Upstream

Christians can fall into two opposite errors when it comes to entertainment: We either tally up curse words or try to read everything as a biblical allegory. But film is more complex than that. Shane welcomes Spectator World movie reviewer John Ehrett to discuss a thoughtful and God-honoring approach to the movies.

We may not agree with every answer Greek philosophers gave, but we do have to answer the questions they asked. Shane welcomes Kasey Leander to talk more about Plato, metaphysics, Scripture, and the conversation with Dr. Hans Boersma.

Do we need philosophy to read the Bible well? What happens if we ignore Athens in our study of Jerusalem? Shane welcomes Dr. Hans Boersma, who argues that everyone does metaphysics whether they know it or not, and that Plato's thought is particularly helpful for understanding God's Word.

Shane welcomes Kasey Leander to ask and answer some important questions about Abraham Kuyper, Herman Bavinck, and where their theology fits into the big picture of Christian history and thought—and why they matter today!

Abraham Kuyper and Herman Bavinck have become hugely influential in Christian worldview discussions, but what was their worldview? What did they believe, and how did it shape what they wrote and did? Shane welcomes Cory Brock and Gray Sutanto to discuss their new book, Neo-Calvinism: A Theological Introduction.

Shane welcomes Kasey Leander to explore what creates demand for abortion historically, and why simply overturning Roe is just the first step in a long process to making such killing unthinkable. They also discuss the role of men in taking responsibility and welcoming new life.

Roe v. Wade is a thing of the past, but this is just the latest chapter in the long and contentious story of abortion in America. Shane welcomes journalist and author Leah Savas to explain why knowing that history is critical to protecting unborn lives in the future.

Shane welcomes Kasey Leander (who is technically still in his twenties) to talk about the difference between our culture's view of twenty-somethings and God's view, and why the quest to change the world can obscure what truly matters.

Nathan Rittenhouse joins Shane to explain why, as his grandfather put it, "no one takes you seriously until you're thirty," and why for Christians who want to impact the culture for Christ, that's very good news.

Shane welcomes Tim Padgett to discuss whether the modern notion of diversity and inclusion has lived up to its promises, and whether it's possible for very different people to live together in a nation or worship together in a church.

America's motto is e pluribus unum, "out of many, one." Yet the modern obsession with diversity and inclusion has left us a nation where citizens have little in common. Shane welcomes Richard Lints to explain how the Church's mission and very identity reconcile unity and diversity.

Shane welcomes the Colson Center's Kasey Leander to talk about what it looks like to be "stuck in the present," and how a careful study of history can keep us from either uncritically idolizing or demonizing those who came before us.

Affluent, modern people are too often "stuck in the present," dismissing the past as benighted and bigoted. Shane welcomes author David George Moore to explain why Christians must be students of history, and how to appreciate the people we meet there, warts and all.

Shane and Tim reflect on the conversation with Samuel James about how the internet has changed our behavior and speech. As digital platforms come and go, Christians must reemphasize timeless virtues to stay rooted in reality.

Twitter and Facebook may be in decline, but they leave in their wake a more tribal, fractured, and superficial evangelical church. Shane welcomes Crossway editor and writer Samuel James to reveal how technology has taught us bad habits, and how Christians can recover.

Shane and Tim continue the conversation about Abigail Favale's book, The Genesis of Gender, and explore feminism's fatal mistake of fighting for women's rights without bothering to define "woman."

What is a woman? Shane welcomes Dr. Abigail Favale, author of The Genesis of Gender , to discuss how feminism, postmodernism, and bad philosophy made that question impossible to answer, and to show how the Christian vision of sexed embodiment dignifies our differences.

Shane and Tim reflect on the conversation with Frederica Mathewes-Green in light of historical Protestant objections to church holidays, liturgy, and traditional rituals. How should we think about these disagreements in a way that shows love for one another and honors Christ (which is, after all, the purpose of Epiphany)?

Shane welcomes author Frederica Matthews-Green to give an Eastern Orthodox perspective on the feast of Epiphany/Theophany, and to explore how Christians differ on liturgies and traditions meant to reveal Christ in worship.

Shane visits with Dr. Ken Boa to explore the church calendar, particularly Advent and Christmas, and to articulate how this ancient way of keeping time can help conform us to the image of Jesus, even in a secular age.

Ebenezer Scrooge, George Bailey, the Grinch, Imogene Herdman … so many characters in beloved Christmas books and movies experience a dramatic change of heart. Why does this theme resonate at this time of year? Shane welcomes author and literary scholar Jessica Hooten-Wilson to discuss the stories of the season, and why their truth can soften our hearts.

Shane welcomes Heidi White and Heather Peterson for a conversation about the ways in which this time of year excites joy, and how the wisdom of Christianity's past can enrich our Advent fasts and Christmas feasts.

This week, we're sharing a talk Shane gave at the Association of Classical Christian Schools regional conference in Lakeland, Florida. Shane suggests four reasons why God gives us children, and makes a countercultural call to raise and educate those children as sons and daughters of the Last Adam.

Tim Padgett joins Shane to reflect on the conversation with Alastair Roberts on biblical typology and the birth of Christ. They dive deeper into the counterintuitive story God wrote on the pages of Scripture and history—a story in which small and humble people were used to shame the strong and proud.

On the road to Emmaus, the risen Jesus explained how the whole Bible foreshadows Him. As we begin Advent, Shane welcomes Dr. Alastair Roberts to help us see how the birth of Christ fulfilled all of God's promises to Israel—and to us.