Biblical Conversation(s)

In this interview, Pesach and I discuss some of the unhelpful ways that certain people of faith have responded to the pandemic gripping our world. How does God want us to respond? Can we know what God is saying to us through these difficult times? Pesach critiques some of the interpretations being offered in Israel by certain rabbis there. He goes to Exod 33:21-22 to point out that Moses could only really glimpse God from the backside. In other words, while momentous events are going on, it is almost as if God's hand is before our eyes. This is not a time of understanding but faithful, humble, prayerful service. After the tragedy passes by, only then can we get a glimpse of God's will. The link to the opinion piece mentioned in Jerusalem Post is:  https://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Faith-and-arrogance-in-times-of-the-coronavirus-crisis-621213 We also discussed I Chronicles 7:13-14 which is being quoted quite a bit these days.

This episode seeks to engage in the terrible virus sweeping our country asking, “What biblical themes should we be thinking about? Where is God speaking to us? What lessons can we learn?" I talked with Todd Mueller, an (associate professor of business administration), Eric and Denise Van Meter (campus pastors at DWU) and I have some thoughts of my own. The sound quality is not good because of social distancing. In one case, I recorded with an app that allowed us to be at some distance. In another case, we recorded in studio but standing a bit further away than is normal. But I have an idea as to how we can improve the recording next time and still retain a social distancing. The article I mentioned in Harvard Health can be found here. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-coronavirus-pandemic-is-not-good-but-the-news-is-not-all-bad-2020031919247

Betty Oldenkamp is the Executive Director of Lutheran Social Services in Sioux Falls and Director of their "Center for New Americans" which helps refugees resettle into South Dakota. In this episode, Betty and I discussed the striking way in which the Bible in both testaments expresses tremendous concern for the refugee. One text actually declares a curse on those who misuse and mistreat refugees (Deut 27:19). See the link below. Betty discussed the tremendous work involved in helping refugees resettle and the striking resilience, perseverance, bravery and entrepreneurship these persons display. The application process is extensive and exhaustive before they even set foot on American soil. Tragically, some of the most desperate refugee situations involve countries banned entrance. Because of increased restrictions in the present administration, the numbers of refugees being resettled has gone from roughly 500 a year to 60 or so (into South Dakota).  

This episode is for students in my REL 141 course which is going online until Mar 30. I discuss Pascal’s Wager for those struggling to believe in God.

This is my second episode on the Bible and Immigration and is an interview with my friend and colleague Thomas Madut. Thomas was one of the "Lost Boys of Sudan" who fled from the Janjaweed fighters who wrecked devastation throughout south Sudan in the mid-1990's. Thomas is an extraordinary marathon runner and ranked 46th in the Boston Marathon just a few years ago. Thomas is a Trio Student Success Adviser and a Peer Mentor Coordinator here at Dakota Wesleyan University. I interviewed him about his experience of transformation from the refugee camps of Ethiopia and Kenya to the plains of South Dakota. We discussed the biblical texts commanding compassion for foreigners. It was fun to see Thomas' eyes light up as he realized the important place immigrants, orphans and widows have in God's heart of compassion. They are the persons God especially cares for because they lack the typical structures of societal support and provision. https://www.openbible.info/topics/foreigners

This podcast examines a recent experience I had advocating for South Dakota HB 1212 which would have added clergy to the list of mandatory reporters of suspected cases of child neglect and abuse. 45 states already mandate that clergy report suspected cases. Reporting suspected abuse does not mean that anyone gets in trouble. It just means that a qualified professional checks in on the child's welfare. Teachers, counselors, healthcare providers, social welfare workers and many other professions are already mandatory reporters. The Board of Ordained Ministries of the Dakota's Conference of the United Methodist Church says, "House Bill 1212 not only aids in offering protections for our most vulnerable members of society but also frees our clergy to be better disciple-makers who model the teachings of Jesus and speak up on behalf of children."  You would think it would be a no-brainer, right?  Enter Norman Woods of the Family Heritage Alliance - a conservative organization that "seeks to defend the valu

We now know that January 2020 was the hottest January since temperatures have been tracked. Let’s talk climate. What does the Bible say about our environment? How should we think biblically about the multiple human impacts on the created world? Besides a warming environment, insect populations and bird populations are in steep descent. This episode contains a biblical conversation with David Hollis, the Director of the Wesley Foundation at Belmont University in Nashville. David is the author of a book on the topic called "Three Trees: The Beginning, Middle and New Beginning of Creation's Story" (available on Amazon). David and I discussed the challenges facing our environment and the difficulties that often stem from misunderstandings of the Bible's creation story in Genesis 1. David and I followed a structure in our conversation called the "Wesleyan Quadrilateral" which defines a process of thinking through social/cultural/theological issues asking a series of questions. 1) What does the Bible say? 2) What i

This is the second half of the conversation I had recently with Vicky Vetter and Karl Kroger. Vicky is the Director of Student Ministries at Legacy United Methodist Church in Bismarck ND. She's very involved in helping resettle and educate immigrants in the Bismarck area. Karl is the Senior Pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in Piedmont SD and has been passionate about immigration and refugees. In 2013, Karl, along with students from Bethlehem Bible College, helped minister to Syrian refugees in Jordan.  We're still following what we call the STER analysis: Scripture, Tradition, Experience and Reason. This is often called the Wesleyan Quadrilateral. Its simply a way of working through theological/ethical issues asking the questions: 1) What does Scripture teach?, 2) What is the tradition of the church?, 3) What is my experience here and 4) what seems to be in accord with the common sense dictates of human reason. In this episode, Karl talks about his experiences with immigrants and refugees and helps us

What attitude should we take toward people who have entered this nation illegally? Should mercy and benevolence triumph over justice and the law? What about those who immigrate here lawfully or those who seek asylum? Vicky, Karl and I waded into this vast and complex topic using the Wesleyan Quadrilateral as our guide. We also call this the "STER analysis" which follows these 4 questions. What does Scripture teach? (the S in STER). What about the traditions of our church (the T in STER). Here we consulted the social principles of the Methodist faith. If you are non-Methodist, I encourage you to check your own denominational statement. Thirdly, what experiences do I have that shape my understanding? (the E) and what seems to be in accordance with the dictates of human reason? (our R). Just so you know, we hear more from Vicky in this first section, and more from Karl in the second. The recording was divided into two episodes. The next will cover part two, as I said, with more Karl.

This is the first episode in Biblical Conversations on a “social issues” topic. We’re going to jump in deep. Let's talk about abortion. We can say with some confidence that this is the issue that got Trump elected - evangelicals loved his promise to select judges for SCOTUS that would be strongly anti-abortion. And, in the last several days, about 200 legislators signed an amicus brief to SCOTUS to revisit Roe vs Wade. Yet, conversations on this topic are typically rancorous and less than illuminating. In this discussion, Alisha Vincent, Jeff Pospisil and I had a very energetic yet completely enjoyable conversation coming at the question from three different angles. I think this episode will provide some new ways to approach the topic that some, if you’re interested and open, might find helpful. I recognize that this topic is painful to many, and I deeply hope this is a source of comfort and succor to weary souls. I do also hope that we provide something of a model for civil conversation on a challenging topi

This episode explores the biblical story of King Josiah (2 Kings 22-23). There are two powerful puzzles related to this story. 1) Why was the prophetess Huldah so negative and depressingly unhopeful? Jeremiah was prophesying great hope and salvation predicated on obedience at this same time! (Jer 7). Secondly, if Josiah was so pious (and he was!), why didn't God protect him in battle? Here, Josiah could hardly been a more pious and godly leader. He did his level best to follow the Torah laws by destroying all the idolatrous paraphernalia in Judah and establishing a Passover ceremony for the whole nation according to biblical law. And these laws promise blessings and prosperity to those who keep them (see Lev 26 and Deut 28). Yet Josiah, the great and godly king, went into battle and was promptly killed. The paradigm of divine retribution on parade in the Old Testament is clearly not working. So the whole notion of divine retribution is a paradigm in crisis and increasingly biblical writers question and reject

This episode is a sermon I put together for the Christmas Season this year. Of course, the Christmas Season actually begins on Christmas and continues on for the 12 days of Christmas to January 6 when this episode should appear. I’ll discuss three things about the Christmas story that you may not know and may surprise the way you read the story from here on out. Enjoy!

In this episode, Drs. Belanger and Redder, colleagues of mine here at Dakota Wesleyan University, discuss the prophecies of Isaiah 11 and 60. Also, Jeff Pospicil and I discussed Isaiah 60 - the second part of a previous conversation.

