In this 2025 Year in Review, the crew reflects on the spiritual, emotional, and theological shifts that reshaped our faith over the past year. From deconstruction and grief to clarity, growth, and deeper questions about God, certainty, and identity, this episode explores what it means to evolve spiritually in real time. If you're navigating faith changes or rethinking what you believe, this conversation is for you.

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Episode Chapters

00:00 — "Why 2025 Needed a Reckoning" Setting the tone for a year that demanded reflection.

04:15 — "What I Thought 2025 Would Be" Expectations vs. reality.

09:30 — "Certainty Cracked This Year" How unanswered questions reshaped my faith.

14:45 — "Grief, Loss, and Spiritual Disruption" When life forces theology to get real.

20:10 — "Deconstruction Isn't Destruction" What I unlearned — and what survived.

25:50 — "Letting Go of the God I Outgrew" Why some beliefs couldn't come with me.

31:40 — "What Stayed When Everything Else Fell Away" The core that remained after the unraveling.

37:15 — "Faith Without Certainty" Learning to trust without needing control.

42:30 — "How Community Changed My Theology" Why growth never happens alone.

48:20 — "What I'm Carrying Into 2026" Hope, intention, and forward momentum.

In this episode, we unpack the theology of idolatry and how certainty, patriarchy, and supremacy culture shape the way many Christians talk about God. From gendered God-language to rage-driven faith, this conversation exposes how defending beliefs often replaces genuine worship. If you're navigating deconstruction, reconstruction, or questioning Christian certainty, this episode will hit home.

Subscribe for more!

Subscribe to the TFCVirtual Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/c/tfcvirtual

Purchase full-length, uncensored episodes of the podcast here: https://www.patreon.com/c/tfcvirtual

Join the Wait List for Kristian's upcoming e-book, "How to Deconstruct," here: https://mailchi.mp/thefaithcommunity/e-book-waitlist

Get Merch here: https://thefaithcommunity.org/merch-store

Order Breaking All The Rules here: https://www.kristianasmith.com/breaking-all-the-rules

Apply for a Pay it Forward Sponsorship here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeAVV7dQ1BXGkd8MoUyiQDNtEw82c8RgCDAaDvWpoOCUpxbDA/viewform

Episode

Chapters 00:00 — "What Is Idolatry Really?" Why idolatry isn't just statues — it's how we cling to certainty.

05:40 — "When Certainty Becomes Sacred" How unquestionable beliefs replace trust in God.

12:10 — "Defending God or Defending Yourself?" Why people feel personally attacked by theological disagreement.

18:55 — "Patriarchy, Supremacy & One Right Way" How dominance culture shapes Christian theology.

26:30 — "Why Gendering God Triggers So Much Rage" Unpacking fear, control, and religious identity.

34:45 — "The Internet, Rage-Bait & Modern Idolatry" How outrage has become a spiritual addiction.

43:20 — "From Worship to Freedom" What faith looks like when certainty is no longer the idol.

In this bonus episode, we break down Yolanda Adams' now-viral statement that "God is bigger than gender" — and why church folks absolutely lost their minds over it. Kristian is joined by Myron The Mystic, Nikki The Anchor, and Auntie Mazda Miles for this convo.

We explore how patriarchy, biblical interpretation, and supremacy culture shape the way people imagine God and why the idea of a non-male God triggers so much rage. If you're interested in theology, liberation, gender, or the modern Black church, this deep dive is for you.

Subscribe to the TFCVirtual Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/c/tfcvirtual

Purchase full-length, uncensored episodes of the podcast here: https://www.patreon.com/c/tfcvirtual

Join the Wait List for Kristian's upcoming e-book, "How to Deconstruct," here: https://mailchi.mp/thefaithcommunity/e-book-waitlist

Get Merch here: https://thefaithcommunity.org/merch-store

Order Breaking All The Rules here: https://www.kristianasmith.com/breaking-all-the-rules

Episode Chapters

00:00 — "Yolanda Adams Sparks a Firestorm" The moment that set Black church internet ablaze.

