Truce - History of the Christian Church

William Jennings Bryan.If we know him at all it is from the Scopes Monkey Trial at the end of his life. Or maybe we know of his 3 failed campaigns for President of the United States on the Democratic ticket. But many of us are unaware of his efforts to establish world peace. William Jennings Bryan hated war. He wasn't a pacifist - he enlisted for the Spanish-American War after all. But he saw the meaningless carnage of war and vowed to do his best to reduce the amount of bloodshed.So "The Commoner" used his position as Secretary of State under President Wilson to establish 30 peace treaties. In this mini-episode, we revisit his career and talk about the impact this man might have had if WWI hadn't slowed his progress.God-willing I'll be back soon with a full episode! Thanks for your patience!Helpful Sources: "A Godly Hero" book by Michael Kazin "A Righteous Cause" book by Robert Cherny "The Evangelicals" by Frances Fitgerald "Money: The True Story of a Made Up Thing" by Jacob Goldstein "What's Your Problem?" podcast from Pushkin Industries, hosted by Jacob Goldstein Discussion Questions: William Jennings Bryan was the head of the party of Jim Crow. Do his actions to stop imperialism or war shape how you feel about him? Would a conciliation treaty policy work today? Is world peace a worthy goal today? What role do weapons play in that? How might this tie into fundamentalism? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Now that we've read In His Steps together and discussed it, let's talk about another work of fiction. Looking Backward was written by Edward Bellamy. That name may sound familiar! We talked about his cousin Frances Bellamy in the episode about the Pledge of Allegiance. Frances was a Christian socialist. Edward wrote his famous book looking forward to the year 2000. He predicted that the United States would be a socialist paradise. People would work hard, retire early, and equality would reign.None of that came true.We're talking about it today in order to understand the zeitgeist in the late 1800s. This book sold over half a million copies in its first few years of publication. It is now over a million copies. That doesn't happen without stirring something in society. As we'll see, socialism was tied to the Social Gospel. The opposition to the Social Gospel is what would go on to create the Christian fundamentalist movement.Helpful Links: What's the Difference Between Communism and Socialism? - Episode of Truce from season 3 A helpful New York Times article about Looking Backward Discussion Questions: How have fictional books you've read impacted your worldview? What do you think about Bellamy's predictions? How does the fear of socialism and communism impact evangelicalism? What real threats were facing evangelicalism in the 1800s? How about now? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Truce Podcast via Patreon or through the website you can do Paypal, check, or Venmo!We've been reading the book "In His Steps" together for the last few weeks. It was written by Charles Sheldon, a man whose book is often associated with the social gospel movement. While some historians struggle over the significance of this work, it's pretty plain how it fits this movement.I invited patrons of the show to listen early and then discuss their thoughts on this controversial book.What did you think about the audiobook? Should I record other books this same way?Discussion Questions: Did you enjoy "In His Steps"? Why or why not? How do you think women were portrayed in "In His Steps"? What do you think about the Home Economics movement? How did you see the social gospel in the book? Is the book evangelistic? At which points? If not, why not? Does Christian media need to be "heavy handed"? Recommended Resources: In His Steps by Charles Sheldon The Secret History of Home Economics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is part 3 of an audiobook presented on Truce. Please start at part 1!Become a patron of the show to keep more content like this coming your way!In His Steps by Charles Sheldon is a classic of Christian fiction. It is also one of the top-selling Christian books of all time. We've been running through the history of Christian fundamentalism this season. It's worth noting that fundamentalism was a reaction to liberal theology, especially modernism. Another form of liberal theology was the "Social Gospel". It was a movement led by people like Walter Rauschenbusch that emphasized the socially conscious aspects of Christianity, while simultaneously downplaying evangelism.Christian fundamentalists did not like the Social Gospel. For one thing, it had a positive view of human progress. It said that the world could get better and better and then Jesus would return. Christian fundamentalists generally think that world history trends downward.I'm presenting this original audio recording for many reasons. I think this book offers a great window into the era in which it was created (the late 1800s). It also represents the Social Gospel and a slice of the Holiness movement quite well. Finally, I think we need to hear this story in our modern context. Modern Christian churches are divided. What would happen if we dared to ask "What Would Jesus Do?"Things to track as you listen: The role of women in this society Wealthy attitudes toward the poor The genesis of financial woes in this book is sometimes economic crisis (the late 1800s was full of panics and recessions) and sometimes sin based The Holiness movement and those who object to it Is this book evangelistic? If so, how is the gospel presented? If not, what does this book leave out? The overall positive view of human progress Social movements like the pure foods movement, temperance, suffrage, anti-gambling In His Steps resides in the public domain, but this recording is copyrighted in 2022 by Truce Media LLC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the second part of the series. Please start with part 1.In His Steps by Charles Sheldon is a classic of Christian fiction. It is also one of the top-selling Christian books of all time. We've been running through the history of Christian fundamentalism this season. It's worth noting that fundamentalism was a reaction to liberal theology, especially modernism. Another form of liberal theology was the "Social Gospel". It was a movement led by people like Walter Rauschenbusch that emphasized the socially conscious aspects of Christianity, while simultaneously downplaying evangelism.Christian fundamentalists did not like the Social Gospel. For one thing, it had a positive view of human progress. It said that the world could get better and better and then Jesus would return. Christian fundamentalists generally think that world history trends downward.I'm presenting this original audio recording for many reasons. I think this book offers a great window into the era in which it was created (the late 1800s). It also represents the Social Gospel and a slice of the Holiness movement quite well. Finally, I think we need to hear this story in our modern context. Modern Christian churches are divided. What would happen if we dared to ask "What Would Jesus Do?"Things to track as you listen: The role of women in this society Wealthy attitudes toward the poor The genesis of financial woes in this book is sometimes economic crisis (the late 1800s was full of panics and recessions) and sometimes sin based The Holiness movement and those who object to it Is this book evangelistic? If so, how is the gospel presented? If not, what does this book leave out? The overall positive view of human progress Social movements like the pure foods movement, temperance, suffrage, anti-gambling In His Steps resides in the public domain, but this recording is copyrighted in 2022 by Truce Media LLC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Want more Truce? Give a little bit each month and you'll gain access to a patrons-only Zoom event!We'll be getting together to discuss "In His Steps" and answer listener questions. This event is open to anyone who gives $10/month or more on Patreon. Link: https://www.patreon.com/trucepodcastEvent details: Tuesday August 9, 2022 at 8pm EST/7pm CST/ 6pm MT/ 5pm PST. Zoom link will be posted on Patreon for those who give $10/month or more.If you cannot give to help the show, but still really want to participate, please get in touch with @trucepodcast on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook and Chris will try to squeeze you in.Potential discussion topics: How "In His Steps" ties into the Holiness and Social Gospel movements What is the role of the female characters in this book? The role of wealth and poverty in the story What this book means to us Is "In His Steps" an evangelistic book? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In His Steps by Charles Sheldon is a classic of Christian fiction. It is also one of the top-selling Christian books of all time. We've been running through the history of Christian fundamentalism this season. It's worth noting that fundamentalism was a reaction to liberal theology, especially modernism. Another form of liberal theology was the "Social Gospel". It was a movement led by people like Walter Rauschenbusch that emphasized the socially conscious aspects of Christianity, while simultaneously downplaying evangelism.Christian fundamentalists did not like the Social Gospel. For one thing, it had a positive view of human progress. It said that the world could get better and better and then Jesus would return. Christian fundamentalists generally think that world history trends downward.I'm presenting this original audio recording for many reasons. I think this book offers a great window into the era in which it was created (the late 1800s). It also represents the Social Gospel and a slice of the Holiness movement quite well. Finally, I think we need to hear this story in our modern context. Modern Christian churches are divided. What would happen if we dared to ask "What Would Jesus Do?"Things to track as you listen: The role of women in this society Wealthy attitudes toward the poor The genesis of financial woes in this book is sometimes economic crisis (the late 1800s was full of panics and recessions) and sometimes sin based The Holiness movement and those who object to it Is this book evangelistic? If so, how is the gospel presented? If not, what does this book leave out? The overall positive view of human progress Social movements like the pure foods movement, temperance, suffrage, anti-gambling In His Steps resides in the public domain, but this recording