Mythologizing the Bible

Welcome to another Bonus Edition of the MTB podcast—a segment of the weekly episode that I call Afterthoughts! This is my favorite part of these weekly presentations because it gives me a chance to dig a little deeper into something that came up during the main episode. So, this week’s theme has centered around one simple but powerful idea: community. Not just the word we toss around in mission st...

Have you ever noticed how often religious stories are used to justify who gets to be in charge—and who doesn’t? Sometimes it’s wrapped in language about divine purpose or eternal reward, but underneath it all, it’s often just about power: who has it, who wants it, and who’s willing to suffer—or make others suffer—to get it. Welcome to ‘Mythologizing the Bible’—where we’ll be taking a look at three...

Welcome to another Bonus Edition of the MTB podcast—a segment of the weekly episode that I call Afterthoughts! This is my favorite part of these weekly presentations because it gives me a chance to dig a little deeper into something that came up during the main episode. So, tonight we’re going to lean into something that ties directly to the theme of this week’s episode: ethical messaging and the...

Let’s talk about control—and how it often hides behind charisma, poetry, and even holy-sounding words. This week’s readings are packed with drama: magical healing, apocalyptic visions, and a resurrection story that shames the one guy who asked for evidence. It might sound inspiring at first glance, but when you dig a little deeper, there’s something more troubling going on. Because when people are...

Welcome to another Bonus Edition of the MTB podcast—a segment of the weekly episode that I call Afterthoughts! This is my favorite part of these weekly presentations because it gives me a chance to dig a little deeper into something that came up during the main episode. So, in this week’s main presentation, we talked a lot about how symbols can shape what we believe—sometimes before we’ve even had...

Have you ever noticed how easily powerful symbols can override critical thinking? Whether it’s a red hat with white text, a religious relic, or even the image of an empty tomb, symbols grab our emotions and tell us what to feel before we’ve even had a chance to think. And then, when people stop asking questions—when they accept fantastic claims just because they’ve been told to—it gets harder to s...

Welcome to another Bonus Edition of the MTB podcast—a segment of the weekly episode that I call Afterthoughts! This is my favorite part of these weekly presentations because it gives me a chance to dig a little deeper into something that came up during the main episode. Now, during this week’s main episode, looking at the readings for Palm Sunday, we talked about what it means to stand up for trut...

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to spot injustice—and yet still feel powerless to stop it? From the quiet dignity of Isaiah’s suffering servant, to Paul’s call for humble leadership, to the Gospel’s brutal retelling of a man unjustly executed while his followers watched from a distance… these stories aren’t just ancient—they’re timeless. And they remind us that silence, even from good people,...

Welcome to another Bonus Edition of the MTB podcast—a segment of the weekly episode that I call Afterthoughts! This is my favorite part of these weekly presentations because it gives me a chance to dig a little deeper into something that came up during the main episode. In this week’s main episode, we talked a lot about the importance of choosing your values on purpose—not just inheriting them and...

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to focus on what’s happening around us and totally lose sight of what’s happening inside us? Whether it’s Isaiah urging people to forget the past, Paul fixating on some eternal prize, or Jesus confronting a crowd ready to pass judgment, this week’s readings all point toward the same quiet but powerful truth: real change begins within. Our values—more than our s...

Welcome to another Bonus Edition of the MTB podcast—a segment of the weekly episode that I call Afterthoughts! This is my favorite part of these weekly presentations because it gives me a chance to dig a little deeper into something that came up during the main episode. In the main presentation, we looked at forgiveness and reconciliation—how real healing depends on understanding the whole story,...

Have you ever noticed how often people skip over the messy parts of a story—especially when that story is being used to justify power or control? Whether it’s a feel-good celebration that hides a history of violence, or a parable that leaves out the pain leading up to the moment of forgiveness, half the story often gets left behind. But if we only tell the clean version, we miss the chance to real...

