We have a very special episode today with David L. Bahsen about work and the meaning of life. His book, Full-Time , is a challeging and important contribution for resetting our worldviews to fully embrace our role as workers and Christians. I wrote a short introduction on the Cross & Gavel Substack (here) incorporating David's work with Matthew Kaemingk's Work and Worship (listen to our chat with him here ) and John Witte, Jr.'s Table Talk....
Jul 11, 2024•53 min
Joining me this week to talk about reconciliation and civil discourse is the author of Agents of Grace: How to Bridge Divides and Love as Jesus Loved — Dan hosts the weekly podcast The Way Home, leads the Land Center for Cultural Engagement, and speaks at churches and conferences around the country. RELATED CONTENT Joy For The World - Greg Forster ( Episode # 127 ) Learning to Disagree - John Inazu ( Episode # 162 ) Cross & Gavel is a production of CHRISTIAN LEGAL SOCIETY. The episode was pr...
Jun 26, 2024•59 min
Joining me this week to talk a little church history and political theology is the author of Cultural Santificaiton: Engaging the World like the Early Church — Stephen O. Presley. Stephen is a senior fellow for religion and public life at the Center for Religion, Culture, and Democracy ( CRCD ) and associate professor of church history at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS). Profile page here . RELATED CONTENT The Contested Public Square - Greg Forster ( Episode # 113 ) Cross & ...
Jun 12, 2024•55 min
Joining me this week to talk about her new spiritual biography of J.R.R. Tolkien is Holly Ordway. She is the Cardinal Francis George Professor of Faith and Culture at the the Word on Fire Institute and Visiting Professor of Apologetics at Houston Christian University. Her other two books on Apologetics and Tolkien can be found here and here (respectively). For more, check out her website and Twitter account (@HollyOrdway). Listen to my earlier conversation with Holly here on her book, Tolkien's ...
May 22, 2024•56 min
In this week's discussion, David VanDrunen returns to the studio to talk about his new short companion on the natural law ( buy here ). David is the Robert B. Strimple Professor of Systematic Theology and Christian Ethics at Westminster Seminary California (faculty page here ). He has written a number of other popular books, ranging from Divine Covenants and Moral Order: A Biblical Theology of Natural Law , Natural Law and the Two Kingdoms: A Study in the Development of Reformed Social Thought a...
May 08, 2024•46 min
In honor of Second Chance Month, we continue our conversation on criminal justice by focusing on the history of law and order in America. My guest today is Aaron Griffith—assistant professor of modern American history at Whitworth University and the author of God's Law & Order: The Politics of Punishment in Evangelical America . RELATED CONTENT This is our third episode on criminal justice this spring. Watch the first episode with Matthew T. Martens here and the second with Heather Rice-Minu...
Apr 17, 2024•1 hr 4 min
In honor of Second Chance Month, I am joined by the President of Prison Fellowship, Heather Rice-Minus, to talk ministry in cells and the work that remains to be done for reintroducing prisoners into normal life. Follow their work on their website, here . RELATED CONTENT This is our second episode on criminal justice this spring. Watch the first episode with Matthew T. Martens here . Cross & Gavel is a production of CHRISTIAN LEGAL SOCIETY. The episode was produced by Josh Deng, with music f...
Apr 03, 2024•40 min
Joining me this week to talk about his brand new book, Learning to Disagree: The Surprising Path to Navigating Differences with Empathy and Respect , is John Inazu. He is the Sally D. Danforth Distinguished Professor of Law & Religion and Professor of Political Science (by courtesy) ( bio page ). Also check out his Substack here . RELATED CONTENT Confident Pluralism - John Inazu ( Episode # 55 ) The Witte Lectures - John WItte, Jr. & John Inazu ( here ) Blessed Are The Peacemakers - Ken ...
Mar 27, 2024•47 min
Joining me this week to talk about reforming criminal justice is the preeminent Christian thinker on matters of law and order, Matthew T. Martens. His new book, Reforming Criminal Justice: A Christian Proposal , is an essential text for helping students and practitioners alike integrate their faith with the legal profession. Buy it here . This is the first of three Spring episodes looking at the criminal justice system. RELATED CONTENT Break Every Yoke ( Episode # 138 ). Romans 13 ( Epsiode # 13...
Mar 13, 2024•46 min
Joining me this week to talk a little jurisprudence is an Associate Professor at the Singapore Management University School of Law, Seow Hon Tan (faculty page ). She is the author of the book Justice as Friendship: A Theory of Law ( purchase ), which looks at the idea of friendship and how it can help us formulate a more just legal system. RELATED CONTENT Bridging the Civil & Divine - Karen Taliaferro ( Episode # 133 ) Christianity & Constitutionalism: Higher Law - Li-ann Thio ( Episodes...
