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“We Are All Evangelicals” with Vince Bacote

Vince Bacote

David Capes was recently at Wheaton College to record podcasts with their faculty for Exegetically Speaking.  While there, he managed to record a few segments with faculty who were working on interesting projects.

Vince Bacote joins him on The Stone Chapel Podcasts to discuss a documentary he is working on about black evangelicals, tentatively called We Are All Evangelicals.  It should release in 2024.

To hear the podcast (21 minutes) click here.

Who Is Vince Bacote?  

Dr. Vince Bacote is Professor of Theology and Director of the Center for Applied Christian Ethics at Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL.

He has authored a number of books including Reckoning with Race and Performing the Good News: In Search of a Better Evangelical Theology (2020) and The Political Disciple: A Theology of Public Life (2015).

Now he adds another skill to his resume: documentary creator and presenter.

“We Are All Evangelicals”

A number of years ago Dr. Bacote came up with an important idea: an oral history of black evangelicals.

But over time the project has morphed to become a documentary film, co-sponsored by Wheaton College and Christianity Today.  

If you analyze the theology of black churches, it overlaps in many ways with evangelical theology.  But black “evangelicals” have had an uneasy relationship with white evangelicals, especially in the last decade.

Despite their similarities, both groups have been spiritually formed in separate arenas.

In this film, Dr. Bacote explores that story in a series of chapters which are designed to consider the past, present, and future of that relationship.

The film will likely debute in 2024.  So look for it!

Email Dr. Bacote at vincent.bacote@wheaton.edu and he will send you a link to the trailer.

Dr. Bacote was on an earlier Stone Chapel Podcasts. To hear that click here.

To watch Dr. Bacote on a panel discussion at the Lanier Theological Library, click here. The topic of the panel is How to Have Difficult Conversations When You Know You Disagree.

More Resources

Want more Stone Chapel Podcasts on some great topics? Just click here.

What’s more! You can get information on upcoming lectures at Lanier Theological Library by clicking here.

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Coping with Pluralism with Darrell Bock

In Fall 2023 Darrell Bock lectured at the Lanier Theological Library on the topic: “Coping with Pluralism.”  The link to that YouTube video is down below. 

In addition, there was a great panel discussion the day before between various scholars from around the United States.  Darrell sat down with David Capes, host of The Stone Chapel Podcasts, to offer a preview of his lecture.

Who is Darrell Bock?

Dr. Bock is a well-known scholar.  He currently serves as a Senior Research Professor of New Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary.

And as the Executive Director for Cultural Engagement at the Hendricks Center at DTS as well. 

He has authored, co-authored, or edited 30-40 books.  Most of these you can find signed at the Lanier Theological Library.  Look on the title page! 

Darrell has been married 48 years. He has three children and five grandchildren.  He co-hosts a podcast at Dallas Seminary called “The Table.”   See the link below. It’s a terrific podcast and resource.

To hear the podcast (about 20 minutes) click here.

The Problem of Pluralism

In America, Europe, and much of the west the culture and values have shifted radically in the last thirty years. 

In Darrell’s mind, Christians have gone from being the home team to becoming a visiting team that is unwelcome. 

Some have described it as a culture war and have begun fighting as if we are in battle to crush the other.  That may be popular, but it is not the way of Jesus. 

Instead of regarding these folks as an enemy to be crushed, we should begin to think of them a person to be gained. 

This may be one of the most important podcasts you listen to all year. 

Dr. Bock talks about a number of biblical teachings which should lead us to have a better tone and disposition toward those we want to persuade.

Additional Resources

To see the video of Darrell Bock’s lecture click here.

To see the video of the panel discussion, here’s the link.

Darrell has a number of books touching on this and related topics.  

Among them: Cultural Intelligence: Living for God in a Diverse, Pluralistic World (B&H Academic, 2020)

You can read a transcript of this podcast here.

The Table Podcast is here. 

