Kainos Project

President Joe Biden recently held a campaign event at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, denouncing white supremacy and casting his vision for a second term as president. Notably, Mother Emanuel has been a historic part of the Reconstruction era and Civil Rights movement. It is also the place where a racially motivated mass shooting claimed the lives of nine people in 2015. Remarkably, surviving members of the church went to court to offer forgiveness to the white supremacist killer. After the event, some conservative commentators were critical—but not at Biden. Instead, their ire was cast toward the evangelical leaders who in 2021 had denounced Robert Jeffress' First Baptist Church in Dallas for giving Donald Trump the microphone during a Christmas service but had nothing critical to say about Biden's event at Mother Emanuel AME Church. Are these two events the same thing? Or are there fundamental differences? This week on the podcast, we discuss. We also look ahead to what promises to be a politically volatile year in 2024. In our discussion, we grapple with how Christians should engage in politics as we look to the presidential election in November. 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.

Throughout the millennia, Jesus has been portrayed by artists across every conceivable medium. Some of these depictions of Jesus have sought to prioritize historical accuracy, while others have focused on conveying theological significance through artistic expression. Depending on the culture of the artist, depictions of Jesus have varied greatly. Nevertheless, for American evangelicals and other western Christians, the standard for how we think of Jesus' appearance has been set by artists who portrayed him as a western European. That hasn't been the case for everyone in the global church. In a recent photo essay published in Christianity Today, Victoria Emily Jones explored the ways in which Jesus' birth has been portrayed throughout the centuries in Asian cultures, providing insight into the unique ways in which depictions of Jesus have indigenized to those cultures. The article was met with stanch criticism, with a number of Christian leaders decrying CT as "woke" and "liberal." In this episode, we take a closer look at the article and explore why it caused such backlash. We also discuss artistic depictions of Jesus more generally. For example, is it okay that they are culturally defined? To what measure are we conscious or unconscious of the fact that our culture is defining our depictions of Jesus? And how much historical accuracy do we need in order to understand who Jesus is in a way that is theologically cogent? 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.

After the fall of Roe v. Wade, pro-life Christians around the nation celebrated the nearly half-century of advocacy that led to the decision. However, a little more than a year after the Dobbs decision, national abortion rates are up. What's more is that Christians within the pro-life movement disagree about how best to move forward. On the one hand, you have mainstream, incrementalist pro-life movement, which has led in this conversation for the better part of five decades. And on the other, you have the emerging abortion abolitionist movement, which is advocating for total bans on abortion and criminal prosecutions for women who seek them. In this episode, we discuss how the abolitionist movement differs from the traditional pro-life movement. We express where we can find areas of agreement with abolitionists, as well as what we find troubling about the movement. 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.

Christmastime is here, and that means the annual worldwide tour of Santa Claus is upon us! While Santa is a hallmark of the Christmas season, what many people might not know is that this mythical character is based on a real person—a Christian hero, in fact. Saint Nicholas was an early church leader who served as a bishop during the third and fourth centuries. And he was actually around for some pretty significant moments in church history. In this episode, we explore the history of Saint Nicholas and his contributions to church history. We also explain how it is that he came to be called Santa Claus and why he now makes annual appearances on our Coke cans and in our shopping malls. More importantly, we discuss the lessons that Christians can take from the events of his legendary life that will help us to live more like Jesus this holiday season. 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.

The Gospel Coalition recently came under fire after publishing an article written by Trevin Wax titled "Prone to Dechurch, Lord I Feel It." In the article, Wax suggests that the scandals and abuses that have taken place within evangelical institutions aren't as responsible for the dechurching of America as we might think. Instead, the cultural move away from church attendance is best explained as outright disobedience to Jesus. While Wax's claim is backed by recent statistical data that indicates more people are dechurching because they moved to a new city than because of abuse or scandals, his words raised the ire of abuse survivor advocates online. Some accused Wax of gaslighting victims and circling the wagons. On this episode, we discuss Wax's article and the arguments it contains. We highlight the ways in which Wax's words may have been taken out of context, while also offering a nuance critique of the perspective his article puts forth. We also discuss the relationship an individual Christian should (or must) have with the church. Can you walk away from the church without walking away from Jesus? If not, what even constitutes "the church," and how can we hold space for people who have been severely wounded by organized religion but who are still clinging to Jesus? 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.

