Snarky Faith

This week on the show, we'll pause our series on the Sermon on the Mount to do something a bit different. Yet, it's still very much in the same vein of the ethics of the Kingdom of God, where health and mindfulness matter. Mental health matters. It's an area that the church has long ignored or mishandled. 

You can't pray away mental health issues; that's just bad theology. Self-work is necessary on the road towards health. For too long has therapy a negative stigma within Christianity. 

Today, we're talking with Dr. Justin Meier, a pastor, and a trauma-informed board-certified therapist. He's also the host of the Daily Faithful Mindfulness podcast - a resource to help people use Christian mindfulness and meditation to overcome trauma and help people become everything God has created them to be.

We'll discuss the importance of mindfulness in healing trauma and how it can open us to experiencing God and life in new ways. This conversation isn't happening enough in religious circles. 

Join us today as we journey into new ways to live resiliently, as Christ called us to live. 

We'll talk about all that and more snark!

You can find more about Dr. Justin Meier and his work here: 

Listen to Daily Faithful Mindfulness Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/bt/podcast/faithful-mindfulness/id1592159857

The Journey Church: https://www.rethinkfaith.org/

Episode Timestamp:

Christian Crazy: 2:50

Main Conversation/ Interview: 7:55

Big thanks to these outlets that make the Christian Crazy possible:

Right Wing Watch

Christian Nightmares

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In modern-day Christianity it seems that there's no shortage of self-proclaimed prophets. They make bold claims about the future. They'll insist that God measures your faithfulness by how much you give to their ministries. They preach of an angry God who seems to hate the same people they do. 

It's all a crock of shit. 

Don't believe me? 

Jesus even said so. 

He laid out simple and practical ways to judge the merit of a prophet. Are they false prophets and manipulative teachers? You bet. 

For several weeks, we've been journeying through the Sermon on the Mount. It's the centerpiece of Christ's teachings and the ethics of the Kingdom of God. This week, we'll talk about false prophets and religious grifters. 

Charlatans were as commonplace in the first century as they are today. 

Today's false prophets and pastors seem to embody the humility, wisdom, and grace of a middle school bully as they lie, boast, and manipulate to get what they want. They are not servant leaders; they are narcissists and frauds peddling a false gospel that misleads and deceives. 

Jesus doesn't mince words when he speaks of them, either. They have no role in God's work of reconciling and healing humanity. 

The kingdom of God will never be about marketing and salesmanship. Nor was it meant to be a tool to build the celebrity and wealth of pastors. 

The kingdom of God is unfolding here and now through acts of service, compassion, grace, and love. 

If the core of Christ's message is about serving and loving others, anything else is the anthesis to the faith. 

Join us today as we unpack the simple yet, practical way of Jesus. It looks nothing like modern-day Christendom, and that's a good thing. 

We'll talk about all that and more snark!

Episode Timestamp:

Critical Race Theory / CRT: 2:30

Main Conversation/Sermon on the Mount: 25:00

Big thanks to these outlets that make the Christian Crazy possible:

Right Wing Watch

Christian Nightmares

Friendly Atheist

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"I have abandoned all particular forms of devotion, all prayer techniques. My only prayer practice is attention. I carry on a habitual, silent, and secret conversation with God that fills me with overwhelming joy." -Brother Lawrence

Too often do we only see prayer as something that connects us to the divine. Like a suggestion box to the hereafter or a letter to Santa, it's a one-way laundry list of needs.

Furthermore, religion has taught us that prayer is a stationary and inert practice where we bend our knees, fold our hands, and close our eyes.

Yet, when Jesus speaks of prayer, it takes on a very different posture. Through Christ, prayer is an active pursuit.

Prayer isn't a sedentary or solitary act when it connects us to God and grounds us in reality. Prayer allows us to gain perspective and see the world with clear and compassionate eyes.

Jesus shows us that prayer is more about the change happening in ourselves as we connect more and more with God's work in the world at large.

In today's show, we continue journeying through the Sermon on the Mount, the centerpiece of Christ's ethics and teachings. We'll talk about prayer and why it's needed for us to engage in the world during these polarizing times.

 We'll talk about all that and more snark!

