Theology Threads
Weaponized Empathy, Practicing The Way, Millennial Views, and Thinking Through Politics From a Christian Perspective
In Romans chapter 8, the Apostle Paul tells us, "Those who walk according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who walk according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace."
In Colossians, he tells us, "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."
As Christians, we need to be consistently setting our minds on the things of the Spirit. A practical help the Lord gives us unto this end is good, spiritual resources. Whether they be books, articles, sermons, or podcasts, Christians can help each other by sharing encouraging resources with one another.
As part-time seminarians, Collin and I listen and read a lot. We are publishing these "Theology Threads" to point you to resources that we have found encouraging or thought-provoking over the last couple of weeks.
I’ve got four resources that I want to recommend to you today.
1- Thinking in Public: The Sin of Empathy — A Conversation with Joe Rigney
As Christians, we understand empathy to be a fundamentally good thing. We are called to be those who weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. However, is it possible that this virtue could be applied in a biblically disproportionate way? Has empathy become something that is regularly weaponized in our culture and used to hold Christians captive? I found this conversation between Albert Mohler and Joe Rigney incredibly thought-provoking and highly relevant to 21st-century believers.
2 - Engaging with "Practicing the Way": Nine Thoughts on John Mark Comer's Best Seller by Daniel Schreiner
John Mark Comer has emerged as the most influential voice in contemporary Christianity among Gen Z. He has authored multiple New York Times bestsellers, with his most popular book, Practicing the Way, selling nearly half a million copies.
Given his significant influence, Christians should carefully examine Comer's teachings and understand the source of his widespread appeal. In this article, Dan Schreiner, son of Tom Schreiner and pastor at Hinson Baptist Church, offers well-grounded cautions to Christians engaging with Comer's work.
3 - An Evening of Eschatology, Part 1 & Part 2
A few weeks ago, the Kenwood Institute published a second edition of the very popular "Evening of Eschatology."
If you're interested in growing in your knowledge of eschatology (theology of the end times) and particularly your millennial views, I would commend these two discussions to you. They are a great way to hear arguments from multiple perspectives and get a grasp on the issue as a whole. I think their conversational nature makes them a great entry point into a very technical issue.
4 - Trump vs Zelenskyy: Deals, Diplomacy and God: Speak Life Podcast
Lastly, I want to recommend a podcast from Glen Scrivener, where he considers the dramatic exchange between President Trump, J.D. Vance, and Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office on February 28th. I found Scrivener's comments insightful, challenging, and grounding. It served as a helpful reminder to think about everything through a biblical lens, taking every thought captive to obey Christ.
I hope these resources will spur you on this week and help you to think biblically! If you find these helpful, please consider supporting Part-Time Seminarian by subscribing to or sharing this article with your friends!