Persuasion

Latest Episodes:

Episode 209 | Finding Common Ground Feb 10, 2021

Show notes

Erin and Hannah kick off a new series called Finding Common Ground. Each episode will consider a different aspect of natural revelation and how the world around us gives us the common ground we seek—and desperately need—with our fellow humans. Despite the rifts we feel with others ideologically, there is still much we have in common. By turning our eyes to the creation and its rhythms, we find commonality in our shared human experience. We can look to the patterns God embedded in the natural world as markers for our own experiences. Seasonal patterns, life stages, natural laws—things like these remind us that something greater is happening in the universe, regardless of our personal differences.

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Episode 208 | People People, with Chris and Elizabeth McKinney Dec 01, 2020

Show notes

Our holidays are usually marked by all kinds of festivities. There are family gatherings, dinners with friends, work parties, community celebrations, church programs, and more. But this year? Most of these are cancelled due to the COVID pandemic. We will miss out on gift exchanges and cookie swaps and catching up with friends and family. It's disappointing for everyone.

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Episode 207 | Thankful People, with Dustin Crowe Nov 24, 2020

Show notes

Thanksgiving is typically full of feasting and family and friends. But this year? For most of us, gathering with others to enjoy our typical feast is off the table due to the global pandemic. Even if you are able to celebrate with your immediate family, the day is likely to be tinged with emptiness. And emptiness has a way of diminishing our gratitude, even on Thanksgiving.

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Episode 206 | Happy People, with Barnabas Piper Nov 17, 2020

Show notes

In this episode of Persuasion, Erin Straza and Hannah Anderson kick off a new miniseries titled Happy, Thankful, People. Each episode of the series includes a special guest who has something specific to share about how we can clear some of the hurdles that come with the holiday season. Barnabas Piper joins this episode to discuss our expectations of seasonal happiness and joy. In Hoping for Happiness: Turning Life's Most Elusive Feeling into Lasting Reality (The Good Book Company, 2020), Barnabas offers a biblical framework for living a grounded, hopeful, and genuinely happy life—even in the midst of the holiday frenzy and even in a year like 2020

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Episode 205 | Don't Waste Your Vote Oct 14, 2020

Show notes

In this episode of Persuasion, Erin Straza and Hannah Anderson wrap up their For God and Country series. Each episode has tackled an aspect of how faith and politics collide. This final conversation looks at the value and power of a single vote, the one we've been entrusted with for each item on our ballot. Voting truly is a privilege, but in these politically charged days, the weight of casting our vote in the right way is heavy indeed. There is fear and guilt all mixed together, and it's used by both sides to sway us to choose the way that benefits their party. In addition, Christians also struggle with the burden of making the right choice—the one that honors God and His ways.

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Episode 204 | Don't Be So Political, with Kathryn Freeman Oct 06, 2020

Show notes

With the amount of turmoil that's typically associated with political conversation and engagement, it can be very tempting to look for a reprieve. Every issue truly is connected to the common good that we're called to work toward. But when every conversation turns into a politically charged exchange, it's quite tempting to demand that others stop being so political all the time. While tempting, however, what is really behind our wish that others don't be so political?

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Episode 203 | Just Preach the Gospel Sep 29, 2020

Show notes

Racial reckoning, a threatening pandemic, devastating wildfires... our country is practically pulling apart at the seams. In the middle of all this, we're facing the usual fervor associated with a presidential election. Except this isn't like other presidential elections, because of heightened turmoil of our times makes the discord all the more obvious. Emotions are running high. Everyone is looking for reason to take offense—and no one has to look very long or far to find it. The climate feels oppressive and hopeless. So for those who find hope in their Christian faith, it seems the best response to all this is to simply preach the gospel. Certainly if we just focus our energy on getting more people saved, that will solve everything. Certainly Jesus can fix this mess... right?

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Episode 202 | Toeing the Party Line Sep 22, 2020

Show notes

Perhaps during this series you've become open to the idea that political engagement is an avenue for kingdom flourishing to bring about the common good. And perhaps you've also clarified the sort of nation you want to build with your political engagement. Now we move from theory into practice, because political engagement will actually require you to dig into the system we have in order to make the world better.

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Episode 201 Bonus | Interview with Sam Perry Sep 19, 2020

Show notes

Erin Straza and Hannah Anderson invited Sam Perry to Persuasion to share about his research with Andrew Whitehead on Christian nationalism. Their book, Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States, helps us understand the driving factors that define and lead to Christian nationalism in our country. For episode 201 of the For God and Country series, Sam explains how Christian nationalism is a form of political idolatry that we must be aware of and reject.

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Episode 201 | Taking America Back for God Sep 15, 2020

Show notes

In this episode of Persuasion, Erin Straza and Hannah Anderson dig into the For God and Country series. In this conversation, Erin and Hannah look to the pain points Christians are feeling and use them to unearth the way fear can sway our political leanings. In Christian circles, there has been increasing concern about religious rights and freedoms, as well as rally cries to take our nation back for God. To help us understand the factors feeding these ideas, Hannah speaks with Sam Perry, who has done significant research on Christian nationalism. Together with Andrew Whitehead, Sam authored a book of his findings titled Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States. Sam addresses the growing conflation of Christian faith with nationalism, which at its core is political idolatry. Because we are so accustomed to these messages and stances within the Church, we can become blind to how we've adopted ideals and stances that are contrary to the gospel. Is it truly our mandate to take America back for God? Are Christians under persecution in the United States—or is it just a loss of privilege and status? Should Christians focus on protecting our own rights or is it more important to reach others with the love of God found in Jesus? Listen in for dialogue on questions like these as we learn to think more clearly about the intersection of faith and politics. Then continue the conversation on Twitter @PersuasionCAPC or in the CAPC members-only community on Facebook.

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