In this bonus episode, we respond to a few questions submitted by listeners and make a few exciting announcements about how you can support our work. All that and more on this bonus episode of Questions From The Pew.
S2E9 - Doing Church
The current state of the world has forced many churches to move to online services. While some will stay in that format for the foreseeable future, others have opted to conduct smaller gatherings. Still other congregations expect that they will have to close their doors forever. All of this has forced congregations across the nation to reconsider how they do church. But this is just the tip of the iceberg for a bigger conversation that has already been happening for quite some time. From the worship wars that dominated ecclesial conversations for a good decade to the more recent conversations about the validity of the seeker-sensitive model, conversations about what a church should look like have been a part of the history of the Church universal since its inception.
In this final episode we ask: How should we do church? Is there a right or wrong way to have services? Where do churches have the freedom to be diverse? Where should churches be unified? All that and more on this edition of Questions From The Pew.
S2E8 - Politics & the Church 2.0
2020 has been an unprecedented year. Most of it has been spent in some state of lockdown or shelter-in-place. Yet even with most of the country effectively shut down, injustice has not lessened. In fact, the present state of the nation seems to have exacerbated it. One atrocious injustice overwhelms another to the point where it’s difficult to keep track of what to be angry about now. Attempting to correct what they see as injustice, Christians of all traditions align themselves with political parties, often demonizing their brothers and sisters who align with the opposite party. Both groups of Christians say they value justice and worship the God of the Bible. But within the American Church there is a disturbing trend of individuals who are leaving Christianity entirely because, in their eyes, the Bible and the Church just aren’t focused enough on justice. If anything, the Bible is used to further perpetuate injustice, and the Church ignores it. As if justice and Christianity cannot coexist, the pursuit of a just society has led many to abandon their faith. What should we make of this?
Dr. Michael O. Emerson joins us to talk about his recent article “Goodbye Christ. I’ve Got Justice Duty.” Together, we ask how does individualism affect how justice is understood within particular Christian communities? Has justice been politicized? What is American Christianity’s role within the current polarized political climate? How can the Church pursue justice while maintaining a faithful witness to the Kingdom of God? All that and more on this edition of Questions From The Pew.
RESOURCES:
“Goodbye Christ. I’ve Got Justice Duty” by Michael O. Emerson
Divided by Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America by Michael O. Emerson
S2E7 - Immigration Through A Biblical Lens
Immigration. A constant aspect of human life since its inception. From the movement of ancient Near Eastern clans to what we might think of in the world of the modern nation-state, immigration has impacted countless lives throughout history for better and for worse. The Bible does not shy away from this reality and is rife with stories and examples of people groups migrating. Whether they’ve been forced to move or voluntarily decide to leave their home, immigrants are often met with a mixed reception upon their arrival in a new land.
How are Christians to respond to this age old phenomenon? Does the Bible provide any clear endorsements one way or the other? Or is the issue more complex than what American bipartisan politics would lead us to believe? All that and more on this edition of Questions from the Pew!
RESOURCES:
U.S. Immigration Trends - Migration Policy Institute (MPI)
U.S. Immigration Before 1965 - History.com
U.S. Immigration Timeline - History.com
As Chinese Exclusion Act Turns 135, Experts Point To Parallels Today - NPR
S2E6 - Multi or Mono: Diversity Examined
The ethnic and cultural identity of America is changing. As the world continues to globalize year by year, the unwritten law of the land is trending away from traditional American assumptions. Multi-ethnic communities, churches and even marriages in the United States have become normal occurrences, rather than exceptions to the rule. While the rising tension we see in our country surrounding race and ethnicity is multi-layered in nature, certainly the differences in cultural values add to this ethnic-disconnect.
What responsibility, if any, do Christians have in welcoming diversity and championing inter-ethnic collaboration? Can members of majority and minority cultures engage one another’s differing values and experiences in a way that is mutually uplifting? How can churches and communities integrate ethnic groups together without abandoning their unique cultural distinctions? All that and more on this edition of Questions from the Pew.
S2E5 - Rethinking Christian Higher Education
College: The gateway to the American dream. With a college education, socio-economic stability can be secured. But recent trends in higher education have caused many to rethink that common assumption. With the higher enrollment of past generations, colleges and universities have followed suite, pouring millions of dollars into not only more respected faculty, but better residence halls, top of the line facilities, and extravagant amenities. With that rise in supposed quality of education has come a nearly astronomical rise in tuition rates and an increase in fees. All this has made prospective college students wonder if college is really worth it. Christian colleges and universities are not immune to these changes either, and many have been forced to try and keep up with their secular counterparts. And Christians seeking a college education are asking the same question: Is it worth it?
In the milieu of options in the world of higher education, what makes Christian higher education stand out? What does it mean to get an education from a “Christian worldview”? Are there legitimate reasons to attend a private Christian institution over an oftentimes more affordable public option? Is it time to reconsider what a university does? All that and more on this edition of Questions From The Pew.
RESOURCES:
Is Christian College Debt Worth It?, National Association of Evangelicals
Most Teenagers Drop Out of Church as Young Adults, Lifeway
Five Myths About Young Adult Church Dropouts, Barna
College Enrollment Declines Again. It’s Down More Than Two Million Students In This Decade., Forbes
S2E4 - What Is A Patriotic Christian?
It seems that the political environment in America gets more polarized and hostile with each passing day. Social media is full of partisan arguments being exchanged back and forth, politicians smear and defame each other, and family dinners end in ideological fist-fights. With this broadening divide in the civic arena, disagreements have begun to arise about what it even means to be an American. Suddenly, the popular measure for a true American is whether or not they happen to agree with me.
What does it look like to be a Patriotic Christian in our present political environment? Is patriotism the same thing as nationalistic zeal? Where does the church fit into this conversation? All that and more on this edition of Questions from the Pew.
RESOURCES:
“Nationalism: Definition, History, and Facts”, Encyclopædia Britannica
“The Definition of a Nationalist”, CNN
“Nationalism”, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
S2E3 - How Can I Help (Well)?
This special bonus episode is being released in light of Juneteenth, an important holiday on many levels and we hope that this conversation helps our listeners wrestle through this very important and timely question.
Turmoil is in the streets. In major cities across the country, there is civil unrest. As if the world could not become any more divided, the perennial problem of race in America has once more crashed onto the national scene. As has so often been the case, people have divided into camps. Very little room, if any at all, has been made for middle ground. Allies for justice have risen from all corners of American life, but many have come under fire for merely putting on an act. And while these actions ought to be condemned, fear of being called a performative ally has paralyzed otherwise well meaning people from taking part in the collective cry for justice.
In this bonus episode, we ask, “What does performative activism look like?” Does performative justice hurt corrective efforts? What motivations for pursuing justice are legitimate? Should allies for justice, specifically racial justice, be a monolith? All this and more on this edition of Questions From The Pew.
RESOURCES:
Prophetic Lament: A Call for Justice in Troubled Times, by Soong-Chan Rah
Rediscipling the White Church: From Cheap Diversity to True Solidarity, by David W. Swanson
S2E2 - Beyond Deconstruction
Hello, faithful listener. We deliberated on whether to post this podcast today given the recent protests sparked by the murder of George Floyd. While we certainly do not want to detract from the much needed attention of the country on police brutality and racial inequality, we decided to continue with our normal posting schedule. While this podcast does not directly confront the issue at hand, we wanted to provide our listeners with content to engage with. Some of our previous episodes deal more directly with race in America. You may want to check out episode 2 of season 0, which is entitled Black Panther, Race in America and the Church. Also, you may find our conversation about the Juneteenth holiday in episode 2 of season 1 relevant for the present moment. We stand in solidarity with our black brothers and sisters and, as is consistent with the biblical voice, will always strive for the vindication of the oppressed. We appreciate you joining with us in that journey. Thanks for listening, And for now, let’s continue on with the conversation.
“Deconstruction” is the religious buzzword for our generation. Statistically, the church in America is on the decline. Scores of young people are abandoning their childhood faith and leaving their local congregations. While many social causes are more supported than ever, it seems odd that a faith built on love for others is left on the cutting room floor. Yet both the church and the Bible are often seen as outdated and irrelevant. Many view Christians as a part of the problem, rather than those leading the charge for justice and right-living in our society.
Perhaps such a faith should be deconstructed, but is that where it ends? Is there a healthy way for Christians to deconstruct the faith system they’ve inherited while maintaining a commitment to its core? Can we reconstruct Christianity for our present moment while honoring the traditions of the past? All that and more on this edition of Questions from the Pew.
RESOURCES:
Six Reasons Young Christians Leave the Church - Barna
You Lost Me: Why Young Christians Are Leaving Church . . . and Rethinking Faith, by David Kinnaman
Scripture as Communication: Introducing Biblical Hermeneutics, by Jeannine K. Brown
S2E1 - Evangelicalism: Worth the Effort?
Between 2009 and 2019 there has been a slow but steady decline of Americans who call themselves “Evangelicals.” Over the past few years, there has been a growing distrust of Evangelicals. Societal and political events have cast doubt from the outside while internal unrest and trauma have fueled a sort of civil war among Evangelicals, leading to a mass exodus of individuals who had grown up in the Evangelical church. All these events have caused both insiders and outsiders to ask “Is the Evangelical movement at an end?”
