Vox Podcast With Mike Erre

Understanding the Bible: Part One. The Bible has, for many people, become a stumbling block and/or a source of great confusion and misunderstanding. Today we sit down with our good friend Tim Gombis to begin a conversation on how to best approach, read, understand and intentionally interpret the Bible. How does mystery play into it? Is mystery bad? How is the Bible organized? Can a newcomer read it without instruction? How does Gombis suggest reading the text? What are we to do with it??? As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Always feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on here and Instagram. Gombis’s podcast, ‘Faith Improvised,' can be heard HERE The book mentioned, "The Lost Letters of Pergamum," can be purchased HERE  Learn more about the VOXOLOGY Podcast Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify Support the VOX Podcast on Patreon Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast Like us on Facebook Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford In

The Nature of Spiritual Abuse. Today we sit down with friend of the show, Dan Koch to discuss the nature of spiritual abuse within the church. Dan is a podcaster (You Have Permission, Depolarize! & Reconstruct), musician, composer and is currently working on a doctorate in Counseling Psychology. Dan brings us the data and statistics he’s gathered in his studies to discuss spiritual abuse in the church, in its many forms, and the ramifications that it has had. What are the most prevalent forms? How do the varied versions effect our communities? How can the culture be changed? You can learn more about Dan on his WEBSITE and social media: Twitter & Instagram. Our previous conversation with Dan can be heard on Episode 86  As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Always feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on here and Instagram. Learn more about the VOXOLOGY Podcast: Voxologypodcast.com Subscribe on iTunes Support the VOX Podcast on

Exiles in the Church. Today we discuss an email asking about reconciling feeling exiled in the Church, rather than from it. What does it mean to be “Christian exiles” within the body of Christ?  Are there similarities to those in exile in the Old Testament? Is it a matter of disagreement? Nuance? Understanding of text and application? Or is it something more? Are we to remain loyal to that which with we’re in exile from? Where does our loyalty lay and how is it manifested? We also discuss listener feedback to last episode in regards to LGBTQ+ and New Creation dynamics. As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Always feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram. Learn more about the VOXOLOGY Podcast: Voxologypodcast.com Subscribe on iTunes Support the VOX Podcast on Patreon Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast Like us on Facebook Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

LGBTQ+ and the New Creation. This episode we spend time with a listener email about LGBTQ+ issues within the church and the New Creation dynamics we’ve been talking about. The anonymous listener, whom we refer to as Jeremy, asks many questions about coming out, where his place might be and how he is to walk in his own journey. How have we missed the mark as the Church? As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Always feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on here and Instagram. Learn more about Voxology: Voxologypodcast.com Subscribe on iTunes Listen on Spotify Support the VOX Podcast on Patreon: www.patreon.com/voxology Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast Like us on Facebook Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

Masters of the Universe. What the what? Today we continue the conversation on New Creation dynamics with further exploration of the Heavenly Realm and the divine beings who occupy it. How important is all of this to understanding scripture and the overall narrative? What did Paul have to say in reference to all these beings? Did they play a role in his ministry? Are demons the spirits of fallen Nephilim (we don't know)? This stuff is all bananas. First we spend some time on a listener email. We enter in to how we are to interact with mis-translations and agendas within Bible translations. Who do you trust? Who can you trust? How do we handle the concept of errancy and what does it really mean when approaching the Bible? Also, how does Gombis's critique of sentimentality relate to emotion, and the emotional response we feel as both worshipers and worship leaders? Does music not evoke this naturally? What are we to do with all of this? There was a lot to talk about and we talked about it all. Also, we're on Spo

This is Voxology. Welcome to episode 300 and to the new podcast name, Voxology! We’re excited to start a new chapter in this continued journey with all of you! Today in this mammoth, celebratory episode, we spend time talking about the Church, from postures of both lament and hope. We hear from beloved friend and old co-host Bonnie Lewis on why she feels she is ‘post-church,’ from friend of the show Shane Claiborne on actions the church needs to take to heal and grow and from the one and only Gombis on where we’ve been and hope for the future. Then, most importantly, we hear from many of you. You share your hopes and laments with us as we look further on down the long road. First, Tim puts Mike on the hot seat to talk about why he started a podcast in the first place six years ago and what his hopes are for the next 300 episodes. As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Always feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagr

Bonus Episode! Episode 300 is dropping this coming Monday, June 14th. Which is also Flag Day, for those who are following along. It is a new chapter for VOX, as we embark out into the future with a new name! Tune in!

