Vox Podcast With Mike Erre

Unpacking the theological and cultural roots of why many Christians have ignored or resisted environmental issues, Mike and Andy answer a listener's question from a post-Thanksgiving Facebook group that's diving into faith, science, and the planet. Drawing on the Genesis creation narrative and the biblical theme of heaven and earth, they explore why the church should lead the charge in caring for creation, and what's at stake when we don't. This episode takes a deep dive into the biblical framework that supports environmental stewardship, challenges the theology that says "the Earth doesn't matter because it's all going to burn," and offers hope that strikes at the heart of climate apathy. Key Takeaways: •  Biblical Mandate to Steward the Earth – Genesis 1 positions humanity as image-bearers of God tasked with ruling and caring for creation as co-regents and priests. •  Why We've Failed – How bad theology, political polarization, and capitalism have led many Christians to ignore or oppose environmental moveme

How the church can resist political captivity and rediscover its core mission of peacemaking, reconciliation, and countercultural witness in a divided and fearful post-election landscape. In this cornerstone conversation between Mike Erre and Andy Bear, the spotlight turns to white evangelical support of Donald Trump, Christian identity in modern America, and how Jesus followers can truly live into their call as agents of peace—not partisanship. Taking a candid look at the tension between culture, faith, and politics in the aftermath of the 2016 presidential election, Mike and Andy break down where many evangelicals have misplaced their allegiance, and how the gospel calls for something radically different. They also unpack their controversial launch of the Voxology Patreon community, offering listeners new opportunities for deeper engagement, discipleship, and Bible-centered podcast series—beginning with the Book of Revelation. Key Takeaways: • Peacemaking vs. Peacekeeping – The difference between avoiding c

How can Jesus followers respond meaningfully and compassionately in the wake of a deeply polarizing presidential election? Mike Erre and Andy reflect on the day after the 2016 U.S. election—just hours after Donald Trump was elected president—to offer a timely pastoral conversation about what it means to be peacemakers when the nation feels fractured. With powerful insights grounded in the teachings of Jesus, they discuss how grief, empathy, repentance, and prophetic witness must shape our response as Christians, regardless of political allegiance. Key Takeaways: • Grieving With Those Who Grieve – Empathizing with marginalized communities who feel threatened post-election and choosing to listen without defensiveness. • The Peacemaker's Role – Asking how Jesus followers can rise above divisiveness and embody hope, humility, and justice in a politically charged environment. • Evangelical Identity in Crisis – Exploring the Church's alignment with political power and the witness it communicates to the watching wor

A candid, wide-ranging conversation with Mike Erre and Andy as they tackle a grab bag of honest and often unspoken questions from listeners about sex, marriage, singleness, divorce, and gender identity. With humor, vulnerability, and a deep reverence for both Scripture and lived experience, this Q&A episode pulls back the curtain on real Christian struggles in today's complicated cultural landscape. Drawing from listener-submitted questions, Mike and Andy unpack how to talk to your kids about sex, how the church mishandles singleness, why married Christians often struggle with sexual shame, what to do when your spouse transitions genders—and what it looks like to reflect Jesus in all of these tough spaces. Key Takeaways: • Sexuality and the Church – Why the church's emphasis on abstinence and purity culture often fails to prepare people for healthy sexual relationships within marriage. • Being Single in a Married Church – The overlooked spiritual and emotional needs of single adults and why the modern chu

How can Christians approach elections without compromising the way of Jesus? Live from Villain Studios, Mike Erre and Andy unpack how Jesus invites his followers to engage politically—not as loyalists to political platforms, but as citizens of a radically different kingdom. In this fifth installment of the "Jesus & Politics" series, they challenge the fusion of faith and nationalism, explore how kingdom allegiance transcends party lines, and ask the tough question: what if how we carry ourselves after an election matters more than how we vote? Listeners will walk away with a renewed vision of what faithful political engagement can look like in a polarized age—one rooted not in fear, but in love, humility, and the cruciform example of Jesus. Key Takeaways: • Distinguishing Between Faith and Political Platforms – Why pairing Jesus with a party diminishes the power of the gospel and alienates those outside the church. • How You Vote vs. How You Live – Why showing up November 8 isn't as important as how you e

How honest is too honest when it comes to faith, mental illness, and ministry? In this revealing conversation, Mike Erre and Tim Stafford sit down with Joey Svenson—pastor, podcaster (Bad Christian, Pastor With No Answers), and author of the raw and unflinching memoir "Fundamentalist"—to explore how extreme fundamentalism and OCD collided in his early faith journey, how he found healing, and why he believes radical vulnerability is essential to authentic Christianity. Mike and Tim reflect on their own experiences with mental health, church trauma, and spiritual deconstruction, sharing laughs, cringes, and powerful insights as Joey opens up about his struggles and hopes for the church. This is a permission-granting episode—for those wrestling with faith or mental health, for those bearing secrets under the pressure to perform holiness, and for anyone hungering for a church that welcomes honest questions and raw humanity. Key Takeaways: • Mental Illness in the Church – Joey unpacks his journey with OCD and anxi

How the church can still be a place of healing, transformation, and deep belonging—even when it's broken. Part three of the "Why We're Leaving the Church" series dives deep into personal stories across generations, offering a raw and hopeful conversation on why many still choose to stay, participate, and even lead within the church despite its failures and contradictions. Mike Erre, Andy, and Izzy reflect on the struggles, disappointments, and transformative beauty of church life. From hypocritical leadership and personal trauma to unexpected healing through meaningful community, this episode explores how reimagining our expectations of church can lead to renewed engagement rather than abandonment. Key Takeaways: • Reframing Church Beyond Institutions – Following Jesus means belonging to his body, even if we walk away from institutional expressions of church. • The Healing Power of Authentic Community – Izzy shares her journey from spiritual burnout to renewed faith through genuine relationships and shared vu

How forgiveness transforms, heals, and awakens us to the radical grace of Jesus—even when reconciliation seems impossible. In this milestone 50th episode, Mike and Andy reflect on the podcast's evolution, exciting upcoming changes, and dive into one of the most nuanced and powerful teachings of Jesus: forgiveness. Whether you've been wounded by the church, suffered spiritual trauma, or wrestled with resentment, this conversation offers a deeply honest look at what forgiveness is—and what it isn't. Through personal stories, unpacked theology, and quotes from RT Kendall's "Total Forgiveness," Mike and Andy examine why forgiveness isn't about glossing over pain or forgetting offenses, but about yielding our right to vengeance and finding healing through honest confrontation and grace. Key Takeaways: • Forgiveness is personal, not institutional – You can't forgive "the church" as a vague entity; real forgiveness requires naming the individuals who caused harm. • Dispelling the "forgive and forget" myth – True for

How the church has lost its witness by prioritizing culture wars, misrepresenting love, and failing to embody the radical, self-giving love of Jesus — and why it matters. In this honest and provocative conversation, Mike Erre, Andy, and Izzy Ray dive deep into the next two points from the widely shared blog post "Dear Church, Here's Why People Are Leaving You," exploring the disconnect between the Church's messaging and Jesus' own heart for people. This is Part 2 of the "Dear Church" series. Whether it's choosing the wrong battles or wielding a love that doesn't feel like love, today's church often alienates the very people it's called to embrace. Through personal stories, scriptural reflection, and candid critique, the team wrestles with the call to embody agape love — a love that costs, sacrifices, and welcomes. Key Takeaways: • Choosing Better Battles – Why the Church often fights for trivial causes while staying silent on poverty, racism, and injustice — and how that undermines its mission. • Love as a Tr

How can the church reclaim its prophetic voice and connect deeply in a generation disillusioned by performance, image, and control? That's the question Mike Erre, Andy, and special guest Izzy Ray tackle in this candid and heartfelt conversation. Prompted by John Pavlovitz's article "Dear Church, Here's Why People Are Really Leaving You," the trio explores what it means to be authentic in ecclesial spaces, challenge the production model of church gatherings, and create communities that honor real brokenness, humility, and beauty. This isn't a church-bashing episode—it's a love letter to the mission of Jesus and an invitation to witness how weakness might actually be the church's superpower. Key Takeaways: • Rejection of Performance-Based Church – Why young adults, like Izzy, are exhausted by overproduced experiences and long for authenticity instead of scripted perfection. • The Loss of Mystery – How rigid control and stage-managed services strip away the wonder and spirit-led surprise that gathering in Jesus'

How can we reconcile our faith in Christ with the real and painful experiences of depression, anxiety, and mental illness? This honest and compassionate conversation offers both personal testimony and hope for those navigating mental health struggles within the Christian faith. In Episode 10—a milestone moment for the Vox Podcast—Mike Erre and Andy dive deep into the realities of mental illness, exploring their own journeys and how they've found Jesus in the midst of their darkest seasons. This episode is both personal and practical, acknowledging the complexity of mental health and challenging the overly spiritualized or stigmatized tendencies found in some corners of the church. They offer encouragement for those suffering silently and insight for the friends, family, and church communities walking alongside them. Key Takeaways: • Honoring the Reality of Mental Illness – Depression and anxiety are not signs of spiritual failure. You can love Jesus and struggle with mental illness at the same time. • From Br

How the American church's blend of faith and partisan politics compromises the mission of Jesus and why a new, distinctly Christ-centered political theology is desperately needed. In this foundational episode, Mike Erre and Andy unpack five key points for developing a theology of politics that resists culture war narratives and reclaims Jesus's lordship over all of life, including the public square. Prompted by a storm of Facebook backlash to Mike's call for Christians to provide a counter-narrative to the increasingly politicized expressions of faith linked to conservative ideology, this thoughtful—and at times fiery—conversation explores how the American church often sacrifices Jesus's witness for political loyalty. Key Takeaways: • Politics and the Image of God – Politics is not inherently evil; it's a reflection of our God-given mandate to order and care for human society. • Following Jesus is Inherently Political – Jesus's life, birth, and message directly challenged the Roman Empire, revealing that the

What does it really mean to render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and unto God what is God's? In this bold and insightful continuation of the Jesus & Politics series, Mike Erre unpacks one of the most misinterpreted passages in Christian theology. Drawing from Luke 20 and Jewish historical context, Mike reframes Jesus's response to the trap question about paying taxes—not as an endorsement of dual citizenship, but as a radical declaration that our entire identity belongs to God alone. Listeners will walk away with a deeper understanding of how Jesus subverted both political and religious expectations and how his call to wholehearted allegiance continues to challenge American Christians today. Mike and Andy explore the implications of carrying God's image and choosing to live as citizens of the Kingdom, not of any earthly empire—even when it demands radical reorientation of our identity, politics, and gospel witness. Key Takeaways: • Reframing the "Caesar Tax" Trap – How Jesus flipped a political question i

Explore the powerful implications of Jesus's "already but not yet" Kingdom as Mike Erre and Andy dismantle popular rapture theology and its impact on Christian political engagement and purpose. In this final installment of the Jesus & Politics series, Mike unpacks how a misunderstood end-times narrative has shaped generations of Christians to disengage from social and political action, and why reclaiming a Biblical understanding of heaven, earth, and eschatology transforms how we show up for justice, mercy, and our communities today. Key Takeaways: • Reframing the Rapture – A deep-dive into the origins of rapture theology and why it lacks solid biblical foundation, particularly in 1 Thessalonians and Matthew 24. • The Kingdom is Here (and Also Coming) – Understanding Jesus's message as both present and future, and what that means for living as citizens of the Kingdom now. • Redeeming Political Engagement – Why following Jesus is inherently political, but cannot be reduced to partisan allegiance or single-

How can followers of Jesus wisely navigate an increasingly complex cultural landscape? In Episode 14, Mike Erre and Andy unpack the Christian call to discernment—separating harmful cultural patterns from those that can be received or even redeemed for good. They revisit Jesus's teaching on judgment in Luke 6, explore the biblical differentiation between condemnation and constructive discernment, and challenge oversimplified labels like "Christian" and "secular." Together, they navigate how to engage culture with wisdom and grace, learning from both the scriptures and shared community life. From the uses of alcohol and media to the constructed systems of society that oppose God's ways, Mike offers practical tools for how to discern what to reject, receive, and redeem—all while staying rooted in the love and mission of Jesus. Key Takeaways: • The Biblical Difference Between Judgment and Discernment – Why Jesus condemns judgment that separates people but encourages discernment that distinguishes behaviors. • Und

