Christian AF Podcast
- A Reconstructionist Podcast -Christian AF was born after a few long conversations over good beers, where we realized that life, and faith, aren't as simple as we grew up believing. We started wondering why asking questions was frowned upon, or why we had to accept what we've always been told as the truth. Maybe some things aren't as black and white as we'd like to think. So, we set out to create a space to have an HONEST dialogue that welcomes questions, doubts, and fears about faith, church culture, and everything in between. The three of us behind the mics are no experts, but our goal is to help listeners start asking questions or maybe even find some answers. Christian AF is a podcast for people who are over church, have been burned by church, don’t get church, or have been told not to question their faith. So as we like to say, kick back, grab a drink, and start questioning! (Christian AF is based out of Rockford, IL run by members of Grassroots Church).
Episodes
So… why are we obsessed with the end of the world?
In Part 2 of our chaotic theological therapy session with Jeff Swanson, the Christian AF crew gets personal, philosophical, and—let’s be honest—maybe a little punch-drunk from talking about dispensationalism for 4+ hours.
We dig into:
- Why certainty might be the biggest enemy of faith
- The toxic fallout of end-times obsession
- Why shame ≠ conviction (yes, there’s a differ...
In this heresy-flavored episode of the Christian AF Podcast, Jesse, Jen, and Evan sit down with resident dispensationalism whisperer (and trauma-sharing expert) Jeff Swanson to break down one of the most influential and weirdly persistent frameworks in evangelical thought.
We’re talking Left Behind. Charts. Rapture timelines. Helicopter-locust hybrids. Why your grandma had a Bible thicker than your thigh. And what it m...
Deconstruction. The word that sends evangelicals into a cold sweat and has half of social media in a theological meltdown. But what does it really mean? Are people deconstructing their faith, or just ditching the bad theology they were handed as kids? In this episode of the Christian AF Podcast, Jesse, Jen, and Evan grab a drink (or two) and dig into the messy, weird, and sometimes necessary world of deconstruction.
We...
Genesis 1-11: The greatest hits of Sunday school, or something much deeper? In this episode of the Christian AF Podcast, Jesse, Jen, and Evan dive into the origins of everything—creation, Adam & Eve, Noah’s Ark, and the Tower of Babel—except we’re not here for the flannelgraph version.
Is Genesis meant to be taken literally, or is there something bigger going on? Why do so many people make this the hill they’re wil...
You made it to part two! Or maybe you skipped part one and are just diving in here. Either way, welcome to the unfiltered, mildly chaotic continuation of our conversation on quiet quitting church.
This time, we dig even deeper into the reasons people drift away from church and whether or not leadership should be diagnosing (or preventing) it. Some of the big questions we tackle:
- Are people quietly leaving because th...
Ever feel like you’re slowly backing out of a room, hoping no one notices? That’s quiet quitting—but not at your job. We’re talking about quietly quitting church. 🏃♂️💨
In this episode of Christian AF, Jesse, Jen, and Evan (joined by our buddy Creig) dive into why so many people are ghosting church communities without saying a word. Are we just bad at confrontation? Is church just another consumer product we discard ...
In this heretical hot take of the Christian AF Podcast, Jesse, Jen, and Evan crack open the tangled world of heresy—what it is, why it’s a big deal (or is it?), and how we’ve all probably dabbled in a little heresy ourselves. From universalism to fundamentalism, Americanism to the infamous "alien Jesus" theory, this episode is a chaotic deep dive into the beliefs we question and the ones that might actually ...
Happy New Year! 🎉 In this special year-end episode of the Christian AF Podcast, Jesse, Jen, and Evan tackle the big question: Why don’t we live like eternity is real? With 2025 kicking off, we reflect on how eternity (or our avoidance of it) shapes our decisions, relationships, and priorities.
The crew dives into everything from our cultural obsession with immediacy and distraction to the spiritual disciplines that he...