When good gods go bad. Episode 299. The end of the chapter. The last of this era. The one before 300. This week we spend time with the Divine Council. The what? Oh, they’re just potential other divine beings that rule over different areas. What? That’s what I said. Heavenly Hosts? Sons of God? The Elohim?? How do these beings play into the biblical narrative? Has God, the God, been going to war with these beings? How does this spiritual realm play into the life and ministry of Jesus? The Sermon on the Mount?? What? When? How? Why? Holy moly. First, we spend time answering questions about the absence of Bonnie and the potential of a future, female co-host., American holidays (such as Memorial Day and 4th of July being celebrated in church on Sunday mornings and hypocrisy. URGENT!!: Episode 300 is right around the corner and it is the moment where VOX evolves into its next iteration. As part of that, we want to include you. We will be discussing the future of the church, in both hope and lament. We’d like to ha

They Might Be Giants. Even old New York was once New Amsterdam. Today, we continue the conversation on the supernatural, spiritual elements of the New Creation vs. Old Creation dynamics. And this is some of the crazy stuff: the Nephilim! What are the Nephilim? How do they play into the narrative? Were they real? How do they correlate to the Seraphim, Satan and other spiritual entities? How do David and Goliath fit in? What about David and Bathsheba? And lastly and most importantly, how do these giants play into our understanding of Jesus, etc.??? Holy moly. We also discuss some listener feedback over the previous episode, some pushback on the conversation over the church and those that choose to leave. URGENT!!: Episode 300 is right around the corner and it is the moment where VOX evolves into its next iteration. As part of that, we want to include you. We will be discussing the future of the church, in both hope and lament. We’d like to have your voices as part of the conversation as a 30 second max message

Should I Stay or Should I Go? Is it just a great song by the only band that matters (The Clash), or is it the question posed by Tim on his membership to the Church? We discuss a recent interview with Brian Houston about the “moral failings” of pastors in their employ, like New York Megapastor Carl Lentz. Does the model make any sense? Has it been off focus from the start and where does that place us all now? Can it be corrected? Are Houston’s excuses or vision legit? With the Church seemingly more and more missing the intended mark, is it better to stay and help correct or is better to just build a community that follows what Jesus started? How does the Church play by Old Creation dynamics? Are we called to stay? What about this new ‘God Bless The USA Bible (!!!)’ from Zondervan?? Where are we? This is next level bananas… Much to his surprise, we beam in Gombis from his front porch where he was eating a burrito and pondering U2 theology to answer all our questions. Houston interview: https://www.nbcnews.com/n

The Myth of the American Dream. Today we sit down with author D.L. Mayfield to discuss her journey and the road that led to her writing ‘The Myth of the American Dream.’ We talk about growing up as a pastor’s kid, missionary work and what it looks like to really love you neighbor. D.L. has had a rad and very practical undiscipling of the beliefs she was handed for what Jesus may actually have instead for her (and us). What does loving your neighbor look like with the people next door? What about refugees, immigrants and other displaced people? Who is it that God had in mind when advocating for the marginalized and the meek? What’s a ‘lock in?’ Who was Agnes United? We also read some listener responses to “Jennifer’s” questions (from last episode) about how to reconstruct. This community continues to inspire and we are so thankful. You can find D.L.’s book here: https://www.ivpress.com/the-myth-of-the-american-dream You can follow and interact with her: Instagram & Twitter: @d_l_mayfield As always, we enco

This Present Darkness. No, this is not a review of everyone’s favorite Christian fantasy book from the 80’s (though it is referenced here). Today we continue the series on Old Creation vs. new Creation by dipping our toes into the spiritual realm of the conversation. Mike begins an exploration of Genesis 1, and how we are to interpret the lights, Eden and the showdown in the garden. What are the areas where Heaven and Earth overlap? What are Cherubim and how do they play into all of this? How about the Seraphim? The serpent?? The Elohim??? Holy moly. The scene is broadening… Tim continues to have oatmeal brain processing all of this. We also answer a few questions dealing with masks and the loneliness epidemic, tools to analyze Old Creation response vs. New Creation responses and where to even begin with reconstruction. It’s a lot! So many good questions and comments to partner with us on this journey. As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Always feel free to email in questions to he

Rethinking Sin & Salvation. This episode is meaty. We start out by answering two questions that were sent in, dealing with different elements that have been discussed in this series: On the topic of disagreeing over mask wearing, sometimes vehemently: How do we hold people in both love and accountability? And then, how do we lead worship(and worship in general)within this understanding of new creation and the sermon on the mount? Then we sink into the meat of this series... What is sin? Is it more than we've been fed over the years, as individual moral transgressions that anger a fickle God? What is the human vocation? How does sin effect us and our journey with God? What is wrath in this conversation? What is salvation? What are we saved from? What are we saved to? How do old creation dynamics play into this and what is the relationship with new creation dynamics? This is a lot and gave Tim oatmeal brain for awhile after. As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Always feel free to

Author, activist and all around fun and great guy, Shane Claiborne is back! We sit down with Shane and talk about his journey and what brought him to the lifestyle he currently lives. We talk about everything from gun violence, sustainable living, clown school, modeling and Dolly Parton. What did Shane see when growing up that inspired him to be more active in the communities around him? How does he see where we all enter into the conversation that Jesus started? We intro and outro this episode with reflections on Shane's reflections. Reflecting on reflections. Tim shares a new song at the end called 'Misfit Tribe,' a song he hasn't released yet that plays on some of these themes. As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Always feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on here and Instagram.  Learn more about the VOX Podcast: Voxpodcast.com Subscribe on iTunes - apple.co/1Lla1Nj Support the VOX Podcast on Patreon: www.patreon.com/voxpodcast

“Darkness on the Edge of Town.” Gehenna. The “Valley of Hinnom.” The Lake of Fire. The Righteous and the Wicked. What does it all mean? How does the reference to the actual valley play out for those listening to Jesus? What was He talking about and warning us about? What role does this imagery of fire and burning play in the narrative of Jesus? What sense are we supposed to make of judgment and damnation, of the rhetoric of fire and separation? There are so many questions and so much to sort through, both in the text and our own Christian lineage. As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Always feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on here and Instagram.  Learn more about the VOX Podcast: Voxpodcast.com Subscribe on iTunes - apple.co/1Lla1Nj Support the VOX Podcast on Patreon: www.patreon.com/voxpodcast Follow us on Instagram: @voxpodcast Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/voxpodcast Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre Mu

“The Fires of New Creation.” We’re moving forward with the conversation on the Biblical narration of the the whole story. The story. The one about God’s intent, the separation of Heaven and Earth and the hope of new creation. Today we talk about fire and water and how they’re used in the Bible. Where is Judgment in this text? How did Jesus talk about it? How did Paul? What role does Judgment play? Where did we get so much of our theology of Hell and damnation? Is the story about Heaven and Earth or Heaven and Hell? Is Hell used, by Jesus, to motivate people? How does all of this connect to the Sermon on the Mount? We also spend a little time talking about an email we got from a listener who is wrestling with whether or not to leave his church because of a NO mask mandate (as a staff member, he has been told he will be punished if he wears a mask on Sunday morning, inside the Church). Mike has good advice and context. Tim gets riled up. This is part two. We will follow it with a conversation on Hell and Sin. W

Making All Things New. Today, we sit down and discuss the version of Christianity we’ve been handed and the version that appears in the Bible. Mike offers a different take on the narrative, one where the goal is 'New Creation,' not the judgment —-> heaven/hell idea we were raised with. Is God’s goal to make new things or to make all things new? How does Jesus speak to and embody this idea of 'New Creation?' Where do we fit into it? What are the implications for evangelism & church? How are we to relate to our communities and the world at large within this ideology? This is part one. We will follow it with a conversation on Judgement and Sin. Here is a graphic that illustrates the concept: https://www.instagram.com/p/CNShxDmrNLI/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Books! Surprised By Hope: https://www.amazon.com/Surprised-Hope-Rethinking-Resurrection-Mission-dp-0061551821/dp/0061551821/ref=mt_other?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid= The Skeletons in God’s Closet: http://www.joshuaryanbutler.com/books/the-skeletons-i

The Wheat & The Weeds! Matthew 13:24. “Jesus told them another parable.” Mike had this parable sitting in the back of his brain poking at him, so we dove in. We are continuing to look closely at the Christian Nationalist vision and the bonds that have been made between Christianity and the world. This is Jesus answering the question of what we are to do with the evil in the world. What are the wheat and the weeds Jesus is referring to? How are we too relate and react to the weeds? How does Jesus tell us to exist amongst? Who is the enemy and what is their game? How do judgement and and the fires play into all of this? There is so much to look at in this short piece. As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Always feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on here and Instagram.  Learn more about the VOX Podcast: Voxpodcast.com Subscribe on iTunes - apple.co/1Lla1Nj Support the VOX Podcast on Patreon: www.patreon.com/voxpodcast Follow us o

Today, we spend a little time holding space for the victims of the shootings in Atlanta this past week. Tim’s wife, Shauna, joins to share some of the conversations they’ve had together and that she has had in her classroom about dehumanization. Mike and Tim read and talk about perhaps the best email response they’ve ever received, pushing back on some of the conversation they had on the seven mountain mandate and the David French article, “How a Rising Religious Movement Rationalizes the Christian Grasp for Power.” Mike shares about a new book he's reading and the author’s ‘Top 10 Indicators You’re Seeing Christian Nationalism.’ Are there ties between Old Testament Israel and America? Is America central to God’s plan? Where has this ‘Us vs. Them’ mindset come from? As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Always feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on here and Instagram.  Learn more about the VOX Podcast: Voxpodcast.com Subscribe on iT

Gombis’d. We’ve been Gombis’d. Today, we wit down with our good, good friend Dr. Timothy Gombis to talk through his new book, “Power in Weakness: Paul’s Transformed Vision for Ministry.” Gombis has left everything on the page with this one, looking closely at how Paul’s vision for ministry was transformed by his encounter with Jesus. Who was he before? How can we relate? Who did he become and how was his experience with Jesus manifested? How did Paul view ministry and how did he practice it? What did community look like in Paul’s churches? It’s a great conversation with a great mind. We wrestle in real time with how to see Paul and Jesus’s vision for church and community realized, how to encourage both seasoned pastors as well as those in seminary coming up. As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Always feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on here and Instagram.  Learn more about the VOX Podcast: Voxpodcast.com Subscribe on iTunes - a