talks to Lore Ferguson Wilbert about her new book, “A Curious Faith: The Questions God Asks, We Ask, and We Wish Someone Would Ask Us.” She says too many Christian communities discourage curiosity while the Bible is “a permission slip to ask questions.” Plus, scientists are growing animals in artificial wombs without eggs or sperm. What could possibly go wrong?   Patreon Bonus - Getting Schooled by Kaitlyn Schiess: The Harrowing of Hell 101 - patreon.com/posts/70936439/   News Segment 0:00 - Intro 4:07 - What could possibly go wrong? 15:20 - Is social justice a new religion? 30:46 - Christian political ethics   Interview with Lore Ferguson Wilbert "A Curious Faith: The Questions God Asks, We Ask, and We Wish Someone Would Ask Us" - https://amzn.to/3cngHVc 48:37 - Lore Ferguson Wilbert intro 50:02 - Why we struggle with questions 57:27 - Joy in questions 1:03:54 - Questions in Scripture 1:13:47 - Facing life's questions 1:20:09 - Jesus' humanity 1:25:50 - Credits   Other articles and resources mentioned:   "Synthetic embryos grown from stem cells don't need sperm or eggs" - https://newatlas.com/biology/synthetic-embryos-stem-cells   "How Social Justice Became a New Religion" by Helen Lewis (The Atlantic) - https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/08/social-justice-new-religion/671172/   "Christian Political Ethics Are Upside Down" by David French (The Dispatch) - https://frenchpress.thedispatch.com/p/christian-political-ethics-are-upside   Holy Post episode 522 (last week's episode) - https://www.holypost.com/post/episode-522-the-new-secular-south-celebrities-for-jesus-with-katelyn-beaty   "Overland to the Islands" poem by Denise Levertov - https://3quarksdaily.com/3quarksdaily/2011/03/saturday-poem-1-73.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.

Evangelicals are no longer the largest religious group in the South. Russell Moore says they’ve been replaced by a dangerous new kind of southern secularism. These MAGA-vangelicals don’t attend church, don’t follow the moral teachings of the Bible, and are fixated on politics and conspiracy theories but still call themselves “Christians.” What role does the church have in mitigating the danger of this new sect? Plus, a church in Texas faces legal trouble for performing an evangelistic revision of the musical Hamilton without a license. Then, Katelyn Beaty is back to discuss her new book Celebrities for Jesus: How Personas, Platforms, and Profits are Hurting the Church. She explains why we keep manufacturing more Christian celebrities despite their high failure rate, and why accountability structures aren’t enough. Also this week, Phil eulogizes Freya the walrus, and a man sues after five years of flatulence. Patreon Bonus with Katelyn Beaty: The ugly side of Christian publishing - https://www.patreon.com/posts/70617486/ News Segment 2:45 - Freya the walrus update 9:42 - News of the Butt 15:25 - Church production of Hamilton 25:55 - The new secular south 42:48 - With God Daily https://withgoddaily.com/ Interview with Katelyn Beaty “Celebrities for Jesus: How Personas, Platforms, and Profits are Hurting the Church” - https://amzn.to/3wb3aqJ 44:10 - Interview intro 46:15 - Why this book? 50:45 - Fame vs. celebrity 58:13 - When accountability doesn’t work 1:04:27 - Celebrity and an illusion of intimacy 1:13:29 - Christian celebrity and discipleship 1:19:41 - Credits Other articles and resources mentioned: “When the South Loosens its Bible Belt” by Russell Moore (Christianity Today) - https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2022/august-web-only/russell-moore-white-evangelicals-bible-belt-south-church.html “Fighting Flesh and Blood” by Kristin Du Mez - https://kristindumez.substack.com/p/fighting-flesh-and-blood?sd=pf “A Church Called Tov: Forming a Goodness Culture That Resists Abuses of Power and Promotes Healing” by Laura McKnight Barringer and Scot McKnight - https://amzn.to/3A4jRF9 News of the Butt - https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11041055/Father-stopped-farting-ate-ham-roll-market-five-years-ago-sues-200k.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.

What does it mean to see others as image-bearers of God? How is this warped by American individualism? And what happens to justice when we abandon God for idols—false images of God? Based on the book Inalienable by Eric Costanzo, Daniel Yang, and Matthew Soerens, in this episode Skye Jethani (co-host of The Holy Post) talks to Sri Lankan Christian leader Vinoth Ramachandra about the intersection of idolatry and mission. He explains how what we worship shapes us and our work in the world in unexpected ways, and that he believes the American church needs to admit to and repent of its idols. “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 - Theme song and intro Interview with Vinoth Ramachandra 2:19 - Idolatry 5:35 - Idol of individualism 12:42 - Idolatry and injustice 18:25 - Idolatry’s appeal and antidote 24:45 - Confronting idolatry faithfully 29:49 - Sponsor - World Relief Join the Path: https://worldrelief.org/holypost/ Debrief with Eric Costanzo and Daniel Yang 31:45 - Debrief start and recognizing our idols 36:58 - Moving beyond fear of pushback 41:13 - Engaging outside of our contexts 46:45 - The idol of Christian nationalism 54:42 - Credits Other resources mentioned: International Fellowship of Evangelical Students - https://ifesworld.org“Gods That Fail: Modern Idolatry and Christian Mission” by Vinoth Ramachandra - https://amzn.to/3dssPV2 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 centuries Americans have valued their liberty, but a growing number of conservatives are now saying cherished values like the freedom of speech, religion, and the press have allowed progressive beliefs to destroy the culture. In response, some Republicans and conservative Christian thinkers argue it’s time to abandon these failed American ideals and copy the fascist, illiberal strategies of leaders like Hungary’s Victor Orban to stop immigration, fight wokism, and to ensure the government supports Christian beliefs. Then, a new article about the separation of families at the Southern border brings Phil to tears, and he pleads with evangelicals to not allow Trump near the presidency again. Skye interviews Dr. Richard Mouw about his new book, “How to Be a Patriotic Christian: Love of Country as Love of Neighbor.” They discuss godly versus idolatrous forms of patriotism, what the Bible says about the proper role of government, and debate whether churches should display flags and sing patriotic hymns.  Bonus Patreon news story - https://www.patreon.com/posts/70304989 News Segment 0:00 - Intro 3:38 - "How the American Right Fell in Love with Hungary" 39:22 - Trump administration's family separation policy 54:24 - With God Daily https://withgoddaily.com/ Interview with Richard Mouw "How to Be a Patriotic Christian: Love of Country as Love of Neighbor" - https://amzn.to/3QdVR9E 55:48 - Interview intro 57:10 - Talking with evangelicals about patriotism 59:27 - Defining Christian nationalism 01:01:07 - Healthy patriotism and familial language 1:04:26 - Romans 13 and governmental authority 1:17:49 - Patriotic symbols in worship services 1:30:59 - Credits Other articles/resources mentioned:"How the American Right Fell in Love with Hungary" (The NYT Magazine)-https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/19/magazine/viktor-orban-rod-dreher.html" The Secret History of Family Separation" (The Atlantic) - https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/09/trump-administration-family-separation-policy-immigration/670604/ 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’s the correct definition of “woke”? What do Christians in the global south think about sexuality and gender? Biblically, when does life begin? When was America a Christian nation? In this special episode, Phil and Skye respond to voicemails left by Holy Post listeners. Some are serious and others are silly. Plus, additional thoughts about the conservative movement from Episode 519. And, Phil explains why he feels like a celebrity Norwegian walrus named Freya.   0:00 - Intro Animal News 1:40 - Freya the walrus 3:43 - Dead spider claws Voicemail Q&A 5:43 - Q&A intro 7:05 - Angie: What does "woke" even mean? 15:53 - Brandon: How to describe what the Holy Post is doing 22:51 - Crisanne: Christians in the global south on sexuality/gender 30:54 - Dave: Finding community 33:16 - Greg: What are you looking forward to? 35:33 - Josh: Wise media consumption 42:27 - JT: What buddy duo are Skye and Phil? 45:41 - Lucas: Asian Americans in evangelical leadership 51:08 - Natalia: When was America ever a Christian nation? 57:46 - Nick: Biblically, when does life begin? 1:04:07 - Terry: Jesus showing up in 2022 Wrap-up 1:10:55 - Additional thoughts on the conservative movement from episode 519 1:21:30 - Credits   Stories and resources mentioned: Freya the walrus- https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/freya-the-walrus-norway-sinking-boats-rcna40174 Dead spider claws - https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-use-dead-spiders-to-grip-objects-180980498/ "The Great Awokening" (Vox) - https://www.vox.com/2019/3/22/18259865/great-awokening-white-liberals-race-polling-trump-2020 The Lausanne Covenant - https://lausanne.org/content/covenant/lausanne-covenant What in the World? Episode 1: The Kingdom of God - https://www.holypost.com/post/what-in-the-world-episode-1-the-kingdom-of-god-with-ruth-padilla-deborst Voxology Podcast (Mike Erre) - https://voxologypodcast.com/ The Movie Proposal Podcast - https://www.holypost.com/movie-proposal-podcast Holy Post episode 519: How Reaganism Won the Church & Skye's New Book - https://www.holypost.com/post/episode-519-how-reaganism-won-the-church-skye-s-new-book "What If Jesus Was Serious About the Church?" - https://amzn.to/3PNlVI6 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 decades, political strategists spoke about the "God gap" in which white religious believers were more Republican and white non-believers more Democratic. Recent data shows a new God gap emerging within the Democratic Party. David French explains how secular white progressives are now pushing religious Black and Latino voters out of the Democratic coalition. Then, Jethani and French explore how Trump has discipled the church more than the church has discipled Trump. There's growing evidence that cruelty, dishonesty, and a refusal to repent are being embraced by Christians aligned with Trump. Will this trend self-correct and what will be its legacy on our culture? 0:00 - Theme song and intro 0:46 - The new God gap 31:33 - Discipled by Trump 1:00:33 - Credits "The God Gap Helps Explain a 'Seismic Shift' in American Politics" (The Dispatch) - https://frenchpress.thedispatch.com/p/the-most-important-religious-divide "There Is No Remaining Christian Case for Trump" (The Dispatch) - https://frenchpress.thedispatch.com/p/there-is-no-remaining-christian-case

Phil has another "crazy theory," and Skye and Kaitlyn aren't sure what to make of it. What if 1964 is one of the hinge points in American history? 1964, as Phil explains, was the year a Catholic housewife from Illinois and a mid-tier movie star from Hollywood attempted to put an Arizonan libertarian in the White House. Their effort failed, but in the process did they actually plant the seeds that would remake both America and the American church?? Give a listen as Phil spins the story of three unlikely people he believes "made" modern conservatism inside and outside the American church... Barry Goldwater, Phyllis Schlafly and Ronald Reagan. You don't have to agree. Just humor him. PLUS Kaitlyn interviews Skye about his new book - What if Jesus was Serious About the Church? Holy Post Patreon: https://patreon.com/holypost News Segment 0:00 - Intro 2:53 - Background and context for Phil's theory 6:54 - Person 1: Barry Goldwater 12:07 - Person 2: Phyllis Schlafly 20:14 - Person 3: Ronald Reagan 35:35 - Debriefing Phil's theory Interview with Skye Jethani "What If Jesus Was Serious About the Church?" - https://amzn.to/3PNlVI6 53:06 - Interview intro 54:45 - Why prescribe something for the church? 57:55 - How we use the word "church" 1:02:38 - Finding a church 1:06:29 - Preacher vs. table 1:17:53 - Authority in the church 1:23:59 - Seeking change within a church community1:30:01 - Credits 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

With Trump out of office and the pandemic restrictions eased, Christian Nationalists are looking for new causes to rally the MAGA faithful. The Holy Post crew looks at the latest stories from these holy trollers including Michael Flynn’s incoherent argument that the Bible “wrote” most of the Constitution. A new exposé of MAGA worship leader Sean Feucht by Rolling Stone shows his ministry, which has one employee, has raised millions in donations and purchased three houses. And Jemar Tisby offers a useful definition of Christian Nationalism that reveals why it’s not Christian at all. Then Kaitlyn Schiess interviews disabled scholar and Shakespeare lecturer, Amy Kenny, about her book My Body is Not a Prayer Request: Disability Justice in the Church. Together, they unpack overlooked or misinterpreted passages in the gospels about disabilities, and Kenny explains why the church is missing out on the prophetic witness and blessing of disability. News Segment: 0:00 - Intro 3:56 - Rolling Stone article on Sean Feucht 13:37 - Michael Flynn on the Bible and the Constitution 15:38 - 7 Mountain Dominionists event 24:30 - What do we do about Christian nationalism? 34:37 - Jemar Tisby's definition of Christian nationalism 38:50 - PRRI stat on addressing common problems 48:00 - Holy Post announcements Interview with Amy Kenny "My Body is Not a Prayer Request: Disability Justice in the Church" - https://amzn.to/3OkMfIc 49:51 - Amy Kenny Intro 51:08 - Book background 55:01 - Damaging things Christians say 1:00:13 - Theological errors 1:02:50 - Disability and Scripture 1:20:26 - How churches can think differently about disability 1:26:24 - Credits Articles mentioned in news segment: "MAGA Preacher Sean Feucht Scored Millions From His Trump-Loving Flock" (Rolling Stone) - https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/maga-preacher-sean-feucht-scored-millions-from-his-trump-loving-flock-1380126/ "Former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn Says 75-80% of the Constitution was ‘Created by the Bible Itself’" (Mediaite) - https://www.mediaite.com/politics/former-national-security-advisor-michael-flynn-says-75-80-of-the-constitution-was-created-by-the-bible-itself/ "The 7 Mountain Dominionists converge on Duluth, Georgia" by John Fea (Current) - https://currentpub.com/2022/07/17/the-7-mountain-dominionists-converge-on-duluth-georgia/ "Christian Nationalism's Influence on American Politics" (with Jemar Tisby, NPR) - https://www.npr.org/2022/07/11/1110949385/christian-nationalisms-influence-on-american-politics PRRI stats on prioritizing political cooperation to solve common problems - https://twitter.com/profsamperry/status/1548794843652128774 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.

How big is the scope of the gospel? What does God's kingdom include? And what happens when we discover the American church isn’t the center of it? Based on the book Inalienable by Eric Costanzo, Daniel Yang, and Matthew Soerens, in this episode Skye Jethani (co-host of The Holy Post) talks to theologian and missiologist Dr. Ruth Padilla DeBorst. With extensive experience in the Latin American church, Padilla DeBorst explains how popular American Christianity misunderstands the Kingdom of God, and how seeking the wisdom of the global church can guild the American church through its current crisis. "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 - Theme song and intro Interview with Ruth Padilla DeBorst 2:46 - Misunderstandings and assumptions about Christians in the Global South 7:41 - Power and privilege 13:39 - Theologies of liberation 18:10 - Immigrants in the American church 21:06 - Is partnership possible? 25:05 - Celebrity leader dynamics 31:32 - Learning from another contextSponsor: 35:21 - World Relief sponsorship Join the Path: https://worldrelief.org/holypost/ Debrief with Matthew Soerens and Daniel Yang 37:18 - Debrief intro 39:18 - U.S. short-term missions 41:25 - Daniel's family experience 44:13 - Communal culture 49:15 - Laying down preferences 55:35 - The good and the bad in American influence1:01:18 - CreditsResource referenced by Daniel Yang: GlocalNet - https://glocal.net/ 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.

A network of global Christian churches have decided to combat climate change by divesting from gas and oil companies. But why aren’t any Protestant American churches participating, and do climate activists care that efforts to replace fossil fuels disproportionately harm the poor? And a new article by Beth Allison Barr examines the difference between the political pro-life movement and the biblical pro-life ethic. Then, Matthew Soerens is back to discuss the new book he’s co-authored with Eric Costanzo and Daniel Yang, “Inalienable: How Marginalized Kingdom Voices Can Help Save the American Church.” As white evangelicals lose their grip on cultural and political power in the U.S., Soerens says they may discover how to follow Christ more faithfully from sisters and brothers in the global church who never had power to begin with. Plus, New Zealand taxes bovine burps. Send us a voicemail! https://www.patreon.com/posts/68742695 News Segment 0:00 - Intro and updates 5:04 - Bovine burps 10:39 - Churches combatting climate change 18:08 - Capitalism and poverty 32:03 - Women left behind by the pro-life movement Sponsors 50:59 - Sponsor: One Collective Learn more: https://www.onecollective.org/serve/holypost 52:55 - Sponsor: World Relief Join the Path: https://worldrelief.org/holypost/ Interview with Matthew Soerens "Inalienable: How Marginalized Kingdom Voices Can Help Save the American Church" by Eric Costanzo, Daniel Yang, and Matthew Soerens - https://amzn.to/3PlS8pB 54:51 - Matthew Soerens interview intro 57:10 - Challenges in the evangelical American church 1:05:56 - Changing the boogeyman 1:11:38 - Looking to the global church 1:16:48 - U.S. immigration and refugee policies 1:22:04 - "What in the World?" Holy Post miniseries 1:24:54 - Credits Articles referenced in news segment: "New Zealand announces world-first plan to tax cow and sheep burps" (NPR) - https://www.npr.org/2022/06/09/1104014587/new-zealand-announces-world-first-plan-to-tax-cow-and-sheep-burps "Global faith institutions announce divestment..." (Operation Noah) - https://operationnoah.org/featured/press-release-global-faith-institutions-announce-d[…]es-threaten-1-5c-climate-goal-with-reckless-expansion-plans/ "MIT Scientists Propose 'Space Bubbles' to Deflect Solar Radiation, Ease Climate Change" (Popular Mechanics) - https://www.popularmechanics.com/space/a40486004/space-bubbles-climate-change/ "The Women Left Behind by the Pro-Life Movement" by Beth Allison Barr (Religion & Politics) - https://religionandpolitics.org/2022/07/11/the-women-left-behind-by-the-pro-life-movement/ Resources mentioned in interview: "American Evangelicalism: Embattled and Thriving" by Christian Smith - https://amzn.to/3P2zIKZ Episode 1 of our "What in the World?" miniseries will be out Friday, 7/15 in the regular Holy Post podcast feed! 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.