Christian Civics Podcast

59: The Blessing and Burden of Citizenship with David Koyzis

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 09:33:19 -0400

Esteemed author Dr. David Koyzis discusses the nature of idolatry, why conservatives are really liberals, and his new book on citizenship.Esteemed author Dr. David Koyzis discusses the nature of idolatry, why conservatives are really liberals, and his new book on citizenship.

Shownotes

Political Visions and Illusions: A Survey & Christian Critique of Contemporary Ideologies by David Koyzis

Citizenship without Illusions: A Christian Guide to Political Engagement by David Koyzis

Christian Civics Foundations online course by the Center for Christian Civics

Episode 58: Talking with Loved Ones About Race

Sun, 20 Feb 2022 15:33:40 -0500

Keesha Ceran and Garret Losty, who will be facilitating our upcoming workshop on Talking with Loved Ones About Race, drop in to share why we should stop avoiding conversations about race, and how leaning into them can help the church grow spiritually. Register for the February 22 workshop at christiancivics.org

Episode 57: Fake News, Satire, and Poisonous Bears

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 20:55:31 -0500

A Christian satirist joins us for a conversation about faith, truth and fake news. Shownotes—including links, videos and slides—can be found throughout the episode transcript at christiancivics.org. Visit christiancivics.org/upcoming-events to register for our next two events: Christian Civics Foundations (beginning January 6) or Talking With Loved Ones About Race (February 22).

Ep. 56: Misreading Scripture with Individualist Eyes

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 14:42:47 -0400

Christian Civics Advisory Council Chair Ben O'Dell joins us for a discussion about one of his favorite books, "Misreading Scripture with Individualist Eyes," by E. Randalph Richards and Richard James. You can pick up a copy of the book here: https://amzn.to/2YeOWar Register for the next Christian Civics Foundations cohort: https://www.christiancivics.org/upcoming-events/foundations-winter-22 Visit our website for shownotes, transcripts and to support our work: www.christiancivics.org/podcast/episode-56-misreading-scripture

Episode 55: Defining Politics

Sat, 09 Oct 2021 14:41:51 -0400

Using one word for five different concepts is confusing at the best of time, but when that one word is controversial and emotionally charged, it makes acting with patience and wisdom even more difficult. Before we launch Christian Civics Foundations, our Executive Director thought it would be helpful to take a few minutes to examine a few very different things we might mean when we use the word "politics." Sign up for Christian Civics Foundations at christiancivics.org.

Ep. 54: Gained in Translation

Thu, 30 Sep 2021 19:42:13 -0400

Dr. Doug Trick of the Canada Institute of Linguistics joins us this week to talk about how translating the Bible changes the way he thinks about not just evangelism and discipleship, but communication in general. Our host reflects on Dr. Trick's experiences and an old episode of "Doctor Who" to draw some conclusions about how we can argue more healthfully in the church. Visit christiancivics.org for show notes, including more information on how to sign up for our upcoming Christian Civics Foundations cohort.

Ep. 53: The View From the City Counil Chamber

Wed, 15 Sep 2021 23:47:36 -0400

You see your elected officials in public, but that doesn't really help you get to know everything that goes on behind the scenes to keep a government running. This week, we welcome Evan Dame, town council member in the city of North Brentwood, Maryland, as he shares the challenges that caught him off guard and the way his church life helps him serve his neighbors well.

Episode 52: Why We Disagree (Class Excerpt)

Wed, 08 Sep 2021 23:34:29 -0400

Why do people who share our faith not share our politics? Is it because they're stupid? Wrong? Malicious? Liars? In this excerpt from a 2020 Christian Civics class, we cover why it's not helpful to jump straight to those conclusions, and start looking at a few alternatives that are less dramatic but more useful.

Ep. 51: Prayers for Afghanistan

Mon, 30 Aug 2021 21:22:52 -0400

This week, we welcome three guests to lead us in prayer for the horrific and deteriorating situation on the ground in Afghanistan. David Shedd, Stephen Rodriguez and Brian O'Day draw on their decades of experience in international intelligence, national defense, and military ministry to provide us with ways to approach God in the midst of this fallout.

