Theology On Mission

Fifty years ago gospel tracts, four spiritual laws, and street witnessing were pillars of evangelism for the evangelical church. Recently, the pendulum has swung the other way to the point where some Christians are reticent to evangelize, or, just don't know how! Drawing on Luke 10 Fitch and Moore discuss how evangelism takes the shape of proclamation rather than coercion. A few of the books they reference (but can't always remember!): Live to Tell by Brad Kallenberg Evangelism after Pluralism by Bryan Stone The Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert Coleman

What should be done with the theology of theologians who have failed morally? John Howard Yoder, Dr. King, Paul Tillich, Karl Barth, etc. Dave and Mike outline the common responses and try to construct a way forward. By mainly focusing on the case of John Howard Yoder they propose a nuanced response that includes critical reading, intertextual evaluation, and dialogue between the church and the academy. A lot of sources were quoted in this podcast. You will need to Google search the keywords below. Ruth Krall, "The Elephants in God’s Living Room: The Mennonite Church and John Howard Yoder" Rachel Gooseen, “Defanging the Beast”: Mennonite Responses to John Howard Yoder’s Sexual Abuse Karen Guth, "Doing Justice to the Complex Legacy of John Howard Yoder" Stanely Hauerwas, "Minding the Web: Making Theological Connections" Steven Long, "Augustinian and Ecclesial Christian Ethics: On Loving Enemies"

Two months ago, pastor-writer Joshua Harris publicly announced he was no longer a Christian. Fitch and Moore do an "icy take" on his announcement, seeking to understand Harris' evangelical culture. Fitch and Moore attempt to grasp the purity culture that Harris helped shape and then explore how legalism, individualization, and cognization produce a church unable to doubt and ask meaningful questions. If you want a behind the scenes look at our recording go to our Facebook page and watch the video.

Who cares about the "end times"? Should we leave behind the "Left Behind" conversations? Does pre-trib, post-trib, etc, even matter? Fitch & Moore talk about "over-realized eschatology" and how it can inhibit the church. They propose that right eschatology enables us to work through suffering, work for peace, and find our place in God's work. A lot of book recommendations here: Stanley Hauerwas-Approaching the End Michael Gorman-Reading Revelation Responsively G.B. Caird- Commentary on Revelation The Millenial Maze-Stanley Grenz

We are back! Fitch and Moore talk about big problems (gun control, homelessness, policing) and if there are solutions. How do we address massive and systemic issues that outsize our communities? Can small churches actually cultivate solutions? Can big churches? Fitch riffs on the idea of God's right hand and God's left hand--the work of the Spirit and the work of preservatory grace. Here are a few of the books and authors we reference in the conversation: A Secular Age--Charles Taylor The Way of Ignorance: And Other Essays--Wendell Berry Discovering an Evangelical Heritage--Donald W. Dayton

Drawing from Matthew 10 and 18 Fitch and Moore talk about the differences between antagonisms and conflict. Does anger have a place in our redemption? How do we identify sin in the midst of our conflicts? And how do antagonisms fit in all this? Here are the books we are reading Sin: A History by Gary Anderson Liturgy of the Ordinary by Tish Warren Genealogy of Queer Theory by William B. Turner

If you haven't read these books yet, pick them up! Mike highlights our top 3 episodes from the past year and gives a list of corresponding reading. If you haven't already read these fine books add them to your list for summer 2019. Check out the show notes here: https://www.missioalliance.org/series/theology-on-mission/

We are sitting down with our good friend C. Christopher Smith to talk about talking! Chris' new book, "How the Body of Christ Talks," explores how the church can recover the practice of conversation. Check out the book here: https://www.amazon.com/How-Body-Christ-Talks-Conversation/dp/1587434113

What is the culture of the multicultural church? How does it include and neglect the black experience in America? Fitch and Moore sit down with Rev. Dr. Joe Mitchell to discuss critiques of the multicultural church. Joe Mitchell is Senior Pastor of New Hope Missionary Baptist in Dekalb, IL. He received his Masters of Divinity from Northern Seminary and his Doctorate of Ministry from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University.

Welp, the title of this podcast isn't passive aggressive! Fitch and Moore talk about how modern individualism has tainted our soteriology. The tropes of guilt, legalism, and populist fundamentalism have led to a thin soteriology. Does anyone have a post-evangelical soteriology? Fitch and Moore suggest how repentance, confession, and forgiveness happen by God's Spirit in the church.

Does it matter when we worship corporately? Midweek service? Saturday night? What about corporate worship over Facebook Live and YouTube? Drawing from the work of Alexander Schmemann, Fitch and Moore discuss the cultural view of "flat" time that commodifies worship. They suggest, in light of the resurrection, Sunday worship is necessary for our discipleship and mission.

Dave and Mike sit down at Missio Alliance 2019 (thus the background noise) to talk with Karen Swallow Prior about her new book "On Reading Well: Finding the Good Life through Great Books." Karen Swallow Prior is a Professor of English at Liberty University. She is also a Research Fellow with the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, a Senior Fellow with Liberty University's Center for Apologetics and Cultural Engagement, and a member of the Faith Advisory Council of the Humane Society of the United States.

What do the public leadership failings of Harvest Bible Chapel and Willow Creek mean for the church? How should we respond and repent?Fitch and Moore talk about why it is hard for pastors to be vulnerable and how we can find guidance on this topic during the Lenten season.

This is part three of our three-part series on Fitch's upcoming book: The Church of Us vs. Them. We talk about Canada, the cold, and privilege. Oh yeah, and we also talk about the title of this episode! From the "Religious Right" to the evangelicals supporting Donald Trump to current debates around abortion, the church is caught in a swirl of argumentation and antagonisms. How do we move beyond this "enemy making machine" to be a people of God's kingdom politic?

This is part two of our three-part series on Fitch's upcoming book: The Church of Us vs. Them. We talk about our first concerts, "making a decision for Christ," and how to reimagine salvation in terms of witness and presence. The contemporary church has used markers like lifestyle practices (no drinking, no dancing, etc) or issues stances (human sexuality, women in ministry, etc) to be an indicator of salvation. How do we move beyond this "enemy making machine"? Also, find us at the Missio Alliance gathering in a few months: www.missioalliance.org/gatherings/aw…thering-2019/

We are back! This is the first of our three-part series on Fitch's upcoming book: The Church of Us vs. Them. We talk about whether a hotdog is a sandwich, the narrative arc of Scripture, and how the Bible gets turned into an "enemy making machine. Also, find us at the Missio Alliance gathering in a few months: www.missioalliance.org/gatherings/awakenings-gathering-2019/

Dave and Mike sit down with Michael Gorman to talk about mission, the book of John and his new book, "Abide & Go: Missional Theosis in the Gospel of John." Michael Gorman is the Raymond E. Brown Professor of Biblical Studies and Theology at St. Mary's Seminary and University. He is one of the leading Pauline scholars and has written more books than Mike and Dave have read combined.

Just in time for Christmas, we talk about Advent! ;) Fitch and Moore repurpose the four Sundays in Advent around the themes of God's disruptive and generous presence in this world. As we anticipate Jesus' birth and second coming we wait with hope. Bonus: Fitch grills Mike about his personal life and relational aspirations!

What should church leaders do when caught in the middle of a conflict? Fitch and Moore discuss practices for navigating the conversation regarding human sexuality.

A recent article from The Gospel Coalition observes the "slippery slope" of belief from Progressive to Atheist. Dave and Mike contend that Progressives are just Conservatives--different teams unaware of the Christendom field they are fighting on. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/3-beliefs-progressive-christians-atheists-share/