The Holy Post

557: The Rise of Christian Nashville-ism & What Christians Must Do with Claude Alexander   Why doesn't Congress work? A recent article explains how diversity, education, and geography are driving the political parties apart. These findings also help explain the widening fractures among evangelicals. In the past, evangelicalism was primarily driven by academic institutions in the North, but now it'...

Feedback on the recent episode about the teen mental health report by the CDC was so strong that the Holy Post gang revisits the topic. Jonathan Haidt says three untruths that fuel depression were embraced by progressives ten years ago, but now they're commonplace among conservatives too. Then, in 1976, Jimmy Carter represented a biblically-rooted evangelicalism that was also politically progressi...

The Gospel Coalition published an article last week that brought together every divergent faction of the church to say, "Ick!" While many are discussing the troubling content of the article on social media, the Holy Post crew examines what is says about the troubling state of evangelical publishing. Then, new data finds liberal teens are struggling with depression at higher rates on average than c...

A new report from the CDC finds a record number of teenage girls are now debilitated by mental illnesses including depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. And social psychologist Jonathan Haidt says the evidence is abundant that social media is the cause, but the tech industry is resisting any changes. Phil, Kaitlyn, and Skye discuss the social, political, and spiritual dimensions of the crisi...

There's no denying that American men are struggling. Depression, drug use, and suicide are on the rise, and there are plenty of voices on the far right eager to blame feminists, the LGBT movement, #MeToo, and the left in general. They say our culture has made traditionally masculine traits "toxic" and stolen from men the one thing they need most—respect. David French explains to Skye Jethani why t...

She's finally here! Bible teacher and author Beth Moore joins Kaitlyn Schiess to discuss her new memoir, her calling, and how she found the courage to speak out against the political idolatry of evangelical leaders in 2016. Moore says she learned how to put her faith in Christ himself rather than in Christian people. Also this week, we discuss the revival at Asbury University that's attracted 20,0...

A Christian campaign spent $20 million on two ads during the Super Bowl, but the "He Gets Us" commercials are facing criticism from both the right and left. One side says the ads did not present the gospel. The other says the campaign's funders are bigots. And everyone is wondering if the $20 million could have been spent more effectively. Phil, Skye, and Kaitlyn offer their takes. Then, Tim Kelle...

What does it mean to be pro-life? Drawing from the words of Jesus, the Apostles, and the early church, Shane Claiborne says most American Christians have gotten it wrong. His new book, "Rethinking Life: Embracing the Sacredness of Every Person," argues for the value of the unborn, but also for combating poverty, racism, and other dehumanizing evils. He talks with Skye about how the early church's...

How did American politics go from a disagreement over policies to become a war between the forces of good and evil? Phil takes us on a journey through the fascinating origins of the New Apostolic Reformation movement as he traces a line from a professor at Fuller Seminary in the 1980s to the January 6th attack on the Capitol. Along the way, we learn how the movement popularized the integration of...

Phil catches up with friend-of-the-show Esau McCaulley (New Testament Professor, NYT columnist, author of CT Book of the Year Reading While Black) for a wide-ranging conversation. Why do we keep getting MLK wrong? What do Black voices give up in order to be invited into white spaces, and is there a better way? What does McCaulley do to refocus on Jesus? And why did he decide his new book should be...

In a video clip from a sermon, influential megachurch pastor Andy Stanley said gay men and women who remain in the church "have more faith than a lot of you." The backlash has been swift, but are people misunderstanding his point? And why do some Christians think shifting views on sexuality and gender are the greatest threat to the church, while others believe it's Christian Nationalism and politi...

David French shares about his move to The New York Times, and why MAGA Conservatives call him a "sell out" when journalism on the far right is where the big money is found. Then, Skye and David discuss the 303 Creative case at the Supreme Court. Is creating a website a service or is it speech? The answer will determine whether the government may compel some religious businesses to support same-sex...

The Church of England has decided to not allow same-sex marriages, but it will bless civil same-sex unions. Is it a wise compromise or terrible attempt to dodge a divisive issue? Brazil's president lost reelection and his conservative Christian supporters stormed the capital. Is the American church exporting its nuttiness? New research from Gallop reveals which professions are the most and least t...

What story are we in?  A rescue plan to get us out of a dying world?  God's mission to save us from sin?  Is my true purpose in life to "go to heaven and take as many people with me as I can?"  Is the Bible all about Jesus?  Phil sits down with the ever-provocative New Testament Bible scholar Timothy Gombis to talk about the BIG story of the Bible and God's plan for us that's even bigger than "res...

Martin Luther King Jr. is widely celebrated today, but that wasn't the case when he was killed in 1968. Esau McCaulley's editorial explains how King's current popularity comes from the tendency to cherry pick a few MLK quotes about race, but conveniently overlook his more controversial sermons about poverty, justice, and reparations. What does it mean to take King's words seriously today? Then, sc...

When Damar Hamlin collapsed during Monday Night Football we witnessed an outpouring of public prayer. We also saw a flood of vaccine conspiracy theories hit social media. Phil asks, why are conservative Christians so distrustful of experts and enamored with fringe conspiracies? Then, David French has joined The New York Times. Progressives are upset about his Christian views, and conservatives are...

The pandemic was miserable for mothers, right? New research disputes that claim and shows moms were actually happier than childless women. But not ALL moms. What makes the difference? A survey shows both conservative and progressive Americans believe the absolute worst about each other. Is there any hope for healing the divide? What makes human leg muscles different from other primate species? Phi...

Voices on the right, from Elon Musk to Fox News, are accusing social media companies of violating the First Amendment's protection of free speech. David French is back to talk with Skye Jethani about what speech the First Amendment does, and does not, protect. And he explains why the decision of a private citizen or company, like Twitter, to remove content or limit free speech is not unconstitutio...

or our final episode of 2022, we are sharing with everyone two bonus features that are normally exclusively available to Holy Post supporters. First, you'll hear an episode of "Christian Asks" where Skye explains what the Bible says, and does not say, about what happens to us after we die. Then, we're sharing one of the most popular episodes of "Getting Schooled by Kaitlyn Schiess" about the doctr...

What were the most important stories of 2022? Phil, Skye, and Christian discuss the embrace of Christian Nationalism, political and cultural issues dividing evangelicalism, and how Twitter has deteriorated into a middle school lunchroom food fight. They also discuss their predictions for 2023 including the frightening rise of A.I., and how a bus could bring Americans together. The hosts are also i...

A Texas megachurch is facing criticism after a viral TikTok video showed a rehearsal of its Christmas production with drummers flying over the crowd on wires. The church says it's simply offering its best to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Critics say it's an extravagant violation of Jesus' humble spirit. Who's right? New data says Americans are far more isolated and lonely than ever before, and it'...

Reactions to last week's show were strong. The Holy Post crew responds to listener feedback about LGBTQ representation in movies and Al Mohler's defense of conservatism. Former SBC president, Johnny Hunt, was removed from ministry for sexual assault, but last week four ministry colleagues decided it was time to "restore" him. When should disgraced pastors return to ministry, and have congregationa...

For more than a century, the American church has been arguing about the exact scope and boundaries of God's mission. Is the gospel narrowly about the redemption of people's souls, or does it also care about redeeming the world, society, and broken systems? In other words, is justice part of God's gospel mission? The way we answer that question has massive implications for what work we believe ulti...

In 2015, the Supreme Court ruled in  Obergefell v Hodges  that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marriage. With the recent overturning of  Roe v Wade , some are concerned  Obergefell  may be overturned next. Recently, David French wrote an article supporting a bipartisan bill to protect the legal right to same-sex marriage, and he's faced an avalanche of criticism for it. In this epi...

The Hallmark Channel is now producing Christmas movies with LGBTQ characters and relationships leading the network's former CEO to launch a new holiday movie channel with straight relationships only. The Holy Post crew discusses the role of representation in entertainment, and why a number of recent LGBTQ-centric movies have bombed at the box office. Then, Al Mohler attacked David French for not o...