What happens when a pastor leaves three churches in six years but still feels a burning desire to serve the church? In this deeply personal and powerfully visionary episode, Mike Erre and Andy continue the Box Series with a vulnerable exploration of failure, passion, and the compelling dream of creating a new kind of Jesus-centered community. Reflecting on his own pastoral journey, Mike shares the drive behind planting a church born not of perfection, but of authenticity—a community centered on grace, honesty, radical inclusion, and service to the world. He outlines three foundational fires that continue to burn in him: becoming a church that exists to love and serve the world, creating the safest space to wrestle through anything, and investing in and empowering the next generation. Perfect for anyone who's ever felt disillusioned with church yet still longs for something real, this episode offers a compelling call to reimagine what it means to follow Jesus in community today. Key Takeaways: • The Church Exi

Discover how faith is often misunderstood as rigid certainty, and why making space for honest doubt is essential in cultivating a trusting relationship with Jesus. Mike and Andy introduce the Faith Series by dissecting misconceptions about what faith is (and isn't), highlighting how real biblical faith is not intellectual agreement or public profession—but instead actionable trust within relational covenant. They unpack scripture, personal stories, and real-life examples to reveal a more liberating and profound view of how faith and doubt can coexist and propel us forward in our journey with Christ. Key Takeaways: • Faith Is Not Certainty – Faith in the Bible isn't about psychological or intellectual certainty. Instead, it's dynamic, relational, and lived out through action—even in the midst of doubt. • Three Misunderstandings About Faith – Faith is not: 1) being mentally certain, 2) professing beliefs to fit in, or 3) gaining theological perfection. • Faith Is What You Do, Not Just What You Say – Drawing on

What if faith doesn't require having all the answers before committing? This episode dives deep into the intricacies of faith, doubt, trust, and belief—and how misunderstanding them can derail a healthy and authentic relationship with Jesus. Mike and Andy tackle audience questions head-on, unraveling misconceptions about certainty, biblical inerrancy, and the differences between core Christian convictions and secondary beliefs. Drawing on the wisdom of Paul in 1 Corinthians, the teachings of Jesus, and modern philosophical perspectives, Mike contrasts the "house of cards" Christianity—where all doctrines are weighted equally—with a more biblically grounded approach that centers on the first importance: the resurrection of Jesus. Key Takeaways: • Faith is Action Based on Trust – Not psychological certainty, not theological perfection, not doctrinal agreement. Instead, it's about real-world trust, lived out in action. • Not All Beliefs Are Equal – Paul differentiates between core convictions like the resurrecti

How biblical justice, equality, and the true story of Genesis reframe the conversation around women in ministry in the church. Mike Erre and theology teacher Bonnie Lewis kick off a new multi-part conversation on the role of women in Christian leadership, diving deep into Bonnie's personal journey, cultural preconceptions, and ultimately how scripture affirms her calling. This is not a culture war issue—it's a gospel issue. Mike and Bonnie begin by naming the "three ghosts" that haunt the women in ministry debate: the Usurper, the Temptress, and the Child—destructive labels that still shape how many churches treat women who lead. They unpack the theological, pastoral, and gendered barriers still in place within conservative evangelicalism and share how their views shifted not because of culture, but because of the Bible itself. Key Takeaways: • Reading Genesis with Fresh Eyes – The Hebrew word "ezer" (helper) used to describe Eve is a term also applied to God, radically reframing assumptions about female subo

How do we know we're truly saved—and what if we're not? Responding to a listener's heartfelt and raw email, Mike and Andy revisit the topic of faith and doubt to explore some of the deepest spiritual fears many believers keep hidden. From worries about "false salvation" and demon possession to confusion over the Trinity and whether the Bible can be trusted, this episode brings grace and clarity to often terrifying questions. Unpacking Matthew 7 and Revelation 22, Mike reframes salvation not as a contract of religious performance but as a covenant of trust and growing intimacy with the Jesus who invites us into the Kingdom of God—not just heaven someday, but life reoriented in the here and now. Key Takeaways: • Faith as Covenant, Not Contract – Why salvation isn't about praying the perfect prayer or living without doubt, but about entrusting your life to Jesus in honest, ongoing relationship. • Doubt Doesn't Disqualify – How wrestling with belief and asking deep questions can actually be signs of a tender, see