Prone to Wander: A Presbyterian Podcast

Is the opposite of kind, compassionate and loving actually nice, polite and inoffensive? We need stouthearted men (and women) who are unashamed of the Gospel of Christ.Referenced in the Episode:Allie Beth Stuckey interviews David French

Is 95% agreement on an issue enough to belong? Or is that 5% always a dealbreaker? Can you engage with differences with curiosity, constructive debate, and genuine respect? Do we even take the time? Is a lot of tribalism and cancel culture directly related to simply not taking the time to sit and talk with each other, slowly, organically?

If you're Protestant, a woman is supposed to get married. If you're Catholic or Orthodox, a woman can get married or become a nun. The Bible also offered polygamy as an option, one the Mormons famously adopted in their need to care for a large number of widows and orphans, but that is frowned up today. So women are often pressured to marry men that won't be good husbands, or ostracized as a threat. What are the answers offered to the whole generation of women who either through circumstances or cultural pressure find themselves sing and childless in middle age? This an episode with a lot of questions and no answers...Referenced in the Episode:A House Full of Females: Plural Marriage and Women's Rights in Early Mormonism, 1835-1870 by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

Finding contentment in being ordered under God should be our aim, but there are many households we find ourselves in, both literal and spiritual. Whether we find joy and purpose is using God's blessings in the hierarchies we find ourselves in our choice!Referenced in the Episode:Slave: The Hidden Truth About Your Identity in Christ by John MacArthur

Honesty, integrity and courage are the foundation built by our faith in God, and men are intrinsically called to be honest and brave by nature. So how do we deal with men who are dishonest and cowardly? Maybe by having faith in God, and valuing and appreciating the many brave and honest men in our lives.

There are themes in the Bible, and one is finding a bride at the well. Today we look at three very different stories of brides finding their bridegroom by the well.Referenced in the Episode:Bright Hearth: The Woman As Helper And Why Everyone Is Trying to Steal Her Help

How does a woman navigate the concept of submission before marriage? Is it appropriate to offer Proverbs 31 service and submission to a man who will not demonstrate a willingness to openly claim her, protect her, and provide for her? We look at the messy lives of single women in the Bible, and find more questions than answers.Referenced in this Episode:Men Commit Differently From WomenMen Marry Women Who Are Already Being Their Wives

Proverbs 18:1 warns us against isolation, and community requires courage.

Scripture is full of supporting characters that don't drive the grand narrative of Redemption, but God treats them with love and care. If you are isolated, elderly, single, or in some way feel like a supporting character in other people's lives, recognize God is offering you a path to humility, love and service. You're not alone. God sees, hears, and cares for you.

Are women called to submit to their husband in the Old Testament? And why is Hagar called to submit to Sarah's abuse?

Alison Armstrong has interesting things to say about male and female identity. Is it reflected in Scripture? What do the stories of Rahab, Esther, Caleb, Ruth, Abraham, Dinah and Uriah tell us about identity in the Bible? How does Genesis portray the sense of self of Adam and Eve?Referenced in the Episode:Alison Armstrong's WebsiteModern Wisdom interview with Alison Armstrong

Are women called to tolerate their husbands? Put up with them? Is submit really the best translation of the Greek into English to convey our relationship to God, and to our husbands? I think there's a better way to illustrate this...Referenced in the Episode:How To Treat Men Better - Modern Wisdom interview with Alison Armstrong

What does submission actually mean? We look at two women who readily accepted what God asked of them, even when it was a devastating challenge to even consider. Too often we are ready with a "No" before God even speaks to us. How would our lives be different if we were ready with a "Yes"?Referenced in the Episode:Christ & Your Problems by Jay E. Adams

Are you accountable for your actions or do you rely on cheap grace? Accountability requires courage, as demonstrated by Christ himself.Referenced in the Episode:Hebrew word "HAYIL" in Scripture: https://biblehub.com/hebrew/chayil_2428.htmAlison Armstrong Books:The Queen's CodeMaking Sense of MenUnderstanding WomenThe Amazing Development of MenCelebrating PartnershipDavid Edgington Books:White Knights and Reviling WivesThe Abusive Wife

Are you open to correction by others? Are you willing to be held accountable for your behavior? I'm not, and that is a huge problem. What's the answer? Maybe taking the book of Proverbs to heart.

Are we meant to live lives of ease and comfort? Are we meant to go through life numb and comfortable until we die? Are we supposed to be nice and gentle and never offend anyone? Scripture says no. We are to be alive, active, doing hard things, teaching difficult things, and not focused on our own comfort. We are not to embrace a numb, painless existence, but to pick up our cross and follow Christ.

We love to cherry pick Scripture, plucking it out of context, to fit our own ideas. Whether women can preach or teach is pretty clear in Scripture, but a bigger question is this: is preaching all that pastors do? Did the Reformation get the role of pastor/priest/elder/bishop wrong?

Why does Scripture constantly call us to gratitude? To remember God and all he has done for us? Why is the Eucharist (communion) a "thanksgiving" that we receive rather than give? Because the opposite of thankfulness is contempt, disdain, scoffing, ridicule, mockery, arrogance, and insecurity. Over and over Scripture warns us against this attitude of ingratitude that isolates us from both God and our fellow man. You cannot receive the blessings of God if you're looking down your nose at them.Referenced: Polyeleos: Traditional Hymn of Thanksgiving based on Psalm 135

Are you ready to let go of your sin? Maybe you feel like you've rejected feminism and you value men, but your relationships are still full of tension, stress, miscommunication, and fighting? Maybe it is time to lay down your sword, the one you are swinging all while crying out for peace?Referenced in the Episode:Alison Armstrong's WebsiteThe Queen's Code by Alison ArmstrongLila Rose's Interview with Alison Armstrong

Do you realize that Abraham had 8 sons, and the blessings belong to the descendants of all of them? In this episode we explore the cruelty of the beautiful Sarah, and the obedience of the enslaved Hagar, whose suffering was acknowledged by a loving God.Referenced in this episode:Hillsdale College free course on Genesis by Prof. Justin JacksonRobert Alter's translation and commentary on the Hebrew BibleGalatians 3:14-29

Paul was both a Jew and a Roman citizen from birth who spent a lot of effort to spread Christianity among ethnically diverse populations. What does that tell us about ancient immigration issues? What does that tell us about modern immigration issues? Is war, natural disaster, or disease the only way an ethnic group disappears? And what does that mean for preserving our faith and our religious culture?Referenced in the episode:Ancient Rome: A genetic crossroads of Europe and the Mediterranean | ScienceCivitas | Origins, Government & Decline | Britannica

Alison Armstrong blew my mind and completely shifted how I think about men and women, leaving me deeply convicted of my own sin. This Christian journey is one of continual unfolding revelation of our own brokenness and incompleteness, that drives us towards greater love, understanding, and joy.Referenced in the Episode:Alison Armstrong's websiteLila Rose interviews Alison Armstrong: The Biggest Mistakes Women Make With Men (That Pushes Them Away)Alison Armstrong's YouTube ChannelLove & Respect: The Love She Most Desires; The Respect He Desperately Needs by Emerson Eggerichs

From Erika Kirk to Taylor Swift, there seems to be a resurgence of celebrating strong, confident, protective and compassionate men. A departure from the view of men as inept, stupid buffoons not worthy of respect that has reigned since the 90's, we're seeing a sea change in the culture away from cynicism and contempt to admiration of healthy masculinity. We look at the connection between softness and strength, and discuss how respect for men leads to respect for women. How can we be strong enough to be a soft space for each other in our relationships?

We need a healthy way to discuss sin. Rejecting someone for a sinful part or gorging on lurid details of a sinful past are two sides of the same extremely unhealthy coin. Referenced In The Episode:Tucker Carlson on the Demonic Aspect of AI

No reasonable Christian believes that if you behave a certain way and pray hard enough God will give you a BMW. So why do we tell women that if they do that God will change their spouse?

Proverbs 31 is often used as a measure for women, but it actually tells us a lot about what God expects from men. We look at the scripture from the perspective of what it can tells us about men and what the role, actions, and character of a husband should be. Charlie and Erika Kirk's marriage is a great example of an appropriate, loving, patriarchal and Biblical marriage. We also briefly discuss Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, Lana Del Ray, and Christine Wooley Brown in considering what healthy hypergamous marriage actually looks like.

We have to look at God, Scripture, and humanity as a whole, not just focus on the parts we like and dismiss everything that makes us uncomfortable. In attempting to do that we also learn how to love the whole person that God has put in front of us, the good and the bad. This is the Great Commandment.Referenced in the episode:God: An Anatomy by Francesca Stavrakopoulou https://a.co/d/5v1H2Ye

After talking about holding authority without taking responsibility, today we look at the opposite: holding responsibility without authority. Paul worked tirelessly and his fruits were good, but he still had to defend himself because his authority to do the work he was doing wasn't always recognized. Perhaps because of this, he was generous in delegating authority to others (or recognizing their existing authority) who were also doing good work in Christ's family. 2 Corinthians 11

Unless it's in an official professionalized setting, often divorced from any practical use, we often demean, dismiss, and denigrate the very female virtue of sustaining life as depicted in Proverbs 31. Yet Christ repeatedly valued sustaining life over sanitized, intellectualized professionalism.Referenced in the Episode:A Border Passage: From Cairo to America - A Woman's Journey by Leila Ahmed https://a.co/d/hf8ZB0sWycliffe Bible with Modern Spelling https://www.bible.com/bible/2407/PRO.31.WBMS

In considering a man who is exercising authority without responsibility, Christ charges him to take up his own bed and carry it home. How often do we want to wield power over others without taking responsibility for the care of those who serve us?Referenced in this episode:God's Ghostwriters: Enslaved Christians and the Making of the Bible by Candida Moss https://a.co/d/gu22IBJ

God challenges us to take risks, mostly in being faithful to him, but also in defying the dominant culture in in being vulnerable enough to build connection. Are you willing to take the risk of rejection for a church community? For friendship? For family? For love?Referenced In The Episode:Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes: Removing Cultural Blinders to Better Understand the Bible by E. Randolph Richards and Brandon J. O'Brien https://a.co/d/ggJ8nVwTudor Monastery Farm https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B08R6VP8GD/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r

With the passing of Pope Francis the film Conclave is getting renewed attention, and controversy. But the film beautifully expresses the Scriptural view of women and God's radical, transformative love. Referenced in the episode:Conclave - starring Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini https://www.amazon.com/Conclave-Edward-Berger/dp/B0DLKMHW18Bart Ehrman discusses Paul's views of women https://youtu.be/M6gXzBrrreM?si=NdvgkMVMhKh_l79Z.

"The line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either -- but right through every human heart." - Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

What brings happiness, success, and health to men? Scripture and science give us the same answer.Referenced in the episode:Mother, Daughter, Queen & Priestess in Ancient Egypt https://youtu.be/L0ZZAsBzUvQ?si=n5__pgGNJOAPGB-2Jordan Peterson on Megyn Kelly 's podcast https://youtu.be/7nL79J-3hgI?si=CoCJvkp3IQLpuoUt

Genesis 2 tells us that men and women were created to be friends, companions, to help each other feel less alone. So why do so many religious cultures treat friendship between men and women as inappropriate? Referenced in the episode:Palace Walk by Naguib Mahfouz https://a.co/d/4VRDsLUVideo on Women in Ancient Egypt: https://youtu.be/l7y7glgLbhU?si=CaJ7NFlIo0I5B0cI

The Israelites were not totally immune from the plagues God rained down on Egypt. Why? Sometimes we become so comfortable in the familiarity of our misery that it takes an act of God for us to choose to follow God into a better life.Referenced in the episode:Counted With The Stars by Connilyn Cossette https://a.co/d/cPIDATLThe Buried: An Archeology of the Egyptian Revolution by Peter Hessler https://a.co/d/6n15xGN

Was the Garden of Eden suffocating? Is God all we need? What was the original sin? Are walls good for us?Referenced in the episode:The Cost of Control: Why We Crave It, the Anxiety It Gives Us, and the Real Power God Promises by Sharon Hodde Miller ⁠https://a.co/d/c4YaEvG⁠ The Rational Bible: Genesis by Dennis Prager ⁠https://a.co/d/8uwSo3q

After 300 years, are you a foreigner or a native? Today we consider the possibility that the Israelites in Exodus were culturally, practically, and in some cases ethnically, Egyptian.

Want to know about real love? Ask the prostitute! In this very long episode we honor the story of Rahab, and discuss what real love between a man and a woman looks like in Scripture.

There is never the perfect time. The perfect situation, the perfect person, the perfect congregation... doesn't exist. How do we connect in the present moment, just as we are, with others, just as they are, to create a loving community? We cannot become gatekeepers of the Kingdom of God, nor can we as a community revolve around one person's specific needs. How does Christ show us that balance?

Jacob, Jacob, Jacob.... but maybe Esau is really the star of the story. This hairy, primitive, macho man with the heart of gold is one of my favorite characters in the Bible. He receives the blessing of being content and valuing loving relationships above all else.

Romance in the Bible? While the Bible gives us lots of examples of difficult relationships and relationships of steadfastness, all the examples of grand romantic passion like we see in romcoms or romance novels are treated as dangerous and unhealthy in Scripture. Real love is a quieter, steadier creature that doesn't depend on our emotional state. Yes, love is patient, love is kind.

Shared sacrifice and struggle builds family and community. Lent is not a time for Christians to approach faith as a solo project, but to deeply invest in community. My favorite hymn, that traditionally isn't sung during Lent, so I'm binging it right now: https://youtu.be/d0nqhXi-sXU?si=pM46P-iPV3puNnP4

The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob wandered the desert with the people who worshipped him. Then David and Solomon decided he needed to stop wandering and live in a house. It transformed Judaism, and had a profound impact on Christianity and Islam. How often today do we put God's house before God's people? Referenced in the episode: Paul: The Pagan's Apostle by Paula Fredriksen https://a.co/d/0ESPfAZ The Herods: Murder, Politics and the Art of Succession by Bruce Chilton https://a.co/d/1nq3zut Jerusalem: The Biography by Simon Sebag Montefiore https://a.co/d/hnDEyBA

All translators make choices but sometimes those choices can hide something shocking and revelatory in the Gospel. We explore how one translation choice changes a teaching of Christ, look at the cultural and historical context of that teaching, and discuss how it still has a profound impact on us today. Referenced in the episode: God's Ghostwriters by Candida Moss https://a.co/d/hDdwLK0 Paul Behaving Badly by E. Randolph Richards and Brandon J. O'Brien https://a.co/d/aQta2jK

The story of Tamar and Judah seems like an odd detour in the exciting story of Joseph, but really it's a marvelous revelation of God's revolutionary love. Resources: Vindicating the Vixens by Sandra Glahn https://a.co/d/6nr5cDz Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes by E. Randolh Richards and Brandon J. O'Brien https://a.co/d/2BYIfiE