Vox Podcast With Mike Erre

Songs of Resistance: Minuit Chrétien. Welcome to another mini series of The Wanderer, this time focused on trying to understand and define worship. Each episode will look at the history of a particular Hymn and its origin story, how it may have roots in Justice and what it may encourage us to participate in today. Further, every episode will end with a recorded version of the song by Tim, to listen to after walking through the song's history. This first episode looks at the Christmas time hymn, "O Holy Night," and how it became an abolitionist anthem.  How can it challenge us today? What role does music like this serve in our lives? Here, in this first episode, Tim briefly speaks to the genesis of this series and his struggles with modern worship and how they led to his no longer leading (or singing, or participating, or not cringing). What is worship? What does God ask of us in this? How to we enter into counter programming to rewire the way we worship and operate on a daily basis. This is the long road

Women, Theology & Leadership. Meet one of our new favorite guests, Dr. Lynn Cohick. Dr. Cohick joins us to dive deeper into the scripture commonly used to advocate for women's non leadership roles in the Church. Dr. Cohick walks us through the broader context around Paul's letters and Genesis, specific women and the roles they played in early Church history and how Paul broke social constructs to advocate for Kingdom Dynamics. It's a really wonderful conversation! Dr. Cohick serves as Provost and Dean of Academic Affairs of Northern Seminary in Lisle, Illinois. She is also leading the development of DMin and MA programs in women's studies, and the Women's Center for Leadership at Northern Seminary.  Dr. Cohick's podcast, The Alabaster Jar, can be found here: PODCAST Dr. Cohick's books can be found here: BOOKS 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

How White Evangelicals Think: The Psychology of Conservative White Christians. This episode, Mike and Tim sit down with Dr. Dave Verhaagen to discuss his new book about how white Evangelicals think. We hear how folks in this country (and probably without as well) look at how many white Christians, particularly evangelicals, continually espouse beliefs and opinions that are seemingly antithetical to the Christian faith (holding racist attitudes / supporting conspiracy theories / aligning with nationalistic and authoritarian movements / becoming hostile toward the different and marginalized). Dave, a nationally board-certified psychologist and author, "tackles the challenge of explaining the psychology behind what has become the unique mind of the modern white Christian. Each chapter explores one or more robust psychological principles that help make sense of why white Christians think like they do" So, how do we define evangelical? How can we all view the world so differently? Where does all the fear come from

What's Up, 1 Timothy 2?!? All roads in the conversation for Biblical Masculinity and Biblical Femininity lead here: 1 Timothy 2, the scripture most used to keep women out of leadership roles. Today, Mike takes us on a deep dive to show how this is NOT what Paul was advocating for. What is the full context of Paul's letter? Who is he talking to? What is he addressing? We have seen that Paul had women in leadership roles throughout his ministry, so what is he saying here? What is Gnosticism? How does the full context of Genesis, the gospel and everything in-between inform Paul's writings? This verse has been used for decades to  sublimate women. While you can do all things with a verse taken out of context, maybe don't :) 12:00 - 1 Timothy 2 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 Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify Support t

Asking Better Questions of the Bible - with Marty Solomon and Tyler Chernesky Today we sit down with an old friend of the pod, Tyler Chernesky and a new friend: Author, teacher and host of the BEMA podcast, Marty Solomon. Marty has a new book coming out titled, “Asking Better Questions of the Bible: A Guide for the Wounded, Wary, and Longing for More.” Marty tells us his story, what prompted a deeper, humble pursuit of what the scriptures offer. How do we cultivate curiosity? How can we be more courageous in asking questions? Is holding a ‘high view of scripture’ knowing it can handle your doubts and pursuits? How has Marty’s Jewish heritage informed his studies? It’s a really fun, honest conversation that encourages a heart and mind that can ask better questions and hold mystery. Marty’s Website: www.martysolomon.com 5:00 - Tim’s Troubled Times 10:00 - Seth Time 16:20 - Interview with Marty and Tyler As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Always feel free to email in questions to&nbs

Woman Up! Biblical masculinity does not mean devaluing women. Mike and Tim begin a conversation that will (next week) lead into 1 Timothy. What does the Bible actually say about women? Where does the complimentarian ideology come from? How did Jesus upend customs? How did Paul?   First, Mike and Tim interact with a few listener emails... If not the biblical masculinity standards, then what? Or, is the idea of standards in general missing the mark? Do they all lead to a performance of gender? What about the opposite message, to be nice and kind and avoid conflict and accept abuse…? How do we process and use anger? What does righteous anger look like when trying to emulate Jesus? How did Jesus express or process anger? What were the circumstances? 3:40 - Mailbag 29:30 - Biblical Femininity 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

