In this episode Jerry Eicher (Anabaptist Theological Perspectives) reflects on mission models past and present and features a recent presentation from the Anabaptist nonprofit OpenHands.org at Oak Hill Mennonite Church. The conversation examines how traditional material-driven missions have often failed to produce lasting spiritual change and contrasts that with Jesus’ model of meeting material needs while prioritizing spiritual transformation.Guest speakers from Open Hands explain their practical approach: savings-and-credit groups with local facilitators that center worship, teaching, mutual aid and economic cooperation. The episode includes concrete stories — a funeral collection that tested group ownership and a founding member attending anonymously — showing how local responsibility, not outside handouts, fosters cohesive, growing churches. Jerry also critiques colonial-era and modern material aid strategies and warns against the temptation to substitute Western wealth for spiritual formation.Key takeaways: sustainable mission requires local ownership, spiritual teaching woven into community practices, and outside funds used to train facilitators rather than replace local agency. For more, watch the Open Hands presentation on Oak Hill Mennonite Church’s YouTube and visit OpenHands.org; the organization currently has a matching fundraiser to support facilitator training.

Host Jerry Eicher of Anabaptist Theological Perspectives continues a series on God’s chosen people, examining how God worked through Israel and then opened the way for Gentiles. Drawing from Old and New Testament texts—Isaiah 53, the stories of Rahab and Ruth, and Matthew 15’s Canaanite woman—Eicher revisits three core questions: Were the Jews God’s chosen people? Why were they chosen? Are they still chosen? He argues that choice and faith (beginning with Abraham) are central, not mere physical lineage.The episode covers Paul’s redefinition of what makes someone a ‘Jew’ (faith, not heritage), biblical examples of Gentile inclusion, and the theological tension between divine plan and human free response. Practical themes include humility for those welcomed as Gentiles, the role of faith in salvation history, and how unexpected forms of faith—like Rahab’s and the Canaanite woman’s—reveal God’s purposes.This is a solo reflection by Jerry Eicher offering biblical exegesis and pastoral insight. Listeners can expect close readings of scripture, thoughtful theological questions (including about foreknowledge and genuine human response), and encouragement to value faith over privilege.

Jerry Eicher of Anabaptist Theological Perspectives tackles the recent rise of anti‑Jewish sentiment in Christian circles, disentangling religious theology from political noise. Guests and figures cited include Tucker Carlson, Kirk Cameron, Douglas Murray, and key Pauline theology.Topics covered: whether Jews are God’s chosen people, why God chose Abraham, Paul’s redefinition of “Jew” to include believing Gentiles, and how Jewish cultural structures have been divinely preserved. Key points: the chosen status is rooted in faith, God builds on prior revelation rather than discarding it, Gentiles enter the promise by being made “spiritual Jews,” and Christians should avoid judging Jews by exclusively Christian standards or sliding into anti‑Israel rhetoric.Practical takeaway: engage the topic theologically and humbly, resist politicizing religious truth, and be cautious about the “anti‑Israel rabbit hole” while recognizing the cultural importance of Jewish continuity in Western civilization.

Host Jerry Eicher of Anabaptist Theological Perspectives examines the theology behind how the gospel is presented, focusing especially on challenges faced by ex‑Amish listeners. He critiques a works‑based understanding (including a Luther-influenced view) that equates 'stopping the law' with dying to the old self, and explains why that framework ultimately exchanges one works gospel for another.Eicher lays out the Anabaptist emphasis on the distinction between the old man and the new man and presents three core points: Christ fully paid the debt of the old man; the old man has been crucified with Christ and should be regarded as dead by faith; and God births a new man in believers who is righteous by nature and enabled to live holy. He urges preachers to restore the fullness of the new‑creation gospel.

Jerry Eicher of Anabaptist Theological Perspective reflects on his unexpected journey into prophecy, including a pre‑COVID novel (Chosen to Die/The Road to Armageddon) that later echoed real events and led to church disciplinary fallout and his resignation.He surveys end‑times themes: the role and preservation of the Jewish nation, Romans 11 and Zechariah 14, the nature of God’s ‘‘wooing’’ of Israel, the Great Tribulation, martyrdom, and why he rejects the modern rapture doctrine as a 19th‑century innovation.Listeners can expect personal testimony, biblical interpretation of prophecy, practical implications for believers during tribulation, and a call to see the broad scriptural arc connecting Old and New Testament promises about Israel and the church.

This sermon message, “The Wooing of the Human Heart,” unpacks how God pursues relationship with humanity—especially the nation of Israel—by insisting on truth rather than mere displays of power. The speaker traces the theme from Abraham through the Song of Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah and into Romans 11, using vivid images like the warrior-lover, the vineyard parable, and the language of divorce and restoration.Key topics include election and foreknowledge, the preserved remnant, Israel’s fall and future restoration, the grafting of Gentiles into the olive tree, and the role of discipline and consequence in God’s wooing. The message emphasizes God’s determination to win a free-willed love and the church’s call to humility within God’s covenantal plan.No external guests are featured; the episode is a reflective sermon aimed at helping listeners understand biblical pictures of divine love, judgment, and ultimate reconciliation.

Jerry Eicher of Anabaptic Theological Perspectives examines the growing mixing of church and politics in light of recent events surrounding Charlie Kirk, Turning Point USA, and emerging voices like Candace Owens and Ali Beth Stuckey. Eicher warns about the historical dangers of church-state entanglement, traces contemporary problems—women speaking to men in political-tinged church spaces, OnlyFans controversies, and the rise of polarizing media figures—and urges a return to non-political, biblical church leadership.Topics covered include the leadership vacuum at Turning Point after Charlie Kirk, concerns over women-led political influence, biblical roles for men and women, Jordan Peterson’s cultural observations, the OnlyFans debate and its pastoral implications, and historical parallels to Constantine and the state church. Eicher calls for churches to draw back from political entanglement and reassert traditional church authority and teaching.

Host Jerry Eicher of Anabaptist Theological Perspectives leads a thoughtful episode on how Christians—especially students—can engage evolutionary theory in university settings. Topics include the common fear around evolution, Nietzsche’s critique of removing the divine from creation, and why the long‑ages vs. 24‑hour debate misses the deeper issue.Jerry explores reading Genesis from an earthly point of view, the difference between material representation and spiritual meaning, and the dangers of flattening faith to only what is observable. He also critiques confrontational responses, highlights work by thinkers like Stephen Meyer who bring design arguments into scientific conversation, and stresses that science and religion can align when both are honestly presented.Key takeaways: don’t panic, don’t reduce scripture to a flat literalism, focus on reclaiming the role of the divine in explanations of origins, and enter academic conversations confidently and thoughtfully.

Jerry Eicher of Anabaptist Theological Perspectives returns to the contested topic of penal substitution, tracing its resurgence in Reformed and Baptist circles and asking whether the theory has been given too prominent a role in atonement theology.The episode surveys atonement themes—penal substitution, Christus Victor (Gustav Aulén), sovereignty versus human freedom, and the implications for reading Romans, understanding redemption, and discerning God’s glory—and argues that penal substitution is true but should be subordinate to the victory-centered Christus Victor framework.Listeners can expect historical references, three central arguments about where penal substitution belongs, critique of Calvinistic dominance, and practical implications for Christian theology and spiritual life from an Anabaptist perspective.

Jerry Eicher of Anabaptist Theological Perspectives explores what he calls God’s greatest work: the wooing of the human heart. He critiques Calvinist depictions of divine power, arguing that God’s true greatness is revealed through love, truth-speaking, and the cross’s paradoxical drawing power.Topics include the necessity of speaking truth in love, biblical imagery from Isaiah (the vineyard) and Romans 11, the election of Israel, the Gentiles’ grafting in, and how God’s long-term plan will ultimately win back Israel. Eicher contrasts coercive images of God with scriptural themes of relationship and covenant and references contemporary voices and theological tendencies to illustrate the stakes.Listeners can expect a theological meditation grounded in Scripture, strong critiques of certain Calvinist formulations, and an affirmation of God’s patient, truth-driven love toward Israel and the world.

In this episode Jerry Eicher of Anabaptist Theological Perspectives examines the clash between Charlie Kirk’s insistence that Christians must speak truth into politics and Tim Keller’s approach that urged restraint for gospel preachers. Eicher critiques Keller’s influence on church silence during cultural crises, shares personal anecdotes from Mennonite and Amish responses to COVID, and describes the consequences when the church withdraws from moral debate.Topics include the church’s role in addressing creation-level ethics, the dangers and limits of political involvement, historical lessons from Constantine and Anabaptist martyrs, and contemporary controversies such as gender-transition surgeries for minors. Eicher argues for a return to truth-speaking as the primary witness of the church, even while calling for caution about deep entanglement in political machinery.This is a solo reflection—no outside guests—combining theological critique, personal experience, and a call to reawaken the church’s prophetic voice and the attractive power of truth.

In this episode the host/speaker lays out a sweeping biblical case for rediscovering sacrifice as the heart of the gospel invitation. Tracing the theme from Cain, Abraham and Isaac, Saul, Solomon and David through the prophets (Micah, Isaiah) and into Hebrews and Christ’s own call to deny self, the talk contrasts a propositional, “hold-this-idea” faith with an invitational faith that requires wholehearted participation. Historical context (Wesleyan revival emphases and the 19th-century shift that followed Darwin, Freud and Marx) is used to explain how the invitational element faded and why reclaiming it matters. Key points: God does not desire merely external offerings but the giving of ourselves; repentance is redefined as a turning to do God’s will; Jesus’ invitation to take up the cross invites active participation rather than passive belief; doing God’s will brings a foretaste of “heaven on earth” in family and church life. The speaker emphasizes that participation adds nothing to Christ’s finished work, yet it is essential for entering the life to which we are invited and for the church’s renewal. Continuing briefly from the previous conversation, the host calls listeners to practical next steps: step across the threshold of the invitation, embrace costly obedience in everyday relationships and ministry, and practice joyful, fervent submission in family and church. The episode closes with a hopeful plea for revival — that the church might again insist on participation, sacrifice, and the visible coming of God’s will among us.

Jerry Eicher of Anabaptist Theological Perspectives examines “the invitation to life,” contrasting a propositional gospel with an invitational, participatory call to sacrifice and repentance. Drawing on contemporary moments like the Charlie Kirk memorial and voices from Voddie Baucham, John MacArthur, Tucker Carlson, and Jordan Peterson, Eicher probes how modern preaching shapes—and sometimes obscures—the call to follow Christ.Key themes include the Anabaptist emphasis on imitation of Christ, the meaning of cross-bearing as active goodness regardless of cost, biblical examples from Cain to Abraham to Samuel and David, and New Testament anchors in Matthew and Hebrews. Eicher argues for a gospel that requires human response—not to earn salvation, but to enter into life by relinquishing the self.Listeners can expect theological reflection, scriptural engagement, and a challenge to reframe discipleship as an invitation to participate in God’s will rather than merely affirm doctrinal propositions.

Host Jerry Eicher of Anabaptist Theological Perspectives reflects on Charlie Kirk’s recent assassination, praising Kirk’s lack of bitterness, spiritual freedom, and extraordinary effectiveness reaching young people, and situates his work against the broader damage Eicher attributes to evolutionary theory in academia. Eicher contrasts Kirk’s political-but-God-first approach with the nonpolitical posture of figures like Tim Keller and explores how both movements influence Anabaptist communities.The episode examines the creation-evolution debate—Darwin’s removal of the voice of God from creation, the evangelical emphasis on a literal 24-hour Genesis, and the practical and theological problems that approach has caused for churches and students entering universities. Eicher proposes alternatives such as point-of-view and representative readings of Scripture (illustrated by Joshua 10 and the doctrine of God’s rest) as more faithful and effective ways to defend the faith.Listeners can expect theological reflection, cultural critique, historical examples, and pastoral concern for how doctrine shapes witness and effectiveness in the modern world—especially regarding young people, biblical interpretation, and ways forward for Anabaptist and evangelical engagement.

Full video here

Jerry Eicher of Anabaptist Theological Perspectives examines the practice of head veiling for women, tracing its near-2,000-year history, the 1960s feminist challenge, and how the issue shifted from mainstream to fringe. He unpacks the spiritual and cultural stakes behind a seemingly simple cloth. This episode includes a close reading of 1 Corinthians 11—exploring Paul’s language about tradition/ordinances, representation (man/Christ/woman/God), nature’s covering (hair), and the role of angels—plus practical discussion of how the practice has been upheld (Amish, Mennonite, Catholic examples), critiques of “Sunday-only” observance, and the effects of modern grassroots and internet debates. Key takeaways: why the veil has symbolic spiritual force, how consistency and representation shape its practice, and practical principles for understanding what “covering” aims to protect—the glory of the hair and the church’s witness.

Host Jerry Eicher (Anabaptist Theological Perspectives) leads a solo deep dive into the doctrine of creation ex nihilo — creation out of nothing — and its implications for Christian theology. The episode examines the long-standing Greek philosophical model (Plato) that treats “nothing” as non‑being, and contrasts that with thinkers who challenged this foundation, notably Martin Heidinger and the work of Carl Jung, as well as the cultural influence of Jordan Peterson.Topics covered include the tension between traditional Christian affirmations (God as the source of all being) and the philosophical claim that nothing cannot produce anything; whether “nothing” could be the origin or source of certain forms of evil; how Augustine, C.S. Lewis, and modern movements like open theism interact with these assumptions; and practical theological consequences for doctrines of evil, freedom, and divine sovereignty.Key points: Christians often affirm creation out of nothing while implicitly using Greek metaphysics that deny nothing’s reality; Heidinger’s critique opens space to consider nothing as an active factor in antagonism, merciless prohibition, and other painful realities; open theism’s rejection of classical constraints may leave theological gaps; and Eicher calls for renewed study and caution in reshaping theological foundations.

Host Jerry Eicher of Anabaptist Theological Perspectives examines the biblical and historical practice known as the “Holy Kiss” (or kiss of peace/love), surveying Paul’s and Peter’s references, early church rituals, and contemporary Mediterranean parallels. Eicher shares his experience with New Order Amish communities — the mouth‑to‑mouth practice, hygiene and propriety concerns, zealous enforcement, and how the ritual was used or abused in church life — and surveys how the early church modified the practice over time. Key points include the argument that the command applies to the adjective (the greeting must be holy) rather than mandating a specific form; the practical call to sincere, holy greetings in whatever cultural form they take; and the pastoral and theological problems that arise when ritual overtakes holiness.

Jerry Eicher of Anabaptist Theological Perspectives examines the problem of offenses through the parable of the sower, showing how “stony ground” — buried hurts and bitterness — prevents the Word of God from taking root.He engages with Jordan Peterson’s idea of aiming upward and contrasts cultural therapies (digging up the past, legal atonement) with an Anabaptist approach rooted in Cain and Abel, household teachings in the New Testament, and the call to redeem time by sacrificial well‑doing.Listeners will hear biblical diagnosis, vivid examples (including Naaman’s servant girl), and a practical summons: break the stones by offering your best, resist bitterness, and let sacrificial obedience restore fertile ground for faith.

In this episode of Anabaptist Theological Perspectives, Jerry Eicher delves into the critical discussion surrounding faith and works, spotlighting a thought-provoking point raised by Steve Stutzman of Straight Path Ministries. The conversation focuses on the often-overlooked concept of rewards for good works and questions why this idea has faded from contemporary Christian discourse. Jerry examines historical perspectives, particularly those of Martin Luther and John Calvin, and their immense influence on current theological thought. Through this analysis, the episode explores how these foundational beliefs shape our understanding of salvation and the role of good works. Listeners are encouraged to reconsider the often problematic dichotomy between faith and works introduced by early reformers, as well as to explore the implications of viewing good works as an indication of salvation rather than an earning of it. With an emphasis on the Biblical teaching of rewards, this episode aims to provide a fresh perspective on cultivating a faith-driven but works-aware Christian life.