Plus, this week's Christian Crazy features Kat Kerr, Robin Bullock, Tony Suarez, and more!

Episode Timestamp:

January 6th in Prayers: 2:00

Christian Crazy: 13:00

Main Conversation/Sermon on the Mount: 25:00

Big thanks to these outlets that make the Christian Crazy possible:

Right Wing Watch

Christian Nightmares

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"It's time we reclaimed this wise saying. Our post-Christian culture may very well give us the opportunity to relearn the wisdom of doing so. Communities of followers of Jesus may grow smaller, commitment to his teaching more radical and real, and in time we may look like those with something valuable that others want and will seek to have."

~ Addison Hodges Hart

For the past few weeks, we've been journeying through the Sermon on the Mount following the ethics of Jesus and the ways of the Kingdom of Heaven. In this week's episode, our discussion delves into a bit of scripture that's often misunderstood. It involves valuing what is sacred. 

Modern-day American Christendom uses the name of Jesus but has forgotten his teachings. The scared nature of wisdom has been dumbed down as we've tamed a faith that was never meant to be subdued. 

Softening the edges of Jesus to fit the palatability of church culture is never the way to go. You lose everything in the process. 

Then, after a while, you've got a religion that's more about selfishness and exclusion than it is about love and compassion. Sacrifice has been traded for comfort. The scared beauty has been lost.

That doesn't mean that all hope is gone. 

It can be regained easily. We just need to let go of franchised and institutionalized versions of the church. It's flawed and deceitful. The real ways of Jesus lead us far away from that and it's definitely a path worthy of taking that looks nothing like Christendom. 

 We'll talk about all that and more snark!

Plus, this week's Christian Crazy features Hank Kunneman, Kat Kerr, Johnny Enlow, and more!

Episode Timestamp:

In the News: 5:00

Christian Crazy: 12:40

Christian Cringe: 20:30

Main Conversation/Sermon on the Mount: 25:20

Big thanks to these outlets that make the Christian Crazy possible:

Right Wing Watch

Christian Nightmares

Friendly Atheist

www.SnarkyFaith.com

*Last show of 2021.

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"If 'church' is a place you go, you'll never get there..." 

~Chris Kratzer

Author, Chris Kratzer is no stranger to Snarky Faith. He's been on several times in the past, and it's always a wild ride. Today, we're discussing his new book: Stupid Sht Heard in Church. It's an audacious book that lives up to its shocking title. 

In the book, Chris does his best Miley Cyrus' impression as he takes a wrecking ball to conservative evangelical Christianity. He's an ex-pastor that was tired of a faith that steamrolled people instead of loving them. This book takes no prisoners, but is also refreshing and affirming to those that need to hear it. It's also a wakeup call to stop putting up with church sht and return to the ways of Jesus that seem to be forgotten.

Buy Chris Kratzer's book, Stupid Shit Heard in Church: and the truth that will wipe you clean on Amazon.

For more on Chris: http://chriskratzer.com/

We'll talk about all that and more snark!

Plus, this week's Christian Crazy features Robin Bullock, Greg Locke, Hank Kunneman, Rick Wiles, and Johnny Enlow.

Episode Timestamp:

Chris Kratzer Interview: 01:30

Christian Crazy: 24:30

Main Conversation/Sermon on the Mount: 34:30

Big thanks to these outlets that make the Christian Crazy possible:

Right Wing Watch

Christian Nightmares

Friendly Atheist

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"In our world, there are far more practical atheists who think they are religious than there are theoretically doctrinaire atheists." -Addison Hodges Hart

Our lives are full of deadlines, commitments, and responsibilities. Pulled in so many directions - there never seems to be enough time. It's a never ending cycle of busyness. If we don't watch out, that cycle will consume our lives and steal our purpose.

Continuing our conversation journeying through the Sermon on the Mount, we see Jesus addressing these concerns and anxieties of life. Human nature being a constant over the centuries, a hurried and unfocused life plagued those in the first century as much as it does us today.

With so many things vying to consume our time and attention, how can we focus on what matters?

For Jesus, ushering in the Kingdom of Heaven mattered more than anything. It wasn't a physical kingdom or institution; it was a simple movement fueled by love and compassion.

It sounds simple. It should be simple. Yet, we make excuses and pretend it's complex because we don't want to change.

There is a lighter way to live - one with more focus and direction.

No, I'm not talking about asking for Jesus as your personal savior. I'm not telling you to go to church. All of that mess is still part of the busyness.

The Kingdom of God was never about the church. It was about loving others and healing the world. There's nothing overtly spiritual about helping people in need, but it does change you.

Interested in trying life differently? If change happens one step at a time - let's go for a walk. ;)

We'll talk about all that and more snark!

Plus, this week's Christian Crazy features: Kenneth Copeland, Greg Locke, Hank Kunneman, Anna Kahit, and Sharon Gilberton.

Episode Timestamp:

In the News: 04:40

Christian Crazy: 12:20

Main Conversation: 23:00

Books referenced:

Taking Jesus at His Word: What Jesus Really Said in the Sermon on the Mount ~ Addison Hodges Hart

Big thanks to these outlets that make the Christian Crazy possible:

Right Wing Watch

Christian Nightmares

Friendly Atheist

www.SnarkyFaith.com

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It's not often you get something for nothing, but this Black Friday, you will.

Just in time for the holidays is the Christian Crazy bonus show. It's all free baby.

You'll hear the choicest cuts of Christian nuts. The best of the worst in Christianity is here for your listening pleasure.

Join us as we mock the pernicious prophets and their attempts to use Jesus to turn a trick and make a buck. They're all horrible, which makes the Christian Crazy all the more fun.

Buckle up and get ready for a snarky tour de force that may not be for everyone but should be just right for you.

Enjoy your 26 minutes in heaven.

You can thank me later. 

And if you do still want some Snarky swag for the holidays, you can find it here:

https://www.teepublic.com/user/snarkyfaith

This week's Christian Crazy features the best of the worst: Kat Kerr, Mark Taylor, Nathan French, Steve Schultz, Kent Christmas, and Perry Stone.

Episode Timestamp:

100% Christian Crazy

Big thanks to these outlets that make the Christian Crazy possible:

Right Wing Watch

Christian Nightmares

Friendly Atheist

www.SnarkyFaith.com

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"The first and basic act of theological work is prayer." - Karl Barth

We've all met religious assholes. Some days it's hard to avoid them.

You know who I'm talking about, don't you? The ones that act pious and flaunt their faith publicly as if they're scoring points with almighty. Or maybe they're the ones that constantly post pictures of inspiring landscapes with out-of-context scriptures, so you know they're more holy. They come in many shapes and forms, but those who play in piety cosplay are the worst.

You've felt their disapproving looks or heard their backhanded compliments. Heck, you may end up sitting next to one on Thanksgiving.

I can't stand those people. Jesus couldn't stand those people either.

No, I'm not joking. Christ was downright snarky to them.

This week, we continue our discussion about the ethics of the Kingdom of God found in the Sermon on the Mount. Taking up the teachings in Matthew 6, we see Jesus move on from issues of the heart towards issues of spiritual practice in public life. Namely, he's discussing giving to the poor, public prayer, and fasting.

In a very pointed fashion, Christ calls out the religious tryhards and posers. The Kingdom of God has no room for their drama and bullshit.

That's not how it rolls.

The religious are often too consumed with far-off spirituality, fantasies of a hereafter that may not even be. For the Kingdom of God to be manifested in the future, something has to happen now.

With an ever present immediacy, the Kingdom of God, as Christ puts it, is always concerned with the here and now. Issues of justice, equality, humility, and compassion are the hallmarks of this new way of being. Jesus was radical to the religious establishment of the time. His worlds still cut sharply today too.

Let us be part of making a better tomorrow by starting to walk out grace and compassion today.

We'll talk about all that and more snark!

Plus, this week's Christian Crazy features: Greg Locke, Mario Murillo, Rick Wiles, Bishop Larry Gaiters and Mark Taylor.

Episode Timestamp:

In the News: 06:55

Christian Crazy: 16:20

Main Conversation: 26:50

Book referenced:

Taking Jesus at His Word: What Jesus Really Said in the Sermon on the Mount ~ Addison Hodges Hart

Big thanks to these outlets that make the Christian Crazy possible:

Right Wing Watch

Christian Nightmares

Friendly Atheist

www.SnarkyFaith.com

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"If a house is burning, and a bucket of water is thrown on the blaze and doesn't extinguish the fire, this doesn't mean that water won't put out fire. It means we need more water. And so with nonviolence." - Dorothy Cotton

As we continue to work through the Sermon on the Mount, today we tackle oaths, revenge, and enemy love in Matthew 5:33-48.

Christ continues his teaching here reframing known scriptures and laws and thrusting them into new ethical directions. Being around Christianity for a while can blunt the impact of some scriptures due to over-familiarity and denominational bias. Digging into Jesus's aim here, I'm reminded how audacious and shocking Christ's take on the Law would have been to listeners. 

Through all of this, Jesus is setting up an ethic on a different way to exist and live. The Kingdom of God was counter to the power structures of the time and downright revolutionary. His calls are for love and justice through peaceful means. 

Through the model of his life, Christ embraced his own words as he walked them out towards his death. Love and nonviolence are at the centerpiece of Christ's mission and aim.

His call for his disciples rings true for us today as we seek justice, love others, and work to heal brokenness. It's a rebellious and defiant act of servitude in the face of power. Maybe it's time to get our hands dirty. 

We'll talk about all that and more snark!

Plus, this week's Christian Crazy features: Greg Locke, Shane Vaughn, Joshua Feuerstein, and Jim Bakker

Episode Timestamp:

In the News: 03:40

Christian Crazy: 12:00

Main Conversation: 26:00

Book referenced:

Taking Jesus at His Word: What Jesus Really Said in the Sermon on the Mount ~ Addison Hodges Hart

Big thanks to these outlets that make the Christian Crazy possible:

Right Wing Watch

Christian Nightmares

Friendly Atheist

www.SnarkyFaith.com

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"We’ve Already Come Too Far To End This Now.” - Sang-Woo, Squid Game

Squid Game is a popular Netflix series from Korea. It tells the story of debt-ridden individuals who are out of last chances when they receive a mysterious invitation to compete in the ultimate game of survival for possibility at a big cash payday and a reversal of fortune. The cutthroat game is ultimately for the viewing pleasure of the rich and powerful. It's a farcical, yet deadly look into the corrupt power structures that govern the world today and the lengths to which individuals will go to get ahead.  

On today's show, we continue through Jesus' teaching from the Sermon on the Mount. Delving into topics like murder, adultery, and divorce should seem simple enough for the church, yet that's not what Jesus is doing in this scripture. He's pushing something new.

Christ is reframing scripture in radically new ways to the contemporary culture. He's not talking about murdering, but about our aversion to love others. Christ is flipping religious norms as he presses his disciples and listeners to dig deeper. 

Talk of adultery and divorce seem salacious and made of scandal, yet, Jesus makes them all about the value of the other in society. Here, Christ frames adultery as wrong because love is not predatory. Kingdom of God ethics are never about mere sin or feigning holiness; it's a press for a deeper understanding of what grace, love, equality, and compassion look like manifested in reality.

In a time when much of Christendom seems to be drunk on seeking power, prestige, and perceived rightness, Jesus removes all of the bullshit. If we don't love, we don't know Him. Christianity was never about praying a prayer or solidifying your eternal destination; it's always rooted in sacrificial love and restoring dignity to those the world has forgotten. 

Our modern-day Squid Church fueled by selfishness, judgment, piousness, and greed won't disappear anytime soon, but that's not the point. Christ called his disciples to a different way, and sometimes the pursuit of that way means walking away from unhealthy institutions, denominations, and churches for the glory of God - not despite it. 

Episode Timestamp:

Notes on the show hiatus: 02:00

In the News: 10:00

Christian Crazy: 16:50

Main Conversation: 31:30

Book referenced:

Taking Jesus at His Word: What Jesus Really Said in the Sermon on the Mount ~ Addison Hodges Hart

Big thanks to these outlets that make the Christian Crazy possible:

Right Wing Watch

Christian Nightmares

Friendly Atheist

www.SnarkyFaith.com

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