Theology in the Raw

Dr. Glahn is a professor of Media Arts and Worship at Dallas Theological Seminary and holds a Th.M. from DTS and a Ph.D. from University of Texas at Dallas. She's the author of many books, both fiction and non, including the forthcomiong book Nobody's Mother: Artemis of the Ephesians in Antiquity and the New Testament (IVP, Fall 2023), which forms of topic of our rather scintilating and in-depth conversation. 

Art is the Director of Community Care for Revoice--an organization whose mission is to support and encourage gay, lesbian, bisexual, and other same-sex attracted Christians—as well as those who love them—so that all in the Church might be empowered to live in gospel unity while observing the historic Christian doctrine of marriage and sexuality. Art realized he was gay at around age 12 and became a Christian in his late teens. He's served as a youth pastor and currently works for Revoice. Our converation reflects upon his journey, which includes seeking to find intimacy and community as a gay man and committed Christ follower pursuing celibacy. 

Bill is the founder and President of BiblicalTraining.org, serves on the Committee for Bible Translation (which is responsible for the NIV translation of the Bible), and has written the best-selling biblical Greek textbook, Basics of Biblical Greek, and many other Greek resources. He was the New Testament chair for the English Standard Version, and speaks and blogs regularly on issues relating to trusting the Bible, the Pastoral Epistles (1 and 2 Timothy, and Titus), Greek, and issues of spiritual growth. Bill was also a preaching pastor, a professor of New Testament and director of the Greek Language Program at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and a professor at Azusa Pacific University. Bill is the author of a rather prestigious commentary on the Pastoral Epistles in the Word Biblical Commentary series, and he spent 14 years researching and writing the commentary. He's also a complimentarian, a position he arrived at partly through studying this passage, so I wanted to have him walk us through how a complimentarian scholar interprets this passage. biblicaltraining.org billmounce.com

Joel and I discuss the topic of his Ph.D. dissertation, which examines the multiethnic nature of "household" imagery, especially Ephesians 2:19-22. We look at the Genesis 10-11 and Deuteronomy 32 background to this passage, along with how Acts 2 relates to Babel. We then talk about contemporary challenges to continuing building God's multiethnic temple in American society. Joel serves as the Director of Theology and Research for Proverbs 31 Ministries and Lysa TerKeurst, and is a part of the preaching team at Transformation Church with Pastor Derwin Gray. Joel earned a PhD in Theology under Drs. Patrick Schreiner (NT) and Michael Heiser (OT) with an emphasis on Paul's household language in Ephesians as it relates to the Old Testament. He loves studying and teaching the brilliant truths found in Scripture and unpacking how they relate to our everyday lives.

Matthew Halsted (PhD, London School of Theology) teaches at Eternity Bible College. He is the author of Paul and the Meaning of Scripture (Pickwick) and The End of the World as You Know It (Lexham Press, forthcoming). In this paranormal podcast conversation, Matt and I talk about all the juicy stuff listed in the title. We begin with Matt's own paranormal experience with an angelic encounter when he was 14, and then we talk about UFO's, whether or not they have an extra-terrestial origin (or just Chinese baloons or whatnot), or if there's another way to interpret these phenomena (he suggests that there is). Put on your tinfoil hats, folks! This conversation is raw and real. 

Kelly M. Kapic (PhD, King's College, University of London) is a professor of theological studies at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia, where he has taught for twenty years. He is an award-winning author or editor of more than fifteen books, including You're Only Human and Embodied Hope, which each won a Christianity Today Book Award. Kapic, a popular speaker, has been featured in Christianity Today and The Gospel Coalition, has worked on research teams funded by the John Templeton Foundation, and contributes to the Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care and various other journals. In this converation, Kelly and I talk about his latest book, You're Only Human, and what it means to celebrate our creaturly limitations as a source of joy and hope. We cover areas related to performance driven Christiantiy, Sabbath, transhumanism, and how the never ending quest to do more, produce more, achieve more, and fulfill all the duties that we're told we need to fulfill is hindering our flourshing as humans and cuts against the grain of how God wants us to live.  If you've enjoyed this content, please subscribe to my channel!  Support Theology in the Raw through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theologyintheraw

Elijah Drake is a third year student at Asbury Theological Seminary and has been part of the Asbury revival from day one. He's prayed over many people, been prayed over by others, experienced repentance and reconciliation, and has witnessed the overwhelming presence of God at Asbury. But the revival hasn't been without its challenges. As a celibate gay Christian, Elijah has experienced ruthless attacks from people who don't think Jesus has a place for gay people in the kingdom--let alone a revival.  If you've enjoyed this content, please subscribe to my channel!  Support Theology in the Raw through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theologyintheraw

