#230 - Allen Jackson

Pastor Allen Jackson of World Outreach Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, has a challenge for "spectator" Christians: stop sitting in the stands and complaining. Too many believers, he says, sit out with excuses like "I won't support Donald Trump because he doesn't talk nice, or I won't support Pete Hegseth because he has a tattoo or whatever nonsense." His answer: "I would rather be engaged." He explains why "be kind" is not the 11th commandment ("the goal isn't to be kind to wickedness; the goal is to overcome evil with good") and why prayer comes first. His new book is Let's Pray for America: 30 Prayers for Our Nation's Future. And he has a parable about a Ferrari, some dirt and a tomato patch that you won't forget.Then Oxford theologian Alister McGrath, on the release day of his new book, Rethinking Christianity (Thomas Nelson). He asks: why won't Christianity stay buried? McGrath says Oxford students used to ask him to prove that Christianity makes sense. Now they ask whether it can give them meaning, purpose and a reason to live. He and Eric also talk about why faith and science aren't enemies, what skeptics taught him, and why C.S. Lewis, the atheist who became a Christian, still reaches people that many church leaders can't.Plus, the Bonhoeffer film returns to theaters January 24–27. Ask your church to bring it to a theater near you at bonhoeffermovie.com.Join Eric at Socrates in the City events in New York: Ignat Solzhenitsyn on November 12, the annual Christmas Gala on December 9 and Frank Turek on December 15. Details are at socratesinthecity.com. Pastor Allen Jackson: allenjackson.com. Alister McGrath: rethinking-christianity.com. Sign up for Eric's newsletter at ericmetaxas.com.00:00 Welcome: Book Signings and Eric's Newsletter02:18 The Cruise, the Gala and Ignat Solzhenitsyn04:55 The Bonhoeffer Film Returns January 24–2707:35 Pastor Allen Jackson Joins Eric08:45 Let's Pray for America: 30 Prayers11:19 Stop Being a Spectator Christian12:27 Churches That Stay Silent14:32 What Happened to the Church in Europe17:00 "Be Kind" Is Not the 11th Commandment18:57 America, a Gift We Have to Steward20:18 Get Busy: Works, Not Works Righteousness24:21 A Ferrari Full of Tomatoes25:06 Pray, Vote, Use Your Voice27:58 Bear the Name of Jesus in This Season30:48 Alister McGrath Joins Eric31:21 Why Rethink Christianity?33:25 Why Won't Christianity Stay Buried?35:46 What Oxford Students Ask Now37:33 After Covid: A Search for Meaning38:35 Faith and Science Are Not at War40:07 What Skeptics Taught Alister McGrath43:09 What C.S. Lewis Says to This Generation44:32 Who Rethinking Christianity Is For