Gain insights into the complexities of deconstruction in the Christian journey as Mike Erre and Tim Stafford engage in a candid conversation with author and pastor Josh Butler. Together, they unravel misconceptions, discuss the impact of personal experiences on faith, and explore how to navigate doubt and spiritual growth within the church. Key Takeaways: Defining Deconstruction – Understanding the various meanings of deconstruction and its role in personal faith journeys. Intentions Behind the ...
Dec 06, 2021•1 hr 33 min
Mike Erre is joined by his 16-year-old daughter, Hannah, for an honest and heartfelt conversation about faith, doubt, and the challenges facing the next generation in the modern church. They delve into Hannah's experiences with rigid religious environments, her journey of questioning, and the hope found in open dialogue and permission to wrestle with tough topics. Key Takeaways: Permission to Question – The importance of creating spaces within the church where doubts and questions are welcomed a...
Nov 29, 2021•55 min
Explore how systemic issues within the church contribute to the deconstruction movement as Mike Erre and Tim Stafford critically engage with Joshua Ryan Butler's article "The Four Causes of Deconstruction." Delve into deep conversations about church hurt, poor teaching, and how re-examining our faith can lead to a more authentic relationship with Jesus. Key Takeaways: Understanding Church Hurt Beyond Leadership Failures – Discover how deeper systemic problems and cultural misalignments contribut...
Nov 23, 2021•1 hr 2 min
Discover how to reclaim unity in a divided church by addressing anger, grievance culture, and political divisions. Mike Erre and Tim Stafford are joined by theologian Tim Gombis to delve into Paul's teachings on unity, the dangers of anger and resentment within the church, and practical steps to foster a community grounded in love, confession, and forgiveness. Key Takeaways: Unity as the Ultimate Value – Exploring how Paul's letters emphasize the paramount importance of unity in the church, tran...
Nov 15, 2021•1 hr 16 min
Mike Erre and Tim Stafford conclude their Bible Series by delving into how interpreting Scripture within community leads to true transformation. They explore the vital role of embodying the values of Community, Cross, and New Creation in today's church. Join them as they discuss how discipleship is a collective journey toward becoming fully human in Christ, and how the fruitfulness of a community reflects the fidelity of its biblical interpretation. Key Takeaways: Discipleship as a Communal Prac...
Nov 08, 2021•1 hr 4 min
Explore how challenging traditional views on 'Biblical Womanhood' can lead to a more authentic and inclusive understanding of the Bible and the role of women in the church. Mike Erre and Tim Stafford are joined by historian and author Beth Allison Barr to discuss how the subjugation of women became gospel truth and what this means for modern Christianity. Key Takeaways: • Biblical Womanhood as a Cultural Construct – Understanding how historical and cultural contexts have shaped the notion of 'Bi...
Nov 01, 2021•1 hr 3 min
Mike Erre and Tim Stafford delve into the pitfalls of relying on common Christian clichés like "God told me" and "I feel led," examining how these phrases can lead to misunderstanding and manipulation within the church. They explore a more biblical approach focused on embracing wisdom, community, and partnership with God in decision-making, moving away from the obsessive pursuit of God's specific will in every aspect of life. Key Takeaways: • Challenging Christian Clichés – Understanding how phr...
Oct 25, 2021•1 hr 12 min
Discover why viewing the Bible through the lens of inerrancy might limit our understanding of its divine and human nature. Mike Erre and Tim Stafford delve into the complexities of Scripture, discussing how a more nuanced approach can lead to a deeper, more faithful engagement with God's Word. They tackle the challenges of biblical interpretation, the role of community in understanding Scripture, and the importance of approaching the Bible with humility. Key Takeaways: • Challenging the Concept ...
Oct 18, 2021•1 hr
Discover how 'Midnight Mass' serves as a mirror to the modern church, revealing the dangers of misguided faith, the perversion of theology, and the implications for believers today. Mike Erre, Tim Stafford, and special guest Kaitlyn Schiess delve deep into the series' portrayal of religious zealotry, the seductive nature of miracles, and how the show brilliantly maps Christian themes onto a horror narrative, provoking thoughtful reflection on faith and community. Key Takeaways: • Justifying Evil...
Oct 11, 2021•1 hr 5 min
Discover how embracing a cross-shaped life transforms our understanding of community, leadership, and service. Mike Erre and Tim Stafford explore what it means to live in the way of Jesus, redefining greatness through humility and self-sacrificial love demonstrated on the cross. Key Takeaways: Cruciformity Explained – Understanding the concept of living a cross-shaped life and how it redefines our approach to leadership and community. Redefining Greatness – Exploring Jesus's teachings on leaders...