Welcome to another Bonus Edition of the MTB podcast—a segment of the weekly episode that I call Afterthoughts! This is one of my favorite parts of these weekly presentations because it gives us a chance to dig a little deeper, connect the dots, and really challenge ourselves to think critically about what we discussed during the main episode. In today’s main episode, we spent a lot of time discuss...

Have you ever noticed how often religious leaders use mystery and fear to control people? Whether it’s a burning bush speaking in riddles, Paul twisting history to serve his message, or Jesus using parables to shift people’s perspectives, the stories we hear shape the way we think—and they also shape the way we lead. But what if leadership isn’t about control? What if real leadership is about clar...

Welcome to another Bonus Edition of the MTB podcast—a segment of the weekly episode that I call Afterthoughts! This is one of my favorite parts of these weekly presentations because it gives us a chance to dig a little deeper, connect the dots, and really challenge ourselves to think critically about what we discussed during the main episode. In today’s main episode, we talked about how stories an...

Stories are powerful. They shape cultures, drive movements, and define how we understand the world around us. But what happens when those stories are used not just to inspire, but to manipulate? What happens when the vision we’re given for the future is less about inclusion and progress and more about control? Welcome to ‘Mythologizing the Bible’—where we’ll be taking a look at three readings from...

Welcome to another Bonus Edition of the MTB podcast—a segment of the weekly episode that I call Afterthoughts! This is one of my favorite parts of these weekly presentations because it gives us a chance to dig a little deeper, connect the dots, and really challenge ourselves to think critically about what we discussed during the main episode. In today’s main episode, we talked about resisting temp...

Hey everybody—guess what? Lent is here—a season that’s supposed to be about self-discipline, sacrifice, and deep reflection. But let’s be honest… how many people actually use this time to grow in a meaningful way? Too often, it’s reduced to giving up chocolate, avoiding social media for a few weeks, or making a half-hearted attempt at self-improvement—only to return to business as usual when Easte...

Welcome to another Bonus Edition of the MTB podcast—a segment of the weekly episode that I call Afterthoughts! This is one of my favorite parts of these weekly presentations because it gives us a chance to dig a little deeper, connect the dots, and really challenge ourselves to think critically about what we discussed during the main episode. Today’s main episode was all about how words reveal wha...

We’ve all heard the saying, “Actions speak louder than words.” But what if words actually reveal more than we think? This week’s readings challenge us to look closely at the power of words—how they reflect what’s inside us, how they shape the world around us, and how they expose the true nature of those in positions of leadership. Welcome to ‘Mythologizing the Bible’—where we’ll be taking a look a...

Welcome to another Bonus Edition of the MTB podcast - a segment of the weekly episode that I call Afterthoughts! This is one of my favorite parts of these weekly presentations because it gives us a chance to dig a little deeper, connect the dots, and really challenge ourselves to think critically about what we discussed during the main episode. In the main presentation, we talked about separating...

How do we hold people accountable while still recognizing their humanity? Can we admire someone’s actions without turning them into an idol? And when we’re confronted with anger, injustice, or even outright cruelty, how do we respond in a way that aligns with our values—without becoming the very thing we oppose? These are tough questions, but they’re not new ones. This week’s readings wrestle with...

Welcome to another Bonus Edition of the MTB podcast—a segment of the weekly episode that I call Afterthoughts! This is one of my favorite parts of these weekly presentations because it gives us a chance to dig a little deeper, connect the dots, and really challenge ourselves to think critically about what we discussed during the main episode. In this bonus episode, we’re looking at the Sermon on t...

What if “blessings” aren’t about earning a reward in some afterlife, but about how we lift each other up in the here and now? And why do so many religious teachings rely on future promises—or threats—to motivate us toward living well? It raises a critical question: Do we really need supernatural incentives to be decent people, or can we find better reasons to come together and support one another...

What if “blessings” aren’t about earning a reward in some afterlife, but about how we lift each other up in the here and now? And why do so many religious teachings rely on future promises—or threats—to motivate us toward living well? It raises a critical question: Do we really need supernatural incentives to be decent people, or can we find better reasons to come together and support one another...