Episode 50: Losing Power Revisited (Expanded Interview with Bill Henson)

Wed, 04 Aug 2021 21:34:16 -0400

At the beginning of 2018, Executive Director Rick Barry sat down with Bill Henson of Posture Shift Ministries (formerly called Lead Them Home) to discuss losing cultural power, grieving alongside the grieving and whether we should think of the US as a Christian nation. Those topics have only become more relevant in the three years since the episode aired. So this week, we re-visit those topics with the expanded cut of that 2018 interview. The reflection and prayer from the original episode, along with links to learn more about Posture Shift Ministries, can be found at christiancivics.org.

Ep. 49 Vote Like You’re Hiring

Wed, 28 Jul 2021 13:58:29 -0400

How can a professional recruiter help us think differently about voting faithfully? This week, we welcome Sandra George, an HR professional with over 15 years of experience helping a range of different companies find the right people for the right jobs. Rick Barry talks with Sandra about what goes into making a hiring decision, and what we might get distracted by if we don't have people watching our backs. Introduction: My Favorite Campaign Ad (00:15) Interview (03:55) Reflection (23:11) Prayer (31:50)

Ep 48: A fuller View of Being Prophetic

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 14:07:20 -0400

The things we consider to be "prophetic" shape both the way we present our faith to other people and the kinds of behaviors we reward in our brothers and sisters. Our Executive Director offers a brief reflection on how the biblical prophets may challenge our understanding of what prophets are actually supposed to do. Visit christiancivics.org for a transcript, action item and more.

Ep. 47: (Still) Remembering the Prisoners

Wed, 14 Jul 2021 16:49:50 -0400

In the spring of last year, at the very start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we talked with Heather Rice-Minus of Prison Fellowship to discuss how they were responding to the pandemic. A year later, we welcome Heather back to talk about the long-term changes COVID has introduced to the ways the Prison Fellowship team does their work. Interview (01:37) Reflection (26:28) Prayer (31:35)

Ep. 46: Being Online Wrong

Wed, 07 Jul 2021 17:55:33 -0400

How does one Christian Civics leader talk about important topics online without losing patience or hope?

Ep. 45 A Beacon of Hope; Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church, Ft. Worth TX

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 11:28:19 -0400

This week, we share a conversation from May of this year with leaders of a Texas church that was serving as a distribution site for the COVID-19 vaccine. They discussed the history of Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in Fort Worth, TX; how the church's relationship to its mission field has changed over the years; and how making the COVID-19 vaccine available to their neighbors fits in with their vision for ministry and service. Interview (01:15) Ministries with Long Histories (23:20) Prayer (29:40)

Ep. 44 What’s Christian About Your Politics?

Wed, 23 Jun 2021 15:15:50 -0400

To kick off a new season, our Executive Director reflects on whether becoming a Christian means ceasing to be anything and everything else.

Ep. 43: The Burden of Shared Suffering

Sat, 09 Jan 2021 02:00:45 -0500

Rev. Charles Garriott joins us to share his experience caring for people in the aftermath of violence. This is a must-listen for any ministry leader who isn't sure how to react to this week's attack on the US Capitol!

Ep. 41: Do I know you?

Fri, 06 Nov 2020 15:38:38 -0500

We close out our mini-series on the scariest passages of the gospel with a look at why bearing fruit and fitting the description of a Christian isn't enough.

Ep. 40: A Sword In Our Churches

Wed, 04 Nov 2020 20:01:52 -0500

Christian Civics Executive Director Rick Barry shares how Jesus' promise to bring a sword prompts him to ask himself uncomfortable questions about his friendships and his church life.

Ep. 39: The Empty Ones

Tue, 13 Oct 2020 23:38:12 -0400

Executive Director Rick Barry continues this miniseries of reflections on the passages of the synoptic gospels that frighten him the most. This episode also includes a guided prayer, and information on how to support our work ahead of and following a divisive election. A full transcript is available on our website, christiancivics.org.

Ep. 38: Better Off Drowned?

Sat, 26 Sep 2020 19:17:12 -0400

Jesus' warning not to cause even a single child to stumble is a lot scarier than we give it credit for—and should lead most of us to be a lot more cautious about how we respond to politicians. Executive Director Rick Barry continues our miniseries of personal reflections on the most intimidating passages of the gospels.

Ep. 37: God Wants Better Things For Other People, Too

Thu, 03 Sep 2020 00:15:00 -0400

Executive Director Rick Barry shares a reflection on his favorite book of the Bible, and shares a prayer request for an unexpected challenge that came up in our work today.

