Features
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.
#140: It’s Reigning Men: Rick Warren, Women in Ministry, and the SBC
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about the upcoming debate in the Southern Baptist Convention about the ministry of women, consider the stance and state of the ACNA, and hope that all such discussions will be based on Scripture.
Live Not By Lies. Be James Reimer.
Don’t wear the jersey.
The Greatest Love of All
How do they know? Why is that the thing that they know? That’s the trouble—the tangled knot of belief and knowledge rests, so treacherously, on what you already know. And what you already know is that you are basically right and good and everyone else, even God, should be held under suspicion.
#139: Heresy and Fidelity: A Conversation with Calvin Robinson
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk with the Rev. Calvin Robinson, UK TV presenter and Free Church of England deacon. They discuss the state of Anglicanism in England, how the faithful might deal with opposition, the power of the Gospel proclaimed, and more.
On Squeamishness About Enemies
Liturgical Wimpiness Begone!
Aspirational Possibilities
We are in the middle of Lent, and you may be feeling the grime of failure, shame, and discouragement overshadowing all your promises to yourself and Jesus. Many long days still stretch out before the Paschal feast. The path is littered with tasks yet to perform, with feelings to examine, sins to confess, food to avoid, and vices to let go.
Every Man’s Burden
The reality is that human beings indwelt by the Spirit will continue to sin.
#138: Let’s (Not) Talk About Sex: Bridal Mysticism and the Limits of Metaphor
Matt and Jady talk about the recent uproar over Josh Butler’s book “Beautiful Union,” wonder why all the same people get upset about the same things all the time, and discuss the value of cancel-proof spaces under good bishops (and editors).
What’s that Word?
“Knowing” things has been the business of piecing bits of things together by trial and error, trying to peer into the dark hearts of all your friends and relations without even being able to see inside your own. We’ve never been able to peer through the gloaming and definitively know how things really are. As a result, we are anxious and irritated. Low-grade disappointment and anger are the bed upon which we lie, and the rocks over which we stumble. I say “we,” of course because it’s not just Brianna Wiest who has this problem. Everyone does.
Try Harder
Whenever you’ve finished painting your mural and filling out your gratitude journal then you can set your mind to decentering the white men in your life. Sure, you may like them becaue they’re not literaleigh Hitler (yet) but their presence in your life represents systemic injustice and the patriarchy and they are therefore sups dangerous.
Love is love?
“Love and DEI for me, not for thee.”
There Are More Than Two Chapters
I would just like to make one observation about American Christian culture with regard to this text. It seems to me that the creation of the man and the woman and their fall—the two crucial moments I think the Bible holds up narratively as of equal weight—do not evoke the same emotional resonance for very many Christians.
#137: On Location at Asbury: Revivals, the Holy Spirit, and the Gospel with David Brannen
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk to David Brannen about Asbury University and his experience at the revival that may (or may not) have been going on there.
Let’s Bring Back The Sackcloth
Remember, they’ve explained, these are just prayers, they don’t have anything to do with marriage. You shouldn’t think that they’ve changed any theology or anything. You can pray these prayers and nothing bad will happen to you.
The Gentleness of Benedict XVI and the Perils of Collegiality
What has transpired since Pope Benedict’s resignation should serve as a warning. It must serve as a warning.
A Mountain Top Experience
As if to confirm this very thought, as Peter was still speaking, “behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased, listen to him.’” The light, the cloud of God’s glory and presence, the total weight of God’s revelation in scripture literally envelops Jesus so that they will be sure to get the point, for “when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.”
Podcast
#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.
#73: Home Sweet Rome? Why We (and You) Should Still Protest
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss Michael Nazir-Ali’s defection to Roman Catholicism, consider the Protestant distinctives, and talk about how crucial it is to stand up for the truth.
#72: Courting the Cultured Despisers: Elites, Evangelicals, and the Struggle for Status
Jady and Nick discuss several recent articles on the so-called “evangelical elites,” consider their attempt to appeal to the broader culture, and talk about what kind of culture a Gospel Christianity would produce.
#71: Unrest Down Under? COVID, Government, and Church in Australia
Matt and Nick are joined by David Ould to discuss the situation on the ground in Australia. They talk about the lockdowns, how churches are dealing with them, and the Christian way to submit to authority.
#70: Salvation Issues? Bishops, Discipline, and Unity
Matt, Jady, and Nick continue to talk about what makes an Anglican an Anglican. They discuss what keeps us together, what’s worth splitting over, and consider what “salvation issues” might be.
#69: A Gentleman’s Agreement: Kenya, GAFCON, and the Tenuous Compromise
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about the recent consecration of a woman to the episcopate in Kenya, wonder about its affect on the ACNA’s global relationships, and discuss GAFCON’s middle ground on women’s ordination.
#68: This Bishop was Wrong: John Shelby Spong and Cultural Christianity
Matt, Jady, and Nick reflect on the life and ministry of Bishop John Spong, his efforts to make the church relevant, and the Good News of culturally discordant Christianity.
#67: Expert Witness: Dr. Gillis Harp
Friend of the show Ethan Magness interviews historian Dr. Gillis Harp about the “three streams” of Anglicanism.
#66: The River Wild: Three Streams, Evangelicalism, and Anglican Identity
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about what everyone’s talking about: evangelicalism. They discuss what it really means, its place in Anglicanism, and why preserving such an identity is crucial to the proclamation of the Good News.
#65: Same Old Lies: Neo-Pelagianism, Original Sin, and Being Right with God
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about new forms of an old heresy: Pelagianism. They also discuss the importance of the doctrine of original sin and explain why Good News can only come from a God who justifies on his own.