Derek, Brad, and Alastair talk with Leah Sargeant about her book The Dignity of Dependence. They discuss why the world is built for male bodies, how pregnancy exposes universal human dependence, whether artificial wombs would help anyone, what's wrong with workplace dynamics, and why autonomy is a dangerous cultural idol. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to The Dignity of Dependence 01:07 Unpacking the Feminist Manifesto 03:15 The Intersection of Feminism and Dependence 06:24 Christian Perspectives on Feminism 08:06 Navigating Interchangeability in Society 12:37 Accommodating Differences in a Standardized World 17:40 The Role of Dependence in Human Experience 21:54 The Asymmetry of Dependence and Fertility 29:54 The Power of Asking for Help 31:10 Marketization of Relationships 32:24 The Impact of Endless Choices 33:54 Debt and Relationships 36:25 Navigating Dependence and Dependability 38:16 The Dignity of Dependence 39:47 The Intersection of Dependence and Dignity 43:28 Gender Dynamics in Dependence 46:23 Skepticism Towards Artificial Wombs 50:44 Technical Challenges in Podcasting 51:56 The Ethics of Artificial Wombs 53:28 The Experience of Motherhood 55:54 Navigating Technological Consequentialism 57:33 The Role of Suffering in Life 59:00 Gender Dynamics in Professional Environments 01:00:29 Historical Context of Gender Roles 01:03:00 The Nature of Workplace Relationships 01:05:47 HR Dynamics and Workplace Culture 01:08:05 The Intersection of Gender and Professionalism 01:16:48 Concluding Thoughts on Dependence and Gender
Derek Rishmawy and Alastair Roberts discuss how minds actually change—through paradigm shifts, careful arguments, or accumulated experience. They explore why steel-manning opponents and engaging charitably with the strongest versions of opposing views is more persuasive than antagonistic debate. The key insight: the best positions emerge when you're willing to incorporate real strengths from other viewpoints and make warranted concessions, which requires moving beyond polarized combat toward genuine good-faith dialogue.
Derek Rishmawy and Brad East engage with Paul T. Sloan, an expert in early Christianity, to discuss his book 'Jesus and the Law of Moses.' The conversation explores the relationship between Jesus, the law, and the restoration of Israel, challenging popular views on legalism and emphasizing the importance of understanding the law as a gift. They delve into the concept of nomism, the significance of Jesus' authority, and the implications of his death as a ransom for liberation. The discussion also touches on the role of faith, the misunderstandings of the Pharisees, and the enduring relevance of the law in the New Testament. Chapters 00:00 Jesus and the Law 06:32 The Common View and Common Ground 14:53 Christological and Missiological Nomism 19:53 Exceptions Built-in to the Law 24:37 Why are the Pharisees always wrong? 31:33 All and Some 39:39 The Personal Element of Obedience 41:32 The Threefold Office of Christ 50:17 Atonement 55:08 Ransom 59:41 What About...?
Most of what we talk about on Mere Fidelity presupposes a lot of reading. What is the real use of reading? Is what we read more important than how we read? Why do some people who read for years never develop the habits of reading well? Alastair, Matt, and Derek discuss these questions as well as summer reading on this episode.
Derek Rishmawy and Alastair Roberts explore the Bible as a technological medium, discussing its historical context, the impact of the Reformation on biblical engagement, and the shift from oral to written culture. They delve into the implications of modern technology on scripture interpretation and the importance of internalizing the word of God. The conversation also touches on eschatology and the balance between technology and tradition in the church's life. Chapters 00:00 Bible as Technology 04:25 From Performance to Page to Pixels 12:50 The Reformation 20:16 Eschatology 28:16 Steel Man the Tech 36:52 Metabolizing the Word 45:34 The Collective Encounter with Scripture
Derek Rishmawy and Brad East engage in a conversation about the complexities of atonement, particularly focusing on penal substitution. They explore the historical context, personal experiences, and theological implications surrounding the topic, emphasizing the need for clarity and understanding in discussions about God's justice and mercy. Chapter 00:00 Pumped About Atonement 03:35 The Heat of Atonement Debates 10:49 Teaching Badly 17:32 Who's the Real Problem? 24:45 Experiential Perspectives on Atonement 32:28 History and Retrieval 44:53 New Language for Old Ideas 48:59 Calvinist Lightning Round 01:01:17 Walking the Line
When dealing with delicate, nuanced, disputed, or important issues, should Christians primarily rely on their own judgment or the authority of church leaders in their lives? Derek, Alastair, and Matt bring their own experience to bear, as well as a reliance on Scripture and authority, to answer this listener-submitted question.
In this episode of Mere Fidelity, Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, James Wood, and Joseph Minich engage in a deep and sobering discussion about the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk, reflecting on the implications of violence in society, the reactions to such events, and the role of social media in shaping narratives. They explore the need for a Christian response to violence, emphasizing the importance of prayer, community engagement, and the teachings of Augustine on justice and retaliation. The conversation highlights the fragility of societal discourse and the necessity of maintaining a Christ-centered perspective amidst chaos. Chapters 00:00 - Reflections on a Tragic Event 03:57 - Identifying with the Victim 06:35 - Political Assassination 09:06 - Weight of Darkness 14:32 - Shocking Reactions Uncovered 19:44 - Meme Warfare 23:22 - Responsible or Reckless Rhetoric 27:22 - Asymmetrical in Narrative and Victimhood 33:29 - Girard Everywhere 38:09 - Time to Process 42:45 - Do Not Fear or Retaliate 48:47 - The Power of Prayer in Crisis
Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, and Brad East engage in a discussion about the concept of 'holy ambition' within the context of ministry. They explore the balance between ambition and faithfulness, the impact of social media on pastoral ambitions, and the fears associated with ministry today, including the fear of cancellation. The conversation emphasizes the importance of seeking God's approval over personal recognition and the need for pastors to dream big while remaining grounded in their faith. Chapters 00:00 - Exploring Holy Ambition 06:57 - The Tension of Ambition and Faithfulness 13:04 - The Nature of Ambition in Ministry 19:24 - Social Media and the Amplification of Ambition 25:37 - The Fear of Cancellation and Its Impact 31:42 - Finding Justification in God's Approval
This is a rerelease of a previous episode. In response to a listener question, Derek, Matt, and Alastair go deep on the doctrine of creation. They ask and answer questions about whether creation is real, what counts as worship, what makes a doctrine of creation thick or thin, and whether we need to be thinking about God at all times. Timestamps: On the Excitement Meter [0:00] Wherein Lies the Deepness? [2:13] Reality and Goodness [10:30] Participatory vs. Intrinsic Value [14:12] A Dim Reflection [15:53] Curiositas [18:57] Not Everything Is Worship [22:39] Children of the Earth [40:44]
In this episode of Mere Fidelity, Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, Brad East, and James Wood engage in a deep conversation about the complexities of inhabiting and leaving religious traditions. They explore the implications of a recent theological shift by Matthew Barrett from Baptist to Anglican, discussing the personal and theological dimensions of such transitions. The conversation delves into the nature of tradition, the challenges of maintaining ecclesial identity, and the virtues of leaving a tradition with grace and gratitude. The hosts emphasize the importance of honoring those who have shaped their faith journeys while navigating the intricacies of theological retrieval and the fragility of denominational identities in contemporary Christianity. Chapters 00:00 Ecclesial Location 03:09 The Dynamics of Leaving a Tradition 05:31 Retrieval 10:18 Conscious & Unconscious Choice 17:32 The Nature of Tradition and Confessions 22:03 Engaging Outside One's Tradition 24:13 Different Levels of Accountability 27:07 The Fragilization of Denominational Identities 32:30 Tradition or "Vibes"? 35:00 Stronger Ecumenism 42:49 You Keep Using That Word... 49:35 Leaving a Tradition Gracefully
This episode of Mere Fidelity is about the boundaries and controls on theological and typological biblical interpretation - essentially asking "what are the brakes on theological exegesis?" — This month: The Body God Gives: A Biblical Response to Transgender Theory by Robert Smith - a weighty volume addressing crucial contemporary issues with biblical faithfulness. Get 40% off at lexhampress.com/merefidelity — Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, and Brad East explore the tension between: The Promise: Rediscovering richer, deeper ways of reading Scripture that go beyond simple historical-grammatical methods - finding typological patterns, narrative connections, and symbolic meanings that link Old and New Testament figures and events (like seeing Jesus as the new David, or Joseph as a type of Christ). The Problem: The legitimate concern that once you start reading Scripture typologically or allegorically, where do you stop? What prevents interpretation from becoming purely subjective, limited only by the interpreter's imagination? Key Discussion Points: Steelmanning the critics - Derek asks Alastair to acknowledge valid concerns about "wax nose" interpretations that can be twisted to support any position Historical precedent - How the apostles themselves read the Old Testament in ways that seem to go beyond original authorial intent Different paradigms for meaning - Brad argues for multiple faithful readings within proper bounds, using his "infinite sets" mathematical analogy, while Derek pushes back with concerns about authorial intention Practical controls they suggest: Alastair emphasizes grounding readings in the text's own literary patterns and connections Reading within the "rule of faith" (basic Christian orthodoxy) Alastair's "tree" metaphor - distinguishing between core interpretations (strong branches) and speculative ones (thin branches you don't put weight on) Reading in community rather than in isolation Alastair's key point - Understanding meaning as something that unfolds through time, not just locked in original context Brad advocates for reading Scripture with multiple paradigms (not just Paul's argumentative style, but also narrative like Song of Songs) The conversation shows Derek wrestling with concerns about going beyond authorial intention, while Brad takes a more "maximalist" approach and Alastair provides detailed textual grounding for typological readings. They ultimately argue that while there are real dangers in uncontrolled typological reading, the solution isn't to abandon these deeper interpretive methods but to practice them more carefully and responsibly. — Chapters 01:21 Grammatical Historical vs. Typological Exegesis 03:40 Steel Man Strikes Again 06:07 If This Were Wrong, How Would We Know? 09:05 Wax Nose 11:07 Gifted Interpreters and Accessibility 13:01 The Gigi Rule 16:48 Infinite Ways to Get It Right 19:08 Stories and Arguments 22:05 It's Alive! 26:19 Choose Your Own Adventure 29:14 More Anachronism Please 30:23 Anachronism and Authorial Intention 34:39 How Meaning Works 40:10 Asking the Text a Question 43:02 Practice Safe Reading 51:32 Resources
In this episode of Mere Fidelity, the hosts engage in a deep discussion about the implications of artificial intelligence on society, the church, and human relationships. They explore the theological and ethical dimensions of AI, emphasizing the importance of human agency and the role of the Word in shaping our understanding of technology. The conversation also addresses the dangers of AI in ministry, the potential for dehumanization, and the need for a critical approach to technology in light of the Christian faith. Chapters 00:00 Now You're Cooking with AI 02:24 Starting Points & Inevitabilities 05:06 The Real Vehicle of the Word 10:09 AI as an Extension of Human Capacity 14:23 The Dehumanizing Nature of AI 17:14 The Demonic Nature of Technology 24:05 Double Non-Neutrality 26:27 The Point Is the Struggle 33:03 How Reading Works 38:05 Glorified Google Searches and Machine Collaboration 44:35 A Solution to a Problem that Shouldn't Exist 46:52 We Are Living in the Darkest Timeline 50:23 Pornographic Logic 55:36 Relieving the Human Condition 01:02:17 The Illusion of Efficiency
In this episode of Mere Fidelity, the hosts engage in a deep discussion about covenant theology, exploring its significance in scripture and its role in Reformed theology. They debate the load-bearing nature of covenant language, its historical context, and its relationship to other theological concepts. The conversation highlights the complexity of covenant theology and its evolution over time, emphasizing the importance of understanding scripture through multiple lenses while recognizing the unifying role of covenant in redemptive history. Chapters 00:00 Hermeneutics and Biblical Theology 01:57 Load-Bearing Covenant? 04:53 Counting Verses Versus Verses Counting 10:01 As Widespread as TULIP 14:26 It's Literally in the Name (Blankets vs Structure) 19:20 The Concrete Organizing Principle 23:22 Distinguishing Semantics from Substance 25:43 Self-Conscious History 27:45 Covenants and Meta-Covenant (Background vs Framework) 34:43 What Gets Obscured 39:18 Covenant Overload 42:16 Covenant-pilled Sonship 46:00 Non-Hierarchical Relations of Concepts 50:35 It All Hangs Together!
Andrew Wilson and Alastair Roberts explore the Book of Daniel, moving from familiar stories to complex apocalyptic visions. They discuss interpretive keys including Babel connections, chiastic structure, and Christological fulfillment, helping you understand this unique prophetic book's unity and contemporary relevance. Chapters [00:00 - 03:00] Introduction & topic pivot to Daniel [03:00 - 07:00] How understanding of Daniel evolved over time [07:00 - 12:00] Key #1: Babel connection and empire themes [12:00 - 16:00] Key #2: Chiastic structure of chapters 2-7 [16:00 - 20:00] Key #3: Joseph parallels and typology [20:00 - 28:00] Four empires framework across chapters [28:00 - 34:00] Symbolic interpretation and multiple fulfillments [34:00 - 40:00] Three perspectives on empire; Christological reading [40:00 - 45:00] Daniel 11 and the Herod theory [45:00 - 46:00] Connections to Revelation; conclusion
In this episode, Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, and Brad East are joined by political theorist Jason Blakely to explore the life, work, and legacy of Alasdair MacIntyre. Best known for After Virtue, MacIntyre diagnosed the deep moral confusion of modernity and called for a return to virtue, tradition, and narrative. The conversation traces his journey from Marxism to Thomism, unpacks his critique of Enlightenment liberalism, and considers how his thought challenges both the postliberal right and progressive deconstruction. Along the way, the hosts reflect on what it means to form moral communities in a world of fragmented ethics. Chapters: 00:00 Beyond Mere Technocratic Pragmatism 02:01 Life, Work, and Legacy of Alisdair MacIntyre 07:00 After Virtue 09:53 Nuking the Enlightenment 14:20 Practice vs. Theory 16:55 In the Aristotelian Weeds 19:47 Objectivity 24:26 Where Is Sin? 28:44 Public Religion 32:51 Narrate Like the Wind! 37:50 The Religious Option 39:25 Competing Narratives 44:45 Post-Liberalism and the Benedict Option 51:03 How to Get Started
Mere Fidelity hosts Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, and James Wood interview Professor John Bolt about completing Herman Bavinck's Reformed Ethics translation project. Discussion covers Bavinck's methodology combining creation order and union with Christ, his engagement with contemporary scholarship, controversial applications on marriage/sexuality, and why Bavinck appeals across denominational boundaries. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome 01:05 Monumental Translation 04:49 The Bavinck Moment 07:53 Bavinck's Approach to Ethics 11:01 Union With and Imitation Of Christ 15:30 Anthropology 18:33 Topics Strange and Controversial 24:13 Casuistry 27:33 Extrabiblical Science 31:01 Divisions
Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, and Joseph Minich explore the Jesus People movement of the 1970s—from hippie communes to Calvary Chapel—and its lasting impact on American evangelicalism. They discuss the tension between Spirit-led revival and institutional church structure, examining how countercultural seekers became conservative evangelicals and what today's church can learn from this transformative era. Key Takeaway: The Jesus People movement reveals how the church's greatest evangelistic strength—meeting spiritual hunger with radical acceptance—can also become its greatest weakness without proper institutional structure and long-term discipleship. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome Joseph Minich 01:27 The Jesus People Movement 04:23 Trippin' on Jesus 06:55 Undiscovered Heritage 08:55 It's Just a Phase? 12:19 Broader Influences 16:07 Spirit vs. Form 21:47 Apocalyptic Flavour 24:35 How to Win Hippies and Influence Institutions 31:34 Vibes 37:29 Political Antagonism Masking Spiritual Hunger 40:16 Transcending the Culture Wars
Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, and Brad East discuss why so many Christians today feel stuck, anxious, or overwhelmed by the idea of "calling." They examine how the biblical and Reformation doctrine of vocation has been reshaped by modern expectations of career, identity, and fulfillment—and how to recover a clearer, more grounded view of vocation rooted in community, providence, and everyday faithfulness. A Mere Orthodoxy Podcast Sponsor This episode is brought to you by Lexham Press, featuring The Foremost Problems in Contemporary Dogmatics by Herman Bavinck. These newly translated lectures explore faith in the modern world with Bavinck's signature depth and clarity. Mere Fidelity listeners receive 40% off at lexhampress.com/merefidelity. Key Idea Vocation isn't about finding the perfect, fulfilling job. It's about using your gifts to serve others and glorify God in the ordinary responsibilities of life. Chapters 0:00 Introduction and sponsor 2:00 Why calling feels confusing today 4:30 When vocation becomes careerism 6:30 Community and the biblical view of calling 8:30 The myth of the perfect job 11:00 Deep gladness and daily responsibility 13:00 The idol of work and career fulfillment 16:00 Gifts for the good of others 18:30 The human calling in Genesis 21:00 Male and female in shared vocation 24:00 Why we need a deflated view of calling 26:30 Dignity in ordinary work 29:00 Vocation for all kinds of people Resources Mentioned The Foremost Problems in Contemporary Dogmatics – Herman Bavinck (Lexham Press) Frederick Buechner: "The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet."
Mere Fidelity is back! Welcome to Mere Fidelity 2.0: A Mere Orthodoxy Podcast. Hosts Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, Brad East, and James Wood dive into the major news of Pope Francis's passing and Cardinal Robert Prevost's election as Pope Leo XIV. As Protestant theologians, they grapple with what this papal transition means for the broader Christian landscape. They discuss how evangelicals should approach papal authority, explore the potential for greater Christian unity under the new papacy, and examine the ongoing influence of Catholic social teaching. They also reflect on the challenges and opportunities of engaging with Catholic tradition while remaining committed to Protestant principles. — Chapters: 00:00 Mere Fidelity 2.0: A New Era 03:25 Protestant Perspectives on the Papacy 09:21 Toward a Unified Church 12:30 Papal "Authority" 15:25 The Role of the Pope in a Divided Church 18:23 Visions for Unity in the Church 23:53 Pope Not King 25:02 Protestant Perspectives on Tradition 27:55 Calvin in the Middle 32:46 Visible and Invisible 33:48 Encyclical Teaching 41:05 Extra Cautions 46:24 Future Ecumenical Councils 51:20 New Chapter