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Hell
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Why I Don’t Believe in Hell . . . Right Now

Introduction: The Voices of Hell As of this moment, I do not believe in Hell. There is not a place called Hell where people are burning, screaming or suffering. I remember...

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Christian Life
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Embracing a Five-Dimensional Faith in the Church

Explore the depths of faith and spirituality in our latest blog post. Dive into a heartfelt journey of personal faith crisis, understand the diverse dimensions of Christian...

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. . . and Other Bad Interpretations
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We Will NOT Be Timeless in Heaven

A Complaint I would like to register a complaint. In truth, I would like to register many complaints about the common Christian view of the afterlife, but I start here. This...

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Apologetics
4Comments

The Theological Ecosystem in a Nutshell

Introduction to Christian Scholarship Christian scholarship encompasses much more than what meets the eye on a Sunday morning. It’s akin to the creation of a birthday...

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Apologetics
4Comments

Caleb Goes to Hell: The Concequence of Missing Mass

Note: The following narrative is entirely hypothetical and serves as a thought experiment. Caleb is not an ordinary man. His life is a profound reflection of his unwavering...

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Apologetics
4Comments

The Early Church, Pseudepigrapha, and the Unnamed Gospel

What is Pseudepigrapha? Before we delve into the mysterious world of the unnamed Gospels, let’s first understand the concept of pseudepigrapha. Derived from the Greek...

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Canon
16Comments

Why I’m a “De facto Cessationist” (But Dont Want to Be)

How about this: I am a “de facto cessationist.” Let me clarify something that might help you understand. Some of you have read about this on my blog. It might...

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. . . and Other Bad Interpretations
6Comments

What Does “Where Two or Three Are Gathered in My Name” Really Mean

Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” A Confession I sat quietly as a young lady led us in prayer. It was hard. I...

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Apologetics
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The “Bizarreness” of a God Who Can Do Anything

A friend recently questioned whether I genuinely believe in Jonah being swallowed by a whale. While I acknowledge the thematic and parable-like qualities of Jonah (it’s...

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Theology Unplugged

Theology Unplugged
Theology Unplugged

Get your weekly dose of one of the longest-running theology podcasts there is.

Will the True Church Please Stand Up?
byC. Michael Patton

What happens when we become convinced that our church, our tradition, or our denomination is the official gatekeeper of the kingdom of God? In this episode of Theology Unplugged, Michael explores a surprising pattern that runs throughout the Gospels. Again and again, the disciples appoint themselves as the guardians of God’s kingdom. They try to stop outsiders from ministering in Jesus’ name, call for fire from heaven on those who reject Christ, keep children away from Jesus, and argue over who deserves the seats of greatest honor. Jesus, however, repeatedly pushes back, showing that His kingdom is bigger than they imagined and His grace reaches farther than they expected.

This episode is a little different than usual. Rather than delivering a traditional monologue, Michael reads one of his recent blogs to his wife, Kristie, while she—and her dogs!—represent the audience. Think of it as a pilot episode for a possible new format. If your podcast app supports video, Michael highly recommends watching this episode rather than simply listening. Otherwise, you can watch it on YouTube or, for supporters, on Patreon.

Along the way, Michael argues that perhaps we have been asking the wrong question. Instead of beginning with lines, boundaries, and gatekeepers, perhaps we should begin with the center. The center is neither a denomination nor an institution. It is the person and work of Jesus Christ. The true church is ultimately defined not by self-appointed guardians, but by the confession Peter made: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Michael would love to know what you think of this new format. If you enjoy it—or if you have ideas for improving it—please leave a comment. Your feedback will help determine whether this becomes a regular feature of Theology Unplugged.

Get involved:
Michael’s public blog: https://credohouse.org
Courses and Manuscript Reproductions from Michael and other scholars: https://credocourses.com
Join us as we go through the great Fathers of the Faith in a year: https://throughthechurchfathers.com
Support Michael and receive exclusive podcasts, courses, and much more: https://patreon.com/cmichaelpatton

Will the True Church Please Stand Up?
Will the True Church Please Stand Up?
2026-06-24
C. Michael Patton
86. Through Theology in a Year: Biblical Docetism
2026-06-16
C. Michael Patton
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  • Will the True Church Please Stand Up? 2026-06-24
    What happens when we become convinced that our church, our tradition, or our denomination is the official gatekeeper of the kingdom of God? In this episode of Theology Unplugged, Michael explores a surprising pattern that runs throughout the Gospels. Again and again, the disciples appoint themselves as the guardians of God's kingdom. They try to […]
  • 86. Through Theology in a Year: Biblical Docetism 2026-06-16
    In this episode, Michael introduces a new term for an old interpretive problem: Biblical Docetism. Borrowing from the ancient Christological heresy of Docetism—which denied the true humanity of Christ while affirming His deity—Michael argues that many Christians approach the Bible in a remarkably similar way. They affirm the divine origin of Scripture but neglect its […]

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