Episode Details

In this sixth episode of the special eight-episode series called ‘Politics discerned differently,’ Dr. Mark Turman discusses the importance of being salt and light for Christ in uncivil times and navigating the political season. He is joined by Carmen LaBerge and Patrick Miller, who share their insights on echo chambers, media consumption, and the role of Christians as cultural missionaries. They emphasize the need to engage in diverse conversations, listen to different perspectives, and represent Christ in every interaction. They also challenge the idea of winning in the culture and highlight the importance of suffering and serving as missionaries in a broken world. 

In this conversation, Patrick and Carmen discuss the tension and frustration that some Christians in America feel about their role in society. They explore the idea of Christians as outsiders and the historical context of America as a new Jerusalem. They emphasize the need for a complex understanding of American history and the importance of recognizing that Christians have been outsiders at various points in history. 

They also discuss the concepts of majority rule and minority rights, and how Christians should navigate being in the majority or minority position. The conversation then shifts to the topic of extremism and the vulnerability of Christians to becoming radicalized. They encourage Christians to be curious, open-minded, and willing to admit when they don't know or have changed their minds. They also remind Christians to focus on the kingdom of God and to engage in local communities to make a real difference.

Topics

• (04:20): Understanding Echo Chambers
• (07:05): Breaking Out of Echo Chambers
• (11:28): Engaging with Different Viewpoints
• (14:38): Navigating Media Bias
• (21:44): Being Cultural Missionaries
• (25:11): Redefining Winning in the Culture
• (27:06): Embracing Suffering and Serving
• (31:22): The tension between insiders and outsiders in America
• (34:51): Navigating majority rule and minority rights as Christians
• (45:25): The temptation of extremism and the importance of truth
• (53:22): Admitting uncertainty and embracing growth
• (59:00): Focusing on local communities and the kingdom of God

Resources

Episode Transcript (PDF)

Related Denison Forum podcasts: 

• An invitation to “The After Party”: Reframing Christian engagement in politics with David French and Curtis Chang
• Should Christians pursue power? A conversation with David French
• Why must Christians be civil in uncivil times?
• Losing Our Religion: A conversation with Russell Moore
• Truth over tribe: A conversation with Patrick Miller

Related Denison Forum articles and resources: 

• Respectfully, I Disagree by Dr. Jim Denison - Audiobook