Nate Labadorf
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Nehemiah 10: When Repentance Becomes a Way of Life
Nehemiah 10 moves from confession to concrete covenant commitments. The restored community must now bring repentance into money, marriage, Sabbath,… Read More
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Nehemiah 9: Remembered Sin and Remembered Mercy
Nehemiah 9 tells Israel’s history as confession. The people remember their repeated rebellion, but they also remember the faithful God… Read More
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Nehemiah 8: Why Restoration Needs the Word of God
Nehemiah 8 shows why rebuilding Jerusalem was not enough. God’s restored people needed Scripture they could hear, understand, obey, and… Read More
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Nehemiah 7: A Finished Wall Still Needs a People
Nehemiah 7 begins after Jerusalem’s wall has been completed, but the city is still nearly empty. The chapter shows why… Read More
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Exodus Sacred Geography: How Yahweh Conquers Chaos and Claims His People
The Exodus does not end when Israel leaves Egypt. At the sea, in the wilderness, and on the road to… Read More
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Nehemiah 6: Discernment When Opposition Changes Its Tactics
Nehemiah 6 shows what happens when obvious opposition stops working. Sanballat turns to distraction, rumor, and religious manipulation, forcing Nehemiah… Read More
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Nehemiah 5: The Wall Cannot Protect You From Injustice
Nehemiah 5 reveals a crisis inside Jerusalem. The wall can stop an enemy, but it cannot protect poor families from… Read More
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Nehemiah 4: How God’s People Work Under Opposition
Nehemiah 4 shows what happens when ridicule becomes threat and fear begins to weaken a community. Nehemiah answers with prayer,… Read More
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Nehemiah 3: God Builds a People by Giving Everyone a Place at the Wall
Nehemiah 3 looks like a list of builders, but its names reveal a theology of Christian community: different people accepting… Read More
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Nehemiah 2: The Good Hand of God Does Not Replace a Good Plan
Nehemiah 2 refuses to separate providence from planning. God opens the way, but Nehemiah still prepares, investigates, persuades, and invites… Read More
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Dark Night of the Soul and Loving God?
Can love for God grow while the mind remains confused? Explore Saint John of the Cross, Mary Magdalene, Psalms 42–43,… Read More
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Before Nehemiah Built a Wall, He Learned to Weep
Before Nehemiah planned, organized, or rebuilt Jerusalem’s wall, he sat down and wept. Nehemiah 1 shows why Christian restoration must… Read More
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Christian Anti-Communism and Divine Eros: When Lesser Loves Bear the Weight of Christ
A study of BJU’s Cold War anti-communism asks when love of freedom, America, and Christian institutions became fused with love… Read More
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Divine Eros and Competing Loves: When Losing Something Good Feels Like Losing Christ
What happens when a good Christian institution, tradition, or community becomes so joined to Christ that losing it feels like… Read More
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E. Stanley Jones Biography: The Missionary Who Put Christ on the Indian Road
Explore E. Stanley Jones’s life, mission in India, friendship with Gandhi, Christian ashrams, and Kingdom theology that reshaped modern missions. Read More
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Fountains of the Deep: What Caused Noah’s Flood?
What were the fountains of the deep? See how Genesis describes Noah’s Flood beginning through ruptured seas, skies, tectonics, and… Read More
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Territorial Spirits at Babel: Did Divine Conflict Drive the Nations Apart?
Explore how territorial spirits at Babel—drawn from Deuteronomy 32:8-9, Psalm 82, and Daniel 10—may have accelerated humanity’s dispersal. Read More
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Ten Plagues Defeated Egypt’s Gods: Exodus Explained
The Ten Plagues were more than natural disasters or political pressure against Pharaoh. Exodus presents them as supernatural judgments through… Read More
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Who Were the Watchers in Genesis 6? Nephilim, Hermon, and the Second Fall
The Watchers in Genesis 6 crossed the line between heaven and earth. Their rebellion produced the Nephilim and spread forbidden… Read More
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Cain’s City in the Bible: Opposite Eden Explained
Why did the Bible’s first murderer build its first city? Cain’s city gathered food, music, metalwork, power, and violence into… Read More
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AI and Theology: Why Knowing About God Is Not Knowing God
AI and theology now meet in classrooms, churches, books, and online conversations. Artificial intelligence can explain doctrines, compare Bible passages,… Read More
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Career Spells Are Rising: How Should Christians Respond?
