Reparadigmed Podcast

Dr. Greg Boyd sits down with the Reparadigmed Podcast to discuss Christian nationalism, the misinterpretation of faith in political actions, and the urgent need for a genuine Christian witness that transcends violence and political ideology. Our discussion sheds light on the historical misunderstanding of a 'Christian nation,' critiques the fusion of faith with political power, and calls for a return to the authentic teachings of Jesus Christ. Through examining the pitfalls of cultural Christianity and advocating for a radical, love-based approach to living out our faith, Greg challenges both the church and individuals to reevaluate their role in society. This critical exploration of faith, power, and the path to true kingdom citizenship is one that the evangelical church in America desperately needs today, as much as it did 20 years ago when Greg wrote The Myth of a Christian Nation.

Resources Referenced: The Myth of a Christian Nation, The Myth of a Christian Religion, Inspired Imperfection, The Crucifixion of the Warrior God, Resident Aliens by Stanley Hauerwas, The Subversion of Christianity by Jaques Roulou.

Additional Resources: ‘The Gospel’: how Israel uses AI to select bombing targets in Gaza and ‘The machine did it coldly’: Israel used AI to identify 37,000 Hamas targets from The Guardian, US looking at report that Israel used AI to identify bombing targets in Gaza and Who were the World Central Kitchen aid workers killed in Gaza by Israel? from Reuters, Behind the numbers: Gaza’s unprecedented aid worker death toll from The New Humanitarian, Lavender & Where’s Daddy: How Israel Used AI to Form Kill Lists & Bomb Palestinians in Their Homes from Democracy Now.

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The Reparadigmed Podcast welcomes Dr. George Kalantzis to discuss his book, Caesar and the Lamb: Early Christian Attitudes on War and Military Service. As a patristics scholar, Dr. Kalantzis takes Matt and Nick for a deep dive into the contrasts and comparisons between Christianity's historical stance on military service and contemporary views, spawned primarily from Augustine of Hippo in the 5th Century CE. He shares his insights into the early Christian rejection of military participation in the Roman Empire, drawing parallels to the challenges Christians face today in reconciling their faith with national allegiance. Through a rich discussion on theology, history, and personal conviction, sparing no criticism, Dr. Kalantzis challenges listeners to reflect on what it truly means to live out one's Christian faith in the context of modern civil and military obligations. The conversation spans from the foundations of Christian pacifism in antiquity to the complex entanglement of religion and state power in the present day, offering a unique perspective on how historical practices inform current debates on Christian identity and loyalty.

Resources Referenced: Caesar and the Lamb by George Kalantzis

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American politicians have referenced the Bible in support of all sorts of policies. In this episode, Matt and Nick connected with Kaitlyn Schiess to discuss the bizarre ways that scripture has been used and abused in the politics of slavery, the Cold War, civil rights, and how better Bible reading leads to better politics.

Resources Referenced: The Ballot and the Bible: How Scripture Has Been Used and Abused in American Politics and Where We Go from Here and The Liturgy of Politics: Spiritual Formation for the Sake of Our Neighbor by Kaitlyn Schiess

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What happens to Christianity when it gets blended with another religion that uses violence to solve its problems? Nick and Matt discuss the American civil religion, competing definitions of victory, and how fear drives Christians to compromise.

Resources Referenced: Revelation for the Rest of Us by Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett, Losing Our Religion by Russel Moore, American Legion: Preamble to the Constitution, American Legion: The Definition of Americanism

Interlude Music: The Powers of the Universe by Of Water

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Episode Outline:

00:27 Introduction

02:39 America's Identity as a Christian Nation

04:23 The Concept of American Civil Religion

07:10 Values and Ritual Calendars and Holidays

13:24 The Blending of Christianity and American Civil Religion

16:36 The Incompatibility of Christian and American Civil Religion Ethics

19:24 The Clash of Civil and Christian Values

24:45 The Fleetingness of Empires, Even America

28:41 Fear Tactics and the Christian Response

33:20 Identity and Hope in Christianity Beyond National Borders

36:00 Living the Revolutionary Kingdom Way

“Follow Jesus” seems like such a simple command, until you remember that Jesus went to the cross. The early church had an uncompromising allegiance to Jesus, unity in a non-violent ethic, and a shocking willingness to obey Jesus’ words, “Follow me.” But how did the church in Rome go from being a non-conforming problem for Rome to asking the Roman military to settle church division within a century? Nick and Matt chat about the transformative effect of a “Christianized” Roman Empire, and how this newfound political power radically shifted the church’s beliefs and practices regarding state, violence, and the purpose of the church, resulting in the horridly violent legacy that is church history.

Resources Referenced: Caesar and the Lamb by George Kalantzis, Jesus Wars by Philip Jenkins.

Interlude Music: In the Beginning of Time by Of Water

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Episode Outline:

00:41 Introduction: The Early Church and Its Ethic

02:34 The Early Church's Response to Violence

04:18 The Role of Martyrdom in the Early Church

05:58 The Early Church's Stand Against Violence in the Roman Empire

15:00 The Early Church's Rejection of Military Service

21:31 The Shift in the Church's Stance on Violence

22:55 Constantine and the Rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire

27:26 The Influence of the Roman Empire on Church Doctrine

30:38 Augustine's Influence on Christianity

33:35 The Shift in Christian Approach to Violence

42:16 Christianity and Violence in the Reformation and Post Reformation Eras

43:29 Manifest Destiny and the Dangers of Christianizing Behavior Contrary to Jesus' Ethic

You can’t give yourself a nickname. Before Jesus came, another man was heralded as the savior of the Jewish people. Judas, nicknamed “The Hammer” Maccabees was a brash, bold warrior who gave the Jewish oppressors more than they could handle. Surely, generations later, under the oppression of Rome, God’s people needed another Hammer, right? Nick and Matt discuss Jesus’s surprising approach to dealing with the powers that be, his victory over death and fear of death, and resurrection hope.

Interlude Music: Aeon Ending by Dew of Light

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Episode Outline:

00:00 Introduction - Human History is a History of Fear of Death

00:24 Historical Context: Violence in Human History

02:00 The Maccabean Revolt: A Case Study

04:09 The Aftermath of the Maccabean Revolt

04:19 The Expectation of a Warrior Messiah

05:34 Jesus Enters the Scene: A Different Kind of Messiah

07:10 Jesus' Teachings: A Radical Departure from Violence

10:33 Jesus' Crucifixion: A Defeat or a Victory?

19:00 Death as an Intruder and Jailer

19:09 Jesus' Mission to Defeat Death

20:07 The Fear of Death and Power Struggles

20:31 Jesus' Victory Over Death

23:25 The Power of Resurrection Hope

24:32 The Church as a Witness to Jesus' Victory

27:30 The Dichotomy of Fear and Love

32:47 The Call to Active Resistance and Suffering if Need Be

37:57 The Early Christian Ethic and the Cross of Jesus

39:44 Closing Thoughts on Living Out the Gospel

Christians agree that the gospel is important, we just don't seem to be able to agree on what gospel means. Is it good news, the center of our faith, or a message about forgiveness? In this episode, Nick and Matt chat about the sometimes surprising gospel proclamations in the Old Testament and how they help us understand gospel proclamations in the New Testament.

Resources Referenced: Septuagint Word Search by Reparadigmed Podcast

Interlude Music: Winged by Clarence Reed

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Episode Outline:

00:00 Introduction: The Importance of the Gospel

00:04 The Gospel: A Variety of Interpretations

00:58 The Gospel in Scripture: A Closer Look

03:04 The Gospel in the Old Testament

04:07 The Gospel in the New Testament

10:52 The Gospel in Greek and Roman Culture

12:46 The Gospel: A Proclamation of Victory

15:13 The Gospel: Good News for Some, Bad News for Others

17:23 The Gospel: A Message of Authority and Power

20:27 Understanding the Gospel in the New Testament

20:43 Jesus and the Gospel in Luke 4

21:10 The Gospel in the Context of Translation

22:48 Jesus' Authority and the Gospel

23:44 Paul's Interpretation of the Gospel in Romans

25:11 The Gospel and Jesus' Power and Authority

26:33 The Gospel in Revelation

28:07 The Gospel: A Call to Loyalty and Allegiance

28:57 The Gospel and Individual Salvation

32:24 The Gospel: A Proclamation of Jesus' Authority

35:22 The Gospel: A Call to Accept Jesus as Lord and Savior

38:09 Proclaiming the Gospel: What Do We Say?

Why should the caretakers of the land care about it if it's all gonna burn? Matt and Nick chat with Dr. Carmen Imes about her book 'Being God's Image.' She explains the importance of regular spiritual practices and how her work relates to everyday life and our understanding of human identity. Commenting on the connection between the image of God and creation care, Dr. Imes emphasizes that the Christian hope is thoroughly practical and political. She also discusses the role of Jesus in embodying the image of God. Additionally, she shares about her upcoming projects including a commentary on Exodus and a curriculum on scripture and multicultural identities.

Resources Referenced: Being God’s Image by Carmen Imes, Bearing God’s Name by Carmen Imes, Torah Tuesday Podcast by Carmen Imes, An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax by Bruce K. Waltke and Michael Patrick O'Connor

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Can a Christian be an environmentalist? Biblical Scholar Sandra Richter joins Nick and Matt to talk about why creation care is an important part of being the image of God. They discuss how divisive politics, the privileges of wealth, and peculiar understandings of the Bible have all contributed to the suspicion many Christians feel toward environmentalism. All this and more as they discuss Sandra Richter’s book, “Stewards of Eden: What Scripture Says about the Environment and Why it Matters."

Resources Referenced: Stewards of Eden, Epic of Eden by Sandra Richter. Appendix to Stewards of Eden

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How does being made in the image of God affect the way we live? Does it have real implications for the jobs we do, the art we create, and the way we care for creation? Nick and Matt dive into some practical questions around living as the image of God in a fallen world, and how Jesus’ humanity lights the way.

Resources Referenced: Radical Hope by Jonathan Lear, Earthkeeping and Character by Steven Bouma-Prediger, Culture Care by Makoto Fujimora, Every Good Endeavour by Timothy Keller and Katherine Leary Asdorf, Sermon on the Mount Series by BibleProject

Interlude Music: Everything Comes to an End by Of Water https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/xIVZrl3azc/

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