Truce - History of the Christian Church

Donate a little to help the show on either Patreon or Paypal Remember to post #nowherenearcuba this week! When we were done conquering the west, done warring with Mexico, done fighting Native Americans, we looked out across the Pacific Ocean and said... "huh... I wonder what's over there?" The truth is that the United States is an empire. We accomplished that by fighting wars and by seeking out resources. In the 1800's the United States faced a very real problem: we were running out of nitrogen. Not in the air. There is plenty in the air. We were losing it in our soil. Plants need nitrogen. Where were we going to get it? The answer we came up with was: bird poop. It's rich in nitrogen and makes a great fertilizer. The trouble is that we didn't have any way to get large quantities of it. Until American businesses took over islands off the coast of our country. This is the story of greed, a different kind of slavery, a Supreme Court battle, and the worst job in the 1800's. Our guest this episode is Daniel Immerwahr, author of the book "How to Hide an Empire" and an associate history professor at Northwestern University. In his book, he argues that the United States has been an empire since it's inception Special thanks to: Stand up comedian Nick Staron Paul Hastings of the Compelled Podcast Angel McCoy of Angel Reads the Bible Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Donate a little to help the show on either Patreon or Paypal Please fill out our listener survey here: https://forms.gle/G5euVtM3JistChuz7 What do you think of when you hear the word "empire"? Maybe Great Britain? The Soviet Union? The Mongols? Sure. But what if I told you that the United States is also an empire. And always has been. Our guest this episode is Daniel Immerwahr, author of the book "How to Hide an Empire" and an associate history professor at Northwestern University. In his book he argues that the United States has been an empire since it's inception. We claimed lands owned by native peoples, and then expanded into places like the Philippines, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Alaska, and more. This is the story of war, greed, resources, and tragedy. Helpful Links: We recorded some the games in this episode at the Spark Christian Podcast Conference A lecture from Daniel regarding his book We received help from these artists: Stand up comedian Nick Staron (Napoleon) Holland Webb of the Afterword Podcast Angel McCoy from Angel Reads the Bible Colleen and Danny from Fitness at Houston's First Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Become a patron of the show and help me make even more great episodes! Donate by visiting www.patreon.com/trucepodcast Is the USA a Christian nation? There are a lot of people who argue that it is. And a lot of others who say that it is not. Which is it? What do we gain by calling it a Christian nation? Our guest this episode is Dr. Gregg L Frazer, author of The Religious Beliefs of America's Founders: Reason, Revelation, and Revolution and God Against the Revolution: The Loyalist Clergy's Case Against the American Revolution. Donate a little to help the show on either Patreon or Paypal Our "Would You Rather Questions": Would you rather make a hundred thousand dollars a year working for the mob, or be married to the best looking person on earth who cheats on you? Would you rather sell something benign like corn to Iran or be Vladimir Putin's personal barber? Would you rather go to a church where the senior pastor is always getting into Twitter fights, or one where the youth pastor is always starting gossip? Helpful links: Roy Browning's videos about being a dad on Youtube Jefferson's letter to the Danbury Baptist Association The Pencils and Lipstick Podcast Revived Thoughts The Grace Over 40 Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Become a patron of the show and help me make even more great episodes! Donate by visiting www.patreon.com/trucepodcast Was the American Revolution biblical? There are lots of people who argue that the United States is a Christian nation. But our nation is founded on revolution. The Bible is clear that we are to obey our leaders. How do we reconcile the fact the Revolution was not a Christian act with the assumption of a Christian nation? Our guest this episode is Dr. Gregg L Frazer, author of The Religious Beliefs of America's Founders: Reason, Revelation, and Revolution and God Against the Revolution: The Loyalist Clergy's Case Against the American Revolution. Donate a little to help the show on either Patreon or Paypal Special thanks to those who contributed their voices to this episode including: Paul Hastings of the Compelled Podcast, Eric Nevins of Halfway There, Angel McCoy of Angel Reads the Bible, and Bonnie Burns from Sex Chat for Christian Wives. Helpful Links: Live Free or Die image Jonathan Mayhew sermon Library of Congress article about the importance of religion to the American Revolution Romans 13 1 Peter 2:13-14 Galatians 5 Topics: Who was Jonathan Mayhew? Were the Founding Fathers Christians? Is the US a Christian nation? What does the Bible mean when it says we are supposed to obey our leaders? Does God back the US? What makes a nation Christian? The Roman emperor Nero King George Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Were the founding fathers of the United States Christians or Deists? That question has been at the heart of a debate that comes up all the time in the Church: is the United States a Christian nation? Our guest for this episode is Dr. Gregg L Frazer. He's the author of The Religious Beliefs of America's Founders and God Against the Revolution. Donate a little to help the show on either Patreon or Paypal Helpful links: Jefferson's letter about his beliefs Searchable database of founding father documents John Adam's diary entry from Feb 13, 1756 Topics discussed: Were the founding fathers Deists or Christians? Was George Washington a Christian? Was John Adams a Christian? Was Alexander Hamilton a Christian? Was Thomas Jefferson a Christian? What does the Constitution say about God? What did Christians believe in the 1700's? Did Benjamin Franklin build churches? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Become a patron of the show and help me make even more great episodes! Donate by visiting www.patreon.com/trucepodcast Are you curious about why Truce is covering the topics that it is? Wondering where this thing is going? We've heard you! In response to the confusion of our audience, we've put together this special interview episode to answer some of your questions. Chris is joined by Eric Nevins, host of the Halfway There podcast. Would you like to see Eric's review of Truce in Podcast Magazine? Click here to learn more. The review will come out March 30, 2020. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Become a patron of the show and help me make even more great episodes! Donate by visiting www.patreon.com/trucepodcast In Russia during the Soviet era, hundred of posters and magazine covers were printed to encourage people to abandon their faith. They were state-sponsored and designed to be interpreted even by people who could not read. This propaganda clearly tied anti-Christian sentiment to the United States. In his new book, Godless Utopia, Roland Elliott Brown collected a number of these images and provided commentary on their meaning. What does it mean that we call the United States a Christian nation? What does it mean when presidents like Ronald Reagan merge their faith with the US? How does that impact our witness? These are questions we'll continue exploring throughout this series. Donate a little to help the show on either Patreon or Paypal Helpful links: You can view images from the book here. Please note that some of these images may not be appropriate for all eyes. Watch the whole "evil empire" speech here. Article about Ruth Snyder, the first woman to be sent to the electric chair Roland's article about Soviet propaganda (see page 18) Mobituaries podcast episode about lynching and D.W. Griffith's film "Birth of a Nation" Topics covered: What did soviet propaganda look like? How did Stalin use the Orthodox church to fight in WWII? What was Ronald Reagan's "evil empire" speech? Is it okay for US Presidents to speak at Christian events? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Become a patron of the show and help me make even more great episodes! Donate by visiting www.patreon.com/trucepodcast How strong was the soviet mythology? Strong enough to make a young boy turn in his own parents. At least... that's what the communist government of Russia wanted their people to believe. They created a myth around a boy named Pavlik Morozov who they deemed Pioneer 1. Select Sources: https://www.britannica.com/topic/collectivization https://www.rbth.com/history/329601-demon-or-hero-morozov https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/1450370/Squalid-truth-of-Stalins-little-martyr-killed-for-informing-on-his-father.html Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Become a patron of the show and help me make even more great episodes! Donate by visiting www.patreon.com/trucepodcast Vladimir Prokhnevskiy moved to the United States as a Christian refugee from Ukraine. He and his family left that country after enduring oppression from their governments. He spoke with Chris about what it was like to live in such poverty, how his father was threatened with work in Chernobyl, and how a shoebox from Operation Christmas Child impacted his life. Vladimir and his twin brother own Ukramedia, a company that teaches people to make motion graphics. You can watch this video about their lives and work. It was a thrill to talk with Vladimir. Please consider supporting this show so that we can continue to make these episodes. You can donate via our Patreon or Paypal pages or at trucepodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Become a patron of the show and help me make even more great episodes! Donate by visiting www.patreon.com/trucepodcast After the fall of the Romanov dynasty, Russia fell into the hands of the Bolshevik political party. They led the country into one of the darkest chapters in world history when religious people and dissidents were targeted, imprisoned, and murdered. This history is hard to hear but important for us to know. Our special guest this episode is Felix Corley of www.forum18.org. In this episode, we discuss why Vladimir Lenin persecuted Christians and how Joseph Stalin instituted a policy of fear in the Soviet Union. Helpful Links: Forum 18 Article about the poem "First They Came" The Gulag Archipelago by Alexandr Solzhenitsyn An interesting article about former Soviet countries Topics discussed: Why did Vladimir Lenin hate Christians? Persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia Persecution of Muslims in Russia How many people did Joseph Stalin kill? Nikita Khrushchev Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Become a patron of the show and help me make even more great episodes! Donate by visiting www.patreon.com/trucepodcast When the Russian tsars fell, they left a power vacuum. Who would rule Russia after the Romanov dynasty? The Bolshevik's rose to power, led by Vladimir Lenin. Lenin immediately began persecuting anybody he didn't like. In this episode, we'll examine the dark realities behind the Russian revolution: how it started with good intentions but ended with the death of millions. We'll also see how a culture of fear and suspicion held the nation captive. Our guests today are Professor Barbara Engel (author of "Russia in World History"), and Roland Elliott Brown (author of "Godless Utopia"). This is part of our series examining how the rise of communism in Russia impacted the Christian church. Check out the rest of season three for more information. We're working hard to make Truce the best Christian podcast on the market. Please rate and review the show! FACT CHECK NOTICE: Genghis Khan, who I did not mention in the episode, is in the running for having murdered the most people in history. I discovered this fact after the episode had been completed. Sorry! Topics covered: How did Vladimir Lenin come to power? How did Stalin come to power? How many people did Stalin kill? (20-25 million) Is communism bad? What was the Soviet Union? How did the Soviet Union begin? Who were the Bolsheviks? Why do some people like Stalin? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Become a patron of the show and help me make even more great episodes! Donate by visiting www.patreon.com/trucepodcast What is the difference between communism and socialism? They get used interchangeably in our culture, but do they really mean the same thing? In this episode, we'll give a textbook definition of each and then see how those ideas change in the wild. Our guests today are my friend Brian Faehnrich, Professor Barbara Engel (author of "Russia in World History"), and Roland Elliott Brown (author of "Godless Utopia"). The basic difference between communism and socialism is where the profit goes: In communism, the profits go to the government In socialism, the profits can go to the people Also, communism is inherently atheistic, in keeping with the vision of Karl Marx. Topic Covered: What is the difference between communism and socialism? Who was Karl Marx? Who invented communism? What was the first communist country? (Russia) How did Vladimir Lenin rise to power? Does communism work? Is communism a utopian idea? What did Karl Marx have against the Christian church? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Become a patron of the show and help me make even more great episodes! Donate by visiting www.patreon.com/trucepodcast "We did our best, but it turned out as it always does". Kind of a dark statement, no? It is a popular Russian phrase that kind of encapsulates the spirit of Russian history. People who try hard to make a change, but that change is not exactly great. In this episode of the Truce Podcast, we spoke with Jennifer Eremeeva, author of the excellent book, "Have Personality Disorder, Will Rule Russia" about the history of the Russian Christian church. Christianity came to Russia by sword point. It started out as a pagan culture, heavily influenced by the Vikings. When Vladimir, ruler of ancient Moscow, wanted some of the treasures of the Byzantine empire, he had a couple of options. He could invade and capture them, or he could make a trade deal. He tried both, but it didn't quite work out. As part of the peace deal, the Byzantine empire offered him a bride and trade if he converted to Christianity. So he did. Then Vladimir forced his kingdom to convert to Christianity or face death. This means that Russian held on to their pagan ancestry and co-mingled it with their new Christian faith. But that's not the end of the journey! Their shared faith became a bonding opportunity when the Mongols invaded. The church was their hub, the thing that connected them to all of the disconnected parts of Russia. After the Mongols left, things settled down for a bit. Until the Orthodox church showed up. You see, when the Byzantine empire fell to Muslim forces, the Orthodox church needed a new home. So Ivan brought them to Moscow. Now Moscow is home to one of the largest branches of Christianity in the world - the Russian Orthodox church. From sword point to housing one of the largest branches of the faith, Russia has a varied history with Christianity. Listen to this episode to get the full story. Sources and links: Have Personality Disorder, Will Rule Russia - book by Jennifer Eremeeva Stephen Mansfield interview featured in this episode Five Minute Bible Hour video about the Orthodox Church Topic Discussed: How did the Russian Orthodox church begin? Who was Prince Vladimir? When did the Mongols enter Russia? Who was Ivan the Great? Why is the Russian church associated with paganism? What is a good primer on Russian history? The fall of the Byzantine Empire How did Moscow become the capital of Russia? Why do we like dark jokes? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Become a patron of the show and help me make even more great episodes! Donate by visiting www.patreon.com/trucepodcast Christmas and New Years can be a stressful time for us. But what if you had to celebrate two Christmas' and two Years'? Our special guest Jennifer Eremeeva (author of Have Personality Disorder Will Rule Russia) is an American married to a Russian. Each year they have the potential of four holidays in less than a month. But why? The confusion has to do with a discrepancy in calendars. It turns out that the old Julian calendar, which is used by the Russian Orthodox Church, is several days different than the Gregorian calendar that we use. This has to do with an old disagreement between the Catholic and Orthodox churches. Subscribe to Truce so you'll get every new episode as it is released! Donate here to keep Truce going! Herring Under Fur Coat: This recipe is pretty simple, but it may take a few hours to make so do this one in advance. Ingredients: 1 jar of mayonnaise (squeeze-able is easiest) 3 medium size beats (peeled) 4-5 carrots (peeled) 1 large potato (peeled) 1 jar of pickled herring 1 bag of grated cheddar cheese 1 bunch of fresh green onions 1 jar of pickles Cooking Instructions: Peel the beats, carrots, and potato then put them on boil for an hour. Yes, it will look like blood and the beats will dye the other veggies. While the vegetables are boiling, open the pickled herring (if in a jar). Remove any bones. Dice. Keep refrigerated until it is used. After the vegetables are boiled, grate each of them separately with the small holes. On a pie plate make a mound with the potato. Spread it out to the edges of your plate. Cover the potato with the following layers: mayo, pickled herring, green onions, mayo, carrots, mayo, pickles, beats, mayo, grated cheese. Place the whole thing in the refrigerator and let it sit for 2-3 hours before consuming. Overnight is okay too. The whole thing will turn a light pink color. Serve it like any other dip with veggies, crackers, or tortilla chips. Other Sources Russian Christmas blog post - Dividing My Time Jennifer Eremeeva blog post - Is This Christmas? Britannica article on the Julian Calendar Topics Discussed: Why is the Orthodox church on a different calendar? What are the differences between the Julian calendar and the Gregorian calendar? What is Christmas like in Russia? What unique dish should I make for Christmas? Russian food Why did Pope Gregory establish the Gregorian calendar? Who created the Julian calendar? Russian history Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Become a patron of the show and help me make even more great episodes! Donate by visiting www.patreon.com/trucepodcast Merry Christmas! As a bonus, we are featuring some stories from the Christian Podcasters Association Christmas Episode Exchange. Each person in the group was allowed to submit a 5-minute mini-episode on the theme of Christmas. I've collected a few of them here and some more will be on our Patreon page for people who donate a little each month to keep Truce going. You can access the Truce Patreon page and for those extra stories. Here are the submissions in order of appearance: 1) Truce Podcast – Christmas Bolero Chris Staron http://www.trucepodcast.com http://www.twitter.com/trucepodcast http://www.facebook.com/trucepodcast 2) The Road Home To You Podcast Brandy Goebel – Every Home Needs a Gnome http://theroadhometoyou.libsyn.com/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/166024570692834/ 3) Biblical Chili https://biblicalchili.podbean.com/ https://www.facebook.com/BiblicalChili/ http://www.twitter.com/BiblicalChili 4) Raising Kids on Your Knees https://raisingkidsonyourknees.org/ https://www.instagram.com/raisingkidsonyourknees/ http://www.facebook.com/raisingkidsonyourknees http://www.twitter.com/prayingforkids 5) Letters from Home Podcast Margaret Glesener and her family sharing their Christmas tradition of sharing. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/letters-from-home/id1444502295 https://www.instagram.com/lettersfromhomepodcast/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Become a patron of the show and help me make even more great episodes! Donate by visiting www.patreon.com/trucepodcast Rasputin - the rogue monk who changed the face of the world. Or did he? Grigory Rasputin was a wandering monk from Siberia. A peasant. A long-haired man with a family. Through a series of connections with powerful people, he became the right-hand man of Nicholas II, the Russian tsar. Some claimed that he had the power to heal. He was also a known philanderer. Rumors of his relationship with the tsarina ran rampant. He, a peasant, may have influenced military decisions in WWI. The man was everywhere all at once--until he was brutally murdered in Petersburg one dark night. They tried cyanide and nothing happened. The shot him, and he fled. Who was this mystery man? What was his impact on Russia? On the Christian church? Listen to this special episode to find out! Our goal is to become the best Christian podcast out there. We can only do that with your financial support. You can donate on Patreon and Paypal. Every little bit helps! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Become a patron of the show and help me make even more great episodes! Donate by visiting www.patreon.com/trucepodcast This is the second in a two-part story about the fall of the last czars of Russia. Their murder had a ripple effect across history. After them came Lenin and the rise of communism and the USSR. The modern American church changed to keep up. If Russia was going for collectivism and atheism, the USA would hold on to capitalism and Christianity. Which means that the gospel would soon be identified with money, power, and military might. In this episode we follow the abdication of Nicholas II to the untimely end of him and his family. Theirs was just the first of a long string of murders that would elevate Lenin and Stalin to power. Truce is a listener-supported show. Please consider donating a little each month via Patreon (which entitles you to some cool bonus material) or helping out with a one-time gift on Paypal. These gifts are not tax-deductible. Our research was greatly aided by the following books: The Romanovs by Simon Sebag Montefiore A Well Ordered Thing - Michael D Gordin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Become a patron of the show and help me make even more great episodes! Donate by visiting www.patreon.com/trucepodcast One murder changed the course of Christian history. And it wasn't of a pope or church leader - it was the murder of Russia's last czars, the Romanovs. This is the beginning of our series on how communist Russia shaped modern Christianity in America. Tsar Nicholas II made many crucial mistakes: allowing Rasputin into his life, ignoring workers, the Russo-Japanese War, and many others. How we dealt with these tragic errors led the country into the hands of the Bolsheviks. Oh yeah, and we made stroganoff. The recipe is below. Truce is a listener-supported show. Please consider donating a little each month via Patreon (which entitles you to some cool bonus material) or helping out with a one-time gift on Paypal. These gifts are not tax-deductible. Our research was greatly aided by the following books: The Romanovs by Simon Sebag Montefiore A Well Ordered Thing - Michael D Gordin Dairy-free stroganoff recipe Ingredients: Egg noodles (as many as necessary - we used half a bag) 1 lbs ground beef 1 can mushrooms (small) 1/2 teaspoon pepper (or to taste) 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon mustard powder 1 diced onion 1/2 cup beef broth 1/2 cup dairy-free sour cream 1/2 cup mayonnaise Directions: Brown ground beef in a skillet. A little extra beef is fine. Elk and deer meat work just as well, though you may want to add more seasoning if it is too "gamey". Put hot water on to boil for the noodles. Drain the fat from the beef. Add noodles to hot water. When the meat is brown, add in garlic powder, pepper, mustard powder, onion, and mushrooms. Cook at about medium heat and stir. When the onion has softened a little, add in the mayonnaise, sour cream, and beef broth. Let that simmer for about 15 minutes. Drain noodles. Stroganoff is best served over a big heap of noodles. Put the beef mixture over the noodles and enjoy! Questions we examine: Why did communism take over Russia? Who were the last tsars of Russia? Who was Rasputin? What was the Russo-Japanese War about? Why did Lenin want to stay out of WWI? Was Tsarina Alexandra crazy or just on a lot of drugs? How did the downfall of the Russian tsars impact American Christianity? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Truce is back with a special guest: Phil Vischer, one of the creators of the VeggieTales video series. He's also the creator of the new Laugh and Learn Bible and one of the hosts of the Holy Post Podcast (strongly recommended). You can find our bonus material for this episode at www.patreon.com/trucepodcast. Links: https://philvischer.com/ Topics discussed: * How did Phil create VeggieTales? * How do Christians deal with loss and negative criticism? * Phil Vischer's recent response to LGBT rights in the Christian Post * Answering your questions about VeggieTales * Where is my hairbrush? * The Laugh and Learn Bible * Why should I read the Bible on my own? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Truce is back for a third season! We'll begin with a conversation with Phil Vischer, creator of the popular VeggieTales animated series and the author of the new Laugh and Learn Bible. Then we're going to take a sharp turn and study Russia: how did tsarist Russia fall, how did communism gain its hold, and how did that shape the American church. I promise you, it's going to be fascinating! Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Napoleon Bonaparte. No question he was a military genius and was partially responsible for modernizing Europe. But there are some things we just aren't sure about. Like, was Napoleon a Christian, a Muslim, or a poser? In this, the final episode of season 2, we're going to explore the faith history of one of the most influential men of all time. We're joined by Pastor Justin Butler (highlandccky.org), author of Double-Sided Power: Studies in the Life of Napoleon Bonaparte. Our goal is to make Truce the best Christian podcast available. We need your help to do that! We're currently over $3,000 in the hole in this project. Would you consider helping us you? Donate on our website at http://www.trucepodcast.com. God willing, we'll be back with more Truce in early October. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We've started to post bonus content for Truce on our Patreon subscribers. If you give as little as $3/ month you'll get special bonus episodes like this one. You can donate at https://www.patreon.com/trucepodcastSpecial thanks to Eric Nevins of the Halfway There podcast. Learn more about his show at: https://ericnevins.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Remember Occupy Wall Street? That movement from the early 2000's caused a stir after the financial crisis of 2007-2008. They demanded that the people responsible for the crash be punished for their actions. We in the Christian church often struggle with the rich-- how to treat them, how to see ourselves. In this episode we take a look at some statistics that will make us rethink our view of the wealthy.This episode was produced by Nick Staron. When Nick isn't busy with the podcast, he's working as a stand-up comedian. He's the perfect guy for your church picnic, youth night, or college gathering. Find more about Nick at www.nickstaron.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John D. Rockefeller was a shrewd businessman. Even to the point of breaking the law to get what he wanted. His Standard Oil company was eventually broken up using the Sherman Antitrust act. But his money kept influencing society. On this episode of the Truce Podcast, we take a field trip to the National Elk Refuge and Grand Teton National Park to see how one wealthy family strong-armed Congress into declaring federal land. And we see how this kind of leverage is used in the modern Christian church. The Bible verse used in this episode was excerpted from the Streetlights Audio Bible. https://www.streetlightsbible.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John D. Rockefeller was the richest man... maybe ever. His Standard Oil Company swallowed up the competition and broke the law. Yet, this man claimed the name of Christ.We're in the middle of a series about money in the church. How does it get to the church? Does it matter where the money comes from and where it goes?This episode of the Truce Podcast was written and produced by Nick Staron: https://www.nickstaron.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are Christians supposed to tithe? It's a big question, one that many pastors disagree on. A tithe literally means 10%. A bunch of people in the Old Testament were commanded to give 10%... are we supposed to continue that tradition today?This is the first part in our series about money in the church -- how it gets there, where it's used, and how it can be used to gain power. Special thanks to our friends who gathered around the campfire with us.Topics discussed in this episode:* Does the 10% tithe still apply to modern Christians?* What is a tithe?* What is the verse in Malachi that talks about giving?* How much money should a pastor make?* Do we have to pay our pastor?* Should a pastor wear expensive clothes?* What does Jerry Savelle think about tithing? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Reaching Muslims via the Internet. Can it be done? Our special guest today uses Google Ads, videos, and messaging apps to reach out in Muslim countries. We can't give any specifics about who he is or which organization he works for. But we think you'll find this episode inspiring. Topics explored: * How can we reach out to Muslims using the Internet? * What questions to Muslims have about Christianity? * Where are the greatest numbers of Muslims turning to Christ? * Where should I start reading in the Bible? * How do I share my faith with Muslims? * Is Islam as dangerous as mainstream media says it is? * How can I be praying for the Muslim world? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Pew Research Center released a study stating that there will be more Muslims in the world than Christians by the year 2050. That study terrified many Christians! Because we're so used to being the dominant religion on Earth. So there seemed to be only one solution -- have more babies.On this episode of the Truce Podcast, we press pause on the would-be baby boom and ask, "is there a better way?". This episode is the third in a series on reaching out to Muslims. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This bonus episode features Samy Tanagho, author of "Glad News, God Love You My Muslim Friend". Samy explains a few ways that Christians can reach out to our Muslim friends. He recommends that we start with common ground: Jesus as Messiah, Abraham and Isaac, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After 9/11 many American Christians became afraid of Islam. Even to the point of no longer wanting to share the gospel with Muslims. On this special episode of the Truce Podcast, Chris speaks with Dr. Hormoz Shariat of Iran Alive Ministries and Samy Tanagho, author of "Glad News, God Loves You My Muslim Friend". In this episode we discuss:* How international ministries can impact Muslim countries like Iran through media* Ways Christians can reach out to Muslims* Encouragement for Christians to love on Palestinians as well as Jews.