Features
On Palm Sunday
A jarring Sunday
#141: “Liberal” Education and Hillsdale College with Dr. Jonathan Mumme
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk to Dr. Jonathan Mumme about the current educational climate, discuss what Christian parents can do in the face of it, and highlight the things that Hillsdale is getting right.
Genesis, Joseph and the Passion of Christ
The Gospel of Christ’s death and resurrection to defeat sin and death for us is not the invention of man; it is the loving act of God Almighty that He foretold for centuries before.
Can This Church Live?
The first is that this blog—Stand Firm—came into being almost twenty years ago during a time when a once grand and faithful church was formally and institutionally committing its way to apostasy. For—and let me be very plain about this—to become “affirming” of that which the scriptures, which are understandable and clear on this issue, condemn is to reject the faith once delivered to the faith. It is to cease to be within the bounds of the visible church. True believers may not any longer call you “Christian.” You, as an “affirming” person, may be angry about this, but that doesn’t change the reality that what God has said in the scriptures is the basis upon which our faith rests.
#140: It’s Reigning Men: Rick Warren, Women in Ministry, and the SBC
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about the upcoming debate in the Southern Baptist Convention about the ministry of women, consider the stance and state of the ACNA, and hope that all such discussions will be based on Scripture.
Live Not By Lies. Be James Reimer.
Don’t wear the jersey.
The Greatest Love of All
How do they know? Why is that the thing that they know? That’s the trouble—the tangled knot of belief and knowledge rests, so treacherously, on what you already know. And what you already know is that you are basically right and good and everyone else, even God, should be held under suspicion.
#139: Heresy and Fidelity: A Conversation with Calvin Robinson
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk with the Rev. Calvin Robinson, UK TV presenter and Free Church of England deacon. They discuss the state of Anglicanism in England, how the faithful might deal with opposition, the power of the Gospel proclaimed, and more.
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.”
Podcast
#66: The River Wild: Three Streams, Evangelicalism, and Anglican Identity
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about what everyone’s talking about: evangelicalism. They discuss what it really means, its place in Anglicanism, and why preserving such an identity is crucial to the proclamation of the Good News.
#65: Same Old Lies: Neo-Pelagianism, Original Sin, and Being Right with God
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about new forms of an old heresy: Pelagianism. They also discuss the importance of the doctrine of original sin and explain why Good News can only come from a God who justifies on his own.
#64: Afghanistan, Mission, and the Sovereignty of God
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about the Taliban’s retaking of major Afghan cities from a Christian perspective, the longstanding friction between Christianity and Islam, and how God is at work even in the midst of such profound suffering.
#63: Stand Firm Movie Club: Pray Away
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the new Netflix documentary, “Pray Away.” They talk about the valid criticisms the film makes about evangelical “ex-gay” ministries, what the movie gets wrong, and what the Good News of Jesus is for sexual strugglers.
#62: A Stand Firm Conversation: Dr. Owen Strachan
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk to Owen Strachan about wokeness and trace its development, examine different kinds of postmodernity, and consider how the church can fight this anti-Gospel.
#61: A Stand Firm Conversation: The Making of a Discipleship Curriculum
Jady and Nick are joined by Michael Neal and Alonzo Crawford to discuss their student discipleship curriculum, To Be a Disciple: Foundations of the Christian Life.
#60: Actually, We DO Need Education: Discipleship, Catechesis, and Anglicanism
Matt, Jady, and Nick react to a recent article by Bishop Ray Sutton about Christian education, discuss the formation and raising up of disciples…and especially the development of clergy.
#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.