Avsnitt
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It is extremely common in Christian circles that when someone thinks differently and sees things differently, the person will be dismissed as being wounded. This is especially true if the person's thoughts challenge the status quo. Why do some Christians mark these people as wounded? And if they are indeed wounded, does that immediately mean their thoughts aren't worth considering? Jim, Michael, and Loren discuss this, which leads to a fascinating conversation about the future of the church in the West.
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Michael, Jim, and Loren discuss the most difficult season followers of Jesus experience. That season of suffering when misery is your constant companion, and Father isn't doing the things you think he should be doing. That season when your beliefs are being unraveled, everything seems hopeless, and there is no deliverance in sight. This is the dark night of the soul.
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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How did the early church begin to think theologically? Do you know that parts of the epistles are hymns? What purpose did hymns serve in the Early Church? Michael, Jim, and Loren discuss the origins of theological thinking, how singing supported theology in the early church, and the pluses and minuses of modern worship music. Also, did Paul's theology ever change? Join us!
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Are Christians supposed to take over the family, religion, education, media, arts and entertainment, business, and the government? Those who hold to Dominion Theology are convinced Christians are supposed to control these "seven mountains of dominion." This is not some odd theology on the fringes. Rather, it has found its way into mainstream right-wing Christianity and is currently the central belief operating in the US government through the newly created White House Faith Office. Nothing could be more antithetical to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
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Who was Jesus, the man who walked the Earth in the first century? Christians have often discussed and debated the historical Jesus.
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"Just read your Bible!" The person exclaims during a discussion. But their assumption is the lens through which they've been taught to read the Bible is the way someone just picking up the Bible will read it. When someone picks up the Bible, they engage with ancient writings originally written in another language, in another culture, in another land long ago. This is not a book that someone can simply pick up and receive "Holy Ghost downloads" and understand what the writers are saying. Michael, Jim, and Loren take a look at this rich and challenging book.
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The doctrine of the Trinity is a beautiful way of describing the unity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in one Godhead. Sadly, some sects of Christianity have divided God into three separate persons, each with a distinct personality, in order to justify and embrace Janus-faced violent God images and teachings that contradict the Father as revealed in the Son. Michael, Jim, and Loren discuss how our view of the Trinity impacts how we relate to others.
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There are large portions of Christianity that cling to the importance of the Bible and elevate the teaching of scripture while at the same denouncing any in-depth study of it. They're locked into their hermeneutics and interpretation of the Bible regardless of what evidence points to the contrary. Intellectuals who learn the original languages and study the culture, history, and sciences to understand the scriptures better are viewed with contempt if their research leads them to conclusions that differ from what has always been taught in those circles. Michael, Loren, and Jim (who joined late due to connectivity issues) examine this cherished anti-intellectualism that portions of Christianity have embraced.
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Anti-intellectualism is dominating much of Christianity. Sadly, it is widespread in charismatic/Pentecostal circles. But that's not to say that these believers don't have something valuable to contribute to the body of Christ. As charismatics (but without the crazy, as Dr. Stephen Crosby puts it), Jim and Loren share their journeys from anti-intellectualism to embracing the scholarly work of teachers in the body of Christ.
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What were you taught about history as it relates to the Bible? Many believers have misconceptions about the history surrounding the Bible times and the church. Jim wasn't able to join in on this one so Michael and Loren dared to continue in his absence and discussed the Bible through a historical lens.
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Jesus taught us to love our enemies. This is not some side teaching, but the heartbeat of what it means to follow Jesus. Here in the US, we tend to think of loving our enemies as loving that person who rubs me the wrong way. But that's only scratching the surface. It also means loving my political opponents, the enemies of my country, and the people groups I despise. In this episode, Michael, Jim, and Loren get personal and share their challenges living this.
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Last podcast we began a fascinating debate between Mark Karris and Thomas Jay Oord on free-will or determinism. This week things really get interesting as our guests examine how these play into desire and our relationship with God.
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Is there such a thing as free will? Some would argue yes while others say no. Mark Karris and Thomas Jay Oord join us today for a fascinating debate on the topic of free will.
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When people begin questioning the contradictions they see between Jesus and the God in some of the Old Testament passages they are often accused of Marcionism. But who was Marcion and what did he teach that caused him to be labeled a heretic?
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In this episode, which was recorded on 4/20 (an important piece of information), Jim, Michael, and Loren discuss commonly used Christian terms that are misdefined and misapplied.
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In Romans 14 Paul discusses the weak eating vegetables while the strong eat meat. This passage is often interpreted as saying, "Don't do things in front of others that will cause them to stumble." Jim, Michael, and Loren take a look at this passage and as we'll see, we've been looking at this through a 21st-century lens.
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1 Corinthians 5, the passage dealing with kicking a man out of church because of incest, is a difficult passage. Many churches use this passage as justification to kick people out involved in certain sins. Is that what Paul is instructing the Corinthians to do? On the surface, it appears that's the case. But as Michael, Jim, and Loren discuss, Paul may not be saying what we thought he was saying.
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At a recent gathering, Michael made an interesting statement, "God doesn't do morality, he does Ethics." What does that mean? Many people think of morality and ethics as being the same thing. Others talk about not being under the Law while still upholding moral codes. What is the difference between doing morality and doing ethics?
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Is following Jesus about adhering to morals, rules, and codes of conduct?
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Michael, Jim, and Loren discuss who or what Satan is. Where did he come from and how does Satan fit into Christian beliefs?
- Visa fler
