Voxology

Voxology (Formerly the Vox Podcast with Mike Erre) is a collection of voices that question and discuss our culture's most relevant topics in relation to Christ and Christianity. We talk LGBTQ, American and church politics, Christian culture's catastrophic marginalization of the very people Jesus implores us to love and so much more. If you have serious questions about the church's representation of Jesus, what he has done and the beauty of his work on earth today, join hosts Mike Erre and Tim Stafford and their guests to talk things out and find your way back to the true mission of Jesus.

Episodes

Mentioned books

Nov 21, 2016 • 59min

Reclaiming the Call to Peacemaking in a Post-Election America

How the church can resist political captivity and rediscover its core mission of peacemaking, reconciliation, and countercultural witness in a divided and fearful post-election landscape. In this cornerstone conversation between Mike Erre and Andy Bear, the spotlight turns to white evangelical support of Donald Trump, Christian identity in modern America, and how Jesus followers can truly live into their call as agents of peace—not partisanship. Taking a candid look at the tension between culture, faith, and politics in the aftermath of the 2016 presidential election, Mike and Andy break down where many evangelicals have misplaced their allegiance, and how the gospel calls for something radically different. They also unpack their controversial launch of the Voxology Patreon community, offering listeners new opportunities for deeper engagement, discipleship, and Bible-centered podcast series—beginning with the Book of Revelation. Key Takeaways: • Peacemaking vs. Peacekeeping – The difference between avoiding conflict and stepping into hard conversations with a redemptive posture. • Evangelical Identity Crisis – Why equating victory in politics with triumph for Christianity is a dangerous narrative, and how it distorts the view of Jesus for outsiders. • Post-Election Disillusionment – Exploring the real fears of marginalized and minority communities following Trump's election and the church's responsibility to stand with the oppressed. • Forming a Gospel-Centered Community – Updates on Voxology's new Patreon initiative, tiers, and what to expect from future content like an entire podcast series on the Book of Revelation. • Practicing Peace at the Table – How Thanksgiving dinners and family dialogue can become sacred opportunities for peacemaking, empathy, and real-world spiritual formation. Resources Mentioned: • Support Voxology on Patreon • More on Voxology's Mission and Podcasts • Daniel K. Williams – Historian on Evangelical Politics • Study on Canvassing and Reducing Bias Take this conversation further: What does real peacemaking look like in your everyday life? Whether around the family table or navigating tough conversations online, let us be the community that refuses to be divided by fear. Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify Join the conversation by emailing us at hello@voxpodcast.com and following us on Instagram @voxologypodcast & Facebook Watch full episodes and bonus content on VOXOLOGY TV Support the show and get exclusive merch at our Etsy Store Music by Timothy John Stafford | Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram. We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV. Our Merch Store! ETSY Learn more about the Voxology Podcast Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

Nov 10, 2016 • 45min

Seeking Peace in a Divided Nation: How Jesus Followers Can Respond After the 2016 Election

How can Jesus followers respond meaningfully and compassionately in the wake of a deeply polarizing presidential election? Mike Erre and Andy reflect on the day after the 2016 U.S. election—just hours after Donald Trump was elected president—to offer a timely pastoral conversation about what it means to be peacemakers when the nation feels fractured. With powerful insights grounded in the teachings of Jesus, they discuss how grief, empathy, repentance, and prophetic witness must shape our response as Christians, regardless of political allegiance. Key Takeaways: • Grieving With Those Who Grieve – Empathizing with marginalized communities who feel threatened post-election and choosing to listen without defensiveness. • The Peacemaker's Role – Asking how Jesus followers can rise above divisiveness and embody hope, humility, and justice in a politically charged environment. • Evangelical Identity in Crisis – Exploring the Church's alignment with political power and the witness it communicates to the watching world, especially among white evangelicals. • The Danger of Demonizing – Rejecting the "us vs. them" narrative by remembering our real enemy is not flesh and blood, but the powers that divide and distort love. • Practicing Political Discipleship – Calling all Christians to evaluate their allegiance: Are we reflecting American nationalism or the Kingdom of God in our public engagement? Resources Mentioned: • Matthew 5 – "Blessed are the peacemakers…" • Ephesians 6:12 – "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood…" • James 1:19 – "Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry." • St. Francis of Assisi's Prayer – A call to be instruments of peace. Join us in embracing the path of peacemaking and rediscovering what it means to be the Church in divided times. Subscribe, share your thoughts, and help us bring Jesus-shaped love and truth into America's cultural chaos. As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram. We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV Our Merch Store! ETSY Learn more about the Voxology Podcast Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram. We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV. Our Merch Store! ETSY Learn more about the Voxology Podcast Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

