A deconstructing missionary examines Christian culture against the authority of Scripture
"Did you spend time with God today?" Something about this feels absolutely right, but also kinda strange. At least, when that becomes our primary focus. Are devotions the central focus of the Christian life or did we maybe place a little too much emphasis on them?
Whether you're growing out your Calvin beard and catechizing your pet bird or you flip John MacArthur books upside down when you pass them in the bookstore, this episode is for you. In the longest episode I've ever posted (by far), I give my rationale for why I don't consider myself to be "Reformed" anymore.
Grab your Nalgene bottles, bandanas, worst clothes, Walmart shades, and your themed devotionals! It's time to board the plane where we'll venture to a poor country, take some solemn pictures of the kids, come home with so many inside jokes and great memories, and just BE the Church! I'm so cynical... But seriously, are short term trips good, or are they inherently harmful? Let's dive in...
Is cussing really a big deal? Why is cussing such a central focus of what a Christian should and should not be exposed to? Does our obsession with cussing reveal something deeper about our self-righteous fragility? What begins as a simple question ends in a deeper place than you might imagine.
Christians are called to imitate Jesus. But we also have to realize that we are not saviors. So how do we imitate a savior without being a savior? In this episode, we'll look specifically at the "White Savior." What is a white savior and how do we imitate Christ without becoming one?
My whole life I've believed that complementarianism was clearly biblical and that those who argued for an egalitarian reading of Scripture were sacrificing biblical authority to do so. Beth Allison Barr's book, however, lays out a pretty convincing case that egalitarianism is the most natural reading of Scripture as a whole and that patriarchal structures twisted the Bible to gain power and to translate Scripture according to their desired interpretation. This is my review of the book The Making...
When we look at the mission field, we see an eery reflection of our problems back home. Do we just call it "sinful nature" and press on? Or do we critically deal with the possibility that maybe our own problems are hurting those we're trying to help? If African missions doesn't necessarily interest you, that's ok. This episode is about much more.
Christian culture is littered with podcasts, videos, and resources on how the Enneagram relates to the Christian life. But is it helpful? Is it truly the gateway to personal growth? Or is it demonic witchcraft? In this episode, I'll review the book "The Wisdom of the Enneagram" and offer my general thoughts on the use of the Enneagram in the Christian life.
How should a Christian approach transgenderism? It seems that the only two options are the extremes - acceptance or anger. In this episode, we'll take a look at the second option and why that should not be a viable option for any Christian approaching this issue. Featuring: A special guest appearance by an insightful cricket.
This one is sticky for a lot of people. Are Christians commanded to give 10% to an institutional church? And for churches who preach this, what effects does that have on our interpretation of other related passages? In this episode, we'll take a brief look at mandatory giving and the effects that has on how we understand what it means to truly give to God.
What happens when a church with bad theology carries that theology to the ends of the earth? In this episode, we'll begin looking at how the mainstream theology of the church in America affects missions and hurts those it seeks to help.
"God bless America." Sometimes faith and patriotism are so interwoven that it's hard to know which is which. In this episode, we'll take a look at what Christian Nationalism is, the damage it's caused, and whether or not it's even biblical. Follow on Apple 🎧: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-awkward-apocalypse/id1593069067 Check out our ministry in Liberia 🌍: standingsidebyside.org Donate to our ministry in Liberia 🇱🇷: Venmo - @standingsidebyside Follow me on Instagram 🥞: @pa.panca...
So, apparently I accidentally posted the unedited version. Props to everyone who powered through that...I'm in Africa and don't have consistent internet to check, so shoutout to the person who let me know. Here's the real version! Evangelism, at least in some sects of Christianity, seems to revolve around this idea of not going to hell. But is that really what the gospel message is all about? Isn't it... so much more than that? In this episode, we'll discuss this approach to evangelism and talk ...
I call this a deconstruction podcast. But what is deconstruction? How do we define our own deconstruction? And what are the warning signs that we've gone too far? In this (kinda dense) episode, we'll take a look at the different types of deconstruction and where I fall. Listen on Apple 🎧: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-awkward-apocalypse/id1593069067 Check out our ministry in Liberia 🌍: standingsidebyside.org Donate to our ministry in Liberia 🇱🇷: Venmo - @standingsidebyside Follow...
How does American Christianity reconcile being positive, encouraging, and family friendly when the Bible is so... not? In a world of sickness, sin, pain, and suffering, how do light-hearted, well-intentioned Christians help or hurt? Today, we'll take a look at the dangerous positivity that Christians often embody as they seek to address complicated problems with simple, forced happiness, and we'll look at the healthy positivity that the Bible encourages. Listen to my Spotify playlist, "Christian...
Why do we exist? That's usually not a fun question, because most of us often assume that the answer is a hollow silence. Or maybe we think the answer is something vague like "to love" or "whatever makes you happy." But what about for the Christian? Is our purpose a prominent theme in Christian culture? In this episode, I'll do my best to answer those questions.
I was raised in a culture of evangelism. Who have you shared the gospel with this week? Are you fearing man or fearing God? I've only recently confronted this guilt I've carried with me for so long. In this episode I'll examine what Christian culture taught us and present my reasons why I believe it was misguided.
I don't think it's a stretch to say that we as a society (not just as the Church) are starving for community. Why? Is this a Christian problem or just an American problem? In this episode we'll look more closely at how both the American church and American culture contribute to the community crisis.
Thorny Christians - those seeds who sprouted up but were choked out by the thorns (the cares and riches of this life), yet are still curiously in church. So what keeps them in church? In this episode, we'll take a look at the theology that emerges from a church business seeking to affirm and bolster its power and wealth.
Something feels off about the church in America. But where do we begin? In this episode, we'll start with what should be a pretty obvious observation - many American churches are operated more like businesses than churches. This is where we begin. This episode is a big one because it lays the groundwork for future episodes, so don't miss this!
What's more awkward than talking to a wall about your deepest struggles? Keeping it all inside and telling nobody, I guess...
