Vox Podcast With Mike Erre

How the metaphor of exile helps the American church rediscover its identity, purpose, and practices for a polarized and post-Christian culture. Mike Erre is joined by Rick McKinley—pastor, author, and co-creator of Advent Conspiracy—to explore themes from Rick's book, Faith for This Moment: Navigating a Polarized World as the People of God. Together, they discuss how exile offers a hopeful biblical framework for living faithfully as Christians in a divided and shifting cultural landscape. Key Takeaways: • A Modern Exile Paradigm – Understanding exile as a metaphor for the American church's loss of place, influence, and clarity in a polarized culture. • Three Responses to Exile – The options of "baptizing" culture, "burning it down," or embracing a posture of "bless and resist" as seen through Daniel, Jeremiah, and Jesus. • The Power of Discernment – Recognizing the need to go beyond behavior modification and embrace discernment informed by scripture, story, and the Spirit. • Five Prophetic Practices – Hospita

How do we understand failure, morality, and the pain of community disillusionment through the lens of Jesus? In this solo episode, Mike Erre explores deep listener questions around the emotional, theological, and cultural complexities of following Jesus in a broken world. Reflecting on how Jesus may have experienced failure, why even atheists hold moral frameworks, and discerning when it's okay to leave a church, Mike offers vulnerable insight, biblical wisdom, and compassionate challenge for anyone rethinking their faith journey. Key Takeaways: • Experiencing Failure with Jesus – Unpacking whether Jesus can truly relate to the kind of disappointment and vocational heartbreak many of us live through. • God and Rejection – The idea that while God doesn't "fail" in power, He does experience rejection, which reframes our understanding of divine empathy and relational pain. • The Origin of Morality – How moral frameworks are not exclusively religious, but grounded in the Imago Dei—our shared image-bearing nature

How do Jesus followers make sense of today's political and social divisions while remaining faithful to the Kingdom of God? In this Q&A-driven episode, Mike Erre and Kevin dive into a series of powerful listener questions exploring topics like immigration, political allegiance, the modern church, the Me Too movement, and how to present the gospel in a postmodern context. With honesty and humility, they tackle whether it's possible to follow both Jesus and support political figures like Donald Trump, how Christians should respond to the heartbreaking images and policies at the southern U.S. border, and what it really means to be "in church" amid deconstruction and reconstruction. They also dig into the limits of media narratives, how shame and community relate to faith, and offer a broader, more narrative-driven way to understand and share the gospel. Key Takeaways: • Navigating Political Allegiances as a Christian – Why pledging full allegiance to any political figure or party can distort Christian witnes

How does the church's approach to sexuality affect our understanding of purity, desire, and spiritual wholeness? Mike Erre and Kevin explore one of the most frequently asked — and often ignored — questions in Christian life: Is masturbation sinful, especially when done without lust? What seems like a clear-cut topic opens into a deeply nuanced reflection on the nature of desire, discipleship, purity culture, and the transformation Jesus actually invites us into. This episode isn't just about behavior—it's about spiritual formation, grace, and reclaiming sex and desire as part of God's good design. Mike candidly unpacks his own journey, parenthood conversations, and what it means to live with intention rather than restriction. From college students and singles to parents and married couples, this conversation is a compassionate, honest, and theologically grounded exploration that invites all of us to ask better questions. Key Takeaways: • The Purpose of Desire – Why sexual desire is meant to be honored, not fe

How can we embrace faith when certainty feels impossible? Pastor and author Austin Fisher joins Mike Erre for a vulnerable, wisdom-packed conversation about navigating doubt, deconstruction, and rediscovering the beauty of Jesus. Drawing from his book "Faith in the Shadows: Finding Christ in the Midst of Doubt," Austin shares his personal journey of nearly walking away from faith, how the church often mishandles doubt, and why cultivating allegiance to Jesus matters more than achieving airtight certainty. This episode challenges intellectualized faith, critiques superficial apologetics, and redefines what it means to doubt faithfully—making space for honest questions, messy wrestling, and recommitment to the transformative way of Jesus. Key Takeaways: • Doubt as Faithful Engagement – Doubt isn't the enemy of faith but an inevitable human response to mystery. How we doubt matters more than whether we do. • Reframing Faith as Allegiance – Faith isn't about intellectual certainty; it's about relational allegianc

How the choice to live celibately as a gay Christian can reflect the radical love of Jesus and reframe the church's understanding of desire, identity, and human flourishing. Oxford PhD candidate and author David Bennett joins Mike Erre for an unflinchingly honest and theologically rich conversation on sexuality, worship, and the need for a deeper anthropology rooted in the kingdom of God. David shares his journey from an atheist, ardent critic of Christianity to a transformed follower of Jesus who made the costly decision to live celibately—not out of repression, but as an act of worship. Together, he and Mike explore how the idolization of romantic love has malformed both church and culture, and how Christians can reimagine friendship, community, and single life as central to God's good design. Key Takeaways: • Reframing Celibacy – Celibacy isn't about repression but about choosing a greater love over a lesser one, embodying the cross-shaped life Jesus calls us into. • Desire and Eschatology – How the Bible'

How does a Christian faithfully live in the tension between grace-filled freedom and the call to holiness? This mailbag-focused episode tackles one of the most enduring and controversial debates within the Christian faith—can you pursue freedom and holiness at the same time, and what is the actual goal? Mike Erre and Kevin #2 (aka "K2") open the listener inbox to respond to thoughtful email questions from the Voxology community, including reflections on abusive church structures, how to be discerning in a deconstructed faith, and the challenge of living as people of mercy and justice in a public world fueled by outrage. This episode centers around one listener's deeply honest question: "How do we balance holiness and freedom?" Mike explores how both ends of the theological spectrum often miss the point, framing the Christian life around rules or license instead of the transformative power of Christ-like love. You'll also hear practical insights on: Raising children in a hypersexualized culture Finding common

How the Old Testament offers more than just laws, wars, and weird stories—Tim Mackie joins Mike Erre to unpack how the Bible's first testament reveals a sophisticated narrative of divine patience, justice, and rescue, and how it all points directly to Jesus. Whether you're deconstructing your faith, questioning biblical violence, or struggling to reconcile the God of the Old Testament with the teachings of Christ, this conversation is a deep dive into understanding the Hebrew Scriptures on their own terms. Mike and Tim explore the concept of divine accommodation—how God works within broken systems and with broken people—as a lens for reading difficult texts like the flood, the conquest of Canaan, and ancient warrior kings. They tackle some of the toughest questions from modern readers: Is the Bible compatible with science and history? Is the Old Testament even relevant under the new covenant? And why the way we read the Bible matters more than ever. Key Takeaways: • Divine Accommodation as a Lens – Understand

What happens when someone experiences both the unmovable conviction of their faith and the deep challenge of being queer in the American church? This powerful and vulnerable conversation opens up a path rarely discussed with grace and clarity. Mike Erre welcomes Tyler Chernesky, a pastor from Kansas City and a gay follower of Jesus who has chosen celibacy, to share his story of adoption, calling, identity, and the tension between loneliness and joy. Listeners will hear a deeply human and hopeful reflection on what modern discipleship can look like when it's grounded in both solid biblical conviction and a radically inclusive love. Tyler talks about being raised in a Bible-believing community, discovering he was gay during adolescence, and wrestling with the sense that his life didn't fit the mold of Christian ideals he saw around him. Yet through honest friendships, intentional community, and surrendered faith, Tyler has embraced a life of joyful, self-denying discipleship that calls the church to rethink not

How the church can move from silence to safety by acknowledging its complicity in marginalizing abuse survivors and unpacking what repentance truly looks like—for individuals and communities. Kicking off a new Justice Series, Mike Erre and co-host Kevin No. 2 respond to a heartfelt letter from listener "Betty," offering an open, vulnerable discussion on sexual assault, politicization, and the Me Too movement through a gospel-centered lens. Mike shares reflections from past church leadership and his personal journey of repentance while affirming that healthy, just communities must create space for survivors to be believed, heard, and supported—without minimizing truth, due process, or grace. With cultural dialogue often divided and polarizing, this conversation challenges the binary of "believe all women" vs. "protect men," and instead proposes a Jesus-patterned third way marked by truth, love, and safety for all. Key Takeaways: •  Building a Church That Believes Survivors – Why an overcorrection is far more r

How courageously telling your story can interrupt cycles of silence, shame, and secrecy—especially in the church. Mike welcomes author and activist Nicole Braddock Bromley for a powerful and vulnerable conversation about surviving childhood sexual abuse, sharing her story publicly at age 15, and how that one act unlocked voices of countless others suffering in silence. Nicole shares the painful truth about why abuse often remains hidden in churches and affluent communities and offers a compelling challenge to the church to step into transparency, healing, and active prevention. From her journey of healing to advocacy through her organizations OneVOICE and OneVOICE4Freedom, Nicole unpacks how the Church's image-obsessed culture often suppresses conversations that could set people free—especially women and children. The episode also explores current events like the Kavanaugh hearings and the MeToo/ChurchToo movements, laying bare how politicizing survivors' stories causes further trauma. This episode is both he

What if prayer isn't just about getting answers? Mike and Kevin take on one of the most raw, painful, and universal questions in the life of faith: why pray when it doesn't seem to change anything? In this vulnerable episode, they dive deep into an honest question from a listener experiencing unimaginable grief and crisis of faith following the sudden death of his mother and a devastating cancer diagnosis for his father. Drawing from scripture, theology, personal experience, and the teachings of Dallas Willard, the conversation explores the nature of prayer, suffering, and trust in a God whose ways are often mysterious—but never distant. Key Takeaways: • Prayer as Participation, Not Transaction – Understanding prayer as part of our vocation to co-rule and create with God, not just a way to get our requests answered. • Training for Reigning – How spiritual disciplines including prayer shape us for God's future kingdom and teach us to be trustworthy with power. • Does Prayer Really Change Things? – Wrestling wi

How can we engage others in our faith journey when we've experienced the freedom of spiritual reconstruction but live in a culture deeply shaped by conservative, evangelical tradition? In this episode—part one of a new Vox Mailbag Series—Mike Erre and Kevin (#2) tackle questions about deconstruction, talking faith in politically charged spaces (like Branson, Missouri), and discerning truth in a world of theological contradictions. Filled with laughter, spicy sandwiches, and insightful reflection, this episode helps listeners explore what it means to engage conversations about faith transformation with kindness, humility, and relational depth. Whether you're deconstructing, reconstructing, or just reconciling old beliefs with new questions, this conversation offers practical and spiritual tools for navigating the journey. Key Takeaways: • Sharing Your Faith Journey Without Preaching – Learn how to invite others into conversation without threatening their beliefs or pushing an agenda. • What Deconstruction &

How can LGBTQ+ Christians faithfully navigate their identity while holding to a traditional Christian sexual ethic? Mike Erre sits down with Nate Collins, author of "All But Invisible" and founder of the Revoice Conference, for a raw, personal, and deeply theological conversation on gender, sexuality, and costly obedience. This is the first in an ongoing Revoice Series, spotlighting voices that are challenging the polarized narratives in the church by creating space for sexual and gender minorities within the framework of historic Christian faith. Key Takeaways: •  Defining Revoice's Mission – Supporting and empowering LGBTQ+/SSA (same-sex attracted) Christians committed to traditional views on marriage and sexuality. •  Rethinking Identity and Orientation – Exploring the concepts of secondary gender identity and how orientation can be more than just sexual attraction. •  Critiquing the Nashville Statement – Why denial of marginalized voices and language policing have left deep wounds in the LGBTQ+ Christian

How does the American evangelical church reconcile justice, culture, and faith in a post-Christian age? Mike Erre is joined by author, pastor, and podcast host Skye Jethani (The Holy Post) for a provocative discussion about the recently issued "Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel" from prominent conservative evangelical leaders—and why its assumptions about sin, culture, and mission may be fundamentally flawed. Together, Mike and Skye unpack the tensions between personal salvation and social transformation, the fragmentation of modern evangelicalism, and the theological implications of rejecting systemic sin and collective repentance. Through humor, history, and a deep love for scripture, they contrast a kingdom vision of justice and shalom with the boundary-drawing tendency of political and cultural Christianity. Key Takeaways: • Understanding a Broken Evangelicalism – Why modern evangelicalism feels fractured and why many feel "spiritually homeless" in today's tribal climate. • The Problem with State

What happens when the pastoral spotlight becomes too heavy to bear—and no one sees the weight until it's too late? Mike Erre and longtime friend Andy Lara reflect deeply on the tragic suicide of Inland Hills Church pastor Andrew Stoecklein, a young leader whose public transparency about his mental health struggles still couldn't prevent a heartbreaking end. This raw discussion examines broader issues of how we as individuals, communities, and the Church respond to mental illness—and what goes awry when simplistic solutions meet complex pain. Unpacking the pressures of pastoral leadership, the toxic success culture of the modern American church, and the harmful theological prescriptions often offered in response to depression, Mike and Andy challenge listeners to reimagine spiritual community as a space of solidarity—not isolation. Key Takeaways: • The Hidden Costs of "Success" – Why growing attendance, staff, and budgets often don't correspond to spiritual or emotional health for pastors. • Performance Cultur

What if tithing isn't actually a New Testament teaching? In this honest and deeply practical solo episode, Mike tackles an insightful listener question about the theology behind tithing, prosperity gospel implications, and whether churches should be offering "90-day tithe challenges" with promised blessings (and optional refunds). Unpacking Scriptures like Malachi 3, Matthew 23, and key passages from 1 & 2 Corinthians and Acts, Mike invites us to reframe our understanding of generosity, stewardship, and the church's mission in the world. Mike explores how the early church didn't prescribe a 10% tithe, but instead fostered radical, heart-led generosity focused on caring for the poor and supporting gospel work. He contrasts this with modern church practices that often confuse or pressure members into rigid financial expectations, sometimes under theological pretenses that mimic prosperity gospel teachings. Get ready for a robust biblical breakdown and a challenging reorientation of how we view money, blessi

Challenging the modern church growth mindset, Mike Erre and guest Kevin revisit the assumptions baked into much of American Christian culture—namely the obsession with polished Sunday services, celebrity pastors, and numerical success. In a week where high-profile abuse scandals shook major institutions like the Catholic Church, Willow Creek, and John MacArthur's ministry, the conversation turns to a deeper issue: How do we define "church success," and what does the witness of Jesus call us to instead? This raw and prophetic episode asks whether our obsession with "excellence" in worship bands, livestreams, and church branding might actually distract from the mission of Jesus—especially in a time when abuse, injustice, and marginalization are being revealed inside the very systems we've built to "do church well." Key Takeaways: • Unmasking Toxic Success Metrics – Producing high-quality services isn't inherently bad, but treating them as the gold standard of church success reveals an idolization of production

A deep dive into how Scripture confronts racism and ethnic supremacy, revealing that loving all people—regardless of race or background—is a fundamental expression of following Jesus. Mike Erre reflects on a provocative Atlantic article about why young atheists are abandoning Christianity and responds to a Twitter challenge: "Prove to me the Bible says I must value Black lives." His answer? A sweeping biblical case for racial equality rooted in the image of God, God's covenant with Abraham, and the reconciling work of Jesus. Key Takeaways: • The Church's Role in Creating Atheists – Research shows many young people leave Christianity due to vague messaging, shallow answers to deep questions, and lack of space to wrestle with doubt. • Why Superficial Faith Falls Short – Offering pat answers to complex subjects like sexuality, science, and suffering drives people—especially teens—away from the church. • Created in God's Image – A foundational biblical truth: all humans are made in God's likeness and are deservin

Examining the dangers of celebrity leadership culture in the American church, Mike Erre gets candid about the recent public downfalls of figures like Bill Hybels and Urban Meyer—both of whom have been celebrated as leadership experts. Unpacking how the church's obsession with platform, power, and production may be feeding these moral failures, Mike reflects on how the New Testament offers a radically different vision for leadership: one that emphasizes plurality, humility, and shared responsibility. The episode transitions into a passionate theological dialogue as Mike challenges the "TULIP" doctrines of Reformed theology, particularly the ideas of total depravity, unconditional election, and limited atonement. He reaffirms that salvation is universally available and critiques what he sees as an unbiblical notion of a God who arbitrarily chooses some people for salvation and not others. Alongside that, Mike addresses listener questions ranging from biblical discipline in Matthew 18 to the evolution of the pod