The Burning Word

John Perrine
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The Burning Word is a podcast hosted by pastor-theologian John Perrine that invites you to return to the Word in order to encounter God again. Each series of the podcast will explore a book of the Bible with a burning question, in order to experience not just more doctrine or information, but a genuine encounter with the living God. Along the way, the podcast will wrestle with questions of cultural relevance, explore practices for spiritual formation, and ask how anyone in the 21st century is meant to step into this Word through the daily practices of their ordinary lives. theburningword.substack.com

  1. 11/08/2025

    Not All Who Wander Are Lost

    This whole series on James I’ve been wrestling with this question. “But what about the person who is disillusioned with this whole thing?” I know, I know, such a response feels a little burned out. I know there are some who get all revved up and excited by James’ hard hitting truths and calls for faith. But what if it’s not connecting? What if the challenges of James fall flat? It’s kind of like a coach who has an athlete that just doesn’t seem to love the game any more. They keep encouraging, correcting, trying to point out small tweaks and subtle shifts to get them back on track. But what if they’ve lost their love for the game? I think I was surprised to hear in James 5 that James ultimately has the same concern. For as challenging and hard hitting as James can be as a coach of the faithful, James closes his work with this wonderfully gentle call, 19 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins. (James 5:19-20) That’s it. James’ closing vision is the need to restore those who have wandered. And with that same fire-y intensity, James concludes, “If you do this, they will be saved from death.” But notice how ambiguously that last phrase is worded, “and cover over a multitude of sins.” A scholar I was reading on this pointed out the Greek is unclear - is it the sinner whose sins are covered over or the one who is rescuing the sinner? It reminds me of the story where a paralyzed man is lowered through a ceiling to Jesus. It’s a desperate act. One of utter dependency. Yet for those of us who have been tracking the stories about Jesus, we know what Jesus will do. Jesus is kind. He will pause and take pity on this man, and likely will heal him. And this of course is what Jesus does. But there is a twist that is easy to miss if you’re not paying attention. As the man is lowered down and Jesus sees him, Jesus pauses his teaching. And presumably Jesus looks up, and as he looks up he sees the heads of the friends poking through the thatch. Incredibly, to the shock of the reader, Luke tells us that when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” (Luke 5:20) James of course knew this Jesus. He also knew Jesus taught that loving shepherd will leave a flock of 99 to seek out the 1. He knew that Jesus told the story of a woman who dropped everything and upended her house in order to find the one coin that had been lost. And James surely also knew the story about a certain prodigal son, who after wandering far away, is restored home to the Father’s love. The Christian story has always been about those who are wandering and has always contained a summons not just to beckon them home but to seek them out and if possible restore them to the Father’s love. There is this line by J.R.R. Tolkien that he gives to Strider, that shrouded figure in exile who is long in waiting on evil to be defeated and the throne to be restored. It reads: “Not all who wander are lost.” My prayer for you if you have been following this series, is that you would find a faith that actually works. Not one engulfed in hypocrisy. Not one mired in self-doubt. Not one cloaked as righteousness but in reality is self-righteous rage. But rather that you would find a faith that works. James and Jesus want to remind us, there is always a way back for those who have wandered. There is always a feast waiting upon your return. May we learn to seek out those who have wandered. And may we ourselves meet Jesus on the road any time we stray from the faith. With hope, John This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theburningword.substack.com

  2. 10/11/2025

    Finding Eternity in Time

    So my friends will tell you I am obsessed with time. I don’t know when this fascination began… though I know at even an early age, each birthday I would experience felt weighty and full of significance. “I am 16 today. I will only ever be 16 for one year of my life. This is the only 16th year I will ever get to experience.” It all seemed quite normal to me. Until I of course began to realize most of us, most of the time, never slow down to ponder our time. The time that we are in. The time we’ve been given. Even what in the world we’re supposed to be doing in and with our time. James 4 has this interesting turn in the arc of James’ teaching, where he pivots from a profound and resounding call to repentance (James 4:4-10), to an urgent reflection on the brevity of our time. “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and vanishes.” (James 4:14) As I read those words, I wonder if it was in fact James’ words that haunted a younger version of me, who felt the full confrontation of his challenge. “What is your life?” Yet to read James closely is to realize the confrontation is attempting to tease out a new kind of response. Is it possible that if you were to live in light of the shortness of your time, you could begin to orient yourself to a different kind of eternity? This I think is a far more helpful question, than a despairing view of birthdays, or a defeatism we sometimes embrace about the shortness of the time we’ve been given. What if instead, this year of my life was about responding to the eternity that even now continues to break into my time? Such a response might just change the way we live here and now. With hope, John This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theburningword.substack.com

