Keep Christ in Christian

Ep 10: The Christian Sins of Omission

Society (and therefore the church) is obsessed with hierarchies. Whether based on wealth, status, or worthiness, such attitudes erode our ability to see each other clearly. Plus, they create categories like, “the least of these.” Jesus—in his infinite wisdom—attempted to create protections to ensure that the “least” would always have their basic needs met. But he pushed it even farther than that when he said that caring for the “least of these” was, in some very real sense, taking care of Christ himself. Matthew 25 (the separation of the sheep and the goats) stands as a powerful parable calling the church to take seriously a collective understanding of faith. Our Christianity should not just serve ourselves, but rather it should catalyze us toward compassion for all. In our final episode of the season, Rev Jonah leads a brilliant conversation arguing for a Christianity defined by radical solidarity rather than comfortable individualism. Listeners are invited into deeper, more authentic ways of embodying Christ’s radical vision for community, care, and connection. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thebetterfruitproject.com [https://www.thebetterfruitproject.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Ep 9: When Christians Sound Like the Disciples (And Not in a Good Way)

The heart of episode nine centers on a story from John 9 where Jesus heals a man born blind, and the disciples ask, “Who sinned—this man or his parents?” Josh leads a discussion around the merits and pitfalls of looking for blame in the context of suffering. Pointing out that Jesus doesn’t blame the blind man or his parents, Josh says that Jesus redirects them: “You’re asking the wrong question. Look instead for what God can do.” Join us as we wrestle with the tension between finding purpose in suffering and the danger of turning people into spiritual props. As we look at how we can Keep Christ in Christian, this episode is an invitation to resist blame, resist superiority, and lean into compassionate presence. Rather than asking why someone is suffering, ask how can I show up in love? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thebetterfruitproject.com [https://www.thebetterfruitproject.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Ep 8: Stop Looking for Loopholes (on Who You Must be Kind to)

Why are so many Christians these days so unkind? “If you call yourself a Christian,” co-Host Colby Martin says, “then you don’t have the option to not be kind.” Back in Jesus’ day a religious person approached Jesus looking for a loophole with regards to “who is my neighbor?” Meaning, sure sure sure, I gotta love people… but like, there’s gotta be someone out there I don’t HAVE to love, right? Jesus responds with the story of the good Samaritan and ends with, “Your aim should be to BE the neighbor to all.” In other words, NO LOOPHOLES, yo. And yet… also… what do we do with the instances where Jesus called people “brood of vipers?” Or that time he flipped over tables? Was any of that “kind?” This episode is a FANTASTIC conversation about keeping Christ in Christian through kindness. Listen. Like it. Share it. Review it! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thebetterfruitproject.com [https://www.thebetterfruitproject.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Ep 7: There Should Not be a Penalty for Returning Home

Is God’s best idea for wholeness, forgiveness, and restoration really a system where—not only does an innocent person need to die (and shed their blood)—but then people have to BELIEVE that that happened, otherwise the payment wasn’t sufficient so they must suffer themselves? What an odd and utterly inhumane way to handle things. Yet this is how many Christians think about atonement. In this thought provoking episode, Rev Jonah leads a conversation that starts with the three parables of a lost coin, sheep, and son; then moves into why our penal system of incarceration is in dire need of reform (or abolishment); which then gets us talking about atonement and God’s capacity to forgive… and that leads in to universal salvation. What a doozy of an episode! Something for everyone :) Grab a coffee or whisky or both and listen in. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thebetterfruitproject.com [https://www.thebetterfruitproject.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Ep 6: The Means ARE the Message

Many of us in the progressive Christian, post-evangelical space witnessed something horrifying back in 2016 (that has continued over the subsequent decade). The very people who taught us what it meant to be Christ-like were the same ones who set so much of that aside in their efforts for political wins. Marshall McLuhan famously said, “The medium is the message.” Which means that HOW you say something is just as meaningful and powerful as WHAT you are saying. Join us for a lively conversation of how that same principle applies for what it means to Keep Christ in Christian. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thebetterfruitproject.com [https://www.thebetterfruitproject.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]