Untidy Faith – Détails, épisodes et analyse

In this episode, I sit down with Marissa Burt and Kelsey Kramer McGinnis, authors of The Myth of Good Christian Parenting, for a sobering conversation about how the Christian parenting industry sold families impossible promises wrapped in biblical authority.

Critiquing parenting books is important, but we also need to recognize how movements born from 1970s political fears, biblical counseling innovations, and prosperity gospel thinking created authoritarian frameworks that promised godly legacies while actually preventing authentic relationships, and how families can move toward seeing children as fully human neighbors instead of extensions of parental control.

Topics Covered

* Understanding the false promise of “train up a child in the way they should go” as a guaranteed formula for producing Christian adults, and how this turned children into extensions of parental desire for “kingdom legacy” rather than autonomous persons

* Why James Dobson’s Dare to Discipline (1970) is far more a conservative political book about restoring order and authority in response to social upheaval than a Christian or biblical parenting resource

* How the biblical counseling movement (starting 1970), inerrancy movement (1978 Chicago Statement), and fears about no-fault divorce combined to create unprecedented emphasis on parental authority as “first principle” and spanking as spiritual practice

* The invention of “liturgy spanking”—transforming what was historically just coercive behavior control into a supposedly godly catechesis connected to penal substitutionary atonement, complete with step-by-step manuals

* Why these frameworks betray entire families: parents are left ill-equipped to relate to children as individuals when external compliance is mistaken for authentic connection, and adult children reclaiming autonomy creates painful estrangement

Timestamps:

01:00 The “Oh No” Moment: When Christian Parenting Advice Doesn’t Add Up

06:00 False Promises of Guaranteed Godly Legacies

12:00 Political Origins: Dobson’s Book as Conservative Response to Social Upheaval

18:00 Biblical Counseling Movement’s Outsized Influence

25:00 The Invention of “Liturgical Spanking” in the 1970s

31:00 How Families Get Betrayed by These Frameworks

37:00 Children as Fully Human Neighbors, Not Property

43:00 Finding the Book and More Resources

In this episode, I sit down with Zach Lambert, author of Better Ways to Read the Bible, for an honest conversation about how to read the Bible in ways that bring life instead of harm.

This isn’t just about finding better interpretations—it’s about recognizing how literalism, apocalypticism, moralism, and hierarchy have damaged real people, and learning to read Scripture through lenses that center Jesus, context, flourishing, and fruitfulness instead. Zach offers both deconstruction of harmful patterns and reconstruction of life-giving practices for engaging with the Bible.

Topics Covered

* How a college professor’s simple assignment to research women like Deborah, Junia, Phoebe, and Priscilla shattered Zach’s assumptions about women’s roles in the church, and why 80% of his class changed their minds after one week

* Understanding the 1978 Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy as a recent invention designed to police theological borders by saying “if you disagree with our interpretation, you’re not a Christian”—a form of spiritual abuse that weaponizes God’s name for human control

* Why the “apocalypse lens” (obsession with end times, rapture, hell, and judgment) is so pervasive in American evangelicalism: it’s incredibly effective at controlling people through fear, and has influenced American foreign policy for 75 years through Left Behind theology

* Learning from a Jewish rabbi that the Bible’s authority comes from its multiplicity of truths—like a crystal refracting light differently depending on who’s reading—rather than excavating one singular “correct” interpretation for every verse

* Reframing “God hates divorce” through context and flourishing lenses: understanding that divorce commandments were exclusively given to men in a patriarchal society where divorce was often a death sentence for women, not a universal prohibition against leaving abusive marriages

* How humility and healthy diverse community are the essential ingredients for reading Scripture well—because white clergy’s unanimous biblical defense of chattel slavery wouldn’t have survived if they’d been in equitable community with Black people

Timestamps:

01:00 The Assignment That Changed Everything About Women

06:00 Separating Biblical Inspiration from Human Interpretation

10:00 Social Location and Who Gets Called “Just Theology”

16:00 The Chicago Statement as Spiritual Abuse Tool

21:00 Why Apocalypse Lens Dominates American Evangelicalism

30:00 Detoxing Harmful Patterns Through Humility and Community

35:00 Reframing “God Hates Divorce” Through Healing Lenses

42:00 What Makes God Angry According to the Prophets

45:00 Leading a Church Through Interpretive Diversity

47:00 Finding Zach’s Work and Upcoming Book

In 2 Samuel 19, we witness David's complicated return to power after Absalom's death—a chapter that reveals the messy intersection of grief, politics, and justice.

Through three pivotal encounters on his journey back to Jerusalem, we see how David's approach to leadership prioritizes political expediency over genuine justice, particularly in his heartbreaking dismissal of Mephibosheth's legitimate grievances.

This chapter serves as a sobering preview of the kingdom's coming division, showing us the cost of leadership that values loyalty over righteousness and efficiency over authentic relationship.

Topics We Cover

* How David's public mourning for Absalom gets shut down by Joab, leading to immediate political maneuvering that reveals the performative nature of his subsequent "mercy"

* Examining David's encounters with Shimei (performative forgiveness), Mephibosheth (dismissive injustice), and Barzillai (transactional loyalty) as a study in how power corrupts discernment

* Why David's unjust ruling that divides Saul's land represents both a violation of Torah justice and literary foreshadowing of the kingdom's eventual split

* How David's calculated mercy exposes a broader cultural pattern of transactional relationships that prioritizes political gain over authentic love and loyalty

* Exploring how David's "move fast and break things" approach to leadership reflects systems that value efficiency over people, ultimately fracturing both family and kingdom

Timestamps:

01:42 David's Return to Jerusalem

05:13 David's Grief and Political Maneuvering

10:05 Joab's Role and David's Struggles

13:33 Generational Trauma and Loyalty

19:51 David's Strategic Forgiveness

25:20 Chronological and Literary Analysis

27:02 The Impact of David's Actions on Mephibosheth

30:11 David's Strategic Kindness and Manipulation

33:58 The Exhaustion of Maneuvering in a Toxic System

38:39 Foreshadowing the Split of the Kingdom

44:43 Takeaways

Today I’m joined by Courtney Ellis and Elisa Johnston. And the three of us talk about what you do when you’re expecting Jesus to come back quickly, the weird and wild wonder of Pentecost, and what the church looked like when it was first growing.

Courtney Ellis serves as a pastor at Presbyterian Church of the Master. Her books include Uncluttered, Almost Holy Mama: Life-giving spiritual practices for weary parents, and Happy Now: Let playfulness lift your load and renew your spirit  (Tyndale, 2021). Ordained in the PC(USA), Courtney speaks coast to coast, loves Survivor, hates candy corn, and resides in southern California with her husband (and co-pastor) Daryl and three children. Happy Now: Let Playfulness Lift Your Load and Renew Your Spirit with Aspire Press/Tyndale House is available now. Order here!

Instagram: @courtney_ellis_author

Facebook: @authorcourtneyellis

Website: www.courtneybellis.com

Elisa Johnston empowers ordinary people to be fully alive while making the difference they were born to make at Average Advocate, procrastinates on Instagram, and brings freedom to the exploited through Blackout Trafficking. Whenever and wherever she can, she explores with her three littles and adopted housemate. Thankfully, God, her husband, and other favorite introverts are all particularly grounding, because otherwise her passion to raise-up leaders, live missionally, and start world changing things would compel her into a creative oblivion.

Are you disentangling your faith from the culture around you? The greatest tool in that journey for me was the Bible itself. You’ve probably noticed that here on the show we love the Bible, and we take it seriously - but not always literally, and that means that meaning can get a little complicated. But you don’t have to let that overwhelm you. I’ve put together the Big Picture Toolkit to help you understand how all of Scripture fits together in one incredible story, learn some new questions to ask to get at meaning without getting overwhelmed, and see new connections between Old and New Testaments with a special Bible Reading Plan. If you’re ready to get back to basics of your faith, the Bible is a great place to start, and the Big Picture Bible Toolkit can help. Grab yours today free at kateboyd.co/bible.

If you enjoyed our discussion, I’d love if you would rate + review on your favorite podcast player. This helps more people to find the show and learn with us. 

Then come on over to social media and let’s talk about it! You can find me on Instagram @kateboyd.co and on Twitter @thekateboyd. And don’t forget to check the show notes to find and follow today’s contributors as well. Thank YOU for joining us, and I’ll see you next time.

Kate Boyd - Book | Bible Studies | Coaching | Newsletter | Instagram

My guest today is Meghan Tschanz, a writer, speaker, and former missionary who is passionate about empowering women and reclaiming feminism for the Christian faith. She's a co-author of the cookbook "Recipes To Take Down the Patriarchy", host of the Faith and Feminism podcast, and an avid traveler. She and her husband, Dustin, live in northeast Georgia. We talk about faith, feminism, and finding purpose from life overseas. 

Quick content warning: there is discussion of sex trafficking and similar rough topics within this episode.

If you want to keep up with Meghan, you can find her online at ...

Follow her on Twitter: @meghantschanz.

Instagram: @meghantschantz

Her book Women Rising is also for sale now and available at the link in our show notes. https://www.ivpress.com/women-rising

 
If you find yourself in the messy middle as a Christian, you’re not alone, and I’d love to help. I’ve created the Untidy Faith newsletter just for you. Together, we'll navigate the many tensions of the Christian life and in the process find ourselves wandering closer to the Way of Jesus. When you sign up, you'll get a printable version of the Messy Middle Christian manifesto to your inbox today and first access to more Untidy Faith resources as they come out. You can sign up today at kateboyd.co/newsletter

If you enjoyed our discussion, I’d love if you would rate + review on your favorite podcast player. This helps more people to find the show and learn with us. 

Then come on over to social media and let’s talk about it! You can find me on Instagram @kateboyd.co and on Twitter @thekateboyd.  Thank YOU for joining us, and I’ll see you next time.

Kate Boyd - Book | Bible Studies | Coaching | Newsletter | Instagram

On Today’s show, I’m joined by DeVon Wade and Joy Vetterlein for a walk through Mark 1-2. We talk about how the complex politics of the Israel/Jordan/Palestine region informed our ideas of Jesus’ baptism, what terrifies demons, what wine and bodies have in common, and a lot more.

Joy Vetterlein | Instagram | Twitter
DeVon Wade | Instagram | Twitter

If you enjoyed our discussion, I’d love if you would rate + review on your favorite podcast player. This helps more people to find the show and learn with us. 

Then come on over to social media and let’s talk about it! You can find me on Instagram @kateboyd.co and on Twitter @thekateboyd. 

If you find yourself in the messy middle as a Christian, you’re not alone, and I’d love to help. I’ve created the Untidy Faith newsletter just for you. Every month, we'll navigate the many tensions of the Christian life and in the process find ourselves wandering closer to the Way of Jesus. When you sign up, you'll get a printable version of the Messy Middle Christian manifesto to your inbox today and first access to more Untidy Faith resources as they come out. You can sign up now at kateboyd.co/newsletter.

Kate Boyd - Book | Bible Studies | Coaching | Newsletter | Instagram

My guest today is Sheila Wray Gregoire is passionate about changing the evangelical conversation about sex! A popular speaker, marriage blogger, and award-winning author of nine books, including The Good Girl’s Guide to Great Sex, and her latest book, The Great Sex Rescue, she wants to challenge Christians to go beyond pat answers on marriage to reach real intimacy. Sheila believes in authenticity, and gives real solutions to the very real and messy problems women, and couples, can face. She and her husband Keith spend a lot of their time touring North America in an RV, speaking at marriage conferences, hiking, and birdwatching. The parents to two adult daughters, you can usually find her in Belleville, Ontario, where she’s either knitting, blogging, or taking her grandson out for a walk. 

We talk all about what evangelicals got wrong about sex and how create healthier sex and marriage conversations in our churches. Quick content warning: there is discussion of sex and use of frank terms for sex contained in this episode. 

If you want to keep up with Sheila, you can find her online at ...

https://tolovehonorandvacuum.com

https://instagram.com/sheilagregoire

https://facebook.com/sheila.gregoire.books

https://twitter.com/sheilagregoire

Her book The Great Sex Rescue is also for sale now and available at the link in our show notes. https://greatsexrescue.com/

If you enjoyed our discussion, I’d love if you would rate + review on your favorite podcast player. This helps more people to find the show and learn with us. 

Then come on over to social media and let’s talk about it! You can find me on Instagram @kateboyd.co and on Twitter @thekateboyd. And don’t forget to check the show notes to find and follow today’s contributors as well. Thank YOU for joining us, and I’ll see you next time.

If you find yourself in the messy middle as a Christian, you’re not alone, and I’d love to help. I’ve created the Untidy Faith newsletter just for you. Together, we'll navigate the many tensions of the Christian life and in the process find ourselves wandering closer to the Way of Jesus. When you sign up, you'll get a printable version of the Messy Middle Christian manifesto to your inbox today and first access to more Untidy Faith resources as they come out. You can sign up today at kateboyd.co/newsletter

Kate Boyd - Book | Bible Studies | Coaching | Newsletter | Instagram

What if we didn't just rediscover Jesus in the Bible? What if we took a look all around us, and found Jesus in unexpected places.

You’re listening to Happy & Holy, a podcast about discipleship and community and how we meet each other right where we are to be the people of God on planet earth. And when we do, we have the potential to become the happy and holy disciples we are meant to be. 

I’m your host Kate Boyd, and this is our last episode of season three around rediscovering Jesus. So I thought it would be fun to take a look at the way Jesus shows up in our culture so we can point more people toward him. So we're looking at Jesus and other influences in the Harry Potter book series -- oh, and there will be spoilers so proceed at your own risk. 

Kate Boyd - Book | Bible Studies | Coaching | Newsletter | Instagram

What happens to the Church when it can't go in the building? How do you figure out how to worship when gathering like you're used to isn't really doable?

The good news is that Church history and even believers around the world today have already shown us how. Join me as I talk with my friend, Dr. Sandra Glahn, about what church is and how we can continue to do and be it even in these "unprecedented" (but totally precedented) times.

Let me know what you thought of our conversation on Instagram @kateboyd.co and be entered to win a copy of the Earl Grey with Ephesians study by Dr. Glahn.

Dr. Glahn is professor of Media Arts & Worship at Dallas Theo. Seminary and the author of more than 20 books, including the Coffee Cub Bible Study Series. Her latest in that series is Earl Grey with Ephesians.

Website: aspire2.com
Twitter and Instagram: @sandraglahn
Facebook: Aspire2

Purchase Earl Grey with Ephesians here.

Kate Boyd - Book | Bible Studies | Coaching | Newsletter | Instagram

Your outer circumstances don’t have to determine your inner steadiness. That’s a message I wrote to myself on a sticky note recently because I needed it. Maybe you do too. Because here’s the truth: we can’t control what happens to us, but we can control how we respond. Today, my guest, Nathan Albert, will be talking about some of the practices that can help us stay grounded and connected to God so we can have peace even in the chaos.

Nathan is a professional actor turned ordained preacher, pastor, podcaster, and author, who has a passion to help people find calm, rekindle their faith, and discover the Divine. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre Performance, a Master of Divinity, Certificate in Spiritual Transformation, and dreams about getting his DMin. He's worked as a pastor, campus minister, pediatric chaplain, and as a director at a non-profit. Currently, Nathan is the Associate Chaplain in the Spiritual Life Center at the University of Lynchburg.

He's the author of the book Embracing Love: My Journey to Hugging a Man in his Underwear, blog about contemplative spiriutality and finding God all around us, and host the podcast, The Why Behind the What. He is also a lover of cities, maintains a plant based diet, is a 3w4 and ESFJ, and a champion for the Oxford comma. His wife, Kate, have two sons, Foster and Theo.

If you enjoyed this conversation with Nathan, you can keep up with him at:

Website: nathanalbert.com

Twitter: @nathanalbert

Instagram: @nalbert

Nathan's Book: Embracing Love: My Journey to Hugging a Man in his Underwear

Nathan's Podcast: The Why Behind the What

Kate Boyd - Book | Bible Studies | Coaching | Newsletter | Instagram