The Good Citizen Podcast

Artificial Intelligence is quickly changing how we we work, create, lead, and even govern. What does this mean for church leaders and other committed Christians? Where is this technology headed, and what are the challenges and opportunities for the church? In this 2-episode discussion with Christopher Teeter (a technology futurist), we walk through current trends and challenges concerning AI (part 1) and then opportunities created by this technology (part 2). Key Takeaways: A discussion about this quote: “You will not be replaced by AI, but you will be replaced by a human using AI.” A brief review of the church’s history with technology and what we can learn from it. Definitions of some key terms such as artificial intelligence, Turing test, machine learning, and artificial general intelligence. Where this technology is headed and why church leaders and other committed Christians should care about it. Transhumanism and confusion of AI assisted robots created to look like humans. Geofencing, facial recognition, and the social credit system used to control humans and tamp down on freedoms, including religious freedom. Video games/metaverse as an alternate reality and AI-generated pornography. SIngularity? How Christians should think through and respond to this technology. The post #343 The Church and Artificial Intelligence, Part 1: Current Trends and Challenges with Christopher Teeter first appeared on The Good Citizen Project.

Over the last few months, I have received a number of questions about Andy Stanley’s book Not In It to Win It: Why Choosing Sides Sidelines the Church and the general approach to public life the book recommends. Here is a review of that book and why I believe our Christian citizenship compels us to engage in the public square rather than sit on the sidelines. Summary: Not In It to Win It is largely a call to avoid the public square lest we jeopardize our gospel witness. In essence, we should sit on the sidelines (continuing the author’s analogy) in public life because we can’t engage politics without wearing the jersey of one of the teams and playing the game according to the parties’ playbook. But we are not called to sit on the sidelines. We should get in the game, but we should wear Christ’s jersey and play according to His playbook and for His glory. Let’s be model players instead of silent spectators. Positive Points: The church’s mission is the Great Commission. Our ultimate allegiance is to Christ and not a political party or candidate. We should distinguish between God’s covenant with Israel and the United States. Questions: What about the Great Commission’s command to make disciples? What about government as a God-ordained institution and our role as citizen? What about the church’s role as conscience? What about Christ as King? A few key quotes from the book: “The moment we step into a ring that requires someone to lose in order for us to win, we are no longer followers of Jesus.” “The moment our love or concern for country takes precedence over our love for the people in our country, we are off mission. When saving America diverts energy, focus, and reputation away from saving Americans, we no longer qualify as the ekklesia of Jesus. We’re merely political tools. A manipulated voting demographic. A photo op. Again, we lose our elevated position as the conscience of the nation. We give up the moral and ethical high ground.” “When Christianity is reduced to belief, we lose our voice…By reducing Christianity to a pagan bifurcation of sacred and secular, we’ve abandoned our opportunity – our responsibility – to serve as the conscience of the nation.” “Our ultimate allegiance is to a King who came to reverse the order of things – the king who rather than requiring his subjects to die for him, died for them instead.” The post #342 Don’t Sit on the Sidelines: My Review of Andy Stanley’s Book Not In It to Win It first appeared on The Good Citizen Project.

Have you ever puzzled over God’s guidance or even silence concerning next steps in your life? In Acts 16, none other than the Apostle Paul walks through such a time of waiting and demonstrates how to respond. He also answers the Macedonian call, leads a businesswoman to Christ, casts out a demon, and uses his Roman citizenship to protect the young church at Phillipi. Here are some key lessons from this remarkable chapter. Big Idea: The early church carried the gospel throughout the known world in approximately 30 years and transformed an empire in 3 centuries. Now the church seems intimidated, uncertain amidst swift cultural changes. So, what did the early Christians, commanded by Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit, do that we are not doing? Here are their Acts, and may they inspire our own. Outline: Paul’s Protege The Mysterious Directions A Gospel Expedition A Great Quake Key Takeaways: Don’t do ministry alone. Trust in the go and the no. Praise God at midnight. The post #341 The Acts, Chapter 16 first appeared on The Good Citizen Project.

Are you prepared to minister with confidence in a changing culture? In this episode, we review four recent cultural developments and explain some practical Biblical responses. Challenges: The Rise of the Religious Left The Quiet Assault on Parental Rights Confusion over Identity A Lack of Discipleship in the area of Citizenship Key Takeaways: Episode concerning the rise of the religious left. Episode with David Closson concerning worldview formation in the church. Link to Cox case. Link to the Ted Hudacko case in California. Link to the Cass Report from the NHS in England. The post #340 4 Cultural Challenges in 2024 first appeared on The Good Citizen Project.

After Paul’s first missionary journey, the early church faced a critical question. Would Christianity be a splinter off Judaism limited in time and scope, or would Christ’s disciples follow His command to go into all the world and preach the gospel to all nations? In Acts 15, we find a remarkable example of the early church refusing syncretism, navigating tradition and deep difference, and remaining focused on its primary mission. There is much to learn here for our own cultural moment. Big idea for the series: The early church carried the gospel throughout the known world in approximately 30 years and transformed an empire in 3 centuries. Now the church seems intimidated, uncertain amidst swift cultural changes. So, what did the early Christians, commanded by Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit, do that we are not doing? Here are their Acts, and may they inspire our own. Outline: A Stubborn, Stale Belief Spiritual Direction Detection A Holy Compromise An Apostle Spat Key Takeaways: Where there is a will, there is a woln’t. The great danger of syncretism and falling back into tradition rather than forward with the gospel. The remarkable way the early church handled conflict and deep difference. An example of the church’s leadership at work. The disagreement between Paul and Barnabas and the question, “Where can I be most fruitful?” The post #339 The Acts, Chapter 15 first appeared on The Good Citizen Project.

The foster care crisis remains a leading (if not the leading) crisis facing state and federal officials and communities around the country. For this reason and because of the clear Scriptural commands to care for vulnerable children (Isaiah 1:17; James 1:27), foster care is a critical opportunity for churches and individual Christians to make a key difference in their zip codes. Here is an inspiring example of one church that is making an outsized impact in its community and practical steps and examples for starting and leading a foster care ministry at your church. Dawn Arnold, the Outreach Director at Maryland Community Church in Terre Haute, Indiana, helped launch and leads Fostering Hope. This ministry of MCC invests in life-changing relationships to help vulnerable children and their families take steps closer to Christ and is a remarkable example of strategically and comprehensively engaging the issue of foster care. Key Takeaways: Her family’s journey and experience in foster care and adoption. How foster care ministry has positively impacted the staff and church culture at MCC. Practical steps for launching a foster care ministry and how to build relationships with the child welfare agency in your state. MCC’s comprehensive approach to engaging foster care. How foster care ministry leads to Gospel transformation. The post #338 How to Start and Lead a Foster Care Ministry at Your Church with Dawn Arnold first appeared on The Good Citizen Project.

Aaron Renn’s article-turned-book Life in the Negative World captures what many American Christians have felt deeply–our culture has turned from viewing Christianity as positive, to neutral, to negative. Examples abound, including culture’s views on marriage, abortion, gender, and other topics. So, how should we live in such a negative world? Here are some strategic insights and practical suggestions. Aaron is the co-founder and Senior Fellow at American Reformer, and here is a link to his new book Life in the Negative World: Confronting Challenges in an Anti-Christian Culture. He had a first career in management and technology consulting advising major corporations as a Partner at Accenture. He then had a second career in urban policy as a Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research. Today his focus is on helping conservatives and the American church rise to the challenge of finding success in the 21st century. His work has appeared in a number of leading global publications, including The Guardian, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic and others, and he has been frequently cited in many publications around the world. Key Takeaways: Link to his substack/email list that includes compelling insights on society, Christianity, family, cities, politics and economics. Link to his in-depth discussion with Dr. Al Mohler on Thinking in Public. A brief discussion about the positive, neutral, and negative worlds. Recommendations for church leaders and committed Christians in the negative world. Thoughts on how a declining America can get back on track. The post #337 How to Live with Courage and Hope in the Negative World with Aaron Renn first appeared on The Good Citizen Project.

It’s finally launch day for our new resource, The Good Citizen Study Guide! As I have spoken in hundreds of churches and ministry settings about Christian citizenship, I have asked pastors this question, “What, in your opinion, is the most effective way to disciple Christians in the area of citizenship.” The answer was practically unanimous: a Sunday school or small group resource that will give Christians the opportunity to discuss Biblical principles related to government in the context of relationship and to encourage each other to follow Jesus in this area. Well, just in time for the 4th of July, here’s that resource! In The Good Citizen Study Guide, I walk through a Biblical, Dave Ramsey-style guide for engaging in our role as citizen in an increasingly divided America. This resource includes eight teaching videos to assist the group or class leader. Here’s the link to the the intro video, and a link to purchase the study guide.. The post #336 Introducing the Good Citizen Bible Study Guide; Why Sunday School/Small Groups are the Most Effective Place for Discipleship on Citizenship first appeared on The Good Citizen Project.

I often hear this statement in public life: “As human beings, we are made in the image of God.” This is a Biblical principle and an American ideal, as it is set out in Genesis and underlies the Declaration of Independence (“We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal…”) And both President Trump and President Biden have recited this truth in public addresses. But do we actually know what it means to be made in the image of God? Let me ask you. Can you give you a one-sentence explanation of this profound truth? I recently realized that I could not give such a explanation, so I did a deep dive into this topic. Here is what I found and why we should be confident in our identity as image bearers: Outline: Image Imaginary Imagine Key Takeaways: Why the image of God serves as the foundation of the church’s public witness. A working definition of the image of God and two examples to help explain it. How this impacts the discussion about sexual ethics and even artificial intelligence. How to practically live out this beautiful and profound truth. The remarkable story of Eric Liddell. Don’t be a victim of identity theft. Embrace who God created you to be. The post #335 Identity Theft: The True You in an Imaginary World first appeared on The Good Citizen Project.

We don’t use the word “repent” very often these days, but personal and national repentance is a Biblical imperative and an American tradition. Given recent headlines about church leaders such as Dr. Tony Evans, the general moral state of the country, and the looming 2024 presidential election, I believe it is time to call for and participate in a time of personal and national repentance. Here’s the Biblical and historical case: Repentance is: A Biblical Imperative An American Tradition A Pressing Priority Key Takeaways: Excerpt from Washington’s 1789 Thanksgiving Address: “…[A]nd also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions– to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually–to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed–to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord–To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us–and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.” Excerpt from Lincoln’s 1864 Thanksgiving Address: And I do further recommend to my fellow-citizens aforesaid that on that occasion they do reverently humble themselves in the dust and from thence offer up penitent and fervent prayers and supplications to the Great Disposer of Events for a return of the inestimable blessings of peace, union, and harmony throughout the land which it has pleased Him to assign as a dwelling place for ourselves and for our posterity throughout all generations. Biblical principles about personal and national repentance from Amos, Jeremiah, Daniel, and Acts. Why we should read Daniel 9 as a potential model prayer for repentance. The post #334 A Call to Repentance first appeared on The Good Citizen Project.