Nov 7, 2016 • 58min

Why I'm Still Here: Reimagining Church, Belonging, and Brokenness - w/ Izzy Ray (Why We're Leaving the Church Series, Part 3)

How the church can still be a place of healing, transformation, and deep belonging—even when it's broken. Part three of the "Why We're Leaving the Church" series dives deep into personal stories across generations, offering a raw and hopeful conversation on why many still choose to stay, participate, and even lead within the church despite its failures and contradictions. Mike Erre, Andy, and Izzy reflect on the struggles, disappointments, and transformative beauty of church life. From hypocritical leadership and personal trauma to unexpected healing through meaningful community, this episode explores how reimagining our expectations of church can lead to renewed engagement rather than abandonment. Key Takeaways: • Reframing Church Beyond Institutions – Following Jesus means belonging to his body, even if we walk away from institutional expressions of church. • The Healing Power of Authentic Community – Izzy shares her journey from spiritual burnout to renewed faith through genuine relationships and shared vulnerability. • Corporate Worship as Resistance and Formation – Worshiping together with diverse people disrupts individualism and reminds us we're not at the center of the story. • Admitting Complicity and Staying Present – Mike discusses how recognizing his own role in perpetuating unhealthy church patterns keeps him humble and committed to transformation from within. • Ordinary Faithfulness Over Flash and Production – The path forward isn't about escaping discomfort or imperfection but choosing depth, presence, and the messy, transformative work of relational community. Guest Highlights: • Izzy – A worship leader in her twenties who vulnerably shares her painful church experience and the surprising reasons she stays—including relational healing, meaningful worship, and the beautiful weirdness of spiritual family. • Andy – Unpacks his own journey out of and back into church life and the spiritual discipline of staying engaged in community despite disillusionment. Resources Mentioned: • Why People Are Leaving the Church (Article Series) • Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller • 1 Corinthians (Letter by Paul) – Specifically Paul's critique of the Corinthian church, reminding us the early church was messy too. • Ivan Illich Quote – "If you want to change society, then you must tell an alternative story." Share your story with us—why have you stayed? What keeps you coming back to the body of Christ? Email us at hello@voxpodcast.com. Let's reimagine together what it means to be the church. Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and follow us on social to join the journey. We're on YouTube: VOXOLOGY TV Our Merch Store: Etsy Learn more and listen to more episodes at Voxology Podcast Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/voxology Follow on Instagram: @voxologypodcast Like us on Facebook Follow Mike on Twitter: twitter.com/mikeerre Music by Timothy John Stafford Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram. We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV. Our Merch Store! ETSY Learn more about the Voxology Podcast Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

Oct 3, 2016 • 1h

Why the Church Feels Unloving: Rethinking Our Witness, Battles, and Belonging (Why We're Leaving the Church Series, Part 2)

How the church has lost its witness by prioritizing culture wars, misrepresenting love, and failing to embody the radical, self-giving love of Jesus — and why it matters. In this honest and provocative conversation, Mike Erre, Andy, and Izzy Ray dive deep into the next two points from the widely shared blog post "Dear Church, Here's Why People Are Leaving You," exploring the disconnect between the Church's messaging and Jesus' own heart for people. This is Part 2 of the "Dear Church" series. Whether it's choosing the wrong battles or wielding a love that doesn't feel like love, today's church often alienates the very people it's called to embrace. Through personal stories, scriptural reflection, and candid critique, the team wrestles with the call to embody agape love — a love that costs, sacrifices, and welcomes. Key Takeaways: • Choosing Better Battles – Why the Church often fights for trivial causes while staying silent on poverty, racism, and injustice — and how that undermines its mission. • Love as a Transformative Force – Redefining love as a costly, self-sacrificial act rooted in Jesus' example, not superficial niceness or moral correctness. • The Evangelism vs. Justice Divide – How our inherited Christianity has wrongly separated "saving souls" from addressing structural injustice, and why that needs to change. • The Church and the Margins – Recognizing that Jesus does His best work from the margins, not the center of power and influence — and why embracing marginalization may be crucial to rediscovering the Church's purpose. • Restoring Witness through Authenticity – How building real, honest, committed relationships — even with those who disagree — revives the credibility of our faith and witness. Resources Mentioned: • James 1:27 – "Pure religion" as caring for widows and orphans. • Dallas Willard – Teachings on joyful noncompliance and spiritual formation. • Ray Vander Laan – Cultural background of the Gospels. • Toxic Charity by Robert D. Lupton – A critique of unhelpful generosity. • When Helping Hurts by Brian Fikkert and Steve Corbett – How well-meaning aid can backfire. • The Insanity of God by Nik Ripken – Stories from the persecuted global church. • John 3:16 – A deeper reflection on divine love and mission. • Luke 6:27-36 – Jesus' call to love enemies and embody mercy. Join hosts Mike, Andy, and Izzy for a striking look at how the Church must return to love, humility, and justice to truly reflect the heart of Jesus in a hurting world. Call to Action: Help spread this conversation by subscribing, reviewing, and sharing the Voxology Podcast. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to keep up with the latest — and if any reflections or stories resonate with you, we'd love to hear from you. As always, listener feedback is deeply valued. Send your thoughts and questions to hello@voxpodcast.com or connect with us on social platforms. We're on YouTube: VOXOLOGY TV Our Merch Store: ETSY Learn more at voxologypodcast.com Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify Support us on Patreon Follow Mike on Twitter: @mikeerre Music by Timothy John Stafford & featured music by Izzy Ray – izziray.com Instagram & Twitter: @voxologypodcast | @GoneTimothy | @izziray As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram. We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV. Our Merch Store! ETSY Learn more about the Voxology Podcast Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

Sep 20, 2016 • 1h 1min

Why Millennials Are Leaving and Loving the Church: A Raw Conversation on Authenticity and Weakness (Why We're Leaving the Church Series, Part 1)

How can the church reclaim its prophetic voice and connect deeply in a generation disillusioned by performance, image, and control? That's the question Mike Erre, Andy, and special guest Izzy Ray tackle in this candid and heartfelt conversation. Prompted by John Pavlovitz's article "Dear Church, Here's Why People Are Really Leaving You," the trio explores what it means to be authentic in ecclesial spaces, challenge the production model of church gatherings, and create communities that honor real brokenness, humility, and beauty. This isn't a church-bashing episode—it's a love letter to the mission of Jesus and an invitation to witness how weakness might actually be the church's superpower. Key Takeaways: • Rejection of Performance-Based Church – Why young adults, like Izzy, are exhausted by overproduced experiences and long for authenticity instead of scripted perfection. • The Loss of Mystery – How rigid control and stage-managed services strip away the wonder and spirit-led surprise that gathering in Jesus's name should embody. • Weakness as Qualification – Revisiting Paul's declaration that "power is made perfect in weakness," and why church leaders may actually be most qualified to lead when limping. • Burnout in the Pulpit – The systemic failure of celebrity leadership models, why burnout is common, and what rest and restoration should actually look like. • Language That Connects – Replacing insider churchy language with meaningful, plain communication that resonates with real-life people. • Beyond the Building – Challenging the "come and consume" model of church and reimagining church gatherings as platforms for love, justice, and community outside the walls. Guest Highlight: Izzy Ray – Worship artist, pastor, and Vox community member representing the generational voice of an authentic hunger for Jesus. Izzy opens up about her lived experience with church culture, what she longs for in Christian gatherings, and why vulnerability and mystery matter more than polish and hype. Resources Mentioned: • Article: "Dear Church, Here's Why People Are Really Leaving You" by John Pavlovitz – johnpavlovitz.com • Book: Power, Weakness, and the Tabernacling of God by Marva J. Dawn – [Link] • Podcast: Vox Community podcast (for teachings + scripture series) – Vox Community on iTunes • Izzy Ray music – izzyray.com Join us as we embrace the beauty of the messy middle, where Jesus shows up not in sameness, but in brokenness, realness, and hope. Got thoughts or your own story about leaving or staying in church? Email us at hello@voxpodcast.com – we want to hear from you! Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help us keep reimagining Jesus's mission together. We're now on YouTube too – VOXOLOGY TV Vox Merch: ETSY SHOP Patreon: Support meaningful conversation – Patreon.com/voxology Follow on Instagram: @voxologypodcast Join the Vox Community on Facebook Music by Timothy John Stafford (also @GoneTimothy) and guest artist Izzy Ray As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram. We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV. Our Merch Store! ETSY Learn more about the Voxology Podcast Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

Sep 14, 2016 • 1h 1min

Fearless Faith in a Fear-Filled World: Challenging the Evangelical Embrace of Power

Exploring how a scared world needs a fearless church, Mike Erre takes a deep and unflinching look at the growing entanglement between American evangelicalism and political power in this episode of the Subversive Kingdom Series. Drawing from the controversial 2016 meeting between Donald Trump and prominent evangelical leaders, Mike questions what it means for Christians to align themselves with political figures out of fear rather than faith. Through sharp critique, biblical insight, and passionate reflection, Mike and Andy unravel how the church's call to represent Jesus contrasts radically with political partisanship and fear-based decision-making. Key Takeaways: • The Evangelical Infatuation with Political Power – How the church's alliance with political candidates reflects a loss of trust in Jesus's nonviolent, subversive way of transformation. • Fear as a Political Tool – A breakdown of how candidates prey on Christian fears—religious liberty, cultural decline, economy—and why fear should not drive our faith or our vote. • Reclaiming Kingdom Power – Distinguishing between brute force power and agape-based kingdom influence through wisdom, love, and example. • The Idol of Comfort and Security – Why Trump's appeal reveals the deeper idolatries within American evangelicalism and how repentance is a necessary response. • Jesus Over Partisanship – Why fidelity to Jesus means rejecting the binary "lesser of two evils" mindset and refusing to be a voting bloc used for political gain. Guest Highlights: Andy – Co-host and thoughtful dialogue partner, helping process the implications of fear-based leadership and challenging the audience to consider what it really means to be a fearless church. Resources Mentioned: • Romans 13 – Discussion on the church's relationship with governmental authority • Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5) – Exploration of what true kingdom power looks like through Jesus's teachings • The Beatitudes – Compared against the values embodied by modern political candidates • Subversive Kingdom by Mike Erre – [Link to Book/Website] • Charles de Foucauld (L'Arche Movement) – Reflections on authentic Christian community vs. issue-based identity Be part of the movement to reclaim a Jesus-centered, fearless faith rooted in sacrificial love, not political gain. Subscribe to Voxology, leave a review, and follow us on social media to continue engaging in these critical conversations. We'd love to hear from you—email questions to hello@voxpodcast.com and join the conversation on Facebook and Instagram. Watch us on YouTube: VOXOLOGY TV Check out our Merch Store: ETSY Learn more: voxologypodcast.com Subscribe: iTunes | Spotify Support the podcast: Patreon Explore our music: Timothy John Stafford Follow on IG & Twitter: @voxologypodcast | Mike: @mikeerre | @GoneTimothy Let's continue walking in Jesus's way of fearless love in a culture gripped by fear. As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram. We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV. Our Merch Store! ETSY Learn more about the Voxology Podcast Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

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