Voxology

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Healing the Wounds of Sexual Abuse - w/ Elaine Heath Sep 02, 2019

Show notes

How reading the Bible alongside survivors of sexual abuse can transform our understanding of Scripture, the church, and the mission of Jesus. Mike Erre sits down with theologian, pastor, and former Duke Divinity School dean Dr. Elaine Heath to discuss her powerful new book, Healing the Wounds of Sexual Abuse: Reading the Bible with Survivors. Digging into themes of trauma, patriarchal theology, the misuse of scripture, and the redemptive potential of re-reading scripture through a different lens, this episode invites listeners into a conversation that is both deeply challenging and profoundly hopeful.

Dr. Heath shares her personal experience as a survivor and her journey into ministry—a path shaped by hardship, passion for Christ, and the call to reimagine theological education through the Neighborhood Seminary. Together, she and Mike explore how survivors offer wisdom the church desperately needs and how honest conversations around abuse, power, redemption, and scripture can lead to individual and communal healing.

Key Takeaways: • Reading Scripture with the Marginalized – How engaging the Bible through the lens of abuse survivors—particularly women—uncovers new depths and meanings in familiar texts. • The Cost of Patriarchy in the Church – How patriarchal theology and the idolization of male authority have fostered environments of silence, shame, and abuse. • God's Nearness to the Vulnerable – Dr. Heath's profound insight into Matthew 25 and her personal encounter with Jesus's presence during her own experiences of abuse. • A Call to Action for Churches – Practical and theological ways faith communities can become refuges for victims and centers for education, justice, and healing. • Fatherhood, Femininity & Representation – Why parents and churches must counter cultural pressures with a holistic, gender-inclusive theology of personhood and giftings.

Guest Highlights: Dr. Elaine Heath – Author, theologian, and founder of the Neighborhood Seminary. As a professor and ordained United Methodist pastor, Dr. Heath's work uniquely bridges academic theology, pastoral care, and deep healing. In her book and this conversation, she powerfully argues that survivors offer critical theological insights the church must heed.

Resources Mentioned: • Healing the Wounds of Sexual Abuse: Reading the Bible with Survivors by Elaine Heath • Neighborhood Seminary – neighborhoodseminary.org • FaithTrust Institute – faithtrustinstitute.org • Christians for Biblical Equality International – cbeinternational.org • Reviving Ophelia by Mary Pipher • Future Church by Wes Granberg-Michaelson • Tim Gombis – Faith Improvised Podcast • Shameless by Nadia Bolz-Weber

Call to Action: Join the movement toward theology that heals. Share this episode with someone who needs it. Subscribe, leave a review, and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @voxologypodcast. Let's continue these conversations on justice, healing, and reclaiming Jesus's mission of love for the marginalized.

As always, we encourage and welcome discussion. Send your questions or thoughts to hello@voxpodcast.com.

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Follow Mike: Twitter.com/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

Finding Healing and Faith in the Age of the Church of Us vs. Them - w/ David Fitch Aug 26, 2019

Show notes

How the enemy-making machine has wormed its way into our churches—and how to dismantle it with spiritual discernment, humility, and a commitment to personal and communal reformation. Mike Erre and Tim Stafford are joined by theologian and author David Fitch to explore themes from his book "The Church of Us vs. Them: Freedom from a Faith That Feeds on Making Enemies." Fitch presents a powerful critique of how evangelical churches have aligned with power, created ideological purity tests, and become known more for their enemies than for their love.

Through wit, insight, and a bit of holy mischief, Fitch confronts how distinctives like inerrancy, eschatology, and gender roles evolve into antagonistic banners that suppress healthy dialogue. Instead, he advocates for a model of shared discernment, rooted in embodied theology, intentional community, and enemy-love in the spirit of Jesus. They deep-dive into complex, often polarized church conversations—particularly surrounding sexuality and biblical authority—and model what it looks like to pursue truth without resorting to vilification.

Key Takeaways: • Banner vs. Belief – How important theological distinctives often turn into ideological weapons that prevent true discourse. • Understanding the Enemy-Making Machine – A framework for how churches build antagonistic identities by aligning against others, rather than toward Jesus. • Walking with Enemies – What it means to love those you disagree with, and why division can be avoided through listening and mutual submission. • Submission vs. Control – The importance of faithful theological leadership shaped in real communities of accountability, not coercive church systems. • Discerning in a Post-Christendom Culture – Why conflict is an opportunity to grow toward Christ's mission instead of drawing antagonistic battle lines.

Guest Highlight: David Fitch – A pastor, theologian, and author committed to rethinking ecclesiology and culture through the Anabaptist tradition. He brings depth, humor, and prophetic edge as he explores how the church can rediscover its mission outside systems of power and division.

Resources Mentioned: • David Fitch – The Church of Us vs. Them – Amazon Link • Missio Alliance Author Page – David Fitch on Missio • Andrew Marin – Us Versus Us • Tim Gombis – Faith Improvised podcast • Anthony Giddens – The Transformation of Intimacy • Bonhoeffer & the Confessing Church (historical reference)

Join the conversation and share your own reflections on the banners you've carried—and how discernment might offer a better way forward. Be sure to 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.

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

Leaving Evangelicalism Without Losing Jesus: Deconstruction, Doubt, and a Better Way Forward Aug 19, 2019

Show notes

How stepping away from evangelical subculture doesn't always mean walking away from Jesus. Mike Erre, Tim Stafford, Bonnie, and special guest Andy Laura reunite for a raw and candid discussion on the rising wave of public deconstruction stories, including those of Josh Harris and Marty Sampson. They explore how rigid Christian systems often leave no space for doubt, grief, or change—and what a healthier path could look like for those questioning their faith.

Highlighting how the evangelical church's rigidity, celebrity culture, and systematic certainty can actually fuel disillusionment, they call for a broader, more compassionate view of how faith evolves—and how to be people who hold pain well in others' journeys.

Key Takeaways: • Leaving Evangelicalism ≠ Leaving Jesus – Many people stepping away from evangelical structures are still pursuing truth, peace, and meaning—and some are finding Jesus more clearly outside those systems. • Deconstruction in the Spotlight – Reflections on Josh Harris and Marty Sampson's public "falling away" and how the Christian response often lacks nuance and grace. • The Problem with the Purity and Celebrity Culture – How evangelicalism's obsession with youthful influencers and certainty has become spiritually stifling for many, including its former leaders. • Responding with Compassion, Not Correction – The importance of making room for doubt, grief, and growth—especially for those wrestling with honest questions about hell, justice, and Christian hypocrisy. • Holding Pain Well – Why the church must be a safe place for honest wrestling and brokenness, not just praise and performance.

Guest Highlights: Andy Laura – Former Vox Community pastor and original Voxology co-host, Andy brings his unique wit and wisdom back to the mic for a deep, poignant conversation about leaving ministry, parenting in chaos, and creating meaningful work post-pastoring.

Resources Mentioned: • Josh Harris's Instagram Post – "By all the measurements I have for defining a Christian, I am not one" • Stephen Colbert & Anderson Cooper on Grief – A masterclass in holding pain with dignity and hope • Sleepless Clothing Line – wearesleepless.com

The Voxology crew invites you to question openly, process authentically, and walk humbly together toward a more honest expression of faith rooted in Jesus.

Subscribe, leave a review, and follow the conversation on Instagram and Facebook. Help us build a community committed to justice, grace, and the beautiful mess of spiritual formation.

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: 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 the Cross as Political Resistance: Paul, Power, and the Way of Jesus - w/ Tim Gombis Aug 12, 2019

Show notes

How Paul's vision of the cross calls the church to resist domineering power structures and create a radically different community rooted in the kingdom of God. In this fifth installment of the Exile Series, Mike Erre and special guest Dr. Timothy Gombis unpack a deeply political and countercultural lens for following Jesus, grounding the conversation in Paul's letters and the gospel of Mark.

Hear how our identity as the church reorients our political posture—not toward partisan divides, but toward the radical surrender, hospitality, and justice modeled by the crucified Christ. This wide-ranging conversation tackles nationalism, immigration, abortion, the misuse of Romans 13, the myth of a "Christian nation," and the idolatry of power in both American culture and the evangelical church.

Key Takeaways: • Politics as the Expression of Discipleship – Why Paul's gospel is entirely political—but not in the way we think. The church is a political body under the lordship of Jesus. • The Cross as Political Suicide and Kingdom Triumph – Cruciformity (living in the shape of the cross) is not a private spirituality but a public, political resistance to domination, exploitation, and hierarchy. • Rejecting Empire Loyalties – How aligning Christianity with political parties or nationalism leads to idolatry, and why liberal/conservative labels distort the gospel's political implications. • Political Engagement ≠ Party Politics – Practical ways the church can embody Jesus' politics today: from advocating for immigration reform to welcoming marginalized communities. • Interrogating the Pro-Life Identity – Gombis challenges a one-issue approach to Christian ethics by re-centering compassion, justice, and sustained action through the local church rather than political coercion.

Guest Highlights: Dr. Timothy Gombis – Pauline scholar, professor at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, and creator of the blog "Faith Improvised." Gombis brings deep expertise on Paul's political theology and gospel ethics, particularly around the themes of empire, identity, and cross-shaped living. His fresh reading of Mark and Paul's letters calls us to a bold reimagining of what it means to follow Jesus in the public square.

Resources Mentioned: • Faith Improvised Blog – faithimprovised.blogspot.com • Michael Gorman – Inhabiting the Cruciform God – [Link] • Michael Gorman – Reading Paul – [Link] • Sylvia Keesmaat & Brian Walsh – Romans Disarmed – [Link] • Scot McKnight – Reading Romans Backwards – [Link] • Ephesians: The Drama of Ephesians by Tim Gombis – [Link] • Mark 4: The Parable of the Soils – Reimagined as a critique of superficial discipleship and misuse of Jesus' message

Join us in this vital conversation as we rethink what it means to be the Church in exile—a community shaped not by cultural battles or fear, but by radical love, justice, and the Lordship of the crucified Christ.

Subscribe, leave a review on iTunes or Spotify, and follow @voxologypodcast on Instagram and Facebook to stay connected and be part of the ongoing dialogue.

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

White Supremacy, Guns, and Mass Shootings: Rethinking Christian Witness After Mass Violence Aug 06, 2019

Show notes

How can Jesus-followers respond to tragedies like the mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton in faithful, transformative ways? In this raw and reflective episode, Mike Erre, Bonnie, and Tim wrestle honestly with their grief, anger, and frustration in the wake of yet another national tragedy. They push back on empty Christian clichés, challenge politically entrenched responses, and instead offer a vision for lament, action, and reconciliation that reflects the way of Jesus—not American partisanship.

This critical conversation touches on how the church must reject passivity and empty platitudes, and instead embrace deep repentance, courageous lament, and a prophetic presence in the world. Drawing from Scripture, painful personal experiences, and the Sermon on the Mount, the episode explores how to be light in the darkness without becoming a mirror of the world's rage and polarization.

Key Takeaways: • Reclaiming Lament – Why biblical lament is not passive grief, but honest truth-telling rooted in the character of God and the hope of restoration. • Rejecting Cliché Responses – The danger of "thoughts and prayers" when they replace meaningful action and solidarity. • Nonpartisan Discipleship – Why the church must be a place where people from all political viewpoints can sit under the lordship of Jesus. • Enemy Love in Action – What it means to love your enemy without condoning injustice, and how this calls the church to speak boldly against white nationalism and all forms of hate. • The Church as Reconciling Community – Creating spaces for repentance, listening, and redemptive conversations that resist the fracturing of our culture.

Notable Quotes: "There's something deeply hypocritical about praying for a problem you are unwilling to resolve." "If gun owners are willing to fight to save one unborn child, shouldn't we be willing to give up something if it could save even one life in a mass shooting?"

Resources Mentioned: • Miroslav Volf – Reflections on confronting evil with actions, not only prayer • Dallas Willard – Teachings on "joyful non-compliance" and discipleship • Sermon on the Mount – Matthew 5-7 • James 1:27 – "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure…"

This episode is a sobering yet hopeful reminder that we can—and must—live into a better story. Join the ongoing dialogue about how to embody Jesus's love in a divided world. Subscribe, leave a review, and follow Voxology on your favorite platform or social media channel to continue the conversation.

As always, we encourage questions and community dialogue as we journey together. Email us at hello@voxpodcast.com and connect on Facebook and Instagram.

Watch full episodes on VOXOLOGY TV: https://www.youtube.com/@voxology Shop Voxology Merch: https://www.etsy.com/shop/VOXOLOGY Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voxology Learn more at: https://voxologypodcast.com Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/1Lla1Nj Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Mvxz3OQDSkEpHujXiFkkr

Follow the hosts: Instagram: @voxologypodcast Twitter: @mikeerre Music by Timothy John Stafford: https://www.timothyjohnstafford.com Twitter/Instagram: @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

How Jesus, the Syrophoenician Woman, and LGBTQ Theology Challenge Our Reading of Scripture Jul 30, 2019

Show notes

A deep dive into how interpreting scripture through a 21st-century lens can distort its original context and nuance, using the story of the Syrophoenician woman in Matthew 15 as a prime example. Mike, Bonnie, and Tim engage in a thoughtful and expansive conversation about what happens when modern theological frameworks—particularly around gender, power, and sexuality—are retroactively applied to ancient texts, and what that means for affirming theology, biblical authority, and faithful improvisation in today's culture wars.

In this powerful episode, the team wrestles with the tension between empathy-fueled transformation and faithful biblical interpretation, and what it means to navigate political outrage, the collapse of evangelical purity culture, and the ongoing conversation around affirming LGBTQ+ theology.

Key Takeaways: • Accurate Exegesis Matters – Why using the Syrophoenician woman as a text to depict Jesus as prejudiced misses the literary, historical, and rabbinical context of the passage. • Formation Over Outcomes – How our political and ethical posture as Christians needs to focus on internal transformation rather than managing public behaviors or outrage quotas. • Spiritual Discernment and New Movement – Exploring the possibility that something new is happening through the Spirit in the LGBTQ+ conversation and the church's evolving understanding. • Responsible Affirmation – If you're going to become theologically affirming, anchoring your views in sound scriptural interpretation benefits everyone—especially the marginalized communities theology intends to protect. • Purity Culture and Moralism – Reflecting on the demise of 90s-era evangelicalism and why non-redemptive moralism has left a legacy of confusion and trauma in matters of sexuality. • Contextual Wisdom – Why understanding context, genre, and historical nuance is crucial when building a theology rooted in justice and grace.

Resources Mentioned: • Sarah Bessie's Blog – sarahbessey.com • Acts 15 – The Council of Jerusalem and the Spirit's new movement • Matthew 15:21–28 – The Syrophoenician/Canaanite Woman • Mark 7:24–30 – Alternate account of the same encounter • N.T. Wright – Insights on biblical narrative and improvisation • Joshua Harris – Author of I Kissed Dating Goodbye and the conversation surrounding purity culture • Romans Disarmed by Sylvia Keesmaat & Brian Walsh – [Link to Book] • Faith Improvised Podcast by Tim Gombis – [Link to Podcast]

Guest Highlights: No formal guest, but features robust theological insights from regular co-host Bonnie, particularly her academic background in exegesis and gender studies—offering a masterclass in responsible biblical interpretation.

