Features
On Squeamishness About Enemies
Liturgical Wimpiness Begone!
Aspirational Possibilities
We are in the middle of Lent, and you may be feeling the grime of failure, shame, and discouragement overshadowing all your promises to yourself and Jesus. Many long days still stretch out before the Paschal feast. The path is littered with tasks yet to perform, with feelings to examine, sins to confess, food to avoid, and vices to let go.
Every Man’s Burden
The reality is that human beings indwelt by the Spirit will continue to sin.
#138: Let’s (Not) Talk About Sex: Bridal Mysticism and the Limits of Metaphor
Matt and Jady talk about the recent uproar over Josh Butler’s book “Beautiful Union,” wonder why all the same people get upset about the same things all the time, and discuss the value of cancel-proof spaces under good bishops (and editors).
What’s that Word?
“Knowing” things has been the business of piecing bits of things together by trial and error, trying to peer into the dark hearts of all your friends and relations without even being able to see inside your own. We’ve never been able to peer through the gloaming and definitively know how things really are. As a result, we are anxious and irritated. Low-grade disappointment and anger are the bed upon which we lie, and the rocks over which we stumble. I say “we,” of course because it’s not just Brianna Wiest who has this problem. Everyone does.
Try Harder
Whenever you’ve finished painting your mural and filling out your gratitude journal then you can set your mind to decentering the white men in your life. Sure, you may like them becaue they’re not literaleigh Hitler (yet) but their presence in your life represents systemic injustice and the patriarchy and they are therefore sups dangerous.
Love is love?
“Love and DEI for me, not for thee.”
There Are More Than Two Chapters
I would just like to make one observation about American Christian culture with regard to this text. It seems to me that the creation of the man and the woman and their fall—the two crucial moments I think the Bible holds up narratively as of equal weight—do not evoke the same emotional resonance for very many Christians.
#137: On Location at Asbury: Revivals, the Holy Spirit, and the Gospel with David Brannen
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk to David Brannen about Asbury University and his experience at the revival that may (or may not) have been going on there.
Let’s Bring Back The Sackcloth
Remember, they’ve explained, these are just prayers, they don’t have anything to do with marriage. You shouldn’t think that they’ve changed any theology or anything. You can pray these prayers and nothing bad will happen to you.
The Gentleness of Benedict XVI and the Perils of Collegiality
What has transpired since Pope Benedict’s resignation should serve as a warning. It must serve as a warning.
A Mountain Top Experience
As if to confirm this very thought, as Peter was still speaking, “behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased, listen to him.’” The light, the cloud of God’s glory and presence, the total weight of God’s revelation in scripture literally envelops Jesus so that they will be sure to get the point, for “when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.”
#136: Pitching Christ: The Real Jesus and the He Gets Us Campaign
Matt, Jady, and Nick consider the “He Gets Us” ads, talk about bait and switch evangelism, and discuss how the Good News requires both law and gospel.
The Friends You Make Along The Way
Everyone wants to be both good and prosperous, but no one can remember why. The loss of the hope of glory makes each and every tiny temporal decision into a mountain that must be scaled or all is lost.
Belshazzar, Chelsea Handler, and the Weight of Glory
The commentator I read had much to say about the unbearable lightness of Balshazzar’s life. He was “weighed” but there wasn’t anything there. There could have been a lot. He had all the earthly benefits of wealth, rank, education–everything he could possibly want to do something, anything really, with his life. Instead, he ate and drank “on the brink of the grave.” Ironically, Chelsea Handler says this about herself
He Does Get Us
I mean, the reason that “He gets us” is that he made us. So, maybe this seems like a quibble, but I really don’t like Jesus options where Jesus is super helpless but just loves and loves and so should you.
Sheep Without A Shepherd
The most essential thing we should notice about Jesus this morning is how different he is from the Archbishop of Canterbury. Justin Welby doesn’t have the power to heal all your diseases. But he has been given the gift of the Gospel which he could proclaim—it’s literally his main job—if he would trouble himself to discover what it is.
#135: Life of the Party? Satan, His Minions, and Engaging the Spiritual Realm
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about the devil. They discuss the recent notorious Grammys performance, what “Satanism” really means, Christians dabbling in the occult, and the Good News for a lost world.
At Least There Are Still Books
I think it is fair to say that I live in a “negative world.” As we walked up and down I mouthed the term over to myself. And then when we were all tucked in for the night, I watched clips of that ghastly Satan display at the Grammy’s. I scrolled, in my desultory way, around Twitter wondering what Christians had to say about it. Don’t be surprised, they said. What do you expect? Hollywood has been glorifying Satan for quite a while.
COVID, Kevin Bass, and How to Apologize
Lesser men apologize for lesser wrong to distract from greater wrong. Not Bass.
Podcast
#59: A Stand Firm Conversation: Andrew Pearson
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk to Andrew Pearson. They discuss ministry, the revisionism of the Episcopal Church, and the future of the ACNA.
#58: Plagiarize This Podcast: The Authoritative, Can’t Miss, Guaranteed-to-Wow-Them Stand Firm Guide to Preaching
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about preaching, how they prepare their sermons, and what they’re trying to accomplish from the pulpit.
#57: Radical, Dude: Vocation, Priesthood, and Calling
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the “radical vocation” of ordained ministry, whether or not the priestly calling has changed over the years, and the possibility of mutual ministry between ACNA and the Episcopal Church.
#56: Strong Words, Strong Leadership: Foley Beach on CRT and Our Online Discourse
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about Archbishop Beach’s recent comments to Provincial Council, the SBC’s election of a new president, and how grateful they are for strong and godly leadership.
#55: Stand Firm Storytellers: Church, Ministry, and the ACNA
Jady and Nick share a bit of their personal journeys to Anglicanism, talk about planting churches worth fighting for, and reflect on what makes Anglican worship special.
#54: Proud Out Loud: Deadly Sins, Exvangelicals, and the Retreat from Truth
Matt and Jady talk about “Pride Month,” discuss its widespread appropriation and cultural weight, and connect it to famous evangelicals who leave their former faith behind.
#53: On Earth as it is in Heaven? Wrestling with the Trinity
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about how we know our God is triune, the differences between the immanent Trinity and the economic Trinity, and take a look at the idea that the Son (Jesus) might be “eternally submissive” to the Father.
#52: God Did Really Say: That’s It…That’s the Title
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the doctrine of biblical inerrancy, the Chicago Statement on the same, and whether or not the Word of God can be trusted.
#51: No More Mr. Nicaea Guy: Eunuchs, Councils, and Trans
Matt, Jady, and Nick react to the election of the first openly trans Bishop in the ELCA, discuss the relevance of the Council of Nicea, and reflect (again) on the fact that the Gospel is only Good News in light of God’s holy law.
#50: Defending Dad: Can Anything Good Come from Patriarchy?
Matt, Jady and Nick take a stab at defending “the patriarchy.” They discuss whether or not that’s a helpful word, talk about the biblical roots, and wonder if there’s anything that’s actually good about male headship.
#49: Stand Firm Book Club: The Making of Biblical Womanhood
Matt, Anne, and Jady discuss Beth Allison Barr’s new book, The Making of Biblical Womanhood. They look at Barr’s understanding of complementarianism, chat about the source of “patriarchy,” and address Barr’s problematic treatment of the Bible.
#48: Antisocial Justice: Partiality, Power, and Truth
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the differences between social justice and biblical justice, talk about why the language beneath the concepts is so important, and agree that true justice can only proceed from hearts changed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
#47: Sex-vangelicals? Love, Lies, and God’s Plan for Sex
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the reasons behind the high-profile exits of some ex-evangelicals, the (mis)understanding of sex’s place in the created order, and how redemption in Christ is only possible as a result of God’s real love.
#46: Fake ID: You Do You and the Lies of Life
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk identity, discuss where the meaning of life comes from, and why it’s Good News that we don’t have to define ourselves.
#45: Your Dogma Ate My Gospel? Mission, Culture, and Truth
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the supposed tension between dogmatism and mission, look at some of the church’s past attempts to be “relevant,” and wonder where the person and work of Jesus fits in.
#44: Stand Firm Book Club: Jesus and John Wayne (Part 3)
Anne, Jady, and Ralinda finish their discussion of Du Mez’s book with a wide-ranging discussion including lies about evangelicalism, James Dobson vs Hillary Clinton, and life at the Air Force Academy.
#43: Stand Firm Book Club: Jesus and John Wayne (Part 2)
Anne, Jady, and Ralinda continue their discussion of Jesus and John Wayne. This time: Communism, the evangelical “influence” on the Vietnam War, and “hyper” masculinity.
#42: Stand Firm Book Club: Jesus and John Wayne (Part 1)
Anne, Jady, and Ralinda begin a Stand Firm series discussing the popular book Jesus and John Wayne. In this episode: What is an evangelical? and Is the book’s entire premise flawed?
#41: Still Talking About Sex: More on the Pastoral Statement
Matt, Jady, and Nick reflect on the ongoing discussion around the ACNA Bishops’ Pastoral Statement on Sexuality and Identity and dig into a recent article to answer some common criticisms.
#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.