Anabaptist Theological Perspectives

Jerry Eicher of Anabaptist Theological Perspectives examines a focused subset of the head-covering debate, centering on 1 Corinthians 11:15 and the idea that a womans long hair is her given "glory." He critiques readings that claim hair itself is the sole covering and argues instead that the covering must hide the hairs glory, which is the textually identifiable concern. Eicher explores the biblical logic and historical practice behind veiling, how the hairs longness creates the glory that must be covered, and how this practice functions as representation—linking the woman to the church and mankind in humility before God. He addresses common objections, practical questions about how much hair to cover, and the consequences of diluting the practice. The episode also considers the Apostle Pauls reference to angels and the promise of spiritual authority for those who live out the covering in worship and public life, emphasizing humility, fear of God, and the representational power of the practice.

Host Jerry Eicher explores the intersection of feminism, sexual abuse, and conservative Anabaptist practice, centering recent news about an Amish men’s retreat leader and broader debates within Mennonite and Amish communities. Guests and voices referenced include testimony from Jason Stoll about men’s retreats and spiritual healing, quotes from dating coach Pat Stedman, and discussion of the Sam Shetler arrest; the episode critiques retreat-based suppression of sin, considers the power of Christ for real freedom, and assesses how feminist movements use abuse narratives. Key points: the limits and risks of conservative counseling retreats, the spiritual and cultural roots of sexual ethics in Anabaptist life, tensions between empowerment and tradition, and a call to speak truth and pursue lasting solutions grounded in faith.

Jerry Eicher of Anabaptist Theological Perspectives offers a reflective poetic meditation on Christ’s life, suffering, and resurrection. Drawing from the Wednesday crucifixion timeline, the episode explores the fulfillment of prophetic shadows, the humility of Christ’s birth, the depth of his suffering for humanity’s sins, and the transformative joy of resurrection. The episode blends theology and poetic narration, touching on themes of prophecy, incarnation, vicarious suffering, and redemption. Listeners can expect a contemplative tone centered on scripture and devotion, suitable for Holy Week and Easter reflection.

Host Jerry Eicher walks listeners through an alternative Holy Week timeline that places the crucifixion on Wednesday. Drawing primarily on details from John’s Gospel and selected early church writings, he explores how a Wednesday crucifixion can resolve puzzles around “three days and three nights,” the timing of the women buying and preparing spices, and the occurrence of back-to-back high Sabbaths. Eicher outlines the chronology from Palm Sunday through the arrest, trials, Wednesday crucifixion and burial, the intervening high day(s), and the discovery of the empty tomb on Sunday morning. He notes scriptural supports, implications for traditional Friday crucifixion views, and personal reflections on the significance of the timing.

In this candid episode, Jerry Eicher shares his personal testimony at Oakhill Mennonite  spanning Amish childhood, missionary years in Central America, and the lifelong impact of faith. He recounts family dynamics, cultural contrasts within Amish communities, and vivid childhood moments—from snowy errands for kerosene to a haunting experience that led his mother to deep prayer. The episode covers struggles with speech impediment and hyperactivity, episodes of rebellion and guilt, and a profound conversion experience marked by overwhelming love and acceptance. Jerry discusses how faith reshaped his life, his efforts to overcome stuttering, encounters with spiritual darkness, and a search for identity and purpose in later years. Expect honest reflections, spiritual insights, and encouragement for anyone wrestling with shame, redemption, and the longing to serve.

Host Jerry Eicher of Anabaptist Theological Perspectives reflects on Paul Kingsnorth’s Against the Machine and explores how our technologically driven, AI-dominated world undermines human flourishing and spiritual authority. Eicher examines Kingsnorth’s critique of the Reformation’s role in empowering the autonomous self and warns that unchecked technological and social trends threaten the very freedom they promise. The episode covers contemporary examples (including media confusion around the Iran–Israel conflict), the limits and abuses of parental, church, and governmental authority, and practical Anabaptist responses: cultivating non-negotiable places of submission, relearning how to yield the will to God, and restoring basic institutions that teach restraint. No external guests are featured; this is a focused theological and practical reflection from Eicher. Key points: the machine’s spiritual danger, why piecemeal tech critiques fail, the need for formative authority structures in personal life, and how Scripture and disciplined community practice can reorient individuals to God’s will amid accelerating technological change.

