The Lightest Form of Flogging

Revising my opinion originally posted below. Not much has changed actually. I feel like I’m in the depths of Stockholm syndrome and will defend this show to the hilt. Also, Epstein didn’t kill himself. —- If you appreciate a Two Guys Talking (TGT, not Target's NYSE stock symbol, but I digress) podcast that leaves you screaming at your podcast player, this is the one for you! If, instead, you'd prefer to listen to something that meets your felt needs, I'd direct you in the direction of your nearest prosperity preacher (bring your wallet). They steadfastly refuse to make their podcast shorter than an hour in the face of 3 (THREE!) listeners (or flogging recipients) opinions. If this review made you shake your head, move on. If not, well, don't say I didn't warn you.

I'm not sure why it always goes downhill. That is the first line to my favorite Jon Foreman song. It is a good song. This is not a good podcast. In fact, when I ask Siri "What's the cruelest most uniusual form of punishment you can think of?" she promtly starts playing The Lightest Form of Flogging. Listening to this podcast is reminiscent of going into a Pub, spilling water on your baby, and asking everyone around what just happened. Also, for whatever reason, my former self gets hungry for tater tot casserole whenever I listen, but I also hear my personal life coach's voice telling me to stay staunch, not paunch. As the song says "Heaven knows, heaven knows I try to find the cure for pain." This podcast is not the cure for pain, it is pain. But is is pain that needs no cure!

“The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who honor Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by not listening to every theology podcast in iTunes. That is what the online Reformed subculture simply finds unReformed.” This pseudoquote from Brennan Manning has long been echoing in my head ever since I made the mistake of listening to The Lightest Form of Flogging. What I thought was another podcast that would aid me in my quest to be an expert in Reformed podcasting, add another notch on my (impressive) podcast feed full of Reformed podcasts, and puff up my subtler-than-thou righteous stance as I name drop some entry level Reformed podcasts was, in fact, quite the opposite. Imagine my shock, fear, and terror when, in the very first episode, they make plainly clear that this *isnt* another Reformed theology podcast, and that there are *too many* Reformed theology podcasts out there right now. And then imagine my paranoia upon the horrifying, hallowing realization that - gasp - they might be right. And thus I fell down a rabbit hole and now know more about the effects of Tylenol and Ibuprofen than I ever wanted to know and how and why I think and operate the way I do. Shoutout to “7: Sad Gumball Machine”, which might be one of the best episodes on Christians discussing depression one can listen to. If you enjoy meta-level discussions with a measured dose of sarcasm and dread, then The Lightest Form of Flogging might be the best Reformed podcast you could listen to.

Sure, there are certainly better things you could be doing with your time. Counting ceiling tiles, or even scrubbing your walls. Though you could listen to this while you do those things, so you don’t have much to lose. (Secretly one of my favorite podcasts)