5 Comments
Sep 6, 2021Liked by Brad Edwards, Bryce Hales

It has been fascinating/sad to watch from the outside how American Christianity is ripping itself apart. As a 'global evangelical' we aren't immune to some of the influences coming out of the US as a church. But we are already in that post-Christian world and have been for a long time. My big concern though will be the generational divides that could happen over the next decade in the church. There is a great irony in all of it that the younger generations (I am xennial) will protest the older generations lack of desire to embrace 'diversity' then exclude those older generations because of it. This will be helpful to acknowledge as we seek to maintain gospel unity despite some diversity of expression.

Expand full comment

This episode resonates with me for a number of reasons. Probably the most important reason is that I've recently given a talk on politics (how to engage politically while maintaining your witness) to a scholar community that's also intended for an apologetics group where these fault lines have been most evident. An associate scholar who identified himself as an African American said he really appreciated the video because his brothers and sisters in the white conservative evangelical community just don't get it. I said that if we don't have a Christian view of politics that resonates with Christians in China, Africa, Latin American and across ethnic divides here at home, then we have more cultural than Christ. Appreciate your work; this is my second one and am excited to hear more!

Expand full comment

My appreciation to Bryce and Brad for a great wrap episode and clear discussion of this important article. Given that so many Christians do not read seriously, a serious discussion is another way to highlight the issues, and we need to encourage more listening, and among all the generations. I am planning to use a part of the episode as the basis for a service (still on zoom). Thank you Duke for raising the wider cultural dimension and the Australian context (that is mine as well - inner-city Sydney). There is no doubt Australians have a greater level of trust of government, but that is partly because we have been well provided for and have got used to it, and possibly value our own lives above the lives of others even though it is sold to us as ‘no-one should die’. I tend to think the doom orientation of the pandemic among some health academics and political leaders in Australia and the general fear of death today in secular society has meant a focus on being kept safe, and will help people vote for those who will keep us mostly safe and hopefully well. An intriguing development though among left oriented academics has been a growing critique of the dominant lockdown and restrictions model that ironically has been put mainly in place by state Labour (left) parties. A complex society indeed.

There are different dynamics in the church, though mostly there is a respect for government and adherence to guidance by the government for current health issues.

Though, I perceive there are limits in time and good re-opening is happening soon. The mandatory vaccination issue has also raised the stakes in terms of re-opening for physical gatherings).

I like the term ‘global evangelical’ and I see that as a more common feature in Australian evangelicalism. There is more of an international Christian understanding; being Christian citizens, rather than Australian Christian citizens. This is quite different to the nationalist focus of a certain grouping of American evangelicals. I think most Australian evangelicals fit into the 2.5 - 3.5 range. There is certainly presently less polarisation over politics, and less overt direction from the pulpit about what your political orientation should be, but I perceive this is changing and moving more in the US direction. There are still many issues and strong positions taken on these issues, like in the current euthanasia debates in states.

We are in one of those kairos times of church history. I like Mark Stephen’s little booklet ‘The End of Thinking’ - a new one from the Centre for Public Christianity (CPX in Australia). Keep up the discussion and thinking and providing a Christian foundation to help consider and understand this time of change.

Expand full comment