Christianity Without Compromise: Following Jesus Beyond the Culture Wars

Some Christians look like a spiritual success while the person inside is spiritually starving. Jacob Coyne, author of The Secret Life of Christians, is on Christianity Without Compromise with host Jake Doberenz to discuss how chasing influence, productivity, and outward appearances can replace genuine intimacy with God. Jacob explains why authentic faith requires a life free from hidden contradictions—and why spiritual formation depends on practices that shape Christians when no one is watching. To built this genuine life, we explore ancient rhythms and practices which offer an authentic way of getting closer to God and away from performance.Resources MentionedThe Secret Life of Christians: How to Authentically Pursue Jesus (Especially When No One’s Watching) by Jacob Coyne - https://link.amazon/B0hd5YQX6 [Affiliate] Stay Here — https://www.stayhere.live@JacobCoyne across social platforms@StayHereOrg - Stay Here on InstagramGuest BioJacob Coyne is an author, speaker, online creator, and leader of Stay Here, a nonprofit focused on suicide prevention. His book, The Secret Life of Christians, explores authentic pursuit of Jesus, the dangers of performing Christianity for others, and ancient spiritual practices that can cultivate a deeper private life with God.See Also:Why Christian Faith Turns Into Performance - Kristen LaValleyFollow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at http://jakedoberenz.substack.com.

Keeping the peace can look spiritual while actually undermining Christian unity through avoidance, uniformity, and unresolved division. Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez, pastor, justice worker, and author of False Peace, is on Christianity Without Compromise with host Jake Doberenz to discuss why the church must reject false peace and pursue a more honest vision of unity. Pricelis explains that Christian unity does not require agreement, sameness, or relational closeness, but it does require seeing others as image-bearers, approaching disagreement with curiosity, and discerning when boundaries or even division are necessary. She argues that the church’s habit of retreating into theological, political, and cultural tribes distorts the body of Christ and prevents Christians from learning how to live faithfully across real differences.Resources Mentioned:False Peace: How to Reject the Lie of Sameness, Embrace Difference, and Embody True Unity by Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez [affiliate}Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez’s website: pricelispd.comInstagram: @pricelispdGuest Bio:Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez is a pastor and justice worker whose work explores faith, justice, spiritual formation, and Christian community. Her latest book, False Peace: How to Reject the Lie of Sameness, Embrace Difference, and Embody True Unity, challenges Christians to move beyond uniformity and division toward a biblical vision of unity that embraces difference. Follow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at http://jakedoberenz.substack.com.

In this special live 100th episode, Jake Doberenz, creator and host of Christianity Without Compromise, reflects on the show’s journey, revisits its ten most popular conversations, and answers listener questions about faith, church, doubt, and Christian convictions. Looking back, Jake explains why Christianity Without Compromise has increasingly focused on clearing away the things Christians treat as essential so that Jesus remains at the center. After 100 episodes of Christian faith conversations, one lesson stands out: strong convictions and intellectual humility do not have to be enemies.Thanks for supporting the show 100 episodes in!Episodes MentionedEp 52 - “Creating a Healthy Church” - David Ruybalid, Traci Rhoades, Scot Loyd, and Christy Lynne WoodEp 47 - "Justice and Jesus in a Colonized Church” - Joash P. ThomasEp 87 - “How Christians Can Heal from Trauma” - Mary DeMuthEp 27 - “Isolation and the Search for Authentic Community” - Nic FloresEp 35 - “How Church Culture Can Turn Leaders into Idols” - David RuybalidEp 76 - “Cultivating Christian Courage” - Alan NobleEp 49 - “A Christian Response to Violence” - Joash P. Thomas, Malcolm Foley, Natalie Drew, Nathan Perrin, and Joshua SchuettenhelmEp 58 - “The Myth of Good Christian Parenting” - Marissa Franks Burt and Kelsey Kramer McGinnisEp 66 - “Resisting Christian Nationalism” - Jared Stacy, Joash P. Thomas, Caleb E. Campbell, and Larry LinEp 80 - “Why Christian Faith Turns Into Performance” - Kristen LaValleyEp 23 - “Youth Ministry Needs the Rest of the Church Family” - Luke DockeryEp 71 - “When To Speak Up About a Toxic Church” - Amy FritzEp 70 - “Christians Need a New Approach to Abortion” - Angela WeszelyEp 97 - “What We Miss When We Ignore Church History” - Amy Brown HughesEp 85 - “Finding Jesus Through Doubt and Deconstruction” - Tommy Preson PhillipsHost BioJake Doberenz is the host of Christianity Without Compromise. He holds multiple degrees in Bible and communication studies and is passionate about Christians finding Jesus outside of the Culture Wars.Follow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at http://jakedoberenz.substack.com. 

Pop psychology promises greater self-understanding, but therapy culture can turn normal sadness, conflict, suffering, and personal responsibility into problems that require medical labels and solutions. Dr. Matthew Loftus, physician, writer, and author of Resisting Therapy Culture, is on Christianity Without Compromise with host Jake Doberenz to discuss how therapeutic language has expanded beyond its proper uses and reshaped how Christians understand themselves, relationships, and the church. Matthew explains why labels such as trauma, narcissism, and toxic behavior can become distorted when applied too broadly, while also emphasizing that legitimate therapy can help people experiencing serious mental illness or specific problems. He argues that resisting therapy culture does not mean rejecting therapy but recovering Christian agency, recognizing the proper purpose of the church, and refusing to treat every difficult human experience as a diagnosis.Resources Mentioned:Resisting Therapy Culture: The Dangers of Pop Psychology and How the Church Can Respond by Matthew Loftus — https://amzn.to/4hPWSWb [affiliate] Matthew’s family mission’s website - https://matthewandmaggie.org/X/Twitter — @Matthew_LoftusGuest Bio:Dr. Matthew Loftus is a physician and writer who practices family medicine at a mission hospital in Kenya. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Christianity Today, First Things, and Mere Orthodoxy. He received the Trinity Forum’s 2025 Michael J. Gerson Prize for Excellence in Writing on Faith in Public Life and is the author of Resisting Therapy Culture: The Dangers of Pop Psychology and How the Church Can Respond.Follow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at http://jakedoberenz.substack.com.

Purity culture taught many people to fear their own bodies, desires, and capacity for pleasure. Kelly Edmiston, pastor and author, is on Christianity Without Compromise with host Jake Doberenz to discuss how purity culture created a damaging divide between the body and spiritual life. Kelly distinguishes Christian chastity from sexual repression, explains why desire can reveal what is forming us, and argues that embodied faith takes seriously both the goodness of pleasure and the moral significance of sexuality. Drawing from creation, Song of Songs, and the broader story of the Bible, Kelly offers a vision for moving beyond purity culture toward a Christian sexuality shaped by covenant, community, consent, and spiritual formation.Resources Mentioned:Shame-Free Sex Talks: Guiding Kids to Live Out Their Faith, Love Their Bodies, and Understand the Goodness of Sex - https://amzn.to/3S6Tn37 [Affiliate] www.drkellyedmiston.comKelly Edmiston SubstackGuest Bio:Kelly Edmiston is a pastor, author, and spiritual director with a doctorate in spiritual formation and roughly two decades of vocational ministry experience. Her work explores sexuality, embodiment, desire, and spiritual formation, including helping couples pursue sexual flourishing. She also preaches and creates resources designed to help Christians develop a more integrated understanding of their bodies and spiritual lives.Follow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at http://jakedoberenz.substack.com.

Many Christians know the Bible but effectively skip 2,000 years of church history, leaving them disconnected from generations of believers who wrestled with many of the same questions facing the church today. Dr. Amy Brown Hughes, historical theologian and scholar of early Christianity, is on Christianity Without Compromise with host Jake Doberenz to discuss why church history should become part of how Christians understand theology and faith. Amy explains how historical theology connects Christians to the “great cloud of witnesses,” challenges the myth of a unified early church, and gives believers practice engaging people whose convictions differ from their own. She also argues that Christian theology should leave room for growth, humility, and even admitting when deeply held beliefs need to change.Resources Mention:OnScript Podcast - https://onscript.study/Christian Women in the Patristic World: Their Influence, Authority, and Legacy in the Second through Fifth Centuries by Lynn H. Cohick and Amy Brown Hughes - https://amzn.to/3TOne0I [Affiliate]Guest Bio:Dr. Amy Brown Hughes is a historical theologian specializing in early Christianity, particularly the third and fourth centuries. An Associate Professor of Theology at Gordon College, she earned her Ph.D. in historical theology with an emphasis in early Christianity from Wheaton College. She co-authored Christian Women in the Patristic World with Lynn H. Cohick, co-hosts the OnScript Podcast, and works to make historical and academic theology accessible beyond the academy.Follow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at http://jakedoberenz.substack.com.

Many Christians assume that leaving evangelicalism means abandoning faith altogether, but that false choice keeps many people stuck. Beau Stringer, writer and minister, is on Christianity Without Compromise with host Jake Doberenz to discuss how Christians can navigate deconstruction while remaining deeply committed to Jesus. Beau shares his journey from Southern Baptist pastor to serving on staff at one of the largest Methodist churches in the world, explains common misconceptions about mainline churches, and explores why doubt, curiosity, Scripture, and community can become catalysts for stronger Christian faith rather than reasons to abandon it. He argues that reconstruction begins by centering Jesus, embracing honest questions, and finding a church community that nurtures both spiritual formation and intellectual integrity.Resources Mentioned:www.BeauStringer.comGuest Bio:Beau Stringer is a writer, speaker, and church leader serving at Church of the Resurrection in Kansas. After spending more than a decade as a Southern Baptist pastor, Beau now helps evangelicals navigate deconstruction, discover the wider Christian tradition, and explore life within mainline churches through his writing on Becoming Mainline. Follow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at http://jakedoberenz.substack.com.

Many believers confuse peacemaking with either avoiding conflict or winning arguments. Mark DeYmaz, pastor, author, and longtime advocate for multiethnic ministry, is on Christianity Without Compromise with host Jake Doberenz to discuss how the Prayer of St. Francis offers a practical roadmap for becoming genuine peacemakers. Mark explains why following Jesus means removing “peace-disturbing factors” from people’s lives, why today's culture has lost the ability to think with nuance, and how Christians can respond to polarization with wisdom, humility, and courageous love. Rather than reacting to every controversy, he argues that spiritual formation shapes believers to become people who embody the Gospel through both faithful words and faithful actions.Resources Mentioned:Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace: Becoming More Like Jesus Through the Prayer of St. Francis by Mark DeYmaz (affiliate)“7 Guiding Principles for Advancing Peace” by Mark DeYmazGuest Bio:Mark DeYmaz is a pastor, author, speaker, and longtime leader in the multiethnic church movement. He founded Mosaic Church in Little Rock, Arkansas, has spent more than four decades in ministry, and has written extensively on reconciliation, church unity, leadership, and spiritual formation. His latest book is Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace. Follow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at http://jakedoberenz.substack.com.

When church abuse happens, some of the greatest failures comes after the harm itself. On this episode of Christianity Without Compromise, originally recorded live, Amy Fritz, host of the Untangled Faith Podcast, Johnna Harris, co-host of the Bodies Behind the Bus Podcast, and Chantal McKinney, author of Following Jesus Beyond Church Walls, are on Christianity Without Compromise with host Jake Doberenz to discuss why churches so often fail abuse survivors and what must change. The conversation examines how institutions can become more committed to protecting their reputation than caring for wounded people, why forgiveness should never replace accountability, and how spiritual abuse thrives in cultures that silence survivors. The panel also explores practical steps toward healthier churches through transparency, restorative justice, compassionate listening, and communities that prioritize people over institutional preservation.Resources Mentioned:Bodies Behind the Bus PodcastUntangled Faith PodcastFollowing Jesus Beyond Church Walls by Chantal McKinney (affiliate)Water and Light movementDiane Langberg: Narcissism and the System It BreedsGuest Bios:Amy Fritz hosts the Untangled Faith Podcast, helping Christians separate authentic faith from harmful church experiences. Johnna Harris co-hosts the Bodies Behind the Bus Podcast, which documents stories of abuse within evangelical institutions and examines the theological systems that enable harm. Chantal McKinney is the author of Following Jesus Beyond Church Walls, a church planting coach and consultant, and founder of the Water and Light network, which provides support and healing resources for people harmed by the church. Jake Doberenz is the host of Christianity Without Compromise podcast, writer of the weekly newsletter Smashing Idols, and founder of the podcast production company Theophany Media. Follow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at jakedoberenz.substack.com.

The culture wars promise victory, but leave Christians more divided and the church less faithful. Makoto Fujimura, artist, author, and founder of I Am Culture Care, is on Christianity Without Compromise with host Jake Doberenz to discuss why Christians need a better vision for engaging culture than winning ideological battles. Mako traces the origins of the culture wars, explains how the metaphor of an ecosystem reshapes Christian engagement, and argues that every believer is called to cultivate beauty, goodness, and human flourishing. Drawing from decades as an artist, he challenges listeners to see creativity, community, and presence as essential expressions of the Gospel rather than optional additions to the Christian life.Important LinksCulture Care: Reconnecting with Beauty for Our Common Life (Second Edition) by Makoto Fujimura [Affiliate] Art and Faith: A Theology of Making by Makoto Fujimura [Affiliate]IAmCultureCareGuest BioMako Fujimura is an internationally recognized contemporary artist, author, and founder of I Am Culture Care. His work explores the intersection of art, faith, culture, and theology, encouraging Christians to cultivate beauty and human flourishing rather than participate in destructive cultural polarization. He is the author of several books, including Art and Faith and the newly expanded second edition of Culture Care.

Women in the Bible may seem like side characters, but the problem may be the way Scripture has been taught rather than the text itself. Jessica L.M. Jenkins, Bible teacher, author, speaker, and host of the Women of the Bible in Context podcast, is on Christianity Without Compromise with host Jake Doberenz to discuss how church language, cultural assumptions, and incomplete teaching have obscured women’s presence throughout the Bible. Jessica explains why terms like “the disciples” often erase female followers of Jesus, explores how passages like Proverbs 31 have been misunderstood, and shows how understanding historical context reveals a richer picture of women in Scripture and the broader story of the Gospel. She also challenges pastors and church leaders to intentionally amplify women’s voices and experiences through preaching, teaching, and everyday ministry.Important LinksJessica’s website - https://wewhothirst.comJessica’s podcast - Women of the Bible in ContextGuest BioJessica L.M. Jenkins is a Bible teacher, author, speaker, and host of the podcast Women of the Bible in Context. With master's degrees in biblical languages and Israel studies, she specializes in historical context, biblical interpretation, and helping readers recover overlooked voices in Scripture. She also consults with authors and illustrators to create historically accurate depictions of the biblical world.

Many Christians assume the best way to defend the Christian faith is by proving Christianity with arguments, but that approach can actually distort the faith it pretends to protect. In this solo episode of Christianity Without Compromise, Jake Doberenz shares how a lifelong passion for Christian apologetics eventually gave way to a deeper understanding of faith as allegiance, spiritual formation, and becoming like Jesus. He explores how modern apologetics can unintentionally reduce the Gospel to information, encourage a culture war mindset, and shape Christians into people who win arguments without displaying the fruit of the Spirit. Drawing from Scripture, the early church, and his own journey, Jake argues that the most compelling defense of the Christian faith has always been transformed lives that embody the love of Christ.Important LinksApologetics without Apology: Speaking of God in a World Troubled by Religion by Elaine Graham [affiliate]Host BioJake Doberenz is the founder of the podcast production company Theophany Media and host of Christianity Without Compromise. He holds multiple degrees in Bible and communication studies and is passionate about Christians finding Jesus outside of the Culture Wars.Follow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at http://jakedoberenz.substack.com.

When church leaders protect institutions instead of wounded people, many Christians want to know what happens to faith after betrayal, abuse, and spiritual disillusionment. Chantal McKinney, author of Following Jesus Beyond Church Walls, is on Christianity Without Compromise with host Jake Doberenz to discuss surviving sexual harassment inside a progressive Christian denomination and the devastating institutional response that followed. Chantal explains why abuse, retaliation, lack of transparency, and patriarchal church systems continue pushing women away from church communities while exposing the myth that progressive theology automatically creates safe spaces. She also shares why healing after church trauma requires reclaiming faith in Jesus beyond institutional control and how Christians can begin building healthier, more transparent, Christ-centered communities rooted in justice, healing, and accountability.Important LinksChantal McKinney Official Website"Following Jesus Beyond Church Walls" by Chantal McKinney (affiliate) Community Circles resourcesWater and Light movementGuest BioChantal McKinney is an Episcopal priest, speaker, and author of Following Jesus Beyond Church Walls. Her work focuses on church reform, healing from church trauma, spiritual formation, and helping Christians reclaim faith in Jesus beyond institutional harm and abuse.Follow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at http://jakedoberenz.substack.com.

Many Christians claim to love the Bible, yet modern Christianity often uses Scripture as ammunition for culture wars, political tribes, and theological fear instead of transformation through Jesus. Richard Beck, psychologist, theologian, and professor, is on Christianity Without Compromise with host Jake Doberenz to discuss why anxious Christians struggle to read the Bible well and how fear shapes modern biblical interpretation. Richard explores how attachment theory, partisan identity, and church legalism distort Christian readings of Scripture while arguing that the Bible ultimately points toward love revealed in Christ. He also walks through difficult biblical texts involving violence, exclusion, and judgment while showing how Scripture itself wrestles with those tensions and progressively unfolds toward the person of Jesus.Important Links:Richard Beck Website and BlogRichard Beck on SubstackThe Book of Love: A Better Way to Read the Bible by Richard Beck [Affiliate]Stranger God: Meeting Jesus in Disguise by Richard Beck [Affiliate]Guest Bio:Dr. Richard Beck is a psychologist, author, and professor at Abilene Christian University. His writing focuses on Christian spirituality, theology, and psychology. His books include The Book of Love, The Shape of Joy, and Stranger God.Follow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at http://jakedoberenz.substack.com.

Most Christians believe loving neighbors matters, but everyday life quietly trains people toward distraction, fear, contempt, and isolation instead. Brittany Tausen, social psychologist and professor, and Katie M. Douglass, practical theologian and professor, are on Christianity Without Compromise with host Jake Doberenz to discuss how psychology and theology together reveal the hidden obstacles that prevent Christians from truly loving others well. Drawing from research on homelessness, victim blaming, hustle culture, unconscious bias, and social isolation, Brittany and Katie explain why people often fail to act compassionately even when they genuinely want to follow Jesus. They also offer practical ways churches and individuals can cultivate deeper presence, generosity, empathy, and neighbor love.Important Links:Love Your Neighbor: How Psychology Can Enliven Faith and Transform Community by Katherine M. Douglass and Brittany M TausenLoving Better Website - https://www.lovingbetter.netLoving Better InstagramTent City 3Brittany Tausen is a social psychologist and professor at Baylor University whose research focuses on dehumanization, intergroup contact, bias, and how psychological science can help Christians practice neighbor love more faithfully.Katie M. Douglass is a practical theologian and professor at Seattle Pacific University whose work explores Christian formation, community, and how theology and psychology together can help people embody the teachings of Jesus in everyday life.Follow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at http://jakedoberenz.substack.com.

Church trauma and abuse leave many Christians convinced their story is too broken to redeem. Mary DeMuth is on Christianity Without Compromise with host Jake Doberenz to discuss surviving childhood sexual abuse, navigating years of complex trauma, and why healing is usually slow, painful, and deeply communal. Mary shares how unhealthy patterns can feel safer than freedom, why Christians often rush pain into performance or ministry too quickly, and how “re-storying” life means finding redemption without pretending the past never happened. She also challenges churches to stop avoiding conversations about abuse, pornography, suffering, and vulnerability while calling Christian leaders to create spaces where broken people can finally tell the truth and heal together.Important Links:Restory Your Life: How Jesus Reframes Your Past, Rewrites Your Present, and Redefines Your Future (affiliate) by Mary DeMuthMary DeMuth websitePray Every Day podcastMary DeMuth on InstagramMary DeMuth on SubstackMary DeMuth is a bestselling Christian author, literary agent, and podcast host who has written more than 50 books focused on trauma recovery, spiritual growth, and healing through Jesus. She hosts the daily Pray Every Day podcast and speaks widely on faith, storytelling, abuse recovery, and helping Christians walk honestly through suffering and redemption.

In many corners of Christianity, being right has become more important than loving people well. Jake Doberenz is on Christianity Without Compromise to discuss why Christian knowledge without love ultimately damages the church and distorts the Gospel. Drawing from 1 Corinthians, Jake explores how the Corinthian church elevated wisdom, debate, and theological certainty while neglecting love. He unpacks Paul’s warning that knowledge “puffs up” while love builds others up, challenges modern Christian habits of weaponizing truth, and explains why spiritual growth requires sacrificing knowledge for the sake of others.Jake Doberenz is the founder of the podcast production company Theophany Media and host of Christianity Without Compromise. He holds multiple degrees in Bible and communication studies and is passionate about Christians finding Jesus outside of the Culture Wars.Follow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at jakedoberenz.substack.com.

Deconstruction has become one of the most polarizing conversations in Christianity, but many Christians are leaving church because the faith they inherited didn’t produce good fruit. Tommy Preson Phillips, musician, pastor, and co-author of Invisible Jesus, is on Christianity Without Compromise with host Jake Doberenz to discuss how doubt, science, church culture, and evangelical certainty pushed him into deconstruction while ultimately deepening his commitment to Jesus. Tommy explains why the teachings of Jesus remain compelling even after institutional Christianity disappoints people, why the fruit of a doctrine matters more than ideological certainty, and how communities centered on love, humility, and honesty may become the future of the church.Important Links:Invisible Jesus by Scott McKnight and Tommy Preson Phillips - https://amzn.to/4dohVMZ (affiliate)Tommy Preson Phillips Substack - https://tommypresonphillips.substack.comWatermark Church Tampa - https://www.watermarktampa.comPreson Phillips music - http://presonphillips.comSurprise the World by Michael Frost - https://amzn.to/4dgQEfa (affiliate)Tommy Preson Phillips is a pastor, musician, songwriter, and co-author of Invisible Jesus with Scott McKnight. He leads Watermark Church in Tampa, Florida, writes on Substack, and creates music for congregational worship under the name Preson Phillips.

Church abuse continues to infiltrate Christian communities, though many refuse to confront it. Johnna Harris, co-host of the Bodies Behind the Bus podcast, is on Christianity Without Compromise with host Jake Doberenz to discuss how patterns of church abuse develop and persist within Western evangelical spaces. Johnna explains how systems prioritize institutional protection over truth. She unpacks recurring patterns like authoritarian leadership, misuse of spiritual authority, financial manipulation, and the silencing of survivors, while also tracing how these dynamics are reinforced by cultural and theological influences within Christianity. Throughout the conversation, Johnna challenges both leaders and congregants to recognize how church abuse operates and why Christian communities must rethink power, accountability, and spiritual formation.Important Links:Dr. Laura Robinson, Sascha Riley and the Long Hangover of the Satanic Panic - https://laurarbnsn.substack.com/p/sascha-riley-and-the-long-hangoverEric Issac, "Understanding Spiritual Abuse: Incentives to Preserve Spiritual Power & Reducing Abusive Experience" - https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/nanna/record/13895/files/FIDC010978.pdf?withWatermark=0&withMetadata=0&registerDownload=1&version=1Bodies Behind the Bus Podcast - https://www.bodiesbehindthebus.comSacred Wilderness - https://www.sacredwilderness.orgContact: [email protected] Harris is a podcast host, former worship leader, and advocate for survivors of church and spiritual abuse. She co-hosts the Bodies Behind the Bus podcast, where she shares and documents stories of abuse within church contexts, helping others find language, validation, and resources for healing. Through her work with Sacred Wilderness, she also supports survivors with practical needs such as therapy and financial assistance.Follow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at http://jakedoberenz.substack.com.

Many expressions of Christianity begin with a distorted view of human nature, framing identity primarily around sin rather than goodness. Marty Solomon, host of the BEMA Podcast and author of The Gospel of Being Human, is on Christianity Without Compromise with host Jake Doberenz to discuss why this common Christian framework misses the Bible’s actual starting point. Marty explains how beginning with sin reshapes the entire gospel into escape rather than restoration, and how rediscovering humanity as created good reframes faith, discipleship, and spiritual formation. He explores how this shift impacts how Christians view others, often leading to fear, division, and justification of harmful behavior, instead of recognizing shared belovedness. Marty also highlights the importance of reading Scripture through its original Jewish context, arguing that many misunderstandings in Christianity come from asking the wrong questions of the text.Important Links:http://www.martysolomon.comThe BEMA PodcastThe Gospel of Being Human: How Asking Better Questions of the Bible Reveals Who We Are by Marty Solomon and Reed Dent - https://amzn.to/3QMmMyr (affiliate)Marty Solomon is the host of the BEMA Podcast, a long-running show focused on exploring Scripture through its historical and Jewish context. With over a decade of podcasting experience, he has influenced many young adults and church leaders through his teaching. Marty is also an author and speaker who emphasizes better biblical interpretation and a more holistic understanding of faith, humanity, and discipleship.Follow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at http://jakedoberenz.substack.com.

