The Esau McCaulley Podcast - The Cornell Case, Multi-Ethnic Churches & Are Kids Getting Dumber?

A sexual assault case at Cornell has sparked intense debate about consent, trauma, and how we talk about victims before all the facts are known. Esau is joined by Mika Edmondson to discuss what Christian sexual ethics should say about power, exploitation, and the dignity of the body. Then, they look at new research suggesting Black Christians in multi-ethnic churches may become less civically engaged, and ask what churches lose when pastors are too afraid to address racial injustice. Plus, are kids actually getting dumber? The guys talk declining test scores, shrinking attention spans, and what happens when education becomes only a means to the next achievement.

0:00 - Theme Song

2:12 - Cornell 7 and God's Heart for Victims

11:55 - Church Should Be a Place of Healing

19:46 - Sponsor - Church at the Crossroads - Esau shares about Church at the Crossroads, a conference hosted by Palestinian Christians in Atlanta, November 5–7. The gathering offers an opportunity to meet and learn from Palestinian pastors and Christian leaders, join in worship, and enjoy Palestinian food and cultural experiences, with time for conversation and fellowship. Use code ESAU for 20% off. Register at www.churchatthecrossroads.com/atlanta

21:00 - Sponsor - Want to see pop-culture through the lens of faith and ethics? We've got a podcast you need to check out: https://pod.link/1835471106

22:18 - Myth of the Non-Political Church

30:11 - Pastoring a Multi-Racial Church

39:50 - Are Teenagers Getting Dumber?

53:45 - End Credits

The Power of Unearned Suffering by Mika Edmondson:

https://amzn.to/3Wd9qOh

Student Test scores going down:

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/08/us/us-reading-test-scores-pisa.html