539: Megachurch Christmas Controversy & Answers in Exodus with Carmen Imes
Release Date: 12/14/2022
557: The Rise of Christian Nashville-ism & What Christians Must Do with Claude Alexander
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557: The Rise of Christian Nashville-ism & What Christians Must Do with Claude Alexander Why doesn’t Congress work? A recent article explains how diversity, education, and geography are driving the political parties apart. These findings also help explain the widening fractures among evangelicals. In the past, evangelicalism was primarily driven by academic institutions in the North, but now it’s increasingly fueled by entertainment interests in the South. Phil explains this rise of “Christian Nashville-ism.” Then, Skye talks to Bishop Claude Alexander about his book...
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556: Teen Mental Health Revisited & Digital Discipleship with Nona Jones
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Feedback on the recent episode about the teen mental health report by the CDC was so strong that the Holy Post gang revisits the topic. Jonathan Haidt says three untruths that fuel depression were embraced by progressives ten years ago, but now they’re commonplace among conservatives too. Then, in 1976, Jimmy Carter represented a biblically-rooted evangelicalism that was also politically progressive. So, why did white evangelicals abandon him—or did they? And former Facebook executive, Nona Jones, explains why social media companies say their mission is to create community but their...
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555: “The Article” & Biblical Critical Theory with Christopher Watkin
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The Gospel Coalition published an article last week that brought together every divergent faction of the church to say, “Ick!” While many are discussing the troubling content of the article on social media, the Holy Post crew examines what is says about the troubling state of evangelical publishing. Then, new data finds liberal teens are struggling with depression at higher rates on average than conservative teens. What’s the explanation? And Phil talks to professor Christopher Watkin about his book, “Biblical Critical Theory: How the Bible's Unfolding Story Makes Sense of Modern Life...
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554 Teenage Girls in Crisis & Rethinking Revelation with Scot McKnight
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A new report from the CDC finds a record number of teenage girls are now debilitated by mental illnesses including depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. And social psychologist Jonathan Haidt says the evidence is abundant that social media is the cause, but the tech industry is resisting any changes. Phil, Kaitlyn, and Skye discuss the social, political, and spiritual dimensions of the crisis. They also revisit the Asbury revival and how previous revivals in America produced both good and bad fruit. New Testament professor, Scot McKnight, talks about his latest book, “Revelation for...
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French Friday: The Real Masculinity Crisis
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There's no denying that American men are struggling. Depression, drug use, and suicide are on the rise, and there are plenty of voices on the far right eager to blame feminists, the LGBT movement, #MeToo, and the left in general. They say our culture has made traditionally masculine traits "toxic" and stolen from men the one thing they need most—respect. David French explains to Skye Jethani why this diagnosis is wrong. He argues that the real crisis isn't that men lack respect, but that they lack "virtuous purpose." Plus, French and Jethani revisit the war in Ukraine one year after the...
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553: Revival Tourism & Christ vs Christians with Beth Moore
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She’s finally here! Bible teacher and author Beth Moore joins Kaitlyn Schiess to discuss her new memoir, her calling, and how she found the courage to speak out against the political idolatry of evangelical leaders in 2016. Moore says she learned how to put her faith in Christ himself rather than in Christian people. Also this week, we discuss the revival at Asbury University that’s attracted 20,000 people to a small town in Kentucky—including a lot of Christian celebrities. Is it a genuine movement of God’s Spirit, or a product of social media spin? Could it be both? Plus, a Christian...
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552 Jesus Gets Us & We Get Data on Christian Nationalists with Kristin Kobes Du Mez Vu
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A Christian campaign spent $20 million on two ads during the Super Bowl, but the “He Gets Us” commercials are facing criticism from both the right and left. One side says the ads did not present the gospel. The other says the campaign’s funders are bigots. And everyone is wondering if the $20 million could have been spent more effectively. Phil, Skye, and Kaitlyn offer their takes. Then, Tim Keller has a new article with his prescription for how Christianity can thrive again in America, but does it all come down to overcoming political idolatry? And a new report from PRRI looks at the...
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551 Power, Pacifism, & Being Consistently Pro-Life with Shane Claiborne
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What does it mean to be pro-life? Drawing from the words of Jesus, the Apostles, and the early church, Shane Claiborne says most American Christians have gotten it wrong. His new book, “Rethinking Life: Embracing the Sacredness of Every Person,” argues for the value of the unborn, but also for combating poverty, racism, and other dehumanizing evils. He talks with Skye about how the early church’s consistent ethic of life changed once it gained political power. It’s one thing for a tiny church on the margins of society to apply the teachings of Jesus, but how do we apply his words when...
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550 Demons, Democrats, & Dominionists, Oh My!
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How did American politics go from a disagreement over policies to become a war between the forces of good and evil? Phil takes us on a journey through the fascinating origins of the New Apostolic Reformation movement as he traces a line from a professor at Fuller Seminary in the 1980s to the January 6th attack on the Capitol. Along the way, we learn how the movement popularized the integration of culture, politics, and spiritual warfare, and shaped the imaginations of generations of evangelicals. Plus, the Chinese spy balloon is a Rorschach test in the sky. And creepy things are happening to...
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549 MLK, Black Voices & A New Book on Lent w/Esau McCaulley
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Phil catches up with friend-of-the-show Esau McCaulley (New Testament Professor, NYT columnist, author of CT Book of the Year Reading While Black) for a wide-ranging conversation. Why do we keep getting MLK wrong? What do Black voices give up in order to be invited into white spaces, and is there a better way? What does McCaulley do to refocus on Jesus? And why did he decide his new book should be about, of all things, Lent?? McCaulley is a deep thinker AND a little bit of a goofball. Which makes his conversations with Phil always worth your time. Patreon Bonus: Click here for info...
info_outlineA Texas megachurch is facing criticism after a viral TikTok video showed a rehearsal of its Christmas production with drummers flying over the crowd on wires. The church says it’s simply offering its best to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Critics say it’s an extravagant violation of Jesus’ humble spirit. Who’s right? New data says Americans are far more isolated and lonely than ever before, and it’s not because of Covid. Is the church the solution or part of the problem? And a researcher offers three surprising explanations for why the decline of religion in the U.S. didn’t start until the 1990s. Then, Old Testament scholar Carmen Imes answers questions about the book of Exodus. Why did God harden Pharaoh’s heart? What does it really mean to take God’s name in vain? And how do all of the details about the tabernacle apply to Christians today?
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News Segment
0:00 - Intro
2:49 - Megachurch Christmas production
21:12 - Loneliness
39:01- Why Americans are leaving their churches
Sponsors
53:29 - Sponsor: Faithful Counseling
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Interview with Carmen Imes
BibleProject Classroom on Exodus - https://bibleproject.com/classroom/overview/exodus-overview/
Carmen Imes - https://twitter.com/carmenjoyimes
55:42 - Interview intro
57:16 - Why Exodus is important
58:55 - Pharoah’s heart being hardened
1:03:58 - Taking the Lord’s name in vain
1:10:54 - Tabernacle
1:19:05 - Golden calf story
1:26:05 - BibleProject Exodus course
Links mentioned in news segment:
Holy Post 529: Rapture Anxiety and Why Analog Discipleship is Better with Jay Y. Kim - https://www.holypost.com/post/episode-529-rapture-anxiety-why-analog-discipleship-is-better-with-jay-y-kim
“Texas Megachurch responds to backlash over opulent Christmas show” (Houston Chronicle) -
https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/texas-megachurch-tiktok-17616329.php
“Americans are choosing to be alone. Here’s why we should reverse that” (Washington Post) - https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/11/23/americans-alone-thanksgiving-friends/
“Why Americans are leaving their churches” (Religion News Service) - https://religionnews.com/2022/12/01/why-americans-are-leaving-their-churches/
Other resources:
“Bearing God’s Name: Why Sinai Still Matters” by Carmen Joy Imes - https://amzn.to/3uQbKKp
Carmen Imes on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/CarmenJoyImesPhD
Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/
Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost
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