In the Margin
Running from February 2018 to December 2019, In the Margin was a reading-based podcast about Christian civic engagement and public witness. In each episode, co-hosts Ian Heisler and Robert Brown (and the occasional guest) consider the contributions of various authors to an ongoing conversation about how the Church can love, serve, and speak grace and truth to its neighbors. With the help of these authors, Ian and Robert ask, “What does it mean for Christians to be here? What should it look like to be in the world yet not of the world? How are we to live, read, and converse in the margin?” Below you can find bibliographies and download links for all 47 episodes.
Episode 01 - On Charitable Interpretation: A Theology of Reading by Alan Jacobs [Listen/Download]
Published February 2, 2018
Jacobs, Alan. A Theology of Reading: The Hermeneutics of Love. Westview Press, 2001.
Episode 02 - On Place and Embodiment: Three Articles [Listen/Download]
Published February 9, 2018
Anderson, Hannah. “Finding Our Place: Our Family’s Long Quest for Calling and Home.” The Gospel Coalition, 2 Jan. 2018, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/finding-place-search-for-calling-home/.
Mailaender, Gilbert. “Creatures of Place and Time: Reflections on Moving.” First Things, Apr. 1997, https://www.firstthings.com/article/1997/04/001-creatures-of-place-and-time-reflections-on-moving.
McCollough, Matt. “Church Membership Isn’t Just Biblical. It’s Beautiful.” Southern Equip, Jan. 2018, http://equip.sbts.edu/article/church-membership-isnt-just-biblical-beautiful/.
Episode 03 - On Romance and Reason: Orthodoxy by G. K. Chesterton [Listen/Download]
Published February 16, 2018
Chesterton, G. K. Orthodoxy. John Lane Company, 1908.
Episode 04 - On the Soul of the World: The Epistle to Diognetus [Listen/Download]
Published February 23, 2018
Unknown Author. “The Epistle to Diognetus.” The Apostolic Fathers: Greek Texts and English Translations, edited and translated by Michael W. Holmes, 3rd ed., Baker Academic, 2007, pp. 686–719.
NOTE: We experienced technical difficulties in the creation of this episode, resulting in some lost sections and abrupt jumps.
Episode 05 - On Promoting the Gospel: Articles on the Legacy of Billy Graham [Listen/Download]
Published March 2, 2018
Colson, Chuck, and Mark Galli. “Inside the Nixon Years.” Christianity Today, 21 Feb. 2018, https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2018/billy-graham/inside-nixon-years.html.
Gibbs, Nancy, and Timothy C. Morgan. “Billy in the Oval Office: A Story of Faith, Friendship, and Temptation.” Christianity Today, 21 Feb. 2018, https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2018/billy-graham/billy-graham-presidents-oval-office-confidante.html.
Goodstein, Laurie. “Billy Graham, 99, Dies; Pastor Filled Stadiums and Counseled Presidents.” The New York Times, 21 Feb. 2018, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/21/obituaries/billy-graham-dead.html.
Goodstein, Laurie. “Billy Graham Warned Against Embracing a President. His Son Has Gone Another Way.” The New York Times, 26 Feb. 2018, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/26/us/billy-graham-franklin-graham-trump.html.
Hansen, Collin. “What I Would Have Done Differently.” Christianity Today, 21 Feb. 2018, https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2018/billy-graham/what-i-would-have-done-differently.html.
Kidd, Thomas. “Billy Graham, the Cold War, and ‘Hell Bombs.’” The Gospel Coalition, 23 Feb. 2018, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/evangelical-history/billy-graham-cold-war-hell-bombs/.
Luo, Michael. “How Billy Graham’s Movement Lost Its Way.” The New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2018, https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-lost-revival-of-billy-graham.
Shelnutt, Kate. “What Is Billy Graham’s Friendship with Martin Luther King Jr. Worth?” Christianity Today, 23 Feb. 2018, http://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2018/february/billy-graham-martin-luther-king-jr-friendship-civil-rights.html.
Zylstra, Sarah Eekhoff. “How Billy Graham Brokered World Peace Between Evangelism and Social Justice.” Christianity Today, Feb. 2018, http://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2018/february/billy-graham-lausanne-wea-evangelism-social-justice.html.
Episode 06 - On a God-Centered Life-System: Lectures on Calvinism by Abraham Kuyper [Listen/Download]
Published March 16, 2018
Kuyper, Abraham. Lectures on Calvinism. Eerdmans, 1931.
Episode 07 - On the Church and Civil Righteousness: Articles on Calvin and Current Events [Listen/Download]
Published March 24, 2018
Tuininga, Matthew J. “Let the Church Be the Church! Calvin’s Theology of Social Justice.” The Gospel Coalition, 27 Feb. 2018, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/john-calvin-theology-social-justice/.
Himaya, Alex, et al. “Should Pastors Address Current Events in Their Sermons?” Christianity Today, 27 Nov. 2017, http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2017/december/should-pastors-address-current-events-in-sunday-sermons.html.
Episode 08 - On Thick Christianity Amidst Liquid Modernity: The Benedict Option by Rod Dreher [Listen/Download]
Featuring special guest Tommy Gehrig
Published March 30, 2018
Dreher, Rod. The Benedict Option: A Strategy for Christians in a Post-Christian Nation. Sentinel, 2017.
Episode 09 - On Saving the University: Discussions Between Christian Academics [Listen/Download]
Featuring a special guest
Published April 6, 2018
Boyagoda, Randy, and Doug Sikkema. “What the University Can (and Cannot) Do.” Comment Magazine, 1 Feb. 2018, https://www.cardus.ca/comment/article/5179/what-the-university-can-and-cannot-do/.
Boyagoda, Randy, and Doug Sikkema. “A University for the Sake of the World.” Comment Magazine, 1 Mar. 2018, https://www.cardus.ca/comment/article/5193/a-university-for-the-sake-of-the-world/.
Smith, James K. A. “Is the University Worth Saving?” Comment Magazine, 1 Mar. 2018, https://www.cardus.ca/comment/article/5186/editorial-is-the-university-worth-saving/.
Episode 10 - On the Uneasy Conscience of Postmodern Evangelicalism: Revisiting Carl F. H. Henry [Listen/Download]
Published April 13, 2018
Henry, Carl F. H. The Uneasy Conscience of Modern Fundamentalism. Eerdmans, 2003.
Episode 11 - Q&A, Vol. 1 [Listen/Download]
Published April 27, 2018
1:36 — “If parish churches are rightly called families, in what Christian sense are we ‘family’ with mixed (believing and unbelieving) people in non-parishes? In what sense are my coworkers my brothers? And my students my children?”
12:48 — “What is the balance between identifying for the most part with a party’s platform while morally disagreeing with some leaders’ other decisions, and being able to make a relatively ‘significant’ contribution to the election by voting for that mainstream party instead of independent while having apprehensions about the immorality of party leaders but wanting to get the ‘good’ legislation passed through them? . . . Do the ends justify the means?”
20:43 — “Should leaders advocate their Christian views in the political sphere or just keep it in church?”
27:19 — “What is the work of the Spirit in civic engagement?”
Episode 12 - On Common Ground: Two Strategies for Collaborative Civic Action [Listen/Download]
Published May 4, 2018
Olmstead, Gracy. “Can ‘Localism’ Restore Sanity to U.S. Politics?” The New York Times, 11 Apr. 2018, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/11/opinion/localism-partisanship-local-politics.html.
Wright, Matthew D. “Rights in Common.” First Things, May 2018, https://www.firstthings.com/article/2018/05/rights-in-common.
Episode 13 - On the More Excellent Way: MLK's Protest of Love 55 Years On [Listen/Download]
Published May 11, 2018
Hassler, Alfred, et al. Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Story. The Fellowship of Reconciliation, 1957, http://www.crmvet.org/docs/ms_for_comic.pdf.
King, Martin Luther, Jr. Letter from a Birmingham Jail. 16 Apr. 1963, https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/documents/letter-birmingham-jail.
Moore, Russell. “King and Kingdom: Racial Justice and the Uneasy Conscience of American Christianity.” MLK50 Conference, 3 Apr. 2018, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/conference_media/black-white-red-all-over/.
Platt, David. “Let Justice Roll Down Like Waters: Racism and Our Need for Repentance.” Together for the Gospel Conference, 11 Apr. 2018, http://t4g.org/media/2018/04/let-justice-roll-like-waters-racism-need-repentance/.
Richard, John C., Jr., and Daniel Yang. “Preaching on Racism from the ‘White’ Pulpit: Reflections from David Platt’s Talk at T4G.” Christianity Today, 12 Apr. 2018, https://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2018/april/preaching-on-racism-platt.html.
Episode 14 - On Cyber-Anger and Charity: Three Articles [Listen/Download]
Published June 8, 2018
Carter, Joe. “The Persistent and Pervasive Problem of Pseudo-Pique.” The Gospel Coalition, 2 June 2018, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/persistent-pervasive-problem-pseudo/.
Lutzer, Erwin W. “Social Media: Where Anger Is Disguised as Justice.” Moody Church Media, 31 May 2018, https://www.moodymedia.org/blog/2018/05/social-media-anger-disguised-justice/.
Moore, Russell. “Why Politics Overwhelms the Church.” 9Marks, 17 Apr. 2018, https://www.9marks.org/article/why-politics-overwhelms-the-church/.
Episode 15 - On Destroying the Fabric: The Abolition of Man by C. S. Lewis [Listen/Download]
Published June 15, 2018
Lewis, C. S. The Abolition of Man. Oxford University Press, 1943.
Episode 16 - On Love and War and the Mind in Between: How to Think by Alan Jacobs [Listen/Download]
Published June 22, 2018
Jacobs, Alan. How to Think: A Survival Guide for a World at Odds. Currency, 2017.
Episode 17 - On Christianity and Pluralism in the Public Square: Lecture by Lesslie Newbigin [Listen/Download]
Published June 29, 2018
Ashford, Bruce. “How a Man Named Lesslie Changed the Way I Think.” The Gospel Coalition, 1 Sept. 2017, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/how-a-man-named-lesslie-changed-the-way-i-think/.
Newbigin, Lesslie. “Can a Modern Society Be Christian?” Newbigin Resources, 1 Dec. 1995, http://newbiginresources.org/1998-can-a-modern-society-be-christian/.
Leeman, Jonathan. How the Nations Rage: Rethinking Faith and Politics in a Divided Age. Nelson Books, 2018.
Episode 18 - On Remaking the World: Culture Making by Andy Crouch [Listen/Download]
Published July 6, 2018
Crouch, Andy. Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling. IVP Books, 2008.
Episode 19 - On Morals and Moral Debates: After Virtue by Alasdair MacIntyre [Listen/Download]
Featuring special guest Tommy Gehrig
Published July 28, 2018
MacIntyre, Alasdair. After Virtue: A Study in Moral Theory. 2nd ed., University of Notre Dame Press, 1984.
Episode 20 - On Protesting Ourselves: 2008's Evangelical Manifesto [Listen/Download]
Published August 4, 2018
An Evangelical Manifesto: A Declaration of Evangelical Identity and Public Commitment. 7 May 2008, http://evangelicalmanifesto.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Evangelical_Manifesto.pdf.
Mohler, Albert. “An Evangelical Response to ‘An Evangelical Manifesto.’” Albert Mohler, 11 May 2008, https://albertmohler.com/2008/05/12/an-evangelical-response-to-an-evangelical-manifesto-2/.
Episode 21 - On Corporate Confession: Article by Jake Meador [Listen/Download]
Published August 11, 2018
Meador, Jake. “The Lord’s Work in the Lord’s Way: Against the Culture War.” Mere Orthodoxy, 21 June 2018, https://mereorthodoxy.com/against-culture-war/.
Episode 22 - Q&A, Vol. 2 [Listen/Download]
Published August 18, 2018
2:43 — “How can pastors and others encourage churches to look beyond the rhetoric of the anti-immigration voices to see that Christ has called us to serve refugees and asylum seekers for His name’s sake and to make disciples?” /// "Why is our advocacy for laws that preserve life (eg abortion) not as strong as our advocacy for immigration policies that keep families together and respect due process?”
13:47 — “Wondering if the non-traditional structure of [the Los Angeles] area . . . means that civic engagement/responsibilities have to look different?”
22:23 — “How motivated should Christians be to become political leaders?” /// "How should you evaluate performance as a Christian in politics? The number of righteous laws passed? Or faithfulness to the work?” /// "I once had someone tell me that God wants [Christians] to take on leadership in politics. How true is that statement according to the Bible?”
Episode 23 - On Immanent Transcendence: How (Not) to Be Secular by James K. A. Smith [Listen/Download]
Featuring special guest Dr. Haein Park, Associate Professor of English at Biola University
Published August 25, 2018
Smith, James K. A. How (Not) to Be Secular: Reading Charles Taylor. Eerdmans, 2014.
Episode 24 - Q&A, Vol. 3 [Listen/Download]
Published September 1, 2018
2:00 — “Should Christians get behind legislation that helps the poor . . . or is legislation not an appropriate medium for helping the poor?”
17:30 — “What does it look like for Christians in the US to be civically engaged when there are such strong divides?” /// "How do you foster collaboration across party lines?”
32:13 — “How important is it for Christians to vote? Is God more pleased with those Christians who do?” /// “If you could recommend one book for Christians to read in light of current events and the upcoming mid-term elections . . . what would it be?”
Episode 25 - On Ethics and Aesthetics, Part I: “September 1, 1939” by W. H. Auden [Listen/Download]
Featuring special guest Scott Hubbard
Published September 15, 2018
Auden, W. H. Selected Poems. Edited by Edward Mendelson, Random House, 1979.
Jacobs, Alan. “Shame the Devil.” Books and Culture, Mar./Apr. 2002, https://www.booksandculture.com/articles/2002/marapr/5.12.html.
Kelly, David. “Critical Essay on ‘September 1, 1939.’” Poetry for Students, Gale, 2008, https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/september-1-1939#CriticalOverview.
Episode 26 - On Ethics and Aesthetics, Part II: “A Summer Night” by W. H. Auden [Listen/Download]
Featuring special guest Scott Hubbard
Published September 22, 2018
Auden, W. H. Selected Poems. Edited by Edward Mendelson, Random House, 1979.
Jacobs, Alan. A Theology of Reading: The Hermeneutics of Love. Westview Press, 2001.
Episode 27 - On Cities on Hills: “A Model of Christian Charity” by John Winthrop [Listen/Download]
Published September 29, 2018
Winthrop, John. A Model of Christian Charity. 1630, https://www.winthropsociety.com/doc_charity.php.
Episode 28 - On the Spirit of Party and Real Patriots: George Washington's “Farewell Address” [Listen/Download]
Published October 6, 2018
Washington, George. President George Washington’s Farewell Address. 1796, https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=15&page=transcript.
Episode 29 - On The Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel: A Response, Part I [Listen/Download]
Published October 20, 2018
The Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel. 4 Sept. 2018, https://statementonsocialjustice.com
Episode 30 - On The Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel: A Response, Part II [Listen/Download]
Published October 28, 2018
Carson, D. A. “What Are Gospel Issues?” Themelios, vol. 39, no. 2, July 2014, http://themelios.thegospelcoalition.org/article/what-are-gospel-issues.
DeYoung, Kevin. “Is Social Justice a Gospel Issue?” The Gospel Coalition, 11 Sept. 2018, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevin-deyoung/social-justice-gospel-issue/.
Wilson, Jared C. “The Perils of Preaching an Implications-Free Gospel.” For the Church (Midwestern Seminary), 10 Sept. 2018, https://ftc.co/resource-library/blog-entries/the-perils-of-preaching-an-implications-free-gospel.
Wilson, Jared C. “5 Better Ways to ‘Argue’ About Social Justice ... Or Anything Else Online.” For the Church (Midwestern Seminary), 19 Sept. 2018, https://ftc.co/resource-library/1/3956.
Galli, Mark. “Evangelism Is a Work of Social Justice.” Christianity Today, 13 Sept. 2018, https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2018/september-web-only/keeping-social-justice-ministries-vibrant.html.
The Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel. 4 Sept. 2018, https://statementonsocialjustice.com
Episode 31 - On Facilitating Civic Collaboration: Our Midterm Voting Party [Listen/Download]
Featuring special guest JD Selstad
Published November 3, 2018
Episode 32 - On Ambivalence, Loyalty, and Subversion: The Politics of Daniel, Jesus, and Paul [Listen/Download]
Published November 10, 2018
The Bible Project. “The Way of the Exile.” YouTube, 1 Nov. 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzWpa0gcPyo&frags=pl%2Cwn.
Carter, Joe. “Five Things Christians Should Do After the Election.” The Gospel Coalition, 6 Nov. 2018, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/5-things-christians-election/.
Schreiner, Patrick. “Why We Should Follow Paul’s Example in Our Political Moment.” The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, 29 Oct. 2018, https://erlc.com/resource-library/articles/why-we-should-follow-pauls-example-in-our-political-moment.
Episode 33 – On Argument and Story: “C.S. Lewis in the Public Square” by Richard John Neuhaus [Listen/Download]
Published November 24, 2018
Neuhaus, Richard John. “C. S. Lewis in the Public Square.” First Things, Dec. 1998, https://www.firstthings.com/article/1998/12/002-c-s-lewis-in-the-public-square.
Episode 34 - On Aiming at Heaven: Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis [Listen/Download]
Published December 15, 2018
Lewis, C. S. Mere Christianity. Geoffrey Bles, 1952.
Episode 35 - Christmas in the Margin [Listen/Download]
Published December 22, 2018
Cappeau, Placide. “Cantique de Noël / Minuit, Chrétiens” (Original Version of “O Holy Night”). 1843.
Dwight, John Sullivan. “O Holy Night.” 1855.
Watts, Isaac. “Psalm XCVIII. Second Part. The Messiah’s Coming and Kingdom” (“Joy to the World”). 1719.
Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth. “Christmas Bells” (“I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”). 1863.
Episode 36 - On Living Cross-Culturally: Global Perspectives on Christianity and Politics [Listen/Download]
Featuring special guest Ron Brown
Published January 19, 2019
Episode 37 - On Reading Together: Cultivating Bookish Communion [Listen/Download]
Published January 26, 2019
Wright, Brian J., and Caleb Lindgren. “Reading Together, Early Church Style.” Christianity Today, 20 Apr. 2018, https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2018/may/communal-reading-together-early-church.html.
Episode 38 - On Envisioning a Righteous Cause: The Year of Our Lord 1943 by Alan Jacobs, Part I [Listen/Download]
Published February 11, 2019
Jacobs, Alan. The Year of Our Lord 1943: Christian Humanism in an Age of Crisis. Oxford University Press, 2018.
Episode 39 - On Fighting the Long Defeat Together: The Year of Our Lord 1943 by Alan Jacobs, Part II [Listen/Download]
Published February 18, 2019
Jacobs, Alan. The Year of Our Lord 1943: Christian Humanism in an Age of Crisis. Oxford University Press, 2018.
Meador, Jake. “What 2018 Can Learn from 1943.” The Gospel Coalition, 20 Nov. 2018, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/reviews/year-lord-1943/.
Wellmon, Chad. “The Year of Whose Lord?” Comment Magazine, 10 Jan. 2019, https://www.cardus.ca/comment/article/the-year-of-whose-lord/#.
Episode 40 - Q&A, Vol. 4 [Listen/Download]
Published March 4, 2019
2:24 — “How can Christians participate faithfully in the local church when their life circumstances demand that they work excessive and physically exhausting hours? And how are Christians who are not in such a situation supposed to reach and serve such people (believers or not) who are?”
14:10 — “In a hostile playing field, where many people are not listening (nor want to listen) how should we winsomely approach conversations that have connections to political issues?”
24:59 — “How do you discern what’s most important to stay informed about? What’s the place of the spiritual disciplines of contemplation/silence with respect to civic engagement?”
Episode 41 - Q&A, Vol. 5 [Listen/Download]
Published April 1, 2019
2:20 — “To what extent do Christians bear or have responsibility for the unforeseen or unpredictable consequences of candidates, policies, or economic plans?”
18:00 — “What does Christian public policy look like? what actions should Christians strive to have the public take based on our principles? How do we get non-Christians on board with our principles?”
30:00 — “How can Christians from societies 'with a Christian mark' [Pierre Manent’s phrase] relate to increasingly large minority groups without a Christian heritage? What is the duty of the Christian citizen to the secular state? And what can Christians offer to post-Christian politics?”
Episode 42 - On Civil (Dis)Obedience, Part I: Thoreau [Listen/Download]
Published April 16, 2019
Thoreau, Henry David. Walden and Civil Disobedience. Penguin Books, 1986.
Episode 43 - On Civil (Dis)Obedience, Part II: Paul and Peter [Listen/Download]
Published April 22, 2019
Episode 44 - On Natural Law and Beauty: James Clark on Public Persuasion [Listen/Download]
Published June 3, 2019
Clark, James. “Natural Law and the Prospects of Persuasion.” Mere Orthodoxy, 15 Apr. 2019, https://mereorthodoxy.com/natural-law-prospects-persuasion/.
Episode 45 - On Parodies of History: Essays by Marilynne Robinson [Listen/Download]
Published June 10, 2019
Robinson, Marilynne. “Marguerite de Navarre [Parts I and II].” The Death of Adam: Essays on Modern Thought, Picador, 1998, pp. 174–226.
Episode 46 - On the Pursuit of Meaningfulness: Russian Literature on Happiness [Listen/Download]
Published June 18, 2019
Morson, Gary Saul. “The Problem With Happiness.” Athenaeum Review, no. 2, 2019, pp. 102–08, https://athenaeumreview.org/essay/the-problem-with-happiness/.
Tolstoy, Leo. “The Death of Ivan Ilych.” Translated by Louise and Aylmer Maude, http://www.lonestar.edu/departments/english/Tolstoy_Ivan.pdf.
Episode 47 - A Farewell Message from Ian and Robert [Listen/Download]
Published December 20, 2019