Did God create evil? What is evil? If God didn't create evil, where did it come from? Don and Tana explore the origins of evil, concepts of justice, and what it means for the world to have both light and darkness.Previous podcast episodes referenced:Should We Focus on Sin? (Episode 113)Adam & Eve's Eviction: The True Story (Episode 108) - this is what we referred to as a "garden theology"Bible passages referenced:Genesis 2: 9Isaiah 45: 7Micah 6: 8Buy us a coffee!WebsiteYouTubeTikTokFacebookInstagram

What if God could retell your story? For today's episode, we are sharing a teaching of Don's from 2011 called The Great Reteller. This recording is from a guest speaking slot at Genesis Church in Toledo. It is a simple yet profound message about how the stories of the Bible demonstrate time and time again that God is interested in helping us reframe our stories.A few notes: --Don mentions Food for Thought - that is a nonprofit in Toledo, Ohio he founded.--Don calls N.T. Wright the greatest theologian of our time. While Don still thinks Wright is a great theologian, he has been disappointed by some harmful views Wright has expressed in the years since. So we would offer a warning to anyone seeking out Wright's information.Buy us a coffee!WebsiteYouTubeTikTokFacebookInstagram

Do Christians need the church? What should the church be today? Don and Tana discuss the status of the Church in the U.S., what it is, what it isn't, and what it could be.Buy us a coffee!WebsiteYouTubeTikTokFacebookInstagram

Why do Christians seem to hate social justice? Why does it feel like they'd dislike Jesus if they met him in real life? In this episode, Don and Tana explore the "warnings" against social justice language in churches, starting with Glenn Beck in 2010 and moving to today. Ultimately, they note how racism, economic issues, and the pursuit of power affect how today's evangelicals interpret churches that, to them, are too "woke."Buy us a coffee!WebsiteYouTubeTikTokFacebookInstagram

Is the Great Commission about evangelism or discipleship? What does it truly mean to be a disciple? Don and Tana discuss the meaning of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20) and explore the difference between evangelism and discipleship. Come for the intellectual discussion, stay for a description of Bald Eagle Jesus.Book recommendation: Paul Was Not a Christian by Pamela EisenbaumBuy us a coffee!WebsiteYouTubeTikTokFacebookInstagram

Did Jesus really abolish the law? What does it mean that he "fulfilled" it? And what does that mean for us? Tana and Don the example of Jesus and what it means to keep an active faith.Buy us a coffee!WebsiteYouTubeTikTokFacebookInstagram

Did Judas really betray Jesus? Or was he trying to accomplish something else? Don, Sarah, and Tana discuss how the traditional explanation of Judas' betrayal doesn't quite make sense, uncover Judas' true motivations, and reconsider his place in biblical history. Hang around for a listen if you'd like to challenge your pre-conceived notions of who Judas was and why he did what he did.Passages discussed:Matthew 26Mark 14Luke 22John 18Matthew 27: 3-8Buy us a coffee!WebsiteYouTubeTikTokFacebookInstagram

What is a "biblical marriage?" What do people mean by that NOW, and what did it mean THEN? Don, Sarah, and Tana discuss the economic system of marriage in the bible, Paul's desire for singleness, and how many of the directives of God about marriage are actually meant to protect women.Bible Passages/Stories Mentioned:Psalm 127: 3Abraham and SarahJacob and Leah and RachelAdam and EveBuy us a coffee!WebsiteYouTubeTikTokFacebookInstagram

What is the best way to keep the Sabbath? Are "Sabbath" and "The Lord's Day" the same thing? Don, Sarah, and Tana discuss the true definition of Sabbath and how it has been changed over the years. By exploring it in context and contemplating the Hebrew roots of the Christian faith, we hope to uncover what a "true Sabbath" is. Bible Passages Discussed:Exodus 20: 8-10Isaiah 58Books discussed: Sabbath as Resistance by Walter Brueggemann  Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs Buy us a coffee!WebsiteYouTubeTikTokFacebookInstagram

What does it mean to have faith the size of a mustard seed? What does it mean to be faithful? Don, Sarah, and Tana explore the idea of "faith" vs. "faithfulness," the missed potential of "faithful Christians," and the question that plagues many people who are deconstructing: do I maintain my faith, or do I abandon it and move on?Buy us a coffee!WebsiteYouTubeTikTokFacebookInstagram

This bonus episode is the audio from our March 9th live stream with Matt Nightingale. We had a terrific time talking about what it's like being queer and Christian, how to respond to fundamentalists, embracing ambiguity in faith, and what is next for Christianity. About Matt: Matt Nightingale is a pastor, musician, speaker, writer, and spiritual director living and working in San Francisco’s North Bay Area. He is founder and executive director of Common Sanctuary, and co-pastor (along with his long-time best friend, Tony Gapastione) of The Quest. Matt is also a spiritual director and support group facilitator with The Christian Closet, which offers web-based counseling, coaching, and spiritual direction for LGBTQ Christians.For seventeen years, Matt worked as a worship pastor in the Evangelical Covenant Church, serving churches in Redwood City, CA; Houston, TX; Tulsa, OK; Seattle, WA; and Santa Rosa, CA. He is a graduate of the Spiritual Director Formation Program at The Journey Center in Santa Rosa and currently serves on its board of directors.As a gay Christian, Matt is passionate about the intersection of sexuality and spirituality, and he works to create safe, sacred spaces for people exploring these identities. His TEDx talk, “Choosing Gratitude and Hope,” with his former wife, Luanne Nightingale, tells their story of a mixed-orientation marriage, an evolving understanding of faith and sexuality, and the choice to divorce with gratitude and hope.Matt is the husband of Alejandro and the father of four adult children: Joshua, Jacob, Emily and Zachary. You can learn more about Matt Nightingale at mattnightingale.com.Buy us a coffee!WebsiteYouTubeTikTokFacebookInstagram

Will the real Proverbs 31 woman please stand up?We read the Proverbs 31 passage every Mother's Day, with the implication that the "virtuous wife" is not only a wife, but a mother too. But is that really what Proverbs 31 says? Over the years, this passage has been used to tell women that they are only "virtuous" if they play those domestic roles. But what about working women? What about childless women? What about single women? Tana, Sarah, and Don explore what Proverbs 31 actually says and why it should never be used to limit the role of women.Passages discussed: Proverbs 31, Matthew 25Buy us a coffee!WebsiteYouTubeTikTokFacebookInstagram

Don, Sarah, and Tana discuss various ways of looking at the parable of the sower, which is often - and incorrectly - interpreted as a parable about evangelism.Passages discussed: Matthew 13Buy us a coffee!WebsiteYouTubeTikTokFacebookInstagram

This bonus episode is the audio from a Faith Uncensored interview with Christopher Boniface Sanchez. Chris talks about preserving black history through his work with Christiansburg Institute, Inc. in Virginia, shares a bit about his advocacy work, and discusses the responsibilities of the white church.Chris is a truth orator, wizard-level field organizer, life preservationist, expert simulator analyst and gatherer of lost stories. He serves as Executive Director of Christiansburg Institute, Inc. (CI,Inc.), a grassroots African American cultural heritage, education, and historic preservation nonprofit organization located in Montgomery County, Virginia. You can support Christiansburg Institute at https://www.christiansburginstitute.com/Buy us a coffee!WebsiteYouTubeTikTokFacebookInstagram

We continue our exploration of Jacob's story. Picking up after the stolen blessing, we discuss his fractured relationship with Esau, Jacob's Ladder, additional blessings from God, Rachel and Leah, and how Jacob's story is kind of like a...Hallmark Christmas movie?Passages discussed: Genesis 28: 10-22; Genesis 32: 22-32; Genesis 35Buy us a coffee!WebsiteYouTubeTikTokFacebookInstagram

We discuss an alternative understanding of the parable of the lost sheep. Is the sheep "lost" or is the shepherd irresponsible? What lessons can we draw from this (and the parables of the coin and son) and apply to how we treat those we consider "lost" today? What is our responsibility today as "irresponsible shepherds"?Bible passage discussed: Luke 15: 1-7Buy us a coffee!WebsiteYouTubeTikTokFacebookInstagram

Sarah shares a powerful teaching with us, starting with the details of the ark of the covenant and then relating them to the power of all of us living and studying in community. Together, we explore what it means to create salvation and safety for others.Bible chapters mentioned: Exodus 25, Genesis 18Buy us a coffee!WebsiteYouTubeTikTokFacebookInstagram

In this episode, we continue our discussion of the family of Rebekah by exploring the life of Jacob. From Jacob wrestling in the womb with Esau to wrestling with God, we discuss Jacob's consistent struggles through life as well as his relationship with different members of his family. We also uncover all the things Esau has in common with Prince Harry!Buy us a coffee!WebsiteYouTubeTikTokFacebookInstagram

This is a recording of our Faith Under De/Re-Construction live stream on January 16, 2023, in which we discuss racial justice and the Church - and question what is a good way to recognize (and not anesthetize) the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. What is Faith Under De/Re-Construction? On Monday nights (on our YouTube Channel), Don and Tana join Dave Capozzi of the dig new streams podcast to discuss issues facing the Church today. We talk deconstruction, reconstruction, the role of the Church in politics, and more. See our YouTube link below for more info.Buy us a coffee!WebsiteYouTubeTikTokFacebookInstagram

In this bonus episode of the podcast, we're providing the audio from our livestream conversation on deconstruction. We talk a little bit about Don and Tana's deconstruction journey, reconstruction, and the messiness of it all.Buy us a coffee!WebsiteYouTubeTikTokFacebookInstagram