Christianese with JD Shinn

JD Shinn
  • 4.9 (8)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

Ever wonder why Christians are so weird? Maybe you are a Christian and you want to explore growth in that phase of your world. We'll talk about some of the unique flaws in our Christian subculture and explore some ideas about how we change some of the flaws we're accused of and guilty of. But we're going to talk like regular people, not preachers or other clergy. Those people are great, but this is for us regular people. A conversation among neighbors. Along with a variety of other topics pertaining to the Christian world view.

  1. May 7

    Grace Without Compromise - Part 2 with Micah Brandt

    What does it actually look like to restore people without watering down truth? In Part 2 with Micah Brandt, the conversation shifts into one of the hardest tensions in Christianity today: how do we show grace to people who are struggling… without compromising integrity or pretending sin doesn’t matter? Too often Christians swing to extremes.Either truth with no compassion.Or compassion with no truth. But Jesus never separated the two. This episode dives into: restoring people instead of discarding themwhy integrity still mattersthe danger of performative Christianityaccountability vs condemnationwhat the Church gets wrong about graceand why truth without love eventually crushes peopleThis one is honest, challenging, and deeply needed. Because real discipleship doesn’t ignore failure.It walks people through it without lying about what’s true. Email: info@backyardtheology.com https://backyardtheology.com/ Sermon we mentioned: https://youtu.be/6fz6Qy1Pt8Q?si=T-8zOcMULmYWm65O

  2. Apr 30

    The Middle Ground is Killing the Church with Micah Brandt

    What happens when the Church teaches truth… but doesn’t actually live it? In this episode, JD sits down with Gen Z voice Micah Brandt to wrestle with a tension a lot of Christians feel—but don’t say out loud: we’ve gotten really good at knowing the right things, and not nearly as good at doing them. This isn’t about calling out “those Christians.”This is about us. We talk about the danger of spiritual complacency, the comfort of staying in the middle, and why a faith that never costs you anything might not be the faith Jesus called you to. At the end, JD references a powerful breakdown of the church in Laodicea—a warning that still hits today. You can read that here:https://backyardtheology.com/part-7-laodicea-the-tragedy-of-the-middle-ground If you’ve ever felt the gap between what the Church says and what it lives… this conversation doesn’t ignore it. It goes straight at it.

  3. Apr 23

    Making Space pt 2 with Jessica Peterson

    We’re quick to fix.Quick to advise.Quick to move on. But what if we’re skipping the very space where God does His best work? In Part 2 with Jessica Peterson, we talk about why you should never discount a struggle—yours or someone else’s—and what it really looks like to make space for the Holy Spirit to move. You don’t have to force change.You don’t have to carry what isn’t yours. Your role is simple: make space.God does the rest.

  4. Apr 16

    Making Space - guest Jessica Peterson Pt 1

    Most Christians aren’t necessarily rejecting God—they’re just too busy to hear Him. In Part 1 with Jessica Peterson, we talk about the overlooked discipline of making space—for God to lead, for people to interrupt your plans, and for the Holy Spirit to actually move. If the Great Commission feels distant or forced, this might be why. This episode will challenge the way you structure your time, your conversations, and your expectations of what it means to follow Jesus and share His Gospel message in real life.

  5. Apr 9

    Restorative Healing - Part 2 with Nick Williams

    In Part 2 of my conversation with Nick Williams we lean into something many of us know we need—but often avoid: restorative healing. The reality is, healing isn’t always smooth or predictable. It can feel clunky, uncomfortable, and even uncertain at times. But that doesn’t mean God isn’t real and present. This conversation challenges the idea that faith is just about knowing the right things about God. Instead, it invites you into something deeper—actually experiencing Him. That starts with a willingness to be open, to engage in prayer even when it feels imperfect, and to trust God in the middle of the process. If you’ve been keeping your faith at a distance—intellectual, controlled, or surface-level—this episode will push you toward something more real, more honest, and ultimately more transformative.

  6. Apr 2

    A Beautiful Encounter with Jesus - Guest Nick Williams

    In Part 1 of this conversation, Nick Williams re-frames prayer not as a routine, but as a beautiful encounter with Jesus—something many of us have unintentionally reduced to obligation instead of relationship. We also dive into what it really means to live out your faith in a broken world. Following Christ isn’t about presenting a perfect life; it’s about walking in redemption with your scars fully visible. Those scars aren’t setbacks—they’re part of the miracle God is working in and through you. If you’ve ever wrestled with feeling like your faith isn’t “clean” enough, this episode will challenge and encourage you to see God’s work in a whole new way.

  7. Feb 21

    Is "Christian" a good adjective? with Jeff Brown part 2

    What if the problem isn’t just Christian music… What if it’s how we think about church? In Part Two of JD’s conversation with Jeff Brown (former worship pastor), the discussion moves from the “cheese factor” in Christian music to something deeper: the assumptions underneath how we do church. We reference ideas from the Verlon Fosner episode, wrestle with voices like John Cooper and A.J. Swoboda, and ask an uncomfortable question: Are “Christian” and “worship” automatically good adjectives? We talk about: When labels become shortcuts instead of substance Why simplicity sometimes becomes shallowness The tension between clarity and complexity Sitting with the grey instead of demanding black-and-white answers Why humility and curiosity may be more Christlike than certainty This isn’t deconstruction for sport.It’s an invitation to grow up in our faith. If you care about worship, church culture, and doing things with more depth and integrity — this conversation is for you. #ChristianPodcast#RethinkingChurch#ChurchCulture#ChristianMusic#WorshipLeader#FaithAndCulture#HumilityAndCuriosity#SitWithTheGrey#TheologyMatters#HonestFaith#JohnCooper#AJSwoboda#MessyGodLikesItThatWay#SpotifyPodcast

  8. Feb 13

    Christian Music Cheese Factor and the value it gives - with Jeff Brown

    Is Christian music powerful… or painfully predictable? In this episode of Christianese, I sit down with former worship pastor Jeff Brown to talk about the “cheese factor” in Christian music — where it helps, where it hurts, and why it exists in the first place. We laugh. We get honest. And we wrestle with the tension between sincerity and simplicity, artistic excellence and accessibility, worship and performance. Jeff brings the perspective of someone who has led from the stage and lived inside the culture. Together, we unpack: Why Christian music can feel formulaic When “cheesy” is shallow… and when it’s actually helpful Beginning suggestions for making some adjustments This isn’t a bash session. It’s a grown-up conversation about art, theology, and the responsibility of leading people in worship. If you’ve ever cringed at a lyric… or been deeply moved by one — this one’s for you.

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4.9
out of 5
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About

Ever wonder why Christians are so weird? Maybe you are a Christian and you want to explore growth in that phase of your world. We'll talk about some of the unique flaws in our Christian subculture and explore some ideas about how we change some of the flaws we're accused of and guilty of. But we're going to talk like regular people, not preachers or other clergy. Those people are great, but this is for us regular people. A conversation among neighbors. Along with a variety of other topics pertaining to the Christian world view.

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