Perhaps a better question to ask is, “Should the Evangelical movement come to an end?” What part of the Christian witness is strengthened by the title “Evangelical”? What is lost? Are we losing more than we gain by calling ourselves Evangelicals? Is it time to give up the title “Evangelical”? Or is it still worth the effort? All that and more on this edition of Questions From The Pew.
RESOURCES:
Evangelical Has Lost Its Meaning - The Atlantic
The Crisis of American Christianity, Viewed From Great Britain - The Atlantic
US Adults See Evangelicals Through a Political Lens - Barna
“Exvangelicals”: Why more religious people are rejecting the Evangelical label - The Guardian
Are Pastors Discarding the “Evangelical” Label? - Christianity Today
Molly Worthen: Three questions that open up evangelicalism
In U.S., Decline of Christianity Continues at Rapid Pace - Pew Research Center
Religious Landscape Study: Evangelical Protestants - Pew Research Center
S2E0 - Season 2 Trailer
Season 2 of Questions From The Pew is almost upon us! This season, Lucas and Reichert will be discussing whether the term “Evangelical” is still a useful one in our day and age, ideological deconstruction and reconstruction, Christian higher education, and so much more. You can now also support QFTP financially through Patreon if that is something you would like to do. So join the conversation. All this and more on this season of Questions From The Pew!
S1E8 - The Church and Politics
Christianity was birthed from the margins of a world empire. Its founder was no man of power in the traditional sense; neither were its first adherents people of influence. It grew in the crucible of persecution and, in an unforeseen turn, was declared the state religion of the same empire that sought to destroy it. American Christianity is a far cry from those early days. For centuries, Christians have enjoyed a considerable level of influence and comfort. The name of God is invoked in many corners of American life and there is still some level of deference for the pastorate.
But the culture is steadily severing its ties with historic Christianity in an attempt to perpetuate an inclusive and tolerant society. The realm of politics is a battleground for this. One politician calls for further separation between church and state while another panders to religious constituents to garner more votes. There are those who think that Christians and Christianity have no place in politics, while others celebrate politicians’ supposed Christian faith. Politics is inescapable and those in power often align themselves with values and movements that will simply lead to their election.
Christians with strong, biblically faithful, and theologically informed convictions are caught in the middle. How did we get here? What is one to do when Christian values are upheld by opposing parties? Is one party more aligned with Christianity than the other? Can Christians separate their faith from their vote? Should they? All that and more on this edition of Questions from the Pew.
S1E7 - Holiness or Wholeness?
At any major book store, you’ll find a self-help section filled with books that teach you how to have a good life or think positively. YouTube channels that offer guided methods of living well are in no short supply. There are also personality tests which help you discover your true self and unlock your hidden potential. But is there any truth to these things?
Traditionally, Evangelical Christianity has upheld prayer and personal Bible reading as the normative Christian practices for spiritual formation. Other practices that reflect self-help methods or religious mysticism are often disregarded. Yet our culture has become increasingly interested in a more holistic understanding of what it means to be human. This in turn has led to a discussion within the Church of what it means to not only be human, but also how Christians ought to interact with what are commonly viewed as shallow self-help guidelines.
In a society that accepts all paths to personal wholeness, whether that be through religion, exercise, or meditative practices, how are Christians unique? Does self-discovery have any place in the life of a Christian? Can holiness and personal wholeness co-exist? All that and more on this edition of Questions from the Pew.
S1E6 - Question & Response
Questions From the Pew is driven in large part by the listener. The show and its hosts hope to engage with the questions that are weighing on the hearts and minds of people sitting in the pew, Christian or not, so questions and comments are invaluable. Thanks to all the feedback from listeners, this episode takes on a different feel. It’s time to do a bit of housekeeping.
Who are Lucas and Reichert? If you haven’t seen it already, they sometimes look at questions and issues from slightly different angles. What does this mean for the questions asked on the podcast and how they engage with them?
Listeners have asked about how far one can extend the interpretive method talked about in S0E03 The Bible Tells Me So. If historical and cultural context play such an important part in how the Bible is interpreted and applied, how does that affect how we engage with the LGBT+ movement? Are there other things that we should pay attention to when reading and interpreting the different parts of the Bible?
There was a lot of engagement with the previous episode: S1E5 Statements. There are certainly other questions that could have been asked alongside those discussed in the episode. What might a faithful Christian response to and engagement with official statements look like? That episode clearly scratched an itch and we dive a little deeper into the topic. All that and more on this edition of Questions from the Pew.
S1E5 - Statements
We live in a highly divisive and dualistic world. You’re either this or that, either on my team or on the opposition, one of us or one of them. There seems to be no middle ground. Right in the center of that, and perhaps adding to the division, multiple Christian groups have released so-called “statements” on certain points of theology and practice. These statements often have to do with a hot-button issue, such as Social Justice’s relationship to the gospel or how churches should engage with the LGBTQ+ community.
While the statements themselves can certainly provide a point of commonality between all those who sign it, there can be multiple unintended consequences to releasing them. With the advent of social media, conversations that were once internal are now open for all to see. Family conversations are now worldwide discussions which create even more lines of division. Are the advantages of formal Christian statements undercut by the polarization that follows them? What place do these modern statements have in the history of the church? When is the right time to write up a Christian statement or should we simply abandon the idea of statements altogether? All that and more on this edition of Questions from the Pew.
S1E4 - Forgotten Histories
“Our stories are being told.” Of late, that phrase has become a rallying cry for minorities of all kinds. Embedded within the histories of any people group are their sense of identity, values, and aspirations. Sadly, those histories are not always told. It isn’t surprising then that the people whose histories have been forgotten are those outside of the majority culture. They are the ones who are on the fringe, those who hold the least power and influence. But now that minorities of all colors and creeds have more access to the cultural megaphone, many insist that these forgotten histories be brought back to the forefront of the American conscience.
It’s been said that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. But what happens when history has been forgotten? If cultural histories live on in the people who tell and embody them, what happens when those storytellers die and their stories die with them? More importantly, how do we bring those histories back into the light? How do we recall what has been lost to time? How do we remember what has been forgotten? All that and more on this edition of Questions from the Pew.
S1E3 - The Morality of Art, Part 2: Artist Culpability
In the first part of our discussion we talked through what elements characterize high quality or good art, and also what pitfalls low quality or bad art often succumb to. We had some fun and leaned into each other’s inner nerd with our examples, but now we turn our attention to perhaps a more nuanced issue, namely the culpability of the artist.
When we create something, we access the divine spark that is in all humans, what Christians refer to as the Image of God. In doing so, we give life to a particular and specific expression of the divinity that is inside each and every one of us. The very act of creation is a sacred and holy practice, one which not only represents our personal experience, but also connects us to a long line of influences and tradition.
Yet what do we do with ill-intentioned art? Perhaps a more difficult question, what do we do with well-intentioned art that has adverse consequences in society? Can a pure-hearted artist’s creation ever be deemed immoral? Or is all art simply a distillation of humanity to be observed and reflected upon, without judgement? All this and more on this edition of Questions from the Pew.
S1E2 - Juneteenth
Holidays are a defining characteristic of all cultures. It’s a time for the members of a group, whether national or religious, to reflect on a defining aspect of who they are. They can commemorate historical events, celebrate acts of heroism, and remind us of those who’ve passed on. The forms that these holy days take are nearly as numerous as the number of existing holidays, but the function is almost always the same. They connect us to the identity of the group we occupy and give us narratives for flourishing within it.
So it is in our American context. Our holidays tell stories of who we are, where we’ve come from, and what we value. Unfortunately, many of these narratives originate solely from a majority perspective, and often turn a blind eye to the struggle of minority groups. Enter Juneteenth. A lesser known holiday who’s adherence and celebration honors the freedom we as Americans enjoy, while also admitting and lamenting the struggle that many minority groups have had in attaining said freedom. Perhaps Juneteenth is the most American of any holiday.
Emanuel Padilla and Michael Yorke join us in conversation on this episode as we talk about the History of Juneteenth, how holidays shape our thinking, and how we can give due diligence to both America’s triumphs and shortcomings in the retelling of our own history.
S1E1 - The Morality of Art, Part 1: Good v. Bad Art
Art. It comes in diverse media and is created by even more diverse individuals. It is inextricably tied to the human experience. It is the way we communicate ideas, esteem values, and effect change. And all of this wrapped in beauty. The appreciation of what our hands create is something that separates humans from the rest of the animal kingdom. This appreciation is not just merely being pleased with our work, but the ability to interpret, analyze, and assign value to it. Those things look different for each person. Oftimes art is viewed as subjective. But what can be agreed upon is the value of art.
In this episode, we sit down and talk about what makes art - in all its forms - both good and bad. Without offering strict definitions or standards, we talk about what we mean when we deem art “good” or “bad” and the implications of those categories.
S1E0 - Joining World Outspoken
We’re here to address the intersection of our culture and the church, which is made incarnate by the folks who populate church pews every Sunday across the nation. Here at “Questions from the Pew”, we believe in creativity within orthodoxy. Not only can we identify the questions that arise from our culture, but we can readily engage with them in both an intellectually and theologically honest manner. Too long has the Church shied away from grappling with tough questions and nuanced issues. No longer.