Ep. 36: ”War for the Dignity of Twitter”

Tue, 11 Aug 2020 17:54:41 -0400

A couple weeks before accidentally falling into a month-long social media fast, Rick Barry talked with Jeff Porter about the challenge of navigating social media in a Christlike manner and what secularization can teach us about White Supremacy. In the end, Rick leads us in praying through and praying in response to John 17.

Ep. 35: It Takes Courage to Feel Shame

Fri, 12 Jun 2020 16:49:56 -0400

A conversation about public shaming, private shaming, and growing in maturity turns into a conversation about race, repentance and shared responsibility. Steve Park of Little Lights Urban Ministries joined us last week for what turned out to be a very different conversation than the one we expected. Shownotes will be available at christiancivics.org on June 13.

Ep. 34: The Great Fix is Still Ahead of Us (Book Club: The Righteous Mind)

Thu, 04 Jun 2020 23:43:54 -0400

In the first installment of The Christian Civics Book Club, we discuss Jonathan Haidt's "The Righteous Mind." Christian Civics co-founder and Executive Director Rick Barry is joined by Christian Civics teaching faculty Rev. Charles Drew and Executive Board members Nathan Leamer and Thomas Turner. The next book club episode will cover Soong-Chan Rah's "Prophetic Lament: A Call for Justice in Troubled Times."

Ep. 33: Protests and Prayer (An Editorial)

Tue, 02 Jun 2020 20:47:29 -0400

Our Executive Director shares a personal reflection on the protests that have sprung up over the past week, and leads a brief prayer for how we respond to them. A full transcript of this episode and this prayer will be available at christiancivics.org beginning June 3.

Ep. 32: The Products of Prayer (feat. Rev. John Onwuchekwa)

Thu, 14 May 2020 17:38:44 -0400

Interview (1:55) Small Group Bible Study Guide (25:07) The Lord's Prayer Challenges Conservatives and Liberals (26:35) Prayer Exercise (28:31) Christian Civics Executive Director Rick Barry sits down for a revealing conversation with Rev. John Onwuchekwa, pastor of Cornerstone Church in Atlanta, Georgia, and author of Prayer: How Praying Together Shapes the Church. They talk about how prayer was modeled in Pastor Onwuchekwa's childhood home, how group prayer saved Rick's faith, and why prayer is an important part of outreach and church growth. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE (Links available in shownotes at christiancivics.org/podcast) Prayer: How Praying Together Shapes the Church by John Onwuchekwa Light to the World: Navigating Politics in Light of the Christian Story Journey in Prayer: Learning to Pray with Jesus by John Smed and Justine Hwang

Ep. 31: Getting Out of the Blame Game (2020 National Day of Prayer)

Fri, 08 May 2020 18:34:11 -0400

Christian Civics executive director Rick Barry's keynote address at the 2020 Montgomery County National Day of Prayer Virtual Prayer Breakfast. The prayer and reflection exercise mentioned in the talk is available at: https://christiancivics.org/blog/getting-out-of-the-blame-game/

Ep. 30: Answering Coronavirus Fatigue (Rev. Charles Drew)

Wed, 08 Apr 2020 12:18:22 -0400

Rev. Charles Drew offers a homily and prayer for those of us worn out by news about the novel coronavirus and the effect it is having on our communities. If you are in a position of formal or informal leadership, the Caring Connections Knowledge Base provides up-to-date, easy-to-use resources for navigating the new challenges presented by the COVID-19 emergency measures: https://trello.com/b/6SE4fiNG/caring-connections-knowledge-base The first meeting of the Christian Civics Book Club is coming up soon! Get your copy of the book THE RIGHTEOUS MIND and submit your questions, comments and observations about the book here: https://christiancivics.org/blog/announcing-the-christian-civics-book-club/

Ep. 29: Bringing Clarity to Women’s Health During COVID-19 (Talitha Phillips)

Sat, 04 Apr 2020 15:47:19 -0400

Our guest this episode is Talitha Phillips, CEO of Claris Health, a women's and reproductive health clinic with multiple locations in Los Angeles, California. Talitha shares how the COVID-19 pandemic is compounding the difficulty of providing social services and medical care to a vulnerable community—and what it's like to try to do this work out of her bathroom instead of out of her office. Visit our website, christiancivics.org, for a transcript of the prayer at the end of this episode, as well as more information on Claris Health and one small step you can take to use this episode to shape the way you and your church serve your neighbors.