Want more Stone Chapel Podcasts on some great topics? Just click here.

What’s more, you can get information on upcoming lectures at Lanier Theological Library by clicking here.

To hear the podcast (about 20 minutes) click here.

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MisReading Scripture with Western Eyes with Randy Richards

Randy Richards

E. R. (“Randy”) Richards, Provost and Professor of New Testament at Palm Beach Atlantic University, joins David Capes on “The Stone Chapel Podcast” to talk about his book, Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes (written with Brandon J. O’Brien [IVP], 2012).

The book’s subtitle Is “Removing Cultural Blinders to Better Understand the Bible.”

Dr. Richard’s life has been shaped by his experiences as a missionary in Indonesia. In those years he saw how he tended to read Scripture through a cultural lens vastly different from the world of the Bible. 

This is not a book about bashing the West; no, Richards celebrates all the contributions the West has made to furthering the gospel. But he does want to alert us to the subtleties of “what goes without being said” in our culture and the Scriptures’.

He gives two examples: the first, from the Joseph story (Genesis) and second, from Paul’s admonition in 1 Timothy for women to dress “modestly.” What goes without being said, in both cases, differs from various cultures.

Now, any cultural reading could be off, and Dr. Richards admits that.  Someone, he says, should write a book “Misreading Scripture with Eastern Eyes.” This is an important book and a timely book. The Bible does not come from the Middle West but from the Middle East.

To hear the podcast (20 minutes) click here.

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Reckoning with Race–Vince Bacote

Dr. Vincent Bacote, Wheaton College

Dr. Vince Bacote, Associate Professor of Theology and Director of the Center for Applied Christian Ethics at Wheaton College, joins David Capes to talk about his new book, Reckoning with Race and Performing the Good News: In Search of a Better Evangelical Theology (Brill, 2020).  Dr. Bacote is interested in rehabilitating the evangelical movement when it comes to how racial minorities fit into its life.  For too long the good news, while central to evangelical theology and life, has not always been good for minorities.  The polarization now in the west is due in large part because majorities and minorities are speaking past each another rather than finding a place at the table for one another.  According to Bacote, theology and ethics belong together and are not separate spheres of life and thought.  After discussing the meaning of “racism” and “critical race theory,” Bacote offers concrete proposals for what serious Christians and a thoughtful church can do next.  To learn more about Dr. Vince Bacote and his work, go to his website http://www.vincentbacote.com.

To hear the podcast (22 minutes) click here.

The Stone Chapel is a podcast of the friends and staff of the Lanier Theological Library in Houston, Texas.  It is hosted by Dr. David Capes, Senior Research Fellow at the library and former faculty member at Houston Baptist University and Wheaton College.  The purpose of the podcast is to bring to our audience great conversations from the world’s leading experts in theology, biblical studies, archaeology, Church history, the Dead Sea Scrolls, ethics, ministry, and a host of other topics close to the mission of the library.

The Lanier Theological Library is a magnet for scholars, church leaders and influencers.  For the last ten years, it has welcomed hundreds of academics and church leaders from across the globe for public lectures, study, panel discussions, consultations, and encouragement.

These podcasts as well as the Lanier library and the Stone Chapel are generously underwritten by Mark and Becky Lanier and the Lanier Theological Library Foundation.  If you have questions or comments, please be in touch: Email david.capes@lanierlibrary.org

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Paul’s Gospel

A few years ago (March 2009) I was invited by Father Donald Nesti, director of the Center for Faith and Culture at St. Mary’s Seminary, Houston, TX, to give a lecture on Paul’s Gospel at St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston, Texas.  I was one of four lecturers on the topic.  The first lecture was by Ben Witherington, the second Carol Osiek, and the final lecture was given by Daniel Cardinal DiNardo (I think it was before he was Cardinal). It was a great experience for me.  I thought I’d share the link with you.  They did a marvelous job capturing the PowerPoint with the lecture.  Comments are always welcome.