This episode examines the controversy surrounding G3 Ministries, the allegations involving Pastor Tom Buck, the resignation of Ethan Jago, and the broader decline of a once influential institution within Reformed evangelicalism.The episode begins with audio from Pastor Matt Sykes of Praise Mill Baptist Church, the flagship church associated with G3 Ministries, discussing an impending article from Protestia. From there, we examine the controversy surrounding Tom Buck, including questions about sermon preparation, attribution, anonymous allegations, and the role of G3 leadership.We also examine Phil Johnson's discussion of the controversy, Protestia's reporting, and Ethan Jago's resignation from G3. The larger question is not simply what happened in this particular dispute, but what the controversy says about Christian leadership, institutional authority, virtue, and the future of parachurch ministries.G3 once occupied an important place in the Reformed evangelical world, attracting prominent speakers and thousands of people to its conferences. But the transcript argues that a series of controversies, fractures, deaths, and disqualifications have brought that era to an end.The question, then, is: What comes next?If Christians want to see a bold Christian vision for America, they need Christian leaders who possess biblical qualifications, virtue, and integrity. The future may not look like the large parachurch institutions of the past. It may instead require new models of Christian fellowship, discipleship, church networking, and theological education.00:00 — The G3 Ministries Controversy04:19 — Why G3 Matters for Christian America09:07 — The Rise and Fall of G3 Ministries15:20 — Tom Buck, Phil Johnson, and the Plagiarism Controversy21:49 — Ethan Jago Resigns From G330:17 — What Comes Next for Christian Ministry?Jon's Music: jonharristunes.comTo Support the Podcast: https://www.jonharrismedia.com/support/Become a Patronhttps://www.patreon.com/jonharrispodcastSubstack: https://substack.com/@jonharris Follow Jon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonharris1989Follow Jon on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonharris1989/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/conversations-that-matter8971/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this News Roundup, Jon Harris examines the Florida gubernatorial Republican primary and what the results reveal about the growing disconnect between online political influence and actual voters.The conversation then moves beyond Florida to the condition of the Bible Belt, the decline of Southern culture, the rise of socialism within the Democratic Party, and the question of whether the Christian influence of the South is really disappearing.Jon also discusses evangelical news, AI and Christian publishing, the dangers of lowering standards for political and religious leaders, and the growing problem of ecumenism on the Christian Right.Finally, Jon takes a close look at the “Christ Is King” conference and the decision to feature Alex Jones, examining Jones's statements about God, salvation, spirituality, and the nature of Christ. The question is not simply whether someone uses Christian language, but whether what they actually believe is consistent with Christianity.This episode is about politics, Christianity, institutional leadership, the Bible Belt, and the importance of looking beyond rhetoric to character, competence, theology, and reality.Jon's Music: jonharristunes.comTo Support the Podcast: https://www.jonharrismedia.com/support/Become a Patronhttps://www.patreon.com/jonharrispodcastSubstack: https://substack.com/@jonharris Follow Jon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonharris1989Follow Jon on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonharris1989/00:00 — Florida’s Republican Primary08:45 — The Numbers Do Not Match the Internet14:00 — When Spoilers Become a Political Strategy20:50 — Democrats, Socialism, and the New Coalition37:27 — Is the Bible Belt Gone?50:00 — Christianity, Politics, and AI1:04:56 — Is It Ever Too Late for Revival?1:05:04 — When “Christ Is King” Becomes a Problem1:17:00 — What Alex Jones Actually BelievesSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/conversations-that-matter8971/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week on Conversations That Matter, Jon Harris sits down with Troy Miller, president and CEO of the National Religious Broadcasters, for a wide-ranging conversation about the upcoming midterms and the role of Christian voters.Miller discusses the dynamics shaping the 2026 elections, the growing divisions on both the right and left, the changing priorities of Christian conservatives, and why moral issues such as abortion, family, and sexual ethics should not disappear from the political conversation. They also discuss Christian voter turnout, the future of the American coalition, Miller's understanding of a Judeo-Christian foundation, and the changing influence of Christian media.The conversation ultimately asks a larger question: What kind of country are Christians going to pass on to the next generation? Miller's answer is direct: Christians need to be courageous, engaged, and willing to act rather than merely comment from the sidelines.00:00 — The Christian Vote and the 2026 Midterms01:38 — What Is Really at Stake?03:19 — Why These Midterms Could Be Different07:42 — Are Christians Forgetting the Moral Issues?12:17 — What Does the Next Generation Want From Christian Media?18:25 — Could Christians Decide Every Election?26:19 — The Changing Influence of Christian Media41:49 — Christians Have a Responsibility to VoteJon's Music: jonharristunes.comTo Support the Podcast: https://www.jonharrismedia.com/support/Become a Patronhttps://www.patreon.com/jonharrispodcastSubstack: https://substack.com/@jonharris Follow Jon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonharris1989Follow Jon on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonharris1989/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/conversations-that-matter8971/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

