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Season Three - 44. The Christian and Evil Oct 22, 2020

Show notes

Greg and RD start this week with a clip from 'No Country For Old Men' to set up their discussion on evil and darkness.

Greg emphasizes that evil has no respect for the banality of our goodness or morality. RD voices that evil can be hard to talk about, but we have to talk about it.

Greg is quick to point out that there's a difference between sin and evil; all sin is evil to God, but God understands that on a human scale, a white lie is different than murder.

Greg transitions into discussing the anti-hero, and having sympathy for the sinner while pushing into and cultivating the good.

RD spends time talking about explaining good versus evil versus sin as a parent to your children, and the difference between just telling your child no and explaining why something is wrong.

RD closes by reiterating how important it is to name evil in the world, and Greg cautions listeners to make sure we are not calling evil things good.

For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org

Season Three - 43. The Christian and Political Theory Oct 15, 2020

Show notes

Greg starts the episode by talking about The Grand Experiment, classical liberalism, and the social contract. RD jumps in and mentions "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," which was originally "life, liberty, and property."

Greg and RD transition to discussing the tension we live in now of people asking and disagreeing on how far the rule of government actually goes. RD mentions that people's passion and identify can get wrapped up in politics instead of Christianity or their beliefs. Greg brings up Adam Smith's book The Wealth Of The Nations.

From there, Greg and RD spend time conveying where Christianity fits well with classical liberalism and where it doesn't. They also express that our nation currently has too much power in too few hands, and that is not healthy or wise.

Greg speaks into standing up for social justice versus standing up for something that goes against your morals as a Believer, and RD adds that we are called to love our neighbor no matter who that neighbor is or how that neighbor lives.

RD ends the podcast by emphasizing that our hope as Believers is not about who sits in the Oval Office, it's about Who sits in Heaven.

For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org

Season Three - 42. Unraveling Eschatology Oct 08, 2020

Show notes

In response to multiple questions they have received about the end times, RD and Greg spend time talking about eschatology. Greg starts by giving some explanation and description to eschatology. RD chimes in and reminds listeners that eschatology is hope based because at the center is Christ's return.

Greg and RD then dive into what the Scriptures say will happen before and during the end times, things like false prophets and the mark of the beast.

RD is quick to say that even during end times, Christ is still ruling; this is all part of His plan, no matter how confusing Revelation may be for us.

Greg transitions into the millennium and the schools of thought about it:

Amillennialism
Premillennialism, which is the school of millennium that books like Left Behind discuss
Postmillennialism

RD and Greg wrap up by talking through judgement day and condemnation.

For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org

Season Three - 41. What Is An Evangelical? Oct 01, 2020

Show notes

Greg and RD kick off by questioning if very many people (especially young adults) even call themselves evangelicals anymore. Even RD himself says he doesn't use the term to describe himself because of how the word is viewed today.

Greg takes time to share some Christian history, including Catholicism and Protestantism, and the battle over the institutions of Christianity.

Greg and RD share the four tenants that scholars use to describe evangelicals:

Belief in the authority of the Bible
Belief in the centrality of the cross
Belief in conversion and being "born again"
Belief in engaging the world and being activists

Greg goes through more history, including The Jesus People and a new evangelical movement that we're living through now.

For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org

Greg brings up that some people will develop or believe conspiracy theories about COVID because we have experienced a low-level trauma and want answers as to why.

RD then transitions to talking about what Greg calls "bad actors," aka a cult leader or the person who starts a conspiracy theory. Greg references QAnon and Jehovah's Witnesses as examples of this.

In talking to the people in your life who may be swayed easily by conspiracy theories, RD says that it's important to remember that the truth of the Gospel brings hope and enlightenment, and that we have to take every thought captive. Greg brings up that we have to be aware of confirmation bias when we're talking to people. RD adds that we have to be humble but also confident in the Gospel when we talk to people about conspiracy theories.

To wrap up, Greg reminds listeners that the Bible tells us we will be judged by God for everything we say, so be careful not to slander or speak ill about others.

For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org about conspiracy theories.

Season Three - 40. Navigating Conspiracy Theories Sep 24, 2020

Show notes

With the rise of interest in conspiracy theories, RD and Greg start the conversation by talking about where conspiracy theories live and why people might believe in them. Greg says that they give answers to large, high-stakes issues for people, and uses the example of theories around autism versus the true reality.

RD reminds listeners that we are not supposed to view everything through the lens of conspiracy theories, we are supposed to view everything through the lens of the Gospel.

Greg brings up that some people will develop or believe conspiracy theories about COVID because we have experienced a low-level trauma and want answers as to why.

RD then transitions to talking about what Greg calls "bad actors," aka a cult leader or the person who starts a conspiracy theory. Greg references QAnon and Jehovah's Witnesses as examples of this.

To wrap up, Greg reminds listeners that the Bible tells us we will be judged by God for everything we say, so be careful not to slander or speak ill about others.

For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org about conspiracy theories.

Season Three - 39. The Controversy Around Cuties Sep 17, 2020

Show notes

Greg and RD also unpack the larger cultural narratives of sexuality, social media, and religion that the series deals with, and discuss how followers of Jesus should engage the culture with truth and grace in an increasingly sexualized and digitized world.

Season Three - 38. Obeying The Government And Jesus Sep 10, 2020

Show notes

In Romans 13, Paul dives into the topic of obeying and being submissive to the governing authorities. Peter brings this subject up again in 1 Peter. So obviously this topic is a Biblically important one, Greg and RD point out.

RD is quick to mention that Paul and Peter were writing in the context of what was happening in Rome at the time, although even today it's necessary to know when to submit to the governing authorities. RD brings up the two extremes of saying you will follow the government no matter what because it's the law, or you'll stand up to it because you think it's going against the teachings of Jesus. RD references John MacArthur's recent statements that fall into the latter category.

Greg dives into more of the history of Romans 13, and references what Jesus said to Pilot about his authority. Greg also asserts that while the government has the right to make decisions, you have the right to question those decisions, just as Paul asserted his rights as a Roman citizen. But, RD warns that if our convictions cause us to say we cannot follow the law, we have to do that in compassion and humility, and really understand what is oppression and what is not. Greg emphasizes that our attitude and posture needs to always be "how are we supposed to be salt and light in this time?"

Greg brings up a modern-day example of the right way to question what we are told by the government to do in questioning why we are being told to wear masks. Greg says that the right thing to do is to ask "why are we being told to wear masks?" versus "You can't make me do this." In other words, having an attitude of "I'll submit to the law, but I'm going to question it."

In closing, Greg references the story of Paul and Philemon as an example of what's right isn't always what's easy.

For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org

Season Three - 37. Bible Study: Romans Sep 03, 2020

Show notes

Coinciding with the Fellowship Middlebrook sermon series, Greg and RD dive into Romans. Greg starts by sharing that Romans was written by Paul in his prime, and that it is a diatribe. Greg implores listeners to study and read through Romans because of how important it is.

RD spends time going through several of the chapters, and both Greg and RD share the themes seen in these chapters: Justice, wrath, righteousness, grace, and mercy. RD also conveys why Romans was written.

Greg then takes time to briefly talk through predestination and sin, and the questions he always gets around these passages. RD voices some of Paul's history and story. Greg says that Romans 3:24 is the equivalent of the highest rock on Mount Everest.

Greg asserts that there have been objections and questions with the texts in Romans since it was written, but Romans is telling the Gospel, and while we may never fully understand everything, that doesn't mean it's not true. Both Greg and RD together discuss how Paul was concerned about the Kingdom of God, not his own gain.

Greg closes with a quote from Leon Morris that is actually about the book of John, but could also be said about Romans: "[It] is like a swimming pool: Shallow enough that a child may wade and deep enough that an elephant can swim."

For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org

Season Three - 36. Deep Dive: A Conversation On Critical Race Theory, with Rick Dunn Aug 27, 2020

Show notes

After a brief introduction and talk of different Fellowship podcasts, RD, Greg, and Rick jump right into the discussion.

Greg begins by sharing what critical race theory is and where it started, and how our culture now says you're either totally racist or you're not racist at all. Rick chimes in and explains why it's so important that we understand the language that's being used and what people mean when they say things about racism. RD adds that everything we do, including talking about race, has to be grounded in a Biblical mindset.

Greg moves the conversation to talking about intersectionality and the three ways that critical race theory explains how the group in power holds its power:

Hegemonic power - Greg uses the example of Hollywood and beauty and sexuality, and RD brings up Israel in Egypt.
Moral asymmetry - Greg explains how this theory thinks that the oppressor is always wrong and the oppressed are always right. He gives the example of Sarah Jeong at the New York Times.
A lived experience trumps everything else - Greg uses the example of what critics would say about three men talking about abortion. But, Rick says that just because the three men don't have the full expression doesn't mean they can't have an authentic expression.

RD spends time discussing how we as Christians need to engage in all social justice issues, and how important our approach is. He also reiterates that everyone is equally lost and in need of Jesus, we just all have different histories. Rick also adds that this is an incredible time in our history to learn how to love each other well. RD references J. I. Packer's book Weakness Is The Way.

To close, Greg looks back at history to show how if we're not careful as a society, we'll just keep repeating our mistakes, and RD reiterates that we always have to point people back to Jesus.

For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org

Season Three - 35. Jesus and Cancel Culture Aug 20, 2020

Show notes

For their first episode of season three, RD and Greg jump into the conversation of "cancel culture." RD takes a few minutes to explain what they mean by "cancel culture" and talks about how this is a rising cultural issue of people saying you're "canceled" because of something you've done wrong in the eyes of society.

Greg voices that this trend really started on college campuses and has more to do with atonement than reconciliation or forgiveness. But, as Christians, we are called to forgiveness; Greg references Ephesians 4 where Paul talks about being kind to one another. Greg also states that our standard of forgiveness has to be that Jesus forgave you so you have to forgive others. RD brings up the story in the Bible of the woman caught in adultery, and how people wanted to publicly shame and oppress her, but Jesus confronted her sin privately and told her to "sin no more."

Greg brings up that there is so much anonymity on social media, so it's easy to write things on someone's Facebook page who's not really in your life and who you'll never see in real life, but if you wrote the same thing on a coworker's page, you would have to face them the next day, and that drastically changes what you would write on their page. RD jumps in and says that walking away and not commenting on social media is such a lost practice because instead we live in a culture that tells us we have to get the last word.

RD chimes in and points out that Jesus never withdraws support or love from people who are in the wrong; instead, He calls out their sin in truth and love, and then welcomes them to Himself with open arms. Greg references Paul's writing in the books of Corinthians where he says you're a Christian, and God is the only One you belong to, so there shouldn't be divisions among Believers.

RD and Greg wrap up by talking about how Jesus never defined anyone by their worst mistakes, or by their best achievements; instead, He said, "You are defined by Me." RD insists that Jesus will never cancel or kick you out of His House for making a mistake. Greg ends by emphasizing that if we can even offer someone a glimpse of how Jesus forgave us by forgiving them, we should never hesitate to do so.

For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org

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