Jesus, Justice + Mercy: Bold faith, radical love and justice for the church

Episode 5: “Not Just Pie and Playlists: Bias, Privilege, and the Bible”
Bias isn’t just about politics. Privilege isn’t just about power. And interpreting Scripture isn’t as neutral as we’ve been taught.

In this deeply personal episode, I share why I almost didn’t hit record, and why I knew I had to. We’re talking about the invisible lenses we all carry, the unearned advantages we may not notice, and how both shape how we read the Bible and live out our faith.

From sweet potato pie to Paul’s letters, we explore how culture, race, and power influence theology. You’ll hear how enslaved Africans saw liberation in Exodus while white Christians clung to control through Paul. We’ll wrestle with questions like:

·       Who’s been centered in your faith formation?

·       How has theological privilege shaped what gets called “truth”?

·       What happens when we read Jesus through the lens of empire instead of love?

If you’ve ever felt uncomfortable in conversations about justice and Scripture, this one’s for you. The goal isn’t guilt, it’s integrity. And the invitation? To stay curious, hold your questions close, and let disruption lead to deeper faith.

 Just a few books I have learned from and have shaped my theology:

·       Color of Compromise: Jemar Tisby

·       Dear White Peacemakers: Osheta Moore

·       Jesus and the Disinherited: Howard Thurman

·       Shoutin’ In the Fire: Dante Stewart

·       Reading While Black: Esau McCaulley

·       After Whiteness: Willie James Jennings

·       Colorblind: Tim Wise

·       The Politics of Jesus: Obery M. Hendricks

·       A Fire in the Bones: Albert J. Raboteau

·       Unsettling Truth: Mark Charles and Soong-Chan Rah

·       We Drink From Our Own Wells: Gustavo Gutiérrez

·       God of the Oppressed: James Cone

An invitation to think about things:

1.     When you read Scripture, whose voice or experience do you connect with most? The marginalized? The powerful? The rule-keepers or the rule-breakers?

2.     How has your race, gender, upbringing, or culture shaped your view of God?

3.     Where might you be mistaking familiarity for truth? Or comfort for clarity?

4.     Have you ever dismissed someone’s interpretation because it felt unfamiliar or too disruptive?

5.     What voices have you trusted to shape your theology? And who’s been left out?

For women who stayed small and called it faithfulness : a reading list to start finding your way back. Get it here!

If this episode was meaningful for you, the best way to help others find the show is to:

• Text this episode to a friend who might need it
• Leave a 5-star rating and review
• Subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes
• Wrestling with faith and justice and not sure where to start? 
• Grab my free theological reading list, Beyond Faith as Usual, HERE!

Here’s to a faith that tells the truth, refuses silence in the face of harm, and follows Jesus all the way into healing and justice.

RESOURCES:

www.kristenabrock.com

There’s a sacred tension between the Jesus we love and the version of faith many of us inherited. If you’ve ever felt caught in the messy middle, between belonging and questioning, between clarity and disorientation, this episode is for you.

In today’s conversation, Kristen names the holy discomfort so many of us carry and explores what it means to walk through a season of unraveling. With wisdom from the Exodus story, the life of Jesus, and the disciples’ own wilderness journey, you’ll find compassion, clarity, and courage to keep going.

This episode doesn’t ask you to throw it all out, but it does invite you to be honest about what no longer fits, to trust the Spirit’s stirring, and to recognize that what feels like falling apart may actually be the first step toward something more whole.

Because the wilderness isn’t where faith dies.
It’s often where it begins.

If this spoke to you, check out my website (below) for a course that will be coming soon!

For women who stayed small and called it faithfulness : a reading list to start finding your way back. Get it here!

If this episode was meaningful for you, the best way to help others find the show is to:

• Text this episode to a friend who might need it
• Leave a 5-star rating and review
• Subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes
• Wrestling with faith and justice and not sure where to start? 
• Grab my free theological reading list, Beyond Faith as Usual, HERE!

Here’s to a faith that tells the truth, refuses silence in the face of harm, and follows Jesus all the way into healing and justice.

RESOURCES:

www.kristenabrock.com

Episode 3: Jesus Isn’t Triggered by Justice, But We Might Be
Justice makes some Christians squirm, but Jesus never flinched. So why do we?

In this episode, we untangle the difference between biblical justice and the modern versions we see in headlines and hashtags. We’ll unpack the Hebrew words (mishpat, tzedakah), explore the vision of shalom as kingdom come, and ask why justice has become such a trigger in the Church when it’s actually central to God’s character. We’ll also spend time with the prophet Amos and his bold, uncompromising call: “Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (Amos 5:24).

This isn’t about politics. It’s about discipleship. Or as Cornel West puts it, “Justice is what love looks like in public.”

So if you’ve ever been told that justice is a “distraction” from the gospel or if you’ve wondered whether your passion for justice puts your faith at risk, this episode might flip the table (gently).

Deuteronomy verses on orphans and widows: (10:18, 14:28-29, 16:11, 24:17, 24:19, 26:12, 27:19)

Radical Restitution: The Revolutionary Vision of Jubilee episode

For women who stayed small and called it faithfulness : a reading list to start finding your way back. Get it here!

If this episode was meaningful for you, the best way to help others find the show is to:

• Text this episode to a friend who might need it
• Leave a 5-star rating and review
• Subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes
• Wrestling with faith and justice and not sure where to start? 
• Grab my free theological reading list, Beyond Faith as Usual, HERE!

Here’s to a faith that tells the truth, refuses silence in the face of harm, and follows Jesus all the way into healing and justice.

RESOURCES:

www.kristenabrock.com

Why does something so clearly rooted in Scripture feel so controversial in Christian spaces? In this episode, we name the emotional, cultural, and theological weight behind the term “social justice” from fear and guilt to confusion and grief. We trace its Christian roots, explore how it became politicized in the American Church, and wrestle with why it still sparks tension today.

Through Scripture, history, and honest reflection, we ask: What if justice isn’t a threat to the gospel, but a vital expression of it? And how might a Jesus-shaped vision of justice invite us into deeper courage, community, and discipleship?

Whether you’re wrestling with these questions, weary from the noise, or longing for a more faithful response, this episode is for you.

For women who stayed small and called it faithfulness : a reading list to start finding your way back. Get it here!

If this episode was meaningful for you, the best way to help others find the show is to:

• Text this episode to a friend who might need it
• Leave a 5-star rating and review
• Subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes
• Wrestling with faith and justice and not sure where to start? 
• Grab my free theological reading list, Beyond Faith as Usual, HERE!

Here’s to a faith that tells the truth, refuses silence in the face of harm, and follows Jesus all the way into healing and justice.

RESOURCES:

www.kristenabrock.com

For the believer who’s wrestling with faith, identity, and the world’s deep ache.

Can you love Jesus and care deeply about justice? If you’ve ever felt caught in that tension—longing to follow Christ while also seeking change in a hurting world—this episode is for you.

In this Season Two opener, Kristen shares the heart behind Jesus, Justice + Mercy and her personal journey navigating faith, identity, and the messy, beautiful call to justice. As a trauma-informed mentor, budding theologian, and solo parent to two bi-racial boys, Kristen opens up about what shifted her theology, challenged her comfort, and led her to ask harder, more honest questions about the gospel.

This episode lays the groundwork for what’s ahead: a season filled with Scripture-rooted conversations about race, identity, power, justice, and compassion. Whether you're feeling uncertain, curious, frustrated, or hopeful, this space invites you to show up fully—with your faith, your questions, and your heart.

You’ll hear:

• Why so many believers feel the tension between faith and justice
• How Kristen’s story as a parent and a learner reshaped her view of discipleship
• What to expect this season—from biblical foundations to real-world conversations
• An invitation to walk this road with humility, courage, and mercy

This isn’t about abandoning faith. It’s about reclaiming it—anchored in Jesus and committed to the kind of love that restores.

For women who stayed small and called it faithfulness : a reading list to start finding your way back. Get it here!

If this episode was meaningful for you, the best way to help others find the show is to:

• Text this episode to a friend who might need it
• Leave a 5-star rating and review
• Subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes
• Wrestling with faith and justice and not sure where to start? 
• Grab my free theological reading list, Beyond Faith as Usual, HERE!

Here’s to a faith that tells the truth, refuses silence in the face of harm, and follows Jesus all the way into healing and justice.

RESOURCES:

www.kristenabrock.com

Welcome to the first episode of Summer Snippets! In this episode, we look at the complex topic of adoption, focusing on the unplanned removal of children from their families and the systemic issues within the foster care system. We'll discuss these children's challenges, the importance of family reunification, and potential solutions for creating a more supportive system.

Info from this episode:

US Dept of Health and Human Services Adoption and Foster Care statistics

Family First State Plans and Enacted Legislation 

How to connect with Kristen:

⁠Website⁠

⁠Jesus, Justice + Mercy IG⁠

email: [email protected]

For women who stayed small and called it faithfulness : a reading list to start finding your way back. Get it here!

If this episode was meaningful for you, the best way to help others find the show is to:

• Text this episode to a friend who might need it
• Leave a 5-star rating and review
• Subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes
• Wrestling with faith and justice and not sure where to start? 
• Grab my free theological reading list, Beyond Faith as Usual, HERE!

Here’s to a faith that tells the truth, refuses silence in the face of harm, and follows Jesus all the way into healing and justice.

RESOURCES:

www.kristenabrock.com

As we finish Season 1, Episode 17 is a short episode exploring the "School to Prison Pipeline," a critical issue pushing at-risk children from classrooms into the justice system, highlighting its devastating impact on marginalized communities. We'll explore the alarming incarceration rates in the U.S., particularly among Black Americans, and the systemic factors contributing to these disparities. Referencing the documentary "13th," Kristen illustrates how policies have inflated prison populations and perpetuated racial biases.

