Becoming Faithful is generally a focus on my own spiritual journey and exploring the variety of influences that help me think through my faith practice within my current setting. I am fine to discuss specific doctrines or theological views, but I would prefer to simply focus on the text. This is a personal preference (maybe even a pet peeve), but I find debates about theology and doctrine to often be frivolous. Usually, both sides are not tackling the text with a fully genuine perspective; rather, they are trying to attend to their own positions and beliefs.
I think the text is sufficient to do what we’re talking about doing here at Becoming Faithful. The list I am providing will include discussion of different debates, but it’s the approach to Scripture that I’m concerned about. I have been drawn to these resources because of the tone of curiosity about the text. Often, the non-Bible scholar guests that appear are also fantastic. This list is in no particular order, but more of who I would listen to first if they had new episodes out.
The Biblical Mind — Dru Johnson
First up, my personal favourite now is Dru Johnson’s Biblical Mind Podcast. In concert with his Center for Hebraic Thought, I simply find his non-legalistic thinking about Scripture to be very meaningful. Not only does Dru Johnson deeply unpack the text, but he is also in pursuit of meaning in several fields of study. With a diverse understanding of philosophy, Hebrew Scriptures, and pastoral methods, Dru Johnson is a particularly strong resource to me.
Theology in the Raw — Preston Sprinkle
Second, and I might say a bit of a popularity pick, is Theology in the Raw by Preston Sprinkle. Depending on when you access his podcast, he’ll be discussing a variety of topics and fields of study. The main thing I like is the unashamed curiosity about the text. This is the closest I come to really caring about doctrinal debates. Preston is not shy about inviting people on to discuss controversial subjects. Also, he’s not afraid to tackle them himself, while providing a lot of fair and challenging discussion on both sides of an issue. For example, Preston recently spent a few years putting together a book on women in ministry, From Genesis to Junia. I have not yet read this book, but in the lead-up, I found myself continually guessing at where he would land as he engaged scholars on both sides of the issue.
OnScript — Matthew Lynch & Co.
Third, we have OnScript, which is facilitated by Matthew Lynch at Regent College in Vancouver, but is co-hosted by several scholars. OnScript is a podcast that almost exclusively focuses on current biblical studies work that is being done in the field (biblical studies is my academic specialty). The reason I am mentioning this one here when it may seem a bit over people’s heads is that they talk about the deep inner workings of Scripture. If you’re up for a touch more academic biblical studies discussion, I highly recommend this podcast.
Naked Bible Podcast — Michael S. Heiser
Fourth is the Naked Bible Podcast by the late Michael S. Heiser. I have finished this podcast library and I consider it my gateway into biblical studies. You’ll hear more about that in the “My Story” series of posts. Dr. Heiser pulled the veil back from Scripture. I have appreciated his perspective and work to have honest conversations about what’s really going on and often asking about how definitive we can be about certain doctrines or beliefs. All in all, even if you don’t agree with him, the topics he discusses and the way he works from the Old Testament forward are worthwhile.
BibleProject — Tim Mackie
Fifth is BibleProject. This is arguably the most popular biblical studies resource that exists now. I need to emphasize how good this resource is, and I don’t think I could sing its praises more. The diversity of formats (animation, podcasts, classroom, etc.) on top of the strong biblical study material makes BibleProject a truly high-class resource. I highly recommend it, especially if you have children or are involved in children’s ministry because the videos are very good materials rooted in good biblical scholarship.
A Word of Warning
To end, I want to give a strong warning about the kinds of resources that currently exist, with social media influencers and the access to a platform people now have. Plain and simple, you do not need to listen to or watch reels to get detailed understandings of the Bible. For example, Wes Huff is an accomplished academic with real credentials and work that he does daily. He made a fool of Billy Carson, who has no background in biblical studies, let alone Huff’s specialty of textual criticism. There are many videos that get sent to me with many inaccurate statements about Scripture, the original text, or theology.
My point here is not that only academics can do good work, but academics are people who have gone through serious training to closely evaluate the text. If anything, I encourage you to get off your devices and read books. Social media influencers are trying to create content, whereas academics are looking to publish valuable material for the church and its leaders. This is not to deride the intentions or motives of influencers, but scholars work hard to honour the text and provide rich material. Give them the respect and attention that their work deserves. They are delightfully wonderful people who care deeply about people knowing God and loving others well, which is why they do the rigorous academic work that they do.
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