Dr. Thomas Kidd, professor at Midwestern Seminary and author of biographies on Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Patrick Henry, and George Whitefield, has spent his career at the intersection of American history and Christian faith. He is one of the most careful historians working on the founding era today, and when he says the debate over whether America was founded as a Christian nation has enough to offend both sides, he means it — and he can explain exactly why.

The founders, the First Amendment, and the tens of millions of churchgoers nobody is counting: Dr. Kidd unpacks why the separation of church and state was actually championed most fiercely by evangelical Baptists who were being persecuted by state churches, why Jefferson hosted church services in government buildings while also being the architect of religious liberty, and why Christianity thrives more when the government stays out of it. He also drops a finding from upcoming research that could reframe the entire conversation about American religious decline — congregational surveys are undercounting the total number of churches in America by at least 25%, and the tens of millions of people showing up every Sunday who never get counted are roughly equivalent in size to the entire group of Americans who claim no religion at all.

Highlights
Why the founding has enough historical evidence to offend both the Christian nation crowd and the strict secularists
How Baptist Christians were among the loudest voices for church-state separation because state religion meant persecution
Why Jefferson hosted church services in government buildings while also being the great architect of religious liberty
What the founders actually believed about Christianity's role — strong cultural influence, but no official legal role
How the Great Awakening of the 1740s shaped Patrick Henry's speaking style and the entire patriot movement
Why Rosa Parks was chosen specifically because she was a dignified, churchgoing Christian woman — and why that matters
The upcoming research showing American churches are undercounted by at least 25% and what that means for the nones narrative
Why religiously practicing people consistently outperform non-practicing people on every measure of human flourishing globally

Resources / Links / CTA

 
📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ThomasSKidd
📖 Book: American History Volume Two
📖 Upcoming Book: The Death of Religion? co-authored with Byron Johnson
🌐 Follow, share, and explore more of Crosswalk Talk
👉 Follow, share, and subscribe for more faith-driven conversations on Lifeaudio

Dr. Thomas Kidd, professor at Midwestern Seminary and author of biographies on Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Patrick Henry, and George Whitefield, has spent his career at the intersection of American history and Christian faith. He is one of the most careful historians working on the founding era today, and when he says the debate over whether America was founded as a Christian nation has enough to offend both sides, he means it &mdash; and he can explain exactly why.
The founders, the First Amendment, and the tens of millions of churchgoers nobody is counting: Dr. Kidd unpacks why the separation of church and state was actually championed most fiercely by evangelical Baptists who were being persecuted by state churches, why Jefferson hosted church services in government buildings while also being the architect of religious liberty, and why Christianity thrives more when the government stays out of it. He also drops a finding from upcoming research that could reframe the entire conversation about American religious decline &mdash; congregational surveys are undercounting the total number of churches in America by at least 25%, and the tens of millions of people showing up every Sunday who never get counted are roughly equivalent in size to the entire group of Americans who claim no religion at all.
Highlights
<ul>
<li>Why the founding has enough historical evidence to offend both the Christian nation crowd and the strict secularists</li>
<li>How Baptist Christians were among the loudest voices for church-state separation because state religion meant persecution</li>
<li>Why Jefferson hosted church services in government buildings while also being the great architect of religious liberty</li>
<li>What the founders actually believed about Christianity's role &mdash; strong cultural influence, but no official legal role</li>
<li>How the Great Awakening of the 1740s shaped Patrick Henry's speaking style and the entire patriot movement</li>
<li>Why Rosa Parks was chosen specifically because she was a dignified, churchgoing Christian woman &mdash; and why that matters</li>
<li>The upcoming research showing American churches are undercounted by at least 25% and what that means for the nones narrative</li>
<li>Why religiously practicing people consistently outperform non-practicing people on every measure of human flourishing globally</li>
</ul>
Resources / Links / CTA
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>📱 Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ThomasSKidd/">https://www.instagram.com/ThomasSKidd</a></li>
<li>📖 Book: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/American-History-II-1877-Present/dp/1433644436">American History Volume Two</a></li>
<li>📖 Upcoming Book:<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Death-Religion-Nones-Others-Flourishing/dp/1087787068"> The Death of Religion?</a> co-authored with Byron Johnson</li>
<li>🌐 Follow, share, and explore more of <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/crosswalk-talk-celebrity-christian-interviews/">Crosswalk Talk</a></li>
<li>👉 Follow, share, and subscribe for more faith-driven conversations on <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/">Lifeaudio</a></li>
</ul>

Join us each week on Crosswalk Talk where we interview your favorite Christian celebrities. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment.

