Empires of the Future

Andy Stanley and the Path of Protestant Liberalism

This is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change. 

In an upcoming conference billed for parents of LGBTQ+ children and ministry leaders, Andy Stanley, pastor of North Point community church, claims “You will be equipped refreshed, and inspired as you hear from leading communicators on topics that speak to your heart, soul, and mind,” It further claims “”No matter what theological stance you hold, we invite you to listen, reflect, and learn as we approach this topic from the quieter middle space.”  What is the quieter middle space?  Given the speakers at the conference and the claims on the website, it is the same road that other Protestant liberals have walked in the past, leaving behind biblical authority to affirm popular cultural teaching, in this case on accepting LGBTQ+ sexuality.  Unfortunately, this is a path to theological emptiness and ruin, as we examine in this podcast. Here is a link from World opinion by Albert Mohler, which we discuss in this episode. 

https://wng.org/opinions/the-train-is-leaving-the-station-1695036498

"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill

The West is Repaganizing

This is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change. 

The West is Repaganizing

Anyone who grew up in the 80s or 90s remembers the claim that if the west could just get free of religion, then a golden age of science, reason, and technology would await.  What we are finding in the 21st century is the receding of Christianity in the West is leading to to a return of pagan morality, if not religion.  Louise Perry deals skillfully with this reality in an article at First Things entitled "We are Repaganizing". https://www.firstthings.com/article/2023/10/we-are-repaganizing

"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill

 

Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney

This is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change. 

Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney

“Read the Bible, pray everyday, and you’ll grow, grow, grow.”  This phrase common among christian teachers agrees with one of C.S. Lewis’ sentiments that Christianity is a form of education in itself.  If so, what are the disciplines that come with it?  What is expected of a Christian?  Don Whitney’s book Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life is a simple yet comprehensive answer to this question, and in this podcast we dive into Whitney’s summary of biblical teaching regarding the disciplines.  

"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill

The Boy Crisis

This is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change. 

The Boy Crisis

Boys seem to be falling behind their sisters in almost every way, from educational achievement to emotional resiliency.  Why is this happening, and what can be done about it?  In this episode we examine an article by Physician Leonard Sax from the institute for family studies to consider these questions. 

https://ifstudies.org/blog/boys-are-falling-farther-and-farther-behind-their-sisters-should-we-care-

"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill

New Methods and Timeless Truths - 8 Ways Modern Relationships are Forming

This is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change. 

New Methods and Timeless Truths - 8 Ways Modern Relationships are Forming

Who makes the first move in modern relationships, and does it matter?  What methods and platforms are people meeting on and forming relationships through today? To answer these questions, we look at an article by Wendy Wang at the Institute for Family Studies. 

https://ifstudies.org/blog/who-asked-whom-does-it-matter-who-makes-the-first-move-in-a-relationship

"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill

A Christian Esports Coach?

This is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change. 

Season 4, Episode 1 - A Christian Esports Coach?

Sam Henderson has recently moved to the Evansville area to pioneer an ESports program at the University of Evansville.  In this interview, we ask him about being adopted from South Korea, growing up as a gamer, becoming a Christian, and how he became an Esports coordinator and coach.  

"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill

The ”Narrative” vs. the Reality of SBC ’23: 6 Actions taken at the Annual Meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention

This is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change. 

In this article we consider the actions taken two weeks ago at the Annual Meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in June 2023.  We talk through an article written by Denny Burk at https://www.dennyburk.com/the-narrative-vs-the-reality-of-sbc-23/

and consider such issues as complementarianism vs. egalitarianism, sexual abuse in the church, and the future of the SBC.  

"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill

More than Nice People, Mere Christianity Part 11, The Finale

This is Empires of the Future, conversations to understand culture and encourage the Church in a time of change. 

More than Nice People - Mere Christianity, Part 11

Should Christians always be nice?  Why do my daily decisions matter? What is God's goal for humanity anyway?  In this, the final installment of our review of Mere Christianity, we cover Chapters 10 and 11 of Book 4 and complete our journey through the book. 

"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill

Let’s Pretend, Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, Part 10

Let's Pretend - Mere Christianity, Part 9

Is Christianity Hard or Easy, and how does moral change happen at all?  What is the value of many of the old stories, which often surface as Disney movies in our day, about character and how it grows in us?  In this review of C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity, we explore Book 4, Chapters 7-9, which deal with these very questions.  

"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill

Good Infection, Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, Part 9

This is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change. 

Good Infection - Mere Christianity, Part 9

How can we receive the spiritual life God has for us, and how is God working to give life to humanity at all?  How does God hear a thousand prayers all at the same time?  In this review of C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity, we explore Book 4, Chapters 3-6, which deals with these very questions.  

"The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill