Shake the Dust

We’re sad to announce that KTF Press is closing down, and this will be our last episode of Shake the Dust. But both of us will continue to do work in different places. In this conversation, we cover: - Why KTF is closing - What will happen to our newsletters, articles, podcasts, and books - What we’re both doing next - What the experience of running KTF has been like for us - What we want to leave...

On this month’s bonus episode, Jonathan and Sy talk about our political system from a practical and theological view: - What we can accomplish using America’s political system - The limits of what political action can do - Given those powers and limits, how Christians should approach politics - And, in Which Tab Is Still Open, boycotting as a spiritual practice Mentioned on the Episode: - Pastor E...

On this month’s bonus episode, Jonathan and Sy discuss: - What exactly the Trump administration does to distract the media and the general population so it can achieve its goals - How it uses the erasure of experiences from outside MAGA world to demean and suppress opposition - What we can do to resist Trump’s agenda in light of these tactics - And, in Which Tab Is Still Open, making sure immigran...

On this month’s bonus episode, Jonathan and Sy are talking political education in this new era of traditional and social media bowing to Trump and the MAGA movement. We get into: - The beliefs about free speech behind the changes at Meta that Mark Zuckerberg recently announced - How our understanding of healthy discourse differs from those beliefs - And tips for staying politically educated in thi...

In this month’s bonus episode, we talk all about why and how to have difficult conversations about important political subjects with people who disagree with you. We get into: - What are goals are in these kinds of conversations - Strategies for regulating our emotions and achieving those goals - The power dynamics to keep in mind when having these conversations - And afterward, our segment Which...

It’s our season finale! We’re answering listener questions and talking: -        Staying grounded and emotionally healthy post-election -        Some mistakes people are making in their election analysis -        Why the politics of identity will never go away in America -        How the Church can and can’t fight anti-Blackness and other forms of injustice -        Where you can hear us in betwee...

This is the recording of the conversation we had earlier today on Substack Live reacting to the election. We got into different kinds of grief people may be feeling and our responses to them, how to move forward in the church with uncompromising empathy, and what we thought of the somewhat surprising demographic shifts in this race. There is an AI transcript on the video version of this episode th...

Listen to a recording of our monthly subscriber chat from this past Tuesday, where Jonathan, Sy, and our subscribers get into: -        How to practice hope and peacemaking in fearful times like this election season -        How peace is different than unity, and takes power dynamics into account -        How hope is shaped by God’s presence with us, the depths of evil and suffering we see around...

Today, Jonathan and Sy speak with author and housing advocate Kevin Nye about the Church and homelessness. We get into: -        The ineffective housing policies Christians often promote -        The bad theology behind those policies -        A run-in Kevin had with institutional resistance to his view that governments shouldn’t criminalize homelessness -        How churches can get things right...

On today’s episode, we discuss the ways our faith has changed as we’ve grown in discipleship and justice work. Our spiritual practices, as well as our relationships with church, God, and the non-Christian world have all transformed over time, sometimes in surprising ways that would have made us uncomfortable in our earlier years as followers of Jesus. It’s a personal and instructive conversation o...

Today, we’re talking with veteran activist and theologian, the one and only, Lisa Sharon Harper! The conversation covers: -        Lisa’s journey finding Jesus outside of Whiteness and White evangelicalism -        The centrality of advocating for political and institutional policy change to our faith in Jesus -        How respecting the image of God in all people is the starting point for followi...

Today’s bonus episode is the recording of our most recent monthly subscriber Zoom conversations. This is the second of these we’ve released (the first was here ). Give them a listen and join us for the next one! In this episode, the group discusses: -        Books and other resources that have been particularly helpful in spiritual formation -        Emotional health and authenticity in disciplesh...

Today, we’re talking all about the recently-released Confession of Evangelical Conviction: -        What the confession is and what it says -        Why we signed it and got involved promoting it -        How the American church got to the point where a confession of very basic political theology like this is necessary -        And after that conversation, we talk the many layers of Christian nati...

