Features
He Will Make It Make Sense
Imagine, being thus cut off from your kindred, but laid bare before your God. A lot of us think we might like this—indeed, Mr. Marsh of TikTok, there above, describes such a circumstance. Being alienated, Babbel-like, from all those who don’t deserve to know the delights of your person, to search out your “gender” as if some precious, hidden gem, takes you up to the heights. And what is up there? Surely God, or someone like him.
#162: Another Stand Firm Mailbag
Matt, Jady, and Nick tackle some more listener questions. This time: whether or not Anglicanism is Calvinist, female deacons, regenerate church membership, and becoming an involved layperson.
Champagne and Pearls
Handler, claiming to be wise, like so many, has become your least favorite and scolding Wine Aunt. She is the opposite of all the bright, surprising pictures that Jesus draws for us in the gospel this morning.
#161: I Am Become Death: Just War Theory and the Morality of Atomic Bombs
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about Just War Theory, discuss the difference between making war and turning the other cheek, and consider the history of the atomic bombings on the occasion of the release of the film OPPENHEIMER.
#160: No Thanks: A Response to Some Theses on Anglican Reunification
Matt, Jady, and Nick react to a recent article calling for ACNA and TEC to reconcile. They remember (again) the reasons for the “schism,” clarify (again) the severity of TEC’s offense, and say (again) that only repentance can lead to reconciliation.
The Good Example of St. Swithin in Education
Faithfulness in education on a small scale can eventually have a great impact.
#159: How to Read the Bible: The Unknown God Made Known
On this episode of the Stand Firm podcast, the hosts take a vacation! In their place, enjoy a lecture given by our own Jady Koch on how to read the Bible.
Claiming to be Wise they became Dumber than a Bag of Hammers
You can see, here, of course, that God cares nothing for the imago dei of women, and only wants to oppress everyone all the time. Or at least did until the Archbishop of York reminded him that words like “King” and “rule” and “battle” are upsetting to some people.
#158: The Body of Christ: Ministry, Women, and the Church
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about women and their importance to the life of the church. They discuss different denominational traditions, the need for the full body to be doing ministry, and the God-honoring complementarity of men and women.
Wokeness is (Even More) Not Winsome
Common sense people know now more than ever that wokeness is evil and harmful to all but criminals and grievance grifters.
#157: A Stand Firm Conversation: The State of the SBC with Andrew Walker
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk to Dr. Andrew Walker of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary about the recent SBC Annual Meeting. They discuss the contentious issues, a resolution Dr. Walker co-authored, and the health of the denomination in general.
The Anti-Anti-Woke
One does not love one’s neighbors by assisting the totalitarians against them. One does not further the Gospel of Christ by allying with the ideologies of Satan.
Small Numbers
There are times when small numbers of faithful people work better than large numbers.
The Bluebird of Opacity and the Sparrow of Jesus
What is it with Jesus and anxiety? Why does he always say not to be anxious at the precise moment when what he has said or done or promised is the most anxious and terrifying thing imaginable?
#156: Special Victims Unit? Social Injury, Cry Bullies, and Church Discipline
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss victimhood culture, talk about the application of Matthew 18 in an online world, and (once again) rehearse the difference between public correction and private reconciliation.
The Word You’re Looking For Is…
But that’s usually how it goes. The people who are supposed to be feeding the sheep, in every age, often become confused and mistake the task entirely. They ever so slightly alter the food so that it isn’t nourishing anymore. They might say basically true things, but enough wrong things that the grace of God is obscured. In this way, many Americans neglected to teach their children the Lord’s Prayer, but did feed them straw like, “God helps those who help themselves,” and “What goes around comes around,” and “Do unto others before they do unto you.”
#155: Mediocre Pride: June Fizzles, Elites Dig In, and the Foundational Nature of Families
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about the relatively restrained nature of “Pride Month,” the tendency of evil to overreach, and how the family remains the most critical point of attack…and therefore defense.
Collaboration
If you treat those leading people away from Jesus as if they are legitimate ministers of the Gospel, people might follow them and be led astray.
When God Puts The Boundary Marker Back
In chapter five God says that Israel is like “one who moves the landmark.” That’s a person who quietly makes it harder for other people to enjoy their inheritance by taking it away altogether. Not only does the mover of the landmark lie to himself, he lies to his neighbor, and cheats him. I imagine most people, in the time of Jesus, would think of Matthew as a mover of the landmark. It doesn’t seem like a very mean thing to call someone, but it’s on the trajectory of being literally Hitler. It’s the treachery, the selfish gain at the expense of others, the playing God, the grasping for anything you get, the great wall of sin you erect to keep out the Word of God.
#154: Rick Rolling: Pastor Warren, the SBC, and More on Women in Ministry
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about Rick Warren’s continued fight against the current state of the SBC. They consider his arguments, chew over their implications, and look at some parallels to the ACNA.
Podcast
#112: By the Power of…? Christians, Politics, and a Light to the World
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about political power. They discuss whether or not Christians should seek it, if it can be used for good, and respond to some common objections to Christian political involvement.
#111: The Last Lambeth (Pod)? Final Thoughts, Last Rites, and the Future of the Communion
Matt, Jady, and Nick conclude their discussion of the 2022 Lambeth Conference. They talk about whether anything good came from it, what might have been learned, and what a reforming movement in the communion might look like.
#110: Lambeth 2022: What We Got Here is a Failure to Excommunicate
Matt, Jady, and Nick continue to discuss the 2022 Lambeth Conference. They talk about the bounds of orthodoxy, the sufficiency of the creeds, and whether or not sex is worth disfellowshipping over.
#109: Lambeth 2022: Anglican’t We All Just Get Along?
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the currently-meeting Lambeth Conference. They talk about the World-wide Anglican Communion, whether it’s salvageable, and whether or not the ACNA should want to be part of it.
#108: Big, Fat, and Greek? Weddings, Marriage, and the Gospel
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about weddings, what the point of a Christian wedding is, and how a Christian marriage is a reflection of the Good News about Jesus Christ.
#107: From Conception to Natural Death: Abortion, Capital Punishment, and the Value of Life
Matt, Jady, and Nick continue to discuss supposed inconsistencies in the pro-life position. Can someone who supports the death penalty be pro-life? What does the Bible say?
#106: The Woe Over Roe: The World, the Church, Anger, and Joy
Jady and Nick are joined by Mark Marshall to discuss the overturning of Roe v. Wade, whether or not Christians are allowed to celebrate, and the faith and founding of the ACNA.
#105: To Tell the Truth: Language, the Law, and Calling a Thing What It Is
Jady and Nick talk about how important it can be to tell the truth, even when it seems like the whole world is lying.
#104: It’s Literally a Deadly Sin: PRIDE, the Church, and the Gospel
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about PRIDE month, confirm that drag shows are indeed bad for kids, and discuss Justin Welby’s letter to some African Archbishops.
#103: Dean’s List: Trinity School, Formation, and the ACNA
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the calling of a new Dean to Trinity School for Ministry and talk about the future of leadership formation in the ACNA.
#102: Err Apparent: God’s Truth, Biblical “Mistakes,” and What Inerrancy Really Means
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the doctrine of inerrancy. They consider so-called “literary devices,” ask whether or not it’s important the Bible be inerrant, and suggest that a little faith in God might go a long way.
#101: You Winsome You Lose Some: Kindness, Culture, and Scripture
Jady and Nick join the “winsomeness” discourse, trying to find clarity and truth, and hoping to add something by looking at some relevant Bible passages.
#100: Molech’s Last Legs? SCOTUS, Abortion, and the Sacramental Life
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about the recent draft Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, discuss the evangelical conversation around abortion, and describe the way in which culture reverses the sacraments of the church.
#99: Eviction Notice: Lawsuits, Church Buildings, and Whether it’s All Worth It
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the recent ruling in the South Carolina Supreme Court regarding ACNA congregations and their buildings.
#98: No Substitute for Substitution: Jesus, the Cross, and the Wrath of God
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss some common criticisms of Penal Substitutionary Atonement and interact with the ideas of some of its well-known detractors.
#97: Three Big Days: A Guided Tour of the Triduum
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the monumental “three days” of Holy Week. They look at the liturgies, the remembrances, and the theological underpinnings of each celebration.
#96: Building New Things: Christians, Culture, and What Happens Next
Matt, Jady, and Nick revisit the question of Christian engagement with culture in light of the recent revelations about the Walt Disney Company and the explicit conversations and curriculum in public schools.
#95: Three Non-Biologists: Big Lies, Little Kids, and the Truth About Womanhood
Anne, Liza, and Ralinda answer the question of the moment: what is a woman? They discuss telling the truth, how kids are getting trapped by lies, and why it’s Good News that God is the only creator.
#94: Imago Me: Sin, the Shimmering Self, and the Image of God
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about the odd ways that modern Christians sometimes talk about the image of God. They then discuss what that phrase means, and how it relates to the Good News about Jesus.
#93: Continuing the Conversation: Abuse, Truth, and the ACNA
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss several recent statements about the on-going abuse investigation in the Diocese of the Upper Midwest. What can a Christian make of what’s happened, and where can Good News be found?