ER AMA 2024

[100% pro-life no matter what]

It's been three years since I've done this, so I think it's time for another one!

Somehow, I'm a few weeks shy of nine years posting on this site now.

[TheReckoning]

Odds you pull the lever for Trump?

[100% pro-life no matter what]

Odds you pull the lever for Trump?

In the primary?  No chance, although the reason I haven't voted in early voting yet is that I haven't decided which other candidate to vote for (probably leaning towards voting for DeSantis anyway).

In the general?  I'm legitimately undecided, but if the election were today, I would not vote for Trump.  He has not yet earned my vote.  I'll say 45%.

[Continential]

How do you see the future of evangelical Christianity going, here and abroad?

Also, what’s the future of Williamson County and its surrounding counties, especially since housing in the Nashville area seems pretty high?

[TML]

Do you think it is accurate to say that Trump is being viewed as a messiah figure by significant numbers of evangelical Christians in the US?

[Blow by blow, the passion dies]

Your opinion on Orthodox Christianity?

[100% pro-life no matter what]

How do you see the future of evangelical Christianity going, here and abroad?

Also, what’s the future of Williamson County and its surrounding counties, especially since housing in the Nashville area seems pretty high?

Abroad, I think we've seen a ton of growth of evangelical Christianity in Latin America, and I'd expect that to continue to grow (with Asia as a place I'd also expect to see growth).  But, there are still challenges in places like that, as there are a lot of theologically questionable "prosperity gospel" churches.

Here in the United States, I think the biggest trend within evangelical Christianity has been a move away from the traditional denominations to non-denominational churches.  Those also tend to be much younger than most churches in the main evangelical denominations, so I'd expect that to continue.  Of course, with both of those things, I'm not God, so I don't truly know.

As for your question about Williamson County, I think the biggest impact of high property costs we're seeing is rapid growth of Maury County.  A lot of friends who have bought houses have gone to Spring Hill or further south, where it is (somewhat) cheaper.  In the 2020 Census, Maury was actually the fastest growing county in the entire state.  An underrated part of the suburban trends has been many suburbs becoming semi-urban, while the next county out becomes more suburban.  That's not fully the case here yet, but I think it's important to understand.

Do you think it is accurate to say that Trump is being viewed as a messiah figure by significant numbers of evangelical Christians in the US?

It's definitely a problem.  I've certainly seen memes on the internet directly or indirectly comparing Trump to Jesus.  That sort of explicit comparison is fortunately somewhat rare among evangelical Christians, but idolization of Trump is definitely around.  That doesn't apply to everyone who votes for him (even in the primary), but the hardcore MAGA movement is certainly beginning to feel like a religion.

Your opinion on Orthodox Christianity?

I like that it's reaching areas like Egypt that have relatively small Christian populations.  I have a coworker who is Orthodox, and she seems very sincere and legitimate in her faith.  I certainly have many of the same theological disagreements with it as I do with the Catholic Church, but I still want more to come to know Christ.

[KaiserDave]

I like you ER. I think your worldview is a dangerous fantasy, to be completely straight with you, but I like you and I appreciate your presence on this blog, I also think you're a good moderator.

I have a few questions

1. What should the Christian response be to violence against LGBT youth?
2. Do you view LDS Church as within the Christian community?
3. Would you vote for an (authentically) pro-life liberal Democrat (Bob Casey Sr. or Frank Moss come to mind) against Trump or a Trump wannabe (Vivek comes to mind)?
4. Do you view poverty as an individual responsibility or a collective failure of society?

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Do you think it'll be viable for Rs to crack Nashville again in 2030 if TN gains a house seat?

[100% pro-life no matter what]

I like you ER. I think your worldview is a dangerous fantasy, to be completely straight with you, but I like you and I appreciate your presence on this blog, I also think you're a good moderator.

I have a few questions

1. What should the Christian response be to violence against LGBT youth?
2. Do you view LDS Church as within the Christian community?
3. Would you vote for an (authentically) pro-life liberal Democrat (Bob Casey Sr. or Frank Moss come to mind) against Trump or a Trump wannabe (Vivek comes to mind)?
4. Do you view poverty as an individual responsibility or a collective failure of society?

1. The Christian response should be to strongly oppose and speak out against all violence.  Even if we believe that homosexuality is sinful (which we do), the answer to it is not an added sin of violence.  I would think that would be an issue that most should see as obvious.

2. No, I don't.  I've heard some people call LDS/Mormonism the "fourth major Abrahamic religion", which is a fair interpretation.  Many use similar terms to Christians, but define them very differently.  Plus, the crux of their faith is in the Book of Mormon, which is completely different from Biblical Christianity.  That distinguishes it from churches like the Catholic Church, which I'd consider theologically wrong, but not as wrong as LDS.

3. Yes, I would.

4. It can be both.  Every situation is different, but I recognize that it can be hard for people who grew up in poverty.  I think that churches should be quick to help out people struggling financially.  But, I do think that capitalism helps lift more people out of poverty than socialism does.  I'll also add that rates of poverty are far lower if the father stays with the family.  So, I think it's important to encourage that (not that single parents don't love their children and try to provide for them, obviously).

Do you think it'll be viable for Rs to crack Nashville again in 2030 if TN gains a house seat?

I'm not sure.  But, I think it will be harder by 2030 (especially given that most of that growth will be in Middle Tennessee).  A lot of incumbents probably won't want R+7 left-trending districts, so it wouldn't surprise me if they draw a 8-2 map.  Of course, if MAGA is somehow just a memory by 2030, trends may change entirely, which could change things.

