Theology Doesn't Suck!

The book of Revelation is perhaps the most misunderstood and abused book in the Bible. Is Revelation a prophetic warning about the end of the world? Is Revelation teaching us about Armageddon? Is the rapture really a thing? What the heck is eschatology? Why does any of this matter? This week, Josh and Marty were joined by Revelation scholar, Dr. Rob Dalrymple. Rob shines some light onto the book of Revelation. He breaks down the overall narrative and message of Revelation (hint: it's about Jesus) and he talks about eschatology and why it matters. If you have ever wondered what the heck is going on in the book of Revelation, this episode is for you! If you have suffered from anxiety and/or depression because of bad end-times theology, then this episode is for you. Enjoy!  RESOURCES:  A Peacemaker's Pilgrimage With Rob Dalrymple (trip to Isreal) Follow the Lamb: A Guide to Reading, Understanding, and Applying the book of Revelation(book)  Understanding the New Testament and the End Times (book) Dr. Rob Dalrymple Author Page Determine Truth Podcast  Rob's Website Determine Truth Bile Classes twitter: @RobDalrymple Facebook: Rob Dalrymple@DetermineTruth

Saying no to God... is that even a thing? Matthew J. Korpman sure thinks so! He joins Josh this week for a conversation about his latest book 'Saying No To God: A Radical Approach to Reading the Bible Faithfully'. Korpman proposes that the Bible itself reveals that just because 'God says it,' does not, in fact, mean 'that settles it.' Instead, a closer reading of scripture shows that God does not want us to just blindly obey him, but rather, invites us to 'lock hands' with him.  Could it be that readers are not asked to just accept what God says, but on the contrary: to say no to it? Not because they merely want to, but because the God of the Bible actually requires it.    Resources: Saying No To God: A Radical Approach to Reading the Bible Faithfully (book)   Big thanks to Dan Koch for our new intro/outro music! For inquiries, check him out at: DanKoch.net  

This week, Josh and Marty discuss the name change and the things that have lead up to it. They discuss why they believe that change is important and necessary. Marty and Josh both share how they have been rethinking their own faiths, and talk about what is ahead for the show here in 2020... spoiler alert... it's going to be dope! 

Hey everybody, this is just a brief announcement about our recent name change and what to look forward to in 2020. Don't worry... it will still be the same great podcast... just a new name :) Thanks for your support! 

This week, our good friend Chad rejoins us for another difficult conversation. The three of us reflect on our past experiences with the Church... We have all been hurt, but still stick around. During this conversation, we answer the question 'Why do we keep going to Church'. The truth is... the Church is a whore... but she's still my mom! Hopefully, this is helpful to somebody! Enjoy. 

This week, Keith Giles joins the conversation and asks... What if the Bible is actually keeping us from hearing the word of God?  Keith believes that many Christians, think the Bible is the only way to know anything about God. But according to that same Bible, everybody can know God directly through an actual relationship with Jesus. Keith has an urgent call for the followers of Jesus to know Him intimately because the Gospel is not mere information about God, but a transformational experience with a Christ who is closer to us than our own heartbeat. Enjoy.    RESOURCES:  Jesus Unbound: Liberating the Word of God from the Bible (Book)  Heretic Happy Hour (Podcast) 

So all theology is contextual... Our theology is shaped by our context and our environment would be another way to say it. Brian McLaren recently went on a trip he will never forget... a trip to the Galapagos Islands. There, he paid close attention to everything around him but also to what was happening within his heart. The good and beautiful natural world awakened his soul in a way that organized religion could not. During this trip, Brian kept a journal, and recently released a new book, a spiritual memoir about his experience.  Join us as Brian takes us to the beautiful Galapagos Islands, sharing a few really helpful spiritual insights on the way.    RESOURCES:  The Galapagos Islands: A Spiritual Journey (On Location) [book]   Brian's Website 

This week, Dr. Matthew Bates joined the conversation to discuss his latest book, 'Gospel Allegiance: What Faith in Jesus Misses for Salvation in Christ.'  The truth is... we are missing pieces of the gospel. Now, the biblical gospel can never change... Yet our understanding of the gospel must change! The church needs an allegiance shift. Tons of popular pastoral resources on the gospel are causing widespread confusion. Bates shows that the biblical gospel is different, fuller, and more beautiful than we have been led to believe. There is only one true gospel and one required response: allegiance. Enjoy!   RESOURCES:  OnScript Podcast  Gospel Allegiance: What Faith in Jesus Misses for Salvation in Christ. (Book)  Salvation by Allegiance Alone: Rethinking Faith, Works, and the Gospel of Jesus the King (Book)

