15: American Idols

12/30/20 • 68 min

On today’s show, Chong and Dan give thanks for a challenging but fulfilling year. We then get into a juicy topic to finish the year: the relationship between religion and politics. Why is it “complicated”? And what are the dangers when Christians idolise politics? Using the Jericho March held in Washington DC on 12 December 2020 as a case study, we explore four kinds of faulty faith:

Our personal experience and feeling are paramount (An individualistic faith)
God’s purposes are for us (An optimistic faith)
We are pure, they are evil (A Manichean faith)
We can and must create a better world (A utopian faith)

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Show notes
Giving thanks for this year (02:17)

What is the relationship between religion and politics? (8:48)

Spectrum between no distinction and hard distinction
But practically - it’s complicated!

Background to the case study (16:57)

What I Saw at the Jericho March
What happened at the Jericho March (20:45)

“The Jericho March was a worrying example of how Christianity can be twisted and drafted into the service of a political ideology” (Source: National Review)

Christianity as Ideology: The Cautionary Tale of the Jericho March

Problem 1: An individualistic faith (28:25)

Jericho Marchers were told to trust their own hearts, that what they want is what God wants
Lessons for us - Practice discernment; the heart is deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9)

Problem 2: An optimistic faith (39:10)

“Many of those people declared Trump to be ‘God’s anointed’... they believe that Trump had a special purpose and a special calling” (Source: The Dispatch)
Lessons for us - God’s purposes are not necessarily man’s purposes; Christians are called to hope in what’s to come, not to be optimistic about the present

The Dangerous Idolatry of Christian Trumpism

Problem 3: A Manichean faith (46:41)

Jericho Marchers were told that they are “children of light”, standing against the agents of darkness
Lessons for us - The line between good and evil doesn’t run between Trump and Never-Trump, but through every human heart; the Bible teaches that we are no better than our enemies (Romans 3:22-23) and we are to love our enemies (Matthew 5:43-45)

Problem 4: A utopian faith (55:14)

“[A speaker] likened the crowd to soldiers preparing for war to restore Eden. ‘We are here to save Earth and its inhabitants,’ he said.” (Source: The American Conservative)
Lessons for us - Every political movement that has sought to “improve” society by seizing power and dictating thought/behaviour has led to disaster; at his trial, Jesus said that “my kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36)

Conclusion (1:04:38)

God takes the long view; as Christians, live (and sacrifice) for His kingdom, not for any kingdom on earth

Our personal experience and feeling are paramount (An individualistic faith)
God’s purposes are for us (An optimistic faith)
We are pure, they are evil (A Manichean faith)
We can and must create a better world (A utopian faith)

Connect with us

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ingoodfaithfm
Twitter - https://twitter.com/ingoodfaithfm
Email - [email protected]

Show notes
Giving thanks for this year (02:17)

What is the relationship between religion and politics? (8:48)

Spectrum between no distinction and hard distinction
But practically - it’s complicated!

Background to the case study (16:57)

What I Saw at the Jericho March
What happened at the Jericho March (20:45)

“The Jericho March was a worrying example of how Christianity can be twisted and drafted into the service of a political ideology” (Source: National Review)

Christianity as Ideology: The Cautionary Tale of the Jericho March

Problem 1: An individualistic faith (28:25)

Jericho Marchers were told to trust their own hearts, that what they want is what God wants
Lessons for us - Practice discernment; the heart is deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9)

Problem 2: An optimistic faith (39:10)

“Many of those people declared Trump to be ‘God’s anointed’... they believe that Trump had a special purpose and a special calling” (Source: The Dispatch)
Lessons for us - God’s purposes are not necessarily man’s purposes; Christians are called to hope in what’s to come, not to be optimistic about the present

The Dangerous Idolatry of Christian Trumpism

Problem 3: A Manichean faith (46:41)

Jericho Marchers were told that they are “children of light”, standing against the agents of darkness
Lessons for us - The line between good and evil doesn’t run between Trump and Never-Trump, but through every human heart; the Bible teaches that we are no better than our enemies (Romans 3:22-23) and we are to love our enemies (Matthew 5:43-45)

Problem 4: A utopian faith (55:14)

“[A speaker] likened the crowd to soldiers preparing for war to restore Eden. ‘We are here to save Earth and its inhabitants,’ he said.” (Source: The American Conservative)
Lessons for us - Every political movement that has sought to “improve” society by seizing power and dictating thought/behaviour has led to disaster; at his trial, Jesus said that “my kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36)

Conclusion (1:04:38)

God takes the long view; as Christians, live (and sacrifice) for His kingdom, not for any kingdom on earth

