Good Faith

How Can Freedom, Faith, and the Fight Beyond A Holiday Shape Us? Host Curtis Chang talks with sociologist Dr. Angel Adams Parham about the history of Juneteenth, from the 1865 emancipation announcement in Galveston, Texas, to its meaning for American freedom, racial justice, and collective memory. Together, they explore the spiritual resilience of the Black church, its influence on Christian theology and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and why Juneteenth matters for all Americans. They also consider how Christians can celebrate Juneteenth with both joy and historical honesty. 02:05 - The Historical Story of Juneteenth 05:11 - What Were the Limitations of the Emancipation Proclamation? 09:28 - An American Pattern of Incomplete Freedom 13:34 - How Do We Preserve the Meaning of Juneteenth? 19:24 - The Pain of Historical Erasure & Cultural Setbacks 23:43 - Scripture as a Freedom Narrative Fostering Resilience 29:22 - The Universal Longing To Be Free 32:06 - The Black Church's Contribution to the Christian Story 35:54 - Embodied Practices for Juneteenth 39:09 - The Spiritual Promise of "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" Register for our America 250 episode recording with Russell Moore and David French Sign up for the Anxiety Opportunity Course Use the code: Goodfaith Referenced in the Episode: Transcript of The Emancipation Proclamation Union General Gordon Granger's announcement: General Order No. 3 Claude Atcho's Reading Black Books Frederick Douglass' "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?" (pdf) Transcription of an interview with ex-slave Felix Haywood Reggie L. Williams' Bonhoeffer's Black Jesus Phillis Wheatley's letter to Rev. Samson Occom James Weldon Johnson's poem Lift Every Voice and Sing Manhattan Harmony Four's recording Lift Every Voice And Sing The Fisk University Quartet's Swing Low, Sweet Chariot Scriptures Referenced: Exodus 12:31–15:21 (ESV) Isaiah 61 (ESV) Leviticus 25 (ESV) Luke 4:14–30 (ESV) More From Dr. Angel Adams Parham: Dr. Parham's bio: the University of Virginia Dr. Parham's Website Dr. Parham's book The Black Intellectual Tradition: Reading Freedom in Classical Literature 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.

Refusing 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 Explore Jessica's books HERE Read articles and Essay by Jessica HERE 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.

What 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: 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.

Can Missionaries, Not Politics, Depolarize Climate Change for Christians? Climate change isn't a partisan talking point—it's a discipleship test, and Brian Webb, a seasoned sustainability director and educator, joins Curtis Chang to make the case that climate ignorance hurts both the body of Christ and the world God made for our flourishing. From typhoons overseas to Lyme disease at home, Webb shows how climate change is already hurting real people—and why Christians can't shrug it off. Forget guilt and "change your light bulb" advice: Brian and Curtis lean into stubborn optimism and practical action for churches, workplaces, and local communities. 06:01 - A Faith Journey Becomes A Creation Care Story 08:23 - Creation Care and 1 Corinthians 12 14:06 - Connecting Climate Change Impact to Human Suffering 18:30 - The Problem of Warming From California Wildfires to Lyme Disease 33:35 - Examples of Institutional Action 39:10 - Measuring Institutional Progress 40:16 - Missionaries Sounding the Alarm 43:56 - Dealing with Discouragement and Stubborn Hope 50:01 - Series Wrap-Up and Final Takeaways Sign up for the Good Faith Newsletter Learn more about George Fox Talks Register for the Illuminate Arts + Faith Conference Mentioned In This Episode: Colossians 1:15-17 (ESV) 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 (ESV) Read the Cape Town Commitment Learn more about A Rocha USA Learn more about the Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus The YWAM (Youth With A Mission) School of Sustainable Development Learn about the Christian Climate Observers Program (CCOP) Learn about Typhoon Haiyan survivor Marinel Ubaldo (Noble Women's Initiative) Tuvalu & the Pacific Conference of Churches Organizations Helping Tuvalu: Tuvalu Climate Finance Project Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project Government of Tuvalu – Climate Change / projects portal 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.

Is The Greatest Shift in Christian Theology Going From Heaven to Earth? Heaven isn't the point of the gospel—and N.T. Wright challenges the "accept Jesus and escape earth" narrative of Christianity. Curtis Chang talks with Wright, leading theologian and prolific author, about New Creation and his latest book God's Homecoming: The Forgotten Promise of Future Renewal, asking whether the Bible's promise is the Kingdom of God on earth—or simply going to heaven when you die. They examine the "royal priesthood" calling, what this means for life after death and suffering now, and the true purpose of Christian faith. Sign up for the Good Faith Newsletter Learn more about George Fox Talks Register for the Illuminate Arts + Faith Conference 03:43 - The Continuity Between Old and New Testaments 05:05 - Reject Platonism and Embracing New Creation? 08:04 - A Vision More Demanding Than The "Ticket To Heaven" Gospel 13:48 - What Does This Mean For Grace, Works, and Human Vocation? 19:53 - Divergence on the Meaning of The Kingdom of God 27:24 - The Problem of Evil and the "Now and Not Yet" 34:59 - A Pastoral Response to Heaven-Focused Theology 40:41 - How Are Heaven and Earth Interlocking Realities? 47:59 - The Royal Priesthood: Humanity's Biblical Mandate 51:47 - Tom Wright's Future Projects and Reflections Scriptures: Revelation 5:9-10 (ESV) - kingdom + priests reign on the earth Exodus 19:6; Deuteronomy 7:6; 1 Peter 2:9 (ESV) - royal priesthood Genesis 1-2 (ESV) - creation "very good"; humanity's vocation Revelation 21–22 (ESV) - new heaven/new earth; God dwelling with humanity Romans 12:2 (ESV) - renewing of the mind Romans 8:21–23 (ESV) - creation set free; redemption of bodies Malachi 3:1 + Isaiah 40:3 (ESV) - prepare the way; the Lord coming to his temple Psalm 8 (ESV) - humanity crowned with glory/honor; vocation Ephesians 4 (ESV) - new humanity; community ethics Mentioned in This Episode: N.T. Wright's book God's Homecoming: The Forgotten Promise of Future Renewal N.T. Wright's book Surprised by Hope What is the Bar Kokhba Revolt? What is the Mishnah? "Teach Me, My God and King" (George Herbert / "The Elixir") Tom Holland's book Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World C.S. Lewis' book Miracles Scot McKnight's book Reading Romans Backwards: A Gospel of Peace in the Midst of Empire More from N.T. Wright: N.T. Wright Online N.T. Wright's Speaking engagements N.T. Wright's books (Amazon) Past Conversations with N.T. Wright: Good Faith ep. 207: N.T. Wright Explains Ephesians: The Church, Christian Nationalism, & the Armor of God Good Faith ep. 128: The Unseen Spiritual Powers Shaping Our World (with N.T. Wright) 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.