Everyday Theology

Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker were some of the most public "Christian Leaders" to go through moral and legal failures. Recently, the story of Tammy Faye Bakker came to life in a biopic "Through the Eyes of Tammy Faye". Kim Alexander joined Aaron to talk about the rise and fall of the Bakker's, their TV network "PTL", and how the Bakker's still have an affect on American Christianity. Chris and Aaron t...

Learning, knowing, and being with God is not always about the words that are said, but can found in mystery, beauty, and art. In part one of a two-part episode, Marc Byrd, one-half of the band Hammock, talks about how music, mystery, pain, and hope create a world for us to engage with God in often surprising and life-changing ways.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/everydaytheology...

Truth, disinformation, lies, factchecking. . . it seems that the national dialogue in the US is constantly around the idea of truth. In this episode, Dr. Yoon Shin dialogues with Aaron on how we can think about truth. Are there better ways to engage with truth than we have been given?  Friend, Aaron and Chris need new microphones. If you want to support Everyday Theology, you can by going her...

Doing theology is not a one-sized-fits-all enterprise and it often can cause controversy and even death. Maximus the Confessor is a perfect example of a theologian who pushed boundaries, challenged the status quo, and even lost his right hand and tongue because of it. Jordan Wood joins Aaron and Chris to talk about Maximus the Confessor, an often ignored but monumentally important early church fat...

Gospel seems to be another one of those Christian words that gets used a lot, but often with very little understanding. On this episode of Everyday Theology, Aaron interviews Matthew Bates, author of The Gospel Precisely, discussing what the Gospel is and why it matters that we understand the term faithfully.  After the interview, Aaron and Chris discuss the rise of "Kingdom Theology", explor...

Ever wonder how you can change your theological positions without losing your faith? Clark Pinnock was a monumental theological figure who had a theological evolution through his life. In this episode, Aaron and Chris caught up with Andrew Ray William, author of the companion to the life and theology of Clark Pinnock, about what we can learn from Pinnock's life and theology. 

We are back! Season three of Everyday Theology kicks off with an incredible guest, Brad Jersak. Brad has written multiple books on hearing from God, Scripture, Heaven and Hell, and more. Join us as we have a fascinating conversation about some of the most misunderstood aspects of Christianity.

We have one more teaser episode before ET Season 3 drops on September 2nd. Have you ever been told doubt is a sin, that doubting is somehow a disease? Join the conversation as Aaron and Chris take a deep dive looking into doubt, what it is, why it happens, and how doubting is not a sin. This season (and in this teaser episode), we're prepping to unpack a lot of big questions — like, why is the chu...

We're back! On this season of Everyday Theology, we're super excited to welcome a new co-host: Dr. Chris Green. Dr. Green is a theologian, author and artist.  He's been a frequent guest on the show, and you guys seem to really like him. We do, too. Welcome to the show, Chris! This season (and in this teaser episode), we're prepping to unpack a lot of big questions — like, why is the church of...

What is Pentecostalism? Why do Pentecostal Christians behave differently than those belonging to other denominations (like Baptists, Presbyterians or Methodists)?  In the final episode of Season 2, Aaron speaks with Wolfgang Vondey, systematic theologian and professor at the University of Birmingham, to discuss the this movement and its impact on modern Christianity.  ||   Than...

"Kenosis" is the Greek word that Paul uses to describe the 'self-emptying' of Jesus' own will to receive God's divine will. This generates a lot of controversy within the Christian faith, as it seems to take away Jesus' divine power as a whole. What does this word actually mean, and why does it matter how we translate it? In this episode, Aaron sits down with scholar Michael Gorman to discuss all...

Can having enough faith change God's mind? Is faith backed by evidence, or is it blind belief? In this episode, Aaron sits down with author and professor Nijay Gupta to talk through what "faith" really means. Nijay has done extensive study into the language of Paul and how it relates to faith; check out his full list of books here: https://www.amazon.com/Nijay-K.-Gupta/e/B004I4TYLA%3Fref=dbs_a_mng...

What is mysticism, and how should we interpret it through our Christian lens? In this episode, author and professor of humanities Dr. Jason Baxter discusses the origins of mysticism and what it means to be "illuminated." If you're interested in reading some of Dr. Baxter's work, check out his (very) recently-released book, Introduction to Christian Mysticism here: https://www.amazon.com/Introducti...

What is spiritual abuse, and why does it seem so prevalent in our churches today? Recent scandal regarding Ravi Zacharias prompts us to ask this question, and explore what causes and perpetuates this poor behavior from our church leaders. Today Aaron joins author, artist and theologian Chris Green to talk through spiritual abuse and, in turn, create a more attainable strategy to address the issue.

If you've ever been to church, you've likely heard that you are "made in the image of God." The idea of the "image of God" raises a few questions, though: Can humanity really be broken if its identity reflects God? How does our own image affect our personalized view of Christ? Does the church abuse its idea of the "image of God" to justify poor action? Tune in today as Aaron talks through all thes...

Patriarchy is the backdrop of the Bible, but it is not the message. With this in mind, how should we perceive gender roles as they are presented to us? In this episode, Carolyn Custis James teaches us how to look beyond our Western patriarchal lens and understand the true meaning of Biblical text: one of united purpose and mutual flourishing.

What is prophecy, and how do we approach it? We often assume that prophecy is equivalent to prediction or personal revelation... when this isn't backed up by Scripture at all. On this episode, Aaron sits down with theologian and professor Jon Bentall to learn how to discern both modern and ancient prophets correctly.

Many Christians experience ostracism and spiritual abuse when they question their core beliefs. What might the church look like if it was comfortable with uncertainty? In this episode, Aaron joins author, artist and former pastor David Hayward @NakedPastor to discuss how embracing an open-handed approach might affect church communities for good. 

In this age we are content consumers, always inundated with information. How do we decipher what's true? How do we use all the information at our fingertips without being used by it? In this episode, Aaron joins author and professor Dr. Karen Swallow Prior to discuss the importance of reading effectively to expand our view of the world.  To learn more about this topic, check out Dr. Prior's b...

Christians make up the largest gun-owning demographic in America. We defend gun ownership on the basis of liberty... but we fail to recognize that, when liberty goes unchecked, it becomes corrupted. Gun violence is the second leading cause of death among young people in America. For this reason it is vital that Christians begin taking a nonviolent stance on gun control. In this episode, we welcome...

What are the prophetic texts, and how should we approach them in our modern day? It may be surprising to many Evangelical Christians that known prophets in Scripture did not declare what MUST come to pass, rather what COULD come to pass.  In this episode, Aaron joins author and scholar Rick Wadholm to discuss why prophets existed in Biblical times, and what they really communicated.

We know to read Scripture through its contextual lens... but we often don't realize the Lutheran-Reformed framework that alters our understanding. What if we aimed to understand Paul on his own terms? What if returning to ancient texts brings a fresher, more balanced perspective? In today's episode, Aaron joins Jason Myers, author and professor of Biblical Studies at Greensboro College, to encoura...

The church often discusses the Old Testament superficially, missing important messages the text has to offer. Many nuanced ideas reside beneath the surface. What do we do with Old Testament stories, and how do we dissect them in a balanced way?  In today's episode, Aaron joins Dr. Brad Embry, professor of Hebrew and Old Testament, to discuss what the book of Judges communicated to its histori...

Evil — racial injustice, specifically — has been done in the name of God since America's founding. History has divided a black and white identity, and American Christianity often favors the white side. Culture is learning how to integrate the two... but what about the church?  In this episode, Aaron joins author and scholar Antipas Harris to discuss how the history of the church has worked ag...

The command, "Treat others as you want to be treated," is a Biblical text that has translated into an American value. Why do so many Americans — members of the Right wing, particularly — turn a blind eye to creation care on a political scale?  In this episode, former Congressman Bob Inglis gives us instructions on how to vote in a way that aligns with our values. Caring for our neighbor is a...