A Christian in America Podcast: Recent Episodes
Joe Harrison
If we’re being honest, the American brand of Christianity is one of the most complicated, controversial, and chaotic branches of the worldwide Church. Is the Republican Party “Jesus’s Party”? Can you be a Christian and vote Democrat? Is America still a Christian Nation? Was it ever? Should it be? These are just some of the many questions to which the answers were simply taken for granted growing up in a politically Right-leaning household and church. But now, I’m at a point where I don’t have as much certainty as I once did. Over the years, I have found myself dwelling more in the thick fog within the overlap between Left and Right. And from this position, I am revisiting a lot of these questions I was once so certain about. Because I have come to a point where I feel that something is “off” about the American Church. I believe I have found, witnessed, and felt God more clearly in this “murky middle” than anywhere else. And it is from here that I critically examine the American Church.
I have brought up Christian Nationalism several times on the show already, and my disdain for it and fear of it. But what defines Christian Nationalism? In this episode we take a birds-eye view at some key political, social, and economical views that are often associated with Christian Nationalists.
SHOW NOTES
- Introduction - Quickly summarizing the few crazy weeks we've had since the previous episode, between the Presidential and Vice Presidential debates and Trump getting COVID-19, and given a small rant about what it is the disappoints me the most about Christian support for our current president.
- This Week in the News - Kind of cheating (again), because the article I'm sharing is from a few weeks ago, but it is nevertheless an interesting look into some deciding factors that can predict whether or not one will wear a mask and observe the COVID-19 safety guidelines. Hint: It's Christian Nationalism. But the article also serves as this weeks "Good Gospel News" as it ends on a high note.
- Joe's Recommendations - This time around it's a book recommendation, and that book is The Sacred Overlap, by J.R. Briggs, which I brought up in the previous episode.
- Main Topic: "What Is Christian Nationalism?" - In 40 minutes, I choose a select few views and beliefs held by Christian Nationalists that I believe to be the most prominent (and also the most potentially dangerous). This is by no means an exhaustive list, and I plan on revisiting the topic again in the near future to expand on this information.
- How Christian Nationalism may determine whether you wear a mask (Religion News Service)
- The Sacred Overlap by J.R. Briggs
- The AND Campaign
Email: christianinamericapodcast@gmail.com
Website: https://achristianinamerica.lionsmouthent.net
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0yE51wCEajAOCIbS4xZHbC
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cards-on-the-table-introduction/id1531591613
TuneIn: https://tunein.com/podcasts/Religion–Spirituality-Podcasts/A-Christian-in-America-Podcast-p1366391/
Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/lions-mouth-entertainment/a-christian-in-america-podcast
Sounds like the beginning of a good joke, and in another reality it may very well have been… but as we have come to find out, here in 2020, we are living in an alternate reality where anything is possible.
Hot on the heels of talking about Christian involvement in Social Justice, I’m tackling, at least partially, the issue of Abortion, specifically as it relates to how a Pro-Life advocate votes. Can we vote for a party that is outspokenly Pro-Choice, and with a clear conscience? Or will we have blood on our hands, as some Christians truly believe?
SHOW NOTES
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Introduction – I share some personal accounts of the early days of the Pandemic and how they affected me, as well as briefly touching on Christian Nationalism, and the general Christian response to COVID-19.
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“This Week in the News” – A contemporary worship leader and political activist named Sean Feucht has been showing up in headlines over the last couple of weeks. Is it for a good reason? Well… if we’re honest, this days when Christians are in the headlines, it’s usually not for a good reason. In “The Good Gospel News” portion of the segment, I share news about a church that paid off over $5 million in medical debt.
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New “Joe’s Recommendations” Segment – Each episode, I’ll use this segment to take a couple of minutes to shine a light on some new product I’ve really been enjoying, whether it be a book, movie, podcast, or music. This time around, I give a quick overview of a new podcast called “Protestants & Politics.”
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Main Topic: “Can a Pro-Life Christian Vote Democrat?” – There are plenty of Christians out there who don’t seem to think so, and they feel very strongly about it (they’ve let me know). There is often an accusation that, if we support a Democrat, we will have blood on our hands (since Democrats are usually Pro-Choice). But how much does who you vote for matter in the grand “battle” against abortion? What are the statistics? Is voting Republican really the only way? Well, you may be surprised to learn that, not only have abortion rates drastically decreased… but they’ve decreased under unexpected circumstances.
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How a Sean Feucht worship service convinced me I am no longer an Evangelical (Religion News Service) Indiana Church eliminates $5.9 Million of Medical Debt (United Methodist Churches of Indiana) Do Pro-Lifers who reject Trump have ‘Blood on their Hands?’ (The Dispatch)* Protestants & Politics Podcast (Napp Nazworth)
Email: christianinamericapodcast@gmail.comWebsite: https://achristianinamerica.lionsmouthent.net
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0yE51wCEajAOCIbS4xZHbCApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cards-on-the-table-introduction/id1531591613TuneIn:
In the first "real" episode of A CHRISTIAN IN AMERICA, I begin my first of many discussions on the topic of Christian involvement in "Social Justice." We often hear Believers somewhat dismissively saying that all the bad things happening are because of Sin and the product of a fallen world, and there's not really anything we can do about it; I take some time to challenge this viewpoint (which I once shared).
After hibernating for several years and going through some deep introspection in my Faith, I’m back with a whole knew Christian podcast. A CHRISTIAN IN AMERICA will revolve around my personal search for Jesus in the American Church… it’s harder to find Him then I initially thought. This “pilot” episode is a format-less introductory episode where I take some time to give a birdseye view of some of my beliefs and (especially) political opinions that have put me at odds with many of the Christian circles around me. I have gotten to the point where I feel like a “political enigma.” Where do I fit in? Do I NEED to fit in?
SHOW NOTES
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What’s in a name?” – A look at the meaning behind the name of this podcast “Shattering Expectations” – Laying many of my cards on the table so you know what to expect from me “Losing Everything to Gain Everything” – I have been going through a bit of a spiritual revival, and I recount what led to it
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Stand To Reason podcast episode mentioned in show Email: christianinamericapodcast@gmail.com Website: http://achristianinamerica.lionsmouthent.net