Ghosts are a major part of American culture. Whether it is the celebration of spirits on Halloween, myths and fables, blockbuster films, or reality television shows about people who hunt them, ghosts feature heavily in the stories we tell each other. For some, that's all they are—stories. But for others, their belief in ghosts is unshakeable. But what does the Bible say about spirits and souls on earth? Are there any insights from Scripture that give us a better understanding of what happens after we die but before the final judgment of Christ? On this episode, we talk about what the Bible has to say about ghosts. Are they real? And if not, how do we account for reports of paranormal activity that make up so much of the mythos of our own culture, as well as cultures throughout history and around the world? 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.

Halloween is an important celebration in American culture. Trick-or-treating, costumes, and themed parties are all time-honored traditions in most communities. But what are the origins of the holiday? And what do they mean for us as Christians? That’s exactly what we want to discuss. In this episode, which was originally recorded in October 2020, we dive into the history of Halloween, which is actually kind of a long story. It dates back thousands of years and spans Celtic, Roman, Aztec, and American cultures and has often fused together both pagan and Christian celebrations. As we unpack all of that, we talk about whether or not Christians should celebrate Halloween, and if so, in what manner. 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.

War has broken out in Israel and Palestine following the heinous attack on Israel by Hamas. On Oct. 7, the terrorist organization attacked Israel by land, air, and sea, launching thousands of missiles and engaging in a barbarous ground offensive. As they stormed the streets of Israel, Hamas brutalized Israeli citizens, committing war crimes that they gleefully filmed on their phones. They raped and plundered, taking Israel civilians hostage—including women and children. In response, Israel has launched an offensive on Gaza, where Hamas forces exert control. Water and power has been shut off to the region, and missiles are raining down from above, leaving Palestinians—many of them opposed to Hamas—vulnerable. This week on the podcast, we grapple to find moral clarity in this conflict that is almost as old as the land on which it is fought. We don't have the answers, and we certainly aren't experts in the geopolitical conflicts of the Middle East. Nevertheless, given the significance of the Jewish people in the story of the Church, we do want to grapple with the theological implications of what has transpired and the events that are ongoing. 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.

North Point Community Church, which is pastored by Andy Stanley, recently hosted a conference that caused quite a stir. Called the Unconditional Conference, the two-day event was geared toward helping Christian parents of LGBTQ+ children navigate their relationships with the children. However, the conference came under sharp criticism for hosting speakers who are LGBTQ+ affirming theologians, two of whom were gay married men. One of the biggest names weighing into the conversation was Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Mohler accused Stanley of departing from "biblical Christianity," a claim Stanley took exception to. While Stanley clarified that he and his church still uphold the traditional view of sexuality and marriage, he said that he doesn't want to "draw lines" but instead "draw circles." Despite his words, many have interpreted Stanley's actions as a tacit endorsement of LGBTQ+ affirming theology. In this episode, we wade into the mess of navigating grace and truth in light of LGBTQ+ issues. How can we prioritize relationships with people within the LGBTQ+ community while not compromising our convictions? What can we learn from Andy Stanley's example, both for the positive and the negative? 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.

Followers of Jesus are called to stand upon the truth of Scripture. We are also called to be united with one another. But what happens when those two things seem to be in conflict with one another? How united can we, or should we, be with Christians across deeply held theological convictions? What are the limits of cross-denominational unity? Are there more limits than there should be, and if so, what's the best way forward? We are not the first ones to be wrestling with these questions. In fact, for more than a hundred years, a movement of Christians has been seeking to expand the boundaries of unity across different denominations and Christian movements. Broadly speaking, that movement has been called ecumenism. In this episode, we briefly discuss the history of ecumenism, how it came about, and where those efforts stand today. We also grapple with some of the practical concerns involved with trying to unite with other Christians across churches, Christian organizations, and denominational affiliations. What are the limits of our ability to partner with one another, and at what point can we consider ourselves truly united? 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.