Features
Tell Me a Kindly Lie
The human person wants a certain kind of help from God, the kind that lets you go on in the gentle glow of the kindly lie. Let me feel that I am going to be ok, even though both of us, thou and I, know that we are perishing, that we are bound to the dust, that there is nothing that we can do about it.
#86: Compassion and Truth: Accusations, Abuse, and the Church
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss an ongoing abuse investigation in the ACNA, the impact of “trauma-centered” responses, and whether or not it’s still possible to have difficult conversations.
Save Yourself Some Cash
That, my dears, is what’s called The Sermon, that long time that you sit there trying to pay attention even though your phone is filling up with texts and you’re worried about whether or not you locked the front door when you dashed out because you were late.
#85: Forbidden Therapy? Christianity, Conversion, and the Good News
On this episode of the Stand Firm podcast, Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss Canada’s new anti-“conversion therapy” law, some Finnish criminal charges, and the centrality of conversion to the Christian Gospel.
That Time When God Befriended Us Deliberately To Change Us And Our Identity
It’s almost like, and just bear with me here, you work really hard to get ready for an important event that is supposed to make you happy for the rest of your life, you spend all your money, you use up all your time, and then, just at the critical moment when you should have had everything in place and everyone is waiting to see how you’ve done, you discover that you were an abject and total failure.
#84: Dirty Work(s): Good Deeds, Justification, and the 39 Articles
Matt, Jady, and Nick unpack Articles 12 and 13, talk about how a Christian should think about good works, and discuss what God thinks of the “good” works of non-believers.
That Sounds Uncomfortable
So, you might be trying to make your way to church this morning, wondering if God cares at all about your troubles. Are you really going to have to go to heaven and face John Wayne, of all people? Or the Twitterati? And does anything even matter anymore?
#83: Revenge of the Nerds? Credentialism, Expertise, and the Pastor’s Lane
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the tendency to defer to qualifications in a debate, what getting a doctorate really means, and what a pastor’s “lane” really is.
I’ll Be Praying For You
They hold their breaths and live grief-stricken, as if the Maker of the cosmos does not have the desire to get right down into the grit of who they are to purify them and make them holy.
#82: The 2021 Year-End Awards
On this episode of the Stand Firm podcast, Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss 2021 and hand out some awards: issue of the year, most surprising development, and more.
In Which I Justify Myself For Not Liking Silent Night Very Much
He will not sit around waiting to see if anyone else will be able to come up with any solutions, wondering if some kind of system can be created to stop the catastrophe of human suffering. He will send out his own Word and that Word will be a Person.
It’s Christmas. Do Not Be Afraid.
Tonight, God is here. Almighty God, come to earth, and come to save. Let us rejoice to behold his appearing.
By the Strength of His own Arm
These two women are not chosen by God because they are awesome and strong, but because they are not. As such, they most perfectly display God’s own strength. It’s the contrast that one is expected, by God, to notice.
#81: The Once and Future King: Advent, The End Times, and the Arrival of God
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the importance and meaning of Advent, talk about what true repentance is, and review some of the different theories about the second coming of Christ.
In Person And Online
What is the most immersive, emotionally satisfying experience you all would like to have? That’s what he meant to ask as they waded down into the river to be washed clean. When “you brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” came tripping off his tongue, I’m sure he was as surprised as anyone who happens to wander into, or click past, a church and hear those welcoming words muttered from the chancel steps.
#80: Handmaid’s Tales: SCOTUS, Mayberry, and Theonomy
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about the current state of the abortion debate in America, the role of one’s faith in the political sphere, and whether or not God’s law should be the law of the land.
#79: A Stand Firm Conversation: Denny Burk
Anne, Jady, and Nick talk to Denny Burke (seminary professor, Baptist pastor, and President of the CBMW) about his recent Twitter conversation with Kristin Du Mez, the difference between sheep and wolves, why LGBTQ issues are “Gospel” issues, and more.
A Bad November for the Woke
Are we past peak wokeness?
Things that don’t Pass Away
They held the “traditional” views on syncretism and idolatry “differently.” It’s ok, they said, to worship Baal and to sacrifice your children to Molech as long as you do it in the name of YHWH.
#78: Into the Kiddie Pool: Why We Baptize Babies
Matt, Jady and Nick discuss infant baptism, talk about the biblical, historical, and theological reasoning behind the practice, and then tackle what actually happens in the sacrament.

#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.

#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.