Features
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.
For You Were Straying Like Sheep
I suppose I should feel sorry for Justin Welby. It must be terrible to be presiding over such a time as this. I wonder if he was able to hear any of the biblical texts read out in the divine liturgy for Sunday morning or if he was running around like a crazy person, trying to make sure all the vestments were mended and pressed and that everyone had their proper hats and their shoes shined. It’s a big deal to bless and coronate the next king, even if it’s basically a spiritual vacuous exercise.
#148: A Vicar Near Dibley: The View from a British Parish
Jady and Nick talk to Tim Vasby-Burnie, vicar at St George’s Church, Shrewsbury, UK, about the recent goings-on in the Church of England and what life is like on the ground in a “normal” parish church in Great Britain.
#147: On Location at GAFCON23 (Day 5)
Matt, Jady, and Nick are joined by David Ould, Anne Kennedy, and Liza Koch to discuss the final day (and Commitment) of the GAFCON23 meeting in Kigali, Rwanda.
One Early Response to the Kigali Commitment
An excellent statement, but I will nitpick it anyway.
#146: On Location at GAFCON23 (Day 4)
Matt, Jady, and Nick are joined by Anne Kennedy to discuss the fourth day of the 2023 GAFCON Conference from Kigali, Rwanda.
#145: On Location at GAFCON23 (Day 3)
Matt, Jady, and Nick are joined by David Ould to discuss the third day of the 2023 GAFCON Conference from Kigali, Rwanda.
#144: On Location at GAFCON23 (Day 2)
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the second day of the 2023 GAFCON Conference from Kigali, Rwanda.
#143: On Location at GAFCON23 (Day 1)
Matt and Jady discuss the first day of the GAFCON conference from Kigali, Rwanda.
Stand Firm in Kigali
We’ve committed ourselves to churning out at least a half-hour Stand Firm Podcast each day of the conference
What Did the Risen Jesus Do?
“He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.”
Alleluia, He Is Risen
Is it any wonder, then, that as soon as you get to the edge of the Sea and stare out over the vast expanse of deep water, you easily join your neighbor’s querulous bitter question– ”Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have brought us out into the wilderness?”
#142: What Dreams May Come: GAFCON23 and the Worldwide Anglican Communion
Jady and Nick have a conversation about their upcoming trip to Rwanda, their hopes and dreams for the GAFCON gathering, and how encouraging it is to be in a communion so committed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ
What Do You Have To Lose?
What is a person? Someone who was made by a good and merciful God to be satisfied and happy by—something. Not anything, but something, or someone, in particular.
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.
Podcast
#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.
#99: Eviction Notice: Lawsuits, Church Buildings, and Whether it’s All Worth It
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the recent ruling in the South Carolina Supreme Court regarding ACNA congregations and their buildings.
#98: No Substitute for Substitution: Jesus, the Cross, and the Wrath of God
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss some common criticisms of Penal Substitutionary Atonement and interact with the ideas of some of its well-known detractors.
#97: Three Big Days: A Guided Tour of the Triduum
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the monumental “three days” of Holy Week. They look at the liturgies, the remembrances, and the theological underpinnings of each celebration.
#96: Building New Things: Christians, Culture, and What Happens Next
Matt, Jady, and Nick revisit the question of Christian engagement with culture in light of the recent revelations about the Walt Disney Company and the explicit conversations and curriculum in public schools.
#95: Three Non-Biologists: Big Lies, Little Kids, and the Truth About Womanhood
Anne, Liza, and Ralinda answer the question of the moment: what is a woman? They discuss telling the truth, how kids are getting trapped by lies, and why it’s Good News that God is the only creator.
#94: Imago Me: Sin, the Shimmering Self, and the Image of God
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about the odd ways that modern Christians sometimes talk about the image of God. They then discuss what that phrase means, and how it relates to the Good News about Jesus.
#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.