Folding Chair Theology

WE DID IT! 100 EPISODES!In this episode, Bruce and Justin recap the last 99 episodes over 5 1/2 seasons!Here's the break...Top 5S4E2 - #50 - Book Review: The Great Sex Rescue by Sheila Wray Gregoire, Rebecca Gregoire Lindenbach, & Joanna Sawatsky | S4E2 DL: 223S4E11 - #59 - Let's Talk About Sex, Baby... Well, Christian Sex Anyway: Interview with Sheila Gregorie | S4E11 DL: 138S5E12 - #77 - Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed Documentary Discussion, Pt. 1 | S5E12 DL: 123S5E13 - #78 - Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed Documentary Discussion, Pt. 2 | S5E13 DL: 62S414 - #62 - Misplaced Allegiance: Remembering the Insurrection | S4E14 DL: 60Bruce's FavesS4E8 - #56 Magin Makes the Heart Grow HeavyS5E9 - #74 Deconstructing DeconstructionJustin's FavesS6E4 - #94 Christian Nationalism Pt. 2 | The Folding Man MashupS4E5 - #53 - Mac & Cheese & Worship: Interview with Isaac Blitchok, Awaken Church Worship DirectorHonorable MentionsEpisodes 29 to 47, The whole Sermon on the Mount SeriesS5E18 - #83 James 2:14-26, Faith that WorksStraight White American Jesus - Charismatic Revival Fury Ep 1

In this mid-season finale, Bruce and Justin discuss whether or not there are any actual cases in which a Christian can condone or use violence to advance their political agenda, turning their discussion toward two verses: Luke 22 and Matthew 10

In this episode, Bruce and Justin discuss what real unity in the church could and should look like.

In this episode, Bruce and Justin discuss practically theology and what bad theology looks like.Criteria for Bad Theology - Dr. Leah RobinsonLimits Flourishing of HumansOppressiveDoesn't Permit ReflectionCreates Us v. Them MentalityIsolates Does Not Seek or Pursue Justice or EqualityBook: Bad Theology Kills: Undoing Toxic Belief & Reclaiming Your Spiritual Authority - Kevin Garcia

In this short episode, Justin catches you up on his life.

In this episode, Bruce and Justin discuss Oswald Chambers's devotional about being God's own possession and what it means for us as disciples.Check out the devotional here: His!, My Utmost for His Highest - Oswald Chambers

Originally, Bruce and Justin recorded a whole hour's worth of discussion to wrap up this three-part series. Somehow, likely user oversight, the file disappeared or was never recorded. But, you're in luck, because this final part was intended to describe what living out the kingdom of heaven on earth should look like and we've done two exhaustive series (one on the Sermon on the Mount and the other on the book of James) that details this reality.So, this episode will just be a reposting of our SOTM wrap-up episode from season 3.

In this episode, Bruce and Justin invite the hosts of The Grey Man Podcast, Mike Sian and Jim Mueller to discuss the geopolitical and theological implications of a Christian nation-state.If you're interested in personal defense and world events" shared from the perspective of a retired counter-terrorism agent and his best friend as they discuss life, exercise, diet, and whatever else they find interesting, check out The Grey Man Podcast.

In part 1 of this 3 part series on Christian Nationalism, Bruce and Justin break down the history of the American Redoubt, located in the inland PNW, and its connection to Christian Nationalism.Some information was pulled from  The Reader-Redoubt Series

In this episode, Bruce breaks down the difference between telling people who they are versus telling people who Jesus is and why it matters.

In this episode, Bruce and Justin discuss why Christian Nationalism is anti-Christ and dangerous. This is the introduction to the American Redoubt short series.ArticlesGlobal Project Against Hate and Extremism: The Great Replacement Conspiracy TheoryChristians Against Christian NationalismReligious News Network: When will their churches condemn the Christian nationalism of MAGA politicians?Red Letter Christians: Christian Nationalism is Dangerous to Christians

In the opener to season 6, Burce and Justin just catch up and shoot the sh... breeze, while trying to figure out what they're doing this season.

Bruce and Justin wrap up their series on James with a discussion about faithful prayer and confessing our sins to each other as presented in James 5:13-20.James 5:13-20, The Prayer of Faith13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.19 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

Bruce and Justin continue their series on James with a discussion about what it looks like to wait on the Lord, complain about your fellow Christian, and swear oaths as presented in James 5:7-12.James 5:7-12, Waiting for the Lord7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, be patient until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth and is patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, because the Lord's coming is near.9 Brothers and sisters, do not complain about one another, so that you will not be judged. Look, the judge stands at the door!10 Brothers and sisters, take the prophets who spoke in the Lord's name as an example of suffering and patience. 11 See, we count as blessed those who have endured. You have heard of Job's endurance and have seen the outcome that the Lord brought about—the Lord is compassionate and merciful.Truthful Speech12 Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “yes” mean “yes,” and your “no” mean “no,” so that you won't fall under judgment.

