Listen "American Christian vs Christian American"
Episode Synopsis
BioDale Stephens has a B.A. in Pastoral Ministry, M.A. in Leadership & Administration, and currently a PhD student at AGTS. Dale and his wife, Andrea, have 3 girls, Saria, Jade, & Vera, and one grandchild, Niko. Dale began his vocational ministry as a student pastor in 2000. In 2004, he shifted to US missions with Chi Alpha at UGA. Later, planted Chi Alpha at Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia State University, & what is now Kennesaw State - Marietta campus. Since 2015, he has been serving as the Lead Pastor for Riverside Church (now Pure Hope Church). Pure Hope Church: WebsiteYouTubeFacebookInstagramBooks Dale recommends for understanding the Bible better: The IVP Biblical Background Commentary by Creig Keener Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes by O'brien & Richards Reading While Black by Esau McCaulleyReading the Bible with the Damned by Bob EckbauldReading the Bible for All It's Worth by Fee & StuartThe Upside Down Kingdom by Donald KraybillNT Wright's NT commentary seriesBooks Dale recommends for thinking politically: The Hauerwas Reader by Stanley HauerwasThe Pastor as Public Theologian by Kevin VanhoozerBowling Alone by Robert PutnamThe Fractured Republic by Yuval LevinFinal words from Dale: Christian Americans note the importance of biblically driven beliefs that shape their personal identity and public politics. As noted in our time together, what we hope for is some common elements in us all, a humility to find the distorted truths in us, a vision/effort towards togetherness (in contrast to us vs them), and a genuine curiosity matched with empathy for the other. This is how we position ourselves- selflessly. For me, I'm also driven towards a transformational hope for a better tomorrow on this earth and in its fullest in Heaven. Through reflection, education, books, travels etc...I've come to realize I have enculturated the gospel into "American". My aim is to see God more clearly, through my culture, the other cultures, and ultimately supra-culturally. I hope some of the above resources will help you towards that aim.
More episodes of the podcast Conversations with Matt DeLockery
Follow-Up to Apologetics
09/01/2022
Colossians 4:2-6, Interacting with Others
08/08/2021
Colossians 3:5-11, Why Act This Way?
18/07/2021
Colossians 3:5-11, Lists of Things Not to Do
11/07/2021
Colossians 3:1-4, What We Should Focus On
27/06/2021
The Essence of the Christian Worldview
20/06/2021
Moving Forward 11: Act on Your Beliefs
13/06/2021
Moving Forward 10: Apologetics
06/06/2021
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.