Conversations That Matter

Jon Harris
  • 4.3 (1.1K)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Weekly

Christian, Traditional, Masculine

  1. 3d ago

    News Roundup: SBC, Lawson, Christian Persecution & the True Culture of Death

    This week on the Conversations That Matter podcast, Jon Harris covers a wide-ranging news roundup touching on the Southern Baptist Convention, Christian persecution, the Catholic Church, the Christian Nationalism debate, Steve Lawson, and what Jon calls the “true culture of death.” Jon begins with a personal update following a house fire in his wife’s family, along with reflections on the recent Restoring Virtue Conference and upcoming speaking engagements. From there, he discusses Eric Erickson’s criticism of figures on the Right and the importance of clearly defining neo-Nazi ideology rather than making broad accusations. He also examines recent controversy surrounding Candace Owens, a new Vatican document on interreligious dialogue, and claims surrounding the discovery of Noah’s Ark in Turkey. The episode then turns to the Christian Nationalism debate, including J.D. Greer’s arguments concerning church and state, religious liberty, and the role of Christianity in public life. Jon also discusses Southern Baptist figures Jason Little and Walter Strickland, including Strickland’s comments concerning Nat Turner and liberation theology. Jon then addresses the changing Christian legal movement, Steve Lawson’s recent book concerning his adultery and disqualification from ministry, and questions from listeners. The final portion of the podcast examines assisted suicide, declining marriage and family formation, adult toy consumption, gender distrust, juvenileization, higher education, student loans, Title IX, and policies under the Trump administration.  Jon concludes by discussing comments from Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu concerning persecuted Christians in the Middle East and the broader decline of Christianity in the region. Listen through to the end for Jon’s thoughts on why Christians should focus less on theoretical political battles and more on the practical challenges directly in front of them. 00:00 Personal Update: House Fire and Restoring Virtue 10:40 The News Roundup Begins 11:45 Eric Erickson and the Debate Over Neo-Nazism 22:40 Candace Owens and Online Political Commentary 29:00 The Vatican, Vatican II, and Interreligious Dialogue 38:05 The Search for Noah's Ark 42:45 J.D. Greer and Christian Nationalism 61:45 Jason Little and the Southern Baptist Convention 63:00 Walter Strickland, Liberation Theology, and Nat Turner 77:00 The Christian Legal Movement and John W. Whitehead 84:00 Steve Lawson's Confession and Return to Public Ministry 89:30 Listener Questions 94:00 Assisted Suicide and the Culture of Death 95:00 Juvenileization, Marriage, and Gender Distrust 106:00 Trump, Student Loans, and Higher Education 109:40 Title IX and Gender Transition Treatments 114:30 Christian Persecution, Trump, and Netanyahu 123:50 Final Thoughts Give Send Go: https://www.givesendgo.com/help-aaron-starsea-and-amber-rebuild-aft?utm_source=sharelink&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=help-aaron-starsea-and-amber-rebuild-aft Jon's Music: jonharristunes.com To Support the Podcast:  https://www.jonharrismedia.com/support/ Become a Patron https://www.patreon.com/jonharrispodcast Substack: https://substack.com/@jonharris  Follow Jon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonharris1989 Follow Jon on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/jonharris1989/Give Send Go: https://www.givesendgo.com/help-aaron-starsea-and-amber-rebuild-aft?utm_source=sharelink&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=help-aaron-starsea-and-amber-rebuild-aft Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  2. 5d ago

