Podcast
Good Faith
Hosted by Good Faith · EN
Join host Curtis Chang and his friends as they follow Jesus and make sense of the world. With expertise, thoughtfulness, and humor, they discuss how Christian faith intersects with culture, politics, work, entertainment, and other aspects of life. Good Faith is produced by Redeeming Babel. Good Faith is ranked in the top .5 percent of all podcasts.
52episodes
Episodes
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What Christians Need To Sing Amidst Our Crazy Times with Matt Maher
Apr 1600:46:34Tap to summarizeHow Does the Church Sings Through Suffering and Why Do the Songs Matter? Grammy Award nominee and Dove Award winner Matt Maher joins the Good Faith podcast for a conversation about the power of songs and church music to tell the truth about suffering. Reflecting on protest, justice, prophetic art, ecumenism, and even Rich Mullins, Maher explores how the church can hold lament and praise together while still pointing people to the hope and holiness of God. Drawing on Psalm 22 and Jesus' cry of abandonment on the cross, he argues that the church, like Jesus, must sing honestly about pain and abandonment without losing sight of the worship and honor God deserves. *This episode was recorded live at the Illuminate Arts + Faith Conference 00:00:00 - Tease: The Duality of Abandonment and Praise 00:01:00 - Introduction from Curtis Chang 05:31 - Conversion and the Impact of Catholic Liturgy on His Faith 08:13 - Theology in Songwriting and Collaboration 09:57- Can Ecumenism Expand Your Perspective? 13:06 - John 17 and Praying for Church Unity 14:35 - Prophetic Calling Comforts the Afflicted and Challenges the Comfortable 16:38 - Protest Themes and the Burden of Truth 20:30 - Holding Space for Both Praise and Lament 21:55 - Christian Justice Movements and Prophetic Action 24:02 - The After Party Album and Amos's Call to Justice 24:11 - That He Will Overcome (musical insert) 26:29 - The Toppling of Empire Lyrics as Inspired by Dr. Mika Edmonson 29:04 - The Neurological and Physical Impact of Music on Memory and Community 34:03 - Personal Storytelling and Lament To Work Out Hard Things 40:00 - Rich Mullins' Influence and Legacy 41:24 - What Is The Song the Church Needs Now, In These Crazy Times? 43:48 - A Warning From Nazi Germany Against Ignoring Suffering Take the Listener Survey Sign up for The After Party Sign up for The Good List Mentioned In This Episode: The Nicene Creed and the History of the Council of Nicaea Matt Maher's Echoes album (Spotify) Matt Maher's Your Grace Is Enough Matt Maher's The Stories I Tell Myself Matt Maher's The Stories I Tell Myself (Acoustic video) Matt Maher, DOE, Dee Wilson, & The Porter's Gate's That We Might Overcome Listen to the album The Kingdom of Jesus: Songs For The After Party Rich Mullins' Canticle of The Plains (full album on Youtube) Rich Mullins' The Joy of Jesus (feat. Matt Maher, Mac Powell, & Ellie Holcomb) More about Francis Chan Scriptures Referenced: Psalm 22 (ESV) John 17 (ESV) John 14:6 (ESV) Amos 5-6 (ESV) More from Matt Maher: See Matt on tour Matt Maher's website Subscribe to Matt's email list Listen to Matt Maher on Spotify Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign...
Transcribe →N.T. Wright: How To Study the Bible For Yourself
Apr 1300:12:42Tap to summarizeWhy Relying on One Bible Teacher Isn't Enough—and What to Do About It In this Good Faith Podcast bonus short, N.T. Wright shares practical, accessible guidance on how to read the Bible with deeper understanding, moving beyond surface-level devotion into the rich world of biblical context, Scripture study, and Christian discipleship. Wright explains why exploring texts like Josephus, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Apocrypha, and the Apostolic Fathers can help modern believers interpret the New Testament more faithfully and confidently. He also offers a personal glimpse into his lifelong daily Bible reading practice, revealing how Scripture, prayer, and the Psalms have shaped his faith from childhood to today. Take the Listener Survey Sign up for The After Party Sign up for The Good List Mentioned In This Episode: John Goldingay & N.T. Wright's The Bible for Everyone Books by Richard Middleton Books by Walter Brueggemann The Complete Works of Josephus (pdf) The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls (pdf) Resource For Writings of the Apostolic Fathers (e.g., Ignatius, Clement, Polycarp) More from N.T. Wright: N.T. Wright's book God's Homecoming: The Forgotten Promise of Future Renewal N.T. Wright Online N.T. Wright's Speaking engagements N.T. Wright's books Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.
Transcribe →Pete Wehner on Pete Hegseth, Iran, and Dangerous Biblical Interpretation
Apr 900:58:06Tap to summarizeAre Violent Bible Passages Being Used to Justify War? Pete Wehner, former White House official and writer for The Atlantic, joins Curtis Chang to examine how violent Old Testament "holy war" texts are being invoked in today's political and cultural debates, including by Pete Hegseth and voices tied to the Trump administration. Pete and Curtis explore the war in Iran, Bible interpretation, the character of God, and why Christians must read troubling Bible passages through the lens of Jesus and the cross before making life-and-death moral judgments. 02:37 - Holy War Texts and Public Policy 03:37 - Pete Hegseth and the Invocation of Holy War 08:32 - The Real-World Consequences of Misreading Scripture 17:21 - Wrestling with Disturbing Texts 22:28 - The Necessity of Disturbance and Christocentric Reading 31:07 - What Is the Historical Role of Allegorical Interpretation? 35:17 - Jewish and Rabbinic Traditions of Wrestling with Text 37:21 - Tim Keller: Christ's Character as Interpretive Key 42:58 - The Importance of Literary Reasoning 46:37 - Literal but Time-Specific Commands 52:15 - A Warning Against Overconfidence 54:04 - Debating for Truth, Not Victory 56:09 - The Real-World and Personal Stakes of Biblical Interpretation Take the Listener Survey Sign up for The After Party Sign up for The Good List Mentioned In This Episode: Pete Wehner's article Pete Hegseth's Moral Unseriousness Understanding Pete Hegseth's connection to Douglas Wilson: What is CREC and how does it shape Pete Hegseth's religious rhetoric? President George W. Bush's National Cathedral Speech What is the Christian Reconstructionist Movement? What is Just War Theory? Gregory A. Boyd's The Crucifixion of the Warrior God, Vol. 1 & 2 Gregory A Boyd's Cross Vision: How the Crucifixion of Jesus Makes Sense of Old Testament Violence Tremper Longman's The Old Testament as Literature: Foundations for Christian Interpretation More about C.S. Lewis & Owen Barfield More from Pete Wehner: Pete Wehner's articles at The Atlantic Pete Wehner's opinion pieces at The New York Times Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.
Transcribe →Andy Crouch: Will AI Be Friend, Foe, or False Substitute?
Apr 200:51:15Tap to summarizeIs AI Helping Us Flourish or Making Us Less Human? Andy Crouch joins Curtis Chang for a timely conversation on AI, Christianity, human flourishing, and the future of being human. Together they explore whether artificial intelligence will deepen human relationships or replace them, why prediction is not the same as prophecy, and how Christians can pursue embodied community, reconciliation, and faithful living in the age of AI. 04:31 - Technology Adoption and Cultural Change 09:05 - AI's Subtle Presence and Future Potential 12:30 - AI and Work-Life Balance 14:36 - Risks of AI Replacing Relationships 15:35 - Loneliness and AI Relationships 20:43 - Practical Steps Toward Relationships 28:36 - A call to cultivate deep relationships before the AI "tsunami." 29:54 - Human Distinctiveness: Prediction vs. Prophecy 35:13 - AI, Consciousness, and the Image of God 41:04 - What are the responsibilities of Christians working in AI? 45:49 - Redemptive Technology 46:24 - Andy expresses grief and concern for dehumanization. 48:03 - God's redemptive purpose despite anticipated losses from AI Drawing upon material from a past conversation Take the Listener Survey Sign up for The After Party Sign up for The Good List Mentioned in This Episode: Rosaria Butterfield's The Gospel Comes with a House Key Good Faith episode 107: Where is AI Taking Us Spiritually? (with James Cham and John Kim) American Psychological Association: Many teens are turning to AI chatbots for friendship and emotional support Psychology Today: AI Use in Dating Jumps 333% Video: AI Allows Man with ALS to 'Speak' Again More From Andy Crouch: Check out Andy's website Check out Andy's work at Praxis Read Andy's book: The Life We're Looking For Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.
