218b: Pastoral Debrief on Soft Totalitarianism and the Church
Riley and Gillespie spin off into a pastoral debrief on the effects of soft totalitarianism on the Church and Christians within their vocation.
218a: Dreher - The Totalitarian State Seeks to Control Your Actions, Thoughts, and Emotions
Christians Rush in Where Fools Fear to Tread. In this episode, we read Rod Dreher’s “Christian Dissidents.” What is totalitarianism? What are the consequences of soft totalitarianism? What is the Christian response to tyranny?
217: Dreher - The Unready Christians of Slovakia
Christians Get Ready, There’s a’Change That’s Coming. In this episode, we read Rod Dreher’s book, "Live Not by Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents." We discuss what happens when society and the churches turn away from God’s Word and the…
216: Mullet - Spiritualizing Cowardice: The Christian Bystander Effect
Run, Rabbit, Run! In this episode, we read and discuss Spiritualizing Cowardice, by Garrett Mullet. When we read and consider the life of David, how has the popularity of psycho-therapeutic language and post-modern cultural norms in the past century influenced…
215: Pastoral Debrief on Christian Dissention
In this episode, we discuss pastoral topics, congregational life, the challenges Christians face today, and how things have changed for clergy and the churches since 2020.
214: Whitford - Tyranny and Resistance
Enemy at The Gates. In this episode, we read and discuss David Mark Whitford’s book, "Tyranny and Resistance." What are Christians to do when state and church unite to enforce laws that are in opposition to God’s Word and Christian…
213b: Paulson - You must refuse the claims of the church to rule marriage and the government
Breaking Your Rules — In this episode, we continue our reading and conversation about Dr. Steven Paulson’s breakdown of Martin Luther’s explanation of the two kingdoms. Marriage, children, preaching, serving our neighbor, and standing up to evil.
213a: Paulson - Becoming a servant of all and a saint in this world
I’ve Got a Gun aka The Whole Armor of God. In this episode, we read and discuss Dr. Steven Paulson’s breakdown of Martin Luther’s explanation of the two kingdoms doctrine. Faith, family, and false idols form the backbone of our…
212: Tocqueville - Religion Considered as a Political Institution
In this episode, we read and discuss Alexis de Tocqueville’s apology for religion’s relevance to politics in Democracy in America. What happens when the two kingdoms are divided or collapsed into each other?
211: Tocqueville - Life is neither a pleasure nor a sorrow
Faith in What? Faith in Who? In this episode, we read Robert J. Delahunty’s article about Alex de Tocqueville’s faith. Tocqueville is a remarkable study in Enlightenment faith because he straddles the line between Christianity and the Enlightenment: Law and…
210b: Hitchens - Eschatology is inseparable from religious faith
“Religion is predicated on the idea that our time here is short and should be shorter, that our job is to bring on the end of days. This is just a veil of tears and guilt and shame. This, the…
210a: Hitchens - Religion is the first chance to explain human nature and the natural order
“We were baffled by climatic and cataclysmic events: earthquakes, tidal waves, storms, lightning. All of this was to us terrifying. Religion works as an attempt, then, to make sense of things. We are pattern-seeking mammals, after all. It’s a good…
209b: Hitchens - Religion abolishes obligation to live in truth
Christians Aren’t Good, or Moral. In this episode, we continue to read and discuss Christopher Hitchens’ speech on religion and morality. Does religion delete our need to confront reality?
209a: Hitchens - Is it moral to tell anybody that their sins can be forgiven?
God is Good… or Not.In this episode, we read and discuss Christopher Hitchins’ speech about religion and morality. What’s the point of attaching the forgiveness of sins to morality?
208b: Nietzsche - Seeing the alternative between Dionysus and the “Crucified”
The God that won’t stay dead. In this episode, we wrap up our discussion of God, Nietzsche, and how Jesus fights against our attempts at self-atonement.
208a: Nietzsche - Human history is built upon sacrifice
God is Dead again, because of us. In this episode, we discuss whether Friedrich Nietzsche was closer to the kingdom of God than most modern Christians, and how we can learn from him.
207: A Prayer for Memorial Day
Gracious Lord, heavenly Father, on this day we pause to remember the sacrifices made for freedom throughout the past centuries. We do indeed owe a debt of gratitude to those who have paid dearly for the liberty we enjoy.
206a: Eagleton - Everyone knows that Nietzsche said "God is dead"
Nietzsche is Dead. In this episode, learning from Friedrich Nietzsche how to repent and believe in Christ Jesus as Savior.
205b: Pastor Debrief on ministry, vocation, and how we learn
This, That, and Another Thing.In this episode, we do a pastoral debrief, discussing vocation, doctrine, and the daily struggles and afflictions of Christians.
205a: Scott Keith - Debrief on Two Kingdoms, Social Media, and Local Vocation
Three Men Enter, One Man Leaves. In this episode, we talk to Dr. Scott Keith about Christian doctrine and vocation. How do we live faithfully in Christ while simultaneously living in our vocations in a sinful, evil world?
204: Luther - Difference between tolerating injustice and violence, and remaining silent
A Seditious Gospel. In this episode, Martin Luther preaches when Christians must rebuke sinful rulers, and when the Gospel becomes a seditious doctrine.
203: Robert Farrar Capon - A Free Gift Already Given, Without Condition, To Everybody
Guilty, Until Proven Gospeled. In this episode, we conclude our reading and discussion of Robert Capon’s, The Mystery of Christ & Why We Don’t Get It. How does the Gospel of Jesus Christ free us from wallowing in guilt and…
202b: Robert Farrar Capon - Be Authentic and Authoritative Proclaimers of the Gospel
You Know, The Next Thing. In this episode, we continue reading Robert Capon’s The Mystery of Christ, and Why We Don’t Get It. We further discuss pastoral care, exegesis, the purpose of theology, and where Christian preaching points us…
202a: Robert Farrar Capon - The Mystery and Guilt
You Know, The Thing. In this episode, Robert Capon on The Mystery of Christ, and Why We Don’t Get It. We discuss exegesis, pastoral care, preaching, and the task of a theologian.
201b: Weil - The false god changes suffering into violence
Turning Inward to Attack Evil.In this episode, we continue to discuss Simone Weil on Evil. The importance of Jesus’ sacrificial death as expiation and redemption and what happens when we try to make good apart from God.
