Features
Small Numbers
There are times when small numbers of faithful people work better than large numbers.
The Bluebird of Opacity and the Sparrow of Jesus
What is it with Jesus and anxiety? Why does he always say not to be anxious at the precise moment when what he has said or done or promised is the most anxious and terrifying thing imaginable?
#156: Special Victims Unit? Social Injury, Cry Bullies, and Church Discipline
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss victimhood culture, talk about the application of Matthew 18 in an online world, and (once again) rehearse the difference between public correction and private reconciliation.
The Word You’re Looking For Is…
But that’s usually how it goes. The people who are supposed to be feeding the sheep, in every age, often become confused and mistake the task entirely. They ever so slightly alter the food so that it isn’t nourishing anymore. They might say basically true things, but enough wrong things that the grace of God is obscured. In this way, many Americans neglected to teach their children the Lord’s Prayer, but did feed them straw like, “God helps those who help themselves,” and “What goes around comes around,” and “Do unto others before they do unto you.”
#155: Mediocre Pride: June Fizzles, Elites Dig In, and the Foundational Nature of Families
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about the relatively restrained nature of “Pride Month,” the tendency of evil to overreach, and how the family remains the most critical point of attack…and therefore defense.
Collaboration
If you treat those leading people away from Jesus as if they are legitimate ministers of the Gospel, people might follow them and be led astray.
When God Puts The Boundary Marker Back
In chapter five God says that Israel is like “one who moves the landmark.” That’s a person who quietly makes it harder for other people to enjoy their inheritance by taking it away altogether. Not only does the mover of the landmark lie to himself, he lies to his neighbor, and cheats him. I imagine most people, in the time of Jesus, would think of Matthew as a mover of the landmark. It doesn’t seem like a very mean thing to call someone, but it’s on the trajectory of being literally Hitler. It’s the treachery, the selfish gain at the expense of others, the playing God, the grasping for anything you get, the great wall of sin you erect to keep out the Word of God.
#154: Rick Rolling: Pastor Warren, the SBC, and More on Women in Ministry
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about Rick Warren’s continued fight against the current state of the SBC. They consider his arguments, chew over their implications, and look at some parallels to the ACNA.
And Behold, It Is Very Good
I walk day by day past these settled, quiet houses feeling the deep and true alienation reflected in those very flags. We want to belong to each other, but we have no way to reach across the chasm of the self, to find any connection beyond the amalgamation of outward characteristics and unholy desires.
#153: Church and State Separated? Uganda, Boycotts, and Living in a Pagan World
Matt and Jady discuss the notorious Ugandan anti-homosexuality legislation, talk about the ethics of boycotting, and consider how a Christian can live in good conscience in today’s world.
Pentecost and Other Strange Times
How funny, the guy who looks up and asks for a donut, but the guy next to him thinks he’s asked for a hammer, and then they both get mad. Has this been done by Veggie Tales? And where is the BBC’s “comprehensive, light-heartedly warm guide to” Babel? If you saw the tower going up, you would have been so impressed. Imagine all those people, living for that day.
In Praise of Heresy Hunting
“To banish and drive away from the Church all erroneous and strange doctrines contrary to God’s Word” is not optional. It is a duty.
#152: PRIDE Cometh by the Fall: Kids, the Family, and Navigating June
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss helping your kids endure “pride” month, talk about unavoidable catechesis, and encourage the faithful to hold to God’s truth in the face of the world’s lies.
#151: Cross Training? TEC, ACNA, and Preparing Ministers for a Broken Communion
Matt, Jady, and Nick discus two seminaries’ attempts to bridge the gap between TEC and ACNA, talk about what happens when fellowship is extended to wolves, and consider the impact of the Kigali Commitment on theological education.
Typical Tisby
Typical woke deception
We Are Already Defeated
No more is it about your personal conscience. Are you not bound in obedience to your bishop? And if you are, how is he ok with you saying any of these things? Why are you reading articles by Rowan Williams about obedience? As I said, we are defeated already.
#150: Trans in the Transept: Gender Confusion in the Church and in the World
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about the trans issue at ground-level: how might it impact a local congregation? They discuss pastoral care strategies, potential church discipline, and the Good News for confused people.
Sojourners and Exiles
It’s hard to look into the eyes of Justin Welby, even across the cyber waves of my small phone screen, and believe that he has tasted the goodness of the Lord. If you really taste God’s goodness and know him for who he is, are you able to capitulate over the Word he has given to the church? And go on doing it?
#149: Law Mixed Up: Obedience, Holiness, and Legislating Morality
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss a Ugandan law about homosexuality, talk about ordering societies according to biblical principles, and distinguish between the three different kinds of law in the Scriptures.
Going to Kigali to Hear the Shepherd’s Voice
We came together to point out some of these thieves. Some of these false shepherds. Even, tragically, some who are inside the fold with the sheep, actively leading some astray.
Podcast
#119: U-Turn? The Table, The Episcopal Church, and the ACNA
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the recent decision of The Table in Indianapolis to seek affiliation with the Episcopal Church. They talk about The Table’s stated reasons for the departure and what it means for the ACNA.
#118: Being a Color: The Gospel, Culture, and Skin Culture in the Church
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss whether or not it’s helpful to describe Christians as “black” or “white” in light of an upcoming conference, reflect on their cross cultural experiences, and share Good News for seemingly divided people.
#117: Death Becomes Us: Funerals, Mourning, and Resurrection Hope
Matt, Jady, and Nick reflect on Queen Elizabeth’s funeral. They talk about the importance of mourning, what goes on at a burial service, and how even in death we can celebrate the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
#116: Please Mr. Postman: Another Stand Firm Mailbag
Matt, Jady, and Nick break open the mailbag again to respond to listener emails. This time: how to deal with a well-read Catholic family member, why the guys aren’t Eastern Orthodox, and how to recognize the beginnings of wokeness in your church.
#115: Keeping the Loud Part Quiet: Obfuscation, HTB, and “Quiet” Orthodoxy
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss a recent interview given by Archie Coates, new vicar of Holy Trinity Church, Brompton. They talk about his desire to keep his personal views to himself, and consider the pastoral calling to teach truth to the sheep.
#114: Just Friends? Matt Chandler, Men & Women, and the Billy Graham Rule
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss men being friends with women, whether or not men should avoid being alone with women, and…well, men and women.
#113: It’s Not Me, It’s You: Catholicity, Truth, and Schism
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about the formation of a new diocese in Australia, discuss what it means for a church to be “catholic,” and consider (again) what circumstances warrant “walking apart.”
#112: By the Power of…? Christians, Politics, and a Light to the World
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about political power. They discuss whether or not Christians should seek it, if it can be used for good, and respond to some common objections to Christian political involvement.
#111: The Last Lambeth (Pod)? Final Thoughts, Last Rites, and the Future of the Communion
Matt, Jady, and Nick conclude their discussion of the 2022 Lambeth Conference. They talk about whether anything good came from it, what might have been learned, and what a reforming movement in the communion might look like.
#110: Lambeth 2022: What We Got Here is a Failure to Excommunicate
Matt, Jady, and Nick continue to discuss the 2022 Lambeth Conference. They talk about the bounds of orthodoxy, the sufficiency of the creeds, and whether or not sex is worth disfellowshipping over.
#109: Lambeth 2022: Anglican’t We All Just Get Along?
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the currently-meeting Lambeth Conference. They talk about the World-wide Anglican Communion, whether it’s salvageable, and whether or not the ACNA should want to be part of it.
#108: Big, Fat, and Greek? Weddings, Marriage, and the Gospel
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about weddings, what the point of a Christian wedding is, and how a Christian marriage is a reflection of the Good News about Jesus Christ.
#107: From Conception to Natural Death: Abortion, Capital Punishment, and the Value of Life
Matt, Jady, and Nick continue to discuss supposed inconsistencies in the pro-life position. Can someone who supports the death penalty be pro-life? What does the Bible say?
#106: The Woe Over Roe: The World, the Church, Anger, and Joy
Jady and Nick are joined by Mark Marshall to discuss the overturning of Roe v. Wade, whether or not Christians are allowed to celebrate, and the faith and founding of the ACNA.
#105: To Tell the Truth: Language, the Law, and Calling a Thing What It Is
Jady and Nick talk about how important it can be to tell the truth, even when it seems like the whole world is lying.
#104: It’s Literally a Deadly Sin: PRIDE, the Church, and the Gospel
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about PRIDE month, confirm that drag shows are indeed bad for kids, and discuss Justin Welby’s letter to some African Archbishops.
#103: Dean’s List: Trinity School, Formation, and the ACNA
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the calling of a new Dean to Trinity School for Ministry and talk about the future of leadership formation in the ACNA.
#102: Err Apparent: God’s Truth, Biblical “Mistakes,” and What Inerrancy Really Means
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the doctrine of inerrancy. They consider so-called “literary devices,” ask whether or not it’s important the Bible be inerrant, and suggest that a little faith in God might go a long way.
#101: You Winsome You Lose Some: Kindness, Culture, and Scripture
Jady and Nick join the “winsomeness” discourse, trying to find clarity and truth, and hoping to add something by looking at some relevant Bible passages.
#100: Molech’s Last Legs? SCOTUS, Abortion, and the Sacramental Life
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about the recent draft Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, discuss the evangelical conversation around abortion, and describe the way in which culture reverses the sacraments of the church.