Why Did Jesus Have to Die? Understanding the Wages of Sin and Sacrifice (Cruciformity Series)
Release Date: 04/21/2025
A Near Life Experience: The Theology of Disability and Punk Rock Prophets - w/ Dr. Timothy Gombis
Voxology
What does punk rock have to do with the heart of the Gospel? In this episode, the Voxology team, joined by the Dr. Timothy Gombis, dives deep into the unexpected intersections of radical community, inclusivity, and the teachings of Jesus. From punk rock's raw authenticity to the profound ministry of disability-focused communities that Mike recently experienced at the "Hope Heals" camp. The conversation explores how cruciformity—the self-giving love of Jesus—emerges in unlikely places. Along the way, they unpack the role of the church in society, faith and politics, and navigating cultural...
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Roman’s 13: Give to God What is God’s
Voxology
Is Romans 13 being misused to justify political or social agendas? In this intellectually rich yet accessible discussion, the hosts tackle the challenges of interpreting Romans 13 in the context of faith, politics, and justice. Exploring the tension between government authority and the church's mission to love one's neighbor above all, they delve into nuanced themes like "cruciformity," cultural challenges, and the role of the church in society. Through a thoughtful lens, the episode contrasts Paul's teachings on governance with Jesus' profound declaration to "give to Caesar what is Caesar’s...
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What About Romans 13... Joyful Non-Compliance: Faith in Action Today
Voxology
What does "Joyful Non-Compliance" look like in today’s world? In this thought-provoking episode, the hosts explore how faith intersects with politics, justice, and cultural challenges. Diving into Romans 12 and 13, they discuss the biblical posture of joyful, peaceful non-compliance, emphasizing the church's role in society as a force of love, justice, and truth. From the complexities of navigating immigration issues to the tension between idolatry and injustice in government, this conversation unpacks what it means to live out cruciformity—a life shaped by the cross—in a chaotic world....
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Joyful, Peaceful, and Gracious Noncompliance
Voxology
How should Christians approach immigration, justice, and faith in today’s cultural climate? In this episode of the Voxology Podcast, Mike and Tim dive into "Joyful, Peaceful, and Gracious Noncompliance," exploring what scripture teaches about welcoming the stranger, showing compassion, and advocating for justice. Drawing on the work of experts like Matthew Soerens and their own reflections, they tackle the complex intersections of cruciformity, faith and politics, and the role of the church in society. Through real-life stories, scripture analysis, and discussions on cultural challenges,...
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The World of, Behind and In Front of the Text: Navigating Biblical Interpretations
Voxology
In this episode, Tim and Mike continue the conversation about the complexities of biblical interpretation, exploring how various contexts—textual, cultural, and personal—shape our understanding of scripture. What does "biblical" really mean, and why does it matter in today's world? Mike and Tim explore the "world of the text," the cultural and historical contexts "behind the text," and the modern assumptions we bring "in front of the text." With humor, humility, and intellectual depth, they examine how varying social locations, traditions, and cultural frameworks shape our understanding of...
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The Bible as a Cross Cultural Experience
Voxology
Is the label "biblical" helping or hurting how we approach faith, church, and cultural challenges? In this thought-provoking episode of the Voxology Podcast, Mike and Tim explore the pitfalls of using "biblical" as a rigid brand, how it impacts theology, and its effects on navigating issues like justice, community, and interpretation of Scripture. They discuss the importance of reading the Bible in community, embracing humility, and fostering critical thinking to form faithful and wise communities. Drawing on listener feedback, they tackle how Scripture has been used both to liberate and to...
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Why 'Biblical' Might Not Mean What You Think
Voxology
Is "biblical" always what it seems? In this thought-provoking episode, the hosts unpack why the word "biblical" might not mean what you think and explore its misuse across faith, politics, and cultural issues. From examining how "biblical" has become a branding tool to discussing its role in sociological stress tests and power dynamics, this conversation challenges us to rethink how we approach scripture and the teachings of Jesus. The discussion delves into the complexity of interpreting the Bible, emphasizing the need to consider the text itself, the cultural context behind the text, and our...
