Theology on Air: Recent Episodes
Theology on Tap, Houston
Theology on Air is a weekly podcast that explores the truth claims of Christianity, often through the eyes of non-Christians. Agnostics, atheists, skeptics, and people of other faiths discuss and debate the issues of the day and the timeless questions of the past. We'll dig deep into theology, the Bible, and current events, but we promise to do so with charity, grace, and a bit of humor. Theology on Air is brought to you by the leadership of Theology on Tap, Houston and recorded at the studios of First Lutheran, Houston.
Theology is not just for Sunday mornings, Bible Studies, and seminary classrooms. We all do theology every day. Every time we ponder who God is, what He's like, how He interacts with us, and how our lives are part of His purposes, we're being theologians. This podcast series will explore the lives and stories of Houston's "Everyday Theologians" and how their faith informs and affects their day-to-day lives.
A lot of spicy topics on this week's White Pill Radio. We look at a lot of election news as well as some strange comments by Pope Francis.
Dr. Mike Licona of Houston Christian University joins Sarah and Evan to look at his new book,Jesus, Contradicted. The book is an easier to read version of Licona's doctoral work that challenges the assertions of unbelievers concerning "contradictions" in the New Testament. Licona argues that the Gospels are ancient biographies and, as such, have content that reflects that genre. Thanks to Dr. Licona for joining us!
Cody and friend C join Sarah and Evan for this week's White Pill Radio. We look at a bizarre warning from the Surgeon General that parenting can be dangerous, the recently released manifesto by the Trans shooter of Covenant Presbyterians school last year, Trump's statement that we need more religion, and whether it's a good idea to allow those married to citizens to also become citizens. Oh, and a bit about Burning Man and God's judgement and a grammatical quibble with the Harris campaign.
Oh, and Harmonia Stellarum was rehearsing in the next room. So it isn't angels in your presence...just an angelic choir in the background. Remember, the studio is in a church building!
How much choice to we have in our lives? Is everything already predetermined and mapped out? Even our salvation/faith? Or do we have the freedom to decide everything from who we date/marry, what job we take, where to live, and ...whether to follow Jesus or not? (And if we do own that choice...can we also opt out?)Join us as we revisit a classic debate that has baffled humanity for roughly a bajillion years (well...at least for a couple thousand).
Sarah and Evan gather for part two of this episode to look at more cultural news, including how to say Kamala's name, the abortion bus at the DNC, 200 Holy Grails in Europe, and more gender confusion.
We admit it, Ken and Evan are not economists. But they do have a healthy distrust of the Federal Reserve and that goes a long way. In the wake of political promises to fix "price gouging," the offer of $25K for home buyers, and never-ending inflation, Ken and Evan look at what inflation really is and what Christian money and monetary policy might look like. If you're a little on the wonkish side, this episode is for you. Sarah and Evan will have a Part 2 that looks at more of the cultural issues.
References:
https://youtu.be/MXaNNVp-3Mg?si=qczxmw4B3L2_zWXZ
Stephen Curto and Steven Hiller offer an introduction to Dispensationalism. Perhaps the most widely-held theological system in America, it is often known best for the "Left Behind" series or the Scofield Bible. On an interview with Tucker Carlson recently, John Rich seemed to speak of it as a dangerous theology, at least some understandings of it. But what is it? Is it bad? Good? What is the tribulation and why is there so much disagreement about when the rapture and the tribulation will be? Does Dispensationalism predict the end of the world? Stephen Curto and Steven Hiller are both graduates of Dallas Theological Seminary, perhaps best-known for being founded as a Dispensational school. So we cover the basics today on this very important theological tradition!
Ken and Cody join Sarah and Evan as we discuss the latest headlines. We look at the controversy at the Olympics regarding XY (male?) boxers fighting YY (female?) boxers, two sad stories involving abortion, and we ask whether political candidates should, you know, have a platform publicly displayed somewhere.
It's another bowl of cherries on White Pill Radio! We have a first time guest, Cody Pogue, to talk with Mace and Evan about Vice President Harris' rise to the top of the nomination, the ironic death of a pastor/scholar's church, and the homelessness crisis in America (that VP Harris may have commented on in the past.) Cody is more in the political left camp, so we are glad he could join us today for a bit more balance. He'll definitely be back!
Sarah and Evan are joined by two guests to talk about an absolutely wild news cycle. Past guest and speaker Stephen Curto joins us to talk about his movement from being something like a Never Trumper to deciding to vote for him after the assassination attempt. We also had a first-time guest join us! We look at the impact of the assassination attempt, whether Christians can vote for Trump, and what really has changed in the political landscape in our lifetimes.
J. Warner Wallace joins Sarah and Evan to look at his latest book, The Truth in True Crime. Mixing his experience as a detective with his knowledge as an apologist, Wallace looks at the phenomenon of the "true crime" genre and looks at what it can teach us about life and faith.
We take a break from our usual White Pill Radio format to have a roundtable conversation on the greatness of America. Sarah, Evan, Ken, and Austin all came up with their own Top 10 lists for unique or favorite things about America that make America 'Merica. Maybe you'll want to come up with your own before listening to theirs? Anyway, in honor of this patriotic time of year, we thought this would be a fun diversion. Also, we posted our lists below to follow along. But don't cheat unless you want to know their lists in advance!
Our Top Ten Lists
Sarah
10 Hollywood/entertainment/arts
9 Museums, zoos, national parks
8 Travel to see so many kinds of things without limitation
7 FOOD!! / diversity of cultures… Think Indian town, Greek food, festival, etc.
6 innovation/creativity
5 Safety Military, police, best prisons, 911
4 Capitalism & free market
3 Self-determination
2 freedom of religion I can adopt any worldview I want
1 Declaration of Independence
Ken
10 we don't take ourselves too seriously (WTF is a kilometer meme... also Team America World Police)
9 innovation & competition : we can't leave well enough alone
8 federalism is based
7 the culture we import (unironically immigration and diversity)
6 the culture we export
5 we host our own criticism
4 the culture of free speech
3 we are paradoxically generous towards each other and distrustful of elites
2 we have a heritage of rebellion
1 my wife Peace, and this entire nation of risk takers
Austin
10 Music
9 Immigrants
8 States
7 Founding Fathers
6 Landscape/National Parks
5 Dr. Pepper
4 Pizza
3 Classical School Movement
2 A country as an idea
1 Teaching theology
Evan
10 Cars and Car Culture
9 Baseball
8 Owning Land
7 Hollywood
6 Hunting and Fishing
5 Rock ’N Roll
4 Our National Parks
3 Racial Harmony
2 Religiosity
1 The Founding Documents and Self-Rule
Ken, Max, Sarah, and Evan review the 6/11 Christian Nationalism event. We revisit the key issues and answer a few of the questions we just couldn't get to. Just in time for July 4 weekend!
First, hang in there, the audio gets better! Apologies for a dang mic cable being ever so slightly disconnected. We have edited the audio as best we can on it is only on Evan's mic...so give it time, the audio gets better. (BTW, if any volunteers want to help us produce our content, we're hiring! For no pay.)
Sarah, Evan, and Austin look at the previous night's presidential debate and related topics, including the Supreme Court rulings.
Should Christians engage in politics? Should Christian morality be at the heart of the laws we make and enforce? Does God appoint governments? What the heck is a Christian Nationalist and...are you one? When does Patriotism turn into idolatry?Our THREE guest speakers:Max Anton (repping for Christian Nationalism),Norman Horn (founder and President of the Libertarian Christian Institute), andNick Hadsell (taking the "Christians should disengage from politics & culture wars" perspective)will bring their differing perspectives to the conversation and then we'll have a large format group discussion where you can text your own questions in to our larger panel of pastors and professors.
Are those blurry creatures from another planet or another spiritual plane? And should we be afraid either way? Are there any connections to weird passages in Scripture? Why should Christians care about it at all?Our two guest speakers, Jeremy Evans and Phil Tallon, will bring opposing perspectives to the conversation and then we'll have a large format group discussion where you can text your own questions in to our larger panel of pastors and professors.
Sarah, Evan, Mace, and James discuss a series of interesting Catholic stories, a disturbing story from Ru Paul's show, a look at social contagions, and asking what the benefits of "multiculturalism" really are.
Part 2 of A Dummies Guide to the Early Church will help anyone understand the major issues in the Church from about 450 to 800. Still dealing with Christological issues, i.e. the nature of Jesus, Councils 4-7 sought to iron out key doctrines in the Church. We'll explain basic concepts and phrases that Christians should be familiar with and you'll leave feeling like you just aced a 101 class in seminary. Thanks to Evan Friske for stopping in to talk to the other Evan.
It's just Ken and Evan this round and we go pretty deep on a number of topics. We actually pull the curtain back a bit and examine the opening tagline for the show. Why are we "post-apologetic" and what is "blessed talk?" We look at Apple's disastrous new iPad commercial and do a deep dive on the morality of tariffs. We also look at the side-by-side cases of a gun-firing teen getting back on the streets while a pro-life protester is looking at years in jail.
Link for the show...which we should be doing for all of these episodes!
Apple's Ad
Tariffs
Double Standards
Dr. Austin Freeman joins us to look at some of the more bizarre Bible-adjacent theories out there. Is the Book of Enoch legit? Are "seed wars" between Jesus' people and the descendants of Satan a thing? Who were the Nephilim in Genesis 6? We look at all of that and more!
This week, Marquice Hobbs and Oscar Villanueva join Evan (sadly, not Sarah this week!) to look at the Pro-Palestine (pro-Hamas) college protests, the wisdom of teens having phones, 8th graders banned from future competition for protesting a trans athlete, and Russell Brand's surprising baptism.
Part 1 of A Dummies Guide to the Early Church will help anyone understand the major issues in the Church for the first four centuries. Mainly dealing with Christological issues, i.e. the nature of Jesus, we see one extreme understanding after another. (Jesus is not God! Jesus is not a man!) We'll explain basic concepts and phrases that Christians should be familiar with and you'll leave feeling like you just aced a 101 class in seminary. So we cover the first three "Ecumenical" Councils in this episode. Councils 4-7 are covered in part 2. Thanks to Evan Friske for stopping in to talk to the other Evan.
Ken, Sarah and Evan look at the most recent news with a Christian spin. Ken tries to white pill Evan, who has become black pilled on the abortion question. Meanwhile, why are we always at war?
Adults, the second article about polycules (basically large adult partnerships) is not child friendly. It's not explicit, but you may want to listen without the children around.
Pastors Justin Gingrich and Evan McClanahan look at the question of homosexuality from a biblical perspective. Is it wrong? Can it be justified? What are the best biblical cases in each direction? A panel discussion including Gabriel Orr, Mark Ball, and Meredith Mills follows the initial presentations.
If you like what you hear and want to support the work of Theology by the Pint, visit theologybythepint.org to learn how you can support the ministry!
Sarah hosts a panel discussion that serves as a deep dive follow-up on a recent live event looking at the nature of the Bible. Is it inerrant? What does that mean? Inspired? Where do we draw the line?
There are a lot of juicy topics in this week's episode. We look at Mr. God Delusion himself, Richard Dawkins, all of a sudden defending Christianity, J.K. Rowling's fight for the freedom to speak, a truly bizarre ritual at UCLA's medical school, and more. Thanks to Austin Freeman for stopping by!
Father Frank Vera of Holy Cross Chapel in downtown Houston joins Sarah and Evan to look at some of the FAQ concerning Roman Catholicism. Why do we pray to saints? Is there a treasury of merit? What is transubstantiation? Is the priesthood a biblical office? Many thanks to Father Vera for giving of his time.
Sarah, Evan, and Scotty take a look at the most current news from the Christian worldview. We look at two stories about how unhappy Americans are (especially Gen Z), the threat to freedom of speech, the closing of a Bible museum, and a major white pill regarding pornography in Texas.
Is the Bible reliable? True? Trustworthy? Are the 'red-letter' words more important than the rest? Does it ever get it wrong? Have you ever read something weird in the Bible and questioned whether maybe that author "got it wrong?" Are Paul's words just as important as Jesus' words? Can we trust the Bibles we have today? Are we still bound by the rules and teachings from thousands of years ago? Or is it naive to think the Bible has no errors? Did God write it or did humans?We explore whether the Bible is inerrant, inspired, infallible, and any other "I" word you can think of. Is it really authoritative for readers in 2024? If not, how do you know which parts to trust and follow? And what areas of our modern lives are affected by how we answer these questions?
There's a lot in the book of Revelation that is confusing, perplexing, even scary. But if you want to understand the basics of the various "end times" schools of thought, this is the podcast episode for you. Sarah talks with a Pre-Millennialist, and Amillennialist, and a Post-Millennialist to look at their different readings of Revelation and how they came to their conclusions.
Bill Scott joins Sarah and Evan to talk about his story of doing mission work and how learning apologetics is helpful in that venture.
Austin and Ken join Evan to look at four news stories this week: the strange story of the soldier committing suicide for the cause of Palestine, a bill in Indiana that forces intellectual diversity at universities, whether rights come from God or not, and the Alabama Supreme Court saying IVF babies are indeed human children.
Dr. Austin Freeman, the hippest professor this side of the Mississippi, joins us to talk about demons. What are they? Is Satan their boss? Why do we ignore them in the West? And what horror movies get it right? Learn more about HCU's Apologetics program here: https://www.facebook.com/hcuapologetics/.
An interesting Mini-TBTP took place recently where two Protestants, Jerry Walls and Juan Carlos Martinez, looked at the issue of Purgatory. Usually considered a major divide between Catholics and Protestants, Dr. Walls defends it as a Protestant. This event was held at First Lutheran prior to a more formal debate on the same topic between James White and Trent Horn.
On this episode, we look at the controversial "He Gets Us" Super Bowl ad, non-Christian "churches," and Dave Grohl's BBQ for the homeless. Thanks to Scotty Swingler and Mace Perez for joining Sarah and Evan!
Pastors Drew Knowles and Andy Gray of Oak Forest Church join Sarah and Evan to talk all things liturgy. What is it? Is it just the old customs of dead religion? Or does it have a particularly important place in the modern world?
When should you stick it out in a church? And when is it time to go? We ask those basic, but surprisingly complex - questions with Pastor Joel Davis of Bayou City Fellowship.
Sarah and Evan are joined by Austin Freeman and Ken Cowan to talk about the latest headlines, including the immigration crisis on Texas' border, Kamala Harris' abortion tour, and two AI stories. Parents, in case you listen to this in front of your children, from about 51 minutes to 1 hour 7 minutes, we talk about the rise of AI sexbots and pornography. You might want to skip by that. It's not graphic, but, you know.
Theology by the Pint ventured down for our first-ever event in Sugar Land. We looked at the question, "Is Social Justice Biblical Justice?" How does the Bible speak to the current issues of the day? What aspects of the Bible do we look to? Is it all just a matter of interpretation?
Alisa Childers and Tim Barnett join us to discuss their new book, The Deconstruction of Christianity. Is deconstruction something of a fad or a real threat to Christianity? Is it just maturing in the faith or is it tearing it down with nothing else to put in its place? We talk about all of that and much more.
We look at Lil Nas X's "comeback," "Wife" and "Husband" as offensive language, Mark Zuckerberg's doomsday bunker, and whether Christian schools should be involved in athletics. Thanks to new voice Skyler Womack for participating!
Well-known apologist Greg Koukl joins Sarah and Evan to talk about the kinds of real faith conversations we can and need to have. Author of "Tactics" and president of Stand to Reason (https://www.str.org/), Greg brings a wealth of experience to the table. You won't want to miss his insights!
Given the headlines these past few months, we thought it would be wise to revisit the core theological tenants of Islam. We're joined by budding apologist Bill Scott who has studied Islam extensively.
WPR favorites Juan Carlos Martinez and Mace Perez join Evan to take a look at some very interesting headlines and our attempts to analyze them through a Christian worldview. We look at a recent proposal by the Biden Administration which would effectively make it impossible for Christians to foster children, a trend of young women converting to Islam, Hulk Hogan getting baptized, the Catholic Church blessing same sex unions, and a plagiarism scandal at Harvard.
Theology by the Pint looks at women in ministry at our December, 2023 live event. Can women be pastors? Should they be pastors? What texts speak to the limits of women in ministry? Dr. Lynn Cohick and Chaplain Natasha Young join us for this interesting debate.
Following an interesting conversation between Juan Carlos Martinez (former Catholic now Presbyterian) and James Prather (former Presbyterian now Catholic), we realized so much more ground needed to be covered. Not to worry! James brought in Michael Gormley of Lay Evangelist and Evan did a little more than just host on this third episode of this dialogue. This time, we narrowed the scope to just the question of salvation. Do Catholics really teach that works are necessary for salvation? Do we agree on grace? Or is the divide pretty much set in stone at this point?
Wow, we crammed a lot in in just over an hour. This is a spicy one with a fair amount of disagreement. See who you agree with! We look at a bizarre article in Cosmopolitan magazine, resurrecting Jimmy Stewart for some AI holiday reading, how to talk about "Whiteness," and shocking Congressional testimony about genocide.
Following an interesting conversation between Juan Carlos Martinez (former Catholic now Presbyterian) and James Prather (former Presbyterian now Catholic), we realized so much more ground needed to be covered. Not to worry! James brought in Michael Gormley of Lay Evangelist and Evan did a little more than just host on a sequel episode. This time, we narrowed the scope to just the question of authority. Is it scripture alone? Are popes really infallible? We go pretty deep on this episode of Theology on Air. And yes, a third episode has already been recorded and will be out soon.
Amy Orr-Ewing, scholar and apologist, joins Sarah and Evan to talk about Mary, the Mother of Jesus. Thinking that honoring her would be "too Catholic," have Protestants given short shrift to Mary? Is it time to look at her not as just a passive vessel, but a powerful voice for justice?
Sarah, Evan, Mace, and James look at Catholic Leftism (?), the popularity of Osama bin Laden, Homeschooling, and the loss of literacy in America.
Pastor Meredith Mills joins Sarah and Evan to talk about food and its many explicit and implicit connections to faith. From its use in hospitality to our need to be connected to the earth, good stewardship of real food is something Christians should start to incorporate into their faith walk. We look at some controversial topics as well, like the food industrial complex and whether we should rethink mega-farms.
The smaller-than-usual crew of Sarah and Evan look nothing but spicy topics on this episode of WPR. We look at the use of AI images to create deepfakes of real people, the bizarre support for Hamas in the United States, the open southern border and whether Christians should support immigration, and the newest trend in the trans world: trans-age. Let us know what you think!
And while this show does not use any potty talk, the themes are probably not appropriate for kids under 15 or so. Your call, parents.
Are we a body with a soul? A soul with a body? Only the mind? Are souls gendered? What makes us different from other creatures? Guest speaker Eric Hernandez dialogues with our very own Beth White to look at different views of the soul. Of course, there's a panel discussion as well. This live event took place October 17. If you're in Houston and you like what you hear, visit houstontot.com to learn about our live events and come see us in person!
And normally, we release episodes on Friday now...but as November 2 is All Souls Day...well, we figured we would release this one a day early.
Dr. Lynn Cohick of Houston Christian University and Houston Theology Seminary joins Sarah and Evan to look at slavery in the New Testament and the ancient world at-large. We compare it to the slavery seen in America and the present day. It is a tough, but necessary, topic to tackle given modern implications.
While this episode is not marked "Explicit," there are some difficult conversations around the abuse, including sexual abuse, of slaves. You may not want your children to listen in on those conversations.
Sarah, Evan, Mace, and Ken gather to talk about the Israel/Hamas war from a Christian worldview.
Former-Catholic-turned-Presbyterian Juan Carlos Martinez dialogues with former-Presbyterian-turned-Catholic James Prather. Why did they each convert? Can they change each other's minds? We just scratch the surface of some very big questions. A sequel is already in the works!
Roman Catholic apologist Trent Horn and YouTuber Destiny had an intense debate on the topic of abortion on the Whatever Podcast recently. We thought it would be worthwhile to hit the highlights and ask some questions about what was presented. Where do the arguments work? When do they fall apart? How are Christians to think about this issue?
Oscar Villanueva and Scotty Swingler join Evan (no Sarah this time!) to look at an impending government shutdown, Blink 182's new album (and the meaning behind it), and another story looking at the transgender division in our country.
Justin Brierley, host of the popular apologetics podcast Unbelievable for over 17 years and author of The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God, joins Sarah and Evan to look at his new book. He offers hopeful insights on evidence that perhaps Christianity is "not dead yet" in the West, and draws from his many contacts and interviews to explain why that is the case. Check out his book and his website here.