Jerry Eicher of Anabaptist Theological Perspectives highlights a viral performance by a small Calvary Bible School choir in Calico Rock, Arkansas: a layered, high-quality rendition of Dovid Edel’s 2018 song "Taddy My King." He praises the choir’s excellence and unusual choice to sing a Jewish song in English, and invites listeners to watch and appreciate the music. Using the performance as a springboard, Jerry discusses broader themes: the historic separation of church and state, how some modern governments have assumed moral and charitable roles traditionally held by the church, and the cultural consequences of that shift. He shares anecdotes from Anabaptist communities (including COVID-era responses and a custody case involving an Amish minister) to illustrate a growing reluctance within some conservative churches to openly engage with controversial or cross-cultural expressions. Key points: the surprising and beautiful musical crossover, concern about the state’s growing moral authority, and encouragement to listen to the choir’s rendition while reflecting on what this moment reveals about Anabaptist identity and cultural pressures.

This episode features Jerry Eicher of Anabaptist Theological Perspectives reflecting on the theological roots of obedience and sacrifice and why those virtues are eroding in both church and culture. Drawing on the Genesis creation scene, Jerry argues that obedience—our obligation to surround ourselves with Scripture and offer options to God—and sacrificial self-giving are foundational to Christian life. He also identifies three major destructive forces facing the Anabaptist community today: the rise of Calvinism (which he says undermines personal responsibility and obedience), the influence of feminism (which he critiques for attacking male authority and reshaping marital roles), and the secular institutionalization of Christian love (where the left has politicized and redefined love and church authority). The episode is a concise, practical call to recognize these threats, reclaim obedience and sacrifice, and encourage courageous leadership within the Anabaptist movement.

Host Jerry Eicher explores Jonathan Pageau's “Reflections on the Void” and conversations with Jordan Peterson and John Lennox to ask why doing good can be misunderstood and why sacrifice remains central. Guests and references include Jonathan Pageau's (podcast), Peterson and Lennox (conversation), and a critique of themes in King’s North’s Against the Machine. The episode unpacks Genesis 1’s “without form and void,” the Spirit hovering over the waters, and the idea that creation presents multiple options to God. Key philosophical anchors include Plato, Aristotle, Heidegger, and a quantum-analogy for the void; core themes are performative contradiction, the Luciferian mind (autonomous will), God’s will vs. reason, and why sacrifice—God breaking open to display himself—defines true goodness. Practical takeaways: live by presenting real options to God, avoid claiming credit for good works, and embrace the New Testament call to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice. The episode weaves theology, scripture (Genesis and Romans 12), cultural critique, and concrete church examples (ordination) to help listeners think differently about goodness, choice, and worship.

Jerry Eicher of Anabaptist Theological Perspectives announces an adapted version of the Heidelberg Catechism tailored for Anabaptist readers. He explains the history and structure of the 1563 catechism—its pastoral tone, 52 weekly themes, and focus on guilt, grace, and gratitude—and describes how he revised key points to reflect Anabaptist convictions. The episode covers why there is a need for a catechism-style resource in Anabaptist circles, what changes were made in the adaptation, and how listeners can access the draft as a free PDF at jerryeicher.com under the Nonfiction section. Jerry invites feedback from readers and users to refine the draft and considers producing a booklet if interest grows.

In this sermon-style episode the host continues a deep study on sacrifice, obedience, and mercy as a three-tier pattern running through the Old Testament and into the New. Topics include the tension between faith and works (Paul’s teachings vs. Old Testament practice), the Book of Job and Satan’s challenge about merit, moralism, and how God trains us to love goodness for its own sake. Listeners can expect a close reading of Micah 6:8, reflections on Abraham, Job, and Saul, practical applications about expectations, humility, and living sacrificially, and an argument for harmonizing faith and obedience. No external guests — the episode is a solo sermon/lecture by the host.