🎄 It's the most wonderful time of the year, and we're back with a brand-new episode! In this special holiday-themed discussion, Jesse, Jen, and Evan tackle some big theological questions (and a whole lot of Christmas banter). From debating the dual nature of Jesus—fully God, fully human—to sharing favorite Christmas cookies and holiday movies, we’ve got all the festive chaos you never knew you needed.
This e...
Leadership and discipleship—two words we hear a lot in church, but do they really mean what we think they do? In this episode of the Christian AF Podcast, Jesse, Jen, and Evan dive into the messy overlap of leadership and discipleship in the church. Is leadership about casting the widest net, or is it about leading people deeper into faith? And when did discipleship become more about programs than relationships?
The cr...
The election may be over, but the tension isn’t. In this episode of the Christian AF Podcast, Jesse, Jen, and Evan take a deep breath, grab their drinks, and tackle the big question: "Now what?" With post-election emotions running high, we explore how to navigate this moment as people of faith without spiraling into the usual political drama. We’re keeping it real and throwing in some sarcasm for good measur...
Buckle up, because we're diving into some of the weirdest, most mysterious stuff the Bible has to offer – and it involves giants, fallen angels, and things that sound like they're straight out of a fantasy novel. This episode of the Christian AF Podcast tackles the Nephilim—yep, those elusive beings mentioned briefly in Genesis and Numbers that have sparked endless debates, theories, and, let's be hones...
Ever thought about planting a church? Well, before you grab your Bible and shovel (metaphorically, of course), you might want to take a listen to this episode of the Christian AF Podcast. Jesse, Jen, and Evan unpack the "folly" of church planting, revealing why it's not always the holy grail it's cracked up to be.
We dive into the messy realities: the burnout, the big promises of fast growth, and th...
Ever wondered what the heck a denomination is and why we even have them? Well, grab a drink and brace yourself because this episode of the Christian AF Podcast dives into the history, the misconceptions, and the modern-day relevance (or lack thereof) of church denominations.
Jesse, Jen, and Evan go deep into why denominations exist, how they started, and what they mean for us today. Whether you grew up Catholic, Luther...
Ever had a conversation so good, that you had to do it twice? Well, that's exactly what happened with this episode of the Christian AF Podcast featuring Tim Whitaker from The New Evangelicals. That's right, folks. We managed to forget to hit record the first time around (classic us), but trust us, this take is worth the wait.
In this episode, Jesse, Jen, and Evan dive deep with Tim into the chaotic world of m...
What does Jesus value about the church, and how does that compare to what we value today? In this insightful episode of the Christian AF Podcast, Jesse, Jen, and Evan delve into the core question of values within the church. They explore the nuances of what Jesus might prioritize versus the values often emphasized in modern church communities.
Throughout this thought-provoking conversation, the hosts examine specific e...
Ever wondered about the difference between faith and belief? In this episode of the Christian AF Podcast, Jesse, Jen, and Evan dive into the profound yet often misunderstood distinction between these two concepts. They explore how Western culture and Bible translations have blurred the lines between faith and belief, potentially fueling the rise of deconstruction within the church.
Join the hosts as they discuss the im...
Today we're talking about the great recoil (as Evan calls it). We've noticed that many churches have tried to recoil back into what was comfortable before the pandemic because it's comfortable instead of growing and evolving from that time. Is that ok? Should we be trying to create something more? What are the members of the faith community looking for in 2024? Let's discuss!
EPISODE DRIN...
In this episode of the Christian AF Podcast, hosts Jen, Jesse, and Evan sit down with David Fitch, an author, professor, and pastor, to discuss his new book, "Reckoning with Power: Why the Church Fails When It's on the Wrong Side of Power." The conversation covers a range of topics including the dynamics of power within the church, the impact of Christian nationalism, and the importance of humility and ...
In this episode, hosts Evan and Jesse are joined by Courtney Bandeko and Benjamin Koppin, the talent behind the unconventional Christian film "Pastor's Kid." With Jen out sick, the duo navigates an engaging discussion about the film's daring approach to Christian storytelling, exploring themes of faith, struggle, and redemption in ways that traditional Christian films often avoid. From behind-the-s...
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