The last couple of years has kicked up a lot of dust regarding race relations in America and in the church, but why did it take so long? Thabiti, or “Pastor T,” helps us understand some of the concerns and frustrations that black people have had about how white people (progressives and conservatives) have gone about the race conversation. Pastor T helps us understand what Critical Race Theory is, the real meaning of systemic racism, why issues of justice are not subsidiary to the gospel, and how the church can have better conversations about race.
This is a special Black History Month episode of the podcast. Justin and Chris talk about the Black Panther Party and the social circumstances that created the movement. The two hosts also discuss how people have focused on the aesthetics of justice rather than the substance. Lastly, they discuss the motives of the Capitol insurrectionists. Was it just about racism or is there more there?
Justin and Chris discuss President Joe Biden's earliest Executive Orders, including one dealing with transgenderism. The hosts also discuss why Americans have lost trust in the media and the consequences for our democracy. Lastly, they examine what happens when we make serious arguments based on hyperbole and lies.
Justin and Chris discuss Biden's COVID-10 stimulus plan in deep detail. They also analyze Alana Newhouse's article "Everything is Broken" and her concept of "flatness" in American society from economics to journalism and education. Then they lighten the mood with Justin's Sports Tribalism Theorem.
Happy MLK Day! In honor of the famed civil rights icon who is often whitewashed, often sanitized, often vilified; we have a special treat for you. On April 16, 1963, Dr. King wrote a lengthy letter to a coalition of white clergymen from a narrow jail cell in Birmingham, after being arrested by the police for nonviolent direct action. What he wrote eventually became one of the greatest pieces of writing every penned in English. For today’s episode, our Host Tyler Burns reads the entire speech for you. If you’ve never heard it read audibly, here is your chance! Gather your family around, put this episode on during your daily commute or workout, and hear the powerful words/arguments of Dr. King.
Co-founder of Christ and Pop Culture Alan Noble believes deeply in the importance of learning how to interact and engage with the culture around us. "We need to talk. We need to have strong communities. We need to have these kind of conversations." Between imperfect mediums and political conflict, Noble explains how distortion and division often run rampant. In this episode of the Disrupters, Esau McCaulley and Alan noble talk truth and technology, postmodern attitudes, and the theologies of power that dominate the church today. Learn more with Noble's book Disruptive Witness: Speaking Truth in a Distracted Age.
"I've honestly learned that nobody is owed the sound of my voice." As the daughter of someone with a significant presence in evangelical circles, author and teacher Jasmine Holmes is familiar with assumptions made about who she is—but she doesn't fit into a mold. In this episode of the Disrupters, Esau McCaulley and Jasmine Holmes dive into stereotypes of race and political ideologies, black womanhood, and the fearless pursuit of God's unique callings on our lives. Get a copy of her book Mother to Son: Letters to a Black Boy on Identity and Hope now.
Justin, President of the AND Campaign, discusses the crises, transitions and success of 2020. He also gives an in depth analysis of why Christians can't have an opposition-centered public witness. Discover how centering our opponents has lured many Christians into unbiblical positions.
The world has changed dramatically. Have we witnessed the demise of the short-term missions trip? Jason Phillips doesn’t think so. This week, he explains why—and how pastors and missions trip leaders can do a better job of maximizing the long-term i
Rick and Patti Love share creative ideas for churches to minister and demonstrate the love of Jesus to immigrants. Rick and Patti suggest a 3-stage model that churches of various sizes can apply to develop pathways to Jesus for new immigrants.
Expect renewed focus on partnerships and religious freedom in the next four years.
Brian Stiller, author of “From Jerusalem to Timbuktu†helps us understand the incredible growth of Christianity around the world! Brian shares how indigenous leadership, Bible translation, and a renewed understanding of the work of the Spirit have c
Justin Giboney goes to the Book of Proverbs to discuss what it has to say about this political moment. He details the Bible's position on scoffers and how Christians need to separate themselves from that form of political engagement.
The current conflict with Azerbaijan is rekindling fears a century after genocide.
Sharing the gospel with unreached people groups can involve significant risk for cross-cultural workers. Anna Hampton, author of “Facing Danger: A Guide Through Risk†presents some ideas that can help both Goers and Senders develop a Biblical theolo
How the Supreme Court nominee reflects the movement’s shifting values and priorities.
Sometimes, you don't think about whether you're going to say something. You know you have to. In 2016, Beth Moore found herself struggling to reconcile the gospel with the church's reaction to a political sea change. "All at the same time, I am watching nationalism, I am watching sexism, and I'm watching racism." "It was like we were being blown back decades. We never made the ground that we needed to make. But I saw us going in reverse instead of making any advancement whatsoever in the gospel role of justice." Beth Moore doesn't write brazen, disruptive books about social issues. Her life's purpose is to study the Bible, and to share the insight and unadulterated joy that comes from God's word. Her latest Bible Study, "Now That Faith Has Come," is a simple, unassuming study of the book of Galatians. But if you wanted her to tip-toe around prominent, controversial social issues, you'd be sorely disappointed. While Moore did little more than speak what she believed the Bible had to say to the American church, that message suddenly became perceived as disruptive to her brothers and sisters in Christ. In this episode of The Disrupters, Esau McCaulley and Beth Moore discuss their shared experiences in the American Church, the ways they've dealt with feedback, and the unmatched clarity they find in the Word of God.
The musician has been traveling the country and gathering people to worship God. It’s sparked controversy.
Sometimes the missionary task is a balance between evangelism and humanitarianism. William Carey believed that the more evangelized a society was, the more civilized it became—and the more civilized it was, the more open to evangelized it would become
For Christians trying to navigate conversations with those persuaded by an increasingly popular conspiracy theory.
Christians live in an age of iconoclasm. How can we do church history and modern missions history responsibly—without falling into the opposite errors of hero-worship or “cancel culture� Jonathan Arnold, Associate Professor of Church History and
On August 4, 2020, the world’s eyes were glued on Beirut, Lebanon as two fatal explosions in a major urban center caused at least 171 deaths, 6,000 injuries, rocked social media, and left an estimated 300,000 people homeless. Pierre Rashad Houssney is
When most people think of Norway, they think of gorgeous fjords, bitter cold, and secularism—not a revival of interest in apologetics or biblical doctrine. Is this Scandinavian nation simply circling the drain of postmodernism, or is God doing somethi
The Pacific Islands are staggeringly diverse—ethnically and religiously. Pastors and churches are starved for theologically rich, gospel-driven teaching and training. What strategy can solve this problem? In this episode, Chris Bruno provides answers
Throughout church history, believers tore down icons. Sometimes they were Greek gods. Other times, saints.
What's ahead for abortion opponents after another frustrating decision.
While our eyes were glued to Western news, Cyclone Ampham struck India and Bangladesh with deadly results. When tragedy strikes in affluent North America, we can recover much more quickly—but what happens to ministries in the developing world when nat
Click here to watch the video version of this episode. Sheriff Chris Swanson in Genesee County near Flint, Michigan, went viral two weeks ago when he took off his helmet and riot gear, approached the crowd of demonstrators gathered in response to the ki
Why African American Christian leaders aren't at the forefront of the protests against police brutality.
How a Christian concern for teenagers turned into a reverence for law enforcement.
“Absolutely no mercy.†That’s how leaked documents describe the treatment of China’s Uyghur Muslims detained in “re-education†camps, according to the New York Times. In recent years, China has detained more than one million members of the e
Charles Madinger helps us understand how to effectively communicate the gospel with people with high orality reliance, who often don’t read, or prefer learning by oral ways and means. Charles describes the importance of relating the message of Jesus t
The powerful are scheming. The biggest truths have been hidden. Did Paul love conspiracy theories?
What is the difference between folk Islam and orthodox Islam—or folk religion in general and any other major religion—and how can Christians meaningfully present Christ in a context of traditional spiritism? Dr. Robin D. Hadaway joins us this week t
This Week on Seminary Dropout… Ronald J. Sider, whose book Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger has been called one of the top 100 books in religion in the twentieth century, is a well-known evangelical speaker, writer, and editor.
Healthcare missionaries across the globe are acutely feeling the pressure of the COVID-19 pandemic—even in countries where there are few reported cases. And in developing nations where subsistence living is common, “shelter in place†isn’t feasi
For African American Christians in the evangelical church, cognitive dissonance is a way of life. As African Americans approach cultural change, there’s a long-standing tension between working within mainstream institutions, seeking to provide insight and challenge whenever possible, and then finding their work most effective outside of those institutions. That’s where Jemar Tisby finds himself: “I want to be very careful about where I place my voice.” In this final episode of The Disruptors, a conversation between Esau McCaulley, an African-American professor at a majority white institution, and Jemar Tisby, founder and president of The Witness and author of The Color of Compromise, illuminates the dissonance. More importantly, this conversation clearly demonstrates how this tension serves as an ever-present reminder that the racial struggles we face in the American church flow from historical struggles.
The COVID-19 pandemic is challenging churches to be more bold, evangelistic, and loving towards our neighbors than we’ve ever needed to be. But this isn’t the first time in church history that Christians have faced the challenge of a plague. In this
How can Christians with a high view of God’s moral law in the Old Testament address the apologetics challenged posed by the Islamic doctrine of sharia? That’s one of a number of thought-provoking questions tackled by Matt Bennett this week as he con
When Roman governments didn’t have a coordinated response to plagues, the church stepped up.
The death of Qasem Soleimani. Coronavirus. The shooting down of Ukrainian flight PS752. Iran has been in the news a lot lately, but it’s critical that Christians look beyond the headlines. How are Iranians and Persians worldwide processing these event
Jon Burns of Greater Europe Mission describes some of the ways he sees God at work in Europe. Jon and Mags discuss why the North American church should participate in sharing the gospel in Europe. Jon highlights opportunities for churches around the wo.
Tim from Live Dead challenges Christ-followers to step out and actively engage the unreached with the gospel. In this episode, Mags and Tim discuss four practical ways to help take the message of Jesus to those who have little or no opportunity to hear.
This Week on Seminary Dropout… Gena Thomas is a writer and speaker who works at a nonprofit that empowers others through holistic development. She served as a missionary in northern Mexico for four years, holds a master’s degree in international dev
Yaw Perbi describes why international student ministry is a strategic global missions opportunity and suggests some very practical ways that churches can be involved. [et_social_share]
Lukas Ruegger of Steiger presents three principles for engaging secular youth culture. Lukas shares examples of connecting with young people, proclaiming the truth, and inviting people to experience authentic Christian community. [et_social_share]
Dale Losch and Mark of Crossworld encourage Christ-followers from all professions to make disciples and bring God’s love to life in the world’s least-reached marketplaces. [et_social_share]
Decio de Carvalho presents an inspiring overview of the Ibero-American missions sending movement. Decio describes some of the strengths and challenges of the movement and how God is at work in Ibero-America. [et_social_share]
Pastor Benjamin presents an introduction to the teachings and practices of Hinduism and suggests ways that Christ-followers can share the gospel with Hindus in a sensitive way. [et_social_share]