Part 2 of The LGBTQ Question & The Church series.

It’s one thing to work through what the Bible says about sexuality and marriage. It’s another thing entirely when someone you love sits across from you and says, “I’m gay.”

In The Theology Was the Easy Part, we move beyond simply asking what we believe and start asking what those beliefs look like when real people are involved.

Can we hold firmly to Scripture while still listening, loving, and treating people with dignity? Is listening the same as affirming? Does every situation really have a simple black-and-white answer? And have we sometimes become so focused on defending our theology that we’ve forgotten about the person standing in front of us?

I don’t have all the answers. That’s part of why we’re having this conversation.

Maybe the real test of our theology isn’t simply whether we can defend it—but what kind of people it produces when we actually have to live it.

The LGBTQ Question & The Church — Part 2

Read the companion article, The Shape of Something Sacred, at therootedlife.online.

Part 1 of The LGBTQ Question & The Church series.

What happens when ancient words meet real people living with very modern questions?

In Ancient Words, Real People, we begin by slowing down the LGBTQ conversation and looking beyond the arguments, labels, and talking points. What does the Bible actually say about homosexuality, and just as importantly, what doesn’t it say?

We talk about some distinctions Christians often overlook: attraction, orientation, temptation, behavior, identity, and relationships. And we wrestle with what our theology actually means for LGBTQ people trying to understand faith, belonging, discipleship, and their place in the Church.

This isn’t about finding a way around Scripture or pretending the difficult passages aren’t there. It’s about taking Scripture seriously enough to ask better questions—and remembering there are real people on the other side of our conclusions.

Because before we decide how to respond, maybe we need to make sure we understand what we're actually responding to.

The LGBTQ Question & The Church — Part 1

Read the companion article, Ancient Words, Modern Questions: What the Bible Actually Says About Homosexuality, and What It Doesn’t, at therootedlife.online.

Who can you trust anymore?

Trust in people, leaders, institutions, and even the church, has changed. For younger and increasingly unchurched generations, credibility may no longer come automatically with a title, a pulpit, or a church building. It has to be demonstrated through character, relationship, consistency, and authenticity.

In this episode of Rooted & Real, we talk about why trust is declining, whether the church is reaching a crossroads with institutional religion as we've known it, and what a more relational and biblically grounded expression of Christian community might actually look like.

Are people really looking for less church, or are they longing for something more authentic? Less performance and more relationship. Less celebrity and more proximity. Less consumption and more discipleship.

But the conversation eventually turns inward.

It's easy to ask whether our churches, leaders, and institutions are trustworthy. The harder question may be:

Who can trust me?

This is a conversation about discernment without cynicism, biblical community, younger generations, church culture, and what it might look like for followers of Jesus to become people worth trusting.

If you stopped showing up to church, would anybody notice? Now flip the question: Who would YOU notice was missing?

It’s easy to say, “The church should have called,” or “The pastor should have checked in.” But sometimes we forget, we are the church too.

In this episode of Rooted & Real, Jason shares a personal season of stepping away from church and explores what Scripture and research reveal about community, belonging, loneliness, reciprocity, and our responsibility to one another.

Maybe rebuilding Christian community doesn’t begin with another program. Maybe it begins when ordinary Christians remember what it means to actually show up for one another.

Who are you noticing?

What happens when church staff keep leaving, but the leadership structure stays the same? In The Revolving Door: When Staff Keep Leaving but the System Stays, Jason shares his personal experience with church leadership, staff turnover, and a board structure that left him questioning where accountability really existed.

We explore the red flags of toxic church culture, the difference between supporting a pastor and shielding leadership from accountability, what church boards should be asking when turnover becomes a pattern, and how pastors, staff, boards, and church members can help build healthier churches. Because repeated departures don't necessarily prove something is wrong, but patterns should never be ignored.

Does Christianity belong in politics? Should Christians seek to shape government? And what exactly is Christian Nationalism?

In this episode, Jason explores the difference between allowing our faith to shape our public lives and turning Christianity into a political ideology. Looking at Scripture, church history, and the mission Jesus gave His followers, we'll discuss why changing hearts has always been God's primary strategy for changing culture.

In this episode of Touch Not God's Anointed, we're looking at how anointing goes from an Old Testament practice to something much deeper in the New Testament. We'll explore what it meant then, what it means now, and why it still matters for our lives today. This isn't just an ancient biblical tradition, it's a reminder of God's presence, His calling, and the work of the Holy Spirit in every believer.

In the final episode of our three-part series, Touch Not God's Anointed, I wrap things up by looking at Jesus, the true Anointed One. We'll talk about what His anointing really means, why it matters, and how it impacts our everyday lives. This isn't just a theological idea; it's a truth that can shape the way we live, grow, and follow Christ each day.

Is it wrong to question your faith, or could your questions lead to a stronger one? In this first episode of Rooted & Real, Jason explores what happens when inherited beliefs become a faith you choose for yourself. If you've ever wrestled with doubt or wondered whether asking hard questions means you're failing God, this conversation is for you.

Together, we'll explore why honest questions don't have to weaken your faith—they can deepen it. You'll discover how to build a stronger biblical foundation, move from inherited beliefs to personal conviction, and follow Jesus with greater confidence and authenticity.

In this episode:

• Why questioning your faith isn't the same as abandoning it
• How doubt can become a catalyst for spiritual growth
• Moving from inherited faith to personal conviction
• Building a stronger biblical foundation

If this episode encouraged you, follow Rooted & Real, leave a rating and review, and share it with someone navigating questions about faith.

This episode is a little different. I wanted to share an overview of the heart behind The Rooted Life and what Rooted & Real is all about. If you've ever felt like there's more to following Jesus than simply showing up on Sunday or going through the motions, this episode is for you. I share why I made the transition from Faith in Context to Rooted & Real, what inspired the change, and the vision God has placed on my heart for this ministry moving forward. My hope is that these conversations will encourage you to grow deeper in your faith, think biblically about everyday life, and follow Jesus with authenticity.