The Denison Forum Podcast - Christian perspective on current events, Christian news and culture, Biblical wisdom

Summary: Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman explore how Christians have lived faithfully in their cultural moment for thousands of years, how we must break free from the Sunday/Monday heresy, the importance of a personal relationship with Christ, how Christianity is a bad religion without such a personal relationship, and how the culture has created a new religion of humanism and self-affirming authenticity.   Show notes: Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman discuss the intended audience of Jim’s new book, The Coming Tsunami, which is for all Christians, and particularly for those in places of cultural influence. Christian movements in history start with a small number of people, “faithfully manifesting” where God put them. They discuss the third and fourth great awakenings (or the Welsh revival), which began with “regular, average” Christians.   Mark discusses how we often don’t see the results of our faithfulness in our lifetime, and we must leave the results to God’s providence. Faithfulness takes patience, and, as Jim has written, “You can’t measure the eternal significance of present faithfulness.” They delve into the Protestant Reformation, how it began, and some of the key believers in the movement.   They then address the “Sunday/Monday heresy,” which refers to the view of many Christians who live as Christians on Sunday morning but have their own lives every other day of the week. Christ calls us to give every minute of our lives over to him.    This leads them to discuss the essential part of Christianity as being in the relationship with Christ, not the religion. While religion is important, i.e., going to church, singing hymns, liturgy, etc., without the relationship, religion is an empty shell. Jim reveals a time when, as a pastor, God convicted him that while Jim loved Jesus, he wasn’t in love with Jesus.    They then delve into what has become the overarching ideology or creed of our culture: personal authenticity. They discuss the evolution of this creed over time: how Christianity was at first important and culturally encouraged, then it became a personal hobby, then irrelevant, and now it’s considered dangerous. The culture has almost fully bought into humanism.    They consider the implications of this creed, how nowadays everything is centered around feelings and our experience.    Sometimes, true repentance is harder than religion. Often, having a relationship with Christ is more difficult than following an empty creed. Many issues in our culture stem from the transference of responsibility to anything and everyone but ourselves. There’s a sense in the culture now that “I” cannot be at fault; it must be the system or other people. While there are complex issues here, the gospel ultimately relies on the submission of oneself to Christ, no matter our circumstances.    P.S. Pre-order The Coming Tsunami today and you’ll be invited to an exclusive, virtual, live Q&A with Dr. Denison discussing whether Critical Race Theory is biblical. Visit TheComingTsunami.com to pre-order and follow the directions on that page to receive your invitation to this book launch event on January 25.    Resources and further reading:   The Coming Tsunami, Jim Denison The Master Plan of Evangelism, Robert E. Coleman To Change the World, James Davison Hunter “The Third Great Awakening,” Christianity Today    About the hosts    Dr. Jim Denison CVO and cofounder of Denison Forum and a cultural scholar. He received his Ph.D. in philosophy and Master’s in Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.    Dr. Mark Turman is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church.

Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman discuss Karl Marx’s philosophy, how Christianity moves on the shoulders of regular, faithful Christians, Critical Theory and Critical Race Theory, how systemic racism still exists, and how Christians can begin to navigate the culture on the issue of justice.    In this episode, Mark and Jim begin by giving a personal biography of their lives and testimonies. In this, Jim explores how several key people who were faithful with their gifts helped bring him to trust in Jesus as his savior. As Mark quotes from his previous pastor, “Christianity goes forward on the shoulders of plain vanilla Christians.”   Jim then discusses how the term theological middleman began to define his ministry calling, with a clear, strong conviction from the Lord. A large part of Denison Ministries’ niche is equipping believers to love God with all of their minds.    We often encounter a resistance to intellectual thinking in Christianity. A common Christian sentiment in the ’60s and ’70s was: Don’t let college ruin you. Thankfully, in recent years, evangelicals have shown that we are not antagonistic to reason. John Lennox and Russell Moore are two prime examples.    Then, Mark and Jim discuss the merits and flaws in Karl Marx’s philosophy. Many of Marx’s criticisms were accurate. Seeing the world through the lens of “class” is helpful, but only to a point, and it cannot provide a solid worldview. Later, certain philosophers in the Frankfurt School developed Critical Theory out of Marxism. This plays out in our era through Critical Race Theory, for example.   The philosophy behind Critical Theory is that if you are a part of a group that has benefited from oppression, you are also culpable to the oppression. The spread of this kind of thinking is evident, even in Texas public schools. Many, like Ibram Kendi, have now said that if we maintain the status quo, we are complicit in racism. Instead, we must be antiracist.   Mark and Jim then delve into why Critical Theory doesn’t take sin nature into account. If the oppressed become powerful, they will be just as likely to oppress others, which is exactly what happened in the Soviet Union.   All of that said, Jim then argues that systemic racism continues to exist in modern-day America and gives several, well-attested facts that point to that truth. As believers, our first questions should be of self-examination: “How am I prejudiced? How can I amend where I have hurt others?” This means personally engaging with people who aren’t like us and listening to their pains.   Sin makes the world a broken place. Jim brings up how, in the past, Christians have dealt with systemic injustice and how we can champion the gospel in this lost world. William Wilberforce, a Christian activist, helped upend the English slave trade. This call to action, to stand up for the oppressed and help bring true, biblical justice to the world, is part of the Christian’s call.    P.S. Pre-order The Coming Tsunami today and you’ll be invited to an exclusive, virtual, live Q&A with Dr. Denison discussing whether Critical Race Theory is biblical. Visit TheComingTsunami.com to pre-order and follow the directions on that page to receive your invitation to this book launch event on January 25.  Resources and further reading   Jim Denison, The Coming Tsunami Russell Moore, website Jon Lennox, website William Barclay, Commentary on the New Testament “Theological middleman.” Ibram X. Kendi, How to be an Antiracist Richard Delgado, Jean Stefanic, Critical Race Theory: An Introduction Karl Marx, The Communist Manifesto   About the hosts    Dr. Jim Denison CVO and cofounder of Denison Forum and a cultural scholar. He received his Ph.D. in philosophy and Master’s in Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.    Dr. Mark Turman is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church. 

Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman discuss the sexual revolution and its implications for today’s culture. They discuss how the church’s witness is hurt by its bad example, how biblical morality is going to be persecuted, the implications of the Equality Act, how US laws should legislate certain moral judgments and not others, and how the world’s understanding of sex ultimately leads to harm.   First, Mark and Jim show why it’s important to have historical context for cultural ideas today. Much of the LGBTQ movement in today’s world is a symptom, not the cause, of the cultural tsunami. To address the root causes, however, the church must start within our own doors and hearts. Since the church abuse scandals, comparable levels of divorce rates, and the acceptance of cohabitation, the church has lost credibility in the eyes of the culture.    In the case of the new sexual morality, biblical Christians are becoming more ostracized and considered even dangerous for our beliefs. Indeed, while all laws legislate morality in some way, we must get clear on religious freedom and what the State can legislate.    They unpack how this played out in the legalization of abortion. Jim then elaborates on how civil rights laws protecting minorities are categorically different from those protecting based on sexual orientation, both biblically and under secular arguments, and how the Equality Act poses a serious threat to biblical Christian institutions.    Finally, they discuss how Christians can respond to today’s sexual revolution following Paul’s model from Corinthians. Jim argues that we shouldn’t take the easy route, but rather we must let our light shine. We have the heroes of Hebrews 11 to inspire us.    (Correction: Cardinal Francis George first said, “I expect my successor to die in prison . . . .”) not Archbishop Collins.)   P.S. Pre-order The Coming Tsunami today and you’ll be invited to an exclusive, virtual, live Q&A with Dr. Denison discussing whether Critical Race Theory is biblical. Visit TheComingTsunami.com to pre-order and follow the directions on that page to receive your invitation to this book launch event on January 25.   Resources and further reading   The Coming Tsunami, Dr. Jim Denison The Benedict Option, Rod Dreher  “The Equality Act: What Christians need to know,” Dr. Jim Denison “Religious Liberty Isn’t Enough,” Ryan T. Anderson   About the hosts    Dr. Jim Denison CVO and cofounder of Denison Forum and a cultural scholar. He received his Ph.D. in philosophy and Master’s in Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.    Dr. Mark Turman is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church. 

Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman discuss the foundation for Denison Forum by first unpacking apologetics (“to make a defense”), which has its roots in the book of Acts. Cultural apologetics refers to giving a defense of biblical truth in the context of cultural issues like same-sex marriage, abortion, or euthanasia. They discuss starting points for those conversations, which need to begin outside of the Bible and with varying assumptions, depending on the audience.    Next, they delve into the origins of Protestants’ split from Roman Catholicism and its further divisions. They recommend the new, recently published podcast called Good Faith, hosted by David French and Curtis Chang, to unpack it further. Evangelicalism is a relatively recent movement, however, beginning in the 20s and 30s, and gaining prominence after WWII. Evangelicalism, in some ways, rose in reaction against a perceived liberal drift of mainline denominations. But, from the start, with people like Billy Graham, the main point was to spread the simple gospel.    Nowadays, the word evangelical has become associated with the political right more than its core biblical beliefs, from the well-intentioned “we want a nation God can bless” acting as part of the Moral Majority, and activism, to its disparaged status in culture. Culture tends to view evangelicals as a political action movement, especially with some preachers endorsing Donald Trump.    Finally, Mark and Jim discuss the earthquakes that Jim outlines in The Coming Tsunami. Denial of biblical truth, the first earthquake, is in many ways the one which starts the fall of dominoes. Many Christians are trying to address these problems by tackling the symptoms of the cultural tsunami. That leaves us blind to the actual, invisible causes of the cultural decline we see today.   Each person deals with their own unique presuppositions, so the best way to change the tide is to influence the people where you are as best you can. In the midst of this discussion, Mark and Jim begin to unpack further cultural earthquakes.    P.S. Pre-order The Coming Tsunami today and you’ll be invited to an exclusive, virtual, live Q&A with Dr. Denison discussing whether Critical Race Theory is biblical. Visit TheComingTsunami.com to pre-order and follow the directions on that page to receive your invitation to this book launch event on January 25.    Resources and further reading   The Coming Tsunami, Jim Denison Good Faith, David French, Curtis Chang Leadership is an art, Max Dupree   About the hosts    Dr. Jim Denison CVO and cofounder of Denison Forum and a cultural scholar. He received his Ph.D. in philosophy and Master’s in Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.    Dr. Mark Turman is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church. 

Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman talk about the origins of Jim’s new book, The Coming Tsunami, and God’s calling on Jim’s life to cultural apologetics. In this first episode, they cover:   how Christians should engage the culture newfound unity between denominations rising atheism how to turn the cultural tide and hope for a new awakening    In part 1, Jim and Mark delve into Jim’s life and upbringing.   Jim’s father experienced the horrors of World War II and couldn’t reconcile them with Christianity. So, Jim grew up in a “loving, wonderful home but no spiritual life and all my father’s questions.” Eventually, after following Christ in his teens, God called him to ministry.    Fast-forward to two or three years ago. The Holy Spirit pressed on him the “urgency of the moment” in our culture, which eventually led to the writing of The Coming Tsunami. The analogy runs like this: unseen forces (earthquakes) can lead to cultural symptoms that make Christianity a danger in the eyes of the culture (the tsunami).   In part 2, Jim and Mark discuss:   the sociology of how to change the culture and the best strategies for Christians to accomplish it in America   The election of conservative Christians to the presidency seems to have led to passivity among many Christians; political officials cannot change the culture. The way to change culture is to practice what you preach and exercise your influence wherever you are.   In part 3, they talk about encouraging ways God is moving.   For instance, they discuss the growing unity in the church between denominations, the miraculous awakenings in Islam, and the explosive growth of Christianity in Asian countries.    Next, they cover the influx of atheist, secular thinkers into mainstream Western culture. Many are brilliant scientists but overstep into philosophy and theology, places where they make frequent errors but still hold massive influence. This and subjects like the church abuse scandals have broken the church’s image in the modern eye. Philosophy has consequences, and you can trace the ideas of today back generations to people like Kant.    Finally, Jim shares his pastoral insight into how the Lord moves.   While we may feel desperate now, God works awakenings when a culture is on the brink of despair. The Spirit has worked like that before in America, and he can do it again.   P.S. Pre-order The Coming Tsunami today and you’ll be invited to an exclusive, virtual, live Q&A with Dr. Denison discussing whether Critical Race Theory is biblical. Visit TheComingTsunami.com to pre-order and follow the directions on that page to receive your invitation to this book launch event on January 25.   About the hosts    Dr. Jim Denison CVO and cofounder of Denison Forum and a cultural scholar. He received his Ph.D. in philosophy and Master’s in Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.    Dr. Mark Turman is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church.    Resources and further reading The Coming Tsunami, Jim Denison Wrestling With God, Jim Denison How to Change the World, James Davidson Hunter The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins god is not Great, Christopher Hitchens The CEO Forum: “Created to support and minister to Christian CEOs and Senior Executives, CEO Forum exists to provide a unique approach to The Great Commission.” “How dreams and visions of “Isa” are awakening the Islamic world,” Mark Legg