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Calvinism
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12 Reasons Romans 9 is About Individual Election

Much theological debate centers around the doctrine of election. No one debates whether election is biblical, but they do debate the meaning of election. I believe in what is...

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Credo House Ministries
Christian Life
4Comments

The Traumatic Nature of Deconversion

Memory is unreliable when recounting old wounds, but I do know that the beginning of the end started with an email to an old professor in which I expressed: “I...

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Credo House Ministries
Authenticity
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Viewing God Through the Lens of Trauma

Earlier today, I read through Michael Patton’s post “On Leaving My First Love” and found similarities between where he was years ago and where I find myself...

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Canon
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Is it Really Closed? Rethinking Our Terms

The term “canon” refers to the accepted books of the Bible. The Protestant canon contains 66 books; other Christian traditions vary, adding a few books often referred to...

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Uncategorized
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Ten Reasons Good Christians Go Bad

One of the most discouraging (and blindsiding) things in life is to be one who has followed the Lord for some time, felt to be on the right track, been involved in the His...

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Credo House Ministries
Christian Life
2Comments

And Jesus Asked, “Who Do You Say That I Am?”

He asked His disciples, “13Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or...

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Christian Life
21Comments

Viewing God Through the Lens of Trauma

Earlier today, I read Michael’s post “On Leaving My First Love” and found similarities between where he was years ago and where I find myself now. In it, he...

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Apologetics
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A Freedom We Should Celebrate or a Crime We Should Prosecute? It Can’t Logically Be Both.

Moral inconsistency leads to legal inconsistency, and legal inconsistency is another word for injustice. Imagine a basic right that you championed and exercised, but which, if...

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Credo House Ministries
Christian Life
7Comments

The Great Divorce (I’m a Fraud and Here’s Why)

No, this post isn’t a commentary on the story by C.S. Lewis (just getting that out of the way first). This post is altogether something different. For my readers who...

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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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