Upstream

Christians have long taught that God's existence and power are evident in the world He has made. Yet secular, materialistic science says the universe looks exactly as we would expect if God didn't exist. Shane welcomes philosopher of science Dr. Stephen Meyer at the 2023 Colson Center National Conference to explain why "the God hypothesis" is making a comeback.

Progressive environmentalists seem to worship nature and treat human beings like vermin. But conservative Christians often fall into the opposite trap of downplaying human responsibility to care for God's world. Shane welcomes Tim Padgett to talk more about Christianity and the environment.

Many Christians view concern for nature as a secular, left-wing obsession. But if God loves the world He made and cares about its wellbeing, shouldn't we care, too? Shane welcomes author and apologist Xandra Carroll to make the case for Christian environmentalism.

Music as we know it is surprisingly young. What influence did Christianity have on the rise of this art form, and does that mean there are no universal truths about music? Shane welcomes Kasey Leander to reflect on the conversation with Dr. Jeremy Begbie.

Few art forms have the power music has to move us and enrich our lives. But what gives it that power? Shane welcomes theologian and musician Dr. Jeremy Begbie to reveal how music can voice deep theological truths in a way words can't. Special thanks to Duke University for allowing us to use clips from Dr. Begbie's musical illustrations. The original clips can be found here: Clip 1, Tension and Resolution. Clip 2, Appoggiaturas.

At every stage of the battle for sexual liberation, adults have assured themselves that kids will be alright. But the kids tell a different story. Shane welcomes Katy Faust to explain why the quest to fulfill adult desires has steamrolled children's needs.

Praise, lament, righteous anger, celebration, and wonder—the book of Psalms contains the full range of human experience expressed in Divine words. Singing those words changes us in a way words alone can't. Shane welcome Tim Padgett to reflect on the conversation with Brian Sauvé.

In the center of the Bible is a giant, divinely inspired song book. What would happen if we sang it? Shane welcomes pastor and musician Brian Sauvé to talk about his new album of psalms set to original music: "Even Dragons Shall Him Praise."

The theological problem of suffering is distinct from the lived experience of suffering. But remembering God's character can change everything. Shane welcomes Kasey Leander to reflect on the conversation with Adam Mabry about his book, When God Seems Gone.

What happens when tragedy, sorrow, or frustration strike and God seems not to hear our prayers? Shane welcomes Adam Mabry, author of When God Seems Gone: Finding Hope When Nothing Makes Sense to encourage faith in the midst of (apparent) Divine absence.

J.R.R. Tolkien's legendary stories may have more to do with the "real world" than most readers realize. Shane welcomes Tim Padgett to reflect on the conversation with Austin Freeman, author of Tolkien Dogmatics.

What do Valar, Elves, and Hobbits have to do with Christian theology? According to their creator, quite a lot! Shane welcomes Dr. Austin Freeman to discuss his book, Tolkien Dogmatics: Theology through Mythology with the Maker of Middle-earth.

Shane welcomes Tim Padgett to reflect on the conversation with Steven Wedgeworth about the true meaning of the phrase "Sola Scriptura," and why misunderstanding that phrase can distort a Christian's worldview.

"The Bible is the only book I need." How biblical (and historical) is that statement? Shane welcomes Steven Wedgeworth, rector of Christ Church Anglican in South Bend, Indiana to explain what the Protestant Reformers really believed about Scripture, and why it matters.

Is there one right theory of how Christ's atoning work saves us, or does the Bible reveal something more complex and mysterious? Shane welcomes Kasey Leander to reflect on the conversation with Hal Poe about C.S. Lewis and the Gospel message.

If asked to present the Gospel, many of us would speak of God punishing Jesus in the place of sinners. But C.S. Lewis didn't often speak of it this way. Shane welcomes Dr. Harry Lee Poe, Charles Colson Professor at Union University to talk about how C.S. Lewis answered the question: "Why did Jesus have to die?"

What if it's not enough to convince people of the historical truth of Christ's Resurrection? What if it's just as important to love the Gospel as a story? Shane welcomes Kasey Leander to talk more about the conversation with Matt Burnett on re-mythologizing Easter.

Christ's Resurrection is the turning point that reminds us our world's history is a story that ends in hope. But appreciating stories requires imagination! Shane welcomes Anglican pastor Matt Burnett to explore how imagination can illuminate redemption, worship, and catechesis.

"Deconstruction" has become a well-worn path for those who question aspects of their Christian upbringing. But there's another option. Shane welcomes Kasey Leander to reflect on his conversation with Jinger Duggar Vuolo about her book, Becoming Free Indeed.

Shane welcomes Jinger Duggar Vuolo of 19 Kids and Counting to tell the story of how she separated her belief in Jesus from her upbringing under the teachings of Bill Gothard, and to explain how questioning well can deepen your faith instead of destroying it.

Are humans gods or viruses? Should we be merciful or just? Is history headed for disaster or utopia? Such dichotomies are at the center of our cultural debates. But what if there's a story that harmonizes them? Shane welcomes Kasey Leander to talk more about Christopher Watkin's book, Biblical Critical Theory.

G.K. Chesterton observed that critics of Christianity often attack it for contradictory reasons. Dr. Christopher Watkin, author of Biblical Critical Theory, argues that this is because God's revelation is too big for our culture's false dichotomies.

We often feel trapped in an anti-supernatural worldview, but if you have the eyes to see and ears to hear, the world is charged with signs of spiritual truth. Shane welcomes Kasey Leander to reflect on the conversation with Os Guinness about his book, Signals of Transcendence.

A dandelion, a song, a mother's love, the Holocaust; God has used all of these to pierce the godless worldviews of real men and women. Shane welcomes Dr. Os Guinness to tell their stories using his new book, Signals of Transcendence.

Shane welcomes Tim Padgett to talk more about the magic of film, to look back on a few of their favorite titles, and to reflect on wise strategies for introducing movies to young imaginations.

Christians can fall into two opposite errors when it comes to entertainment: We either tally up curse words or try to read everything as a biblical allegory. But film is more complex than that. Shane welcomes Spectator World movie reviewer John Ehrett to discuss a thoughtful and God-honoring approach to the movies.

We may not agree with every answer Greek philosophers gave, but we do have to answer the questions they asked. Shane welcomes Kasey Leander to talk more about Plato, metaphysics, Scripture, and the conversation with Dr. Hans Boersma.

Do we need philosophy to read the Bible well? What happens if we ignore Athens in our study of Jerusalem? Shane welcomes Dr. Hans Boersma, who argues that everyone does metaphysics whether they know it or not, and that Plato's thought is particularly helpful for understanding God's Word.

Shane welcomes Kasey Leander to ask and answer some important questions about Abraham Kuyper, Herman Bavinck, and where their theology fits into the big picture of Christian history and thought—and why they matter today!

Abraham Kuyper and Herman Bavinck have become hugely influential in Christian worldview discussions, but what was their worldview? What did they believe, and how did it shape what they wrote and did? Shane welcomes Cory Brock and Gray Sutanto to discuss their new book, Neo-Calvinism: A Theological Introduction.

Shane welcomes Kasey Leander to explore what creates demand for abortion historically, and why simply overturning Roe is just the first step in a long process to making such killing unthinkable. They also discuss the role of men in taking responsibility and welcoming new life.

Roe v. Wade is a thing of the past, but this is just the latest chapter in the long and contentious story of abortion in America. Shane welcomes journalist and author Leah Savas to explain why knowing that history is critical to protecting unborn lives in the future.

Shane welcomes Kasey Leander (who is technically still in his twenties) to talk about the difference between our culture's view of twenty-somethings and God's view, and why the quest to change the world can obscure what truly matters.

Nathan Rittenhouse joins Shane to explain why, as his grandfather put it, "no one takes you seriously until you're thirty," and why for Christians who want to impact the culture for Christ, that's very good news.

Shane welcomes Tim Padgett to discuss whether the modern notion of diversity and inclusion has lived up to its promises, and whether it's possible for very different people to live together in a nation or worship together in a church.

America's motto is e pluribus unum, "out of many, one." Yet the modern obsession with diversity and inclusion has left us a nation where citizens have little in common. Shane welcomes Richard Lints to explain how the Church's mission and very identity reconcile unity and diversity.

Shane welcomes the Colson Center's Kasey Leander to talk about what it looks like to be "stuck in the present," and how a careful study of history can keep us from either uncritically idolizing or demonizing those who came before us.

Affluent, modern people are too often "stuck in the present," dismissing the past as benighted and bigoted. Shane welcomes author David George Moore to explain why Christians must be students of history, and how to appreciate the people we meet there, warts and all.

Shane and Tim reflect on the conversation with Samuel James about how the internet has changed our behavior and speech. As digital platforms come and go, Christians must reemphasize timeless virtues to stay rooted in reality.

Twitter and Facebook may be in decline, but they leave in their wake a more tribal, fractured, and superficial evangelical church. Shane welcomes Crossway editor and writer Samuel James to reveal how technology has taught us bad habits, and how Christians can recover.

Shane and Tim continue the conversation about Abigail Favale's book, The Genesis of Gender, and explore feminism's fatal mistake of fighting for women's rights without bothering to define "woman."

What is a woman? Shane welcomes Dr. Abigail Favale, author of The Genesis of Gender, to discuss how feminism, postmodernism, and bad philosophy made that question impossible to answer, and to show how the Christian vision of sexed embodiment dignifies our differences.

Shane and Tim reflect on the conversation with Frederica Mathewes-Green in light of historical Protestant objections to church holidays, liturgy, and traditional rituals. How should we think about these disagreements in a way that shows love for one another and honors Christ (which is, after all, the purpose of Epiphany)?

Shane welcomes author Frederica Matthews-Green to give an Eastern Orthodox perspective on the feast of Epiphany/Theophany, and to explore how Christians differ on liturgies and traditions meant to reveal Christ in worship.

Shane visits with Dr. Ken Boa to explore the church calendar, particularly Advent and Christmas, and to articulate how this ancient way of keeping time can help conform us to the image of Jesus, even in a secular age.

Ebenezer Scrooge, George Bailey, the Grinch, Imogene Herdman … so many characters in beloved Christmas books and movies experience a dramatic change of heart. Why does this theme resonate at this time of year? Shane welcomes author and literary scholar Jessica Hooten-Wilson to discuss the stories of the season, and why their truth can soften our hearts.

Shane welcomes Heidi White and Heather Peterson for a conversation about the ways in which this time of year excites joy, and how the wisdom of Christianity's past can enrich our Advent fasts and Christmas feasts.

This week, we're sharing a talk Shane gave at the Association of Classical Christian Schools regional conference in Lakeland, Florida. Shane suggests four reasons why God gives us children, and makes a countercultural call to raise and educate those children as sons and daughters of the Last Adam.

Tim Padgett joins Shane to reflect on the conversation with Alastair Roberts on biblical typology and the birth of Christ. They dive deeper into the counterintuitive story God wrote on the pages of Scripture and history—a story in which small and humble people were used to shame the strong and proud.

On the road to Emmaus, the risen Jesus explained how the whole Bible foreshadows Him. As we begin Advent, Shane welcomes Dr. Alastair Roberts to help us see how the birth of Christ fulfilled all of God's promises to Israel—and to us.