America is losing its hunters.The number of Americans who hunt has been declining for decades, and that trend raises questions that go far beyond hunting itself. What happens to conservation when fewer people hunt? What happens to our relationship with land, animals, food, and the outdoors? And what does the disappearance of hunting tell us about the broader changes taking place in American culture?In this episode of Conversations That Matter, Jon Harris examines the decline of hunting in America and why the loss of hunters could have consequences that most Americans have not considered.Hunting is not simply a recreational pastime. It has historically connected generations of Americans to the land, provided food, supported local economies, and played an important role in funding wildlife conservation. The question is whether those traditions can survive when fewer young Americans take them up.The 2022 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation recorded 14.4 million hunters age 16 and older. At the same time, researchers and wildlife organizations have raised growing concerns about declining participation and the difficulty of replacing older hunters with younger generations.So why are Americans hunting less? And what are we losing when the American hunter disappears?Join Jon Harris for another episode of Conversations That Matter.#Hunting #America #ConservationJon's Music: jonharristunes.comTo Support the Podcast: https://www.jonharrismedia.com/support/Become a Patronhttps://www.patreon.com/jonharrispodcastSubstack: https://substack.com/@jonharris Follow Jon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonharris1989Follow Jon on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonharris1989/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/conversations-that-matter8971/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode of Conversations That Matter, Jon Harris examines what happens when truth becomes a team sport. Why are we so quick to defend our political or ideological side, even when the facts may point elsewhere? We look at tribalism, bias, and the growing difficulty of pursuing truth in an increasingly polarized culture.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/conversations-that-matter8971/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

n this episode of Conversations That Matter, Jon Harris examines one of the most controversial questions surrounding Martin Luther: Did Luther’s writings inspire Adolf Hitler and the Holocaust?Luther unquestionably wrote deeply troubling things about Jews later in his life, particularly in On the Jews and Their Lies. But the historical story is considerably more complicated than simply drawing a straight line from Luther to Hitler.We look at Luther’s earlier writings and his efforts to evangelize Jews, the change in his views, the German Christian movement, the Volkish appropriation of Luther, Hitler’s actual references to Luther, and the ways Nazi Germany used Luther’s image.The question is not whether Luther had serious faults. He did. The question is whether we should understand Luther as a spiritual ancestor of Nazism, or whether later movements distorted and selectively appropriated his legacy.The episode ultimately argues for taking Luther’s entire theology and historical context seriously rather than allowing either his defenders or his critics to reduce him to a caricature.00:00 Introduction: Did Luther Inspire Hitler? 04:50 Why the Luther-Hitler Connection Matters 06:17 How Luther’s Legacy Was Reinterpreted 10:29 Luther’s Early Views of Jews 14:14 Why Luther’s Views Changed 19:53 On the Jews and Their Lies 21:00 Luther, Conversion, and Medieval Christianity 31:59 How the Volkish Movement Appropriated Luther 34:25 What Did Hitler and the Nazis Actually Think of Luther? 59:31 The Historical Debate and Luther’s LegacySupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/conversations-that-matter8971/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Thomas Sowell is one of the thinkers I have recommended for years, particularly for his criticism of simplistic explanations for racial disparities. But I think one of the central arguments in Black Rednecks and White Liberals does not hold up as well as many conservatives assume.In this reaction, I respond to Hunter Matz's discussion of Sowell's thesis on the Joe Rogan Experience and examine the argument that Southern “redneck” culture was largely responsible for the cultural problems of black Americans.I look at the West Indies comparison, the distinction between Appalachian and Southern plantation culture, the influence of the planter class, the history of slavery and Reconstruction, Northern education, Booker T. Washington, the Great Society, and the cultural changes that followed.My argument is not that culture does not matter. Quite the opposite. Culture matters enormously. But history is complicated, and I do not think we can explain modern black American problems by simply pointing to Southern rednecks.As I say toward the end of the video, I have not argued that anything is in anyone's DNA or blamed one group of white people for everything. I am arguing that the history is more complicated than this particular explanation allows.Jon's Music: jonharristunes.comTo Support the Podcast: https://www.jonharrismedia.com/support/Become a Patronhttps://www.patreon.com/jonharrispodcastSubstack: https://substack.com/@jonharris Follow Jon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonharris1989Follow Jon on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonharris1989/00:00 – Why I Am Reacting to Joe Rogan02:43 – Thomas Sowell's “Black Rednecks” Thesis04:00 – The Problem With the West Indies Comparison06:35 – Are Ghettos and Black Culture Unique to America?08:33 – Did Black Americans Simply Adopt “Redneck Culture”?10:00 – The Cornwall and Ebonics Argument12:10 – Who Actually Lived in the Southern Black Belt?15:35 – Why Eugene Genovese Matters16:58 – Reconstruction, Education, and Booker T. Washington20:50 – The Great Society, Northern Influence, and Who Is Responsible?Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/conversations-that-matter8971/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This episode tackles one of the most difficult questions surrounding pastoral ministry: Can a man who has committed serious sin ever become, or return to, the pastorate?After my conversation with Justin Peters on pastoral qualifications and permanent disqualification, several men reached out to say that they were afraid they could never become pastors because of sins in their past. At the same time, there are men occupying pulpits who have no business being there.So where is the line?We examine the qualifications for elders in 1 Timothy 3, the warning of James 3:1, Paul's language about being "disqualified," sexual sin and adultery, divorce, the early church's approach to serious pastoral sin, John Calvin's understanding of ministerial credibility, and the practical question of whether trust can ever be restored.The key distinction is between sin, biblical qualification, disqualification, and prudential judgment. Not every past sin permanently prevents a man from pastoral ministry. But some sins can destroy the trust necessary for shepherding God's people.And for men who are currently afraid to pursue ministry, there is an important word of encouragement: the question is not whether you still struggle with sin, but whether your present life demonstrates the pattern required of an elder.The goal is not to lower the biblical standard for pastors. It is to apply the standard faithfully, wisely, and honestly.00:00 Introduction01:29 Why Some Men Are Afraid to Become Pastors08:15 Some Men Should Never Be Pastors Again09:38 The Biblical Qualifications for Elders15:01 Does Permanent Disqualification Exist?17:25 Sexual Sin, Adultery, and Pastoral Disqualification20:25 How the Early Church Handled Fallen Ministers28:05 When Trust Is Permanently Broken33:16 Why Patterns of Life Matter38:59 Encouragement for Men Who Believe They Are Called to MinistryJon's Music: jonharristunes.comTo Support the Podcast: https://www.jonharrismedia.com/support/Become a Patronhttps://www.patreon.com/jonharrispodcastSubstack: https://substack.com/@jonharris Follow Jon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonharris1989Follow Jon on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonharris1989/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/conversations-that-matter8971/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode of Conversations That Matter, we examine one of the biggest challenges facing America: the growing disconnect between ownership, virtue, and political stability.Why are fewer young Americans buying homes? Is the affordability crisis creating the conditions for socialism? What role do housing, immigration, and local leadership play in the future of the conservative movement?We also discuss the growing fractures on the Right, whether American conservatism has always been rooted in liberalism, and what the Founding Fathers can teach us about recovering a distinctly American political vision.Topics include:• The real homeownership crisis• Why the trades may offer a better path for many young people• The connection between property ownership and civic virtue• The housing market and government regulation• The SAVE Act and Republican resistance in the Senate• The rise of the Muslim-Left political coalition• Updates on the PCA and SBC• What conservatives must do to rebuild strong local communitiesSubscribe for thoughtful analysis on Christianity, culture, and politics from a conservative Christian perspective.Support the channel:https://www.patreon.com/jonharrisSubstack:https://www.substack.com/@jonharrisBecome a member on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@ConversationsThatMatterpodcast/joinFollow on X:https://x.com/jonharris1989Listen to the podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conversations-that-matter/id1446645865https://open.spotify.com/show/5f83vhzwAkx0HzKylXgtuO00:00 Introduction00:43 Today's Topics: PCA, SBC, and the Conservative Movement03:41 Why Young Americans Cannot Afford Homes06:52 Homeownership, Socialism, and Human Nature12:05 Why Owning Property Shapes Conservative Values13:01 Can Trump Solve the Housing Crisis?14:45 John Thune, the SAVE Act, and Republican Roadblocks17:51 What Is Really Driving Housing Prices?21:30 Why Communities Need Local Ownership26:00 The Trades vs. College Debate33:00 Is the Right Actually Liberal?42:30 The Founding Fathers on Liberalism53:15 PCA Update1:05:30 SBC Update1:18:45 Michigan, Muslims, and the New Left Coalition1:31:00 Final ThoughtsSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/conversations-that-matter8971/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

How should Christian men think about ambition, success, influence, and vocation? In a culture obsessed with fame and personal achievement, Scripture points us toward something deeper: faithfulness.In this episode, I discuss why ambition is not the enemy, but why it must be directed by virtue, responsibility, and God's calling. We explore the importance of faithful men, local community, vocation, influence, contentment, and how to discern what God would have you build during your lifetime.This discussion is based on my latest Substack article, What Should I Do? A Christian Man's Guide to Ambition, Influence, and Faithfulness.If you have ever wrestled with questions about career, purpose, legacy, or whether you are making the most of your life, I hope this conversation helps.Jon's Music: jonharristunes.comTo Support the Podcast: https://www.jonharrismedia.com/support/Become a Patronhttps://www.patreon.com/jonharrispodcastSubstack: https://substack.com/@jonharris Follow Jon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonharris1989Follow Jon on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonharris1989/00:00 Why Ambition Matters05:36 Defining Success10:42 Faithfulness Over Fame16:08 Vocation and Calling21:54 Building What Lasts28:17 Influence and Responsibility34:06 Accepting Your Limits39:11 Planning for Legacy43:28 Final ExhortationSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/conversations-that-matter8971/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy