Democratic candidates with pastoral backgrounds are running competitive campaigns in traditionally Republican states, using Christian language to promote progressive political positions. What does this development mean for American Christians, and how should we understand the rise of the religious left?

In this episode of Conversations That Matter, Jon Harris examines four candidates running for federal office in Texas, Kansas, and Iowa: James Talarico, Adam Hamilton, Sarah Trone Garriott, and Lindsay James.

Although these candidates often present themselves as moderate, bipartisan, and guided by Christian values, their positions on abortion, transgender issues, climate change, and social justice raise important questions about the relationship between progressive politics and historic Christian teaching.

Jon explores their public statements, theological backgrounds, and political strategies, including their criticism of Christian nationalism and their appeals to the gospel, compassion, and the common good.

The broader concern is not simply electoral politics. It is the way political movements can use familiar Christian language to persuade believers that particular policies follow from the gospel. Christians need biblical discernment to distinguish genuine Christian teaching from political programs presented in religious terms.

The episode concludes by considering what Republicans can learn from these candidates' communication strategies and why character, moral credibility, and a clear defense of Christian principles matter in public life.

In this episode:

- The rise of Democratic candidates with pastoral backgrounds

- James Talarico's campaign and his criticism of Christian nationalism

- Adam Hamilton's progressive theology and political positions

- Sarah Trone Garriott and Lindsay James in Iowa

- The relationship between social justice, the social gospel, and Christian teaching

- Why a moderate tone can make progressive policies more appealing

- How Christians can develop discernment and evaluate political claims

- What conservative candidates can learn from the religious left

For more:

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#Christianity #Politics #ReligiousLeft

00:00 The New Face of the Religious Left

05:06 Why Christians Should Pay Attention

12:18 The Rise of Democratic Pastors

17:03 James Talarico and Christian Nationalism

32:00 Adam Hamilton and Progressive Christianity

40:46 Sarah Trone Garriott and the Religious Left

46:40 Lindsay James and the Social Gospel

52:57 How Progressive Pastors Appeal to Voters

54:46 What Republicans Should Learn from the Religious Left

In this News Roundup, Jon Harris covers the latest developments in American politics, the Christian church, and the broader cultural landscape. From the controversy surrounding YouTube’s copyright complaint against *All Are Not Welcome* to the biblical case for capital punishment, this episode examines the ideas and institutions shaping America’s future.

Jon discusses the United Nations’ pandemic preparedness resolution and the U.S. decision to oppose it, a recent school shooting and the role of armed citizens in stopping violence, and a new report examining suicide rates following restrictions on transgender medical procedures for minors.

In evangelical news, Southern Baptist Convention President Willie Rice calls on pastors to engage in the political process ahead of the midterm elections. Jon also examines the latest legal developments involving McLean Bible Church and considers whether growing public expressions of Christian faith in the music industry point to a broader cultural shift.

Topics covered:

- YouTube’s copyright complaint against All Are Not Welcome

- The biblical case for capital punishment and public accountability

- The Pope’s opposition to the death penalty and American sovereignty

- The United Nations’ pandemic preparedness resolution

- A school shooting and the role of armed citizens

- New findings on restrictions on transgender medical interventions for minors

- Willie Rice, the SBC, and Christian political engagement

- The latest McLean Bible Church legal developments

- Billy Corgan, Kid Rock, and the growing visibility of Christian faith in music

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00:00 Introduction and News Roundup (Low Bandwidth)

04:57 YouTube Targets All Are Not Welcome

09:01 The Death Penalty, the Bible, and Public Justice

17:42 The Pope, Capital Punishment, and American Sovereignty

20:05 The UN Pandemic Resolution and Medical Freedom

22:43 School Shooting: The Good Guy with a Gun

24:20 Report on Transgender Treatment Bans and Suicide Rates

25:36 Willie Rice Calls Southern Baptists to Political Engagement

27:49 McLean Bible Church: Latest Legal Developments

30:21 Billy Corgan, Kid Rock, and Christianity in Music

36:12 Midterm Elections and Audience Questions

Why is Northern Ireland still comparatively Christian while the Republic of Ireland has seen such a dramatic collapse in Christian practice and cultural influence?

I talk with Pastor @j_bambrick about conversion, discipleship, Christian institutions, free speech, Enoch Burke, and what Christians in America can learn from Ireland.

00:00 — Why Talk About Christianity Outside America?

01:28 — Meet Pastor Jamie Bambrick

03:04 — Why Northern Ireland Remains More Christian

06:30 — How Ireland Lost Its Christian Culture

09:02 — Institutions Are Not Enough Without Conversion

11:17 — The Troubles and Northern Ireland’s Christian Identity

14:00 — Christian Nationalism and the Need for Discipleship

17:34 — Enoch Burke and the Fight Over Free Speech

24:01 — Northern Ireland Faces the Same Cultural Pressures

52:56 — Are Young Men Returning to Church?

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What did the Mexican-American War have to do with the Civil War, Manifest Destiny, Texas, California, and the modern American Southwest?

Jon Harris sits down with Thomas Wayne Riley of the American Southwest Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about the Mexican-American War and the history that shaped the American Southwest.

The discussion begins with the enormous territorial consequences of the war and the idea of Manifest Destiny, before examining the border dispute that sparked the conflict and the American campaign into Mexico. They discuss the Mexican frontier, Texas independence, California, Mormon settlement, the growth of American communities in the Southwest, and the many future Civil War generals who gained military experience during the Mexican-American War.

The conversation also explores the war's connection to American expansion and imperialism, the San Patricio Battalion, the changing population of the Southwest, and the much older history of the region.

This is a conversation about the history between the American Revolution and the Civil War that is often overlooked, and why understanding that history helps explain the United States and the Southwest today.

00:00 – Introduction: The Mexican-American War and Modern America

06:00 – The Forgotten America Between the Revolution and Civil War

07:14 – Manifest Destiny and America's Expansion West

13:26 – How the Mexican-American War Began

20:35 – Life on the Mexican Frontier

24:21 – Population, Settlement, and the Growth of the Southwest

28:00 – Texas, California, and Mormon Settlement

35:00 – The Mexican War: Training Ground for Civil War Generals

42:02 – America's First Foray Into Imperialism?

52:58 – The San Patricio Battalion, Borders, and the Modern Southwest

Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuWSPoH3ncE

What happened to the Episcopal Church and America's Protestant establishment?

In this conversation, we trace the transformation of the Episcopal Church and other mainline Protestant institutions, from their historic place in American religious life to the rise of theological liberalism, institutional gatekeeping, managerialism, and progressive politics.

Our guest shares his own journey into Anglicanism and the Episcopal ministry, including his years at Yale, his growing concerns about the direction of the denomination, and his attempts to remain faithful while working within an increasingly hostile institutional environment.

We discuss the controversy surrounding sexuality and marriage in the Episcopal Church, the impact of Gene Robinson's consecration, the role of seminaries and denominational leadership, and the ways institutional pressures can discourage clergy from speaking openly.

The conversation also examines Operation Reconquista and the broader question of whether conservative Christians can recover institutions that have been captured by a different theological and cultural vision. We discuss what it means to leave an established denomination, the personal and financial costs of taking unpopular stands, and what young Christians considering ministry should do when the institutions around them have changed.

Finally, we discuss the role of the pulpit in public life and why pastors must be willing to speak boldly about the issues confronting their congregations and communities.

#EpiscopalChurch #Anglicanism #Christianity #ChurchHistory #MainlineProtestantism #ChristianCulture

00:00 Why I Was Drawn to Anglicanism

02:19 Conversion, C.S. Lewis, and the Gospel

07:02 Evangelical Christianity at Yale

08:56 The Episcopal Church's Crisis in the 1990s

13:18 Unitarianism, Darwinism, and the Loss of Christian Belief

22:45 From Yale to the Ministry

30:20 The Conservative Blacklist

35:20 Gene Robinson and the Breaking of the Episcopal Church

40:58 How Managerialism Changed the Church

49:20 2020, DEI, and the Decision to Speak Out

54:34 Operation Reconquista and Leaving the Episcopal Church

01:16:08 Advice for the Next Generation

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This week on the Conversations That Matter podcast, Jon Harris covers a wide-ranging news roundup touching on the Southern Baptist Convention, Christian persecution, the Catholic Church, the Christian Nationalism debate, Steve Lawson, and what Jon calls the “true culture of death.”

Jon begins with a personal update following a house fire in his wife’s family, along with reflections on the recent Restoring Virtue Conference and upcoming speaking engagements.

From there, he discusses Eric Erickson’s criticism of figures on the Right and the importance of clearly defining neo-Nazi ideology rather than making broad accusations. He also examines recent controversy surrounding Candace Owens, a new Vatican document on interreligious dialogue, and claims surrounding the discovery of Noah’s Ark in Turkey.

The episode then turns to the Christian Nationalism debate, including J.D. Greer’s arguments concerning church and state, religious liberty, and the role of Christianity in public life. Jon also discusses Southern Baptist figures Jason Little and Walter Strickland, including Strickland’s comments concerning Nat Turner and liberation theology.

Jon then addresses the changing Christian legal movement, Steve Lawson’s recent book concerning his adultery and disqualification from ministry, and questions from listeners.

The final portion of the podcast examines assisted suicide, declining marriage and family formation, adult toy consumption, gender distrust, juvenileization, higher education, student loans, Title IX, and policies under the Trump administration.

Jon concludes by discussing comments from Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu concerning persecuted Christians in the Middle East and the broader decline of Christianity in the region.

Listen through to the end for Jon’s thoughts on why Christians should focus less on theoretical political battles and more on the practical challenges directly in front of them.

00:00 Personal Update: House Fire and Restoring Virtue

10:40 The News Roundup Begins

11:45 Eric Erickson and the Debate Over Neo-Nazism

22:40 Candace Owens and Online Political Commentary

29:00 The Vatican, Vatican II, and Interreligious Dialogue

38:05 The Search for Noah's Ark

42:45 J.D. Greer and Christian Nationalism

61:45 Jason Little and the Southern Baptist Convention

63:00 Walter Strickland, Liberation Theology, and Nat Turner

77:00 The Christian Legal Movement and John W. Whitehead

84:00 Steve Lawson's Confession and Return to Public Ministry

89:30 Listener Questions

94:00 Assisted Suicide and the Culture of Death

95:00 Juvenileization, Marriage, and Gender Distrust

106:00 Trump, Student Loans, and Higher Education

109:40 Title IX and Gender Transition Treatments

114:30 Christian Persecution, Trump, and Netanyahu

123:50 Final Thoughts

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What actually makes someone a strong Christian?

A viral post claimed that the strongest Christians watch Disney movies, avoid politics, wear bikinis, drink alcohol, shop at Target, and celebrate Halloween. The argument was that Christians who impose restrictions on these things are essentially modern Pharisees.

There is an important truth here: Christians should not invent laws and impose them on other believers as though those rules came from God. But there is also a problem with defining Christian freedom by a list of cultural behaviors.

In this episode, I examine the distinction between Christian liberty, legalism, conscience, modesty, discernment, and genuine godliness. Scripture does not present godliness primarily as a collection of cultural boxes that we check. It begins with the character of the heart and manifests itself in how we live.

The question is not simply, “Can a Christian do this?” The deeper question is: What actually marks a godly Christian?

The episode also considers the “weaker brother,” the misuse of Christian liberty, alcohol, Halloween, modesty, political involvement, consumer choices, pornography, and the danger of creating our own standards of righteousness.

Christianity is marked by inward virtue that manifests itself outwardly.

00:00 — The Tweet About “Strong Christians”

01:22 — Are These Really Issues of Christian Liberty?

02:58 — The Weak Brother and Christian Conscience

05:16 — When the “Weak Brother” Becomes a Human Shield

06:25 — Alcohol, Communion, and Christian Freedom

08:34 — What Actually Makes Someone Godly?

10:42 — The Biblical Marks of a Godly Man

11:57 — Modesty, Virtue, and Godly Women

13:08 — The Problem With a Pornographic Culture

15:34 — What Strong Christians Are Actually Known For

17:24 — Halloween, Alcohol, and Circumstantial Wisdom

19:04 — How to Avoid Becoming a Pharisee

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