Mere Fidelity

Every generation faces the temptation to wander from orthodoxy and to drift with cultural currents. So every generation must be awakened again to the thrill of orthodoxy, and experience the astonishment that comes from stumbling afresh upon the electrifying paradoxes at the heart of the Christian faith. Trevin Wax wants to turn the tables on those who believe Christian teaching is narrow and outdated. In this episode, he joins Matt and Alastair to discuss how he accomplishes this in his new book, The Thrill of Orthodoxy. Until November 7, save 30% on this title (either hard copy or eBook) and get free shipping when you order it from ivpress.com with the code MERE22. Timestamps: Who Blogged First [1:23] Confidence in the Beauty of Truth [3:57] How Orthodoxy Functions [5:47] Jadedness & Disillusionment [8:34] Offensive & Defensive Orthodoxy [18:10] Full-orbed Vision [26:03] Worship [30:12] Baptism [35:16] When the Thrill Is Gone [40:39] Communal Thrill [47:38] Find all mentioned resources linked at merefidelity.com

When one advocates for good practices that are quite old and abandoned, these things that have been forgotten can seem new and radical. Peter Leithart returns to Mere Fidelity to discuss the vision and principles of the Theopolis Institute, especially as written in his new book, On Earth as in Heaven. The book is large but it reads well as a manifesto of how the church and the Bible are related in liturgy. Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com. Timestamps: Theopolis Principles [1:44] Bible and Church [8:01] Wanting More than Liturgical Renewal [20:52] Fundamentals [29:41] Competing Visions [32:09] Protestant Catholicity [40:59] Practical Steps [49:25]

For generations of evangelicals lacking good catechesis, Martin Luther is often seen as a primitive, unsophisticated, or backwards reformer. Into this negative environment, Dr. Todd Hains is bringing forth the richness of Luther’s thought and Lutheranism’s tradition. There is so much more than just justification by faith. Alastair and Matt discuss with Dr. Hains his latest book, and they get at the central question: What does it mean to interpret Scripture with Scripture? Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com. Timestamps: The OG Reformer [2:06] Reading Scripture with Luther [10:55] Christian Pedagogy [17:40] Catholic Luther [25:52] Catechesis from Scripture [30:33] Gimme the Lutheran Pitch [39:48] Practical Advice for Churches [48:39]

What counts as doing God’s mission? How do we measure the success of Christian mission? It’s very tempting to turn it into a numbers game, or to rely on our own strategies. But Dr. Michael Niebauer has written the Mere Fidelity Book of the Month about this very topic. Matt and Alastair examine with him this very crucial aspect of our Christian life. Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com.

In light of the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the two British and one Canadian member of the Mere Fidelity cast & crew ruminate upon the peculiarities, virtues, weaknesses, generalities, and specificities of the institution of the British monarchy. Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com.

What are the limits of introspection as a Christian discipline? Is introspection advocated in Scripture? When you listen in silence to the voice inside you, is there a danger in paying attention to it? Alastair, Derek, and Matt take up these questions and more. Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com.

The Bible has some tricky passages. Occasionally here on Mere Fidelity the crew likes to pick one of these up and try to unravel it. On the discussion table today: How do we reconcile clear laws and murky narratives? For instance, it seems that the commandments against lying are absolute, and yet in Exodus 1, God blesses the Hebrew midwives for their deception. Let’s dive in with Matt, Alastair, and Derek. Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com.

Is it licit for Christians to be anonymous on the internet? What role could anonymity play in evangelism? Should you tell your pastor about your secret accounts? And is Twitter the only problem? Andrew, Alastair, and Matt (n.b., not anonymous) discuss. Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com.

What exactly does it mean for God to “vindicate,” “sanctify,” or “glorify” His name? Derek has been giving this question a lot of systematic theology thought. Alastair and Matt join him in this intellectual workout, starting with the Lord’s Prayer and proceeding through Athanasius, Aquinas, honor culture, and our own times. Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com.

In a perfect, though not fully intentional, follow-up to the conversation in the previous episode about Conservative Nationalism, Dr. Paul Miller joins Matt and Alastair to discuss his critique of Christian Nationalism as laid out in his new book The Religion of American Greatness. The big question: What is the Biblical model of the relation between church and state? The next question: Are Baptists part of the problem or solution? Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com.

What hath Enlightenment Liberalism wrought? According to Dr. Yoram Hazony, chairman of the Edmund Burke Foundation, it has led us to the place we are today where Neo-Marxism is ascendant and we cannot conceive a higher good than consent. What’s the alternative? National Conservatism. Listen to this lively conversation with Derek, Alastair, Matt, and Dr. Hazony. Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com.

There’s been a divorce between the disciplines of Biblical Studies and Systematic Theology. Representing both of those disciplines, Dr. Bobby Jamieson and Dr. Tyler Wittman authored a book that bridges the divide and shows explores how the principles of each enriches the understanding of the other. Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com.

Does the philosophical knowledge of God known as Classical Theism enrich our reading of Scripture? Or does it get in the way? Derek and Alastair have a conversation with Dr. Steve Duby about the retrieval of Classical Theism and its interaction with good Christology. Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com.

What has six thumbs and doesn’t understand that passage where Jesus says blasphemy against the Holy Spirit won’t be forgiven? The hosts of this podcast, that’s who. Let’s talk about it. Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com.

When James Wood wrote about the drawbacks of certain strategies for Christians to transcend the political divide without compromising evangelism, he didn’t expect it to spark such a contentious discourse. Never afraid of controversy, Matt, Derek, and Alastair dive into the conversation with him, seeking to understand the best way to deal with political disagreements as Christians. NOTE: Because of the nature of the conversation, this episode mentions our good friend Tim Keller quite frequently. Please pray for Tim and his family in the midst of his ongoing health struggles (see: https://twitter.com/timkellernyc/status/1537878466984656896). Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com.