Voxology

How the example of Jesus offers a radical blueprint for engaging LGBTQ+ questions and moral debates with transformative grace and humility before judgment. Drawing from Luke 6, Deuteronomy 21, and Paul's letters, Mike Erre and Andy Lara unpack why the church has often missed the mark by prioritizing correction over compassion—and how we can do better. Key Takeaways: • Judging Others vs. Discernment – Mike explains the crucial difference between crino (righteous discernment) and condemnation, and how misunderstanding this distinction leads Christians to misrepresent Jesus. • Jesus and the Gay Wedding Question – Diving into the controversy surrounding Jesus' potential attendance at a gay wedding, Mike illustrates how Jesus' presence at celebratory, public meals with "sinners" was perceived as endorsement—and why His model challenges the church's current postures. • Mercy as the Core of Discipleship – Why Jesus said "be merciful as your Father is merciful" instead of "be holy" as the primary command and what that tells us about wielding truth with love. • Why Grace is Transformative – Real gospel grace changes people—and Mike argues that grace shown scandalously, even before "truth is spoken," creates the conditions for repentance and transformation. • Paul's Take on Judgment – Andy sets up a discussion on Paul's rules for judgment within the church, and Mike outlines how discernment belongs in close-knit faith communities among believers—not lobbed at the wider culture or the LGBTQ+ community. • Personal Reflections on Sin and Separation – Mike shares personal examples of when avoiding certain contexts is warranted, and when extending grace in hard spaces is truly Christlike. Resources Mentioned: • Luke 6 – Jesus' radical teaching on mercy and judgment • Deuteronomy 21:18–21 – Comparison to Jesus being called a glutton and drunkard • Galatians 6:1 – Restoring others gently • 1 Corinthians 5 – Paul's instruction on judging within the church • Subversivekingdom.com – Mike Erre's platform for deeper engagement Join us in creating a culture where grace precedes judgment and love leads the way. Subscribe, leave a review, and keep the dialogue moving forward on Instagram and Facebook. As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue truth in love. Send your thoughts to hello@voxpodcast.com. Watch us on YouTube: VOXOLOGY TV Grab some fresh Voxology gear here: ETSY SHOP Learn more at voxologypodcast.com Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify Support the show via Patreon Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook Follow Mike on Twitter: www.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

How do we walk with people through pain when words fail and comfort clichés do more harm than good? In part two of our conversation with friend and author Bonnie Lewis, the Voxology crew explores a practical theology of grief, suffering, and lament during the holiday season—a time when joy is expected but heaviness looms for so many. From horror stories of well-meaning but damaging responses, to the power of simply being present, this episode offers clarity, compassion, and biblical insight for navigating dark seasons with honesty and hope. Key Takeaways: • Cracking the Code of Christian Clichés – Why sayings like "God won't give you more than you can handle" and "everything happens for a reason" miss the mark and how they hurt more than help. • A Biblical Case for Lament – Exploring Psalms of disorientation and the theological power of grieving as a form of covenant faithfulness. • Sitting in the Silence – How Jewish grieving practices like sitting Shiva offer a counter-cultural model for communal empathy and presence. • How to Actually Help – Concrete, compassionate ways to support someone in grief without fixing, comparing, or rushing the healing process. • Jesus Wept—So Can We – What the shortest verse in the Bible teaches us about mourning even when the resurrection is on its way. Guest Highlights: Bonnie Lewis – Writer, theologian, and new host of the Find the Blue podcast, Bonnie shares from her lived experience of loss and faith, offering heartfelt wisdom and practical encouragement for anyone walking through or walking with others in grief. Resources Mentioned: • Bonnie Lewis's Podcast – Find the Blue • Book: Astonished: Recapturing the Wonder of Jesus by Mike Erre • Dallas Willard's Writings on Joy and Resistance • Walter Brueggemann's Typology of Psalms • Jewish Practice of Sitting Shiva – Learn More • Voxology Non-ference Updates – [Link] Reimagine what healing, community, and theological honesty can look like. Join us in un-learning harmful habits, reclaiming the biblical beauty of lament, and offering something deeper than thoughts and prayers. Share your experience with grief, hope, or questions by emailing hello@voxpodcast.com, or join the conversation on our social media platforms. Watch on VOXOLOGY TV on YouTube Shop Voxology Merch on Etsy Learn more at voxologypodcast.com Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify Support the podcast on Patreon Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast Like us on Facebook Follow Mike on Twitter: @mikeerre Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford (@GoneTimothy on Instagram & Twitter) 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

Re-examining what it means to represent Jesus in a world divided by religion, politics, and identity, Mike and Andy explore Luke 5 and challenge Christians to re-center their faith through grace before truth. This episode grapples with the scandal of Jesus' table fellowship—specifically his choice to associate with "sinners"—and unpacks how modern believers can extend radical grace to LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and anyone traditionally excluded by religious communities. The discussion also takes a deeply personal turn as both hosts share the profound impact of raising children with Down syndrome. They offer their families' stories as prophetic reminders that human value cannot be measured by productivity or conformance but by intrinsic worth grounded in the image of God. Key Takeaways: • Grace Leads the Way – Why Jesus always fronted grace before truth and how American Christians have reversed this order to damaging effect. • The Radical Table of Jesus – How Jesus used meals to demonstrate inclusion, subvert purity codes, and disrupt the Pharisaic approach to holiness. • Pharisees vs. Jesus – Unpacking the four ways Jewish sects responded to Roman oppression, and why Jesus' method of association was considered dangerous. • Loving Without Footnotes – How the church's obsession with background checks, moral vetting, and double standards weakens its witness to a hurting world. • Affirming the Prophetic Voice of People with Disabilities – Mike and Andy share about their children with Down syndrome and how they reflect a deeper call to human dignity and resistance against societal pressure to conform or produce. Guest Highlights: Andy Lara – In addition to being Mike's co-host, Andy recounts the viral adoption of his daughter Sunflower May and talks openly about the journey of welcoming a child with Down syndrome into his family. He offers a beautiful vision of seeing these children as disarming agents of joy and transformation. Resources Mentioned: • Sunny's Adoption Story – youtube.com/sunnyfundays • Scripture References – Luke 5, Leviticus 11, Exodus 19, Matthew 9, Luke 19 • Roeh Summit's song "Giant" – roehsummit.com/shop Join the Voxology community in challenging religious norms and rediscovering the subversive power of Jesus' hospitality. Subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share this episode to help us spread the message of grace without footnotes. We'd love to hear your story and questions—email us at hello@voxpodcast.com and engage with us on Facebook and Instagram. Watch full episodes on VOXOLOGY TV Check out our merch store: ETSY Support the show on Patreon Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify Follow us on social: Instagram: @voxologypodcast Facebook: Voxology Podcast Twitter: @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

How learning to grieve and lament can deepen our faith, not destroy it. Mike Erre sits down with special guest Bonnie Lewis to explore why lament is so often missing from Christian spaces, and how embracing it can transform both our understanding of God and our healing from trauma. Sharing her gripping story of personal loss, chronic illness, and spiritual reconstruction, Bonnie walks us through the messy reality of questioning God, confronting shame, and learning to carry grief without letting it define us. This episode is a tender, honest reflection on loss, faith, depression, and rediscovering Jesus in the most difficult seasons of life. Key Takeaways: • The Missing Voice of Lament in Evangelical Culture – Why many churches bypass pain and grief, and how this avoidance perpetuates shame and spiritual isolation. • Grieving Doesn't Mean Doubting – Understanding that sorrow, doubt, and faith can coexist—and how the Psalms model holy protest and intimacy with God through pain. • Redefining Strength and Healing – How Bonnie and her family chose to move toward wholeness by making countercultural decisions in the wake of loss and chronic illness. • Orientation, Disorientation, Reorientation – Mike and Bonnie draw on the typology of Walter Brueggemann to explore how disruption in our lives can deepen our theology and strip away false formulas. • Learning to Carry Grief, Not Escape It – Why the Christian life isn't about avoiding suffering, but learning to walk through it with empathy, honesty, and hope. Guest Highlights: Bonnie Lewis – Speaker, writer, and founder of "Find the Blue." With a degree in theology and specialization in spiritual formation, Bonnie shares her deeply personal journey through mold poisoning, debilitating chronic pain, and the stillbirth of her second child—and how that suffering challenged and reshaped her understanding of God, grace, and courage. Resources Mentioned: • Find the Blue with Bonnie Lewis – Follow on Facebook and look for her upcoming podcast and website! • Walter Brueggemann's Psalms Typology – Orientation, Disorientation, Reorientation framework • John 11: Jesus Wept – Scriptural foundation for the practice of lament • Lamentations, Habakkuk, and the Psalms – Biblical books that model honest grief and spiritual wrestling • Romans 8:28 in Context – Exploring what "the good" truly means in suffering Let's stop pretending and start showing up for one another in the places of heartbreak and disappointment. Subscribe to the Voxology podcast, leave us a review, and follow us on social media to continue the conversation as we seek the voice of Jesus in all things. As always, we encourage discussion as we journey together toward truth. Email questions to hello@voxpodcast.com and connect with us on Facebook and Instagram. Watch us on YouTube: VOXOLOGY TV Shop our Merch: VOXOLOGY on Etsy Learn more at VoxologyPodcast.com Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify Support the show on Patreon Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast Like us on Facebook Follow Mike on Twitter: @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

How do we carry truth and love in today's complex conversations around sexuality, identity, and faith? This episode explores one of the most sacred cows in the modern church: how Jesus might engage with both affirming and non-affirming sides of LGBTQ+ conversations, while staying rooted in his Jewish context and countercultural message of surrender and grace. With raw honesty and biblical depth, Mike and Andy wade through questions from the Vox Mailbag on everything from Christmas decorations and the "war on Starbucks cups" to the deep waters of sexual ethics, divine identity, and church leadership. Featuring a guest appearance by JJ Carroll (and his mustache), this wide-ranging conversation unpacks how Christians should think about desire, orientation, ministry qualifications, and being disciples in a pluralistic democracy. Key Takeaways: • Embracing Jesus's Jewish Context – Jesus didn't appear in a vacuum. His cultural context informs how he would likely have engaged sexual ethics. • Challenging All Sides with Grace – Jesus calls both affirming and non-affirming believers to repentance, humility, and the worship of God over desire. • Worship and Sexuality – Our culture's elevation of sex as a marker of identity and fulfillment is idolized—Jesus invites us to a greater identity. • Desire vs. Surrender – Jesus doesn't call us to unfiltered authenticity but to joyful surrender, denying ourselves and finding life in him. • Leadership and the Heart – Church leadership isn't about perfection or sexual orientation, but about humility, repentance, and a heart that seeks Jesus. • Four Hats of Christian Life – How we speak and act on LGBTQ+ questions depends on whether we're being disciples, pastors, reconcilers, or citizens. • Vox's Statement on Gay Marriage – Mike reads the working draft of Vox's public posture on sexuality that affirms both a high view of Scripture and an unwavering commitment to loving our LGBTQ+ neighbors. Resources Mentioned: • Vox Statement on Marriage and Sexuality – Subversive Kingdom • 2 Corinthians 5 – The ministry of reconciliation • Matthew 19 – Jesus on divorce and interpretation of Torah • Genesis 1–2 – Foundations of sexual ethics in creation • The Church's Approach to LGBTQ+ Inclusion – Pastoral reflections Call to Action: Join us in rethinking what it means to follow Jesus with compassion, conviction, and courage. Subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and let us know how you're navigating these topics in your own community. As always, we encourage and welcome discussion as we pursue the way of Jesus together. Email us your thoughts at hello@voxpodcast.com, and engage in the conversation on Facebook and Instagram. We're on YouTube: VOXOLOGY TV Our Merch Store: ETSY Learn more at voxologypodcast.com Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify Support the podcast via Patreon Voxology Music by Timothy John Stafford Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook Follow Mike on Twitter: @mikeerre 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