Good Faith

Can We Find Hope Without Pretending the World Is Fine?   Biblical scholar N. T. Wright joins Curtis Chang on the Good Faith podcast to explore Isaiah's message for weary Christians, everyday work, and hope beyond politics. Drawing on his book Into the Heart of Isaiah, Wright explains how God's promises to Israel find fulfillment in Jesus and shape the church's calling today. They discuss waiting on God, serving faithfully in secular workplaces, and why churches and businesses alike can become "Towers of Babel." Wright also challenges comparisons between Donald Trump and King Cyrus.   02:37 - N.T. Wright and the Old Testament? 06:03 - Reading Isaiah Through Three Lenses 08:51 - Waiting on the Lord in Isaiah 40:31 15:22 - Finding Faith in Delayed Answers 19:11 - Discovering Isaiah's Literary Unity 28:45 - Isaiah's Struggle and Perseverance 33:00 - What Does Isaiah Say About Secular Work? 43:26 - King Cyrus and Political Misappropriation 48:01 - Isaiah's Message of Comfort and Hope   Find more resource for this episode HERE Sign up  for The After Party course   Mentioned in This Episode: N.T. Wright's Into the Heart of Isaiah: The Meaning and Message of Isaiah 40–55 N.T. Wright's The Case for the Psalms: Why They Are Essential C. S. Lewis's Space Trilogy T. S. Eliot's The Four Quartets: A Poem "God's Time Is Best" performed by the Netherlands Bach Society   Scriptures: Isaiah 40–55 (ESV) Isaiah 40:31 (ESV) Isaiah 49:4 (ESV) Isaiah 52:7–12 (ESV) Isaiah 52:13–53:12 (ESV) Isaiah 54 (ESV) Isaiah 44:28 - 45:7 (ESV) Luke 2:22–38 (ESV) John 1:1–18 (ESV) John 1 (ESV) Genesis 1 (ESV) Psalm 8 (ESV) Romans 12–13 (ESV)   More from N.T. Wright: N.T. Wright Online N.T. Wright's Speaking engagements N.T. Wright's books (Amazon)   Past Conversations with N.T. Wright: Good Faith ep. 207: N.T. Wright Explains Ephesians: The Church, Christian Nationalism, & the Armor of God Good Faith ep. 128: The Unseen Spiritual Powers Shaping Our World (with N.T. Wright)   Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook   The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

Why Does Politics Reward the Wrong People?   Former Congressman Adam Kinzinger joins Curtis Chang on the Good Faith podcast to discuss the 2026 midterm elections, political corruption, and how Christians can evaluate political leaders. Kinzinger argues that character is revealed when leaders put public responsibility ahead of personal comfort—even when it means challenging their own party. Drawing on his vote to impeach Donald Trump and his service on the January 6 committee, he explores what restoring congressional accountability requires. They also discuss why principled candidates struggle to stay in office and how Christians can oppose harmful actions while loving their enemies and praying for political opponents.   02:33 - What Is the Meaning of Heroism? 04:34 - Models of Courage for Congress 09:54 - Faith and the January 6 Impeachment Vote 14:08 - Adam's Midterm Elections Predictions 17:55 - The Other Side of the "God Gap" 22:51 - Avoiding Political Idolatry 25:18 - The Impacts of Redistricting on Congressional Careers 29:00 - Cross-Partisan Alliances and Democratic Principles 31:24 - Are There Candidates Who Understand the Stakes? 36:21 - How Does Political Corruption Work? 42:32 - Adam's Guide to Assessing Character and Examining Records 46:45 - Is There Hope for Congress? 52:37 - Praying for Political Enemies   Find more resource for this episode HERE Sign up  for The After Party course   Mentioned in this episode: Listen to Good Faith episode 255: David French: What Christians Should Want on Election Night Adam Kinzinger's That's What Heroes Do Adam Kinzinger's Substack Newsletter & Podcast  Adam Kinzinger's 2024 Democratic National Convention Speech (transcript) Listen to Good Faith episode 163: "Adam Kinzinger Defends Democracy and Embraces Biblical Hope" Check out The After Party   Scriptures:  Matthew 5:43–45 (ESV) Psalm 119:105 (ESV)  Matthew 6:10 (ESV)  1 Corinthians 15:20–23 (ESV)  Matthew 5–7 (ESV)   More From Adam Kinzinger: Adam Kinzinger's Renegade: Defending Democracy and Liberty in Our Divided Country Adam Kinzinger's Country First Movement   Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook   The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.  

Can We Speak About Jesus's Transforming Power Without Reducing It To a Consumer Product?   You can believe Christianity is true and still wonder what difference it makes. Theologian and former atheist Alister McGrath joins Curtis Chang to discuss Rethinking Christianity and why conversations about faith need to address meaning, purpose, and hope alongside rational belief. They explore the danger of reducing Christianity to self-help, the limits of intellectual answers to suffering, and how Jesus' suffering speaks to people in their darkest moments. Curtis also shares his experience of anxiety and depression as they consider how truth, lived experience, and Christian friendship can sustain faith.   02:34 - Why Won't Christianity Stay Buried? 04:43 - Dr. McGrath's Journey from Atheism to Christianity 07:11 - From Debating Atheism to Addressing Meaning 15:30 - Consumerism, Relevance, and Losing Christianity's Story 19:19 - How Can We Find Purpose and Flourish in Faith? 23:46 - The Limits of Apologetic Answers to Suffering 30:43 - Explaining the Trinity 33:09 - Preaching to the Choir and Finding Companions   Find this episode on our website: Good Faith episode 256  Sign up  for The After Party course   Mentioned in This Episode: Dr. McGrath's Rethinking Christianity: A Thoughtful Guide to a Life-Changing Faith C.S. Lewis's The Problem of Pain Henri Blocker's Evil and the Cross More about C.S. Lewis's conversion More about Dorothy L. Sayers More about Alvin Plantinga Dr. McGrath Debates Richard Dawkins Dr. McGrath Debates Christopher Hitchens Dr. McGrath Debates Daniel Dennett   Scriptures: John 4:1–42 (ESV) John 10:10 (ESV) Psalm 23 (ESV) Matthew 7:24–27 (ESV)   More From Dr. McGrath: Professor Alister McGrath at the University of Oxford  Alister McGrath's website Alister McGrath's books   Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook   The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

Will the Midterms Be a Tourniquet, a Cure, or Something Else Entirely?   Does who wins Congress matter? What happens to American democracy after the midterms may be up for grabs. Good Faith "founding friend" and New York Times columnist David French joins Curtis Chang to look beyond the 2026 midterm scoreboard and explore what the elections could mean for presidential power, political extremism, and the church's public witness. They discuss the limits of congressional checks on President Trump, the Texas Senate race between James Talarico and Ken Paxton, and why restoring trust requires more than a partisan victory. David and Curtis also offer practical ways Christians can move to active participation—and a call to pray for justice, repentance, and reconciliation.   01:28 - David Forecasts the Midterms 06:45 - Can a Democratic Congress Check the President? 13:10 - The Republican Party's Future and Moderate Candidates 17:48 - Institutional Damage and Constitutional Checks 22:47 - Election Integrity and the Risk of Close Results 30:22 - The Need to Move from Spectatorship to Participation 35:50 - Speaking Up in Evangelical Churches 41:08 - Is Texas a Signal for Faith and Politics? 46:23 - Why Do Candidates Like Adam Kinzinger Struggle? 51:03 - David's Call to Prayer   Find this episode on our website: Good Faith episode 255 Sign up  for The After Party course   Mentioned in This Episode: Good Faith ep. 252: David French: Can We Trust the Supreme Court? David French's The 'God Gap' Is Narrowing in Texas  Virginia debate Ratifying Convention: Article 2, Section 2, Clause 1  Congressal authority to judge its members' elections/qualifications: Article I, Section 5 Learn more about The After Party course   Scriptures: Jeremiah 29:7 (ESV) 1 Timothy 2:1–2 (ESV)   More From David French: David French's New York Times pieces HERE Follow David French on Threads   Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook   The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

Escaping the Digital Age Where Noise Is Our Destiny   What if the noise filling your life is drowning out God's voice? John Mark Comer joins Curtis Chang to discuss his book  Into the Quiet: Following Jesus in a World of Noise and how churches can offer refuge from digital overload, what the Desert Fathers and Mothers teach about faith and power, and why contemplative prayer sustains public engagement. John Mark and Curtis do a deep dive into the relationship between contemplative prayer, political engagement, and faithful public witness. Along the way, John Mark offers gentle, practical ways to begin making room for God—even if sitting still feels impossible.   02:27 - How do we talk about silence in a noisy age? 06:19 - "Quiet time" versus quiet presence 10:52 - Why does solitude matter for active people? 15:34 - Is solitude essential to discipleship? 23:11 - Noisy churches and quieter worship 30:01 - Silence, politics, and public witness  37:40 - The Desert Fathers, Constantine, the church & empire 43:45 - Solitude and confronting demonic thoughts 50:32 - Starting a practice of quiet & finding joy in God   Sign up  for The After Party course   Mentioned in This Episode: John Mark Comer's Into the Quiet: Following Jesus in a World of Noise More about Martin Laird More about Dallas Willard & spiritual disciplines Richard Foster's list of spiritual disciplines Adele Ahlberg Calhoun's Spiritual Disciplines Handbook BJ Fogg's Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything Howard Thurman's Jesus and the Disinherited Howard Thurman's Meditations of the Heart Scriptures: Luke 5:15–16 (ESV) Psalm 46 (ESV) Matthew 4:1–11 and Luke 4:1–13 (ESV) Jude 9 (ESV) Colossians 1:27 (ESV) 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (ESV) More From John Mark Comer: Explore John Mark's website  Listen to John Mark's podcast Find John Mark on Instagram Watch John Mark on YouTube   Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook   The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.