Francis Chan says it’s time for Christians to take Jesus’ command about unity seriously. His new book, “Until Unity,” outlines the biblical call to be one, and why we struggle to achieve it. Skye talks with Chan about what Christian unity looks like practically, the role of racism in keeping us apart, how a focus on church growth distracted Chan from seeking unity, and how to know when disunity is the only option.
Also this week, a new study finds less than 50% of Americans are now members of a church for the first time in a century. Should secularists be rejoicing? Not necessarily, as some experts fear religious zeal is now shifting into politics. Plus, smuggling baby tortoises, Phil’s worried about a 3,000-year-old knife-wielding spider god, and a fecal fight between Godzilla and King Kong.
Great episode! As a former evangelical, I can totally relate to Skye's concerns about the sermon-centric service, which is a relatively new tradition in Christianity. By God's providence, I discovered the Christ-centered Catholic Mass, which has been a Christian tradition since the Last Supper. I would encourage you to read the writings of the early Church fathers. May God continue to lead you to his One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church!
Great episode as always. On the church membership thing - my family were members of a local church, but we went maybe once a month, and faith/God/church were never talked about. Not being any kind of believer, I didn't see the point of going (plus I hated wearing ties). I asked my father why we had to go and the answer I got was 'because its the thing to do'. I've been around the sun a few more times than you three. When I went away to college, until I met the Lord, I never even thought about going to church. I think a lot of that decrease is the 2nd generation of nominal Christians not seeing the purp…
Just stopping by to voice my support for News of the Butt! (Sorry, Christian!) It's been a challenging past year for us all, and I've been grateful to you guys for consistently giving me something to laugh about. Thanks!
I know this message works for some people and this isn't a callout, more another perspective.
I grew up with crippling religious OCD. Because of certain energized, "are you REALLY a believer?" Evangelical sermons, however well-meaning, I constantly feared I "wasn't a real Christian". It was a major source of anxiety, especially because I never felt the urge to raise my hands and cry like those around me in church did. I worried I didn't really have God and the "...But are you REALLY saved?" sermons made that worse. Constantly I would hear pastors imply that if I didn't have the urge to whoop and shout or if I didn't feel the right thing or if I kept committing the…
Before taking Chan’s word on Bickle, please research Bob Jones and Paul Cain, two of the three foundational IHOP-KC prophets. Bickle tells many, many stories about how great these prophets were (specifically how great these prophets said Bickle is!). In my 7 years at IHOP-KC, he did not mention the ”other” stories. Deliberately withholding vital information is considered information control, a sign of an authoritarian group. Maybe that’s what you want to be a part of, maybe not. Just practice due diligence.