In this episode of Gird Up, host Charlie Ungemach sits down with Pastor Jacob Klug (Mountain View Lutheran, Calgary, AB) and Seminarian Colin Maurice for a wide-ranging, three-part conversation. First, Pastor Klug shares how his congregation uses high strangeness, vampire lore, and sci-fi culture as an apologetic bridge to reach "functional pagans." Next, the guys tackle the psychological and spiritual traps of online dating, "secondary digital identities," and how to navigate romance without making an idol out of it. Finally, the panel reflects on the profound comfort of Christ's resurrected body—exploring what Jesus retaining His scars in heaven reveals about our own suffering, our union with God, and physical restoration.

What We Cover in This Episode:

• • Cultural Engagement & High Strangeness: Why Pastor Jacob Klug is using vampires, sci-fi, and cultural folklore to engage functional pagans and point them back to the reality of the supernatural and Christ.

  • The "Cardboard Cutout" Trap: How dating apps force young Christians to construct curated digital identities—and why that builds immense pressure, anxiety, and visual desensitization.

  • Commodification vs. Promise: Moving past the "demand-obligation paradigm" to pursue authentic, grace-filled relationships grounded in real-life community.

  • Christ’s Scars in Heaven: A deep theological reflection on the incarnation, physical perfection, and why Jesus keeping His scars means we are more than okay in Him.

  Episode Resources & Links Mentioned:

  Mountain View Lutheran: https://mountainviewchurch.org/

Collin’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/collin525/

Open Book App: https://openbook.today/

Gird Up

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girdup_podcast/

Website: https://www.girdupministries.com/

How do Christians remain in the world without becoming captive to the digital age? In this episode, Charlie Ungemach sits down with Seminary Senior Colin Maurice and Pastor Jacob Klug to break down what it means to faithfully navigate our modern culture.

This episode covers three distinct conversations:

1. Being in the World (and the Algorithm) but Not of It: A look at how digital identities distort our God-given identity, how social media algorithms feed off the passions of the flesh, and how confessional Christians can engage online spaces with charity and clear listening.

2. The Myth of the 'Good Old Days': Reacting to a viral Genesis commentary, the guys discuss why nostalgia can be a theological trap, how sin has always plagued every generation, and why our hope rests in Christ’s reconciliation rather than returning to an imagined past.

3. Holding the Sack Open: Unpacking Martin Luther’s quote on the nature of the Gospel, exploring what it means to be purely passive recipients of God’s overflowing grace.

Mountain View Lutheran: https://mountainviewchurch.org/

Collin’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/collin525/

Open Book App: https://openbook.today/

Gird Up

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girdup_podcast/

Website: https://www.girdupministries.com/

Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode:

When loss hits hard or life falls apart, the silence of God can feel deafening. Where is God when you are grieving a loss, a relationship, or a season of your life—and why does it feel like He isn't answering?

On this episode of the Gird Up Podcast, host Charlie Ungemach sits down with Pastors Josh Rathje (Crown of Life, Fort Myers, FL) and Mike Cherney (Truth in Love Ministry & co-host of Graveyard Shift Gospel). Together, the trio tackles three major areas hitting young Christians today: navigating the heavy silence of God in seasons of grief, refuting a viral atheist critique regarding heaven and human identity, and finding daily security in Martin Luther's picture of Baptism as an unbreakable ship.

The conversation opens with a deep pastor's look into suffering and loss. The guys explain why God is never truly silent where He has bound Himself to speak—in His Word and Sacraments—and how the Psalms of lament teach Christians to pray faithfully through periods of waiting. Moving from personal trials to cultural apologetics, they break down a viral social media clip claiming you can't be happy in heaven if loved ones are in hell, exposing the logical fallacies of the atheist argument and demonstrating how true human identity is restored in Christ. Finally, they close in the Large Catechism, reflecting on Martin Luther’s reminder that while we may slip and fall into sin, the ship of Baptism never breaks because it rests entirely on God's objective promise.

Pastor Josh

Church: https://crownlifelutheran.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jrathje10/

Pastor Mike

TILM: https://tilm.org/

Graveyard Shift Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6LBKNpQCyLMG5TrJbOH7Y9?si=8bf9b793c922402e

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikeaftermike/

Gird Up

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girdup_podcast/

Website: https://www.girdupministries.com/