Welcome to the Inverted Orthodoxy Podcast! We're Blake, Kyle, and Doug the pastors from Living Springs, here to take you on a weekly adventure through the twists and turns of faith. Got questions? We've got answers, and sometimes more questions! Join us as we explore, celebrate, and embrace the beautiful complexities of belief. This week covers the following questions:

AER: I was blessed by the reference to church fathers and mothers in some of the sermons in the months gone by. On Sept 23 Doug mentioned the church fathers several times. Is this because only men left us scripture? Why use church mothers sometimes and not others?

Aer: Re: prohibition of alcohol. Have you really witnessed Christians who encourage others to drink alcohol under the guise of “we have freedom in Christ so we can do what we want”? I have never seen such a thing which isn’t saying it didn’t happen or can’t happen, but I’m just asking for clarity. Was this in a church setting where there may knowingly be people vulnerable to substance abuse ? What was the context? Again, I have never seen this. I however have seen plenty who enjoy something like craft beer and offer it in the spirit of hospitality as they welcome others into their home. Is the responsibility on the one offering to make sure nobody has a history? Something that I have experienced however, is a sense of judgement from those who feel strongly that alcohol should never be enjoyed. Even though There are often very real and legitimate reasons for them feeling that way, why should I be ashamed to enjoy it. I hate having to dance around the issue of “are you the kind of Christian who will judge me for enjoying this drink and offering you one? I understand that there can be risk in inviting someone to share a drink and we need to be careful; I’m not trying to act entitled here like my life is so hard because I now need to look out for others, but I must say that I have felt so much freedom knowing that plenty of my Christian brothers and sisters who I consider great examples for holy living also enjoy alcohol in modest quantities while engaging in an evening of fellowship on their patio. So what’s a decent protocol? does every offer of alcohol require a preamble? Do Christians who are against consumption of alcohol get to share their opinion or Should they stay silent?

AER- I’m not exactly sure whether this is AER, or just another question, but when Kyle talked about Abraham sacrificing or trying to sacrifice Isaac, it brought up somewhat of a theory that I’ve always had. I’ve always thought that Abraham had problems with the fact that Ishmael was actually his first born and therefore heir rather than Isaac. I imagined that this would be a bone of contention with Sarah, but that it also would fulfil God‘s promise to Hagar to give Ishmael somewhat of way forward. Hagar and Ishmael were in their home for quite a while before they were booted out, so Abraham would have really grown to love Ishmael as his firstborn. I could imagine that this was quite a dilemma for Abraham and that maybe there actually was a struggle with god. Perhaps, as with Jacob later, god finally said okay, then have it your way. sacrifice Isaac and you will have only the one son. Abraham, I believe, never went back to Sarah, but instead went to beersheba where Hagar was living (when Sarah died, he had to go up to where she lived—ie. her tent— and told the inhabitants that he was “a stranger in the land”.). Is this an actually viable backstory?

Aug 26- If funding and resources were no object what would your largest vision for living springs be?

Sept 2- Will bald people be bald for eternity or do you think they get hair in their new bodies?

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