Conversations That Matter

In this episode of Conversations That Matter, Jon Harris revisits the COVID era through the lens of Anthony Fauci’s public statements and congressional testimony—including his decision to plead the Fifth. The discussion examines how many evangelical leaders and institutions responded at the time, the frequent use of Romans 13 and “love your neighbor” arguments, and which churches and pastors actually stood firm.Harris shares the key lessons he believes Christians should take from 2020–2021: good theology is only proven under pressure, the importance of thinking independently, and the value of leaders who refuse to bend conviction for social approval. The episode also covers current cultural observations on immigration and the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, the surprising success of country artist Ella Langley, recent Trump administration actions, listener questions, and a clear call to maintain integrity regardless of the cultural winds.

00:00 Fauci Clips Montage
02:00 Welcome & Why This Still Matters
05:50 What Evangelical Leaders Said About Fauci
10:00 Lessons from COVID: Theology Meets Reality
13:50 Churches That Stayed Open – The Real Heroes
18:00 Elites, Platforms & Parachurch Failures
21:00 Thinking for Yourself & Finding Courage
59:00 Immigration, Nigeria & Western Democracies
1:02:30 Ella Langley’s Chart Success
1:09:00 Trump Administration Updates
1:10:30 Listener Questions & Personal Notes
1:16:30 Final Takeaways from COVID
1:21:00 Closing & ETP Coffee

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Should a pastor who commits adultery, habitually views pornography, or commits another serious moral failure ever return to ministry?

In this episode, I sit down with Justin Peters to discuss one of the most controversial questions facing the evangelical church today. We examine the biblical qualifications for elders, the meaning of being "above reproach," whether sexual sin permanently disqualifies a man from pastoral ministry, and how Christians should think about restoration.

We also discuss examples frequently raised in these debates, including Steve Lawson, Mark Driscoll, Tullian Tchividjian, King David, and the Apostle Peter, while examining passages such as 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1, 1 Corinthians 6, Proverbs 6, and 2 Corinthians 7.

Whether you agree or disagree, this conversation aims to drive listeners back to Scripture and encourage careful thinking about holiness, church leadership, repentance, and biblical accountability.

00:00 Introduction
00:57 Why This Conversation Matters
02:30 What Is Permanent Disqualification?
03:12 Qualifications for Elders and "Above Reproach"
05:17 Why Justin Peters Says Sexual Sin Permanently Disqualifies
08:12 Are Other Sins Also Permanently Disqualifying?
10:11 Mark Driscoll and Public Ministry
12:12 Patterns of Anger vs. Isolated Failures
13:26 Internal and External Consequences of Sexual Sin
15:32 Reputation, Reproach, and Public Ministry
17:03 What About David and Peter?
19:05 Godly Sorrow vs. Worldly Sorrow
20:53 Encouragement for Christians Struggling with Sin
22:02 Pornography and Personal Responsibility
23:39 Is Permanent Disqualification Explicitly Taught in Scripture?
25:00 Final Reflections

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The Middle East is once again dominating headlines, but are the most popular narratives actually true?

In this conversation, geopolitical strategist and author Martin Skold joins Jon Harris to separate internet myths from geopolitical reality. They discuss why Iran remains a long-term strategic challenge, whether America's alliance with Israel serves U.S. interests, the limits of the Abraham Accords, China's growing influence, the future of Middle East trade, and why simplistic explanations are attracting millions online.

They also tackle the resurgence of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories on the American Right, the dangers of scapegoating Israel for every global problem, and what a genuinely America First foreign policy should look like.

Whether you agree or disagree, this conversation provides historical context and geopolitical analysis that is often missing from today's online debates.

Topics include:

Iran and the future of the Middle East
Israel and U.S. foreign policy
Tucker Carlson's recent claims
China, trade, and global power shifts
Why internet narratives often miss the bigger picture
The resurgence of anti-Semitism
America's strategic interests abroad

00:00 Introduction
01:20 Why the Middle East keeps repeating itself
06:45 Popular online narratives about Israel
09:05 Is there reason for optimism?
13:30 Trade, China, and regional alliances
17:50 Does Israel drag America into war?
20:00 Tucker Carlson and the "merged militaries" claim
24:00 Why anti-Semitic narratives are spreading
29:00 Globalization and America's foreign policy establishment
36:00 China, manufacturing, and strategic competition
45:00 America's long-term geopolitical challenges
54:00 What an America First foreign policy should look like
1:03:00 Final thoughts

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This week on Conversations That Matter, Jon Harris examines the biggest stories shaping America, the church, and the wider world.
Topics include:
• The controversy surrounding The Odyssey and what it says about Western civilization.
• Trump's response to the escalating conflict with Iran.
• Claims about a U.S.-Israel military "merger" and why they are misleading.
• The White House defending Christian athletes.
• Jen Hatmaker's rejection of the doctrine of hell.
• Michelle Leslie's critique of Jen Wilkin.
• Steve Lawson, Justin Peters, and biblical discernment.
• The Paige Patterson lawsuit update.
• An extended analysis of the Rick Appleton case and what it could mean for conservative Presbyterianism.
Join us each weekend as we review the biggest national, international, and evangelical stories from a distinctly Christian perspective.

00:00 Introduction
00:30 The Odyssey controversy and Western civilization
03:30 The Federalist vs. Gospel Coalition on The Odyssey
06:00 Data centers, AI, and conservative priorities
09:40 Trump's Iran strategy and Middle East update
13:10 Martin Skold interview preview
15:00 Tucker Carlson and the U.S.-Israel military claim
18:00 White House defends Christian WNBA player
19:00 Jen Hatmaker rejects hell
20:30 Michelle Leslie on Jen Wilkin
23:00 Steve Lawson, Justin Peters, and James 1
27:30 Paige Patterson lawsuit resolved
29:00 Rick Appleton case explained
39:00 Social media, biblical patriarchy, and Presbyterian controversy

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What makes a story timeless? Why are millions of people consuming 90-second "micro dramas" while classic films continue to inspire generation after generation?

In this conversation, Jon Harris sits down with Wade Stotts of The Wade Show to discuss everything from rescoring Buster Keaton silent films to the collapse of modern entertainment. Together they examine why short-form content is reshaping attention spans, how Hollywood abandoned moral storytelling, and what families can do to cultivate a love for great art.

The discussion also explores classic television, Westerns, Buster Keaton, the rise of Chinese-produced micro dramas, and whether our culture can recover an appreciation for beauty, craftsmanship, and stories that endure.

Topics include:

- Why Buster Keaton remains one of cinema's greatest artists
- The explosion of Chinese micro dramas
- How technology is changing the way we consume entertainment
- Why classic Westerns communicated timeless moral truths
- The rise of the anti-hero in modern storytelling
- Raising children to appreciate great films and television
- Can Hollywood recover, or is a new cultural renaissance needed?

If you enjoy conversations about Christianity, culture, history, and the arts, subscribe for more episodes of Conversations That Matter.

00:00 Introduction and meeting Wade Stotts
01:08 Rescoring Buster Keaton films for a modern audience
05:01 Hollywood family history and classic cinema
06:59 The rise of Chinese micro dramas and "brain rot" entertainment
10:44 Why attention spans are collapsing
13:56 Politics, podcasts, and the culture of sensationalism
15:21 Raising children on timeless films and television
18:53 Why classic Westerns taught moral lessons
20:20 The hero, the anti-hero, and the decline of the Western
22:00 Can timeless storytelling make a comeback?

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