Listener Call to Action: This episode invites LGBTQ+ Christian listeners and allies to share how faithful biblical engagement has (or hasn't) felt helpful, liberating, or marginalizing. We'd love to hear from you as we continue building a theological ecosystem rooted in justice, truth, and grace. Subscribe, leave a review, and join the Voxology 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 at the Voxology Podcast Website

🟢 Subscribe on Spotify 🍎 Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon

🎵 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

Disarming Romans: Rethinking Power, Empire, and Faith through a Hermeneutic of Sorrow - w/ Sylvia Keesmaat and Brian Walsh Jul 23, 2019

Show notes

How seeing the book of Romans through the lens of justice, grief, and empire can radically reshape our faith and community. In their compelling conversation with Mike, Brian Walsh and Sylvia Keesmaat discuss their book "Romans Disarmed," a subversive and creative take on Paul's epistle that blends biblical exegesis with lament, narrative fiction, and political reflection.

Through an intentional hermeneutic of sorrow, Walsh and Keesmaat challenge listeners to reimagine salvation, justice, and discipleship not as abstract theological constructs, but as embodied, communal realities shaped in resistance to empire. Drawing from their real-life experience building an intentional Christian community on a permaculture farm in Canada—and a deep-seated commitment to the marginalized—they unravel the ways Romans has been weaponized in political and theological battles, and propose a reading that centers liberation, justice, and the radical love of Jesus.

Key Takeaways: • Reclaiming Romans from Empire and Individualism – How Paul's epistle, long used to justify nationalist or exclusionary theology, actually challenges imperial power and promotes a justice-shaped gospel. • Scripture as Resistance – Recovering the communal, narrative, and justice-rooted dimensions of the Bible beyond doctrinal proof-texting and theological systems. • A Hermeneutic of Sorrow – How entering scripture through places of grief, like the loss of a friend or systemic injustice, can activate faithful, compassionate readings. • Salvation as Communal Liberation – Moving beyond personal piety to understand salvation as holistic freedom—economic, social, and relational—for the oppressed. • Sexuality and the Roman World – Interrogating Romans 1 in its historical context, including how Paul's concerns about exploitative systems differ from modern ideas around orientation. • Lament as Theological Praxis – The importance of grief, creation care, and embodied life in shaping a Christian ethic worthy of Jesus.

Guest Highlights: Brian Walsh & Sylvia Keesmaat – Scholars and activists, authors of "Colossians Remixed" and "Romans Disarmed." They live on a permaculture farm, model intentional community, and call for the church to rediscover its prophetic imagination and justice-first mission in a post-Christendom age.

Resources Mentioned: • Romans Disarmed by Brian Walsh & Sylvia Keesmaat – Buy the book • Colossians Remixed – Link • Tim Gombis on Hermeneutics – Past Voxology episode • The Patient Ferment of the Early Church by Alan Kreider • School of Prophets (NT Wright View of Scripture) – Ongoing thought partnership mentioned by Sylvia

Join us as we wrestle with how to reimagine Christianity free from empire, full of justice, and radically shaped by the love of Jesus. Subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and follow us on social media for more conversations that matter.

Questions or thoughts? Email us at hello@voxpodcast.com and join the discussion on Facebook and Instagram.

Check out more from the podcast: • YouTube: VOXOLOGY TV • Merch Store: ETSY • Website: voxologypodcast.com • Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify • Support the podcast: Patreon • Spotify channel: Voxology Radio • Follow Mike: Twitter

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 the Bible's Call to Welcome Immigrants - w/ Matthew Soerens Jul 15, 2019

Show notes

How the biblical command to love the stranger challenges political assumptions, reshapes our view of immigration, and offers a new path forward. Mike, Tim, and Bonnie launch the Immigration Series by welcoming Matthew Soerens, author of "Welcoming the Stranger" and U.S. Director of Church Mobilization with World Relief, for a thoughtful, honest, and compassionate discussion at the intersection of faith, politics, and immigration.

Matthew breaks down decades of policy confusion and popular misconceptions while calling Christians back to foundational biblical truths. Drawing from Scripture and real-life examples, this episode explores what it means to love our neighbors—especially when they come from different places—and why it's essential for the church to lead in conversations around immigration, justice, and national policy.