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Discernment: Cruciformity is Active, Not Passive
Voxology
Discernment: Cruciformity is Active, Not Passive. On this episode of the Voxology podcast, Mike Erre and Tim Stafford focus on discernment in faith, the essence of Christian identity, and the importance of critiquing ideologies rather than individuals. They emphasize the need for community engagement and humanizing conversations across divides, particularly in the context of immigration and societal issues. Further, Tim and Mike explore the complexities of homelessness, systemic issues, and the role of faith in addressing societal challenges. They discuss the importance of understanding the...
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The Corruption of Biblical Leadership (Cruciformity Series)
Voxology
What does leadership shaped by the cross really look like in today’s church—and how far have we drifted from it? Mike and Tim continue the Cruciformity Series with a raw, revealing, and intensely personal reflection on their own experiences with American evangelical leadership culture. From megachurch strategy to influence-based platforms, they unpack how conventional models of “biblical leadership” often mirror corporate America more than Christ. This episode challenges deeply ingrained assumptions about success, authority, platform, and power, and proposes a radically different path:...
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Prophetic Resistance: Challenging the Status Quo (Cruciformity Series)
Voxology
How the church responds when Jesus is co-opted by political power, and what it means to faithfully resist using cruciform love. In this latest installment of the Exile Series, Mike and Tim explore recent headlines where government leaders invoke Christianity as a means to assert national identity and justify coercive policies. Rather than offering partisan critique, they unpack the deeper spiritual crisis at work—when the name of Jesus is taken in vain to baptize authoritarianism and cultural dominance. Rooted in Walter Brueggemann’s prophetic framework of “reality, grief, and hope,”...
info_outlineUnpacking the deep narrative threads that make Jesus’s death not just inevitable, but essential to our human story, Mike and Tim dive into the costs of sin, how death is a consequence—not simply a punishment—and what Jesus’s crucifixion really reveals about God’s nature. This Good Friday reflection brings clarity to questions we’ve inherited or sidestepped: Why did Jesus have to die? Why that way? And what’s the deeper biblical thread connecting Eden, the tabernacle, and the cross?
Follow this continuing journey through the Cruciformity Series as we reframe our view of atonement theology through the lens of relational, embodied love rather than transactional debt. This episode traces the arc from Genesis to Jesus, highlighting scripture’s subversive beauty and its world-building wisdom that invites us to reimagine what it means to live—and die—in union with Christ.
Key Takeaways:
• Death as Consequence, Not Retribution – Sin introduces decay, loss, and exile from creation’s eternal purpose. Jesus, in true solidarity, embraces that outcome fully.
• The Bible's Moral Logic of Life and Death – From Eden through the temple system and culminating in Jesus, we’re always being invited to choose life.
• Crucifixion and the Unmasking of Empire – Jesus’s nonviolent death at the hands of imperial power exposes the futility of violence and reveals the upside-down power of God’s kingdom.
• Sacrificial Systems and Human Imagination – Why animal sacrifice wasn’t divine bloodlust, but a contextual, symbolic reminder of the corruption and gravity of sin.
• Jesus Enters the Realm of Death to Open Eden – The torn temple curtain and the resurrection signify access to the tree of life has been restored—no longer guarded, but freely given.
Resources Mentioned:
• Genesis 1–3 – The foundational story of life, choice, and consequence.
• 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 – Paul’s “first importance” gospel creed, spotlighting Jesus’s death and resurrection.
• Leviticus 17 – “Life is in the blood”—understanding why sacrifices pointed to something deeper.
• Daniel 12 – A rare Old Testament glimpse of resurrection hope.
• Philippians 2 (Kenosis Hymn) – Cruciformity and Jesus’s descent through obedience and suffering.
• Rich Villodas (Twitter Reflection) – A poetic thread connecting Eden and the cross: Rich's post
Dive further:
• Catch up on past episodes in the Cruciformity Series for more foundational context.
• Check out our past deep dives on Genesis and sacrificial systems in the “Being Human” series.
Join the conversation and rediscover why Jesus’s death was not a cosmic transaction but the climactic expression of God’s love. Don’t forget to subscribe, write us a review, and share the Voxology Podcast with someone who’s asking deep questions about faith and identity.
As always, we encourage and welcome discussion as we pursue these big ideas together. Email your thoughts to [email protected], and engage with us on Facebook and Instagram.
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Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford
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Learn more about the Voxology Podcast
Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify
Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon
The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio
Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook
Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre
Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford
Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy