Good Faith

Good Faith

Join host Curtis Chang and his friends as they follow Jesus and make sense of the world. With expertise, thoughtfulness, and humor, they discuss how Christian faith intersects with culture, politics, work, entertainment, and other aspects of life. Good Faith is produced by Redeeming Babel. Good Faith is ranked in the top .5 percent of all podcasts.

  1. 5 DAYS AGO

    N.T. Wright: Heaven Isn't the Endgame — New Creation and God's Homecoming

    Is The Greatest Shift in Christian Theology Going From Heaven to Earth?   Heaven isn't the point of the gospel—and N.T. Wright challenges the "accept Jesus and escape earth" narrative of Christianity. Curtis Chang talks with Wright, leading theologian and prolific author, about New Creation and his latest book God's Homecoming: The Forgotten Promise of Future Renewal, asking whether the Bible's promise is the Kingdom of God on earth—or simply going to heaven when you die. They examine the "royal priesthood" calling, what this means for life after death and suffering now, and the true purpose of Christian faith.   Sign up for the Good Faith Newsletter Learn more about George Fox Talks Register for the Illuminate Arts + Faith Conference   03:43 - The Continuity Between Old and New Testaments 05:05 - Reject Platonism and Embracing New Creation? 08:04 - A Vision More Demanding Than The "Ticket To Heaven" Gospel 13:48 - What Does This Mean For Grace, Works, and Human Vocation? 19:53 - Divergence on the Meaning of The Kingdom of God 27:24 - The Problem of Evil and the "Now and Not Yet" 34:59 - A Pastoral Response to Heaven-Focused Theology 40:41 - How Are Heaven and Earth Interlocking Realities? 47:59 - The Royal Priesthood: Humanity's Biblical Mandate 51:47 - Tom Wright's Future Projects and Reflections   Scriptures: Revelation 5:9-10 (ESV) - kingdom + priests reign on the earth Exodus 19:6; Deuteronomy 7:6; 1 Peter 2:9 (ESV) - royal priesthood Genesis 1-2 (ESV) - creation "very good"; humanity's vocation Revelation 21–22 (ESV) - new heaven/new earth; God dwelling with humanity Romans 12:2 (ESV) - renewing of the mind Romans 8:21–23 (ESV) - creation set free; redemption of bodies Malachi 3:1 + Isaiah 40:3 (ESV) - prepare the way; the Lord coming to his temple Psalm 8 (ESV) - humanity crowned with glory/honor; vocation Ephesians 4 (ESV) - new humanity; community ethics   Mentioned in This Episode: N.T. Wright's book God's Homecoming: The Forgotten Promise of Future Renewal N.T. Wright's book Surprised by Hope What is the Bar Kokhba Revolt? What is the Mishnah? "Teach Me, My God and King" (George Herbert / "The Elixir")  Tom Holland's book Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World C.S. Lewis' book Miracles Scot McKnight's book Reading Romans Backwards: A Gospel of Peace in the Midst of Empire   More from N.T. Wright: N.T. Wright Online N.T. Wright's Speaking engagements N.T. Wright's books (Amazon)   Past Conversations with N.T. Wright: Good Faith ep. 207: N.T. Wright Explains Ephesians: The Church, Christian Nationalism, & the Armor of God Good Faith ep. 128: The Unseen Spiritual Powers Shaping Our World (with N.T. Wright)   Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook   The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

    56 min
  2. 15 FEB

    Sara Groves' Borrowed Courage: Bearing Witness to ICE in Minnesota and the Gospel

