Mere Fidelity
Religion & Spirituality
About
From the Mere Orthodoxy Podcast Network: The Podcast reflecting on God's Word and our world. Thoughtful weekly conversations about theology, the culture, and the church, hosted by Derek Rishmawy and Alastair Roberts. Featuring Andrew Wilson, Brad East, James Wood, and Joseph Minich.
Episodes
- The Desecration of Man with Dr. Carl Trueman
Carl Trueman joins Mere Fidelity to discuss his book The Desecration of Man: How the Rejection of God Degrades Our Humanity . They examine why "desecration" captures something "disenchantment" misses — the frenzied, ecstatic violation of w…
- Virtues For Living Well with Dr. Alan Noble
What does it mean to live well in morally incoherent times? Alan Noble joins the show to discuss his new book To Live Well: Practical Wisdom for Moving Through Chaotic Times , which uses the four cardinal virtues and three theological virt…
- On Paul and The Law
Was the Apostle Paul Torah-observant — not just before the Damascus road, but throughout his apostleship to the nations? Brad East stakes out a thesis drawn from Messianic Judaism and the Paul Within Judaism school: that Acts 21 should be…
- How To Approach God
How do we hold together confidence before God and a proper sense of his holiness? Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, and Joe Minich take up a pastoral question at the heart of Christian worship and prayer. Working from the Lord's Prayer, th…
- Replay: Protestants & History with Paul Gutacker
On this episode of Mere Fidelity, historian of history Paul Gutacker joins Matt, Derek, and Alastair to talk about the changing and sometimes fraught relationship that Protestants have had with the notions of "history" and "tradition." Pau…
- Between Nature and Grace
Derek Rishmawy, James Wood, and Joseph Minich trace the nature-grace debate from de Lubac's challenge to neoscholastic "pure nature" through Blondel, Bavinck, and Betz's Christ the Logos of Creation — asking what's actually at stake: the g…
- Replay: The Age of AI with Jason Thacker
When students started turning in papers written by artificial intelligence, educators were caught flat-footed. We knew that machines would replace many human tasks, but we thought the humanities were immune to that. Have our writing standa…
- The Fall Before The Fall with Philip G. Porter
What if death's presence in the cosmos is not native to creation but a wound running all the way down to its foundations, inflicted before Adam ever reached for the fruit? Philip Porter joins Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, and Brad East…
- What 'Headship' Really Means with Dr. Lyndon Jost
Derek Rishmawy, James Wood, and Alastair Roberts welcome Dr. Lyndon Jost, author of Transfiguring Headship: A Figural Theology of Gender . Jost argues that headship is rooted in Old Testament figural theology rather than Greco-Roman cultur…
- Delighting In The Ten Commandments
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- The Spirituality of Aliens
Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, and Brad East consider what Christian theology actually has to say about aliens — from the populated Christian cosmos to the angelic fall, demonic deception, and the Christological anthropocentrism that ru…
- Resisting Doomerism and Cultivating Hope
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- Replay: Put Social Media In Its Place with Andy Crouch
In this Replay episode, Matthew Lee Anderson, Derek Rishmawy, and Alistair Roberts are joined by Andy Crouch — Partner for Theology and Culture at Praxis — to examine what the data on social media and video games reveals about the divergin…
- The Great Evangelical Hand-Off (That Never Happened) with Jake Meador
Derek Rishmawy and Alastair Roberts host Jake Meador for a wide-ranging conversation on why evangelical institutions struggle with leadership transitions and long-term succession. They explore how evangelicalism's emphasis on discontinuity…
- Spiritual Formation: A Close Examination
Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, Brad East, and James Wood trace the evangelical spiritual formation movement from Richard Foster through Dallas Willard to John Mark Comer. They explore why disciplines resonate today amid technological di…
- A Generous Ecclesiology with Myles Werntz
Hosts Derek Rishmawy and Brad East are joined by Myles Werntz to discuss his Christianity Today Award of Merit-winning book, Contesting the Body of Christ: Ecclesiology's Revolutionary Century . Rather than systematic argument, Werntz uses…
- Paul and the Resurrection of Israel with Dr. Jason Staples
Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts and Brad East talk with Dr. Jason Staples about his book 'Paul and the Resurrection of Israel.' The discussion explores the themes of restoration eschatology, the role of Gentiles in Paul's theology, and th…
- The World Is The Wrong Shape For Women with Leah Sargeant
Derek, Brad, and Alastair talk with Leah Sargeant about her book The Dignity of Dependence . They discuss why the world is built for male bodies, how pregnancy exposes universal human dependence, whether artificial wombs would help anyone,…
- Post-Liberalism: RETVRN, Retrieval, or Revolution?
