In Part 2 of The Psalms We Skip , Ron and John turn to the New Testament and ask how Christians should read the imprecatory psalms in light of Jesus, the cross, and the gospel. Along the way, they explore enemy-love, divine justice, and how the church can still pray these difficult texts as Scripture. It will come as no surprise that they conclude Christians have to take the Bible as a whole, and…
Some psalms go beyond simply asking God for help. They demand judgment—and they do it in violent terms. In this episode, John and Ron approach these imprecatory psalms head-on. What are these prayers doing in the Psalms? Why do Christians struggle with them? And, how do we read them without either excusing vengeance or pretending Jesus canceled these Psalms when he taught, “love your enemies.” The…
Ron and John kick off Season 7 by revisiting some Orthodocs.faith basics. They reintroduce themselves as your hosts, clarify what the podcast aims to do, and explain why so much energy goes into the “heavy lifting” of careful reading, solid context, and clear theology. Along the way, you’ll get a peek at how an episode comes together—and a quick preview of what’s next this season. The post Two…
Ron and John conclude Season 6 of Orthodocs.faith with one of the most dramatic missionary stories of the early Middle Ages. They follow Boniface in northern Europe to the Oak of Thor—his axe raised, a crowd watching, and a test of the gods brewing. Was it courageous proclamation to cut down the sacred oak—or cultural vandalism? Join in as they ask what faithful witness looks like when the gospel…
In Part 2 of Missionary Work, Medieval Style , John and Ron trace Gregory the Great’s mission to Britain in the early 600s. At the center is King Ethelbert of Kent and the monks who arrive in his territory asking to preach. How does a pagan king respond—and what unfolds next? Featured image: James William Edmund Doyle , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons The post Missionary Work, Medieval Style:…
Ron and John are back with a new series: Missionary Work, Medieval Style . In this premiere, they tell some stories that you likely haven’t heard. The accounts range from chilling to inspiring, but the guiding question is, “Where is the Holy Spirit at work here?” Travel with them into the mysterious world of the early Middle Ages, and see how Christians tried to live out their witness. The post…
How has the Church understood and practiced wisdom across the centuries? In this series finale, Ron and John move from Acts 6 and the Wisdom of Solomon , through Augustine and Aquinas, to Luther and Calvin. From there, they turn to today’s church to show how wisdom shapes our common life: What does a wise congregation look like? The post Wisdom Walks, pt 3: Wisdom in the Church’s Life appeared…
What does the New Testament have to say about wisdom—and how does it build on the rich tradition of the Old Testament? In this episode, Ron and John explore Jesus and wisdom, from the Sermon on the Mount to Paul’s claim that Christ crucified is “the wisdom of God.” Along the way, they trace how New Testament wisdom moves from parable to cross to creation itself. The post Wisdom Walks, pt 2: Jesus,…
John and Ron begin their summer series on wisdom in the scripture. They start with a look at wisdom in the Old Testament, including the books traditionally called “wisdom literature” along with some narrative pictures of wisdom. They also dig into the meaning of the phrase, “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” and then examine how Israel’s idea of wisdom stacks up against other…
With this episode, John and Ron conclude their series on the creeds. They look briefly at the Athanasian Creed and then discuss the influence of the creeds on several Protestant doctrinal statements. The post The Creeds, pt 5: Impact appeared first on Orthodocs.faith .