    Let's Define Godliness by the Right Things

    What actually makes someone a strong Christian? A viral post claimed that the strongest Christians watch Disney movies, avoid politics, wear bikinis, drink alcohol, shop at Target, and celebrate Halloween. The argument was that Christians who impose restrictions on these things are essentially modern Pharisees. There is an important truth here: Christians should not invent laws and impose them on other believers as though those rules came from God. But there is also a problem with defining Christian freedom by a list of cultural behaviors. In this episode, I examine the distinction between Christian liberty, legalism, conscience, modesty, discernment, and genuine godliness. Scripture does not present godliness primarily as a collection of cultural boxes that we check. It begins with the character of the heart and manifests itself in how we live. The question is not simply, “Can a Christian do this?” The deeper question is: What actually marks a godly Christian? The episode also considers the “weaker brother,” the misuse of Christian liberty, alcohol, Halloween, modesty, political involvement, consumer choices, pornography, and the danger of creating our own standards of righteousness. Christianity is marked by inward virtue that manifests itself outwardly. 00:00 — The Tweet About “Strong Christians” 01:22 — Are These Really Issues of Christian Liberty? 02:58 — The Weak Brother and Christian Conscience 05:16 — When the “Weak Brother” Becomes a Human Shield 06:25 — Alcohol, Communion, and Christian Freedom 08:34 — What Actually Makes Someone Godly? 10:42 — The Biblical Marks of a Godly Man 11:57 — Modesty, Virtue, and Godly Women 13:08 — The Problem With a Pornographic Culture 15:34 — What Strong Christians Are Actually Known For 17:24 — Halloween, Alcohol, and Circumstantial Wisdom 19:04 — How to Avoid Becoming a Pharisee Jon's Music: jonharristunes.com To Support the Podcast: https://www.jonharrismedia.com/support/ Become a Patron https://www.patreon.com/jonharrispodcast Substack: https://substack.com/@jonharris Follow Jon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonharris1989 Follow Jon on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonharris1989/ Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  3. Sep 25

    Democrats Backing Down From "Trans Sports?" Don't Buy it!

    The Democratic Party appears to be changing its tune on transgender athletes competing in women’s sports. Politicians including Gavin Newsom, Pete Buttigieg, and James Talarico have recently used the language of fairness and safety when discussing women’s sports. That represents a significant change from the rhetoric surrounding transgender rights and school sports during the Obama and Biden years. But is this a genuine change in conviction, or is it a political retreat? In this episode, I look at the history of the Democratic position on transgender issues, the growing public resistance to males competing in women’s sports, and the political calculations surrounding the issue. I also examine the difference between voters motivated by deeply held convictions and voters who simply do not want political policies to produce consequences in their own families and communities. The larger question is whether the Democratic retreat represents a change in principle or simply a strategic pause until the political environment changes. Finally, I discuss why arguments about fairness and public opinion are not enough. If our understanding of men and women is ultimately grounded in God's created order, then political arguments cannot simply rest on whatever happens to be popular at a particular moment. 00:00 Democrats and the Trans Sports Reversal 02:18 Is This a Genuine Change of Heart? 04:26 The Gender Debate and the Nature Argument 07:20 Remembering the Biden and Obama Years 09:24 Why Democrats Are Changing Their Message 10:30 The Polling Problem for Transgender Sports 12:30 Convictional Voters vs. Convenience Voters 15:42 What Democrats Have Learned From the Backlash 18:05 Why “Fairness” Is Their New Argument 23:48 God's Rights, Nature, and the Foundation of Society Jon's Music: jonharristunes.com To Support the Podcast: https://www.jonharrismedia.com/support/ Become a Patron https://www.patreon.com/jonharrispodcast Substack: https://substack.com/@jonharris Follow Jon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonharris1989 Follow Jon on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonharris1989/ Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  4. Sep 23

    The Battle for the SBC Is Not Over | William Wolfe on What Comes Next

    Jon Harris sits down with William Wolfe of the Center for Baptist Leadership to discuss what has happened since Willie Rice became president of the SBC and what comes next. The conversation covers the Truth and Unity Amendment, the effort to prevent women from serving as pastors in the SBC, appointments to committees and trustee boards, financial transparency, restoring trust in the Cooperative Program, the International Mission Board's vaccine requirements, and the continuing influence of progressive and DEI ideas within SBC entities. Wolfe also explains why he believes the biggest danger may no longer be an obvious return to the previous "woke" era, but a period of what he calls "managed decline" in which institutions become less willing to take clear and courageous positions. The discussion also examines Willie Rice's leadership, the upcoming fight over the Truth and Unity Amendment, and what conservatives and ordinary Southern Baptists should understand about the institutional battle ahead. 00:00 Intro 01:00 The Fight After Willie Rice's Election 02:50 Filling SBC Committees and Trustee Boards 03:34 The Truth and Unity Amendment 04:36 What Willie Rice Has Accomplished 06:11 The Future Direction of the SBC 07:40 Is Willie Rice His Own Man? 09:54 The Push to Ratify the Truth and Unity Amendment 10:52 Can Conservative Momentum Continue? 12:23 Restoring Trust in the SBC 13:30 The IMB and Vaccine Mandates 15:00 Are Progressive Forces Still Active in the SBC? 18:00 Opposition to the Truth and Unity Amendment 19:30 From Wokeness to "Managed Decline" 20:45 What Courageous Conservative Leadership Looks Like Jon's Music: jonharristunes.com To Support the Podcast:  https://www.jonharrismedia.com/support/ Become a Patron https://www.patreon.com/jonharrispodcast Substack: https://substack.com/@jonharris  Follow Jon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonharris1989 Follow Jon on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/jonharris1989/ Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  5. Sep 21

    Canada Is a Warning to America

    Dr. D. Millard Haskell joins Conversations That Matter to explain what happened to Christianity's influence in Canada and why Americans should pay attention. Haskell, a sociologist and author of Christ or Collapse: The Case Against Godless Government, argues that the evidence points toward the social benefits of traditional Christianity. His research led him from liberal Christianity toward a conviction that Christian norms produce greater stability and flourishing. The conversation then turns to Canada as a cautionary tale for the United States. We discuss multiculturalism, the decline of Christian influence, government and media, the controversy surrounding the Ezra Institute, Alberta's political future, and Canada's increasingly difficult environment for Christians who publicly defend traditional Christian beliefs. Haskell also discusses Bill C-9, freedom of expression, political apathy, institutional capture, the loss of Christian influence in academia and government, and the growing reluctance of Canadian pastors to address controversial cultural issues. Finally, we look at the different historical foundations of Canada and the United States and why Haskell believes America's Christian heritage must be actively preserved rather than simply assumed to continue. 00:00 — Introduction: Canada as a Warning to America 01:13 — Why Haskell Wrote Christ or Claps 04:19 — The Empirical Case for Christianity 06:25 — Canada as America's Cautionary Tale 09:00 — Multiculturalism, Alberta, and the Canadian Divide 11:00 — The Ezra Institute and the "Christian Nationalist" Controversy 24:40 — Bill C-9 and the Future of Christian Speech 28:00 — How Canada Lost Its Institutions 32:00 — Political Fatigue, Immigration, and the Next Generation 38:55 — Why America Held Onto Christianity Longer Jon's Music: jonharristunes.com To Support the Podcast: https://www.jonharrismedia.com/support/ Become a Patron https://www.patreon.com/jonharrispodcast Substack: https://substack.com/@jonharris Follow Jon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonharris1989 Follow Jon on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonharris1989/ Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  6. Sep 18

    Why Christians Should Vote Republican in the Midterms

    The 2026 midterms are approaching, and there is growing pressure on conservatives to sit out elections, reject Republican candidates, or pursue some kind of political accelerationism because Republicans have not accomplished everything conservatives hoped they would. In this episode of Conversations That Matter, I make the case for why Christian conservatives should generally vote Republican in the midterms, while also explaining why voting is not a substitute for the much more important work of Christian discipleship and social renewal. The key distinction is between practical politics and pragmatism. Pragmatism means changing your moral standards to achieve a desired political outcome. Practical judgment means recognizing the political circumstances you actually inhabit and using the tools available to you without changing your moral convictions. As I argue in the episode, morality does not change, but political circumstances and available options do. I also discuss the temptation to abandon the Republican Party because it is imperfect, the dangers of accelerationism, what the experience of Europe can teach us, my own decision not to vote for Donald Trump in 2016, and why that calculation would be different in a competitive state. Finally, I look at what the Trump administration and the MAGA movement have actually accomplished on issues including immigration, DEI, abortion, and foreign policy, and argue that conservatives should consider whether to build on those gains rather than simply destroy the political apparatus because it has not delivered everything they wanted. The question is not whether Republicans are perfect. The question is what political options actually exist, what can be accomplished through them, and how Christians should exercise stewardship in the circumstances God has given us. 00:00 The Midterm Question 01:05 Voting Is Not Social Renewal 03:00 What Political Options Do We Actually Have? 05:45 Practical Politics vs. Pragmatism 09:00 The Problem With Accelerationism 10:25 Why Build on MAGA? 16:00 Stewardship and Imperfect Political Options 25:45 What Has MAGA Actually Accomplished? Jon's Music: jonharristunes.com To Support the Podcast:  https://www.jonharrismedia.com/support/ Become a Patron https://www.patreon.com/jonharrispodcast Substack: https://substack.com/@jonharris  Follow Jon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonharris1989 Follow Jon on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/jonharris1989/ Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  7. Sep 16

    Did Covenant College Put Woke Away?

    In this episode of Conversations That Matter, I examine the Presbyterian Church in America, Covenant College, and the broader question of whether Christian institutions are actually moving away from the ideas associated with the social justice movement or simply giving them new names. I begin with several pieces of evangelical news, including the latest Southern Baptist compensation data for pastors and staff, the PCA's decision concerning Burke Parsons, and a complaint involving the Missouri Presbytery and the ordination of a same-sex-attracted man. The main discussion concerns Covenant College's revised curriculum. Covenant has defended its approach as Christian, while critics such as Joe Rigney have questioned whether courses emphasizing diversity, cultural perspectives, identity, and critical theory represent genuine reform or continued ideological drift. I look at the curriculum, faculty, and the ideas being presented to students, while also acknowledging that Covenant has good professors and that not every course or professor should be painted with the same brush. The central question is more basic: What direction is the institution going? I also explain why Christians should be able to learn from other cultures without adopting the assumption that Western civilization requires a special set of alternative perspectives in order to recognize its own moral deficiencies. The Christian has Scripture, the church, and a long Christian intellectual tradition through which to evaluate his own civilization. 00:00 Why Christian Institutions Matter 04:08 The SBC’s Changing Pastor Compensation 10:16 Burke Parsons and the PCA Judicial Process 12:49 Same-Sex Attraction and Missouri Presbytery 14:15 Are Christian Universities Reversing Mission Drift? 17:49 Covenant College Changes Its Core Curriculum 20:16 Did Covenant College Put Woke Away? 24:30 Why Direction Matters More Than Individual Professors 29:44 The Evidence of Social Justice Thinking 42:15 Personnel Is Policy 50:12 How Social Justice Can Threaten the Gospel 54:58 Western Civilization, Diversity, and Critical Theory Jon's Music: jonharristunes.com To Support the Podcast:  https://www.jonharrismedia.com/support/ Become a Patron https://www.patreon.com/jonharrispodcast Substack: https://substack.com/@jonharris  Follow Jon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonharris1989 Follow Jon on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/jonharris1989/ Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  8. Sep 14

    News Roundup: The Politics of Race, Immigration, and Civilizational Identity

    In this news roundup, I look at the controversy surrounding H-1B visas, the viral University of Texas football footage, and the argument over immigration, assimilation, race, culture, and the future of American identity. I also revisit the Lindsay Clancy jury and what the case reveals about the way people increasingly interpret moral questions through racial categories. Then we get to Tucker Carlson and Abdul El-Sayed. What does it mean when prominent figures on the Right begin backing or defending political positions that would seem completely at odds with the Republican coalition? Is the Right actually beginning to converge with the Left on some of the most important questions facing the country? I also discuss Christian persecution in China, the question of Islam and Western civilization, surrogacy and the changing meaning of family, and some genuinely encouraging stories about American courage and education. The goal is not simply to react to the news. It is to step back, understand what is happening, and ask what these stories mean for Christians, conservatives, and the future of America. 00:00 Intro: The Hammer of Reality 03:41 The H-1B Debate Explodes 21:03 The Lindsay Clancy Jury 27:22 Race, Morality, and Civilizational Identity 48:13 Tucker Carlson and Abdul El-Sayed 58:33 El-Sayed, 9/11, and the Michigan Senate Race 1:02:33 A Test for Right-Wing Media 1:06:11 Christian Persecution in China 1:08:04 Islam and the West 1:11:05 Surrogacy, Family, and the Future 1:14:10 American Courage and the Good News Jon's Music: jonharristunes.com To Support the Podcast:  https://www.jonharrismedia.com/support/ Become a Patron https://www.patreon.com/jonharrispodcast Substack: https://substack.com/@jonharris  Follow Jon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonharris1989 Follow Jon on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/jonharris1989/ Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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4.3
out of 5
1,111 Ratings

About

Christian, Traditional, Masculine

Information

  • Creator
    Jon Harris
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    1.2K
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jon Harris
  • Show Website
    Conversations That Matter

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