  This week, the boys are joined by Brad Jersak. Brad joined the show to discuss one of his latest books, 'A More Christlike Way'.   Brad is an author and teacher based in Abbotsford, BC. He serves as a reader and monastery preacher at All Saints of North America Orthodox Monastery. Through his books and seminars, Brad shares the good news that God is Love, perfectly revealed in Jesus Christ. He teaches others how to encounter God through the practice of ”listening prayer,” through which God’s love heals wounded hearts and empowers us to heal this broken world.   Enjoy!   LINKS:   Brad' SSU Theology & Culture program CWR magazine  IN: Incarnation & Inclusion, Abba & Lamb A More Christlike Way: A More Beautiful Gospel Safi Kaskas (Muslim translator) commentary on the Beatitudes

This week Josh & Marty were joined by Dr. Jace Broadhurst. Dr. Broadhurst has a PhD in Hermeneutics with a concentration in Old Testament Torah. He came on to discuss the idea of doubt in faith, and the role it has played in his life. You won't want to miss this one! Check it out.    Resources on Doubt: The Sin of Certainty (Book)  The Certainty of Uncertainty (Book)  Benefit of the Doubt (Book)  Insurrection (Book)

This week, popular author and sought-after speaker Sarah Bessey joins Josh and Marty to discuss her latest book, 'Miracles and Other Reasonable Things: A Story of Unlearning and Relearning God'.  This book is a deeply moving and life-affirming account of wrestling with God and finding miracles in the most unexpected places. Sarah opens herself in a very vulnerable way as she wrestles with pain and loss. Join us in unbecoming and rebecoming people of faith.   RESOURCES: https://sarahbessey.com/ (website)  Miracles and Other Reasonable things (Book)  Jesus Feminist (Book)  Out of Sorts (Book)

This week, Shane J. Wood (Ph.D.) joins the conversation to discuss his latest book, 'Between Two Trees: Our Transformation From Death to Life'. Shane contends that the problem of Eden is much worse than we thought... but there is hope! Shane also contends that the solution is much better than we could have ever imagined!  The truth is... Life is not lived under Eden's tree of life nor beneath the healing leaves of the tree in new Jerusalem. We live between those two trees... and between those two trees, life is hard! In spite of this, however, Shane challenges us to embrace hope, love, and the beauty of reconciliation at the true tree of life... the Cross of Calvary.  This was an amazing conversation that you will not want to miss!    RESOURCES: Between Two Trees: Our Transformation From Death to Life (Book) ShaneJWood.com (Shane's Website)  

This week, Chris Date joins the podcast to discuss a rather hot topic... Hell! (See what we did there).  Chris is a well-known evangelical Christian author, editor, blogger, podcaster, debater, and speaker. Representing a global movement known as ?Rethinking Hell?, he specializes in the areas of Hell and Conditional Immortality.As an expert on these topics, Chris has been interviewed in such secular media outlets as the ?New York Times?, ?National Geographic?, and ?NPR?. He has debated no less than the president of the Southern Baptist Convention, Dr. Albert Mohler, and been interviewed for the popular ?‘One Minute Apologist’ video series.   RESOURCES: Rethinking Hell Youtube Channel  A Fire That Consumes (Book)  Hell: A Final Word (Book)  Four Views on Hell: Second Edition (Book)  Four Views on Hell: Zondervan (Book)  Chris's Academic Articles    Be Sure to Follow Chris on Facebook!  https://www.facebook.com/chrisdate   Email Chris: chrisdate@rethinkinghell.com

This week Pastor Josh Trombley joins the boys to discuss his latest book, 'Hidden Faces: Discovering Our Identity in Christ'. Hidden Faces is a book about discovering the true you. Have you ever taken a good hard look at how you define yourself? Are you allowing your past, your emotions, or even the blessings from God to become your identity? How do you think it would change your life if you began to define yourself through the lens of Christ and lay aside the different faces we put on each day? Hidden Faces explores how Jesus has come to give us a new identity. It is not one that is determined by all the things we fill our lives with, and not by the circumstances by all the things we fill our lives with, and not by the circumstance we find ourselves in, but to whom we belong. Hidden Faces delves deep into the many areas where we try and compensate for the brokenness we carry.    Buy Josh's Book: Hidden Faces: Discovering Our Identity in Christ

This week, the boys are joined by Terence Lester. Terence is the founder of Love Beyond Walls, a non-profit organization focused on poverty awareness and community mobilization. He joins Josh and Marty to discuss his latest book, 'I See You: How Love Opens Our Eyes to Invisible People'.  We overlook the poor and homeless and hold misconceptions about who is deserving and who is not. Terence calls us to see the invisible people around us. He challenges us with his personal encounters and real-life stories to see the poor as Jesus does. When we see people through God's eyes and hear their stories, we restore their dignity and help them flourish.    I See You Book:  https://www.amazon.com/See-You-Opens-Invisible-People/dp/0830845720/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=i+see+you&qid=1570012734&sr=8-6   Love Beyond Walls Website The Dignity Museum    Follow Terence Lester on Social Media:  @imterencelester @lovebeyondwalls @dignitymuseum

This week, Josh and Marty sit down with David E. Fitch to discuss his latest book 'The Church of Us vs. Them: Freedom from a Faith That Feeds on Making Enemies.' David (PhD, Northwestern University) is the B. R. Linder Chair of Evangelical Theology at Northern Seminary and the cofounder of Missio Alliance.  David leads the boys in a very timely and important conversation about his book. The Church is in danger, and Fitch gives a way for the church to be true to itself, breaking down the antagonisms of today and making space for Christ's reconciling presence in our daily lives. He offers new patterns and practices that move the Church beyond the 'enemy-making machine' to being the presence of Christ in the world. Join the conversation and lets work together to free ourselves from a faith that feeds on division. You don't want to miss this one!    Get the Book Here: The Church of Us Vs Them  Theology on Mission Podcast: CLICK HERE Follow David on Twitter: @fitchest  

This week, Dr. Thomas Jay Oord joins us again for a conversation about his book, 'God Can't'. This is Tom's second time joining us on the show, and he had an awesome conversation with Josh! Tom breaks down 5 propositions that he makes in his book, he shares stories about how it has helped people and also shares his heart behind his work. Enjoy.    Tom's Book:     Tom's Website: http://thomasjayoord.com/   Center for Open & Relational Theology: https://c4ort.com/  

Shane Claiborne joined the boys this week for an awesome conversation! The new book 'Beating Guns' is the topic, and some really great conversation is had. Shane breaks down some of the statistics and myths about gun violence in the U.S. He brings to light some untalked about issues regarding gun violence and he talks to the boys about what it means to be a Champion of life.  Regardless if you are a gun-owner, gun-lover, hunter, police officer or have never touched a gun in your life... this episode is for you! Enjoy.    Books: Beating Guns: Hope For People Who Are Weary of Violence The Early Church on Killing: A Comprehensive Sourcebook on War, Abortion, and Capital Punishment. Executing Grace: How the Death Penalty Killed Jesus and Why It's Killing Us   Websites:  https://rawtools.org/ http://www.shaneclaiborne.com/

This week we do something a little different. Josh and Marty decided to share some of their story... both of them have had similar experiences where they have considered walking away from ministry. Since this seems to be a prevalent theme today, they decided to share their story and do their best to offer some hope... and yes, they might get a bit preachy... #SorryNotSorry 

In this week's episode... Josh and Marty had the privilege of sitting down with Pastor Brian Zahnd. Brian is the founder and lead pastor of Word of Life Church, a Christian congregation located in St. Joseph Missouri. In his own words, Brian is a full-time pastor, occasional writer, and would-be mountaineer.  Brian joined the guys to discuss his latest book, Postcards From Babylon: The Church in American Exile. They had an urgent conversation about an urgent book with an urgent and important message. We hope you enjoy.    Brian's Website:  https://brianzahnd.com/ Books: Postcards From Babylon: The Church in American Exile A Farewell to Mars: An Evangelical Pastor's Journey Towards the Biblical Gospel of Peace Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God: The Scandalous Truth of the Very Good News Reading Revelation Responsibly: Uncivil Worship and Witness: Following the Lamb into New Creation