Conversations That Matter

Where is evangelicalism headed? In this episode of Conversations That Matter, Jon Harris examines several controversies within evangelical Christianity and the conservative movement, asking what they reveal about the future of the church and the Christian Right.
Topics include allegations of plagiarism against Christian apologist Wesley Huff and his response, Christianity Today's speculation about Elisabeth Elliot's sexuality, Calvary Chapel's controversy over family seating, and Steve Lawson's reported return to pastoral ministry following his moral scandal.
Jon also examines the fallout from the 2026 midterm elections, Nick Fuentes' political strategy, divisions within the Republican coalition, and the future of Christian nationalism. He addresses concerns about the Christ Is King conference and the inclusion of controversial figures such as Alex Jones and Alex Stein.
Throughout the episode, Jon considers the importance of integrity, repentance, sound doctrine, political prudence, and Christian leadership.
What will it take to restore credibility to evangelical Christianity? And what should conservative Christians do in the years ahead?
Subscribe to Conversations That Matter for Christian commentary on theology, politics, culture, and the future of the American church.
0:00 Introduction: Where Is Evangelicalism Headed?
5:35 Wesley Huff's Plagiarism Controversy
13:50 Christianity Today and Elisabeth Elliot's Sexuality
17:00 Should Families Sit Together in Church?
20:10 Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa and Women's Ordination
24:00 Steve Lawson's Return to Ministry
30:50 The Crisis of Evangelical Leadership
33:00 Why the Republican Coalition Is Struggling
42:45 Nick Fuentes and the Strategy of Political Defeat
56:30 What Happened to Christian Nationalism?
62:30 The Christ Is King Conference Controversy
73:00 The Future of Evangelicalism and the Christian Right

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What happens when a Christian university begins to abandon the convictions it was founded to uphold?
In this episode of Conversations That Matter, Jon Harris speaks with Point Loma Nazarene University alumni Lidiya Harvey and Isabella Simmons about the growing controversy surrounding the university and what they describe as a broader ideological shift away from its Christian foundations.
Lidiya and Isabella share their experiences at Point Loma, including concerns about progressive ideology in the classroom, university programming, faculty influence, and the treatment of students who object to these developments. They discuss the controversy surrounding the school's response to students who wanted to honor Charlie Kirk following his assassination, troubling statements attributed to university personnel, and the difficulty of getting alumni, donors, and institutional leaders to take these concerns seriously.
They also discuss why they decided to speak publicly, the importance of standing up for Christian convictions, and the responsibility of students and alumni to hold Christian institutions accountable.
Follow the guests and see their material:
Lidiya Harvey on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/lidiyaharvey/
Isabella Simmons / For Further Discussion:
https://www.instagram.com/forfurtherdiscussion/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
01:12 Lidiya Harvey's Experience as a Point Loma Alumna
02:18 The Charlie Kirk Vigil Controversy
05:00 What Is Happening at Point Loma?
06:00 The University's Nazarene and Wesleyan Heritage
08:00 Progressive Ideology and Faculty Influence
10:00 Controversial Programming and the University's Christian Identity
13:00 Is This an Isolated Problem or an Institutional One?
15:00 Students, Faculty, and Evidence of Ideological Drift
17:00 Recordings, Curriculum, and Classroom Concerns
20:00 What the University's Own Materials Reveal
21:00 Alumni, Donors, and Institutional Accountability
24:00 The Charlie Kirk Memorial and Campus Double Standards
27:00 Why Isabella Decided to Speak Out
29:00 Christian Convictions and Lessons from the Soviet Union
34:00 Where Are the Men? Taking Responsibility for Christian Institutions
37:00 The History of Student Protests and Resistance
40:00 Christian Testimony and the Purpose of Christian Education
43:00 Encouraging Students to Speak Up

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If you are a young American man, this message is for you.
You are not going to inherit the same world your father inherited. The economic conditions are different, cultural institutions are increasingly hostile to men, and many young men feel discouraged, overlooked, and uncertain about their futures.
But God has not made a mistake in creating you. He has given men responsibilities, equipped you with particular strengths, and called you to exercise dominion, build families, cultivate communities, and pursue lives of virtue.
In this message, I discuss what Scripture teaches about masculinity, the responsibilities God has given men, and why young men should resist the temptation to become bitter, cynical, or discouraged.
Drawing from Genesis, 1 Timothy 4, Proverbs, and Deuteronomy 20, I offer an encouragement to young men: build your character, pursue purity, develop courage, trust God's providence, and become the kind of men your children and grandchildren will be proud to remember.
You may not be able to control the circumstances you inherit, but you can control what you do with them.
Chapters:
00:00 A Message to Young American Men
00:34 Young Men Who Changed History
01:01 God Has Equipped You
01:41 Why Modern Institutions Blame Men
02:27 God's Design and Responsibility for Men
03:29 The Economic Challenges Facing Young Men
05:33 Think Long Term: What Will You Leave Behind?
06:14 Timothy and the Responsibility of Young Men
07:16 Character, Conduct, Love, Faith, and Purity
09:11 How to Earn Respect and Set an Example
09:55 The Next Generation of Christian Leaders
10:54 Courage and Deuteronomy 20
12:17 The Problem with Cynicism and Political Destruction
13:04 Channeling Masculinity Toward Good Ends
14:02 Build Rather Than Give Up
14:50 Overcoming Discouragement and Bitterness
16:31 Surround Yourself with Constructive People
17:23 Life Is Worth Living, Even in Difficult Times
19:10 Your Generation's Challenges Can Be Overcome
19:48 Choose to Build
20:31 Final Encouragement
Subscribe for more conversations on Christianity, culture, politics, and the future of the church.
Jon Harris
Conversations That Matter

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We’re back live for more post-midterm analysis on Conversations That Matter. Jon Harris pushes back on the popular theory that Republicans would have won if they had catered to young white men and the podcast class. He walks through the exit poll and demographic data, examines why Brandon Gill won in the same Texas county where James Talarico won, and argues that the real issue is a lost moral high ground and the decline of Christianity behind it.

He also reads 1 Kings 22 (Ahab, Jehoshaphat, 400 yes-man prophets and the lone truth-teller Micaiah) to ask whose voice Christians should listen to when everyone on the bandwagon says the same thing.

In this episode:

Why Brandon Gill and Ron DeSantis may point to a way forward
What the NBC exit poll and CIRCLE data say about young people, men and white voters
Whether pro-Trump voters really just stayed home
How Democrats used Christian language to win in red states
What Christians can learn from other groups’ political organizing
Why we’re closer to an “early church” phase than a “Constantine” phase
Practical steps for pastors and everyday believers

Chapters
00:00 Live intro: more post-midterm talk
00:55 Brandon Gill’s win in Denton County
01:22 Scripture: personal sin and national consequences
03:01 1 Kings 22: Ahab, Jehoshaphat and 400 prophets
06:38 Micaiah, the prophet who tells the truth
10:03 Why truth beats conventional political wisdom
12:15 Facts on the ground vs. Christian principles
14:01 Substack: “Is the Right Misleading Young White Men?”
17:45 NBC exit poll numbers
22:37 Did pro-Trump voters just stay home?
24:33 Young white men, CIRCLE data and the Bo French test case
27:41 Denton County: Gill and Talarico both win
30:34 Trump as “king” and the outsider problem
32:00 DeSantis, Gill and distance from the administration
35:51 Three takeaways for the Christian right
38:04 How Republicans lost the moral high ground
40:00 Tariffs, Epstein and the trust gap
42:00 How Democrats used Christian language to win
44:19 The White House X account and messaging missteps
45:35 Muslim voters, CAIR and a “seat at the table”
48:26 Rebuilding Christian communities
49:56 Early church vs. Constantine phase
52:08 Practical steps for church leaders and everyday Christians
56:39 Live chat Q&A: the ballroom, Vance and 2028
59:17 Speaking event: Men’s Steakout, Nov 7–8, Watseka, IL

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Substack referenced: https://jonharris.substack.com/publish/post/223348405

The 2026 midterm elections have delivered a major warning to Republicans and conservatives. What happened, why did it happen, and what does it mean for the future of American politics?

In this episode of Conversations That Matter, Jon Harris examines the Democratic victories, the changing political coalition on the left, the rise of explicitly religious Democratic politics, and the growing disconnect between Republican leadership and ordinary voters.

We also discuss immigration, socialism, the economy, foreign policy, Trump's political strategy, and the influence of prominent conservative commentators. What should Christians make of these developments? And how should conservatives respond?

The answer is not simply to become angrier or find another political personality to follow. Christians need to recover their principles, strengthen their local communities, understand their intellectual and religious heritage, and prepare the next generation for public life.

Topics covered:
- What the 2026 midterms reveal about American politics
- The emergence of the Christian Left
- Why Republicans are losing ground with key voting groups
- Immigration, socialism, and the changing Democratic coalition
- Trump's political strategy and approval ratings
- The future of Christian involvement in public life
- Why conservatives need stronger local communities and deeper roots

Jon discusses the Midterms

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To Support the Podcast:
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00:00 Introduction: The Morning After the Midterms
05:00 The Rise of the Christian Left
14:00 Trump's Political Messaging and Conservative Credibility
20:00 Foreign Policy, Iran, and Israel
30:00 The Republican Coalition and the American Working Class
40:00 Trump's Approval Ratings and Conservative Media
50:00 Immigration, Socialism, and Voter Sentiment
01:05:00 The Economy and Trump's Political Strategy
01:15:00 Why Democrats Are Building a Stronger Coalition
01:25:00 Christians, Public Life, and Political Engagement
01:40:00 What Conservatives Should Do After the Midterms
01:45:00 Trump's Record: Achievements and Failures
01:50:00 Conservatism, Christian Heritage, and the Way Forward

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