The Reconnect with Carmen LaBerge

Christ Alone: Salvation by Christ’s work alone The Reformation called the church back to faith in Christ as the sole mediator between God and man. While the Roman church held that “there is a purgatory and that the souls there detained are helped by the intercessions of the faithful” and that “Saints are to be venerated and invoked;” “that their relics are to be venerated” — the reformers taught that salvation was by Christ’s work alone. For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities– all things have been created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything. (COL 1:13-18)

We begin our series “Be wise about fake news sites” today with veteran reporter Bob Smietana. Today we survey the issue by asking the question: what is fake news and how do we spot it? Then, we talk about why it is so important for Christians to be truth-sharers and be vigilant about what we share on social media. In our second half, we touch on the news of the day. Planned Parenthood and other similar organizations have had a fundraising bonanza following the election of Donald Trump. Harambe is the in the news again, and we discuss the important worldview questions at stake there. Related articles and resources: How to be wise about fake news Of man and beast Media’s next challenge: Overcoming the threat of Fake News Liberal political groups see surge in donations    

What are Americans thankful for? Thankfully, LifeWay Research did the survey to ask, and director Scott McConnell provides insight into what is on Americans’ hearts and minds this Thanksgiving season. We also analyze the data on evangelicals and voting in 2016. Then, Marlena Graves has been working to fight “payday” loans, or predatory lending. Oftentimes, it is the only option for low-income individuals to get the emergency cash to fix the car, pay the rent or put food on the table. Marlena educates us on what are payday loans, why they hurt and how we might be able to offer an alternative. Related articles and resources: LifeWay’s Thanksgiving research Full Faith and Credit: Christian Groups Unite Against Predatory Lending  

Today, we start off talking about worldview. It is distinctively Christian and it does not align at all points with either of the two political parties in the United States. Then, we survey the news of the day including President-elect Trump’s relationship with the press pool and the oldest copy of the 10 Commandments up for sale. In our second half, the Tennessean’s faith reporter Holly Meyer shares the stories she has been covering since the election. Related articles and resources: Sidewalk chalk messages raise Muslims’ post-election spirits Why a Nashville pastor urges congregation to answer swastika, vandalism with love

We survey the news of the day: fake news sites exploded during the election and companies like Google and Facebook grapple with how to handle them. Students at the University of Virginia ask university not to quote its founder, Thomas Jefferson. Then, we talk with John Inazu about what pluralism means, and how we can participate well in a society of diversity. John is the Sally D. Danforth Distinguished Professor of Law and Religion at Washington University in St. Louis and a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture at the University of Virginia. He is the author of Confident Pluralism: Surviving and Thriving through deep difference. Related articles and resources: Johninazu.com Facebook Says Fake News Sites Aren’t Allowed On Its Advertising Network Group of U-Va. students, faculty ‘deeply offended’ by Thomas Jefferson being quoted at school he founded

For the Glory of God Alone: We live for the glory of God, alone What part of your life – indeed what part of life itself – is free of God?  There is nowhere that God is not and there is nothing over which God does not say, “Mine.”  That’s doesn’t mean that God is greedy, it means that God is glorious! There is nothing and no one, at no time, in no place, under no circumstance about which God does not care and over which God is not sovereign. Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God; Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father; to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. To Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. (1CO 10:31; 1PE 4:11; REV 1:6; 2PE 3:1; EPH 3:21; REV 7:12; ROM 11:36)

President-elect Donald Trump is taking the first steps to form his Administration and hire key positions. All the while, people continue to riot and protest in the streets. Even Oprah, who last week encouraged everyone to “take a breath,” has experienced the criticism. People are still mourning the election outcome, so how can we enter into these emotional conversations? Also, what type of President will Donald Trump be? We still do not know, but many people are making predictions. Related articles and resources: Must Read Monday: President Trump’s first moves

The five Solas are Latin phrases that emerged from the Protestant Reformation. They are biblically grounded theological principles, which guided the Reformers as they sought to restore the Word of God to its rightful place in the life of the Church, Christ to His rightful place as Savior alone and the understanding that salvation comes by grace alone through faith alone. The five Solas are Scripture alone, grace alone, faith alone, Christ alone, and the glory of God alone. Each Sola corresponded to a teaching of the church at the time, which contradicted these biblical truths. Our need for them in 2016 is no less than it was in 1517. We are discussing each one on The Reconnect as a reminder for us today. Sola Scriptura: The Bible Alone: The inerrant and authoritative Scripture, alone This is really the basis of the Reformation and, I am ready to argue, is the foundation that has been eroded out from under the church in America over the past 100 plus years.  The Reformation calling to the Church was always a calling to be reformed according to the Word of God. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (II Tim. 3:14-17)

How can we serve our returning military members and their families? Our guest, Chad Robichaux was deployed 8 times to Afghanistan and returned home to a PTSD diagnosis. His marriage and life were in shambles. But through discipleship with a godly man, God redeemed him and his family relationships Chad and his wife Kathy founded The Mighty Oaks Foundation in order to reach other Veterans, Active Duty Service Members and their families who are dealing with the same crisis in their lives due to their military service. Related articles and resources: http://www.mightyoaksprograms.org

The peaceful success of power begins. Today. President-elect Donald Trump meets with President Barack Obama at the White House. President Obama and Hillary Clinton have both called on the country to accept the results, but will those protesting #NotMyPresident listen? November is National Adoption Month. Focus on the Family’s Kelly Rosati joins us to talk practically about the needs right here in the US and what all Christians can do to help provide forever homes. Related articles and resources: http://www.evangelicals.life/  

The election results are in, and it is President Donald Trump. What now? We take calls for the full hour, hearing from a wide variety of perspectives. Plus, what is the Church response now? Related articles and resources: Trumped. What now for Christians in America?

Today, we spend the entire hour taking calls on what people are seeing, hearing, and thinking on election day.

A Presbyterian minister, a Republican governor and a former Obama White House staffer walk onto a stage for a political debate moderated by a member of the media. Why? To demonstrate what civil partisan political discourse looks like when the goal is honoring Jesus and not elevating self or demonizing the other. We talk with Samantha Fischer, journalist and moderator of the event. Then, Mike Kelsey is a third-generation pastor, serving in Washington, DC. What does it look like for a church to minister in a politically-charged metro during- and after- this election? Congregants of the church are not just interested in politics, but actually working at the highest levels of both political parties.   Related articles and resources: Civil conversation about politics and religion? This is what it looks like

Continuing our conversation about “Trumping the faith,” we ask Dr. Alan Noble about what comes next after the election. How can Christians be part of the public conversations that will follow November 8th? This Sunday, November 6, is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Todd Nettleton of the Voice of the Martyrs shares with us top stories internationally we need to be know about the persecuted church and how to help. Related articles and resources: http://www.publicfaith.us/  Christ and Pop Culture The Voice of the Matyrs

What is the view of the US election and faith for non-American Christians? As part of our Trumping the faith series, we talk with Carey Nieuwhof, who pastors Connexus Church north of Toronto, Canada. Canada is “ahead” of the US in terms of a post-modern/post-Christian society. What can we learn from our brothers and sisters to the north about living as a minority in the culture?   Related articles and resources: 5 Predictions About the US Presidential Election New series: Trumping the faith