In the FINAL episode of BCBS, we struggle to unpack the fever dream of John's Revelation - beasts, angels, prophets, kings and elders surrounding God's throne in heaven, a big, hungry dragon and too many plagues to count. We share our final thoughts on our Bible project and give our last testimonies while questioning the nature of our reality. Bonus: lots of heavy breathing from Xena the dog. Thank you for listening and keep the faith!
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In our penultimate BCBS episode, we appreciate Jude's frankness and dire warnings leading into the book of Revelation. His strongly-worded letter leads us to brace for snakes while renewing our commitment to peace and love despite the futility of our doomed world.
This third letter from apostle/evangelist/elder John praises good hospitality and prompts more questions than answers about utilitarianism, early church infighting and the philosophy of good and evil, all on a single page of papyrus.
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The same or another John writes a short letter to a small church, the collective church or an actual woman representing a church. He warns against blocking your own blessing and letting false prophets infiltrate your sacred space. We learn to be discerning with our love, and to find biblical truth in the Real Housewives.
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This letter from an anonymous John is as insistent as it is inscrutable. As some have strayed from the church, John reminds the flock to ignore the traitors and keep it pushing alongside those who've been walking in love all along. We continue to weigh the purported pure nature of God against his portrayal in the text, and ask ourselves just how much we're supposed to hate the world he created.
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We discuss Peter's confounding second letter and wonder about the nature of utopia, accountability and the snowball effect. As Peter feels himself nearing the end, we also enter the homestretch, the final countdown to Revelations.
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Turns out a life of faith is no cake walk. Peter doesn't mince words, and we take his warnings about suffering and sacrifice to heart. We discuss sobriety and discipline, and wonder how to fly above the haters while staying grounded in love.
James is way more practical than his predecessors in the early-Christian-letter-writing game, so we have lots of life lessons to chew on. We discuss faith without works, judgment of self vs others and the benefit of keeping certain folks at arms' length.
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An anonymous author pep-talks the backsliding Jewish believers, renewing their faith and reminding them to stay the course to honor their ancestors. We discuss perseverance through struggle, the confounding duality of Yahweh and what it takes to find peace in this life or the next.
Paul's shortest letter is strongly worded and written to a guy whose runaway slave he's claimed for himself. Now it's time to set him free in Christ and decide his fate. While debating the merits of power and manipulation, we wonder where's the beef between Paul and Philemon.
Paul advises former colleague Titus on how to transform the growing Cretan Christian community into perfect righteousness. We appreciate the permission to leave haters in the dust while still keeping it classy.
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Paul writes to his mentee Timothy again, urging him to stay strong through the last leg of the race, avoid petty worldly concerns and keep embracing the faith passed down to him. One of us finally reveals our favorite verse of all time.
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Paul or someone like him writes a letter to Timothy, a protegee who needs less water and more wine. We discuss women in the church, the love of money and slavery yet again, unfortunately. *Bonus: Extra audio issues in this episode. Our apologies and thank you for listening!*
Paul (or a forger) thanks the Thessalonians again for being such a model church, but warns against false teachers who claim the end times have already come. He admonishes them to keep their heads down and work, pull their own weight and pray the sinners away. We discuss busybodies, the antichrist and Farrah Abraham.
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Paul and two pals write a love letter to an early church that seems to have it all together. He reminds its members to keep loving each other, warn the idlers of the doom ahead, but also mind their own business and resist temptation. We ponder death and staying woke while maintaining peace amid uncertainty.
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"Paul" writes to a congregation he's never met, urging them to stick together and avoid the dangerous philosophers in their midst. Should the Christians be free to observe their faith how they want, or avoid certain tempting rituals and festivals? Something in the middle, we think. We debate the merits of passion at work, and vow to Take a Beat and Circle Back.
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Nice Guy Paul is grateful for the fragrant offering and good tidings from the Philippian church, so he sends more encouragement and less self-promo than usual. We talk faith and endurance over power and greed, and resolve to keep our eyes on the road rather than the rearview. Thank you all for helping us get to our 50th episode of BCBS!
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Paul - or a good imposter - writes politely to a group of Ephesian churches to remind them of who they are and what they stand for. We talk intent versus impact and why pastors get away with so much naughty behavior. Happy New Year, and continue to be safe out there as you keep the faith!
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Paul writes to a traitorous group of churches who are still requiring circumcision as a rite of passage into the faith. What was all that crucifixion for, if not to free the people from Moses' archaic law? What will it take to unite the body of Christ? Is Paul a crybaby or justified in his outrage? We wonder why the church can't get on the same page, despite having a hard time just between the two of us.
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Paul changes up and reveals a chip on his shoulder. The church isn't appreciating him like they should, and he suffers greatly without the satisfaction of being the Messiah Christ was. We debate the merits of his approach and whether the church was helped or harmed. Also, can people please stop with the confidence and wealth to level the playing field?
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