Previous Episode

14: Let's Talk About Trump (Part II)

On today's show, Chong and Dan continue their discussion on Donald Trump. In the previous episode, we tried in good faith to understand Trump and what he represents to his supporters. In this episode, we lay our cards on the table and explain why we think Trump is bad, and why we think it is a good thing that Trump lost his bid for re-election.
Even as we take a more critical view, we try to do this as fairly as possible - first, by laying out the facts of what happened during Trump’s presidency and his observable behaviours; and second, by giving our interpretation and opinion of the facts.
(This is Part II of a longer discussion. See Episode 13 for Part I. Recorded on 14/15 November 2020.)
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Twitter - https://twitter.com/ingoodfaithfm
Email - [email protected]

Show notes
Preface and caveat (02:59)

We recognise the diversity of opinion on Trump
Let's dispense with "what-aboutism" and have an honest reckoning

Corruption (06:36)

Trump the grifter - before and during office
Trump the norm-destroyer
Takeaway: Trump's self-dealing is deeply corrosive to the ideals of public service and proper governance

A quick review of 40 years of investigations into Donald Trump and his businesses
The definitive list of the 20 presidential norms Trump broke
Competence (28:46)

Trump lacks the temperament and ability to do the job
Preference for image over reality shattered by COVID-19 pandemic
Takeaway: Trump is not capable of managing, nor hiring the right people to manage, the massive and important machinery of the US Government

Breaking with tradition, Trump skips president’s written intelligence report and relies on oral briefings
The Trump Era Sucks and Needs to Be Over
Character (53:12)

Trump not only fails to embody positive traits, but actively embodies the negative traits
Trump has made his country more angry, anxious and divided, and has brought out the worst in everyone
Takeaway: Trump's character is completely defective, and it has a toxic effect on the entire society (and tarnishes the reputation of Christians who champion him)

1 Corinthians 13
What happens when Trump gets out of our brains?
Conclusion (1:18:20)

What is more important for Christians - our witness or our freedom?

Next Episode

16: Mo Morals Mo Problems

On today’s show, Chong and Dan start by explaining our absence (there’s a good reason!) and sharing our resolutions for 2021. We then get into the realm of philosophy by exploring how one can resolve moral dilemmas. After a quick visit to the Enlightenment, we explore two well-known approaches to moral thinking, utilitarianism and deontological ethics. Finally, we apply them to a case study involving COVID-19 vaccines. How do they help us to think through the issues, what are their weaknesses, and what does Christianity have to say about moral dilemmas?
Connect with us

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ingoodfaithfm
Twitter - https://twitter.com/ingoodfaithfm
Email - [email protected]

Show notes
2021 resolutions (02:10)
The Wisdom Pyramid
Flossing
Morality and the Da Vinci Problem (5:55)

Da Vinci the Renaissance man... and grave robber
Concept of moral distance

Moral dilemmas (10:09)

A situation when two or more moral principles are (seemingly) at odds
Examples: “Does my butt look big in this?”, the Trolley problem, Twitter and Facebook banning Trump

Trolley problem - Wikipedia
Dan presents: The Enlightenment (19:59)

Enlightenment TL;DR - reason and science
Observing and classifying the natural world, bringing this to the moral world

Utilitarianism (aka consequentialism) (28:33)

Whatever action that will maximise human happiness is the ethical one
Examples and problems - The Organ Donor

Consequentialism
Deontological ethics (40:06)

Whatever you do, only live by the rules which can be expanded to become universal laws
Examples and problems - The Nazi at the Door

Deontological Ethics
Case study: COVID-19 vaccines (46:15)

Leading vaccines were made with the assistance of cell lines original obtained from aborted human foetuses
What moral principles should guide our attitude and actions?

The Covid Vaccine And Abortion Pt1 - When Good And Evil Intertwine
The Covid Vaccine And Abortion Pt 2 - Guiding Attitudes And Defining The Problem
The Covid Vaccine And Abortion Pt 3 - Guiding Attitudes And Defining The Problem
The Christian perspective (57:52)

Our world is broken, which gives rise to both moral dilemmas and imperfect solutions (Ecclesiastes 8:14, Job 14:1-2)
Christians nevertheless have a positive duty to act out of costly, self-giving love (Colossians 3:17)
Everything is under God’s control and the brokenness in the world will one day be redeemed and restored (Revelation 21:1-14)

Conclusion (1:02:49)

The Christian worldview is sober-minded about the challenge of moral dilemmas
Nevertheless, we must wrestle with moral dilemmas and live as best we can under God’s rule