The Russell Moore Show

The demonization of empathy will lead to a church that coddles sin. Russell reads a piece from his newsletter every Monday on the podcast but there's more to be found in the weekly email! Sign up here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What can the lives and trials of our Asian American neighbors teach the rest of us? Michael Luo, executive editor of The New Yorker and author of the new book Strangers in the Land: Exclusion, Belonging, and the Epic Story of the Chinese in America, joins Mooreto talk about our country’s treatment of its Chinese residents, which drew Luo to trace his own family’s path to the United States. Moore and Luo discuss not only American sentiments toward the Chinese populations but also the ways our country deals with perceived strangers, the unique challenges of Asian American churches grappling with whether to become multiethnic, Luo’s experience of being a Christian in secular media spaces, and the ways his friendship with Tim Keller informed his view of Keller’s unique gifts and legacy. Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include: Strangers in the Land by Michael Luo Special offer for listeners of The Russell Moore Show: Click here for 25% off a subscription to CT magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An American evangelical considers the life of Pope Francis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What does it mean to sing about Jesus when the name has been co-opted by politics, performance, and power? In this episode Dr. Moore welcomes singer-songwriter Jon Guerra to discuss Guerra's new album simply titled "Jesus." Guerra shares how his music serves as devotional art—less Sunday morning worship and more Monday morning prayer—and explains his journey back to the words of Christ after experiences that created distance. Moore and Guerra explore themes of nationalism, church collapse, and finding authentic faith in a politically charged culture. Guerra reflects on his time as a worship leader during the painful public downfall of James MacDonald's ministry, offering honest insights about power, performance, and platform in Christian leadership. The conversation moves through Guerra's creative process, including his work on Terrence Malick's films, and unpacks the countercultural message of songs like "Citizens"—which confronts the marriage of faith and political power. As the child of Cuban immigrants, Guerra also opens up about his fear of scarcity and how it shapes his understanding of Jesus's teachings about treasure and provision. At a time when Jesus's name is often wielded as a tribal symbol, Guerra's music invites listeners to encounter Christ not as a political mascot, but as the One who welcomes immigrants as citizens and calls us to a narrower, and better, way. Join Jon on tour this spring, and listen to Jesus here. Special offer for listeners of The Russell Moore Show: Click here for 25% off a subscription to CT magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What’s a Christian, anyway? In our 2025 political environment, terms like evangelical begin to lose the meaning they once held, or they require further refinement and definition. Glenn Packiam’s new book brings a fresh perspective to this conversation. It turns out the answer lies in the Nicene Creed. This year, the Nicene Creed turns 1,700 years old. This ancient work, built from Scripture and the public life of the ancient church, is often considered part of a “dead” spirituality, especially in traditions which put an emphasis on individual experiences with God. However, Russell and Glenn unpack the depth of personal and congregational meaning within the creed and discuss its power to redefine what Christian means in an environment where the term is constantly changing. Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include: What’s a Christian, Anyway? By Glenn Packiam Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We convince ourselves that we can be cruel and nihilistic and Christian all at once. Listen to his most recent newsletter every Monday! Subscribe to Russell’s weekly newsletter here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s time for another books episode. Russell Moore is joined again by Ashley Hales, the former producer of the show and now CT’s editorial director for print, in a discussion about what they’re reading now and about how reading as a practice is necessary and helpful in a windblown world. What books are you loving? And which books would you be sure to pack if you were planning to be marooned on a desert island? Email us: [email protected]. Books/essays mentioned in this episode: Learning in War-Time by C. S. Lewis War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy Superbloom by Nicholas Carr Digital Future in the Rearview Mirror by Andrey Mir Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut Silas Marner by George Eliot Spellbound by Molly Worthen The Theological Imagination by Judith Wolfe Special offer for listeners of The Russell Moore Show: Click here for 25% off a subscription to CT magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The death of Hooters holds a message for the church. Listen to his most recent newsletter every Monday! Subscribe to Russell’s weekly newsletter here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What has play got to do with suffering? Annie F. Downs has built her career on having fun. Her New York Times bestseller titles include That Sounds Fun, Remember God, and 100 Days to Brave. Her new book for kids seems very different from the fun-loving Downs. Downs explains how the death of her nephew TJ led her to write a children's book to help kids (and grownups) understand suffering and loss at the same time as the love of God. In this episode, Downs tells us what surprised her about how kids respond to this kind of suffering and what that taught her about getting rid of fake platitudes, about what to do when someone you love is hurting, and about how to genuinely grieve while still recognizing a world of joy, hope, and even fun. Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include: Where Did TJ Go? By Annie F. Downs Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself by Judy Blume Special offer for listeners of The Russell Moore Show: Click here for 25% off a subscription to CT magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

American Christians ought to care about how Venezuelan gang members are deported. Listen to his most recent newsletter every Monday! Subscribe to Russell's weekly newsletter here! Do you have questions for Russell Moore? Send them to [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“ It may not be until the new heavens and the new earth, but we’re eventually going to know that God had goodness that was behind the dark clouds of our lives.” So says Mark Vroegop, newly appointed president of The Gospel Coalition (TGC) and author of Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy, during his conversation with Russell Moore. Moore and Vroegop talk about the ways TGC has evolved since its founding through leaders such as Tim Keller and Don Carson. They talk about the nature of belief, how trust in Jesus alters our understanding of who we are, and navigating seasons of doubt. Their conversation covers ministry partnerships, vocational decision making, and the importance of deep friendships. Moore and Vroegop consider what the Psalms have to say about seasons of doubt and grief, the relationship between character and gifting, and trust in the goodness of God. Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include: Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament by Mark Vroegop Waiting Isn’t a Waste: The Surprising Comfort of Trusting God in the Uncertainties of Life by Mark Vroegop The Gospel Coalition Made for Friendship: The Relationship That Halves Our Sorrows and Doubles Our Joys by Drew Hunter The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion Special offer for listeners of The Russell Moore Show: Click here for 25% off a subscription to CT magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Russell shares how a piece of art showed him he wasn’t thinking big enough about the church. Listen to his most recent newsletter every Monday! Subscribe to Russell's weekly newsletter here! Do you have questions for Russell Moore? Send them to [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When Time magazine named Stanley Hauerwas “America’s Best Theologian” in 2001, Hauerwas replied, “‘Best’ is not a theological category.” This response encapsulates the work and conversational style of Hauerwas, who joined Moore to discuss his new collection of essays, Jesus Changes Everything: A New World Made Possible. With his signature approach that prompts the audience to wonder if there’s another way to think about a topic, Hauerwas talks about the books that shaped him, how he came to be a theologian, and why he believes that being a Christian is the most interesting thing that could happen to a person. Moore and Hauerwas consider the importance of Christian friendship, the person of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and the life-changing power of the truth. The two offer poignant, practical insights for reclaiming Christian vocabulary and better understanding our lives as narrated by Christ. Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include: Jesus Changes Everything: A New World Made Possible by Stanley Hauerwas Stanley Hauerwas “America’s Best Theologian: Christian Contrarian” The Sun and the Umbrella by Nels F. S. Ferre Telling the Truth: The Gospel as Comedy, Tragedy, and Fairy Tale by Frederick Buechner Discipleship in a World Full of Nazis: Recovering the True Legacy of Dietrich Bonhoeffer by Mark Nation Theological Existence To-Day!: (A Plea for Theological Freedom) by Karl Barth Bruderhof Communities “David Brooks on How to Know a Person” War and the American Difference: Theological Reflections on Violence and National Identity by Stanley Hauerwas Special offer for listeners of The Russell Moore Show: Click here for 25% off a subscription to CT Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From care for aging parents to concerns about money, life for modern-day Christians can feel, in a word, overwhelming. Russell Moore and Ashley Hales, CT’s editorial director for print, offer words of wisdom and a sense of solidarity with listener questions about all kinds of challenges. They provide practical advice, spiritual comfort, and reasons for hope in family life, social relationships, and society at large. Questions addressed during this episode include: How might Christians think about forgiveness as it relates to encountering people in heaven who harmed us on earth? What are some practical ways to think about living in the tension of being misunderstood, or even gravely sinned against or abused, and not yet having resolution? How should believers respond to seasons of life when demands on their time and energy, such as aging parents, loss of a spouse, and grandchildren, leave them feeling overwhelmed and depleted? How can a husband and wife determine together whether or not they should stay in a certain congregation? How should Christians think about desiring financial success? How can parents determine and apply technology filters to keep their children safe? What might the next right step be for a believer who is dating an unbeliever and has crossed intimacy lines that are producing shame? Could a particular judgment from God come against the American church? What Scripture passages does Russell return to for encouragement in light of the dechurching phenomenon, increase of misinformation, and rising nationalism around the world? Do you have a question for Russell Moore? Send an email to [email protected]. Resources: A Fruitful Life: Discovering Jesus’ Invitation in the Sermon on the Mount by Bryce and Ashley Hales “Civility, Calvinism, and the Coming Judgment Day” with Richard Mouw “At My Mother’s Deathbed, I Discovered the Symmetry of a Long Life” by Jen Wilkin “Detoxing, Mapquesting, and Holy Kisses” with Carlos Whittaker Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call for Evangelical America by Russell Moore Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Morally, the surrender of Ukraine will cost us. The Russell Moore Show is bringing Russell's weekly newsletter to all streaming platforms. Listen to his most recent newsletter every Monday! Subscribe to Russell's weekly newsletter here! Do you have questions for Russell Moore? Send them to [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, theologian Russell Moore sits down with acclaimed poet and philosopher David Whyte to explore the terrain where faith meets poetry. Beginning with Whyte’s new book Consolations II, their conversation traverses the landscapes of language, spirituality, and what it means to be fully present in a fractured world. Whyte, whose work bridges the philosophical traditions of the East and West with the everyday struggles of being human, offers profound insights on why poetry serves as more than mere decoration—it becomes essential language for our deepest experiences. Moore—bringing his biblical, theological perspective—and Whyte dialogue about the “conversational nature of reality” that Whyte proposes and discuss how it resonates with and challenges Christian understandings of communion with God. Their discussion moves through territories both intimate and universal: The ways poetry gives language to experiences that resist explanation The nature of courage as vulnerability rather than bravado Navigating anxiety in a world that demands constant performance Approaching death, as a companion or an enemy The surprising spiritual journey that led Whyte from marine zoology to becoming one of our most vital poetic voices Whether the modern world is “disenchanted” and what difference that makes While coming from different spiritual traditions, Moore and Whyte explore together how human experience requires language that opens rather than closes, invites rather than insists. Their conversation models what genuine dialogue across philosophical differences can look like—curious, generous, and alive to mystery. Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include: David Whyte on On Being with Krista Tippett Consolations: The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words by David Whyte “The Journey” by David Whyte Pilgrim by David Whyte Consolations II: The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words by David Whyte Selected Poems by Thom Gunn and Ted Hughes by Thom Gunn and Ted Hughes The House of Belonging by David Whyte Cosmic Connections: Poetry in the Age of Disenchantment by Charles Taylor “The Opening of Eyes” by David Whyte The Book of Hours by Rainer Marie Rilke Songs of Innocence and Experience by William Blake Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Russell shares counsel to a Christian who is discouraged almost to the point of giving up. The Russell Moore Show is bringing Russell's weekly newsletter to all streaming platforms. Listen to his most recent newsletter every Monday! Subscribe to Russell's weekly newsletter here! Do you have questions for Russell Moore? Send them to [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In times of profound crisis, where do we turn? How do spiritual practices and Christian wisdom help us navigate life’s most challenging seasons? In this episode, Russell Moore sits down with Westmont College president Gayle Beebe to explore themes from his book The Crucibles That Shape Us. Together, they unpack how moments of intense pressure and uncertainty—whether personal, professional, or spiritual—can become transformative experiences that deepen our faith and character. Drawing from decades of pastoral and educational leadership, Beebe shares insights about facing crossroads with wisdom, courage, and resilience. Moore and Beebe discuss practical ways to maintain spiritual equilibrium during upheaval, the role of community in crisis, and ways to discern God’s presence in our darkest hours. This conversation offers hope and guidance for listeners wrestling with their own crucible moments, and it also explores how Christian formation happens not despite our trials but often through them. Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include: The Crucibles That Shape Us: Navigating the Defining Challenges of Leadership by Gayle Beebe Traces of God by Diogenes Allen Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman A Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix by Edwin H. Friedman “Four Quartets 1: Burnt Norton” by T. S. Eliot East of Eden by John Steinbeck Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

People become who they pretend to be (and why that only works in one direction). The Russell Moore Show is bringing Russell's weekly newsletter to all streaming platforms. Listen to his most recent newsletter every Monday! Subscribe to Russell's weekly newsletter here! Do you have questions for Russell Moore? Send them to [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Beyond Bowling Alone. “ Precisely what brings you into communion with the church is not sitting—no matter how good the sermon is—it’s not sitting in an auditorium with 3,000 people,” says Robert Putnam. “It’s connecting with other cobelievers in a small group.” Robert Putnam, political scientist and author of the cultural phenomenon Bowling Alone, joins Russell Moore to talk about social shifts in how we gather with—and separate from—one another. Putnam and Moore talk about religion, partisanship, and social shifts such as delayed marriage. Their conversation covers loneliness, the increasing number of people who do not identify with any religion, and politicization. Moore and Putnam consider the importance of coming together, explore the history of communities in America, and encourage listeners with practical steps for cultivating fellowship. Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include: Making Democracy Work: Civic Traditions in Modern Italy by Robert D. Putnam Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community by Robert D. Putnam Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis by Robert D. Putnam Join or Die “If You Want to Destroy My Sweater, Hold This Thread as I Walk Away” Christian Smith The Four Loves by C. S. Lewis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One may not expect Russell Moore and Jonathan Rauch, an openly gay atheist, to become friends—much less to be positive influences on one another’s lives and work. But as this conversation shows, this surprising fact is true. The two discuss their perspectives on politics, Christianity, and culture. They talk about their regular gathering on Thursday nights with fellow thinkers and the ways they see fear taking precedence in American churches. Their discussion covers race, gender, and sexuality, as well as Christian nationalism, parallels between the political left and right, and the reasons why Rauch considers forbearance to be a key aspect of liberal democracy. Moore and Rauch consider the “four Ms”—mortality, morality, murder, and miracles—and talk about why Rauch dedicated his new book, Cross Purposes, to two Christian friends who have passed—Tim Keller and Mark McIntosh. Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include: Jonathan Rauch Cross Purposes: Christianity’s Broken Bargain with Democracy by Jonathan Rauch Brookings Institution The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention Peter Wehner David French Mark A. McIntosh “Let It Be” “U.S. Church Membership Falls Below Majority for First Time” No Compromise Tim Keller Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Walter Strickland didn’t read a book from cover to cover until he was 18 years old. Books—from that first read, The Screwtape Letters, to Strickland’s latest work, Swing Low—have shaped his life. So, too, has the Black church. Strickland, an author, educator, and pastor, joins Moore to talk about the titles that have formed their experiences as Christians and academics. They consider how slaveholders used biblical texts to defend their actions and weaponized faith against enslaved people. Strickland and Moore observe the ways that God remains faithful to his Word amid oppression and explore the phenomenon of Black worshipers leaving predominantly white churches. They discuss African American theologians, the witness of the Black church, and the five anchors that Black Christianity has contributed to the body of Christ. Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include: Walter Strickland Swing Low, Volume 1: A History of Black Christianity in the United States by Walter Strickland Swing Low, Volume 2: An Anthology of Black Christianity in the United States by Walter Strickland The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis The Decline of African American Theology: From Biblical Faith to Cultural Captivity by Thabiti M. Anyabwile “The Black Church Has Five Theological Anchors” “A Quiet Exodus: Why Black Worshipers Are Leaving White Evangelical Churches” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jesus’ refugee status ought to inform his followers about how to treat imperiled refugees right now. The Russell Moore Show is bringing Russell's weekly newsletter to all streaming platforms. Listen to his most recent newsletter every Monday! Subscribe to Russell's weekly newsletter here! Do you have questions for Russell Moore? Send them to [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In December of 2023, journalist and author Tim Alberta joined Russell Moore to discuss the ways that politics have invaded the white evangelical church in recent years. He returns to talk about the election and inauguration of President Donald Trump that have happened since—and to consider what those events mean about the state of American culture. Alberta and Moore talk about numbness, hopelessness, and the lack of persuadability in many Americans. They discuss the effect of social media on righteous indignation and judgmentalism as well as the political exhaustion among wide swaths of Americans. They talk about President Trump’s executive orders, cabinet members, and the possibility of mass deportations. Moore and Alberta describe their reasons for hope and consider what it may look like to build godly community in a time of division. Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include: Tim Alberta “Tim Alberta on the White Evangelical Crisis” The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism by Tim Alberta “The Most Revealing Moment of a Trump Rally” “Why Democrats Are Losing Hispanic Voters” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cynicism makes sense right now -- and it could cost us our souls. The Russell Moore Show is bringing Russell's weekly newsletter to all streaming platforms. Listen to his most recent newsletter every Monday! Subscribe to Russell's weekly newsletter here! Do you have questions for Russell Moore? Send them to [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why has everyone gone insane? It’s a question that makes Russell Moore and Ian Morgan Cron—bestselling author, psychotherapist, Enneagram teacher, and Episcopal priest—laugh, and also one that they approach with wisdom and insight. Moore and Cron talk about the confluence of pressures and stressors in the modern world, the relationship of control to certainty, and varying perspectives on anxiety and depression. They discuss practical actions to take when feeling overwhelmed and dive into the Twelve Steps, which Cron’s new book illuminates as helpful not just for alcoholics but for everyone. Cron and Moore talk about what it means to be addicted, the human desire for relief from pain, and the power of community in the recovery process. Cron sheds light on amends conversations, which book of the Bible each Enneagram type should take to a desert island, and his profound love for God, Scripture, and humankind. Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include: Ian Morgan Cron The Fix: How the Twelve Steps Offer a Surprising Path of Transformation for the Well-Adjusted, the Down-and-Out, and Everyone in Between by Ian Morgan Cron The Enneagram Andrew Peterson “Barth Challenges Bonhoeffer to Return to Germany” Serenity Prayer “In the Blood” The Great Divorce by C. S. Lewis Karl Rahner Addiction & Grace: Love and Spirituality in the Healing of Addictions by Gerald G. May Curt Thompson Bill Wilson Alcoholics Anonymous David’s Crown: Sounding the Psalms by Malcolm Guite Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"The secret of all this is that it’s not really a book club; the books are the excuse we give ourselves to make sure we’re all there." Russell says as he shares about the weekly rhythm that changed his life. The Russell Moore Show is bringing Russell's weekly newsletter to all streaming platforms. Listen to his most recent newsletter every Monday! Subscribe to Russell's weekly newsletter here! Do you have questions for Russell Moore? Send them to [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former vice president Mike Pence has long said that he is a Christian first and conservative second. As he and Russell Moore discuss politics, presidencies, and partisanship, they dig deep into what that prioritization has meant for Pence throughout his career. Moore and Pence discuss former president Carter’s funeral, Pence’s relationship with Donald Trump, and how the 48th vice president came to faith in Christ. They talk about Pence’s experiences during the riot at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, and the attacks on September 11, 2001. They consider the upcoming return of President Trump to the Oval Office. Pence shares his perspective on major political issues such as abortion, religious liberty, and international relations. They talk about Pence’s organization, Advancing American Freedom; his hopes for the Republican party; and how Christians can pray for their government leaders. Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include: So Help Me God by Mike Pence Advancing American Freedom “The State Funeral of Former President Jimmy Carter | Special Report” Basic Christianity by John Stott C. S. Lewis Samaritan’s Purse The Reagan Doctrine Never Alone by Amy Grant Click here for a trial subscription at Christianity Today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why former president Jimmy Carter’s eternal state ought to be a warning to the American church (but not in the way some think) The Russell Moore Show is bringing Russell's weekly newsletter to all streaming platforms. Listen to his most recent newsletter every Monday! Subscribe to Russell's weekly newsletter here! Do you have questions for Russell Moore? Send them to [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Content warning: This episode discusses sexual, spiritual, and domestic abuse. Should discussions of the church harming people be kept in-house so the world doesn’t hear about it? No, says Diane Langberg, and there’s a simple reason why: “That would be quite unlike Jesus Christ.” Listen in as Langberg, an international speaker, psychologist, and author on trauma care, joins Moore to discuss her new book, When the Church Harms God’s People. Their conversation covers abuse in institutions and considers why it is different when those institutions are churches. They talk about the importance of churches and homes as havens from harm and how it affects people when they become places of hurt. Moore and Langberg consider power dynamics, the importance of language that properly names the abuses people have suffered, and a Christian view of women. They provide reason for hope and opportunities for church leaders to love and care for the hurting. Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include: Diane Langberg When the Church Harms God’s People: Becoming Faith Communities That Resist Abuse, Pursue Truth, and Care for the Wounded by Diane Langberg Abuse of Faith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“Being able to be here and to tell this story—to weep about it occasionally—that is uplifting because what the story says is: ‘I'm still here. I have survived it. I have joy in my life because I have known such depths of despair.’ That is uplifting.” So says Natasha Trethewey, a Pulitzer Prize winner who has authored several books and served two terms as the Poet Laureate of the United States. Trethewey and Moore discuss their respective familial connections to the state of Mississippi, Hurricane Katrina, and the Gulf Coast. They talk about Trethewey’s lifelong desire to write, her experience as a mixed-race person, and her thoughts on belonging, grief, and faith. Their conversation welcomes all who long for community, creativity, and clarity. Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include: Natasha Trethewey Memorial Drive: A Daughter’s Memoir by Natasha Trethewey Beyond Katrina: A Meditation on the Mississippi Gulf Coast by Natasha Trethewey Native Guard: Poems by Natasha Trethewey Providence by Natasha Trethewey “Pulitzer Prize Winner Trethewey Discusses Poetry Collection” Elizabeth Sewell Often I Am Permitted to Return to a Meadow by Robert Duncan “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” by Julia Ward Howe The House of Being (Why I Write) by Natasha Trethewey A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis Michiko Dead by Jack Gilbert Theories of Time and Space by Natasha Trethewey Cosmic Connections: Poetry in the Age of Disenchantment by Charles Taylor Seamus Heaney Toni Morrison The Sea by John Banville Click here for a trial subscription at Christianity Today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How might Christians respond to family members who don’t believe mental illness is real? Does standing with Israel mean endorsing all of its government’s actions? Is the Enneagram a slippery slope toward engaging with the dark spiritual forces? Listen in as Russell and CT’s editorial director for print, Ashley Hales, respond to these listener questions and more. Their conversation considers the role of Christians in religiously diverse nations and explores what it looks like to live faithfully in a complex world. Questions addressed during this episode include: How should Christians respond to family members who believe a relative’s mental illness is instead demon possession? What can believers do to model care and connection amid political polarization? Is the Enneagram dangerous? What do we know about heaven—and what is just cultural opinion? If Christians are free from bondage to sin, why do we still struggle so greatly with temptation? What does it really mean to stand with Israel? How should the Capitol Hill testimonies affirming the existence of extraterrestrial life impact the Christian worldview? Do Christians have the right or responsibility to impose Christian values through laws or governmental power? Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include: The Enneagram “Decoding the Enneagram” The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien Harry Potter Wishful Thinking: A Seeker’s ABC by Frederick Buechner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why your anxiety needs an apocalypse this Christmas. The Russell Moore Show is bringing Russell's weekly newsletter to all streaming platforms. Listen to his most recent newsletter every Monday! Subscribe to Russell's weekly newsletter here! Do you have questions for Russell Moore? Send them to [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As a pastor, author, and speaker, Rich Villodas has spent a lot of time studying the Scriptures. Over the years, he’s realized what he treasures about them: “ I love that the Bible is not this collection of sanitized, holy people,” he said. “It’s a collection of broken, frail people who are made righteous by a goodness outside of themselves.” Villodas and Moore discuss that righteousness and goodness through the lens of the Sermon on the Mount. They talk about the type of life Jesus calls his people to live and consider what it looks like to engage with the emotions of our loved ones. The two converse about the prescriptive power of the Psalms, consider the role of forgiveness, and explore the nature of resentment as they cover Jesus’ statements about anger and lust. Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include: Rich Villodas The Narrow Path: How the Subversive Way of Jesus Satisfies Our Souls by Rich Villodas Good and Beautiful and Kind: Becoming Whole in a Fractured World by Rich Villodas The Deeply Formed Life: Five Transformative Values to Root Us in the Way of Jesus by Rich Villodas “Christianity Today’s 2021 Book Awards” Matthew: A Commentary. Volume 1: The Christbook, Matthew 1–12 by Frederick Dale Bruner “Bitter-sweet” by George Herbert Don’t Forgive Too Soon: Extending the Two Hands That Heal by Dennis Linn, Sheila Fabricant Linn, and Matthew Linn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Russell Moore Show is bringing Russell's weekly newsletter to all streaming platforms. Listen to his most recent newsletter every Monday! Subscribe to Russell's weekly newsletter here! Do you have questions for Russell Moore? Send them to [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to the annual best-of-books episode of The Russell Moore Show! Former show producer and current editorial director of print Ashley Hales joins Moore to talk about his favorite reads of the year. Hales identifies three themes in Moore’s book list—the importance of outsiders in communities, ways forward in our historical moment, and the pursuit of the beautiful as a humanizing mechanism. **Special Event: Join Russell Moore, Ashley Hales, Bonnie Kristian, and Matt Reynolds on YouTube for the CT Book Awards Live Event on December 12, 2024, at 8:00 p.m. EST. Book of the Year winner Gavin Ortlund and Award of Merit winner Brad East will share the inspiration behind their books and the big ideas that animate them as they answer questions from CT staff and subscribers.** Russell’s top ten books (in alphabetical order by author): Another Day: Sabbath Poems, 2013–2023 by Wendell Berry I Cheerfully Refuse: A Novel by Leif Enger Willie, Waylon, and the Boys: How Nashville Outsiders Changed Country Music Forever by Brian Fairbanks Ghosted: An American Story by Nancy French The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt The Crisis of Narration by Byung-Chul Han, translated by Daniel Steuer The Mythmakers: The Remarkable Fellowship of C. S. Lewis & J. R. R. Tolkien by John Hendrix Van Gogh Has a Broken Heart: What Art Teaches Us About the Wonder and Struggle of Being Alive by Russ Ramsey Cosmic Connections: Poetry in the Age of Disenchantment by Charles Taylor Mere Christian Hermeneutics: Transfiguring What It Means to Read the Bible Theologically by Kevin J. Vanhoozer Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include: CT Book Awards Live Event “The Beautiful Orthodoxy Book of the Year” “Christianity Today’s 2019 Book of the Year” The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt Moby-Dick by Herman Melville Owen Barfield A Secular Age by Charles Taylor Advent: The Once and Future Coming of Jesus Christ by Fleming Rutledge Poiéma by Michael Card Mystery and Manners: Occasional Prose by Flannery O’Connor The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot to Kill Hitler by John Hendrix Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander by Thomas Merton James by Percival Everett Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“You have to read in order to develop your mind and develop your ability to think,” Peggy Noonan said. “It’s no good to say, ‘Oh, I can’t help that I was born in 1990 and everybody has a phone.’ Too bad. Put it down.” For decades, Noonan has been a Wall Street Journal columnist and author, known for her Pulitzer Prize–winning commentary on politics and culture. She and Moore reflect on Noonan’s career both in journalism and as a speech writer in the Reagan Administration. They talk about Noonan’s faith, her love for Christian history, and her long-standing relationship to Roman Catholicism. The two discuss sexual scandals in both church and government, the power of the written word, and the way artists see the world. They consider the concerning potential of artificial intelligence, the value of reading in a world overrun by technology, and the importance of critical thinking in our modern political culture. Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include: Peggy Noonan A Certain Idea of America: Selected Writings by Peggy Noonan Walker Percy The Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton We Don’t Know Ourselves: A Personal History of Modern Ireland by Fintan O’Toole Pascal’s Pensées “How to Find Grace After Disgrace” Abbey of Gethsemani Friends Divided: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson by Gordon S. Wood The Shadow War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy “The godfather of AI: why I left Google” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“ Two of the devil's biggest lies are ‘You’re the only one who struggles with this kind of stuff’ and ‘You can’t tell anyone.’ Sin thrives in that kind of dark secrecy.” So says author and apologist Sam Allberry during this conversation with Russell Moore. The two discuss Allberry’s new book, One with My Lord, and consider various ways people interpret the Bible’s perspective on sexuality. They talk about gender identity, marriage, and what it means when God says it is not good for humans to be alone. Allberry and Moore consider the importance of friendship, the value of community, and the impact of social media on mental health. They also discuss Allberry’s experience with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM), the Billy Graham rule, and fostering organizational cultures of transparency. Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include: Is God Anti-Gay? And Other Questions About Jesus, the Bible, and Same-Sex Sexuality by Sam Allberry What God Has to Say about Our Bodies: How the Gospel Is Good News for Our Physical Selves by Sam Allberry Why Does God Care Who I Sleep With? by Sam Allberry 7 Myths about Singleness by Sam Allberry One with My Lord: The Life-Changing Reality of Being in Christ by Sam Allberry The Moral Vision of the New Testament: A Contemporary Introduction to New Testament Ethics by Richard B. Hays The Crucifixion: Understanding the Death of Jesus Christ by Fleming Rutledge “Interview with Sam Allberry || What Can We Learn from the Ravi Zacharias Scandals?” “Dallas pastor removed indefinitely due to 'inappropriate relationship' with woman, church says” “Sex Scandals and the Evangelical Mind” The Whole Christ: Legalism, Antinomianism, & Gospel Assurance―Why the Marrow Controversy Still Matters by Sinclair B. Ferguson “Me and Bobby McGee” by Kris Kristofferson The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York by Robert A. Caro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How gallows humor is what we need right now to overcome cynicism. The Russell Moore Show is bringing Russell's weekly newsletter to all streaming platforms. Listen to his most recent newsletter every Monday! Subscribe to Russell's weekly newsletter here! Do you have questions for Russell Moore? Send them to [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nancy Guthrie has taught the Scriptures, written about them, and searched them for answers when tragedy struck her family. “ The Bible is the one thing in the world that the closer scrutiny you give to it,” she said, “the more it holds up.” Guthrie and Moore discuss Guthrie’s new book, Saved: Experiencing the Promise of the Book of Acts; maintaining attention while studying Scripture; and interacting with the biblical text. They talk about praying with the Bible in hand, avoiding the stereotypes often projected onto female authors, and engaging with difficult passages. They consider what it looks like for modern Christians to follow God’s command not to call common what God has called clean and what it means that suffering is not the end of our stories—glory is. Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include: Saved: Experiencing the Promise of the Book of Acts by Nancy Guthrie The One Year Book of Discovering Jesus in the Old Testament by Nancy Guthrie “It All Turns on Affection” Seeing Jesus in the Old Testament with Nancy Guthrie Nancy Guthrie “Preaching Christ in a Postmodern World” “Help Me Teach the Bible” The Gospel Coalition Women’s Conference Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Note: This episode was recorded before the presidential election. “We don’t live in a world of ideals right now.” So says Jeffrey Goldberg, editor in chief of The Atlantic. He and Moore, who recorded this episode on the anniversary of the October 7th Hamas attacks on Israel, discuss the fraught state of both domestic and global politics. They consider cultural climates on college campuses and social media, civil disobedience, and leadership. They also talk about military service in light of Goldberg’s new book, On Heroism, and talk about perspectives on masculinity in light of American culture and politics. Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include: Jeffrey Goldberg The Atlantic Washington Week with The Atlantic Prisoners: A Story of Friendship and Terror by Jeffrey Goldberg On Heroism: McCain, Milley, Mattis, and the Cowardice of Donald Trump by Jeffrey Goldberg “The Unreality of Columbia’s ‘Liberated Zone’” “Stoicism in the South” Seven Days in May The Overton Window Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“Civility is not the whole story in life,” Richard Mouw said. “But we often take incivility much too far.” Online, in face-to-face relationships, and even at church, this statement has proven true time and again in recent years. Mouw—author, theologian, and former president of Fuller Seminary—says that in a world of ridicule, Christians can still be people who honor the humanity of others. Mouw and Moore discuss political division, patriotism in worship services, and the powerful draw of specific candidates to certain demographics. They talk about the rise in female leadership, the sense of lostness many men feel amid cultural shifts, and the idea that bitterness and anger are often forms of grief. Mouw and Moore talk about what Calvinism can bring to the church today, whether they believe they’ll be surprised by the faces they see in eternity, and how to live in light of the kingdom. Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include: Richard J. Mouw Uncommon Decency: Christian Civility in an Uncivilized World by Richard J. Mouw Divine Generosity: The Scope of Salvation in Reformed Theology by Richard J. Mouw Wendell Berry on the providence of God Nicholas Wolterstorff “Sphere Sovereignty” by Abraham Kuyper James E. Bradley “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When will all the craziness be over? It’s the question that seems to be on every American’s mind, and one that many have asked both Russell Moore and George Packer, author and staff writer at The Atlantic. Moore and Packer discuss the exhaustion and rage that have become common in our politics. They discuss partisanship, profitability, and pessimism. They talk about the historical events that have led to our current realities, the effects of secularization on culture, and what it might take for Packer to believe there is a God—and why Packer still, despite all of the chaos, can’t forgo his hope for humanity. Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include: George Packer "What Will Become of American Civilization? Conspiracism and Hyper-Partisanship in the Nation’s Fastest-Growing City” by George Packer at The Atlantic The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America by George Packer The Assassins’ Gate: America in Iraq by George Packer Blood of the Liberals by George Packer Facing Unpleasant Facts: Narrative Essays by George Orwell, compiled and with an introduction by George Packer Our Man: Richard Holbrooke and the End of the American Century by George Packer David French Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt Montaigne’s Tower Click here for a trial subscription at Christianity Today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Carlos Whittaker is an author, podcaster, and global speaker who is backed by, as he puts it, “the power of a massive Instafamilia.” Perhaps it’s no wonder, then, that when he decided to spend 23 hours a day in silence at a Benedictine monastery, he experienced physical detoxification symptoms—including heart palpitations. Whittaker and Moore talk about their experiences of spending time screen-free and how it has changed them. They discuss the relational focus made possible by time apart from devices and the transformative effects of communal living. They consider how Christians engage with time, why it’s important to savor experiences, and how believers might reclaim the practice of solitude. Ultimately, they speak to the potential for a healthy relationship to technology and discuss what it may look like to pursue it. Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include: Carlos Whittaker Pascal’s Penseés Reconnected: How 7 Screen-Free Weeks with Monks and Amish Farmers Helped Me Recover the Lost Art of Being Human by Carlos Whittaker Saint Andrew’s Abbey Henri Nouwen “London Taxi Drivers and Bus Drivers: A Structural MRI and Neuropsychological Analysis” Do you have a question for Russell Moore? Send it to [email protected]. Click here for a trial subscription at Christianity Today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

