The Boundless Bible
The Boundless Bible is a podcast dedicated to discussing the many layers and perspectives the Bible offers to those interested in deepening their views and understanding.
Hosted by three friends from very different walks of life and life experiences, who've come together through curiosity of, and respect for, the living Word.
Our hosts are:
- DAVID SHAPIRO -- was born an Orthodox Jew, later an atheist, ex-military and MMA fighter, David heeded the call to Jesus and is now an ordained Pastor, specializing in Apologetics.
- JAVIER MARQUEZ -- Originally from Brooklyn, moved to LA to be an actor, and deeply found the Lord which led him to work in the church, lead Bible studies and grow his faith.
- JASON HOLLOWAY -- grew up in the church, left in college, and spent the next 2 decades immersed in learning world religion, spirituality, science, and mythology, recently returning to the Faith with renewed insight and perspective.
After a year of weekly discussions, we came to find that sharing and debating their different perspectives had become an exciting way to introduce new ideas to old thinking, grow their understanding, and strengthen their faith.
We are aware that there are many people out there who feel their questions haven't been answered, whose curiosity has been tamped down, or who just generally feel their community doesn't allow open dialogue, and our goal is to give those people a place to listen, ask questions, and engage with their curiosity to find a deeper and more robust connection to their faith.
The Boundless Bible
QUICK Qs: Would You Choose Faith Made of Brain or Heart?
David, Jason, and Javi debate whether they would choose to be "all brain" or "all heart" in their spiritual journeys, revealing surprising personal preferences and examining what sustains faith through life's challenges.
• David surprisingly admits he wishes for an "all heart" faith where he could accept scripture without questioning
• Despite his cerebral approach, David acknowledges feelings of God's presence matter more than theological details
• Jason chooses "all brain," explaining how apologetics provides a safeguard if emotional connection to faith wavers
• Jason's fear of losing faith during potential tragedy led him to build an intellectual foundation through apologetics
• Javi believes the heart is the "right answer," noting how intellectual curiosity led him to faith but heart kept him there
• The hosts share a powerful seminary lesson: "You're never going to teach somebody how to love God, but you can love them in such a way that they end up loving God"
Have a topic, verse, or story you'd like us to cover?
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Welcome to the Boundless Bible. My name is David Shapiro, hey, I'm Javi Marquez and I'm Jason Holloway.
Jason:Quick questions with David and we're back with quick questions.
David:All right for this week in your journey, in your walk with Christ, would you rather be all brains or all heart.
Jason:This is such an easy question for me. I want to be all heart all the time and I would love to have that kind of faith where I never had to ask a single question. I just accepted it at face value that I could read the Bible and read it word for word, what's literally on the page, exactly as it is on the page, and not question how it influences any other system or thought. I would. Oh, that would be such a dream for me. So that's mine Plus, and I should add too I mean plus.
Jason:Look, as I go through my walk and my walk is so cerebral I continue to realize that, no matter how cerebral I get or how much I start thinking about things, the thing that actually matters at the end of the day is the feeling. And even when I'm struggling with some concept or theological discussion point, if I just stop and go, what does it feel like? And do I feel the presence of God? And do I feel the sense of peace that I'm get, that I, that I, you know? Do I feel a sense of peace when I think of him? And do I feel the sense of peace that I'm getting that I, that I, you know, do I feel a sense of peace when I think of him? And the answer is yes, and that's so much bigger than like. Do I understand how many angels are on the head of a pin? You know, that's good.
David:For me it's the whole reason why I got into apologetics. So for me it's going to be all brains. And the reason is that when I started following Christ I heard a lot of people who were saying, hey, I used to go to church when I was younger, I don't go anymore. And it reminded me a lot of my martial arts experience, where a lot of people said when I was a kid I took martial arts and then I stopped and my fear was if something ever happened to me emotionally, somebody passed away, something tragic happened and I lost the feeling. What would happen then? I didn't want my life without Christ. So I began my studies into apologetics so that my brain can take over if that ever happened. And I think because of that I just, you know, I fell into an area where I really love the research. I love the theory, I love the logic, I love the truth of the theory, I love the logic, I love the truth of it. So I think mine would have to be all brain.
Javi:Makes sense, makes sense, I love.
Jason:Javi, where are you at?
Javi:answer. I feel like the easy answer and the right answer is your heart. Um just saying, but um.
Jason:I did the right answer.
Javi:I'm saying, I'm saying that only because you, to me, the question is saying you won't have the other, so I would have the heart. You know, and I think that's something as I look at the faith God really wants us to really check all the time is your posture of your heart, um, and pretty much, follow me, uh, seek me, do the things that I asked you to do with your heart, not with intelligence and second guessing, as we saw the apostles do a lot of times. Um, not to say that if you were to have brains, you were second guess. But, um, I'm kind of in the same boat, david.
Javi:I think you're obviously more intellectual, you, you went and got your doctrine. Congrats to you, brother. But for me, I think I'm the same way, like, meaning, like, as I came into the faith, I was what continued to lead me further into the faith was the intellectual wanted to know more, wanted to actually see how, maybe true, this grounded in something more than just stories. So that's what led me into the faith knowing, wanting to know more about God, jesus and just everything that's around the faith. But the heart is what kept me, uh, going for this long, and I think it was something that would continue to keep me um, just a love for faith and for God and for other people Love it.
Jason:Yeah, and I almost feel the, I almost feel this necessity to say something that I heard. One one of the pastors at church said something that they were in seminary and like. One day the professor closed the book and said I just want you to realize you're never going to teach somebody how to love God, but you can love them in such a way that they end up loving God. And that one stuck with me for a while. So, thanks, pastor G. It's such an important and and, uh, incredible thing to remember, which is that that's where God lives. He lives in the love, he lives in the care, he lives in the expression of love that other people show, the outward expression of people that they show because of his love and because of what he offers them. So that one stuck with me. So, all right, guys, thanks for another. Quick questions Always, always fun, and we look forward to talking to you again next week, later. Bye, bye.
