The Awkward Apocalypse

If we couldn't die, how would that change how we share the gospel? And even if we die, does the gospel remain relevant in the afterlife? In this episode, we'll take a look at evangelism's weird reliance upon death for its urgency, significance, and core message.

Mike texted me:  "How do you interpret Jesus' command to love your enemies?" Several long voice memos later, and we decided to schedule a date with some professional microphones and a competition Rubik's cube. This conversation dives into the depths of how we should understand Jesus' commands. Are they to be interpreted as wisdom or as black and white rules that must be kept under every circumstance? 

You are helping to run a ministry and you learn that one of the people you are trying to help has stolen all of the money that was donated to put him in school. That puts you in a weird spot. Do you let your donors know that their money was stolen? Or do you keep it a secret and press on, knowing that the secret is kept for the greater good?In this episode, we'll switch the perspective from those who need help to that of a helper who has learned of a secret and feels the tension both of speaking out and of keeping the secret for the sake of the ministry. 

We're called to suffer for Jesus, but how much is too much? How do we care for ourselves while also helping others? What do healthy boundaries look like and how do we balance sacrifice with self-care? 

Do the poor hurt those who are trying to help them because it's within their nature to hurt others? Do they lie, steal, or cause harm because they are inherently different? Or is it perhaps a bit more nuanced than that...Well, if you believe the latter then, congratulations, you're not racist. But the question remains... why would the poor sabotage an effort to improve their lives? If there isn't some intrinsic difference between us and them, why do they behave so differently? You might be surprised at how much wisdom can be derived from a marshmallow. That's not a typo. 

We love to talk about how to help the poor without hurting them, but it's not nearly as common to talk about how to help the poor without them hurting you. It happens more than you might think, and I have a lot of experience with it. But why do they do it? Why do they hurt people who just want to help them? And how can we protect ourselves and set boundaries to ensure that both the helpers and the helped maintain a healthy relationship? 

"If you left the church because you had a bad experience with people, you didn't have a relationship with God, you had a relationship with people." - A really dumb thing to sayLet's talk.

Post modernism, apologetics, suffering, doubt, the universe, a burrito advertisement, and a debate about the existence of God. Enjoy. 

It's often tempting to interpret Jesus through our own cultural lens. But taking an honest approach to who Jesus was will require exiting our culture and stepping into his... if that's even possible.

Joshua Milton Blahyi (aka "General Buttnaked"), often referred to as the "Modern Day Saul" has been held responsible for around 20,000 deaths during the Liberian Civil War. But his story doesn't end there. After a dramatic, Damascus Road-like conversion in the midst of the war, Blahyi became a drastically different man with a different outlook on his role in this country. In this episode, I sit down with Joshua to hear his story and discuss how a society like Liberia can be changed for the good, just as a man can be changed for the good, despite a tragic and devastating history. 

The fundamentalist literal reading of the Bible leads to some pretty interesting views - one of them being an actual mark that followers of the antichrist receive that destines their souls to eternally serving this beast in hell. Crazy stuff. Unfortunately it's not really true... like at all... 

Back in the 19th century, the Dismal Dane went on a rampage against the church with the greatest and most deadly weapon he had - a pen, in the battlefield of his day - the newspaper column. What resulted was an attack that is just as much relevant for us as it was for the Dutch almost 200 years ago. 

Don't waste your life. Waste someone else's! 

This episode is not about long skirts or grape juice or hell (but we might get there eventually). For now, let's take a moment to go to the core of what fundamentalism is and where we might find it. 

Evangelical Christianity is often centered around the gospel message, which is often reduced to words spoken. Is this all that Jesus intended? Is there something missing? Is The Godfather overrated? I'll answer at least two of those questions in this episode.

Tearing apart, criticizing, and demolishing is easy, building is not. So as we are deconstructing elements of our faith, where do we begin the process of reconstructing that which is good? How do we put back together the Lego house, currently scattered across the floor in a million pieces, into something better than before? 

If you are flying in an airplane and decide to deconstruct it, don't be surprised when you crash. Deconstructing is insanely beneficial for the growth of a Christian, but where's the line? When is deconstruction dangerous? When does deconstruction become demolition? 

How does an atheist feel when they walk into a store and hear Christian music playing? In this episode, I sit back down with Mike to talk about Christian music. Although not a Christian, he grew up on Steven Curtis Chapman, DC Talk, Kirk Franklin, etc. The conversation leads us into the present, which deepens the conversation far beyond music and into the psychology of evangelism and Christian witness from the perspective of an nonbeliever. 

Apologetics is typically an intellectual approach to defending the "faith." Philosophy, logic, science, etc. But is this really what we should be defending? Did Peter know that his encouragement to believers to continue doing what is good despite pushback and persecution would be used to justify arguing with atheists centuries later? 

Mike, a pastor's kid who lost his faith while attending Christian college, shares his story, his struggles, and his own unique perspective on Christianity.  In this episode, I interview my long time best friend and cousin, the person who has influenced me more than anyone else, the one who taught me how to think deeply, and the person with whom I share a closer bond than anyone else on the planet. 

Doubt is authentic. It's real. It's something so many Christians struggle with. But is it good? Does doubt strengthen your faith or weaken it? And should we be praised for doubting or condemned? In this episode, we'll venture into the darkness of doubt, the silence of skepticism. 

Cannot wait to get going again! After a season of intellectual and psychological hibernation, I'm back, and things are getting even more awkward... This season we'll get into topics like doubt, apologetics, fundamentalism, worldliness, Satan, The Chosen, and some surprise interviews with friends you won't want to miss! 

After spending almost a year in Liberia, I'm back in the states and my brain is a scrambled egg. Culture shock, freezing rain, and dark days have left me in a state of muddled confusion. But I finally managed to squeeze out an episode. I recorded a version of this episode that was scripted, but I found it rather boring and wooden. So I plugged the mic back in and just went for it...Christians can be pretty hard on themselves. We feel our unworthiness and our guilt and our shame. But do we ever stop despising ourselves and acknowledge the good within us? Is that even allowed? 

When the gospel becomes an instrument of cultural colonization, missions ceases to be missions. 

Alright, here we go... humor me for a moment. What if the gospel we've been preaching is not the gospel of the Bible? I know, I know... it seems heretical to even ask that question. But trust me on this one. If I didn't have verses to support this, I wouldn't bother much with it.  

In this special birthday episode, I congratulate myself for not dying for another consecutive year. Why are Christians afraid to die? It seems weird, since we're all about eternal life and resurrection and all that. Just sit back and enjoy the ride on this one. We'll cover a lot of ground but we'll end up where we began.

"Things are just goin down the drain. Jesus is comin back soon, y'all!" This is a sentiment shared by many American Christians. Things get bad. Then Jesus returns. That's how the Bible portrays this world, right? In this episode, we're going back to the Left Behind days to see why so many think this way and whether or not Jesus would agree. 

American Christianity seems to be centered around a once-a-week gathering. Is that... weird? We seem so adapted to it that we often don't stop and reflect on how strange that is, especially when so much of the bible covers topics outside of church worship services. And as community deteriorates in American culture, how does the church transcend the status of just another club to belong to and truly become the Church? I'm not going to pretend like I have all the answers, but these are certainly questions worth exploring. 

Why do Christians run and hide from the darkness of the world, from anything that would be considered "secular?" Is this biblical? After all, aren't we commanded to be holy and not to become like the world, not be be friends with the world, and to keep ourselves unstained from the world? I had a feeling there was something off here, and as I worked on this episode, I think I was able to find exactly what that is.  

"In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king" is a false proverb. People who think critically, offer new perspectives, or re-examine popularly held beliefs are not treated like kings. The more they search, the lonelier they feel. The more they shout, the more they hear their own echoes. And the more they question and explore, the more they realize that their journey is not the enlightening quest they thought it would be. Instead, it turns out to be an awkward endeavor that burdens them with questions that they aren't even sure how to ask. Are they kings? No. Not at all. They are normal humans with more questions than answers. 

"Jesus was sort of joking most of the time. He said a lot of pretty radical stuff, but he didn't mean most of it. So, let's take a moment today and dissect what Jesus said and see if maybe we can create a system of ethics that works a little bit better for everybody."- American Christianity 

Do you see relationships as potential converts to the faith? Whenever you meet someone who isn't a Christian, are you immediately burdened by the obligation to rescue them from hell? If so, then let's chat. 

"Did you spend time with God today?" Something about this feels absolutely right, but also kinda strange. At least, when that becomes our primary focus. Are devotions the central focus of the Christian life or did we maybe place a little too much emphasis on them? 

Whether you're growing out your Calvin beard and catechizing your pet bird or you flip John MacArthur books upside down when you pass them in the bookstore, this episode is for you. In the longest episode I've ever posted (by far), I give my rationale for why I don't consider myself to be "Reformed" anymore. 

Grab your Nalgene bottles, bandanas, worst clothes, Walmart shades, and your themed devotionals! It's time to board the plane where we'll venture to a poor country, take some solemn pictures of the kids, come home with so many inside jokes and great memories, and just BE the Church! I'm so cynical... But seriously, are short term trips good, or are they inherently harmful? Let's dive in...

Is cussing really a big deal? Why is cussing such a central focus of what a Christian should and should not be exposed to? Does our obsession with cussing reveal something deeper about our self-righteous fragility? What begins as a simple question ends in a deeper place than you might imagine.

Christians are called to imitate Jesus. But we also have to realize that we are not saviors. So how do we imitate a savior without being a savior? In this episode, we'll look specifically at the "White Savior." What is a white savior and how do we imitate Christ without becoming one? 

My whole life I've believed that complementarianism was clearly biblical and that those who argued for an egalitarian reading of Scripture were sacrificing biblical authority to do so. Beth Allison Barr's book, however, lays out a pretty convincing case that egalitarianism is the most natural reading of Scripture as a whole and that patriarchal structures twisted the Bible to gain power and to translate Scripture according to their desired interpretation. This is my review of the book The Making of Biblical Womanhood by Beth Allison Barr. 

When we look at the mission field, we see an eery reflection of our problems back home. Do we just call it "sinful nature" and press on? Or do we critically deal with the possibility that maybe our own problems are hurting those we're trying to help? If African missions doesn't necessarily interest you, that's ok. This episode is about much more. 

Christian culture is littered with podcasts, videos, and resources on how the Enneagram relates to the Christian life. But is it helpful? Is it truly the gateway to personal growth? Or is it demonic witchcraft? In this episode, I'll review the book "The Wisdom of the Enneagram" and offer my general thoughts on the use of the Enneagram in the Christian life. 

How should a Christian approach transgenderism? It seems that the only two options are the extremes -  acceptance or anger. In this episode, we'll take a look at the second option and why that should not be a viable option for any Christian approaching this issue. Featuring:  A special guest appearance by an insightful cricket. 

This one is sticky for a lot of people. Are Christians commanded to give 10% to an institutional church? And for churches who preach this, what effects does that have on our interpretation of other related passages? In this episode, we'll take a brief look at mandatory giving and the effects that has on how we understand what it means to truly give to God. 

What happens when a church with bad theology carries that theology to the ends of the earth? In this episode, we'll begin looking at how the mainstream theology of the church in America affects missions and hurts those it seeks to help. 

"God bless America." Sometimes faith and patriotism are so interwoven that it's hard to know which is which. In this episode, we'll take a look at what Christian Nationalism is, the damage it's caused, and whether or not it's even biblical. Follow on Apple 🎧:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-awkward-apocalypse/id1593069067Check out our ministry in Liberia 🌍:  standingsidebyside.orgDonate to our ministry in Liberia 🇱🇷:  Venmo - @standingsidebysideFollow me on Instagram 🥞:  @pa.pancakeIntroduction song by 🎤:  Justin Tweito Logo artwork 🎨:  Jillian Freeman

So, apparently I accidentally posted the unedited version. Props to everyone who powered through that...I'm in Africa and don't have consistent internet to check, so shoutout to the person who let me know. Here's the real version!Evangelism, at least in some sects of Christianity, seems to revolve around this idea of not going to hell. But is that really what the gospel message is all about? Isn't it... so much more than that? In this episode, we'll discuss this approach to evangelism and talk about why it's not effective, not biblical, and not complete. Follow on Apple 🎧:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-awkward-apocalypse/id1593069067Check out our ministry in Liberia 🌍:  standingsidebyside.orgDonate to our ministry in Liberia 🇱🇷:  Venmo - @standingsidebysideFollow me on Instagram 🥞:  @pa.pancakeIntroduction song by 🎤:  Justin Tweito Logo artwork 🎨:  Jillian Freeman

I call this a deconstruction podcast. But what is deconstruction? How do we define our own deconstruction? And what are the warning signs that we've gone too far? In this (kinda dense) episode, we'll take a look at the different types of deconstruction and where I fall. Listen on Apple 🎧:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-awkward-apocalypse/id1593069067Check out our ministry in Liberia 🌍:  standingsidebyside.orgDonate to our ministry in Liberia 🇱🇷:  Venmo - @standingsidebysideFollow me on Instagram 🥞:  @pa.pancakeIntroduction song by 🎤:  Justin Tweito Logo artwork 🎨:  Jillian Freeman

How does American Christianity reconcile being positive, encouraging, and family friendly when the Bible is so... not? In a world of sickness, sin, pain, and suffering, how do light-hearted, well-intentioned Christians help or hurt? Today, we'll take a look at the dangerous positivity that Christians often embody as they seek to address complicated problems with simple, forced happiness, and we'll look at the healthy positivity that the Bible encourages. Listen to my Spotify playlist, "Christian Music that's actually good":  https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1rQgRIdezUUF7NP7Mz4QEF?si=4GePPcqFREqSNk6r8-UZzACheck out our ministry in Liberia 🌍:  standingsidebyside.orgDonate to our ministry in Liberia 🇱🇷:  Venmo - @standingsidebysideFollow me on Instagram 🥞:  @pa.pancakeIntroduction song by 🎤:  Justin Tweito Logo artwork 🎨:  Jillian Freeman

Why do we exist? That's usually not a fun question, because most of us often assume that the answer is a hollow silence. Or maybe we think the answer is something vague like "to love" or "whatever makes you happy." But what about for the Christian? Is our purpose a prominent theme in Christian culture? In this episode, I'll do my best to answer those questions. 

I was raised in a culture of evangelism. Who have you shared the gospel with this week? Are you fearing man or fearing God? I've only recently confronted this guilt I've carried with me for so long. In this episode I'll examine what Christian culture taught us and present my reasons why I believe it was misguided. 

I don't think it's a stretch to say that we as a society (not just as the Church) are starving for community. Why? Is this a Christian problem or just an American problem? In this episode we'll look more closely at how both the American church and American culture contribute to the community crisis.