* Economic and social issues within Iran, including massive inflation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If life begins at conception, what do we do with all of the embryos left after in vitro fertilization? Author and journalist Nate Birt joins us to discuss embryo adoption and his book Frozen But Not Forgotten. This is a Truce Podcast extra. Truce is a listener supported show. Donate on Patreon, GoFundMe, and on our website. Send us an email to let us know what you think of the show and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Did Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle murder Virginia Rappe? That questions defined the film industry for thirty years. Upset with Hollywood's moral failures, Christians demanded changes. We took over, fighting until the studios decided to censor themselves.This special episode of Truce ties into our last episode with Abby Johnson of the Unplanned movie. This episode explores:* Who was Fatty Arbuckle?* Who was Virginia Rappe?* Did Fatty Arbuckle murder Virginia Rappe?* What is the MPAA?* What started the Motional Picture Association of America?* Did Christians really censor the golden age of films? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Freedom of speech. We all say we want it, but do we really? On this episode of the Truce podcast, we talk with Abby Johnson, the subject of the new film "Unplanned" which hit theaters in March. Abby shares her story of having worked for Planned Parenthood and how she quit after witnessing an abortion for herself. Please note: this episode may not be appropriate for all listeners. We also speak with Dr. Richard Land about his thoughts concerning censorship. The interviews in this show (including American Family Radio, The Museum of the Bible, and more) were recorded at the 2019 Proclaim Conference, hosted by the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Anaheim, CA. Special thanks to their team for allowing Chris to attend for free with a press pass. Topics discussed in this episode: Did Twitter block the account for the Unplanned movie? Do we really want unregulated freedom of speech? Why were conservatives so upset when NFL players knelt during the national anthem? Are Christian and conservative messages blocked on social media? Who is Abby Johnson? What did Abby Johnson see? What is Planned Parenthood? How big is Planned Parenthood? We work hard to create the best Christian podcasts in the world. We can't do that without your help! Please donate on GoFundMe.com, Patreon, or on our website at www.trucepodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Did you know that Presidents George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Donald Trump have all stumped for the multi-level marketing industry? MLMs, direct sales, and network marketing have powerful friends. But what about Christian "celebrities"? On this, our fourth and final episode on MLMs, we're going to demonstrate how the gospel is used to sell an illegitimate business model. People like Josh McDowell have spoken for Amway. But does that make his actions wrong? He is, after all, there to preach the gospel to a captive audience. Who can blame him?Ideas explored in this episode:* What was the Trump Network?* Did Bill Clinton speak at Amway events?* How was George Bush involved with MLMs?* Who is Terri Savelle Foy?* Can we mix the gospel and business?* Why do Christians and people of faith sell for pyramid schemes?* How do pyramid schemes target Christians?Want more information and links? Visit our website at www.trucepodcast.com. Truce is a listener supported show. Donate now on Patreon, GoFundMe, or at www.trucepodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Amway Decision. The Federal Trade Commission decided that Amway was not an illegal pyramid scheme, but a legitimate business. How did that happen? Why is it important. This week on the Truce Podcast we're joined once again by Robert Fitzpatrick of Pyramid Scheme Alert (https://pyramidschemealert.org/), author of Ponzinomics to explore the history of MLMs.Also in this episode is a brief history of the founders of Amway: Richard DeVos and Jay VanAndel. The DeVos name probably sounds familiar. Our current Secretary of Education is Betsy DeVos, daughter-in-law to Richard. She's made a lot of news in her position because of her stances on charter schools and arming teachers in public schools. A lot of information for this episode came from the book "Dark Money" by Jane Mayer (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/215462/dark-money-by-jane-mayer/9780307947901/). It is an excellent read and raises a lot of good questions about money in politics. Did you know that the Truce Podcast is listener supported? Find out how to help at http://www.trucepodcast.com/donateHere is a link to the FTC website explaining the characteristics of a pyramid scheme: https://www.ftc.gov/public-statements/1998/05/pyramid-schemesTopics explored in this episode?* Is Amway a pyramid scheme?*Are pyramid schemes legal?*What makes a pyramid scheme legal?*Am I in a pyramid scheme?*Who is Betsy DeVos?*History of Amway*Why is Richard DeVos?*What happened to Blackwater? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We know that tying business to religion can be tricky. Think about recent stories involving Hobby Lobby, Chick-fil-A, or In-N-Out Burger. But what happens when we tie our religion to a business model that just doesn't work?That's what many multi-level marketing (MLM) companies do every day. They saddle distributors with debt and product they can't sell... often in the name of Jesus. We're joined once again by Robert Fitzpatrick of Pyramidschemealert.org, author of Ponzinomics. Questions answered: (well... we put this here to help search engines)What is an MLM?Is this company a scam?What is a pyramid scheme?Do people lose money on MLMs?Is direct sales for me?How do people get rich in direct sales?Is this a Christian company? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What is multi-level marketing? It turns out, it is a very popular business model that targets Christians and other people of faith. But... it is almost guaranteed to fail. Because MLM's and direct sales companies are not designed to sell a product but to sell the business itself.Joining us for this episode is Robert Fitzpatrick. He's the president of Pyramid Scheme Alert and the author of the new book “Ponzinomics: The Untold History of Multi-Level Marketing and How Direct Sales Became an American Swindle”.Also mentioned in the episode is the podcast The Dream. Season one talks in great detail about pyramid schemes. Please be aware that some of the episodes use strong language.Topics covered in this episode:What is multi-level marketing?What is a pyramid scheme?What is a Ponzi scheme?Who are Ponzi schemes named after?Who was Charles Ponzi?Is multi-level marketing the same thing as a pyramid scheme?What is the difference between a pyramid scheme and multi-level marketing and a Ponzi scheme?What is a good book about pyramid schemes?Will I lose money with multi-level marketing?Is Amway considered multi-level marketing?Is Herbalife multi-level marketing?Do pyramid schemes target Christians?Should I join an MLM?Which MLM should I join?Looking for the Amway stats we mentioned? You can find them here: https://pyramidschemealert.org/half-of-amways-products-are-retailed-really-plus-other-wacky-numbers-3/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're taking a week off from releasing a full episode of the Truce podcast, but I wanted to give you a little something to think about. Where is your media coming from? Your audio sermons? Your curriculum? Let's start a conversation! You can find the show on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook at @trucepodcast.com. God willing, there will be a new episode next week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Prosperity Gospel. It goes by a lot of names. Prosperity, name it and claim it theology, The Secret, the word of faith movement... but how did it begin? Who came up with the ideas that are now spreading throughout the world? This week on the Truce Podcast we interview Brandon Kimber, director of the new film American Gospel. The film takes a deep dive into the world of the prosperity gospel, and what the gospel is in the first place. The film is 2.5 hours long, and covers a lot of ground. I recommend watching it in 2-3 chunks as a small group with discussion after each chunk. Interviews within the movie include Matt Chandler, Francis Chan, John MacArthur, Jackie Hill Perry, Costi Hinn and many others. There are many clips of famous prosperity teachers explicitly preaching in opposition to the Bible, including Benny Hinn, Joel Osteel, Victoria Osteen, Kenneth Copeland, and Bill Johnson of Bethel Church. Discussed within the episode: What is the prosperity gospel? Who founded the prosperity gospel movement? Who is Phineus Quimby? How did Phineus Quimby influence Mary Baker Eddy, founder of the Christian Science religion? Who is E.W. Kenyon and how did he shape our modern blend of New Thought and biblical living? What is the Christian gospel? How do I get to heaven? What happens if God doesn't heal me? The episode also features a number of gospel presentations that are at about 10 words each. Here are some of them, thanks to First Baptist Church of Jackson, WY. Jesus' resurrection reconciles holy God and sinful people who believe. Faith in Jesus is enough to be forgiven and received. Faith in Jesus is enough to be forgiven and transformed. God's gift of reconciliation offered to humanity. Jesus' resurrection reconciles holy God and sinful people who believe. Christ died so that we might live! God's righteous wrath shall be averted pleading Christ's death alone. Choose God’s grace through Jesus or default to God’s punishment. The truth about God's plan of salvation for believers Acceptance of undeserved blessings & atonement for yesterday, today, and forever. Christ's perfect life, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection affords opportunity for a positive eternity for all who are willing to accept it. Individuals can have peace with God through Jesus’ atoning death. He died on the cross for my sins even though I constantly fall short. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we talk with Mark Galli, editor in chief of Christianity Today about leadership. Are we all called to lead or are just some of us? Does that mean we don’t have to lead if we’re not gifted in that way?We’re also joined by Paul Wingfield of the One Man and His Wilderness podcast.Our main Bible verse comes from Romans 12:3-8.Things we explore in this episode:* Are all Christians supposed to lead?* Are all Christians leaders?* How should Christians lead?* All members of Christ’s body have different gifts.* What are the gifts of the spirit?* Servant leadership* How to lead in your church* Why do so many Christian leaders fail?The Truce podcast is a listener supported show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is it okay to fail? Are we okay with failure in the Christian church? Even mainstream churches frequently link financial and business success with God's blessing. If we're not rich and don't have a big following, does that mean that God doesn't love us? This week on the Truce Podcast we sit down once again with Andrew Schwab, lead singer of Project 86 and host of the Pioneers Podcast to discuss failure. He shares with us the difficulties his band faced with their album Truthless Heroes and Atlantic Records. Andrew is also the author of the books "Fame is Infamy", "Tin Soldiers", and "It's All Downhill from Here". In this episode we explore: * Is it okay to fail? * How should Christians handle failure? * How do I know if I'm a success? * Does our reliance on success distract from the mission of the church? * Does God love me for who I am or do I have to work for it? * How can failure be used as a weapon? * How do I move on from a failure? In this episode, we are also joined by Roy Browning of the Business Acumen Podcast. He helps us to look at the numbers of this podcast. Is it a success or a failure? Roy is the owner of JMC Brands. https://jmcbrands.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There are so many temptations for people who create media. We are constantly targeted by scams, encouraged to brag about ourselves, and told we could always be doing better. Those pressures are shaping the modern church. For better or worse.This week on the Truce Podcast we are joined by Andrew Schwab of Project 86 and the Pioneer's Podcast to explore the odd temptations facing modern Christianity. Andrew is also the author of the books "Fame is Infamy", "The Tin Soldiers", "It's All Downhill from Here".Truce is a listener supported show. Visit our website at www.trucepodcast.com to donate. Please spread the word about the show and post a review of it on iTunes. We'll discuss:* How is technology shaping the modern church?