The Uncensored Unprofessor

A couple weeks ago I had a stimulating coffee conversation with two men from my church. They were asking piercing questions, one of which was, "how should I be missional? Is Christian mission just for pastors and teachers?" Their probing queries gave me an idea for a series, what should one do after either confessing Christ as Lord or determining to go deeper into the Christian way? Mark and I think through this important question by addressing the topics of building your circle and the role of prayer. On the latter, we even talk about the way prayer changes us as against a monastic approach of centering prayer. Come laugh and think with us.

Secularists in America express great fear about Christians who bring their faith into the public square, "they want us to live under a theocracy!" But it is an illegitimate fear. It was Christians, first and foremost, in America who learned to push back against the idolatry of the State and it is Christians who, stemming from a committed moral compass, don't want the state to work immorality (not even for doctrinal ends). My friend Mark and I talk through the ins and outs of theocracy, values, beliefs, morals, and doctrines as we consider how to foster a Christian presence—a seasoning of the nation—into play.

Lisa Roseman is a friend and former-grad student of mine. For two years she also attended a home fellowship group I led. So I know her well. A few years ago she had a divine encounter with the Lord. In this Zoom interview with me she shares what happened, what that was like, and what some of her takeaways are from the encounter. I ask her theological questions about the meaning of the event and why the Lord left behind the symbol that he did.

In ancient days Jesus' followers were mocked for being "little Christs." The specific term was Christianoi, Christians (Acts 11:26). Our ancient sisters and brothers "owned" the derisive term, Christian. Me? I've decided to own the designation Christian Nationalist. Why? Well, I explain that more carefully in the show, but for starters it is because I love both my faith and my country. How can the Christian faith bless the nation? (And if you don't believe Christianity can bless the nation why are you a Christian?) Along with giving reasons for all that I also offer a few remarks on the recent invasion of Iran. Why is that a good thing? What concerns do I have? Come think and laugh with me.

Progressive churches no longer even care about Scriptural authority. Conservatives, when they say things like, "we no longer need to adhere to the Old Testament," are equally dismissing the Bible's authority. So, why, why does that authority matter? In this conversational cast o' the pod Mark and I work through various layers concerning the authority of Scripture. What's the difference between inerrancy and infallibility? What takes place between the Old and New Testaments that shows remarkable unity? How is it possible to render the Bible's impact null and void? How can we know the Bible is not propaganda? Come think and laugh with the two of us!

Redemption is a stock in trade Christian word. But what does redemption really mean? Mark and I talk through various biblical categories, examples, misunderstandings, and bad caricatures of redemption. On the latter, many church folk think that Christian salvation is death to the self and so, across two thousand years, all manner of bad doctrine has been spun out. Still more, the way the Bible presents it, redemption is a dynamic that wants to move into all of life. Too frequently American Christians stop at "getting saved." But redemption goes much deeper, moves beyond a one-time confession, and is actually the goal for the entire cosmos. Come laugh and think with us!

On Friday the 13th I had to get a pacemaker! In this episode I describe what led up to that, what the entire experience was like, how I was treated by the medical community, and share specifics about my spiritual state during the entire event. Because it was a life-threatening incident I also share what things stood out to me during the process. Let me share with you how good King Jesus was to me throughout the ordeal.

It's not hard to find: anguish in the hearts and minds of twenty-first century church goers. Why? Why the existential shreddedness? Folks are torn. Torn between a deep sense of compassion and clear biblical values. Torn between Christianity that is Liberal/Progressive and Christianity that is Conservative/Confessing. And recent matters have torn folks, too. When a neighborhood teenage girl undergoes a radical mastectomy because she is confused, believers are conflicted. When ICE arrests criminals and immigrants, believers are torn. When people get shot in Minnesota more people are torn in half. What to do? I offer a kind of UU sorting hat, a series of biblical values (not doctrines) that I am using now when I myself am conflicted and torn. Come think with me about existential shreddedness and what to do. (This pod concludes the series on Christians in the Matrix.)

The Bible teaches that we were created to do good works, but when notions of good get co-opted by the World then things quickly go off track. In this episode Mark and I talk about the different definitions of goodness and show how those can derail the Church, her identity, and her mission. For instance, there is a widespread idea today that if Christians would just shut up and do more good—build more soup kitchens, feed more people, start more orphanages—then the World will finally like us (and perhaps even want to join us). But that is not always a one-for one. Along the way we note some pertinent Bible verses that go into goodness, but also show that the Lord told us that if we were faithful we would be hated. The aroma of Christ that God can smell through our efforts can smell like a putrid stench in the nostrils of the World. Come and muse and laugh and think with myself and Mark about this sweepingly important topic, good.