Rethinking Faith

This week, Kevin Makins joins the conversation to ask the question... why would anyone go to church? When Kevin was 23 and didn't know any better, he founded Eucharist Church with some of his friends.    There are plenty of reasons to criticize, judge, and even walk away from the church. Many of us have been hurt and rejected. We may see church as insular and irrelevant. Despite this, Kevin Makins...

Hurt by the church. Healed by the journey.   Questioning our faith and spiritual beliefs, while leaving the familiarity of our religious homeland, can be very painful. Loneliness, isolation, and fear of rejection--from God and others--can give rise to shame, guilt, anger, and sadness. Yet, paradoxically, this uncomfortable process can be a powerful catalyst that leads to tremendous emotional, ment...

This week, Colby Martin discusses his latest work "The Shift: Surviving and Thriving after Moving from Conservative to Progressive Christianity." When Christians are kicked out of their conservative churches or leave because they no longer feel at home, they embark on a journey of freedom and fear, love and loneliness, empowerment and pain. The movement from conservative to progressive Christianit...

This week, we were joined by filmmaker and author Kevin Miller to discuss his latest film, J.E.S.U.S.A.  His film is an in-depth exploration of the relationship between Christianity and American nationalism and the violence that can often emerge from it. Far from a new phenomenon, this documentary traces the co-opting of Christianity by the state all the way back to when the Christian faith became...

This week Kelley Nikondeha joined us to help us (re)think how we view the women of Exodus. In Kelley's most recent book, "Defiant: What the Women of Exodus Teach Us About Freedom", Kelley brings to light the overwhelming importance of the women of Exodus.  If it weren't for the women in Exodus, there would be no Moses, no crossing the Red Sea, and no story of breaking the chains of slavery. Women...

Have you ever wondered what the Old Testament or the Old Testament Law has anything to do with your life? Have you ever thought about just ditching the Old Testament all together? You are not alone!  This week, Carmen Imes (PhD) joins us to help us rethink our views of the Old Testament. Carmen argues that the Old Testament is very important and that we can't understand our calling as Christians w...

We live in an extremely polarized society, especially when it comes to our political climate. This week, Pastor and founder of One Day's Wages (ODW) joins the conversation to help us (re)think how we engage with politics.  Seek first the Kingdom of God... not the Kingdom of a Political Party. We don't need any more "jerks for Jesus". Eugene helps us think through finding points of agreement to wor...

This week, Josh and Marty spend some time reflecting together on the topic of racism. We both have been doing a lot of listening and learning from people of color during these crazy times. One thing we have been told a lot is that white people need to start having these conversations amongst ourselves.  This is an attempt to do just that. Josh and Marty reflect and share some of their thoughts on...

Story is a powerful thing. This week Josh & Marty were joined by 3 friends of theirs for an important conversation. Christine, Keith, and Ronny have something in common... they are all Black Pastors in predominately White Spaces. With this comes tension. Again, story is powerful and important and the story of these 3 individuals need to be heard. Please join us in (re)thinking racism. Enjoy.   Lea...

We've all seen the news stories and heard the rumors. Maybe you have been hurt by a narcissistic church leader. It's easy to throw the term around and diagnose others from afar. But what is narcissism, really? And how does it infiltrate the church? This week, Chuck DeGroat joins the conversation. Chuck has been counseling pastors with Narcissistic Personality Disorder, as well as those wounded by...

This week Drew Hart joined the conversation to help us (re)think how the church views racism. In this deep and challenging episode, Drew helps us to see the racial hierarchy of not only our world, but also in the Church. He contends that racism is not just a sociological but also a theological issue as well. Will you join us in (re)thinking how we view racism? Enjoy.      RESOURCES:  Trouble I've...

This is the 3rd and final episode in our mini-series on atonement. This week we were joined by Dr. Tony Jones to discuss the atonement ideas he put forth in his book, "Did God Kill Jesus?"  A lot of Christians believe that God the Father demanded his only Son die a cruel, gruesome death to appease His wrath, since humanity is so irredeemably sinful and therefore repugnant to God. Tony Jones, argue...

This week we are joined by Josh McNall for part 2 of our Atonement series. Josh recently released a new book called "The Mosaic of Atonement". Modern debates of this doctrine have tended toward either a defensive hierarchy, (one model is singled out as most important), or a disconnected plurality, (multiple images are affirmed but with no order of arrangement). McNall pushes back against both of t...

This week we are kicking off our 4 Part mini-series on the Atonement. During this series, we will be approaching the atonement from a variety of angles and perspectives. For part one, we were joined by JD Myers. We discussed some of his ideas from his book, "Nothing but the Blood of Jesus". Enjoy!   Resources:  Nothing but the Blood of Jesus: How the Sacrifice of Jesus Saves the World From Sin (Bo...

This week we are joined by rapper Nehemiah. Nehemiah has heard the 9 and seen the grind of the crime trap... but the good news is that he survived that! We had an awesome conversation detailing some of the songs of off Nehemiah's latest album, "Survivor". Nehemiah speaks truth and shares his story in his music... we were lucky enough for him to share some of his story with us this week. Enjoy!   R...

Of the world’s three major religions, only Christianity holds to a doctrine of original sin. The fact that many Christians believe there is something in human nature that is, and will always be, contrary to God, is not just a problem but a tragedy. This week, Danielle Shroyer joined the conversation to help us (re)think the doctrine of Original Sin. Why does the doctrine’s assumptions of human nat...

We are for sure in a crazy time amongst the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people are claiming that God is behind COVID-19... Many believe that COVID-19 is the wrath of God or in some way a test or judgment from God. Many are calling forth biblical prophecies and making claims about the end times. So what up with COVID-19? Is this the wrath of God? Are we living in the end times? This week we are joined...

We all carry sexual shame to some extent. Whether you grew up in the midst of purity culture or not, all of us have been taught that sex, outside of a very specific context, is taboo. This week, Psychotherapist Matthais Roberts joins the conversation to help us rethink what it means to have healthy sex, helping us to overcome our shame in the process.  Roberts is a licensed mental health counselor...

This week, Meggie Lee Calvin joined us to discuss some of the ideas from her latest book, 'I Am My Own Sanctuary'. Meg is gifted at helping spiritually-attuned go-getters heal past wounds and reclaim their personal power so that they can have a life they love.  In this fun, humorous, helpful and sometimes irreverent episode, Meg shares with us some of her helpful ideas to aid us in spiritual, emot...

What does it mean to say that the Bible is inspired? Conservative scholars and pastors have struggled for years to prove that the Bible is without errors... our guest this week thinks this is a fool's errand.  This week, Dr. Greg Boyd joins the conversation to help us rethink what it means to say the Bible is inspired. What if God inspired the Bible's contradictions to function as assets and not p...

This week Dr. Eric Seibert joins the conversation to discuss divine violence. It's no secret that one can find some troubling images of God in the Old Testament. It is also no secret that the Old Testament has a troubling legacy to many. So... Did God really command the complete genocide of men, women, children and animals in the Old Testament?  For 2,000 years Bible Scholars and Theologians have...

Does God really plan everything that happens? Bonnie Kristian returns to the podcast, this time to discuss God's providence and foreknowledge. Does God choose everything that happens? Does God choose who will be saved and who will be damned? Does God know the future? Is there even a future to be known? Kristian breaks down 4 different positions regarding these kinds of questions including Calvinis...

The idea of hell has haunted many dreams and disturbed much sleep. Many wonder at the justice (or injustice) of it all, feeling confounded by a God who deems it necessary to send the majority of humanity to burn there forever. This week, Sharon Putt (Formerly Sharon Baker) joins the show and offers a safe space to contemplate tough issues and rethink traditional views of hell. Enjoy.    RESOURCES:...

This week, Aimee Byrd joins the conversation calling us to rethink 'biblical' manhood and womanhood. Do men and women benefit equally from reading the Bible? Are they equally responsible for sharpening one another and passing down the faith to the next generation? Aimee contends that until both men and women grow in their understanding of their relationship to the Bible, there will continue to be...

The religious Right has taught America to misread the Bible. Christians have misused Scripture to build power, provoke fear, and defend against enemies. But those who have been hurt by the attacks of Christian nationalism can help us rediscover God's vision for faith in public life. This week Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove joins the conversation to help us rethink our political values and understanding...