In this episode, Patrick and I discuss the question in the title. Reporting on scandals and abuse and the misuse of power is absolutely necessary. Sin needs to be exposed. Corrupt leaders need to be taken down. But is there a way of reporting on these issues that could produce unforeseen and unintentional damage for the church? Should we feed an audience hungry for failure porn with…failure porn, even if the said porn is accurate? Lots of nitty gritty questions here, and Patrick and I discuss them all with, what I hope is, honesty and humility. Patrick Miller is a pastor and cultural commentator who writes about politics, culture, and technology, contributing articles to Christianity Today, Newsweek, The Gospel Coalition, and other publications. His podcast, Truth Over Tribe is one of Apple's top news commentary podcasts, featuring interviews with leading Christian thinkers, writers, and scholars. He's the co-author of Truth Over Tribe: Pledging Allegiance to the Lamb, Not the Donkey or the Elephant. Patrick received a Master of Divinity from Covenant Theological Seminary, and pastors a politically diverse church, The Crossing. He and his wife, Emily, have two children. You can connect with him on Twitter: @patrickkmiller_

Welcome to a sneak peek of the first Bonus Q&A episode, part of the Theology in the Raw premium subscription. Join now here: http://patreon.com/theologyintheraw 00:00 Introduction  1:20 Jackie Hill recently denounced the Enneagram as demonic in origin. Why do you think the broader Christian community has so casually embraced the Enneagram?  12:49 What does your personal quiet time/Bible study look like? How long, what plan, what time of day, your approach, how often, etc.?  19:06 Does 1 Corinthians 1 talking about divisions among the people apply to the concept of denominations? Is it biblical to have these splits within the church?  22:02 Do you have a theology on the dinosaurs creation and extinction? It's enough to make me doubt at times. Is there anything like that that makes you doubt?  27:32 If the new earth is a “return to Eden,” is a “second fall” possible? If not, what about free will? Can free will exist without sin?  32:58 Is the ESV is unfairly biased towards Women in Leadership? Beth Allison Bar's book presented a case that the ESV is just RSV that doubles on gender language.  45:02 Does the Bible claim to be divinely inspired? Did Jesus say that? Why do Christians often equivocate “God's Word” (in the biblical text) with the Bible itself?  48:05 How would you define “witchcraft”? It seems like it's applied to things people just don't like. What is and is not witchcraft (as mentioned in the Bible)?  50:56 I loved your recent podcast with Ernesto Duke. So where do you land ... Should Christians save for retirement? Is retirement even biblical?  58:46 Does 1 Cor 5 seems to encourage you not to eat with Brothers in Christ who live in sin. How do you Apply this to affirming Christians who are in a Gay marriage?  1:02:37 Recommended ways/books to talk with children about sex/sexuality to get in front of things they will be exposed to in their life?  1:04:34 What's your take on the Andy Stanley kerfuffle?  108:53 How does a church that is non-affirming accept and love gay Christians even if they are actively involved in a same-sex relationship?

Ben and I talk about a Christian theology of Creation Care, the nature of the new creation, how to interpret 2 Pet 3, where it seems like God is going to destroy the earth. We then spend the bulk of our time looking at various environmental issues related to climate change, biodiversity, sustainable living, and how Christians can live reasonable and just lives that honor our task to care for creation. Ben is originally from Singapore and currently serves as the Deputy Executive Director at A Rocha International, a network of faith-based conservation organizations working in over twenty countries on five continents. His undergraduate training is in environmental biology from Wheaton College (IL) and he earned his PhD in Interdisciplinary Ecology from the University of Florida (USA). Ben is also an ordained Christian minister and has nearly two decades of experience engaging faith communities around social and environmental concerns, including being featured in media outlets ranging from Audubon Magazine and Christianity Today to The New York Times and The Wall Street

Matthew W. Bates (Ph.D., University of Notre Dame) argues that the Greek word pistis often translated as “faith” is better understood as “allegiance.” Therefore, we are justified by allegiance to Christ alone, not simply by an intellectual assent to the facts about Jesus. This, of course, raises deep theological questions about the role of human action in justification and salvation and whether the Reformers understood things correctly when they talked about justification by faith alone. Matthew is a Professor of Theology at Quincy University. His main teaching area is the Bible and early Christian literature. He also teaches courses in Western Religion, Church History, and Christian Spirituality. Dr. Bates is an award-winning author. His popular and influential books include Gospel Allegiance (Brazos, 2019), Salvation by Allegiance Alone (Baker Academic, 2017), and The Birth of the Trinity (Oxford University Press, 2015). Current book projects on salvation and christology are underway. Dr. Bates also co-hosts OnScript, a Bible and theology podcast. He enjoys family life, hiking, baseball, and good conversation. More info on Dr. Bates, his publications, and his availability for speaking can be found at MatthewWBates.com.