Key Takeaways: • Biblical Foundations for Immigration – Scripture is filled with stories of migration and commands to protect and care for the foreigner, which must shape Christian attitudes and responses to modern immigration. • Separating Fact from Fear – Immigration myths debunked: most asylum seekers are not lawbreakers, and refugees undergo the most rigorous vetting process of any group entering the U.S. • Refugees, Asylum Seekers, and Immigrants—What's the Difference? – Understanding critical distinctions between immigration categories and why it matters legally and compassionately. • A Better Way Forward – Creating immigration policies that are both just and compassionate: secure borders, legal pathways, and restitution-based legalization for undocumented immigrants already here. • The Church's Unique Role – Why this is not just a political issue, but a discipleship issue rooted in hospitality, justice, and the mission of Jesus.

Guest Highlights: Matthew Soerens – U.S. Director of Church Mobilization at World Relief and co-author of Welcoming the Stranger. Matthew shares how his work with immigrants and refugees shaped his understanding of the Bible's mandate to love the stranger and encouraged churches to reframe the immigration conversation as a gospel opportunity.

Resources Mentioned: • Welcoming the Stranger by Matthew Soerens and Jenny Yang – [Link] • Evangelical Immigration Table – evangelicalimmigrationtable.com • World Relief – worldrelief.org • Thinking Biblically About Immigrants and Immigration Reform – Free eBook – [Link]

Want to help? Visit worldrelief.org/families to support frontline refugee and migrant care.

Get involved, share this conversation, and help spread biblical compassion in the immigration debate. Subscribe to the Voxology Podcast, leave us a review, and follow us on social media.

As always, we encourage and welcome discussion. Feel free to email questions and thoughts to hello@voxpodcast.com, and join the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

We're on YouTube – VOXOLOGY TV

Check out the Merch Store – VOXOLOGY on Etsy

Learn more at the Voxology Podcast website

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

Support us on Patreon

Voxology on Spotify Music: 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

How to Read the Bible Without Weaponizing It: Power, Interpretation, and Posture - w/ Dr. Timothy Gombis Jul 08, 2019

Show notes

Want to know how to interpret the Bible with humility and maturity in a fractured and polarized culture? This deep-dive conversation between Mike Erre, Tim Stafford, Bonnie, and returning guest Tim Gombis continues the "Misunderstanding the Bible" series by peeling back the layers on hermeneutics, historical assumptions, interpretive power dynamics, and the posture Christians bring to Scripture.

The episode kicks off with an honest reflection on listener feedback about tone and disdain when critiquing political and theological stances—offering a real-time example of the humility and self-critique Tim Gombis later emphasizes as vital to responsible interpretation.

They then unfold a richer vision of reading the Bible—not as a storehouse of propositional truth or ammunition for proving others wrong, but as an invitation to be mastered by the text, to date it (i.e., live with it over time), and to discern its logic through community, cross, and new creation lenses.

Key Takeaways: • Rethinking Hermeneutics – Why "sound hermeneutics" alone can't guarantee truthful or faithful readings of Scripture, and how that too often reinforces existing power structures. • Reading as Formation, Not Control – How interpretive posture—not just methodology—determines whether we're being shaped by the Bible or using it to control others. • Scripture as Relationship – Tim Gombis introduces the idea of "dating the text," encouraging long-term, immersive reading to let Scripture reveal its shape. • Welcoming the Tension of Disagreement – How church leaders can hold space for unresolved tension around issues like sexuality, while remaining faithful to Jesus' call for unity, humility, and welcome. • Using the Bible Without Weaponizing It – Addressing the damage done when Scripture is used to enforce ideology rather than facilitate community discernment.

Guest Highlights: Dr. Tim Gombis – New Testament scholar and Professor at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. Known for his work on Paul, the New Testament, and the ethics of interpretation, Tim brings incisive insight and disarming humility. He challenges listeners to move beyond modernist methods and into a deeper, community-shaped reading of Scripture that is faithful to both text and Spirit.

Resources Mentioned: • Richard Hays' Model – Community, Cross, and New Creation framework for biblical ethics. • Kevin Vanhoozer – Essay in Evangelical Futures on interpretive approaches. • Romans 1–2 and 14–15 – How Paul's rhetorical flow shapes our ethics and humility. • Church Discipline in 1 Corinthians 5 – Differentiating destructive behavior from personal journeys. • Gospels (especially Matthew and Mark) – Drawing insight from Jesus' approach to judgment, hospitality, and discernment. • N.T. Wright – The Bible as a unified story told through genre-rich literature.

Find yourself grappling with how to interpret Scripture in our polarized world? Whether dealing with hard conversations around sexuality, church unity, or biblical authority, this episode offers a framework of humility, curiosity, and transformation.

Be part of the community striving to read the Bible responsibly and graciously. Subscribe, leave us a review, and follow us on social media to continue this essential conversation.

Write to us: hello@voxpodcast.com Join the conversation on Facebook and Instagram: @voxologypodcast Check out the YouTube channel: VOXOLOGY TV Support us on Patreon and explore our Merch Store on Etsy Learn more at voxologypodcast.com Music by Timothy John Stafford — @GoneTimothy on socials

Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

Check out our curated Spotify collections at Voxology Radio

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

Healing and Hope for the Spiritually Homeless: Why Tension and Inclusion Matter in the Church Today Jul 01, 2019

Show notes

How embracing spiritual homelessness can lead to deeper maturity, richer community, and a more authentic vision of Jesus. In this deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation, Mike Erre, Tim Stafford, and Bonnie dive into the emails and reflections flowing from their recent "Spiritually Homeless" and "Future of the Church" conversations. Together, they unpack tough theological questions, critiques about the direction of the show, challenges in church culture, and moments of clarity about why spiritual tension may actually be a gift.

This isn't just a mailbag—it's a soul-searching conversation about making space at the table for spiritual wanderers, the marginalized, and those disillusioned by religious systems that fail to reflect Jesus. From deconstruction fatigue to gender roles in ministry, from megachurch questions to forgiveness journeys, this episode is a snapshot of a diverse and longing community seeking to build something new—together.

Key Takeaways: • Spiritual Homelessness as Growth – Why questioning, discomfort, and feeling adrift spiritually can invite deeper relationship with Jesus and others. • Inclusivity and Justice in Church Leadership – How unclear or harmful stances on women in ministry directly impact not just individuals but entire congregations. • Forgiveness as a Path to Community – A powerful testimony on how personal healing after church hurt created space to re-engage faith and community without bitterness. • Holding Tension Well – The team discusses how to balance critique with grace, truth with love, and tradition with transformation. • Redefining Church – Honest reflections on small group dynamics, megachurch systems, and how house churches or new forms might open room for hard conversations that foster belonging. • Making Jesus Beautiful – Responding to feedback about the tone of recent episodes and the ongoing desire to point everything—critique included—toward the real Jesus.

Quotes Worth Noting: • "True spiritual maturity is being at peace with people no matter where they're at. Even if you vehemently disagree, they're still worthy of dignity, respect, and love." • "If our spiritual homelessness causes others to feel alienated, that's not growth—it's gatekeeping in new clothes." • "Forgiveness wasn't about them—it was about clearing my soul enough so I could hear God again."

Resources Mentioned: • Episode 195 – "Spiritually Homeless" • "The Patient Ferment of the Early Church" by Alan Kreider • "Resident Aliens" by Stanley Hauerwas and William Willimon • Past "Future of the Church" conversations with Tim Gombis, Sky Jethani, Andy Crouch, and Rick • Zenos Christian Fellowship model – [Link to learn more about their house church discipleship structure]

Call to Action: Share your story of spiritual tension or hope with us! Email us at hello@voxpodcast.com and let us know what you're learning on your journey. Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and follow us on your favorite podcast platform and social media to stay part of the Voxology community.

We're on YouTube: VOXOLOGY TV Our Merch Store: ETSY Learn more: voxologypodcast.com Support the Podcast: Patreon Listen on iTunes or Spotify Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook Follow Mike on Twitter: @mikeerre Music by Timothy John Stafford (@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