Features
#40: Dear Gay Anglicans: Faithful Shepherds and Stubborn Sheep
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the recent “Dear Gay Anglicans” letter, talk about some of the historical and theological implications, and explore what it means to be obedient to a bishop.
A Statement in Support of Sexuality and Identity: A Pastoral Statement From the College of Bishops
We, the undersigned clergy and laity of the Anglican Church in North America do hereby express our support for the unanimous statement of the College of Bishops
There but for the Grace of God Go I
Is it really the case that the person who says, “There but for the grace of God go I?” is drawing all the attention to himself and away from the victim? Or is it possible, in the very human mess that is this kind of scandal, to think of both at once? Isn’t it possible to feel the sickening horror of all those women being manipulated and destroyed, to pray for them, to beg God that this will never happen again, and also to be glad that men would this morning quake as they considered all that they have the power to do? Shouldn’t both of those go together?
#39: Fallen Pastors in a Fallen World: Celebrities, Evangelicals, and Sex
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the recent revelations about Ravi Zacharias, wonder if anyone is immune to their sin nature, and address the idea that evangelical belief actually contributes to the prevalence of sexual sin.
Who Are You? A Reflection for Ash Wednesday
We don’t identify ourselves by anything other than the identical ashen crosses on our foreheads and the identically undeserved saving death and resurrection of Christ that has been credited to our accounts.
True Love for Valentine’s Day
The trouble is that we want Jesus to give us all of his glory and none of himself. We want to rise again without having first to die. We want love without the hassle of the other person breaking in and unsettling not only our priorities and plans, but the very knowledge that we have of ourselves.
Yes, we are for being against.
Church history shows us that to be for the Gospel we have to be against some things.
#38: Likes and Dislikes: The Gospel and False Gospels
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about starting a Facebook group; sheep, shepherds, and wolves in an online world, and how being “for” something necessarily means being “against” other things.
Say It Again
When people who don’t yet belong to this “Great Nation” stumble across some outpost of it, they don’t generally find themselves landing on the word “great,” nor “nation” for that matter. It looks mostly like a pathetic group of superstitious scolds who should really go away and try something else.
#37: For God So Loved the World: The Why of Monogamous Sex
Matt, Jady, and Nick have a conversation about why God would create a beautiful gift like sex and then decree that it exist only in the context of a lifelong marriage between a man and woman.
Don’t Be Scared of Mortification
Mortification – it even sounds scary.
Hath The Lord Even Spoken
You being too busy is not a sin. You not being present to your family in an optimal way is not a sin. You being unhappy and dissatisfied with your life is not a sin. You are not going to go to hell because you couldn’t get out from under your to-do list.
Revoice, Sexual Ethics, and Christian Obedience
One of the primary reasons Revoice and Spiritual Friendship exist as movements seems to be to immanentize a kind of non-sexualized friendship that will only be possible at the eschaton.
#36: Let’s Talk About Sex: Identity and Christian Hope
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the recent statement from the ACNA Bishops about sex and identity, talk about the difference between temptation and sin, and explore the relationship between truth-telling and pastoral care.
Hope In A Cynical Age
It’s never too late to stop and listen carefully to the various kinds of good news offered by all, and wonder if they can live up to their own promises.
About Adjusting to the Coming Days
Christians need to step it up in being faithful with endurance and wisdom. And that will look different for different Christians. We need to respect that.
#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.
Podcast
#40: Dear Gay Anglicans: Faithful Shepherds and Stubborn Sheep
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the recent “Dear Gay Anglicans” letter, talk about some of the historical and theological implications, and explore what it means to be obedient to a bishop.
#39: Fallen Pastors in a Fallen World: Celebrities, Evangelicals, and Sex
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the recent revelations about Ravi Zacharias, wonder if anyone is immune to their sin nature, and address the idea that evangelical belief actually contributes to the prevalence of sexual sin.
#38: Likes and Dislikes: The Gospel and False Gospels
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about starting a Facebook group; sheep, shepherds, and wolves in an online world, and how being “for” something necessarily means being “against” other things.
#37: For God So Loved the World: The Why of Monogamous Sex
Matt, Jady, and Nick have a conversation about why God would create a beautiful gift like sex and then decree that it exist only in the context of a lifelong marriage between a man and woman.
#36: Let’s Talk About Sex: Identity and Christian Hope
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the recent statement from the ACNA Bishops about sex and identity, talk about the difference between temptation and sin, and explore the relationship between truth-telling and pastoral care.
#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.