    Disappearing Neighbors, Upended Constitutional Norms, and an Artist's Response to ICE   Curtis Chang talks with singer-songwriter and Twin Cities resident Sara Groves about heightened ICE activity in Minneapolis–Saint Paul and why the consequences for families and neighborhoods persist after the headlines fade. Groves challenges claims that "protesters are paid agitators" or that "ICE targets only criminals," naming the emotional and spiritual toll alongside concerns about due process and constitutional overreach. They discuss "borrowed courage," the cost of public witness—when refusing to defend the indefensible—and how Christians can resist dehumanization by loving neighbors and cultivating beauty amid fear and division.   Sign up for the Good Faith Newsletter   02:45 - Sara's Eyewitness Account of ICE Activity 07:08 - Challenging Misconceptions and Narratives 10:18 - Refugees and Legal Overreach 13:48 - Has There Been A Public Reaction to Sara's Advocacy? 18:43 - Local Tragedies and Finding Borrowed Courage 23:44 - Why Do Some Stay Silent or Disengaged? 25:31 - Losing Fans and the Cost of Advocacy 35:41 - What Is the Artist's Response? 43:42 - The Challenges For Sensitive Souls Engaging in Social Justice  44:38 - A Message to Listeners Beyond Minnesota   Scriptures: Matthew 22:37-39 (ESV) Mark 12:29-31 (ESV) Isaiah 1:18 (ESV) Ephesians 6:10-18 (ESV)   Mentioned in This Episode: Video from Sara's social media bearing witness to current event s in Minnesota Learn about the work of International Justice Mission MPR articles about the killing of Philando Castile MPR articles about the murder of George Floyd Two 17-year-old U.S. citizens detained at Target (local news video) Federal Court Blocks: "Operation PARRIS," Orders Release of Detained Refugees More about Makoto Fujimura Kazuo Ishiguro's The Buried Giant Flannery O'Connor's Some Aspects of the Grotesque in Southern Fiction (read by O'Connor) Dorcas Thomson's Social Justice for the Sensitive Soul Learn about the Art House North Sara Groves' album What Makes It Through? Sara Groves' song "Telltale Heart" Sara Groves' song "Enough" Sara Groves' song-in-progress "Normal Things Are Hard Right Now" Steven Galloway's The Cellist of Sarajevo   Past Episodes Referenced in this Conversation: Good Faith ep. 215: David French: Dual State America and Authoritarianism - Renee Good and the Trump Administration Good Faith ep. 142: Finding God in the Small Things with Charlie Peacock & Andi Ashworth   More From Sara Groves: Sara Groves' Patreon Sara Groves' website   Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook   The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

    50 min
  3. 12 FEB

    Dr. Lee Warren on Self-Brain Surgery: Renewing the Mind with Faith and Neuroscience

    Can You Really Change Your Brain by Changing Your Thoughts?   Neurosurgeon, Iraq War vet, and author Dr. Lee Warren shows Curtis Chang how to perform "self brain surgery"—no scalpel, just the brutal truth: your automatic thoughts are rewiring your brain every day, and a lot of them are lying to you. Curtis and Lee dig into neuroplasticity, why you keep looping the same stress scripts, how gratitude can hijack anxiety, and they connect the dots between brain science and faith as represented in Philippians 4 and Romans 12. If you're stuck in anxiety, trauma, or toxic patterns, this episode could be a wake-up call—and a way forward.   Enter to win: Dr. Lee Warren Book Give Away Sign up for the Good Faith Newsletter Register for the Illuminate Arts + Faith Conference   02:38 - How Do Thoughts Reshape the Brain? 07:39 - Personal Story: Grieving and Neuroplasticity 11:08 - Philippians 4 and Neuroscience 18:01 - Gratitude as a Brain Switch 21:51 - Neuroscience vs. Classic Therapy 31:03 - Building New Habits and Synaptic Pruning 32:28 - The "Self" in Self Brain Surgery and the Holy Spirit 44:07) - Wisdom to Know What Can and Cannot Change 52:34 - Epigenetics and Generational Influence 56:49 - Final Word: Hope and Agency   Mentioned In This Episode: Dr. Lee Warren's The Life-Changing Art of Self-Brain Surgery Philippians 4:6–8 (ESV) Romans 12:1–2 (ESV) 2 Corinthians 10:5 (ESV) Romans 5:3–5 (ESV) Deuteronomy 5:9-10 (ESV) Summary: Study finds epigenetic changes in children of Holocaust survivors Chris Voss's Never Split the Difference The Original Serenity Prayer   More From Dr. Lee Warren: Listen: The Dr. Lee Warren Podcast Dr. Warren's website Dr. Warren's  No Place to Hide Dr. Warren's  Hope Is the First Dose Dr. Warren's  I've Seen the End of You   Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook   The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

