Hi Reader,

If you could have dinner with one of the world’s top theologians, what would you ask them?

I had the great opportunity to sit down with N.T. Wright for the Pastoring in a Partisan Age series. I asked him about the role of Christians in culture wars and how Christians should engage in politics.

His answers were anything but shallow. We went deep.

He traced the origins of the culture wars back to the Enlightenment! We explored how media simplifies complex issues, leading to polarized debates on topics like gun control and abortion. And he gave his best advice on how you can lead through the election without losing your people.

Plus, we’re giving away 10 scholarships to N.T. Wright’s online courses. You’ll have to listen to the episode to reveal how to enter.

Watch today's conversation.

Theologian N.T. Wright deconstructs why Christians have bought into the culture wars, talks about how the Gospel is political, and offers his best advice on leading through the election without losing people.

Watch it on YouTube or tune in wherever you listen to podcasts.

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Go Deeper

My #1 takeaway from this conversation.

Christians who attempt to take power by force almost always see it backfire in terrible ways. The Gospel is political, but it's a different kind of politics.

Episode questions.

Here are 4 questions you can ask yourself as you listen to the episode. You can also use these as discussion starters with friends, a mentor, or staff.

1. How can we use our teaching and preaching to challenge cultural norms that contradict the teachings of Christ, while still showing love and respect to those who hold different views?
2. In what ways can we improve our engagement with scriptures to deepen our congregation’s understanding of complex societal issues?
3. What practices can we implement to ensure our church’s engagement with political issues remains grounded in the gospel rather than partisan ideologies?
4. What role should our church play in critiquing and holding public authorities accountable in a manner that reflects Christian ethics?

Transcript and links.

​NT Wright's Facebook​

​NT Wright's Instagram​

​NT Wright's X​

​Admirato​

​Journeys of the Mind by Peter Brown​

​Churchill by Roy Jenkins​

​Jesus and the Powers by NT Wright and Michael F Bird​

​Article on Plato and his "Theory of the Forms"​

​Plutarch​

​Eternity is Now in Session by John Ortberg​

​The Mission Movie​

​Walter Benjamin​

​The Spectator​

​The New Statesman​

​Foreign Affairs Magazine​

Take Further Action

Free Download: Ultimate Guide to Healthy Church Conflict

Of all the reasons you stepped into a leadership position, dealing with conflict, hate, outrage, polarization, and culture wars probably isn’t high on your list.

Get actionable steps to have healthier conflict, mitigate hate, and unite divided people with my brand new free guide: Ultimate Guide to Healthy Church Conflict.

If you enjoy the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. It truly helps other leaders like you discover these conversations.

Cheering for you,

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Carey Nieuwhof Communications, PO Box 160, Oro Medonte, Ontario L0L 2X0