VOX Podcast with Mike Erre

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/news/us-news/founder-hillsong-church-says-he-had-concerns-about-disgraced-former-n1267842 God Bless USA Bible (Yes, it's real): https://religionunplugged.com/news/2021/5/12/zondervan-harpercollins-license-god-bless-the-usa-bible-that-includes-constitution 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 Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford www.timothyjohnstafford.com Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

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 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 Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford www.timothyjohnstafford.com Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

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 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 Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford www.timothyjohnstafford.com Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

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 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 Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford www.timothyjohnstafford.com Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

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 Follow us on Instagram: @voxpodcast Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/voxpodcast Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford www.timothyjohnstafford.com Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

“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 Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford www.timothyjohnstafford.com Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

“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. We got graphs! https://www.instagram.com/p/CNi3hUVrrNS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link 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 Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford www.timothyjohnstafford.com Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

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-in-gods-closet/ 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 Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford www.timothyjohnstafford.com Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

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 on Instagram: @voxpodcast Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/voxpodcast Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford www.timothyjohnstafford.com Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

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 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 Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford www.timothyjohnstafford.com Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

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 - 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 Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford www.timothyjohnstafford.com Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

Sermon on The Mount: Chapter 19 - “The Road Less Traveled” Matthew 7:13-29. “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.…” THIS IS THE END! We have arrived at the final section of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus warns us against false prophets and easy routes. What is He saying with the narrow and broad gates? Sheep’s clothing? How can you differentiate the false prophets from the true? This is a complicated section, one where these wolves in sheep’s clothing drove out demons and prophesied and performed miracles… We also discuss the recent CPAC (The Conservative Political Action Conference), an article by David French on the Seven Mountain Mandate and the old Christian rock band Stryper. So much of this is about playing the long game with one another, how we coexist as humans and how to actually love our neighbors as ourselves. These threads are weaving a beautiful tapestry that speak to so much of how we are to be, both with one another and with God. Jesus is speaking with such intention that resonates so much with where we are today. This is the FINAL section of the Sermon on the Mount! This has been a wild ride for us and we’re honored to have walked this road with you all. We at VOX are committed to not only confronting all of this, first in ourselves, but also to wrestle with what Jesus would have for us in this time. We are committed to repentance and a pursuit of discernment. 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 Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford www.timothyjohnstafford.com Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

There is a saying that states that “The fastest way to become an atheist is to read the Bible.” In many circles, the conundrum that is the Bible has become a stumbling block for Christians and non-Christians alike. How do you reconcile things like violence and slavery inside? How do you approach a text written so long ago, to societies so unlike ours? Is the Bible outdated and harmful? How does one reconcile the odd and disturbing things within? Is the Bible the “Good Book?” Is it authoritative and what does that even mean? Today, we sit down with author and Pastor Dan Kimball to discuss his new book, “How (Not) To Read The Bible.” Dan talks to us about approaches and understandings that are needed before you open the text. The Bible can be confusing and challenging… You can pre-order Dan’s book at: https://www.dankimball.com/how-not-to-read-the-bible Follow Dan on social media: @dankimball 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 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 Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford www.timothyjohnstafford.com

Today, we sit down with author and professor of Bible and Theology, A.J. Swoboda, to discuss his new book, ‘After Doubt.’ We have a great conversation on deconstruction: the natural elements of it; and what’s helpful vs. what isn’t. How can we rebuild after tearing down the faith that was handed to us? What role do dead authors and past theologians play in the lineage of our faith and doubt? What does the Bible have to say about questioning? Is there room for anger and hate? You can pre-order A.J.’s book at: https://www.ajswobodawrites.com/ Follow A.J. on twitter: @mrajswoboda 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 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 Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford www.timothyjohnstafford.com Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

Sermon on The Mount: Chapter 18 - “What’s Love Got To Do With It?” Matthew 7:7-12. “Ask, Seek, Knock…” THE GOLDEN RULE. Again(!!!), another section of the sermon that has been taught a lot, but is often missing the point or full context Jesus was bringing. Discernment continues to be the word of the day (week, year, lifetime). Jesus is wrapping up the sermon here and is beginning to tie together all the threads he has laid out, in the most brilliant and intentional way. Who in this section is asking, seeking and knocking? What does it mean? How do these actions tie into the previous sections? How do these relate to our neighbors and how we should approach them? And, why? So much of this is about playing the long game with one another, how we coexist as humans and how to actually love our neighbors as ourselves. These threads are weaving a beautiful tapestry that speak to so much of how we are to be, both with one another and with God. Jesus is speaking with such intention that resonates so much with where we are today. We at VOX are committed to not only confronting all of this, first in ourselves, but also to wrestle with what Jesus would have for us in this time. We are committed to repentance and a pursuit of discernment. This is the second section of the Sermon on the Mount. We’re excited to walk this road with you all. 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 Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford www.timothyjohnstafford.com Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy