The Awkward Apocalypse

In this special birthday episode, I congratulate myself for not dying for another consecutive year.  Why are Christians afraid to die? It seems weird, since we're all about eternal life and resurrection and all that. Just sit back and enjoy the ride on this one. We'll cover a lot of ground but we'll end up where we began.

"Things are just goin down the drain. Jesus is comin back soon, y'all!"  This is a sentiment shared by many American Christians. Things get bad. Then Jesus returns. That's how the Bible portrays this world, right? In this episode, we're going back to the Left Behind days to see why so many think this way and whether or not Jesus would agree. 

American Christianity seems to be centered around a once-a-week gathering. Is that... weird? We seem so adapted to it that we often don't stop and reflect on how strange that is, especially when so much of the bible covers topics outside of church worship services. And as community deteriorates in American culture, how does the church transcend the status of just another club to belong to and...

Why do Christians run and hide from the darkness of the world, from anything that would be considered "secular?" Is this biblical? After all, aren't we commanded to be holy and not to become like the world, not be be friends with the world, and to keep ourselves unstained from the world? I had a feeling there was something off here, and as I worked on this episode, I think I was abl...

"In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king" is a false proverb. People who think critically, offer new perspectives, or re-examine popularly held beliefs are not treated like kings. The more they search, the lonelier they feel. The more they shout, the more they hear their own echoes. And the more they question and explore, the more they realize that their journey is not the enl...

"Jesus was sort of joking most of the time. He said a lot of pretty radical stuff, but he didn't mean most of it. So, let's take a moment today and dissect what Jesus said and see if maybe we can create a system of ethics that works a little bit better for everybody." - American Christianity 

Do you see relationships as potential converts to the faith? Whenever you meet someone who isn't a Christian, are you immediately burdened by the obligation to rescue them from hell? If so, then let's chat. 

"Did you spend time with God today?" Something about this feels absolutely right, but also kinda strange. At least, when that becomes our primary focus. Are devotions the central focus of the Christian life or did we maybe place a little too much emphasis on them? 

Whether you're growing out your Calvin beard and catechizing your pet bird or you flip John MacArthur books upside down when you pass them in the bookstore, this episode is for you. In the longest episode I've ever posted (by far), I give my rationale for why I don't consider myself to be "Reformed" anymore. 

Grab your Nalgene bottles, bandanas, worst clothes, Walmart shades, and your themed devotionals! It's time to board the plane where we'll venture to a poor country, take some solemn pictures of the kids, come home with so many inside jokes and great memories, and just BE the Church!  I'm so cynical...  But seriously, are short term trips good, or are they inherently harmful? Let&apo...

Is cussing really a big deal? Why is cussing such a central focus of what a Christian should and should not be exposed to? Does our obsession with cussing reveal something deeper about our self-righteous fragility? What begins as a simple question ends in a deeper place than you might imagine.

Christians are called to imitate Jesus. But we also have to realize that we are not saviors. So how do we imitate a savior without being a savior? In this episode, we'll look specifically at the "White Savior." What is a white savior and how do we imitate Christ without becoming one? 

My whole life I've believed that complementarianism was clearly biblical and that those who argued for an egalitarian reading of Scripture were sacrificing biblical authority to do so. Beth Allison Barr's book, however, lays out a pretty convincing case that egalitarianism is the most natural reading of Scripture as a whole and that patriarchal structures twisted the Bible to gain power...

When we look at the mission field, we see an eery reflection of our problems back home. Do we just call it "sinful nature" and press on? Or do we critically deal with the possibility that maybe our own problems are hurting those we're trying to help? If African missions doesn't necessarily interest you, that's ok. This episode is about much more. 

Christian culture is littered with podcasts, videos, and resources on how the Enneagram relates to the Christian life. But is it helpful? Is it truly the gateway to personal growth? Or is it demonic witchcraft? In this episode, I'll review the book "The Wisdom of the Enneagram" and offer my general thoughts on the use of the Enneagram in the Christian life. 

How should a Christian approach transgenderism? It seems that the only two options are the extremes -  acceptance or anger. In this episode, we'll take a look at the second option and why that should not be a viable option for any Christian approaching this issue.  Featuring:  A special guest appearance by an insightful cricket. 

This one is sticky for a lot of people. Are Christians commanded to give 10% to an institutional church? And for churches who preach this, what effects does that have on our interpretation of other related passages? In this episode, we'll take a brief look at mandatory giving and the effects that has on how we understand what it means to truly give to God. 

What happens when a church with bad theology carries that theology to the ends of the earth? In this episode, we'll begin looking at how the mainstream theology of the church in America affects missions and hurts those it seeks to help. 

"God bless America." Sometimes faith and patriotism are so interwoven that it's hard to know which is which. In this episode, we'll take a look at what Christian Nationalism is, the damage it's caused, and whether or not it's even biblical.  Follow on Apple 🎧:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-awkward-apocalypse/id1593069067 Check out our ministry in Liberia...

So, apparently I accidentally posted the unedited version. Props to everyone who powered through that...I'm in Africa and don't have consistent internet to check, so shoutout to the person who let me know. Here's the real version! Evangelism, at least in some sects of Christianity, seems to revolve around this idea of not going to hell. But is that really what the gospel message is...

I call this a deconstruction podcast. But what is deconstruction? How do we define our own deconstruction? And what are the warning signs that we've gone too far? In this (kinda dense) episode, we'll take a look at the different types of deconstruction and where I fall.  Listen on Apple 🎧:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-awkward-apocalypse/id1593069067 Check out our ministry...

How does American Christianity reconcile being positive, encouraging, and family friendly when the Bible is so... not? In a world of sickness, sin, pain, and suffering, how do light-hearted, well-intentioned Christians help or hurt? Today, we'll take a look at the dangerous positivity that Christians often embody as they seek to address complicated problems with simple, forced happiness, and...

Why do we exist? That's usually not a fun question, because most of us often assume that the answer is a hollow silence. Or maybe we think the answer is something vague like "to love" or "whatever makes you happy." But what about for the Christian? Is our purpose a prominent theme in Christian culture? In this episode, I'll do my best to answer those questions. 

I was raised in a culture of evangelism. Who have you shared the gospel with this week? Are you fearing man or fearing God? I've only recently confronted this guilt I've carried with me for so long. In this episode I'll examine what Christian culture taught us and present my reasons why I believe it was misguided. 

I don't think it's a stretch to say that we as a society (not just as the Church) are starving for community. Why? Is this a Christian problem or just an American problem? In this episode we'll look more closely at how both the American church and American culture contribute to the community crisis.