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]

Broken Bonds, with Amy Mantravadi

When a prominent Biblical theologian changes his position on the legitimacy of same-sex marriage, it prompts numerous questions for Derek, Alastair, and Matt to tackle in this episode of Mere Fidelity.
Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com. 
Timestamps:
Against Worldview [0:00]
A Change of Mind [1:41]
What Kind of Change? [3:06]
Hays’s Shift [6:55]
“Using” Scripture [9:13]
The “Right” Community [12:59]
Ignoring Marriage [17:57]
Different Questions Entirely [23:03]
No Longer a Sin [29:57]
Orthodoxy [35:22]
Leadership and Esteem [38:08]

Widening Gap

Is it literally possible to read the Bible literally? Dr. Kevin Vanhoozer joins Derek, Alastair, and Matt as the penultimate guest of 2024 to talk about frames of reference, transfigural reading, how the New Testament uses the Old Testament, and how to create a culture of reading at your church. You will literally love it!
Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com. 
Timestamps:
The Alastair Roberts Endorsement [0:00]
Penultimage Delight [1:27]
Literally Reading the Bible [2:44]
Figural Reading [8:04]
Frames of Reference [10:35]
Literary Tropes [14:42]
Covenant [17:07]
Eschatological Meaning [20:48]
Lifting the Veil [29:11]
The Transfiguration [33:15]
The New Testament Model of Reading [38:44]
Creating a Reading Culture [44:41]

Mere Christian Hermeneutics with Kevin Vanhoozer

A lot can happen in ten years. A lot has happened in ten years. In this, Matt’s final episode as a Mere Fi co-host, the guys reflect on the changes, crises, developments, growth, learning, cursings, and blessings that have occurred since the podcast started. Each of them offers their younger selves what wisdom they can. May you profit from their experience. 
Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com. 
Timestamps:
The OG Mere Fi Cast & Crew [0:00]
Decade Retrospective [2:55]
Andrew Now Knows What a Podcast Is [3:30]
Alastair Values Committed Conversation Partners [7:06]
Derek Still Doesn’t Know [11:25]
Focus on What Matters [17:06]
The Theology Underneath [23:48]
Matt Gives a Warning [29:23]
The Stillness Outside the Crisis [39:51]
Evangelicalism’s Hour [44:29]
Physical Relationships [47:56]
Links Mentioned:
Lexham Press Book of the Month
Merrie Band
“Twenty-Five Bloggers in One Sentence Each,” by Andrew Wilson, c. 2014
Credits:
To support Mere Fidelity financially, visit our Patreon here.
Follow Derek, Andrew, and Alastair for more tweet-sized brilliance. Thanks to Timothy Crouch for keeping us organized. Thanks to Tim Motte for sound editing. And thanks to The Joy Eternal for lending us their music, which everybody should download out of gratitude for their kindness.

The One Thing Necessary

Explore the powerful moment in the Gospel of Mark where Jesus predicts his death. Learn about its significance, context, and theological implications in this in-depth blog post.

SamSword the Forum Theme Song

Podcast: SamSword-The Forum: Understanding Jesus' Predictions of His Death

Join us for episode #4169 of Day1 featuring Rev. Dennis Patterson Jr., priest in charge of The Episcopal Church of the Holy Cross in Decatur, GA, preaches “The Power of Position” based on Luke 6:17-26. In his sermon, Rev. Patterson explores Jesus’ radical redefinition of blessing and how His posture among the people reveals the power of standing on level ground. As we reflect on the 6th Sunday after Epiphany, we are invited to embrace humility and solidarity in our faith journey.

Day1 Weekly Podcast

The Power of Position - Episode #4169 - Podcast

Cassandra Nelson, author of "A Theology of Fiction," joins me to discuss the importance of pursuing Godly truths in a secular culture, as well as the need to provide wisdom through literature.

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The Role of Catholic Literature in Shaping Culture | Cassandra Nelson

Thessalonians: A Life of Fidelity - Josh Wilson

Original Catholic rap by Brian Campbell. Defending the Faith through rhyme. Uploaded May 28, 2025. All rights reserved. #CatholicRap #Thomism #TheologyBars”

Yeah.
It’s that Thomist thunder, baby.
Catholic to the bone, Apostolic chrome, swingin’ that Rome.