In this episode, I'll have two discussions with Eric Van Meter, Jeff Pospisil. Eric and I discuss the messianic prophecy of Isaiah 7:10-17, and Jeff and I will discuss Isaiah 9:1-7. We discuss the fact that all these "prophetic" passages had very specific meanings in their own political context. Isaiah 7 was originally written to strengthen Ahaz in about 735 BC as he was facing the combined armies of Israel and Syria (not Assyria) who were wanting to force Judah into an anti-Assyrian alliance. The prophecy probably refers to the wife of King Ahaz whose child's birth (probably Hezekiah) was to represent the protective care and presence of God with them even though Jerusalem was under siege. How can these prophecies be applied to Jesus when, in their context, they likely refer to a child born 725 years before the birth of Christ. 725 years! That is a long time!

This episode explores the meaning of the book of Psalms as it relates to kingship. Turns out, the very structure of the book (divided into five sub-books with Royal Psalms at the seams) tells the story of the shifting understanding of Yahweh’s relation to Kings of Israel. We also see evidence of a shift in emphasis from Temple to Torah.

In this episode, we examine various attitudes about kingship in ancient Israel starting with the book of Judges (the theme mentioned four times toward the end that “In those days, there was no king in Israel” - clearly indicating that Israel needed a King to straighten out the mess of the Judges period) and ending with Jeremiah (ch 7 - clear indication of a conditional understanding of the covenant). We spend time looking at God’s promise to David about building him a royal house (II Sam 7 - an unconditional understanding of covenant).

This episode analyzes the developing understanding of kingship in ancient Israel - from Gideon’s rejection of kingship altogether (Yahweh is our King! We don’t need another!) to Christ our Messianic King, we survey biblical kingship and the competing understandings. We examine Gen 35 which foretells of Israelite kings who would come from the loins of the patriarchs of old. Then we'll take a look at the restrictive code of kings in Deut 17. On the other side of the coin, we find Gideon’s rejection of kingship altogether (although he did create an idolatrous ephod (a very confusing idea but that's what it says). Gideon's son Abimelek has no difficulty claiming kingship. His tragic pursuit of kingly glory led to the murder of his family except for his brother. Jotham's celebrated fable conveys deep suspicion concerning kings! Only a scoundrel would accept such a position and the position itself provides nothing of value.

I read an introduction to Ecclesiastes the other day that described Ecclesiastes as purveying an “edgy spirituality” that was challenging in the moment but in the end served to encourage faith and discipleship. That got me thinking about BC as a similar “edgy spirituality” that asks difficult questions but builds a firmer faith in the end. The more I thought about this, the more I wanted to share these thoughts with you. So here we go! Happy Thanksgiving!

I’ve made some alterations to my first episode and I’m republishing it in this downtime before Season 2 begins (Dec. 4). I’ve added a new opening segment which I recently recorded to say again what I want in this podcast. Let me know what you think! I'm excited about Season Two and I already have the first few episodes pretty much ready to roll. BC is still about an analysis of biblical disagreements to understand them from the vantage point  of deepened faith and enriched discipleship to Christ. Season Two is all about the development of the concept of "Kingship" in ancient Israel. This is appropriate for the Advent season when we welcome Christ as our Messiah/King.  Please contact me on Facebook or Twitter or email me at joallen@dwu.edu.

Rabbi Wolicki - our guest on Biblical Conversations! In this episode, Rabbi Wolicki and I discuss rabbinic understandings of the relationship between godliness and the good life, whether the retribution system functioned at the individual level, the corporate level, or both. (See BC 10, BC 11 and BC 12). We discuss how retribution for sin and blessing for goodness would destroy genuine morality and replace it with a crass system of payment. We agree that the blessing and curse system must function at the corporate level and that this answers the problem of individual suffering (it doesn’t imply evil). We also discussed (and I think preferred) the idea that the corporate blessing of righteousness is backed into the system. God so designed the world so that righteousness brings blessing to groups of people even though individuals may suffer even sinlessly and evil folks may live happy lives. Some biblical passages we discussed are Deut 19:16-21, Mark 9:43-44, Rom 18 and 26 and Rev 14:10b. There was also a passa