Rethinking Faith

A More Christlike Word - With Brad Jersak

The Scriptures are an essential aspect of the Christian faith. But often they are equated with the living Word Himself (Jesus), even elevating them above the One to whom they point. This has distorted their central message—and fractured our view of God. Tragically, this has caused multitudes of people unnecessary doubt, confusion, and pain in their encounters with the Scriptures. 

Many of us understand God as being truly loving and good. But what do we do with depictions of God in Scripture as wrathful, violent, and genocidal. These “toxic texts” have caused some to set aside their Bibles and have led others to completely reject their faith.

Author and theologian Bradley Jersak has wrestled deeply with such passages over many years. He has experienced the same questions, doubt, and pain. In A More Christlike Word, he offers a clarifying and freeing path forward. Brad calls this path the “Emmaus Way” because it demonstrates how Jesus regarded all Scripture as fulfilled in himself, the final Word of God who reveals the true nature of the Father. Enjou!

RESOURCES:

A More Christlike Word: Reading Scripture the Emmaus Way (Book)

BradJersak.com

How Growing Up Christian Made Me An Atheist - With Joey Lantz

This week I invited my friend Joey Lantz on the show to have a deep and very personal conversation. Stealing the idea from my buddy Dan koch, I invited Joey on to discuss the god he no longer believes in and to find out if I believe in that god either. 

Joey grew up a Christian and now identifies as an atheist. I wanted to have Joey on to hear his story and find some common ground. Enjoy!

Open and Relational Theology - With Thomas Jay Oord

This week, Dr. Thomas Jay Oord returns to the podcast for the fourth time. We had an awesome conversation focused around Tom's latest book "Open and Relational Theology: An Introduction to Life-Changing Ideas".

Open and Relational Theology has been a steady theme on the show, however, we never did a proper episode just on Open and Relational Theology. So this week, Tom and I sat down for an introductory, and sometimes nerdy, conversation that we hope you find helpful. Enjoy!

Resources:

Open and Relational Theology (Book)

ThomasJayOord.com

Center for Open and Relational Theology

Farewell Marty Fredrick

All good things must come to an end, and unfortunately, today is Marty's last week on the show. We talk about his experience and celebrate all that Marty has done. Best of luck Marty! Peace and love bro. 

Terraform - With Propaganda

Guess who's back, back again... Prop is back! Tell yo' friends. 

In Propaganda's latest book, "Terraform", he looks at the ways in which our world is broken. Using the metaphor of terraforming—creating a livable world out of an inhospitable one—he shows how we can begin to reshape our homes, friendships, communities, and politics.

In this transformative time—when we are redefining what a truly just and equitable world looks like, and reflecting on the work that needs to be done both in our spiritual and secular lives—Propaganda rallies us to create that just world. He sheds light on how nefarious origin stories have skewed our views of ourselves and others and allowed gross injustices, and demonstrates how great storytelling and excellent art can create and shape new perspectives of the world and make all of us better. Enjoy!

RESOURCES:

Terraform: Building a Better World (book)

How Muslim Friends Led Me Closer To Jesus - With Rachel Pieh Jones

When Rachel Pieh Jones moved from Minnesota to rural Somalia with her husband and twin toddlers eighteen years ago, she was secure in a faith that defined who was right and who was wrong, who was saved and who needed saving. She had been taught that Islam was evil, full of lies and darkness, and that the world would be better without it.

Luckily, locals show compassion for Jones who can’t keep her headscarf on or her toddlers from tripping over AK-47s. After the murder of several foreigners forces them to evacuate, the Joneses resettle in nearby Djibouti.

Jones recounts the personal encounters and growing friendships that gradually dismantle her unspoken fears and prejudices and deepen her appreciation for Islam. Unexpectedly, along the way she also gains a far richer understanding of her own Christian faith. Enjoy!

RESOURCES:

Pillars: How Muslim Friends Led Me Closer to Jesus (book)

 

When We Stand - With Terence Lester

This week, Terence Lester joins the show for the second time! It's easy to feel overwhelmed by all of the injustices that we see in the world. We don't know what to do and might think that we don't have anything to offer. But by using our gifts in collaboration with others, we can do more together than we ever could on our own.

Mobilizing and acting together empowers us to do what we can't do as isolated individuals. Lester looks at the obstacles that prevent us from getting involved, and he offers practical ways that we can accomplish things together as groups, families, churches, and communities. Togetherness and community give visible testimony of the power of the gospel. In this broken world, the body of Christ can transform society―when we stand together. Enjoy!

RESOURCES:

When We Stand: The Power of Seeking Justice Together (Book)

PreachersNSneakers - With Ben Kirby

This week, Ben Kirby joined us to discuss the ideas in his new book "PreachersNSneakers: Authenticity in an Age of For-Profit Faith and (Wannabe) Celebrities".

What started as a joke account on Instagram has turned into a movement. Through this provocative project, the Ben is helping thousands of Jesus followers wrestle with the inevitable dilemmas created by a culture obsessed with image and entertainment: pastors wearing Gucci sneakers and carrying Louis Vuitton bags while their churches grow more and more obsessed with celebrity and fame. Enjoy!

RESOURCES:

PreacnersNSneakers (Book)

PreachersNSneakers.Com

Essential Kenosis and the Inspiration of Scripture - With Gabriel Gordon

This week, Gabriel Gordon helps us to (re)think our ideas around biblical inspiration.

We explore a number of problematic issues facing popular notions of Inspiration today. Gordon applies the idea of Essential Kenosis to the inspiration of scripture and reveals how it provides a better theological basis for developing a doctrine of Biblical Inspiration. If God cannot control the biblical authors, then what they produce as the biblical text is not revelation in and of itself, but a contextualized human response to that revelation.

With the rising popularity of Essential Kenosis, the dismantling of popular notions of inspiration through historical criticism, and a reclaiming of the interpretative methods of the early church, God Speaks puts forth a doctrine of inspiration and revelation that better accounts for these realities while more faithfully securing our allegiance to Christ. Enjoy!

RESOURCES:

God Speaks: A Participatory Theology of Biblical Inspiration (Book)

 

Encountering Orthodoxy - With Fr. Nebojsa Pantic

This week we were joined by our friend Fr. Nebojsa Pantic. Fr. Nebojsa is a Greek Orthodox priest and he joined us to share about his faith tradition. What is the history of the Orthodox Church? What does it even mean to be Orthodox? What are some of the theological distinctions? 

Our hope is that this episode will help to widen your perspective on the Christian Faith and help you to celebrate the beautiful diversity present within the tradition. Enjoy! 

Resources:

Email Fr. Nebo: frnebojsa@gmail.com