Bruce and Justin continue their series on James with a discussion about the dangers of wealth as presented in James 5:1-6.James 5:1-6, Warning to the Rich1 Come now, you rich people, weep and wail over the miseries that are coming on you. 2 Your wealth has rotted and your clothes are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have stored up treasure in the last days. 4 Look! The pay that you withheld from the workers who mowed your fields cries out, and the outcry of the harvesters has reached the ears of the Lord of Armies. 5 You have lived luxuriously on the earth and have indulged yourselves. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned, you have murdered the righteous, who does not resist you.

Bruce and Justin continue their series on James with a discussion about God's will and man's will and doing good as presented in James 4:13-17.James 4:13-17, Our Will and God's Will13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.” 14 Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring—what your life will be! For you are like vapor that appears for a little while, then vanishes.15 Instead, you should say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16 But as it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 So it is sin to know the good and yet not do it.

Bruce and Justin continue their series on James with a discussion about pride, humility, and being friends with the world as presented in James 4:1-12.James 4:1-12, Proud or Humble4 What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don't they come from your passions that wage war within you? 2 You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and wage war. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and don't receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.4 You adulterous people! Don't you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the friend of the world becomes the enemy of God. 5 Or do you think it's without reason that the Scripture says: The spirit he made to dwell in us envies intensely?6 But he gives greater grace. Therefore he says:God resists the proudbut gives grace to the humble.7 Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be miserable and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.11 Don't criticize one another, brothers and sisters. Anyone who defames or judges a fellow believer defames and judges the law. If you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?Episodes on Judging Each Other and OthersThe Voxology Podcast Judging Episode - #281Our previous episode on Judging - #43

Bruce and Justin continue their series on James with a discussion about the wisdom presented in James 3:13-18.James 3:13-18, The Wisdom from Above13 Who among you is wise and understanding? By his good conduct he should show that his works are done in the gentleness that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don't boast and deny the truth. 15 Such wisdom does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretense. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace.

Bruce and Justin continue the series on James with a discussion about controlling the tongue (James 3:1-13).James 3:1-13, Controlling the Tongue3 Not many should become teachers, my brothers,[a] because you know that we will receive a stricter judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is mature, able also to control the whole body. 3 Now if we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we direct their whole bodies. 4 And consider ships: Though very large and driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So too, though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts great things. Consider how a small fire sets ablaze a large forest. 6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed[b] among our members. It stains the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 Every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and fish is tamed and has been tamed by humankind, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in God's likeness. 10 Blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way. 11 Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a saltwater spring yield fresh water.

In this episode, Bruce and Justin continue their series on the book of James with a discussion of James 2:14-26 and what it means when James says faith without works is dead.James 2:14-26, Faith and Works14 What use is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 In the same way, faith also, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” 19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 20 But are you willing to acknowledge, you foolish person, that faith without works is useless? 21 Was our father Abraham not justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was Rahab the prostitute not justified by works also when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

Bruce and Justin continue their discussion through the book of James. This week's discussion involves chapter 2, verses 1-13, and deals with the sin of favoritism.

Bruce and Justin talk through James 1:12-27 and continue their discussion about living as Kingdom citizens.

Bruce and Justin start their series on what it looks like to live as Kingdom citizens with a discussion about James 1:1-11.

In this episode, Bruce and Justin explore and discuss what the Nephilim were and what they represent.

In part 2 of 2, Bruce and Justin discuss the new documentary, Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed.

In part 1 of 2, Bruce and Justin discuss the new documentary, Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed.

Bruce and Justin tackle what the Apostle Paul meant by his thorn and being strong in weakness. But first, they sidetrack on the Hillsong documentary on Discovery+ and celebrity pastors.Overview of 2 Corinthians, The Bible ProjectHillsong: A Megachurch Exposed (Documentary)

In this episode, Bruce and Justin tread way too close to the discussion of defining a woman.  Instead, they try to delineate what conversations we (Christians) should be having with the world and with each other.

Bruce and Justin talk through what it means when a Christian says they're deconstructing and why most pastors get it wrong.

In this episode, Bruce and Just look at the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 and what it took for the disciples to be a part of it.

