Features
#35: Onward Christian Soldiers? Nationalism, Patriotism, and Faith
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about “Christian nationalism” and “white evangelicalism,” discuss the ways faith in Jesus Christ impacts our involvement in politics, and find (more) fault with progressive Christianity.
I Have Heard You Calling
Anyway, imagine showing up to church with your offering in your hand, your discouragement in your mouth, and the pastor and his sons steal from you, violate you, and then yell at you when you try to complain. Well, we don’t really have to imagine. This very thing has happened in some churches, and we know about it because of the internet. Honestly, the internet is so useful.
#34: A Stand Firm Conversation: Alisa Childers
Anne, Liza, and Ralinda welcome Alisa Childers to talk her life story, her new book, progressive Christianity, Critical Race Theory, and more.
Totalitarian Moments X: Control of Speech is Priority One
Under whatever banners they take power, totalitarians demand control of speech and expression.
When We Were Literally Herod
For him, it doesn’t matter what your politics are, or who you voted for, or how angry you are, or how grieved, or if you can see the problems in an institution or remain completely blind to them. He cares not if you are anti-racist or racist, if you are Methodist or Presbyterian, if you are on the right side of something or the wrong side, if you have gone over to Parler or are still trying to make a go of it on Twitter. You could be Donald Trump or even Joe Biden for all he cares.
#33: Amen and…Well, Amen: Salvation in Jesus’ Name
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the strange ending to the recent Congressional prayer, look at Article 18 of The 39 Articles, and talk about why God can only be Good News as revealed in Jesus Christ.
#32: The Stand Firm Year-End Awards
Matt, Jady, and Nick hand out some awards at the end of a crazy year. They discuss their “issue of the year” and their “surprise of the year,” including Covid-19, Critical Theory, Trans activism, feminism, and more.
#31: Blood, Sweat, and Tears: The Incarnation Conversation
Jady and Nick discuss the different ways people have tried to make sense of the Incarnation, God come to Earth in Jesus Christ. Who was Jesus, and who must he be to be Good News for us?
So you want to cancel Christmas…
10,000 men of Kent and Canterbury:
“If they could not have their Christmas Day, they would have the King back on his throne.”
Before You Called
And because we are all bound together as Christ’s body, as we are pulled away from each other, one by one by one, it is impossible not to feel constantly frayed, stretched and finally broken.
#30: Stand Firm FAQ: Does God Love Everyone?
Matt, Jady, and Nick respond to a frequently-asked question: if God doesn’t save everyone, does that mean he doesn’t love everyone?
About Advent and the Justice of God…
We interrupt your Christmas preparations to praise the wrath of God.
When Righteousness And Peace Finally Kiss Each Other
Peace, that glorious and desirable end, is only able to kiss righteousness under a mantle of blood. You might try to have peace without righteousness, making do with your own crooked way, but true goodness will have to divide itself from you. The division will feel violent, but that’s because embracing something sinful and wrong is a wicked thing to do.
#29: Teach Your Children Well: Catechesis and Political Engagement
Matt, Jady, and Nick wonder about putting too much faith in politics, discuss how politics is downstream from culture, and talk about the importance of passing the faith on to our kids.
The Incurious Woke
One would think if there was massive election fraud that rendered the votes of people of color meaningless, the woke would be erupting in outrage. One would think.
Fed with the Bread of Tears
I particularly like the line, “to make your name known to your adversaries,” the chief one being death himself, who continues to snatch and grab and claw his way along, pulling us down to the grave one by one. He is defeated already, and yet so am I—crushed to earth, unable to raise my head. “We all fade like a life, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.”
When Did We See You?
Meanwhile, over here in the state of New York, the resounding words of God crying out against the elders of Israel, who fed themselves at the expense of their sheep, feels pretty comforting.
The Sunday Next Before Advent
This Sunday is also the Feast of Christ the King. Yes, that is a recent and popish innovation… but a good one.
#28: Signs, Sealed, Delivered: Unraveling the Sacraments
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the sacraments of communion and baptism. They talk about what makes a sacrament, their symbolic-and-more nature, whether or not they “work,” and where the Good News is in these “holy mysteries.”
Totalitarians Moments? IX: Saturday in DC
Events this past Saturday in Washington D. C. speak volumes about where we are as a country.
Podcast
#35: Onward Christian Soldiers? Nationalism, Patriotism, and Faith
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about “Christian nationalism” and “white evangelicalism,” discuss the ways faith in Jesus Christ impacts our involvement in politics, and find (more) fault with progressive Christianity.
#34: A Stand Firm Conversation: Alisa Childers
Anne, Liza, and Ralinda welcome Alisa Childers to talk her life story, her new book, progressive Christianity, Critical Race Theory, and more.
#33: Amen and…Well, Amen: Salvation in Jesus’ Name
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the strange ending to the recent Congressional prayer, look at Article 18 of The 39 Articles, and talk about why God can only be Good News as revealed in Jesus Christ.
#32: The Stand Firm Year-End Awards
Matt, Jady, and Nick hand out some awards at the end of a crazy year. They discuss their “issue of the year” and their “surprise of the year,” including Covid-19, Critical Theory, Trans activism, feminism, and more.
#31: Blood, Sweat, and Tears: The Incarnation Conversation
Jady and Nick discuss the different ways people have tried to make sense of the Incarnation, God come to Earth in Jesus Christ. Who was Jesus, and who must he be to be Good News for us?
#30: Stand Firm FAQ: Does God Love Everyone?
Matt, Jady, and Nick respond to a frequently-asked question: if God doesn’t save everyone, does that mean he doesn’t love everyone?
#29: Teach Your Children Well: Catechesis and Political Engagement
Matt, Jady, and Nick wonder about putting too much faith in politics, discuss how politics is downstream from culture, and talk about the importance of passing the faith on to our kids.
#28: Signs, Sealed, Delivered: Unraveling the Sacraments
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the sacraments of communion and baptism. They talk about what makes a sacrament, their symbolic-and-more nature, whether or not they “work,” and where the Good News is in these “holy mysteries.”
#27: Who Are These People? The Limits of Compassion
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss election reactions, compassion (both real and fake), and having conversations with people who disagree with you.
#26: The Cat in the (Pointy) Hat: The Good and Bad of Bishops
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about bishops and bishop-led churches. They discuss advantages and disadvantages of having bishops, whether or not they’re biblical, and consider the recent resignation of a bishop in the ACNA.
#25: A Coin the Coffer: Purgatory Then and Now
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about the Vatican’s recent statement about indulgences and purgatory, why the idea is such bad news, and how the attempt to buy one’s way into grace is widespread, both inside and outside the church.
#24: Mo Money No Problems: Give Unto the Lord
Jady and Nick discuss the intersection of the church and your money. Why does the church talk about money so much? Is there any Good News to be found in stewardship?
#23: Please Mr. Postman: A Stand Firm Mailbag
Matt, Jady, and Nick answer some listener questions, including what love has to do with honesty about sex, a potential referendum on abortion, and what it might mean to be called to celibacy.
#22: When Push Came to Love: The Myth of Progressive Tolerance
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the recent finding by The Episcopal Church against Bishop William Love. When justice and love are defined outside the Word of God, defenders of God’s Word find themselves labeled as unjust and unloving.
#21: Ibram Kendi and Adoption as Colonialism
Jady, Nick, and special guest Michael Neal discuss public reaction to Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to the Supreme Court, and especially to her adopted children.
#20: But He Actually Became a Person: The Problem with a “Personified” Jesus
Anne, Liza, and Ralinda discuss a transgender Icelandic Jesus, the downside of the Jesus Storybook Bible, and a few more thoughts on “Cuties.”
#19: No Second Opinions: On the Sufficiency of Scripture
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about the good news that the Bible is the only authority we need, the human urge to make new laws, and what it means that God’s Word once delivered is “enough.”
#18: The Sledgehammer of God? Discipline and Restoration in the Church
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about Jesus’ plan for discipline in the church and the Good News that comes along with repentance, reconciliation, and restoration.
#17: Truth Decay: The Sad Cynicism of Progressive Christianity
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the hesitance to make any claim of absolute truth. Intended to be welcoming, the idea that many opposing things can be true at once is really hollowing churches out from the inside.
#16: Nuclear War: A Defense of the Traditional Family
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the biblical warrant for the “nuclear family” and attacks on the idea from some evangelicals, more revolutionary organizations, and everything in between.