On this episode of Christianity Without Compromise, originally recorded live, Kate Boyd (author and founder of The Remember Table), Tiffany Yecke Brooks (author and professor) and Loren Richmond Jr (podcaster and hospital chaplain) join host Jake Doberenz for a discussion on labels, identity, and faith.In this episode, Kate Boyd reflects on how labels both comfort and constrain, often shaping faith more through expectation than transformation. Tiffany Yecke Brooks explores how the word “Christian” has become so loaded that it distorts belief and can shut down meaningful conversation before it begins. Loren Richmond Jr. traces the shift from institutional identity to personal authenticity, showing how many believers now resist labels to avoid performative faith.Together, they offer practical clarity for navigating faith without rigid labels, helping listeners build a more grounded, authentic Christian identity that prioritizes spiritual growth over cultural expectations.Resources Mentioned:Kate Boyd’s book Untidy Faith: Journeying Back to the Joy of the Following JesusTiffany Yecke Brooks’ book To Rebehold the Stars: Reimagining Faith and Formation After DeconstructionGuest Bios:Kate Boyd is an author, speaker, and founder of The Remember Table, a space for those exploring faith outside traditional church structures. Her podcast and Substack is called Untidy Faith (after her book Untidy Faith) , where she helps readers navigate the “messy middle” of belief.Tiffany Yecke Brooks is an author, writing professor, and spiritual formation scholar who focuses on deconstruction, language, and rebuilding faith. She writes for the Substack The Lēros Project. Her most recent book is To Rebehold the Stars.Loren Richmond Jr is a pastor, podcaster and hospital chaplain. He is the host of the Future Christian podcast and writes at The Church Nerd Substack. Jake Doberenz is the host of Christianity Without Compromise podcast, writer of the weekly newsletter Smashing Idols, and founder of the podcast production company Theophany Media. Follow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at jakedoberenz.substack.com.

We know Christians are supposed to give to those in need, but should effectiveness be considered in how we change lives? J.D. Bauman, co-author of All the Lives You Can Change, is on Christianity Without Compromise with host Jake Doberenz to discuss how Christians can steward their resources with greater impact and intentionality. J.D. explains how effective altruism reframes generosity by focusing on outcomes, showing that some efforts to help can be far more impactful than others. He shares his personal journey from raising money as a student to wrestling with the teachings of Jesus on wealth, sacrifice, and love, and challenges assumptions about giving locally versus globally. Throughout the conversation, J.D. invites listeners to rethink Christian generosity by integrating faith, reason, and sacrifice in ways that reflect the heart of the Gospel and prioritize the needs of the most vulnerable.Important Links:All the Lives You Can Change: Effective Altruism for Christians by Dominic Roser, David Zhang, and J. D. Bauman - https://amzn.to/4tT3zJz (affiliate)Christians for Impact - https://www.christiansforimpact.orgEffective Altruism for Christians - https://www.eaforchristians.orgJ.D. Bauman is a leader in the effective altruism movement within the Christian community and co-author of All the Lives You Can Change. He directs Effective Altruism for Christians and serves as executive director of Christians for Impact, helping believers use their careers and resources to address the world’s most pressing problems.Follow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at http://jakedoberenz.substack.com.

Christian culture often teaches that faith must be earned, but this episode challenges why Christian identity so easily becomes performance. Kristen LaValley, author and speaker, is on Christianity Without Compromise with host Jake Doberenz to discuss how performance-driven faith forms in church culture and why it leaves many feeling disconnected from God. Kristen traces how transactional beliefs, spiritual pressure, and church systems shape a Christianity built on fear, control, and belonging rather than love. She also explains how her ADHD diagnosis reframed years of shame and shows how reclaiming a healthier view of God opens the door to healing.Important Links:Growing Up Saved by Kristen LaValley - https://amzn.to/4dzMhwp (affiliate) Even If He Doesn’t by Kristen LaValley - https://amzn.to/41YWN9e (affiliate) the liminal way community - https://open.substack.com/pub/kristenlavalleyKristen LaValley is a writer, speaker, and storyteller exploring the intersection of faith, trauma, and mental health. She is the author of Growing Up Saved and Even If He Doesn’t and leads The Liminal Way, a community for people navigating complex faith journeys.Follow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at http://jakedoberenz.substack.com.

Men can say they support women in ministry all they want - but to truly support women requires action. Dr. Rob Dixon, author of Allies in Ministry, is on Christianity Without Compromise with host Jake Doberenz to discuss how men can actively support women in ministry through everyday actions and leadership choices. Rob explains the gap between believing in women in ministry and living it out, showing how subtle patterns like exclusion, silence, or inaction continue to hold women back. He introduces a framework of practical allyship roles—like listening, amplifying, advocating, and sponsoring—that help men take responsibility for change. Grounded in both lived experience and the biblical vision of shared leadership, Rob demonstrates how supporting women in ministry is not optional but central to faithful Christian leadership.Important Links:Allies in Ministry: How Men Can Support Women in God’s Mission by Rob Dixon - https://amzn.to/3PHM5kS (affiliate) Together in Ministry: Women and Men in Flourishing Partnerships by Rob Dixon - https://amzn.to/4sMToWU (affiliate)Penny Preaches by Rob and Amy Dixon - https://amzn.to/4bOAKYM (affiliate)Better Allies: Everyday Actions to Create Inclusive, Engaging Workplaces by Karen Catlin - https://amzn.to/4s8jvq5 (affiliate)Rob on X - https://x.com/robfdixonRob on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rdixondis/Dr. Rob Dixon is a professor, author, and speaker focused on equipping churches to practice shared leadership between men and women. Rob has spent nearly three decades with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and also teaches at Fuller Theological Seminary and Fresno Pacific University. He is the author of Allies in Ministry and Together in Ministry, and co-author of the children’s book Penny Preaches.Follow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at http://jakedoberenz.substack.com.

Efficiency is not a Gospel value. Jake Doberenz, host of Christianity Without Compromise, is on Christianity Without Compromise discussing how modern culture's obsession with efficiency into Christian faith is at odds with the message of Jesus. Jake explains how the Gospel is not about maximizing outcomes but about embodying a slower, costly way of living that prioritizes people over productivity, drawing from stories like Jesus interrupting his journey to heal the bleeding woman. He argues that this inefficient Gospel resists utilitarian thinking, challenges comfort, and reframes success around presence, dignity, and faithfulness rather than speed or measurable results. This solo episode exposes how efficiency-driven thinking has shaped Christian ethics and calls listeners to recover a Gospel that values interruption, patience, and human worth.Jake Doberenz is the founder of the podcast production company Theophany Media and host of Christianity Without Compromise. He holds multiple degrees in Bible and communication studies and is passionate about Christians finding Jesus outside of the Culture Wars.

Christian deconstruction doesn’t have to be the end of faith; it could be the beginning! Dr. Tiffany Yecke Brooks, author of To Rebehold the Stars, is on Christianity Without Compromise with host Jake Doberenz to discuss why and how faith deconstruction can lead to intentional spiritual formation. Tiffany reframes deconstruction as a necessary but incomplete process, arguing that language, imagination, and inherited assumptions shape how people understand God and must be reexamined. She explores specific practices to help form a more authentic Christian faith, and also challenges us to move beyond inherited systems and deliberately rebuild a faith rooted in the heart of God.Important Links:To Rebehold the Stars: Reimagining Faith and Formation After Deconstruction by Tiffany Yecke BrooksThe Lēros Project, Tiffany Yecke Brooks’ SubstackDr. Tiffany Yecke Brooks is an author, speaker, and university writing instructor with a background in literature and theology. Tiffany has written dozens of books across Christian living, history, and spirituality, including Rebeholding the Stars, which focuses on rebuilding faith after deconstruction. Her work helps readers critically examine inherited beliefs, reimagine spiritual practices, and develop a more thoughtful, authentic Christian faith.Follow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at http://jakedoberenz.substack.com.

Comfort has become a cultural goal and the loss of Christian courage may be one of the hidden costs. Dr. O. Alan Noble, associate professor of English at Oklahoma Baptist University and author of the forthcoming To Live Well, is on Christianity Without Compromise with host Jake Doberenz to discuss why the recovery of Christian courage is essential in a distracted and disillusioned culture. Alan explains how modern culture is full of shifting moral rules yet largely lacks virtue, and he defines courage as the willingness to endure suffering and vulnerability for the sake of the good. Drawing from his personal struggle with OCD and bringing in insights about efficiency, Alan explores how suffering, endurance, and community shape Christian character. Important Links:To Live Well: Practical Wisdom for Moving Through Chaotic Times by O. Alan NobleYou Are Not Your Own: Belonging to God in an Inhuman World by O. Alan NobleOn Getting Out of Bed: The Burden and Gift of Living by O. Alan NobleO. Alan Noble’s website - https://www.oalannoble.comO. Alan Noble is an associate professor of English at Oklahoma Baptist University and a fellow at the Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics. He is the author of several books exploring faith, culture, and spiritual formation, including Disruptive Witness, You Are Not Your Own, On Getting Out of Bed, and To Live Well. His work focuses on helping Christians live faithfully within the pressures and anxieties of modern culture.See also: Episode 50 - "Faithfulness Won’t Always Save You From Suffering - Lara Silverman"

“Love your neighbor” is one of the most quoted teachings in Christianity, yet it is often practiced in ways that reinforce division. Amar D. Peterman, theologian and author of Becoming Neighbors, is on Christianity Without Compromise with host Jake Doberenz to discuss why Christian neighbor love is frequently misunderstood and how it can be reimagined in polarized communities. Amar shares how Jesus’ table-centered ministry challenges performative hospitality and how cultivating the common good begins through local relationships, shared spaces, and practices like accompaniment, compassion, and lament.Important Links:Eating Your Way Through Luke’s Gospel by Robert J. Karris — https://amzn.to/4ufrBQ9Becoming Neighbors: The Common Good Made Local by Amar D. Peterman — https://amzn.to/4lj7qN1 (affiliate) Amar D. Peterman’s Substack — https://amardpeterman.substack.com/Articles by Amar D. Peterman in Sojourners — https://sojo.net/biography/amar-d-petermanAmar D. Peterman is a writer, theologian, and PhD student whose work explores neighbor love, the common good, and Christian public life. He has written widely on faith, politics, and community for publications including Sojourners and his Substack, This Common Life. Peterman is the author of Becoming Neighbors: The Common Good Made Local, a book exploring how Christians can cultivate the common good through shared tables, local relationships, and faithful practices of love.Follow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at http://jakedoberenz.substack.com.

Many Christians have reduced the Church to a building, a service, or a weekly ritual—missing the deeper call of Christian faith. Matthew G. Mattson, author of Cathedrals of Connection and founder of the Between ministry, is on Christianity Without Compromise with host Jake Doberenz to discuss why the Church is not primarily an institution but a sacred space created whenever two people truly connect. Matt explains how loneliness, division, and cultural fragmentation have exposed a crisis within modern Christianity and why faith traditions at their best push people back toward one another. Together, they examine how spiritual formation is meant to shape everyday relationships, reframing church gatherings as preparation for the real Church happening in daily life.Important Links:Cathedrals of Connection: Your Invitation to Everyday Sacredness by Matthew G. Mattson - https://amzn.to/4s6DZA0 (affiliate)Cathedrals of Connection website - https://cathedralsofconnection.comBetween Ministry - https://between.churchMatthew G. Mattson is a writer, speaker, and founder of BETWEEN, an inclusive global faith community helping people embrace curiosity, conversation, and sacred connection. With decades of experience growing cause-based organizations, Matt has helped thousands rediscover the divine in everyday relationships. His latest book, Cathedrals of Connection: Your Invitation to Everyday Sacredness, offers an invitation to experience God through honest, human conversation.Follow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at http://jakedoberenz.substack.com.

Winning elections, winning debates, winning culture wars, and even winning converts. In this solo episode of Christianity Without Compromise, Jake Doberenz confronts the uncomfortable question at the heart of much of American Christianity: what if many of the wins being celebrated are not wins that Jesus would want? We unpack how metrics borrowed from politics and business have shaped how the Church defines and achieve success. Using cultural examples, including reactions to Charlie Kirk’s influence and assassination, Jake explores how the means used in faith and politics form disciples just as much as the results do. Jake argues that the upside-down kingdom revealed in the Sermon on the Mount demands a different kind of scoreboard—one shaped by humility, virtue, and spiritual formation rather than power and spectacle.Important LinksA Community of Character: Toward a Constructive Christian Social Ethic by Stanley HauerwasJake Doberenz is the founder of the podcast production company Theophany Media and host of Christianity Without Compromise. He holds multiple degrees in Bible and communication studies and is passionate about Christians finding Jesus outside of the Culture Wars.

Some forms of Christianity frame difference as dangerous—so empathy and curiosity are viewed with suspicion. But this week on Christianity Without Compromise, Liz Charlotte Grant, Christian Century columnist, is on the show with host Jake Doberenz to discuss how genuine curiosity—and even disagreement—can be acts of faithfulness. They talk about the power of talking with those you disagree with, unpack the fear beneath the doctrine of biblical inerrancy, and explore how Christianity might look if it welcomed empathy instead of certainty. Liz challenges the idea that being “right” matters more than being empathetic, calling the Church to embrace wonder and listen well—even across very deep divides.Important Links:Liz Charlotte Grant’s Substack: the Empathy ListKnock at the Sky: Seeking God in Genesis after Losing Faith in the Bible by Liz Charlotte Grant (affiliate) Liz Charlotte Grant on InstagramChristian Century Columns by Liz Charlotte GrantLiz Charlotte Grant is an award-winning writer, columnist for The Christian Century, and the author of Knock at the Sky: Seeking God in Genesis after Losing Faith in the Bible. Her work focuses on politics, theology, and spiritual formation, often exploring the spaces between certainty and mystery. She runs the Substack newsletter The Empathy List and lives in Colorado.Follow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at http://jakedoberenz.substack.com.

Should you say something when your church goes toxic—or stay quiet to keep the peace? On Christianity Without Compromise, Amy Fritz, host of the Untangled Faith podcast, joins Jake Doberenz to unpack the spiritual, emotional, and relational weight of speaking out. Drawing from her own journey from rule-following Christian student to institutional whistleblower, Amy shares what it takes to tell the truth when everything in church culture says to stay silent. Together, Jake and Amy examine why Christian institutions often protect their image over integrity, how toxic church environments form, and what it looks like to choose wisdom, love, and accountability at the same time. They confront the idolization of “God’s anointed,” the confusion between fruitfulness and faithfulness, and the corporate structures that reward performance over character—all while offering hope for those discerning what to do next.Important LinksDiane Langberg: Narcissism and the System It Breeds (YouTube)The Way of the Dragon or the Way of the Lamb: Searching for Jesus’ Path of Power in a Church that Has Abandoned It by Jamin Goggin and Kyle StrobelA Church Called Tov: Forming a Goodness Culture That Resists Abuses of Power and Promotes Healing by Scot McKnight and Laura BarringerUntangled Faith PodcastUntangled Faith SubstackHow Church Culture Can Turn Leaders Into Idols - David Ruybalid (Episode 35)Religious Certainty and Being the Only Ones Saved - Scot Loyd (Episode 44)When Spiritual Formulas Distract Us from Jesus - Christy Lynne Wood (Episode 39)Guest BioAmy Fritz is the host of the Untangled Faith podcast and Substack, where she creates space for Christians to process church hurt, spiritual abuse, and power dynamics in faith communities.Follow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at http://jakedoberenz.substack.com.

Christians have too often talked about abortion with labels instead of love. Angela Weszely, co-founder of ProGrace and author of Becoming ProGrace: Expanding the Abortion Conversation Beyond Life Versus Choice, joins Christianity Without Compromise with host Jake Doberenz to explore a faithful, grace-filled approach to abortion rooted in the teachings of Jesus. In this conversation, Angela explains why the Church’s political framing—whether pro-life or pro-choice—fails to reflect the Imago Dei in both the woman and the child. Drawing from her decades of experience in pregnancy resource ministry, Angela shares how a lack of nuance, poor language choices, and gender imbalance in church culture have alienated women and made the Church unsafe to engage this issue. Rather than offering a legislative solution, she calls for spiritual reformation—beginning not with changing others, but by examining ourselves.Important Links:Center for Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation at Fuller Theological Seminary - https://fuller.edu/center-for-peacebuilding-and-conflict-transformation/Becoming ProGrace: Expanding the Abortion Conversation Beyond Life Versus Choice - https://amzn.to/49Rjvnv (affiliate)ProGrace.orgAngela Weszely is the co-founder of ProGrace, a nonprofit helping churches move beyond political categories in how they respond to abortion. With more than 20 years of experience in pregnancy center ministry, Angela now equips Christians to speak with grace, empathy, and theological clarity about abortion, gender, and spiritual formation. She is the author of Becoming ProGrace: Expanding the Abortion Conversation Beyond Life Versus Choice.See Also: Why "Crotch Christianity" Misses the Gospel - SOLO Episode

Behind the lights, fog machines, and polished sermons lies a darker reality in megachurches. Scott Latta, award-winning journalist and author of Gods of the Smoke Machine, is on Christianity Without Compromise with host Jake Doberenz to discuss how evangelical megachurches create environments where spiritual abuse thrives. Drawing from personal experience and deep reporting, Scott outlines the patterns that allow abusive pastors to evade accountability and return to power—even after serious harm. We unpack the sociological model of the megachurch, how non-denominational structures often sidestep oversight, and why it’s so difficult for victims to speak out or even leave. This episode confronts how systems meant to glorify Jesus have become breeding grounds for abuse—and what needs to change.Behind the lights, fog machines, and polished sermons lies a darker reality in megachurches. Scott Latta, award-winning journalist and author of Gods of the Smoke Machine, is on Christianity Without Compromise with host Jake Doberenz to discuss how evangelical megachurches create environments where spiritual abuse thrives. Drawing from personal experience and deep reporting, Scott outlines the patterns that allow abusive pastors to evade accountability and return to power—even after serious harm. We unpack the sociological model of the megachurch, how non-denominational structures often sidestep oversight, and why it’s so difficult for victims to speak out or even leave. This episode confronts how systems meant to glorify Jesus have become breeding grounds for abuse—and what needs to change.Important Links:Boz Tchividjian’s organization GRACE and BozLawScott Latta’s website - https://www.scottlatta.comGods of the Smoke Machine - https://amzn.to/49DKYu2 (affiliate)Scott’s Substack - Gods of the Smoke MachineScott’s appearance on the Untangled Faith podcast with Amy Fritz - https://www.untangledfaithpodcast.com/148-inside-the-megachurch-machine-abuse-accountability-and-christian-nationalism-with-scott-latt/ Scott Latta is a journalist whose writing has appeared in The Atlantic, The Washington Post, and Christianity Today. His most recent book is author of Gods of the Smoke Machine: Power, Pain, and the Rise of Christian Nationalism in the Megachurch. Follow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at http://jakedoberenz.substack.com.

Much of what passes for Christian marriage teaching has left couples confused, disconnected, and harmed—especially women. Sheila Wray Gregoire, author and researcher behind The Great Sex Rescue, joins Christianity Without Compromise with host Jake Doberenz to unpack how evangelical sex and marriage advice went so wrong. Drawing from large-scale survey data, Gregoire explains how obligation-based sex, rigid gender stereotypes, and authority-driven theology damage intimacy, fuel sexual pain, and erode trust. The conversation explores purity culture, entitlement, mutuality, and why equality—not hierarchy—is essential for healthy Christian marriage and faithful discipleship.Important Links:BareMarriage.comThe Great Sex Rescue – https://amzn.to/4jIqpjtThe Marriage You Want – https://amzn.to/49A0hTaBare Marriage Podcast – https://baremarriage.com/category/podcasts/Sheila on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sheilagregoire/Sheila Wray Gregoire is a Christian speaker, author, and researcher who has written multiple bestselling books on sex and marriage, including The Great Sex Rescue and The Marriage You Want. Through her blog and podcast at BareMarriage.com, she helps Christians rethink harmful assumptions about gender, intimacy, and faith in relationships. Her work is grounded in data, driven by compassion, and committed to pointing people toward wholeness and mutuality.Follow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at http://jakedoberenz.substack.com.

Many Christians are trapped in a false choice between political ideologies that distort the Christian faith. Justin Giboney, political strategist, attorney, and president of the AND Campaign, is on Christianity Without Compromise with host Jake Doberenz to discuss his new book Don’t Let Nobody Turn You Around and the Black church’s enduring witness in the face of oppression. Drawing on his grandparents’ legacy in the civil rights movement, Giboney shares how the Black church modeled a prophetic public faith that was both bold and redemptive. Together, they explore what the culture war really is, why Christians must learn to critique both the right and the left, and how moral imagination enables better engagement in politics.Justin Giboney on X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/JustinEGiboneyThe AND Campaign - https://www.andcampaign.org/Don’t Let Nobody Turn You Around – https://amzn.to/4qNyUMp Greed, Racism, Violence, and Empire - Malcolm Foley  – https://christianitywithoutcompromise.transistor.fm/20Justin Giboney is an attorney, political strategist, and co-founder of the AND Campaign, a Christian civic organization dedicated to applying biblical values to social and political issues. He is the author of Don’t Let Nobody Turn You Around: How the Black Church’s Public Witness Leads Us out of the Culture War. Giboney draws from his heritage and civil rights roots to reframe how Christians engage politics with conviction and compassion.

On this episode of Christianity Without Compromise, originally recorded live, Dr. Jared Stacy (theologian and author), Joash Thomas (Anglican minister and justice advocate), Larry Lin (pastor and writer), and Caleb E. Campbell (pastor and author) join host Jake Doberenz to examine the rise of Christian nationalism five years after the January 6 U.S. Capitol attack.Jared Stacy, scholar of conspiracy theories, traces how Christian nationalism thrives by blending whiteness, national identity, and Christian symbols. Caleb Campbell shares his own church’s disorientation as members turned on him over immigration and racial justice, seeing political dissent as spiritual betrayal. Larry Lin reflects on his transformation driven by a desire to root out anti-gospel messages from the church. And Joash Thomas, former GOP operative turned public theologian, draws on his Indian Christian heritage to contrast American self-preservation with the global Church’s sacrificial advocacy for the marginalized.Together, they confront the spiritual rot beneath Christian nationalism—and what real Gospel allegiance demands in response.Resources Mentioned:Jared Stacy’s upcoming book Reality in Ruins: How Conspiracy Theory Became an American Evangelical Crisis (Coming March 2026)Joash Thomas’s book The Justice of JesusCaleb Campbell’s book Disarming LeviathanThe Cross and the Olive Tree: Cultivating Palestinian Theology amid Gaza edited by John S. Munayer and Samuel S. MunayerFaith in the Face of Empire by Mitri RahebGuest Bios:Jared Stacy is a theologian and chaplain. His forthcoming book Reality in Ruins explores how conspiracy thinking became a crisis in American evangelicalism. Check out his previous episode, “Why Do Christians Fall for Conspiracy Theories?”Joash P. Thomas is an Anglican minister who works in international justice and public theology. His first book is The Justice of Jesus. Check out his previous episode “Justice and Jesus in a Colonized Church.”Larry Lin is a pastor at Grace Life Church in Baltimore. He previously worked for One America Movement, a nonprofit organization that equips clergy to counter political and cultural polarization. Check out his previous episode “The Dangers of Christian Nationalism & Tribalism.”Caleb Campbell is the lead pastor of Desert Springs Bible Church in Phoenix, Arizona. His book Disarming Leviathan and podcast of the same name equips readers to engage Christian nationalists with truth and love. “Why Hate Won’t Stop Christian Nationalism.”Jake Doberenz is the host of Christianity Without Compromise and founder of the podcast production company Theophany Media. He’s on, well, all the episodes! Follow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at jakedoberenz.substack.com.

In this solo episode of the Christianity Without Compromise podcast, host Jake Doberenz explains why Christians need to cultivate joy—and exactly how they can do that. Using the example of the movie Elf, Jake explores how joy can change people and the world. Drawing from the work of Willie James Jennings, he defines joy as a way of life, outlines three ways to cultivate joy, and shares how choosing joy doesn’t mean you ignore reality. Important Links:“Theology of Joy: Willie James Jennings with Miroslav Volf”,  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fKD4Msh3rE“Willie James Jennings on joy that joins”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fKD4Msh3rE“The Code of the Elves: A Primer for Joy” by Jake Doberenz, Popular Culture, https://popularcultureandtheology.com/2020/12/07/the-code-of-the-elves-a-primer-for-joy/Jake Doberenz is the founder of the podcast production company Theophany Media and host of Christianity Without Compromise. He holds multiple degrees in Bible and communication studies and is passionate about Christians finding Jesus outside of the Culture Wars.

For this special holiday episode, host Jake Doberenz sets aside the usual Christian ethics debates for something more festive (and chaotic): a Christmas movie trivia game show featuring returning guest Joseph Holmes, film critic and host of The Overthinkers Podcast, and first-time guest Kenny Doberenz, film and media teacher and voice actor. The three dive into obscure facts about The Santa Clause trilogy, animated Christmas Carol adaptations, Die Hard villains, and really old Christmas movies no one has seen. It's fun.Merry Christmas, and good luck knowing when Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July actually came out.Important Links:The Overthinkers Podcast — Joseph Holmes' show on faith and pop culture"Why Are We So Obsessed With Identity" - The Overthinkers podcast episode with JakeJim vs. the Future — Joseph Holmes' sci-fi movieThe Dead Sea Squirrels — Animated kids’ show featuring Kenny Doberenz"How Movies Can Shape Faith More Than Sermons" - Joseph's previous episode on the showJoseph Holmes is a New York-based film and culture critic who writes for publications like Christianity Today, Religion Unplugged, and World Magazine. He co-hosts The Overthinkers Podcast and recently released his first feature film Jim vs. the Future.Kenny Doberenz is a film and media teacher at Oklahoma Christian Academy, where he teaches high school and middle school students about movie production and storytelling. He has voice acting credits in The Dead Sea Squirrels, an animated show created by VeggieTales co-creator Mike Nawrocki.Follow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at jakedoberenz.substack.com.

Christians are still telling people to “just pray more” in response to depression.Trey Hayman, pastor of New City Church in Nashville, is on Christianity Without Compromise with host Jake Doberenz to discuss how Christian faith and mental health need not be at odds. Drawing from both personal experience and theological training, Trey unpacks how the stigma around emotions and diagnoses developed in church spaces—and why it’s time to dismantle it. Together, Jake and Trey explore the false divide between “spiritual” and “emotional” life, the way Christian platitudes do more harm than good, and what a healthier theology of the mind could look like. Whether you’re a struggling believer or a church leader wondering how to help, this episode is for you.Important Links:Trey's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/treyhayman/Trey's Substack - https://substack.com/@treyhaymanTrey's Threads - https://www.threads.com/@treyhaymanClassical Pastoral Care: Pastoral Counsel (Vol. 3) by Thomas C. Oden - https://amzn.to/3XNAv8y (affiliate)Classical Pastoral Care: Crisis Ministries (Vol. 4) by Thomas C. Oden - https://amzn.to/4rUSQy4 (affiliate)Recommend Episodes:"Why Hate Won’t Stop Christian Nationalism - Caleb E. Campbell" - https://christianitywithoutcompromise.transistor.fm/51"Does God Want Me to be Happy? - Jon Adams" - https://christianitywithoutcompromise.transistor.fm/26Trey Hayman is the pastor of New City Church, a young church plant in Nashville, Tennessee. He holds degrees in Psychology and Christian Leadership from Belmont University and a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary. His work centers on integrating emotional health, theology, and community, and he regularly shares about mental health, faith, and authenticity online.Follow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at jakedoberenz.substack.com.

If Christian community can be so toxic, should we just leave it all behind?Loren Richmond Jr., pastor, chaplain, and host of the Future Christian Podcast, is on Christianity Without Compromise with host Jake Doberenz to discuss why the Christian faith still calls us to show up in community—even when church institutions fail. They talk candidly about disillusionment, spiritual exhaustion, and the cultural appeal of individualism, yet also uncover what’s lost when Christians opt out of the local church. Loren brings practical insight from both sociology and theology to show why Christian identity depends on more than podcasts and personal devotion. Together, they explore how church forms us, how it’s supposed to testify to God’s way of being in the world, and how to evaluate a church community without expecting perfection.Important Links:“Jake Doberenz on working for a church that doesn’t fit your theology” Future Christian Podcast — https://futurechristian.podbean.com/e/jake-doberenz-on-working-for-a-church-that-doesn-t-fit-your-theology/“Why Religion Went Obsolete: The Demise of Traditional Faith in America” by Christian Smith — https://amzn.to/3KgYBFG (affiliate)“How the Anglican Tradition Forms a Moral Ecology” by Loren Richmond Jr. — https://lorenrichmondjr.substack.com/p/how-the-anglican-tradition-forms“Sustaining While Disrupting: The Challenge of Congregational Innovation” by F. Douglas Powe Jr. and Levett H. Weems Jr. — https://amzn.to/4iGWRC6 (affiliate)Loren’s Substack The Church Nerd - https://open.substack.com/pub/lorenrichmondjrRecommend Episodes:"Can Churches Do Business Without Losing Their Soul? - Loren Richmond, Jr." - https://christianitywithoutcompromise.transistor.fm/4"Cultivating a Church's Culture - Spencer Shaw" - https://christianitywithoutcompromise.transistor.fm/1Loren Richmond Jr. is a pastor, chaplain, nonprofit leader, and the host of the Future Christian Podcast. He holds an MDiv from Phillips Theological Seminary and an MBA with a nonprofit focus from Hope International University. His wide-ranging ministry background includes roles from food pantry director to founding pastor, giving him a grounded and practical perspective on the evolving role of the church in society.Follow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at jakedoberenz.substack.com.

American Christianity has often baptized destroying the planet in the name of dominion, capitalism, or end-times theology. Dillon Naber Cruz, author and theologian trained in permaculture design, is on Christianity Without Compromise with host Jake Doberenz to discuss why true Christian ethics require care for the earth. The conversation explores how the golden rule applies to land use, how permaculture challenges consumerism, and how churches can tangibly resist the destruction of God’s world.Important Links:"Go Golden" by Dillon Naber Cruz — https://amzn.to/4rwyfA5 (affiliate)"Theological Musings Vol. 1" by Dillon Naber Cruz — https://amzn.to/3KjZsFu (affiliate)"Theological Musings Vol. 2" by Dillon Naber Cruz — https://amzn.to/4p4KuCi (affiliate) The Tattooed Theologian Blog — https://tattooed-theologian.com/God Squad Pod — https://tattooed-theologian.com/the-god-squad-podcast/ Recommended Episodes:Episode 20 with Dr. Malcolm Foley on Greed and CapitalismDillon Naber Cruz is a writer, permaculture designer, and public theologian who blogs under the name The Tattooed Theologian. He is the author of Go Golden and other theological works exploring social permaculture, ethics, and ecological justice. He co-hosts The God Squad Pod and frequently appears on SiriusXM’s Tell Me Everything.Follow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at jakedoberenz.substack.com.

The Culture War claims to be Christian, yet misses everything about faith. In this solo episode, Jake Doberenz, host of Christianity Without Compromise, shares three reasons he has renounced the culture war mindset. Drawing from personal experience as a former participant, Jake explores how the culture war makes Christians worse people, replaces the gospel with ideology, and elevates fringe issues while ignoring core teachings of Jesus. This honest and incisive reflection offers a crucial critique of culture war Christianity and invites listeners into a more faithful way of following Jesus.Important Links:"Why I'm Not a Creationist Anymore" episode"Why 'Crotch Christianity' Misses the Gospel" episode"The Sermon on the Mount is Serious" episodeThe King Jesus Gospel by Scot McKnightJake Doberenz is the founder of the podcast production company Theophany Media and host of Christianity Without Compromise. He holds multiple degrees in Bible and communication studies and is passionate about Christians finding Jesus outside of the Culture Wars.

Behind the praise for caregivers in church spaces is a deeper failure to actually support them. Sunita Theiss, a neurodivergent writer and workshop leader, is on Christianity Without Compromise with host Jake Doberenz to  to expose how the church often celebrates caregiving in theory while neglecting caregivers in practice. She discuss the unseen burdens caregivers carry and how Christian faith has often equated holiness with endless output. Drawing from her own experience with chronic illness and parenting neurodivergent children, Sunita challenges the way churches praise caregivers without offering real help. They unpack the idol of productivity,  how churches can stop overburdening caregivers, and why a theology of limits is essential for true spiritual growth.Important Links:Sunita Theiss’s WebsiteSunita on InstagramThe 80/80 Marriage: A New Model for a Happier, Stronger Relationship by Dr. Nate Klemp and Kaley KlempBiblical Truths for Neurodivergent Kids – Free ResourcePDA and the Church – Workshop ReplayRecommended Episodes:Episode 40 with Michael Clemens on Church AttendanceEpisode 45 with Kate Boyd on Exclusion in Church StructuresEpisode 23 with Luke Dockery on Intergenerational ChurchGuest Bio:Sunita Theiss is a writer, workshop facilitator, and neurodivergent parent advocate working at the intersection of parenting, neurodiversity, and Christian faith. After leaving a 15-year marketing career to care for her children, she discovered that both she and her kids are neurodivergent. She now helps create trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming spaces in churches, schools, and homes.Follow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at jakedoberenz.substack.com.

The Bible isn’t exactly a Christian parenting book, despite what some popular books might suggest. Kelsey Kramer McGinnis, musicologist and journalist, and Marissa Franks Burt, novelist and theological educator, are on Christianity Without Compromise with host Jake Doberenz to dissect the common myths behind Christian parenting advice. They explore how evangelical parenting books sold a prosperity gospel-like promise—if you parent “biblically,” your kids will follow Jesus. They trace the rise of this parenting empire, unpack key influences like James Dobson and Chuck Swindoll, and explain how poor theology has led to confusion, fear, and broken relationships across generations. Important Links:The Myth of Good Christian Parenting by Kelsey McGinnis and Marissa Burt - https://amzn.to/3JUUsH0In the Church Library Podcast (co-hosted by Kelsey and Marissa) - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2463181Marissa Franks Burt’s Substack - https://substack.com/@mburtwritesKelsey Kramer McGinnis’s Substack - https://substack.com/@kelseykramermcginnisRecommended episode: “How Faith Deconstruction Can Lead Back to Jesus” with Scot McKnightKelsey McGinnis is a musicologist, educator, and journalist who writes about worship, Christian subculture, and church media. She holds a PhD from the University of Iowa and teaches as an adjunct professor at Grand View University. She is also a correspondent for Christianity Today.Marissa Burt is a novelist, editor, and theological educator with an MA in Theological Studies from Columbia International University. She co-hosts the At Home with the Lectionary podcast and is raising six children with her husband, a longtime pastor.Follow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at jakedoberenz.substack.com.

Short-form sermon clips, podcasts, and documentaries are more accessible than ever—but what happens when Christians consume media about the Bible instead of the Bible itself? Craig Dehut, cinematographer, editor, and co-founder of Appian Media, is on Christianity Without Compromise with host Jake Doberenz to discuss how digital content should supplement—not replace—scripture. This episode confronts the growing reliance on Christian media and explores how it can unintentionally derail spiritual growth. If you care about Christian faith, discipleship, and resisting the pull of technology in the digital age, this conversation is for you.Important Links:Appian Media YouTube ChannelAppian Media Website"How Movies Can Shape Faith More Than Sermons" - Joseph Holmes"Spiritually Distracted by Technology" - Andrew Noble"The Bible is Not Just an Information Book" - Joseph DeaCraig Dehut is a filmmaker, editor, and co-founder of Appian Media, a nonprofit producing biblically accurate, high-quality video content designed to deepen engagement with scripture. With a background in film production and storytelling, Craig blends visual creativity with biblical conviction. His work includes immersive documentaries filmed in the Holy Lands, educational series, and podcasts—all freely available to help people read the Bible with fresh eyes.Follow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at jakedoberenz.substack.com.

Violence has become an assumed option for many Christians in war, politics, and even personal safety. But that wasn’t always the case. Christianity Without Compromise host Jake Doberenz chats with Jason Porterfield, Christian peacemaker and author of Fight Like Jesus, and Cody Cook, theologian and author of Anarchist Anabaptist, for a live roundtable on one provocative question: should Christians ever kill? They unpack what Jesus really taught about violence, how the early Church practiced enemy love, and why modern Christian ethics often distort that legacy. Important Links:Jason Porterfield’s free PDF: 140 Early Christian Quotes on Not KillingFight Like Jesus: How Jesus Waged Peace Throughout Holy Week by Jason PorterfieldAnarchist Anabaptist: Essays on Radical Christianity and Freedom“Problem Passages for Libertarian Christians: Romans 13” podcast episode from the Libertarian Christian Institute“How Do You Know a Christian,” Plough Quarterly, by Cody CookThe City of Refuge - podcast miniseriesWhy Civil Resistance Works: The Strategic Logic of Nonviolent Conflict by Erica Chenoweth and Maria J. StephanGuest Bios:Jason Porterfield is a Christian peacemaker, author, and speaker. A former missionary among the urban poor in Canada and Southeast Asia, he now writes and teaches on how Jesus waged peace, especially during Holy Week. He is the author of Fight Like Jesus. Check out his episode “When the Church Embraced Nonviolence.”Cody Cook is a theologian, author, and host of the Cantus Firmus podcast. He writes on topics of Christian nonviolence, Anabaptism, and liberty, and is affiliated with the Libertarian Christian Institute. He had many books, including Anarchist Anabaptist. Check out his episode “Having a Voluntary Faith.”Follow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at jakedoberenz.substack.com.

Why are American Christians so obsessed with Hell? Caleb S. Davis, founder of the Simply Love Jesus ministry, is on Christianity Without Compromise with host Jake Doberenz to discuss the American Church’s fixation on hell. In this episode, Caleb shares the math he did while writing his first book that sparked a theological deep-dive: only 10% of Jesus’ teachings mention the afterlife. So why do modern Christians act like it’s the whole story? Together, Caleb and Jake unpack the forces behind the hell-centered evangelistic sales pitch, explore the the recent historical roots of eternal conscious torment, and discuss how to communicate salvation to children. They offer a richer, more hope-filled understanding of the gospel.Important Links:Simply Love Jesus ministryLetter to the TikTokians by Caleb S. DavisThe King Jesus Gospel by Scot McKnightBeyond the Salvation Wars by Matthew BatesGospel Allegiance by Matthew BatesFive Views on the Gospel edited by Michael F. Bird and Jason MastonLove Wins by Rob BellRev. Caleb S. Davis is the author of Simply Love Jesus and Letter to the TikTokians, host of the Simply Love Jesus podcast, and the founder of the Simply Love Jesus ministry. A former student pastor and current church planter, Caleb is passionate about helping people move beyond fear-driven faith to a Jesus-centered life. He currently lives in Florida and leads Simple Church, a community focused on loving Jesus and being good news in the world.Follow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at jakedoberenz.substack.com.

Most Christians think they understand sin—but the way we preach, teach, and convert says otherwise. Matt Van Winkle, minister and scholar with a Doctor of Ministry from Northern Seminary, is on Christianity Without Compromise with host Jake Doberenz to expose how flattening sin into nothing more than moral failure has distorted the gospel and reshaped the Church’s approach to conversion. Drawing from deep theological and biblical study, Matt unpacks how the Bible portrays sin as more than just bad actions—it’s a cosmic power shaping the systems we live in. The conversation explores how the Western Church often reduces sin to guilt and moral failure, and why this simplification has produced evangelism strategies rooted more in shame than in grace. Along the way, they dive into key biblical texts, how culture has shaped Christian ethics, and why a broader understanding of sin opens the door for a more compelling gospel.Key Takeaways:Sin in Scripture includes moral failure, debt, and a cosmic power—yet modern Christians tend to overemphasize guilt while ignoring systemic and spiritual dimensions.Evangelism that starts with guilt often misses the heart of the gospel and can harm people instead of inviting them into transformation.Understanding sin as a pervasive force allows Christians to engage with the world more compassionately, choosing spiritual formation over moral policing.Important Links:And Upon This Rock: Peter’s Transformative Journey from Fisherman to Follower to Foundational Leader - book co-authored by Matt Van Winkle and others from Northern SeminarySin: A History by Gary A. AndersonThe Wounded Heart of God: The Asian Concept of Han and the Christian Doctrine of Sin by Andrew S. ParkKing Jesus Gospel: The Original Good News Revisited by Scot McKnight“Spiritually Distracted by Technology” - Episode featuring Andrew Noble on theology and technology“Sin Shouldn’t Define Christian Identity” - Episode featuring James Early on being too focused on sinMatt on Threads - https://www.threads.com/@mattvw9287Matt Van Winkle is a minister, writer, and teacher with a Doctor of Ministry from Northern Seminary, where he studied under Scott McKnight. He has taught courses on the New Testament, Pauline letters, and the global history of Christianity. His academic and pastoral work focuses on sin, conversion, and the overlap between spiritual formation and church practice. He is a contributor to And Upon This Rock: Peter’s Transformative Journey from Fisherman to Follower to Foundational Leader and is active on Threads.You Might Also Like:Sin Shouldn’t Define Christian Identity - James EarlyFollow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at jakedoberenz.substack.com.Christianity Without Compromise is a part of the KFM Broadcasting network.

Centrism sounds safe—but it may be the most dangerous position of all. On this episode of Christianity Without Compromise, Trey Ferguson, minister and writer, joins Jake Doberenz to challenge the idea that Christians can or should stay neutral in a politically polarized world. Ferguson critiques the popular instinct to “reject both sides,” arguing that a refusal to take political positions often enables injustice and reinforces the status quo. Drawing from both Anabaptist and Black liberationist perspectives, Trey explains why political disengagement is not a virtue—and why Jesus himself was political in ways that subverted empire and sided with the oppressed. This raw and honest conversation covers the failures of American partisanship, the illusion of centrism, the cost of prophetic love, and an intriguing reimagining of how to think about voting—not as allegiance, but as accountability.Key Takeaways:Centrism often disguises itself as wisdom but ultimately becomes a refusal to take a stand when it matters most.Jesus wasn’t partisan, but he was political: siding with the oppressed, confronting injustice, and rejecting empire.Following Jesus means committing to the wholeness of others, which includes confronting systems and ideologies that harm them.Important Links:Trey Ferguson’s Website - pastortrey05.comTrey Ferguson’s Substack - The Son Do MoveTheologizin’ Bigger: Homilies on Living Freely and Loving HolyThree Black Men podcastMaking It Plain: Why We Need Anabaptism and the Black Church by Drew G.I. HartTrey Ferguson is a minister, writer, speaker, and public theologian known for his thoughtful commentary on faith, culture, and politics. He holds an MDiv from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University. Trey pastors The Intersection Church and hosts both Three Black Men and New Living Treyslation. He is the author of Theologizin’ Bigger: Homilies on Living Freely and Loving Holy, and shares resources for justice-minded Christians at pastortrey05.com.You Might Also Like:Justice and Jesus in a Colonized Church - Joash ThomasFollow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at jakedoberenz.substack.com.Christianity Without Compromise is a part of the KFM Broadcasting network.Get full access to Smashing Idols: Stories & Reflections on Following Jesus at jakedoberenz.substack.com/subscribe