Everyday Theology

What does culture have to provide solid answers, what even are the solid answers needed? Many often joke that Jesus is the answer to everything, but when it comes to disillusionment, Dr. Brandon Rickabaugh argues that Jesus is the answer to a culture that is disillusioned with everything. Truth, according to Rickabaugh, is a needed antidote. But what is truth? Truth is a big word with a blurry meaning. In this episode, Aaron talks with Brandon about disillusionment, truth, and what Jesus has to do with all of it. 

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Christian nationalism. . . again. You may be surprised that the Old Testament, and in particular the book of Daniel, has a lot to say about subverting kingdoms and why Christian nationalism is, well, not Christian. Friend of the show Rick Wadholm Jr stops in to school Aaron on the book of Daniel.

Christian Mysticism. . . again? It seems that the idea of Christian Mysticism resonated deeply with may who listened to the recent podcast on the topic with Dr. Dale Coulter. So Aaron invited Dr. Daniel Castelo, the William Kellon Quick Professor of Theology and Methodist Studies at Duke Divinity School, to join him along with friend of the podcast insanely talented music producer, Marc Byrd, to talk about mysticism once more. Pentecostals are a strange groups with an emphasis on experiencing the Holy Spirit through prayer, tongue speech, vibrancy of worship, and more. What may seem odd to many is in so many ways connected to the ancient Christian Mysticism, experiencing God in mystery. Dr. Castelo joins us on Everyday Theology to talk about why his studies led him to this conclusion, what it means for Pentecostals, and then what it means for all of us to be mystics. 

Stay a while longer after the conversation with Dr. Castelo as Aaron and Marc decompress further and talk about why this concept was so vital for both of their Pentecostal experiences. 

You would think the humanity of Christ has been talked about to no end. Sure, many Christians claim that they follow the person of Jesus, but do they really know what it means to say Jesus was fully human, while also being fully God? In this episode, Aaron and Chris discuss the humanity of Christ, why it matters, what it means, and how we can often fall into ancient Christian heresies when it comes to how we think about and understand Jesus. 

Mysticism, mystical, mystics, these terms often come with a negative connotation for those in the church. Christians who lived through the 90's often think about "new ageism" and worry that mysticism is going to lead Christians down a "secular" path. In this podcast, Aaron speaks with Dale Coulter about the Mystic Tradition of Christianity, what it is, how it is helpful, and how much of theology today is in part due to the work of those ancient Christian Mystics. 

. . . and we are back! After summer hiatus, Everyday Theology is back with Season 4, a great line up of new guest, and some familiar voices / faces. 

It is incredible to kick Season 4 of with Dr. Chris Tilling. Chris and Aaron take time to discuss Paul's view of Jesus. Who did Paul think Jesus was and what did that mean for him, the church, and for us today?

From his bio located on St. Mellitus College's website: "Dr Chris Tilling is Graduate Tutor and Senior Lecturer in New Testament Studies at St Mellitus College. Chris co-authored How God Became Jesus (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2014) with Michael Bird (ed.), Craig Evans, Simon Gathercole, and Charles Hill. He is also the editor of Beyond Old and New Perspectives on Paul (Eugene, Or: Cascade, 2014). Chris’s first book, the critically acclaimedPaul’s Divine Christology (Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2012), is now republished with multiple endorsements and a new Foreword, by Eerdmans (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 2015). He is presently co-editing theT&T Clark Companion to Christology (forthcoming, 2021), and writing the NICNT commentary on the Second Epistle to the Corinthians (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, forthcoming). Chris has published numerous articles on topics relating to the Apostle Paul, Christology, justification, the historical Jesus, Paul S. Fiddes, Karl Barth, the theology of Hans Küng, and more besides." https://stmellitus.ac.uk/staff/dr-chris-tilling

Is faith just belief, is it allegiance, is it something else? Dr. Teresa Morgan, who holds the McDonald Agape Professorship in New Testament and Early Christianity at Yale University, joins Aaron to take a deep dive into what pistis and fides (the Greek and Latin for faith or trust) meant for those who used those words within the first century. Most importantly, Dr. Morgan and Aaron talk about why Christians today need to understand these terms within their contexts. Spoiler: faith is more than belief and when we understand faith properly, Christians can be free to be in relationship with Christ and also question what they believe. 

Pentecostalism has been in the news as of late. With more scandals within larger Pentecostal affiliated churches happening, there seems to be more discussion, good and bad, about this group. But who are Pentecostals and what makes them unique as a Christian stream? In this episode, Aaron and Chris get to chat with Bishop Ed Gungor. Bishop Ed's works has taken him deep into Pentecostal thought and thinking as he worked to construct a Pentecostal theological method, explaining how Pentecostals do theology and why it is both different and matters. 

We apologize upfront. We had some internet issues at the beginning of recording, but It gets better as the podcast goes on, and it is one you do not want to miss. Joy Qualls joins Aaron to talk about the narratives the church uses and the language we employ. If you have seen the news about Hillsong, Brian Houston, and more, you might see how the language employed by churches has effected the way the church engages with the world, and what we excuse ourselves from. Join Aaron and Joy in this hopefully fascinating discussion on the narratives we tell in the church.