  3. 09/29/2025

    Words Create Worlds

    One of my favorite quotes on the power of language comes from the Jewish thinker and philosopher Abraham Heschel. Heschel is one of those “blow your hair back” kind of writers. Though he lived in the 20th century, in the wake of the horrors of the Halocaust and through the radical cultural revolutions taking place in the 1960’s, Heschel still somehow held on to this belief that the God of the Jewish people could be known through the Word that had been passed down to them. One of his more influential books is on the Prophets themselves (which of course would have resonated with the era of revolution in the 1960’s when he wrote) - yet Heschel always comes back to this vision of God the prophets captured. It wasn’t so much the social change Heschel wanted. It was the vision of the God who demanded social change from his people in order to realize the created order God had originally made. So how then does God move and act through the world? What is God’s instrument to bring about the social change God intended? Well the answer is not quite what you expect. My first instinct would be to focus on the prophets themselves. Those incredible revolutionaries who poured forth their lives for the change they wanted to see. Yet Heschel, soaked in the Hebrew Scripture, offered an alternative explanation in a later work entitled, Moral Grandeur and Spiritual Audacity, he simply pens, “Words create worlds.” Now get this - his daughter Susannah, writing the introduction to the work offered even more context. She notes, Words, he often wrote, are themselves sacred, God’s tool for creating the universe, and our tools for bringing holiness — or evil — into the world. He used to remind us that the Holocaust did not begin with the building of crematoria, and Hitler did not come to power with tanks and guns; it all began with uttering evil words, with defamation, with language and propaganda. Words create worlds he used to tell me when I was a child. They must be used very carefully. Some words, once having been uttered, gain eternity and can never be withdrawn. The Book of Proverbs reminds us, he wrote, that death and life are in the power of the tongue. I need this kind of radical picture to help me enter into the wisdom of James. If we can grasp the monumental, revolutionary, world creating power of our words, we can begin to see the stakes. Yet far too often, James and the Bible descend into belittling invectives against gossip or careless social media posts. We need a bigger vision of the stakes of our worlds if we are to begin to turn the overwhelming tides of violence, hate speech, condescension, and malice that pour forth around us. Perhaps James 3 is where to begin. With hope, John This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theburningword.substack.com

  4. 09/24/2025

    Why James Says Faith Should Make You Tremble

    When I was about 20 years old, I happened to pick up Søren Kierkegaard’s justly famous work Fear and Trembling. In it, he pairs the verse from the Apostle Paul in Philippians, “continue to work out your faith with fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12) with the story of Abraham’s call to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22). What a bold imaginative pairing. Kierkegaard essentially asks, “Is what Paul was getting at in his call to work out faith in fear and trembling the kind of faith that Abraham modeled in that moment?” A totally bewildering, seemingly outrageous call asking you to give up everything for a God who seems to be asking with no apparent rhyme, reason, or reward waiting for you on the other side. Is that the kind of faith Paul had in mind? To truly slow down and linger on the paradox required, of a faith that is worked out in fear and trembling, begins to move to the heart of the mystery. None of us have this mastered. None of us are exempt from grace. Yet none of us are invited into complacency when it comes to the rigors of what grace will require of us. For as gentle and kind as Jesus was, he also repeatedly told his followers that to follow him, they would need to pick up their own cross and die. This is the tension the arises when working through the book of James, to inevitably struggle with what James says about faith and works in James 2 (check out our latest episode here). This great and challenging section has consistently pricked and prodded those who would try to move away from a costly grace. James refuses easy vindication of the faithful by grace alone. He insists upon the testimony of fruit. How do we hold such a heavy word? How do we ponder the tensions this seems to create with the teachings of Paul? I think Paul himself gives us the answer: We wrestle through these questions with fear and trembling. Yet like Abraham, we do not wrestle without faith that there is one who could make a way even for the lowliest of sinners. But instead we follow a God who will offer the sacrifice up for us, even when our very own faith falters. with hope, John This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theburningword.substack.com

  5. 08/22/2025

    How Do I Find a Faith That Actually Works?

    The initial idea of the Burning Word was always to return to the actual Bible itself, in order to explore how this complex, ancient Word from God continues to breathe and speak to the equally complex and strange culture we find ourselves in. I’m therefore delighted to get back to things with this Study of James. I first read James when I was 13 years old. I was at a Christian camp of some kind, cordoned off with a fellow group of boys and a 23 year old camp counselor who I inevitably thought knew “everything” there was to know about God and Christianity. This leader proposed we needed to take our faith “seriously” and that the only way to do that was “to actually study the Bible” - he proposed the book of James. These types of exchanges were precisely the confusing cocktail of straight talking, hard shooting, over-zealous presentations about how God was going to “sort out our lives” with a simple read through of the Bible. As much as I smile at that counselor’s sincerity, I feel a deep sadness at the many fellow travelers who would later find their faith dismantled in college lectures halls, or crumbling under the complex crush of a life that wasn’t so easily “sorted out” as just picking up and reading the book of James. All this being said… I still remember the first time I read through the book of James. * I remember being struck by how straightforward James was. Where other books of the bible could lose me in complex themes and ancient references, James had the straight talking transparency that resonated with a life in need of direction and challenge. * I remember James’ commitment to the poor. It deeply struck me, even in that early stage of life, that to love Jesus meant that you had to move towards the marginalized. And the church that failed to do so was not really honoring God. * I finally remember James pushing me towards practice. Christianity can at times be a wonderfully gentle religion. It cushions its honesty and judgement in forgiveness and grace. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the same God of Jesus Christ who extends mercy. James of course knows and worships that God. But James contains a certain fatigue with empty words that speak much and do little. For all these reasons, I think James is a wonderful place to start if you are wrestling with the question, “How do I find a faith that actually works?” Not a cheap faith. Not an abusive faith. Or a hypocritical faith. But a real faith. A faith of solid stuff. A faith that makes true of ourselves that to which we are called. I want to find that kind of faith. I’m sure you do too. So join me as we dive into James over the coming weeks to find a “Faith That Works.” With hope, John This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theburningword.substack.com

  6. 08/17/2025

    How to Study the Bible

    One of the most perplexing challenges for any follower of Jesus is how to hear what God’s word is actually saying - both to them personally and more broadly to us communally and culturally today. The problem for most of us is that we begin with a rather wonderful phenomenon - much like the first time you read a great book or see a great play - the Bible at first can seem to be speaking quite plainly to you. * You pick up the gospels and are amazed by the Jesus you encounter. * You open up the Psalms and find your words on the Psalmists lips. * You read the Apostle Paul and find relief wash over you at the grace God is extending you in Jesus. This is of course a very helpful (and indeed even wonderful) place to start. However the longer you linger in God’s word, the more complex it begins to become. * What do you make of all of those Old Testament characters and narratives? * Or what about all those Old Testament laws and customs? * Does Jesus change everything? Change somethings about the Old Testament? And speaking of… do we really know Jesus quite as well as we thought? Some of Jesus’ words seem wonderfully straightforward. But others seem to be directed to a world and culture we don’t quite understand. I detail in this episode a simple definition to provide guidance on what the Bible is. I suggest the church has always believed the bible to be, “God’s word for us, spoken through human authors to human contexts.” This definition holds in tension that the Bible is breathed out by God and for us. We are intended to encounter God through it. However, much like Jesus himself was fully God, and fully human, the Bible is a fully God breathed, and fully human book - one written by very real and messy people to very real and messy circumstances. This definition thus invites us to consider that we might have some work to do unpacking how we are approaching the Biblical text, as well as who the original authors and audience were our Bible was being addressed to. To keep things simple, I note three layers that tend to need unpeeling: * The Existential Layer This layer invites you to consider, what are the big questions, the questions of my existence, that I’m bringing with me to the text? How does my perspective shift or shape how I might be reading this words? * The Social-Cultural Layer This layer is all about the world of the text, the cultures, customs, people, and belief that shape what the words of the text mean, how these words would have been heard or understood, and invite us to reflect on where our worlds overlap and intersect, versus where our worlds might be very different. * The Canonical Layer Finally, the canonical layer is the whole of the Bible, and how it is speaking across the canon to other verses. This is normally where we talk about Jesus as the lens of the love that we put on to understand any texts that might otherwise seem confusing, contradictory, or in tension with each other. These three layers represent in my view where most of us get stuck. Becoming aware of these layers is what will allow you to press further up and further in to the Word you are seeking to encounter. Sometimes, I think it can be discouraging to realize that work is required to encounter God in His word. To that end, I’m struck by a moment Paul himself shares with the church in Corinth, when he says, 1 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. (1 Corinthians 3:2) Instead of intending to discourage, I think Paul is pressing us for the opposite; to continue pressing in. Do not settle for shallow or superficial readings of the Bible - though they can be a great place to start. Instead, press into God’s word. Ask tough questions. Wrestle with the God you encounter. Much like Jacob in the night, do not let go without a blessing. Along the way, you will need some guides. This is entirely natural. You’re not meant to be able to work through all these layers alone. I have suggested elsewhere that the Burning Word, at its best, is simply intended as a guide. So far we’ve offered: * A Study of Revelation * A Study of Job * A Study of Song of Songs as well as an upcoming study of the Book of James (subscribe to stay tuned). There are other great guides as well: * The Bible Project - offers video overviews for every book of the bible. * Bible Hub - a free online database for basic questions and beginning bible study tools * Logos Bible Software - for the more advanced, Logos offers guides, language tools, and commentaries all in one place - and they have month to month subscriptions with extensive libraries if you’d like to dive in to a study. Our prayer is that you would not be alone as you attempt to encounter God through God’s word, but that you would find others - the company of saints - to journey with you along the way. For who knows what you might learn, how you might grow, and what could be transformed in you, if you were to return to the Word and encounter God again? With hope, John This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theburningword.substack.com

  7. 08/15/2025

    A Prayer for Those who Feel Like They're Failing

    As I was mapping out this series of video essays, I had a prompt from someone that I should, for at least one of the episodes, simply keep things simple and write a prayer. I love a well worded prayer. The Psalms of course demonstrate the power in a heaving sigh before God to shape not only your own faith but give voice to countless others. I also had the privilege in school of being shown that prayers can function something like poetry. They force you to select your words carefully. To gesture, to evoke. To call upon the language and images of the whole, but put fresh, “with a slant” for our own moment and time. Therefore I hope this is not the only prayer I write. But as I’ve pondering all this “restlessness” - I couldn’t help but be struck by how often I - let alone others - feel like I’m failing. Feel like I don’t quite have this life sorted out. Like maybe just… if I get my mental health in line. If I get my finances sorted out. If I finally start to implement those habits and disciplines in just the right way… maybe then I’ll finally feel? Like I have it all together? Like my life is contributing something of worth to God and other people? Some of the bigger picture of this series has been to note those pressures just described are a peculiar symptom of our secular age. They reflect the intense and crushing weight on the modern “buffered” self to be all to all - a weight that hits us in our religion just as much as our vocations and relationships and parenting (to name a few). Therefore I think we need more prayers that name how easy it is to feel like we’re failing. And I offer you these words as a small balm to a restless heart, in hope that together we can return our attention and affection to a God who always intended to invite us into His rest. The prayer goes like this: Most merciful God. We come before you as a people of striving. Striving for love. Striving for status Striving for the belonging we've only tasted, and the home only you can give. Before you, oh God, we confess these restless hearts. That, though created, we are broken though stirred up, we fall short though extended your love, we attempt to take and build for ourselves In our restlessness, gather us together again. Gather us through grace with other wanderers Gather us through love into a new family of God Gather us through hope into a community that looks for rest in a new home you are preparing. Our feet are tired Our failures are before us. Our wounds run deep and our troubles are many. Seek us out as the ones who are lost. Restore us in the ways we have wandered Heal our wounds, with the hands that have known their own scars. And teach us in Jesus how you bind up even our failures. For the one who is able to descend into the grave, knows these long nights, weary doubts, and the ache we don't know how to name. Bring us with your Son into the new light of day. And remind us that your love can resurrect even the most wounded of faiths. In the name of your son, who loves us. Amen. With hope, John This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theburningword.substack.com

  8. 08/14/2025

    What is Salvation really for?

    So one of the challenges I’m always wrestling through is what to keep and what to throw away when it comes to my background, upbringing, and the various versions and iterations of Christian faith I’ve both attempted and experienced across the years. It can get confusing. When I was young, salvation was presented in quite a simple and straightforward “shoot from the hip” type manner: You’ve done some bad things. You’ve got some debts that need to be paid. Jesus is your ticket out of this mess. Pray the prayer and receive the assurance that when you die, Jesus will get you into heaven. The funny thing is, through the years of searching and education I would undertake, I’m not sure this presentation is entirely wrong. It’s got some solid elements to it. People do universally find themselves making mistakes. These sins do incur costs. While the “shaking in my boots” over the small and petty incursions of my youthful sins was perhaps unnecessary, the broader story has stood the test of time. Something is wrong between me and God. And something needed to be done about it. I think my real beef with this version of salvation however has to do with the way the story always ended at praying a prayer of faith. It was almost as if a dotted line in a person’s life is drawn from the twelve year old, hand-raised alter call of their youth group to the moment of their death, when they would be whisked away from the clutches of hell only to arrive at the pearly gates. Is this the picture of salvation the Bible intended? Is this the purpose of the Christian faith? I know I’m not the first to push back on Evangelicalism’s escapist tendencies when it comes to their talk of heaven. But in this video essay I want to explore how a more robustly biblical vision of sin can inform a more robustly biblical vision of salvation and what it’s really for. The answer might just be something bigger, grander, and more wonderful than I was previously told. With hope, John This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theburningword.substack.com

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About

The Burning Word is a podcast hosted by pastor-theologian John Perrine that invites you to return to the Word in order to encounter God again. Each series of the podcast will explore a book of the Bible with a burning question, in order to experience not just more doctrine or information, but a genuine encounter with the living God. Along the way, the podcast will wrestle with questions of cultural relevance, explore practices for spiritual formation, and ask how anyone in the 21st century is meant to step into this Word through the daily practices of their ordinary lives. theburningword.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    John Perrine
  • Years Active
    2025
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © John Perrine
  • Show Website
    The Burning Word