Cross & Gavel Podcast

Joining me today to talk about her new book on extermisn is a former homeland security official, Elizabeth Neumann. Her book is called Kingdom of Rage: The Rise of Christian Extremism and the Path Back to Peace, which looks at how we develop habits of extremism and how we can break the cycle. RELATED CONTENT Agents of Grace - Dan Darling (Episode # 168) Learning to Disagree - John Inazu (Episode # 162)

We have a very special episode today with David L. Bahsen about work and the meaning of life. His book, Full-Time, is a challeging and important contribution for resetting our worldviews to fully embrace our role as workers and Christians. I wrote a short introduction on the Cross & Gavel Substack (here) incorporating David's work with Matthew Kaemingk's Work and Worship (listen to our chat with him here) and John Witte, Jr.'s Table Talk.

Joining me this week to talk about reconciliation and civil discourse is the author of Agents of Grace: How to Bridge Divides and Love as Jesus Loved — Dan hosts the weekly podcast The Way Home, leads the Land Center for Cultural Engagement, and speaks at churches and conferences around the country. RELATED CONTENT Joy For The World - Greg Forster (Episode # 127) Learning to Disagree - John Inazu (Episode # 162) Cross & Gavel is a production of CHRISTIAN LEGAL SOCIETY. The episode was produced by Josh Deng, with music from Vexento.

Joining me this week to talk a little church history and political theology is the author of Cultural Santificaiton: Engaging the World like the Early Church — Stephen O. Presley. Stephen is a senior fellow for religion and public life at the Center for Religion, Culture, and Democracy (CRCD) and associate professor of church history at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS). Profile page here. RELATED CONTENT The Contested Public Square - Greg Forster (Episode # 113) Cross & Gavel is a production of CHRISTIAN LEGAL SOCIETY. The episode was produced by Josh Deng, with music from Vexento.

Joining me this week to talk about her new spiritual biography of J.R.R. Tolkien is Holly Ordway. She is the Cardinal Francis George Professor of Faith and Culture at the the Word on Fire Institute and Visiting Professor of Apologetics at Houston Christian University. Her other two books on Apologetics and Tolkien can be found here and here (respectively). For more, check out her website and Twitter account (@HollyOrdway). Listen to my earlier conversation with Holly here on her book, Tolkien's Modern Reading. The Namárië Forum ("go towards goodness") is an opportunity for us to step back from the mandates (and madness) of law and practice, and into a space for contemplation and imagination regarding the outworking of God in our day and age. In the words of Makoto Fujimura, "[c]ultivating our imagination is essential to fully realizing our potential as God's creatures." For a brief background to this Forum, check out my article here.

David VanDrunen, the Robert B. Strimple Professor of Systematic Theology and Christian Ethics at Westminster Seminary California, discusses the relevance of natural law in today’s world. He examines its historical roots in Protestant thought and emphasizes the need for renewed scholarly focus. Delving into human corruption, he reflects on the interplay of divine grace and moral understanding. The conversation also highlights how natural law can enhance personal well-being while fostering mutual respect across different beliefs, along with the impact of family structure on child development.

In honor of Second Chance Month, we continue our conversation on criminal justice by focusing on the history of law and order in America. My guest today is Aaron Griffith—assistant professor of modern American history at Whitworth University and the author of God's Law & Order: The Politics of Punishment in Evangelical America. RELATED CONTENT This is our third episode on criminal justice this spring. Watch the first episode with Matthew T. Martens here and the second with Heather Rice-Minus here. Cross & Gavel is a production of CHRISTIAN LEGAL SOCIETY. The episode was produced by Josh Deng, with music from Vexento.

In honor of Second Chance Month, I am joined by the President of Prison Fellowship, Heather Rice-Minus, to talk ministry in cells and the work that remains to be done for reintroducing prisoners into normal life. Follow their work on their website, here. RELATED CONTENT This is our second episode on criminal justice this spring. Watch the first episode with Matthew T. Martens here. Cross & Gavel is a production of CHRISTIAN LEGAL SOCIETY. The episode was produced by Josh Deng, with music from Vexento.

Joining me this week to talk about his brand new book, Learning to Disagree: The Surprising Path to Navigating Differences with Empathy and Respect, is John Inazu. He is the Sally D. Danforth Distinguished Professor of Law & Religion and Professor of Political Science (by courtesy) (bio page). Also check out his Substack here. RELATED CONTENT Confident Pluralism - John Inazu (Episode # 55) The Witte Lectures - John WItte, Jr. & John Inazu (here) Blessed Are The Peacemakers - Ken Sande (Episode # 114) Cross & Gavel is a production of CHRISTIAN LEGAL SOCIETY. The episode was produced by Josh Deng, with music from Vexento.

Joining me this week to talk about reforming criminal justice is the preeminent Christian thinker on matters of law and order, Matthew T. Martens. His new book, Reforming Criminal Justice: A Christian Proposal, is an essential text for helping students and practitioners alike integrate their faith with the legal profession. Buy it here. This is the first of three Spring episodes looking at the criminal justice system. RELATED CONTENT Break Every Yoke (Episode # 138). Romans 13 (Epsiode # 131) Cross & Gavel is a production of CHRISTIAN LEGAL SOCIETY. The episode was produced by Josh Deng, with music from Vexento.