Features
All This Inclusion Sure Does Make Life Simpler!
Neuhaus’ Law – “Where orthodoxy is optional, orthodoxy will sooner or later be proscribed” – is not in the Bible, but it ought to be.
That’s a Shame
I don’t think it should be controversial to say, no matter your ideological bent, that this is bad preaching. Dividing a room in two and applying a heavy dose of shame to one of the groups is not the way to build a healthy congregation.
Be Careful What You Wish For
I can’t lie–the idea of working in a building full of delicious food that’s been prepared by someone whose only job is to prepare delicious food sounds really amazing. And then to end the day with a massage? And then the day is over by 5:30? That’s crazy.
Does Disaster Come to a Church
Don’t look to the scriptures for comfort, though, if you are going to blaspheme marriage and lead the Lord’s little ones further into the darkness. Don’t mouth the words of the Daily Office, or fuss about perfectly timed liturgy if you’re going to be disobedient to the commands of God. What is that called? I think the Lord himself likened it to being a “white washed tomb” or, that word already bandied about, a “hypocrite.”
Three Men In A Hockey Muddle
Some of America hates wokeness. The bit of America that understands that there isn’t a lot of time because this is a religion to which every knee will bow and, as Provorov is finding out, every tongue must confess. The other part of America still doesn’t know what time it is
#132: London Has Fallen: Apostate Bishops, Marriage, and the Church of England
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss a recent open letter from an English bishop to his diocese. They look at his (weak) arguments for the acceptance of same-sex “marriage,” marvel at his abuse of scripture, and consider a churchman’s responsibilities.
Two Things on Thursday
But, before one can even reach out to give over the award, John Kerry, teary with delight, snatches the prize and puts it around his own neck. Can you imagine! What a savior he is. He is, as it were, outside of this world, come to save it.
I Allow Myself To Be Shocked
If you go along through Seasons of Wonder, you’ll see that Bonnie Smith Whitehouse is extremely confused on this point. She is going to promise to help you recover from the “illusion that we are separate from God” and discover that “the church is the whole creation!” and that God is “enfleshed in the world.” I don’t want to burst your bubble, but none of that is true.
How Do You Like To Read Books?
Allow me to put down my spoon of jam and say that I love keeping lists. I don’t do them out in advance, but as I read books (or listen to them) I write them down. Then, at the end of the year, I look back to see what sort of content I imbibed.
A House of Cards
Rather than bringing his congregation to a pool of water to drink, or into a lush pasture to be fed, or over the hills into a wide gracious land to settle, he is making sure they live always in that dark, strange room of screens, experts, and a paltry scrabble of self-help.
#131: Topic? We Don’t Need No Stinking Topic: A (Meandering) Stand Firm Conversation
Matt, Jady, and Nick turn on the mics with no plan. They end up talking about the Church of England, why people might stay in liberal churches, and the modern strangeness of biblical Christianity, among other things.
That Sounds Miserable
Ninety percent of western people who suddenly found themselves in the Middle Ages would not be able to cope. Who said that the past is a foreign country? Going there suddenly would be a terrible shock to the modern system and cause deep feelings of misery.
Why I Love Watching The Chosen Part Deux
We believe with our minds that the Bible is sufficient, but we don’t know it with our hearts. We confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord, but we don’t think his message will be clear unless we communicate it in only one kind of way. Ultimately, that mistrust has become the turgid pool of really bad art merch.
I’m Sorry, I Do Love The Chosen
I’m pretty sure–wouldn’t stake my salvation on it, of course–but am feeling fairly confident that watching The Chosen falls into the realm of adiaphora.
Lessons from the aftermath of Damar Hamlin’s injury
When God is trustworthy, and man is not.
That Is Super Cringe
Here is no metaphorical dream baby. Rather, God rules over the details of your daily life from a cosmic angle. He could come and knock on each and every door, but he wouldn’t be looking to you for any particular wisdom about how to fix your intractable community problems. He can handle it with his own strong hand and mighty arm. You need to get onto his page, not the other way around.
#130: The Great Escape? An Exvangelical Conversation with Dustin Messer
Matt and Jady talk to Dustin Messer about the exvangelical phenomenon. They discuss what people who leave evangelicalism are really rejecting, how they can be engaged, and why it’s important to defend the Gospel where it’s being attacked.
The Gospel for People Who Say They Are Christian But Aren’t Actually Christian
This is completely unexceptional, and not unusual at all. Indeed, the whole project reads to me as someone trying to get attention and running out of shocking material. In one last ditch effort, she figures out that she can scare everyone by calling herself a Christian
Here’s My Advice
Yeah, that’s what prayer is for. More self-knowledge. It can’t ever, not even for a moment, just to repeat myself, be for any other reason, like communing with the Divine or discovering something about someone else, like God or the Universe or Whoever.
Marriage is About the Gospel: Clarifying the Boundaries of Christian Orthodoxy
To reject what the Bible reveals about sex and marriage is to reject the gospel.
Podcast
#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?
#92: The Hole in Holistic: Abortion, Politics, and Being Pro-Life
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the “holistic” approach to abortion opposition in light of the Texas heartbeat law and the new Florida abortion ban.
#91: It’s Out There: Truth, Cynicism, and Preaching for Today
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about the lack of trust in institutions. They discuss what might be done to restore that trust, the importance of telling the truth, and the need to proclaim the Good News into a cynical world.
#90: Finger Painting? Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Playing at Sacerdotalism
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about the observances of Ash Wednesday and Lent and discuss whether or not they can be celebrated in line with the Gospel, avoiding sacerdotalism.
#89: ACNA Origins: The Rev. Dr. Jon Shuler (Part 2)
Matt and Nick continue tracing the beginnings of the ACNA with Dr. Jon Shuler. On this episode, he tells the story from the foundations of the AMIA in the late 1990s to the Jerusalem GAFCON meeting in 2008.
#88: ACNA Origins: The Rev. Dr. Jon Shuler
Matt and Jady talk to Jon Shuler, founder of NAMS. Dr. Shuler shares his story of ministry in the Episcopal Church, creeping revisionism, and the road toward the ACNA.
#87: Revoice 21: Identity, Orientation, and the Gospel
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the recent Revoice conference and talk about whether Revoice’s claims and critiques are biblical or apt to lead people away from Christian orthodoxy.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#77: Revisionist History? Slavery, Race, and Reckoning with America’s Past
Matt, Anne, Jady and Liza react to a recent New York Times piece, share memories of learning about America’s racial history, discuss repentance, and talk about writing for a secular audience.
#76: Queer Eye for the Millennial? Sexual Identity and the Future of the Church
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the results of a recent Arizona Christian University survey, wonder about the exploding number of young people identifying as LGBTQ, and think about ways the church can proclaim Good News to this Brave New World.
#75: The Bible (Still) Tells Me So
Matt and Jady talk about the Bible, discuss its purpose, and consider how the church can and should use it, both in preaching and in ministry.
#74: Protestant Word Games: A Reformation Day Glossary
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss some of the terms associated with the Reformation. They talk about “Protestant,” “Calvinist,” “reformed,” and review some of the differences between Luther and Calvin.