Ep. 28: Unrelenting Provision (COVID-19 and Food Insecurity w/Marian Hutchins)

Wed, 01 Apr 2020 22:45:45 -0400

Our guest for this minisode is Marian Hutchins, Executive Director of Father's Heart Ministries in New York City. Marian shares with us the effects COVID-19 emergency measures are having on soup kitchens, food pantries and programs that serve at-risk youth. She also shares some encouragement about how Christians who care about those issues can continue getting involved even in the face of emergency measures. Visit our website for shownotes, including more information on Father's Heart and a transcript of the prayer offered at the end of the conversation.

Ep. 27: The Future of Human Trafficking (Dr. Amanda Eckhardt and RestoreNYC)

Mon, 30 Mar 2020 23:28:09 -0400

Dr. Amanda Eckhardt of RestoreNYC joins us to talk about how COVID-19 is re-shaping anti-trafficking work and how we can pray against trafficking in an informed way. This is the first in a short series of "minisodes" covering how several issue areas that are common passions for people in the church are being re-shaped by the Coronavirus pandemic.

Ep. 26: Justice That Restores (Heather Rice-Minus and Prison Fellowship)

Fri, 27 Mar 2020 17:32:47 -0400

Our guest this week is Heather Rice-Minus. She's vice president of government affairs and church mobilization for Prison Fellowship. Prison Fellowship is in a rare spot where some of the work they do is responding in a simple, direct way to simple direct commands in scripture—to not forget those in prison and to visit prisoners. But another part of what they do is taking big, broad principles that we're supposed to dedicate ourselves to and finding specific ways to apply those themes in a complicated, multifaceted system. Prison Fellowship is a great example of a collection of Christians humbly trying to figure out the best way to be a practical, visible example of the kingdom that is to come in the middle of the here and now. They don't shy away from engaging with a very hard, very complicated form of brokenness, and they do it while leaving room for people who don't share their approach to still exercise their best wisdom. We recorded this via Skype, so the connection is not great, but the questions Heather raises—"What is the purpose of the justice system?" "How do we as Christians take our thoughts about crime and punishment captive to the gospel?"—are worth wrestling with even over a poor-sounding connection. Visit christiancivics.org for links to the research, resources and events Heather mentions during our interview.

Ep. 25: Praying Through Psalm 46

Fri, 20 Mar 2020 01:06:06 -0400

For the 2020 election season, we are going back to our roots, bringing you weekly podcasts featuring prayers for the public square. We begin this series with a prayer for our response to the coronavirus pandemic, based on Psalm 46. Look for a transcript and shownotes on our website later this weekend!

Ep. 24: Prayer from the Front Lines of Coronavirus Research (Dr. William Petri)

Fri, 13 Mar 2020 14:22:04 -0400

The coronavirus and its economic, social, and mortal fallout are obviously dominating the news and changing the way many of us are ordering our lives for the next few weeks. For our first episode back, we welcome Dr. William Petri, a UVA public health researcher, to share with us what this outbreak looks like to a Christian who works in public health and lead us in prayer for his colleagues as they work on responding to this pandemic. We're grateful that Dr. Petri took time off of literally working on a Corona Virus vaccine to talk with us on short notice, and hope that this offers something instructional, helpful or comforting to you. Our podcast will be back next week, but in the mean time, follow us on Facebook for ongoing updates, prayer prompts and reflection material related to the COVID-19 response.

Ep. 23: What’s Good About Politics? (with Rev. Charles Drew)

Fri, 19 Apr 2019 18:29:42 -0400

Pastor Charles Drew shares where his concern for the church in the face of political polarization comes from, and why he thinks Christians shouldn't let fear of excess prevent them from learning to engage politics responsibly. We also share the first of several upcoming events, and how you can join us for that event even if you aren't in the DC area. A transcript and shownotes will be on the Christian Civics website on Monday, April 22, 2019.

Ep. 22: Stories from the Shutdown: An Interview with a Pastor on Capitol Hill

Fri, 15 Feb 2019 01:10:58 -0500

How often does a quarter of a church get laid off simultaneously? We talk with Pastor Matthew Watson of Christ City Church in Washington, DC, about how the body of Christ reacts when a city's major industry grinds to a halt. For more information on Matt, his church and other upcoming events, visit us online at christiancivics.org. Shownotes for this episode will be available at noon on Friday, February 15.

Ep. 21: Joshua Harris on Saying You’re Wrong in Public

Fri, 07 Dec 2018 04:12:49 -0500

In politics, people usually double down when they're afraid they might be wrong. Joshua Harris, author of "I Kissed Dating Goodbye," discusses withdrawing his most well-known book and shares what it was like to say he was wrong in a very public setting.

An Invitation, A Prayer and Assorted Housekeeping

Sun, 02 Dec 2018 19:44:07 -0500

An invitation to meet the Christian Civics team in Washington, DC, plus an exclusive prayer from our newsletter and information on how to support our mission this Christmas season.

Ep. 20: Rethinking Incarceration (with pastor Dominique DuBois Gilliard)

Thu, 22 Nov 2018 15:18:03 -0500

Last week, the White House signaled support for bipartisan criminal justice reform, a stark departure from the Justice Department's position just a month earlier. The story of how that happened is a long and winding one, but the issue itself is central to how we understand the Christian faith. Pastor Dominique DuBois Gilliard, author of the provocative RETHINKING INCARCERATION, joins us to share a little bit about why this issue seems to frustrate so many people across the political spectrum and what it has to do with our identity as Christians.

Ep. 19: Where Shaped Your Vote?

Wed, 07 Nov 2018 04:17:59 -0500

For the next few weeks, pundits are going to love discussing the voting patterns of suburban voters, urban voters, rural voters. But all of that analysis is going to be inherently limited unless it takes into account that those aren't just the places we vote—they also might be the reasons we vote the way we do. Author and theologian Craig Bartholomew and pastor William McGee help us get a fuller understanding of our relationships to our towns.

Ep. 18: ”Why Will The Poor Always Be With Us?” (Bonus Content from a Recent Conference)

Fri, 12 Oct 2018 01:59:32 -0400

If the only evidence of Christian growth in our lives is that it is changing the way we deal with politics, then we aren't actually experiencing Christian growth—we're impersonating it. This episode features exclusive content that didn't make it into Christian Civics Executive Director Rick Barry's recent presentation at the Gospel Coalition Mid-Atlantic Conference. The topic of his talk was "Radical Responsibility: Fostering a Culture of Mercy in a Representative Democracy." For more information or to sign up for a one-night-only Christian Civics event in Washington, DC, visit christiancivics.org.

Ep. 17: ”Losing Power Is Painful” (an interview with Bill Henson)

Fri, 27 Jul 2018 16:41:59 -0400

This week, we welcome Bill Henson, Founder and President of Lead Them Home, to talk about what it feels like to lose to power, lose relevancy, yet still maintain your witness and your confidence. More information on Bill, on Lead Them Home, and a full transcript of the interview are available online at christiancivics.org. CONTENTS 00:00-09:15 Introduction, terms of conversation, power. 09:20-27:45 Interview 27:55-32:30 A foreign country 32:32-35:15 Prayer 35:17-37:46 Bonus episode, endnotes

Ep. 16: Refuge and Asylum (with Pastor Chris Sicks)

Fri, 15 Jun 2018 18:39:48 -0400

A Virginia pastor shares the story of how his church engaged with a national questions in a personal way. The latest episode of the Christian Civics Podcast features pastor Chris Sicks of Alexandria Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, VA. Chris shares stories and insights from years of shepherding a congregation that accidentally incubated a robust community of refugees and asylum-seekers, and accidentally witnessed to their town and the world in the process. 00:00-01:07 Intro 01:07-04:35 Personal reflection 04:38-07:33 Why we aren't usually newsy 07:33-12:21 Interview Takeaways 12:26-34:04 Interview 34:09-36:04 Prayer 36:06-38:07 Closing/Notes Shownotes and more at christiancivics.org

Ep. 15: Practicing for Heaven (Dr. Curt Thompson, Part Three)

Thu, 24 May 2018 13:24:34 -0400

The third and final part of our conversation with Dr. Curt Thompson. In the first two parts of our conversation with Dr. Curt Thompson, we discussed why it is important to have "embodied encounters" with our civic systems and our political opponents, and what Good Friday can teach us about dealing with the challenges those encounters present. In this third part of our interview, Dr. Thompson gets into what Christian eschatology means for our attempts to deal with political diversity in the church. The Christian Civics Podcast explores how the gospel empowers us to think, speak and act differently in the public square. Contents 00:00–03:15 Introduction 03:15–23:09 Interview 23:10–25:53 Practicing for heaven 25:54–27:20 Light to the World 27:29–29:15 Prayer 29:15–31:49 Further reading, upcoming episodes, bonus episode For more information on Dr. Thompson and his work, visit beingknown.com. His books Anatomy of the Soul and The Soul of Shame are both available online.

