This Ain't It

In this episode of This Ain't It , we talk about hunger, hypocrisy, and what happens when politics collides with basic human need. With SNAP benefits set to be slashed during the government shutdown, we dig into what that really means for families, grocery stores, and local economies and why Christians can't ignore the call to "feed the poor," no qualifiers attached. From Bible verses in Exodus an...

In this episode of This Ain't It , we dig into the myth of Christian persecution and why so many believers in the U.S. have been convinced they're under attack. From Bible verses twisted to justify power to media and political elites fanning fears for clicks and votes, we unpack how the "we're being silenced" narrative took hold, and what it's really covering for. We talk about missionary martyrdo...

Praise music, punk protest, and why artists keep ringing alarms we ignore — a playlist episode about worship, politics, and speaking up. We pulled up a chair, hit play, and let the music do the talking. This week on This Ain't It , we talk worship music's performative side, why polished praise can sometimes feel like emotional manipulation, and how artists — from punk bands to country rebels — cal...

In this episode of This Ain't It , we dig into Banned Books Week and what it reveals about our culture's fears. From Texas schools using AI to remove classics like  To Kill a Mockingbird and Frederick Douglass's memoir, to ongoing fights over what belongs in classrooms, we explore how censorship shapes both students and society. We also tackle the bigger questions: What's the real purpose of educa...

In this episode of This Ain't It , we wade straight into the deep end: Christian nationalism, or as Matthew is starting to call it—Christian fascism. We unpack Jason Stanley's framework for fascism, talk about how words like "patriotism" and "nationalism" get twisted, and why those buzzwords are doing more damage than most church folks want to admit. From Puritan predestination to prosperity gospe...

In this episode of This Ain't It , Melissa and Matt start with James 3 and dive into why words matter—from the power of the tongue in Scripture to the way political strategists, preachers, and influencers weaponize language today. We unpack how marketing teams craft messages to stir emotions, how coded dog whistles shape politics, and why biblical texts have been used to justify both justice and o...

In this episode of This Ain't It , Melissa and Matthew dig into the headlines you may have missed—or tried to ignore—over the last couple of weeks. From Trump's bizarre "Help Me Get to Heaven" fundraising email to the tangled mess of Christian nationalism, we talk about why the fruits of the Spirit still matter and how political leaders keep weaponizing faith language. We also dive into the Epstei...

In this debut episode of  This Ain't It , Matthew and Melissa open up about their journey from being lifelong Southern Baptists and Republicans to becoming outspoken critics of Christian nationalism and voices for a more inclusive faith. With honesty, humor, and plenty of backstory, they share what led them to leave the Southern Baptist Church, how their perspectives on politics and religion have...