The Dismantling Doctrine Podcast

What kind of an impact can a single sermon have on the lives of people? Not much, or a great deal? Historically, in 1095 AD Pope Urban II preached a sermon in Clermont, France, that launched the bloodshed of the Crusades to the Holy Land. Not only were hideous atrocities committed, the legacy of that sermon resonates down through the centuries. Even today, Christians, Jews and Muslims alike are still living in the shadow of the actions caused by--one sermon. In the second half of "Preaching with a Bias," Gary and I examine in more detail the sociological impact of sermons on the lives of ordinary churchgoers, and how the use--or abuse--of Scripture can lead to a lot of toxic theology that does incredible damage in the lives of people. We'll also take a look at the legacy of fundamentalist preaching and interpretation of the Bible, and how certain theological and interpretative commitments work themselves out in the real world.

What effect does listening to years of sermons have on a person's psyche, behavior, and mental health? In this episode of the newly-named "MindShift" podcast (formerly "The Preacher's Forum podcast"), Gary Hayes and I tackle the subject of preaching, and its effects on people. If you're a preacher, then you will benefit from this episode! Question your biases, presuppositions and hermeneutical commitments. If you are a listener of sermons in churches, then you will also benefit from this episode! Deconstruct your beliefs in God, the Bible, and what you hear regularly from the pulpit.  

Overheard in church: "God doesn't have emotions...and neither should you!" What constitutes a good Christian, anyway? Someone who is spiritually mature, is the common answer. But what if that person is emotionally immature? What then? This is precisely what I and Marc Alan Schelske, author of The Wisdom of Your Heart: Discovering the God-Given Purpose and Power of Your Emotions, discuss in this episode. Should you trust your emotions, or ignore them? Treat them as fickle and frivolous? The fact is, though, that most of us are not truly in touch with our emotions. We've come to exalt human reason over emotions, but the fact is that without emotions, reason is crippled. Don't miss this thought-provoking and challenging episode! 

Reflect on the irony of the statement, "Leaving the church...to find God." And what is the church, after all, but a collection of individuals striving to do just that--find God? To find themselves, to discover their own humanity? It's hard to separate out, however, the oftentimes sordid history of the church in the past, and also what it has become today. In the midst of the formulaic religion, the rote performances, and the whole affair of "going through the motions," God can get lost in the mix. Therefore you may find yourself contemplating the radical--and ironic--notion of "leaving the church...to find God." He's not in the black-and-white, bullet-point doctrinal statements or theological tomes; he's not even to be found in the pages of Scripture. He's a real, living person, with whom we can actually have a relationship. But sadly, so many people have to leave the church...to find him. Join Gary and I for the second half of this thought-provoking and challenging episode!

Why would anyone even contemplate the idea of leaving the church in order to find God? Surely the church is where one goes to...find God, right?  But the truth is that for many, God can easily get lost in the midst of all of the rituals and traditions, formulaic worship, toxic or just bad theology, and rote practices. Besides, isn't God everywhere? He doesn't actually dwell in a building made by human hands. So for some, it may well be that in the journey to "find God," that they may well have to leave the church in order to do just that. Perhaps new forms of thinking, new experiences and freedom, are to be found outside the walls of a local church. If that sounds intriguing to you, then join Gary and I for the first half of this thought-provoking conversation. You may well start your journey to find God...as you leave the church behind.

"You can't be a Christian...and crazy!" says Steve Austin of the CXMH podcast and the iamsteveaustin.net website. He's my guest on this latest episode of the MindShift podcast series. There is unfortunately a stigma attached to mental health and the church. Throw in some questionable--or downright bad theology--like "the magic Jesus pill" (say a prayer and you're all better), and you've got a toxic mix that is destined for causing a lot of damage. Steve and I have a great discussion about these issues and more. Don't miss this episode, where he shares his near-successful suicide attempt, his recovery and efforts to help others on the road to health, healing and wholeness.

Are you a survivor of childhood sexual abuse? Were you sexually abused as a teenager, or even as an adult? Perhaps the abuse is even now ongoing and you feel powerless to stop it. In the UK alone, according to a 2000 study by the NSPCC, one in 6 children will experience some form of sexual abuse by the age of 16. 8 out of 10 children abused know their abuser. In the USA, a person is sexually assaulted every 98 seconds. Many abusers are family members, friends, or people in positions of trust; many are well-known and respected by the victims' family. Jean Dobson courageously speaks out abuse her multiple experiences of sexual abuse, beginning from when she was a young girl and continuing through her early adult years. Rather than being stigmatized by it, she has found healing, hope and restoration--but it certainly has not been an easy journey. She's now in a place where she can help other sexual abuse victims. Don't miss this episode--this is a powerful and compelling story that needs to be experienced.

"Everything rises and falls on leadership" (John Maxwell). If you're a leader, or a member of a leadership team, how would you even know if the culture of your team is dysfunctional or unhealthy? For that matter, what are the qualities that make up a good and effective leader? In this second episode on the subject of leadership, I'll help you to begin to turn the negatives into positives. Beyond merely identifying what areas might be going wrong with your leadership team, in this episode we'll explore how to turn the "5 Dysfunctions of a Team" into the "5 Functions of a Team." Beyond the team, the episode will conclude by offering helpful advice regarding your own personal development as a leader...humility and credibility are critically important!  

Exactly how important is the culture of an organization? What role does leadership play in shaping and building the culture? How does culture fit into mission, vision and values? If you're involved in leadership on any level--be it a business, a church or any other organization--then this episode is for you. Whether you're a leader of a team, or a member of a leadership team, then join me for the first half of two episodes I'm doing on exploring the concept of "The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team." Based on the book of the same name, written by leadership guru Patrick Lencioni, I'll unpack and explore some of the major dysfunctions that affect leadership teams, and ultimately the organization itself.  In next week's episode, I'll turn the negatives into positives, and explore "The 5 Functions of a Team." Don't miss this incredibly helpful series!  

Why did one fish turn to the other at fish church on a Sunday and say: "I'm sure glad the ocean turned up today." What does that have to do with our views of God? Explore the subject of theoclasm with us: It has to do with challenging, deconstructing, and possibly even tearing down our received, inherited views of God. How do you see God? As an angry father? Or is he disappointed with your lack of effort and behavior? Possibly you don't believe in God...or perhaps your views are in the process of changing and evolving. In this conversation with Gary Hayes, we delve into the subject of God, and challenge some of the more traditional and received views of the Almighty. Don't miss this conversation--you'll be glad you investigated this subject with us!