Wendy Alsup and Amber discuss her time as deacon of women’s theology at Mars Hill Church, how and why she was able to continue clinging to Jesus in the midst of suffering, and what a good Jesus hermeneutic has to do with it.
Questions Discussed During Clinging to God When Your Church Falls Apart:
You served as a Deacon in charge of Women’s Theology and Training at Mars Hill in Seattle. Share your experience of stepping into that role and the ways you were able to serve women during that seasonWith the success of The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill podcast, many now have a more robust view of power struggles and abuse in the church. Were you able to continue teaching and serving women practical theology on a weekly basis, while behind the scenes the staff was “blowing up”? Expound on that a bit.You eventually left. What was that process like for you both emotionally and spiritually?What I love about your story is you didn’t walk away from God or the Bible despite being deeply wounded by God’s people. At one point you said, “A lot of people had problems with Mark Driscoll and just wrote off the Bible: ‘Well, if that’s what the Bible teacher says, obviously, there’s something wrong with the Bible.’ But I believed in the Bible a long time before I ever got to know Mark Driscoll, and I’m going to believe in it now. So I don’t think the problem’s with the Bible.” Talk to us about what you think made a difference in your clinging to God and His Word vs. friends, colleagues, strangers who walk away.I think having written books like, Practical Theology for Women and The Gospel-Centered Woman helped to ground you in truth of God’s character and what He says about His people, but not everyone has the foundation. Speak directly to the wounded soul, particularly the one who’s been wounded by those in a position of spiritual authority.In “I Forgive You,” you weave some of your own personal journey of forgiveness in with the story of Joseph and how we witness him forgive. What hope do we find in Joseph’s story?How can we apply some of those same principles to the people we need to forgive?
SHOW NOTES cont.
Resources Mentioned:
Book: I Forgive You: Finding Peace and Moving Forward When Life Really Hurts by Wendy AlsupRise and Fall of Mars Hill PodcastRise and Fall of Mars Hill Podcast: Ep. 7 State of EmergencyBook: Companions in Suffering: Comfort for Times of Loss and Loneliness by Wendy Alsup and Trillia NewbellBook: Practical Theology for Women by Wendy AlsupALL of Wendy’s booksThe Gospel Coalition: Why I’m Going Back to Church After My Divorce by Wendy AlsupTheology for Women Etsy Shop106: Scot McKnight & Laura Barringer | Church Culture: Goodness vs. Abuse of Power187: Wade Mullen | Power, Image Management, & the Church73: Bethany Allen | Pastor of Spiritual Formation & Leadership Development
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