​​“There’s something special about music. There’s something uniquely powerful about the way music connects with our brains and our memories.” So says singer-songwriter and creative force behind Slugs & Bugs, Randall Goodgame, on this episode of The Russell Moore Show. Moore and Goodgame talk about the importance of music for all ages, the joy of creativity, and Goodgame’s new project, Scripture Hymnal. They discuss the remarkable value of memorizing the Bible through songs and how calling verses to mind can give us hope, wisdom, and peace in challenging moments. Their conversation covers reading the Bible with children, cultivating artistic gifts, and finding joy in the body of Christ. Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include: Slugs & Bugs Slugs & Bugs & Lullabies Andrew Peterson Scripture Hymnal Ellie Holcomb Taylor Leonhardt Ben Shive The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin John-Mark McGaha The Practice: Shipping Creative Work by Seth Godin Do you have a question for Russell Moore? Send it to [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to the quarterly books episode of The Russell Moore Show! Tune in for a discussion of what Russell Moore and Ashley Hales, the former producer of the show and now CT’s editorial director for print, have been reading lately. The two discuss the themes that emerge in their reads, from power to technology to deconstruction. Their conversation covers nonfiction, fiction, and poetry—with shout-outs to some television and music as well. Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include: Ashley Hales Autocracy, Inc.: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World by Anne Applebaum Enlightenment: A Novel by Sarah Perry The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg Another Day: Sabbath Poems 2013–2023 by Wendell Berry Break, Blow, Burn, & Make: A Writer's Thoughts on Creation by E. Lily Yu The Slow Road North: How I Found Peace in an Improbable Country by Rosie Schaap “Rainn Wilson Tells Me Where I’m Wrong on Spirituality” Rainn Wilson and the Geography of Bliss Willie, Waylon, and the Boys: How Nashville Outsiders Changed Country Music Forever by Brian Fairbanks Confessions by Saint Augustine The Sparrow: A Novel by Mary Doria Russell Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu Aegypt by John Crowley The Midnight Library by Matt Haig Piranesi by Susanna Clarke The Life Impossible: A Novel by Matt Haig The Grey Wolf: A Novel by Louise Penny Charles Taylor J. R. R. Tolkien Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why do we struggle to rest in the love of God? Perhaps, says Steve Cuss, it’s because we’ve never “wrestled to the ground our own preconceived notions.” On this episode of The Russell Moore Show, Moore and Cuss dig into some of those preconceived notions about God and Christianity. They talk about fear and anxiety, persistent sin, and addiction. Their conversation covers the differences between a preventative and a redemptive gospel, the power of community as an antidote to despair, and how to determine when a failure is an inevitable part of life or when it is a sign that something is wrong. Moore and Cuss discuss the five false needs in every human, what it looks like to give our anxiety to God, and the great hope of the thief on the cross. Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include: Abbey of Gethsemani The Silence of God The Expectation Gap: The Tiny, Vast Space between Our Beliefs & Experience of God by Steve Cuss Being Human Holy the Firm by Annie Dillard Herbert McCabe Managing Leadership Anxiety episode “Dr. Andrew Newberg” Frederick Buechner “‘I Wish You Bad Luck.’ Read Supreme Court Justice John Roberts’ Unconventional Speech to His Son’s Graduating Class” “The Man on the Middle Cross Said I Can Come” Philip Yancey Click here for a trial subscription at Christianity Today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Does the world seem crazy because we’re in an unusually tense time? Or is this just … life? Maybe it’s a little bit of both. On this episode, Bible teacher and author Jen Wilkin talks about the modern era in light of Revelation. She and Russell Moore talk about how the apocalyptic book has been misinterpreted and misused, how Christians can recognize when they have lost their first love, and the role of persecution in the life of the church. Their conversation covers the blessings of generations caring for one another, the hope of the new creation, and how the references to prior books of the Bible seen in Revelation might feel a bit like watching Shrek. Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include: Jen Wilkin Revelation: Eternal King, Everlasting Kingdom by Jen Wilkin Shrek Do you have a question for Russell Moore? Send it to [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Content warning: This episode discusses mental affliction, self-harm, and suicide. The United States surgeon general says there should be a tobacco-style warning for social media. Why? Because the mental health crisis among young people is reaching seriously harmful levels. On this episode, associate professor, author, and cofounder and editor in chief of Christ and Pop Culture Alan Noble joins Russell Moore to discuss what such a warning may look like and the modern state of affairs in the public square. Noble and Moore talk about Noble’s latest book, On Getting Out of Bed, and the differences between mental affliction and mental illness. The conversation covers the importance of friendship, embracing life as an act of worship, and how men can embody healthy masculinity. Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include: “U.S. surgeon general calls for tobacco-style warning labels for social media” Alan’s #NobleWords Memes Christ and Pop Culture And Campaign Disruptive Witness: Speaking Truth in a Distracted Age by Alan Noble You Are Not Your Own: Belonging to God in an Inhuman World by Alan Noble On Getting Out of Bed: The Burden and Gift of Living by Alan Noble Mariner: A Voyage with Samuel Taylor Coleridge by Malcolm Guite Resonance: A Sociology of Our Relationship to the World by Hartmut Rosa Click here for a trial subscription at Christianity Today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Science should be a quest to discover truth. Christian faith means following the one who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. This pair of facts defines the life and work of this episode’s guest, former director of the National Institutes of Health, Francis Collins. He and Moore discuss COVID-19, conspiracies, and the creator God. Their conversation draws upon Collins’ new book, The Road to Wisdom, and highlights Christian hope for perspective amidst polarization. Collins and Moore also talk about Artificial Intelligence, the power of the Sermon on the Mount, and their common friend, the late Tim Keller. Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest(s) include: BioLogos Human Genome Project The Road to Wisdom: On Truth, Science, Faith, and Trust by Francis Collins The Singularity Is Nearer: When We Merge with AI by Ray Kurzweil Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis Democracy and Solidarity: On the Cultural Roots of America's Political Crisis by James Davison Hunter The Lost World of Genesis One: Ancient Cosmology and the Origins Debate by John H. Walton The Advancement of Learning by Francis Bacon The Resurrection of the Son of God by N.T. Wright Promised Land Do you have a question for Russell Moore? Send it to [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices