Did the Early Church Believe Jesus Was God?

Why do some successful people inspire us while others ignite our outrage? Esau is joined by John Onwuchekwa to unpack our complicated relationship with wealth, celebrity, and privilege. From Katy Perry and her trip to space, to Deon Sanders' son, Shedeur Sanders' jersey retirement controversy, we explore what our inconsistent reactions reveal about ourselves and what we prioritize. Also, we introduce a brand new segment - Low Stakes Conspiracy Theories. Mike wonders if Stevie Wonder is actually blind and John is just asking if we actually went to the moon...   0:00 - End Credits   0:34 - Low Stakes Conspiracy Theories   9:56 - Going to Space   19:56 - Sponsor - No Small Endeavor - Award-winning podcast where theologians, philosophers, and best-selling authors talk about faith with Lee C. Camp. Start listening today: https://pod.link/1513178238   33:35 - Fantastic Four Trailer   48:12 - End Credits   We Go On by John Onwuchekwa: https://a.co/d/5BRpREP

What if the resurrection isn’t just a matter of faith—but of history? In this special Holy Week episode, Esau McCaulley sits down with New Testament scholar Craig Keener to explore the historical evidence for Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, Rome’s brutal use of the cross, and why the earliest witnesses to the empty tomb were women. They also reflect on the personal and political meaning of the cross, and how the resurrection reshapes our understanding of suffering, hope, and what it means to be human.   0:00 - Theme Song   11:11 - Crucifixion in the Ancient World   20:28 - Sponsor - No Small Endeavor - Award-winning podcast where theologians, philosophers, and best-selling authors talk about faith with Lee C. Camp. Start listening today: https://pod.link/1513178238   25:25 - The Woman and the Empty Tomb   35:00 - Romans and Afterworld Belief   40:50 - The Importance of the Crown of Thorns   44:46 - End Credits

DEI is all over the news right now. The Right hates it and the Left idolizes it, but what if there was a different way to approach the controversial topic? Esau McCaulley is joined by writer and cultural commentator Marie Beecham for a candid conversation about what happens when DEI and antiracism efforts go off the rails—and what it looks like to chart a better path forward. They talk about Marie’s journey through progressive anti-racism, her disillusionment with parts of the movement, and how her faith shaped a more nuanced, hopeful approach.  Want to hear more from Marie? Listen to her podcast, Know Better Do Better. https://mariebeecham.com/podcast   0:00 - Theme Song   13:00 - Faith and Racial Justice   20:06 - Sponsor - Northern Seminary - Through Taste of Northern, you can experience the richness of a theological education for free, with leading New Testament scholars. Visit https://www.seminary.edu/taste to join a class today!   22:10 - Ignoring Relevancy   39:25 - DEI   46:50 - Moment of Cultural Shame   52:05 - End Credits

Esau, Justin Giboney, and Tish Harrison Warren explore the recent Target boycott led by Black church leaders during Lent and what it reveals about how Christians think (or don’t think) about money. They unpack the role of ethical spending, the challenges of discipleship in a convenience-driven culture, and whether the Church should be speaking more directly about where and how we spend. Along the way: the Barbie Movie is Christian, nature is good, and Lebron broke Esau's heart.   Holy Post Plus: Esau McCaulley on Podcast on Negative World: https://www.patreon.com/posts/125787958/   0:00 - Theme Song   3:13 - Barbie is a Christian Movie?   8:35 - The Target boycott   17:35 - Sponsor - No Small Endeavor - Award-winning podcast where theologians, philosophers, and best-selling authors talk about faith with Lee C. Camp. Start listening today: https://pod.link/1513178238   22:56 - Marvin Sapp and Tithing   39:08 - Lebron broke Esau's heart   43:35 - End Credits

Sarita Lyons is here to tell us about her book, Church Girl. She and Esau talk about her journey, from how she was pulled from her faith to what brought her back. She explains why she wrote a book specifically about being a Black Christian woman and why that specificity matters. And, this week in Holy Sports, should there be spaces where you can’t discuss race and politics? 0:00 - Sponsor - Fabric by Gerber Life - Join the thousands of parents who trust Fabric to protect their family. Apply today in just minutes at https://www.meetfabric.com/ESAU 2:00 - Theme Song 3:31 - Are You Washed, Church Girl Edition 10:15 - Can You Separate Accomplishments from Race? 18:52 - Church Girl and Coming Back to Jesus 38:25 - Favorite chapter of Church Girl 47:53 - End Credits Church Girl: A Gospel Vision to Encourage and Challenge Black Christian Women by Sarita T. Lyons: https://a.co/d/5zt4gfM

LeBron James made headlines for confronting ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith after criticism of his son, Bronny. Esau and Malcolm Foley unpack the moment and ask: What’s a parent’s role in their child’s success, and when does helping become too much? They also explore the growing backlash against empathy and wrestle with how we should use power and privilege for the good of others. Plus, in our new “Freezing Cold Takes” segment, we admit seasonal depression is real… and maybe soccer is actually good?   0:34 - Show Begins   1:20 - Freezing Cold Takes   6:05 - Holy Sports   17:52 - The Sin of Empathy Book   26:27 - Is This a Real Problem?   38:45 - Our Moment of Cultural Shame   44:14 - End Credits

The internet has become an angry place, but how did it get here and is there any fixing it? Esau is joined by Hannah Anderson and Hannah King to unpack why everyone on the timeline seems ready to fight, how rage has become its own online currency, and whether we’re all just really, really lonely. Also, Esau may or may not have tried a social media experiment that has now turned into an ethical crisis.   Rolling Stones Article on Rage Bait: https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/what-is-rage-bait-influencers-making-people-angry-1234976621/  

Goodbye Billy Graham and Tim Keller. Hello...um...well, we're not sure. Esau McCaulley is joined by Justin Giboney and Tish Harrison Warren to discuss whether Christianity still has a public face, or if the era of unifying spiritual leaders is over. They explore the rise of social media influencers in faith spaces, why young people may be returning to church, and whether the church is fairly represented in the media. Plus, they share why there's still reason for hope, even in a time of overwhelming bad news. - Sponsor - Fabric by Gerber Life - Join the thousands of parents who trust Fabric to protect their family. Apply today in just minutes at https://www.meetfabric.com/ESAU

For too long, the history of Black Christianity in America has been told in incomplete or misleading ways. Esau sits down with theologian and author Walter Strickland to discuss his new book, Swing Low: A History of Black Christianity in the United States. They explore the theological foundations of the Black church, the overlooked figures who shaped its legacy, and why its story is about more than just politics. Swing Low, volume 1: A History of Black Christianity in the United States by Walter Strickland - https://a.co/d/0Q4YUJr   Sponsor - Fabric by Gerber Life - Join the thousands of parents who trust Fabric to help protect their family - www.meetfabric.com/ESAU  

What really happened at the Council of Nicaea? Did Constantine force Christians to declare Jesus as God? Was the Bible invented there? And why does the Nicene Creed still matter today? Esau McCaulley sits down with Dr. George Kalantzis, Professor of Theology at Wheaton College, to clear up the biggest misconceptions about Nicaea, the divinity of Christ, and the role of the early church in shaping Christian belief. They also discuss why the early Romans thought Christianity was too "soft,"  and how the church resisted the empire.