Where your big questions get real answers
Episodes
Tuesday Nov 08, 2022
Tuesday Nov 08, 2022
I recently read a description of elements of a cult. It included things like “a leader who is not to be questioned” and “everything is part of the plan” and “the people in this group are all you need.” I know not every church is cult-like, but that sounds like a lot of churches. How do I know if a church or group can be trusted not to be like this? (19:48-34:24)
Is there a difference between judging someone and wanting them to do better? (34:28-44:56)
Recent…celebrity craziness had me thinking about whether I can still enjoy someone’s music if I know they believe awful things. Does that apply to Christian stuff even more so? If someone ends up involved in scandal, or leaving the faith, how do we treat their work? (45:00-01:01:48)
Closing Song: No He Wasn't (ft Lins Honeyman)
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Tuesday Nov 01, 2022
Tuesday Nov 01, 2022
1.1) I feel like it’s really shallow but I’m finding I’m not physically attracted to my spouse anymore. (16:18-34:21)
1.2) I used to be really passionate about faith and expressive in worship. Over the last few years it’s like the fire has diminished. I struggle to pray and worship but deep down the faith is still there. What should I do? (34:24-52:46)
1.3) I was reading the parable of the bags of gold in Matthew 25. Making good ROI isn’t really how I think of Jesus wanting me to live out my faith usually. What does this parable mean? (52:50-1:06:07)
Closing Song: You've Made Up Your Mind (Jed Brewer)
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Tuesday Oct 25, 2022
Tuesday Oct 25, 2022
Christian puns may have gone too far! And some Halloween PSAs. (00:00-19:00)
Hebrews 4:1 says to be careful not to “be found to have fallen short”. But Romans pretty famously says all have fallen short and it doesn’t matter. What does this mean? (19:18-33:26)
I always feel like I am letting someone down. When I was little it was my parents. Sometimes it has been God. But sometimes I don’t even know who, just someone out there. How do I deal with that? (33:35-50:31)
How do I know if a part of my life is bearing fruit? Some things take time, and some things don’t always look amazing, but does that mean they’re not bearing fruit? (50:36-1:05:51)
Closing Song: It Is Well (Pete and Tasha Lawson)
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Wednesday Oct 19, 2022
Wednesday Oct 19, 2022
We look at a church's...stadium tour...tickets for which cost up to over $1000. That's definitely an emergency! (00:00-19:45)
How do you know when a situation (not a relationship, but like a job or school thing) being rough means it’s time to make a change versus when it’s time to push through? (19:50-34:27)
2 Thessalonians 4:10 “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” Gets brought up a lot to justify political stuff. I feel like it’s not a very Jesusy sentiment. What does it mean? (34:27-50:00)
I was recently talking with a friend and they mentioned “see you at the pole”, I joked about how it was so weird that it was a Christian fad to do something pretty much the opposite of what Jesus taught about prayer. He had never realized it was weird. He agreed once it was pointed out. I didn’t know how to have that conversation. How do you talk to someone about crazy Christian stuff from their past, not your own? (50:06-1:01:51)
Closing Song: 2 Corinthians 3:17 (The Poolhouse Guru)
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Wednesday Oct 12, 2022
Wednesday Oct 12, 2022
We try to help out the Christian media industry with some realistic worship songs and micro-targeted devotionals. (00:00-28:30)
I have some people in my life that I feel like I have forgiven. But I also don’t particularly want to have a relationship with them or even necessarily see them again. Is that good enough, or do I have to keep trying to engage with them? (28:49-39:01)
What’s a piece of advice you wish someone gave you 10 years ago? (39:08-47:48)
When I have heard the fruits of the spirit talked about, they all kind of get lumped in. But there are different things listed for a reason right? What’s the difference between kindness and gentleness? (47:53-56:32)
Closing Song: Child of Wandering Will (Lee Younger)
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thebridgechicago.tumblr.com/ask (Anonymous)
Tuesday Oct 04, 2022
Tuesday Oct 04, 2022
We take look at ways to improve the 5th(!!!) installment of the premier evangelical cinematic franchise. (00:10-19:15)
Is there a healthy way to be proud of myself. I feel like the Christian messages about pride being bad and humility have made me feel like I’m not allowed to feel good about myself when I succeed. (19:33-29:52)
Colossians 3:12 talks about how we are to behave as “God’s chosen people”. What does that mean? When I hear people talk like that, it always sets off red flags that they are saying Christians are better than other people. (29:56-39:09)
I have been having what I can only describe as existential dread lately. There is this blanket of “is this all there is?” Kind of around everything. What can I do to deal with this? (39:14-51:39)
Closing Song: Oh The Deep Deep Love of Jesus (Lee Younger)
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thebridgechicago.tumblr.com/ask (Anonymous)
Wednesday Sep 28, 2022
Wednesday Sep 28, 2022
We revel in some early 90s Bible based video game nostalgia. (00:10-19:15)
I was recently reading about how it is not a healthy thing to take on other people’s emotions in a situation. But I know empathy is important. Where is the line? (19:21-35:12)
What place should anger have in a Christian’s life? I never felt like I was allowed to express anger growing up because it wasn’t nice. I know Jesus expressed anger, but I don’t hear that elaborated on ever. There’s so much to reasonably be angry about, but being mad all the time doesn’t feel good. (35:14-51:18)
We discuss this article about churches using "shameware" apps- https://www.wired.com/story/covenant-eyes-anti-porn-accountability-monitoring-apps/ (51:29-1:05:42)
Closing Song: Cast My Cares (Jed Brewer)
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Tuesday Sep 20, 2022
Tuesday Sep 20, 2022
An early 2000s Christian cinema emergency leads us to the amazing movie rating system of Dove.org. (00:10-22:15)
I recently heard about the Billy Graham rule. I can see why it might make sense, but is also seems like really legalistic and maybe sexist? Is it a good idea? (22:37-42:50)
There are some situations where I know someone probably isn’t going to take my advice or change their behavior, but I still feel like I need to say something to have said it. Is that selfish of me? Is that healthy? (42:54-53:25)
The whole “quiet quitting” thing got me thinking, is there a healthy way to set levels for effort of when I am volunteering? It feels like the people in charge will always take more, so I have to draw the line. But I feel bad sometimes. (53:33-1:10:28)
Closing Song: Weary (The Bridge Loud)
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Tuesday Sep 13, 2022
Tuesday Sep 13, 2022
This week, an emergency that starts off about a Christian conference and somehow ends up at the Norwegian version of Surge soda. Also:
What do you guys make of the Matt Chandler thing? It doesn’t seem as extreme as other church scandals, but it still feels like it's part of a pattern. (21:30-42:42)
I am getting tired of having to be “the bigger person” in some situations. Is that an okay thing to feel? What do I do with that feeling? (42:47-53:41)
I was reading Mark 11:27-33. Jesus refuses to say on whose authority He was doing the things He was doing. That’s really weird to me. Why not just say God’s authority? What’s going on in this passage? (53:46-1:05:57)
Closing Song: You Tell Me (Jed Brewer)
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Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
What does “the sins of the fathers” mean? The Bible mentions God punishing people to four generations (for example Numbers 14:18). But that doesn’t seem fair. (15:50-25:11)
What does Luke 12:9 mean? (But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before the angels of God.) I feel like I only heard this talked about in dramatic voice of the martyrs scenarios meant to scare me into being more committed. (25:19-40:47)
How do I deal with setbacks? When I start something new, I am very excited, but when I hit a problem, it can really take the wind out of me. (40:52-54:19)
Closing Song: Come Thou Fount (Pete and Tasha Lawson)
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