Forging Ploughshares

Paul Axton Preaches - The world challenging nature of the Gospel was itself challenged by the Constantinian shift, which seemed to have made the former enemy the support of the church. But the question is, if this Roman violentization of church and theology can be uncritically accepted? Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

In this PBI course discussion Tim, David, Allan, Matt, and Paul discuss the impact of Constantinianism on what was presumed to be the unbiased  consensus, the shared natural understanding, reached in the church councils. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Paul Axton preaches - Mary demonstrates the human temptation to linger at the tomb. Human culture and religion, along with contractual theology, would reify death but the Easter story empties the grave and the law of sin and death. Only in turning from the tomb can we see the risen Jesus. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

In this PBI course discussion Tim, Allan, Austin, Trenton, Matt, and Paul discuss how contractual or justification theory has captured the Western understanding of Romans interpreters and a practical alternative is discussed.  Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Paul Axton Preaches - In the Triumphal Entry Jesus not only reverses the crowds nationalistic expectations but reverses the myth of death denial by which the Prince of this world enslaves. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

In this lecture on Romans 4, Paul Axton depicts Abraham's faith as an organic reversal of universal death denial (sin) through the death acceptance of resurrection faith. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Paul Axton Preaches - What sacrifice do you believe in, the sacrificial systems of this world inclusive of war and sin or the sacrifice of Christ which has ended the sacrifice of war and sin? Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Paul Axton, in this lecture on Romans 3, applies the "faith of" Christ to being made right (righteousness) in regard to the incapacity for faithfulness created by the lie of sin.  Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Paul Axton Preaches - To find where God is at work requires looking beyond the symbolic/law which determines significance in human values, to the value of the cross which suspends ("as if not") the principles and powers of this world. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

In this third lecture on Romans Paul Axton deals with the difference between the "faith in" and "faith of" Christ and the difference between an objective cognitive faith as found in contractual theology and a holistic faithfulness, truer to the Greek and fitting the faithfulness of Abraham. The issue of available light and the mysterious Gentiles who have been true to the law are also dealt with. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Paul Axton Preaches - Can you love someone and kill them? Most all Protestants answer, yes, in regard to killing in a just war, but this is a reversal of the teaching of Jesus. The problem is a separation of the life of Christ from his teaching and the resolution is to restore Jesus as model. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

In this opening discussion of the theme of Romans Matt, Tim, Allan, Austin, and Paul discuss the real world difference of being made right in regard to sin, death, and desire.  Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Paul Axton Preaches - After Constantine the cross is completely changed in meaning. Instead of a reviled instrument of torture and representative of a nonviolent sacrifice, it is made into an emblem of war and the official sign of Empire. Constantinianism changes Christianity and we must be able to discern this change to understand the New Testament faith. Sign up for our class "Living in the Kingdom" starting March 8th. https://pbi.forgingploughshares.org/offerings   Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

In this second lecture on Romans Paul Axton sets aside the pervasive notions of a contractual understanding which have obscured access to Paul's depiction of the human predicament and its resolution in Christ. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Paul Axton Preaches - As Christians who believe the peace of Christ is a central teaching of Christianity, how do we read the Old Testament depiction of God as if he is a warrior deity, promoting genocide and killing? The New Testament teaches us how to read these sections of scripture as applying spiritually.  Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

In this continuing PBI course discussion on Romans Matt, Tim, Austin and Paul discuss how it is that death is obscured or denied in the salvation systems of this world which deal in death. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

In this PBI course discussion Tim, Austin, Matt, and Paul discuss Romans 5 and I Corinthians 15:56 and the universal tendency to transpose sin and death. The universal mistake is definitive of sin and recognizing it is an opening to rightly understanding salvation. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

In this first in a series of talks on Romans, Paul Axton introduces the theme of Romans - the human predicament and its resolution - as it revolves around the problem of shame and death and as it is resolved in righteousness. This is contrasted to the typical Augustinian approach that misappropriates this language.

In the PBI course discussion Tyler, Matt, Trenton, Jason, Tim, & Paul, discuss how the image of God in humans is simultaneously an ontological reality for all people but one completed or corrupted by being joined to either the the work of Christ (resurrection life) or a destructive story like redemptive violence.

Jon, Megan, and Paul discuss the post-apocalyptic science fiction novel A Canticle for Leibowitz by American writer Walter M. Miller Jr. Set in a Catholic monastery in the desert of the southwestern United States after a devastating nuclear war, the book spans thousands of years as civilization rebuilds itself.  The topic turns to this present moment and the nature of hope in the midst of dystopia.