Some of our favorite interviews include:

⭐️ Chrissy Metz and Bradley Collins Discuss Their Heartwarming Children's Book on Prayer

⭐️ Patricia Heaton and David Hunt Talk Faith, Life and Their Adoption Film Unexpected

⭐️ Willie and Korie Robertson Open Up About The Blind and the Generational Impact of Faith

⭐️ Phil Wickham Talks New Album, Songwriting, and the Deconstruction Movement

Let us know what famous Christian celebrities you want us to interview for the show!

Join us each week on Crosswalk Talk where we interview your favorite Christian celebrities. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment.
Some of our favorite interviews include:
⭐️ Chrissy Metz and Bradley Collins Discuss Their Heartwarming Children's Book on Prayer
⭐️ Patricia Heaton and David Hunt Talk Faith, Life and Their Adoption Film Unexpected
⭐️ Willie and Korie Robertson Open Up About The Blind and the Generational Impact of Faith
⭐️ Phil Wickham Talks New Album, Songwriting, and the Deconstruction Movement
Let us know what famous Christian celebrities you want us to interview for the show!

Join us each week on Crosswalk Talk where we interview your favorite Christian celebrities. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment.

Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews

Join us each week on Crosswalk Talk where we interview your favorite Christian celebrities. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment.
Some of our favorite interviews include:
⭐️ Chrissy Metz and Bradley Collins Discuss Their Heartwarming Children's Book on Prayer
⭐️ Patricia Heaton and David Hunt Talk Faith, Life and Their Adoption Film Unexpected
⭐️ Willie and Korie Robertson Open Up About The Blind and the Generational Impact of Faith
⭐️ Phil Wickham Talks New Album, Songwriting, and the Deconstruction Movement
Let us know what famous Christian celebrities you want us to interview for the show!

Was America Founded as a Christian Nation?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/e9a2dd60-6b4f-4027-bb31-b46700fa53b0/transcript

Jon Erwin has been dreaming about the story of George Washington for over a decade. He read approximately 30 books, brought in historians obsessed with the subject, and set out not to photograph history but to paint an accurate portrait of a young man raging against an unfair world who decided to build a better one. Young Washington finished third at the box office over the Fourth of July weekend, making it the only film about American history in theaters on the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding — and the only modern theatrical film about George Washington in decades.

The origin story of America, a love letter to a nation still worth believing in, and why your movie ticket is your vote: Jon shares what drew him to Washington's story, how the film captures a young man denied entry into a colonial class system and the fury that forged him into the father of a different kind of country, and why he believes so many of America's current problems trace back to a generation that no longer knows its own origin story. He also previews his next film, 1776, which will bring Washington back as the central figure of an ensemble story about the moment the largest amphibious fleet ever assembled in the history of the world hit the immovable object that was George Washington.

Highlights
Why Young Washington finishing third on the Fourth of July weekend was not a surprise to Jon but a statement from Middle America
How nearly 30 books and years of research shaped a film he originally fell in love with long before he planned to make it
The moment that defines Young Washington — a young man denied entry into a colonial class system who decides to build a fairer one
Why America replaced the word subjects with citizens in the Declaration of Independence and what that still means today
Why Jon believes this film belongs to everyone, left and right, because Washington is the first founding father for all Americans
The staggering fact that Young Washington is the only modern theatrical film about George Washington in decades
A preview of 1776, the next chapter in Washington's story, featuring an ensemble cast and the largest amphibious fleet ever assembled
Why Jon believes America's story needs to be retold through film and why he hopes other filmmakers follow where Young Washington led

