How the Imago Dei—humanity made in God's image—shapes a consistent, compassionate, and Christ-centered approach to the complex issue of abortion. In this special two-part reflection, Mike Erre opens up about profoundly personal experiences surrounding abortion, pregnancy, and his son with Down syndrome as he responds to a listener's heartfelt question: "What is your view of abortion, and what advice would you give someone struggling with that decision?" Avoiding oversimplified policies or blanke...
Feb 13, 2019•28 min
What if the secret to real freedom isn't self-indulgence but self-control? In the kickoff episode of our new Discipline Series, Mike Erre sits down with author and editor Drew Dyck to unpack the biblical and neurological foundations of self-discipline—and how it's far more about surrender than striving. They dive deep into Drew's book, "Your Future Self Will Thank You," and explore how self-control seen through the lens of scripture is the path to true flourishing, not restriction. This is not j...
Feb 04, 2019•44 min
How reimagining Scripture through a new translation and untangling toxic masculinity can help Christians rediscover Jesus and better live out the mission of the gospel today. Author and theologian Bonnie Lewis joins Mike to share the heart behind her groundbreaking Bible translation project "Tim Shell." They dig into the challenges she's faced as a woman translating Scripture, how Tim Shell offers new pathways for healing spiritual trauma, and why understanding both the cultural and spiritual co...
Jan 29, 2019•1 hr 7 min
What do we do when God doesn't answer our most desperate prayers? In this deeply vulnerable and honest Q&A episode, Mike Erre responds to a gut-wrenching listener question about the nature of prayer, suffering, and whether God actually intervenes the way we hope he does. This episode journeys into the pain of unanswered prayer, the theological confusion surrounding it, and how to remain faithful and hope-filled in the midst of heartbreak. Drawing from personal experience as a parent of a chi...
Jan 23, 2019•35 min
Unpacking one of the most debated theological doctrines in church history, Mike Erre flies solo on this episode to dive deep into the Bible's use of "election" and "predestination" language. Drawing from theologians like N.T. Wright, Tim Gombis, and Scott McKnight, he outlines five key observations that debunk the idea of God arbitrarily choosing individuals for heaven or hell. Instead, Mike reframes election as a communal, missional, and deeply affectionate act from God—a calling to serve rathe...
Jan 15, 2019•32 min
Start the year with a fresh challenge to rethink why following Jesus necessitates being rooted in community and not just spiritual consumption. In this Q&A-style episode, Mike Erre and Kevin (number two!) dive into some weighty questions from listeners — questions about sexuality and gender, Christians in the military, being "just a guy in the seat," church leadership, and how to discern theological conviction from opinion. Along the way, they explore the role of church in modern Christian l...
Jan 07, 2019•54 min
How the metaphor of exile helps the American church rediscover its identity, purpose, and practices for a polarized and post-Christian culture. Mike Erre is joined by Rick McKinley—pastor, author, and co-creator of Advent Conspiracy—to explore themes from Rick's book, Faith for This Moment: Navigating a Polarized World as the People of God. Together, they discuss how exile offers a hopeful biblical framework for living faithfully as Christians in a divided and shifting cultural landscape. Key Ta...
Dec 18, 2018•57 min
How do we understand failure, morality, and the pain of community disillusionment through the lens of Jesus? In this solo episode, Mike Erre explores deep listener questions around the emotional, theological, and cultural complexities of following Jesus in a broken world. Reflecting on how Jesus may have experienced failure, why even atheists hold moral frameworks, and discerning when it's okay to leave a church, Mike offers vulnerable insight, biblical wisdom, and compassionate challenge for an...
Dec 11, 2018•37 min
How do Jesus followers make sense of today's political and social divisions while remaining faithful to the Kingdom of God? In this Q&A-driven episode, Mike Erre and Kevin dive into a series of powerful listener questions exploring topics like immigration, political allegiance, the modern church, the Me Too movement, and how to present the gospel in a postmodern context. With honesty and humility, they tackle whether it's possible to follow both Jesus and support political figures like Donal...
Dec 03, 2018•55 min
How does the church's approach to sexuality affect our understanding of purity, desire, and spiritual wholeness? Mike Erre and Kevin explore one of the most frequently asked — and often ignored — questions in Christian life: Is masturbation sinful, especially when done without lust? What seems like a clear-cut topic opens into a deeply nuanced reflection on the nature of desire, discipleship, purity culture, and the transformation Jesus actually invites us into. This episode isn't just about beh...
Nov 26, 2018•47 min
How can we embrace faith when certainty feels impossible? Pastor and author Austin Fisher joins Mike Erre for a vulnerable, wisdom-packed conversation about navigating doubt, deconstruction, and rediscovering the beauty of Jesus. Drawing from his book "Faith in the Shadows: Finding Christ in the Midst of Doubt," Austin shares his personal journey of nearly walking away from faith, how the church often mishandles doubt, and why cultivating allegiance to Jesus matters more than achieving airtight ...
Nov 19, 2018•50 min
How the choice to live celibately as a gay Christian can reflect the radical love of Jesus and reframe the church's understanding of desire, identity, and human flourishing. Oxford PhD candidate and author David Bennett joins Mike Erre for an unflinchingly honest and theologically rich conversation on sexuality, worship, and the need for a deeper anthropology rooted in the kingdom of God. David shares his journey from an atheist, ardent critic of Christianity to a transformed follower of Jesus w...
Nov 12, 2018•57 min
How does a Christian faithfully live in the tension between grace-filled freedom and the call to holiness? This mailbag-focused episode tackles one of the most enduring and controversial debates within the Christian faith—can you pursue freedom and holiness at the same time, and what is the actual goal? Mike Erre and Kevin #2 (aka "K2") open the listener inbox to respond to thoughtful email questions from the Voxology community, including reflections on abusive church structures, how to be disce...
Nov 05, 2018•36 min
How the Old Testament offers more than just laws, wars, and weird stories—Tim Mackie joins Mike Erre to unpack how the Bible's first testament reveals a sophisticated narrative of divine patience, justice, and rescue, and how it all points directly to Jesus. Whether you're deconstructing your faith, questioning biblical violence, or struggling to reconcile the God of the Old Testament with the teachings of Christ, this conversation is a deep dive into understanding the Hebrew Scriptures on their...
Oct 29, 2018•57 min
What happens when someone experiences both the unmovable conviction of their faith and the deep challenge of being queer in the American church? This powerful and vulnerable conversation opens up a path rarely discussed with grace and clarity. Mike Erre welcomes Tyler Chernesky, a pastor from Kansas City and a gay follower of Jesus who has chosen celibacy, to share his story of adoption, calling, identity, and the tension between loneliness and joy. Listeners will hear a deeply human and hopeful...
Oct 22, 2018•1 hr 3 min
How the church can move from silence to safety by acknowledging its complicity in marginalizing abuse survivors and unpacking what repentance truly looks like—for individuals and communities. Kicking off a new Justice Series, Mike Erre and co-host Kevin No. 2 respond to a heartfelt letter from listener "Betty," offering an open, vulnerable discussion on sexual assault, politicization, and the Me Too movement through a gospel-centered lens. Mike shares reflections from past church leadership and ...
Oct 16, 2018•59 min
How courageously telling your story can interrupt cycles of silence, shame, and secrecy—especially in the church. Mike welcomes author and activist Nicole Braddock Bromley for a powerful and vulnerable conversation about surviving childhood sexual abuse, sharing her story publicly at age 15, and how that one act unlocked voices of countless others suffering in silence. Nicole shares the painful truth about why abuse often remains hidden in churches and affluent communities and offers a compellin...
Oct 08, 2018•49 min
What if prayer isn't just about getting answers? Mike and Kevin take on one of the most raw, painful, and universal questions in the life of faith: why pray when it doesn't seem to change anything? In this vulnerable episode, they dive deep into an honest question from a listener experiencing unimaginable grief and crisis of faith following the sudden death of his mother and a devastating cancer diagnosis for his father. Drawing from scripture, theology, personal experience, and the teachings of...
Oct 01, 2018•41 min
How can we engage others in our faith journey when we've experienced the freedom of spiritual reconstruction but live in a culture deeply shaped by conservative, evangelical tradition? In this episode—part one of a new Vox Mailbag Series—Mike Erre and Kevin (#2) tackle questions about deconstruction, talking faith in politically charged spaces (like Branson, Missouri), and discerning truth in a world of theological contradictions. Filled with laughter, spicy sandwiches, and insightful reflection...
Sep 26, 2018•46 min
How can LGBTQ+ Christians faithfully navigate their identity while holding to a traditional Christian sexual ethic? Mike Erre sits down with Nate Collins, author of "All But Invisible" and founder of the Revoice Conference, for a raw, personal, and deeply theological conversation on gender, sexuality, and costly obedience. This is the first in an ongoing Revoice Series, spotlighting voices that are challenging the polarized narratives in the church by creating space for sexual and gender minorit...
Sep 18, 2018•49 min
How does the American evangelical church reconcile justice, culture, and faith in a post-Christian age? Mike Erre is joined by author, pastor, and podcast host Skye Jethani (The Holy Post) for a provocative discussion about the recently issued "Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel" from prominent conservative evangelical leaders—and why its assumptions about sin, culture, and mission may be fundamentally flawed. Together, Mike and Skye unpack the tensions between personal salvation and soc...
Sep 11, 2018•1 hr 3 min
What happens when the pastoral spotlight becomes too heavy to bear—and no one sees the weight until it's too late? Mike Erre and longtime friend Andy Lara reflect deeply on the tragic suicide of Inland Hills Church pastor Andrew Stoecklein, a young leader whose public transparency about his mental health struggles still couldn't prevent a heartbreaking end. This raw discussion examines broader issues of how we as individuals, communities, and the Church respond to mental illness—and what goes aw...
Sep 03, 2018•54 min
What if tithing isn't actually a New Testament teaching? In this honest and deeply practical solo episode, Mike tackles an insightful listener question about the theology behind tithing, prosperity gospel implications, and whether churches should be offering "90-day tithe challenges" with promised blessings (and optional refunds). Unpacking Scriptures like Malachi 3, Matthew 23, and key passages from 1 & 2 Corinthians and Acts, Mike invites us to reframe our understanding of generosity, stew...
Aug 27, 2018•31 min
Challenging the modern church growth mindset, Mike Erre and guest Kevin revisit the assumptions baked into much of American Christian culture—namely the obsession with polished Sunday services, celebrity pastors, and numerical success. In a week where high-profile abuse scandals shook major institutions like the Catholic Church, Willow Creek, and John MacArthur's ministry, the conversation turns to a deeper issue: How do we define "church success," and what does the witness of Jesus call us to i...
Aug 20, 2018•51 min
A deep dive into how Scripture confronts racism and ethnic supremacy, revealing that loving all people—regardless of race or background—is a fundamental expression of following Jesus. Mike Erre reflects on a provocative Atlantic article about why young atheists are abandoning Christianity and responds to a Twitter challenge: "Prove to me the Bible says I must value Black lives." His answer? A sweeping biblical case for racial equality rooted in the image of God, God's covenant with Abraham, and ...
Aug 13, 2018•40 min
Examining the dangers of celebrity leadership culture in the American church, Mike Erre gets candid about the recent public downfalls of figures like Bill Hybels and Urban Meyer—both of whom have been celebrated as leadership experts. Unpacking how the church's obsession with platform, power, and production may be feeding these moral failures, Mike reflects on how the New Testament offers a radically different vision for leadership: one that emphasizes plurality, humility, and shared responsibil...
Aug 06, 2018•31 min
How do we rebuild our faith after it feels like everything we believed has fallen apart? That's the core question behind this rich and vulnerable conversation between Mike Erre and long-time Vox supporter Kevin #1, live from Lake Tahoe. In response to passionate listener feedback regarding Christian political alignment and the perceived imbalance of criticism toward the Right, this episode unpacks how personal faith can become tangled with political identity—and what must be deconstructed and re...
Jul 30, 2018•50 min
Exploring the critical intersection of politics, worship, and the role of the church, Mike Erre reunites with longtime friend and Vox co-founder Andy Lara for a powerful episode in the ongoing Faith & Politics series. With heart, humor, and serious theological reflection, they examine how Christianity in America has been co-opted by partisan allegiance—sacrificing the holistic, worship-driven vision of community that scripture outlines. What begins as a joyful update featuring special guest ...
Jul 23, 2018•50 min
How the early church's radical social practices revealed an alternative political imagination rooted in the lordship of Jesus—and how those practices challenge today's believers to embody a cross-shaped way of engaging with power, community, and culture. Mike Erre continues the Exile Series by diving deep into Paul's subversive, kingdom-centered vision of church and politics. Drawing from Paul's life before and after encountering Jesus, and through reflections on apocalyptic literature like Reve...
Jul 15, 2018•44 min
How the apostle Paul's encounter with the risen Jesus radically reshaped his political vision, identity, and understanding of salvation—and what that means for the church today. This third installment of the Exile Series dives into how Paul's pre- and post-conversion worldview about kingdom, nation, power, and mission underwent a massive transformation, ultimately redefining faith as political allegiance to a crucified and risen king. Mike unpacks the deeply political nature of Paul's conversion...
Jul 09, 2018•34 min
