Mere Fidelity

When dealing with delicate, nuanced, disputed, or important issues, should Christians primarily rely on their own judgment or the authority of church leaders in their lives? Derek, Alastair, and Matt bring their own experience to bear, as well as a reliance on Scripture and authority, to answer this listener-submitted question.

In this episode of Mere Fidelity, Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, James Wood, and Joseph Minich engage in a deep and sobering discussion about the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk, reflecting on the implications of violence in society, the reactions to such events, and the role of social media in shaping narratives. They explore the need for a Christian response to violence, emphasizing the...

Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, and Brad East explore the theological significance of the tabernacle and temple in the Old Testament, discussing their roles as divine dwellings, their relationship to Israel's kingship, and their implications for understanding God's presence among His people. The conversation also looks into the destruction and rebuilding of the temple, the church as the new temp...

Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, and Brad East engage in a discussion about the concept of 'holy ambition' within the context of ministry. They explore the balance between ambition and faithfulness, the impact of social media on pastoral ambitions, and the fears associated with ministry today, including the fear of cancellation. The conversation emphasizes the importance of seeking God's approval...

This is a rerelease of a previous episode. In response to a listener question, Derek, Matt, and Alastair go deep on the doctrine of creation. They ask and answer questions about whether creation is real, what counts as worship, what makes a doctrine of creation thick or thin, and whether we need to be thinking about God at all times. Timestamps: On the Excitement Meter [0:00] Wherein Lies the Deep...

Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, James Wood, and Joe Minich explore whether modernity deserves our praise or criticism. They examine the goods and challenges of the modern world, from medical advances to technological disruption, asking how Christians should thoughtfully engage rather than simply retreat or embrace uncritically. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Setup 02:10 Defining Modernity - Wha...

Alastair, Joseph, Brad, and Derek explore the themes of enchantment and disenchantment in theology and culture. They reflect on Charles Taylor's analysis of the "disenchanted" modern age, the loss of a sacramental imagination, and the ways Christians might recover a sense of wonder, mystery, and divine presence in creation. The conversation considers both dangers—superstition, romantic nostalgia—a...

In this episode of Mere Fidelity, Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, Brad East, and James Wood engage in a deep conversation about the complexities of inhabiting and leaving religious traditions. They explore the implications of a recent theological shift by Matthew Barrett from Baptist to Anglican, discussing the personal and theological dimensions of such transitions. The conversation delves into...

This episode of Mere Fidelity is about the boundaries and controls on theological and typological biblical interpretation - essentially asking "what are the brakes on theological exegesis?" — This month: The Body God Gives: A Biblical Response to Transgender Theory by Robert Smith - a weighty volume addressing crucial contemporary issues with biblical faithfulness. Get 40% off at lexhampress.com/m...

In this episode of Mere Fidelity, the hosts engage in a deep discussion about the implications of artificial intelligence on society, the church, and human relationships. They explore the theological and ethical dimensions of AI, emphasizing the importance of human agency and the role of the Word in shaping our understanding of technology. The conversation also addresses the dangers of AI in minis...

In this episode of Mere Fidelity, the hosts engage in a deep discussion about covenant theology, exploring its significance in scripture and its role in Reformed theology. They debate the load-bearing nature of covenant language, its historical context, and its relationship to other theological concepts. The conversation highlights the complexity of covenant theology and its evolution over time, e...

_*]:min-w-0 !gap-3.5"> Andrew Wilson and Alastair Roberts explore the Book of Daniel, moving from familiar stories to complex apocalyptic visions. They discuss interpretive keys including Babel connections, chiastic structure, and Christological fulfillment, helping you understand this unique prophetic book's unity and contemporary relevance. Chapters [00:00 - 03:00] Introduction & topic pivot to...

In this episode, Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, and Brad East are joined by political theorist Jason Blakely to explore the life, work, and legacy of Alasdair MacIntyre. Best known for After Virtue , MacIntyre diagnosed the deep moral confusion of modernity and called for a return to virtue, tradition, and narrative. The conversation traces his journey from Marxism to Thomism, unpacks his criti...

Mere Fidelity hosts Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, and James Wood interview Professor John Bolt about completing Herman Bavinck's Reformed Ethics translation project. Discussion covers Bavinck's methodology combining creation order and union with Christ, his engagement with contemporary scholarship, controversial applications on marriage/sexuality, and why Bavinck appeals across denominational...

Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, and Joseph Minich explore the Jesus People movement of the 1970s—from hippie communes to Calvary Chapel—and its lasting impact on American evangelicalism. They discuss the tension between Spirit-led revival and institutional church structure, examining how countercultural seekers became conservative evangelicals and what today's church can learn from this transfor...

Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, and Brad East discuss why so many Christians today feel stuck, anxious, or overwhelmed by the idea of "calling." They examine how the biblical and Reformation doctrine of vocation has been reshaped by modern expectations of career, identity, and fulfillment—and how to recover a clearer, more grounded view of vocation rooted in community, providence, and everyday f...

Mere Fidelity is back! Welcome to Mere Fidelity 2.0: A Mere Orthodoxy Podcast. Hosts Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, Brad East, and James Wood dive into the major news of Pope Francis's passing and Cardinal Robert Prevost's election as Pope Leo XIV. As Protestant theologians, they grapple with what this papal transition means for the broader Christian landscape. They discuss how evangelicals sho...

A lot can happen in ten years. A lot has happened in ten years. In this, Matt's final episode as a Mere Fi co-host, the guys reflect on the changes, crises, developments, growth, learning, cursings, and blessings that have occurred since the podcast started. Each of them offers their younger selves what wisdom they can. May you profit from their experience. Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com....

Is it literally possible to read the Bible literally? Dr. Kevin Vanhoozer joins Derek, Alastair, and Matt as the penultimate guest of 2024 to talk about frames of reference, transfigural reading, how the New Testament uses the Old Testament, and how to create a culture of reading at your church. You will literally love it! Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com. Timestamps: The Alastair Roberts E...

When a prominent Biblical theologian changes his position on the legitimacy of same-sex marriage, it prompts numerous questions for Derek, Alastair, and Matt to tackle in this episode of Mere Fidelity. Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com. Timestamps: Against Worldview [0:00] A Change of Mind [1:41] What Kind of Change? [3:06] Hays's Shift [6:55] "Using" Scripture [9:13] The "Right" Community [...

Amy Mantravadi, Mere Fi's snarkiest online critic has written a novel—a historical novel—about the heroes of the Reformation. Matt and Alastair bring her on the show to talk about it, what historical fiction can do that theology can't, what the central issue of the Reformation was, and what it's like inside the heads of Luther, Erasmus, and Melanchthon. Plus, Matt gets it exactly right at least on...

On October 23rd, 524, Boethius, the last of the Classical philosophers and the first Medieval Man, was executed. Today, 1,500 years later, his work, especially The Consolation of Philosophy, continues to influence many, including major thinkers such as C.S. Lewis. Dr. Tom Ward returns to Mere Fidelity to discuss what Boethius can teach us today. Dr. Ward has recently written a new book about Boeth...

Dr. Tim Perry returns to Mere Fidelity with a (as Matt calls it) "spicy" book about how ancient heresies have structured the political witness of modern evangelicalism. This is bad. Maybe even very bad. Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com. Timestamps: One Correction [0:00] Speaking of Politics (again) [2:04] The Challenge of Critiquing Self-Loathing [5:59] Straddling Worlds [8:14] Sourcing Her...

Politics has inflated beyond the realm where it can order our finite, common, physical lives. What is the natural realm of politics? How is it delimited by human mortality? Theologian Dr. Ephraim Radner joins Matt and Alastair to discuss the theme of his fascinating new book, Mortal Goods: Reimagining Christian Political Duty. Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com. Timestamps: Discount for All!!...

In a recent podcast appearance (not here, thank God), N.T. Wright made some, shall we say, controversial remarks that caused quite a stir in the Evangelical world in England and the UK. Seeing as his theological work is so good, Derek, Matt, and Alastair are taking this as a chance to explore how we ought to respond when good theologians say bad things in public. They address not only the substanc...