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- What Is A Sermon, Anyway?
Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, and Brad East discuss the nature of preaching, exploring its purpose, context, and the role of the preacher. They discuss the importance of engaging the heart and conscience of the audience, the need for c…
- How Do We Change Our Minds?
Derek Rishmawy and Alastair Roberts discuss how minds actually change—through paradigm shifts, careful arguments, or accumulated experience. They explore why steel-manning opponents and engaging charitably with the strongest versions of op…
- Jesus and The Law of Moses with Paul T. Sloan
Derek Rishmawy and Brad East engage with Paul T. Sloan, an expert in early Christianity, to discuss his book 'Jesus and the Law of Moses.' The conversation explores the relationship between Jesus, the law, and the restoration of Israel, ch…
- Replay: Reading Advice
Most of what we talk about on Mere Fidelity presupposes a lot of reading. What is the real use of reading? Is what we read more important than how we read? Why do some people who read for years never develop the habits of reading well? Ala…
- Welcome, Reality Respecters
In this episode of Mere Fidelity, Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, and James Wood engage in a deep conversation about the evolving landscape of evangelism and contextualization, particularly focusing on the concept of 'reality respecters'…
- The Bible: A Technology
Derek Rishmawy and Alastair Roberts explore the Bible as a technological medium, discussing its historical context, the impact of the Reformation on biblical engagement, and the shift from oral to written culture. They delve into the impli…
- Do You Need Penal Substitution?
Derek Rishmawy and Brad East engage in a conversation about the complexities of atonement, particularly focusing on penal substitution. They explore the historical context, personal experiences, and theological implications surrounding the…
- Replay: Thinking For Yourself
When dealing with delicate, nuanced, disputed, or important issues, should Christians primarily rely on their own judgment or the authority of church leaders in their lives? Derek, Alastair, and Matt bring their own experience to bear, as…
- Reflecting on Charlie Kirk
In this episode of Mere Fidelity, Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, James Wood, and Joseph Minich engage in a deep and sobering discussion about the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk, reflecting on the implications of violence in societ…
- The Tabernacle, The Temple, and the Church
Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, and Brad East explore the theological significance of the tabernacle and temple in the Old Testament, discussing their roles as divine dwellings, their relationship to Israel's kingship, and their implicat…
- Are You Scared Of Ambition?
Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, and Brad East engage in a discussion about the concept of 'holy ambition' within the context of ministry. They explore the balance between ambition and faithfulness, the impact of social media on pastoral…
- Replay: What Difference Does A Doctrine of Creation Make?
This is a rerelease of a previous episode. In response to a listener question, Derek, Matt, and Alastair go deep on the doctrine of creation. They ask and answer questions about whether creation is real, what counts as worship, what makes…
- Two Cheers For Modernity!
Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, James Wood, and Joe Minich explore whether modernity deserves our praise or criticism. They examine the goods and challenges of the modern world, from medical advances to technological disruption, asking h…
- Are We Disenchanted? Should We Be Enchanted?
Alastair, Joseph, Brad, and Derek explore the themes of enchantment and disenchantment in theology and culture. They reflect on Charles Taylor's analysis of the "disenchanted" modern age, the loss of a sacramental imagination, and the ways…
- Should I Stay Or Should I Go (From My Denomination)?
In this episode of Mere Fidelity, Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, Brad East, and James Wood engage in a deep conversation about the complexities of inhabiting and leaving religious traditions. They explore the implications of a recent th…
- Can You Really Read The Bible Like That?!
This episode of Mere Fidelity is about the boundaries and controls on theological and typological biblical interpretation - essentially asking "what are the brakes on theological exegesis?" — This month: The Body God Gives: A Biblical Resp…
- AI, The Infinite Work Day, And The Finite Pastor
In this episode of Mere Fidelity, the hosts engage in a deep discussion about the implications of artificial intelligence on society, the church, and human relationships. They explore the theological and ethical dimensions of AI, emphasizi…
- Is "Covenant" Overused?
In this episode of Mere Fidelity, the hosts engage in a deep discussion about covenant theology, exploring its significance in scripture and its role in Reformed theology. They debate the load-bearing nature of covenant language, its histo…
- The Deep Weird of the Book of Daniel
_*]:min-w-0 !gap-3.5"> Andrew Wilson and Alastair Roberts explore the Book of Daniel, moving from familiar stories to complex apocalyptic visions. They discuss interpretive keys including Babel connections, chiastic structure, and Christol…
- After 'After Virtue' with Jason Blakely
In this episode, Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, and Brad East are joined by political theorist Jason Blakely to explore the life, work, and legacy of Alasdair MacIntyre. Best known for After Virtue , MacIntyre diagnosed the deep moral c…
- This Is Bavinck's Moment with Dr. John Bolt
Mere Fidelity hosts Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, and James Wood interview Professor John Bolt about completing Herman Bavinck's Reformed Ethics translation project. Discussion covers Bavinck's methodology combining creation order and…
- The Counterculture That Became The Culture
Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, and Joseph Minich explore the Jesus People movement of the 1970s—from hippie communes to Calvary Chapel—and its lasting impact on American evangelicalism. They discuss the tension between Spirit-led reviva…
- Your Vocation Isn't Radical Enough
Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, and Brad East discuss why so many Christians today feel stuck, anxious, or overwhelmed by the idea of "calling." They examine how the biblical and Reformation doctrine of vocation has been reshaped by mode…
- Hath Pope Leo XIV Jurisdiction Here?
Mere Fidelity is back! Welcome to Mere Fidelity 2.0: A Mere Orthodoxy Podcast. Hosts Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, Brad East, and James Wood dive into the major news of Pope Francis's passing and Cardinal Robert Prevost's election as P…
- The One Thing Necessary
A lot can happen in ten years. A lot has happened in ten years. In this, Matt's final episode as a Mere Fi co-host, the guys reflect on the changes, crises, developments, growth, learning, cursings, and blessings that have occurred since t…
- Mere Christian Hermeneutics with Kevin Vanhoozer
Is it literally possible to read the Bible literally? Dr. Kevin Vanhoozer joins Derek, Alastair, and Matt as the penultimate guest of 2024 to talk about frames of reference, transfigural reading, how the New Testament uses the Old Testamen…
- Widening Gap
When a prominent Biblical theologian changes his position on the legitimacy of same-sex marriage, it prompts numerous questions for Derek, Alastair, and Matt to tackle in this episode of Mere Fidelity. Full show notes at www.merefidelity.c…
- Broken Bonds, with Amy Mantravadi
Amy Mantravadi, Mere Fi's snarkiest online critic has written a novel—a historical novel—about the heroes of the Reformation. Matt and Alastair bring her on the show to talk about it, what historical fiction can do that theology can't, wha…
- The Last Roman Philosopher, with Dr. Tom Ward
On October 23rd, 524, Boethius, the last of the Classical philosophers and the first Medieval Man, was executed. Today, 1,500 years later, his work, especially The Consolation of Philosophy, continues to influence many, including major thi…
- When Politics Becomes Heresy, with Dr. Tim Perry
Dr. Tim Perry returns to Mere Fidelity with a (as Matt calls it) "spicy" book about how ancient heresies have structured the political witness of modern evangelicalism. This is bad. Maybe even very bad. Full show notes at www.merefidelity.…
- Mortal Goods, with Dr. Ephraim Radner
Politics has inflated beyond the realm where it can order our finite, common, physical lives. What is the natural realm of politics? How is it delimited by human mortality? Theologian Dr. Ephraim Radner joins Matt and Alastair to discuss t…