Theology on Mission

"To pursue liturgy for our own depths of formation and ignore the cultural engagement of those outside the faith is a luxury of Christendom." --Dave Fitch In this episode we discuss the "post-evangelical" turn towards liturgy and the great joy of celebrating Advent. We contend that Advent is for the formation of Christians and for the purposes of engaging those outside of liturgical traditions of the church. Check out Fitch's article here: https://www.missioalliance.org/advent-for-the-rest-of-us-avoiding-exclusion-welcoming-wonder/

Just in time! On the eve of the election Fitch and Moore describe a 'Third Way' approach to theology of church and culture. Some suggest a 'Third Way' approach is merely a position of privilege that too easily compromises and disengages. This episode corrects those fallacies and outlines how Third Way politics provides a different way of being with Jesus in the world. Show Notes: THIRD WAY POLITICS AND ITS FALLACIES Intro 1.) COMPROMISE? Third Way has often implied compromise- arriving at a solution to the conflict by way of the middle. Although I encourage listening and discerning in the middle of conflict, in no way do I suggest compromise. Instead, I suggest a conflict, when open to God’s presence and working, leads us into a future neither side could imagine within the existing frameworks they are working in – ‘a way beyond’. 2.) DISENGAGEMENT? Third Way has often implied dis-engagement. Although I often encourage refusing to engage a conflictual injustice in the world on the terms dictated by the world (antagonism), in no way does this imply disengagement. I advocate a different kind of engagement, through actual physical presence, resistance (getting in between) to the violence, questioning, speaking truth sincerely to power (parrhesia). In this way we stick a wrench into the machinery of injustice and open space for God to work. I call it the ‘way beyond.’ 3.) REFUSE TO TAKE SIDES? Third Way has often implied refusing to takes sides. Although I often encourage people not to take sides within an ideological antagonism, in ways that pour flames onto the same enemy making machine, in no way does this imply we do not take sides with the poor, the oppressed, and speaking out of these places against unjust policies and wicked powers. Too often when we rush to take a side in an existing conflict, we do not examine the framework which sustains the injustice, and even if we (think we) ‘win’ the contest for justice, if we stay within the same frame, we perpetrate more of the same injustice, power structures. I see this over and over again when it comes to sexuality, race, economic, injustices. I’m looking for a way that disrupts the existing frame and moves us to a way beyond. 4.) WITNESS ONLY? Third Way has often implied, when it comes to justice, that all we need to do is be the church in our local context. Although I strongly encourage that justice must take shape locally in a social body first, this is no way implies we do not engage injustices in the world actively. It is a fact (I conend) that only by modelling a different way of justice in a social body can a society be disrupted and have imagination for what God would do for His justice. But these local bodies ferment a revolution in a way no national politics ever could. This form of politics leads to ‘way beyond’ current political imaginations. 5.) BE HUMBLE AND LISTEN … and everything will turn out all right… actually this posture id different from/more than “give up and be nice”… it’s a presence, a opening space to ask questions, it is subtle disruptive

In this episode, Fitch and Moore explore critical theory and what is has to offer the church. The conversation follows Fitch's response to Tim Keller's article on biblical justice and covers an expanse of topics: race, sexuality, ideology, identity politics and more. Here is Fitch's recent article: https://www.christianitytoday.com/scot-mcknight/2020/august/critical-theory-tim-keller-and-david-fitch.html Here is the previous article:https://www.christianitytoday.com/scot-mcknight/2020/august/tim-keller-david-fitch-and-justice.html Tim Keller's article: https://quarterly.gospelinlife.com/a-biblical-critique-of-secular-justice-and-critical-theory/

Dave wrote an article at Christianity Today that responded to Tim Keller's recent piece on justice. In this podcast, Fitch and Moore explore how "justice" is up for grabs post-Christendom. They agree with Keller's assessment of the culture, but diverge when it comes to the issue of foundations and posture. (audio volume gets a little funky on Mike's mic during the podcast) Read the pieces below: https://www.christianitytoday.com/scot-mcknight/2020/august/tim-keller-david-fitch-and-justice.html https://quarterly.gospelinlife.com/a-biblical-critique-of-secular-justice-and-critical-theory/

Fitch and Moore look at the fundamentalism of evangelicalism in North America and how it has led to the backlash of progressive evangelicalism. They explore the backlashes to purity culture, penal substitutionary atonement, the inerrancy of Scripture, making a decision for Christ, and more. (One note: there is some reverb in Fitch's microphone)

This podcast starts pretty meta: two white men speaking about white men speaking. How should white men position themselves in leading the church? Fitch and Moore suggest the practice of silence, listening, and going to where you are invited, before speaking.

UPDATED: Greg Armstrong joins again to examine the evolution and ideology of the word "racist." The word "racist" has changed from meaning prejudice to including the unconscious systems of white supremacy. Now, drawing from the work of John McWhorter's, we see the third wave that equates the word "racist" equated with subjective feelings. What does this mean for the church as we try to unwind the antagonisms rife in this cultural moment? Here is McWhorter's article:  https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/07/racism-concept-change/594526/

How do we make sense of the protests and riots that have erupted after the murder of George Floyd. Greg Armstrong, Director of Admissions at Northern and pastor of Renew Church (Lombard, IL) joins Mike and Dave as they discuss the church's response to and participation in public demonstrations.

Over the last month, a little theological scuffle has emerged regarding what the "gospel" means. Reformed pastor, Greg Gilbert, criticized Scot Mcknight and Matthew Bates formulations of a "kingship gospel." You can see the articles and conversation below in the links. Here is where Theology on Mission jumps in. What are the social implications of how we define the gospel? How does our atonement influence our posture and practice in the world? Essentially, what difference does the gospel make? Fitch and Moore give a quick review of this theological conversation and explore how our soteriology integrates with the social reality of the church. Greg Gilbert's Sermon: https://www.9marks.org/article/a-t4g-2020-sermon-what-is-and-isnt-the-gospel/ Scot McKnight's Response: https://www.christianitytoday.com/scot-mcknight/2020/april/king-jesus-gospel-mere-kingship-no.html Matthew Bate's Response: https://www.christianitytoday.com/scot-mcknight/2020/april/good-news-are-t4g-tgc-leaders-starting-to-change-their-gosp.html

Is video killing the church? This week we invite Geoff Holsclaw on the podcast to discuss church growth in the era of video church. Should we be concerned about falling into attractional modes of worship with the increase of online Sunday worship? Holsclaw critiques missiologists who 1) see this as a church growth moment 2) who see this as setting the church back decades. Rather, he proposes this moment will reveal the church for what it is. These articles provide the backdrop to our conversation. Carey Nieuwhof: https://careynieuwhof.com/half-of-all-churches-are-instantly-growing-heres-why-and-heres-what-to-do/ Michael Frost: https://mikefrost.net/coronavirus-could-set-the-church-back-25-years/