Voxology

How do we rebuild faith after church hurt, betrayal, and deconstruction? Sophie Cherry joins Mike Erre for a powerful and timely conversation about navigating spiritual trauma, gender roles in the church, and finding a renewed passion for Jesus that survives the brokenness of Christian institutions. Drawing from her own story of being raised a pastor's kid, burned by ministry, and rediscovering th...

How do we love the church in her brokenness while faithfully engaging with the complex realities of faith, sexuality, and gender? That's the central question raised in this candid and courageous edition of Vox in the Raw. Mike Erre is joined by theologian and author Preston Sprinkle, director of the Center for Faith, Sexuality, and Gender, for a brutally honest conversation that embodies both trut...

How the Christian imagination can be restored in a disenchanted world, and why helping others see Christianity as desirable—not just true—is crucial to spiritual renewal. Mike Erre is joined by long-time friend and philosopher Dr. Paul Gould to unpack core themes from Paul's new book, Cultural Apologetics. Through laughter, inside jokes, and deep reflection, they explore how recovering an enchante...

Deepening our collective understanding of how Christ calls his followers to navigate complex ethical and pastoral questions, this Voxology mailbag episode takes on listener questions around abortion, trauma, shame, and biblical interpretation. Mike Erre reflects thoughtfully on difficult circumstances—like when life-threatening pregnancies or birth defects are involved—and compassionately addresse...

A deeply vulnerable and vital conversation between Mike Erre and theologian and Bible translator Bonnie Lewis around abortion, loss, and what it means to truly be pro-life. This episode goes far beyond politics, diving into Bonnie's personal story of stillbirth, grief, and theological reflection. Together, Mike and Bonnie challenge simplistic narratives and offer a broader, more compassionate lens...

How the ancient Greco-Roman worldview around deformity, ability, and perceived human "worth" continues to influence our modern ethics on abortion, disability, and human dignity. Mike Erre returns to the cultural and spiritual roots of the abortion debate, drawing deeply from early Christian history, Hellenistic philosophy, and his own experience as the father of a child with Down syndrome. This ep...

How the Imago Dei—humanity made in God's image—shapes a consistent, compassionate, and Christ-centered approach to the complex issue of abortion. In this special two-part reflection, Mike Erre opens up about profoundly personal experiences surrounding abortion, pregnancy, and his son with Down syndrome as he responds to a listener's heartfelt question: "What is your view of abortion, and what advi...

What if the secret to real freedom isn't self-indulgence but self-control? In the kickoff episode of our new Discipline Series, Mike Erre sits down with author and editor Drew Dyck to unpack the biblical and neurological foundations of self-discipline—and how it's far more about surrender than striving. They dive deep into Drew's book, "Your Future Self Will Thank You," and explore how self-contro...

How reimagining Scripture through a new translation and untangling toxic masculinity can help Christians rediscover Jesus and better live out the mission of the gospel today. Author and theologian Bonnie Lewis joins Mike to share the heart behind her groundbreaking Bible translation project "Tim Shell." They dig into the challenges she's faced as a woman translating Scripture, how Tim Shell offers...

What do we do when God doesn't answer our most desperate prayers? In this deeply vulnerable and honest Q&A episode, Mike Erre responds to a gut-wrenching listener question about the nature of prayer, suffering, and whether God actually intervenes the way we hope he does. This episode journeys into the pain of unanswered prayer, the theological confusion surrounding it, and how to remain faithful a...

Unpacking one of the most debated theological doctrines in church history, Mike Erre flies solo on this episode to dive deep into the Bible's use of "election" and "predestination" language. Drawing from theologians like N.T. Wright, Tim Gombis, and Scott McKnight, he outlines five key observations that debunk the idea of God arbitrarily choosing individuals for heaven or hell. Instead, Mike refra...

Start the year with a fresh challenge to rethink why following Jesus necessitates being rooted in community and not just spiritual consumption. In this Q&A-style episode, Mike Erre and Kevin (number two!) dive into some weighty questions from listeners — questions about sexuality and gender, Christians in the military, being "just a guy in the seat," church leadership, and how to discern theologic...

How the metaphor of exile helps the American church rediscover its identity, purpose, and practices for a polarized and post-Christian culture. Mike Erre is joined by Rick McKinley—pastor, author, and co-creator of Advent Conspiracy—to explore themes from Rick's book, Faith for This Moment: Navigating a Polarized World as the People of God. Together, they discuss how exile offers a hopeful biblica...

How do we understand failure, morality, and the pain of community disillusionment through the lens of Jesus? In this solo episode, Mike Erre explores deep listener questions around the emotional, theological, and cultural complexities of following Jesus in a broken world. Reflecting on how Jesus may have experienced failure, why even atheists hold moral frameworks, and discerning when it's okay to...

How do Jesus followers make sense of today's political and social divisions while remaining faithful to the Kingdom of God? In this Q&A-driven episode, Mike Erre and Kevin dive into a series of powerful listener questions exploring topics like immigration, political allegiance, the modern church, the Me Too movement, and how to present the gospel in a postmodern context. With honesty and humility,...

How does the church's approach to sexuality affect our understanding of purity, desire, and spiritual wholeness? Mike Erre and Kevin explore one of the most frequently asked — and often ignored — questions in Christian life: Is masturbation sinful, especially when done without lust? What seems like a clear-cut topic opens into a deeply nuanced reflection on the nature of desire, discipleship, puri...

How can we embrace faith when certainty feels impossible? Pastor and author Austin Fisher joins Mike Erre for a vulnerable, wisdom-packed conversation about navigating doubt, deconstruction, and rediscovering the beauty of Jesus. Drawing from his book "Faith in the Shadows: Finding Christ in the Midst of Doubt," Austin shares his personal journey of nearly walking away from faith, how the church o...

How the choice to live celibately as a gay Christian can reflect the radical love of Jesus and reframe the church's understanding of desire, identity, and human flourishing. Oxford PhD candidate and author David Bennett joins Mike Erre for an unflinchingly honest and theologically rich conversation on sexuality, worship, and the need for a deeper anthropology rooted in the kingdom of God. David sh...

How does a Christian faithfully live in the tension between grace-filled freedom and the call to holiness? This mailbag-focused episode tackles one of the most enduring and controversial debates within the Christian faith—can you pursue freedom and holiness at the same time, and what is the actual goal? Mike Erre and Kevin #2 (aka "K2") open the listener inbox to respond to thoughtful email questi...

How the Old Testament offers more than just laws, wars, and weird stories—Tim Mackie joins Mike Erre to unpack how the Bible's first testament reveals a sophisticated narrative of divine patience, justice, and rescue, and how it all points directly to Jesus. Whether you're deconstructing your faith, questioning biblical violence, or struggling to reconcile the God of the Old Testament with the tea...

What happens when someone experiences both the unmovable conviction of their faith and the deep challenge of being queer in the American church? This powerful and vulnerable conversation opens up a path rarely discussed with grace and clarity. Mike Erre welcomes Tyler Chernesky, a pastor from Kansas City and a gay follower of Jesus who has chosen celibacy, to share his story of adoption, calling,...

How the church can move from silence to safety by acknowledging its complicity in marginalizing abuse survivors and unpacking what repentance truly looks like—for individuals and communities. Kicking off a new Justice Series, Mike Erre and co-host Kevin No. 2 respond to a heartfelt letter from listener "Betty," offering an open, vulnerable discussion on sexual assault, politicization, and the Me T...

How courageously telling your story can interrupt cycles of silence, shame, and secrecy—especially in the church. Mike welcomes author and activist Nicole Braddock Bromley for a powerful and vulnerable conversation about surviving childhood sexual abuse, sharing her story publicly at age 15, and how that one act unlocked voices of countless others suffering in silence. Nicole shares the painful tr...

What if prayer isn't just about getting answers? Mike and Kevin take on one of the most raw, painful, and universal questions in the life of faith: why pray when it doesn't seem to change anything? In this vulnerable episode, they dive deep into an honest question from a listener experiencing unimaginable grief and crisis of faith following the sudden death of his mother and a devastating cancer d...

How can we engage others in our faith journey when we've experienced the freedom of spiritual reconstruction but live in a culture deeply shaped by conservative, evangelical tradition? In this episode—part one of a new Vox Mailbag Series—Mike Erre and Kevin (#2) tackle questions about deconstruction, talking faith in politically charged spaces (like Branson, Missouri), and discerning truth in a wo...