The UnSunday Show

I received a note from David, one of the listeners to this podcast, who asked for my take on Timothy as a pastor and how the function of modern church pastors differs from the function of their New Testament counterparts. I flipped the order of this to talk about the differences first and then next week, I'll be taking a look at Timothy while continuing to build on the differences. Comparing the differences between how modern institutional church pastors function and the function of pastors in the New Testament is like comparing apples to oranges. One of these is not like the other. So let's talk about it. Other Places You'll Find Me The Grace Cafe Podcast: https://www.gracecafepodcast.com TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@unsunday.mike Instagram https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/TheUnSundayShow Leave Me a Rating/Review

Delving into the origins of the term 'church' and the concept of 'ekklesia', the podcast challenges authority in institutional religion and explores the freedom found in the body of Christ. It discusses the shift from compliance to love, questioning oppressive structures and embracing the decentralized nature of the true ekklesia.

Let's talk about obedience. Doesn't that sound fun? I've found it to be true that in almost every institutional church setting, the topic of Christian obedience in one form or another, dominates the landscape. It's peppered throughout sermons to varying degrees (most of the time, overtly), it's written into our church membership contracts (yes, those are contracts), it's presented as the final solution in counseling sessions, it's used as an enforcement tactic when church leaders threaten you with excommunication, it's used as a guilt tactic to get you to confirm to church rules and dogma and to submit to church staff, and it's at the center of most, if not all, discipleship groups and discipleship curriculum. Wow! I think that's the longest sentence I've typed so far in 2021. In short, we've made a mess of "Christian obedience". Definitions of obedience and to what or to whom we should be giving our allegiance will vary from group to group and denomination to denomination. But rest assured that in almost every definition, Bible verses will be taken out of context and used to prove that you don't measure up, diminishing the work of Christ on your behalf, who has already made you obedient from the heart. Let's talk. Other Places You'll Find Me The Grace Cafe Podcast: https://www.gracecafepodcast.com TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@unsunday.mike Instagram https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/TheUnSundayShow Leave Me a Rating/Review

This podcast delves into the elevated status of the pulpit in institutional Christianity, critiquing how it has stifled the use of spiritual gifts by all members of the body of Christ. It challenges the traditional perception of the pulpit as the ultimate source of truth, advocating for a return to a more participatory and collective ecclesia. The discussion highlights the importance of individual contributions within the body of Christ and calls for a shift away from passive conformity towards active engagement.

Exploring the significance of pulpits, clergy authority, and the impact on institutional churches. Discussing the role of the pulpit in traditional church gatherings and the limitations it imposes on congregants.

Exploring the pitfalls of professionalizing Christianity, challenges of individual expression in modern church settings, deconstructing professional Christianity, and reevaluating the pastor title to focus on spiritual giftedness over mere professionalism.

Let's talk about how institutional religion often uses the small group setting as another way to promote itself by making the group agenda-driven and insisting that the agenda remains at the heart of the group. Whether it's to review Sunday's sermon, have an institutionally-sanctioned Bible study or book study, or to discuss the institution's doctrinal statement, institutionally-imposed rules governing our time together are at the heart of the group meeting. Getting to that agenda each week is the real reason we're allowed to meet and everything else that happens during our time together is an add-on. The simplicity of just living life together and enjoying it, gets lost in this kind of environment. Let's talk... Other Places You'll Find Me The Grace Cafe Podcast: https://www.gracecafepodcast.com TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@unsunday.mike Instagram https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/TheUnSundayShow Leave Me a Rating/Review

Let's talk about spiritual disciplines. Spiritual disciplines are a group of activities that vary from group to group or church to church, that we're told we need to be doing to ensure spiritual maturity. It's an activity list of things like reading your Bible, prayer, giving, sharing your faith, etc. that institutional environments use as a vehicle for tracking accountability and compliance to preset standards of behavior. In this episode I interact a little with this article: 12 Spiritual Disciplines That Will Make Your Faith Strong Let's talk... Other Places You'll Find Me The Grace Cafe Podcast: https://www.gracecafepodcast.com TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@unsunday.mike Instagram https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/TheUnSundayShow Leave Me a Rating/Review

Let's talk about faith. In the letter to the Hebrews we're told that without faith it's impossible to please [God]. That sounds a little daunting. Does that mean I'm responsible to fabricate a certain amount of faith every day to make sure God is happy with me? What if I fail in my attempts at faith? Is God displeased with me? How do I know when I've succeeded? How much faith is enough faith? How do I know when I've done enough? In the letter to the Ephesians we read that faith is a gift. But how can it be both a requirement and a gift? That seems like a contradiction. This episode centers around Galatians 2:20 where Paul said: "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Let's talk... Other Places You'll Find Me The Grace Cafe Podcast: https://www.gracecafepodcast.com TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@unsunday.mike Instagram https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/TheUnSundayShow Leave Me a Rating/Review

Let's take a few minutes to talk about institutional religion's shady past. This is in response to a comment someone left back in episode 46 (Who Has Bewitched You?) that deserves some attention. The comment was actually in two parts. The first part was more of an observation when this person said, "Communities used to be built around the church, literally." I agree with that. Entire communities existed around the centrality of the institutional church, but not always by choice. This individual went to to ask, "Wasn't that a good thing that bonded communities?" I think this is a really good question that can't be answered with a simple yes or no. So let's take a closer look at it in light of a couple of snippets in church history and let's see if the way institutional Christianity bonded communities was a good thing that created genuine community. Other Places You'll Find Me The Grace Cafe Podcast: https://www.gracecafepodcast.com TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@unsunday.mike Instagram https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/TheUnSundayShow Leave Me a Rating/Review