How the local church can embody the reign of Christ through self-giving love, radical hospitality, and a commitment to justice in the face of national political chaos. This powerful conversation with New Testament scholar Tim Gombis unpacks how Christians can resist cultural currents shaped by sin and death—instead bearing witness to the kingdom of God through embodied practices rooted in community.

Tim Stafford, Bonnie Lewis, and Tim Gombis wade through important (and often overwhelming) questions about national politics, collective Christian identity, denominational history, modern evangelicalism, and the ripple effects of our everyday actions. But don't worry—before diving in, the trio also shares favorite films, irrational fears, strange personal facts, and why mayonnaise divides the room.

Key Takeaways: • Kingdom Dynamics Over Culture Wars – Gombis outlines how Paul frames the world through the cosmic realms of the present evil age and the in-Christ reality, and what that means for the modern church. • Embodied Faithfulness – Why the truest political action for Christians happens in local churches through faithful presence, community care, and radical love—not through national allegiance or party loyalty. • Decolonizing Christian Identity – Exploring how white evangelicalism's history has shaped today's entanglement with political power, and the call for a reconstructed identity rooted in discipleship rather than dominance. • Voting as Part, Not the Point – Reframing activism beyond the ballot box by asking who is being clothed, fed, loved, welcomed, and restored by our communal commitments. • Spiritual Energy in Our Actions – A fascinating exploration into how even small daily actions participate in larger spiritual realities of renewal or destruction—a theological lens that reframes everything from neighborly kindness to the toxic cycles of social media debates.

Guest Highlights: Tim Gombis – New Testament professor and host of the Faith Improvised podcast. A brilliant theological mind, Tim brings deep insight into Pauline thought, political theology, and the Enneagram, all while calling the church to rediscover its rootedness in Christ, not culture.

Resources Mentioned: • Heated Conversation Event with Tim Gombis & Paul Martin – February 7 in Costa Mesa, CA • "Why We Dream" – Book recommendation exploring the purpose of dreaming and how the brain interprets reality • "Little Women", "Jojo Rabbit", "Parasite", "The Lighthouse" – Recent film recommendations and cultural reflections • Faith Improvised Podcast – Tim Gombis’s podcast

Get involved in the conversation and bring your whole self to the journey of rediscovering Christ’s political vision. Subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with others who long to see the church recover her prophetic calling.

As always, we encourage and love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to [email protected], and engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

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Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy



As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to [email protected], and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV.

Our Merch Store! ETSY

Learn more about the Voxology Podcast

Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify

Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon

The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio

Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook

Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre

Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy