Living Beyond Your Memes: Closing the Credibility Gap: Recent Episodes
Brian La Croix
Many evangelicals come across as uncaring, hateful, unable to think for ourselves, and captive to a political party/candidate. None of these are what Jesus expects from His followers, and not how we should be viewed.
Join my co-host, Josh Latterell, and me as we help Christians more accurately reflect Jesus by getting past the memes and talking points handed down to us, learn to evaluate issues/positions/candidates/beliefs through the filter of Scripture, and learn how to graciously (yet firmly) interact with those who disagree in ways that open the door to learn about Jesus.
Last episode of this series.
We discuss not merely having courage to stand up for Christian values in society, but also having courage to stand up when your "tribe" (political party, etc.), does, sends, or supports something unbiblical - even if you agree with the rest of what they do.
Part 3 of this series. In this episode we begin by looking at how evangelical Christians can be viewed as not caring about poverty issues because we're more concerned about things like eradicating abortion. But the fact is that we should be concerned about BOTH, and we can be - without giving up convictions about either. Here are some ways to display that concern.
THANKS for your patience as we've had a sporadic publishing schedule of late, due to an unforeseen medical emergency. Lord willing, we'll be back to our regular schedule very soon!
Part 2 of this series, this time talking about the need for Christians to be people who use the brain God gave them - and not be duped by others who want to manipulate and use them, especially in the political realm.
During some sermon research a while back, Brian came across a message from another pastor that referenced "Wizard of Oz Christianity," which talked about various aspects of the Christian life impacting society around us.
Josh and Brian take that theme and run with it a bit, hoping to challenge the Church of Jesus to be intentional about having a church home, using the brains God gave us, having a heart for the people around us, and taking courage to speak up and act in ways that honor Christ and bring positive impact.
When Scripture tells of something that happened or that someone did, does that mean WE are supposed to do that or have that happen to US? Not necessarily. In this episode we take a look at four examples of Scripture that people have claimed to be applicable to us, and why that is not handling Scripture correctly.
Jesus commands us to love our enemies. But later Jesus goes even further in a discussion with a person trying to justify himself in his treatment of others.
In this episode, Brian describes what God has been talking to him about when it comes to interacting with people, specifically in the LGBTQ+ community.
Hint: they AREN'T enemies!!
If you let your opinions, thoughts, and beliefs be known, chances are you will receive some pushback from someone who disagrees (unless you only express yourself in the bubble of like-minded people).
Sometimes that pushback can be encouraging - when it is done graciously, with the intent of educating you on some point you've missed or hadn't considered. Other times it can be mean-spirited and ugly, just meant to berate. Sometimes it's a mixture of both...
Anyhoo...how do we respond in ways that show grace and Christlikeness? That's what we try to tackle today.
There is a line of thinking that says Christians shouldn't care what others think of us - particularly in terms of our positions on social/political issues. That we should just stick to the truth, because Christians have always been "hated" for what they believe.
However, Scripture very clearly says that a good reputation among those who don't follow Jesus is a must.
So how do we balance the two? Do we have to give up convictions for the sake of getting along? Our belief is no - but that our reputations in the community will go a long way to helping us positively influence the people around us.
"Every city has hungry people." That's a quote (or at least a close paraphrase) of a comment Brian heard during a morning radio broadcast to promote a joint effort between a local Catholic order of nuns, and other religious groups in town to gather food for local food banks. The point was that even with major theological differences, people of different faith backgrounds can come together to meet the immediate need of feeding hungry people.
This is also possible in the political spectrum. Brian references (although certainly imperfectly - Sorry to Senators Thune and Johnson...) how two senators from South Dakota came together in spite of their different political parties for the sake of helping the state's farmers and ranchers.
We believe this kind of thing pleases Jesus, and helps people see the gospel in action.
The flip-side of what we discussed the past two weeks. While we believe that we don't have to agree with someone's lifestyle, opinions, etc., in order to love them, we also believe that disagreement does not equal hate (or fear) toward that person or persons.
There is no question that there are Christians who are hateful toward certain people groups and population. That is not the model of Jesus. But how do we show people that the loud minorities of Christians do not represent all, or even most, Christians?
Part 2 of our discussion on why it's possible to love someone even if you disagree on very important issues, including the lifestyle of someone close to you.
There is an idea that to truly love someone you must agree with their viewpoint, lifestyle, politics, etc. We examine how that is not necessarily the case in this two-part discussion.
Christians should be the most generous people in the world. We have the examples of Jesus and the early church, as well as the teachings of the apostles to affirm that. We discuss some tangible ways to be generous, as well as look at Brian's story about how starting to tithe began the turnaround from a life of financial despair to a life of financial peace.
We continue our discussion about what happens when a leader falls or is accused of something that causes scandal in the Church. We look at 9 ways a person can help bring healing in the midst of the hurt. Note: this is not a prescription for how church leadership should handle things; this is about how individuals can process and promote healing.
It's a fact in Church history that many leaders have fallen - they've succumbed to sexual temptations, temptations of power and celebrity, and even abuse in these areas. This is hurtful to the victims of those who have sinned, but also to their loved ones, their ministries, and of course, the cause of Christ overall. In this episode, we begin a discussion about how do we react/respond when a respected leader falls or is accused of something.
Link to "Let the Trumpet Sound," (biography of Martin Luther King, Jr.): https://www.amazon.com/Let-Trumpet-Sound-Martin-Luther/dp/B08GGCKQQQ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1ZVPPL22LBBLX&keywords=let+the+trumpet+sound+stephen+oates&qid=1678550555&sprefix=let+the+trum%2Caps%2C190&sr=8-1
It's easy to pass on "information" we think is true - or want to be true, because it supports our view of a person or issue. But Christians have an obligation to be bearers of TRUTH - not rumor of gossip. Gossip is a sin and has no place in the life of a follower of Jesus. Listen as we discuss this very important topic, see what Scripture has to say, and look at the timeless wisdom of Chuck Swindoll as he address gossip.
The overall image of the Church in American is not very positive. Yet the early church described in Acts 2 had a very positive reputation. Why was that? Is there anything we can pull from that context into our own?
On a previous episode we discussed the idea that angry Christians can actually be a hindrance - to the message they're trying to convey, and even more importantly, to the good news of Jesus. But you can have strong convictions and still communicate them in ways that gain a hearing rather than push people away. We look at some of the words of Paul in looking at this very important issue.
We continue our discussion about this issue, focusing on the examples of Paul and Jesus - both of whom were very aware of their rights, both civil and religious, but were also very aware of how the exercising of those rights affected others.
Christians have rights enshrined in our official documents - particularly the Bill of Rights within our Constitution. But our rights are limited by our responsibilities toward other. Listen as we discuss that premise; and feel free to give us your feedback on this very important issue.
If you've been around Facebook for very long, you've probably seen the meme of Jesus flipping tables with the caption saying that when considering what Jesus would do, making a whip and flipping tables is in the realm of possibilities.But is that a proper view of that passage when it comes to our interactions with people we disagree with?We look at that question in this episode. Listen in and let us know what you think.Links to articles referenced in the episode: https://stewardologypodcast.com/049-jesus-flips-the-tables/https://relevantmagazine.com/faith/jesus-flipping-tables-isnt-excuse-your-online-rants/
How do you determine WHEN to respond to something you see, hear, or read? Do you feel like you need to respond every time you see something you disagree with? Are there some things you just scroll past because it's not worth the energy to respond?
These are some of the questions we discuss on this episode. Listen in and let us know what your response would be to all of this. We'd love to hear from you!
Also, if you could do us a HUGE favor? Please rate and review this show on wherever you listen, so others can find it. Also, please point your friends, family, relatives, enemies, acquaintances, pets, etc. to our podcast, so they can do the same thing.
Have a great day!
It's easy to look back on the past year(s) and do the whole "shoulda, coulda, woulda" thing. And while it's important to learn the lessons from the past, we can't be prisoners of regret. God has a great promise from Lamentations 3 that we discuss. We hope you are encouraged by what God has to say from this passage.
It's the end of 2022, and the new year is staring us squarely in the face. It's a time when people make goals for weight, work, finances, projects, and even spiritual things reading and studying the Scriptures, etc. In this episode, we describe a more general goal of living out the Great Commandments, as well as Jesus' command to love each other as He loved us.
Just some last random thoughts about how to bring the Christmas holiday a little closer to its intended purpose. Let us know what you think - anything you would add or subtract (or multiply/divide? :))?
It can be very tough to be kind and gracious when someone has just grabbed the last plasma screen TV at the electronics store or the last ugly sweater at Walmart, or when the cashier is having trouble with the register while you're in a hurry to be somewhere else (because they have special edition Grinch costume in your size...). But nonetheless, we need to be people who shine the light of Jesus to those around us - even on Black Friday.
So we kinda continue the discussion around Romans 12:2 to "do not conform to the pattern of this world" as we go through the Christmas season. We look at how Jesus interacted with people and how we can model Him well.
It's the Christmas Season! Woot! Woot!
It's very easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday and forget that we are still commanded by Jesus to love others. In this episode, Brian offers up a variety of suggestions that will help us reflect the love of Jesus to those we interact with over the season, so we can NOT "conform to the pattern of this world" (Romans 12:2).
In this second part of our interview with Keith Simon (co-lead pastor of The Crossing, Columbia, MO), we continue to discuss tribalism, and specifically the book, "Truth Over Tribe," co-authored by Patrick Miller.
We are thrilled that Keith gave us the time to be with us. Please take the time to go to www.ChooseTruthOverTribe.com to learn more and to order the book. You can also order it from Amazon (if you're a Kindle guy like Brian...), Barnes and Noble, Christianbook.com, and others.
Please let us know what you think of the interview!
On a first for "Living Beyond Your Memes," we have a guest: Keith Simon, pastor of The Crossing in Columbia, MO. Keith is the co-host of "Truth Over Tribe," one of Brian's favorite podcasts. He is also the co-author of, "Truth Over Tribe: Pledging Allegiance to the Lamb, Not the Donkey or the Elephant."
In this interview, we talk about how to love people outside of our bubbles - whether they are political, social, or religious.
Link to Truth Over Tribe: www.choosetruthovertribe.com
James says that we're supposed to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. However, many Christians are quick to reverse these - being slow to listen, quick to speak, and quick to become angry, and then to speak out of our anger. This episode looks at some very specific ways to put this passage from James into practice in our interactions.
It's easy to call Jesus "Lord" as we worship on Sundays. But what about as the week progresses? What about as we go about the work week? And deal with our teenagers? And in-laws? And as we drive to and from work?
Jesus wants to be the Boss of your life 24/7/365 (and 365 on leap years!). Let's look at some questions we can ask ourselves throughout the week to see if we are living for Jesus beyond the Sunday service.
Jesus said that all people will know people by our _____________. We generally know what goes in the blank, right? But often in today's world, Christians (especially evangelical Christians) are known more by our politics, rhetoric, and culture war involvement. Join us as we take a look at what Jesus really says and ask some hard questions about how that should look in the real world we inhabit.
It's easy to talk about being loving, kind, patient, etc., but it's another thing to see them exhibited in the midst of conversations with people who disagree with you about something, or who live differently than you. In this episode we look at 4 facts about the fruit of the Spirit and why it's so important that these attributes are daily present in our lives.
One of the hardest parts of following Jesus, and maybe especially for Americans, is the notion of putting another person's needs above our own. We're told by our culture to make sure we prioritize ourselves above others. And yet Scripture - and Jesus, Himself - had a very different notion. In this episode we look at the attitude of Jesus as Paul describes it in Philippians 2.
On a related note: we would LOVE your feedback on these episodes. Are we hitting the mark? Off a bit? Off a lot? Where can we improve? What do you like? Suggestions for making it better?
Thanks!
Continuing our look at the four foundational "walls" of the podcast, we take a look at Jesus' words from the Beatitudes, looking specifically at 4 of them to discover how we can be a blessing to others as we seek to be part of the "blessed are..." crowd of Christ followers.
It would seem pretty obvious that we'd want others to treat us as we'd be treated. But that seems to fly out the window when we're disagreeing with someone, especially in heated debate on sensitive topics.
How can we practically use Jesus' words to help us be more Christlike in these situations? It may not be as easy as it seems, but it needs to be done intentionally with the goal of reflecting Jesus so this person might want HIM above all else.
Just like it's easy to say you love God, it's easy to say you love your neighbor - until you are challenged with HOW you're doing it, and just WHO is your neighbor. The Scriptures talk about tangible ways to love your neighbor. In particular, Jesus uses a parable to describe what it looks like using a shocking illustration.
Loving God with all your strength means doing what we can do in our jobs, businesses, and in the opportunities we find to do good to others. Check out some very practical teaching and discussion on how we can make this an integral part of our daily living.
God calls Christians to be discerning, and not to believe everything that comes down the pike of social media (or media in general), or even from the mouths of friends and family. Loving God with all our minds means using the intellect God has given us - and expects us to use. In this episode we look at some practical ways to make that happen.
First look at the Greatest Commandment. We're discussing ways this should actually be displayed in the lives of those who claim to follow Jesus and love God. It's more than just a theological concept - it needs to be shown tangibly to the people around us.
Introduction to a series we're beginning on why it is so important that we interact and communicate in ways that tangibly demonstrate a love for God and people. This episode touches on the "4 Walls" of the foundation we're building on not just regarding the next four weeks of the podcast, but for everything we're trying to accomplish through this podcast. Over the next weeks we'll look at each of these "walls" separately.
Part 2 of our discussion regarding the implications for how Christians should interact with people affected by the SCOTUS ruling overturning Roe v. Wade. We talk about how Christians need to get involved in ways they may not have anticipated - and may not be comfortable doing. The love of Christ compels us to love those who would contemplate abortion no matter the reason.
This episode was recorded the week following the SCOTUS decision overturning Roe v. Wade. The conversation here is much less formal as Brian and Josh discuss some of the implications as they relate to how pro-lifers - and especially Christian pro-lifers should now interact and intersect with those who disagree with the decision and now feel angry and even scared.
It's easy to let Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram determine what is true for us, and to guide how we react/respond to what we see on those platforms. But Scripture gives us much greater guidance. In this episode we discuss a few ways Scripture helps us be more Christlike in our interactions.
What can we do to get others to take us seriously, particularly in areas of great disagreement? We cover 3 ways to gain credibility in the face of negative stereotypes that Christians can't think for themselves or communicate their views in a cognizant manner.
Introductory episode to explain why we're adding another voice to the world of podcasts aimed at evangelical Christians. In this episode we discuss 7 words that should describe how Christians interact with people and in social media to help us more accurately reflect Jesus - especially to those who disagree on important topics.