Why does questioning your beliefs sometimes feel like a risk? What if the fear of being punished by God for struggling with doubt or shifting perspectives isn't from God at all? Mike Erre reunites with preacher and Bible scholar Bonnie Lewis for a deep dive into the tensions we face when navigating grace, obedience, and identity in Jesus. Using stories from Scripture—like the woman with the alabaster jar and Zacchaeus—and their own vulnerable questions, they explore Jesus's radically inclusive posture and how it challenges both conservative and progressive assumptions about sin, justice, and what it means to repent.

This conversation invites listeners into the beautiful but complicated reality that Jesus does more than simply include—he calls, renames, invites, and reorients. Together, they wrestle with questions of personal and communal repentance, whether God punishes us for doubt, and how Jesus's grace meets us before transformation but continually invites us into deeper maturity and freedom.

Key Takeaways: • Jesus's Inclusivity Had a Purpose – His scandalous association with outcasts wasn't just for relational comfort; it was a powerful, theological act toward renewing Israel's vocation to embody God's love and justice. • Repentance Is Not Sin Management – Jesus's call to repentance isn't about obeying a moral checklist but reorienting our lives around grace, belonging, and God's deeper purposes for flourishing. • Grace Comes First, Always – Bonnie and Mike unpack how God blesses before we "get it right," yet still gently draws us towards a fuller experience of Shalom. • When Grace Feels Like Punishment – An honest discussion about internalized religious trauma, including Bonnie's story of grief after loss and wrestling with old beliefs around God's retribution. • The Danger of Mislabeling Repentance – Labeling people groups as needing to "repent" misplaces the call Jesus made—a communal restoration that points to healing, not exclusion.

Guest Highlight: Bonnie Lewis – A longtime friend of Voxology and advocate for fresh, thoughtful theology, Bonnie brings years of scriptural study, teaching, and real-life vulnerability to this conversation. She challenges cultural-and-church assumptions with grace, humor, and authenticity.

Resources Mentioned: • The Lost World of the Torah by John H. Walton – Link • Exclusion and Embrace by Miroslav Volf – Link • Dallas Willard and Grace-Filled Discipleship – Reflections on living into the "A" already given by God • Scripture References: Luke 7, Luke 19, Ephesians 4, Romans 12, The Gospels (broad skimming on Jesus's inclusivity and calls to repentance)

Open-hearted, intellectually honest, and spiritually nourishing, this episode invites listeners to walk the tension between grace and transformation—and to stay curious about what Jesus is doing in the cracks between certainty and mystery.

We'd love to hear what resonated with you! Join the conversation by emailing us at [email protected] or interacting on Facebook and Instagram. Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs a fresh take on Jesus's grace.

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