No Church Answers!

We wrap up our study of Rod Dreher's The Benedict Option debating the author's contentious view of the Internet, social media and the accompanying cultural message to envelope oneself in a virtual world to escape the real one. We add a discussion of AI, which has exploded since Dreher published, and what ethical questions it raises for Christians. And is "Transhumanism," Raymond Kurzweil's vision of combining humanity with AI, an attainable goal or a false idol? Can we use technology to create a better human being or is it doomed to be a post-modern Tower of Babel?

"To reduce Christian teaching about sex and sexuality to bare, boring, thou-shalt-not moralism is a failure of imagination," Rod Dreher writes in the The Benedict Option. Instead, Churches should strongly proclaim the stability Christian sexual ethics offer men and women who seek true intimacy, romance and fulfilling partnerships in their love relationships. Even as the media and elites attempt to glamorize hook-up culture, pornography and single parenthood, there is growing pushback from many young people, religious or not, who see something terribly wrong with these messages. Christians, in reaching out to those seeking deep and committed love, can provide the vocabulary they need to validate their countercultural decisions. Join us as we discuss the Bible's ringing endorsement of God's gift of human sexuality and physical intimacy.Past podcasts to check out: "Six Battles Every Man Must Win" (46 and 48), David and Bathsheba (110 and 111), "Does Adultery Still Matter" (212).

It's Halloween, so the fellows discuss what Bible authors might have meant when they condemned witchcraft and sorcery. Rather than supernatural black magic, were they pointing to talented manipulators whom today we would call narcissists and psychopaths--persons who know there is no greater human flaw than the ability to fool oneself? Jeffrey Epstein and the Sacker Family were welcomed within commanding heights of politics, business and culture while doing little to hide their heinous crimes. Upon their downfall, the excuse in these heady corridors of power was a 21st Century version of "He hath bewitched me!" Are Christians vulnerable to modern "spells" that use the psychology of gaslighting, rationalization and distorted facts to convince others that they don't see what's obvious? Or worse, make destructive choices of their own? If so, how do we fight for truth?

Trigger warning! The fellows discuss the challenges of the new woke workplace, and whether Christians should react to corporate pronoun policies with principled resistance, silent acknowledgement or suppressed laughter when any of these three could lead to termination. Join us for an oft-times politically incorrect podcast as we discuss the important differences between working for the Lord and working for the Man.

As we continue our look at Rod Dreher’s The Benedict Option, we generally agree American culture lost something valuable when colleges and universities abandoned classical education models, study of the humanities and their respect for the history of Western Civilization. But are Dreher’s suggestions realistic? We debate his call for Christians to forsake public schools for private schools and home schooling. And how should churches restructure their own Christian education programs to teach ideas of objective morality, truth and beauty that modern academia denies exist? Dreher sees both the appreciation and acknowledgement of God’s Christianity as entwined in all learning. Do you agree? Listen and comment.This week's podcast is sponsored by Magic Mind. Visit www.magicmind.com/NCA and use the discount code NCA20 for 48% off on a new subscription or 20% off on your first one-time purchase.  

As we continue our discussion on The Benedict Option, we reflect how we, as Christians, should desire to be seen by the world. Amidst the chaotic collapse of the Roman Empire, Benedict created active faith communities that drew men and women looking for an alternative to the moral disorder around them. Author Rod Dreher says that today’s Christians must make deliberate choices as to inward discipline and outward character to make their churches—and way of life—a desirable option to those weary of the hedonism and nihilism permeating Western culture. How far do we go?This week's podcast is sponsored by Magic Mind. Visit www.magicmind.com/NCA and use the discount code NCA20 for 48% off on a new subscription or 20% off on your first one-time purchase.

Has Christian influence in the culture waned? Most definitely. Are Christians wasting time and effort trying to restore the cultural climate of the 1950s? Most definitely. Author Rob Dreher wants Christian churches to focus their efforts on what he believes are more important goals. As we continue our study of The Benedict Option, we debate Liberalism vs. Progressivism, whether Evangelicals derived any new benefit from the Trump administration and to what extent, if any, Christians should seek the Kingdom of God at the ballot box.This week's podcast is sponsored by Magic Mind. Visit www.magicmind.com/NCA and use the discount code NCA20 for 48% off on a new subscription or 20% off on your first one-time purchase.

We begin a study of Rod Dreher's controversial 2017 book, subtitled "A Strategy for Christians in a Post-Christian Nation." Dreher is not calling for a retreat, rather he says the current times offer an opportunity to regroup around the Benedictine Rules written for Christian monastic living. In the opener of the series, we look at the life and contributions of St. Benedict (c.480-c.547), and how Dreher urges readers stepping away from the relentless antagonism of the culture wars and apply Benedict's emphasis on repentance, self-sacrificial love, purity of heart and the Way of the Cross as way of pointing others to Christ--and a truly fulfilling life.This week's podcast is sponsored by Magic Mind. Visit www.magicmind.com/NCA and use the discount code NCA20 for 48% off on a new subscription or 20% off on your first one-time purchase.

The phrase "spare the rod and spoil the child" is not in the Bible. But the Book of Proverbs does address the value of disciplining your children. The fellows discuss whether the Bible endorses corporal punishment or if parents misuse scripture as an excuse to vent their personal frustration and anger on their kids. We also try to interpret "spare the rod" means in 2024, when so many adult children, particularly young men, "fail to launch." Finally, we discuss the value church youth ministries in supporting parents in raising kids into functional, responsible adults who can take care of themselves and others.This week's podcast is sponsored by Magic Mind. Visit www.magicmind.com/NCA and use the discount code NCA20 for 48% off on a new subscription or 20% off on your first one-time purchase.