Feb 28, 2024•33 min
The John Witte, Jr. Lecture Series on Christianity & Law is here! A new venture from Christian Legal Society aimed at advancing the conversation on the integration of Christianity & law. In our inaugural lecture inspired by the Dutch Golden Age painters, we venture into the future of Christian jurisprudence with John Witte, Jr. himself. His remarks focus on the future of Christianity and law, with reference to a few of his recent articles on domestic and international religious freedom (...
Feb 14, 2024•1 hr 26 min
Joining me in conversation on immigraiton and Christian character is Rev. Dr. Jonathan C. Augustine. He recently released the book When Prophets Preach: Leadership and the Politics of the Pulpit and published a shorter version in the JCLT ( here ) of his upcoming article with the Howard Law Journal entitled And Who is My Neighbor?: A Faith-Based Argument for Immigration Policy Reform in Welcoming Undocumented Refugees. For an introduction to our conversation and a summation of Jay's many, many b...
Feb 07, 2024•49 min
Joining me this week in our first episode of the new year is a renowed thinker and writer on constitutional theory and natural law, Hadley Arkes. Hadley is the Edward N. Ney Professor of Jurisprudence and American Institutions emeritus at Amherst College and the founding director of the James Wilson Institute on Natural Rights and the American Founding. His new book and the focus of this episode is called Mere Natural Law: Originalism and the Anchoring Truths of the Constitution . RELATED CONTEN...
Jan 24, 2024•52 min
Joining me this time to talk The Abolition of Man on its 80th Anniversary is Joe Kohm, the C.S. Lewis Institute Vice President for Development and City Director for Virginia Beach. Check out their study guide here . I wrote an introduction to our conversation on our Substack here . The Namárië Forum (" go towards goodness ") is an opportunity for us to step back from the mandates (and madness) of law and practice, and into a space for contemplation and imagination regarding the outworking of God...
Jan 10, 2024•38 min
In this special Christmas Day episode, I am joined by the President of the C.S. Lewis Institute to talk about all things Narnia and Lewis. Learn more about the Institute here . Check out the devotional resource Joel's recommends for studying the Series here . Cross & Gavel is a production of CHRISTIAN LEGAL SOCIETY. The episode was produced by Josh Deng, with music from Vexento. A special thanks to Nick and Ashley Barnett for their contribution in making this podcast possible....
Dec 25, 2023•52 min
Joining me this week is a return guest and the author of a brand new (and final) book in the Ministry in a Secular Age Series—Andrew Root. His new book is The Church in an Age of Secular Mysticisms: Why Spiritualities Without God Fail to Transform Us [ BUY ]. For more information on Andy, check out his faculty page here . RELATED CONTENT 1. The Church After Innovation - Andrew Root ( Episode # 130 ) Cross & Gavel is a production of CHRISTIAN LEGAL SOCIETY. The episode was produced by Josh De...
Dec 13, 2023•50 min
In this episode of the Leadership Roundtable, we are joined by Zachary German of Arizona State University, who talks about the leadership prowess of Abraham Lincoln and how it relates to civic faith. Zack German is an assistant professor in the School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership (SCETL). His research focuses broadly on American political and constitutional thought, along with early modern thought, on questions of statesmanship, political culture and civic character, politics and...
Dec 04, 2023•26 min
Joining me this week to talk about the love of learning within the life of faith is Matthew Lee Anderson. Matt is an assistant professor in Baylor University’s Honors College and the Associate Director of Baylor in Washington . He founded Mere Orthodoxy and co-hosts Mere Fidelity , a podcast on faith, theology, and ethics. His new book is titled Called Into Questions . Follow him on Twitter: @mattleeanderson. RELATED CONTENT 1) Conversations About Books - Byron Borger & Richard Leiter ( Epis...
Nov 22, 2023•48 min
Joining me this week to talk about the role of religion in the history of America is Mark David Hall, professor at the Regent University School of Government and the author of the brand new book Proclaim Liberty Through All the Land: How Christianity Has Advanced Freedom and Equality for All Americans . Check out his faculty bio for more. RELATED CONTENT 1) Reformation & Constitutionalism - John WItte, Jr. ( Episode # 143 ) 2) 2000 years of Christian public philosophy - Greg Forster ( Episod...
Nov 08, 2023•52 min
Joining me this week to talk about the history and development of the Establishment Clause is Nathan Chapman, the Pope F. Brock Professor of Law at the University of Georgia School of Law. He is the co-author of the new book with Michael McConnell entitled Agreeing to Disagree: How the Establishment Clause Protects Religious Diversity and Freedom of Conscience . Nathan is a preeminent scholar in the areas of constitutional law, religious liberty and ethics. His faculty page here . RELATED CONTEN...