[KaiserDave]

Thank you for your answers. What do you think of the Amish?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Would you ever be willing to join a Christian mosh pit? And do you think you'd enjoy this? (check out 16:48 too)

[emailking]

What is your favorite time travel story?

[TML]

Does your church's leadership think that Biden legitimately won the presidency in 2020?

[LabourJersey]

How often does your church take communion? And do you view communion as purely memorial?

[pikachu]

Thoughts on long-term future of college sports with all of the recent changes? Would be particularly interested on thoughts about conference realignment.

Iirc, you’re also an Eagles fan? Do you think Sirianni should’ve been fired? Any favorite players from growing up?

[Vice President Christian Man]

What's your opinion of Peter Sonoski?

[100% pro-life no matter what]

Thank you for your answers. What do you think of the Amish?

I think there is a lot that the Amish do that is theologically unnecessary or works-based, but you do have to admire how seriously they take their religion.

Would you ever be willing to join a Christian mosh pit? And do you think you'd enjoy this? (check out 16:48 too)
--snip--

While I don't share the same reverence for the mosh pit that you do, I've definitely been to some energetic worship nights.  It can be powerful to worship Jesus where there is a lot of energy in the room, but we have to also remember that the energy doesn't come from dancing or how loud we are, but who we are worshipping.  But, that story is so sad, and I'm glad they prayed for the family.

What is your favorite time travel story?

I honestly don't know a ton of them, but I remember liking those baseball card books when I was a kid where the kid goes back to the time of the player on the card.  I think they were called "Player's Name & Me".

Does your church's leadership think that Biden legitimately won the presidency in 2020?

I haven't heard my pastor directly address the 2020 election results.  He leans conservative and will address issues (he's brought in speakers to address Israel and transgender issues and the church talked favorably about Roe being overturned), but he isn't bombastic or allowing the church to be "MAGA church".  He's never brought up a conspiracy of the results being illegitimate.  Our founding pastor was much more overtly political and likely didn't think Biden won the election in 2020.  I didn't start primarily going to that church until after he'd stepped down as lead pastor, so I can't speak to what it was like when he led the church.  From my understanding, I do believe that he was a faithful pastor, even if I think he possibly idolized politics a bit.  I've been there, so no judgement for people who are there.  We all have our struggles.  Many people left my church in the year after he stepped down, unfortunately (especially after disagreements boiled over in service on a Sunday morning).

The split following that Sunday occurred about five or six months after I started going to my church on Sunday mornings and about a year after I started going to the young adult ministry (which went through our own split a few months delayed).  It was one of the hardest times for me in the last few years, as I knew that people I loved and respected were going to make a different decision than I did (and, by that point, it had little to nothing to do with the 2020 election).  I've tried to maintain relationships with everyone as best as I could, but, obviously after two and a half years, some people have drifted away.

How often does your church take communion? And do you view communion as purely memorial?

We take Communion congregationally on the last Sunday of every month.  It's also available before service every Sunday to take privately if you are there 15 minutes ahead of service.  We do view it as symbolic of Jesus's Sacrifice and use grape juice for it.

Thoughts on long-term future of college sports with all of the recent changes? Would be particularly interested on thoughts about conference realignment.

Iirc, you’re also an Eagles fan? Do you think Sirianni should’ve been fired? Any favorite players from growing up?

Some of the changes are needed.  I've always found it wrong that players can't get any money when they bring in so much money for their schools (albeit the NIL is certainly showing growing pains right now).  And, it's about time that college football is getting a real playoff, like every other American sport has.  Conference realignment is a mixed bag.  I actually like Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC, which feels that it's reuniting a couple historic rivalries and could pit similar cultural schools.  The West Coast schools going to the Big 10 (and Stanford/Cal in the ACC) will take more getting used to.  My assumption is that only three power football conferences will survive.  I imagine that the college football my kids and grandkids (Lord willing) know will be vastly different than what I first got into, but the game will still be enjoyable.  I do mourn that bowls don't matter anymore (I loved them even 10-15 years ago) and wonder if it's time to put them out of their misery for a bigger CFP.

You are right that I am an Eagles fan.  Even though I've mentioned it a handful of times, it's often forgotten that I'm not a native Tennessean and grew up on the Main Line (though my mom is from the South herself and has since partially moved back).  I only moved here ten years ago for college and then got a job in Franklin when I graduated.

Personally, I wouldn't have fired Sirianni.  We're still only a year out from having played in the Super Bowl (a game I think we could have easily won) and lost both of our coordinators after that run.  Next year will rightly be a make-it-or-break-it year for him, but we still have the talent to be a good team.  When I was a kid, I was actually at the famous 4th & 26 playoff game against the Packers, which was a cool thing to experience, even though I was a few months shy of my 8th birthday.  I loved those McNabb & Westbrook teams (especially briefly with T.O. before that went bad.  But, my individual sports heroes as a child were honestly more the Phillies teams from 2005-2011 with players like Jim Thome, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Roy Halladay.  Also loved Allen Iverson when I was young.  But, my favorite athlete might have been JJ Redick.  Both of my parents went to Duke, so I was raised a massive Duke basketball fan.  I don't think I was ever more heartbroken by sports than when that 2006 Duke team got upset in the Sweet 16.

What's your opinion of Peter Sonoski?

Maybe a "bad Atlas poster" moment, but I had to Google who he was.  I agree with large chunks of his platform, and he seems like a decent enough person.  Obviously, I wish he were an evangelical instead of a Catholic, but he seems to try to genuinely apply his faith to political issues (even when I reach slightly different conclusions).