is copyrighted in 2022 by Truce Media LLC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can a Christian be holy? Can we go a week, a day, or an hour without sinning?These are questions that modern Christians struggle with. They have their origin in John Wesley, a hymn writer, preacher, and one of the founders of Methodism. In this episode of Truce, we track how this seemingly simple concept got tied up in movements from fundamentalism to Pentecostalism.This episode is going to seem a bit "out there". But this information is important to fundamentalism. Keswick Holiness in particular created an "us and them" scenario where there are Christians who "get it" and those who don't. The divide is between "carnal" Christians and those who are really saved. This impulse makes it easier for fundamentalists to see themselves as set apart from other Christians.We're joined by Chris Evans, author of "Do Everything" which is a biography of suffragette Frances Willard.Helpful Sources and Links: D.L. Moody: A Life by Kevin Belmonte The Evangelicals by Frances Fitzgerald John Wesley's tract on perfection Fundamentalism and American Culture by George Marsden Church History in Plain Language by Bruce Shelley Discussion Questions: How long can a Christian go without sinning? Do you see yourself as "better" or "different" from other Christians? Why? How does that impact the way you treat them? How did the holiness movement shape Pentecostalism? Do you see history and ideas as straight lines, or as a tangle? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After the evangelist D.L. Moody died at the end of the 1800s, he left behind a series of lieutenants, guys who carried on the work of sharing the gospel and shaping culture. It was these men who went on to set the foundation of the fundamentalist movement in the United States. James Gray, Arthur Pierson, A.J. Gordon, Charles Blanchard, and William Erdman, C.I. Scofield, and William Bell Riley. These guys went on to found schools, start radio ministries, spearhead publications, and amass large followings. They wrote the influential (if under-read) pamphlet series “The Fundamentals” and would fight the rise of Darwinism in schools and liberal theology in denominations.In this episode, we'll explore the emergence of fiefdoms in evangelicalism—ministries with little or no denominational oversight. This method of ministry was crucial in landing us where we are today. Could the evangelicals Church of today use a Magna Carta of sorts to keep ministries under accountability?Helpful Sources and Links: D.L. Moody: A Life by Kevin Belmonte The Evangelicals by Frances Fitzgerald A helpful article on the Magna Carta https://www.britannica.com/topic/Magna-Carta Fundamentalism and American Culture by George Marsden Short bio on Reuben Torrey Forbes article about Christianity in Ivy League Colleges Church History in Plain Language by Bruce Shelley Discussion Questions: Do you think that ministry leaders should be held accountable? Should accountability be external or is it okay to limit it to internal accountability? Are there steps that Truce can take as a show to introduce accountability without bogging Chris down with too many requirements? Do you live in a Christian “bubble”? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the bubble? Would you let your kids go to a secular school? Why or why not? It's interesting that Reuben Torrey was seen as snooty. Do you think that attitude is compatible with humble Christian service? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

DL Moody. The name may be familiar. There is a Moody Publishers, a Moody Bible Institute, Moody Radio. His name is all over evangelicalism. His remarkable life story is something worth noting. Though Moody was not a fundamentalist, some of the tactics he used to build his ministry would be employed by some of his lieutenants when they built the foundation of the movement.So we're going to spend this episode talking about this remarkable man. Born in poverty, educated to only about a 4th-grade level, he would rise to become one of the most important American evangelists. His folksy style and booming voice were winsome to the millions of people to whom he preached. In this difficult series about controversial ideas, why not take some time to discuss something that went right in the late 1800s? The ministry of Moody.I'm joined in this episode by Kevin Belmonte. He's the author of several history books including D.L. Moody: A Life. Check out his books and let me know what you think!Helpful Links and Sources Kevin Belmonte's book D.L. Moody: A Life The Evangelicals by Frances Fitzgerald A nice bio on Harry Moorhouse See the plaque where Moody was converted Discussion Questions Have you ever shared the gospel with someone like Mr. Kimball did in the shoe store? Why or why not? Is there someone you could pray for that they would be saved? Why do you think Moody was so popular in his day? Have you ever encountered Moody Radio, Publishers, or Bible Institute? The “Christian bubble” really started to take shape in the era of Moody. How has the “bubble” impacted your life? What are your views on poverty? How do people become poor and how can it be fixed? Do you think that all poor people are lazy? Why? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices