Kainos Project

A Missouri pastor recently drew sharp criticism for claiming that children who live with autism are merely being oppressed by demons. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for deliverance preachers to make such a claim. Without condoning the words of this pastor or others who agree with him, it is undeniable that when Jesus healed people throughout his earthly ministry, the cause of whatever ailed the people who came to him was often the result of oppression from demons. That wasn't always the case, however. There were also many instances in which Jesus healed people with no mention of demons. Is there a way to know the difference in our own day and age? On this episode, we discuss the role spiritual forces play in our physical world. What are angel and demons doing in the day to day? Do we place too much emphasis on them? Not enough? How can we cultivate respect for the spiritual realities that surround our lives without becoming obsessive—or, frankly, weird—in the process? READ FULL SHOW NOTES HERE Visit kainosproject.com to find other resources to help you tackle ancient truths in everyday settings, and be sure to subscribe to our email list to get all of our fresh content delivered straight to your inbox.Subscribe on Apple PodcastsFollow on Spotify Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Astrology and horoscopes seem to be as popular as ever, with adherents looking to the stars for a sign from the universe that will be applicable to their lives in this present moment. But how should Christians feel about horoscopes? While astrology is an ancient practice, its usage in modern time remains common and can be even found in online memes and social media posts, as well as in the mouths of our friends and neighbors—some of them Christian. In this episode, we explore the history of astrology and horoscopes, what the Bible says about divination and fortune telling, and how these practices are portrayed in biblical accounts.  READ FULL SHOW NOTES HERE Visit kainosproject.com to find other resources to help you tackle ancient truths in everyday settings, and be sure to subscribe to our email list to get all of our fresh content delivered straight to your inbox.Subscribe on Apple PodcastsFollow on Spotify Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

When it comes to the Bible, certain passages are so well known that even many non-Christians are aware of them. Among them is the 10 Commandments. Even though not many can name all 10, most people are at least aware that they exist. Nevertheless, just because a biblical concept is familiar, that doesn’t mean that we have a good understanding of its meaning and importance. In fact, sometimes the parts of the Bible that are most familiar are the very parts about which we have the most misconceptions. And that is certainly the case with the 10 Commandments. On this episode, we offer five hot takes on the 10 Commandments—not just to be controversial, but as a bit of a case study in how complicated it can be to properly interpret the Bible, particularly when it comes to the Old Testament. READ FULL SHOW NOTES HERE Visit kainosproject.com to find other resources to help you tackle ancient truths in everyday settings, and be sure to subscribe to our email list to get all of our fresh content delivered straight to your inbox.Subscribe on Apple PodcastsFollow on Spotify Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

A conservative publication recently published an article titled "Over Half of Southern Baptist Universities Have DEI Infrastructures," listing SBC institutions that make references diversity, equity, or inclusion on their websites. To be sure, the reporter was not seeking to celebrate the efforts of a denomination founded on an affirmation of chattel slavery to move past the racism of the past, but rather to illustrate that the SBC has fallen victim to "liberal drift." Be that as it may, DEI has become something of a political hot button issue, with a number of Republican politicians and candidates railing against programs aimed at increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion. Similarly, the Supreme Court recently ruled against affirmative action in collegiate admissions, prompting praise from conservatives but leading to an outcry from progressives. Assuming that people on both sides of the political spectrum are interested in racial justice and the fair treatment of people regardless of their race or ethnicity, why is there such a divide when it comes to these policies? In this episode, we discuss DEI and affirmative action. We explore the goals of these programs and policies, how they are effective at achieving those goals, and the ways in which they fall short. We also discuss whether these types of strategies could be helpful to churches, and if so, how we should handle their implementation. READ FULL SHOW NOTES HERE Visit kainosproject.com to find other resources to help you tackle ancient truths in everyday settings, and be sure to subscribe to our email list to get all of our fresh content delivered straight to your inbox.Subscribe on Apple PodcastsFollow on Spotify Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

From time to time, we receive questions from listeners and readers about various topics of theology and biblical interpretation. And while we always do our best to provide responses to those questions on an individual basis, some of them are interesting enough (and important enough) that we wanted to discuss them publicly. On this episode, we explore the following questions, most of which were recently asked of us personally: Will we see our pets in heaven? Can you be a Christian and still believe in dinosaurs? Should Christians avoid Reiki, healing crystals, or yoga? Why do many historically Black churches refer to the pastor’s wife as First Lady? Is Hell real? How are we to understand Old Testament passages that describe magicians who draw power from ‘other gods’? If you find this episode helpful and have questions of your own, send us an email at info@kainosproject.com! READ FULL SHOW NOTES HERE Visit kainosproject.com to find other resources to help you tackle ancient truths in everyday settings, and be sure to subscribe to our email list to get all of our fresh content delivered straight to your inbox.Subscribe on Apple PodcastsFollow on Spotify Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

