Voxology

Why does questioning your beliefs sometimes feel like a risk? What if the fear of being punished by God for struggling with doubt or shifting perspectives isn't from God at all? Mike Erre reunites with preacher and Bible scholar Bonnie Lewis for a deep dive into the tensions we face when navigating grace, obedience, and identity in Jesus. Using stories from Scripture—like the woman with the alabas...

A raw and honest reflection for those who feel caught between theological tribes, yearning for a deeper, more authentic faith. Mike Erre and Tim Stafford launch a new conversational series responding to what it means to feel spiritually homeless in today's polarized Christian landscape. With candid vulnerability, they explore disillusionment with both progressive and conservative church cultures,...

How do we navigate a term so widely misunderstood it often creates barriers instead of bridges? Mike Erre and Tim Stafford tackle this multi-layered question with humor, honesty, and depth in a lively conversation about whether we should keep or discard the term "Christian"—and what's truly at the center of the Jesus movement. This episode opens with a heartfelt apology to a listener for accidenta...

Can you still call it Christianity if you don't believe Jesus physically rose from the dead? This episode of the Exile Series tackles one of the most crucial and controversial questions facing the church today: what still counts as "Christian" when key beliefs are dismantled? Mike and Tim unpack an explosive New York Times interview with Union Seminary President Serene Jones, who claims one can be...

How can Christians seriously engage with science, sexuality, and the violence in the scriptures while remaining faithful to the authority of the Bible? In this insightful and honest conversation, Mike Erre is joined by Old Testament scholar Tremper Longman III to discuss the hermeneutical frameworks required to address some of Christianity's most pressing—and often divisive—topics. Drawing from hi...

Discover how gay Christians committed to a traditional biblical sexual ethic are faithfully navigating identity, theology, celibacy, and spiritual friendship in Part 2 of the Revoice series. Mike Erre speaks with Dr. Johanna Finnegan—MIT PhD, philosopher, and follower of Jesus—whose journey of faith, sexuality, and discipleship offers a deeply personal and thought-provoking perspective. Johanna's...

Why the modern megachurch model is failing—and what should rise in its place. Mike Erre and Tim Stafford tackle one of their most candid, raw conversations yet around the toxicity of platform-centric Christianity, the pitfalls of megachurch culture, and the tension between organizational leadership and spiritual shepherding. Drawing from personal experience, listener questions, and real-world exam...

How salvation was understood by Jesus and his first-century audience is a far cry from the transactional, "pray the prayer" model often found in modern Christianity. In a passionate and wide-ranging mailbag episode, Mike Erre explores questions around what it means to be saved, the cultural and psychological dynamics of shame (particularly in the context of abortion), and how to remain present and...

How do we rebuild faith after church hurt, betrayal, and deconstruction? Sophie Cherry joins Mike Erre for a powerful and timely conversation about navigating spiritual trauma, gender roles in the church, and finding a renewed passion for Jesus that survives the brokenness of Christian institutions. Drawing from her own story of being raised a pastor's kid, burned by ministry, and rediscovering th...

How do we love the church in her brokenness while faithfully engaging with the complex realities of faith, sexuality, and gender? That's the central question raised in this candid and courageous edition of Vox in the Raw. Mike Erre is joined by theologian and author Preston Sprinkle, director of the Center for Faith, Sexuality, and Gender, for a brutally honest conversation that embodies both trut...

How the Christian imagination can be restored in a disenchanted world, and why helping others see Christianity as desirable—not just true—is crucial to spiritual renewal. Mike Erre is joined by long-time friend and philosopher Dr. Paul Gould to unpack core themes from Paul's new book, Cultural Apologetics. Through laughter, inside jokes, and deep reflection, they explore how recovering an enchante...

Deepening our collective understanding of how Christ calls his followers to navigate complex ethical and pastoral questions, this Voxology mailbag episode takes on listener questions around abortion, trauma, shame, and biblical interpretation. Mike Erre reflects thoughtfully on difficult circumstances—like when life-threatening pregnancies or birth defects are involved—and compassionately addresse...

A deeply vulnerable and vital conversation between Mike Erre and theologian and Bible translator Bonnie Lewis around abortion, loss, and what it means to truly be pro-life. This episode goes far beyond politics, diving into Bonnie's personal story of stillbirth, grief, and theological reflection. Together, Mike and Bonnie challenge simplistic narratives and offer a broader, more compassionate lens...

How the ancient Greco-Roman worldview around deformity, ability, and perceived human "worth" continues to influence our modern ethics on abortion, disability, and human dignity. Mike Erre returns to the cultural and spiritual roots of the abortion debate, drawing deeply from early Christian history, Hellenistic philosophy, and his own experience as the father of a child with Down syndrome. This ep...

How the Imago Dei—humanity made in God's image—shapes a consistent, compassionate, and Christ-centered approach to the complex issue of abortion. In this special two-part reflection, Mike Erre opens up about profoundly personal experiences surrounding abortion, pregnancy, and his son with Down syndrome as he responds to a listener's heartfelt question: "What is your view of abortion, and what advi...

What if the secret to real freedom isn't self-indulgence but self-control? In the kickoff episode of our new Discipline Series, Mike Erre sits down with author and editor Drew Dyck to unpack the biblical and neurological foundations of self-discipline—and how it's far more about surrender than striving. They dive deep into Drew's book, "Your Future Self Will Thank You," and explore how self-contro...

How reimagining Scripture through a new translation and untangling toxic masculinity can help Christians rediscover Jesus and better live out the mission of the gospel today. Author and theologian Bonnie Lewis joins Mike to share the heart behind her groundbreaking Bible translation project "Tim Shell." They dig into the challenges she's faced as a woman translating Scripture, how Tim Shell offers...

What do we do when God doesn't answer our most desperate prayers? In this deeply vulnerable and honest Q&A episode, Mike Erre responds to a gut-wrenching listener question about the nature of prayer, suffering, and whether God actually intervenes the way we hope he does. This episode journeys into the pain of unanswered prayer, the theological confusion surrounding it, and how to remain faithful a...

Unpacking one of the most debated theological doctrines in church history, Mike Erre flies solo on this episode to dive deep into the Bible's use of "election" and "predestination" language. Drawing from theologians like N.T. Wright, Tim Gombis, and Scott McKnight, he outlines five key observations that debunk the idea of God arbitrarily choosing individuals for heaven or hell. Instead, Mike refra...

Start the year with a fresh challenge to rethink why following Jesus necessitates being rooted in community and not just spiritual consumption. In this Q&A-style episode, Mike Erre and Kevin (number two!) dive into some weighty questions from listeners — questions about sexuality and gender, Christians in the military, being "just a guy in the seat," church leadership, and how to discern theologic...

How the metaphor of exile helps the American church rediscover its identity, purpose, and practices for a polarized and post-Christian culture. Mike Erre is joined by Rick McKinley—pastor, author, and co-creator of Advent Conspiracy—to explore themes from Rick's book, Faith for This Moment: Navigating a Polarized World as the People of God. Together, they discuss how exile offers a hopeful biblica...

How do we understand failure, morality, and the pain of community disillusionment through the lens of Jesus? In this solo episode, Mike Erre explores deep listener questions around the emotional, theological, and cultural complexities of following Jesus in a broken world. Reflecting on how Jesus may have experienced failure, why even atheists hold moral frameworks, and discerning when it's okay to...

How do Jesus followers make sense of today's political and social divisions while remaining faithful to the Kingdom of God? In this Q&A-driven episode, Mike Erre and Kevin dive into a series of powerful listener questions exploring topics like immigration, political allegiance, the modern church, the Me Too movement, and how to present the gospel in a postmodern context. With honesty and humility,...

How does the church's approach to sexuality affect our understanding of purity, desire, and spiritual wholeness? Mike Erre and Kevin explore one of the most frequently asked — and often ignored — questions in Christian life: Is masturbation sinful, especially when done without lust? What seems like a clear-cut topic opens into a deeply nuanced reflection on the nature of desire, discipleship, puri...

How can we embrace faith when certainty feels impossible? Pastor and author Austin Fisher joins Mike Erre for a vulnerable, wisdom-packed conversation about navigating doubt, deconstruction, and rediscovering the beauty of Jesus. Drawing from his book "Faith in the Shadows: Finding Christ in the Midst of Doubt," Austin shares his personal journey of nearly walking away from faith, how the church o...