Career spells have become a visible part of the modern job search. People now buy rituals for interviews, promotions, better… Read More
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AI in Pastoral Ministry: A Biblical Guide to Wise Use
Explore a biblical framework for AI in pastoral ministry, including wise uses, spiritual limits, truthfulness, privacy, and accountability. Read More
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Pastors Using AI: What Church History Teaches About Authorship and Responsibility
Pastors using AI can draft sermons responsibly when they understand the message, verify its claims, serve their congregation, and own… Read More
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Dark Night of the Soul and Psalm 63: Love in the Darkness
Explore the dark night of the soul and Psalm 63, where spiritual thirst, supernatural love, and God’s hidden presence transform… Read More
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Supernatural Calling of God: Becoming a Handyman
The supernatural calling of God does not always lead to a platform. Sometimes God uses hidden work, correction, suffering, and… Read More
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Sleep Paralysis, Sauron on the Porch, and the God Who Wouldn’t Let Go
A personal account of a lifetime of unexplainable encounters — from a childhood basement in the South Carolina countryside to… Read More
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Supernatural Pre-Flood World: Watchers, Giants, and Noah
Explore the supernatural pre-Flood world of Genesis, where the Watchers rebelled, the Nephilim spread violence, and Noah trusted God. Read More
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The Genesis Gap Theory: Angels, Ancient Myths, and What Genesis 1 Actually Says
The Genesis gap theory claims a hidden catastrophe fills Genesis 1:2. See what the Hebrew grammar and ancient parallels actually… Read More
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Do Patriarchal Blessings in Genesis Really Shape the Future?
Patriarchal blessings in Genesis were more than predictions. Discover how Isaac and Jacob’s words shaped Israel’s future under God’s authority. Read More
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One God, Many Elohim: Does the Divine Council Make Christianity Polytheistic?
Explore divine council and polytheism claims: what Elohim really means, and why Yahweh’s uniqueness keeps biblical faith monotheistic. Read More
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How the Old Testament Portrays Rival Gods and Spiritual Powers
Explore the supernatural worldview of Scripture through Naaman, Dagon, Daniel 10, Assyria, and Christ’s victory over the powers. Read More
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Who Were the Nephilim, and What Did Genesis Say?
Who were the Nephilim and the Watchers? A fair look at Genesis 6, 1 Enoch, and how to explore giants… Read More
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What Is the Divine Council and the Unseen Realm?
“Unseen realm” content is everywhere on Christian YouTube right now. Here’s the plain, text-first version — what Psalm 82, Psalm… Read More
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Are UFOs Demons? A Christian Response
Are UFOs demons, extraterrestrials, or something stranger? Explore what Scripture says about spiritual deception and a crowded cosmos. Read More
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Safe Deliverance Ministry: A Pastoral Protocol
Learn how churches can practice safe deliverance ministry through pastoral discernment, informed consent, clinical care, accountability, and prayer. Read More
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Spiritual Warfare and Mental Health?
Christians do not have to choose between prayer and professional mental health care. A two-lane framework allows pastors and clinicians… Read More
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Is There a “Spirit of Fear”? How to Test Popular Demon Lists
Is the “spirit of fear” a demon? Learn how to test popular demon lists through Scripture, pastoral wisdom, and responsible… Read More
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Darkness That Illuminates: St. John of the Cross on the Dark Night
Discover how Saint John of the Cross explains darkness that illuminates, transforms the soul, and prepares us for deeper union… Read More
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Mental Illness, Spiritual Oppression, or Both? A Pastoral Guide
Spiritual experiences and mental health symptoms can sometimes look remarkably similar. Pastors need a compassionate, theologically grounded approach that takes… Read More
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Demonic Attack or Trauma? Trauma Informed Pastoral Care
Before a pastor labels a troubling experience as demonic, trauma-informed pastoral care asks a vital question: “What happened to you?” Read More
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Can Demons Oppress Christians? What the Bible Actually Shows
Can Christians be demon-possessed, or does the Holy Spirit’s presence make that impossible? Scripture gives us a serious but restrained… Read More
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Can a Christian Be Demon-Possessed? Start With Belonging to Christ
When a frightened Christian says, “I think a demon has me,” the first pastoral task is not to name a… Read More
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How Should Christians Test Prophets on YouTube?
This whole series has been building a model, one piece at a time. God does not lie. Human error enters… Read More
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What Should a Church Do When a Prophecy Fails?
Every prophetic community will eventually face a failed prediction. A biblical response to failed prophecy does not hide the error… Read More
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How to Build a Biblical Prophecy Policy for Your Church
So far, this series has argued three things. God never lies. Human error can enter a prophetic word at several… Read More
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Who Are the “Gods” of the Old Testament? The Supernatural Worldview
Who were the gods of the Old Testament, and why does Scripture treat them as more than lifeless idols? Explore… Read More
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Should Christians Test Prophecy? What Paul Means by “Weigh It”
If prophecy today can include real human error, then churches need a system for catching that error before it causes… Read More
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Was Agabus Wrong in Acts 21? And What About Nathan’s Prophecy?
Two Bible stories keep coming up in every online debate about whether prophecy can fail. One is Paul’s journey to… Read More
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Why Prophetic Words Go Wrong: Six Places Human Error Enters
In the last post, we set the rule: God does not lie. If a prophecy turns out false, the mistake… Read More
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Can a Prophecy Be From God and Still Be Wrong?
Here’s a question that splits churches: “Can a prophecy be from God and still be wrong?” A lot of people… Read More
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Why Prayer Feels Empty: The Dark Night of the Will
Nate opens this episode in the dark — literally. A wanderer, a treacherous boy named Liron, a whale carcass on… Read More
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The Serpent, the Watchers, and the Divine Council Explained
Episode Summary Nate, David, and Wes kick off a new series — Rivals to the Kingdom of Yahweh — exploring… Read More
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When God’s Light Feels Like Darkness: St. John of the Cross
The Distracted Christian, with Nate LabadorfA production of Fresh Ground Theology What if God’s silence is not His absence, but… Read More
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Why the Fire-Baptized Holiness Church Collapsed
In this episode of Fresh Ground Theology, David, Wes, and Nate continue their dive into the explosive world of late… Read More
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Why God May Feel Absent During Spiritual Growth
In this episode of The Distracted Christian Podcast, Nate continues a contemplative journey through Saint John of the Cross and… Read More
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When “Baptism of Fire” Became Holy War
In this episode of Fresh Ground Theology, Nate, David, and Wes return for part two of their conversation on the… Read More
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What Is the Dark Night of the Spirit?
Episode Summary After the first cleansing, the soul breathes easier. Prayer flows. God feels close. But Saint John of the… Read More
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What Was the Fire-Baptized Holiness Movement?
Episode Summary Three guys, three mugs, and one of the most wild and fascinating corners of American church history. This… Read More
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What Is the Dark Night of the Senses? St. John of the Cross Explained
The Distracted Christian, with Nate Labadorf Episode Summary If your prayer life has gone quiet — no feelings, no fire,… Read More
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What Does the Bible Teach About Demons and the Kingdom of God?
In this episode of Fresh Ground Theology, David and Nate continue their discussion of spiritual warfare, this time focusing on… Read More
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What Are Behemoth and Leviathan in the Book of Job?
In this episode of The Distracted Christian Podcast, Wes Scott dives into one of the strangest and most fascinating sections… Read More
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What Is Spiritual Warfare? The Old Testament View
In this episode of Fresh Ground Theology, David and Nate dig into the Old Testament foundations of spiritual warfare. Instead… Read More
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Why Did Ezra Preach for Hours? Nehemiah 8 Explained
In this episode of The Distracted Christian Podcast, Wes Scott continues the series “Strange Passages: Their Meanings and Applications” by… Read More
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Tongues, Prophecy, Healing, and Discernment: Four Gifts Explained
Episode Title: The “Big Four” Spiritual Gifts: Tongues, Prophecy, Healing, and Discernment of Spirits What if the most controversial spiritual… Read More
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Why Did Naaman Ask for Israel’s Dirt? 2 Kings 5 Explained
In this “Strange Passages: Their Meanings and Applications” installment, guest host Wes Scott tackles a surprisingly theological question: what does… Read More
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How Does the Holy Spirit Bring the Kingdom of God?
Episode Title: The Holy Spirit and the Kingdom of God: Already Here, Not Yet Complete What if the Kingdom of… Read More
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What Does Christian Discipleship Mean in Public Life?
Matthew 28:16–20 is a royal charter issued by the enthroned Christ. But the next question presses: what kind of human… Read More
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Was Isaiah Written by One Author? The Unity of Isaiah Explained
In the Jewish tradition, the prophet Isaiah was not merely a solitary seer with parchment in hand, but a figure… Read More
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Did Saul Really Speak to Samuel? The Medium of Endor Explained
Guest host: Wes Scott Series: Strange Passages — Their Meaning and Applications Primary text: 1 Samuel 28:1–19 When God is… Read More
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Is Your View of God Shaped by Your Childhood?
Episode Title: Is Your View of God Shaped by Your Childhood? Attachment Theory, the Holy Spirit, and Healing the Heart… Read More
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What Happened on the Threshing Floor? Ruth 3 Explained
What happens when the Bible gets weird—and why does it matter more than we think? In this powerful and thought-provoking… Read More
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What Are Spiritual Gifts For? Building Up the Church
Episode theme: Spiritual gifts aren’t about finding your thing. They’re about building the church—in love, order, and truth. What if… Read More
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How to Pray for Someone’s Spiritual Growth
What if your small group’s biggest problem isn’t the discussion… but the fact that nobody is actually moving? Most groups… Read More
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Are Spiritual Gifts for You—or for the Church?
Episode theme: Spiritual gifts are not party tricks. They are relational bridges—between God and His people, and within the Church.… Read More
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Why Did God Use Ehud? Judges 3 and the Left-Handed Assassin
What do you do with a Bible story that sounds like it belongs in an action movie—complete with assassination, deception,… Read More
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How Do the Holy Spirit and the Human Brain Work Together?
Episode theme: Knowing the Holy Spirit as a Person—and why your brain might be part of the story. Coffee is… Read More
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Why Did Israel Build Twelve Stones? Joshua 4 Explained
In this first solo episode of his “Weird Passages of the Bible” series, guest host Wes Scott explores the miraculous… Read More
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What Did Jesus Mean by “All Authority in Heaven and on Earth”?
Matthew closes his Gospel not with epilogue but with enthronement. On a mountain in Galilee, the risen Jesus declares, “All… Read More
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Breath, Wind, Fire: The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
What does it mean to encounter the Spirit of God in the pages of the Old Testament? In this episode… Read More
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Why Strange Bible Passages Matter—with Wes Scott
Today’s episode marks a new chapter in The Distracted Christian. While Nate continues writing Part Two of “The Dark Night… Read More
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Who Is the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament?
On this episode of Fresh Ground Theology, Nate and David dive deep into one of the most profound and often… Read More
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Who Was Good King Wenceslas? The History Behind the Carol
In this final Christmas episode of the year, Nate and David pour one last festive cup—pumpkin spice creamer, herbal tea,… Read More
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What Does the Incarnation Mean? God Made Flesh at Christmas: Beyond the Flannelgraph
This Advent, Nate and David go beyond the flannelgraph and rediscover the staggering mystery of the Incarnation—God Himself taking on… Read More
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When Was Jesus Born? What the Bible and History Tell Us
In this third installment of the Fresh Ground Theology Advent series, Nate and David welcome Wes Scott (soon to be… Read More
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Who Was Saint Nicholas? The Truth Behind Santa Claus
Beyond the mall Santa is Nicholas of Myra—a fourth-century bishop remembered for hidden generosity, bold justice, answered-prayer miracles, and a… Read More
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What Is Advent? How Christians Learn to Wait for Christ
Advent isn’t just a countdown to Christmas—it’s the Church’s way of ordering time around Christ. Nate and David trace how… Read More
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Why God Feels Silent: Letting Go of Spiritual Striving
Welcome to The Distracted Christian Podcast, hosted by Nate Labadorf. In this deeply contemplative episode, we enter the quiet terrain… Read More
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Can Christians Struggle With Depression and Anxiety? With Ken Kirkley
Episode Summary Today David and Nate pause their normal topical series to welcome Pastor Ken Kirkley for a candid, pastoral… Read More
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Why God Removes Spiritual Comfort: The Dark Night of the Soul
Episode SummaryIn Episode 10 of The Distracted Christian Podcast, we explore one of the most profound and unsettling experiences in… Read More
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How Is the Eucharist Different From Pagan Sacrifice?
Episode Summary:In this rich and far-ranging conversation, Nate and David dive deeper into the spiritual mystery of the Eucharist by… Read More
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What Are Spiritual Envy and Spiritual Sloth?
Introduction: Envy at the Edge of EdenThere’s a moment in Paradise Lost when Satan stands at the edge of paradise,… Read More
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The Sacred Table, the Pagan Circle: Exploring Eucharist and Modern Pagan Rituals
Episode Summary:In Episode 9 of Fresh Ground Theology, Nate and David continue their thoughtful and reverent exploration of the Eucharist—this… Read More
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What Is Spiritual Gluttony? When Religious Experience Becomes an Idol
Episode SummaryWhat happens when our appetite for spiritual experiences outweighs our hunger for God Himself? In this episode, Nate Labadorf… Read More
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Can Christians Compare the Eucharist With Pagan Rituals?
Episode Summary:In this episode, Nate and David continue their exploration of the Eucharist by widening the lens—pulling in insights from… Read More
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Is Anger a Sin? A Christian Guide to Anger and Spiritual Growth
Episode SummaryIn this powerful and timely episode, Nate Labadorf takes listeners deep into the emotion that most Christians would rather… Read More
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Communion & the Corinthian Crisis: Paul’s Theology of the Table
Episode Summary:This week, Nate and David return to their multi-part series on the Eucharist, diving deep into the Apostle Paul’s… Read More
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The King We Follow
To announce oneself as a king is one thing. To prove it—by lineage, by authority, and by action—is another altogether.… Read More
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The Shadow Side of Joy – The Chase of Spiritual Luxury
Episode SummaryIn this revealing episode, host Nate Labadorf explores a hidden struggle in the Christian life: the temptation to pursue… Read More
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Augustine’s Manual for Meaning (Part II)
Augustine does not end On Christian Doctrine with a flourish. He ends with a commission. Having summoned the preacher to… Read More