On Pop Theology Podcast: Episode 16 - Stuff Christian Culture Likes w/ Stephanie Drury

by Ben Howard

On this week's episode, Ben sits down with Stephanie Drury, the mind behind the blog Stuff Christian Culture Likes. Join them as they talk about the cliched things Christian culture likes, the need for anger in the church, Mark Driscoll, rockin' worship tweets and the sublime disaster that is the movie The Room.

You can download the podcast by clicking here. Or you can subscribe to the podcast by searching "On Pop Theology" in the iTunes music store. If you download the show through iTunes, please be so kind as to rate and review us. We want your feedback and it helps the show to grow.

If you'd like to find more information about Stuff Christian Culture Likes, check out the blog or the Facebook page. You can follow Stephanie on Twitter @StuffCCLikes, @stephaniedrury, or @fakedriscoll.

Also, remember to "Like" On Pop Theology on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @OnPopTheology for all the updates, posts, and links throughout the week.

Finally, if you'd like to stream the podcast, you can do that here:

Peace,
Ben

If you have any questions, comments, or if you just want to say hi, you can contact us at onpoptheology [at] gmail.com.

You might also like: 

• On Pop Theology Podcast: Episode 15 - Drawn In: A Creative Process for Artists, Activists and Jesus Followers
• On Pop Theology Podcast: Episode 14 - On Contemporary Christian Music 
• On Pop Theology Podcast: Episode 13 - Not Your Mother's Morals 

This I Pray

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” - Martin Luther King Jr.

“Mankind must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression, and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.” - Martin Luther King Jr.

by Ben Howard

If you've been following the news at all for the last few months you'll be familiar with the Jerry Sandusky scandal at Penn State. There is no defense for the actions committed by Sandusky or for the coverup allegedly perpetrated by Penn State officials including head coach Joe Paterno. It is nothing less than a tragedy and it should be recognized as such.

It's only natural in circumstances like these to feel a profound sense of injustice. Even if the perpetrators are punished to the fullest extent of the law it will seem a hollow victory. The crimes in question are too horrific, the violation of trust too deep and too painful. The emotion of the crime and subsequent coverup overwhelms the limits of punitive justice and it isn't fair, it won't be.

In this search for an elusive justice and a sense of catharsis it becomes easier and easier to embrace hate and assign blame. In the Penn State scandal in particular there is no shortage of possible villains, yet in this hunt for retribution we, as a society, run the risk of dehumanizing those we condemn.

We hope to find peace in destruction. We hope to find release in revenge and retaliation. Maybe if one more person is held responsible, maybe if one more lawsuit is filed, maybe if one person serves time behind bars, it will somehow fill the void. I fear, however, that all they bring us is the emptiness that comes from trying to fill the hole of our injustice with the pain and sorrow of others.

I don't know what to say to the victims. I can't begin to understand the pain, isolation, confusion and frustration that comes with something as horrific as this. I can't say it'll all be better. It's senseless and brutal and wrong and I do not know what will make it better. I can only pray that with love and time redemption is possible in all things.

I pray the same thing for those responsible. I can't begin to understand the reasons for such actions, but to quote one of my favorite songs, “Not to undermine the consequence, but you are not what you do.” The divine spark still exists and God is a God of redemption and hope in the midst of the depths.

I pray for reconciliation and redemption, for love and the ability to heal, for peace and for hope.

Peace,

Ben

You can contact me on Twitter @BenHoward87, email me or just leave a comment.