Transcribe →Jim's Campfire Story: Connection in the Face of Dementia
Mar 3000:07:02Tap to summarizeThe Power of Presence: How Connection Transcends Cognitive Loss Show Notes: Good Faith's series of Campfire Stories invites listeners to hear how ordinary people are living out extraordinary faith in complex times. In this episode, In this episode. Jim, a devoted husband and caregiver, shares moving stories about his wife Carolyn's vibrant life and their journey through her frontotemporal dementia diagnosis. Inspired by Curtis and Good Faith guest Professor John Swinton, a theologian and former nurse, Jim explores the theological significance of being remembered by God, and the enduring value of personhood beyond memory. Send your Campfire Stories to: info@goodfaith.org Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.
Transcribe →Katelyn Beaty on Celebrity Culture, AI, and the Risks of Disembodied Faith
Mar 2600:39:38Tap to summarizeAre Megachurches, Christian Influencers, and Artificial Intelligence Breaking the Church? This week on the Good Faith podcast, Katelyn Beaty joins host Curtis Chang to confront the church's growing addiction to celebrity culture, asking how celebrity pastors, megachurch platforms, and AI are changing the way Christians are formed. Curtis even asks Katelyn to evaluate whether his public persona and the Good Faith platform risk becoming part of the very problem they're critiquing. If faith is becoming more online, more branded, and less embodied, this conversation asks the hard question: what happens to authentic Christian community, spiritual growth, and discipleship when personality starts to outrun the way of Jesus? 02:06 - Defining Persona vs. Fame 04:14 - Embodied Relationships vs. Platform 05:17 - Curtis's Personal Experience with Platform 09:56 - Dangers of Platform Culture for the Church 14:27 - Curtis's Dilemma: Content vs. Persona 17:58 - Navigating Platform Tensions as a Christian Leader 20:09 - Case Studies: Celebrity Gone Wrong and Right 25:34 - Community and Spiritual Formation Beyond Megachurches 30:10 - Technology, Evangelicals, and the Attention Economy 33:00 - AI and the Future of Persona and Platform 36:12 - Final Hope: Embodied, Material Christian Life Take the Listener Survey Sign up for The After Party Sign up for The Good List Mentioned in This Episode: More about Katelyn Beaty Katelyn Beaty's Celebrities for Jesus: How Personas, Platforms, and Profits Are Hurting the Church TIME: The True Story Behind the FX Documentary Series The Secrets of Hillsong Christianity Today's podcast: The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill New York Times: How the Willow Creek Church Scandal Has Stunned the Evangelical World More about Eugene Peterson Curtis Chang's The Anxiety Opportunity More From Katelyn Beaty: Katelyn Beaty's Substack The Beaty Beat Katelyn Beaty's podcast Saved by the City Katelyn Beaty's A Woman's Place Participant Guide: A Bible Study Exploring Every Woman's Call to Work Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.
Transcribe →Francis Collins & Kristine Torjesen on The Fight for Public Health: Science, Faith, and What's at Stake?
Mar 1900:54:02Tap to summarizeFrom Breakthroughs to Budget Cuts: The Rollercoaster of Modern Medical Research What happens when politics wages war on science—and Christians get caught in the blast radius? In this Good Faith Podcast episode, Curtis Chang talks with former NIH director Dr. Francis Collins and BioLogos president Dr. Kristine Torjesen about Collins' forced exit from NIH, the shutdown of a major HIV prevention programs in Africa, and how cuts to vaccines, medical research, and public health are threatening lives and future breakthroughs in cancer, Alzheimer's, and pandemic preparedness. They also confront vaccine distrust, anti-institution politics, and evangelical skepticism of science, while making the case that science is not the enemy of faith but a gift from God for truth, healing, and human flourishing. Take the Listener Survey Sign up for The After Party Sign up for The Good List Get tickets: Illuminate Arts + Faith Conference and our recording with Matt Maher 05:56 - Political Interference in Science Roles, Research, and Aid Cuts 10:57 - Are Medical Advances Threatened by Political Decisions? 16:03 - Curtis Gets Candid About Unexpected Benefits of Medical Aid in His Life 17:34 - Vaccine Policy Changes and Anti-Vax Influence 20:46 - Engaging Christians Who Distrust Science 25:39 - What Lessons Can We Learn from COVID Vaccine Promotion 28:32 - Is Science Politically Biased? 36:15 - Distrust of Institutions and Its Roots 44:45 - Equipping Pastors and Parents for Faith-Science Conversations 46:59 - Hopeful Medical Advances Despite Setbacks 50:15 - Science as a Source of Beauty and Worship Scriptures: John 14:6 (ESV) Mentioned in This Episode: Check out the Biologos website Announcement: Dr. Kristine Torjesen becomes BioLogos' 3rd president and CEO Biologos: Kristine Torjesen's Professional Biography NIH Bio: Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D. NIH: Decades in the Making: mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines KFF (The independent source for health policy research and news): COVID-19 preventable mortality Brooke Nichols: Tracking Anticipated Deaths from USAID Funding Cuts Check out the Impact Counter More From Dr. Francis Collins: Dr. Francis Collins' The Road to Wisdom: On Truth, Science, Faith, and Trust Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.
Transcribe →Dr. Jessica Hooten Wilson on Leif Enger's Apocalypse & What Matters at the End of the World? (Reading to Make Sense of the World)
Mar 1600:21:44Tap to summarizeRefusing Despair Amidst Cultural Darkness What does it look like to cheerfully refuse a collapsing culture without giving in to cynicism, fear, or despair? Host Curtis Chang and Dr. Jessica Hooten Wilson—Fletcher Jones Chair of Great Books at Pepperdine University— dive into Leif Enger's I Cheerfully Refuse, exploring why great novels still matter, how Christians can resist ideations of apocalypse with joy, and what faith-filled fiction reveals about beauty, truth, and survival in dark times. This conversation is for listeners hungry for cultural commentary,hopeful resistance, and deeper ways of reading the world through faith. 01:28 - Challenges of Reading Contemporary Novels 06:03 - The Meaning Behind the Title "I Cheerfully Refuse" 07:47 - Lessons for Dark Times 10:02 - The Enduring Power of Books vs. New Media 12:16 - Cultivating Fruitful Practices in Dark Times 14:36 - Living as a Cheerful Refuser Today 15:02 - Is the Christian Worldview True Reality Or A Bubble? 17:04 - What Is Enger's Idea of True humanity? 18:19 - Recommendations for Similar Books and Authors Take the Listener Survey Sign up for The After Party Sign up for The Good List Get tickets: Illuminate Arts + Faith Conference and our recording with Matt Maher Mentioned In This Episode: Leif Enger's I Cheerfully Refuse Leif Enger's Peace Like a River Leif Enger's Virgil Wander Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 Claude Acho's Reading Black Books Eugene Vodolazkin's Laurus Rumor Godden's In This House of Brede Dylan Thomas' Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night More About Christopher Beha Jessica Hooton Wilson's The Scandal of Holiness More From Jessica Hooten Wilson: Jessica Hooten Wilson's website <p dir="ltr" style= "line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" role= "prese...
Transcribe →David French on The Iran War: If It's Illegal, Is It Just?