* How do Christians deal with failure?* How do people make money on social media and Instagram?* Should my church podcast its sermons?* Are we creating new popes with our celebrity Christians?* Is it okay for Christians to be famous? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Author Michelle DeRusha (Katrina and Martin Luther, True You) gave up media for six weeks. She did it for Lent, the time of year right before Easter when some Christians give something up in order to draw closer to God. In this episode of the Truce Podcast we hear from her about her experience, and from you, our listeners about your experience with the Truce Podcast Media Time Out. If you would like access to the PDF version of the Media Time Out, subscribe to our email update list (I won't sell your data, and emails are few and far between). The link will be emailed to you for free. If you like the Truce Podcast, please leave us a rating on your favorite podcasting app.Topics Covered:What is a media fast?Who is Michelle DeRusha?What are people's personal stories about fasting?What is media bias?How do we decode bias in our media?Is NPR bias?Is cable news bias?Is Fox News bias?In our next episode we'll hear from Andrew Schwab of Project 86 and the Pioneers Podcast about the difficulties of being famous in the Christian world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're surrounded by media. All the time. On our phones, the television, radio... even music at the supermarket. When was the last time you enjoyed the silence?This week on the Truce Podcast, we're going to take a break from media. No TV, radio, music, social media, movies... none of it. We're doing it for a few different reasons:*To demonstrate to ourselves that we don't need our phones as much as we think we do.*To refocus our attention on God.*To see how our media is shaping us. We're going to study the bias and marketing that comes at us through our media.*Our series on the influencer economy will make a lot more sense if you are aware of the messaging that targets you every day.You can call this a media fast. But the Bible has a lot of specific requirements for fasting. So, let's just call this a “time out”. If you'd like to join along, sign up for our email updates list and you'll be emailed a link to our free PDF version of the curriculum. Feel free to make as many copies as you like! Why do a media fast?Because denying ourselves of something can illustrate to us our own reliance on it.It gives us a great opportunity to talk with our friends about our convictions.Unlike a traditional fast, you should be talking with your friends and family about this challenge. Hopefully, together, you can come up with solutions to better deal with all of the messaging coming at you. Once you're done with the media time out, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. And record a voice memo on your smart phone about your experience and email it to us. We may use it on the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

New episodes of the Truce Podcast are coming soon! Our special guests will include Andrew Schwab of Project 86 and The Pioneers Podcast, author Michelle DeRusha, and Robert Fitzpatrick from Pyramid Scheme Alert. We're exploring how Christians are marketed to and how sometimes makes us fall into some pretty dark traps.Subscribe on Apple Podcast, Google Play, or Spotify. www.trucepodcast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In World War II the world was in chaos. Men shooting other men. The old world of horses and bayonets collided with machine guns and tanks. In the midst of the madness, thousands of men left their trenches on Christmas and met their neighbors. It was a spontaneous gathering of brothers. We in the Christian church can learn a lot from them.Truce is a listener supported show. Click here to help.Our Bible readings were performed by Jasen Banks from the Word x the World podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The events of Daniel 11 helped to disprove Mormonism. In this episode, we take a look at the Rosetta Stone, the Book of Abraham, and Joseph Smith.Truce is a listener-supported podcast. Help by donating via Patreon and GoFundMe. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. http://www.trucepodcast.comMerry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Living And Effective is the newest podcast from Christianity Today and the Christian Standard Bible. Chris sat down with Richard Clark (@TheRichardClark) to discuss media ethics and the nature of Christian broadcasting. Is it okay to talk about infidelity when discussing Dr. Martin Luther King? Is a discussion of Christianity in the 1970's complete without a conversation about where the Jesus People are today? Is Christian media required to stay positive?Subscribe to Living and Effective on any podcasting app or listen at http://www.livingandeffective.com.Truce is a listener supported podcast. Support the show at http://www.patreon.com. Our Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram handle is @trucepodcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We need your help! Truce is taking a break this week so we can do some marketing. In the meantime, please:1) Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, or where ever you listen2) Tell two friends about the show3) Pray for Truce! God willing, we'll see you next week. Until then, check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're still here, despite the fact that dozens of predictions have told us that the world would have ended by now. John Hagee, Jack Van Impe, Joseph Smith, Jehovah's Witnesses, John Wesley, Harold Camping and so many others have made bogus predictions. What should we think about this? How do people of faith look when we are clearly wrong in such public ways? In this episode of the Truce podcast, we examine some of the reasons behind these predictions and discuss a better way forward.Truce is the Christian podcast that uses journalistic tools to look inside the Christian church. We press pause on the culture wars to explore how we got here and how we can do better. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices