All tagged discernment
Here on the cusp of a national mid-term election how do I go about voting? What are my priorities, non-negotiables? What do I look for with individual candidates? How do I assess legislation that we get to vote on? Do I care if the candidate is a Christian? Across human history voting is a rare privilege, so how do I approach this responsibility?
Why can humans see and perceive more efficiently, accurately, and beautifully than computers? Jordan Peterson wondered, then answered, that. I press his thoughts into a Christian worldview to brainstorm about both God's incarnation and how believers, indwelt by God Spirit, experience something that even angels do not. I also further unpack diakrino (discernment) in and for a 21st century context. Why do so many leading Evangelical pastors have radar that is spinning off the dial?
During my four years of high school I worked for a gas station-car wash. Across those years I learned to recognize the shapes, designs, and colors of every car manufacturer. Seeing only a tail-light I could tell you the brand. Life itself is comprised of patterns and shapes such that when we see even one element of a form we know what the larger pattern is. What does that mean for reading today's devolving culture? What does our current Gestalt tell us about the rampant evils at work in society?
When I was in the seventh grade I was bullied by a bigger, taller eighth grader. What'd I learn? What do psychologists tell us about the mindset, the neediness, of bullies? What do most insightful websites say to do regarding bullies? What does that mean for Christian life and faith? Come laugh and think with me.
We now live in an era characterized by B.S. In this episode I define what, technically, is B.S. and talk about how to set your B.S.-o-meter. On what basis did Jesus positively teach us to judge? What things did he say that implied our need to judge? What kinds of daily decisions require judgment? What qualities are helpful for growing healthy Christian discernment?
Christians tend to assess movies by the number of swear words or exposed body parts. That all the while we ignore the power of story to shape, twist, bend, and re-make our imaginations. Samuel Lively explains how Disney studios uses story to entirely supplant a Christian perspective on life. We focus on Frozen 2 and how it bends a Christian worldview to shape little girls' imaginations. I learned much from Samuel. You will, too!
How can you get your kids to think critically about Christianity? What are apologetics? How might believers go about standing for truth in our emotion-driven society? What are compassionate compromisers and terrifying truth tellers? What's it like to be a woman doing apologetics from a conservative wing in the church? This is my delightful interview of Hillary Morgan Ferrer, general editor and author of Mama Bear Apologetics.
Does the Bible forbid love of nation? Does the Bible forbid love of one's local culture? Is this really about nationalism or is there another agenda at work? In philosophic speak, between what two enormous focal points does the pendulum of history swing? Why? In light of the Common Good how should we think about Nationalism?
Does the devil rule in hell now? Can demons read our thoughts? What are the signs of demon possession? What makes it possible for demons to enter our souls? Is it even Christian to root for the Dallas Cowboys?! What does the devil like to say to us? Why do some regions and areas have more demonic activity than others? Are demons even real or are they projections of our consciousness? I ask and answer 9 questions about the demonic realm.
Scientists believe, passionately! To do their work they simply must be committed to their own discipline's knowledge. Michael Polanyi, himself a chemist, shows us that it is impossible to believe anything meaningful without commitment. I dare you to ask yourself, and others, questions. Jesus asked uncomfortable questions. All of this is because it is not healthy to be a sheeple!
