The Industrial Religious Complex

Welcome to another Thursday UNFILTERED substack article, the only substack newsletter that never argues. It just explains why it’s always right.

Alright, listen up.

First, my new book drops in the spring of 2025. It's called The Untold Story of the New Testament Church: Revised and Expanded. And let me be crystal clear: Do. Not. Buy. The. Old. Version. With the Orange Cover. Which is 20 years old. In fact, if you've got one, toss it in the trash. It's riddled with errors, and I'd rather eat a pinecone than see it circulating in used bookstores. (If you’re curious about all that, listen to episode #30 of the Christ is All podcast.)

Now, if you're itching for some Frankie V. wisdom before 2025, I've got a list of books that should blow your mind. These aren't your grandma's devotionals. They're raw, real, and will challenge everything you thought you knew about the faith.

As a reader of these UNFILTERED emails, most of you should have these titles sitting on your bookshelf already (hopefully not collecting dust). But if not, I recommend:

48 Laws of Spiritual Power * Insurgence: Reclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom * God's Favorite Place on Earth * From Eternity to Here * ReGrace * Hang On, Let Go * Jesus Manifesto * Jesus: A Theography * Jesus Speaks

Without question, these are my best books thus far. And all of them are regularly discounted on Amazon. If you're not a "reader," no problem. They’re available on audiobook also.

Now for today's feature.

The Industrial Religious Complex

Last Tuesday, we dropped episode #221 of the Christ is All podcast. The episode, which contains a brand new interview, is entitled “The Industrial Religious Complex.”

While most of you are subscribed to the podcast, the concept is so important that I wanted to feature it today for those of you who aren’t subscribed or who are “hit and miss” with the podcast. Ahem.

I independently invented the phrase (“Industrial Religious Complex”) without any prior knowledge of its existence. (If someone happened to use it previously, which is always possible, I never heard or read it anywhere. But I’m quite certain no one has defined it the way I have in the interview. I first used the term publicly in May of last year.)

The interview was originally recorded on August 7th. And so far, the response has been combustible.

GO HERE TO LISTEN TO IT ON OUR NEWLY REVISED YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

Until next Thursday,

Your brother in the trenches,

fv