Living Beyond Your Memes: Closing the Credibility Gap
by Brian La Croix
A Boomer and a “Xennial” discuss ways Christians can break past negative stereotypes and become people who interact with people the way Jesus did, even in moments of intense disagreement.Join Brian La Croix (the Boomer) and Josh Latterell (the other guy) as we look at tangible means to reflect the love and concern of Christ for the world around us.On top of discussing timely topics, we also provide great Chuck Norris facts, in the shameless hope he will come across the podcast and be a guest…Now, get off my lawn!!
Episodes
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46 - Wizard of Oz Christianity, Part 4 - No Courage
Last episode of this series. We discuss not merely having courage to stand up for Christian values in society, but also having courage to stand up when your "tribe" (political party, etc.), does, sends, or supports something unbiblical - even if you agree with the rest of what they do.
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45 - Wizard of Oz Christianity, Part 3 - No Heart
Part 3 of this series. In this episode we begin by looking at how evangelical Christians can be viewed as not caring about poverty issues because we're more concerned about things like eradicating abortion. But the fact is that we should be concerned about BOTH, and we can be - without giving up...
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44 - Wizard of Oz Christianity, Part 2 - No Brain
THANKS for your patience as we've had a sporadic publishing schedule of late, due to an unforeseen medical emergency. Lord willing, we'll be back to our regular schedule very soon! Part 2 of this series, this time talking about the need for Christians to be people who use the brain God gave them…
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43 - Wizard of Oz Christianity, Part 1 - No Home
During some sermon research a while back, Brian came across a message from another pastor that referenced "Wizard of Oz Christianity," which talked about various aspects of the Christian life impacting society around us. Josh and Brian take that theme and run with it a bit, hoping to challenge…
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42 - DEscriptive vs PREscriptive Scripture
When Scripture tells of something that happened or that someone did, does that mean WE are supposed to do that or have that happen to US? Not necessarily. In this episode we take a look at four examples of Scripture that people have claimed to be applicable to us, and why that is not handling...
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41 - A More Biblical Way to View Your Enemies
Jesus commands us to love our enemies. But later Jesus goes even further in a discussion with a person trying to justify himself in his treatment of others. In this episode, Brian describes what God has been talking to him about when it comes to interacting with people, specifically in the LGBTQ+...
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40 - How Should We Respond to Pushback?
If you let your opinions, thoughts, and beliefs be known, chances are you will receive some pushback from someone who disagrees (unless you only express yourself in the bubble of like-minded people). Sometimes that pushback can be encouraging - when it is done graciously, with the intent of...
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39 - Should We Care What Others Think of Us?
There is a line of thinking that says Christians shouldn't care what others think of us - particularly in terms of our positions on social/political issues. That we should just stick to the truth, because Christians have always been "hated" for what they believe. However, Scripture very clearly...
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38 - Making a Difference By Working on Shared Concerns
"Every city has hungry people." That's a quote (or at least a close paraphrase) of a comment Brian heard during a morning radio broadcast to promote a joint effort between a local Catholic order of nuns, and other religious groups in town to gather food for local food banks. The point was that…
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37 - Does Disagreement Equal Hate?
The flip-side of what we discussed the past two weeks. While we believe that we don't have to agree with someone's lifestyle, opinions, etc., in order to love them, we also believe that disagreement does not equal hate (or fear) toward that person or persons. There is no question that there are...
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36 - Does Love Always Mean Agreement? (Pt. 2)
Part 2 of our discussion on why it's possible to love someone even if you disagree on very important issues, including the lifestyle of someone close to you.
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35 - Does Love Always Mean Agreement? (Pt.1)
There is an idea that to truly love someone you must agree with their viewpoint, lifestyle, politics, etc. We examine how that is not necessarily the case in this two-part discussion.
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34 - Giving and Generosity
Christians should be the most generous people in the world. We have the examples of Jesus and the early church, as well as the teachings of the apostles to affirm that. We discuss some tangible ways to be generous, as well as look at Brian's story about how starting to tithe began the turnaround...