A new song has taken the conservative world by storm. It was written and is performed by a former Virginia factory worker named Oliver Anthony, and it’s called “Rich Men North of Richmond.” At its heart, the song is about the plight of rural Appalachian people who struggle with poverty. It’s a protest song directed at the elites of Washington D.C., who are the rich men who live and work north of Richmond, Virginia. The song's lyrics have resonated with many conservatives, who have praised Anthony for giving voice to some of their feelings and frustrations. This story also has a faith element. Anthony recently came to faith and is in addiction recovery for alcoholism. He has even recited Scripture at recent shows. As such, a number evangelical leaders have expressed their heartfelt support for him. Nevertheless, the song isn't without controversy. Some of its lyrics could be characterized as having racial overtones, and the song briefly alludes to conspiracy theories championed by QAnon. In this episode, we dive into the lyrics of the song, the Scripture that Anthony has pointed his fans' attention to, and common assumptions among conservatives, including many evangelicals, about the "deserving" versus "undeserving" poor. READ FULL SHOW NOTES HERE Visit kainosproject.com to find other resources to help you tackle ancient truths in everyday settings, and be sure to subscribe to our email list to get all of our fresh content delivered straight to your inbox.Subscribe on Apple PodcastsFollow on Spotify Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In recent years, the enneagram of personality has become widely popular among evangelicals as a tool for people to better understand themselves and the world around them, with many using it as an integral part of their spiritual formation process. On the other hand, some evangelicals have raised alarm bells about the enneagram, alleging that it has satanic roots and promotes ideas that are fundamentally at odds with a Christian worldview. But are those criticisms fair? In this episode, we discuss what the enneagram is, its history, and whether Christians can benefit from utilizing it. Further, if it is a tool that Christians can use to better understand themselves and others, what are the limits of its helpfulness, and how can it be properly placed within our broader vision for discipleship? READ FULL SHOW NOTES HERE Visit kainosproject.com to find other resources to help you tackle ancient truths in everyday settings, and be sure to subscribe to our email list to get all of our fresh content delivered straight to your inbox.Subscribe on Apple PodcastsFollow on Spotify Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Two recent headlines have called into question the type of stories America wants to tell itself about itself. The first is a controversial public school curriculum in Florida, which some argue seeks to diminish the horrors of American slavery. The other is the announcement of a national monument to Emmett Till, a project some have accused of being a liberal "CRT" endeavor. School curriculum has been a culture war battleground for Governor Ron DeSantis for some time. But his new anti-CRT curriculum came under fire when some accused it of whitewashing the history of American slavery by suggesting that enslaved Africans benefited from their slavery, at least in some small way, because it provided them with practical skills. Also recently, President Joe Biden announced that a national monument would be built in the honor of Emmett Till. After the 14-year-old Till was brutally lynched in 1955, his mother gave him an open casket funeral as a public protest to Jim Crow and the pervasive racial injustice in America. This event served as the inspiration for many who would become America's civil rights heroes. Nevertheless, many evangelicals, including one scholar who presents himself as an expert in American political history and theory, deny knowing who Till is or why his story is important to American history. So, what gives? In this episode, we discuss these recent controversies about American history and how understanding the injustices of the past helps to shape our vision for justice in the present. READ FULL SHOW NOTES HERE Visit kainosproject.com to find other resources to help you tackle ancient truths in everyday settings, and be sure to subscribe to our email list to get all of our fresh content delivered straight to your inbox.Subscribe on Apple PodcastsFollow on Spotify Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In many ways, the modern day evangelical church runs as a business. We manage buildings, payrolls, marketing budgets, and a host of other things that require business savvy. The modern day evangelical church is also fundamentally a spiritual community, centered on the mission of Christ and (hopefully) sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Are these two things at odds? In this episode, we dive into some of the ways in which the church in America operates like a business, for better or for worse. We also explore why it is that church has come to be done this way, and how this way of operating may be impacting our faith. We discuss the ways in which a business mindset may be helpful in advancing the mission of the gospel through marketing efforts or leadership training. We also discuss some ways in which a business mentality has been hurtful or even abusive, as in the case of nondisclosure agreements. READ FULL SHOW NOTES HERE Visit kainosproject.com to find other resources to help you tackle ancient truths in everyday settings, and be sure to subscribe to our email list to get all of our fresh content delivered straight to your inbox.Subscribe on Apple PodcastsFollow on Spotify Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Earlier this month, "Sound of Freedom" hit theaters to the praise of many evangelicals. The film depicts the real-life events surrounding Tim Ballard, a former federal agent who quit his job to lead operations to free children from child sex trafficking rings in South America. Ballard is portrayed by none other than Jim Caviezel, who is famous for playing the role of Jesus in "The Passion of the Christ." It would seem that a movie about the fight to end human trafficking—featuring the face of Jesus, no less—would be uncontroversial, but "Sound of Freedom" has been anything but. Critics have accused the movie of misrepresenting human trafficking and how to fight it, and some have even suggested that the movie promotes QAnon conspiracy theories. In response, some supporters of the film have suggested that those critical of "Sound of Freedom" are deep state Democrats who are involved in a sex trafficking ring of their own. (Notably, the existence of a sex trafficking ring among liberal elites is one of the more prominent QAnon conspiracy theories.) In this episode of the podcast, we try to make sense of the mess. Are the critiques leveled against "Sound of Freedom" politically motivated, completely fair, or somewhere in between? We also talk about the importance of anti-trafficking work and how Christians can support the effort. READ FULL SHOW NOTES HERE Visit kainosproject.com to find other resources to help you tackle ancient truths in everyday settings, and be sure to subscribe to our email list to get all of our fresh content delivered straight to your inbox.Subscribe on Apple PodcastsFollow on Spotify Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.