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Mere Fidelity

Mere Fidelity

Mere Fidelity

From the Mere Orthodoxy Podcast Network: thoughtful weekly conversations about theology, the culture, and the church, hosted by Matthew Lee Anderson, Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, and Andrew Wilson.
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Top 10 Mere Fidelity Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Mere Fidelity episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Mere Fidelity for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Mere Fidelity episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Mere Fidelity - The Resurrection in John
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04/02/24 • 49 min

Christ is risen indeed, alleluia! The Easter season is upon us, and the regular cast and crew have the Resurrection on their minds. This year Matt, Alastair, and Derek dive into the Gospel of John to discuss what makes this account different than the other gospels, including, but not limited to: why Jesus told Mary Magdalene not to touch him but invited Thomas to touch him, why John waited for Peter before entering the tomb, and what is going on with those 153 fish. Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com. Timestamps: Which Gospel Is Best? [0:00] Johannine Distinctives [3:38] Resurrection All Over [7:13] Ezekiel [13:04] Characters [14:52] The Footrace [18:08] 153 Fish [26:29] Touch Me, Touch Me Not [31:48] The Ending [44:57]
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Mere Fidelity - The Value of Controversy
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09/19/17 • 51 min

Derek, Matt, and Alastair consider the ethics and benefits of engaging in theological controversies.
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Mere Fidelity - The Perplexing Book of Zechariah
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11/14/23 • 50 min

Occasionally on Mere Fidelity we have taken up difficult passages of Scripture. On this episode we take up an entire book that feels quite difficult: the book of the prophet Zechariah. What do all those oddly specific visions mean? Is Alexander the Great an actual Christ figure? How can you tell the difference between prophetic horizons? With Matt acting as everyman, Andrew asks the sharp questions, and Alastair sorts out the answers. Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com. Timestamps: Anno Biden [0:00] Free Sermon Prep? [1:38] Weird Form... or Weird Content [4:07] Night Vision Context [6:22] Problem Solved? [14:35] More Complicated: Hooray! [18:08] Wait, Which Horizon? 27:48] The Meaning of Prophecy [37:03] Of Normative Accounts of Providence in History [43:02]
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Mere Fidelity - Broken Bonds, with Amy Mantravadi
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11/14/24 • 65 min

Amy Mantravadi, Mere Fi’s snarkiest online critic has written a novel—a historical novel—about the heroes of the Reformation. Matt and Alastair bring her on the show to talk about it, what historical fiction can do that theology can’t, what the central issue of the Reformation was, and what it’s like inside the heads of Luther, Erasmus, and Melanchthon. Plus, Matt gets it exactly right at least once. Stick around to the end for a big announcement about the future of Mere Fidelity. Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com. Timestamps: A Big Tease [0:00] Delighted and Terrified [1:48] Psychologically Intense [4:55] Historical Fiction [10:56] Hazards [15:49] Those Particular Years [23:05] Melanchthon FTW [29:10] The Peasants Are Revolting [34:45] Ambivalence [45:13] Mythological Force [50:17]
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Mere Fidelity - Reformation as Renewal, with Dr. Matthew Barrett
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09/06/23 • 57 min

Was the Reformation really as much a break with what came before it as we are often led to believe? Dr. Matthew Barrett says the Reformers themselves thought not. In his substantial new book, he shows how strongly the Reformers sought to establish their connection with the catholic and universal church. Alastair, Derek, and Matt join Dr. Barrett for a lively and fruitful discussion on this episode of Mere Fidelity. Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com. Timestamps: Repeat Guest [0:00] 14.7 lbs. [1:49] How catholic was the Reformation? [4:36] Reformation(s) Plural [15:50] Baptists [22:20] Precipitating Modernity [32:57] Medieval VIPs [41:06] Principles of Retrieval [48:49]
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Mere Fidelity - Christian Ethics with Oliver O’Donovan
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05/14/24 • 46 min

The renowned Professor Oliver O’Donovan joins Matt and Alastair to discuss the relationship between the practice of the Christian faith and the philosophical field of ethics. Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com. Timestamps: A Warm Welcome [0:00] How can ethics be Christian? [1:44] Creation vs. Nature [5:27] Family Duty [11:28] Jewish Tradition [19:10] Novelty [23:19] Variety [27:52] The Closure of the Canon [34:37] Moral Formation [38:55]
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Mere Fidelity - Reputation

Reputation

Mere Fidelity

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12/11/23 • 47 min

In a time when “being canceled” is one of our greatest fears, thinking Biblically about reputation as a category is a very productive exercise. But when we turn to the Bible, there’s a prima facie tension about reputation. On the one hand, we’re told to rejoice when we are reviled; on the other, we’re told to have a sterling image for the sake of the Gospel. Derek, Alastair, and Matt dive into this conundrum and work it out in dialogue. Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com. Timestamps: A Taylor Swift Reference [0:00] Challenging New Testament Passages [1:54] The Third Commandment [4:30] Tension & Calumny [7:17] Which Community [14:13] Time, Reversal, & Vindication [21:18] When to Defend Yourself [26:39] Letting the World Set the Standard [32:15] Judgment Calls [42:48]
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Mere Fidelity - On Radical Integralism, with Dr. Kevin Vallier
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10/17/23 • 57 min

Integralism is a philosophy of church and state that seemed to have been definitively rejected. And yet, it has received new life from prominent proponents in recent days. Dr. Kevin Vallier has written a new book that looks at the good and the bad of integralism. Matt, Alastair, and Derek discuss it with him. Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com. Timestamps: Go and Listen [0:00] The Story So Far [1:29] The Revival [8:48] The Opposition [13:39] Liberalism [21:13] Favorite Arguments [28:56] Why Bother [37:00] Establishmentarianism [45:00]
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Mere Fidelity - ‘For Shame,’ with Dr. Gregg TenElshof
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01/05/22 • 47 min

You may get the impression that shame is always a bad thing. That’s not exactly right. Dr. Gregg TenElshof, author of the book For Shame: Rediscovering the Virtues of a Maligned Emotion, discusses the nuances of bad shame and good shame with the Mere Fidelity crew. When should we feel shame? For what should we feel shame? How does the body and appearance relate to shame? Listen in! (The +1 on this one is particularly good.) Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com.
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Mere Fidelity - Are Mediocre Christians Allowed?
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09/23/23 • 51 min

Since at least the time of the Donatists, the Church has wrestled with how to relate to Christians who are just not that good at being Christians. Should we worship with Christians who are living in sin? Should we baptize, marry, and bury those who only attend church twice a year? Prompted by last episode’s discussion of Andrew’s new book, Matt, Alastair, and Andrew examine this question from theological, Biblical, and pastoral perspectives. Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com. Timestamps: How do you solve a problem like James Boswell? [0:00] When Fraternal Correction Fail [5:26] Excommunication & the Fringe [9:45] Make Mediocre Christianity Great Again [16:09] Bring Them In [21:13] Different Gifts of Faith [28:14] Sacraments [31:13] What are they coming for? [38:27] Scandal Badminton [42:25] Internal Logic of Forgiveness [45:41]
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FAQ

How many episodes does Mere Fidelity have?

Mere Fidelity currently has 359 episodes available.

What topics does Mere Fidelity cover?

The podcast is about Religion & Spirituality and Podcasts.

What is the most popular episode on Mere Fidelity?

The episode title 'The Doctrine of Assurance, with J. Todd Billings' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Mere Fidelity?

The average episode length on Mere Fidelity is 45 minutes.

How often are episodes of Mere Fidelity released?

Episodes of Mere Fidelity are typically released every 7 days, 2 hours.

When was the first episode of Mere Fidelity?

The first episode of Mere Fidelity was released on May 11, 2014.

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