In this episode of Question and Ethics, I answer a question about dealing with a combative mentor. How are we to respond to accusations and vitriol from others? What are we to do when we are unjustly maligned, and how are we to respond? As we respond, we must be careful as we are confronting a person who thrives on conflict not to become the same type of person. Because we have a sense of the Judgement Day, and the fact that justice will eventually be done, we are freed from our need to seek judgement in the present age. The only caveat is that we should not, by our refusal to engage in needless controversies, confuse those who would think that our lack of engagement is an endorsement of the teaching or actions of the controversial person.Join me each episode as I walk through your questions and ethical dilemmas. You can submit your question to questions@russellmoore.com (and I’ll never use your name unless you ask me to). I hope you’ll subscribe and leave a review or comment.

In this episode of Question and Ethics, I answer a question about my own crisis of faith. The question comes out of my writing about the generational crisis that is going on among young people leaving the faith and the tension that many are experiencing about the contradiction between what people read in the Bible and the Christian culture around them. Crises are not always a bad thing. They are the points that demand a decision and a moment of reflection. And the different types of crisis will demand a different response, whether of intellectual arguments or questions of authenticity and integrity. In all of these, we need not be afraid of the crisis, but rather trust the one who walks with us through it. Join me each episode as I walk through your questions and ethical dilemmas. You can submit your question to questions@russellmoore.com (and I’ll never use your name unless you ask me to). I hope you’ll subscribe and leave a review or comment.

In this episode of Question and Ethics, I answer a question about marriage and Social Security benefits. I once thought that this was a niche or uncommon problem. However, there is a rising number of senior adults who are foregoing marriage because doing so will cost them their social security benefits. There is an understandable (though incorrect) thought process for many of them as they are looking at their financial situation which may be precarious, especially if they lack family support. And this is especially problematic given that the state is unfairly penalizing and disincentivizing marriage. However, there are reasons that we should discourage this practice and encourage these seniors to marry and enter into the accountability and truth-telling that comes with those vows. Just as I would say to young adults who worry about their finances before getting married, I would encourage senior adults to get married and the financial matters will work themselves out. And this is a place where the church can step in and help bear one another’s financial burdens so that we encourage holy marriage and proper accountability within the community. Join me each episode as I walk through your questions and ethical dilemmas. You can submit your question to questions@russellmoore.com (and I’ll never use your name unless you ask me to). I hope you’ll subscribe and leave a review or comment.

In this episode of Question and Ethics, I answer a question about productivity. While not a moral question, it is a question that we all face in our lives as we have to face all the demands on our time and responsibilities. Though I’m less productive than people may think, and much of what looks like productivity is really just me doing what interests me, there are some practices that I have which are helpful for me. But I do have some advice for how to avoid the things that make me unproductive. Everything from perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and waiting for inspiration can hamper our calling and productivity.  Join me each episode as I walk through your questions and ethical dilemmas. You can submit your question to questions@russellmoore.com (and I’ll never use your name unless you ask me to). I hope you’ll subscribe and leave a review or comment.

In today’s episode of The Cross & the Jukebox, we talk about Vampire Weekend’s “Harmony Hall.” There is a dissonance between the dark lyrics of the song and the exuberance of the melody. Koenig’s lyrics speak to the way that anger can create a false sense of harmony, but also how that harmony can lead to injustice creating an incongruence between words and actions or a person’s public and private personas. Further, the imagery of the song points to some of the deepest longings in the human condition, especially the way that the pursuit of power can be the result of trauma and shame and end up replicating abuses of power. Though the temptation is to become cynical, Christians must instead recognize the pernicious effect of sin and at the same time not become apathetic to the injustice around us. Music Video: https://youtu.be/IlkTVMMkCP4Join me each week as I think about some of my favorite songs. I hope you’ll subscribe and leave a review or a comment.Episode NotesSong Exploder Interview with Ezra Koenig: https://songexploder.net/vampire-weekend"Are We the Baddies?" Clip: https://youtu.be/hn1VxaMEjRU

In this episode of Question and Ethics, I answer a question about family secrets. How do we react when secrets come to light that change how we see our family members or ourselves? Is it dishonoring to reveal those secrets or should we desire to make things known? This situation reveals something about our desire to understand our own story and how to make sense of it in light of this new situation. When these situations become known, we can ultimately take comfort in the fact that we are not the sum total of our genetic material or family line. Join me each episode as I walk through your questions and ethical dilemmas. You can submit your question to questions@russellmoore.com (and I’ll never use your name unless you ask me to). I hope you’ll subscribe and leave a review or comment.

In the relaunch of Question and Ethics, I answer a question that I get so often now: What do I do when my family is so divided over politics? How do I talk to family members that are combative about politics? Part of that division is the result of the way that we have idolized politics in our culture, as well as the growing polarization across a number of issues. However, I think that there are some practices that we can do to not inflame the relationships, even as we communicate truth. We should, as Paul exhorts Christians, strive to leave at peace with all people, so far as it depends on us (Rom. 12:18; Heb. 12:14).Join me each episode as I walk through your questions and ethical dilemmas. You can submit your question to questions@russellmoore.com (and I’ll never use your name unless you ask me to). I hope you’ll subscribe and leave a review or comment.

In today’s episode of First Word, we look at what is called the Table of Nations before moving into the Tower of Babel. These chapters mark a division between the earlier focus on humanity as a whole, and Abraham’s story specifically. In the story of the building of this tower, humanity was seeking a a sense of power and permanence. However, that seeking of permanence and unity, apart from the bond of God ultimately leads to division. Their attempt to construct this tower is a seeking after glory that is reserved for God alone. The way to receive a name is not by grasping at it or constructing great monuments, but rather by pouring ourselves out and losing our lives in the identity and name of Christ.I hope you’ll subscribe and leave a review or a comment.

In today’s episode of First Word, we continue the story of Noah and his descendants after the Flood. In this new start for the human race, God provides both a judgement on the ongoing wickedness of humanity as well as a promise of his grace and mercy in the rainbow. Also, we see the importance of blood and the way that God will require justice from those who shed the blood of another. This is continuing the sign of blood of how God is reconciling the world to himself in Christ. We also talk about the Noahic covenant and the death penalty, the way this text has been abused to support slavery, specifically the “Curse of Ham”), and how God uses dysfunctional families to accomplish his purposes. I hope you’ll subscribe and leave a review or a comment.Genesis 8:20-9:28 (ESV)God's Covenant with Noah20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. 22 While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.”9 And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. 2 The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every bird of the heavens, upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea. Into your hand they are delivered. 3 Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. 4 But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. 5 And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man.6 “Whoever sheds the blood of man,    by man shall his blood be shed,for God made man in his own image.7 And you, be fruitful and multiply, increase greatly on the earth and multiply in it.”8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, 9 “Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, 10 and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth. 11 I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” 12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13 I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17 God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”Noah's Descendants18 The sons of Noah who went forth from the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Ham was the father of Canaan.) 19 These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the people of the whole earth were dispersed.20 Noah began to be a man of the soil, and he planted a vineyard. 21 He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent. 22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside. 23 Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned backward, and they did not see their father's nakedness.24 When Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his youngest son had done to him, 25 he said,“Cursed be Canaan;    a servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.”26 He also said,“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem;    and let Canaan be his servant.27 May God enlarge Japheth,    and let him dwell in the tents of Shem,    and let Canaan be his servant.”28 After the flood Noah lived 350 years.

In today’s episode of The Cross & the Jukebox, we talk about Tammy Wynette’s “Stand By Your Man.” Though some might use this as a shorthand for fidelity in marriage, I think that the song is not about covenant faithfulness but rather a fatalistic view of human nature, especially in how it pictures how men and women relate to one another. However, as Christians we should expect more of men and women in marriage and in how they treat one another. This is not a protest against divorce culture, but rather a hyper submission and fatalistic view of marriage. But the view of the Bible is so much higher and requires trust for the one-flesh union. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2KP9fYZUWAJoin me each week as I think about some of my favorite songs. I hope you’ll subscribe and leave a review or a comment.Biography: Tammy Wynette: Tragic Country Queen by Jimmy McDonough

In this episode of First Word, we cover the story of Noah and the Flood narrative. Often we think of this story in a happy or serene way. However, this is fundamentally a story about judgment. We should take note of God’s patience in executing judgment on humanity as well as the final arrival of that judgment and God providing a way through it. The New Testament will pick up this image and tell us that our baptism is a sign of the judgment of sin and our deliverance through Jesus’ death.  I hope you’ll subscribe and leave a review or a comment.

In today’s episode of The Cross & the Jukebox, we take a break from country music to cover R.E.M.’s “Losing My Religion.” In a time when stories of people leaving the faith have become all too common, the song has become a sort of anthem for many. For many, this is less about cognitive decisions, and more about how religion has been used as a tool for power and maintaining cultural norms. This song functions as a lament at this contradiction between what the faith says and how the faithful act. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLhD-h1LRQsJoin me each week as I think about some of my favorite songs. I hope you’ll subscribe and leave a review or a comment.

In this episode of First Word, we continue the story of humanity in Genesis by following Cain after he is punished by God, as well as his descendants and those of Seth, the third son of Adam and Eve. In this transition period between the generations, the example of people like Lamech further evidences the fallenness of humanity. However, the picture of Seth’s birth is a sign of the future promise and the hope of a future overcoming of death for those in Christ. Both genealogies fear death, but where one tries to make self strong and powerful, the other recognizes need and "calls on the name of the Lord." This is an example of how we are all called to respond to our sin in repentance.Genesis 4:17-5:32 English Standard Version (ESV)17 Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch. 18 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. 19 And Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. 20 Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 21 His brother's name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. 22 Zillah also bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.23 Lamech said to his wives:“Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;    you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say:I have killed a man for wounding me,    a young man for striking me.24 If Cain's revenge is sevenfold,    then Lamech's is seventy-sevenfold.”25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” 26 To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord.5 This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. 2 Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man when they were created. 3 When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. 4 The days of Adam after he fathered Seth were 800 years; and he had other sons and daughters. 5 Thus all the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died.6 When Seth had lived 105 years, he fathered Enosh. 7 Seth lived after he fathered Enosh 807 years and had other sons and daughters. 8 Thus all the days of Seth were 912 years, and he died.9 When Enosh had lived 90 years, he fathered Kenan. 10 Enosh lived after he fathered Kenan 815 years and had other sons and daughters. 11 Thus all the days of Enosh were 905 years, and he died.12 When Kenan had lived 70 years, he fathered Mahalalel. 13 Kenan lived after he fathered Mahalalel 840 years and had other sons and daughters. 14 Thus all the days of Kenan were 910 years, and he died.15 When Mahalalel had lived 65 years, he fathered Jared. 16 Mahalalel lived after he fathered Jared 830 years and had other sons and daughters. 17 Thus all the days of Mahalalel were 895 years, and he died.18 When Jared had lived 162 years, he fathered Enoch. 19 Jared lived after he fathered Enoch 800 years and had other sons and daughters. 20 Thus all the days of Jared were 962 years, and he died.21 When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. 22 Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23 Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. 24 Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.25 When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he fathered Lamech. 26 Methuselah lived after he fathered Lamech 782 years and had other sons and daughters.27 Thus all the days of Methuselah were 969 years, and he died.28 When Lamech had lived 182 years, he fathered a son 29 and called his name Noah, saying, “Out of the ground that the Lord has cursed, this one shall bring us relief from our work and from the painful toil of our hands.” 30 Lamech lived after he fathered Noah 595 years and had other sons and daughters. 31 Thus all the days of Lamech were 777 years, and he died.32 After Noah was 500 years old, Noah fathered Shem, Ham, and Japheth. I hope you’ll subscribe and leave a review or a comment.

In this episode of “The Cross and the Jukebox,” I talk about one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite musicians: Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire.” The first time I heard it, I thought it was about hell. Later, I came to think it was about love. But now I realize it is about both. Join me each week as I think about some of my favorite songs. I hope you’ll subscribe and leave a review or a comment.

In this episode, we continue our journey through Genesis by looking at the story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4:1-17. In this dark passage of scripture, there are hints of grace and mercy. In this murderous chapter of human history, we see how the sinful actions start not with the external, but come from the internal motivations and dispositions. And we are reminded that the God who punishes Cain in just judgment is also the God who offers a temporary suspension of doom to Cain in exile. This is a shadow of the future judgement and grace offered to all of us in the person of Christ and the gospel.  Genesis 4:1-17 English Standard Version (ESV) 1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.” 2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. 3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 6 The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted?And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.” 8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. 9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground. 11 And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.12 When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.” 13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14 Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”15 Then the Lord said to him, “Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him.16 Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden. 17 Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch. I hope you’ll subscribe and leave a review or a comment. The post First Word: “Blood and Thunder” (Gen. 4:1-17) appeared first on Russell Moore.

In today’s episode of The Cross and the Jukebox, I talk not about a particular song, but about the sub-genre of Outlaw Country. These exiles of country music, were examples of authenticity, or congruence, and that is something that Christians can learn from when ministering to a world in yearning for integrity and truth.  Join me each week as I think about some of my favorite songs. I hope you’ll subscribe and leave a review or a comment. The post Cross & the Jukebox: Outlaw Country appeared first on Russell Moore.

In this episode, we continue our journey through Genesis by looking at The Fall, God’s judgment, and God’s grace in Genesis 3:6-24. This passage sets the stage for the future storyline of scripture of our guilt before God and our need for a redeemer. Join me as we explore what this moment reveals about the judgment and grace of God. Genesis 3:6-24 English Standard Version (ESV) 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. 8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 14 The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field;on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring;he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” 16 To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children.Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.” 17 And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the treeof which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field.19 By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread,till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken;for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” 20 The man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. 21 And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them. 22 Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—” 23 therefore the LordGod sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. 24 He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life. I hope you’ll subscribe and leave a review or a comment. The post First Word: “Guilt, Shame, and the Gospel” (Gen. 3:6-24) appeared first on Russell Moore.

In today’s special episode of the Russell Moore Podcast, I share my keynote from the Just Gospel 2020 Conference. The title is “Community Is Not Enough: Tribalism, Injustice, and the Freedom to Stand Alone” (Mark 5:1-20).” Listen here or watch below. I hope you’ll subscribe and leave a review or a comment. The post Community Is Not Enough: Tribalism, Injustice, and the Freedom to Stand Alone” (Mark 5:1-20) appeared first on Russell Moore.

This special episode of the Russell Moore podcast is taken from my keynote at the “MLK50: Reflections from the Mountaintop” conference hosted in conjunction with The Gospel Coalition on the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Be sure to subscribe for all the latest episodes of the Russell Moore Podcast. The post Racial Justice and the Uneasy Conscience of American Christianity appeared first on Russell Moore.

In this episode, we continue our journey through Genesis by looking at the temptation of Adam and Eve and the entrance of sin into the world. In today’s text, we cover Genesis 3:1 – 6. This passage reveals something to us about how the original couple was tempted, but also how each of us are tempted daily by the serpent. Join me as we explore what this moment reveals about the past and our present. Genesis 3: 1-6 English Standard Version (ESV) 1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LordGod had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. The post First Word: “The Path To and From Temptation” (Gen. 3:1-6) appeared first on Russell Moore.