04:12 — "Why Is Gendering God Such a Big Deal?" The theological and emotional roots behind the outrage.

09:40 — "Patriarchy, Pronouns & the Black Church" How masculine God-language became sacred — and weaponized.

16:05 — "God as They: The Trinity, Multiplicity & Divine Identity" Breaking down the biblical foundations for nonbinary God-language.

22:58 — "When Certainty Becomes Idolatry" Why challenging God's gender threatens people's entire belief system.

31:20 — "Rage-Bait Religion: How the Internet Twisted Yolanda's Words" How platforms reframed the clip to fuel anger and clicks.

40:44 — "If You're Offended, What Does That Say About Women?" Interrogating why "God as She" sets people on fire — and what that reveals.

Join Holy Smokes as we sit down with the legendary Yolanda Adams for an unfiltered conversation about the theology of gospel music, harmful church doctrines, love, identity, and what God really expects from us. We dive into the tension between sound and theology, how sin has been misdefined, and why the people we hate reveal more about us than God. If you've ever wrestled with faith, tradition, or evolving spirituality, this episode will speak directly to your soul.

Subscribe for more!

Subscribe to the TFCVirtual Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/c/tfcvirtual

Purchase full-length, uncensored episodes of the podcast here: https://www.patreon.com/c/tfcvirtual

Join the Wait List for Kristian's upcoming e-book, "How to Deconstruct," here: https://mailchi.mp/thefaithcommunity/e-book-waitlist

Get Merch here: https://thefaithcommunity.org/merch-store

Order Breaking All The Rules here: https://www.kristianasmith.com/breaking-all-the-rules

Episode Chapters

00:00 – "I Can Tell How Your God Loves by the People You Hate" 01:49 – Honoring the Legacy: Yolanda Adams Joins the Conversation 03:48 – The One Rule: Kindness Is Key (And It's Biblical) 06:50 – Our Personal Histories with Gospel Music 10:30 – Why Theology Made Us Step Back from Gospel (Then Return) 13:18 – Black Folks & Ginger Ale: A Sacred Relationship 15:45 – Belief, Authenticity, and Why We Trust Yolanda Adams 20:24 – Performance vs. Testimony in Gospel Music 27:00 – When Sound Moves You but Theology Fails You 33:42 – The Song That Grounds Yolanda Adams Before She Preaches 46:12 – Sound vs. Theology: What Gospel Music Really Teaches 47:22 – Yolanda Adams Explains Her Personal Theology 50:06 – "Your Hate Reveals Your God" — A Word from Yolanda 52:59 – Sin, Harm, Identity & the Church's Biggest Theological Mistake

This bonus episode takes a deep dive into Travis Greene's controversial sermon denouncing Black Greek organizations and explores how his message connects to a broader rise of Christian nationalism within the Black church. The crew unpacks spiritual bypassing, emotional manipulation, and how prosperity theology has been weaponized against Black institutions. Tune in for a sharp, unfiltered look at the intersections of faith, race, and politics in contemporary church culture.

Subscribe to the TFCVirtual Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/c/tfcvirtual

Purchase full-length, uncensored episodes of the podcast here: https://www.patreon.com/c/tfcvirtual

Join the Wait List for Kristian's upcoming e-book, "How to Deconstruct," here: https://mailchi.mp/thefaithcommunity/e-book-waitlist

Get Merch here: https://thefaithcommunity.org/merch-store

Order Breaking All The Rules here: https://www.kristianasmith.com/breaking-all-the-rules

Episode Chapters

00:00 – "Travis Greene's Sermon and the Backlash" Introducing the viral clip and the theological claims that sparked controversy.

05:20 – "The Problem with Spiritual Bypassing" How Pentecostal theology often replaces accountability with "the Holy Ghost told me."

11:40 – "Accountability and the Myth of the Portal" A breakdown of personal responsibility, manipulation, and church language used to silence critique.

18:00 – "Emotionalism and Manipulation in the Church" How guilt, shame, and altar calls are used as tools of control.

26:50 – "When Survival Is Labeled Idolatry" Critiquing the idea that working to survive means worshiping false gods.

38:40 – "From Pentecostalism to MAGA Theology" Tracing how prosperity gospel and Christian nationalism merged in Black church spaces.

46:30 – "Black Institutions Under Attack" How denouncing Black fraternities, sororities, and churches serves a broader anti-Black agenda.

For generations, the church has told believers, "Be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect." But what if Jesus never called us to perfection — only to wholeness? In this powerful conversation, we sit down with Dr. Chanequa Walker-Barnes to unpack how toxic theology, respectability, and race have shaped our obsession with perfection — and how we can finally get free.

This episode of Holy Smokes: Cigars and Spirituality is proudly sponsored by Eden Theological Seminary.

Join Eden online or in-person for an unforgettable evening with Dr. Chanequa Walker-Barnes as she delivers her lecture, "When Identity Wounds: Whiteness, Shame, and the Search for Repair."

📅 Date: November 11, 2025

🕡 Time: 6:30 p.m. CT

💻 Attend online or in-person — registration is free and open now!

👉 Reserve your virtual seat today: www.eden.edu/events/bracke-public-lecture

Eden Theological Seminary, a leading educational institution aligned with the progressive Christian movement. By combining theological rigor with community action, Eden offers a seminary education to meet the moment.

Students can pursue Master's, Doctorates, Certificates or other community learning opportunities designed for Nonprofit, Community, Social Justice, and Congregational Leaders at Eden.

Their blended learning model allows students the flexibility to join them online or on campus, and ground their learning and action in their own communities. Learn more at www.eden.edu.

Subscribe to the TFCVirtual Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/c/tfcvirtual

Purchase full-length, uncensored episodes of the podcast here: https://www.patreon.com/c/tfcvirtual

Join the Wait List for Kristian's upcoming e-book, "How to Deconstruct," here: https://mailchi.mp/thefaithcommunity/e-book-waitlist

Get Merch here: https://thefaithcommunity.org/merch-store

Order Breaking All The Rules here: https://www.kristianasmith.com/breaking-all-the-rules

Let's talk about the call for Black Christians to place their Christianity over the Blackness.

Let us know what you think in the comments. And Subscribe for more!

Subscribe to Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/c/tfcvirtual

Purchase full-length, uncensored episodes of the podcast here: https://www.patreon.com/c/tfcvirtual

Join the Wait List for Kristian's upcoming e-book, "How to Deconstruct," here: https://mailchi.mp/thefaithcommunity/e-book-waitlist

Get Merch here: https://thefaithcommunity.org/merch-store

Order Breaking All The Rules here: https://www.kristianasmith.com/breaking-all-the-rules

00:00 – "If You Think Your Blackness Has to Pass Away to Follow God…" A bold opening on how anti-Black theology distorts faith.

02:00 – Christian Before Black?! The crew unpacks the growing movement of Black Christians prioritizing religion over identity.

05:00 – The One Rule: Honor Lived Experience Over Theory Holy Smokes' guiding principle and how it reframes faith.

06:30 – RuPaul, Drag Race, and the Gospel of Self-Love How RuPaul's benediction mirrors the greatest commandment.

08:00 – Blackness vs. Christianity: Who Told You They're in Competition? Personal stories about how upbringing shaped faith and race identity.

15:00 – When the Black Church Was "Too Black" for White Spaces How Black worship is silenced or sanitized in multiracial churches and seminaries.

20:00 – Redefining Faith Beyond Christianity Rich Auntie and Kristian share what it means to be spiritual, humanist, and still deeply rooted in the Black church.

27:00 – Why the Black Church Still Matters History, resistance, and why "a church full of Black people" isn't the same as a Black church.

30:00 – "This Ain't a Black Church" — The Plantation Pastor Returns The crew dissects Philip Anthony Mitchell's rhetoric and its ties to Christian nationalism.

40:00 – Is Blackness an Idol or a Gift from God? Exposing the lie that loving your Blackness means rejecting Jesus.

47:00 – Obedience, Indoctrination, and Control How "be obedient" theology keeps Black people docile in the name of faith.

58:00 – Dear Black Christians: You Were Black Before You Were Christian A powerful closing reflection on identity, liberation, and sacred self-love.

One thing we can't deny is Fundamentalist Christianity's need to control every aspect of your life.

The shows or movies you watch.

The kind of music you're allowed to listen to.

The clothing you're allowed to wear.

The people you're allowed to hang out with.

The places you're allowed to go.

The person you court and marry. And so on, and so on, and so on…

This list fits perfectly into the what's known as dominion theology. It's the idea that the role of Christians to take over every avenue of society through government, media, education, religion, arts & entertainment, and family. This is often referred to as the Seven Mountain Mandate.

The goal is for Fundamentalist Christianity to eventually take over the world.

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The Faith Community is a groundbreaking, inclusive faith community where the traditional meets the transformational. It exists to challenge harmful religious norms while creating a safe, affirming space for spiritual seekers of all kinds. Through virtual connection, theological interrogation, and an emphasis on love and self-acceptance, TFC helps its audience find abundant life and community without compromising their identity.

Many of us grew up in churches where our love for God was determined by how much of yourself you sacrificed for the sake of eternal salvation. You attended every service and every event. You served on as many ministry teams as you could, stretching yourself thin.

You even invited your friends and coworkers thinking, "if I could just get them to my church" they'd see the value of living for Jesus. Well, it's time to get off the battlefield for the Lord. It's possible to love God and stay connected to yourself.

It's also possible to maintain a healthy relationship with your faith without having to be present and available for everything. It takes some deconstructing, decolonizing, reimagining, and rebuilding, but it's possible.

Subscribe to Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/tfcvirtual

Get merch here: https://thefaithcommunity.org/merch-store

Order Breaking All The Rules here: https://www.holysmokesmovement.com/batr-book-order

Follow us on Instagram: @tfcvirtual and @holysmokesmovement

Browse our Website: https://www.thefaithcommunity.org

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristiansmith02

The Faith Community is a groundbreaking, inclusive faith community where the traditional meets the transformational. It exists to challenge harmful religious norms while creating a safe, affirming space for spiritual seekers of all kinds. Through virtual connection, theological interrogation, and an emphasis on love and self-acceptance, TFC helps its audience find abundant life and community without compromising their identity.

Growing up, the book of Revelation and the feeling of fear went hand on hand. It was the book of the Bible used to convince us to follow Christ. Books and movies have been made in efforts to bring Revelation to life.

Well, not this time around. For the recording of "Deconstructing Revelation", we had Dr. Angela Parker as a special guest. We have a profound amount of respect for Dr. Parker in these TFC streets. She's a Professor, New Testament Scholar, Womanist, and Justice Leader.

Subscribe to Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/tfcvirtual

Get merch here: https://thefaithcommunity.org/merch-store

Order Breaking All The Rules here: https://www.holysmokesmovement.com/batr-book-order

Follow us on Instagram: @tfcvirtual and @holysmokesmovement

Browse our Website: https://www.thefaithcommunity.org

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristiansmith02

The Faith Community is a groundbreaking, inclusive faith community where the traditional meets the transformational. It exists to challenge harmful religious norms while creating a safe, affirming space for spiritual seekers of all kinds. Through virtual connection, theological interrogation, and an emphasis on love and self-acceptance, TFC helps its audience find abundant life and community without compromising their identity.