Man Down!  Today, Mike and Tim do some follow up work on the biblical masculinity conversation. So many listeners emailed in with follow up questions and the hosts sit down to talk through a few. How do the Sons of Thunder fit into the masculinity conversation? Was Jesus counter to the patriarchal culture? And if so, how? How does Sutton Turner's divulgence of Mark Driscoll's violent behavior, the attack on Paul Pelosi and the Jerry Falwell Jr. documentary play into all of this?  One of the questions asked about Ephesians 5 and how Paul's command for wives to submit to their husbands worked to undo the 'curses' from Genesis. Mike takes us on a deep dive into the Greek, the culture of the time and the Church in Ephesus. What was the cultural dynamic and hierarchy? How did Paul's teaching usurp that? How do complementation folks misuse this scripture and what are they missing?? This resurgence of 'biblical masculinity' has become a large conversation in the evangelical arena.  As always, we encou

How to be a Christian Nationalist. Today, we are joined by author, Holy Post CoHost, friend of the podcast and one of our favorite guests, Kaitlyn Schiess, to discuss Christian Nationalism and our place within it. What is a Pastor's roll in speaking on national events or issues? How do they establish trust with that? What is our expectation of them? How do those of us who are against the idea of Christian Nationalism engage? How do we understand and navigate the Holy Spirit? How do we know what is a prompting or how to understand or decipher it's movements??? This is a really wonderful conversation with Kaitlyn! Kaitlyn Schiess can be found here: kaitlynschiess.com Introduction: 0:00 Conversation with Kaitlyn: 02:57 Previous Episodes with Kaitlyn: Midnight Mass & The Liturgy of Politics 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 P

Man Up!  There has been a resurgence of Christian rhetoric around 'Biblical Masculinity,' with conferences like Man Up! and books that speak to the 'Masculinity of Jesus,' railing against the effeminate, egalitarian, 'soft' Jesus. Today, we take walk through Genesis 1 to see what the Bible actually says about gender and the the imposed hierarchy of male and female. Why do Christians want to uphold the macho man, head of the house aspect of masculinity so much? How does the creation story unfold? Were women created solely as servants and the 'lesser' sex? How do the words during the human creation actually translate? What was our intended purpose and how did our 'curses' after the garden speak to that? How did everything get so twisted? There's a lot to unpack. 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. Tim's Halloween Album can be found here: Spotify.  A

Revolutions & Revolutionaries. Today we have an all-star episode. First, Pastor Suzie Lind joins us to discuss what is happening in Iran. Suzie, who was born in Iran and still has family there, tells her story and offers some insight into the protests, violence and struggles the women of that country are in. What is the history there that brought them to this moment? What are the women fighting for? What warning signs can we see in our own country of a similar trajectory? How can we help? Then we bring in Dr. Timothy Gombis to discuss ideologies and why it has become so difficult navigate these current waters. What does it look like to love your neighbors with whom you vehemently disagree? What did Jesus do? How did Paul navigate? How are we to use their examples today? How do we enter into difficult conversations? These are two of our most favorite voices to interact with!  As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Always feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast

A Captive Mind. Today, Mike and Tim chat with new friend Chris Nye about his new book, "A Captive Mind: Christianity, Ideologies, and Staying Sane in a World Gone Mad." Chris is a former pastor and current author who lives in Portland, Oregon. We have a great discussion about ideologies and how we become subject to them. How does Christianity relate to this captivity? What do we do when folks let go of 'faith' for rhetoric? What role does patience and humility play in our relationship to the world, but also to a Church that has become captive to ideologies of their own?? Is Christianity an idea or an event and what is the difference?  How does the Gospel of Jesus change this conversation? It's a really important conversation for us, today. First, Mike discusses a letter and book that was sent to him on how to vote and Tim brings up the Herschel Walker fiasco as well as folks running for office unabashedly claiming the 'Christian Nationalist' title. How has holding these ideologies changed the way the con

Having the Mind of Christ. Today, Mike and Tim sit down with Pastors, podcasters and leadership trainers Ben Sternke and Matt Tebbe, to discuss their new book "Having the Mind of Christ: Eight Axioms to Cultivate a Robust Faith." The group talks about their Gravity Leadership program, both the podcast and their leadership training, as well as the church they founded, The Table, in Indiana. What lead them to plant the church? What did they see in a previous church experience and how did they change those habits? What does it look like to 'have the mind of Christ?' The book, through 8 'axioms' that offer a new set of lenses to see through, looks at common pitfalls within our well practiced discipleship efforts, with a focus on "practices rather than doing the deeper work of learning a new paradigm." Sternke and Tebbe advocate for a new way of seeing ourselves, the World and God through each of these practices.   Mike and Tim also spend time discussing an email sent in from a Pastor and listener of the pod

Insulted - Part Three: Friend of Sinners. This episode we are venturing back into understanding Jesus through the insults that were hurled at him. Today, it's the claim that he was a 'glutton, a drunkard and a friend of sinners.' As Jesus subverted what was expected of Him, He also provoked conversations about who was welcome and why. What was the cultural context of this? What did sinner mean? Who was calling Jesus this and what was the reason for it? What is the history that leads up to Jesus and what dis His actions say to the community? How was He a glutton and a drunkard and what did that mean both in action and cultural context?!? First, Tim shares a new piece of 'Timbits!' This is good the church is doing in the world, a counter to Tim's Troubled Times. A listener emails in and shares about her church in Canada and what it's doing to reach out to the community around them and lament the pain the church has caused there.  As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Always feel f

In Your Attempt to Both Sides Everything... This episode, Mike and Tim attempt to tie up the conversation on Faithful vs. Effective. Mike brings some miserable musings on Al Mohler and his recent speech to 'pray, vote and stand' against the left and it's place amongst the marrying of the evangelical and politically right. This deepens the conversation on how we are to reimagine and think beyond the two dimensional political reality we live in. How can we usurp our 'two-sides' thinking to have a more nuanced and Christlike view of the world and our neighbors? Tim has a terrible time with the recent political stunt by Governors DeSantis and Abbott shipping immigrants to Martha's Vineyard. What do we do when human lives are used as pawns? If we don't fight, then what?? The bulk of the episode is centered on a critique Mike was given via email on both sidesing everything. Mike responds and a conversation is had about the true thesis of these last few episodes as well as most 'political' VOXOLOGY episodes. Is ther

Not Over, But Alongside. Today, Pastor Suzie Lind joins Mike and Tim to conclude a conversation that started two weeks ago about fighting back against a religious right that is looking for power in order to mandate morality. How do we approach this practically and not rhetorically? What does a cruciform life look like when we can see others in our tribe exerting power over? How do we not become that which we resist? What of the fear of Christians openly embracing and advocating violence?  Mike brings in some content on what it means to be not-of-this-world. How did Jesus speak to Israel resisting Rome? Who are we in that conversations and how do we apply Jesus's specific words then to now? How do we remain a people of hope when so many in our own tribe advocate fear??? 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 Subscribe

Masters of (Culture) War. Last week, Tim posed a question to Mike on how we respond to an Evangelical culture that seeks power over. It turned into an episode long conversation. Today, Mike and Tim read and interact with listener responses and questions on the topic. How do we avoid all the same trappings of culture warring and empty loving? Is loving your neighbor only within your community, passive? Is advocating a 3rd way just a practice of avoiding what the right and left are up to? How do we avoid rhetoric that is devoid of action, or, worse, rhetoric that removes involvement? What does it mean to turn the other cheek? Mike also brings in ideas from and discusses the book "American Evangelicalism: Embattled and Thriving," by Christian Smith (Found HERE) to further the conversation.  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

Faithful vs. Effective. Two words we possibly misunderstand or misapply to our lives, our 'calling,' and our relationships to both God and one another. Today, Tim hijacks the conversation to ask Mike about fighting back against a religious right that is looking to emulate Hungary and seize more governmental power in order to mandate morality. It is a very raw conversation. Tim is struggling with the 'focus on your community' approach and asks Mike about staying idle when people are being harmed in God's name. How far does staying on your cross extend? What is the actual cruciform posture? If we aren't meant to also seize power to help, what are we supposed to do? Do we allow people like Floridian governor Ron DeSantis to bastardize and weaponize scripture to rile up his religious base? Sean Feucht?? What was Jesus's approach? What of the early church? As Howard Zinn posited, can we not stay neutral on a moving train? The NYTimes article referenced can be read here: How the American Right Fell in Love With Hun

Insulted - Part Two: Blasphemer. We continue this week with a series that attempts to understand the human side of Jesus by way of the insults levied against Him. What is a blasphemer? How do we understand that now vs. then? What was the accusation? In what ways was Jesus accused of blaspheming, and what were the implications? How did He respond and what does His response teach us? What did it show the accusers at the time?? So much to unpack from simple Bible story verses we've all heard and likely gloss over. 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 Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre Music in this episode by Tim

Insulted - Part One: Bastard. Tim has been asking for a while about the human side of Jesus. While we celebrate and teach heavily on the deistic part of Jesus, being one with God, we know very little about the human part of Jesus. Mike and Tim begin a series today looking at part of that, through the insults and degradations hurled at Jesus in the gospels, and what they meant at that time. What do they show us? How was Jesus's lineage in question? What did His birth say about him, culturally? What was in question? Why did Jesus's birth play out the way it did? What are the cultural implications? First, Mike and Tim read a couple of emails responding to the topic of being cruciform as Nurse Practitioners, etc. and prescription addiction, from two listeners who work in similar situations. And another that offers a different perspective to the Jordan Peterson/masculinity conversation, from a listener who has been made to feel unwelcome in church communities.  As always, we encourage and would love discussio

Light - Part Five: Radar Love. JK! Last week wasn't the final installment of our 'Light' series. Today we (might) wrap it up, looking at our inherited understanding of evangelism, a play on ‘This Little Light of Mine…’ Where does God exist? Is it He that arrives or us? Why do we use terminology like’Bringing Jesus to people,’ or inviting God? Are there certain areas or times God is present? Also: Is Cracker Barrel ‘woke?’ How can or should a brother speak into a seemingly toxic relationship his sister is in? How can that be done in a cruciform way? How, too, can a Physician’s Assistant navigate patients who are in pain and want prescriptions that could be harmful? How can that conversation be had in a Christ like way?? These are real world, real time circumstances… 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 Subscribe on i