Faith Improvised

Latest Episodes:

The Rhetorical Climax of Romans Mar 15, 2022

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In this episode, I recommend J. Richard Middleton's wonderful and compelling new book, Abraham’s Silence: The Binding of Isaac, The Suffering of Job, and How to Talk Back to God (Baker Academic, 2021), and I talk about Romans 14:1-15:13, which is the climax of Paul's argument in the letter. Middleton's book is available with free shipping from Baker Book House (https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/260831). Support independent bookstores!

Submission to Worldly Powers in Romans 13 Feb 22, 2022

Show notes

In this episode, I recommend Daniel Silliman's wonderful new book, Reading Evangelicals: How Christian Fiction Shaped a Culture and a Faith (Eerdmans), and I talk about Paul's exhortations in Romans 13. I also mention Stephen Colbert's thoughts about the relationship of his Christian faith to his comedy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUaWDqDOWPk), and the brilliant fake conspiracy theory 'Birds Aren't Real' (https://birdsarentreal.com/).

Being God's New Creation Community (Romans 12) Feb 15, 2022

Show notes

I share a few reflections about exploring how to be Christian, I recommend the PBS documentary on Billy Graham, and I talk about Paul's exhortations to the Roman Christians in Romans 12. You can find the documentary here: https://www.pbs.org/video/billy-graham-tp3vqn/.

How to Be Christian and Stay Christian (Even When LGBTQ+ People Exist) Feb 08, 2022

Show notes

In this episode, I share a few more reflections about conspiracy theories, I recommend Kiese Laymon's book, Heavy: An American Memoir (Scribner), and I talk about what it means to be Christian and how to remain Christian when relating to people who identify as LGBTQ+ inside and outside the church.

God's Commitment to Save Israel (Romans 11) Feb 01, 2022

Show notes

In this episode I recommend Randall Balmer's new book, Bad Faith: Race and the Rise of the Religious Right (Eerdmans), and I talk about the conclusion to Paul's argument regarding Israel in Romans 11.

How the Church Harms LGBTQ Christians Jan 25, 2022

Show notes

In this shorter-than-normal episode, I share a few reflections and recommend Bridget Eileen Rivera’s book, Heavy Burdens: Seven Ways LGBTQ Christians Experience Harm in the Church (Brazos Press).

Israel and the Gentiles in Rome Jan 18, 2022

Show notes

I share some updates on what I've been doing over the break, I recommend Gregory Alan Thornbury's really interesting book, Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music?: Larry Norman and the Perils of Christian Rock (Convergent), and I talk about Paul’s argument regarding Israel in Romans 10.

I also mentioned this article: "'An American Tradition': Lessons from a year covering conspiracy theories," Jose A. Del Real, The Washington Post, Dec. 29, 2021.

Election and God's Prerogative in Romans 9 Dec 14, 2021

Show notes

I recommend J. Russell Hawkins's excellent new book, The Bible Told Them So: How Southern Evangelicals Fought to Preserve White Supremacy, and I talk about Paul's argument in Romans 9.

The Climax of Paul's Argument in Romans 8 Dec 07, 2021

Show notes

I offer some reflections on random topics, but especially about the notion of 'kayfabe' as a way of understanding behaviors in the world. I refer to Gregory Thornbury's article "On Metaphor and Kayfabe," which can be found here (https://daviddark.substack.com/p/on-metaphor-and-kayfabe). And I talk about the conclusion to Paul's second major movement in Romans 8.

Questions about Romans and Mark Nov 30, 2021

Show notes

In this episode I offer some thoughts on whether Romans 7 can help Christians who struggle with addictions, and consider Jesus' abrasive and insulting statement to the Syrian-Phoenician woman in Mark 7.

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