Today, our episode’s all about discipleship around political engagement, based on a series of Bible studies Jonathan and his team at his real job recently created for this election season and beyond. Some points we hit: -        Why it is essential for our political action to understand  we were not created for this world -        Why followers of Jesus won’t overemphasize the importance of politi...

Today, we talk with theologian and activist Jesse Wheeler about the rotten fruit of the West’s theology in Palestine and the broader region. We get into: -        How everyday Christians can tell the difference between good and bad theology -        Examples of the fruit of bad Western theology in Palestine and the region of the Middle East/North Africa -        How we must acknowledge the horribl...

On today’s episode, Jonathan and Sy have a catch-up conversation on the assassination attempt, the Vance VP pick, Biden stepping down, and Harris stepping up. Then they talk with UCLA professor Robert Chao Romero about: -        What everyday life was like for immigrants during Trump’s administration -        How MAGA Christians’ treatment of immigrants reveals a lack of spiritual discernment -   ...

On today’s episode, Jonathan and Sy are talking all about conspiracy theories with Matt Lumpkin, a former minister and software developer. They discuss: -        Asking what it is that conspiracy theories accomplish for the people who believe them -        Why White Evangelicals are so susceptible to conspiracy theories right now -        The importance of churches helping people develop critical...

This is your free preview of our bonus episode, a recording of the first monthly chat with paid subscribers Jonathan and Sy had a couple weeks ago. Become a paying subscriber to hear the rest of this episode, attend next month's chat on July 23rd, and get access to all our bonus episodes! Here's the transcript of the preview of the conversation: Jonathan Walton: So there's two things I just want t...

Today, Jonathan and Sy talk with author and international speaker Mark Scandrette about: -        How Mark went from fundamentalism to loving his neighbor through political protest -        The cost of leaving a fundamentalist world and speaking out against injustice -        Why the beatitudes should guide our discipleship and voting -        How discipleship is practicing the way of Jesus, not l...

This episode, Jonathan and Sy talk with the incredible Brandi Miller about: -        How faith and churches change when we engage with the political idolatry of the American church -        The spiritual and political fruit of the MAGA movement -        The good things people still want and can find in Jesus and Christian community amidst all the nonsense -        Developing inner lives that can s...

Today’s episode features Jonathan and Sy talking with Pastor Rasool Berry. They discuss: -        The importance of acknowledging and understanding your own and your community’s power -        The social and spiritual forces behind the opposition to CRT or DEI (or whatever they’re calling it today) -        Pastor Berry’s incredible documentary about Juneteenth and Christian faith -        When to...

Welcome to the Season four kick-off! Today, we have our first interview with one of the authors from our anthology on Christianity and American politics , the incredible Dr. Randy Woodley. The episode includes: -        How dualism defines White worldviews, and how it negatively affects White Christians -        How love and vulnerability are central to a life with Jesus -        Why our voting de...

Season four starts next week! Hear Jonathan and Sy talk about: -            What to expect this year from the show during this election cycle -            A reintroduction to everything KTF does, and why we do it -            How we really, genuinely need your support right now, and ways you can help Credits -        F ollow KTF Press on Facebook , Instagram , and Threads . Subscribe to get our ne...

On today’s episode, Jonathan and Sy talk Christian Nationalism. They cover: -        What Christian Nationalism is exactly -        Why they personally reject it -        Why it’s so hard for White Christians to let go of the idea that the US is a Christian nation -        Why White Christians need to confess, repent of, and oppose Christian nationalism, rather than merely stating that it’s wrong...

Listen to Jonathan read the essay of his we just published, and which is reprinted below. It's a personal story and reflection on overcoming the barrier to rest that is racism. For more stories like this, as well as our weekly newsletter, podcasts, and more, subscribe at KTFPress.com . Last summer during a vacation, my family and I went on a zip-line course with a group of other tourists on Catali...