Episode 2.76

What makes a worship song good—and who gets to decide?

In this episode, Michael and Zach sit down with Tim Bryant, fellow elder at Charleston Bible Church and worship coordinator, to talk through a thoughtful, pastoral philosophy of worship music. Rather than debating style or preference, the conversation focuses on theological content, spiritual formation, and pastoral responsibility.

The discussion tackles questions many churches wrestle with but rarely slow down to address clearly:

-What actually makes a worship song good or bad?

-Should churches sing exclusively from the Psalms?

-Is it acceptable to sing a theologically solid song that comes from a problematic source?

-Do church leaders have a responsibility to warn congregations about unfaithful or harmful influences behind certain music?

Drawing from Scripture, pastoral experience, and Tim’s work in biblical counseling, this episode frames worship music not as neutral background but as teaching, shaping, and discipling content. The goal is not fear or gatekeeping, but wisdom—helping churches sing in a way that forms hearts, guards doctrine, and honors Christ.

Tim also serves as founder and president of the Lowcountry Biblical Counseling Center (lcbcc.org), bringing a unique counseling lens to how repeated lyrics shape belief, emotion, and spiritual health.

Find our videocast here: https://youtu.be/DoKzXExynoQ

Merch here: https://take-2-podcast.printify.me/

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/reakt-music/deep-stone⁠

License code: 2QZOZ2YHZ5UTE7C8

Find more Take 2 Theology content at http://www.take2theology.com

Episode 2.75

What does it really take for God’s people to step into His promises?

In this episode, Michael and Zach walk through Joshua 1:1–5:15, tracing Israel’s crossing of the Jordan and uncovering how the text teaches faith, obedience, and remembrance. Along the way, they slow down on two pivotal moments: Rahab’s unexpected confession of Yahweh and the miraculous crossing of the Jordan at flood stage.

Rather than reading Joshua as simple conquest history, this episode highlights the book’s theological depth. A carefully placed chiasm centers the story on Rahab’s confession—showing that faith, not ethnicity or status, marks those who belong to God. The Jordan crossing then echoes the Exodus, confirming that the same God who redeemed Israel from bondage now brings them into rest and inheritance.

The episode also explores why God commands Israel to pause and remember—setting up memorial stones not just to defeat enemies, but to guard against forgetfulness. Before a single battle is fought, God emphasizes covenant faithfulness, dependence on His presence, and obedience rooted in trust.

Joshua’s message is clear: victory comes not from strength or strategy, but from a people who believe God’s promises, remember His works, and follow where He leads—even when the waters are at their highest.

Find our videocast here: https://youtu.be/MEUpus3Cu5M

Merch here: https://take-2-podcast.printify.me/

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/reakt-music/deep-stone⁠

License code: 2QZOZ2YHZ5UTE7C8

Find more Take 2 Theology content at http://www.take2theology.com

Episode 2.74 (This time for real.)

Can Descartes Escape Solipsism?

In this episode, Michael and Zach tackle one of the most common—and serious—objections to Descartes’ project: the Thomist charge that radical doubt collapses into solipsism. If all that survives the doubt is “I am a thinking thing,” how do we ever get back to the real world, other minds, or trustworthy knowledge?

Rather than stopping at the cogito, this conversation traces Descartes’ actual escape strategy, step by step. From the certainty of the thinking self, to contingency, to the necessity of a self-existent God, the discussion focuses on the critical move: God’s moral perfection as the foundation for epistemic trust. Without a non-deceptive God, solipsism wins. With one, Descartes claims a narrow—but real—bridge back to reality.

Along the way, the episode weighs:

-Why Thomists argue Descartes starts in the wrong place

-Whether the “Cartesian Circle” is fatal or misunderstood

-If moral perfection can legitimately follow from necessity

-Why radical doubt is a method, not a lifestyle

-Where the real fault line lies between Thomist and Cartesian epistemology

The conclusion is deliberately careful: Cartesian doubt does not entail solipsism—but it risks it unless its theistic rescue succeeds. The road out is narrow, but it is not imaginary.

Find our videocast here: https://youtu.be/khbWIDw2VcA

Merch here: https://take-2-podcast.printify.me/

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/reakt-music/deep-stone⁠

License code: 2QZOZ2YHZ5UTE7C8

Find more Take 2 Theology content at http://www.take2theology.com