Ep. 14: Good Friday, Families, Hospitality (Curt Thompson, Part 2)

Sat, 31 Mar 2018 01:15:03 -0400

We continue our conversation with Dr. Curt Thompson, exploring what Good Friday has to do with hard conversations about politics in the church, and why our reaction to our political opponents often has as much to do with our relationship to our families as it does to our parties.

Ep. 13: Embodied Encounters (Dr. Curt Thompson, Part One)

Sat, 03 Mar 2018 15:56:45 -0500

The Christian Civics Podcast returns with an interview with psychiatrist and ministry leader Dr. Curt Thompson. In this episode, Dr. Thompson discusses why it's important for Christians to have face-to-face, real-life conversations with our political opponents, and how we can get better at those kinds of conversations by understanding how God has made our brains to work. Contents 00:00–03:59 Introduction 04:04–23:40 Interview 23:43–29:28 Assessing our desires, practicing, and sports. 29:30–31:28 Prayer 31:30–35:27 End Notes Shownotes, including links to Dr. Thompson's books and more information on his work, can be found at christiancivics.org.

Ep. 12: Interrupting the Rhythms Of Our Lives

Mon, 11 Dec 2017 00:59:49 -0500

Chelsea Geyer, executive director of DC 127, stops by to talk about foster care and what it can teach us about demonstrating our faith in the public square. Then Center for Christian Civics executive director Rick Barry connects those ideas to the Advent season and leads us in prayer. 00:14 Introduction 06:03 Interview 25:34 Restoration is coming 27:18 It's okay to be weird 30:14 Letting yourself be inconvenienced 33:27 Prayer 36:07 Further reading

Ep. 11: How do we endure? with guest Steve Park

Tue, 14 Nov 2017 10:34:41 -0500

This autumn has pummeled us with so much bad news that just thinking about what our responsibilities might be to the wider world has to feel intimidating and exhausting. This week, we welcome Steve Park, head of Little Lights Urban Ministries, to talk about how he's managed to stay active and motivated to do some very hard, dispiriting work for over twenty years. Then we will call specific attention to a few ideas that came up during the interview before we get led in prayer by Rev. Charles Drew. 00:00 - Intro, a season of endless bad news 04:35 - Interview with Steve Park 27:30 - Burnout 32:13 - Spiritual disciplines 34:58 - Scripture reading and prayer 42:26 - Endnotes BONUS CONTENT We just ran two blog posts following up on aspects of Steve's interview that we couldn't get into in the podcast: https://www.christiancivics.org/blog/2017/11/14/does-your-faith-make-you-distinct-podcast-interview-follow-up https://www.christiancivics.org/blog/2017/11/14/aspiring-to-humility HEAR MORE FROM STEVE We'll be sending out the complete interview with Steve to all of our partners and supporters later this month. If you want to hear more from him about the work Little Lights has done and what it's like to lead a faith-based organization using space provided by the government, visit christiancivics.org and make a donation to our work today.

Ep. 10: Q Commons Highlights: Living Locally; Responding to Injustice

Tue, 31 Oct 2017 03:10:13 -0400

If you couldn't join us for Q Commons in Washington, DC, last week, we want to share some of the highlights with you. This episode features two presentations recorded at last week's event, along with commentary and prayer from Center for Christian Civics executive director Rick Barry. Shownotes will be available at christiancivics.org later this week.

Ep. 9: Is Citizenship Biblical? Can It Be Christian?

Sat, 30 Sep 2017 22:05:03 -0400

We share excerpts from one of our workshops, translate those ideas into prayer, and let our DC-area friends know about a major upcoming event!

