Features
Two Funerals and an Amazing Grace
Though all the world right now cries out about racism, the class issues, I think, are much more to be blamed for our current Christian and cultural malaise. It’s not just that the poor believe—if only they would believe in a quiet and meek and unobtrusive way—it’s that the sort of religion they prefer is so often vulgar. It’s too much Amazing Grace and almost no William Lovelady.
#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.
Totalitarian Moments 3.1: H.R. 1 and the Rigging of American Elections
Democrats are doubling down on attempting to rig elections with the aim of making us a one-party state.
“Who Made Me Judge Over You?” Jesus’ Response to Social Injustice
When it comes to solutions to injustice, Luke 12 shows us that Christ’s solution strikes at the heart, far more than any societal arrangement.
#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.
Justice or Judgment: On Englishing Mishpat
In all our inquiring to discern what exactly “Biblical Justice” is — we need to return to a more careful understanding of the judicial meaning of mishpat…
Would I Have Told You
YOLO is a stupid slogan. The choices before us are all terrible. Whether we live or whether we die, what does it matter if we will never be able to have a “normal” life, or have any of the people back who have perished.
#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.
Book Review: Fault Lines by Voddie Baucham
Knowing “Math is racist” is absurd is easy; knowing how an educated person could say such a thing with a straight face is not so easy.
Dethroning Satan on Palm Sunday
Indeed, one could not have more perfectly articulated the Christian view of evil than, “We see ourselves as our own god.” It’s like they read the book of Romans and then decided to make a music video.
#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.
“20 Theses on Justice”–a Decidedly Anglican Response
In "20 Theses on Justice," the Revs. Esau McCaulley and Jonathan Warren invite us to reflect on "the role the ACNA should play in the present moment as it relates to justice," which we are attempting here. We have been explicitly involved in the discussion of Anglican...
Another One Bites The Dust
In spite of having the word of God clearly and plainly on the page, many Christians think that first, there is no problem and so no remedy is needed, and second that those who do think there is a problem are themselves the problem.
#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?
Bishop Todd Hunter and the “Gift” of Critical Race Theory
ACNA has a bishop who rather uncritically endorses Critical Theory.
Is “Christian Flourishing” the Real Gospel?
The Christian isn’t really called to flourish, or even to be ok on his or her own terms and by his or her own power. The Christian is called to remain, to stay on the vine, no matter what happens—which often feels like a kind of death, ironically
#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.
The Choice To Die
Jesus apparently doesn’t fear the possibilities of human ruin on the shoals of dichotomous thinking. Is he insane? Does he not know that we already have the inclination to think in too tribally exclusive ways? Doesn’t he want us to stop catastrophizing about everything?
#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.
Podcast
#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.
#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.