Paul Zahl quietly released his 400th episode of PZ’s Podcast the other week. And while he believes too much in justification by faith to toot his own horn over the achievement, this calls for some celebration and invitation. This won’t be a systematic theology of Paul Zahl, and I may be the least qualified to give such a synopsis, but I’ve been deeply touched by the cast and the man. So here are five reasons to tune in!
Reason One — “There’s always that little bit in the corner.”
Do you remember Time’s person of the year two years ago? Me neither. Even when it comes to your own life, people rarely have a bead on what has been most pivotal. It’s the little corners of our lives that carry so much weight, but we’re constantly encouraged to ignore them for “greater” things. Zahl invites you into the corners, where God meets your deepest and greatest needs.
Reason Two — “To the heart of the matter” -Don Henley. “If you can’t find God, go back to where you lost him.” “Send me a prior love” (Steve Winwood with Zahl’s edit).
These are just a taste of the gems you’ll find in each episode. Zahl gives you graspable pearls of Christ’s kingdom, aka the gospel. The latest episode is no exception, as he beautifully breaks down an identity rooted in love, first from the perspective of his newborn grandkid whose whole identity is defined by being loved, all the way to his wife, Mary, holding his hand at a moment of mortal distress and seeing that this is his identity too! The heart of the gospel is on full display and is the key to Jesus’ promise of abundant life.
Reason Three — Theology from the ground up.
It’s typical for a highly educated and experienced person to take a condescending tone toward imparting wisdom. But Zahl never “knows more than you” in the sense of being a gatekeeper. Instead, he draws out what we know empirically and experientially. There’s no false narrative being foisted on you. If anything, you’ll wonder if Zahl is somehow talking about you. Like Jesus himself, who through his life and relatable stories shows us what our hearts long for, the theology here comes from the wellspring of everyday life.
Reason Four — No prerequisites.
Do you know anything about ’50s monster movies? How about obscure British novelists? Twentieth-century German theologians? These are often the impetus for a cast, but they never create a barrier to entry. Funny that this approach works, since we often look for commonality to share the gospel. One of the reasons I think it does work relates to #1 above. His inspirations are corners of society, and who of us doesn’t have some side obsession or weird (to others) interest? God works both in the mainstream and in the hard to reach. Another reason this works is that the gospel is alien. It is other, unexpected, and completely mind (and heart) blowing. Sometimes I’ll follow up on a movie or book recommendation, but it’s not a high-pressure situation.
Reason Five – Haphazard, humorous, and hope full.
This podcast is unpredictable. There are no scheduled postings and you’re not quite sure what PZ will talk about next. When an episode “drops” it’s exciting! Humor, lightness, and absurdity are threaded through it all. It’s amazing how profound Zahl can be without becoming stern (a rare gift nowadays). I always feel uplifted and eager to tell him and others all about it. At it’s core, this podcast is full of hope! Our ultimate hope is in Jesus making all things new, and Zahl vividly colors this life with that hope.
BONUS Reason: The fan-ta-stic music! Need I say more? LUV U!
Couldn’t agree more! It’s a wild and wondrous ride.