⸻

I step in the booth like Aquinas with brass knuckles,
Crack open doctrine, make heresy buckle.
You quoting memes? I quote Gregory of Nyssa,
Drinkin’ wine with the blood, while your truth gets thinner than Triscuits.

I got transubstantiation burnin’ in my lungs,
While you babble your opinions like confused-ass tongues.
This ain’t feel-good fluff, this that Nicene Creed,
Where the Logos took flesh, and He still bleed when you plead.

One essence, three Persons — don’t trip on that math,
You got modalist leanings, I baptize yo’ ass.
I’m fully consubstantial, divine and divine,
Hypostatic union, baby, Christ two natures aligned.

Don’t test me on Chalcedon, I own that definition,
Reppin’ dyotheletism, no split volition.
Impassible, immutable, still He cried,
Put your fake-ass suffering gods to the side.

Ain’t no simulacra, this that real-ass bread,
Where Being itself wore thorns on His head.
Existence precedes essence? Nah—reverse it with grace,
’Cause the I AM THAT I AM just punched death in the face.

Ontological grit, my intellect’s legit,
I’ve seen the veil rip when I sat in my shit.
In the dark night, bruh, I don’t pray for relief,
I offer the void — let Christ fill my grief.

You fear absurdity, I dine with it nightly,
Camus got questions; my cross answered rightly.
Nietzsche said God’s dead? I laughed in the pew,
Told him, “Homie, He came back — and He’s comin’ for you.”

I’m grindin’ through silence like John of the Cross,
Sippin’ that suffering, flossin’ my loss.
Ain’t no emotional candy, this that real formation,
Where every wound is chisel to your sanctification.

I lex orandi, lex credendi with the steeze,
While you break apart your Bibles like they came with extra keys.
I spit universal call to holiness bars,
While your theology’s drivin’ around in a beat-up Dodge Neon car.

This that deification, homie — call it theosis,
Participation in the Light, not some weak-ass gnosis.
You chase shadow forms like Plato gone dumb,
I spit Eucharist fire with the bass and the drum.

Sacramental realist, no magic, no pretend,
Christ shows up real — Alpha and end.
We don’t play with symbols, we embody the Word,
Where flesh meets eternity, and every soul stirred.

Freedom ain’t feelin’, it’s the choosing of the Good,
When your will’s been reforged like iron and wood.
I’m the liturgical assassin, incense cloud driftin’,
Sanctus on my tongue, metaphysical lifting.

And yeah—I swear when I must, ‘cause the world’s that raw,
Christ flipped tables, too — I ain’t breakin’ no law.
This ain’t soft gospel, it’s a dangerous creed,
Where the saints ate nails and still planted the seed.

So watch your step when you step in my lane,
I roll deep with the martyrs, baptized in flame.
I’m that eschatological beast from the East with the peace,
Still beatin’ back the beast with my Rosary piece.

Truth ain’t cute. Truth cuts.
Welcome to the Church, punk.

Hypostatic Flex

2025-06-01-TheDoctrineOfGodRevealedThroughChrist–TheBookOfSignsInJohn’sGospel–Pt10j

Day1 has been a trusted voice of hope and inspiration in the mainline Protestant tradition for 80 years. Founded in 1945 as a pioneering radio ministry known as "The Protestant Hour," Day1 has evolved into a multimedia platform that uplifts and connects faith and life. Through powerful sermons and engaging conversations with some of the nation’s most gifted preachers, we proclaim God’s love and grace across the airwaves, podcasts, and online platforms. Join us in continuing this legacy of sharing messages that inspire and transform lives around the world.

End of Western Civilization got you down? All is tickety-boo on The Andrew Klavan Show as Andrew laughs his way though Armageddon with political satire, cultural commentary, interviews and relentless mockery of racial pieties, sexual perversities, and feminist absurdities. Monday thru Thursday.

Create. Inspire. Repeat. Soul-inspired music.

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.

Storyline is a church serving South City Saint Louis.

New tracks tagged #theology,