Death is an uncomfortable subject for many people. That makes funerals difficult at the least, and even worse, confusing and traumatic. How does the Christian understanding of death influence the way we do funerals? Dr. Tim Perry, author of Funerals: For the Care of Souls, published by Lexham Press, joins Matt and Derek to liven your understanding of what it means for a Christian to die. Practical considerations are covered as well, like cremation vs. burial, whether to eulogize, and which parts of funerals should be customized and which shouldn’t be. Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com.

Mere Fidelity

‘Funerals,’ with Dr. Tim Perry

Dr. Scott Swain is the President of Reformed Theological Seminary, and he is the author of The Trinity & the Bible: On Theological Interpretation published by Lexham Press. In this conversation with Derek, Matt, and Alastair, Dr. Swain helps ask and answer some big questions about the Doctrine of the Trinity: How do we find it in the Bible? Is it just imported Greek categories? Why do we use the terms Father, Son, and Spirit? How do you pronounce ‘prosopological’? And what use is the Doctrine of the Trinity anyway? Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com. Join the Merrie Band™ and hear the +1 at www.patreon.com/merefidelity.

‘The Trinity and the Bible,’ with Scott Swain

What’s the difference between someone “deconstructing” their faith and plain, old apostasy? Are Exvangelicals really leaving Christianity? Andrew, Alastair, and Matt discuss the new trend of Evangelicals prominently deconstructing their faith and what it means for the church and the doctrine of assurance. Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com.

Exvangelical Deconstruction

The Jordan Peterson phenomenon is worth looking into. Even Aquinas scholar Dr. Christopher Kaczor is writing about the effect that Jordan Peterson is having. Matt and Alastair join the discussion, bringing a particular emphasis to how Peterson reads Scripture and what Christians can learn from his approach. Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com.

‘Jordan Peterson, God, & Christianity,’ with Dr. Christopher Kaczor

With the ideas like technology, progress, and liberty shaping our lives, we are formed to believe that reality is tending toward an ever greater number of choices and ever fewer limits. But is this limitless ideal a good way to live? Dr. Ashley Hales has a different idea, which she explores in her new book, A Spacious Life: Trading Hustle and Hurry for the Goodness of Limits. She returns to Mere Fidelity to discuss about how limits can actually increase our liberty and what this looks like for the modern Christian. Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com.

‘A Spacious Life,’ with Dr. Ashley Hales

Many Christians and ex-Christians have experienced severe trauma because of bad, even abusive, church leadership. Using the story of Mark Driscoll as a basis for comparison, Matt, Andrew, and Alastair discuss the causes and outcomes of bad leadership. They compare and contrast the US and UK churches, look at the sociology of trust, and ask how to examine one’s own leadership to avoid becoming abusive. Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com.

Bad Church Leadership

Dr. John Kleinig joins Matt and Alastair to discuss a Biblical approach to a theology of the body. More specifically, they talk about how we can acquire the vision with which God sees our bodies. Some questions that they cover are how ritual trains the body, what the significance of the body is in Protestant theology, and why Jesus’s physical body is so emphasized in the Gospels. Dr. Kleinig’s latest book also focuses on these issues. (There’s also a particularly spectacular +1 that you can hear if you are one of the Merrie Band of Patreon supporters.) Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com.

‘Wonderfully Made,’ with Dr. John Kleinig

You may think that Christianity and Judaism have gone their separate ways; that they have nothing to do with each other. But this is not necessarily the case. On this episode, Dr. Jennifer Rosner, author of Healing the Schism: Karl Barth, Franz Rosenzweig, and the New Jewish-Christian Encounter, joins Matt and Alastair to talk about how Christianity and Judaism should relate to one another. Full show notes at www.MereFidelity.com.

Healing the Schism, with Dr. Jennifer Rosner

Is the theory of natural rights really the best way to protect ourselves from tyrannical governments? This is the big question of Dr. Nigel Biggar’s book, What’s Wrong With Rights? Dr. Biggar is Regius Professor of Moral & Pastoral Theology, and Director of the McDonald Centre for Theology, Ethics, & Public Life, University of Oxford. Matt and Alastair push on this argument with Dr. Biggar to examine the relationship between morality and law. Fun connection: Dr. Biggar is Dr. Matt Anderson’s former Ph.D. advisor! Full show notes at merefidelity.com

‘What’s Wrong with Rights?’ with Dr. Nigel Biggar

How should pastors address the issue of race in their churches? This is exactly what Andrew and Alastair are talking about with Dr. Matthew Kim on this episode. Dr. Kim has both academic expertise and practical experience with this issue. He is a contributor to Ministers of Reconciliation: Preaching on Race and the Gospel. In this conversation you will learn about preaching the Gospel in a climate of racial tension, the boundaries of the act of preaching, and advice for pastoring diverse congregations. Full show notes at www.mereorthodoxy.com/categories/mere-fidelity.

'Ministers of Reconciliation,' with Dr. Matthew Kim

Have you ever wondered if Christian persecution really happens in America? Are you confused about how to respond when you are persecuted for your faith? In this episode, Alastair, Derek, and Matt finish their series of discussions on the Beatitudes. If you’ll recall, in the last episode, there was some disagreement as to whether being persecuted for righteousness’ sake and being persecuted for Jesus’ name’s sake are one beatitude or two. Can the guys come to an agreement? Find out in this exciting conclusion! Full show notes at www.mereorthodoxy.com/categories/mere-fidelity.

Beatitudes: “Persecuted for His Name”

There’s a movement in Evangelicalism you may have heard of: the New Calvinism. Apart from its theological significance, it turns out that this sort of movement is of great interest to sociologists too. The guest on this episode, Brad Vermurlen, decided to apply the tools of sociology to the young, restless, and reformed, and see what turns up. His book is Reformed Resurgence: The New Calvinist Movement and the Battle Over American Evangelicalism. He talks about his fascinating results with Matt and Derek, about the Evangelical landscape, the secular landscape, the movement of the Holy Ghost, new models of leadership behavior, and demographic factors that all point to the direction that the New Calvinism is headed. Full show notes at www.mereorthodoxy.com/categories/mere-fidelity.

‘Reformed Resurgence,’ with Brad Vermurlen

Continuing the Mere Fidelity series of discussions on the Beatitudes, Alastair, Derek, and Matt talk about the blessing for those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake. It’s not as clear as it might at first seem. Specifically, why are there two beatitudes for persecution? What is the righteousness that is being persecuted? Why do multiple beatitudes promise the Kingdom of Heaven to the poor and to the persecuted? The answers to these questions have very real consequences for situations that you could find yourself in today. Full show notes at www.mereorthodoxy.com/categories/mere-fidelity.

Beatitudes: “Persecuted for Righteousness”

Is gossip always bad? Are you sure about that? Inspired by a recent cover story of Christianity Today Derek, Alastair, and Matt take up the topic of gossip in the church. They explore the topic from Biblical, personal, and organizational perspectives. You may be surprised at the results. Full show notes at www.mereorthodoxy.com/categories/mere-fidelity.

Gossip

Everyone has a Beatitude that is their least favorite or that they are most confused by. We’re not saying Matt has an issue with peacemaking. (We’re just sayin’.) This episode in the Mere Fi series on the Beatitudes features a lively discussion of the role of peace and conflict in the life of the church and the Christian. Alastair, Derek, and Matt also talk about the profound ways that Christ is our peace. Full show notes at www.mereorthodoxy.com/categories/mere-fidelity.

Beatitudes: “Peacemakers”

We discuss the shape faithfulness to the Gospel should take in the twenty-first century. We talk a lot about theology, but may take up anything pertaining to politics, culture, or society as well.

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Mere Fidelity

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