    59 min
  4. 10 FEB

    Protest and Prayer: Resisting ICE in Minnesota with Rev. Mariah Tollgaard

    Responding To The Minnesota Surge Leads To A Pastor's Arrest!   Curtis Chang sits down with Rev. Mariah Tollgaard for an on-the-ground look at ICE raids and immigration enforcement in Minneapolis–St. Paul, Minnesota. They break down masked agents, rapid detentions, and MSP Airport deportation flights—plus the church-led pushback through mutual aid, constitutional observer trainings, and clergy protests that led to Reverend Tollgaard's arrest. It's a faith-and-civil-rights wake-up call: what neighbor-love demands when ICE shows up in your city, and why accountability matters.   03:11 - Setting the Scene: ICE Occupation in Minnesota 08:19 - How Are Churches and the Community Responding?  00:10:24 - Faith-Based Activism, Public Witness, and Arrests of Faith Leaders  15:46 - Theological Reflection on Resistance 17:55 - Biblical Basis for Protest  24:25 - Minnesota's Unique Response and Context  29:52 - Corporate Complicity and Airport Protests  34:02 - Spiritual Courage Rooted In History 36:36 - A Call to National Solidarity  38:48 - Closing Prayer   Sign up for the Good Faith Newsletter Learn more about George Fox Talks   Mentioned In This Episode: How to Contact Your Elected Officials: Ballotpedia's Who Represents Me tool Matthew 22:34-40 (ESV) - The Second Greatest Commandment Ephesians 6:10–19 (ESV) - The Whole Armour of God Hebrews 12:1-17 (ESV) - The Great Cloud of Witnesses Nearly 30,000 Minnesotans trained as constitutional observers In The Twin Cities, A Massive Strike Against ICE Ernst Frenkel's The Dual State: A Contribution To The Theory Of Dictatorship (pdf) David French: An Old Theory Helps Explain What Happened to Renee Good Good Faith episode 215: David French: Dual State America and Authoritarianism - Renee Good and the Trump Administration   Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook   The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

    42 min
  5. 5 FEB

    Dr. Jonathan Moo: Loving God, Neighbor, and the Natural World

    How Can Christians Turn Groans into Growth By Responding to Ecological Grief?   In this episode of the Good Faith Podcast, host Curtis Chang talks with Dr. Jonathan Moo, a decorated professor of both the New Testament and Environmental Studies, about why Christian creation care belongs at the center of discipleship. Drawing from Romans 8, Colossians 1, and Genesis 1–2, Moo connects biblical hope for new creation with practical action on climate change, stewardship, and loving our neighbors by caring for the places they depend on and enjoy. The conversation explores how faith and science can work together, why "dominion" looks like Christ-shaped service, and how small, local projects—from Uganda to Texas—offer tangible models of environmental renewal. Dr. Moo offers us a bigger vision of human flourishing, plus concrete next steps for Christians and churches to live joyfully and faithfully in God's world.   05:04 - How Do Jonathan Moo's Academic and Faith and Love for Creation Intersect? 07:51 - Romans 8 and Lament for Creation 17:38 - Salvation, Resurrection, and the Earth 22:08 - Practical Examples of Creation Care 27:01 - Motivating People To Move From Enjoying Nature To Actively Caring For It 31:24 - How Do We Address Interpretations of "Dominion"? 36:32 - Jesus as Model for Dominion 39:34 - Understanding Barriers Between Evangelicals and Science  47:16 - Engaging with Skeptics and Loved Ones 53:25 - Advice for Skeptics  55:11 - Practical Steps for the Environmentally Concerned   Episode Companion: Christians and Climate Change Guide 2   Sign up for the Good Faith Newsletter Learn more about George Fox Talks Register for the Illuminate Arts + Faith Conference   Mentioned In This Episode: Tools, Websites, and Organizations A Rocha USA Bull Creek Restoration Project Climate Stewards USA   Books and Authors Learn more about Aldo Leopold Learn more about Alister McGrath Learn more about Evelyn Waugh Learn more about Wendell Berry Debra Rienstra's Refugia Faith: Seeking Hidden Shelters, Ordinary Wonders, and the Healing of the Earth   Biblical Passages Colossians 1:15-20 (ESV) Romans 8 (ESV) Genesis 1 and 2 (ESV) Mark 12:30-31 (ESV)   Concepts and Ideas Carbon Calculator (use for offsets) Bio Sand Filters No Till Agriculture Mulching and Crop Rotation   More From Dr. Jonathan Moo: Jonathan & Douglas Moo's Creation Care: A Biblical Theology of the Natural World (Biblical Theology for Life) More about Dr. Moo: Whitworth professor acts as a wilderness guide A reminder of Dr. Moo's A.W.A.K.E. acronym   Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook   The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

    1h 2m
  6. 29 JAN

    David French: Dual State America and Authoritarianism - Renee Good and the Trump Administration

    What Can Christians Do and Will It Work?   In this episode of the Good Faith Podcast, Curtis Chang and David French name what's happening to American democracy right now: "Dual State America," where life feels normal—until the Trump administration's lawless prerogative power snaps into place. From the Renee Good case to Orwellian spin and rising political violence, they trace how authoritarianism spreads by redefining reality and daring ordinary people not to resist. French's gut-check: stop waiting for someone else to save the country—do something your grandkids will recognize as courage.   02:40 - What Is The "Dual State"? 06:25 - What Does The Renee Good Shooting Show Us? 11:03 - Potential For Resistance and Change 15:32 - The Dangers of Rotating Elected Authoritarians  20:03 - The "Gradually, Then Suddenly" Collapse 24:30 - What Can Individuals Do? 35:31 - The Risk and Uncertainty of Action 37:10 - Embracing Faithfulness Over Effectiveness 47:27 - Christians and The Integrity of Words 47:58 - What Sustains David French?   More about the Religious Landscape Study pewresearch.org/rls   Register for the Illuminate Arts + Faith Conference   Sign up for the Good Faith Newsletter     Mentioned In This Episode: David French: An Old Theory Helps Explain What Happened to Renee Good Ernst Frenkel's The Dual State: A Contribution To The Theory Of Dictatorship (pdf) Ernst Frenkel's Legal Sabotage: Ernst Fraenkel in Hitler's Germany Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letters from a Birmingham Jail George Orwell's 1984 Re-read the Declaration of Independence Read The Loosening of American Evangelicalism (article)     More From David French: David French's New York Times pieces HERE Follow David French on Threads   Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook     The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

    53 min
  7. 22 JAN

    The Vanishing Church and Why It's Hurting American Democracy with Ryan Burge

    The Rise of the "Nones" and the Politics Driving People Out of Church   In this episode of the Good Faith Podcast, Ryan Burge joins Curtis Chang to explore The Vanishing Church and the decline of moderate American congregations, using hard data and his lived experience as a longtime pastor, political scientist, and statistician. Ryan and Curtis explore how evangelicals, mainline Protestants, Catholics, and the religious "nones" are changing—and what that means for polarization, social cohesion, and democracy in America. Burge offers a practical challenge for the lonely or spiritually curious—show up to church even if you don't believe—and makes a case for gratitude and community in an anxious age.   06:25 - Evangelicals: Political Shift and Homogeneity 13:59 - Mainline Protestants: Decline and Diversity 19:06 - Aging and Future of Mainline Churches 23:05 - American Catholics: Stability and Rightward Shift 28:31 - Priest Shortages and Cultural Challenges 30:36 - The Rise of the Nones 31:25 - Political Drivers of Religious Disaffiliation 40:17 - Polarization: Politics and Economics 47:54 - Addressing Polarization: Individual Responsibility 50:23 - Advice for Pastors: Preaching Beyond Politics 52:31 - Signs of Hope and Gratitude   Register for the Illuminate Arts + Faith Conference Sign up for the Good Faith Newsletter   Mentioned In This Episode: Ryan Burge's The Vanishing Church: How the Hollowing Out of Moderate Congregations Is Hurting Democracy, Faith, and Us (Why the Culture Wars Led to Polarization and What We Can Do About It) Read Ephesians 3:10 (ESV) Read Colossians 1:16-18 (ESV) Danforth Center on Religion and Politics Ryan Burge, Michael Graham, and Jim Davis' The Great Dechurching: Who's Leaving, Why Are They Going, and What Will It Take to Bring Them Back? More about Dorothy Day   More from Ryan Burge: Substack: Graphs About Religion  Follow Ryan on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/ryanburge More about  Ryan Burge's work   Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook   The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

    56 min

About

Join host Curtis Chang and his friends as they follow Jesus and make sense of the world. With expertise, thoughtfulness, and humor, they discuss how Christian faith intersects with culture, politics, work, entertainment, and other aspects of life. Good Faith is produced by Redeeming Babel. Good Faith is ranked in the top .5 percent of all podcasts.

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