Oct 04, 2021•1 hr 4 min
How the American Church's focus on right beliefs and institutional preservation has neglected the transformative power of love, justice, and community as revealed through Jesus. In this deeply reflective and wide-ranging conversation, Mike Erre, Tim Stafford, and special guest Hannah Erie (Mike's daughter) explore the frustrations young people have with modern Christianity, especially its entanglements with politics, legalism, and exclusion. Hannah shares her "horrendous happenings" as a 16-year...
Sep 27, 2021•1 hr 18 min
Tim and Dr. Tim Gombis conclude their mini-series on U2 and theology by diving deep into how we can coexist and carry each other in divisive times. Drawing inspiration from U2's song "One" and other tracks, they explore the importance of embracing differences within community, the role of the church in fostering true connection, and how music can serve as a bridge in times of division. Key Takeaways: Embracing Differences in Community – How U2's "One" teaches us to carry each other despite our d...
Sep 22, 2021•1 hr 11 min
Understanding how genre shapes our reading of Scripture is one of the most foundational—and often overlooked—keys to interpreting the Bible faithfully. In this 10th installment of the ongoing Bible Series, Mike Erre and Tim Stafford deep-dive into the importance of reading Scripture on its own literary terms rather than applying a flat, literalistic lens. Using the book of Revelation as a case study, they dismantle sensationalist and futurist interpretations and explore how genre—apocalyptic, pr...
Sep 20, 2021•1 hr 5 min
Explore how U2's music unveils the paradoxes of the gospel, as Tim Stafford and Dr. Tim Gombis delve into themes of grief, grace, and the grotesque in Part 2 of The Wanderer Series. Unpacking the "grammar of the gospel," they discuss how songs like "California (There is No End to Love)" and "Grace" capture the complex relationship between suffering and redemption, challenging us to see beauty in brokenness and embrace the full spectrum of the human experience. Key Takeaways: Understanding the Gr...
Sep 15, 2021•54 min
Discover how embracing the cultural, historical, and contextual 'strangeness' of the Bible can transform your understanding of scripture. Mike Erre and Tim Stafford delve into the complexities of interpreting scripture by acknowledging the hermeneutical distance created by time, culture, language, customs, geography, and value systems. They explore the contrasts between honor-shame and guilt-innocence cultures, discuss the importance of reading the Bible in community, and emphasize producing Jes...
Sep 13, 2021•1 hr 15 min
Join Tim Stafford and Dr. Timothy Gombis as they launch 'The Wanderer Series', a deep dive into the intersections of U2's music, theology, and personal journeys. Explore how the band's evolving sound and poetic lyrics have profoundly influenced their perspectives on faith, art, and humanity. Key Takeaways: • The Transformative Power of Music and Poetry – Discussing how U2's artistry exemplifies the impact of language and metaphor on personal and spiritual growth. • U2's Evolution and Influence –...
Sep 08, 2021•1 hr 7 min
Discover how understanding cultural context and embracing interpretive humility can transform your reading of the Bible. Mike Erre and Tim Stafford delve into the importance of situating ourselves before the text, recognizing our individualistic lenses, and moving towards a communal approach to Scripture. Key Takeaways: • Interpretive Humility – The necessity of approaching the Bible with humility, acknowledging our biases and the limitations of our perspectives. • Individualism vs. Collectivism...
Sep 07, 2021•1 hr 22 min
Discover how understanding God's accommodation can transform the way we read and interpret Scripture. Mike and Tim delve into the complexities of the Bible's divine and human aspects, exploring how the messiness of Scripture reveals God's character and His relationship with humanity. Key Takeaways: God's Accommodation in Scripture – Understanding how God meets humanity where they are, working within cultural contexts and human limitations to reveal His divine will. The Real vs. The Ideal – Explo...
Aug 30, 2021•1 hr 10 min
Discover how understanding God's accommodation to human culture can transform your reading of the Bible. Mike Erre and Tim Stafford delve into the complexities of interpreting scripture amidst cultural lenses and veils, exploring how the divine-human partnership in the Bible's creation impacts our grasp of truth and God's character. Key Takeaways: God's Partnership with Humanity – Unpacking how the Bible is both divinely inspired and a product of human agency, and what that means for how we read...
Aug 23, 2021•1 hr 2 min
Unlock a deeper understanding of the Bible by exploring the human and divine collaboration in Scripture. Mike Erre and Tim Stafford kick off the Bible Series by challenging conventional beliefs about biblical inspiration, revealing how recognizing the Bible's human elements can enrich your faith and engagement with God's Word. Key Takeaways: • The Bible's Self-Portrait – Discover how Scripture describes its own origins as both a divine and human product. • Challenging Traditional Views of Inspir...
