Today, on the Voxology podcast, hosts Mike Erre and Tim Stafford discuss Jesus’ example of cruciformity on the cross in forgiving his enemies. Tim and Mike explore various themes surrounding the life and death of Jesus, drawing parallels to contemporary issues and cultural narratives. They discuss the significance of the cross, the nature of betrayal and denial, and how Jesus responded to suffering with love and forgiveness. Further, they touch on the anti-empire narrative present in the Bible and the importance of curiosity and imagination in understanding faith today.

But first, Mike and Tim discuss the intersection of faith and politics, particularly in light of recent developments regarding religious liberty and the role of the church in society. They explore the implications of political leaders invoking Christianity, the importance of prophetic voices in challenging the status quo, and the need for active resistance against injustice. The conversation emphasizes the significance of community engagement and the church's responsibility to embody justice and love in a polarized world.

Gombis quote: “My job is to study the Bible and to think critically about how to attend to it most faithfully. I have come to see that this involves relentlessly excavating the self-deceptions that are necessary for me to feel comfortable in this world. My main challenge is that I inhabit an evangelical culture in America that will fight to the death to maintain its self-deceptions and its pursuit of comfort in this world."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Voxology Podcast 01:00 Religious Liberty and Political Influence 05:56 The Role of the Church in Society 11:58 Prophetic Voices and Resistance 18:02 Navigating Faith in a Polarized World 24:01 The Importance of Community Engagement 28:11 Marvelous Conversations: Movies and Metaphors 29:42 The Cross as a Way of Life 30:54 The Last Week of Jesus: A Slow Narrative 32:14 Betrayal and Denial: The Human Experience 34:01 Mockery and Humiliation: Jesus' Suffering 39:37 Cruciformity: Responding to Evil with Good 46:32 The Kingdom Comes: A New Creation 51:27 Resisting Power: The Anti-Empire Narrative 56:44 Curiosity and Imagination: Reframing Our Understanding

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.

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Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

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