Voxology

Is forgiveness just about letting people off the hook, or is it something much deeper that restores our own humanity? Join Mike Erre and Tim Stafford as they continue their series on the Lord’s Prayer, focusing on the challenging petition to forgive as we have been forgiven. From recent headlines involving the Southern Baptist Convention to the radical math of Jesus’s parables, we explore what it truly means to abandon the ledger system of life.
In this episode, we tackle common misconceptions about forgiveness. We discuss why it does not mean excusing abuse or ignoring the need for justice, but rather refusing to let vengeance poison our souls. Mike shares his personal practice for releasing grievances, while Tim reflects on powerful lessons learned from working with people in the prison system. Whether you are struggling with a minor slight or a deep betrayal, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on the fuel that human community needs to run on.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro and Summer Catch Up
3:45 The SBC Amendment and Women in Ministry
9:20 Institutional Control and Religious Legalism
12:50 Special Guest Seth Erre Joins the Show
17:40 The Lord’s Prayer: Forgive Us Our Debts
22:15 Why Jesus Links Our Forgiveness to Others
26:30 Forgiveness vs Justice: Draining the Vengeance
31:45 The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
36:10 The Math of Unrepayable Debt
41:50 Choosing to Abandon the Ledger System
46:30 What Forgiveness Is Not: Dispelling the Myths
51:15 The Bag of Cement: Four Ways We Handle Hurt
56:40 Practical Steps to Actually Forgive
1:01:00 Repentance as a Posture of Restoration
1:02:34 Outro and How to Support the Show
We are so grateful for your support in making these conversations possible. If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe and share it with someone who might need to hear it today. You can find more resources and support our non-profit work at our website or via the Patreon and Tithely links.
As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.
We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV.
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Learn more about the Voxology Podcast
Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify
Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon
The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio
Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook
Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre
Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford
Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

Is artificial intelligence our modern Tower of Babel? In this episode, we dive into the Pope’s recent warnings about AI and explore what it means to maintain our human dignity in a world obsessed with optimization. We discuss the profound contrast between building for self-aggrandizement and building for the common good.
Mike and Tim explore the moral depth of recent teachings on technology, highlighting the Imago Dei as the center of the conversation. They discuss the risks of transhumanism and why embracing human limitation is a vital part of the Christian experience. In a world where AI threatens to reduce people to data points, we look at how to protect the infinite worth of every individual.
The second half of the video features a deep dive into the Lord’s Prayer and the petition for daily bread. By looking back at the story of manna in the wilderness from Exodus, we learn what it means to depend on God for today’s sustenance without hoarding for tomorrow. This ancient practice challenges the modern obsession with wealth and invites us into a life of contentment, mutuality, and trust.
Chapters
0:00 Intro and family updates
3:50 Engagement news and summer travel plans
7:15 The Pope’s message on AI and technology
11:45 Babel syndrome versus the Nehemiah way
16:30 The Imago Dei and human worth in a digital age
21:00 Transhumanism and the gift of limitation
25:45 AI’s impact on art, music, and creativity
30:15 The theology of work and the influence of Mammon
35:30 Defining what it truly means to be human
40:00 The Lord’s Prayer and the context of the wilderness
45:15 The story of Manna and the test of enough
50:30 Jesus as the true bread of life
55:45 Proverbs 30 and the prayer for daily bread
1:01:00 Final reflections and Seth’s prayer
As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.
We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV.
Our Merch Store! Etsy
Learn more about the Voxology Podcast
Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify
Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon
The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio
Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook
Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre
Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford
Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

Welcome to our special summer break episode where we dive into everything from amusement park plans to the deep theological roots of the Lord’s Prayer. Join Mike, Tim, and Seth Erre as we navigate the complexities of modern culture, digital fatigue, and the ancient stories that still shape our faith today.
In this episode, we tackle a thoughtful listener question about whether our language has become too academic or niche for newer believers. We explore the importance of making theological concepts accessible while still honoring the depth of the scriptures. Tim shares his recent experiences with spiritual coaching and finding holiness in unexpected places, from historic cathedrals to the high-energy community of a hardcore mosh pit.
The core of our conversation focuses on a fascinating lens for the Lord’s Prayer: seeing it as a New Exodus prayer. We discuss how Jesus positions himself as a new Moses, leading his people out of captivity and through a spiritual wilderness. By connecting petitions like hallowed be your name and daily bread to the original Exodus story and the provision of manna, we discover a posture of dependence that is perfect for our own in-between times.
Chapters
0:00 Summer Plans and Special Guests
3:15 Roller Coasters and Pickleball Injuries
7:30 The End of Late Night TV and Cultural Mourning
12:15 Navigating Political and Digital Fatigue
18:40 Is Our Language Too Seeker Sensitive
24:10 Reclaiming Holy Spaces and Spiritual Coaching
30:25 The Struggle of Over-Analyzing Theology
34:50 Did God Plan for a World with Death
39:20 Hardcore Music and Finding Beauty in Chaos
43:45 The Lord’s Prayer as a New Exodus
48:20 Connecting Fatherhood and the Divine Name
53:10 Daily Bread and the Manna Story
57:40 Forgiveness and the Wilderness Testing
59:30 Seth Erre’s Closing Blessing
As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.
We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV.
Our Merch Store! Etsy
Learn more about the Voxology Podcast
Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify
Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon
The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio
Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook
Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre
Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford
Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

