The Weight

When it comes to racial reconciliation, the church is quick to educate its congregants about the power of forgiveness. Pastors often jump to the solution without acknowledging the full extent of the problem. What do we do when we’re enraged by the things we’ve seen or experienced? How do we make a conscious, faithful choice to practice Christianity even when it seems harder than we can bear?In his new book, Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope, Dr. Esau McCaulley aims not to answer questions the church is asking, but to answer questions that Black Christians are asking. A New Testament scholar, Anglican Priest, and theologian, McCaulley understands that the way we interpret the Bible often depends on our communities and context. He invites listeners to take an unfiltered look into the Black experience and to ponder how all of us can interpret the Bible as an exercise in hope.He joins Eddie and Chris to discuss how Christians can have open dialogue about riots and protests, and how white Christians can interpret the truth behind the phrase “Black Lives Matter.” They talk about specific passages in the Bible that point to the grief and rage Black Americans feel and where the cross of Christ fits into the scope of human emotion.You can order Esau’s book “Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope” hereLearn more about Esau’s podcast “The Disrupters” here: https://esaumccaulley.com/the-disrupters-podcast/  Read Esau’s articles in The New York Times here: https://www.nytimes.com/by/esau-mccaulley Follow Esau on the web: https://esaumccaulley.com Follow Esau on social media:https://www.facebook.com/OfficialEsauMcCaulley https://www.instagram.com/esaumccaulley/ https://twitter.com/esaumccaulley 

Stories are a way of inviting others in, opening the door to compassion, empathy, and understanding. Stories help us make sense of the world around us, allowing us to process overwhelming emotions. As humans, we are drawn to stories that show characters overcoming obstacles, growing wiser and stronger through the journey. New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Julie Cantrell recognizes the power of narrative to guide us spiritually and ground us emotionally. When she was pregnant with her first child, she began writing from a place of love, gratitude, and celebration. As she began wrestling with her own pain and loss, she started to use writing as an outlet to communicate a new narrative of resilience. Crafted from her research into the Choctaw tribe, her book “Into the Free” tells the story of a girl coming of age in Depression-era Mississippi.She joins Eddie and Chris to talk through how she discovered her gift for writing and developed a discipline for integrating writing into her life. They discuss the ways that stories help connect us, citing Jesus’s passion for sharing stories as a way of shaping people’s hearts. They talk about the power of stories throughout the Bible and how they create space for connection in our everyday lives. RESOURCES:You can order Julie’s newest book “Crescendo: The True Story of a Musical Genius Who Forever Changed a Southern Town” and any of Julie’s other books at her independent bookstore: https://shop.aer.io/juliecantrell Watch Julie’s Tedx Talk here: https://youtu.be/Oi4sqDJ8Wno Follow Julie on the web: https://www.juliecantrell.com Follow Julie on social media:https://www.instagram.com/juliecantrell/ https://www.facebook.com/juliecantrellauthor 

Many Christians engage with the topic of body image in a toxic manner. The Church often perpetuates negative, unhealthy ideologies regarding body image, thus failing to honor people of all sizes. How can we better uplift the sacred worth found in each body?Author, seminarian, and podcast host Nicole Morgan has developed a deep understanding of how the Christian Church has wrongfully taught its members, particularly women, to be ashamed of their bodies. Motivated by her own experiences, she wrote the acclaimed book “Fat and Faithful: Learning to Love Our Bodies, Our Neighbors, and Ourselves,” in which she explores the false narratives about body image and reminds readers that everyone - regardless of size - is treasured by God.She joins Eddie and Chris to talk about her journey towards “fat acceptance” and her mission to help people of all sizes see that they are beloved and worthy of being celebrated. They have an honest discussion about the ways church leaders made Nicole feel like her body was unacceptable in the Christian faith and her subsequent journey of deconstruction. Nicole helps us consider how we can not only recognize the worth of every body size, but also how we can cultivate a narrative that focuses on uplifting rather than shaming.Resources:You can order Nicole’s book “Fat and Faithful: Learning to Love Our Bodies, Our Neighbors, and Ourselves” here: https://www.amazon.com/Fat-Faithful-Learning-Neighbors-Ourselves/dp/1506425224Follow Nicole’s podcast “Fat and Faithful” here: https://fatandfaithful.libsyn.com/Follow Nicole on the web: https://jnicolemorgan.com/Follow Nicole on social media: https://www.facebook.com/Fatness.Faith/https://twitter.com/jnicolemorganhttps://www.instagram.com/jnicolemorgan/

As much as we try and downplay them, it’s apparent that symbols carry a great weight in our culture. Whether it be a flag, a statue, a logo, or anything else, symbols have the power to rally a people together or tear them apart; a truth known all too well in the state of Mississippi. After years of public outcry, Mississippi recently retired its flag which featured the battle flag of the Confederacy and is now in a heavily publicized process to select a new banner that unifies the populace. One flag that has garnered significant support is the Great River Flag designed by Micah Whitson, who joins us on this episode of The Weight. A southern expatriate, Micah launched an online art store called “The Old Try” with the purpose of uplifting the South and connecting those who call it home. This purpose is reflected in the Great River Flag, a design uniquely purposed to go beyond just a simple banner, but rather being used in a multitude of formats that celebrates some of the hidden gems of Mississippi culture. Micah talks to Eddie and Chris about how his passion to uplift the beauty of southern culture led him to design his state flag submission. He reflects on the power of representation and the role that aesthetics play in cultivating a sense of unity and pride. As a man of deep faith, he also shares the role that the teachings of Jesus Christ play in shaping his work. Resources:Learn more about the Great River Flag and the many utilizations the branding can provide: https://greatriverflag.com/Check out Micah’s other work on his online shop The Old Try.https://theoldtry.com/Follow Micah on the web: https://micahwhitson.com/Follow The Old Try on Social MediaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheOldTry/?ref=br_rsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/theoldtry/Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheOldTryFollow The Great River Flag on Social MediaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/greatriverflag/Instagram: https://twitter.com/flagriverTwitter: https://twitter.com/flagriver 

In just a decade, social media has completely changed what it looks like for local churches to fulfill its mission. Such a revolution in outreach has provided new opportunities for churches to enrich their own church family while also engaging new audiences. However, with opportunity comes some challenges worth considering; primarily the need to prioritize in-person connection and tight knit community. How can the Body of Christ utilize social media without diminishing the depth of relationship that it is called to cultivate?This week on The Weight, we welcome Justin Posey of Jesus Culture, a church community and worship collective based out of Sacramento, California. Justin serves as the Social Media Manager for Jesus Culture after having worked with Bethel Church in content development. With a passion for faithfulness and integrity in digital outreach efforts, Justin talks to us about what it means to use social media with a “Kingdom mindset” and as a catalyst for a more personal connection.Chris, Cody, and Eddie talk to Justin about the journey that brought him from north Mississippi to his current position and the lessons learned about the role that digital outreach plays in the Church’s mission. Specifically, they discuss what the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and resulting pauses of in-person gathering has revealed about how digital mediums can be used for community connection and the importance of people remaining plugged in to their local church in a time where many are fleeing to more technologically-savvy congregations. This episode can help us dig deeper into a conversation of what churches will need to keep in mind as we discern the place of social media both during this season of life and in the future. Resources:Jesus Culture is “a global movement awakening hearts to worship and serve God.” Learn more about them on their website: https://jesusculture.com/Get to know Justin and check out his portfolio at his website: https://justinposey.com/Follow Justin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loveinjustin/ 

Acknowledging failure is not easy to do in any circumstance. This is specifically true when it comes to discussing the Church’s failure to live up to its call from God to do the work of justice. Reckoning with the failure of Christians to make justice efforts more than mere words may be a hard pill to swallow for some, yet it could also be the most faithful next step on the road to change. Are not confession and repentance essential parts of the Christian life? Joining us to discuss this is Rev. Jasper Peters who serves as Lead Pastor of Belong Church. Belong is a United Methodist community in Denver, Colorado with an orientation towards the work of justice, a work that has animated Jasper’s life and calling. Jasper leads with an acute recognition of the ways that the Church has not lived up to goals of invitation, embracing, and personal/societal transformation. With the marriage of mercy and justice, Jasper and Belong seek to help people grow in faithfulness to the work of the Kingdom of God.Chris and Eddie talk to Jasper about the need for the Church to recognize both its failure to do the work of justice and the unique opportunities that exist to repent. Specifically, they talk about the importance of recognizing the true, non-romanticized state of our past and present as we press on towards a more faithful future. This conversation is one worth engaging multiple times as we learn from Jasper’s story, wisdom, and vision for the people of the Body of Christ.ResourcesEddie references a video of Jasper’s where he reflects on why the term “racial reconciliation” is not an accurate representation of the work that the Church needs to take on. Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH3OyppyaREJasper speaks to the diversity and justice work of Rev. Dr. Stephany Rose Spaulding and her organization Truth and Conciliation. Learn more about their work here: https://truthandconciliation.org/Jasper is the Lead Pastor of Belong, a United Methodist congregation in Denver, Colorado devoted to drawing people into the work of the Kingdom of God. Follow them online: https://belongchurch.org/Follow Belong Church on Social Media: https://twitter.com/belongdenver https://www.instagram.com/belongdenver/ https://www.facebook.com/belongdenverFollow Rev. Jasper Peters on Facebook: https://bit.ly/2EPuVgt#TheWeightPod

To be “called by God” is something that we often think of as exclusive to those who are called to pastoral ministry. Christianity has plenty of resources and narratives for those who feel called to this realm of work. However, the vast majority of faithful Christians never find themselves in the pulpit, but rather working in jobs that are often relegated as “secular.” Does God not give them a calling to respond that is just as important? Hannah Long exemplifies what it means to be called by God, but it’s not through a vocation that you might expect: she’s a flight attendant with American Airlines. It might seem like a far cry from the calling of a pastor, but Hannah shows us through her testimony and her life that the two callings might not be as different as you may think. Furthermore, her job is not just something she randomly fell into. It’s a place where she specifically felt called to be, especially during a season of uncertainty in the airline industry.In this episode of The Weight, Hannah joins us to reflect on what a healthy understanding of calling looks like and how it is a part of every Christian’s life, not just those with “Reverend” in front of their name. Using her own calling to the airline industry, she discusses the importance of recognizing that God makes every person different and that comparison is the thief of the purpose and joy that each individual is called to. She also speaks to the risk at hand for her industry due to COVID-19, and how her calling has become even more prevalent in the midst of it. Follow Hannah’s journey on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_hannahlong/

Show Notes:Critiquing popularized Christianity from within the church is not always an easy thing to do, especially when such critique extends to American ideals held near and dear by many Christians. For many pastors, fear of backlash and congregational abandonment can be enough to stifle any attempt to challenge social norms ingrained within Evangelical culture. Brian Zahnd is no stranger to this struggle, yet has continued to respond to the American exceptionalism and political indoctrination that he perceives has tainted the witness of the Church. A product of the Jesus Movement, a charismatic revival of evangelicalism in North America, Zahnd planted what was once one of the fastest-growing congregations in America, Word of Life Church. In 2004, Zahnd experienced a personal awakening that led him to drastically change the trajectory of his congregation from the “excesses of the charismatic movement” and towards an understanding of the Kingdom of Christ “in juxtaposition to the Empire of America.” Zahnd has continued to be a thought leader in this effort as an author, social media presence, and speaker. Brian spoke with Eddie and Chris about his personal transformation from conservative evangelicalism to what he calls the “biblical Gospel of peace.” He uses the narrative of his life and the evangelical movement to offer a wholehearted critique of the marriage of civil religion and the American church and the ways it can inhibit faithfulness to the call of Christ. Though Zahnd’s ideas may rub against the grain of the beliefs of some, it offers an important perspective to consider in the discernment of faithful witness in the United States.Resources:Water to Wine: Some of My Story chronicles the story of Zahnd’s life and the disenchantment with popular Christianity that led him to risk everything to pursue a more faithful vision of faith.https://www.amazon.com/Water-Wine-Some-My-Story/dp/0692569189Postcards from Babylon discusses the counter-cultural nature of the early Christian movement, the failure of American Christianity to emulate it, and the challenge posed to believers to embrace the daring nature of Christ that can “turn the world upside down.”https://www.amazon.com/Postcards-Babylon-Church-American-Exile-ebook/dp/B07M5HJ5XBFollow Brian Blog: https://brianzahnd.com/Follow Brian on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrianZahnd?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5EauthorFollow Brian on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrianZahnd/

Show Notes:Conversations about the Bible in modern-day culture tend to dichotomize the Old and New Testaments in a manner that reduces the Old as archaic and obsolete while isolating the New as the bearer of relevance and truth. However, a deeper engagement with the texts of the Old Testament just might surprise readers when they find how relatable these stories of old are to an increasingly weary world. Was it not these very words that were used by Christ himself to proclaim his message to the world?Dr. Brent Strawn is a Professor of Old Testament at Duke Divinity School, as well as a Law Professor at Duke Law School who joins us this week on The Weight. Strawn has published over 200 articles, chapters in books, contributions to reference works, and reviews. A prolific academic and researcher, Strawn’s work is inextricably linked to his pastoral identity as an ordained elder in the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church, a calling he evokes as he “brings out treasures new and old” from the words of the Old Testament. In this episode, Strawn joins Chris and Eddie to discuss the unique role that the Old Testament can play in today's calamitous world. Revealing the multi-faceted nature of the oft-generalized testament, they discuss how the Old Testament can both accurately reflect the depths of anxiety and suffering felt in today’s world while also serving as conduit of substantial hope and empowerment. No matter where you fall on the religious spectrum, let this conversation be the beginning of a journey of rediscovery of the treasures hidden within the texts of the Old Testament.Resources:In “The Old Testament Is Dying,” Brent details the ways in which the Old Testament is losing prevalence in the church while reminding readers of the vital role it should play in Christian faith and practice:https://www.amazon.com/Old-Testament-Dying-Recommended-Explorations/dp/0801048885“The Old Testament: A Concise Introduction” introduces readers to the three main sections of the Hebrew Bible while contrasting the story of the Old Testament told by scholars and the story that the Old Testament literature tells itself.https://www.amazon.com/Old-Testament-Concise-Introduction/dp/0415643007You can find a collection of Brent’s academic works here:https://www.amazon.com/Brent-A.-Strawn/e/B0083HUZHU%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_shareChris references “Virus as a Summons to Faith: Biblical Reflections in a Time of Loss, Grief, and Uncertainty” by Walter Brueggemann, the author invites readers to engage with a scriptural imagination that helps us find God in the midst of global pandemic:https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B087VT869K/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i0The Pirkei Avot, referenced by Brent and Chris, is an ancient compilation of ethical teachings of the Rabbinic Jewish tradition. You can learn more about it here: https://www.sefaria.org/Pirkei_Avot?lang=bi

It goes without saying that the social fabric of America is becoming more frayed as the years go on and discourse becomes more vitriolic. With the growth of virtual engagement, specifically through social media, intensifying polarization has led humanity to lose grasp of the civic practice of intentional listening. How can we cultivate a culture where we engage in a manner that promotes mutual understanding? Dr. Graham Bodie has dedicated his career to the art of listening. Along with serving as a professor of Integrated Marketing Communications at the University of Mississippi, Graham is a leader of the Listen First Project. Listen First seeks to mend our frayed social fabric by building relationships and bridging divides. Through events, resourcing, and the formation of local movements, Listen First combats universally felt crises of distance, division, and dehumanization across differences with conversations that prioritize understanding. Graham sat down with Chris back in September of 2019 to discuss the need for people to escape their echo chambers, recognize their biases, and to realize that strong convictions and intentional listening are not mutually exclusive. He discusses a need for listening to be taught and practiced in politics, personal relationships, and Christian faith formation. ResourcesThe National Conversation Project is an initiative of Listen First that creates spaces for individuals and communities to develop skills in intentional listening and constructive dialogue. Get involved by checking out their website: https://www.nationalconversationproject.org/Similar to Listen First, Someone To Tell It To seeks to promote listening through the cultivation of meaningful relationships. They offer resources, trainings, and a podcast on their website: https://someonetotellitto.org/The International Listening Association is the leading organization of listening education, business, research, and training:  https://listen.org/Learn more about Listen First Project: http://www.listenfirstproject.org/Follow Listen First on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/listenfirstproject/Follow Listen First on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ListenFirstProjectLearn more about Graham Bodie’s work and research at his website: http://www.grahambodie.com/