Ep. 8: One First-Person Perspective on Charlottesville

Mon, 11 Sep 2017 15:07:34 -0400

It's been nearly a month since the so-called "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, VA, erupted into violence, culminating in a member of the demonstration driving into a crowd of protesters. A little over two weeks ago, we spoke with a pastor from Charlottesville who was on the scene to hear his account of what happened. EPISODE OUTLINE: Intro: Defining various terms. Interview: Rev. Seth Wispelwey of Congregate Charlottesville Follow-Up: Engaging with powers and prinicipalities Prayer: Rev. Charles Drew Additional resources and next steps For more information or to support our work, visit christiancivics.org.

Ep. 7: Praying After Charlottesville

Sun, 13 Aug 2017 02:25:11 -0400

Violence erupted at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Getting our bearings amidst the onslaught of breaking news and the flurry of punditry can be difficult. While we are not claiming to have the entire answer about how to think and feel about everything you hear or read this weekend, we do want to offer an invitation to begin by praying with us for what this event might mean for our country, our communities, and the people most personally affected.

Ep. 6: Faith, Politics and Persecution, Part Two

Mon, 31 Jul 2017 23:58:21 -0400

We bring in two guests for a follow-up conversation after our interview with D; we briefly look at the difference between government and politics; and pastor Charles Drew leads us in prayer. Theme music is by Sonic Weapon Fence. Shownotes and links to related material can be found at christiancivics.org. The opinions expressed in this podcast by Ben O'Dell are his own and do not reflect the view of the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, the Department of Health and Human Services, or the United States government.

Ep. 5: Faith, Politics and Persecution (Part One: Overseas)

Mon, 17 Jul 2017 02:20:28 -0400

In part one of a two-part episode, we bring you an interview with "D," a long-term missionary to Bosnia, a formerly socialist country whose political and governmental system is strikingly different from what we usually think of when we think of democracy. In our next episode, we'll start to draw connections between various parts of this interview and our own public discipleship in the US--please be sure to subscribe to get that second part as soon as it's released. Our theme music is by Sonic Weapon Fence. Any questions, comments or concerns, please contact us at info@christiancivics.org.

Ep. 4: Health Care, Baseball and Ministering to Capitol Hill

Fri, 30 Jun 2017 17:59:58 -0400

The latest episode of the Christian Civics Podcast features discussion of how our interview with Rev. Charles Garriott of Ministry to State can inform our response to this week's heated health care debate.

Ep. 3: Sanders, Institutions, and What We Are Supposed To Be About

Fri, 16 Jun 2017 15:50:25 -0400

Last week, two big stories about Christians and the Democratic party started circulating on social media: On one hand, a major figure in the party seemed to use an executive branch nominee's faith as a reason to vote against confirming him for work, and on the other hand a number of Christians publicly affirmed their commitment to the Democratic party. A recent conversation with Dr. Peter Baker helps us understand how those two things might be possible at the same time. For more information, including articles by Dr. Baker and a link to the books he mentions in the interview, visit us online at christiancivics.org. Theme music is "Magic Box" by Sonic Weapon Fence.

Ep. 2: BREAKING: A Response to Today’s Violence

Wed, 14 Jun 2017 20:06:51 -0400

In the wake of today's shootings on the east and west coasts, we welcome Rev. Glenn Hoburg to lead us in a prayerful response.

Episode 1: Holiness, Engagement and Chaos

Mon, 12 Jun 2017 20:12:17 -0400

What does it mean to be holy? How can we demonstrate holiness in our civic lives? And how can we respond in a holy manner to political chaos? In the first episode of The Christian Civics Podcast, we'll dive into those questions, including instruction from Rev. Charles Drew, author of "Body Broken: Can Republicans and Democrats Sit in the Same Pew?". If this episode was helpful or encouraging to you, please be sure to share it with others. And look for The Christian Civics Podcast on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher or your favorite podcast directory in two weeks!

Episode Zero: Sampler

Mon, 12 Jun 2017 20:08:26 -0400

Enjoy this exciting preview of The Christian Civics Podcast, featuring excerpts from some of our pilot interviews along with samples of segments that will air in future episodes! Hear from Center for Christian Civics correspondents on politics and the judiciary, pastor and author Charles Drew on what sets Christians apart from their neighbors in the public square, and pastor and sociologist Dr. Richard Smith on faith, empathy and race. The Center for Christian Civics works with churches, ministry leaders and lay Christians around the country. Visit us online at christiancivics.org for more information or to support our work.