The Holy Post

The cultures which produced the Bible were collectivist, but most modern Western Christians are immersed in individualism. Biblical scholar and missionary, E. Randolph Richards says this causes many of us to misinterpret critical aspects of the Bible, or miss them altogether. He talks with Skye about his latest book, “Misreading Scripture with Individualist Eyes.” Also this week—has a decline in religious authority caused a decline in empathy in America? And how did we go from expecting institutions to form us, to now expecting them to affirm us? Jerry Falwell Jr. is suing Liberty University for damaging his reputation. Plus, Christian’s surgery, itchy rashes, and swearing parrots.   https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/swearing-parrots-moved-park-scli-gbr-intl/index.html https://religionnews.com/2020/10/06/new-book-explains-how-the-decline-of-religious-authority-led-to-the-end-of-empathy/ https://www.holypost.com/post/10-of-the-most-memorable-celebrity-interviews https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/we-used-to-ask-institutions-to-form-us-now-they-must-affirm-us/

The CEOs of Facebook and Twitter testified before Congress this week about the toxic spread of misinformation on their platforms and the harm it causes to society. Sadly, many Christians are complicit in this trend. Daniel Darling is back to talk about how Christians must change the way we engage social media if there’s any hope of redeeming it. Also this week, Trump’s favorite television preachers have made a spectacle of praying for a miraculous election victory, but when does Christian prayer deteriorate into pagan magic? The crew discusses a new study about megachurches, why they’re growing even larger, how fewer are identifying as “evangelical,” and whether the pandemic will cause anyone to rethink the model. Also, Canada experiments with giving money to homeless people, and R.I.P. Sausage King of Russia. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/new-leaf-project-results-1.5752714 http://hirr.hartsem.edu/megachurch/megachurches.html https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2020/september-web-only/single-women-manhood-church-growth-gender-ratios-church.html

The exit poll data from the election is in, and it looks like white evangelicals are as politically conservative and Republican as ever. Professor of political science from Eastern Illinois University, Ryan Burge, joins the Holy Post crew to discuss the findings. He says Democrats should give up on white evangelical voters who are now more Republican than Christian. Burge also looks at the formative power of cable news, why pastors are afraid to address the idolatry of politics in their pews, and why the data says the future of evangelicalism will be dramatically different. Also this week, Drew Dyck is back with his latest book selections to survive the pandemic. Plus, Tesla owners beware—you could accidentally butt dial a very expensive upgrade for your car. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/07/tesla-app-butt-dial-purchases-still-possible-refunds-hard-to-get.html https://religioninpublic.blog/2019/02/05/is-white-born-again-christian-just-a-synonym-for-republican/ https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/06/opinion/evangelicals-republicans.html

It’s 2020, did anyone really expect the election to be easy? The morning after the vote, a sleep-deprived Holy Post crew discusses what the incomplete results mean for the country and the church. The country hasn’t repudiated Trumpism, but they don’t seem to be embracing progressivism either. Did evangelicals still “hold their nose” and vote for Trump, or do exit polls show they’re deeply inhaling? An article from Christianity Today’s president, Tim Dalrymple, helps explain the evangelical divide over politics. And can the church learn to be prophetic again rather than partisan? Also this week, Phil talks with David French about reactions to the Holy Post video on abortion, and what the data shows will actually reduce the abortion rate in America. https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2020/november-web-only/trump-election-politics-church-kingdom.html

With less than a week until the election, Phil and Skye are joined by Kaitlyn Schiess to discuss what should, and should not, influence how Christians vote. First, they talk about reactions to Skye’s video (not Phil’s, he had nothing to do with it!) about abortion, and the different ways the issue is viewed by evangelicals. They also unpack recent articles about the election from three Christian leaders—John Piper, Al Mohler, and Joel Hunter. It is just a coincidence that the two retired pastors oppose Trump? And why does Mohler hold Black Christians to a different standard when voting? Phil explains why two traditionally Republican counties should make conservatives rethink their support for Trump. And why is every election framed as an existential threat to America? Finally, Skye talks with Scott Arbeiter, president of World Relief, about the historically low number of refugees resettled in the U.S., the current administration’s broken promise to help persecuted Christians, and why evangelical leaders and laity are so far apart on the issue of immigration. Lifeway Research | “2016 Election Exposes Evangelical Divides”:  https://lifewayresearch.com/2016/10/14/2016-election-exposes-evangelical-divide/   Desiring God | “Policies, Persons, and Paths to Ruin: Pondering the Implications of the 2020 Election”:  https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/policies-persons-and-paths-to-ruin?fbclid=IwAR05aL2TzkuWYvV4SfMPb8bXl3rQdud6e1NYGzOmHsXr5ZFQxhDYRViaM1Y   Albert Mohler | “Christians, Conscience, and the Looming 2020 Election”: https://albertmohler.com/2020/10/26/christians-conscience-and-the-looming-2020-election   Michael Wear Responds to Al Mohler | Twitter Thread:  https://twitter.com/MichaelRWear/status/1320849749709332480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1320849749709332480%7Ctwgr%5Eshare_3&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fthewayofimprovement.com%2F2020%2F10%2F27%2Fsouthern-baptist-seminary-professor-al-mohler-makes-it-official-he-voted-fo%2F   Christian Post - Wayne Grudem | “A respectful response to my friend John Piper about voting for Trump”: https://www.christianpost.com/voices/a-response-to-my-friend-john-piper-about-voting-for-trump.html

Author and cultural commentator, Os Guinness, says, “If people don’t understand the 60’s, they can’t understand today.” Skye talks with Os about the re-release of his classic book, “The Dust of Death” and how the 60’s counterculture planted the seeds for the cultural upheaval and division we’re seeing in 2020. Also this week, can the National Association of Evangelicals restore the reputation of evangelicalism in America? The Gospel Coalition offers 6 wise suggestions for political engagement, and the crew discusses how church leaders can lead their congregations through potentially divisive topics. Plus, News of the Butt…in space! “NASA Just Sent a New $23 Million Space Toilet to the International Space Station”: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/nasa-just-sent-new-23-million-space-toilet-international-space-station-180976037/ “For the Health of the Nation” Statement:  https://www.forthehealth.net“ 6 Ways Christians Can Be Wiser in Public Engagement”: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/6-ways-christians-wiser-political-engagement/

The most esteemed New Testament scholar alive today is back on the show! N.T. Wright discusses his new book about John’s gospel, “Broken Signposts.” Wright talks to Skye about two competing visions of power and freedom at work in the world today, and how the church sometimes fails to follow the right one. He also unpacks how “identity” has become the dominant framework in our culture, how it’s a reaction to colonialism, and the danger it poses to Christian unity. Also this week—Is America having a moral convulsion? David Brooks things so. The gang discusses his new article about what happens when we lose trust in America’s institutions and in one another, and why the church could be the answer. Plus, Phil gets invited to a cookout, Christian wins another award, and Skye’s dog vomits on his sofa. Should Christians vote for Trump? Eric Metaxas vs David French:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuYk4-NdCz0"America Is Having a Moral Convulsion": https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/10/collapsing-levels-trust-are-devastating-america/616581/

Does the Bible have anything to say about the police? What about racial diversity? Are Christians called to submit to the government or reform it? Professor and Anglican priest, Esau McCaulley, talks about his new book, “Reading While Black,” and the African-American tradition of Scripture interpretation that avoids the either/or (conservative vs. liberal) thinking typical in the white church. Also this week, Phil shares about his experience being interviewed by Kirk Cameron and goes on a rant about “false binaries.” Christian is now an “award-winning” filmmaker. What should a useful voter guide for Christians include? And clowns object to the first presidential debate being called a “circus.” "How Do Christians Fit Into the Two-Party System? They Don’t.”:  https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/29/opinion/sunday/christians-politics-belief.html

The Holy Post crew discusses the new Netflix documentary, “The Social Dilemma,” about the way social media is contributing to the breakdown of society and how Facebook’s algorithms make reasonable people into extremists. Also this week, Skye and Josh Lindsay—his co-host on The Movie Proposal podcast—interview actor and screenwriter, Luke Barnett, about his new comedy “Faith Based.” Barnett explains how his long experience in the church informed the project, why Christian movies follow such a predictable formula, and how tribal identity rather than quality is what makes movies successful today. Plus, new research from Barna says fewer Christians think racism is a significant problem than a year ago. And Mexico passes a law preventing kids from buying junk food.   "‘We Had To Take Action’: States In Mexico Move to Ban Junk Food Sales To Minors”: https://www.npr.org/2020/09/14/912029399/we-had-to-take-action-states-in-mexico-move-to-ban-junk-food-sales-to-minors"White Christians Have Become Even Less Motivated to Address Racial Injustice”: https://www.barna.com/research/american-christians-race-problem/

The United States now has more guns than people, and while overall violent crime is down the number of mass shootings is set to break a record in 2020 and suicides from guns is rising. How should Christians think about America’s gun culture? David French is back to offer a legal and moral argument for why most attempts at gun control are misguided. He says more legal gun ownership protects freedom, and Skye wonders if a public square filled with guns limits it. And if we can’t reduce the number of guns, what’s the best way to limit gun crime and mass shootings?   Also this week, the Holy Post crew is joined by Kaitlyn Schiess to discuss the legacy of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and what her death means for the presidential election and the future of the Supreme Court. Are the Republicans being hypocrites for filling Ginsburg’s seat weeks before the election when they refused to let Obama nominate a justice 8 months before the election in 2016? And what should we think of the Democrat’s threat to pack the court? Skye warns about dismantling political norms, Kaitlyn says Christians viewing every election as an existential threat is a failure of discipleship, and Phil plays the devil’s advocate by throwing down the abortion card. https://frenchpress.thedispatch.com/p/yes-america-could-split-apart