David and Curtis talk to Dr. Derwin Gray about his career path from college football to the NFL to seminary and, ultimately, to the founder and pastor of Transformation church, a multi-ethnic congregation in South Carolina. Dr. Gray talks about his new book, How to Heal Our Racial Divide and David and Curtis ask him about political and racial tensions in church, critical race theory, and how he proposes reaching a church that's polarized on political and racial grounds. Show Notes: - How to Heal...
Feb 12, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 13
How should we react when people say or do things we find offensive in public discourse? What is the role of forgiveness and grace in these contexts? How do we determine if apologies are sincere and the offending party is worthy of an opportunity for repentance and repair? Join David and Curtis as they discuss this timely topic and offer some guidance for how we can make some space for grace in our public discourse. Show Notes: - David French (WaPo): "Here's the difference between Colin Kaepernic...
Feb 05, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 12
David and Curtis are excited to welcome the inaugural guest of the Good Faith podcast, Mike Cosper. Mike is the Director of Podcasting for Christianity Today and is most well known as the producer and host of The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill . Join David, Curtis and Mike as they discuss some of the lessons Mike took away from the process of diving deep into such a painful story. As you will see, the lessons are sometimes hard (just like the gospel itself), but they are also surprisingly hopeful (j...
Jan 29, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 11
Why are so many pastors considering leaving the ministry? Is it the pandemic? Is it the political and racial polarization? Is it something else? Join David and Curtis as they delve into the growing crisis of pastoral burnout, including a very personal story from Curtis about his own journey to becoming a "former senior pastor". Show Notes: - Barna Group - 38% of U.S. Pastors Have Thought About Quitting Full-Time Ministry in the Past Year - Michelle Boorstein - The first Christmas as a layperson:...
Jan 22, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 10
Conflict feels like it's everywhere these days. Church communities, old friendships and even families are being pulled apart by tensions over politics, the pandemic, race and more. When should we stay in a church or relationship? When should we perhaps leave? Is there a biblical model to navigate these decisions and what comes in the aftermath? Join David and Curtis to discuss how we as Christians should approach these perplexing questions. Show Notes: - The Russell Moore Show: Beth Moore Didn't...
Jan 15, 2022•57 min•Ep. 9
What exactly is a Christian nation? Is America becoming post-Christian? Is it easier or harder to be a Christian in America today than it was 30 years ago? What about 70 years ago? Join David French and Curtis Chang to think through these important questions and to consider some perhaps quite surprising answers.
Jan 08, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 8
Why would a 53-year-old man decide that this is the year he will finally become an adult? Find out in this special New Year's episode where David and Curtis discuss the urgent need for all of us to step up and be the grown ups, both in the church and in the broader culture.
Jan 01, 2022•58 min•Ep. 7
In a special Christmas episode, David French and Curtis Chang talk about the ultimate act of empathy (God becoming human) and the somewhat surprising debate going on in certain corners of the evangelical church; the idea that empathy can be a sin. How far should we go to understand another's pain? Does empathy require moral agreement? Is our empathy sometimes selective, reserved for those we agree with and withheld from those we don't? David and Curtis also dig into some reader mail for a fascin...
Dec 25, 2021•59 min•Ep. 6
This week David French and Curtis Chang take a hard look at the silent killer of loneliness. Why is loneliness on the rise in America? What might hope look like, and how do we access it? Join us for this Advent episode where the reality of God's incarnation in Jesus takes center stage, and the true story of hope in dark times is revealed. Show Notes: - Carol Graham: Premature Mortality and the Long Decline of Hope in America - Social Capital Project - Opioid Overdoses by Demographic - The colleg...
Dec 18, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 5
In a follow up to last week's Deconstructing Faith episode, David French and Curtis Chang dive into the sometimes murky and contradictory political views of Christians. All too frequently, the political stances we think are biblical are actually just cultural. Why are most Christians' political stances so predictable? For example, why do many believers who care about abortion not care as much about systemic racism? Or vice versa? Tune into today's episode as Curtis and David tackle the fascinati...
Dec 11, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 4
David French and Curtis Chang discuss the hot topic of "deconstruction," a term with multiple meanings, from reevaluation of specific faith related issues to a deeper questioning of Christian faith itself. For many the discussion around deconstruction stems from some sense of pain or hurt caused by the church. David and Curtis (and producer Kris) explore the complex and deeply personal dimensions of this process, including practical suggestions for listeners. Show Notes: - The French Press: Unde...
Dec 04, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 3
David French and his theological wingman Curtis Chang dive into the term "evangelical", defining it historically and discussing how it fits in the current American context. Is it really a set of religious beliefs, a set of cultural beliefs, or a set of political beliefs? How does evangelicalism compare with fundamentalism? Is evangelical a term worth salvaging for Christians, or has it become too closely tied to a political movement to retain any spiritual relevance? Show Notes: - The French Pre...
Nov 27, 2021•55 min•Ep. 2
In the inaugural episode of the Good Faith Podcast, David French and his theological wingman Curtis Chang discuss some of the recent issues at Liberty University and how Christians should think about the concept of institutional sin. Curtis makes the theological case for how human institutions fit into the biblical narrative and that as such, they are both made in the image of God and also capable of sin and brokenness. They also discuss why it is important for Christians to place a high priorit...
Nov 20, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 1
Good Faith is a new podcast from The Dispatch. Join hosts David French and Curtis Chang for a conversation with a focus on faith and politics, faith and culture, and faith and law. Notice the common theme there? Subscribe and watch your feed for our brand new podcast, Good Faith.
Nov 09, 2021•1 min