We’ll also examine juvenile incarceration's long-term effects, its role in perpetuating poverty, and the disparities in school discipline that feed into this cycle. Despite some reforms, much work remains. Join Kristen as we challenge our biases, seek understanding, and strive to embody the love and compassion Jesus taught us. 

ACLU report on unjust Crack Cocaine laws.

Sentencing Project Report on Youth Justice

Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice Report

++++++++++++++

How to connect with Kristen:

⁠Website⁠

⁠Jesus, Justice + Mercy IG⁠

email: [email protected]

For women who stayed small and called it faithfulness : a reading list to start finding your way back. Get it here!

If this episode was meaningful for you, the best way to help others find the show is to:

• Text this episode to a friend who might need it
• Leave a 5-star rating and review
• Subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes
• Wrestling with faith and justice and not sure where to start? 
• Grab my free theological reading list, Beyond Faith as Usual, HERE!

Here’s to a faith that tells the truth, refuses silence in the face of harm, and follows Jesus all the way into healing and justice.

RESOURCES:

www.kristenabrock.com

In Episode 16 Kristen opens up about a deeply personal experience involving her 18-year-old son's mental health crisis. The episode, marked by vulnerability and raw emotion, explores the challenges of parenting a child with mental health struggles stemming from childhood trauma. She recounts the harrowing events of her son's crisis, from an early morning discovery of his distress to seeking emergency help and navigating the complexities of mental health, faith, and the relentless pursuit of hope in the face of adversity. 

Throughout the episode, she reflects on the intersection of faith, prayer, and the pain of unanswered prayers, grappling with the tension between believing in miracles and confronting the harsh realities of ongoing suffering. Sharing a poignant exploration of biblical promises of restoration and healing, finding solace and hope in the midst of despair, Kristen calls on listeners to support those in their communities who are silently battling similar challenges, emphasizing the importance of empathy, prayer, and solidarity.

How to connect with Kristen:

⁠Website⁠

⁠Jesus, Justice + Mercy IG⁠

email: [email protected]

For women who stayed small and called it faithfulness : a reading list to start finding your way back. Get it here!

If this episode was meaningful for you, the best way to help others find the show is to:

• Text this episode to a friend who might need it
• Leave a 5-star rating and review
• Subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes
• Wrestling with faith and justice and not sure where to start? 
• Grab my free theological reading list, Beyond Faith as Usual, HERE!

Here’s to a faith that tells the truth, refuses silence in the face of harm, and follows Jesus all the way into healing and justice.

RESOURCES:

www.kristenabrock.com

This week, we look at the intricate intersections of poverty, race, and the foster care system, offering a deep exploration rather than mere observation. With a compassionate yet critical lens, this episode seeks to unravel the complexities surrounding these issues. In this installment, Kristen delves into real-life stories with authenticity, seamlessly weaving them with insightful data to prompt listeners to confront their biases and preconceptions. Through thought-provoking narratives and compelling statistics, the podcast challenges its audience to grapple with uncomfortable truths, leaving listeners with a sense of urgency and a call to faith-based engagement about systemic injustices.

 *********************

Foster Care Data

Foster The City

Help One Child

SF Chronicle article on racial profiling

Disparities in black healthcare article

Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment

How to connect with Kristen:

⁠Website⁠

⁠Jesus, Justice + Mercy IG⁠

email: [email protected]

For women who stayed small and called it faithfulness : a reading list to start finding your way back. Get it here!

If this episode was meaningful for you, the best way to help others find the show is to:

• Text this episode to a friend who might need it
• Leave a 5-star rating and review
• Subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes
• Wrestling with faith and justice and not sure where to start? 
• Grab my free theological reading list, Beyond Faith as Usual, HERE!

Here’s to a faith that tells the truth, refuses silence in the face of harm, and follows Jesus all the way into healing and justice.

RESOURCES:

www.kristenabrock.com

In this heartfelt episode of Jesus, Justice, and Mercy, we embark on a deeply personal journey with our host, Kristen, as she shares her experiences with foster care, adoption, and childhood trauma. As May highlights National Foster Care Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, she delves into the complexities of these intersecting issues, offering poignant insights and reflections.

From navigating the foster care system as a single parent to advocating for trauma-informed care, listeners are invited to join a conversation that seeks to understand, empathize, and inspire action. Tune in as we explore the intersections of faith, resilience, and social justice, contemplating the church's vital role in supporting vulnerable populations and fostering a community of compassion and healing.

Foster Care Data

How to connect with Kristen:

⁠Website⁠

⁠Jesus, Justice + Mercy IG⁠

email: [email protected]

For women who stayed small and called it faithfulness : a reading list to start finding your way back. Get it here!

If this episode was meaningful for you, the best way to help others find the show is to:

• Text this episode to a friend who might need it
• Leave a 5-star rating and review
• Subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes
• Wrestling with faith and justice and not sure where to start? 
• Grab my free theological reading list, Beyond Faith as Usual, HERE!

Here’s to a faith that tells the truth, refuses silence in the face of harm, and follows Jesus all the way into healing and justice.

RESOURCES:

www.kristenabrock.com