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33 - How Do We Handle Scandal in the Church? (Pt 2)
We continue our discussion about what happens when a leader falls or is accused of something that causes scandal in the Church. We look at 9 ways a person can help bring healing in the midst of the hurt. Note: this is not a prescription for how church leadership should handle things; this is…
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32 - How Do We Handle Scandal in the Church (Pt 1)
It's a fact in Church history that many leaders have fallen - they've succumbed to sexual temptations, temptations of power and celebrity, and even abuse in these areas. This is hurtful to the victims of those who have sinned, but also to their loved ones, their ministries, and of course, the…
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31 - Stopping Gossip In Its Tracks
It's easy to pass on "information" we think is true - or want to be true, because it supports our view of a person or issue. But Christians have an obligation to be bearers of TRUTH - not rumor of gossip. Gossip is a sin and has no place in the life of a follower of Jesus. Listen as we discuss…
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30 - Becoming "Attractive" for the Gospel
The overall image of the Church in American is not very positive. Yet the early church described in Acts 2 had a very positive reputation. Why was that? Is there anything we can pull from that context into our own?
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29 - The Value of Being Winsome
On a previous episode we discussed the idea that angry Christians can actually be a hindrance - to the message they're trying to convey, and even more importantly, to the good news of Jesus. But you can have strong convictions and still communicate them in ways that gain a hearing rather than…
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28 - Rights vs. Responsibilities (Part 2)
We continue our discussion about this issue, focusing on the examples of Paul and Jesus - both of whom were very aware of their rights, both civil and religious, but were also very aware of how the exercising of those rights affected others.
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27 - Rights vs. Responsibilities (Pt. 1)
Christians have rights enshrined in our official documents - particularly the Bill of Rights within our Constitution. But our rights are limited by our responsibilities toward other. Listen as we discuss that premise; and feel free to give us your feedback on this very important issue.
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26 - When Is It Appropriate to Flip Tables Like Jesus?
If you've been around Facebook for very long, you've probably seen the meme of Jesus flipping tables with the caption saying that when considering what Jesus would do, making a whip and flipping tables is in the realm of possibilities. But is that a proper view of that passage when it comes to…
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25 - Mountains Vs. Molehills
How do you determine WHEN to respond to something you see, hear, or read? Do you feel like you need to respond every time you see something you disagree with? Are there some things you just scroll past because it's not worth the energy to respond? These are some of the questions we discuss on…
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24 - New Year, New Slate
It's easy to look back on the past year(s) and do the whole "shoulda, coulda, woulda" thing. And while it's important to learn the lessons from the past, we can't be prisoners of regret. God has a great promise from Lamentations 3 that we discuss. We hope you are encouraged by what God has to say...
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23 - A New Mindset for a New Year
It's the end of 2022, and the new year is staring us squarely in the face. It's a time when people make goals for weight, work, finances, projects, and even spiritual things reading and studying the Scriptures, etc. In this episode, we describe a more general goal of living out the Great...
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22 - Last Christmas Thoughts
Just some last random thoughts about how to bring the Christmas holiday a little closer to its intended purpose. Let us know what you think - anything you would add or subtract (or multiply/divide? :))?
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21 - Closing the Credibility Gap at Christmas
It can be very tough to be kind and gracious when someone has just grabbed the last plasma screen TV at the electronics store or the last ugly sweater at Walmart, or when the cashier is having trouble with the register while you're in a hurry to be somewhere else (because they have special…
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20 - Suggestions for the Christmas Season
It's the Christmas Season! Woot! Woot! It's very easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday and forget that we are still commanded by Jesus to love others. In this episode, Brian offers up a variety of suggestions that will help us reflect the love of Jesus to those we interact...
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19 - Interview with Keith Simon of "Truth Over Tribe." (Pt. 2)
In this second part of our interview with Keith Simon (co-lead pastor of The Crossing, Columbia, MO), we continue to discuss tribalism, and specifically the book, "Truth Over Tribe," co-authored by Patrick Miller. We are thrilled that Keith gave us the time to be with us. Please take the time to…
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18 - Interview with Keith Simon of "Truth Over Tribe." (Pt. 1)
On a first for "Living Beyond Your Memes," we have a guest: Keith Simon, pastor of The Crossing in Columbia, MO. Keith is the co-host of "Truth Over Tribe," one of Brian's favorite podcasts. He is also the co-author of, "Truth Over Tribe: Pledging Allegiance to the Lamb, Not the Donkey or the...
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17 - Angry Christians Don't Help the Cause
James says that we're supposed to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. However, many Christians are quick to reverse these - being slow to listen, quick to speak, and quick to become angry, and then to speak out of our anger. This episode looks at some very specific ways…
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16 - Jesus is Still Lord on Thursday
It's easy to call Jesus "Lord" as we worship on Sundays. But what about as the week progresses? What about as we go about the work week? And deal with our teenagers? And in-laws? And as we drive to and from work? Jesus wants to be the Boss of your life 24/7/365 (and 365 on leap years!). Let's…
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15 - They Will Know We Are Christians By Our...
Jesus said that all people will know people by our _____________. We generally know what goes in the blank, right? But often in today's world, Christians (especially evangelical Christians) are known more by our politics, rhetoric, and culture war involvement. Join us as we take a look at what...
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14 - Living Out the Fruit of the Spirit (and Not Just Talking About It...)
It's easy to talk about being loving, kind, patient, etc., but it's another thing to see them exhibited in the midst of conversations with people who disagree with you about something, or who live differently than you. In this episode we look at 4 facts about the fruit of the Spirit and why it's…
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13 - Displaying the Attitude of Christ
One of the hardest parts of following Jesus, and maybe especially for Americans, is the notion of putting another person's needs above our own. We're told by our culture to make sure we prioritize ourselves above others. And yet Scripture - and Jesus, Himself - had a very different notion. In…
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12 - Applying the Beatitudes to Our Interactions
Continuing our look at the four foundational "walls" of the podcast, we take a look at Jesus' words from the Beatitudes, looking specifically at 4 of them to discover how we can be a blessing to others as we seek to be part of the "blessed are..." crowd of Christ followers.
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11 - How the Golden Rule Applies to Our Interactions
It would seem pretty obvious that we'd want others to treat us as we'd be treated. But that seems to fly out the window when we're disagreeing with someone, especially in heated debate on sensitive topics. How can we practically use Jesus' words to help us be more Christlike in these situations?…
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10 - Loving Your Neighbor as Yourself
Just like it's easy to say you love God, it's easy to say you love your neighbor - until you are challenged with HOW you're doing it, and just WHO is your neighbor. The Scriptures talk about tangible ways to love your neighbor. In particular, Jesus uses a parable to describe what it looks like...
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09 - Hulking Out for God: Loving Him With All Your Strength
Loving God with all your strength means doing what we can do in our jobs, businesses, and in the opportunities we find to do good to others. Check out some very practical teaching and discussion on how we can make this an integral part of our daily living.
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08 - Loving God with All Your Mind
God calls Christians to be discerning, and not to believe everything that comes down the pike of social media (or media in general), or even from the mouths of friends and family. Loving God with all our minds means using the intellect God has given us - and expects us to use. In this episode we...
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07 - Loving God with All Your Heart and Soul
First look at the Greatest Commandment. We're discussing ways this should actually be displayed in the lives of those who claim to follow Jesus and love God. It's more than just a theological concept - it needs to be shown tangibly to the people around us.
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06 - The Biblical Foundation for Our Interactions
Introduction to a series we're beginning on why it is so important that we interact and communicate in ways that tangibly demonstrate a love for God and people. This episode touches on the "4 Walls" of the foundation we're building on not just regarding the next four weeks of the podcast, but for...
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05 - Roe v. Wade (Part 2)
Part 2 of our discussion regarding the implications for how Christians should interact with people affected by the SCOTUS ruling overturning Roe v. Wade. We talk about how Christians need to get involved in ways they may not have anticipated - and may not be comfortable doing. The love of Christ...
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04 - Roe v. Wade (Part 1)
This episode was recorded the week following the SCOTUS decision overturning Roe v. Wade. The conversation here is much less formal as Brian and Josh discuss some of the implications as they relate to how pro-lifers - and especially Christian pro-lifers should now interact and intersect with…
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03 - Scripture is the Filter and Guide
It's easy to let Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram determine what is true for us, and to guide how we react/respond to what we see on those platforms. But Scripture gives us much greater guidance. In this episode we discuss a few ways Scripture helps us be more Christlike in our interactions.
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02 - Becoming Someone Others Listen To
What can we do to get others to take us seriously, particularly in areas of great disagreement? We cover 3 ways to gain credibility in the face of negative stereotypes that Christians can't think for themselves or communicate their views in a cognizant manner.
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01 - What Are We Hoping To Accomplish
Introductory episode to explain why we're adding another voice to the world of podcasts aimed at evangelical Christians. In this episode we discuss 7 words that should describe how Christians interact with people and in social media to help us more accurately reflect Jesus - especially to those…
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About this show
A Boomer and a “Xennial” discuss ways Christians can break past negative stereotypes and become people who interact with people the way Jesus did, even in moments of intense disagreement.Join Brian La Croix (the Boomer) and Josh Latterell (the other guy) as we look at tangible means to reflect the love and concern of Christ for the world around us.On top of discussing timely topics, we also provide great Chuck Norris facts, in the shameless hope he will come across the podcast and be a guest…Now, get off my lawn!!
Hosted by
Brian La Croix
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