Send us a Question!

Immigration talk can make Christians defensive fast, but we wanted to slow down long enough to ask a better question: what if “migration” is not a fringe issue, but a core Christian theme woven through Scripture and human life? We’re joined by Alexis Busetti, host of That Makes Total Sense and a PhD student in intercultural studies at Fuller Theological Seminary, to help us rebuild a theology that’s been fractured by fear, outrage, and talking points.

Alexis co-wrote Migration, a six-week interactive Bible study published by IVP, and we dig into why this resource works so well for churches. We walk through the study’s guiding framework manifesto, myth, material, and emotion, and talk honestly about how myths around immigrants get formed and reinforced in our political echo chambers. Along the way we name the forces shaping the church right now: Christian nationalism, individualism, and the ways power and self-interest can hide behind “just follow the law.”

Then we go theological in the best way. What does it mean to say Jesus is a migrant, and why does it matter that the Incarnation itself is God choosing to move toward us? We also get practical and local: when immigration enforcement makes people afraid to attend church, the clean separation between “government policy” and “church compassion” falls apart. We share what our congregation is trying next, including dinners with churches who disagree, a border learning experience, language partnerships, and transportation support as trust-building immigrant ministry.

As always we explore the absurd stories of today like SpaceEX hitting the moon with a rocket, Christian Nationalist pastor Jack Hibbs connecting Mamdani with Stalin , creepy Centaur Robots, and Mike Johnson's Prayer that God answered regarding the Big Beautiful Bill.

SPOILER ALERT!!! - Malcolm and Slim go into detail with their response to the New Spiderman movie. So if you haven't seen it yet, skip from 12:48-22:10.

If this conversation helps you, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Your support helps more people find thoughtful, grounded faith in a loud, fearful world.

For more information, you can follow us at
https://www.theologyinpieces.com/
Theology in Pieces on Instagram - @theologyinpieces

Email us by emailing hello@theologyinpieces.com

Malcolm Foley - on twitter @MalcolmBFoley
Slim Thompson on twitter @wacoslim

For more information on the church,
check us out at www.mosaicwaco.org or on instagram.

Send us a Question!

The Lord's Supper. What it is. & Who it's for.

On today's podcast, we catch up on Malcolm’s sabbatical highlighted by his time at monastery, chanting psalms, and rereading big chunks of the New Testament), then we pivot to some annoying Low T shenanigans, The Odyssey, and finally we wrestle with: The Holy Table/ Communion/ Eucharist / Lord's Supper.

We walk straight through 1 Corinthians 11, be accused of cannibalism, discuss what's really happening in this passage, what "an unworthy manner,” & “discern the body,” means. Hint: IT'S NOT A SNACK!!

From there we zoom out to John 6 and the long Christian debate about real presence: Roman Catholic transubstantiation, memorial-only approaches, and the Reformed conviction that Christ is truly present by the Spirit and truly nourishes his people. Finally, we tackle the pastoral edge: open vs closed communion, baptism as the marker of the new covenant community, and why questions about children and special needs believers expose what we really think communion is.

Terrible Tweets:

The High T Dept. of War

Jesse Waters Horrific "women better be careful"

Dumb has a B!

The Odyssey has gone Woke - Matt Walsh

Subscribe, share this with a friend who has opinions about communion, and leave a review telling us where your tradition lands and why.

If this conversation helps you, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Your support helps more people find thoughtful, grounded faith in a loud, fearful world.

For more information, you can follow us at
https://www.theologyinpieces.com/
Theology in Pieces on Instagram - @theologyinpieces

Email us by emailing hello@theologyinpieces.com

Malcolm Foley - on twitter @MalcolmBFoley
Slim Thompson on twitter @wacoslim

For more information on the church,
check us out at www.mosaicwaco.org or on instagram.

Send us a Question!

Calling a political opponent “demonic” feels bold until you realize what it does to your soul. In this episode, we begin with a provocative question that's been circulating in some corners of Texas politics and Christian social media: "Is James Talarico the Antichrist?" From there, we zoom out to wrestle with a much bigger issue: how Christians talk about other Christians when theology, politics, and culture wars collide.

We explore the contrast between two prominent figures in Texas politics: Ken Paxton, whose career has been marked by numerous public controversies and allegations, and James Talarico, whose appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience reignited debates about progressive Christianity. Along the way, we examine why so many online conversations leap from disagreement to accusations of being "demonic" or part of the "synagogue of Satan," instead of offering thoughtful theological critique.

Then we slow down and ask what Scripture actually says. What does “antichrist” mean in 1 John? Is it just shorthand for “someone I strongly disagree with,” or is it tied to denying Jesus and the incarnation? We also wrestle with the “God is nonbinary” controversy, the Bible’s gendered language for God, and why our current moment turns nuance into outrage. And we keep coming back to the same test Jesus gives us: fruit. Character. Trustworthiness. Repentance.

If you’re tired of jersey politics and spiritual name-calling, this one is for you.

Resources listed:

Joe Rogan interview with James Talarico

James Talarico is More Demonic than You Think - with Allie Beth Stuckey

Lt. Gov Dan Patrick saying JT will "go to hell"

Josh Howerton (Mega Church Pastor calling him a Synogogue of Satan)

The Hypocrisy of Republicans trying to Shame James Talarico for his Faith

'Fake Christian' or Faithful?

GOP Ads Against Paxton

Joel Berry's Tweet

Jason Howerton Tweet

If this conversation helps you, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Your support helps more people find thoughtful, grounded faith in a loud, fearful world.

For more information, you can follow us at
https://www.theologyinpieces.com/
Theology in Pieces on Instagram - @theologyinpieces

Email us by emailing hello@theologyinpieces.com

Malcolm Foley - on twitter @MalcolmBFoley
Slim Thompson on twitter @wacoslim

For more information on the church,
check us out at www.mosaicwaco.org or on instagram.