The CHA Weekend Edition Presents: Season 8 Kickoff Mailbag

In this kickoff episode of Season 8 of the Christian History Almanac, host Dan Van Voorhis welcomes listeners to the weekend edition with a heartfelt mailbag segment filled with thoughtful questions from longtime fans. He begins by sharing his personal journey—from growing up in Orange County, California, to finding faith in youth ministry, earning a PhD from the University of St. Andrews, and eventually launching the podcast at 1517. He details the behind-the-scenes process of creating the show, including his daily research, note-taking in Apple Notes, and collaboration with audio engineer Christopher Gillespie. The episode dives into two major theological questions: why certain psalms like 52 and 137 are omitted from modern hymnals, and how churches can reconcile the violent passages in the Old Testament with a loving God. Dan explores historical responses—from Marcion’s split between Old and New Testament gods to Augustine’s surgical metaphor and Origen’s allegorical readings—emphasizing the importance of context, accommodation, and the cross as the lens for understanding Scripture. He encourages listeners to wrestle with difficult texts through prayer, community, and deeper study. The episode closes with a book promotion for Scott Keith’s 'Being Family,' which redefines family life as a central Christian vocation.