No Experts Allowed

Luke 6:28-37

Jonathan's break was looking up: he moved, started a new job, and was approved for ordination. Seth's break was rockier: he had emergency surgery after losing vision in his left eye. They each note that these felt like rewards or punishments. So, they discuss how "getting what you deserve" embeds itself in our theologies. While one may resist loving their enemies, the idea of karma can seem simple and attractive.

Since this passage includes Jesus' admonition to "love your enemies," we pray using words from Yusef Iman's poem of the same name, which one can read here.

Winter Break Re-Air: Job 1:1; 2:1-10

Theologians have produced many theories to explain suffering, but sometimes it seems to simply happen with no reason and with no long term gain. The reality of suffering seems as relevant as ever. Communally, more than 2,000 people die of the coronavirus daily in the United States alone. Personally, Seth’s retina detached in his left eye, leaving him partially blind and in need of surgery. So, we re-air this episode about Job, the role of the Adversary, and the complexities of suffering. 

Assuming Seth’s eye recovers as expected from surgery, a new episode will air next Saturday, February 19th.

Winter Break Re-Air: Esther 7:1-10

Robert Alter calls the book of Esther "Carnivalesque." He notes that no competent empire would have irreversible decrees. The king is portrayed as a buffoon, incapable of making decisions. The book serves as the origin of the Jewish festival of Purim. Jonathan and Seth discuss Pirium, which commemorates the day Jews were to be killed, and how we recall negative situations.

Over the next few weeks, Jonathan settles into a new house and a new job, so we will return with a new episode on February 19th. Until then, we'll re-air two of our favorite episodes from the last few months.

Luke 4:21-30

In a few verses, the crowd switches from praising Jesus to attempting to throw him off of a cliff. They are irate because Jesus tells them he will not perform the same miracles for them as he did in Capernaum. His mission is broader than that, and he cites two texts from the Hebrew Scriptures to prove that God's plan has always been that way. Jonathan and Seth discuss how we react when we see God working in others' lives and not in our own.

Over the next few weeks, Jonathan settles into a new house and a new job, so we will return with a new episode on February 19th. Until then, we'll re-air two of our favorite episodes from the last few months.

1 Corinthians 12:19-31

Bodies have a complicated history for many. Some people like theirs; others feel uncomfortable in theirs. Peoples' feelings about their bodies and their bodies themselves change over time. Paul's words, however, remain unchanged, except for translation changes. Jonathan and Seth use this as an opportunity to read from The Message, talk about how this passage can be heard differently by people with different experiences of their body, and whether the "Body of Christ" is a helpful metaphor today.

This episode connects to last week's, but listening to that episode is not a prerequisite. Either stand on its own.

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Paul lists the gifts of the Spirit and emphasizes that they are varied, but all from God and all beneficial. It corrects to the Jesus followers in Corinth who were prizing speaking in tongues over God’s other gifts. Jonathan and Seth fall into the same trap, focusing initially on speaking in tongues to the detriment of the other gifts. They end up discussing speech more generally, preaching using manuscripts, and how they prep for podcasts episodes.

John 1:10-18

John’s Gospel starts unlike the Synoptics. Rather than beginning “zoomed in” on a family or a young, soon-to-be pregnant girl, John starts his narrative at the beginning of time and space. Jonathan and Seth explore why this narrative differs so much from the other gospel openings, what are the implications, and whether these discrepancies should distract us from the stories.

The pair returns to their respective studios this week. With that return comes more consistent audio.

Philippians 2:3-12

The Christ Hymn, Philippians 2:6-11, often loses its literary and historical context. Theologians latch onto Christ's kenosis, Christ's self-emptying, and spin that word into entire theological systems. Paul, however, places this early Christian hymn in a letter to the Philippians as a model for their behavior. Jonathan and Seth try to read this text in context, struggle with its implications for people with privilege, and see it as the key to unlocking the rest of the letter.

This episode was the last to be recorded in person; next week, we will return to Zoom and its improved audio quality.

Christmas Spectacular 2021

Jonathan narrates A Visit From Saint Nicholas by Clement C. Moore while Seth provides the sound effects for this beloved Christmas classic. After, they read Luke's account of Jesus' birth.

We acknowledge not everyone experiences Christmas merrily, so we hope your holiday is gentle and full of the Christ child's grace.

Luke 1:46-55

Mary’s song declares that God has looked with favor on the lowly and will confound the mighty. As the one chosen to carry the Messiah in her womb, Mary experiences this reversal, which convinces her that God will upend social systems too. Jonathan and Seth discuss -in person- the tendency to emphasize either her personal or communal statements. She is viewed either as a mother or a social revolutionary, but rarely both. They seek to hold her whole identity together.