Amy Mantravadi, Mere Fi’s snarkiest online critic has written a novel—a historical novel—about the heroes of the Reformation. Matt and... more

On October 23rd, 524, Boethius, the last of the Classical philosophers and the first Medieval Man, was executed. Today, 1,500... more

Dr. Tim Perry returns to Mere Fidelity with a (as Matt calls it) “spicy” book about how ancient heresies have... more

Politics has inflated beyond the realm where it can order our finite, common, physical lives. What is the natural realm... more

In a recent podcast appearance (not here, thank God), N.T. Wright made some, shall we say, controversial remarks that caused... more

How seriously should we take statistical numbers given in the Bible? If you need more of a prompt than that... more

Do you assume that being “spiritual but not religious” is a fad of modernism? Think again. It goes way, way... more

The data is in. Social media has now been studied long enough that we are able to compile reliable data,... more

Having recently been reminded of the ongoing disagreements about the ordination of women, the Mere Fi cast turn to the... more

In response to a listener question, Derek, Matt, and Alastair go deep on the doctrine of creation. They ask and... more

Is it useful to talk about finding our identity in Christ? Is that the language that the Scripture uses? How... more

What makes good summer reading? If anyone would know, it’s the Mere Fi bookworms. This isn’t a book recommendation episode.... more

Ewan Goligher has written a book making a clear and strong argument against euthanasia and for the intrinsic value of... more

Professor Oliver O’Donovan joins Matt and Derek once more. This time they discuss the relationship of Christian belief and practice... more

The renowned Professor Oliver O’Donovan joins Matt and Alastair to discuss the relationship between the practice of the Christian faith... more

Casuistry is a technical term for a way of reasoning about ethical principles in specific situations. It fell into disuse... more

Taking up a difficult passage of Scripture, Alastair, Andrew, and Matt consider the incident in which Jacob deceives Isaac into... more

When dealing with delicate, nuanced, disputed, or important issues, should Christians primarily rely on their own judgment or the authority... more

Andrew, Matt, and Alastair take up the oft-disputed passage from First Timothy that seems to restrict the authority of women... more

Christ is risen indeed, alleluia! The Easter season is upon us, and the regular cast and crew have the Resurrection... more

As we approach Palm Sunday, Alastair, Matt, and Derek meditate—and ask incisive questions—upon the Cross, the Resurrection, the Triumphal Entry,... more

We can all feel it. Something about social media is just really unhealthy. But what to do about it? That’s... more

In yet another brazen foray into hot topics, Matt, Derek, and Alastair talk with eminent trinitarian theologian, Dr. Fred Sanders,... more

Is asceticism good for the Christian life? Seems like a simple question at first, but there is a lot more... more

C.S. Lewis is an odd figure. Beloved, cited, and recruited by both progressive and conservative Christians, his works have a... more

Alistair Begg hit a nerve with Christians online when he said in public that it might be ok for a... more

What does the Gospel of Jesus Christ have to say to those who wrestle with mental illness? This month’s Lexham... more

It’s come up on the show before, but this time Andrew and Matt are going to settle this once and... more

Dr. Kevin Hector has written the theology for the rest of us. Normal, non-academic persons will find Christianity as a... more

What is the most basic aspect of God’s identity? What do we know Him as first? One potential answer to... more

In the wake of a controversial Vatican document favorable toward blessing those in same-sex relationships, Matt, Alastair, and Derek discuss... more

In a time when “being canceled” is one of our greatest fears, thinking Biblically about reputation as a category is... more

Critical Race Theory is not the only sort of critical theory out there. As a matter of fact, Augustine’s City... more

Can we understand criminal justice Biblically? Criminal justice in America is in need of reform, and attorney Matthew Martens has... more

Occasionally on Mere Fidelity we have taken up difficult passages of Scripture. On this episode we take up an entire... more

With war in Israel functioning as a totemic marker in our polarized political climate, Derek, Matt, and Alastair talk frankly... more

Is questioning your faith a good thing? We need not fear questions. By the grace of God, we have the... more

Integralism is a philosophy of church and state that seemed to have been definitively rejected. And yet, it has received... more

The classic intro to Christianity, Knowing God by J.I. Packer, was published 50 years ago. To celebrate this anniversary, Derek,... more

Since at least the time of the Donatists, the Church has wrestled with how to relate to Christians who are... more

When answering the question, “How did we get here?” how far back do you have to go? Mere Fidelity’s own... more

Was the Reformation really as much a break with what came before it as we are often led to believe?... more

In The Biblical Trinity, Brandon Smith proclaims the Trinity from the Bible. The doctrine arises not from a handful of... more

Does your church display an American flag or Union Jack or some other national flag? It’s been an active debate... more

In Bulwarks of Unbelief, Joseph Minich argues that a felt absence of God, as experienced by the modern individual, offers... more

Most of what we talk about on Mere Fidelity presupposes a lot of reading. What is the real use of... more

Friend of the show, Pastor Timothy Keller, has entered into glory. He was a pivotal player in Evangelicalism over the... more

Lectio Divina is a popular form of prayer using the reading of Scripture as a means of encountering God. While... more

Why do we need creeds? What are they for? Isn’t Scripture enough? Dr. Phillip Cary has a very useful and... more

Josh Butler caused a big ruckus when an excerpt from his latest book was posted on a prominent Christian website.... more

Christ is risen indeed! In this Easter season, Matt, Alastair, and Derek turn their attention to one of the most... more

How can we humans form a conception of God, Who is infinitely beyond our capacity for understanding? Analogies! They’re at... more

Neo-Calvinism is in the air. But is it theologically relevant or merely a political phenomenon? Or did the Americans just... more

When students started turning in papers written by artificial intelligence, educators were caught flat-footed. We knew that machines would replace... more

On this episode of Mere Fidelity, historian of history Paul Gutacker joins Matt, Derek, and Alastair to talk about the... more

What would you do with a billion dollars to strengthen the Western Church? The question is straightforward enough, but the... more

When you come across a passage of Scripture that just throws you for a loop, who do you go to... more

These days, it seems nobody without a doctorate in biology knows how to tell men apart from women. How did... more

J.R.R. Tolkien is known as the language professor who created a fantasy world and constructed several languages for fun. However,... more

Why are so many Canadians choosing to make use of “medical assistance in dying” and ending their lives prematurely? The... more

There is a passage in Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians that is so jarring some have doubted whether Paul... more

Learn more about Mere Orthodoxy at www.mereorthodoxy.com.

At the end of each year, we like to take one episode of Mere Fidelity to give the hosts a... more

Talk of thankfulness pervades the Scriptures. But how well do we really understand the concept of gratitude. Matt has done... more

Our times are fragmented. Political and cultural differences rage, even among people who otherwise show goodwill. But what if Scripture... more

Every generation faces the temptation to wander from orthodoxy and to drift with cultural currents. So every generation must be... more

When one advocates for good practices that are quite old and abandoned, these things that have been forgotten can seem... more

For generations of evangelicals lacking good catechesis, Martin Luther is often seen as a primitive, unsophisticated, or backwards reformer. Into... more

What counts as doing God’s mission? How do we measure the success of Christian mission? It’s very tempting to turn... more

In light of the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the two British and one Canadian member of the Mere Fidelity... more

What are the limits of introspection as a Christian discipline? Is introspection advocated in Scripture? When you listen in silence... more

The Bible has some tricky passages. Occasionally here on Mere Fidelity the crew likes to pick one of these up... more

Is it licit for Christians to be anonymous on the internet? What role could anonymity play in evangelism? Should you... more

What exactly does it mean for God to “vindicate,” “sanctify,” or “glorify” His name? Derek has been giving this question... more

In a perfect, though not fully intentional, follow-up to the conversation in the previous episode about Conservative Nationalism, Dr. Paul... more

What hath Enlightenment Liberalism wrought? According to Dr. Yoram Hazony, chairman of the Edmund Burke Foundation, it has led us... more

There’s been a divorce between the disciplines of Biblical Studies and Systematic Theology. Representing both of those disciplines, Dr. Bobby... more

Does the philosophical knowledge of God known as Classical Theism enrich our reading of Scripture? Or does it get in... more

What has six thumbs and doesn’t understand that passage where Jesus says blasphemy against the Holy Spirit won’t be forgiven?... more

When James Wood wrote about the drawbacks of certain strategies for Christians to transcend the political divide without compromising evangelism,... more

Now that Alastair has returned from his honeymoon, Mere Fidelity jumps right back into the liturgical year with a lively... more

If Roe v. Wade is overturned, what comes next? Alastair, Matt, and Derek discuss the recent Supreme Court leak with... more

Friendly disagreements are one of the best things about Mere Fidelity. In a previous episode, the guys were unable to... more

What is the Bible? What is it for? Does the Bible create the Church or vice versa? As God’s people,... more

Andy Crouch brings a much-needed Christian perspective to understanding how humans relate to technology in his new book, The Life... more

Dr. J. Richard Middleton has a unique interpretation of Genesis 22, Abraham's (near-)sacrifice of Isaac, which departs — radically, some... more

Can progress be made on the problem of racial division? Dr. George Yancey, professor of sociology at Baylor University (and... more

Jen Pollock Michel, writer and Mere Fidelity listener, sent in an important and challenging question by email: There are several... more

A recent New York Times essay by David Brooks, "The Dissenters Trying to Save Evangelicalism From Itself," kicked up quite... more

For many 21st century Christians in the West it seems that the world is unraveling. There are two questions we... more

Reading the Psalms individually as we often do, you can miss how they all fit together. Dr. James Hamilton’s new... more

We humans have a complicated relationship with our limits. We constantly push them; expand them; try to circumvent them. But... more

A conundrum has been bothering Andrew: If you say that few people are saved, that raises certain theological problems, but... more

The modern mindset instinctively views everything, even texts, as objects to be pulled apart and understood rationally. When we do... more

You may get the impression that shame is always a bad thing. That’s not exactly right. Dr. Gregg TenElshof, author... more

On Mere Fidelity it’s not just the guests that are experts. All four of our hosts have projects of their... more

New York Times columnist Ross Douthat returns to Mere Fidelity to discuss his harrowing experience with Lyme disease as told... more

The church year begins with Advent. But Advent begins by looking forward to the Second Coming of Christ. Why would... more

What is our only comfort in life and in death? It’s that we do not belong to ourselves, but that... more

What’s gone wrong in Biblical theology? We’ve turned the Bible into an object to master, instead of letting it master... more