Oct 18, 2023•42 min
Joining me this week to discuss one the most consequetial cases in years on the freedom of association for religious groups is two Christian Legal Society attorneys, Kim Colby (Of Counsel) and Steve McFarland (Director, Center for Law & Religious Freedom). This case was years in the making and came out of the Ninth Circuit sitting en banc, which gave it increased weight. The opinion can be found here . The episode was produced by Josh Deng, with music from Vexento. A special thanks to Nick a...
Oct 04, 2023•1 hr 3 min
It is no secret that law students and attorneys exist in a stressful environment. The American Bar Association (ABA) has conducted a study that shows how this environment tends to contribute to high rates of mental health disorders and substance abuse. In an effort to face this challenge, LSM is proud to launch the Wellness Program—focused on providing students resources and discussions to face this issue, together. For our inaugural event, the Wellness Program is privileged to host a very speci...
Sep 27, 2023•56 min
Joining me this week to talk religious freedom and the culture at large is Tom Berg, the James L. Oberstar Professor of Law and Public Policy at St. Thomas School of Law. Tom has written approximately 75 book chapters and journal articles and dozens of op-eds and shorter pieces on religious freedom, constitutional law, and the role of religion in law, politics and society. His work has been cited multiple times by the U.S. Supreme Court and federal courts of appeals. He is the author of the rece...
Sep 20, 2023•47 min
Today, we conclude our summer series looking into the essays in a brand new volume entitled Christianity and Constitutionalism (Oxford University Press 2023) (PURCHASE HERE ). In this episode, we head back to my time zone in speaking with a Canadian man of mystery, Douglas Farror. Our topic today is how the end times contributes to our understanding of constitutionalism. Douglas is a professor of Theology and Ethics at McGill University and the author of numerous books, including a commentary on...
Sep 13, 2023•55 min
Today, we continue our summer series looking into the essays in a brand new volume entitled Christianity and Constitutionalism (Oxford University Press 2023) (PURCHASE HERE ). In this episode, we return to Australia States and tackle the question of God's revelation and how it relates to constitutionalism. Our guest today is Iain Benson, professor of law at the University of Notre Dame Australia and author of the article discussed here entitled Subsidiarity: Origins and Contemporary Aspects . Se...
Sep 06, 2023•52 min
Today, we continue our summer series looking into the essays in a brand new volume entitled Christianity and Constitutionalism (Oxford University Press 2023) (PURCHASE HERE ). In this episode, we return to the States and tackle the question of God's revelation and how it relates to constitutionalism. Our guest today is David VanDrunen — Robert B. Strimple Professor of Systematic Theology and Christian Ethics at Westminster Seminary California (faculty page here ). David has written a number of p...
Aug 30, 2023•50 min
Today, we continue our summer series looking into the essays in a brand new volume entitled Christianity and Constitutionalism (Oxford University Press 2023) (PURCHASE HERE ). In this episode, we discuss the essay from Li-ann Thio looking at the confluence of higher law and the rule of law. Li-ann is the provost chair professor of law at the National University of Singapore and a renowed expert in public international law, human rights, constitutional and administrative law. Her faculty bio can ...
Aug 23, 2023•1 hr 15 min
Today, we continue our summer series looking into the essays in a brand new volume entitled Christianity and Constitutionalism (Oxford University Press 2023) (PURCHASE HERE ). In this episode, we discuss the essay from Richard Ekins looking at the confluence of self-government and the Kingdom of Heaven. Richard is a Professor of Law and Constitutional Government at the University of Oxford. He is co-author of Legislated Rights: Securing Human Rights through Legislation (CUP, 2018) and author of ...
Aug 16, 2023•40 min
Today, we continue our summer series looking into the essays in a brand new volume entitled Christianity and Constitutionalism (Oxford University Press 2023) (PURCHASE HERE ). In this episode, we discuss the essay from David McIlroy looking at the impact of Trinitarian theology for constitutionalism. David is Head of Chambers at Forum Chambers in London and a visiting professor at Queen Mary University of London and the University of Notre Dame. David's books are numerous, relevant to this podca...
Aug 09, 2023•35 min
Today, we continue our summer series looking into PART II in the essays in a brand new volume entitled Christianity and Constitutionalism (Oxford University Press 2023) (PURCHASE HERE ). In this episode, we have the privilege of speaking with the former justice on the Constitutional Court of Colombia and now a professor at the University of Dayton School of Law (faculty bio here ). He is a world traveler, having studied and lived in Spain, Germany, Colombia, and Australia. He's worked on a myria...
Aug 02, 2023•52 min
