After Class

Embracing Christ's example involves active participation. When we face revilement, will we respond with blessings? When persecution arises, will we endure with grace? When slander is directed at us, will we reply with kindness? Are we prepared to forsake worldly ideologies and wholeheartedly embrace an alternative way of life, even in the face of worldly opposition? We must ask ourselves, 'Which holds greater power: worldly violence or the path of Christ?' Tune in for Sam, John, and Ron’s discussion on the matter.

Jesus was a pacifist, committed to enemy love, committed to peace, and renounced the sword… but that was Jesus. His unique vocation was to take on all the evil of the world and defeat it on the cross. We should not believe that Jesus expected his followers to do the same… or should we? Join Ron, John, and Sam as they test that claim, beginning in Romans and continuing forward in the letters. Will the thesis stand up, or will the guys debunk flawed theology? Tune in to find out.   On campus announcement! Restoration Appreciation Week Join us on campus or online on October 17th and 20th 2023.

Today, the guys turn to Luke 22 and Jesus’ instruction to bring a sword. Why do they need it? Did Jesus change his mind? Was it just to fulfill prophecy? Is it just a practical tool for the road? Is it metaphorical, or perhaps it was Jesus in a moment of temptation? Join Sam, John, and Ron as they test the strength of these theories and more… And what should we make of Jesus flipping tables and using a whip?

"If you are not in the business of forgiving other people, then God is not in the business of forgiving you.” Today’s episode challenges many cultural norms and interpretations of how Christians should respond to violence. The guys open to Matthew to see how forgiveness ties into our study of violence. Instead of asking, “When is it appropriate for me to act violently,” we should ask, “How can I be as forgiving as the Lord?” But how do we reconcile the above with Jesus' words, "I have not come to bring peace, but a sword."  Tune in to find out!

Blessed are the peacemakers, and those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake… This week, the guys delve into Matthew and his recording of Jesus’ words from the Sermon on the Mount. What is the difference between a peacemaker and a peacekeeper? Which should we be? Does peace only come under the threat of violence? Do the teachings of Christ undermine our inclination to defend ourselves? All this and more in today’s episode of the After Class Podcast.

New Testament. New context. Join Sam, John, and Ron in today’s episode as they set the stage for understanding the New Testament’s view of violence, providing insight into the shift in the Israelite mindset. Once a people in a land God provided, now strangers in a land owned by foreign rulers. How did this new cultural, social, and political-economic structure affect the way they understood God's purpose for them? And how does it inform our understanding of violence and God's people today? Tune in to find out!"  

This week the guys turn to the pages of wisdom literature in their study of Christian violence in the Bible. In today’s episode, John, Sam, and Ron unpack “a time for war” in Ecclesiastes and examine the revenge of God’s people in the book of Esther. How do those who find wisdom find peace, according to wisdom literature? Also, tune in for a special promotion for the high school students in your life!

This week John, Sam, and Ron unpack the implications of Psalm 137:9, "Happy is the one who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks." Tune in as the guys survey the Psalms, where God's people overtly and illustratively talk about violence and peace. According to this collection of writings, what do the righteous do when persecuted, and how does the above verse fit into a posture that relies on God's justice and vengeance?     

This week we enter the world of the prophets to sample how they speak about violence. What happens when the nations and rulers abuse the sword God gave them for justice? Is the vision of peace depicted throughout the Bible only for the next life, or is it a reality to be lived out now? In a world where national powers rely on horses and chariots, will you rely on God, armed only with His word?

In a world of perpetual violence and military arms races, would you start a community between warring countries with no military defense of your own? What if God told you to? We want to be strong, powerful, and impressive in every imaginable way; does this put us at odds with God’s role for his set-apart people? In today's episode, follow the unfolding narrative as we transition from personal violence to corporate violence and national defense/offense. And perhaps more importantly for some, find out what God and Charles Barkley have in common!        

This week the guys continue their walkthrough of scripture on the way to answering a listener's question: How do we respond to a break-in; does God condone killing in self-defense? What about the defense of the country? How seriously is the taking of life to God? In today's episode, Sam, John, and Ron investigate what scripture has to say about land stewardship, the taking of a census, the priest's role in warfare, and David’s use of mighty men. How do these inform our understanding of the Christian response to violence? Tune in to find out!

We may become coaxed by rage to act out in hostility, violence, and vengeance. Join the guys as they unpack more of God’s response and instruction to His people on how they should be witnesses to and uphold the sacredness of life. Tune in this week for part two of our series on violence, self-defense, and Christian participation in bloodshed.

Sam, John, and Ron begin a new series this week in response to numerous listener requests. It is time to talk about Christian participation in violence. Is violence ever justified for a Christian? What about self-defense? We can agree that unprovoked killing is bad, but what about a killing resulting from self-preservation or retaliation? Join the guys as they trace the theme of God’s people and their relation to violence through the Bible. Related Episodes.  3.18 - Violence of the "Conquest" 3.28 - God's Wrath Revealed 3.29 - God's Wrath Revealed - Part Two 1.30 - Telling the Story: Raising Cain

In part two of our bad press miniseries: How should Christians respond to bad press about the brothers and sisters in the faith who are doing wrong? How do we persevere through bad press without growing weary? Can you love God and not love Christians? Tune in this week to hear a perspective on how Christians can deal with bad press and witness to the world. Join Sam, John, and Ron as they unpack four principles identified in scripture. The world will hate you (Christians), expect bad press. When Christians do stupid things, we deserve bad press. We must Persevere through bad press – endure, build character, and hold onto your hope. Do not judge. Mind your own business, and do what God has called you to do.

New office, new studio, new episode, same podcast! This week the guys engage the important topic of bad press. How do we respond when Christians are on the receiving end of bad press for something they have done? What guiding principles do we have to deal with ‘The Media’ which often lies or at best paints an imperfect picture?  Do we follow Matthew 18 in a digital age regarding Christians we have never met? Sadly, we are too familiar with many negative examples of Christians receiving bad press for bad actions, yet there is a biblical precedent for us to expect bad press for being Christians. How then does the Bible tell us we should act if bad press is inevitable? Tune in this week to find out!

This week the guys take a break in the action to present their review of the movie Jesus Revolution; a story of Christian Hippies and the church in the 70's at Calvary Chapel in California. What stands out? What resonates? And what flops? Tune in to find out if you should add this movie to your watch list for the summer. 

In previous episodes, Sam, John, and Ron delved into Augustine's doctrine of original sin and explored the Bible passages that either support or push against it. In today's episode, the guys summarize their findings and share their observations and convictions about original sin, and how the doctrine may have more to do with historical theological strongholds than biblical support. The guys push back against the individualistic story of original sin with a broader interpretation of God's mission and the Kingdom of God. Join the guys as they unpack this narrative in today’s episode of the After Class Podcast. 

In today's episode, the guys return to Agustin’s treatment of Romans 5:12, then investigate passages promoting alternatives to the doctrine of original sin. Will we find strong anti-original sin verses or just a series of general statements and observations? The Bible says all are put to death for their own sin, so does God break his own principle by putting everyone to death for Adam’s sin? Who made us; our parents, ourselves, or God? Are we beautifully and wonderfully made in God’s image or are we sinfully made? Did God create us as vessels for sin?  You don’t want to skip this episode.

This week Sam, John, and Ron continue to look at what the Bible says about sin. The guys focus this episode on the passages that are routinely used to support the doctrine of original sin and see how they hold up to scrutiny. Of the many passages from the Old Testament that paint the picture of sinful humanity, most come from poetry. Should we be more careful about building doctrine off poetic sources? What about the New Testament, will we find strong support for Original Sin? Only one way to find out…  

This week Sam, and John, try to keep Ron in the Old Testament as they begin laying the biblical foundation for our understanding of original sin. The guys delve into key questions such as the usage of the term "sin" in the Bible, and how the Bible's depiction of figures such as Cain, Enoch, and Noah relates to the notion that every inclination of the heart is evil all the time. The guys posit why the popular narrative, “Image bourn, image lost, image regained” improperly frames the story, and touch on what the Bible implies about God and his proximity to us in light of our sins.     Key interpretive differences: Image-bearers vs sin-bearers.