Resources / Links / CTA
🎬 Young Washington film: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32104007
📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonerwinofficial
🌐 Follow, share, and explore more of Crosswalk Talk
👉 Follow, share, and subscribe for more faith-driven conversations on Lifeaudio

Jon Erwin has been dreaming about the story of George Washington for over a decade. He read approximately 30 books, brought in historians obsessed with the subject, and set out not to photograph history but to paint an accurate portrait of a young man raging against an unfair world who decided to build a better one. Young Washington finished third at the box office over the Fourth of July weekend, making it the only film about American history in theaters on the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding &mdash; and the only modern theatrical film about George Washington in decades.
The origin story of America, a love letter to a nation still worth believing in, and why your movie ticket is your vote: Jon shares what drew him to Washington's story, how the film captures a young man denied entry into a colonial class system and the fury that forged him into the father of a different kind of country, and why he believes so many of America's current problems trace back to a generation that no longer knows its own origin story. He also previews his next film, 1776, which will bring Washington back as the central figure of an ensemble story about the moment the largest amphibious fleet ever assembled in the history of the world hit the immovable object that was George Washington.
Highlights
<ul>
<li>Why Young Washington finishing third on the Fourth of July weekend was not a surprise to Jon but a statement from Middle America</li>
<li>How nearly 30 books and years of research shaped a film he originally fell in love with long before he planned to make it</li>
<li>The moment that defines Young Washington &mdash; a young man denied entry into a colonial class system who decides to build a fairer one</li>
<li>Why America replaced the word subjects with citizens in the Declaration of Independence and what that still means today</li>
<li>Why Jon believes this film belongs to everyone, left and right, because Washington is the first founding father for all Americans</li>
<li>The staggering fact that Young Washington is the only modern theatrical film about George Washington in decades</li>
<li>A preview of 1776, the next chapter in Washington's story, featuring an ensemble cast and the largest amphibious fleet ever assembled</li>
<li>Why Jon believes America's story needs to be retold through film and why he hopes other filmmakers follow where Young Washington led</li>
</ul>
Resources / Links / CTA
<ul>
<li>🎬 Young Washington film: <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32104007/">https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32104007</a></li>
<li>📱 Instagram:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/jonerwinofficial/?hl=en">https://www.instagram.com/jonerwinofficial</a></li>
<li>🌐 Follow, share, and explore more of <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/crosswalk-talk-celebrity-christian-interviews/">Crosswalk Talk</a></li>
<li>👉 Follow, share, and subscribe for more faith-driven conversations on <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/">Lifeaudio</a></li>
</ul>

Until Now, No Modern Film Had Ever Been Made About George Washington

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/98343fad-4f37-4145-878e-b488010b0a21/transcript

Steven Curtis Chapman grew up watching his grandfather Ruble Rudd — a Purple Heart World War II veteran who came home with shrapnel permanently lodged in his leg, the only survivor of his platoon — live out a quiet, grateful patriotism that never left him. That legacy is at the heart of a new song Steven wrote for America's 250th birthday, a reimagining of America the Beautiful with the same chorus and new verses, recorded with country singer Chris Janson and debuted at the Grand Ole Opry on July 31, 2024 — the same night Ricky Skaggs walked out to invite Steven to become the Opry's newest member.

Gratitude, division, and what happens when algorithms keep feeding us reasons to fight: Steven shares why he felt compelled to write a song that names the thing tearing America apart — including a lyric about algorithms that he was not sure belonged in a patriotic song but knew he had to say — and why his prayer for it is simply that people would lay down their weapons long enough to be grateful. He also opens up about the song Cinderella never becoming a number one because some Christian radio stations did not consider it a Christian song, why I Will Be Here was born from his parents' marriage dissolving, and why after four decades he is playing music with more joy than ever.

