Folding Chair Theology

Bruce and Justin continue their discussion on Jesus's sermon on the mount with a wrap-up of chapter 5 and a fun little talk on loving your enemy.

Matthew 5:43-48
43 “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing out of the ordinary? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Mentioned in this Episode
The Vox Podcast with Mike Erre
Faith Improvised, Timothy Gombis

Justin is back for another Justin Time episode where he shares how his and his daughter's births are connected and how God redeemed his birth through his daughter's birth.

Bruce and Justin continue their discussion on Jesus's sermon on the mount and his teaching on retaliation.

Matthew 5:38-42
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic,[h] let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

Mentioned in this episode:
Nonviolence (Book), Preston Sprinkle
The Vox Podcast with Mike Erre
The Divine Romance (Book), Gene Edwards
Three Commands (Book), Bruce Pagano II

Bruce and Justin continue through Jesus's Sermon on the Mount with a discussion about oaths and the use of religious language as manipulation.

Matthew 5:33-37

33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ 34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

Mentioned in the Episode:
The Vox Podcast, with Mike Erre: Episode 262

Bruce takes a moment to share what he's processing through in the area of people's demand for justice and how Kingdom mercy is the answer.

Bruce and Justin discuss Jesus's teaching on divorce from Matthew 5:31-32.


Matthew 5:31-32

In this episode, Bruce and Justin discuss Jesus's dealing with adultery and lust, from Matthew 5:27-30.

Matthew 5:27-30

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

In this episode, Bruce and Justin talk through Jesus's teaching on anger and how it impacts our relationships.

Matthew 5:21-26
21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

In the last few years, I (Bruce), like many of you, have been processing a ton of stuff having to do with the American Christian Church. My journey has brought me face to face with a number of sins that the Church has either been complicit in or ignored and allowed to grow unchecked.

These are sins that have hurt real people, had dangerous outcomes, and damaged our witness for Jesus. I had a friend mention that he wished the church would take this upcoming Lent season as an opportunity to lament and repent from these sins. Because I had already been exploring what that could and should look like, I did some brainstorming and got my fingers typing and then came up with a Lent schedule of prayer and reflection focused on lamenting and repenting from those things that have damaged our ability to invite people into Jesus's Kingdom.

This "episode" is my invitation for you to join me starting tomorrow, February 17 (Ash Wednesday) for the next 6 weeks.

All information you need can be found at the below link:

Lent 2021 Prospectus and Schedule

Additionally, that link will be updated with each week's reading schedule and it will be presented daily on my and FCT's Instagram: @bpags2 & @FoldingChairTheology

I hole you'll join me.

In this episode, we're short one Justin, so Bruce walks us through what it means that Jesus came to fulfill the law.

Mentioned in this Episode:
Coffee, Theology, & Jesus Podcast: Ben Cremer Interview
The Vox Podcast: Light and Heavy Episode
Three Commands: Jesus Fulfillment of the Law Through Love by Bruce Pagano II
Tim Whitaker, New Evangelicals Instagram
Ben Cremer, Instagram