In this episode, we examine moments within the narrative of Ezra-Nehemiah in which tension and conflict arise between the returned exiles and the people of the land who encounter them in the midst of their efforts to rebuild and restore. Chris and Jon discuss how these accounts unfold within the biblical narrative, and explore how these dynamics might inform our own efforts to be faithful witnesses to Jesus in the midst of what is often called a post-Christian and/or secular culture. While our situation is obviously not identical to that of the post-exilic community of God’s people in this ancient setting, there are enough similarities in our sense of identity and calling that this portion of the biblical storyline can meaningfully inform our cultural discernment and our Christian witness.