Aug 16, 2021•1 hr 2 min
How reading scripture through the lens of Jesus can transform your understanding of God, justice, and salvation. In part four of Voxology's Bible Series, Mike and Tim are joined by returning guest and theologian Bradley Jersak to explore ideas from his new book, A More Christlike Word . From questioning literalist readings of the Old Testament to redefining the meaning and necessity of Jesus' death, this rich and heartfelt conversation digs into how the Bible can be both faithfully read and lovi...
Aug 09, 2021•1 hr 17 min
Uncover new ways to engage with the Bible by embracing its complexities and ambiguities. Dr. Amy-Jill Levine joins Tim Stafford to explore how wrestling with scripture can deepen our relationship with God. They delve into feminist biblical interpretation, the role of the Old Testament in informing New Testament teachings, and the importance of viewing the Bible as an anthology of voices in dialogue. Key Takeaways: Understanding the Bible as an Anthology – Viewing scripture as a collection of div...
Aug 02, 2021•1 hr 17 min
Explore how understanding context, genre, and cultural background can transform our reading of difficult Bible passages, particularly Old Testament violence. Mike Erre and Tim Stafford are joined by pastor and author Joshua Ryan Butler, who sheds light on approaching challenging scriptures without compromising the goodness of God. Together, they discuss the importance of wrestling with these texts, recognizing our own biases, and reading the Bible in community to gain deeper insight into God's c...
Jul 26, 2021•48 min
How the Bible's diversity of genres, cultural contexts, and ancient languages shape our spiritual understanding—and how to rediscover scripture as a life-giving, imaginative world. Mike Erre and Tim Stafford kick off a brand new series on the Bible with special guest Dr. Tim Gombis, diving deep into how the Bible can move from confusing and discouraging to enlightening and liberating. This episode is the beginning of a multi-part exploration aiming to help listeners reapproach the Bible with fre...
Jul 19, 2021•1 hr 6 min
Discover how to identify and address spiritual abuse within church communities as Mike Erre and Tim Stafford engage with researcher Dan Koch. Delving into Dan's extensive study on the seven underlying factors that contribute to spiritual abuse, they discuss practical steps toward creating healthier, more nurturing religious environments. This insightful conversation sheds light on the importance of compassionate leadership, the impact of harmful practices, and offers hope and healing to those af...
Jul 12, 2021•1 hr 4 min
Mike Erre and Tim Stafford delve into the experience of feeling exiled within one's own church community. Drawing from biblical narratives of exile, they explore how to foster dynamic countercultural communities that embody Jesus's teachings while remaining committed to the well-being of the broader church. They discuss practical steps for navigating discontent without falling into pride or division, emphasizing the importance of loving the church even amidst frustration. Key Takeaways: Understa...
Jul 05, 2021•1 hr 1 min
How does the church respond to LGBTQ+ individuals in ways that reflect new creation rather than tired, old creation dynamics of exclusion, shame, and silence? In this profoundly moving episode, Mike and Tim respond compassionately to a deeply honest and heartbreaking letter from a closeted gay church leader wrestling with belonging, identity, and faith in the modern church. This dialogue touches on some of the most pressing tensions within American Christianity today—how can the church be a plac...
Jun 28, 2021•55 min
How can mistranslations, manipulated theology, and cultural biases distort how we see Jesus, worship, and community? This episode of the Exile Series is a timely journey into the tangled landscape of modern Christianity, questioning the language we use, the powers that shape our spirituality, and what it truly means to be "in Christ." Through a raw, winding conversation, Mike Erre and Tim Stafford reflect on the communal nature of scripture, the emotional weight of worship, and the cosmic battle...
Jun 21, 2021•1 hr 21 min
How the voices of lament, deconstruction, and justice led to a renewed vision of the church and the launch of Voxology. In this monumental 300th (and now Voxology's first!) episode, Mike Erre and Tim Stafford pause to reflect on six years of podcasting and the journey that brought about the transformation from The Vox Podcast to Voxology. This episode is a heartfelt collection of gratitude, vision-casting, and a look ahead. Joined by special guests Bonnie Lewis, Shane Claiborne, and Tim Gombis, ...
Jun 14, 2021•2 hr 1 min
A behind-the-scenes bonus episode full of joy, jokes, and Jesus as Mike Erre, Tim Stafford, and the beloved Seth Erre drop in to tease the much-anticipated rebrand of the Vox Podcast. With Episode 300 on the horizon, this midweek moment is both a celebration of the past and a hilarious reflection on potential (and rejected) new names for the show. Packed with wild brainstorming, dad-joke-worthy Christian slogans, and Seth's unforgettable antics, this episode sets the tone for the next chapter of...
Jun 10, 2021•11 min•Ep. 299
