About the Show
Mere Fidelity is the flagship podcast of the Mere Orthodoxy Podcast Network. We are friends who undertake weekly conversations about theology, the culture, and the church (which is to say, just about everything). Over the last seven years, our conversations have ranged from in-depth explorations of Augustine’s Confessions, to theological analysis of the ‘nones’, to esoteric discussions about Duns Scotus and Herman Bavinck (especially Bavinck).
In addition to our freewheeling in-house discussions, Mere Fidelity invites a diverse array of guests on to the show. We have only had to apologize for Matt’s conduct toward them a handful of times.
Our History
Mere Fidelity was originally launched in May 2014 as a transatlantic fellowship of four friends who wanted to have interesting, challenging, thoughtful conversations about just about anything. We set the tone with a reading group series exploring Oliver O’Donovan’s Begotten or Made?, but also took up topics such as the Trinity in the Bible, theosis, public shaming, and worship music. Some of our favorite guests made their first appearances in these early years: Hannah Anderson, Karen Swallow Prior, Jake Meador, Todd Billings, and Andrew Wilson. (Our regulars will get the joke here.)
The “modern era” of the show began in September 2016, when we added intro music (generously provided by The Joy Eternal). In addition to dozens of one-off conversations, we recorded a short series on C.S. Lewis’ The Four Loves and a long series on St. Augustine’s Confessions. We have since hosted numerous distinguished guests, such as Timothy Keller, Rod Dreher, Ross Douthat, Carl Trueman, and Andrew Wilson.
In 2019, we hit another major milestone when we hired a show manager and began to expand our bonus offerings for Patreon supporters. In September 2020, we welcomed our first-ever sponsor, Lexham Press. In the last two years, we have recorded a mini-series on the ethics of vaccines, and a macro-series on the Beatitudes. We have also enjoyed conversations with guests like Anthony Bradley, Wesley Hill, Tara Isabella Burton, Jeremy Treat, and David French. (And Andrew Wilson.)
Who We Are
Matthew Lee Anderson is an Assistant Research Professor of Ethics and Theology at Baylor University’s Institute for Studies of Religion and the Associate Director of Baylor in Washington. He holds a D.Phil. in Christian Ethics and an M.Phil. from Oxford University, and a B.A. from Biola University. In 2005 he founded Mere Orthodoxy, a web-based magazine that provides commentary on religion, politics, and culture. He is the author of two books: Earthen Vessels: Why Our Bodies Matter to Our Faith and The End of our Exploring. Matt writes occasionally for Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, The Washington Post, and elsewhere; his writing may all be found through his website. He lives in Waco, Texas, and in his spare time enjoys beating fourth-graders at basketball.
Derek Rishmawy is the Reformed University Fellowship Campus Minister at the University of California, Irvine, and is a Ph.D. candidate in Systematic Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He writes occasionally at Christianity Today and The Gospel Coalition; his blog is Reformedish. Derek is married to McKenna and lives with her and their infant son, Constantine, in Irvine, California.
Alastair Roberts is an adjunct Senior Fellow at the Theopolis Institute and a Teaching Fellow at the Davenant Institute. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Durham. In addition to Mere Fidelity, he produces his own podcast, Alastair’s Adversaria, on which he is currently engaged in a multi-year project of daily reflections on Scripture that will eventually cover every chapter of the Bible. He is also a regular participant in the Theopolis Podcast. Alastair is a prolific blogger and essayist, with his writing appearing in Theopolis Conversations, at Mere Orthodoxy, and at his own blog. He has also co-authored a book, Echoes of Exodus: Tracing Themes of Redemption through Scripture, with his Mere Fidelity colleague Andrew Wilson.
Andrew Wilson is Teaching Pastor at King’s Church London, and holds degrees in history and theology from Cambridge (M.A.), London School of Theology (M.Th.), and King’s College London (Ph.D.). He is an award-winning columnist for Christianity Today, and has written ten books, including Incomparable, Spirit and Sacrament, and Sophie and the Heidelberg Cat; his latest is God of All Things. He has also co-authored a book, Echoes of Exodus: Tracing Themes of Redemption through Scripture, with his Mere Fidelity colleague Alastair Roberts. He blogs regularly at Think Theology, and writes occasionally for The Gospel Coalition. Andrew is married to Rachel and they have three children: Zeke, Anna, and Samuel.
In addition, our audio is produced by Timothy Motte, and our marketing, schedule, and supporter relations are managed by Timothy Crouch.
Timothy Motte
Timothy Crouch
Start Here
Our Supporters
Mere Fidelity is financially supported by a Merrie Band™ of remarkably (and unaccountably) generous listeners. For their generosity, they receive weekly thanks, bonus segments, periodic live Q&A shows, and the pleasure of being part of a Merrie Band™ (a perk that is, as far as we know, unmatched by any other podcast out there). If you would like to become a supporter of the show and enjoy all the rights and privileges thereof, you may click the “Support the Show” button in the upper right-hand corner of the website, or follow this link: patreon.com/merefidelity.
Contact
Are you interested in sponsoring an episode (or three) of Mere Fidelity? Do you want to suggest a show topic, or propose a guest? Ask a question? Lodge a complaint (or offer a compliment)? You can email us at merefidelitypod@gmail.com, or send us a direct message on Twitter at @merefidelity.