Current Reality Podcast

King’s Domain
King’s Domain
  • 4.2 (33)
  • Christianity
  • Bimonthly

The Current Reality Podcast is a long form podcast that is aimed at helping you stay rooted in biblical reality within the current of modern culture. This podcast is part of King’s Domain, a church based ministry in Fort Thomas, KY. The hosts are Michael Clary and Wade Thomas.

  1. 6d ago

    Ladies, Tips for Dating

    Michael and Wade walk through Katy Faust's "11 Steps for Young Ladies on Dating," practical counsel that grandmothers once passed down and that churches today are often afraid to say. They discuss expectations, appearance, realistic standards, putting yourself where godly men are, and why the spark many women wait for is better understood as the fruit of a Christian marriage than a prerequisite for one. Time stamps [00:13] Intro: 11 steps for young ladies on dating [01:43] Why this wisdom stopped being passed down [03:34] Common sense that now sounds offensive [08:06] Ruth, Boaz, and the younger men [11:32] Step 1 — Change your expectations about how you'll meet [16:14] Step 2 — Get fit [23:30] Step 3 — Grow your hair out [27:50] Step 4 — Ditch your list [32:27] Step 5 — Go where like-minded men will be [35:20] King's Domain Conference announced for April 29 – May 1 [36:28] Steps 6 and 7 — Why the gym is not the place to meet [41:18] Step 8 — Say yes to the coffee date [45:23] Step 9 — Learn to flirt by signaling availability [50:01] Step 10 — Encourage what he gets right [53:20] Step 11 — Be gracious on the date [56:00] The church's fear of offending single women [58:06] Ask an older woman to help you look your best [61:09] Reason for hope: attraction grows in marriage For questions or comments, send us an email at currentrealitypodcast@gmail.com. Our church is Christ the King Church in Ft. Thomas, KY The Current Reality Podcast is a resource of King's Domain Resources mentioned in this episode Katy Faust’s Original Post  Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/dmichaelclary https://twitter.com/wadethomasjr   Michael's Book "God's Good Design" is now available everywhere God's Good Design: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Guide to Human Sexuality Follow Michael’s writings  www.dmichaelclary.com

  2. Oct 16

    Let's talk about the Death Penalty

    Tennessee's failed execution of Krista Pike, and the press coverage casting her as a victim, sets up a broader question: is capital punishment just? Michael and Wade argue that the death penalty, lawfully administered, is biblically defensible and good. They work from Genesis 9, Romans 13, and Acts 25, from Augustine and Calvin, and from the difference between public justice and personal forgiveness. They close with where the American church has muddled its thinking, and the hope that God will finally deal with every sin. AI Generated time stamps [00:00] Intro [01:00] The Krista Pike failed execution [03:48] Hanging requests, lethal injection, and the firing squad [08:28] What Krista Pike actually did [11:26] C.S. Lewis on justice versus "curing" criminals [14:09] The case for capital punishment in a sentence [15:35] How rare the death penalty has become [18:58] Why justice must be speedy [20:03] Wade's family connection to a capital case [22:00] Made in God's image, we crave justice [25:32] Corporal punishment, restitution, and prison sentences [29:56] The death penalty in American history [32:01] Public justice and personal forgiveness are not identical [34:17] The ship captain whose son commits a capital crime [37:02] Acts 25 and Romans 13 — the sword is not borne in vain [44:35] Genesis 9 and the image of God [46:21] Pit bulls, the tiger enclosure, and Harambe [50:02] The Apostolic Constitutions and Augustine [53:57] "You shall not murder" versus "you shall not kill" [55:16] Calvin on the woman caught in adultery [57:35] Sophistry: "How will killing stop killing?" [60:15] Logs and specks: where the church has failed [67:34] Reason for hope: God will deal with every sin For questions or comments, send us an email at currentrealitypodcast@gmail.com. Our church is Christ the King Church in Ft. Thomas, KY The Current Reality Podcast is a resource of King's Domain Resources mentioned in this episode The Apostolic Constitutions The City of God, Book I — Augustine Commentary on John, Volume 1 — John Calvin Exodus, New American Commentary — Douglas K. Stuart Lex Rex — Samuel Rutherford Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/dmichaelclary https://twitter.com/wadethomasjr   Michael's Book "God's Good Design" is now available everywhere God's Good Design: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Guide to Human Sexuality Loser Theology Follow Michael’s writings  www.dmichaelclary.com

  3. Sep 4

    Joe Rigney on Christian Nationalism

    Christian nationalism gets thrown around as a slur and a slogan, but almost nobody defines it. Dr. Joe Rigney joins Wade and Michael to say plainly what he means by it, where he parts ways with Paul Miller, Al Mohler, and Doug Wilson in the new 5 Views book, and why Abraham Kuyper's famous "every square inch" was, in his read, loud shouting that covered a retreat. The conversation closes on the Lindsay Clancy trial and the untethered empathy that makes a society unable to name evil. AI Generated time stamps [00:00] Intro [00:29] Why Christian nationalism, and who the secret guest is [01:41] Joe Rigney defines Christian nationalism [05:06] Paul Miller, natural law republicanism, and the two tables of the law [07:52] Test cases — the Hindu statue in Texas and Obergefell [12:21] Rigney and Doug Wilson on general equity theonomy [14:29] Kuyperianism, and why "every square inch" covered a retreat [18:28] How Doug Wilson and Tim Keller both claim Kuyper [20:28] One Lord, two kingdoms, three institutions [26:28] Prudence and statesmanship in applying the principles [31:01] Abolitionism versus smash-mouth incrementalism [32:54] What a Christian town would actually look like [36:40] Al Mohler's Baptist case for Christian nationalism [39:37] Is this moot, and what is wrong with a neutral public square [45:51] Christendom's long run versus seventy years of secularism [49:32] Western civilization as the prodigal son [52:02] The Lindsay Clancy trial and female social contagion [56:13] Untethered empathy and the victim you can see [60:51] "The system failed you" — blame that lands on nobody [63:27] Standing before God when the excuses run out For questions or comments, send us an email at currentrealitypodcast@gmail.com. Our church is Christ the King Church in Ft. Thomas, KY The Current Reality Podcast is a resource of King's Domain Resources mentioned in this episode 5 Views on Christian Nationalism The Case for Christian Nationalism — Stephen Wolfe Leadership and Emotional Sabotage — Joe Rigney Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/dmichaelclary https://twitter.com/wadethomasjr   Michael's Book "God's Good Design" is now available everywhere God's Good Design: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Guide to Human Sexuality Loser Theology Follow Michael’s writings  www.dmichaelclary.com

  4. Aug 21

    Some Life Updates

    Michael and Wade set the usual topical format aside and walk through what is actually going on in their ministries and homes. Michael talks through the release of Loser Theology, what he learned about how Christian publishing really works, and the launch of Christ the King's School of Ministry with 23 men in its first class. The back half turns pastoral: why so many young moms are carrying anxiety and depression, whether a life of comfort has made all of us more fragile than we are, and how conservative Christians end up dividing over food, clothing, and other secondary matters. TIMESTAMPS [00:25] Life updates episode — the format and the plan [06:59] Loser Theology — the new book and where it came from [10:24] Willie Rice's endorsement and the risk it carried [13:58] How Christian publishing actually works — proposals, edits, and rejection [17:26] Why Canon Press, and what a publisher signals about a book [21:28] The next book — nine questions on women in the church [23:34] School of Ministry — what it is and why it is men only [26:51] The 20-year vision: four church plants in the Cincinnati area [29:21] Training pastors in a local church versus at a seminary [31:36] 23 men enrolled, cohorts, and a three-year commitment [33:02] Starting something similar at a smaller church [35:14] Fall ministries — city groups, Sunday school, Raising Oaks [39:22] Michael's family — kids growing up and the last first day of school [41:36] A great-grandfather at 102: "I started all this" [46:30] Wade's household — seven kids and teaching New Testament Greek [48:37] Adoption update — walking after surgery and physical therapy [51:45] Star Trek, Twilight Zone, and Narnia as discussion fodder for kids [55:42] Pastoral care — anxiety and depression among young moms [58:27] Comfort, idleness, and having more time to think about ourselves [60:41] Why talk therapy can make the problem louder [63:30] The 200-years-ago thought experiment [66:04] Where the church under-challenges women [70:28] Naming the things you feel entitled to but are not [73:05] A time inventory, and a sign that reads "every second counts" [75:11] Porn use among men, and what AI is about to make worse [76:29] Crunchy convictions versus legislating what other people eat [80:46] Yoga pants, virtue signaling, and provocation as the point [83:01] Romans 16 and the man who causes dissension [84:26] The annual conference returns after a year off For questions or comments, send us an email at currentrealitypodcast@gmail.com. Our church is Christ the King Church in Ft. Thomas, KY The Current Reality Podcast is a resource of King's Domain  Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/dmichaelclary https://twitter.com/wadethomasjr   Michael's Book "God's Good Design" is now available everywhere God's Good Design: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Guide to Human SexualityLoser TheologyFollow Michael’s writings  www.dmichaelclary.com

  5. Jul 24

    Kids and Tech: What Do We Do?