Dr. Ryan Tafilowski is an expert in the rise of the Nazi party in Germany 100 years ago and the German church's response to the movement. It's here where the concept of Christian nationalism became a divisive issue in the church. Ryan and I talk about the similarities and dissimilarities between German Christian Nationalism and modern American Chrisitan Nationalism. Ryan holds a PhD in systematic theology, a master's in theology in history from the University of Edinburgh, and a bachelor's degree in biblical studies from Colorado Christian University. Tafilowski has served as an adjunct professor in the Division of Christian Thought at Denver Seminary, adjunct professor of theology at Colorado Christian University, and postgraduate instructor in theology and ecclesiastical history at the University of Edinburgh. He serves as the lead pastor at Foothills Fellowship Church in Denver and as Theologian-in-Residence at the Denver Institute for Faith and Work.

Dr. Sandy Richter is currently the The Robert H. Gundry Chair of Biblical Studies at Westmont college and the author of many books including one of my favorite books on the Old Testament, The Epic of Eden. Sandy has an MDiv from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary and a PhD from Harvard University. This podcast episode is a recording of Sandy's scintillating talk and conversation at least year's “Exiles in Babylon” conference.

Stanley Hauerwas is Gilbert T. Rowe Professor Emeritus of Divinity and Law at Duke Divinity School. He has a B.A. from Southwestern University, a B.D., M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. from Yale University and a D.D. from University of Edinburgh. Time magazine named him "America's Best Theologian” in 2001, to which he responded: "'Best' is not a theological category." He's the author of dozens of books including Resident Aliens, which forms the basis of our conversation. If you would like to support Theology in the Raw, please visit patreon.com/theologyintheraw for more information!

Ernesto was a former student of mine when I was a prof at Eternity Bible College. He's since gone on to get a masters degree in theology from Western Seminary and been hired back on as faculty and staff at Eternity. He currently serves as co-president of the school. In this episode, we talk about what it means to be “co” president, community leadership at a Chrisitan school, the uniqueness of Eternity Bible College, debt free education, and revisiting the structures of Christian education as a whole. One thing we didn't touch on is Eternity's partnership with Theology in the Raw in facilitating “Conversations in the Raw”: an online based collective of Christians engaging in raw theological discipleship. Find out more about “Conversations in the Raw” at theologyintheraw.com. To learn more about Eternity Bible College's online offerings, visit eternity.edu If you would like to support Theology in the Raw, please visit patreon.com/theologyintheraw for more information!

Sam Allberry is a pastor, apologist, author, and speaker. He is the author of a number of books, including Is God Anti-Gay?; What God Has to Say About Our Bodies; Why Does God Care Who I Sleep With?; and 7 Myths about Singleness. In this episode, Sam and I reflect on the last 10 years of our engagement with the church and the LGBTQ conversation. Much has changed; some things haven't. The church has been on a journey and so have we. Sam and I talk about areas where we have changed and where we think the conversation is heading. If you would like to support Theology in the Raw, please visit patreon.com/theologyintheraw for more information!

Todd is a professor of theology and the director of the master of theology program at Western Seminary in Portland, OR. He has an MDiv from Western Seminary and PhD from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Todd is the author of several books including his recent book Cannabis and the Christian: What the Bible Says about Marijuana, which forms the topic of our conversation If you would like to support Theology in the Raw, please visit patreon.com/theologyintheraw for more information!

When looking at Brenna Blain you might not guess that she works in ministry, with a body adorned in tattoos and piercings she doesnt fit the evangelical look many have grown up with, but that's just Brenna. Her ministry focus is on providing resources for churches, ministries and individuals who are seeking to find God in the midst of difficult topics and hard conversations. Whether she's teaching at conferences, producing podcasts or writing, you will find Brenna inviting you to pursue Biblical truth with compassion and conviction. Brenna obtained her BA in Theology and Biblical Studies from Multnomah University in Portland, Oregon and has lived in the PNW her entire life. Her greatest joys are her two sons and her husband Austin. While she speaks on many topics, Brenna is especially passionate about God's involvement in our pain and personal struggles including mental illness, same sex attraction and abuse. In this podcast conversation, Brenna shares her story about her journey with abuse, mental health challenges, questions around her sexuality, and how her hope in Christ has remained constant in the midst of many challenges. If you would like to support Theology in the Raw, please visit patreon.com/theologyintheraw for more information!

Michelle has a BA from Harvard, 3 master's degrees, and a Ph.D. from Notre Dame university. In other words, she's smarter than you and I combined. Anyway, she's also a lovely person who's written a killer book called Neither Complementarian Nor Egalitarian, which addresses the pros and cons of where the current debates about men and women in the church lie. This book forms the topic of our conversation. We talk about Ephesians 5 and the meaning of Kephale (“head”), the meaning of leadership in the NT, and 1 Tim 2, among other things. Find out more about Michelle here: https://www.biola.edu/directory/people/michelle-leebarnewall If you would like to support Theology in the Raw, please visit patreon.com/theologyintheraw for more information!

Welcome to a sneak peek of the first Bonus Q&A episode, part of the Theology in the Raw premium subscription. In the full episode, we discuss: 00:00 Introduction 1:38 What's your take on the historical Adam? 9:20 What is your view on covenant friendships/celibate partnerships? 17:10 Was Paul's thorn in the flesh same sex attraction? 18:15 What is meant by the power assigned to the devil/satan over the earth? 21:12 How could Adam say “man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife” when Adam was created from dirt and Eve from his side? 23:18 Does the fact (?) that God is neither male nor female have any contribution to make in the egalitarian/complementarian conversation? 26:15 Luke 2:25 says the Spirit was on Simeon. How is this different from post Pentecost Holy Spirit. 29:35 Should I watch violent movies like LOTR if I'm convinced of nonviolence? 33:17 Could it be that Genesis 1's 7 days are not days of creation but correspond to the 7 days Moses was on Sinai (Exod 24:15-18)? 35:36 Is there any substance to the idea that heaven/the new earth will exist "outside of time"? 38:43 What are your thoughts on pop-psychology as opposed to the biblical soul care model within the church? Can both exist together? 44:02 Thoughts on Church of Christ? I grew up COC. Sometimes you and Francis Chan seem headed in that direction :blush:e.g. communion, no paid church staff, NV, etc. 46:31 Why do we limit the upside-down, first-are-last Kingdom ethics to Jesus? 50:18 If you started another micro church today, what would you differently than last time? 53:21 Was "the great commission" intended to be a command for all believers? Or was it a specific exhortation to those disciples at the time? 55:54 What do you think about 4th point in https://christiansforsocialaction.org/resource/im-going-crazy? 58:25 How to answer my daughter who's afraid she won't remain in God because she has seen close relatives turn their backs on God after living vibrant spiritual lives 1:01:11 My sibs are now Progressive Christians and it's one of the biggest disappointments of my life. I struggle with mere conversation, much more, raising my kids around them. Advice? 1:04:28 What would be the one thing you find most attractive and most objectionable about some of the major Christian denominations/traditions you haven't been part of? 1:07:22 I'd love to hear your take on if the Bible claims inerrancy or not. Pete Enns and Jarad Bias have some solid arguments for the "Error of Inerrancy" - thoughts? 1:11:25 Was Jesus tempted with same-sex attraction? HEB 4:15 1:13:36 You said in the 2022 review you would likely welcome guests with “heretical” views. Would it be fair to say a guest's earnestness is a larger factor for you? 1:15:24 What do you find to be the most compelling/winsome Biblical and extra-Biblical arguments for Christian nationalism? 1:19:42 What does covenentalism (New Perspective on Paul) say about once saved always saved? Are there any examples of a member of God's covenant people (OT Jew) leaving/being kicked out? 1:21:38 Resources you recommend for someone wanting to grow in their understanding of church doctrines, spiritual formation, basic Christian beliefs & church history? 1:23:06 Why would God create a clitoris—the only organ who only serves one purpose: pleasure? Especially if it's rarely stimulated with intercourse? 1:25:37 In what ways do the biblical passages on gendered marital roles apply to roles in the church? I.e. could you be complementarian in one but egalitarian in the other? If you would like to support Theology in the Raw, please visit patreon.com/theologyintheraw for more information!

Andrew is part of King's Church Hastings and Bexhill. He is Emerging Generations Director at Living Out and a training and resources consultant for New Ground Churches. He studied theology at Durham University and King's College London. Andrew is the author of Who in Heaven's Name Do You Think You Are? (Charis Books, 2015), People Not Pronouns: Reflections on Transgender Experience (Grove Books, 2021) and Finding Your Best Identity: A Short Christian Introduction to Identity, Sexuality and Gender (IVP, 2022), which is the focus of our conversation. Most of our conversation is focused on understanding the pros and cons of what seems to be an over growing list of sexual and (especially) gender identities, and how we can walk with teens who are wrestling with their sexuality and gender identity. https://thinktheology.co.uk/authors/4708 If you would like to support Theology in the Raw, please visit patreon.com/theologyintheraw for more information!

In this second installment of my current research on women in leadership, I focus on what I've learned from researching 1 Timothy 2:8-15. I tediously work my way through this important passage and evaluate both complementation and egalitarian interpretations of this text.  If you've enjoyed this content, please subscribe to my channel!  Support Theology in the Raw through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theologyintheraw

Randy is a world renowned expert on several theological and historical subjects related to the New Testament. In this conversation, we talk about misreading the Bible through western eyes (the title of one of his books) and letter writing and carrying in the ancient world as it applies to the question of Phoebe who might have carried and interpreted Paul's lengthy letter to the Roman church (Rom 16:1-2).  Randy is the Research Professor of New Testament at Palm Beach Atlantic University, having recently stepped down from being Provost after sixteen years in administration. He has been teaching since 1986, originally at a state university and then abroad at an Indonesian seminary. Upon returning to the States, he served at two Christian universities before joining Palm Beach Atlantic University in 2006. His wife Stacia has joyfully accompanied him from jungles of Indonesia to rice fields in Arkansas to beaches in South Florida and now recently to the plains of Wisconsin. Randy has authored, co-authored or edited nearly a dozen books, from technical books on Greco-Roman papyri to popular books with over 100,000 copies sold.

Short answer–absolutely we are. But not in a good way. From addiction to tech, to feeding the outrage machine, to diminishing our capacity to do deep work, our phones are stunting our growth into Christ-likeness and Jay helps us figure out how to get out of the vicious cycle.  Jay serves as the lead pastor at WestGate Church in the Silicon Valley and is the author of several books including: Analog Church (IVP, 2020), Analog Christian (2022) (which is the focus of our podcast conversation), 40 Days through the Book: Colossians (2022), and a contributing author to Before You Lose Your Faith (2021), Red Skies (2022), and The Upside Down Kingdom Study Bible (2024). His written work has also been featured in Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, Missio Alliance, Outreach, and Relevant Magazine. If you would like to support Theology in the Raw, please visit patreon.com/theologyintheraw for more information! 

Dr. Juli Slattery is a clinical psychologist, author, speaker and the president/co-founder of Authentic Intimacy. Juli earned her college degree at Wheaton College, an MA in psychology from Biola University, and an MS and a Doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology from Florida Institute of Technology. In this podcast conversation, I talk to Juli about her latest book God, Sex, and Your Marriage, which leads into a quite raw conversation about sex, good sex, bad sex, sexual abuse, female sexuality, sexual identities, and much more. This conversation is tasteful and theologically rich, and it is also quite explicit at times (as any authentic conversation should be).  https://www.authenticintimacy.com/Juli

Dr. Warren Carter is the LaDonna Kramer Meinders Professor of New Testament at Phillips Seminary in Tulsa OK. From 2007-2019, he was Professor of New Testament at Brite Divinity School, TCU, Fort Worth TX. Before going to Brite, he was Pherigo Professor of New Testament at Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City MO. A native of New Zealand, he is a graduate of Victoria University of Wellington (BA: BA(Honors) First Class), the Melbourne College of Divinity (Bachelor of Divinity; Masters of Theology) and Princeton Theological Seminary NJ (PhD in New Testament Studies). Dr. Carter has written numerous books on the New Testament including The Roman Empire and the New Testament: An Essential Guide and What Does Revelation Reveal? Unlocking the Mystery. In this episode, I talk to Warren about imperial-critical readings of the New Testament and what it means to read the New Testament with the Roman Empire not in the background but in the foreground. Warren talks about the relationship between Romans 13 and Revelation 13, the real meaning of Jesus's “render unto Caesar” statement, how Jesus's healings subvert empire, and the relationship between ancient Rome and modern America. https://ptstulsa.edu/warren-carter-2/ Thanks to Doug Smith for helping sponsor today's episode. To check out Doug's newest book, [Un]Intentional: How Screens Secretly Shapes Your Desires, and How You Can Break Free: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1625861966/ 

The gospel is political, but not partisan. The church is a profoundly political community. When we claim Jesus as Lord, we are also quite dangerously claiming that Caesar is not. These are the kinds of things Patrick and I discuss in this somewhat provocative episode. Dr. Patrick Schreiner is the Director of the Residency PhD program and Associate Professor of New Testament and Biblical Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He previously taught at Western Seminary in Portland Oregon (2014–20) and received his Ph.D. from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (2014). Patrick is the author of several books including his recently released Political Gospel: Public Witness in a Politically Crazy World, which is the topic of our conversation. To learn more about Patrick: https://www.mbts.edu/about/faculty/patrick-schreiner/ Thanks to Doug Smith for helping sponsor today's episode. To check out Doug's newest book, [Un]Intentional: How Screens Secretly Shapes Your Desires, and How You Can Break Free: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1625861966/ If you would like to support Theology in the Raw, please visit patreon.com/theologyintheraw for more information! 

Dr. Brian Fikkert is a Professor of Economics and Community Development and the Founder and President of the Chalmers Center for Economic Development at Covenant College. He is coauthor of the best-selling book When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor…and Yourself as well as Helping Without Hurting in Short-Term Missions, Helping Without Hurting in Church Benevolence, and From Dependence to Dignity: How to Alleviate Poverty Through Church-Centered Microfinance. Dr. Fikkert earned a Ph.D. in economics from Yale University, specializing in international economics and economic development. In this conversation, Brian and I talk about his book When Helping Hurts, which is easily the top 5 most influential books I've ever read. We also talk the pros and cons of short term mission trips and how churches can best partner with poorer churches without doing unintentional harm. Check out Brian's organization www.chalmers.org If you would like to support Theology in the Raw, please visit patreon.com/theologyintheraw for more information! 

Karen González is a writer, speaker, and immigrant advocate who emigrated from Guatemala as a child. She attended Fuller Theological Seminary, where she studied theology and missiology, and she has worked in the nonprofit sector for thirteen years. In addition to her first book, The God Who Sees: Immigrants, The Bible, and the Journey to Belong, she has written for Christianity Today, Christian Century, Sojourners, and the Baltimore Sun. She lives in Baltimore, Maryland. In this conversation, we talk about all things related to immigration, refugees, and undocumented immigrants. We also talk about Karen's latest book Beyond Welcome: Centering Immigrants in our Christian Response to Immigration.  Learn more about Karen: https://www.karen-gonzalez.com/ If you would like to support Theology in the Raw, please visit patreon.com/theologyintheraw for more information! 

My Patreon supports send in a pile of solid questions, some of which I address on this Q & A podcast. What's the historic Christian view of the end times? Did Priscilla write Hebrews? Can Christians get married in the church without being recognized by the State? Should we screen organizations we give money to before we give? How to talk to your elders about addressing LGBTQ related questions? Did I misrepresent Alisa Childers? What do I think about the World Mag's critical article about Revoice? Are pastors different from elders? What do I say to people who think the annihilation view of hell is “dangerous” and less evangelistically effective as ECT? Can I recommend a good, somewhat short, commentary on the Pastoral Epistles? How do I choose which guests to invite to be on the podcast? And much more… If you'd like to support TITR, please visit patreon.com/theologyintheraw, where you'll be able to participate in these Q & A episodes!

Michelle T. Sanchez has an MDiv and ThM from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and spiritual direction training at Boston College and field studies on the life and times of Jesus at Jerusalem University College. Michelle serves as executive minister of make and deepen disciples for the Evangelical Covenant Church, a multiethnic denomination of over 900 congregations throughout North America. Michelle is the author of Color-Courageous Discipleship (2022) and the picture book God's Beloved Community (2022). Michelle has a passion for discipleship and also for racial reconciliation, and in this conversation she shows how the latter is an essential part of the former.  Michelle will be speaking at this year's “Exiles in Babylon” conference in Boise, ID (March 2023).  Find out more info at www.theologyintheraw.com Learn more about Michelle: https://michelletsanchez.com/ If you would like to support Theology in the Raw, please visit patreon.com/theologyintheraw for more information! 

Dr. O. Alan Noble is Associate Professor of English at Oklahoma Baptist University, editor-in-chief of Christ and Pop Culture, and author of numerous articles. His most recent book is You Are Not Your Own: Belonging to God in an Inhuman World and his forthcoming book (April 2023) is On Getting Out of Bed: The Burden and Gift of Living. In this conversation, we talk about lots of different things including the book Blood Meridian, which Alan wrote his master's thesis on, the author Cormac McCarthy, and the content of his most recent book You Are Not Your Own, which is a pastoral analysis of our society's anthropological assumptions and commitments and how these affect both the church at the world.  https://www.oalannoble.com/ If you would like to support Theology in the Raw, please visit patreon.com/theologyintheraw for more information! 

Doug Smith is a passionate voice in the epic battle against screen addictions, especially through his award-winning book (and audiobook), [Un]Intentional: How Screens Secretly Shape Your Desires, and How You Can Break Free (https://unintentionalbook.com). Doug offers an insider's perspective on the power of technology, informed by over two decades of software development experience and a lifetime of Bible study. He also brings the practical experience of a dad of four grown daughters and a man who has struggled, fallen, fought, and by the grace of God, overcome the power of screens. As a software developer, Doug has served Fortune 500 companies, startups, universities, government agencies, and media personalities. He's currently an Android-focused engineer with Covenant Eyes, the best company around in the battle against pornography. Doug loves to help individuals and families break free from screen addiction so they can live out their God-given purpose.  Doug and his wife Lyneta are happy empty nesters and are blessed with four grown daughters. You can connect with Doug at https://thatdougsmith.com.  If you would like to support Theology in the Raw, please visit patreon.com/theologyintheraw for more information! 

If you would like to support Theology in the Raw, please visit patreon.com/theologyintheraw for more information! 

Alex co-founded Bethlehem Bible College in Bethlehem (yes, that one) and served as a professor and dean of students for many years. Alex received his MA in Missiology (1989) from Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore KY; MA in Education (1976) from N. Georgia University in Dahlonega GA; BS in Secondary Education (1973) from Lee University in Cleveland, TN; BA in Biblical Education (1970) from Lee University in Cleveland, TN. He has also been a pastor and missionary for the United Methodist Church. Having lived in Israel from 1946-2015, Alex has seen a LOT! He shares his perspecive about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, as a palestinian Christian who has lived through much fo the conflict.  Alex said you could email him at alexeawad@yahoo.com if you want him to send you a copy of his brother's book, which he talks about on the podcast. He only asks for a small donation.  If you would like to support Theology in the Raw, please visit patreon.com/theologyintheraw for more information! 

Josh is the lead pastor of Van City Church in Vancouver, WA. He's also the lead singer of the punk rock band Showbread and is an author and creative prophet. Honestly friends, he's one of the most theologically sophisticated yet creatively gifted humans I've ever met. He's a provocative prophet who's not afraid to challenge the status quo and yet, to some people's chagrin, he's passionately committed to historic orthodoxy and the authority of Scripture. He doesn't fit into any single box. He's a contrarian–in the best sense of the word.  Oh, and he recently released a killer book that bears the title of this podcast: Death to Deconstruction: Reclaiming Faithfulness as an Act of Rebellion.   https://www.joshuasporter.com If you would like to support Theology in the Raw, please visit patreon.com/theologyintheraw for more information!

Jon Tyson is a Pastor and Church Planter in New York City. Originally from Adelaide, Australia, Jon moved to the United States twenty years ago with a passion to seek and cultivate renewal in the Western Church. He is the author of Sacred Roots, A Creative Minority, and The Burden is Light. Jon lives in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan with his wife and two children. He serves as the Lead Pastor of Church of the City New York. This podcast episode is a recording of a talk Jon gave at last year's “Exiles in Babylon” conference, followed by our conversation together and audience Q & A. 

Mike began vocational ministry in 1999 as a student ministries and college pastor at Mariners Church in Irvine, Calif and currently serves a teaching pastor at Journey Church in Nashville, TN. Mike also taught at Rock Harbor (Costa Mesa, Calif.) and Mariners' Mission Viejo, Calif. campus. He served as the senior Pastor at EV Free Fullerton and founded the VOX Community and podcast (now Voxology). Mike has published five books: The Jesus of Suburbia (2006), Why Guys Need God (2008), Death By Church (2009), Why the Bible Matters (2010), and Astonished ( 2014). He holds a bachelor of science degree from Miami University and a master of arts in philosophy of religion and ethics from the Talbot School of Theology. Mike is the only person I've ever met who started a church that grew out of his podcast, and he currently is an avid podcaster and a pastor. So, he is the perfect dialogue partner to talk about a question I've been thinking through: what is a healthy ecclesiology of podcasting? If you would like to support Theology in the Raw, please visit patreon.com/theologyintheraw for more information! 

Lucas Pulley is an executive director of the Tampa Underground Network, a network of around 100 micro-churches in the Tampa Bay area. Lucas has a master's degree from Fuller Theological seminary. In this episode, we discuss all the ins and outs of the Tampa Underground–the pros, the cons, the challenges, and wins.  https://www.lucaspulley.com If you would like to support Theology in the Raw, please visit patreon.com/theologyintheraw for more information!

