The City of God Podcast

“The Church is the ultimate analog.” Here is the strangest thing to note about music in our day: vinyl is making a comeback. We are seeing a resurgent of goods and material artifacts. There has been an assumption in American culture that digital life marches in a progressively triumphant direction; no one can stop its progress or stay its hand. Interestingly, Christians have a stake in the conversation of material artifacts; we recognize that God created a physical and tangible world. Part of what mankind is going to do in the world that God has made is to create and use material artifacts. We can feel free to enjoy moral created goods. We as believers welcome creativeness. We are wary of the savior complex that technology assigns to itself. We do not believe that technology is going to solve all of our greatest problems. Technology cannot solve the problem of evil; only Jesus Christ can. The Church is the ultimate analog. When God wants to create a kingdom, he doesn’t create a mere thought in people’s minds. He saves flesh and blood people and raises up local churches that are a part of the universal church. Grace is spiritual but it is also actual. The Revenge of Analog: Real Things and Why They Matter by David Sax

“The Church is the ultimate analog.” Here is the strangest thing to note about music in our day: vinyl is making a comeback. We are seeing a resurgent of goods and material artifacts. There has been an assumption in American culture that digital life marches in a progressively triumphant direction; no one can stop its progress or stay its hand. Interestingly, Christians have a stake in the conversation of material artifacts; we recognize that God created a physical and tangible world. Part of what mankind is going to do in the world that God has made is to create and use material artifacts. We can feel free to enjoy moral created goods. We as believers welcome creativeness. We are wary of the savior complex that technology assigns to itself. We do not believe that technology is going to solve all of our greatest problems. Technology cannot solve the problem of evil; only Jesus Christ can. The Church is the ultimate analog. When God wants to create a kingdom, he doesn’t create a mere thought in people’s minds. He saves flesh and blood people and raises up local churches that are a part of the universal church. Grace is spiritual but it is also actual. The Revenge of Analog: Real Things and Why They Matter by David Sax

“When Christians want to make a difference for the glory of God, we start a new intellectual work.” In the 20th century, many Christians trim their weeks and set their sights on a lower target. In the 21st century, we’re in a similar situation. Evangelicals need to reinvest and redouble our efforts to promote good thinking among Christ’s people. We could strengthen and bolster existing institutions; we also need to build new institutions. To reinvest in this kind of culture, we are going to have to help other Christians see that there is nothing stuffy about the life of the mind. In truth, Jesus himself, his Father, loves thinking. We are called in the first and greatest commandment to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37). You can approach academics as a mission of pride but we are not trying to reach above people, we are trying to lift the entire church up. When Christians want to make a difference for the glory of God, we start a new intellectual work. Awakening the Evangelical Mind by Owen Strachan

“When Christians want to make a difference for the glory of God, we start a new intellectual work.” In the 20th century, many Christians trim their weeks and set their sights on a lower target. In the 21st century, we’re in a similar situation. Evangelicals need to reinvest and redouble our efforts to promote good thinking among Christ’s people. We could strengthen and bolster existing institutions; we also need to build new institutions. To reinvest in this kind of culture, we are going to have to help other Christians see that there is nothing stuffy about the life of the mind. In truth, Jesus himself, his Father, loves thinking. We are called in the first and greatest commandment to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37). You can approach academics as a mission of pride but we are not trying to reach above people, we are trying to lift the entire church up. When Christians want to make a difference for the glory of God, we start a new intellectual work. Awakening the Evangelical Mind by Owen Strachan

“It is far more beautiful to be holy than to be wanted.” There is a conversation going on in 2017 about hook-up culture. Students are engaging in anything but romance and there is very little relational structure. We can say several things about hook-up culture. Hook-up culture is drawing many participants and this sets the terms for the romantic encounter on college campuses. We need to resist hook-up culture with the strongest possible force. Pastors and parents need to train their children to resist this culture. We need to teach them about ordered love. God allows us the opportunity to love and to love romantically. But love isn’t formless; it is bounded and shaped by God’s vision for love in the lifelong covenantal union of marriage. We want them to see that it is far more beautiful to be holy than to be wanted; it is far more fulfilling to be godly than to be hot. We want to show the world that our identity isn’t inherently sexual.

“It is far more beautiful to be holy than to be wanted.” There is a conversation going on in 2017 about hook-up culture. Students are engaging in anything but romance and there is very little relational structure. We can say several things about hook-up culture. Hook-up culture is drawing many participants and this sets the terms for the romantic encounter on college campuses. We need to resist hook-up culture with the strongest possible force. Pastors and parents need to train their children to resist this culture. We need to teach them about ordered love. God allows us the opportunity to love and to love romantically. But love isn’t formless; it is bounded and shaped by God’s vision for love in the lifelong covenantal union of marriage. We want them to see that it is far more beautiful to be holy than to be wanted; it is far more fulfilling to be godly than to be hot. We want to show the world that our identity isn’t inherently sexual.

“…there is the living God, the hound of heaven, who waits not to pounce on us but who waits with arms open wide ready to show gospel grace to the most desperate of sinners, just like us.” Is atheism the big bad wolf of evangelicalism, waiting to devour evangelicals around every corner? Atheism is not easy to sustain. As recent reports have shown that atheism is hard to sustain. In recent days, well-known atheist Mark Zuckerburg has renounced his atheism. Many people do not find the atheistic perspective comforting when a loved one dies. Many people want there to be a bigger purpose in life. Many people want there to be an afterlife where their loved ones go to dwell. Some people may find it comforting that their child decays in the ground but most do not. As believers in Jesus Christ, we must me reminded that people are not stable agents. We cannot think of people in the most rationalistic of terms. Be reminded that we can radically change; it can all transform for you. As Christians, sometimes we feel like everything in this world is against. There is a force in the universe that is not simply yin and yang; there is a living God who undergirds and underwrites the existence of every being. We sometimes we feel like the big bad wolf is around the corner waiting to devour us but in truth there is something greater than the big bad wolf. In truth, there is the living God, the hound of heaven, who waits not to pounce on us but who waits with arms open wide ready to show gospel grace to the most desperate of sinners, just like us.

“…there is the living God, the hound of heaven, who waits not to pounce on us but who waits with arms open wide ready to show gospel grace to the most desperate of sinners, just like us.” Is atheism the big bad wolf of evangelicalism, waiting to devour evangelicals around every corner? Atheism is not easy to sustain. As recent reports have shown that atheism is hard to sustain. In recent days, well-known atheist Mark Zuckerburg has renounced his atheism. Many people do not find the atheistic perspective comforting when a loved one dies. Many people want there to be a bigger purpose in life. Many people want there to be an afterlife where their loved ones go to dwell. Some people may find it comforting that their child decays in the ground but most do not. As believers in Jesus Christ, we must me reminded that people are not stable agents. We cannot think of people in the most rationalistic of terms. Be reminded that we can radically change; it can all transform for you. As Christians, sometimes we feel like everything in this world is against. There is a force in the universe that is not simply yin and yang; there is a living God who undergirds and underwrites the existence of every being. We sometimes we feel like the big bad wolf is around the corner waiting to devour us but in truth there is something greater than the big bad wolf. In truth, there is the living God, the hound of heaven, who waits not to pounce on us but who waits with arms open wide ready to show gospel grace to the most desperate of sinners, just like us.

“There is tremendous power in the narrative of life.” What would you think the abortion rate is today? A recent report has revealed some shocking findings: Per 1000 women among the ages of 15-44 abortion was at its lowest rate since Roe v. Wade. We have to celebrate that abortion rates have plummeted. We need to note that we’re not exactly clear on how contraception has affected the abortion rates in America. We need to see that culture and society doesn’t run in one direction. There is tremendous power in the narrative of life. The pro-life message is gaining adherence. We, as Christians, are against the culture of death. Let’s never stop working to end abortion. Let us be tireless promoters of the pro-life ethic.

“There is tremendous power in the narrative of life.” What would you think the abortion rate is today? A recent report has revealed some shocking findings: Per 1000 women among the ages of 15-44 abortion was at its lowest rate since Roe v. Wade. We have to celebrate that abortion rates have plummeted. We need to note that we’re not exactly clear on how contraception has affected the abortion rates in America. We need to see that culture and society doesn’t run in one direction. There is tremendous power in the narrative of life. The pro-life message is gaining adherence. We, as Christians, are against the culture of death. Let’s never stop working to end abortion. Let us be tireless promoters of the pro-life ethic.

Here’s something that’s almost old now: fake news. Fake news is a scourge and is causing people to not trust sources; it is undermining the political sphere. As believers, we oppose falsehood wherever it is found; we love the truth. All truth is God’s truth. But we are in a world of lies. Postmodernism argues that there is no truth and has convinced many people to be skeptical to all narratives. We have a lot to deal with as believers when it comes to fake news. The original fake news is abortion. We have been accustomed to approach abortion as if it is a valid initiative related to recycling, We have been trained to think of abortion of a choice. A majority of young people understand that abortion is murder; it is wrong. We have to recognize that we are in a culture that has allowed the rise of different idealogies to be presented as something that is positively but in truth we are embracing something profoundly negative as a culture. Christians have something better to offer; we have the gospel, the good news.

Here’s something that’s almost old now: fake news. Fake news is a scourge and is causing people to not trust sources; it is undermining the political sphere. As believers, we oppose falsehood wherever it is found; we love the truth. All truth is God’s truth. But we are in a world of lies. Postmodernism argues that there is no truth and has convinced many people to be skeptical to all narratives. We have a lot to deal with as believers when it comes to fake news. The original fake news is abortion. We have been accustomed to approach abortion as if it is a valid initiative related to recycling, We have been trained to think of abortion of a choice. A majority of young people understand that abortion is murder; it is wrong. We have to recognize that we are in a culture that has allowed the rise of different idealogies to be presented as something that is positively but in truth we are embracing something profoundly negative as a culture. Christians have something better to offer; we have the gospel, the good news.

What’s the last best seller you read? Something is taking place in evangelicalism when coloring books are on the best seller’s list. Today we are tempted to read fluff but Christians need to know that reading is integral to godliness. We don’t wake up more godly because we slept for 7-8 hours. What brings true rest is the word of God. There is no way to grow as a believer outside of reading, meditating on, and living out the Bible. In our daily lives as believers there isn’t going to be much growth without the Scriptures. Outside of the Scriptures, books on theology and spirituality are what will draw us closer to God. But how do you become  a reader? Here’s the key: set yourself reasonable, attainable goals. Try to read one book a month, twenty minutes a day. Pick something rich and challenging. The way to become a reader is to read. To become a reader is to become a thinker. To become a thinker as a believer is to give God much glory.

What’s the last best seller you read? Something is taking place in evangelicalism when coloring books are on the best seller’s list. Today we are tempted to read fluff but Christians need to know that reading is integral to godliness. We don’t wake up more godly because we slept for 7-8 hours. What brings true rest is the word of God. There is no way to grow as a believer outside of reading, meditating on, and living out the Bible. In our daily lives as believers there isn’t going to be much growth without the Scriptures. Outside of the Scriptures, books on theology and spirituality are what will draw us closer to God. But how do you become  a reader? Here’s the key: set yourself reasonable, attainable goals. Try to read one book a month, twenty minutes a day. Pick something rich and challenging. The way to become a reader is to read. To become a reader is to become a thinker. To become a thinker as a believer is to give God much glory.

America has a problem: men. American society has a problem and its men. Men are encouraged today to take a back seat. You could say it this way: Manhood is the original sin of American cultural life. Our culture sees men as a major problem today and our young men are shamed for being men. We need to understand that our fundamental problem is not manhood but sin. Boys have about 1000% more testosterone than girls. Boys and girls are different. They are made in the image of God and yet God in his wisdom created something called manhood and womanhood. What our culture needs is a surging increase of strong men. We do not want to train our boys to be inferior. We need to train boys to be more Christ-like. We want to be very clear: men are not the problem, sin is.