Costi Hinn joins TOA for a look at the errors of the Prosperity Gospel. The nephew of a famous televangelist, Costi has seen the lavish lifestyles up close and personal and explains how that movement is at odds with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
White Pill Radio will become a regular feature of Theology on Air. Four TOTers will come together with hot-off-the-press stories and offer a Christian lens to them. What is a White Pill? Well, the blue pill means you are content to live in the matrix. The red pill means you are awake to reaity, the good, bad and ugly. The black pill means you are awake to reality and have no hope. The white pill means you have hope in spite of the way things look at the minute. If you like this format, let us know! If you don't...well, I guess let us know that, too.
While there is no explicit content in this episode, as in dirty words, the topics are really only for adults. We talk about current events and hot-button cultural issues. So perhaps the younger homeschoolers aren't quite ready for this episode.
TOT regular Stephen Curto hangs out with Sarah and Evan to look at the surprisingly controversial question of whether or not the Kingdom of God is actually here and now. Most Christians assume the answer to that is yes. But is it only a "not yet" reality, and not an "already" reality? We dig deep on this Theology on Air.
Pastor Maurice Hobbs joins us to take a look at two people and one story we commonly misunderstand. Thomas is dubbed the doubter and Mary Magdalene is seen as a prostitute. Meanwhile, Acts 2 is seen as Pentecost for everyone, including Gentiles. Are we wrong? How?
In our first test run of what we're calling "White Pill Radio," we take a look at one controversial topic after another. White Pill Radio will be a regular episode style of Theology on Air that looks at current events through the Christian worldview, always looking for a "white-pilled" response. (As opposed to blue, red, or black pilled.) Thanks to Scotty Swingler of Sugar Land Baptist and Marquice Hobbs of Christ Church Sugar Land for joining Sarah and Evan. If you want more episodes like this, let us know: houstontot.com.
Riffing off of Stranger Things, Pastor Scotty Swinger of Sugar Land Baptist joins Sarah and Evan to consider the revolutionary way of life to which Jesus calls his followers.
A leading scientist in the world, Dr. Jim Tour of Rice University joins TOT for an in-person event that looks at the relationship between faith and science. Is it one or the other? Or are they compatible?
Rabbi Stuart Federow joins Sarah and Evan for a friendly sit-down. We look at the major differences between Christianity and Judaism and ask a few questions that some might consider controversial. For those of us not terribly informed about Jewish thought and theology, you'll find it an interesting episode.
Evangelist, author, and apologist Andy Bannister joins TOA to talk about his latest book, “How to Talk About Jesus Without Sounding Like an Idiot.” In this wide-ranging interview, we talk about the context in which Christians find themselves and Andy offers some very practical insights on sharing the Gospel in a less Christian Era. You can learn more about Andy by visiting Solas-cpc.org and check out his book on Amazon.
Jim Stern of Trexo joins TOA to talk about the Trinity in a way you may have never considered. He talks about the way Christians should have unique relationships with each person of the Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. Instead of a generic relationship with the “God blob”, Jim peels apart the work of each Person of the Trinity and talks about hearing the voice of one of these persons in your prayer life. You’ll definitely find it interesting!
Cam Ayala was a college athlete, a contestant on The Bachelorette, and an all-around good guy. But a medical condition followed him everywhere he went, eventually leading to the amputation of his right leg. In time, he came to faith and found new meaning and purpose in life. Hear his inspiring story here!
Should Christians endorse a form of libertarian anarchy? Or use God's Law to establish our political order? We have a mini Theology on Tap event featuring Ken Cowan and Calvin Maynard discussing two views of the Christian social order.
The authors of Counterfeit Kingdom, Holly Pivec and R. Douglas Geivett, join Sarah and Evan for the second of a two-part look at the New Apostolic Reformation, a movement that has drawn a lot of criticism but continues to grow. In NAR, the miraculous is normalized and incredible claims are made almost daily. But are these claims true and/or Biblical? Many thanks to Holly and Douglas for giving us their time!
The authors of Counterfeit Kingdom, Holly Pivec and R. Douglas Geivett, join Sarah and Evan for the first of a two-part look at the New Apostolic Reformation, a movement that has drawn a lot of criticism but continues to grow. In NAR, the miraculous is normalized and incredible claims are made almost daily. But are these claims true and/or Biblical? Many thanks to Holly and Douglas for giving us their time!
Very special guests Doreen Virtue and Marcia Montenegro join Sarah and Evan to talk about the popularity of occult practices. Such practices are definitely in the mainstream! Both Doreen and Marcia are former New Age teachers and practitioners. Learn more about Doreen here. And more about Marcia here.
Scholar and author Mike Austin joins us to take a look at all things Christian Nationalism. There is some concern that this misplaced patriotism has itself become a kind of cult in evangelical Christianity and Donald Trump is the idol. Is that the case? What are the lines of demarcation with such declarations? We cover a lot of controversial ground in this episode!
Theology on Tap looks at whether the gifts of the Spirit - particularly the "sign" gifts of tongues, healing, and prophecy - are still active in the church today. Some (cessationists) say these gifts have ceased while others (continuationists) say these gifts have continued into the present day. Josh Feinberg of Christ Community Church and Kelly Edmiston of The Vineyard Church of Sugar Land are our featured speakers followed by a panel discussion.
Apologist and Pastor Tim Hull of Dealing With Deconstruction with Tim Hull joins Sarah and Evan to consider whether Deconstructionism and Liberal Christianity have strayed too far from Orthodox Christianity. Who gets to judge? And by what standard?
James Walker of watchman.org joins Sarah and Evan to look at the Hebrew Roots movement. This movement takes a friendly look at Old Testament Laws and, in some cases, demands that Christians obey all of the Old Testament Laws. We have a broad conversation about the Law of God generally and the faulty application of the Law specifically. Thanks to James for joining us!
Two former Seventh Day Adventists join us to look at this derivative church within what is broadly considered Christianity. But do their beliefs cross the line into heresy and even cult status? We take a very quick tour through the highlights of Adventism, focusing mainly on where it seems to stray from traditional Christianity.
Oscar Villanueva and Juan Carlos Martinez have an informal debate on baptism at one of our "mini TOTs", smaller events in the months between our larger gatherings. Should infants be baptized, or only Christians old enough to make a profession of faith?
Apologies for the sound difference between speakers. We learned later that we had an issue with our sound board and only one of the mics was working. Hopefully you can hear every word of this interesting debate!
Former New Ager Amber Aldrich joins Sarah and Evan to look at common healing and wellness practices that are making their way into the Church. Can things like Reiki and Yoga be appropriated into Christianity? Or are they so imbued with pagan beliefs that it is best if they stay far away?
Justin McClean and Mac Gervais join Sarah to look at the Hebrew Israelites movement. Perhaps you have encountered the evangelists for this movement on your city's sidewalks or on YouTube. If so, you know they only regard Black persons as true Israelites and others as essentially heretics. Justin and Mac break it all down.
Former Independent Fundamentalist Baptist (IFB) Ashleigh Ashleigh Joachinson joins us to look at this very conservative group of Baptists.
YouTuber Melissa Dougherty joins Sarah and Evan to look at the Prosperity Gospel and its many influences.
Theology on Tap's live event in April looked at the Law of God. Does it still apply to Christians? Or are they "so" free in Christ that it no longer applies at all? What aspects of the Law continue into the New Covenant and which are done away with? Three pastors will offer three perspectives followed by a panel discussion.
Pr. Juan Carlos Martinez joins Sarah and Evan to look at a number of thorny passages in the Bible. Specifically we look at the questions of election, the Trinity, and whether obedient Jews will face judgment.
Oscar Villanueva joins Sarah and Evan to look at several thorny issues in the Bible. Does the Bible condone slavery? Are there particular sins that damn us to hell? Does God lead us into temptation? And does everything happen for a reason?
Sarah, Evan, and new leadership team member Beth White tackle some common misperceptions in the third episode of our season on "Does the Bible Really Say?" We look at whether the Bible talks about premarital sex, whether hell exists, whether Christians must attend church, and whether jewelry and makeup are serious sins.
The Rev. Patrick Hall joins Sarah and Evan to look at a number of issues: the devil, whether wealth is really evil, and whether babies should be baptized. Just a little controversy.
Soon-to-be church planter Mace Perez joins Sarah and Evan to begin our new series on common misconceptions or misunderstandings of what the Bible says. In this episode we ask if the Bible really says Christians are to tithe (give 10% of all that they have to the church), that we should love ourselves, and that Jesus was God. Sometimes, the Bible says things quite clearly but not in one, neat and tidy verse. We'll unpack these issues with many surrounding verses to try to get to the bottom of just what the Bible does say on these topics.
Jay Stringer, author of Unwanted: How Sexual Brokenness Reveals Our Way to Healing, joins TOA to look at the damage of pornography and what its use can tell us about ourselves. We also look at the purity culture movement that was quite popular in Evangelical circles in the 1990s and whether that was the right message at the time.
Why the explicit label? It isn't because we use naughty words, but rather because the content is not really safe for children. We are creating content for young adults and we are talking about adult experiences. While we do not intend to be crude or licentious, there is no way to have a really honest conversation without at least some specifics. So, in the interest to our listeners, we thought we would be extra cautious and include that label.
Perhaps no questions are as controversial today as questions around gender and sex. We are joined by the author of Love Thy Body to unpack them from a Christian worldview. Dr. Nancy Pearcey is considered one of America's most prominent apologists, so we are very thankful for her time in joining us.
Why the explicit label? It isn't because we use naughty words, but rather because the content is not really safe for children. We are creating content for young adults and we are talking about adult experiences. While we do not intend to be crude or licentious, there is no way to have a really honest conversation without at least some specifics. So, in the interest to our listeners, we thought we would be extra cautious and include that label.
Dr. Robert Gagnon of Houston Christian University joins Sarah and Evan to tackle the question of homosexuality. Dr. Gagnon is an expert on this topic and covers a wide range of biblical texts, themes, and objections. To learn more, find Dr. Gagnon on Facebook or visit his website, robgagnon.net.
Dylan Cumberland, cradle Methodist and friend of Theology on Tap tackles the infamously dubbed "Clobber Verses" (Scripture passages that address same-sex behavior) from a progressive perspective.
As a reminder as we move through this series on a Biblical sexual ethic, our leadership team shares a variety of different viewpoints on certain issues therein. We don't all agree! So we will present a spectrum of perspectives and invite our listeners to decide for themselves where they stand.