Highlights
The Purple Heart grandfather who survived his platoon and gave Steven a lifelong love for the cost of American freedom
The night he debuted the new song at the Grand Ole Opry and was immediately invited to become a member
Why he put the word algorithms in a patriotic song and what he believes social media is doing to American unity
How he and Chris Janson connected as Opry brothers and why Janson jumped at the chance to record it together
Why Cinderella never reached number one because some Christian radio stations said it was not a Christian song
The painful season behind I Will Be Here, written after his parents' marriage dissolved, and why it surprised him by becoming one of his most beloved songs
The Speechless 25th Anniversary Tour, a string quartet, a full band, and why he is playing music with more joy now than ever
What he told his record label when he started — and what they told him about his singing before they signed him anyway

Resources / Links / CTA
🌐 Steven Curtis Chapman website: https://stevencurtischapman.com
📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevencurtischapman
🎵 Single: America the Beautiful with Chris Janson
🎤 Speechless 25th Anniversary Tour
🌐 Follow, share, and explore more of Crosswalk Talk
👉 Follow, share, and subscribe for more faith-driven conversations on Lifeaudio

Steven Curtis Chapman grew up watching his grandfather Ruble Rudd &mdash; a Purple Heart World War II veteran who came home with shrapnel permanently lodged in his leg, the only survivor of his platoon &mdash; live out a quiet, grateful patriotism that never left him. That legacy is at the heart of a new song Steven wrote for America's 250th birthday, a reimagining of America the Beautiful with the same chorus and new verses, recorded with country singer Chris Janson and debuted at the Grand Ole Opry on July 31, 2024 &mdash; the same night Ricky Skaggs walked out to invite Steven to become the Opry's newest member.
Gratitude, division, and what happens when algorithms keep feeding us reasons to fight: Steven shares why he felt compelled to write a song that names the thing tearing America apart &mdash; including a lyric about algorithms that he was not sure belonged in a patriotic song but knew he had to say &mdash; and why his prayer for it is simply that people would lay down their weapons long enough to be grateful. He also opens up about the song Cinderella never becoming a number one because some Christian radio stations did not consider it a Christian song, why I Will Be Here was born from his parents' marriage dissolving, and why after four decades he is playing music with more joy than ever.
Highlights
<ul>
<li>The Purple Heart grandfather who survived his platoon and gave Steven a lifelong love for the cost of American freedom</li>
<li>The night he debuted the new song at the Grand Ole Opry and was immediately invited to become a member</li>
<li>Why he put the word algorithms in a patriotic song and what he believes social media is doing to American unity</li>
<li>How he and Chris Janson connected as Opry brothers and why Janson jumped at the chance to record it together</li>
<li>Why Cinderella never reached number one because some Christian radio stations said it was not a Christian song</li>
<li>The painful season behind I Will Be Here, written after his parents' marriage dissolved, and why it surprised him by becoming one of his most beloved songs</li>
<li>The Speechless 25th Anniversary Tour, a string quartet, a full band, and why he is playing music with more joy now than ever</li>
<li>What he told his record label when he started &mdash; and what they told him about his singing before they signed him anyway</li>
</ul>
Resources / Links / CTA
<ul>
<li>🌐 Steven Curtis Chapman website: <a href="https://stevencurtischapman.com/">https://stevencurtischapman.com</a></li>
<li>📱 Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/stevencurtischapman/">https://www.instagram.com/stevencurtischapman</a></li>
<li>🎵 Single: <a href="https://music.apple.com/sb/album/america-the-beautiful-single/6775631922">America the Beautiful with Chris Janson</a></li>
<li>🎤 Speechless 25th Anniversary Tour</li>
<li>🌐 Follow, share, and explore more of <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/crosswalk-talk-celebrity-christian-interviews/">Crosswalk Talk</a></li>
<li>👉 Follow, share, and subscribe for more faith-driven conversations on <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/">Lifeaudio</a></li>
</ul>

Can We Just Be Grateful? Steven Curtis Chapman on America at 250

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/db07ce78-bf4b-4858-9439-b488010af80e/transcript

Tenroc has spent his life making hits for other people. Grammy nominated producer and songwriter, he has worked with Rihanna, Jonas Brothers, Julia Michaels, Renee Rapp, and others — building songs, polishing them, handing them off, and going back to do it again. He never wanted to be the one out front. Then, about a year ago, he was driving a church van full of youth with his wife in the passenger seat when he heard God say something that changed everything.

God's personhood, misdirected worship, and why the universe is not listening when you talk to it: Tenroc shares the story behind God Is a Person, his debut solo album releasing July 17, and why every song on it was deliberately written to be impossible to apply to anyone but God. He also breaks down Celebrity Is Dead, a song born from a conversation with his wife about why fame ruins both the person being worshipped and the people doing the worshipping, and why the whole album is designed to start with you wherever your emotion is and carry you out of it by the last note.

Highlights
The moment God spoke to him while driving a church van and why his first attempt to rationalize his way around it failed
Why God specifically told him to make songs that were explicit about Jesus and said His name out loud
Celebrity Is Dead and why humans were never created to receive worship — and what it does to both parties when they try
Why every song was written to be impossible to apply to anyone but God, including rewriting verses that felt too generic
What God Is a Person means — not just that Jesus is God, but that the universe is not a person and is not listening
Why the album has an 80s pop and rock sonic profile that anyone can enjoy regardless of their faith background
What it is like to be a producer who gets to make the product, hand it off, and then go back to make another one
Why he believes every song needs to begin in an honest emotion but cannot leave you there

Resources / Links / CTA
🌐 Tenroc website: https://www.praise-jesus.com
📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tenroc
🎵 Single: Call My Name (Yahweh)
🎵 Album: God Is a Person, releasing July 17
🌐 Follow, share, and explore more of Crosswalk Talk
👉 Follow, share, and subscribe for more faith-driven conversations on Lifeaudio

Tenroc has spent his life making hits for other people. Grammy nominated producer and songwriter, he has worked with Rihanna, Jonas Brothers, Julia Michaels, Renee Rapp, and others &mdash; building songs, polishing them, handing them off, and going back to do it again. He never wanted to be the one out front. Then, about a year ago, he was driving a church van full of youth with his wife in the passenger seat when he heard God say something that changed everything.
God's personhood, misdirected worship, and why the universe is not listening when you talk to it: Tenroc shares the story behind God Is a Person, his debut solo album releasing July 17, and why every song on it was deliberately written to be impossible to apply to anyone but God. He also breaks down Celebrity Is Dead, a song born from a conversation with his wife about why fame ruins both the person being worshipped and the people doing the worshipping, and why the whole album is designed to start with you wherever your emotion is and carry you out of it by the last note.
Highlights
<ul>
<li>The moment God spoke to him while driving a church van and why his first attempt to rationalize his way around it failed</li>
<li>Why God specifically told him to make songs that were explicit about Jesus and said His name out loud</li>
<li>Celebrity Is Dead and why humans were never created to receive worship &mdash; and what it does to both parties when they try</li>
<li>Why every song was written to be impossible to apply to anyone but God, including rewriting verses that felt too generic</li>
<li>What God Is a Person means &mdash; not just that Jesus is God, but that the universe is not a person and is not listening</li>
<li>Why the album has an 80s pop and rock sonic profile that anyone can enjoy regardless of their faith background</li>
<li>What it is like to be a producer who gets to make the product, hand it off, and then go back to make another one</li>
<li>Why he believes every song needs to begin in an honest emotion but cannot leave you there</li>
</ul>
Resources / Links / CTA
<ul>
<li>🌐 Tenroc website: <a href="https://www.praise-jesus.com/">https://www.praise-jesus.com</a></li>
<li>📱 Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tenroc/?hl=en">https://www.instagram.com/tenroc</a></li>
<li>🎵 Single: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/track/6C4vYEk9YkITQf8jbYg6Dv?autoplay_ok=1">Call My Name (Yahweh)</a></li>
<li>🎵 Album: <a href="https://music.apple.com/us/album/god-is-a-person/1878494030">God Is a Person</a>, releasing July 17</li>
<li>🌐 Follow, share, and explore more of <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/crosswalk-talk-celebrity-christian-interviews/">Crosswalk Talk</a></li>
<li>👉 Follow, share, and subscribe for more faith-driven conversations on <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/">Lifeaudio</a></li>
</ul>

Tenroc Was Driving a Church Van When God Told Him to Make an Album 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/86987c00-2507-40e9-85ad-b48300fe5020/transcript

Was America Founded as a Christian Nation?

In 1 playlist(s)

Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips