Episode Details

What does hope look like for the American church as political polarization sparks division and many evangelicals are leaving the pews? It might be found in the words of the British “Poet for ‘Bruised Evangelicals,’” Malcolm Guite. The poet, priest, singer-songwriter, and professor joined Russell to talk about truth, imagination, and illumination.

Guite and Moore discuss how they know the Christian story is true, depictions of the gospel in art, and what it means to learn to love. They talk about the power of stories and imagination. Moore asks Guite to share his thoughts on the transfiguration passage in the New Testament, which Guite explores in his book Lifting the Veil. And they talk about how to begin reading poetry for those who don’t know where to start.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

• Kara Bettis for Christianity Today, “A Poet for ‘Bruised Evangelicals’”
• C. S. Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia and The Weight of Glory
• J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings
• Gustaf Aulen, Christus Victor
• Malcolm Guite: Lifting the Veil, Faith, Hope and Poetry, The Christian Plummet, and Amen
• The Trinity Forum, “Online Conversation | Waiting on the Word with Malcolm Guite”
• Richard Hooker, A Learned and Comfortable Sermon of the Certainty and Perpetuity of Faith in the Elect