Notes from Episode 7: 

In For Argument’s Sake, Megan and Michael tackle some holiday-themed sticky questions: Is Easter better than Christmas? Should we really be giving Christmas presents?

Megan points to an essay by G.K. Chesterton on the theology of Christmas presents. Find out why the duo think material gifts can be quite an important tradition, with a theological basis.

Michael suggests that Christmas is a display of God’s abundance. It’s also an ideal that can often be a terrible judge on those who don’t match that ideal. And so, says Megan, “our abundance must not be a selfish abundance … it should flow out onto the lowly, the unloved … the lonely.”

In a new Q&A segment, Megan and Michael answer a listener question: As two leaders in conservative denominations, how does the Holy Spirit move in your own lives? How open are you both to the prophetic and to signs and wonders? — asked by Kirsty Farrugia (who also has her own podcast!)

Megan and Michael unpack what ‘conservative’ might mean in that question, running through their own denominations (Megan: Baptist, Michael: Anglican) and the variety of ‘types’ you can find in those denominations. Then they get straight into speaking in tongues, dreams and visions. Have either of them experienced such things? And do they think it matters if they haven’t? Tune in to find out.

Check out some of the other suggested questions:

Then, in Marg and Dave, Megan and Michael review Christmas carols! What is the theology and background of the carols we sing every year.

Hint: they’re not sure about Away in a manger … of course Jesus cried as a baby!

They’ve created a Spotify carols playlist, for your listening pleasure. Check it out here. And here a few helpful resources to get deeper into the background of some of the most popular carols:

• Hark! the herald angels sing
• Mary, Did you know? (an example of the kind of discussion around this carol)
• O Come All Ye Faithful and the Jacobites
• Silent Night and war

Want to subscribe? 

Find out more about the hosts of With All Due Respect:

Rev Dr Michael Jensen, rector at St Mark’s Anglican Darling Point, author, public commentator.

Rev Megan Powell du Toit, ordained Baptist minister, Publishing Manager of the Australian College of Theology, editor of the journal Colloquium.

We got the idea of our two-header theology and culture podcast from this show: The Movie Show/At the Movies.