S1 Ep19: "Christians are called to lay down our lives, not to take down other lives."

Impolite Company

Nish is away this week, so Amy is joined by guest co-host Rachel Johnson, executive minister of communications at Riverside Church in New York City.

We had a wonderful conversation teasing out some tensions in American religion: religious institutions try to deal with sexual abuse allegations internally to protect their brand--but they're losing congregants precisely because they're not transparent.

Religious conservatives love to hold up "Christian America" as morally superior to the godless cousins over in Europe--and yet you're much more likely to find towns and cities limiting commerce on the Sabbath in Europe than in the U.S. (aside from Chik-fil-A…)

And white evangelicals are convinced that they are the most persecuted of religious groups despite--or perhaps because of--the fact that they have almost never been in any real physical risk in this country.

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Discussed This Week:

"Andy Savage resigns from Highpoint Church following investigation" (Ron Maxey, USA Today Network)

"Update from Andy Savage" (Highpoint Church in Memphis)

"Australian court hears public testimony in Cardinal Pell abuse case" (Adam Baidawi, New York Times)

"We Need an Independent Investigation of Sovereign Grace Ministries" (Christianity Today)

"Streets deserted, airport closes for Bali's Day of Silence" (Associated Press)

Victoria (Masterpiece Theater on PBS)

Won't You Be My Neighbor? (Trailer, Focus Features)

TAG (Trailer, Warner Bros. Pictures)

Be Still and Go podcast (Riverside Church)