Theology on Air

Oscar Villanueva and Scotty Swingler join Evan (no Sarah this time!) to look at an impending government shutdown, Blink 182's new album (and the meaning behind it), and another story looking at the transgender division in our country.

Costi Hinn joins TOA for a look at the errors of the Prosperity Gospel. The nephew of a famous televangelist, Costi has seen the lavish lifestyles up close and personal and explains how that movement is at odds with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

White Pill Radio will become a regular feature of Theology on Air. Four TOTers will come together with hot-off-the-press stories and offer a Christian lens to them. What is a White Pill? Well, the blue pill means you are content to live in the matrix. The red pill means you are awake to reaity, the good, bad and ugly. The black pill means you are awake to reality and have no hope. The white pill means you have hope in spite of the way things look at the minute. If you like this format, let us know! If you don't...well, I guess let us know that, too.

While there is no explicit content in this episode, as in dirty words, the topics are really only for adults. We talk about current events and hot-button cultural issues. So perhaps the younger homeschoolers aren't quite ready for this episode.

TOT regular Stephen Curto hangs out with Sarah and Evan to look at the surprisingly controversial question of whether or not the Kingdom of God is actually here and now. Most Christians assume the answer to that is yes. But is it only a "not yet" reality, and not an "already" reality? We dig deep on this Theology on Air.

Pastor Maurice Hobbs joins us to take a look at two people and one story we commonly misunderstand. Thomas is dubbed the doubter and Mary Magdalene is seen as a prostitute. Meanwhile, Acts 2 is seen as Pentecost for everyone, including Gentiles. Are we wrong? How?

Riffing off of Stranger Things, Pastor Scotty Swinger of Sugar Land Baptist joins Sarah and Evan to consider the revolutionary way of life to which Jesus calls his followers.

A leading scientist in the world, Dr. Jim Tour of Rice University joins TOT for an in-person event that looks at the relationship between faith and science. Is it one or the other? Or are they compatible?

Rabbi Stuart Federow joins Sarah and Evan for a friendly sit-down. We look at the major differences between Christianity and Judaism and ask a few questions that some might consider controversial. For those of us not terribly informed about Jewish thought and theology, you'll find it an interesting episode.

Cam Ayala was a college athlete, a contestant on The Bachelorette, and an all-around good guy. But a medical condition followed him everywhere he went, eventually leading to the amputation of his right leg. In time, he came to faith and found new meaning and purpose in life. Hear his inspiring story here! 

Should Christians endorse a form of libertarian anarchy? Or use God's Law to establish our political order? We have a mini Theology on Tap event featuring Ken Cowan and Calvin Maynard discussing two views of the Christian social order.

Scholar and author Mike Austin joins us to take a look at all things Christian Nationalism. There is some concern that this misplaced patriotism has itself become a kind of cult in evangelical Christianity and Donald Trump is the idol. Is that the case? What are the lines of demarcation with such declarations? We cover a lot of controversial ground in this episode!

Theology on Tap looks at whether the gifts of the Spirit - particularly the "sign" gifts of tongues, healing, and prophecy - are still active in the church today. Some (cessationists) say these gifts have ceased while others (continuationists) say these gifts have continued into the present day. Josh Feinberg of Christ Community Church and Kelly Edmiston of The Vineyard Church of Sugar Land are our featured speakers followed by a panel discussion.

Two former Seventh Day Adventists join us to look at this derivative church within what is broadly considered Christianity. But do their beliefs cross the line into heresy and even cult status? We take a very quick tour through the highlights of Adventism, focusing mainly on where it seems to stray from traditional Christianity.

Oscar Villanueva and Juan Carlos Martinez have an informal debate on baptism at one of our "mini TOTs", smaller events in the months between our larger gatherings. Should infants be baptized, or only Christians old enough to make a profession of faith?

Apologies for the sound difference between speakers. We learned later that we had an issue with our sound board and only one of the mics was working. Hopefully you can hear every word of this interesting debate!

Former New Ager Amber Aldrich joins Sarah and Evan to look at common healing and wellness practices that are making their way into the Church. Can things like Reiki and Yoga be appropriated into Christianity? Or are they so imbued with pagan beliefs that it is best if they stay far away?

Justin McClean and Mac Gervais join Sarah to look at the Hebrew Israelites movement. Perhaps you have encountered the evangelists for this movement on your city's sidewalks or on YouTube. If so, you know they only regard Black persons as true Israelites and others as essentially heretics. Justin and Mac break it all down.

Former Independent Fundamentalist Baptist (IFB) Ashleigh J joins us to look at this very conservative group of Baptists. 

YouTuber Melissa Dougherty joins Sarah and Evan to look at the Prosperity Gospel and its many influences. 

Theology on Tap's live event in April looked at the Law of God. Does it still apply to Christians? Or are they "so" free in Christ that it no longer applies at all? What aspects of the Law continue into the New Covenant and which are done away with? Three pastors will offer three perspectives followed by a panel discussion.

Pr. Juan Carlos Martinez joins Sarah and Evan to look at a number of thorny passages in the Bible. Specifically we look at the questions of election, the Trinity, and whether obedient Jews will face judgment. 

Oscar Villanueva joins Sarah and Evan to look at several thorny issues in the Bible. Does the Bible condone slavery? Are there particular sins that damn us to hell? Does God lead us into temptation? And does everything happen for a reason?

Sarah, Evan, and new leadership team member Beth White tackle some common misperceptions in the third episode of our season on "Does the Bible Really Say?" We look at whether the Bible talks about premarital sex, whether hell exists, whether Christians must attend church, and whether jewelry and makeup are serious sins. 

The Rev. Patrick Hall joins Sarah and Evan to look at a number of issues: the devil, whether wealth is really evil, and whether babies should be baptized. Just a little controversy.

Soon-to-be church planter Mace Perez joins Sarah and Evan to begin our new series on common misconceptions or misunderstandings of what the Bible says. In this episode we ask if the Bible really says Christians are to tithe (give 10% of all that they have to the church), that we should love ourselves, and that Jesus was God. Sometimes, the Bible says things quite clearly but not in one, neat and tidy verse. We'll unpack these issues with many surrounding verses to try to get to the bottom of just what the Bible does say on these topics. 

Perhaps no questions are as controversial today as questions around gender and sex. We are joined by the author of Love Thy Body to unpack them from a Christian worldview. Dr. Nancy Pearcey is considered one of America's most prominent apologists, so we are very thankful for her time in joining us. 

Why the explicit label? It isn't because we use naughty words, but rather because the content is not really safe for children. We are creating content for young adults and we are talking about adult experiences. While we do not intend to be crude or licentious, there is no way to have a really honest conversation without at least some specifics. So, in the interest to our listeners, we thought we would be extra cautious and include that label.

Dr. Robert Gagnon of Houston Christian University joins Sarah and Evan to tackle the question of homosexuality. Dr. Gagnon is an expert on this topic and covers a wide range of biblical texts, themes, and objections. To learn more, find Dr. Gagnon on Facebook or visit his website, robgagnon.net.

Dylan Cumberland, cradle Methodist and friend of Theology on Tap tackles the infamously dubbed "Clobber Verses" (Scripture passages that address same-sex behavior) from a progressive perspective.

As a reminder as we move through this series on a Biblical sexual ethic, our leadership team shares a variety of different viewpoints on certain issues therein.  We don't all agree!  So we will present a spectrum of perspectives and invite our listeners to decide for themselves where they stand.

Why the explicit label? It isn't because we use naughty words, but rather because the content is not really safe for children. We are creating content for young adults and we are talking about adult experiences. While we do not intend to be crude or licentious, there is no way to have a really honest conversation without at least some specifics. So, in the interest to our listeners, we thought we would be extra cautious and include that label.

Nothing says Christmas like a good, old-fashioned conversation about suffering. The truth is, life is hard sometimes. But is it supposed to be? 

Depending on which Christian you ask, suffering is either a normal part of the Christian life, or something God has given us power and authority to overcome. Are we supposed to expect a life of difficulty? Or are we supposed to expect God to overcome our difficulty?

In this special December Theology on Tap, we drank some holiday brew, ate some holiday treats, and had a jolly debate about suffering, depression, existential ennui, and more. Santa himself couldn't have been more Christmassy.

Pastor Meredith Mills laid out a Theological overview of how different traditions view suffering and then our special guest, Licensed Professional Counselor, Tim Mavergeorge, walked us through how we can cope when life is...well...life.

Dr. Paul Copan, author of Is God a Moral Monster?, joins us to look at heterosexual sins in the Bible. When we talk about sex and the Bible, we frequently jump to more controversial issues, like homosexuality. But there are many heterosexual sins in the Bible and they matter, too! And some of these strike us as rather strange, especially some in the Old Testament that deal with issues of war, rape, and marriage. Many thanks to Dr. Copan for lending his expertise as we tackle some tough and controversial topics! 

Why the explicit label? It isn't because we use naughty words, but rather because the content is not really safe for children. We are creating content for young adults and we are talking about adult experiences. While we do not intend to be crude or licentious, there is no way to have a really honest conversation without at least some specifics. So, in the interest to our listeners, we thought we would be extra cautious and include that label.

The Rev. Dr. Paul Sullins joins us to talk about the positive case for sex. Why was it given by God? What purposes does it serve? Have we ruined it with the Sexual Revolution? Do married couples have better sex than those not bound to the same old person? And what is off limits, even in a marital situation? 

Why the explicit label? It isn't because we use naughty words, but rather because the content is not really safe for children. We are creating content for young adults and we are talking about adult experiences. While we do not intend to be crude or licentious, there is no way to have a really honest conversation without at least some specifics. So, in the interest to our listeners, we thought we would be extra cautious and include that label.

Sarah, Patrick, Meredith, and Evan kicked off Season 5 of Theology on Air by, well, clearing the air. Theology on Tap fosters conversation among Christians who agree on the biggest of issues, but disagree on others. So we wanted to lay out where we stand on these controversial issues. This season, we tackle the subject that comes up more than any other: sex. So to act as a bit of a teaser (if you will), we are hitting the highlights of what we will discuss in more depth with guests throughout the season. We touch on God's design for sex, homosexuality, divorce, transgenderism, and more. 

Why the explicit label? It isn't because we use naughty words, but rather because the content is not really safe for children. We are creating content for young adults and we are talking about adult experiences. While we do not intend to be crude or licentious, there is no way to have a really honest conversation without at least some specifics. So, in the interest to our listeners, we thought we would be extra cautious and include that label.

To round out our season on the Reformers, we invite Methodist Bishop, Dr. Scott Jones to dialogue with Reformed Baptist pastor Aaron Wright. The question is one that divides some of the Reformation traditions: "Is perfection possible?" John Wesley would ultimately go further than, say, John Calvin or Luther in saying that, in a sense, perfect holiness was possible. But was he right? We do a bit of a deep dive to really focus on the kinds of issues the Reformation was all about. Thanks to Dr. Jones and Pr. Wright for stopping in! 

The founder of what would later be called Methodism, John Wesley worked for renewal within the Church of England for decades. Primarily a preacher to preachers, he challenged pastors to have a personal experience of knowing Christ. He considered the whole world his pulpit and his legacy has lasted for centuries. Thanks to TOT's own Meredith Mills for stopping in to share her Wesleyan knowledge! 

The empire strikes back! Dr. Richard Johnson joins Evan to look at the Council of Trent, held from 1545-1563. This was Rome's internal work towards reform as well as a response to the events of the Reformation. We'll look at what was decided and what the legacy of Trent ultimately was. 

John Calvin, along with Martin Luther, is one of the two theological titans whose work most influenced the Reformation's outcome. Known best for fully embracing God's sovereignty and predestination, Calvin had great influence among the Swiss, the English, and the Puritans who made their way to America. We look at his life, work (often summarized by "TULIP") and  legacy. Thanks to Pastor Aaron Wright of Grace Family Baptist Church for stopping in for this episode! 

Dr. Randy Hatchett of Houston Christian University (formerly Houston Baptist University) joins us to look at the Anabaptist and Baptist movements. While more dispersed than other Reformation movements, they pack a punch in their theological legacy and some of the juicier stories in Church history. Muenster, anyone? We look at how the name Baptist came to be used and the birth of modern Baptists. Who are the remaining descendants of the Anabaptist movement? Or are there any? 

Episcopal Rector Patrick Hall joins us to take a look at the English Reformation. While no one person is as responsible as this reformation as say, Martin Luther or John Calvin, several powerful personalities did fight for religious freedom in England, notably King Henry VIII, Elizabeth II, and Thomas Cranmer. We also look at the legacy of the Church of England as it has spread all over the world and whose unity - like every major Protestant church - is less secure due to cultural debates.  

Three Lutheran pastors discuss the life and times of Martin Luther. Thanks to Prs. Richard Johnson and Ralph Hobratschk for joining Evan as they take a look at arguably the most significant of all the Reformers. We try to get behind the presenting issues of the Reformation (indulgences, purgatory, the sacraments) and look at the ongoing legacy of Luther. 

We look at the Bohemian reformer, Jan Hus, who closely followed John Wycliffe and who influenced Martin Luther. A noted preacher and critic of Catholic practices, Hus fought against corruption, indulgences, and ultimately Rome's own definition of the Church. Tried at the Council of Constance, his adherence to the scripture as the standard for Christian ethics would cost him his life.  

Part 2 of our series on Satanism and Conspiracy Theories was held Tuesday night. A member of the Satanic Temple of Houston dialogues with Pastor Evan Mcclanahan of First Lutheran on the differences between Christianity and Satanism. The panel includes frequent guests Paul Sloan and Beth White.