Voxology

Latest Episodes:

Living with Holy Tension: Faith Amidst Pandemic - with Dr. Walter Brueggemann Jun 15, 2020

Show notes

How the pandemic exposes our certainty, drives us deeper into faith, and invites us to rediscover God's mercy, justice, and holiness with biblical theologian Walter Brueggemann. In this rich and heartfelt episode, Mike, Tim, and Bonnie welcome Dr. Brueggemann—one of the most prolific theological voices of our time—for an unforgettable conversation on God, suffering, community, and courageous imagination. At 87, Brueggemann challenges us to reconsider what we think we know about the Bible, divine judgment, white supremacy, and the role of lament and protest in spiritual life—all while sharing poetic insights that spark introspection and hope.

Key Takeaways: • Virus as a Summons to Faith – Drawing on the biblical concept of pestilence to explore the pandemic as a deep spiritual call to repentance, humility, and renewed purpose. • God's Holiness Beyond Formulas – Understanding divine action through three biblical frameworks: retributive justice, divine intent for liberation, and the mysterious, unsearchable holiness of God. • Reading the Bible for Transformation, Not Certainty – Why we must resist transactional readings of Scripture that serve empire and instead engage in playful, imaginative interpretation steeped in community. • Protest as Hope – How biblical lament differs from resignation and how authentic groaning becomes the birthplace of new creation. • Racial Justice and Theological Responsibility – Brueggemann's call to dismantle white supremacy in policy, culture, and biblical interpretation, and to embody gratitude for God's mercy through redistribution and justice. • Recovering the Language of Prayer – How to pray truthfully in crisis, with "no-holds-barred" honesty, expressing both suffering and hope as acts of faith.

Guest Highlights: Dr. Walter Brueggemann – One of the world's most respected Old Testament scholars and the author of over 100 books, including the featured work of this episode, Virus as a Summons to Faith. Brueggemann brings a rare blend of poetic insight, deep scholarship, and prophetic imagination to the most urgent questions of our time.

Resources Mentioned: • Virus as a Summons to Faith by Walter Brueggemann – Amazon • Dr. Brueggemann's Website – walterbrueggemann.com • Romans 5 – "Suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope." • Elijah and Elisha narratives in 1 & 2 Kings – Examples of subversive oral theology • Psalmic Lament – Models of protest-filled praise in the Hebrew Scriptures

Join the conversation and reflect on how the unknowable holiness of God invites us not into fear, but into community, mercy, and faithful resistance. Subscribe, leave a review, and follow us on social media to stay connected.

As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

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As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV.

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Learn more about the Voxology Podcast

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Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon

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Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre

Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

Reclaiming Christianity from White Supremacy: A Conversation with Brit Barron Jun 08, 2020

Show notes

How the church's complicity in white supremacy distorts the gospel—and how to confront it with humility and courage. Mike, Tim, and Bonnie sit down with pastor, author, and diversity trainer Brit Barron for a powerful and deeply honest conversation about race, justice, theology, and the responsibility of the church in a time of social upheaval. Drawing on her personal experiences as a queer woman of color, former megachurch pastor, and co-pastor of the inclusive community New Abbey in Pasadena, Britt offers prophetic insight, careful nuance, and radical hope for a better way forward in both faith and society.

Key Takeaways: • Understanding the Church's Role in Racism – Why white supremacy, power structures, and theological interpretations go hand-in-hand—and how churches must reform from within to dismantle those ties. • Diversity vs. Charity – Exploring how "charity" approaches to racial justice reinforce power dynamics, and why real change requires internalizing the work. • Personalizing the Journey – Why white complicity in racism is about more than action steps—it's about doing your own work, confronting personal fears, and being willing to change. • Navigating Hard Conversations – Insights on interracial marriage, family dynamics, and staying grounded in painful seasons of world-shaking injustice. • Creating a Truly Inclusive Church – How deauthorizing leadership, centering marginalized voices, and practicing real-time political engagement leads to authentic gospel embodiment.

Guest Highlights: Brit Barron – Pastor, speaker, author of the upcoming book Worth It, and co-leader of New Abbey Church in Pasadena. Britt shares her wisdom on race, church, LGBTQ+ identity, and social justice with clarity, humor, and hope.

Resources Mentioned: • Brit's website and anti-racism guide – brittbarron.com • New Abbey Church – newabbey.org • Britt on Instagram – @brittbarron • Book: Worth It by Britt Barron – Coming July 21

Come be part of the movement toward a more just, honest, and loving church. Subscribe to the Voxology Podcast, leave a review, and follow us on social to continue the conversation.

As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV

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Learn more about the Voxology Podcast

Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify

Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon

The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio

Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre

Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV.

Our Merch Store! ETSY

Learn more about the Voxology Podcast

Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify

Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon

The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio

Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre

Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

Podcast Blackout: Lamenting and Listening in Solidarity with Victims of Police Brutality Jun 02, 2020

Show notes

Standing in collective lament and solidarity, this episode features a moment of silence and protest as part of the podcast blackout movement—recognizing the loss of Black lives due to police brutality. Tim Stafford speaks on behalf of the Voxology community to affirm their commitment to listening, learning, and mourning with those who grieve. By naming the victims, this episode becomes a space of remembrance and protest against systemic injustice.

Key Themes: • Honoring the lives lost to racial injustice through a spoken memorial. • A public and spiritual practice of lament aligned with the biblical call to mourn with those who mourn. • Centering the importance of listening, empathy, and standing in solidarity with marginalized communities. • Highlighting the church's prophetic role in naming sin and injustice in society.

Reflection Focus: Rather than commentary or discussion, this episode acts as a sacred pause—a responsive act of solidarity through silence and the power of naming.

Call to Action: Take time to reflect, lament, and educate yourself on racial justice. Seek ways to stand alongside communities affected by systemic violence. Subscribe, share, and follow the Voxology Podcast to continue engaging in conversations about justice, faith, and the true mission of Jesus.

As always, we welcome your thoughts and stories as we pursue this journey together. Email your reflections to hello@voxpodcast.com and connect with us on Facebook and Instagram.

We're on YouTube: VOXOLOGY TV

Visit our Merch Store: ETSY

Learn more at voxologypodcast.com

Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify

Support on Patreon

Follow Mike on Twitter: @mikeerre

Music by Timothy John Stafford Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV.

Our Merch Store! ETSY

Learn more about the Voxology Podcast

Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify

Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon

The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio

Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre

Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

Rethinking Salvation, Allegiance, and the Whole Christ Event - w/ Matthew Bates Jun 01, 2020

Show notes

How reframing the gospel as the enthronement of King Jesus—not just personal forgiveness—transforms our understanding of salvation, faith, and the mission of the church. Mike Erre and Tim Stafford are joined by theologian and author Dr. Matthew Bates to uncover how early Christian proclamations of the gospel centered on Jesus' kingship, not just his atonement.

This episode dives deep into controversial theological waters, challenging common evangelical interpretations of faith, grace, salvation, and works—with the goal of recentering our gospel language around the lordship and kingship of Jesus Christ.

Key Takeaways: • The Full Christ Event as Gospel – Why the gospel must include Jesus' incarnation, life, death, resurrection, ascension, and enthronement—not just his death for sin. • Faith as Allegiance – How the New Testament concept of "faith" (pistis) includes embodied loyalty and allegiance, not just belief in promises. • Reframing Grace and Works – How our traditional individualistic view of "grace" may limit the biblical message, and why responding to grace isn't legalism. • Salvation as Communal and Cosmic – Understanding salvation as deliverance into the new creation and Spirit-filled community, not just an individual ticket to heaven. • Ephesians 2 Reexamined – Breaking apart four key gospel words—grace, saved, faith, and works—and revealing how they support allegiance-based discipleship.

Guest Highlights: Dr. Matthew Bates – Theology professor at Quincy University and author of Salvation by Allegiance Alone and Gospel Allegiance. Bates offers a fresh scholarly framework for rediscovering the gospel as King Jesus proclaimed it—centered on the claim that Jesus is enthroned as King and worthy of our total allegiance.

Resources Mentioned: • Matthew Bates – matthewwbates.com • Books: Salvation by Allegiance Alone & Gospel Allegiance by Matthew Bates • Book: Paul and the Gift by John M.G. Barclay • Podcast: OnScript Podcast • Ephesians 2:8–10 • Romans 2:16, 3:21–26 • Mark 1:14–15 (Jesus' proclamation of the kingdom) • Luke's Gospel – Narrative of salvation through discipleship

Join us as we unpack a more complete and compelling view of the gospel that doesn't end at the cross, but enthrones Jesus as King, Savior, and Lord. Subscribe, leave a review, and share the journey with us on social media!

As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

📺 Watch on YouTube: VOXOLOGY TV 🛍 Merch Store on Etsy: VOXOLOGY Shop 🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast: ➤ Apple Podcasts ➤ Spotify 💡 Support the show on Patreon: Patreon.com/voxology 🎵 Music by Timothy John Stafford – timothyjohnstafford.com Twitter & Instagram: @GoneTimothy 📻 Listen to curated playlists on our Spotify channel: Voxology Radio

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As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV.

Our Merch Store! ETSY

Learn more about the Voxology Podcast

Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify

Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon

The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio

Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre

Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

Beating Guns and Healing Communities: Shane Claiborne on Faith, Fear, and Redemption May 25, 2020

Show notes

How the spiritual vision rooted in Isaiah and Micah, combined with raw grassroots action, is reshaping the modern American conversation around gun violence. Shane Claiborne joins Mike Erre and Tim Stafford for a moving conversation about gun reform, Christian nonviolence, and the community-driven approach to peacemaking that challenges systems of fear and violence. This episode explores how proximity to suffering awakens faith into action and provides a prophetic witness to what it means to follow Jesus in a world shaped by trauma and fear.

Key Takeaways: • Gun Violence as a Spiritual Crisis – Shane Claiborne calls the American obsession with guns not just a political issue but a soul issue that contradicts the Sermon on the Mount and Jesus' teachings. • The Power of Proximity – How living in a North Philly neighborhood affected by gun violence transformed Shane's understanding of justice, safety, and Christian responsibility. • Faith Over Fear – Why choosing love instead of fear must be central to Christian identity, especially when fear is weaponized to justify violence. • Repurposing Weapons into Tools for Life – The story behind RAWtools and Shane's blacksmithing practice that turns guns into garden tools and symbols of peace. • Redefining "Pro-Life" – How embracing a consistent ethic of life includes confronting gun violence, racism, the death penalty, and environmental degradation.

Guest Highlights: Shane Claiborne – Author, activist, and founder of The Simple Way, a community-oriented movement in Philadelphia. Shane shares his journey from growing up around guns in Tennessee to becoming a blacksmith repurposing weapons into symbols of restoration. His passion for the marginalized and courageous critique of Christian nationalism places him at the forefront of faith-based activism.

Resources Mentioned: • Beating Guns: Hope for People Who Are Weary of Violence by Shane Claiborne and Michael Martin – Link • RAWtools – Learn more and get involved at rawtools.org • Everytown for Gun Safety Faith Network – everytown.org • Gunning of America by Pamela Haag – Historical deep dive into the gun industry's rise through profit over ethics • Prophetic Scriptures Referenced – Isaiah 2:4, Micah 4:3 • Watch the Beating Guns Documentary – Available via Amazon and Vimeo

Let's disrupt violence by building peace. Join the conversation and help reimagine a future where faith leads us away from fear. Subscribe, leave a review, and follow Voxology on social media to stay connected.

As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV

Our Merch Store! ETSY

Learn more about the Voxology Podcast

Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify

Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon

The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio

Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre

Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV.

Our Merch Store! ETSY

Learn more about the Voxology Podcast

Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify

Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon

The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio

Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre

Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

Overcoming Moral Chaos with the Beatitudes: Rediscovering True Blessing in a Self-Obsessed Culture - w/ Jonathan Dodson) May 18, 2020

Show notes

How the Beatitudes in Matthew reveal a radical, countercultural path to human flourishing—offering a lasting peace and joy our culture can't replicate. Mike, Tim, and Bonnie welcome pastor and author Jonathan Dodson for an in-depth conversation around his book "Our Good Crisis: Overcoming Moral Chaos with the Beatitudes." Together, they unpack the meaning behind Jesus's powerful moral vision, juxtapose it with America's obsession with self-fulfillment, and explore how spiritual poverty, grief, meekness, and peacemaking lead to deeper blessing and healing.

Key Takeaways: • Redefining Blessing Through the Beatitudes – Jesus calls "blessed" those who mourn, are poor in spirit, and persecuted—not the empowered, comfortable, or self-sufficient. • The Age of the Big Me vs. Spiritual Humility – Exploring how modern culture promotes pride through activism, therapy, and personal branding, while Jesus invites us into humble dependence on God. • Peacemaking vs. Performative Outrage – How followers of Jesus are called to enter cultural conversations with empathy, humility, and a longing for full reconciliation—not just online posturing. • Embracing Mourning and Lament – Finding comfort not by escaping grief, but by embracing it as part of the Christian journey. Learning how lament brings healing and integrates loss into our lives. • The Power of Meekness in a Hostile Age – Why true strength looks like restraint, listening, and self-sacrifice—and how this radically subverts traditional narratives about leadership and influence.

Guest Highlights: Jonathan Dodson – Founding pastor of City Life Church in Austin, TX, and author of Our Good Crisis. Jonathan shares inspiring stories, biblical wisdom, and a timely challenge to embrace the beauty of the Beatitudes in the midst of cultural confusion and moral upheaval.

Resources Mentioned: • Our Good Crisis by Jonathan Dodson – Amazon • Jonathan Dodson's writings and blog – jonathandodson.org • City Life Church, Austin – citylifeaustin.org • The Road to Character by David Brooks • Be the Bridge (Latasha Morrison) – bethebridge.com • The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk • Podcast on Lament – [Link to previous Voxology episode on lament]

Join the conversation and rediscover how the Beatitudes can help you reclaim hope, humility, and purpose in the chaos. Subscribe to the podcast, leave us a review, and follow along on social media to stay present in this journey.

As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV.

Our Merch Store! ETSY

Learn more about the Voxology Podcast

Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify

Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon

The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio

Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre

Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV.

Our Merch Store! ETSY

Learn more about the Voxology Podcast

Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify

Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon

The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio

Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre

Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

Wrestling with Prayer, Healing, and Divine Sovereignty (God Is Not In Control Debrief Series – Part 1) May 11, 2020

Show notes

A reflection-driven conversation unpacks key questions raised by the "God Is Not In Control" series with Dr. Timothy Gombis and Dr. Peter Enns. Hosts Mike Erre, Tim Stafford, and Bonnie Lewis revisit listener feedback, dive deep into the theology of prayer, biblical lament, supernatural healing, and the nuance of divine sovereignty. Using the Lord's Prayer and Psalms as guideposts, they explore how Christians are called to pray with humility, hope, and honesty—even when answers don't come as expected.

Key Takeaways: • Exploring the Distinction Between Provision and Comfort – How "daily bread" in the Lord's Prayer speaks to trust in divine provision, not necessarily personal ease. • The Mystery of Prayer and Outcomes – Reflecting on why a faith-based approach to healing and intercession can't be reduced to formulas or outcomes. • Covenantal Context of the Psalms – Understanding how the Old Testament covenantal framework shapes the tone and expectations of prayers in the Psalms, and how we can still learn from them. • Prayer in Lament, Protest, and Surrender – Moving beyond consumeristic prayer toward solidarity with God's purposes and communal brokenness. • The Dallas Willard Approach – Reframing prayer as spiritual formation, where aligning our hearts with God takes precedence over specific results.

Guest Highlights: • This episode features an ensemble of the regular co-hosts—Mike, Tim, and Bonnie—offering pastoral reflections and personal experiences as they answer listener questions and prepare to bring Dr. Gombis back for a live Zoom Q&A.

Resources Mentioned: • Dallas Willard – Renovation of the Heart • Book of Psalms – Link • The Lord's Prayer – Matthew 6:9–13 (Link) • 1 Peter 5:7 – "Cast all your cares on him" (Link) • Jude 1:24–25 Benediction – Link

Want more conversations like this? Subscribe, leave us a review, and follow us on social!

As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV – YouTube Channel

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Learn more about the Voxology Podcast at voxologypodcast.com

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

Support the podcast on Patreon

Check out our curated Spotify channel: Voxology Radio

Follow Mike on Twitter: @mikeerre

Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV.

Our Merch Store! ETSY

Learn more about the Voxology Podcast

Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify

Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon

The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio

Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre

Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

Why the Bible Still Matters: Wisdom, Mystery, and the Evolving Journey of Faith - w/ Pete Enns May 04, 2020

Show notes

How reframing the Bible as a companion of wisdom rather than a rulebook can transform your faith and bring fresh insight into spiritual growth, deconstruction, and the struggles of modern Christianity. Featuring a deep and thought-provoking conversation with author, scholar, and podcaster Pete Enns, this episode from Voxology reflects on how scripture, community, and divine mystery guide us through seasons of doubt and spiritual evolution.

Key Takeaways: • Reclaiming the Bible After Deconstruction – Why discarding the Bible isn't the only option after faith shifts, and how to engage it anew without fear or rigidity. • The Bible as Wisdom Literature – Moving away from transactional reading and embracing a communal, contextual approach to scripture rooted in discernment. • Inspiration vs. Interpretation – Exploring how the Bible's ancient context, genre, and diversity invite interpretation that leads to spiritual maturity, not confusion. • Paul, Plagues, and Proverbs – Reexamining misunderstood or misused scriptures with humility and curiosity as essential tools in the journey of faith. • Trusting the Journey – Acknowledging doubt, divergence, and divine mystery as not only valid but necessary components of a deepening spiritual life.

Guest Highlights: Pete Enns – Scholar, author of How the Bible Actually Works, co-host of The Bible for Normal People podcast, and professor at Eastern University. Pete brings decades of theological expertise paired with a relatable approach to rethinking Christianity, the Bible, and the wisdom tradition.

Resources Mentioned: • Pete Enns's website – https://peteenns.com • The Bible for Normal People podcast – https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com • How the Bible Actually Works – Book link • The Sin of Certainty – Book link • The Creation and the Persistence of Evil by Jon D. Levenson – Book link • How to Read the Bible by James Kugel – Book link • The Bible and the Believer (Pete Enns, Marc Zvi Brettler, Daniel J. Harrington) – Book link • Bible Tells Me So by Pete Enns – Book link

Reimagining faith doesn't mean walking away—it might just mean walking deeper into mystery, wonder, and freedom. Subscribe, leave a review, and follow Voxology Podcast on social media to continue exploring the true mission of Jesus with us.

Have thoughts or questions? We'd love to hear from you at hello@voxpodcast.com and invite you to join the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

Check out our YouTube channel: VOXOLOGY TV

Grab some fresh Voxology merch on Etsy: VOXOLOGY Store

Learn more at voxologypodcast.com

Subscribe via Apple Podcasts or Spotify

Support us on Patreon

Follow the Voxology Spotify music channel: Voxology Radio

Follow Mike Erre on Twitter: twitter.com/mikeerre

Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV.

Our Merch Store! ETSY

Learn more about the Voxology Podcast

Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify

Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon

The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio

Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre

Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

Wake Up Dead Man: God is Not in Control, part 2 - with Tim Gombis Apr 27, 2020

Show notes

What if the chaos we fear is part of the invitation? In part 2 of this conversation with Dr. Timothy Gombis—aka "Freaking Gombis"—we go deep into the mystery and discomfort of prayer during crisis. Picking up where Part 1 left off, Gombis stuns the crew with a bold observation about God's posture in the midst of suffering and unanswered prayer, leading to a rich exploration of lament, divine sovereignty, and the church's calling in a broken world. From Romans 8 to Psalm 44 to punk bands and Bob Ross, Mike Erre, Tim Stafford, Bonnie, and Gombis uncover how deeply our theology of prayer reflects our assumptions about control, pain, and God's character.

Key Takeaways: • Challenging Conventional Prayer – Why most of our prayers don't align with Scripture, especially when driven by comfort, fear, or certainty. • The Power of Lament – Re-centering our prayers on lament, mercy, grief, and solidarity with a creation groaning for redemption. • How God Intervenes – Exploring the provocative claim that God's primary intervention is through human agents pursuing justice and healing—not supernatural micromanagement. • Prayer as Participation in God's Mission – Viewing prayer not as a tool to control outcomes, but a means of joining God's sorrow and hope. • Rethinking God's Sovereignty – Is God "in control" as we imagine—or is he grieving with us, stunned and heartbroken by the choices of humanity?

Guest Highlights: Dr. Timothy Gombis – Theologian, author, and professor who returns in this follow-up episode with penetrating insight and a brand-new theological "gut punch." Gombis challenges easy answers about divine intervention and invites us to press deeper into mystery, solidarity, and kingdom community.

Resources Mentioned: • Romans 8 – On creation groaning and the Spirit interceding. • Psalm 44 (via Eugene Peterson's paraphrase) – Inspiration behind U2's "Wake Up Dead Man." • Tom Wright – Article in TIME Magazine on the role of lament in the church. • "Faith Improvised" Blog by Timothy Gombis – faithimprovised.blogspot.com • U2's "Wake Up Dead Man" and "Yahweh" – Songs capturing lament and the cry for divine presence in the dark. • Genesis 1–3 – The tension between transcendence and intimacy in God's nature.

BONUS: Delightful tangents about Bob Ross calendars, lockdown reboots of "My Sharona," and barefoot Seth Erie sightings in the rain—just another day in the Voxology universe.

Join us as we reimagine what faithful prayer can sound like in a broken world, and discover how God's people are meant to be his hands—and heart—in the middle of it.

Subscribe, leave us a review, and follow Voxology Podcast on social media to keep these conversations going.

As always, we encourage and welcome discussion as we pursue. Email your thoughts or questions to hello@voxpodcast.com and engage with us on Facebook and Instagram.

We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV

Our Merch Store! ETSY

Learn more about the Voxology Podcast

Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify

Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon

The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio

Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre

Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV.

Our Merch Store! ETSY

Learn more about the Voxology Podcast

Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify

Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon

The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio

Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre

Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

God Is Not In Control? Exploring Suffering, Sovereignty, and Chaos - w/ Timothy Gombis Apr 20, 2020

Show notes

A candid and provocative conversation with theologian Dr. Tim Gombis kicks off a special four-part series unraveling one of Christianity's most common yet misunderstood phrases: "God is in control." In this first episode, Mike Erre, Tim Stafford, and Bonnie Lewis explore what it actually means to say that God is sovereign, and why saying "God is in control" may hinder rather than help a healthy understanding of suffering, divine action, and human vocation.

Gombis challenges us to take seriously the biblical portrayal of God as king, not controller, and to reimagine what divine sovereignty looks like in a chaotic world. Drawing deeply from Genesis, Revelation, and Pauline theology, the conversation lays a powerful foundation for understanding God's complex relationship with human freedom, suffering, and control.

Key Takeaways: • Understanding God's Sovereignty vs. "Control" – Why the phrase "God is in control" oversimplifies the theological richness of scripture and misrepresents God's relationship with creation. • The Human Role in God's Kingdom – How Genesis portrays humans as image bearers empowered to extend God's shalom, and what happens when we opt for chaos instead. • Suffering, Chaos, and the Illusion of Safety – Distinguishing between God's kingship and the unpredictability of a broken world, especially for middle-class Western Christians who may be shielded from suffering. • The Church's Projection of Power – Exploring how Western theology's emphasis on control, knowledge, and safety reflects our cultural desires more than God's nature revealed through Christ. • A Biblical View of Grief and Hope – Why the appropriate response to suffering isn't false assurances but grieving alongside a God who suffers with us—while still planting hope in the future resurrection.

Guest Highlights: Dr. Tim Gombis – New Testament scholar, regular guest of the Voxology Podcast, and insightful voice on the intersection of theology, scripture, and lived faith. His controversial blog post "God is Not in Control" sparked deep conversations about divine sovereignty during times of crisis.

Resources Mentioned: • Genesis 1–3 – Humanity's original vocation and fall. • Romans 8 – God's Spirit groaning with us in suffering. • Mark 13 – Jesus' warning against reading events as divine judgment. • Job – A biblical critique of formulaic thinking about suffering and divine logic. • Exodus 34 – God's self-revelation to Moses. • Revelation – God's identity as the one who is coming to reclaim his world. • Tim Gombis's Blog – [Available on Facebook] for ongoing posts and dialogue.

This is Part 1 of a four-part arc. Tune in next week as we continue the conversation with Tim Gombis in Part 2 and explore the implications for how we read the Bible with Pete Enns.

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Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

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