Are you struggling to navigate the tension between your faith and the current political climate? Join Mike Erre and Tim Stafford as they sit down with theologian and author Dr. Lee Camp to discuss how Christians can faithfully bear witness in a world of political idolatry. This deep dive explores the history of the church, the myth of the Christian nation, and what it truly means to follow Jesus in a polarized society.
In this episode, the team discusses the radical roots of the Anabaptist movement and how the early church viewed its relationship with the state. Dr. Camp breaks down the crucial distinctions between healthy patriotism and the messianic claims of Christian nationalism. You will hear a challenging conversation about why the church is called to a life of persuasion rather than compulsion, and how we can engage in the public square without being malformed by bitterness or partisan tribalism.
From the ethics of voting to the historical development of just war theory, this interview provides a robust framework for anyone looking to deepen their theological understanding of politics. Whether you are feeling disillusioned by modern headlines or looking for a better way to love your neighbor, this conversation offers a refreshing perspective on the present and coming kingdom of God.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
4:15 The malformation of news and media
8:20 Introducing guest Dr. Lee Camp
11:15 Exploring the No Small Endeavor project
14:30 Lee Camp's background and Anabaptist roots
18:15 The radical reformation and church-state power
23:10 Theological reasons for separating church and state
27:35 Christians participating in government
31:45 The ambiguity and ethics of voting
36:20 Biblical instructions in a modern democracy
39:50 Differentiating patriotism from nationalism
45:10 Is America a Christian nation?
50:25 The church's role in bearing witness
53:40 Just war theory vs. Christian pacifism
1:00:15 Resisting political idolatry with grace
1:05:30 Where to find Lee Camp's work
1:08:00 Outro and how to support Voxology
As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.
We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV.
Our Merch Store! Etsy
Learn more about the Voxology Podcast
Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify
Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon
The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio
Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook
Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre
Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford
Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

Today, Mike and Tim delve into biblical hermeneutics, exploring how contemporary Christians interpret Scripture today. Max Botner offers a rich model emphasizing location, analysis, conversation, and embodiment. He critiques simplistic fundamentalist approaches and advocates for a community and Spirit-led interpretive process rooted in humility, tradition, and love, aiming toward embodying the Gospel in diverse contexts.
Explore how Scripture is interpreted in contemporary Christian thought through the insights of Dr. Max Botner, author of How Then Shall We Read? Discover the nuanced approach to understanding the Bible, from historical context and interpretive communities to the Holy Spirit's role.
Main Topics:
The nature of Scripture as divine revelation and its interpretive complexityThe influence of tradition, community, and the Holy Spirit on biblical hermeneuticsThe pitfalls of Biblicism and the importance of contextual and embodied interpretationModels of faithful interpretation—location, analysis, conversation, embodimentNavigating diverse interpretations: Pentecost versus Babel, unity in diversityKey
Insights:
The Bible as a sprawling library of divine Word, requiring a hermeneutic of love and humilityHuman interpretation is inevitable; seeking mutual enrichment despite inevitable divergenceThe significance of hermeneutic of belonging—community and tradition guide our readingEmbodied hermeneutics emphasizes living out Scripture within community and personal experienceThe importance of ongoing, circular interpretive processes that involve research, conversation, and embodimentThe danger of Biblicism and the need for critical, contextually aware reading strategiesThe Spirit’s role as progressive, softening our hearts over time—interpreted through prayer, community, and studyDiversity in interpretation brings richness but requires wisdom and humilityThe biblical narrative points toward the diversity of God's creation and the unity found in Spirit-led community
Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
11:00 - Introducing Dr. Max Botner and the significance of interpretive models
14:13 - Max discusses the nature of the Bible as God's Word and the interpretive challenges involved
18:20 - Why human interpretation varies—diversity as part of God's providence
21:16 - The importance of returning to Scripture with humility and community
23:41 - The dangers of biblicism and wooden literalism in interpretation
27:27 - Gadamer’s concept of understanding through application and the embodied hermeneutic
28:14 - Living Scripture through embodiment and the church’s role
32:43 - Critique of biblicism and the fallacy of unreflective literalism
35:34 - American spin on the clarity of Scripture and its implications
39:30 - Approaching deconstruction and skepticism in biblical interpretation
45:22 - The Holy Spirit’s role in guiding understanding and interpretation
53:50 - Pentecost as the ultimate model of diverse, Spirit-led unity
Resources & Links:
How Then Shall We Read? - A Student’s Guide to Interpreting the New Testament
Center for Bible Study YouTube Channel
As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.
We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV.
Our Merch Store! Etsy
Learn more about the Voxology Podcast
Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify
Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon
The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio
Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook
Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre
Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford
Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy