Bad Fruit Podcast

Few issues have divided Protestants more sharply than baptism. And yet, at the heart, both sides are trying to honor Christ’s command: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). This Fruit Bite we look at Baptism and ask: who can be baptized, and how? Is Baptism a sacrament or an ordinance?

Yeah it's a long title. In this episode we look at an overview of THE Baptists, talk about their view of the sacraments, they call them ordinances, and look at some major Baptist groups like the IFB and SBC. So this is part 1, next episode will be more of a traditional historic and theological look at Baptists. Questions or comments email me at badfruitpodcast@gmail.com or look for our Facebook pa...

Who are the Anabaptists and what do they believe? They were the Radical Reformers who came after Luther and Calvin, and laid the foundation for the Mennonites and The Amish. If you would like to get in touch email us at badfruitpodcast@gmail.com

When is division actually a good thing? And when is unity actually a bad thing? This Fruit Bite episode looks at unity and division in the church. And asks when and where should we seek unity? And when and where is division a call to faithfulness? If you have any comments, questions or input please email us at badfruitpodcast@gmail.com we would love to hear from you.

There we three main Reformations during the Reformational era: The Lutheran Reformation (Lutherans), the Reformed or Calvinist Reformation, and the English Reformation (Anglicans). These are the Reformational Christians. Later splits and off-shoots are still protestant, but not always Reformational. So what does it mean to be a "Reformational Christian"? Email us at badfruitpodcast@gmail.com with...

Should women serve as pastors and bishops? In this episode, Jonathan explores one of the most divisive issues in the modern church through the lens of Scripture, history, and the latest controversy in the Church of England. With Dame Sarah Mullally’s appointment as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, the question is more urgent than ever: what happens when the church replaces divine order w...

In the 1500s, the Reformation was sweeping Europe—but in England, it began with a king who just wanted an annulment. From Henry VIII’s court to the poetry of Cranmer, from the martyrs of Oxford to the global Anglican Communion, this episode traces how the Church of England blended the theology of the Reformation with the traditions of Rome. We’ll explore the Book of Common Prayer, the Thirty-Nine...

Did you choose to press play, or was it predestined? Either way, you are here. In this episode we trace the Swiss, French, and Scottish roots of the Reformed family and unpack what “Reformed,” “Calvinist,” and “Presbyterian” actually mean.

At the Synod of Dort the 5 points of Calvinism, known as TULIP were introduced. As well as the 5 points of Arminianism, known as DAISY. But which flower belongs in the church garden? Or do we need GRACE?

What are the three uses of the law? And why is it important to distinguish between the law and the gospel?

In today's Fruit Bite episode we look at the Marburg Colloquy and ask the question; does IS mean IS?

A hammer strike in Wittenberg echoed all the way to America. In this episode, we trace the story of Lutheranism: from Martin Luther’s thunderstorm vow and “Here I stand,” through Melanchthon’s Augsburg Confession and Chemnitz’s defense against the Council of Trent, to Pietism and Rationalism, immigrant synods, the Seminex walkout, and the alphabet soup of American Lutherans today: ELCA, LCMS, WELS...

This short Fruit Bite episode looks at these five phrases known as the five solas and what they mean for us as Christians. Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone) Sola Fide (faith alone) Sola Gratia (grace alone) Solus Christus (Christ alone) Soli Deo Gloria (to the glory of God alone). 

In this week's episode of the denomination series we look at Peter Waldo, John Wycliffe and Jan Hus. Waldo inspired the Waldensians and Hus the Moravians and Wycliffe's influence continues with various Bible translators. These Pre-Reformation Reformers inspired Luther, Calvin and later the Methodists and Baptists. As always if you would like to get in touch with me about this episode or any topic,...

Who do you say Jesus is? That question is the dividing line between truth and heresy, between life and death. In this first Fruit Bite episode, Jonathan dives into the heart of the Christian faith: the Trinity, the great creeds of the church, and what it means to be a Nicene Christian. From Scripture to the battles with ancient heresies, to the bold confessions of Nicaea, Chalcedon, and Athanasius...

Eastern Orthodoxy is the second largest Christian tradition in the world, about 220 million strong, rooted in Byzantium, and still shaping lives today. In this episode of the Denominations series, we explore the other side of the Great Schism and the beauty of icons and liturgy, and why so many young people in America are finding a spiritual home in the Orthodox Church. What can Protestants learn...

In this episode, we dive into the history and core beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church. From its roots in the early centuries of Christianity to its doctrines on the sacraments, tradition, and the authority of the Pope, we explore how Catholicism has shaped and been shaped by the story of the Church. Along the way, we consider where Catholics and Protestants agree, where they differ, and how Chri...

In this kickoff episode of our Denominations series, we take a step back and look at the big picture. What exactly is a denomination? How did they form? And why do they matter today? You’ll get a brief historical overview from the early church to the major branches of Christianity, along with a glimpse of how theological differences, cultural movements, and historical events shaped the church into...

In this powerful conversation, Iranian-born pastor Ara Torosian shares his journey from persecution to pastoral ministry in the United States. Together, we explore the realities facing Iranian Christians—both those worshiping in underground house churches back home and those seeking asylum in the U.S. Pastor Ara reflects on recent arrests of his church members by immigration officials, the spiritu...

In this episode, Jonathan is joined by author Christa Petzold, to discuss her book Journey Through Church History. Together, they explore why understanding church history matters, how to approach primary sources without fear, and what modern Christians can learn from the faith and struggles of those who came before us. To learn more about her you can visit her website: https://christapetzold.com/...

We often talk about the bad fruit in the church and focus on megachurches. Most megachurches are still (for the most part) conservative in their theology. However, bad fruit also looks like liberal theology! The Sparkle Creed and a distortion of the law/gospel distinction! In this episode I talk to the pastor who runs the Lutheran Lion Facebook page about his journey to being a pastor and liberal...

This week the Confessional Corndog, who is actually Pastor Wyatt, joins me to talk about Lutheranism. We look at why Lutherans are the true Catholics and not the Roman Catholics. We also talk about why Lutherans are not Calvinists too. And why Lutherans are okay with mystery and the unknown. It's a bit of history and theology mixed together for a very interesting conversation. You can follow him o...

When I asked Pastor Josh what he was about he said he was all about Jesus. And you can tell that from the conversation we have. We talk about James River Church and the Assemblies of God and church governance and ton of other stuff that is applicable to the church today! If you want to learn more about Pastor Josh he is on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@2135jtroester You can email us at badfrui...

Join us this week as we sit down with the creator of the popular Christian meme page “Young Earth Creation Octopus” to explore the art of crafting theologically sound memes that point back to the Gospel, dive into Young‑Earth Creationism’s six days of Genesis and the global Flood, and sort out where dinosaurs and flat‑Earth theories fit into the conversation. Along the way, our guest shares his re...

This week Judah and Jonathan discuss James River Church's disaffiliation from the Assemblies of God denomination. Did John Lindell hijack the church from the members? contact us at badfruitpodcast@gmail.com