War, abuse, and trauma are complex subjects to wrap our heads around. Rarely do we find easy answers, identify quick fixes, or come to simple, satisfying conclusions. Nonetheless, the Christian gospel calls believers to engage with these difficult issues for the sake of those who bear God’s image.
This week on The Bulletin, host Mike Cosper invites three special guests—theologian Miroslav Volf, reporter Kate Shellnutt, and author and pastor Ed Stetzer—to wrestle with these topics and draw forth salient truth. In this episode, Volf reflects on his own childhood at the edge of Soviet influence as he engages with Jesus’ command to “love your enemies,” a truth writ painfully large over the current Russian/Ukrainian conflicts. Shellnutt discusses other complexities, this time on the homefront, as she talks about her recent investigative reporting on church abuse cover-ups. And Stetzer rounds up the thoughtful conversation with hope and helpful insights about Christians colleges and seminaries.
Joining us this week: Miroslav Volf is the Henry B. Wright Professor of Theology at Yale Divinity School and is the founder and director of the Yale Center for Faith and Culture. He was educated in his native Croatia, the United States, and Germany, earning doctoral and post-doctoral degrees (with highest honors) from the University of Tübingen, Germany. He has written or edited more than 20 books, over 100 scholarly articles, and his work has been featured in the Washington Post, Christianity Today, Christian Century, Sojourners, and several other outlets, including NPR’s Speaking of Faith (now On Being with Krista Tippett) and public television’s Religion and Ethics NewsWeekly.
Kate Shellnutt is editorial director of news and online for Christianity Today, where she leads the magazine’s news team and reports and edits for online. In her role, Kate has written several stories around the church’s response to sexual abuse and spiritual abuse, including involving leaders with Acts 29, the Southern Baptist Convention, and Kanakuk Kamps.
Ed Stetzer, PhD, served formerly as executive director of the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center and this year enters a new season as dean of Talbot School of Theology at Biola University. He has planted, revitalized, and pastored churches; trained pastors and church planters on six continents; earned two master’s degrees and two doctorates; and he has written hundreds of articles and a dozen books. He is the founding editor of The Gospel Project, a curriculum used by more than 1.7 million individuals each week for Bible study. Stetzer’s national radio show, Ed Stetzer Live, airs Saturdays on Moody Radio and affiliates.
Resources Referenced: The Home of God: A Brief Story of Everything by Miroslav Volf Life Worth Living: A Guide to What Matters Most by Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun, and Ryan McAnnally-Linz For the Life of the World podcast “Grace Community Church Rejected Elder’s Calls to ‘Do Justice’ in Abuse Case” by Kate Shellnutt “John MacArthur Shamed, Excommunicated Mother for Refusing to Take Back Child Abuser” by Julie Roys “TIU Announces Plans to Move Undergrad Program Online” by Hannah McClellan “Waking up in 2030” by Ross Douthat “Facts are our Friends” by Ed Stetzer
“The Bulletin” is a production of Christianity Today Executive Producer: Erik Petrik Host: Mike Cosper Producer: Matt Stevens Associate Producer: Azurae Phelps Editing and Mix: TJ Hester Music: Dan Phelps Graphic Design: Bryan Todd Social Media: Kate Lucky