Bruce and Justin lament and share their support for the people of Ukraine and then talk about what it means when Christians say God is in control.

Bruce and Justin wrap up with part 3 of their 3 part discussion on Kingdom masculinity. In this episode, they talk about what that looks like to be a dad.

Bruce and Justin continue with part 2 of their 3 part discussion on Kingdom masculinity. In this episode, they talk about what that looks like in marriage.

In this first of three parts, Bruce and Justin discuss what it means to live out authentic masculinity from a Christian perspective.

Bruce and Justin talk about what it means to put love into action. And Justin Reads 1 Corinthians 13.

THIS IS SEASON 5! Bruce and Justin are back and as always, they rant a bit. But they also share their hopes for season 5.

In this FCT Segment, Bruce considers whether we are putting too much pressure on our kids to be disciple-makers.

In this Justin Time segment, Justin reviews the past year.

In this episode, Bruce and Justin have a merry and cheerful discussion about the war on Christmas and reflect on the purpose of Advent.

In this episode, Bruce and Justin discuss Jesus's words in Matthew 6:15 about forgiveness. Specifically, they talk through whether unforgiveness is an unforgivable sin.Matthew 6:15But if you do not forgive other people, then your Father will not forgive your offenses.

In this episode, Bruce and Justin talk through the idea of justice in America and how it contrasts with biblical justice.Nonviolence: The Revolutionary Way of Jesus, Preston Sprinkle

In this episode, Bruce and Justin discuss the importance of confession and what it could look like in a Christian community.

In this episode, Bruce and Justin remember the January 6th insurrection, based on a HBOmax documentary, Four Hours at the Capitol, and how it is objectively not Christian.

In this episode, Bruce and Justin discuss spiritual gifts. They do reference a lot of the information provided by Ken Fish during his interview on the Coffee, Theology, & Jesus podcast.

In this episode, Bruce and Justin discuss the correlation between Nehemiah's presentation of the idea that the walls of Jerusalem were strong, but that the people inside the walls were collectively weak and today's, often typical, lack of discipleship within many of our churches.

We are SO excited to turn the show over to our wives, Sarah Pagano and Jessica Mercier so they could interview Sheila Gregorie, author of The Great Sex Rescue: The Lies You've Been Taught and How to Recover What God Intended. They also invited Sarah's friend, Rachel Mast (who was one of the 20,000 women who participated in Sheila's research survey), to co-host the episode.In addition to all the great conversation and really important information, Sheila shared some exclusive content with them so FCT could be the first to break it. Make sure you listen after the ladies say bye to Sheila because there's like 10 or 15 minutes of bonus content.About The AuthorsSheila Wray Gregorie is the face behind ToLoveHonorandVacuum.com, which was the largest single-blogger marriage blog until she invited Rebecca Gregoire Lindenbach and Joanna Sawatsky to join her. She's also an award-winning author of nine books, including The Good Girl's Guide to Great Sex, and a sought-after speaker. Rebecca Gregorie Lindenbach is a psychology graduate, Sheila's daughter, and the author of Why I Didn't Rebel. Working alongside her husband, Connor, she develops websites focusing on building Jesus-centered marriages and families.Joanna Sawatsky has a master's degree in public health and is a trained microbiologist, epidemiologist, and biostatistician.How can I connect with Sheila?Sheila's BlogInstagramFacebookYouTube

WE'RE BACK! Man, that was a little bit of a weird and unexpected season. We promise, as much as possible, that we won't take off 7 weeks in the middle of a season again.In this episode, Bruce and Justin discuss the phenomenon of celebrity pastors within the Evangelical Industrial Complex. More specifically, those pastors who build huge platforms, for their own benefit, and then use that platform to control and abuse those in their congregations that they should be serving and caring for.

In this episode, Bruce and Justin discuss the differences between the belief in eternal conscious torment (ECT) as punishment in hell and annihilationism. They also get into why Bruce leans heavily toward the annihilation. 

In this episode, Bruce and Justin tackle the idea of magic in the book of Exodus and the Egyptian magician's ability to duplicate the first few plagues. But, the conversation took a really interesting turn toward talking about God making Pharaoh's heart hard.

In this episode, Bruce and Justin discuss what it means to lament and why it's an important part of being a Christian.

Bruce did a switcheroo for this topic. In this episode, Bruce and Justin talk about a bunch of topics, including what is currently happening in Afghanistan and the complete withdrawal of US troops. It seemed appropriate and necessary to post it this week versus next.The guys also talk through Jesus's call to serve others and what makes you a goat or a sheep.