2016 Episode 19

Show open and John Schlitt interview intro

A host opens the show from the Pathway Studios in Johnston Proper, addressing a co-host as 'Mike', and previews an interview with John Schlitt of the Union of Sinners and Saints (formerly of Petra). Plugs: the Union of Sinners and Saints show June 5 at the PACE Center in Perry and the June 4 album release party at Sumter Amphitheater in Papillion, Nebraska.

How the Union of Sinners and Saints came together

Guest John Schlitt describes how the band formed: he ran into Billy at a conference a year earlier, they wrote four or five songs in a few months, brought in friends, and ended up with a 12-song album built by seasoned veterans to be played by a live band.

John Schlitt's Iowa stories

Asked for Iowa memories, John says his old Head East band was inducted into the Iowa Hard Rock Hall of Fame, recalls a beautiful resort town visit, and says Iowa has been good to him through both Head East and Petra.

Album old-and-new songs and the release party

• How does an album release party work?

The album mixes old and new material: John picked Petra's 'Beyond Belief' to represent his ministry history and Billy picked 'Independence Day' as the first single. John explains what an album release party is (refreshments, listen through all 12 tracks, talk through each song) and notes 12 tracks is unusually many for one of his records.

Writing Christian music; Bono's realism critique

• Is it hard to keep writing fresh Christian songs without repeating yourself?
• Does Christian music sometimes lack realism? (Bono's critique)

Asked what he is listening to and whether it is hard to keep writing fresh Jesus-centered songs, John says he was not Petra's main writer, so his own songwriting still feels fresh, and credits mentors like Bob Hartman and John Lowry. On Bono's remark that Christian music lacks realism, John says Christian music leans on formulas because the market is a small pond and musicians have to make a living; a host agrees the critique is true but incomplete.

John Schlitt Ministries and Joshua Ministries

John says he is working hard on John Schlitt Ministries and started Joshua Ministries, a still-undefined project about helping other ministries and churches — e.g., staging ticketed concerts where all ticket money goes to the ministry being supported. A host calls it a cool but frightening, open-landscape place to be.

Interview sign-off and host reactions

After thanking John and saying goodbye, the hosts react: one tells of a coworker excited to learn they interviewed someone from Petra, they riff on the album release party and hashtags, and one host recounts a church anecdote in which Ben said his coat looked like it belonged to Teddy Roosevelt — prompting a Michael Jackson comparison from a man they call Keith Olsen.

22 things Christians need to stop doing, items 1-4

The hosts work through a Charisma Magazine list by Chuck Tate. (1) Quit expecting everyone to like you; (2) quit throwing teammates under the bus (build each other up, don't tear each other down); (3) quit gossiping, including sharing juicy prayer requests with no intention of praying; (4) quit replacing prayer with good vibes and positive thoughts. They agree prayer moves the hand of God and mock Facebook 'vibes'.

Items 5-8: repentance, hard passages, the Great Commission

• Should Christians expect unbelievers to understand the Bible and live like Christ?

(5) Quit saying repentance isn't necessary — one host doubts many Christians actually deny this; (6) quit dismissing uncomfortable Bible passages as irrelevant; (7) quit expecting unbelievers to understand the Bible or live like Christ; (8) quit treating the Great Commission as a suggestion. They agree witness by lifestyle matters but words are needed too.

Item 9: silence about faith; Rodney Stark's Rise of Christianity

On item 9 (not staying silent about faith), the hosts debate whether witness comes through actions or words. One cites Rodney Stark's The Rise of Christianity: Christians stayed during plagues, rescued exposed infants, and treated women well — concluding Christians should act like Christians while also talking about Jesus, since no one responds to the good news without hearing it.

Items 10-13: politics, the Bible as a weapon, judgmentalism, exclusivity

(10) Quit being more passionate about politics than Jesus; (11) quit using the Bible to beat the hell out of people; (12) quit legalistic rants, knee-jerk reactions, and judgmentalism; (13) quit calling yourself a Christian if you believe multiple paths lead to salvation. They agree on 10-11, hear a story of a woman driven from church by punitive upbringing, and hold the line on John 14:6 for item 13.

Items 14-17: heaven, superiority, speck and plank

(14) Quit living like everybody's going to heaven; (15) quit acting better than those who don't know Jesus; (16) quit criticizing loving believers who take a biblical stand for godly morals; (17) quit pointing out the speck in your neighbor's eye while ignoring the plank in your own. They riff on Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar and joke about 'the 66 books Christians should do — minus Esther.'

Items 18-22: jerkiness, sin, grace, 'come as you are'

(18) Quit being a jerk, period; (19) quit defending sin and quit hating sinners; (20) quit using 'he who's without sin cast the first stone' out of context — prompting a side discussion of the passage's disputed manuscript status; (21) quit using grace as a license to live however you want; (22) quit saying 'come as you are' and complaining when people show up. One host concludes the list has one idea: Christians shouldn't be judgmental jerks.

Facebook comments; baptism talk and the bunk beds story

• Should a father be bothered if his kids choose someone else to baptize them?
• Did the Great Commission happen on a mountain?

The hosts read Facebook comments on the list: Bob Cleveland of Pelham, Alabama asks if the Great Commission's 'make disciples, baptize' is for everybody; Charles Totti and David Hay of Hay Automotive (who adds 'quit lying to children about Santa') weigh in. A host muses about baptizing his own kids and the pride of them choosing someone else, then tells a funny anecdote about God providing fancy bunk beds he never asked for — 'Day 27, humbled again.'

Dear LFTP: relationship fights and counseling

• How should I handle escalating fights with my girlfriend, including racially charged insults?
• Where can I find a good therapist?

A Dear LFTP letter from Robert: frequent fights with his girlfriend, financial stress, and her telling him he wants 'an obedient partner because you're Chinese,' which he calls racist. The hosts advise going to counseling together, not fighting to win, and read the 'Secular' answer: ask his physician for a counselor referral, check with health insurance, or visit the New York State Psychological Association site.

Dear LFTP: the wife who smokes at the fancy restaurant

• How should I respond when my wife smokes at a fancy restaurant?

A listener's wife recently took up smoking and lit up halfway through a fancy dinner; he finds it rude. The hosts say to talk to her directly instead of polling strangers — jokingly telling him to 'eat your steak, Gladys' — and read the Secular answer: she is severely addicted to nicotine, not being rude.

Outro

Closing plugs for John Schlitt's site and the Perry show, plus the sign-off: 'be faithful... God will handle the ends.'