Mar 1200:58:49Tap to summarizeThe Intersection of Trump, Iran, and the Moral Limits of War What should Christians think about the U.S. war with Iran, Israel's role in the conflict, and the risk of a wider Middle East war? In this Good Faith Podcast episode, Curtis Chang and New York Times columnist David French unpack the escalating U.S.-Iran war through the lens of Christian theology, just war theory, constitutional checks and balances, and the moral limits of presidential power. They explore whether America's military action against Iran is just, legal, or dangerously reckless, while also addressing Israel, regime change, MAGA foreign policy, and the growing risk of a wider global conflict. Join David and Curtis for a thoughtful framework for understanding war in a volatile moment. Take the Listener Survey Sign up for The After Party Sign up for The Good List Get tickets: Illuminate Arts + Faith Conference and our recording with Matt Maher 02:32 - Did Anyone See This Coming? 04:51 - Distinguishing Just and Legal Wars 09:25 - Evaluating America's War Against Iran 14:46 - Why Hasn't Congress Acted? 17:59 - Truthfulness of the Administration 22:32 - Potential Consequences of Prolonged War 33:12 - What About the Theory That Trump's War is a Diversion From Personal Scandals? 39:04 - Evangelical Support for Israel 44:08 - Are We Heading Toward World War III? 53:49 - Christian Prayer and Moral Response Scriptures: 1 Timothy 2:1–2 (ESV) Mentioned in This Episode: A primer on Just War Theory Augustine and Just War Theory The UN Charter Chapter VII, Article 51: the use of force and collective self-defense What is the War Powers Resolution? Abraham Lincoln'sLetter to Congress: January 12, 1848 (Speech regarding Mexican War) Background on U.S. Relations With Iran (1953-2026) Background on Operation Praying Mantis Impacts of the U.S. killing of Qassem Soleimani More about the Lockerbie bombing The Ezra Klein Show, March 3 episode: The Great Lie of War More From David French: David French's New York Times pieces HERE Follow David French on Threads Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.
Transcribe →Dave Evans: Designing and Living a Meaningful Life Now
Mar 500:55:37Tap to summarizeWhat Does Radical Acceptance Look Like in Real Life? In this Good Faith Podcast episode, Curtis Chang sits down with Dave Evans (co-founder of the Stanford Life Design Lab) to tear up the "find your purpose" script and explore how design thinking, faith, and radical acceptance can lead to real meaning—especially through grief and uncertainty. Expect sharp insights, honest stories, and practical tools to build a life with more presence, flow, and authenticity starting now. Dave and Curtis dig into faith and the tension of the "already and not yet" as they look at the ideas in Dave's latest book, How to Live a Meaningful Life. Take the Listener Survey Sign up for The Good List Get tickets: Illuminate Arts + Faith Conference and our recording with Matt Maher 03:05 - Dave Evans' Journey & the Origins of Life Design 09:54 - Are there Pitfalls When Pursuing Impact and Transactional Mindset? 18:08 - Design Moves for Greater Meaning 22:05 - Radical Acceptance Illustrated by Personal Loss 28:06 - Why Is the Concept of Flow Important? 39:37 - Compatibility of Design Thinking and Christian Worldview 41:06 - Four Areas of Human Experience for Meaning 45:34 - Meaning in the Second Half of Life 48:59 - Getting Started: Practical First Steps Scriptures: Deuteronomy 30:11–14 (ESV) Deuteronomy 30:19–20 (ESV) John 10:10 (ESV) Philippians 2:5-11 (ESV) Romans 12:2 (ESV) Ecclesiastes 2:11 (ESV) Luke 17:20–21 (ESV) Mark 8:18 (ESV) Mentioned in This Episode: Dave Evans + Bill Burnett's How to Live a Meaningful Life: Using Design Thinking to Unlock Purpose, Joy, and Flow Every Day What is Radical Acceptance? Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience Lisa Miller's lecture The Awakened Brain Jill Bolte Taylor's TED Talk: My Stroke of Insight More about Jean Vanier and L'Arche Richard Rohr's Falling Upward Veritas Forum: Dallas Willard Stanford's Life Design Lab What is Design thinking? (pdf) Don Norman's The Design of Everyday Things More from Dave Evans: Dave Evans + Bill Burnett's Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life Dave Evans + Bill Burnett's Designing Your New Work Life: How to Thrive and Change and Find Happiness--and a New Freedom--at Work Dave Evans Praxis Mentor page Check out: Designing Your Life website Connected Good Faith Episodes: Good Faith ep. 68: The Impact Fetish (with Andy Crouch) Follow Us: ...
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