The Quiet Reformation

Addressing the Elephant (and Donkey) in the Room w/ Keith Simon S4.E3

Originally Published: January 31, 2023

“In the absence of truth and persuasion, what you’re left with is fear and power. So now, instead of saying to you, this is the right policy, what I say to you is, you should be afraid of people.”

A podcast for Pastors, Leaders, and Re-Thinkers of the Jesus way. Please subscribe, comment, and share. Music compliments of Aaron Strumpel.

[0:00] Welcome to the Quiet Reformation

[1:40] Introducing Keith Simon

[5:50] As humans we want to be with those who we share commonalities with. But sin has not only affected individuals, but tribes and communities that point them away from God’s grace and truth.

[8:50] Tribalism prioritizes insiders at the expense of outsiders. Luke 9 and the disciples calling down fire on the Samaritans.

[10:00] Those we once wanted to kill, the gospel calls us to worship with them in Christ.

[10:48] - “Our country needs healing, our country needs forgiveness, our country needs hope, but we don’t have anything inside our nation to provide that, but Jesus does.”

[12:21] - A point of anxiety in a culture of tribalism is: am I going to say something on the wrong side of the crowd that will come after our reputation, our job, our friend groups.

[16:11] In society currently, it doesn't seem like we are pursuing common good, but some form of “victory” where we want to embarrass people and win in order to make a point.

[17:05] Courage is not a value in and of itself; it is not to be done for its own sake. Otherwise, courage will become belligerent or rude.Jesus wants us to be wise as serpent and innocent as doves. The Prophet Daniel was both courageous and winsome.

[18:45] Courage is not an excuse to forget the fruit of the Spirit.

[19:24] The Elephant (our desires, what we want) and the Rider (our rational faculty) metaphor

[24:23] When proper objective truth is lost as a possibility in a culture, it’s hard to persuade one another towards something good.

[26:30] Many don’t trust institutions anymore because of selfish abuse of authority, but that doesn’t mean Truth isn’t out there.

[27:45] We can escape the partisan, self-orientated tribalism by joining Jesus’ tribe. He tells us to think about and make sacrifices for those outside the tribe. Everyone is invited into Jesus’ tribe to follow the true King.

[29:35] Take your enemy out for coffee. (Don’t poison it!) Get to know the person beyond their politics.

[33:14] Work through the awkwardness. You don't need to agree on everything to work together on some things.

[34:08] Concluding words: Jesus is King. He doesn’t want to be president of the United States. That would be a huge demotion for him. His throne is eternal, he’s not looking for a 4 year term.

[recorded: January 12, 2023]

A podcast from Netzer.org with Tim Doering (vision+networking) and Justin Ryan Boyer (producer)

Feb 22 2024 - www.netzer.org/gather

Sometimes when we help in our own strength, we hurt others.

The Quiet Reformation is a space of listening for God through the Bible and the Body of Christ, desiring change in the Church, but without the chaos. This podcast is a small part of the ministry of Netzer. Netzer works intimately with Christian leaders and speaks widely to the Church at large about spiritual renewal. We are a donor supported 501c3 ministry. Please visit netzer.org to donate and find out more. // Tim Doering (vision+networking) and Justin Ryan Boyer (producer)

[01:14] Happy New Year! May the Gospel tranform your relationships.

[03:42] One Church Leaders Gathering Sheraton Hotel Valley Forge, PA

[05:00] We experience the kingdom of God moving when people function out of what God has put in their heart, more than functioning in a position in an organization.

[07:33] FOCUS Tension: principle and presence

[09:40] MOTIVATION Tension: reality and possibility

[11:49] Think about your ministry and where you lean in these tensions. If only focusing out on your own focus and motivation, be aware of the limits of your ministry.

[13:30] Dangers, gaps, and pitfalls...

[18:49] Avoiding Imbalances in Ministry

[22:40] We're trying to introduce people, even those who have a longstanding relationship with God, each day to the living Christ.

Reclaiming Relationship in a Technological World w/ Andy Crouch - S2:E5

“I’m the furthest thing from hopeless about our current world and the technological empire we live in because we’ve seen it before. We’ve seen the renewal that can happen when a very small group of people, albeit somewhat crazy people, say we’re just not living on the empire's terms; we’re doing this other thing. And then crazy stuff begins to happen.”

www.praxislabs.org/life - Video Introduction and Book Purchase
tinyurl.com/andy-book-excerpt

[1:30] Introducing Andy Crouch

[3:20] A book about what it means, and how hard it is, to be a person in our world.

[5:02] Preparing to write: despair, anguish, and self-loathing.

[5:45] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomodoro_Technique

[8:28] excerpt: “If there is one word that sums up the crisis of personhood in our time, for the powerful and powerless alike, it is loneliness…”

[11:00] We are so swimming in isolation, that we don’t know what it would be like to not be lonely. We live in a cultural environment that is structured to make it difficult to pay attention to other people.

[16:20] Relating to persons as robots: creatures that look just like us, but manufactured, not begotten, to do the work humans don’t want to do; their worth is only in their utility.

[19:23] Leanne Payne: We either contemplate or we exploit.

[23:12] The politics of recognition is a demand to be affirmed. Real relationships, however, don't ratify everything in a person; we’re going to urge one another to go from bent ways to good deeds.

[26:32] A household is more than just family; it sees a person and what that person could be, not just what I currently am.

[27:32] Church for Church Leaders: netzer.org/donate

[33:50] The Gospel of Jesus Christ inverts the Gospel of the Empire

[37:20] The Empire of Technology gives us a template for what it means to matter, to make a difference, and to have power. The way of Jesus is just different.

[39:31] Excerpt: “We do not have to accept our technology’s default settings—they can be adapted, and eventually redesigned, to serve a new and better set of purposes…”

[40:24] The Rich Young Ruler Who Said Yes - tinyurl.com/CT-Zinzendorf

[44:45] The Patient Ferment of the Early Church - tinyurl.com/Alan-Kreider

[45:50] Other Books by Andy - andy-crouch.com/

[48:11] The Church: God’s Primary Way of Getting Things Done in the World (Story)

[Outro Music] Psalm 116 by Poor Bishop Hooper - www.everypsalm.com/give

[recorded: April 18, 2022]

A podcast from Netzer.org with Tim Doering (vision+networking) and Justin Ryan Boyer (producer)

[email protected]

If you're around the greater Philadelphia area, Netzer will be hosting a One Church Regional Gathering on February 22nd. Worship, Prayer, Discussion, and Equipping for Pastors and Church Leaders. Save the date, more details to come, spots are limited.

This podcast is a small part of the ministry of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Netzer.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We help to equip and encourage the people of God to know that they are not alone and that God’s household has plenty of wisdom to go around. We are a 501(c)3 supported funded ministry. Please donate to us at netzer.org/connect.

[02:55] Good and Bad Anger

[6:40] True and False Peace

[8:55] God's Peace is Global

[14:12] God's Peace is Personal

[20:15] God's Peace is Spiritual

[25:55] To Be a People of Peace

Music Contributions to the Podcast

A podcast from Netzer.org with Tim Doering (vision+networking) and Justin Ryan Boyer (producer) | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]

This podcast is a small part of the ministry of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Netzer.org⁠⁠⁠⁠. We help to equip and encourage the people of God to know that they are not alone and that God’s household has plenty of wisdom to go around. We are a 501(c)3 supported funded ministry. Please donate to us at netzer.org/connect.

[01:40] hunting and building sandcastles with our dads

[06:10] how can the Messiah be the Son of God and Everlasting Father?

[09:11] Zechariah couldn't catch a break... until one day, everything changed.

[14:40] the core of fathering is love and authority.

[17:30] don't get your value from your children or your congregants... it will not help either party.

[20:45] God isn't a good father because his children are so awesome, but because he is so patient, kind, and truthful.

[22:36] So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

Music Contributions to the Podcast

A podcast from Netzer.org with Tim Doering (vision+networking) and Justin Ryan Boyer (producer) | ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]

This podcast is a small part of the ministry of ⁠⁠⁠Netzer.org⁠⁠⁠. We help to equip and encourage the people of God to know that they are not alone and that God’s household has plenty of wisdom to go around. We are a 501(c)3 supported funded ministry. Please donate to us at netzer.org/connect.

[03:15] Fear and Loathing in Baltimore

[05:57] Are fear and anxiety the same thing?

[08:40] The importance of the Virgin Birth

[10:15] El Gibbor - The Hero God

[12:42] Being afraid if bad... and good.

[14:50] For the best for others... how do we want our children to fear and not be afraid?

[20:10] The Mighty God will become a foe to our enemies!

Music Contributions to the Podcast

A podcast from Netzer.org with Tim Doering (vision+networking) and Justin Ryan Boyer (producer) | ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]

This podcast is a small part of the ministry of ⁠⁠Netzer.org⁠⁠. We help to equip and encourage the people of God to know that they are not alone and that God’s household has plenty of wisdom to go around. We are a 501(c)3 supported funded ministry. Please donate to us at netzer.org/connect.

[01:40] When ambulances take a wrong turn

[04:14] In the middle of nowhere

[06:01] Isaiah 9:6 - For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

[06:46] God not only has help for us, but also authority over us, providing direction to the right path.

[09:37] God counsels Joseph in the most vulnerable places. God had to get around Joseph's over-thinking and speak to him in dreams.

[14:50] How does God counsel then compared to now?

[16:40] The Holy Spirit is not a GPS to get us where WE want to go, but where it is best to go. A therapist can't change us, but God can change our hearts.

[21:53] Our hearts need to be yielded to the direction to God.

Music Contributions to the Podcast

A podcast from Netzer.org with Tim Doering (vision+networking) and Justin Ryan Boyer (producer) | ⁠⁠[email protected]

This podcast is a small part of the ministry of ⁠Netzer.org⁠. We help to equip and encourage the people of God to know that they are not alone and that God’s household has plenty of wisdom to go around. We are a 501(c)3 supported funded ministry. Please donate to us at netzer.org/connect.

Experiences of Loneliness (00:01:48) Personal stories of feeling like outsiders and being rejected, highlighting the impact of loneliness in everyday life. Where have you felt lonely or rejected?

God's Presence in Loneliness (00:06:46) The genealogy of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew demonstrates that God is with His people throughout history, providing a sense of belonging and grounding in times of loneliness.

The naming of Jesus (00:11:44) Joseph's role in naming Jesus; losing and gaining authority.

The meaning of Emmanuel (00:13:53) Exploring the different characteristics of "Emmanuel" and its connection to Jesus.

Joseph's role and faith (00:16:21) Examining Joseph's sacrifices and faith in supporting Mary and participating in God's plan.

Music Contributions to the Podcast

A podcast from Netzer.org with Tim Doering (vision+networking) and Justin Ryan Boyer (producer) | ⁠[email protected]

This podcast is a small part of the ministry of Netzer.org. We help to equip and encourage the people of God to know that they are not alone and that God’s household has plenty of wisdom to go around.

Betrayal and Forgiveness [00:00:00] A personal experience of being betrayed by someone in church/community and the struggle to forgive and love their enemy.

Guest: Josh Bytwerk [00:03:30] Executive Director of https://loveinactiontricities.org/

Loving Enemies in Everyday Life [00:07:56] The concept of loving enemies goes beyond grandiose figures or foreign powers, but also includes those who oppose us in our daily lives, such as friends who disagree with us in meetings or family members with differing opinions.

Loving Your Enemies [00:10:55] the need to forgive and let go of resentment in everyday situations.

Praying for Blessing [00:14:01] the power of praying for the good of those who oppose us, even when it's challenging, and how it aligns with God's love for us.

Holding Anger Appropriately [00:20:44]  the Scriptures allow us to honestly express our anger and frustrations to God, while also emphasizing the importance of forgiveness and love.

Expressing Anger to God [00:22:29] admitting and expressing anger to God as a way to deal with feelings of resentment.

Forgiving and Loving Across Differences [00:24:20] especially in a time of constant disagreement.

A podcast from Netzer.org with Tim Doering (vision+networking) and Justin Ryan Boyer (producer) | [email protected]