Cruciform Conversations

Spiritual Revival or Church Decline? What is really happening on the front lines of ministry?

(This podcast is produced in partnership with Future of Faith [http://www.futureoffaith.org], where I contribute as the Ministry Practitioner Coordinator and as a Researcher. Please check out Future of Faith, follow the YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@FutureofFaith], and sign up for the best newsletter around [https://www.futureoffaith.org/newsletter]!) I want to be very distinct about what we’re seeing is not a movement away from faith. They’re believing in other things; they’re believing less, and their confidence in the church and church leaders has declined. And so to kind of qualify that, they’re sharing the internet with us; they see the fall of pastors, they see people being arrested; they see harm coming from people who profess to know God and love God… They’re looking for faith that feels real to them, and so our hope is that in living out what it really means to be a believer and a follower of Christ is that they will be exposed to more examples of what that really looks like. True revival only comes with repentance and I do believe that there are leaders of our generation that need to take a moment to say we repent for the thing that we’ve made it. - Keturah Boston Sorry that I have been so quiet the past two months! My work for Future of Faith continues to expand, and I have been helping with some qualitative research projects. But a few weeks ago, I sat down with our amazing team of Ministry Practitioners to record this conversation. There are very different narratives going around about the state of the church. Some are trumpeting signs of revival. Some are recounting their celebrations of revival. Others are pointing to the steady and steep decline in church participation. With all of that going on, we wanted to stop, pay attention to our unique and diverse ministry contexts, and bear witness to the ways we see God at work in them. Find out more about the Ministry Practitioners [https://www.futureoffaith.org/aboutus] and the team at Future of Faith. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit drgregarthur.substack.com [https://drgregarthur.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

How do the stories and experiences of trafficking survivors inform sexual ethics?

(To stay up to date on the podcast, you can subscribe here on Substack or find us over on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/30O13fMayaKIL7KfFx1v18?si=5CjnMeAoSNq0Ru1TFkwB5A], Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cruciform-conversations/id1766638594], or YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@cruciformconversations]. Please subscribe and leave a review!) Episode Summary: In this insightful conversation, Dr. Courtney Skiera-Vaughn shares her extensive experience in cross-cultural trauma, human trafficking, and sexual ethics. She explores how cultural perspectives shape our understanding of trauma, the myths surrounding human trafficking, and the importance of humility and contextual understanding in addressing these complex issues. What I saw there (in Uganda), as well as what I have learned in a variety of other cultures, is that in these cultures that are more embodied, many of the trauma symptoms show up somatically. So they are physical symptoms, not emotional. So it’s going to be headaches that are so bad you can’t see. They are stomach aches that are not explained. It is these these other types of things, those are the primary, not the emotional. And with my dissertation that I did looking at how stress and trauma are conceptualized within Uganda, who does not have, they do not have vernacular words for stress or trauma. A lot of my participants were saying, in general, the quote was, " You in the US separate who the human is. You separate the body from the emotions and the mind and the spirit. In Africa, we are one, we are whole.” We have to recognize that 85% of the research we conduct is conducted in the West. Less than 5 % of research is conducted with a non-English speaker as a researcher. - Dr. Courtney Skiera-Vaughn My journey to understand sexual ethics took a marked detour when I first encountered sex trafficking survivors. Hearing their stories, studying their experiences, and growing to understand the larger forces that created their vulnerability sent me on a 20-year journey. This series on Cruciform Sexuality, and much of my ministry, was born out of an encounter that took place when trafficking became real to me for the first time. One of my beloved companions on this journey, whose research, co-labor, and friendship have deeply impacted me, is my friend Dr. Courtney Skiera Vaughn. I was delighted to sit down with her this week to record a conversation about her research, wrestle together with some of the hard contextual questions regarding sexual ethics, and to reflect on our own journeys. As with all conversations in this series, we dive into difficult subject matter around sex trafficking and exploitation. So be aware of your own health, needs, and limits. In this episode, we talk about polygamy, and I reference this case study I wrote for this series. [https://drgregarthur.substack.com/p/what-about-polygamy-a-case-study] Connect with Courtney [https://www.courtneyskieravaughn.com/] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit drgregarthur.substack.com [https://drgregarthur.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Sociological Insights into the Sexual Practices of Young Adults and the Pornification of Sexuality

In this episode of the podcast, I sit down with my dear friend Dr. Kelcie Vercel, searching for sociological insights into the lived sexual experiences of young adults. Connecting the methodology of sociology to the work of contextual theology, we dig into the research about the lived sexual experiences of young adult, how they are being educated, the social scripts they are learning, and how this insight can shape a redemptive ethic. Kelcie helps us explore the cultural and social influences shaping sexual ethics, behaviors, and perceptions in contemporary society. Our conversation delves into topics like pornography, unwanted sex, and the impact of cultural narratives on individual and collective sexual experiences, offering valuable perspectives for faith communities and educators. As always, it’s a great help if you share the podcast with friends, and I would love to hear your feedback and insights! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit drgregarthur.substack.com [https://drgregarthur.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

What did Jesus teach about Marriage, Sex, Living Single, and the Coming Eschaton?

A Cruciform Sexual Ethic must reflect the teachings and life of Jesus! It is a simple truth, but vital for our work in examining our own sexual ethics and understanding what is shaping us. In this conversation, I chat with my friend Dr. Ryan Huber to explore the complexities of sexual ethics through a cruciform lens, emphasizing the self-giving love of Christ. We discuss Jesus' creative interpretation of scripture regarding marriage and sexuality, the cultural shifts in understanding these concepts, and the importance of community in strengthening relationships. The dialogue also touches on the eschatological vision of relationships, suggesting that while marriage is significant, it is not the ultimate fulfillment of human connection. Instead, the focus should be on the transformative power of love and friendship within the body of Christ, leading to a deeper understanding of what it means to live out a cruciform ethic in today's world.I found the conversation to be a helpful test case for the Cruciform framework [https://drgregarthur.substack.com/p/6-questions-for-a-better-sexual-ethic], and insightful when considering the dominant evangelical teachings on marriage and family. Too often, marriage and family have been treated as the promised end of our life in Christ, rather than life in Christ itself. I would offer cruciformity as a helpful corrective to this misalignment. Connect with Ryan: Ryan’s books [https://www.amazon.com/stores/Ryan-Huber/author/B086L6T4FJ?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1772649486&sr=8-1&shoppingPortalEnabled=true] Formation Time Substack [https://formationtime.substack.com/] Bohoeffer On Substack [http://bonhoefferon.substack.com] New Canaan Society [https://newcanaansociety.org/] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit drgregarthur.substack.com [https://drgregarthur.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

The Impact of Patriarchy, Modesty, and Gender Divisions on Christian Sexual Ethics

In recent years, several T.V. shows have pulled back the curtain on a particular part of the evangelical church, a movement known as “Quiver Full [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quiverfull]”. This movement to have as many children as possible, to raise an army of culture warriors, was first encountered by many of us through the series 19 Kids and Counting. This series followed the Duggar family [https://www.duggarfamily.com/]and shared their approach to family, marriage, and their faith. More recently, the series Shiny Happy People on Amazon [https://www.primevideo.com/detail/Shiny-Happy-People/0TRV2VQKIE3NEHOPKZ5G3HION5] has examined the larger theological movement the Duggars are part of, founded by Bill Gothard [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Gothard]. If you have ever encountered this movement, watched the shows, or have questions about how rigid patriarchal theological systems impact sexual ethics, have I got a conversation for you! I was so thankful to engage in this conversation with writer and scholar Rachel Darnall, who has researched and written extensively about the cultural, philosophical, and theological origins of this culture. We dive into her own background and experience, a theology of modesty (if you ever heard “modest is hottest’ this is your podcast), and gender divisions. How does this system impact sexual ethics? How can this particular Christian subgroup give us a helpful lens for thinking about sexual ethics and gender roles? What is the Biblical concept of modesty really talking about? Beyond the podcast, you can encounter Rachel’s work through her wonderful Substack [https://racheldarnall.substack.com/], new podcast called These Troubled Times [https://racheldarnall.substack.com/p/episode-1-what-do-you-mean-fundamentalist], and through the Anastasis Center. [https://www.anastasiscenter.org/]We talk in detail about the Anastasis Center’s new course, It’s a Mans’s World: The Genesis 3:16 Effect. [https://www.anastasiscenter.org/mansworld] I was part of a pilot group for this course and highly recommend it. If you want to join in this new study, there are groups forming right now! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit drgregarthur.substack.com [https://drgregarthur.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]