Why the explicit label? It isn't because we use naughty words, but rather because the content is not really safe for children. We are creating content for young adults and we are talking about adult experiences. While we do not intend to be crude or licentious, there is no way to have a really honest conversation without at least some specifics. So, in the interest to our listeners, we thought we would be extra cautious and include that label.
Nothing says Christmas like a good, old-fashioned conversation about suffering. The truth is, life is hard sometimes. But is it supposed to be?
Depending on which Christian you ask, suffering is either a normal part of the Christian life, or something God has given us power and authority to overcome. Are we supposed to expect a life of difficulty? Or are we supposed to expect God to overcome our difficulty?
In this special December Theology on Tap, we drank some holiday brew, ate some holiday treats, and had a jolly debate about suffering, depression, existential ennui, and more. Santa himself couldn't have been more Christmassy.
Pastor Meredith Mills laid out a Theological overview of how different traditions view suffering and then our special guest, Licensed Professional Counselor, Tim Mavergeorge, walked us through how we can cope when life is...well...life.
Dr. Paul Copan, author of Is God a Moral Monster?, joins us to look at heterosexual sins in the Bible. When we talk about sex and the Bible, we frequently jump to more controversial issues, like homosexuality. But there are many heterosexual sins in the Bible and they matter, too! And some of these strike us as rather strange, especially some in the Old Testament that deal with issues of war, rape, and marriage. Many thanks to Dr. Copan for lending his expertise as we tackle some tough and controversial topics!
Why the explicit label? It isn't because we use naughty words, but rather because the content is not really safe for children. We are creating content for young adults and we are talking about adult experiences. While we do not intend to be crude or licentious, there is no way to have a really honest conversation without at least some specifics. So, in the interest to our listeners, we thought we would be extra cautious and include that label.
The Rev. Dr. Paul Sullins joins us to talk about the positive case for sex. Why was it given by God? What purposes does it serve? Have we ruined it with the Sexual Revolution? Do married couples have better sex than those not bound to the same old person? And what is off limits, even in a marital situation?
Why the explicit label? It isn't because we use naughty words, but rather because the content is not really safe for children. We are creating content for young adults and we are talking about adult experiences. While we do not intend to be crude or licentious, there is no way to have a really honest conversation without at least some specifics. So, in the interest to our listeners, we thought we would be extra cautious and include that label.
Sarah, Patrick, Meredith, and Evan kicked off Season 5 of Theology on Air by, well, clearing the air. Theology on Tap fosters conversation among Christians who agree on the biggest of issues, but disagree on others. So we wanted to lay out where we stand on these controversial issues. This season, we tackle the subject that comes up more than any other: sex. So to act as a bit of a teaser (if you will), we are hitting the highlights of what we will discuss in more depth with guests throughout the season. We touch on God's design for sex, homosexuality, divorce, transgenderism, and more.
Why the explicit label? It isn't because we use naughty words, but rather because the content is not really safe for children. We are creating content for young adults and we are talking about adult experiences. While we do not intend to be crude or licentious, there is no way to have a really honest conversation without at least some specifics. So, in the interest to our listeners, we thought we would be extra cautious and include that label.
To round out our season on the Reformers, we invite Methodist Bishop, Dr. Scott Jones to dialogue with Reformed Baptist pastor Aaron Wright. The question is one that divides some of the Reformation traditions: "Is perfection possible?" John Wesley would ultimately go further than, say, John Calvin or Luther in saying that, in a sense, perfect holiness was possible. But was he right? We do a bit of a deep dive to really focus on the kinds of issues the Reformation was all about. Thanks to Dr. Jones and Pr. Wright for stopping in!
The founder of what would later be called Methodism, John Wesley worked for renewal within the Church of England for decades. Primarily a preacher to preachers, he challenged pastors to have a personal experience of knowing Christ. He considered the whole world his pulpit and his legacy has lasted for centuries. Thanks to TOT's own Meredith Mills for stopping in to share her Wesleyan knowledge!
The empire strikes back! Dr. Richard Johnson joins Evan to look at the Council of Trent, held from 1545-1563. This was Rome's internal work towards reform as well as a response to the events of the Reformation. We'll look at what was decided and what the legacy of Trent ultimately was.
John Calvin, along with Martin Luther, is one of the two theological titans whose work most influenced the Reformation's outcome. Known best for fully embracing God's sovereignty and predestination, Calvin had great influence among the Swiss, the English, and the Puritans who made their way to America. We look at his life, work (often summarized by "TULIP") and legacy. Thanks to Pastor Aaron Wright of Grace Family Baptist Church for stopping in for this episode!
Dr. Randy Hatchett of Houston Christian University (formerly Houston Baptist University) joins us to look at the Anabaptist and Baptist movements. While more dispersed than other Reformation movements, they pack a punch in their theological legacy and some of the juicier stories in Church history. Muenster, anyone? We look at how the name Baptist came to be used and the birth of modern Baptists. Who are the remaining descendants of the Anabaptist movement? Or are there any?
Episcopal Rector Patrick Hall joins us to take a look at the English Reformation. While no one person is as responsible as this reformation as say, Martin Luther or John Calvin, several powerful personalities did fight for religious freedom in England, notably King Henry VIII, Elizabeth II, and Thomas Cranmer. We also look at the legacy of the Church of England as it has spread all over the world and whose unity - like every major Protestant church - is less secure due to cultural debates.
Three Lutheran pastors discuss the life and times of Martin Luther. Thanks to Prs. Richard Johnson and Ralph Hobratschk for joining Evan as they take a look at arguably the most significant of all the Reformers. We try to get behind the presenting issues of the Reformation (indulgences, purgatory, the sacraments) and look at the ongoing legacy of Luther.
We look at the Bohemian reformer, Jan Hus, who closely followed John Wycliffe and who influenced Martin Luther. A noted preacher and critic of Catholic practices, Hus fought against corruption, indulgences, and ultimately Rome's own definition of the Church. Tried at the Council of Constance, his adherence to the scripture as the standard for Christian ethics would cost him his life.
Part 2 of our series on Satanism and Conspiracy Theories was held Tuesday night. A member of the Satanic Temple of Houston dialogues with Pastor Evan Mcclanahan of First Lutheran on the differences between Christianity and Satanism. The panel includes frequent guests Paul Sloan and Beth White.
John Wycliffe is really seen as the first of the major Reformers, the man who inspired Hus, who in turn inspired Luther. In the second half of the 14th century, Wycliffe challenged the church's right to own property, sell indulgences, the wisdom of begging friars, and Transubstantiation. He would work later in life to translate the Bible into English, his most famous achievement.
In this first episode of our newly-formatted seasonal series, we introduce the topic of reform in the church and why it was needed. This season, we will be looking at the key Reformers of the Church: Wycliffe, Hus, Luther, Calvin, Wesley, the English Reformation and the Catholic Response. How did these men and movements change history and how are we still living in a post-Reformation world? We hope you enjoy the new format as we are seeking to be more focused, topical, and informative for our listeners.
In April, Chris Date joined Theology on Tap in person to look at hell and different theological understandings of it. Does it exist? Do the evil simply cease to exist at some point? Is existence in hell eternal? There were so many questions we could not get to, Chris and another panelist from the live event, Pastor Juan Carlos Martinez, join us again to try to answer them. Juan Carlos espouses a traditional view of eternal conscious torment while Chris teaches conditional immortality. Enjoy the sequel!
Christian Elliot joins TOT to look at conspiracy theories. Are any of them true? How can we know? Are they a distraction or even dangerous for the Christian? Are there malevolent forces secretly controlling EVERYTHING? Or maybe just a few things?
Pastor David Ritchie, author of "Why Do the Nations Rage?" joins Evan to look at nationalism and its demonic origins. Is America in the throes of a similarly dangerous Christian nationalist movement? Is America comparable to the biblical nations? What is the difference between patriotism and nationalism?
Side note: unfortunately, the Internet just died during the recording of this so there is one transition you may notice and it ends somewhat abruptly. Still, I think most of what we wanted to cover we did. Thanks to David for sticking with me through the technical difficulties!
Scientist, apologist, and author Melissa Cain Travis joins ToA to talk about Science, Faith, Math, and the Divine Design of Cosmic Resonance.
Evan sits down with attorney Bradley Pierce of Abolish Abortion Texas (AATX). AATX is working to abolish abortion totally in the state of Texas and that work necessarily raises many questions. Like, what do they mean by abolition? Are they working with pro-life groups? What kind of exceptions should be made and what kind of prosecution do they call for? To be clear, while Evan calls himself an abolitionist, his views and Bradley's views do not necessarily represent the views of Theology on Tap. We simply wanted to explore this view of the most contentious moral issue in America, especially if Roe v. Wade may soon come to an end.
How should Christians think about war? Is violence ever justified? Doesn't the Bible teach peace? What about Nazis, though? Putin? What does Jesus/the Bible say? Dr. Jeffrey Green walks us through ideas around just war theory, pacifism, and a Christian's response to war and violence. Then we'll have a group discussion where you can text your own questions in to our larger panel of pastors and professors.
Christian musician and minister Joel Michael Herbert joins Theology on Air to debate Deconstruction. What are the issues in Christianity that cannot be compromised? Is the Bible inerrant? Is there a new version of Christianity that is emerging?
Patrick, Sarah, and Evan look at a number of headlines that all revolve around the culture wars and discuss.
Author and scholar David Capes joins us to take a look at Paul's lovely letter to the Philippians. We tackle the humility of Christ, being of one mind, and how much more we can do, or should do, through Christ who strengthens us.
Nathan Greeley, a Lutheran author and apologist, and Myron B. Penner, author of "The End of Apologetics" join Evan to look at the topic of apologetics. Apologetics, or the defense of the Christian faith has varying schools and perspectives. Which one is right? More importantly, in a post-truth age, how do Christians even go about the task of apologetics? Thanks to Myron and Nathan for joining us!
We take a look at a quotable and important book of the New Testament with Juan Carlos Martinez, 1 Peter. Was it written by Peter? What does it mean that he is called the Rock? Was he the first pope? And what about that tough talk on suffering?
Every month we look at headlines on our Around the Blackboard episode. Thanks to Vicar Joseph Yoo of Mosaic Pearland for joining us to look at some especially spicy topics.
Chris Date of Rethinking Hell joins us to look at the topic of, well, hell. Is it a real place? Who goes there and why? Or does eternal destruction really just mean a person ceases to exist. Or heck, is everyone saved? After a presentation from Chris, our panel weighs in. This was recorded April 4, 2022.
J. Warner Wallace, cold case detective and author of "Person of Interest", joins Theology on Air to discuss his latest book. We ask the question, can you prove Jesus existed and rose from the dead without even using the Bible?
Apologist Mary Jo Sharp of Confident Christianity joins us to talk about her journey to faith, from faith, and back to faith again. What were the issues that she found most challenging and what were the answers she discovered?
Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church's Clay Brown joins Sarah and Evan to give an overview of Paul's masterpiece, Romans.
Sarah and Evan review a recent lecture by John Warwick Montgomery on evidential apologetics and consider an alternative approach.
This month's look at headlines include articles on a subversive effort to "queer" churches, the unholy marriage of capitalism and Christianity, unpacking what we mean by "deconstruction", and whether it is, in fact, harmful to encouraging a young person to transition genders.
Ken Samples of Reasons to Believe joins us to look at an ever-controversial and difficult topic, violence in the Bible and killing in God's name.
Ted Wright of Epic Archaeology joins us to look at the book of Acts. What were the major events? Are there any clues in archaeology about the veracity of Paul's travels?
First Lutheran hosted Drs. James White and Tim Stratton to debate Molinism. Molinism has been popularized by William Lane Craig as a system that defends human libertarian free will and God's sovereign knowledge of all things via "middle knowledge." If it is new to you, you might want to do a quick scan on the topic as the debate does get pretty deep! The title of the debate is, "Is Molinism Biblical?" Each speaker had 20 minutes for opening remarks, 8 minute rebuttals, 2 10 minute periods of cross examination, closing remarks and 20 minutes of Q and A. Since First Lutheran works closely with TOT, our podcast listeners get this as a bonus!
Here's the audio! We look at those "borderline" sins and ask when do they cross the line between right and wrong, and why? Adam Harger, Mac Gervais, Evan McClanahan, and Patrick Hall are the panelists.
Mark Raggett, Nathan Eleweanya, and Evan McClanahan look at headlines on this month's Around the Blackboard episode. We look at the infamous convoy, LGBTQ in the Catholic Church, Sex Ed in Jonathan Edwards' hometown, and what it means to have "Christian Values."
Tyler McNabb joins us all the way from Macau, China to talk about his latest book "Classical Theism and Buddhism." What is Classical Theism? What can it teach us about Buddhism? And what, if anything, do Buddhism and Christianity have in common?
Dr. Paul Copan joins us for our series on the books of the Bible. We'll dive in in more detail in future episodes on the Gospels, but we wanted to offer a 30,000-foot overview of the four testimonies to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus as a primer. Thanks to Dr. Copan for joining us!
Stephen Curto and Patrick Hall join Sarah and Evan to talk through the process of deciding what falls within the realm of classical Christianity and when we dishonor God in the name of loving others. We look at current topics and apply the standard to each.
Dr. David Baggett of Houston Baptist University joins us for a deep dive into the moral argument for God. He has some nuances from how it is commonly presented, so even if you are familiar with the argument, you will want to listen! We also look at whether evolution can account for morality, the Euthyphro dilemma, and whether holiness and happiness are connected. And if they are, why?
Get Dr. Baggett's book here.
This headline-driven episode looks at vaccine mandates, a George Floyd icon, a moment of cultural appropriation, and whether America is close to another civil war. Thanks to first-time guest Bradley Varnell joining the usual crew of Sarah, Meredith and Evan.
Gary DeMar of American Vision joins us to talk about theonomy: what is it and why do folks hold to it? Hasn't Old Testament Law been fulfilled? Are the three categories of civil, moral, and ceremonial law correct and applicable? We talk about that and much more. And a note: towards the end, some of the conversation gets a little political. Remember that the comments of our guests do not represent the views of all leadership of Theology on Tap.
Theology on Tap looks at ancient Christian heresies and how they apply today. Dr. Adam Harger of HBU is on hand to offer a presentation and then we have a panel discussion. Thanks to Adam and the panelists: Paul Sloan, Meredith Mills, and Patrick Hall.
Renowned scholar Dr. Gary Habermas joins us to talk about the Shroud of Turin. The most analyzed piece of fabric in human history is either an elaborate prank or it could be proof of a unique supernatural event...say, the resurrection? If you have never really studied the Shroud of Turin, you will definitely find this introduction interesting. Thanks to Dr. Habermas for sharing his time with us!
Author of the "The Good News of the Return of the King", Michael Jahosky joins us to talk about "Lord of the Rings" and how it is a kind of parable to the good news of Jesus Christ. If you are a LOTR fan, you won't want to miss it! Learn more about Michael here: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Tfvl8A6qjSERHXKavGWvf
Sarah, Evan, and first-time guest Pr. Mac Gervais look really at two big stories: whether the Bible is hate speech and what qualifies as mis/disinformation.
Live from Scotland, Christian apologist Andy Bannister joins us to talk about his new book, "Do Christians and Muslims Worship the Same God?" In only an hour, we cover the major differences between Christian and Islam and Andy offers some new insights on just how different a prophet Jesus is, whether Islam is an Abrahamic religion, and how different the God of the Bible is from Allah. This is a great primer for anyone who wants to get a handle on these competing claims.
On this month's ATB, our headline-driven episode, we look at popular teenage witches, a "Bobos in Paradise" redux, the phrase "Let's Go Brandon," the state of politics generally, and the practice of cohabitating. The cast this week includes Patrick Hall of the Church of the Epiphany in Houston, Sarah Stone of MDPC, and Evan McClanahan of First Lutheran.
Stephen Curto and Elisabeth White join Sarah For a friendly debate over the issue of women in ministry. What are the limits? What are the authoritative sources to consult?
There is about 400 years between the last prophet of the Old Testament and the events of the New Testament. Was God silent during this time? What were the historical events that took place during this period that would help shape the New Testament? What gave rise to groups like the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes, and who were the Maccabees? We talk about that and more with Dr. Adam Winn on today's Theology on Air.
Thao Costis of Search Homeless Ministries in Houston, Will Symmes of Lord of the Streets, and Donald Hackler, a volunteer at Lord of the Streets, joins Evan to look at homelessness. What are the root causes? How should Christians respond? Why the rise of tent cities in recent years and what are the proposals on the table to help?
TOT hosts a controversial, but important conversation on what seems to be aa new way of talking about racism. When did the definition of "white supremacy" change? Why did it change? And what does the church have to say about the current state of race relations in America. Thanks to Juan Carlos Martinez and David Williams for offering opening remarks. The panel consisted of Oscar Villaneuva, Troy Williams, Rachel Poysky, and Evan McClanahan.
Former New Ager and popular YouTuber Melissa Dougherty joins Sarah and Evan to look at her conversion to authentic Christianity and a number of false teachings of the New Age. Sadly, the Church is incorporating a lot of these teachings! Check out Melissa's YouTube channel here.
Joseph Parks of Riceville Mount Olive Baptist Church joins Sarah and Evan to preview the concepts and ideas that motivated the next in-person event.
Dr. Adam Harger of Houston Baptist University joins us to take a look at the prophets in the Old Testament. This overview looks at the significant events of the Old Testament and the prophets (Samuel, Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Elijah, for example) that are often around while these goings-on are happening.
Brian Woods and Particle Physicist Dr. Michael G Strauss (www.michaelgstrauss.com) look at the Big Bang and ask whether it points to a Creator...or not.
This month's ATB looks at Texas' controversial abortion law, another study suggesting a lack of Christian basics among Christians, and whether Christians can get behind vaccine mandate religious exemptions. Thanks to Chris Waks and Joseph Yoo for joining the usual crew of Sarah and Evan.
Cold Case detective J. Warner Wallace looks at the evidence for Christianity on this week's Theology on Air. Check out coldcasechristianity.com and houstontot.com to learn more.
Taylor Neill and the Faithiest Athiest (Richard Suttles) discuss human nature, morality, and a little bit of counterterrorism.
Ted Wright joins us to take a second look at the Kings in the Bible. It turns out, there were a lot of them, too many good and important stories to cover in one episode. To learn more about Ted and his work at Epic Archaeology, go here.
This live event was held Tuesday, August 10 at Saint Arnold's Brewery. We look at the question of why some are leaving the church. Taylor Neill and Colin Bagby begin with a look at the most common reasons people offer and then the panel weighs in with more thoughts.
Has science made God obsolete? Can you believe in creation while also believing the big bang theory, or that the universe is very old? Where does scientific discovery stop and faith begin, or …are they mutually exclusive? Have Christians just fallen prey to the “god of the gaps” fallacy? And…What about aliens and deep space and UFO’s?
Why do people walk away from faith and religion? What issues and ideas have so many reconsidering Christianity or at least an American Evangelical slice of Christianity? What are the reasons people are deconstructing, and what does it actually look like to be an Exvangelical?
ToA talks with "Redrawing the Bath" podcast host, Chris Harman.
With so much recent talk about prominent Evangelicals walking away from faith, terms like “deconstruction” and “Exvangelical” have become par for the Christian course. But, what does it mean to deconstruct, and is this something new, or has it been happening all along? Is it a good thing? What makes deconstruction different from doubt, and after taking apart the building blocks of your faith, how are you supposed to put back together your beliefs and worldview?
Sarah Stone and Patrick Hall interview Joshua Smith.
Part 1 of our series leading up to our "Exvangelical" live event, Grant Wacker talks to ToA about the history, culture, and distinctions of American Evangelicalism and why so many are walking away.
Two authors join Theology on Air to look at social justice and biblical justice. Where is there overlap? Where do they part company? Of course, much depends on what you mean by all of those words! Enjoy this timely and relevant conversation on today's Theology on Air.
Ted Wright of Epic Archaeology joins us to look at kings in the Old Testament. We look at both foundational questions of why Israel wanted a king and some of the more notable stories in the books of 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings.
Are you afraid of death? How does our mortality or immortality affect the way we live? To what lengths will humanity go to prolong life by freezing ourselves, uploading our minds, building a lasting legacy, or simply distracting ourselves from the inevitable truth that we will all die? We talk about that and more with Clay Jones on today’s Theology on Air.
A Methodist (Colin Bagby) and a Presbyterian (Ryan Dougan) join us to take a look at the classic questions regarding free will and predestination. Does God have exhaustive knowledge of everything? Are some saved or damned before they are ever born? What role does our free will play into our salvation?
**Note - apologies for the strange audio effect that happens from 0:55 until 2:20.
Sarah and Evan walk through the book of Judges, hitting the highlights and considering modern relevance.
Dr. Jordan Cooper of Just and Sinner joins us to a look at Lutheran distinctives. While this was recorded for another project I (Evan) am working on, we thought the TOA audience would also find it interesting. While, of course, many of our listeners are not Lutheran, you can think about your own tradition's teachings on issues like the sacraments, Tradition, and more. Learn more about Jordan here.
Sarah and Andrew respond to a Richard Rohr video that discusses contemplative prayer. What does Rohr mean when he uses that phrase? Is this a practice that Christians should explore? Or is something like the Lord's Prayer sufficient?
How should you talk to someone who is grieving? What are the right and wrong things to say to someone who has just gone through trauama? Does our worldview help us to respond to sad people or does it make us more annoying? Sarah and her sister Laura take on that topic on today's Theology on Air.
What happens to non-believers when they die? Is hell a real place? And if so, how could a good and loving God send people there? Are there other options for those who don't trust Jesus? What is universalism and can Christians get behind that? If Jesus is the only way to peace with God, what should happen to them? Will there be one last chance for reconciliation when we die? We talk about that and much more with Dr. Ray Sutton of the Institute for Biblical Leadership and Dr. Juan Carlos Martinez, Family Pastor at Christ Evangelical Presbyterian Church.
Who is Joshua and what are the major stories in that book of the Bible? What are we to do with the harsh violence in the Bible? What do those stories say about God? Dr. Adam Harger of Houston Baptist University joins us to look at the book of Joshua and violence in the Bible on today’s Theology on Air.
People use the phrase "racial reconciliation" all the time. But what does it mean? How does the gospel affect what we think about race? Does the culturally popular view of thinking about people as oppressed and oppressor really work to bring people together, or does it sew seeds of division? What does our theology tell us about how God views people and how we ought to treat one another? We talk about that and much more with Monique Duson of the Center for Biblical Unity.
Broun, Scott, and Evan look at this month's headlines, including excommunicating Biden, casual sex being ok'd by Christians, the God-fearing and godless divide, and abortion being banned in a major city. Broun does outreach at Rice University with Reformed University Fellowship, Scott is a Middle School Outreach at Memorial Drive Presbyterian, and Evan is the pastor of First Lutheran.
Speaking in tongues, miracles, healing, people being slain in the spirit. Is any of that for real? Is some of it real, and some of it just people getting caught up in emotion? What is the role of the Holy Spirit in the church and in our lives? That mysterious 3rd person of the Trinity that doesn’t seem to get talked about as much… What are the “gifts” of the spirit, and do all of them still happen today? What does it mean to be baptized in the spirit, or filled with the Spirit, and what about people who have never “felt” the Holy Spirit? We’ll be talking about all of that and more on today’s episode of Theology on Air
Leviticus is an oft-skipped book of the Bible that details a sacrificial system that has been fulfilled with the death and resurrection of Christ. And yet, it does contain moral content that still applies. Dr. Paul Copan, author of "Is God a Moral Monster", joins us to talk about this surprisingly interesting and relevant book.
On this episode, we talk to Clay Cassasa, who grew up in a strict community whose ideas were somewhat popularized by the Duggar family. He talks about the main ideas that defined and animated the group as well as the emotional and spiritual difficulties of leaving. He describes coming to know true grace as taught by orthodox Christianity and what a relief that was. Thanks to Clay for sharing his story!
Pastor Bob Garment joins us to look at some of the weirdest Bible passages. We look at the question of incest in Genesis, why God would command circumcision, who the Nephilim were, why a prophet would call down a curse on a gang of boys, and whether there are zombies in the New Testament. Whew!
This month's Around the Blackboard looks at headlines ranging from the scientific (man and machine becoming one) to the legal (several states writing laws to deal with LGBTQ issues) to the bizarre (hello, Satan shoes.) Thanks to Patrick Hall, Rector at Epiphany Episcopal in Houston for joining Sarah and Evan.
From atheism and communism to evangelical Christian, journalist Marvin Olasky has taught countless college students, advised a former President, mentored rising journalists, written numerous books including The Tragedy of American Compassion, and explored ideologies all over the globe as he reported the news. How can journalists maintain objectivity in today's culture? How can they embrace their convictions about Christianity while working in a non-Christian world? We talk about all of that and more with Marvin Olasky.
Epic Archaeology's Ted Wright joins us to look at the major themes and events of the book of Exodus.
For this Facebook Live event, we tackle faith "deconstruction", scandals in the Church (RZIM), "smaller" sins like smoking and swearing, whether angels (including the "fallen" variety) are running the world, human rights via the Bible, and more.
What's your sign? Former New Ager Marcia Montenegro joins us to look at Astrology. Is this an acceptable practice for Christians? is it harmless fun? Or is it dangerously close to outright paganism?
Meredith, Sarah, Evan and first-time guest Colin Bagby looks at headlines with a theological twist. Golden calf statues, the Equality Act, and conspiracy theories take center state.
Should cities in Harris County become sanctuary cities for the unborn? Do cities have the legal right or even the moral right to restrict access to abortion and abortifacient drugs? Or do we live in a free country and that means that women should have access to abortions whenever and wherever they are desired? We talk about that and much more on today’s Theology on Air.
We are joined by Dylan Cumberland and Mark Lee Dickson to look at the sanctuary city movement and ask how Christians assess the question of abortion. Dylan is a politically-active Methodist who favors rights to reproductive healthcare. Mark Lee Dickson has been described as a traveling salesman for the cause of creating sanctuary cities. His website is sanctuarycitiesfortheunborn.com
The HuffPo article referenced is here.
Have you ever noticed that the Bible seems to change in Chapter 12 of Genesis? Gone are the grand, sweeping stories of creation, fall, flood, and destruction. Now, it's basically about a guy and his wife and kids. BORING. Or is it? What is the significance of the stories and covenants from Genesis 12 to 50 and how do they continue the story of the revealed God of the universe? We talk about that and much more with Clay Brown of Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church on today's Theology on Air.
Clay currently serves as Equipping Pastor at MDPC. His education includes a Ph.D. in Philosophy and Apologetics through Trinity Theological Seminary and University of Liverpool, with a dissertation on C. S. Lewis.
David Bennet joins Theology on Air to talk about LGBTQ celibacy, loving Jesus, and staying faithful. He is the author of A War of Loves.
The Theology on Air crew gathers to reflect on the latest headlines with a theological twist on this Around the Blackboard episode. Thanks to Joseph Yoo of Mosaic church plant in Pearland for joining us! We are officially moving from Facebook Live to YouTube Live, so definitely subscribe to us there to watch live and get notifications!
Does the soul exist? Oh, wait, scratch that. We’ve already had that debate and that interview. We actually have a more nuanced question to ask to two Christian philosophers today: what KIND of soul do we have? Are we souls or are we souls and bodies? When do we get a soul? Does its existence rely on our physical bodies, and what does that say about what happens when we die? Does this topic offer up commentary on other issues, like transgenderism, abortion, or near death experiences? Evan Friske and Eric Hernandez join us for a Christian vs. Christian conversation today around the nature of the soul on today’s Theology on Air.
Some of the most debated - and yet, most important - stories in the entire Bible are in the first few chapters….right there in Genesis. Are these stories true? Myth? Something in between? And how do they set the stage for the rest of the Bible? We talk about that and much more with Clay Brown from Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church on today’s Theology on Air. Clay currently serves as Equipping Pastor at MDPC. His education includes a Ph.D. in Philosophy and Apologetics through Trinity Theological Seminary and University of Liverpool, with a dissertation on C. S. Lewis.
What is consciousness? Where does it come from? How is self-awareness different from the soul? What makes a person a person? Does our understanding of human consciousness force us to question ideas like evolution, or even the existence of God? We talk about that and much more on today’s episode of Theology on Air with Dr. Josh Rasmussen. Learn more about him here.
Paul, Evan F., and Evan M. gather to talk about current events in our first podcast of 2021. We look at Critical Race Theory in the SBC, some new abortion laws and Star-Lord's (Chris Pratt's character in Guardians of the Galaxy) becoming bisexual and polyamorous.
Dr. Craig Keener, who has literally written the book on miracles, joins Houston TOT to look at miracles. He offers compelling evidence of miracles in our own time and the panel looks at whether the miracles in the Bible are believable or not.
Michael, Sarah, and Evan look at a smattering of headlines dealing with faith and politics, COVID church lockdowns (or lack thereof), conversion therapy, and more.
More and more teenagers and young adults are walking away from the faith. Why? Has the Church become irrelevant? When people reconsider what they really believe, what is it that makes some people stay on Team Jesus, and many others walk away from Christianity? Is it about what is actually true, or does it have more to do with how you feel and explore the world. We talk about that and much more on today’s Theology on Air with Brett Kunkle of Maven Truth.
Do humans have a soul? Or is that just an outdated, sentimental way of understanding personality and memories? If the soul is something different from just an emergent property of the mind, where did it come from? And why does it matter? Can you be an atheist and believe in the soul or a Christian and not believe in the soul? We talk about that and much more on today’s Theology on Air. With special guest, Eric Hernandez.
What is Christian Mysticism? What should believers think about the teachings of, say, Richard Rohr? Is the enneagram a useful tool for discipleship? Perhaps there is a necessary place in the Church for some new and non-traditional ways of thinking? Are ideas of non-dualism and the mystery of the universal Christ helpful and freeing to those who have been wounded in their spiritual journey? Or are they a bridge too far? We’ll be talking about that and much on today’s Theology on Air. With Matthew Dillingham and Dustin Hatfield.
Houston TOT hosts an online Ask Us Anything forum every other week. This week, we met via Zoom/Facebook live to tackle questions around social justice, abortion, homophobia, and getting along in spite of important differences. Check it out!
What exactly are the teachings of the enneagram? Do its questionable origins matter when using it for spiritual discipleship today? Is it just a "new" New Age tool? What are the "true self", the "false self" and the "universal Christ" and how do these principles align or depart from the Bible's teachings? Is there a place for Christian Mysticism in the Church? We'll be talking about that and a lot more Don Veinot and Marcia Montenegro.
Four theologically-minded thinkers -two from each "camp" - discuss the 2020 elections. Though not officially in the books, we look at what we learned from this round. What shocked us? What does this say about America? Where do we go from here? What are the issues that relate to the Church? Dylan Cumberland and Joshua Hill join Sarah and Evan.
What beliefs are essential to Christianity? What doctrines take us from too far from true belief? On the road from orthodoxy to heresy, where is the turning point? How do we figure out what is too far in any direction? From the simplicity of faith displayed in the thief on the cross to trying to understand the audience and context of Paul's teachings, it can seem like a harrowing task to understand what is at the core of belief. When it seems like everyone has a different idea of what matters most, can we have any certainty to what is fundamental to our faith at all? We talk about that and much more on Theology on Air. We are joined today by Jeremy Evans and Collin Kerr.
What do Mormons believe? When the guys from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints come knocking on your door, do you pretend not to be home? Why? Is Mormonism a false religion? How can Christians engage Mormons in a thoughtful and effective way for the Gospel? What misconceptions do we have about the Mormon Church and what don't we know? We're going to be talking about that and much more on today's Theology on Air.
Corey Miller grew up as a 7th generation Mormon. He later converted to Christianity and is now the CEO/President of Ratio Christi, a college campus outreach ministry. His recent book, Engaging with Mormons, is available on Amazon here.
Haley, Broun, and Evan sit down for our second Around the Blackboard episode. This current events episode of Theology on Air takes a look at some recent comments by Pope Francis on civil unions, whether the Constitution is racist, and incredible changes among Gen Z and Millennials.
What is progressive theology? Is it another Gospel? Is it a necessary corrective to old-fashioned, traditional Christianity that has said the same thing after all these years? Is what is new bad and what is old good? Or is it just the opposite? We talk about the shortcomings of traditional theology and the benefits of progressive theology with Pastor Andrew Hill on today's Theology on Air.
Several Christians make the case for Team Trump or Team Biden. What are the main issues Christians should consider? Laura Icardi and Sarah Stone host while three guests weigh in on how Christians should vote this year.
What is "progressive" Christianity? How is it that, as progressive theology finds its way into the Church more and more, that some find it exciting and freeing and some view it as dangerous or another Gospel? With some struggling with doubt and in the process of deconstructing and reconstructing their faith, how should we approach the search for truth? What's at the core of Christianity and what beliefs are a bridge too far? We'll be talking about that and much more with special guest Alissa Childers on today's Theology on Air.
How should we vote? Trump? Biden? Republican? Democrat? Third Party? Maybe just sit at home and cry? How should we approach the upcoming election? Should we take our faith to the polls? How do we get beyond memes, fake news and really do what honors God when everything seems so broken? We're going to be talking about that and much more on today's episode of Theology on Air. With Wendell Champion and Ray McKinnon.
Amy Newhouse and Angela Bell join us to take a look at the historical plagues, and Bible verses that brought comfort to those in the midst of it.
Set in front of a 1927-built slate blackboard, Meredith, Sarah, and Evan meet up in the new TOA studio to take a look at current events and timely issues. Should we be concerned that only 2% of Millennials have a Biblical worldview? Does the Church face a crisis of having too few men involved? Did you hear about the 40-year-old mom that joined a Satanic Temple when and because RGB died? And a few more juicy stories as well...
Around the Blackboard will be a monthly(ish) podcast feature that will highlight our Leadership Team and keep the topics current and appropriately controversial.
Feel free to shoot some ideas you'd like to hear us discuss! houstontot@gmail.com
What are those things that Christianity - or Christians - are NOT? What are those things that are often confused for the essentials of the faith but are actually of secondary importance? How do heaven, politics, and being a good person become more important than following Jesus now and with the proper balance? We talk about eight things Christianity is not with Laurien Hook and Dan Aikins.
Why would two Americans leave everything to share the Gospel somewhere else? How does sharing the Gospel look different in a Hindu context? Is there a difference between the way the East and the West thinks about faith? We will talk about that and much more with two special guests on today's Theology on Air.
Curt Kennedy joins us to look at how we make heroes of churchmen and build our knowledge off of their platforms.
Did the Israelite exodus from Egypt really happen? Were the biblical characters Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, and certain pharaohs real men of history, or just part of a narrative Christians assume? We are joined by Ted Wright of Epic Archaeology (https://epicarchaeology.org/) to look at a cumulative case for the historicity of the Exodus.
In case you missed it live, here is the audio from our Tuesday night event. The questions range from social to biblical to moral. Some are timeless and some are contemporary...a little something for everybody!
Erica Raggett, Founder and Executive Director of A 2nd Cup (www.a2ndcup.com) in The Heights, joins Theology on Air to talk about the serious problem of "modern day slavery", human trafficking. She talks about what we can do to fight it and the variety of ways it exists.
We recently hosted a show on evolution and not all thought all points-of-view were represented. So we're following up to cover all our bases! Enjoy this discussion that goes even more in-depth on evolution and whether it can answer some of life's biggest questions.
Why did the Berlin Wall fall? What was life like on the East side? We are joined by a very special guest today, Barbara Elliot. Professor at HBU, founder of The WorkFaith Connection, author of several books, and former correspondent for PBS during the Cold War, Barbara has committed her life to Christian service and shares her experiences here.
This episode follows up on a recent TOT event that asked whether Jesus was a socialist. It reviews some of the claims made that night including a study that indicated socialism provided for the poor better than capitalism. Taylor Neill and Gerhard Stubben, both part of the original event, come together for this very interesting review.
This is the audio of a recent Theology on Tap, Houston event held over Zoom on the question of whether Jesus was a Socialist. It features pro and con arguments to begin and then a panel discussion. Tomorrow, we're releasing a follow-up conversation that looks at some of the arguments in more detail, so we wanted you to have the full audio first! Gerhard Stubben and Evan McClanahan make the case for and against respectively. Amy Newhouse, Mark Raggett, Broun Stacey, and Taylor Neill join the panel.
Is the Self Care Movement pulling us away from God? What is the help vs. harm in things like the Enneagram or setting personal boundaries? In an age of “Treat Yoself!”, is the Church too individually focused? How should we take care of ourselves while also following and honoring God? Elisabeth White joins Sarah to talk about this and much more. You can read the original post here: https://elisabethmaewhite.wordpress.com/
Does the Bible teach a gender binary? What does a biblical worldview have to say about transgender issues? Should Christians honor trans pronouns? We talk about that and much more with Robert Gagnon and Megan Rohrer.
A few episode notes. Yes, we know this is the second time this episode has appeared on the feed. No, we are not just trying to get some extra downloads! For the radio portion of our outreach, the episode needs to be 58 minutes, so we tell everyone involved we are going to do a 58-minute version but hopefully continue for Facebook Live and YouTube. This episode will air on 8/13 so it needs to be at the top of our RSS feed. Given the importance of and interest in this episode, we wanted to issue the entire, unedited conversation on the feed as well, which we did on July 25. So if you already listened to that, you can delete or not download this episode.
To learn more about Megan Rohrer, go here.
To learn more about Robert Gagnon, go here.
Are psychics for real? Can you talk to the dead? Are are mediums just experts at a number of carefully planned hoaxes that dupe those who want to believe? What about tarot cards, palm readers and ghosts? What should Christians think about them? We talk about that and much more with a special guest today on Theology on Air.
James Walker, the president of Watchman Fellowship, is a former fourth generation Mormon with over twenty years of ministry experience in the field of Christian counter-cult evangelism, apologetics, and discernment. He has been interviewed as an expert on new religious movements and cults on a variety of network television programs including Nightline, ABC World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, and The News Hour with Jim Lehrer. He has spoken at hundreds of churches, colleges, universities, and seminaries throughout the United States and internationally.
Should Christians support the death penalty? Are the Old Testament texts that prescribe it still binding? If so, which ones? Or does the New Covenant make the death penalty something Christians should not support? We'll talk about that and much more on today's Theology on Air. With Evan McClanahan and John Medaille.
Does the Bible teach a gender binary? What does a biblical worldview have to say about transgender issues? Should Christians honor trans pronouns? We talk about that and much more with Robert Gagnon and Megan Rohrer.
A few episode notes. This episode is the full, unedited debate, including some technical glitches. We will be publishing a 58-minute version of this conversation on our podcast feed in a few weeks for radio show purposes. So when you see that one, it is not the full debate, and you may not want to download it. Many thanks to both of our guests for coming on the show!
To learn more about Megan Rohrer, go here.
To learn more about Robert Gagnon, go here.
Does God Exist? How do you know? What are the best arguments for and against? We're joined by TOA regular Brian Woods and first-timer Tom Peeler.
Is evolution - or really Darwinism - true? Is it a problem for atheism? Or for Christianity? Oscar Villanueva and Taylor Neill bring a 1-2 punch to the ring as they look at the philosophical and theological reasons to doubt the truth of Darwinian evolution.
What is a cult? Why do people join them and can they get out of them? What, really, is the difference between a cult and strongly held religious beliefs? What are some signs you are in a cult rather than just a very conservative religious fellowship, and what are the cult groups most active today? We talk about that and much more with a special guest today on Theology on Air. With James Walker of www.watchman.org.
What is Critical Theory and its many subsets, like Critical Race Theory? Is it a helpful lens to understand scripture and the Gospel itself? Or is it a competing worldview that is sowing division in the Church and society at large? Dr. Neil Shenvi joins us to talk about that and much more on this week's Theology on Air.
What is heaven? What happens after we die? Is heaven the same thing as the new earth? Is it boring? Do we just sit around playing harps on clouds? We talk about that and much more with HBU's Dr. Paul Sloan on today's Theology on Air.
How does racism impact systems? Is systemic racism in America even a thing? Is systemic racism a reality in the Church? What are the solutions? Does Black Lives Matter have them, or are they just a critical theory-driven organization that solves problems fundamentally differently from the Church? We talk about that and much more on this episode of Theology on Air. Many thanks to Sean Palmer and Melissa Pellew for joining us!
Melissa Pellew and her husband, Devin, are co-Chapter Directors with Ratio Christi (campus apologetics alliance) at Winthrop University and York Technical College in Rock Hill, SC, where they are equipping college students to defend the Christian Faith as well as engaging unbelieving and skeptical students.
Sean Palmer is teaching pastor at Ecclesia. He is the author of two books, Scandalous and Unarmed Empire.
In an era of racial tension, what should the Christian's response be? Does the Gospel specifically address the questions we are facing today, or is a matter of discernment? How should white people respond and be a part of reconciliation without just virtue signaling? And can we speak with one voice as Christians against rioting and on topics like white privilege, fragility, and guilt? All that and much more on today's Theology on Air with special guests Anthony Lane and Curt Allen.
What is "real" Christianity? As various Christians claim the mantle of Christ, how do you distinguish between authentic Christianity and a counterfeit version? Do the more liberal or progressive voices today represent the heart of the faith, or do those clinging to traditions have it right? Two Lutheran pastors from opposite sides of the question join us to talk about that and much more on today's Theology on Air.
How are you justified in the sight of a holy God? When the Bible uses the word justification, what does it really mean? Do works play any role at all in justification? Can the historic divides over this issue ever be overcome? We talk about that and much more on today’s Theology on Air. With Dr. Paul Sloan of Houston Baptist University.
Is God's Law still applicable today? Does the Old Testament teach modern Christians anything about social justice? What should the Christian's relationship be to the OT Law? We'll talk about that and much more with a special guest today, Joel McDurmon. There is also much more conversation to be found on the YouTube recording of this interview. When the podcast comes to a close, we are just getting to the social justice concerns and you will definitely not want to miss that. Joel shares a unique perspective, neither siding with conventional camps, but considering what biblical justice still looks like and demands. You might also find this conversation interesting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTQKdhfiKw4.
Colin Kerr and Paul Sloan join Sarah and Evan for a conversation about whether homosexuality should be accepted in the Christian Church. Does the Bible offer a clear answer to these questions, or do the classic passages fail to resolve our current divide? Are concepts like love and monogamy and faithfulness the standards by which we evaluate intimate relationships and partnerships or is there even more to consider? As always, thanks for listening!
Does Hell exist? Is there really a place where the wicked spend all of eternity paying for their sins, or do they simply cease to exist, not partaking in a paradise being the eternal punishment they deserve? We'll be talking about two views of hell today, Eternal Conscience Torment or Annihilationism on today's on Theology on Air. Many thanks to Oscar Villanueva and Kenneth Cowen for putting in the time to study the issue and bring us both perspectives!
Why is there evil in the world? What does the existence of evil tell us about God? Does evil make the existence of God impossible? We talk about that and much more with Search Ministry's John Hopper. Learn more at www.searchnational.org.
Linc Ashby and Ayo Omopariola from City Church Houston join Sarah and Evan to look at the hard questions of God's character and what we see/experience in the world. To learn more about City Church, go to www.citychurch.org.
How do you go from being an addict on the verge of losing your child to a prospective Methodist pastor? With a little tough love and a lot of grace. This is the story of a woman who took the advice of a judge and cleaned up her life, found faith, and lives to tell the tale. As providence would have it, she attended the same church as that judge and they are now fast friends. They both join us today to talk addiction, forgiveness, and transformation.
Thanks to Dr. Amy Newhouse for joining us to share her research on the Church during the Plague. What did the Church believe was happening? How did they respond? Did the Reformation make a difference? That and much more on today's Theology on Air.
A Reformed Baptist and a Lutheran square off on the question of whether baptism saves. Must one believe before one can be baptized? Does the act of baptism accomplish something in spite of the faith of the person being baptized? We look at that and much more on this special debate episode of Theology on Air. The debaters are Ken Cook and Evan Friske with Evan McClanahan moderating.
Do all religions lead to one God? Are all religions basically the same? Should you choose the one that is best for you? Is it possible that Wiccanism is true? We are joined by a Wiccan high priest to discuss that and much more on today's Theology on Air. After all, you didn't think that we would stop bringing you fresh content just because we are all isolated, did you??
PS At one point in the conversation, Evan says that the Christian God is "three beings." Egad! He definitely knows that the God of the Bible is one being and three persons. There is only one God and saying three "beings" communicates three gods and while he knows better, he misspoke.
With Covid-19 taking over the world, how will the church adapt? What are the theological questions that surround a pandemic? Will our use of technology now change how we see church services forever? We look at many angles of the Coronavirus pandemic from the practical to the theological to the philosophical. We could not be in the radio station this week so Broun, Sarah and Evan hung out over Zoom for this show. That will probably be the norm for a while. As always, thanks for listening!
On this episode, we tackle the first two of four basic questions anyone can have in their back pocket to talk to skeptics about God. Think of it as "Apologetics for Dummies"...but we know you're all really smart. Thanks to Taylor Neill and Ted Wright joining us in studio! You can find Taylor at www.neillology.com and Ted is at https://epicarchaeology.org.
Today, Sarah and Evan look at tricky and even disturbing passages in the Bible. How are women saved through childbirth? Does God capriciously enforce the death penalty? Can divorced people get remarried? We also try to examine the framing questions or the presuppositions that we hold when looking at these passages as well. This is the first part of a series that will be tackling passages like these.
Dr. Paul Sloan and Laurien Hook of Memorial Drive Presbyterian join us to take a look at the Atonement. As it happens, there are different theories about exactly what the God-man Jesus accomplished with his death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven. We look at those theories as well as a lot of the Old Testament history of sacrifice. It is a fascinating look at a complex topic, but Paul and Laurien do a great job explaining it all.
Was Jesus a socialist? Mark Raggett and Evan McClanahan debate and discuss the merits of Jesus being a socialist, or perhaps defending another political/economic worldview. What passages in the Bible indicate that Jesus might feel the Bern today? What passages might indicate he supports free trade economics? We'll discuss that and much more on this week's Theology on Air.
Spiritual Naturalism: What is it? Can one be committed to a naturalist worldview as well as spiritual matters? Aren't those worldviews in conflict? Daniel Strain joins Evan Friske for a conversation on Christian vs. Naturalism. Daniel Strain is the Executive Director of the Spiritual Naturalist Society. He is also a Humanist minister, speaker, and writer on the topics of ethics, spirituality, and ancient philosophy. Evan Friske is a Philosophy professor in Houston. A reminder that Theology on Tap hosts a variety of worldview conversations and what is said here does not necessarily reflect the official views of Theology on Tap.
A Transhumanism follow-up with Julie Miller, our guest at Theology on Tap this week. We will get to a lot of the questions we could not get to Tuesday night and continue our deep into a relevant and fascinating topic. We'll look at the main foci of the Transhumanism movement, the ethical lines it would be best not to cross, and how Christians can navigate the ever-changing technological landscape.
Julie Miller joins the Theology on Tap gang to look at Transhumanism. What is it? Is this a movement Christians - and even non-Christians - should be worried about? What does the future hold for human beings as a species? And what are the moral ramifications of those changes? A panel conversation follows Mrs. Miller's presentation and it includes New Testament scholar Paul Sloan, HBU Apologetics Professor and author Melissa Cain Travis, and Pastor Evan McClanahan of First Lutheran, Houston.
Sarah is in studio today to review a recent Joel Osteen sermon and look at the Word/Faith movement at-large. Are health and wealth really the purpose of Jesus' life, death and resurrection? Do Christians - or people generally - have it within themselves to achieve all that they can? Are we God's great concern or should God be our great concern? That, and much more.
We're talking to Fr. Jonathan Mitchican about his conversion to Roman Catholicism and his deep and abiding love for comic books and movies . Fr. Jonathan is the Chaplain at St. John XXIII College Preparatory in Katy, Texas. He is a Catholic priest in the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter. Fr. Johnathan has his own podcast you might catch if you like comics as much as he does called God and Comics. You can find him at godandcomics.com. He also blogs at workingthebeads.com.
Enjoy the sequel to Taylor and Brian's conversation between a Christian and a former Christian now atheist. The focus this week is epistemology and the best evidence for the worldview they each hold. There is also "bonus" content with just Brian and Evan looking at some of the political views that atheists hold and why. The main questions are, "How do you know what you know? Does truth exist? What is your best evidence for your answer to the existence / non-existence of God?" And more!
Sarah Stone and Dan Aikins of Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church stop by to talk about modern evangelism. How do you reach the next generation, especially given the worldview they have imbibed? What are some strategies that work, and what are some epic fails they can help us steer clear of? Thanks to Sarah and Dan for stopping by.
Melissa Cain Travis joins us this week to look at the questions around science and faith. Are science and faith compatible? Are they contradictory? Does science actually point to God? What do we do with those parts of the Bible that seem, well, just wrong scientifically? And do reasonable arguments alone "prove" that God exists?
Melissa serves as Assistant Professor of Christian Apologetics at Houston Baptist University, where she has been on the faculty since 2013. She is the author of "Science and the Mind of the Maker: What the Conversation Between Faith and Science Reveals About God" (2018), a contributing author for "The Story of the Cosmos: The Heavens Declare the Glory of God."
Dr. Philip Tallon of Houston Baptist University joins Theology on Air to discuss horror films and Christianity. Originally recorded on Halloween night, this slightly spooky episode examines what art can teach us about Christianity in general and what the horror genre specifically brings to the table. And yes, there is some gab about favorite horror movies and a few recommendations for can't-miss horror movies.
Is Atheism Reasonable? On today's episode, Brian Woods and Taylor Neill discuss whether atheism can substantiate a coherent and complete worldview, or whether it lacks the fundamental tools to justify how atheists see the world. Most Christian apologists see atheism as an incomplete or even impossible foundation to build a view of reality upon. Atheists argue that you don't need God or religion to build a life of meaning, morality, and even reason.
Today on Theology on Air, we ask, "What do Christians Believe about the Bible?" Is it the Word of God? Is it just cultural observations from Stone Age Palestinians? Are all of the books of the Bible of equal worth? How literally should we take it? Join Ashley Dellagiacoma and Broun Stacey on the episode today.
On our second episode, we tackle perhaps the most divisive question in the Church today: sexual ethics. We are joined by author Rozelle White and HBU New Testament professor Paul Sloan. Join us as we look at new understandings of Christian sexual ethics and what the Bible says about it all.
How should Christians vote? What drives a Christian understanding of Politics? Join Theology on Air as we discuss those questions and more with Philosopher Evan Friske and Pastor Meredith Mills.
On today's episode, we review Tuesday's (12/10/19) Theology on Tap, Christmas Mythbusters. What are the good and the bad traditions associated with Christmas? How Christian are they? Can non-Christians celebrate Christmas? Was Jesus really born December 25th? Should Christians opt out of the commercialization of it all? Thanks to Kurt Bilanoski and Sarah Garment Stone for sharing their insights.
Our first Theology on Air episode ever! Sarah Stone and Michael Jarboe join Evan McClanahan to discuss the greatest hits and lowest lows of Theology on Tap through the years and generally introduce the show. Consider this our origin story! Many sequels to follow.