Growing Up Christian

There's something... unsettling about a confessional, don't you think? Like, why is this old fuddy duddy so interested in the sordid details of your "slip-ups?" What's that rustling sound? Why does it smell like a Jimmy John's in here, all of a sudden? Did I step in gum? So many questions!   Our guest, this week, is Luke Wilson, and he's on a mission to end to "gay conversion therapy." Luke i...

All the girls and the boys, and people making noise, let me hear you shout, "Bring em out! Bring em out!" And by "em," I mean singer/songwriter, host of "The Wonder and the Mystery of Being," and former frontman of Christian rock band Hawk Nelson, Jon Steingard! Jon made headlines, last year, when he publicly stated that "he found himself no longer believing in God," but the story of his spiritual...

Could I ask a favor? Hit pause on your daily Dave Ramsey guided meditation, and join us for a conversation with Bonnie and Karen of Deconversion Therapy, one of the funniest religion podcasts around! In this episode, we touch on a variety of important topics, like church pageant animal ranches, vanquishing the spirit of intellectualism, and the Falwell South Florida Stud Stable, LLC. Enjoy the sho...

Maybe the best way to preface this episode is with a powerful statement from Physical Science 1, a textbook from Accelerated Christian Education. *Ahem…   “Man should never trust his own reasoning – his reasoning may be incorrect because man’s reasoning is not God’s reasoning.”   With that in mind, join us as we discuss the allure of conspiracy theories, the perils of power, Tim Lambesis...

In theory, racism and Christianity go together about as well as sausage gravy and strawberry cheesecake. 2020, however, was a lot like a church potluck, and it saw a bunch of seemingly well-intentioned parishioners shoveling in big mouthfuls of mystery casserole (you know, the one that was always in the tan dish from 1972), and forcing a smile as they choked it down. Pretending that you didn't jus...

First things first: if you play this episode backwards, you'll hear a distinctly satanic voice humming "Flood" by Jars of Clay. Spoiler alert - it still slaps!   More importantly, we were very excited to talk to the founder of @christian_nightmares, one of our absolute favorite accounts on Instagram! "Chris," as we call him, uses social media to shed light and levity on the more ridiculous fi...

This week, we were #blessed to speak with our former dormmate, Liberty University Spiritual Life Director (SLD), and gay conversion therapy defector, Matt Robbie! Matt shares his unique perspective on growing up in conservative evangelicalism as young man coming to grips with his sexuality. He relates his experiences dealing with family members' expectations, navigating the entrapment mechanisms a...

This week, we talk to longtime Liberty University RD, social media debate moderator, and worship ministries major (yes, that's a real thing) Chris Deaton! Chris discusses his progression from apathetic youth, to dedicated LU staffer, to philosophical renegade over the course of 15 years. We were fascinated by his perspective, and it made for a really fun conversation!   Growing Up Christian i...

This week we're joined by our old friend, Chad Daniels. Chad is a data analyst, Creationism apologist, closet rat breeder, Calvanist (I know, yuck), outdoorsman, and one of the most fun and frustrating people to talk to that I've ever met! We discussed his upbringing, college misadventures, the evolution of his faith, and his views on the church's involvement in the political process. We had a gre...

The best (and sometimes toughest) part of leaving home is meeting new people. Even within the confines of a Christian college, you can't avoid being exposed to different cultures and ways of life that tend to challenge your preconceived notions. In episode 3, Sam talks about the people and experiences that forced him to reexamine his faith, and his overall view of the world.

Identity is an important part of growing up, regardless of your background. Sooner or later, everyone has to make some choices about who and what they want to be. On this episode, Casey recounts the story of how a miserable first year of college finally pushed him out of his comfort zone, and facilitated his transition from awkward, self-loathing youth group tween to self-righteous, straight edge,...

Welcome to Growing Up Christian - a podcast for wayward Awana kids, homeschoolers, and youth center loiterers who spent the 90's/2000's listening to Christian rock and practicing their sword drills! Whether you forsook your purity ring long ago, or you're still guarding your heart for your future spouse, this podcast is for you. So dust off your WWJD bracelet and throw on your "Real Fear" t-shirt...