Voxology

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Understanding Jesus Through Jewish Eyes- w/ Dr. Amy-Jill Levine Apr 13, 2020

Show notes

How viewing Jesus through the lens of first-century Judaism can enrich faith, correct common misconceptions, and reshape our understanding of the New Testament. In this highly engaging and eye-opening episode, Mike Erre, Tim Stafford, and Bonnie are joined by New Testament scholar and Jewish academic Dr. Amy-Jill Levine (aka "AJ") to explore how Jesus' Jewish context clarifies theology, deepens spiritual practice, and invites a reexamination of the Christian narrative.

Dr. Levine, University Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies at Vanderbilt University, offers an extraordinary blend of deep scholarship, humility, and humor, challenging long-held assumptions about the law, women in Judaism, Paul, and more. The conversation spans Jesus's teachings in the Gospels, Paul's relationship to Torah, Christian misconceptions about ancient Judaism, and the modern relevance of recovering Jesus' historical Jewish identity.

Key Takeaways: • Jesus Was Fully Jewish – Understanding Jesus as a Torah-following first-century Jew radically reorients modern Christian interpretations of his teachings, particularly around ethics, law, and salvation. • Common Misreadings of Judaism – Dr. Levine debunks ideas like legalism, harsh treatment of women, and spiritual emptiness often wrongfully attributed to Jewish practice, demonstrating how these misperceptions distort the gospel. • Paul Within Judaism – Instead of abandoning Judaism, Paul's teachings are shown to operate within Jewish thought, especially as he addressed Gentiles exploring Jesus without converting to Judaism. • Seeing the Law as Freedom, Not Burden – Obedience to Torah, from AJ's perspective, is joyfully communal and rooted in identity—not in fear or a merit system. • Reading Scripture with Nuance – Whether it's parables or Jesus' sayings in the Sermon on the Mount, AJ highlights the importance of literary context, intention, and the Jewish practice of "building a fence around the law." • Rethinking Christian Spirituality – Jesus's moral teachings point toward tangible actions and transformation now—not just salvation later.

Guest Highlights: Dr. Amy-Jill Levine ("AJ") – A world-renowned Jewish scholar of the New Testament, AJ's groundbreaking work (including The Jewish Annotated New Testament, Short Stories by Jesus, and children's books on parables) bridges interfaith dialogue, clears up centuries of misunderstanding between Judaism and Christianity, and offers fresh insight into the life and teachings of Jesus.

Resources Mentioned: • The Jewish Annotated New Testament – Oxford University Press • Short Stories by Jesus: The Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi – Amazon • The Book of Legends (Sefer Ha-Aggadah) – A collection of Jewish midrashic stories, recommended for deeper understanding of Jewish spiritual storytelling. • Nathan Eubank's work on Ransom Theory – Exploration of the economic motifs behind atonement metaphors in ancient scripture. • Children's book by AJ: Who Counts? 100 Sheep, 10 Coins, and 2 Sons – Amazon

Join the journey of unlearning and rediscovering: Subscribe, leave a review, and follow Voxology Podcast on social media to help reclaim Jesus' cultural and historical context as central to Christian faith.

As always, we encourage and welcome discussion as we pursue truth together. Send in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com and join the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

Watch full episodes on VOXOLOGY TV.

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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.

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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

Passover, Liberation, and the God of the Wilderness - - w/ Rabbi Nahum Ward-Lev Apr 06, 2020

Show notes

How the ancient themes of Passover, liberation, and wilderness speak directly into our lives during a global pandemic. Rabbi Nahum Ward-Lev joins Bonnie, Mike, and Tim for a powerful and timely conversation that explores the Hebrew prophetic tradition and how its liberative framework can offer hope, transformation, and solidarity in the face of disruption and isolation. Drawing from his book, The Liberating Path of the Hebrew Prophets Then and Now, Ward-Lev invites listeners to rediscover the biblical wilderness as a space of creativity, growth, and divine intimacy.

Key Takeaways: • Rediscovering the Wilderness – How the biblical concept of "midbar" (wilderness) as the "wide place" is not just a location of hardship, but a sacred space where healing, creativity, and relational connectedness emerge. • Liberation as an Ongoing Spiritual Journey – Passover isn't just a historical event, but an invitation to engage in continual internal and communal transformation, especially in times of collective crisis. • God of the Margins – Understanding the divine identity rooted in liberation theology: "I am the Lord your God who brought you out of bondage," highlighting God's preferential option for the oppressed. • From Pharaoh's Pyramids to the People's Tabernacle – A compelling contrast between oppressive structures built by forced labor and communal spaces birthed from mutual creativity, justice, and shared story. • Darkness as a Place of Birth and Revelation – Reframing the "plague of darkness" and quarantine as womb-like—spaces where new imagination, connection, and justice-centered community can be born.

Guest Highlights: Rabbi Nahum Ward-Lev – Spiritual director, retreat leader, and author of The Liberating Path of the Hebrew Prophets Then and Now. Based in New Mexico, he leads the multi-faith study group Baymidrash and offers spiritual guidance nationwide. Rabbi Ward-Lev shares how Jewish spirituality holds a deep call to moral awakening, emphasizing that justice, relational wholeness, and co-creation with God are central to our human vocation.

Resources Mentioned: • The Liberating Path of the Hebrew Prophets Then and Now – Order the Book • Walter Brueggemann – Writings on prophetic imagination and resisting royal narratives • Children's Book: "God Must Be Like That" – Illuminating how we see God through justice, kindness, and love • Ezekiel 37 – The dry bones as a metaphor for spiritual rebirth and collective awakening • Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Beloved Community" – A vision rooted in mutuality, justice, and compassion

Let's continue to walk this liberating path together. Subscribe, leave us a review, and share this conversation with someone needing hope in the wilderness.

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: @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

Understanding Ourselves and Others Through the Enneagram - w/ Annie Dimond Mar 30, 2020

Show notes

How embracing the Enneagram as a tool for spiritual formation and self-understanding can deepen your empathy, reshape your identity, and lead you toward relational and emotional wholeness.

Bonnie and Tim are joined by Enneagram coach and spiritual director Annie Dimond, who brings a rich, narrative-based understanding of the Enneagram to this dynamic conversation. Broadcasting from her farmhouse in Scotland—where she moonlights as a yoga teacher and soon-to-be lambing shepherdess—Annie dives deep into how the Enneagram can be more than just a personality tool. From understanding childhood survival strategies to engaging with the "false self vs. true self" dynamic, this episode explores how spiritual direction, emotional integration, and body awareness come together to form a holistic approach to transformation.

Key Takeaways: • The Narrative Enneagram Tradition – A method that emphasizes stories, body awareness, and personal experience over rigid typology. • False Self vs. True Self – How the Enneagram reveals not just who we are but how our survival strategies have shaped us—and how we can grow beyond them. • The Spiritual Roots of the Enneagram – Exploring its origins in Jesuit formation, Jewish mysticism, Sufism, and early Christian monasticism. • Holy Ideas and Core Struggles – Each type holds a divine spark and a distortion of that holy idea (e.g., Type 4's longing for uniqueness vs. envy). • Using the Enneagram in Crisis – How different types are experiencing the pandemic and how compassion, not judgment, helps us better respond. • The Enneagram as Invitation – A call to listen to the emotions we normally suppress (like envy, fear, and grief), not as enemies, but as teachers.

Guest Highlights: Annie Dimond – A spiritual director, yoga teacher, PhD student, and certified Enneagram coach in the Narrative Tradition, Annie helps individuals and communities use the Enneagram for deeper healing and holistic spiritual formation. Her theological work bridges psychology, mysticism, and Christian discipleship in ways rooted in community and transformation.

Resources Mentioned: • Annie's Website – enneagramforwholeness.com • Contact Annie – enneagramforwholeness@gmail.com • Beatrice Chestnut – The Complete Enneagram – A comprehensive book exploring 27 subtypes and the psychological and spiritual roots of the Enneagram. • Upcoming Podcast – Annie's new show (title TBD), launching Fall 2024, will explore the Enneagram in the context of religion and spirituality.

Discover new invitations toward healing and wholeness by understanding your story—and others'—through the lens of the Enneagram. Ready to go deeper? Make sure to subscribe to Voxology, leave a review, and follow us on Instagram or Facebook to engage with our growing community.

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

Wash Hands, Then Wash Feet. Faithful Witness in the Time of COVID-19 Mar 27, 2020

Show notes

Responding to a cultural moment that disrupted daily rhythms, community gatherings, and global certainty, Mike Erre, Tim Stafford, and Bonnie Lewis come together in a special quarantine episode to ask four essential questions: What do we believe God is doing in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic? What is being exposed in us, our culture, and the Church? What does faithful witness look like right now? And how can communities like Voxology step up during a crisis?

Exploring both personal and theological layers, the conversation examines old views of judgment vs. participation, public theology vs. quiet presence, and how to engage empathetically when isolation looks different for each person. And yes—there are moments of humor, real talk, and even a surprise cameo from a passing train.

Key Takeaways: • Rejecting a Narrative of Judgment – Unpacking why attributing the pandemic to divine punishment misrepresents the character of God, especially in light of Jesus's covenant and ministry. • Seeing God in Slowness and Solidarity – Discovering how global slowing and human connection reveal God's presence through relief work, neighborly compassion, and personal introspection. • Faithful Witness Looks Like Action – Decentering Sunday services and rediscovering the roots of the Church through proximity to Jesus, supporting the vulnerable, and advocating for justice. • The Church Beyond the Stage – Challenging the church's over-reliance on Sunday gatherings and inviting a radical reformation of resources and priorities, especially for those most impacted by isolation or poverty. • When Home Isn't Safe – Acknowledging victims of domestic abuse, the immunocompromised, and the economically marginalized—groups whose struggles are amplified in lockdown.

Resources Mentioned: • Matthew 25 – Exploring Jesus' call to serve "the least of these." • Acts 4 – Centering the conversation around the disciples' transformation and faithful boldness under pressure. • The Book of Ruth – An example of partnering with God in the midst of uncertainty. • Sunday Spiritual Direction w/ Bonnie Lewis – 8:30am PT on Instagram & Facebook Live. • Facebook + Instagram Live Chats w/ Mike Erre – Starting April 1 (Wednesdays and Fridays at 12pm ET). • Voxology Community Zoom Call – April 7 at 9pm ET / 6pm PT – Stay tuned for signup info.

Join us in building a faithful, creative and compassionate church for right now. Subscribe to the Voxology Podcast, 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.

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: 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

Scars, Not Wounds - w/ Mike Erre Mar 23, 2020

Show notes

A powerful and deeply personal follow-up to episode 224 ("Together in Process"), this conversation invites listeners into the real-time journey of healing, restoration, and redemption. Mike Erre returns to share openly about his months-long process of owning his failures, confronting entrenched patterns of shame, and embracing the hard work of inner transformation. With contributions from co-hosts Bonnie and Tim, this episode models courageous vulnerability, celebrates emotionally healthy spirituality, and illuminates what it means to be pursued—even when exposed.

Hear how Mike's journey has been shaped through therapy, spiritual direction, tools like the Enneagram, and a deeply impactful experience at Onsite—a secular therapeutic program that helped reveal the sturdy presence of Jesus in unexpected spaces. The team reflects on the role of shame, the difference between sharing wounds and scars, and the powerful grace of being sung back into wholeness by a supportive community.

This episode is for anyone navigating failure, hiding in shame, or yearning to believe redemption is possible—even in ministry spaces. It's a story about how the grace of Jesus finds us in the dark and how true community helps us walk in the light.

Key Takeaways: • Healing Requires More Than Behavior Management – True transformation isn't about quick fixes but uncovering deeper wounds and habituating new patterns of living. • Holistic Growth Through Unlikely Tools – From the Enneagram to secular therapy, Mike shares how unexpected resources aligned with the gospel to bring genuine change. • Vulnerability and Boundaries – The wisdom of sharing scars, not open wounds, and how premature vulnerability can masquerade as authenticity. • Pursued in Our Shame – A reassuring reminder that Jesus doesn't recoil from our brokenness. Instead, he meets us there—with grace. • Doing the Inner Work in Community – How friendships, relational accountability, and being truly known create the space for sustainable growth.

Resources Mentioned: • Episode 224 – "Together in Process" • Onsite Workshops (Residential Therapy Programs) – onsiteworkshops.com • The Wisdom of the Enneagram by Don Riso & Russ Hudson • Poem: "Autobiography in Five Short Chapters" by Portia Nelson • Spiritual Direction info – voxologypodcast.com/resources • Dallas Willard's Teachings on Formation • VOXOLOGY TV – YouTube

Join our evolving, grace-filled conversation and help us cultivate spaces where honesty, healing, and discipleship grow together. Don't forget to rate and review, subscribe, and follow us on social media—we'd love to hear your story and walk alongside you.

As always, we encourage and welcome discussion. Email us at hello@voxpodcast.com or engage with us on Facebook and Instagram.

Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon

Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

Check out our Merch Store: Etsy

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

Is There Hope Beyond the Final Judgment? Rethinking Hell, Redemption, and God's Love - w/ Bradley Jersak Mar 16, 2020

Show notes

How the theology of "hopeful inclusion" and a reimagined understanding of judgment can expand your vision of redemption, freedom, and the character of God. In this eye-opening conversation, author and theologian Brad Jersak joins Voxology to discuss his acclaimed book, "Her Gates Will Never Be Shut," which explores biblical and historical perspectives on hell, divine judgment, and the ultimate redemption of all things.

Brad shares how a deeper dive into scripture, the early church fathers, and the layered symbolism of Revelation shifts our understanding of God's justice from punishment to purification, and hell from eternal torment to transformative love. This episode is a must-listen for anyone who has wrestled with fear-based theologies, inherited beliefs about hell, or the unsettling silence around what judgment really means.

Key Takeaways: • The Spectrum of Hell Theology – Breaking down common views including eternal conscious torment, conditional immortality (annihilationism), and ultimate redemption (a form of hopeful universalism). • Reorienting Judgment Through Love – Understanding God's fire not as vengeance but restoration, drawn from numerous passages like Malachi 3 and 1 Corinthians 3. • Hope After Death – Revelation's final chapters suggest the gates of the New Jerusalem are never shut, symbolizing ongoing invitation—even post-judgment. • Jesus in Hades – Exploring early Christian traditions of Jesus descending to Hades, setting captives free, and what it means for God's victory over death itself. • There's No Doctrine of Hell in the Creeds – Why hell was not considered a core requirement of Christian belief for the early church, and what that means for us today. • A Gospel of Love, Not Fear – Why the early Christian evangelists never used hell to convert, and how re-centering on Christ's love transforms how we live and share our faith.

Guest Highlight: Brad Jersak – Reverend, theologian, and author of more than 20 books including "Her Gates Will Never Be Shut." Brad serves as Dean of Theology & Culture at St. Stephen's University and offers a compelling vision of God's restorative love, grounded in scripture and the teachings of the early church.

Resources Mentioned: • Her Gates Will Never Be Shut by Brad Jersak – Amazon • St. Stephen's University – ssu.ca • Book: Jesus Showed Us (children's book by Brad Jersak) • Ephesians 2, Malachi 3, 1 Corinthians 3, Revelation 20–22 • The Gospel of Nicodemus – Early Christian writing referenced in discussion

Join the community of listeners engaging in conversations that challenge, affirm, and ultimately point us to the radical love of Jesus. Subscribe, leave a review, and follow Voxology Podcast on social media to be part of the evolving conversation.

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.

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: Voxology Radio

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

The Sacred in the Small: Uncovering Ancient Daily Life Through Archaeology and Storytelling- w/ Dr. Cynthia Shafer-Elliott Mar 09, 2020

Show notes

How artifacts like broken pottery, ancient bread ovens, and fingerprints in clay awaken us to the real lives and faith of biblical peoples—and what that means for us today. Tim and Bonnie welcome Dr. Cynthia Shafer-Elliott, professor of Hebrew Bible and archaeology at William Jessup University, to talk all things context—biblical genre, ancient family structures, and why daily life matters just as much as kings and temples when reading scripture.

Dr. Cynthia brings fresh perspective through her academic work and archeological field experience in Israel, digging into Iron Age homes from the time of Hezekiah and Isaiah. You'll hear what she's learned from excavating ancient kitchens, how she distinguishes mythic genres from historic timelines, and why focusing on the "mundane" aspects of life radically reframes our understanding of God's people in the Old Testament.

Key Takeaways: • Valuing the Mundane – Why archeology focuses less on big discoveries and more on everyday items that reveal how people lived, worked, and worshiped. • Genre Shapes Meaning – How understanding biblical genres—like mythical history or household narratives—can transform how we interpret Old Testament passages. • Rethinking "Biblical Households" – Exploring how ancient Israelite households functioned under survival conditions with shared authority between matriarchs and patriarchs. • Women's Roles in Ancient Culture – How archaeology challenges assumptions about patriarchy by revealing the essential role of women in food preparation, trading, and household leadership. • Living Faith in Dirt and Clay – What ancient fingerprints on pottery can teach us about God's ongoing work through real human lives.

Guest Highlight: Dr. Cynthia Shafer-Elliott – Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible and Archaeology at William Jessup University. With excavation experience at multiple sites in Israel and a specialization in daily life in ancient Judah, Cynthia brings both scholarly depth and tangible insight to the biblical text.

Resources Mentioned: • NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible – [Link] • New Oxford Annotated Bible (NRSV) – [Link] • William Jessup University – jessup.edu • Bible for Normal People Podcast (Pete Enns, Jared Byas) – biblefornormalpeople.com • BibleProject – bibleproject.com

Want to keep digging into scripture with a richer lens? Subscribe to Voxology, leave a review, and follow us on IG @voxologypodcast for updates and bonus content.

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 Listen to the Voxology 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

Thou Shalt Not Be a Jerk: How Faith Can Shape Politics Without Making Us Jerks - w/ Eugene Cho Mar 02, 2020

Show notes

Discover how perfect love, humble conviction, and courageous listening can help Christians engage politics without being divisive. Mike, Tim, and Bonnie welcome author, pastor, and activist Eugene Cho to talk about his new book, Thou Shalt Not Be a Jerk: A Christian's Guide to Engaging Politics. They dig into what it looks like to bring thoughtful, compassionate discipleship into political engagement in an era of fear, outrage, and division.

The group explores what it means to love our neighbors on both sides of the political aisle, how fear-based ideologies distort faith, and why being faithful to the gospel is inherently political—but never partisan. Eugene shares his own story as a Korean immigrant and pastor navigating the often fraught intersections of justice, theology, and civic responsibility.

Whether you're tired of political shouting matches or seeking to live a more grounded Christian witness in divisive times, this conversation provides wisdom, challenge, and hope for reclaiming a better way.

Key Takeaways: • Faith Before Politics – Why theology must inform political values—not the other way around—and how political idolatries distort the witness of the church. • Rejecting Fear & Embracing Love – Examining how fear hinders faithful action and how perfect love casts it out, especially in divisive election seasons. • Whole-Life Ethic – Understanding what it means to be pro-life from "womb to tomb" and how voting with the marginalized in mind shapes Christ-like action beyond the ballot box. • The Creativity of Table Fellowship – Exploring how shared meals, listening, and humanizing conversations (like Make America Dinner Again) invite transformation in a polarized culture. • A Call to Humble Conviction – Why being grounded in Scripture, vulnerable to community, and open to being wrong are necessary postures for engaging political complexity as followers of Jesus.

Guest Highlight: Eugene Cho – Speaker, pastor, and author of Thou Shalt Not Be a Jerk, Eugene is the founder of Quest Church in Seattle and One Day's Wages, a humanitarian org fighting global poverty. He offers a prophetic yet pastoral voice on Christian engagement in politics, identity, neighborliness, and gospel-based justice.

Resources Mentioned: • Thou Shalt Not Be a Jerk by Eugene Cho – Find it here • One Day's Wages – onedayswages.org • Make America Dinner Again – makeamericadinneragain.com • 1 John 4:18 – "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear…"

Let's commit to resisting fear, building bridges, and loving well in the public square. Subscribe to Voxology, leave a review, and share your thoughts on social—your input helps us shape a better 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.

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

Politics of the Marginalized: Reclaiming Justice, Economics, and the Voice of the Oppressed - w/ Don Golden Feb 24, 2020

Show notes

How the biblical pattern of liberation empowers us to confront economic injustice, redefine power, and co-create a more just world. In this dynamic episode of Voxology, Bonnie and Tim are joined by Don Golden—author, activist, theologian, and leader in faith-centered impact investing. Don brings decades of experience in international relief, political advocacy, and theological reflection to guide a conversation that challenges listeners to think deeply about what it means to be God's liberating people in today's complex world.

From Exodus to economics, Don unpacks a prophetic framework of four biblical locations—Egypt, Sinai, Jerusalem, and Babylon—that mirror the spiritual and societal cycles we live in today. The episode explores how privilege distorts our reading of Scripture, how American Christianity risks irrelevance by aligning with earthly power, and how marginalized voices and refugee realities should shape the conscience of the church.

Don also reflects on his journey from World Relief to founding JCQ—a consultancy committed to mobilizing generous capital for socially just businesses solving climate and poverty challenges in Africa and across the globe. Whether it's microfinance in Burundi, refugee ministry, or AI cameras preventing elephant poaching, Don's vision of "faithful finance" offers practical pathways for Christians to embody the mission of Jesus.

Key Takeaways: • The Bible as a Book of Social Arrangements – Exploring how Scripture consistently centers justice for the marginalized and calls God's people to live in covenantal community. • Power, Privilege, and Hermeneutics – How those with influence often misread the Bible and resist displacement, and why equality can feel like oppression to the powerful. • Four Biblical Locations of Spiritual Formation – Understanding Egypt, Sinai, Jerusalem, and Babylon as stages in personal and national transformation, and how the U.S. church might be repeating Israel's cycle. • Refugees, Not Politics – What the dramatic drop in refugee resettlement under evangelical-aligned political leadership reveals about the American church's abandonment of the gospel ethic. • Impact Investing for the Kingdom – Connecting capital with justice through small and medium enterprise growth, microfinance, and sustainable development as faithful expressions of Christian mission.

Guest Highlights: Don Golden – Former Executive Director of Red Letter Christians and longtime leader at World Relief, Don offers a powerful convergence of theology, justice, and finance. As founder of JCQ (Just Capital Quotient), he now helps connect donors, churches, and investors to redemptive opportunities around the world through innovative impact investing.

Resources Mentioned: • Don Golden's Consultancy – donrgolden.com | Contact Don directly at don@donrgolden.com • Ghana Climate Innovation Centre – Promoting climate-smart enterprise development • Hope International – hopeinternational.org • Talanton Impact Investing – talantonllc.com • TrailGuard AI – AI camera tech for anti-poaching featured on Robert Downey Jr.'s The Age of AI • Matthew 25 – The parable of the sheep and goats • Microfinance & Village Banking – Initiatives referencing Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank • Previous Voxology Episode with Matthew Soerens – Deep dive into refugee conversations (Ep. 204)

Join the conversation on justice, economic generosity, and the true mission of Jesus by subscribing, leaving a review, and connecting with Voxology Podcast on social media. Tell us your liberation story or share how your community is putting freedom into action.

As always, we encourage and invite discussion as we pursue these ideas together. Email questions to hello@voxpodcast.com and follow the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

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Follow us on Instagram @voxologypodcast and like us on Facebook Follow Mike Erre 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

Undoing Shame and Reclaiming Pleasure: A New Conversation on Sex and Purity Culture - w/ Dr. Celeste Holbrook (Rated PG13) Feb 17, 2020

Show notes

How rethinking sexuality beyond purity culture can lead to healing, empowerment, and deeper intimacy. Bonnie and Tim are joined by sexologist Dr. Celeste Holbrook for an honest, hilarious, and deeply needed conversation about disentangling shame, reframing abstinence, and reclaiming sexual wholeness within a Jesus-centered framework.

Key Takeaways: • Separating Purity Culture from Abstinence – Why defining abstinence by fear and shame is damaging, and how making informed, autonomous decisions empowers both men and women. • Addressing Shame and Fear – How purity culture instilled unspoken trauma and confusion around sex, and how to begin the healing process from those messages. • Sex as a Behavior, Not a Drive – Reframing male sexuality away from uncontrollable urges and toward mutual emotional and physical connection. • Communal Healing Around Sexuality – How conversation, education, and sensual presence can begin to undo harmful narratives and help couples rediscover intimacy. • Intentional Parenting – Why the best sex ed starts early, involves real anatomical language, and begins with parents healing their own sexual narratives.

Guest Highlights: Dr. Celeste Holbrook – A practical sexologist helping individuals and couples create healthy, pleasure-filled sex lives through education, open dialogue, and healing from shame. Celeste shares her personal story of sexual pain rooted in fear-based messaging and how it led her to a career helping others find sexual liberation and freedom in truth.

Resources Mentioned: • Dr. Celeste Holbrook's Website – drcelesteholbrook.com • 20 Sex-Enhancing Questions – Free downloadable couples' resource from Celeste's site • "Don't F*** With Cats" (Netflix Documentary) – Referenced in a pop-culture sidebar (seriously) • Esther Perel's Work – On intimacy, desire, and the psychological frameworks of sexuality • Voxology Episode Archives – Look for the "Sex, Love, and God" series with Mike Erre • Circle of Sensual Women – Dr. Celeste's private Facebook group for discussion and support

Let's keep the conversation going. If you have further questions for Celeste, want a follow-up episode, or need a resource clarification, we'd love to hear from you!

As always, we encourage thoughtful dialogue as we pursue wholeness in every area of life. Email us at hello@voxpodcast.com or engage with us on Instagram and Facebook.

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

Our Merch Store: ETSY

Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon

The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio

Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify

Follow Mike on Twitter: @mikeerre

Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

If today's episode helped challenge old beliefs or spark a needed conversation, share it, leave a review, and tell a friend about Voxology. We're all on this journey together—and you're not alone.

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