Pod of the Gaps

Given the general craziness of the times, last year on Pod of the Gaps we identified six key challenges for the Church to face up to as it seeks to interpret and speak into our cultural moment. So at the beginning of yet another year, we thought we'd do it again! Andy and Aaron start off by reviewing last year's challenges, before again doing the all-important live-reveal (unbeknownst to each othe...

Ho! Ho! Ho! In our secular and pluralistic society, the debate rages each year about de-Christianising Christmas to make it more "inclusive". What's at stake when Christians stop fighting for Christian Christmas? Can you strip away the Christian virtues behind Christmas without losing the light, love, joy, peace, and goodwill at its heart? Are there even ways to "re-Christianise" some of the cultu...

Recent census data from England and Wales found that, for the first time ever, less than half of British people identify as "Christian". This correlates with a large statistical rise both the Muslim population in Britain as well as in people who identify as "non-religious". What do these trends tell us? What are the long-term implications of the erosion of Christian influence within western societ...

A spate of evangelicals have been leaving their churches in recent years. Some do so after experiences of hurt by leaders or institutions. Some end up deconstructing their faith and calling others to follow them. Others who remain in their churches can end up confused and distrustful of their leaders and beliefs. How can Christians ask honest questions without falling down rabbit-holes of unbelief...

With some Anglican bishops publicly changing their stance on same-sex marriage, the Church faces fresh calls to realign itself with contemporary society on LGBT+ issues. Some point to the urgent need for same-sex blessings because of the experiences of gay people who feel hurt by the Church. How should our "experience" shape our reading of Scripture? How do we keep it from essentially replacing Sc...

Despite frequent doom projections about "overpopulation", most developed societies today are experiencing a growing crisis of low birth rates, with many prominent nations facing the prospect of being unable to replace their populations long-term. This problem is due not only to rising infertility rates but also to the preference of many modern couples to remain "child-free" by choice or to severel...

Why does the work of the English author, J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973) resonate so well with the modern imagination? Why are there often so many "battles" over his legacy and how his ideas are interpreted or depicted today? What is the significance of Tolkien's Christianity to what he wrote? How important might his work be today for how we think about contemporary issues like race, nationalism, multi...

A defining feature of early 21st-century society was the rise of the "New Atheism" movement, led by Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris, et al. This had a huge impact on western attitudes to religion at the time, often inspiring an ironically "religious" faith in its followers. But where did it all end up? Why has it lost appeal today? And what are its ongoing "fruits" in today's cul...

The death of Queen Elizabeth II catalysed worldwide mourning and reflection, with tributes pouring in from people from all walks of life right across the globe. Yet in individualistic western nations like Britain, some may have surprised themselves by realising with a shock how much the Queen actually meant to them. What does this tell us about the yearning for nobility and virtue in our times? Ho...

We live in an age where it's never been easier to be a writer! Resources, opportunities, and platforms now abound for people to make an impact through the written word. How might creative writing offer fresh and interesting approaches to mission in our time? What can we learn from previous writers about the use of story? And how can we embrace these approaches whilst staying faithful to the Gospel...

Why is family worship less prominent than it used to be? Are we somehow more mature than previous generations? Has digital technology replaced the need to come together regularly in prayer, song, and Scripture? The absence of these important practices is more significant than many realise, within and beyond the Church. Biblically, it is clear that parents (especially fathers) have a key role to pl...

Why is Christianity seen as irrelevant in the modern world? How did our message get so diluted that it now appears bland? What are the causes of our compromise with culture? How can we recover the radical implications of the Gospel? And are we ready to pay the price of persecution for doing so? Our first ever LIVE recording of Pod of the Gaps sees us team up with entrepreneur, David Stretton-Downe...

Why has the Church failed to find a place for men? What can we do to bring them back? This episode further unpacks the issue of men, masculinity, and mission, discussing Jordan Peterson's controversial "Message to the Christian Churches". We talk about what it means, what it doesn't mean, and what we should do about it. This also feeds into another theme from a previous episode, on the need for me...

Why do many men feel alienated within modern western society? What draws young men in particular to search for male role models beyond the Church? What are the consequences of the Church failing to to reach men within this climate? Sadly, many churches today are so busy apologising for masculinity that they're unable to even define what men (or women) are, let alone show them the best way to be wh...

The influence of LGBT+ has grown astronomically in recent times, not least in “Pride Month”. Those refusing to be active allies of the movement are swiftly labelled heteronormative bigots. Have parts of the LGBT+ movement become effectively a religion? How was such mass opinion-change achieved in so short a time? Was it natural, or the product of a long-term PR strategy? Should Christians speak ou...

Some people try to be so nice they avoid all confrontation just to keep the peace. Others create quarrels over the tiniest issues with little regard for unity. As Christians, how do we get the balance right? Can we stand up for our convictions without alienating other brothers and sisters unnecessarily? How did disagreements work in the early church? Are there ever times we should part ways with o...

It's no surprise to realise that Christians don't always agree on everything they believe. There has always been a wide variety of expression across the global Church on all sorts of issues and doctrines. But at what point does doctrinal "diversity" become a problem? When does a celebration of varied beliefs become unfaithful to God's Word? Should Christians ever consider leaving their church or d...

Given that abortion is probably the most significant ethical issue in modern western society, why are so many western Christians so silent about it? Does the political furore often surrounding the issue make us reticent? Or are we too concerned about backlash from those who see it as a matter of "bodily autonomy"? Too often clear, courageous, and compassionate debate on the issue from a Christian...

We don't tend to use the word "heresy" these days. But it could be said that heresy is alive and well today not only within the Church, but in the socio-political climate, where saying the "wrong" thing according to the prevailing Zeitgeist may get you into all sorts of trouble. As Christians, how do we recover the importance of responding to the problem of heresy without resorting to doctrinal ni...

Are we made of more than mere "stuff"? Despite the prevailing "postmodern" culture where all truths are seen as relative, many non-Christians in the West today remain caught in the modern scientific worldview of materialism: the belief that humans are little more than complex bundles of soulless atoms, whereby only what can be touched, felt, tasted, etc. is "real". At the same time, the very same...

During times of great cultural crisis, humour has often been an important means of coping with (and even challenging) oppressive political regimes or social conventions. But Christians have something of a love-hate relationship to comedy. On the one hand, there's the call to not be frivolous about important things, and to be pastorally and culturally sensitive. On the other hand, there are plenty...

The Russian war on Ukraine brings to light many of the wider social and political issues which have been bubbling away under the surface of western culture for the last decade. Our immersion in dramatic media hype has made many of us accustomed to widespread panic and anxiety over a range of issues. But the reality and severity of the conflict puts many of those concerns under the spotlight. How a...

We live in an age where grief is handled in bizarre ways, from sentimental cliches with little basis in reality to cold-hearted approaches that effectively see the passing away of a person as little more than the discarding of litter. Many people are caught in the tension between the implications of their own "secular" worldview and their innate desire for some form of religious hope in the face o...

A new year often brings with a raft new intentions, motivations, and resolutions. In a secular culture, this always looks suspiciously "religious". What lies behind our continuous need to mark our time on this earth, to plan towards the future, and to make great resolutions for self-improvement (however quickly such resolutions are forgotten...)? What kind of "resolutions" should the Church be mak...

Climate change has dominated the headlines for a good while, particularly in light of the COP26 summit. There are clearly many serious issues to address on it, but are there also problems in how it's talked about? Secular activists tend to speak of the future of the planet in drastically apocalyptic terms, piling pressure on politicians and other leaders with a religious fervour not unlike that of...