No Experts Allowed

Everyone has a name. One can change their name, use a nickname, like or dislike it, but they have a name. What does it mean to have a "good name"? And how do we develop one or protect it? Jonathan and Seth discuss names and reputations this week. They talk about how creating a lasting reputation may take a long time. And what do names have to do with God? What does this passage tell us about God's name and how God's reputation is meant to be protected? All this and a lot of laughter on this week's episode of NEA.

We're so glad you're with us. We hope you like this episode as much or more than you like your name!

What is purity? What makes someone pure? How is it maintained and how is it restored? In this week's Gospel text, Jesus is confronted by the Pharisees asking questions about the practice of ritual handwashing that they do to ensure purity. Jesus responds that "nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile" (Mk. 7:15). In James, however, true religion and the idea of purity seem much more active. It's about helping orphans and widows and keeping the outside influences at arm's length. So, again, what is purity? Jonathan and Seth try to figure it out this week.

We're so thankful you're with us. We'd love to hear your thoughts on purity and whether it is relevant to our modern world. Shoot us an email with your thoughts or say "hello" at noexpertsallowed@gmail.com.

Families often shape one's faith. Frankly, that can be both positive and negative. Families can pass down unhelpful, harmful theologies. They can also spur someone to ask questions. As a mom recently told Seth, her son asked, "If Jesus breathing on someone can give them the Holy Spirit, can he also fart on them?" On a more serious note, Jonathan and Seth discuss who in their family had an unyielding dedication to God, what we can learn from them, and how we wish to sit and talk with them now. We hope this episode raises those questions about your birth or chosen family, too.

We're so glad you're with us. The weather seems to be turning where we are; we hope it's also getting more comfortable for you and that this podcast provides you comfort in challenging times.

The Bible is packed with "wisdom literature." It's most often associated with books from the Hebrew Bible, but some scholars have argued that James and portions of Ephesians fall under the umbrella of "wisdom literature" too. So, what is it? Does Jesus produce wisdom literature? What happens if we apply the lens we ordinarily use for wisdom literature to Jesus' words? Jonathan and Seth discuss how to get wisdom, where we need wisdom, and how wisdom is more than mere knowledge.

As always, we're thankful you're with us. We know we need more wisdom, so to think that people are listening to us anyway brings us great joy. We hope No Experts Allowed brings you joy too!

One of Seth's life rules is that we should always be wary when people want fewer ethics. Codes of ethics are also in the news, as President Biden proposes a binding code of ethics for the Supreme Court. In Ephesians, Paul lays out some rules for the community to follow. Could this be a source of ethics in the modern world? Could it, at least, be a start? And what happens when we don't follow them? Are there whispers of grace in this short passage? In this episode, Jonathan and Seth discuss these questions and get sentimental about the joys of recording this podcast.

We're thrilled you're with us. And we hope this podcast is a source of refreshment for you, as it is for us.

This episode's text immediately follows last week's text about David raping Bathsheba. Because of that, this episode may also be triggering for some. Like last week, feel free to skip this episode and join us next week when we return to discussing the appointed gospel text.

David is now forced to live with the consequences of his actions. Even his power cannot insulate him from Nathan's rebuke. What can Nathan's prophetic role tell us about participating in systems and critiquing them? How does one both hold power and use it to critique power? Jonathan and Seth attempt to answer these questions, wrestle with how to use their power, and pray for God's help transforming systems that seem almost unchangeable.

We're so glad you're with us as always. A shout-out to Jonathan this week for his flexibility with recording, editing on a tight schedule, and being graceful about it while Seth was away in Maine for vacation.

Content Warning: This episode discusses David raping Bathsheba. We understand that may be triggering and we hope you’ll tune in next week.

King David has a lot of power. He’s “the guy” to lead Israel. His military conquests are legendary. His kingdom is as big as Israel will ever be. He uses that power, however, to control and rape Bathsheba. In this episode, Jonathan and Seth discuss power. How do people acquire power? How do we know someone has power? How can we use it appropriately?

We’re glad you’re with us. It gives us the power to keep recording (see what we did there?). 

Some of the most important jobs are dirty, tiring, and overlooked. Such was the life of a shepherd in first-century Palestine. With countless sheep to watch and threats to assess, there were no showers or Dr. Scholl's orthotics for support during long days on their feet. In this episode, Jonathan and Seth revisit the concept of shepherds, drawing parallels to modern-day teachers. They ask what lessons we can learn from shepherds, how we have been shepherded, and what it means for Jesus to be frequently compared to a shepherd.

This episode was recorded before the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. That event and last week's gospel text (Mark 6:14-29) evidence the messiness and violence of humanity. The world was messy in Jesus' time; it's messy today. But it's this sordid world that God wants to be in. God loves this chaotic, complex world and we continue to pray for it too.

So, we're glad you're with us, as always.

The Church and secular governments have a storied history, occasionally acting as coconspirators in plans to concentrate power among a few and sometimes being deeply adversarial. There's also the enduring challenge of untangling the Church from the government after they become "roommates". To make it more complex, opposite trends have simultaneously occurred in different places. Can they learn from each other, however? Can the lessons be positive? Jonathan and Seth explore these questions in this week's episode, which might - true to form - ask more questions than it answers.

A podcast without listeners is like a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If we probe the depths of theology and speak prophetically against those intent on hurting others, but we do not have listeners, we have nothing. So, we're glad you're here!

Boasting can make both friends and enemies. With the right amount of boasting, one can bolster other's opinions of them. Too much, the boast-er is seen as arrogant, rude, or haughty. Paul, rather, "boast[s] all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me" (2 Cor.  12.9). What does boating in weakness look like? What does boasting look like when one has been trained to embody humility? Should Christians boast? Paul does, after all. Jonathan and Seth discuss a theology of boasting in this week's episode.

We're glad you're here - as always. This week, Jonathan went through a struggle to get this episode out. The recordings sounded like robots took over the episode. We're also thankful he powered through and we could bring this episode to you!