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Eastern Orthodox
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Why I Don’t Think the Church Is Called to Be as Unified as We Think

Introduction In John chapter 17, Christ prays for His followers, saying, “that they may be one as we are one.” This prayer has often been interpreted as a call for...

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Christian Philosophy
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Six Pillars of Trust: Building Confidence in Theological Voices

When I first became committed to the things of the Lord, I was a sponge. I absorbed whatever anyone was offering, as long as they said they loved Jesus. I bought anything that...

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Anthropology
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Punting to Mystery: A Calvinist Reflection on Free Will and Divine Sovereignty

Introduction I’ve been mulling over an idea for many years, one I’ve written about before but am now trying to articulate more clearly. It centers on the notion of...

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Credo House Ministries
Church History
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44. Through Theology in a Year with C. Michael Patton: The Protestant Tradition

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Apologetics
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The Joyful Cost of Evangelism: Embracing the Mission with Resilience

At the turn of the twentieth century, Theodore Roosevelt wrote these gripping words in his riveting book The Strenuous Life: “Nothing in the world is worth having or worth...

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Addiction
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Biblical Lists of Sins in Reverse

10 Commandments in Exodus 20:3-17 in Reverse You shall have no other gods before me. Reverse: Trust only God for everything. You shall not make for yourself an idol. Reverse:...

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Calvinism
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Reconciling Free Will and Divine Sovereignty: A Three-Dimensional View from a Two-Dimensional World

Imagine a world where you had to choose between two truths that seem equally valid but seemed utterly contradictory. In the realm of the Christian faith, this isn’t just...

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Depression
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Giving Up On Life

About thirteen years ago, right after my dad died, I felt like I gave up on life. I wasn’t going to end my life because I knew from experience the impact that would have on my...

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Theology Unplugged
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Theology Unplugged Q/A

Find everything I do at my Patreon.

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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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