Christian Nationalism, Nonviolence & the Justice of God

This week on the Impact Nations Podcast, Tim is joined by author and theologian Dr. Bradley Jersak to explore the Kingdom of God as a nonviolent revolution of love. They discuss violent prophetic imagery in Isaiah, the dangers of Christian Nationalism, and what justice really looks like in the light of Jesus.

Bradley reflects on his own journey—from Baptist pastor to Principal of St. Stephen’s University—and shares why SSU is reimagining theological education around peace, justice, and mercy.

Topics include:

• Interpreting violent OT passages like Isaiah 63
• Christian Nationalism vs. the way of Jesus
• Lessons from the early church on missions without empire
• Finding unity in a divided church
• How to respond to rising antisemitism
• Developing redemptive leadership through discipleship

👉 Learn more about SSU: https://www.ssu.ca
👉 Get Bradley’s books: https://bradleyjersak.com/books
🎧 Subscribe for more inspiring conversations every Thursday.

#BradleyJersak #ImpactNations #RestorativeJustice #StStephensUniversity #ChristianNationalism #KingdomOfGod #TheologyPodcast #BiblicalJustice #JesusIsKing #NonviolentGospel

Summer Series 2025

From the Slums to the CEO's Chair: Emmanuel Trinity’s Incredible Journey

What happens when one computer, one mentor, and one surrendered heart collide with a God-sized vision? This week on the Impact Nations Podcast, Tim sits down with longtime partner and friend, Emmanuel Trinity, founder of ERA92—a dynamic, faith-driven social enterprise in Uganda that is transforming entire communities through tech training, discipleship, and business innovation.

Born into poverty in one of Kampala’s most dangerous slums, Trinity’s story is one of breathtaking redemption. From surviving gang life and losing childhood friends to violence, to landing a job with Coca-Cola—and walking away from it all just six months later to return to the slums and serve—Trinity has dedicated his life to helping others escape the very darkness he once knew.

In this powerful conversation, you’ll hear:

• How a single computer became the catalyst for a movement that now trains thousands of youth annually.
• The birth of ERA92 Elevate and how it's creating real jobs—not just diplomas—for young people leaving gangs, prostitution, and hopelessness.
• Why charity alone isn’t enough—and how Trinity is building sustainable businesses to fund long-term transformation.
• His leadership journey from perfectionist solo-operator to developer of hundreds of leaders.
• A glimpse into Trinity’s revolutionary "Choose Africa" campaign to rebrand the continent through jobs, dignity, and global outsourcing.

This is more than a story of transformation—it’s a masterclass in redemptive leadership, innovation, and Kingdom impact.

🔗 Learn more about Trinity’s work: https://era92.com
📧 Interested in visiting Uganda with Impact Nations? Email Tim at [email protected]

Steve is busy preparing a few more episodes of our Road To The Cross series. Meanwhile, Tim will spend the next two months interviewing interesting people for your viewing pleasure.

Starting August 7th, guests will include:
  • Dr. Bradley Jersak (Principal of St Stephen’s University)
  • Mercy Aiken (Expert on the West Bank and Gaza)
  • Emmanuel Trinity (African Entrepreneur and Impact Nations Partner)
  • Marc Alan Schelske (Author of “Journaling for Spiritual Growth”)
  • Murray Dueck and Tricia Warren (Hosts of the Samuel’s Mantle podcast)
  • Annabelle Nakabiri Ssebakijje (International speaker on protecting women, Impact Nations Partner)
  • Dr. Cherith Nordling (Theologian, Author of “Knowing God by Name”)
  • Randeep Matthews (Theologian, Expert in demonology)
  • and more!

We don’t know what order these guests will appear in, so tune in each week for a great surprise!

🎧 Listen to the full series at: https://impactnations.com/podcast
🌍 Learn more about the mission: https://impactnations.com
❤️ Become a Monthly Giving Champion: https://impactnations.com/give-monthly

The resurrection is just about life after death—it's about ultimate transformation.

In this episode we discuss the resurrection of Jesus. Highlights include:

• Why did Jesus' resurrected body still have wounds?
• Why didn't his disciples recognize Him?
• How does Christ's resurrection give us hope for our own restoration in the here and now?
• What does the resurrection say about the promise of new creation?

🎧 Listen to the full series at: https://impactnations.com/podcast

🌍 Learn more about the mission: https://impactnations.com

❤️ Become a Monthly Giving Champion: https://impactnations.com/give-monthly

What happened between the cross and the resurrection? Why does it matter?

In this episode we explore one of the most mysterious—and neglected—moments in the story of salvation: Christ’s descent into Hades. 

Highlights include:

• What the early church believed about Christ’s descent
• What scripture has to say about it
• How this informs our understanding of the gospel as a source of hope, rescue, and restoration for all of creation

🎧 Listen to the full series at: https://impactnations.com/podcast

🌍 Learn more about the mission: https://impactnations.com

❤️ Become a Monthly Giving Champion: https://impactnations.com/give-monthly

What if the story of the Cross was never about satisfying a wrathful God, but about defeating the very forces that hold humanity in bondage? In this episode, Tim and Steve unpack the ancient view of the atonement known as Christus Victor—the belief that through Jesus’ death and resurrection, sin, death, and Satan were overthrown once and for all. They explore how this early church understanding offers a cosmic perspective of salvation, rooted not in guilt and punishment but in liberation and restoration. Along the way, they revisit the teachings of Irenaeus and Pelagius, challenging centuries-old assumptions and rediscovering the triumphant love revealed at Calvary.

Highlights:

• How Pelagius, often misunderstood as a heretic, actually reflected the sacred anthropology of early Celtic and Eastern Christianity.
• The contrast between Augustine’s doctrine of original sin and Pelagius’s view of the divine image in humanity.
• Why the early church understood the Cross as a cosmic victory over sin, death, and the devil—not divine punishment.
• Jesus' death as a triumphant descent into death and Hades to rescue humanity, not a ransom paid to God or Satan.
• The role of the Trinity in the crucifixion: God was in Christ, reconciling the world through self-giving love.
• How the Christus Victor perspective calls us into a life of freedom, restoration, and participation in Christ’s victory.

🎧 Listen to the full series at: https://impactnations.com/podcast
🌍 Learn more about the mission: https://impactnations.com
❤️ Become a Monthly Giving Champion: https://impactnations.com/give-monthly

For centuries, the dominant explanation for the cross in Western Christianity has been rooted in retribution—Jesus taking the punishment we deserved. Is that really the whole story? Does it reflect the true heart of God?

In this episode we trace the historical development of the Penal Substitutionary Atonement theory. How did theology, empire, and culture combine to shape a view of God that is more violent than loving? Is it time for a different lens?

If this episode challenges or encourages you, drop a comment and share it with a friend. And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a conversation!

🎧 Listen to the full series at: https://impactnations.com/podcast
🌍 Learn more about the mission: https://impactnations.com
❤️ Become a Monthly Giving Champion: https://impactnations.com/give-monthly

This week on The Road to the Cross, Tim and Steve dive into one of the most influential ideas in Western Christianity: original sin. How did a fifth-century theory by Augustine come to dominate our understanding of salvation, the cross, and even our identity?

Tracing the theology from Eden to empire, they uncover a progression that reshaped how many Christians understand God's character—introducing fear, shame, and legalism into what was meant to be good news.

📌 Highlights include:

• The history and impact of Augustine’s doctrine of original sin
• Why translation errors in Romans 5 changed everything
• What the early church believed about humanity’s nature
• Why PSA (Penal Substitutionary Atonement) became dominant—and what's missing
• How recovering a restorative gospel can reshape your faith

This is Part 1 of a two-part exploration of atonement theories—don’t miss next week’s episode as we examine Christus Victor.

💡 If you’ve ever felt like the gospel was more about shame than restoration, this conversation is for you.

🌐 Learn more or support our mission: impactnations.com

This week on The Road to the Cross, Tim travels to Canada to sit down with theologian and author Bradley Jersak for a powerful conversation about cruciform love—the kind of love revealed on the cross that lays down power, enters our suffering, and forgives without limits.

Together, they unpack what it means for Jesus to be self-giving, radically forgiving, and co-suffering—and how this shapes the way we pray, lead others, and share the gospel. With compelling stories, theological depth, and practical insights, this episode is a heartfelt invitation to reimagine what love really looks like when it’s shaped by the cross.

📌 Highlights:

• Why Jesus’ love isn’t just admired—it’s lived
• Making space for people to encounter Christ personally
• The problem with fear-based evangelism
• How the Holy Spirit empowers us to embody love
• Practical ways to lead people to Jesus without pressure

This is one of our most intimate and revealing conversations yet—don’t miss it.

🔗 Learn more or donate at impactnations.com

Is the cross only about personal forgiveness—or is there something far more expansive at work?

In this powerful solo episode, Tim unpacks the breathtaking truth that the cross marked the beginning of God’s cosmic restoration—the healing of all creation, systems, and humanity itself. Drawing from early church fathers and N.T. Wright, he reclaims a gospel that is not about escaping this world, but restoring it.

💡 Discover what it means to live as an image-bearer in a broken world.
❤️‍🔥 Embrace a gospel that transforms everything.

👇 Watch now, and don’t forget to:
✔️ Like
✔️ Comment
✔️ Subscribe
✔️ Share with a friend hungry for deeper truth.

🌍 Learn how you can bring restoration to the poor at https://www.impactnations.com

#CosmicRestoration #KingdomOfGod #NTWright #RestorativeJustice #ImpactNations #GospelOfTheKingdom #JesusRestoresAllThings #NewCreation #CruciformLove