482 Theology Uncorked|Can a Christian Be a Socialist?

482 Theology Uncorked|Can a Christian Be a Socialist?

Uncensored Unprofessor

The Catholic Church, for some 150 years, warned of the dangers of Socialism-Communism. But today massive chunks of the global Church are sympathetic to the claims and aims of Socialism. So it's a natural question, can a Christian be a Socialist? In this episode I work through the value system of Socialism to compare and contrast it with the biblical portrayal of reality. Within all that, fundamental to the Socialist system is the elimination of the traditional family. Why? Why is that such a constant through Socialism's history? I also discuss things like: today's Christian Emo music, the mascot of my High School, and the importance of not only looking through one's worldview (field of perception) but of looking at it. It is good to know why one believes (1 Pet. 3:15). Midway through the pod I discuss a development in Los Angeles that helps us understand the Socialist economy. Oh, I also note what Karl Marx did with regard to his own maid; he, the great Robin Hood for the working man, was a less than stellar boss. Come think and laugh with me!

481 Theology Uncorked|Just What is Evil?

481 Theology Uncorked|Just What is Evil?

Uncensored Unprofessor

What is evil? I note what some heavyweight theologians and philosophers have said about evil. Classic answers include: evil is the physical world, ignorance, or something willed by God. In this theology and culture mashup I work through the question using Socialism-Marxism as a foil. With the rise in popularity of Socialism (even among purported believers) it is good to understand what generates evil, what is its root and foundation, and where evil is headed here in the early 21st century. To help make my points I cite Mike Judge's 2006 movie Idiocracy, but I also describe how Joseph Stalin had one of his former good Communist friends tortured in prison. Will the ideological madness slow down soon or will it keep spinning spinning spinning? Come think and laugh with me.

480 Theology Uncorked|Is Christianity a Religion?

480 Theology Uncorked|Is Christianity a Religion?

Uncensored Unprofessor

One used to see it on bumper-stickers, "Christianity is a relationship, not a religion." Why do Evangelicals sell it that way? More carefully, is that even true? In this cast o' the pod I define what the word religion means and explain why all Christians should, in fact, be proud to proclaim that following Jesus is, indeed, their religion, their rule of life. To make the point I note several ways by which we can make Christianity our rule of life. All of that is side "B" of the show. Side "A" is an unearthing of the whys and whats of our secular culture's take on religion. For at least 200 years Western culture has tried to diminish religion as the "private stuff" people privately believe in "they" heads. And frankly, we expect that from a culture that hates God. What we don't expect is that the church herself is pretty adept at cutting the branch she is sitting on out from beneath her. How so? I explain that and so much more.

479 Theology Uncorked|The Heart of God's Kingdom

479 Theology Uncorked|The Heart of God's Kingdom

Uncensored Unprofessor

Jesus was clear about the fount or root or heart of the Kingdom of God, but today's churches are not. In this episode I explain what Jesus taught and contrast that with so many confusions at work in our contemporary setting. In both halves of the show—culture and theology—I work through the epistemology of Neo-Marxism. I compare and contrast that epistemology with what Jesus, speaking to Pilate, said was his own epistemological frame. (Epistemology: the construction of knowledge; how we know; the tools we use to know.) What happens to nations when one tweaks the foundation? What happens to souls and families when the commitments of knowledge get warped? I work through those answers. Importantly, I also help my listeners understand why the American Church, including far too many Evangelical churches, have been captured by Neo-Marxist ways of being and evalutating. Come think and laugh with me!

478 Theology Uncorked|Soul Care-Guarding Our Hearts

478 Theology Uncorked|Soul Care-Guarding Our Hearts

Uncensored Unprofessor

It's not much discussed, but the state of our hearts is precious. In life we naturally guard what is precious: the homeland, our families and homes, our children and babies. But our culture does not emphasize protecting our hearts. In this episode I follow up on last week's show on Christian transformation and talk about simple, but wise, steps we can take to move toward Christ. Drawing on my award-winning dissertation I reference the wisdom of old-school Pentecostalism and Eastern Orthodox spiritualities. At the show's opening I work through the framework Pope Benedict 16 had with regard to the coming of anti-Christ. My listeners will be surprised at several of B16's prognostications; he was much aligned with Evangelicals on what and who anti-Christ will be. Come think and laugh with me.

477 Theology Uncorked|What does it mean to become like Christ?

477 Theology Uncorked|What does it mean to become like Christ?

Uncensored Unprofessor

Too much of Church history portrays becoming like Christ as a lifeless legalism; as though what the Lord only wants for us is that we sin less. For my PhD, when I compared Eastern Orthodoxy and Classical Pentecostalism, I found that they both believe (and teach, and model) that the Lord has still more for us when it comes to our own transformation into his image. More? Yes, like mission. God calls all of his own to the same mission, in different ways. And still more, God wants our selves to vibrate to the vibration of his eternally vibrating Holy Spirit. I explore all that in this uncorking of some theology. Also, during the show's opening cultural reflection, I comment on the historical and theological foolishness of the Democrat Socialists of America. Come laugh and think with me!

476 Theology Uncorked|My Grace for the Many Churches

476 Theology Uncorked|My Grace for the Many Churches

Uncensored Unprofessor

My own boyhood church was rather sectarian, parochial, separatist. My family was pretty much always ready to go to blows, internally and regarding those outside the family. As an ENTJ personality profile, my "J" is super strong; I don't like gaslighting, lying, or those who try to get-over on society. So why, against my own nature and upbringing, am I generous to believers who are not like me? I explain the three reasons for my understanding of and disposition toward Christians who are different from my own tradition. In the show's opening cultural segment I also remark on the recent DSA candidates and the heated energy behind them. Additionally, I crow about my recent prediction on Iran. Come wonder, laugh, and think with me.

475 Theology Uncorked|The Beauty of God's Judgment?

475 Theology Uncorked|The Beauty of God's Judgment?

Uncensored Unprofessor

Our culture despises judgment. But it's not just judgments in a legal setting that are so disdained, it is discrimination—choosing anything over anything else—that our culture finds disgusting. That attitude has crept into the Church. In this vivid episode I work through how it is that we should look forward to the day of our judgment! The cosmos itself eagerly anticipates God's final judgment day, the Day of the Lord. To make my case I work through both some of Jesus' own sayings and what the book of Revelation shows us about judgment. At the show's beginning I muse on the recent election of Democratic Socialists in New York. I also make a rare pastoral challenge to all my listeners. Here near the 4th of July, I muse on the glory of America's Independence Day. Come think, wonder, and worship with me.

474 Theology Uncorked|Bible Alone? Who Gets to Decide?

474 Theology Uncorked|Bible Alone? Who Gets to Decide?

Uncensored Unprofessor

Many Evangelical churches today are "Bible-alone" communities. Or, or they think they are. In this theology uncorked episode I explain both why the Bible-alone perspective is not why the Bible was inspired, written, or preserved and why it is actualy an impossibility. To make the case, I give an example from my own time in Bible school when another student, reflecting on his devotional, said, "I learned that God is like a motorcycle." Then, from my time as a prof, I note how Calvary Chapel students especially (but not at all only) wanted to take a Bible-alone position; what they didn't know but what I knew was that they had made Chuck Smith into their new Pope, or their new Vatican. Let's think through why God gave us the Bible, and what is the role of the Bible's authority in both the Christian life and the Church community. Oh, and in the pod's opening I reflect on a biblical perspective concerning civilization; does God care or does he only care about who goes to heaven and hell?

473 Theology Uncorked|Theology Good and Bad

473 Theology Uncorked|Theology Good and Bad

Uncensored Unprofessor

First in a new series, let's uncork us some theology! Across the pod I will explain why "just the Bible alone" (Protestant) perspectives aren't possible, what are the time-tested definitions of theology (& why theologians like definitions), why reason plays a role in Christian theology, the long-standing interface between theology and philosophy, and the role of culture on and in theology. And then, what makes theology good, helpful, and edifying? What makes theology bad, destructive, and soul-poisoning? At the show's opening I work through—noting the Bible's own cues about government—the election debacle in Los Angeles. Come and enjoy a laugh along the way with me.

427 What's Next? Distilling Grace in Everyday Life

427 What's Next? Distilling Grace in Everyday Life

Uncensored Unprofessor

It is common Christian fodder to discuss grace in the role of our salvation. But what about grace for everyday living? What does that look like? Mark and I think through several different angles of grace: divine-enablement? Relational co-dependency? Death to the self (what does that look like)? What about grace and pride? By accepting God's grace does one just become a puppet on a divine string? It may be helpful to think of grace as space, making space for the other. If we consider grace as divine enablement rather than solely unmerited favor we can press in even further into following Christ across our lives.

471 What’s Next? Walking Shoes Required: Active Faith

471 What’s Next? Walking Shoes Required: Active Faith

Uncensored Unprofessor

There's the faith of salvation and then there's the faith of daily life (two sides of the same coin). In this conversational episode Mark and I work through what it means to live by faith in our regular lives. For starters, Christian faith is submitting to the Lordship of Christ and his revelation, word, value system, and kingdom. Flowing out of that, faith means living toward something, or better toward someone. Along the way we rule out different things that Christian faith is not, those against common cultural and Christian sub-cultural assumptions. Just one of those "faith is nots" is pure subjective experience; faith is not reducible to a burning in a bosom. How? Why? What are both the objective and subjective elements of Christian faith? And then, do we balance or integrate the objective and subjective elements? Come and think about the Christian life with us in ways that run sometimes contrary to common assumptions. 

470 More Than Just Walls, The Power of Physical Space

470 More Than Just Walls, The Power of Physical Space

Uncensored Unprofessor

Two things caused this episode: a) my reading of a Roger Scruton philosophy book, and b) my attendance at a local county sherrif's graduation ceremony. Together those two have had me reflecting, again, on the power of form, the role that aesthetics play in our lives, and the role that beauty-to-the-honor-of-the-living-God has had for most of two millennia. Scruton talks, among other things, about how public architecture was always designed with an eye toward both the future and the past, but how today's architecture pays no heed to either. Today we prefer fads and/or immediacy. Following those two fads, we serve a god whom I call "Lord Utility." Sadly, immediacy and Lord Utility both have infiltrated the early 21st century Evangelical culture. Let's think through this amazing topic of form, space, and beauty together; all unto the glory of the beautiful one himself, Jesus the Christ.

469 I'm a Believer Now, What's Next? Boredom

469 I'm a Believer Now, What's Next? Boredom

Uncensored Unprofessor

When one becomes a Christ-follower the common, if unspoken, expectation is that life will take a dramatic turn, even an amazing turn, for the better. But the truth is, Christians are people, too. And life is characterized by frequent stretches, seasons even, of boredom for Christians. What do we make of those stretches? Are long stretches of boredom the result of sin? Or, is it the case that boredom is actually a luxury? Mark and I think through boredom, this out-of-the box topic. The Scriptures don't say anything expressly about boredom, so what should a believer think? In the show's opening I also offer several suggestions for how Christians should go about processing the news of alien (UFO, UAP) intelligence and presences. What should we do with what may be unprecedented information?! Come laugh and think with us.

468 I'm a Believer Now, What's Next? Worship

468 I'm a Believer Now, What's Next? Worship

Uncensored Unprofessor

Down in the bone marrow of following Christ is worship. In this free style conversation Mark and I discuss the whys, whats, and what-abouts of worship. Is God a megalomaniac who created us to worship him because he has need? Is there some lack in God that worship fills for him? If not, what is the reason for worship? Along the same lines, how do we take and make our daily lives—our chores, our work, our relationships, and even our physical dwelling space—an act of worship to Christ Jesus? What is the difference between ritual and ritualism? Why do we need both spirit and truth, heart-felt sentiment and doctrinal accuracy? And then, when we are worshiping, does God's Spirit come and overpower us so that it's only him involved? Come think and laugh with me and Mark.

467 Special—Is Trump the anti-Christ?

467 Special—Is Trump the anti-Christ?

Uncensored Unprofessor

Is Donald Trump the anti-Christ? Church folk on the Left so say. To assess the possibilities I work through features of the anti-Christ found across the Bible. Along the way I also variously: give a personal health update, talk about a recent camping trip and what that made me think about, offer a suggested name for any angry new band, share my feelings about the current price of a gallon of gas, reflect on what is going on with the Southern Poverty Law Center and the impact that organization had on thousands of pastors, take a humorous look back at a now-more-common compliment I received, and think out loud about political-Christian hypocrisy. Let's both hone our thinking about anti-Christ and share some laughter together.

466 I'm a Believer Now, What's Next? Life's Trials

466 I'm a Believer Now, What's Next? Life's Trials

Uncensored Unprofessor

It's a common assumption, when one turns to God, commits one's identity to Christ, life should become happier, healthier, more blessed. But commonly the opposite happens. And when life's trials begin to pile on us we tend to, precisely because we've read about miracles and deliverance in the Bible, ask, "why are you doing this to me, God?" When it is prolonged we can think in our hearts, "why is God frowning on me?" We make one-for-ones out of our sufferings. Mark and I talk through the ins and outs of life's trials, what those mean (or don't), and what the book of Job shows us today about our suffering. Come think and laugh with us.

465 I'm a Believer Now, What's Next? Mission

465 I'm a Believer Now, What's Next? Mission

Uncensored Unprofessor

How should we define and describe Christian mission? Across recent American history Evangelicals would answer that by saying, "go be a pastor," or "go overseas and be a missionary." Those are great callings, but what about the ordinary people? What is God's mission for them? In this rolling conversation Mark and I unpack the original God-given mission in Genesis. God's goals involved the entirety of the planet earth, blessing all creation, and building culture. But Evangelicals not only are not interested in culture, they positively hate thinking about culture and its effects. Even more, we talk about how the original Edenic mission will be our very mission in resurrection life, the Eschaton. Come think, meditated, and laugh with me and Mark about a critical topic.

464 I'm a Believer Now, What's Next? Faith & Doubt

464 I'm a Believer Now, What's Next? Faith & Doubt

Uncensored Unprofessor

There are common and erroneous assumptions about what happens when one turns to Christ: a) Life immediately gets happier. b) Life gets easier. c) All of one's questions and doubts are erased. In this honest conversation Mark and I talk through different angles about what faith and doubt each are. Why do new (or even seasoned) believers get sidelined and De-convert? Why is it problematic to put all your hopes and dreams in a church, pastor, or spouse? What happened to Mark's mother when she turned to Christ? How did that re-direct her focus and energy? There are many assumptions made about both faith and doubt, so we want to be open and honest together on these lines. Oh, and, how is it that doubt can actually be a good thing? Come think and laugh with us!

463 I'm a Believer Now, What's Next? Build Your Circle & Prayer

463 I'm a Believer Now, What's Next? Build Your Circle & Prayer

Uncensored Unprofessor

A couple weeks ago I had a stimulating coffee conversation with two men from my church. They were asking piercing questions, one of which was, "how should I be missional? Is Christian mission just for pastors and teachers?" Their probing queries gave me an idea for a series, what should one do after either confessing Christ as Lord or determining to go deeper into the Christian way? Mark and I think through this important question by addressing the topics of building your circle and the role of prayer. On the latter, we even talk about the way prayer changes us as against a monastic approach of centering prayer. Come laugh and think with us.

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