Nancy French on Love, Trauma, and Partisan Politics

The Russell Moore Show

Christianity Today, Russell Moore

Religion & Spirituality, Christianity

4.8 • 914 Ratings

🗓️ 10 April 2024

⏱️ 49 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

"God is never going to betray you—even if the church does.” So says Nancy French, best-selling author and investigative journalist, on this episode of The Russell Moore Show. French, who is known for her groundbreaking reporting on abuse at one of America’s largest Christian camps, joins Moore to discuss her new memoir, Ghosted. French talks about growing up in the Bible Belt, where she was sexually abused as a child by her Vacation Bible School teacher. She and Moore discuss the importance of righteous responses to people who have been harmed, the ways institutions too often cover up abuse, and how all of this shows up in partisan politics. Their conversation highlights the power of love—specifically in the case of Nancy’s marriage to David French—in healing from trauma. Moore and French also talk about French’s experiences ghostwriting for high-profile families such as the Palins and the Romneys. They talk about shifts in political culture, the state of racism in America, and what it’s like to be part of a church family that is primarily made up of people outside of one’s ethnic culture. Their conversation also touches on adoption, online discourse, and the incredible work that God can do through personal relationships. Resources mentioned in this episode include: Nancy French David French Ghosted: An American Story by Nancy French Joan Didion Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J. D. Vance Flannery O’Connor Frederick Buechner “They Aren’t Who You Think They Are” by David French and Nancy French “What it’s like to experience the 2016 election as both a conservative and a sex abuse survivor” by Nancy French Curtis Chang “The Four Horsemen: Contempt” (The Gottman Institute) The After Party Do you have a question for Russell Moore? Send it to [email protected]. Special offer for listeners: Russell Moore will join friends David French and Curtis Chang in Washington, DC, for The After Party LIVE! on April 19. As a faithful listener to the podcast, we’d love for you to join us and use this $20 off offer just for listeners! The After Party is a free six-part video curriculum designed for people and pastors alike, and offers “a better way” for Christians to engage in politics. Learn more and buy tickets here—we’ve saved a seat for you! Click here for a trial membership at Christianity Today. “The Russell Moore Show” is a production of Christianity Today Executive Producers: Erik Petrik, Russell Moore, and Mike Cosper Host: Russell Moore Producer: Ashley Hales Associate Producers: Abby Perry and McKenzie Hill Director of Operations for CT Media: Matt Stevens Audio engineering by Dan Phelps Video producer: Abby Egan Theme Song: “Dusty Delta Day” by Lennon Hutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode is brought to you in part by Museum of the Bible and its new worship experience,
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0:25.0	This episode is brought to you by our daily bread ministries, a global media
0:36.2	organization that makes the life-changing wisdom of the Bible,
0:39.4	understandable, and accessible to all. Visit where you're from.org for more information.
0:45.0	That's where YA from.org. Oh, Hello, this is Russell Moore, and you're listening to the Russell Moore show brought to you by Christianity today.
1:17.0	Every week we explore here conversations and questions from a Christian perspective to help you sort out how to live as a follower of Jesus in confusing times.
1:28.8	This week we have a conversation to seek to do just that.
1:33.0	My guest, Nancy French, has written a book called Ghosted an American Story that really put me in an ethical
1:48.0	dilemma and here's what it was I was tempted to lie and the reason I was tempted to lie is because I read this book and I told
1:57.6	Maria this is the most amazing memoir I have ever read both in terms of storyline and in terms of
2:05.0	storyline and in terms of literary power.
2:10.0	And I thought if I if I say what I really think about this book having to do with a friend of
2:19.1	hours it's going to sound like I'm just making it up because she's our friend but at the same time I if
2:27.0	I don't say what I think about it I'm not going to be tell the truth so I just sort of
2:32.4	toned down what I would have said, but it's the most
2:37.2	amazing memoir I think I've ever read. It's like Joan Didion meets Hillbilly Elegi, meets Flannery O'Connor, meets Frederick Beecner.
2:50.0	Okay, so just imagine all that mixed in together plus hilarity.
2:56.4	And this is what I was trying to describe to somebody.
	...

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