    Why does so much of modern evangelicalism seem conditioned to apologize, shrink, andlose? Michael Clary walks through the argument of his forthcoming Canon Press book, Loser Theology — how a pietistic, winsome-at-all-costs impulse took root in the church and taught a generation of Christians to equate faithfulness with weakness. The back half turns to the remedy Michael calls high-agency Christianity. Listeners get both the diagnosis and the path out. TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Cold open — Ryan Gosling and Mickey Mouse Club tangent [03:23] Introducing the book: Loser Theology from Canon Press [04:08] Where the title and the material came from [06:48] Origin of the phrase "the poison of loser theology" [09:20] Defining loser theology and the pietistic impulse [10:02] Roots in the winsomeness era and church planting [13:01] When Bible-speech clashes with cultural respectability [15:00] A church conditioned to lose and feel shame [20:00] Political correspondence and appeasing sins [24:06] "Do not offend women" and the loser mindset [29:02] Jesus with tax collectors — misreading meekness [31:08] Big names: Tim Keller and Russell Moore's Onward [34:00] Lampooning conservative doctrine in urban ministry [37:04] Guilt over success, privilege, and unequal gifts [40:49] John MacArthur and holding the line [42:04] The "straight white man as oppressor" framing [45:04] How not to become the next David French [55:00] The fear of God as the anchor [56:00] The remedy — high-agency Christianity [61:05] Where to get the book and closing For questions or comments, send us an email at currentrealitypodcast@gmail.com. Our church is Christ the King Church in Ft. Thomas, KY The Current Reality Podcast is a resource of King's Domain Resources mentioned in this episode APA Academic Article on Kids, Screen Use, and Socioemotional Problems Pew Research (2025) on Screen Time Family Medicine and Community Health on Porn Use Statistics Psychology Today on Teen Porn Use Pew Research on Teen Gaming Academic Paper in Cureus on Teen Gaming World News: France Bans Social Media for Those Under 15  Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/dmichaelclary https://twitter.com/wadethomasjr   Michael's Books God's Good Design: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Guide to Human Sexuality Loser Theology: Why the Weak Will Not Inherit the Earth Follow Michael’s writings  www.dmichaelclary.com

  6. Jul 10

    Loser Theology (Michael's New Book!)

    Why does so much of modern evangelicalism seem conditioned to apologize, appease, and lose? Michael Clary and Wade Thomas name the pietistic, winsome-at-all-costs impulse they call "loser theology" — tracing its rise through the city-mission era of the 2010s, how it teaches Christians to feel shame for strength and success, and how sin-appeasement quietly tracks political and cultural pressure. The back half turns to the remedy Clary calls "high-agency Christianity," the subject of his forthcoming Canon Press book. TIMESTAMPS [03:01] Today's topic — loser theology and the pietistic impulse [06:04] How the phrase "loser theology" got its name [07:03] Pitching the book to Canon Press; the high-agency remedy [09:04] Origins — planting the church in 2010 and the winsome era [12:05] Winsomeness and gaining an audience with the world [15:00] A church conditioned to lose and feel shame [19:04] How sins correspond to political leanings [24:06] "Do not offend women" — the gendered pull [26:01] Defining loser theology [30:04] "Pastor, I have concerns" — appeasement in ministry [33:01] NAMB's Send North America and mocking flyover-country Christians [41:01] MacArthur, California, and when push comes to shove [49:04] How not to become the next David French [55:01] The fear of God and the profile of a loser-theology Christian [58:05] Permission to be strong, bold, and high-agency [61:05] Book release details and closing exhortation For questions or comments, send us an email at currentrealitypodcast@gmail.com. Our church is Christ the King Church in Ft. Thomas, KY The Current Reality Podcast is a resource of King's Domain Resources mentioned in this episode Order Loser Theology  Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/dmichaelclary https://twitter.com/wadethomasjr   Michael's Book "God's Good Design" is now available everywhere God's Good Design: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Guide to Human Sexuality Follow Michael’s writings  www.dmichaelclary.com

  7. Jun 26

    What Happened at the Southern Baptist Convention and Why It Matters

    Why should you care about the Southern Baptist Convention if you're not Southern Baptist? Michael and Wade make the case that the SBC — the largest Protestant body in America —sets the tone for evangelicalism far beyond its own churches. They recap the 2026 annual meeting: the fight over women pastors, where the money goes, the resolutions that passed, and the slow reform of the convention's leadership. A practical look at why denominational plumbing matters. TIMESTAMPS [00:10]  Intro — what the Current Reality Podcast is about [00:45]  What the Southern Baptist Convention actually is [07:02]  Why it matters, even if you're not Southern Baptist [08:03]  The Cooperative Program and SBC entities explained [09:55]  Size and scale — the largest Protestant body in America [15:01]  Comparing the SBC to other major denominations [19:04]  Takeaways from this year's convention [20:29]  No lady pastors, no professors who deny miracles [24:03]  The Law Amendment on women pastors [30:02]  What the convention means for American life [31:02]  Presidential reform — Mike Law, Clint Presley, Willie Rice [36:02]  Messengers, motions, and how voting works [41:07]  Which motions gained traction this year [44:02]  The fight over financial transparency [47:01]  Resolutions, including adding Charlie Kirk's name [50:02]  By What Standard and losertheology.com [53:06]  Stacking committees with representative conservatives [55:02]  Prudential compromise vs. moral compromise [58:00]  Closing — staying anchored and unashamed For questions or comments, send us an email at currentrealitypodcast@gmail.com. Our church is Christ the King Church in Ft. Thomas, KY The Current Reality Podcast is a resource of King's Domain Resources mentioned in this episode Baptist Press on the Truth and Unity Amendment SBC 2026 Statistics US Religious Data  Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/dmichaelclary https://twitter.com/wadethomasjr   Michael's Book "God's Good Design" is now available everywhere God's Good Design: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Guide to Human Sexuality Follow Michael’s writings  www.dmichaelclary.com

  8. May 29

    A.I. Art?

    AI-generated music, AI-written poetry, AI-produced images — the tools are everywhere, and Christians are asking whether any of it counts as real art. Michael and Wade argue that art is not just pattern or product but transmission — something passes from a human soul through a medium to another human soul — and that AI, by definition, cannot transmit what it does not have. They work through listener questions, the Tolkien sub-creator framework, and practical guidance for how to engage with AI art without losing the ability to recognize the real thing. [00:11]  Intro — Speechify and AI voice tools [07:08]  Listener question — is AI art moral? [10:02]  Art as transmission between souls [11:03]  The bucket analogy — creator to audience [15:05]  Hard case — AI music from the Psalms [17:00]  Aaron's garments — God prizes human craft [22:12]  Antique Roadshow — why human origin matters [25:01]  Image of God and sub-creation [27:03]  Tolkien — man as sub-creator [31:01]  The medical exception — AI tools that heal [32:02]  Core concern — AI atrophies creative capacity [40:04]  Pilgrim's Progress — art through human voice [48:00]  Inspiration requires a human; AI cannot originate [55:02]  Mutiny on the Bounty — bittersweetness only humans transmit [62:00]  Can you consume AI art? Yes, with care [66:05]  More algorithm, less received [68:13]  Guitar pedal analogy — AI as tool, not artist [70:08]  Closing — use AI with caution For questions or comments, send us an email at currentrealitypodcast@gmail.com. Our church is Christ the King Church in Ft. Thomas, KY The Current Reality Podcast is a resource of King's Domain Resources mentioned in this episode Text of “On Fairy Stories” by J.R.R. Tolkien  Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/dmichaelclary https://twitter.com/wadethomasjr   Michael's Book "God's Good Design" is now available everywhere God's Good Design: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Guide to Human Sexuality Follow Michael’s writings  www.dmichaelclary.com

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The Current Reality Podcast is a long form podcast that is aimed at helping you stay rooted in biblical reality within the current of modern culture. This podcast is part of King’s Domain, a church based ministry in Fort Thomas, KY. The hosts are Michael Clary and Wade Thomas.

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