Jerry Eicher of Anabaptist Theological Perspectives returns for a third conversation on Paul Kingsnorth's Against the Machine: On the Unmaking of Humanity. He examines Kingsnorth’s critique of the Age of Reason and how the rise of modern technologies—has reshaped Western faith, society, and the self. Topics include the Reformation and Martin Luther, the Anabaptist response (Schleitheim), the limits of reason and autonomous interpretation of Scripture, the machine metaphor (surveillance, networks, commodification), and historical examples from revolution and totalitarianism. Eicher emphasizes communal submission to Scripture, spiritual humility, and the hidden dangers of unchecked technological progress.

Jerry Eicher of Anabaptist Theological Perspectives explores the tension between Anabaptist practice and Reformed theology, tracing how early Anabaptists returned to Jesus and the Gospels instead of prioritizing Paul. The episode examines Paul’s claim in Titus 3:5, the seeming paradox of “no works” and commands to “work out your salvation,” and how misunderstanding Paul often stems from missing his Old Testament context. Eicher walks listeners through biblical examples (Cain and Abel, King Saul, Pharisees), Jesus’ parables (seed and soil), and the three Old Testament stages—sacrifice, obedience, and mercy—as the soil we prepare for God’s transformative work. He argues that Christians do contribute (preparing the ground) but not as a contractual, result-guaranteeing work; rather, we act without assurance and leave the fruit to God’s sovereign action.

Host Jerry Eicher (Baptist Theological Perspectives) discusses Paul Kingsnorth’s Against the Machine: On the Unmaking of Humanity in the second session of the "Venture Into" series. Beginning around page 11, Eicher and the episode track Kingsnorth’s core argument about what happens when Christ is removed from the center of Western culture and the sacred order collapses. The episode covers Kingsnorth’s claim that the dethroning of Christ opened a vacuum that was filled by consumer capitalism and the power of money, examines the historical consequences (from the French Revolution through totalitarian regimes), and critiques modern projects that promise perfection—liberty, democracy, progress—yet often produce dehumanizing, technocratic outcomes. Key points include the rise of the “machine,” the loss of rootedness, the impossibility of a perfect society, and the need to recognize how methods and movements can displace God even in religious renewal. Eicher adds practical reflections and examples from contemporary Anabaptist/BMA conversations—warning against theological perfectionism and method-driven revival—and emphasizes humility, self-denial, and re-centering God as essential responses. The conversation is sober and challenging, framing Kingsnorth’s book as a pivotal, provocative diagnosis of our cultural crisis.

Host Jerry Eicher opens a possible series on Paul Kingsnorth’s Against the Machine: On the Unmaking of Humanity, offering a close, reflective reading of the book’s major arguments. Eicher frames Kingsnorth’s diagnosis of modern malaise—how reason, technology, and the loss of shared narrative have hollowed out human life—and situates the work within religious and literary contexts. The episode covers Kingsnorth’s key claims: the machine as a growing, impersonal force that flattens human frailty into straight-line efficiency; the historical shift from narrative-driven cultures to a reason-centered modernity; the collapse of Christianity’s cultural role; and Nietzsche’s insight that removing meaning produces nihilism. Eicher traces how those shifts produced our technological achievements and, simultaneously, a shadow—what Kingsnorth calls the machine—that threatens to unmake humanity. Eicher uses concrete examples from everyday life (people absorbed by screens in cafés, the rise of algorithmic systems, and debates over identity and medicalization) to show the book’s practical implications. He reflects on the spiritual dimensions of Kingsnorth’s argument, the danger of transferring trust wholly to human reason, and the cultural consequences of educating toward knowledge without shared narrative. Listeners can expect a thoughtful, faith-informed analysis rather than a purely academic summary: close readings of Genesis and Revelation motifs in Kingsnorth’s work, references to Nietzsche, and a call to recognize and resist the dehumanizing tendencies of modern technology and ideology. This episode is a primer for anyone wanting to understand Kingsnorth’s critique and its implications for faith, culture, and the future of human life.

Jerry Eicher of Anabaptist Theological Perspectives examines the recent ICE shooting of protester Renee Good in Minneapolis as a lens into a broader problem: political forces—both left and right—have deeply penetrated the Christian world. Drawing on Russell Moore’s piece on Romans 13 and a critical article about Francis Collins, Eicher traces how mass movements during the Obama and Trump eras altered Christian public witness and when it is legitimate for the church to render moral judgments about government actions. The episode covers COVID-era responses (church shutdowns and vaccine debates), interpretations of Romans 13 and the limits of obedience to civil authorities, critiques of evangelical leaders’ endorsements (including Francis Collins), and the distinction Anabaptists maintain against violence while urging moral engagement and truth-telling by the church.

This episode unpacks Mark 4:26–27 and the Parable of the Soils to explore how 'preparing the ground' relates to biblical sacrifice. Drawing from Old Testament examples—Cain and Abel, Abraham, and Jacob—Jerry Eicher contrasts transactional, contribution-based faith with sacrificial obedience and shows how true spiritual growth often comes without guarantees. Topics covered include the theological tension between works and faith, the nature of sacrifice as giving everything without a contract, the promise-based life of Abraham, Jacob’s return to Bethel and building an altar, and practical takeaways about removing backup plans and yielding control to God.  Key takeaways: the soil (our lives) must be prepared through true sacrifice for the seed to grow, explosive spiritual growth transcends natural expectations, and listeners are invited to identify any Bethel in their life where an altar still needs to be built.

Host Jerry Eicher of Anabaptist Theological Perspectives offers a solo, concise overview of the current Middle East situation, concentrating on Israel, the Iranian protests, and the collapse of Iran’s regional proxy network (Syria, Lebanon/Hezbollah, Gaza/Hamas, Yemen/Houthi). Jerry reviews recent flashpoints—from the October 7 Hamas attack and Israel’s military tactics to U.S. responses under President Trump—and explains how strategy, technology, and shifting politics have altered the regional landscape. The episode closes with theological reflections on biblical prophecy, Israel’s resilience and identity, and the possible political trajectories for Iran and its neighbors.

Jerry Eicher of Anabaptist Theological Perspectives explores the necessity of mercy—especially the practice of allowing another person’s evil to run its course so it may collapse under its own weight—without excusing wrongdoing or de-emphasizing justice. The episode examines James 2:13 and Romans 9:15–16, critiques overly deterministic readings that discard human will, and contrasts mercy with discipline and grit. Eicher uses J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings (Frodo, the Ring, Gollum, Bilbo, and Gandalf) as a central example to show how pity and restraint—rather than flawless willpower—become the decisive forces that preserve the future and make victory possible. Key takeaways: mercy can look foolish or inefficient but keeps outcomes open, it does not guarantee transformation of the evildoer, and it may be the means by which we ourselves are ultimately saved. The episode closes with a personal anecdote about family mercy and a call to practice patient compassion in everyday life.

Host Jerry Eicher of Anabaptist Theological Perspectives explores the surprising spiritual meaning behind the phrase “making money while you sleep,” using Jesus’ parable in Mark 4:26–27 to show how God’s life can grow within us beyond our constant effort. The episode addresses the tension between inner faith and external disciplines—fasting, prayer, life boundaries, and community—and critiques modern tendencies to abandon those externals. Eicher draws on biblical examples (Old Testament walls, Cornelius), historical figures and movements (Bill Gothard, Joshua Harris), and contemporary cultural commentary (Jordan Peterson) to illustrate the need for protected, prepared ground where God’s seed can flourish. Key takeaways include practical, faith-shaped practices (regular prayer, fasting, Scripture reading, and guarded life patterns), a call to remove fear of godly obedience, and an encouragement to balance inward reliance on the Spirit with outward structures that preserve spiritual growth.

Host Jerry Eicher of Anabaptist Theological Perspective responds to Kirk Cameron’s announcement that he no longer believes in eternal punishment, exploring biblical texts (e.g., Revelation 14), the atonement, and competing views of hell and annihilation. The episode covers two central proposals: the ‘preservation of the record’ idea for why evil might be maintained in a contained, demonstrable state rather than erased, and deep ontological questions about being, non-being, and whether created wills or souls can be returned to nothing. Eicher critiques popular annihilationist arguments (mentioning Edward Fudge, Plato, Milton, and 1 Timothy 6:16) and lays out what he sees as the theological and logical stakes. No external guests — hosted and argued by Jerry Eicher.