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.

BC 2.16 Interview with Rabbi Pesach Wolicki: God and the Coronavirus

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

BC 2.15 The Bible and the Coronavirus (or "How a few folks at DWU are living out their faith")

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).  

BC 2.14 A Conversation with Betty Oldenkamp on the Bible, Refugees and the Refugee Resettlement

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.

REL 141 Belief in God and Pascal’s Wager

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

BC 2.13 The story of Thomas Madut: From Lost Boy of Sudan to Marathon Runner Extraordinaire

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 values that you cherish" - namely the protection of family, faith and freedom. Norm testified against the bill claiming it was an impingement on first amendment protection of the free exercise of religion. Legislators there clearly know Norman and respect his opinion. The bill passed out of the Judiciary committee on a 9/3 vote and was voted down in the House of Representatives on a 30/35 vote. I believe if the FHA hadn't opposed it, it would have passed.  I argue in this podcast that the biblical support provided on the FHA website for their work in protecting religious liberties completely misses the point of the two passages on which it is based (1 Peter 2:11-14 and Romans 13:1-3). It is a great example of reading what you want to see into the Bible and ignoring what it actually says. Secondly, the FHA didn't provide any explanation on what exactly makes HB 1212 a 1st amendment curtailment. Norman simply said it was. But there is a very clear argument otherwise (provided in the podcast). Furthermore, as far as we can tell, there has not been a single 1st amendment challenge brought against any of the 45 states where clergy are mandatory reporters. Not a single one. If we were truly dealing with a curtailment of the free exercise of religion, someone would have noticed and brought a challenge. But this is not the case.  There is absolutely no good reason to say that HB 1212 threatened 1st amendment religious freedoms. I think it is clear that children are now less safe, less protected, their welfare less prioritized because of this political influence. It is hard to prioritize the welfare of children. It so often gets ignored because people don't want to disturb their church with information about sexual abuse that may occur. So it gets swept under the carpet with the claim, "The state has no business telling the church what to do." As I say in the podcast, the state cannot tell a preacher how to interpret the Bible, but it sure can tell him how fast

BC 2.12 The Curious Case of SD HB 1212: Where the 1st Amendment and the Welfare of Children Collide

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 is the tradition of the church? 3) What is my experience in this topic and 4) What would be in accord with human reason? These questions don't solve problems necessarily but it provides a helpful way to think through things. Here is the link to our discussion notes (which we did not exhaust in any way!). 
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SnVOCKtXQ8QXokmgUxrF4NjYokOKDIyQ75bhXcQJ_ek/edit?usp=sharing

BC 2.11 The Bible and Our Environment: A Biblical Conversation with David Hollis

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 think through ways we might be able to either advocate for and being involved with these issues.
If you haven't listened to the previous episode, you'll really need to back up and do that. This episode is completely dependent on that one. There we discussed Scripture, tradition and Vicky's experience with immigrants in the Bismarck area. In this episode, Karl will discuss his experience and lead us in a conversation about helpful ways forward. 
Again, The Bible and Immigration Part Two: A Conversation with Vicky Vetter and Karl Kroger.

BC 2.10 The Bible and Immigration: Part Two A conversation with Vicky Vetter and Karl Kroger

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.

BC 2.9 The Bible and the Immigrant: Conversation with Vicky Vetter and Karl Kroger

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 topic. The primary biblical text discussed is Exod 21:22-23 - the only legal text in the Bible touching on the question of the legal status of a pre-born infant in utero. Many thanks to Dr. Alisha Vincent and Jeffrey Pospisil for donating their time and energy to this conversation.

BC 2.8 Abortion: A New Way Forward? A discussion with Alisha Vincent and Jeff Pospisil

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 it (Job  and Ecclesiastes). Interestingly, when we read the NT, we find both Jesus and Paul have rejected the whole notion of divine retribution (Luke 13:1-4, John 9, Romans 8:18ff).
So the Bible itself has changed its mind (if we can say it that way). Within the Bible, we have a clear shift of opinions: sometimes the righteous suffer and the wicked prosper. The world is much more mysterious and ambiguous than you would believe reading the Old Testament. So, let's talk about changing your mind. Let's learn to do it well. Some people, when they decide to change their mind, completely reject everything they believed before. A better process might be to determine exactly what isn't working and what is (the old baby and bathwater idea). 
Let me offer a few words of advice on changing your mind (its going to happen because we're human and don't know lots of things).


 Do it in conversation with others - a community of faith.

 Do it in conversation with scripture - What is revealed by scripture?

 Do it with an awareness of the traditions of our church - What is illuminated by tradition?  “Does the Book of Discipline or the Social Principles of our church address the topic?”

 Be clear as to exactly your reasons - What is confirmed by reason?

  Identify what, in your experience? - What is verified by my experience?

  Be clear exactly what you’re leaving and what you’re hanging on it.

  You’ll find Christ walking beside you every step of the way.

BC 2.7 The Josiah Enigma and the Art of Changing your Mind

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!

BC 2.6 Three Christmas Surprises

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.

BC 2.5 Messiah Prophecies in Isaiah 11 and 60

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!

BC 2.4 Advent Study: Prophecies of the Messiah

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.

BC 2.3 Advent Study: Yahweh’s Kingship in the Psalms

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).

BC 2.2 An Advent Study: Yahweh and the King: From Gideon to Golgotha Episode 2 in the series

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.

BC 2.1 An Advent Study: Yahweh and the King: From Gideon to Golgotha

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!

BC Bonus: Ecclesiastes and Edgy Spirituality

We are living in a day an age of skyrocketing mental health challenges. Anxiety and depression seem to be at all-time highs. This episode explores Psalm 42 (the famous “As the Deer” Psalm) for lessons and exhortation as to how we can do the work of soul-strengthening so we can avoid being devastated by the storms of life. 3) How are you crafting time in your schedule for private time with God? How are you developing this personal connection with God through prayer and scripture study?

BC 22 “As the Deer” or “Exercise for Soul Strength”

Brandon and I discussed the issues surrounding the reception of wisdom traditions in the ancient and modern worlds. Brandon referred to a book exploring how the NT understands Jesus to be the embodiment of wisdom. Its by Ben Witherington III. The full title is “Jesus the Sage: The Pilgrimage of Wisdom” (Fortress, 2000).

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