Okay, so this is a different sort of podcast episode. Here's the backstory. My third daughter, Josie, is an Enneagram 5 and always has LISTS (like, very long lists) of questions about the Bible, God, Christianity, and Religion. And they are always very difficult and thoughtful questions. So, every couple of weeks, we have this tradition where we'll go out to chips and salsa and work through her questions. One day, I suggested: “hey, we should record this on the podcast?!” And she said, “Um, no?!” But then she thought about it and said she'd be willing to consider this, and then she said she'd love to be on the podcast to talk through her questions. So that's what this podcast is. Honestly, it's a pretty raw and real and intimate family moment where my 15 year old daughter and I talk about the Bible.  If you would like to support Theology in the Raw, please visit patreon.com/theologyintheraw for more information! 

Lou Phillips is the Director of Church Relations for The Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender. Before working for The Center, Lou was a highly sought after speaker on apologetics on college campuses and largely focused on questions about seuxuality. In this conversation, Lou and I talk about younger Christians and how they are wrestling with questions related to seuxality and gender. We also get into some broader questions related to the veracity of Christianity.  If you would like to support Theology in the Raw, please visit patreon.com/theologyintheraw for more information! 

Chris joins me in the basement to banter around about all the stuff–and more–listed in the title of this podcast. We hope we don't offend too many people.  If you would like to support Theology in the Raw, please visit patreon.com/theologyintheraw for more information! 

Lynn is one of my favorite New Testament scholars! She serves as Provost and Dean of Academic Affairs of Northern Seminary in Lisle, Illinois. She also teaches New Testament and leads the development of DMin and MA programs in women's studies, and the Women's Center for Leadership at Northern Seminary. Lynn received her bachelor's degree from Messiah College in Grantham, PA, and my Ph.D. in New Testament and Christian Origins from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA. She's written several books including in depth commentaries on Philippians, Ephesians, and Romans  In this conversation, we talk about her book Women in the World of the Earliest Christians, which talks about the 1st century Roman context and its illumination on certain New Testament passages about women; specifically, 1 Timothy 2.  https://lynncohick.com If you would like to support Theology in the Raw, please visit patreon.com/theologyintheraw for more information! 

Tony is a pastor, church planter, author of a killer book on deconstruction called Regenerate, but most of all, Tony is an amazing Christian and a good friend. In this podcast episode, we talk about his story of deconstruction and reconstruction, why he became disenchanted with progressive Christianity, and some of the key values he's pursuing in his current church plant in Springfield, OR. Oh, and I sort of think out loud (probably too much) about some (probably unrealistic) ideas I have about a radically different ecclesiology. https://tonyscarcello.com If you would like to support Theology in the Raw, please visit patreon.com/theologyintheraw for more information! 

Branson and Jeff have been involved in theological education for several years and recently launched an innovative church-based organization for theological education. It's called The Foundry. Their mission is to strengthen and support church leaders at every level with biblical and practical training.  Branson also just released an outstanding book on a theology of the body and sexual ethics called Every Body's Story: 6 Myths about Sex and the Gospel Truth about Marriage and Singleness.  If you would like to support Theology in the Raw, please visit patreon.com/theologyintheraw for more information! 

Patrick and Keith just released their book Truth Over Tribe: Pledging Allegiance to a Lamb, not a Donkey or an Elephant. They also co-host a fantastic podcast called “Truth Over Tribe” and they are pastors at The Crossing church in Columbia, MO.  We had a wonderful conversation about politics, tribalism, the kingdom of God, and whether Christians or churches should be politically invovled. 

Dr. Dan Wallace is a world renowned expert of New Testament Greek and the author of the highly acclaimed textbook: Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics, which is the standard textbook used in most second year Greek courses. Dr. Wallace has a ThM and PhD from Dallas Theological Seminary and has engaged in Post-doctoral studies at Cambridge University, University of Münster, and Tübingen University. He currently serves as Senior Research Professor of New Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary.  https://www.dts.edu/employee/daniel-wallace/

Amy Peeler is a rock star New Testament scholar with a Ph.D from Princeton and who's been teaching at Wheaton college for over 10 years. Amy is also the author of several scholarly books including You Are My Son: The Family of God in the Epistle to the Hebrews (2014), Hebrews: An Introduction and Study Guide (2020), and the forthcoming Women and the Gender of God (Oct 2022). In this conversation, we talk about her book Women and the Gender of God, wrestling with questions related to God's non-sexed existence yet gendered revelation (if…that's even the best way of framing it). God is not male; but he reveals himself as…himself, and Father, and King, and with He/Him pronouns. What does this mean? How should we think of God? Is he male, a man, masculine, or do these categories all fall short of God.  Oh, and we also wrestle with the notorious warning passages in Hebrews; namely, Hebrews 6 and 10. Dr. Peeler walks us through the Greek text and theological context of these difficult passages.  Learn more about Dr. Peeler from her personal website: http://amypeeler.com/index.html