Exiled Within the Church: Fostering Dynamic Community and Seeking Renewal (Exile Series)

Episode • Jul 5, 2021 • 1h 0m

Mike Erre and Tim Stafford delve into the experience of feeling exiled within one's own church community. Drawing from biblical narratives of exile, they explore how to foster dynamic countercultural communities that embody Jesus's teachings while remaining committed to the well-being of the broader church. They discuss practical steps for navigating discontent without falling into pride or division, emphasizing the importance of loving the church even amidst frustration.

Key Takeaways:

Understanding Biblical Exile – Exploring the concept of exile from the Old Testament to the New Testament and how it applies to modern feelings of spiritual homelessness.
Fostering Dynamic Counterculture – Discussing how to create communities that are distinctively Jesus-focused, wrestling with accommodation and distinction, inclusion and exclusion.
Seeking the Good of the Church – Examining ways to remain committed to the larger church, loving and serving it even when feeling disillusioned.
Avoiding Pride and Self-Righteousness – Warning against the dangers of deconstruction leading to division rather than renewal.
Finding Hope on the Margins – Recognizing that authentic encounters with Jesus often occur outside institutional centers of power.

Resources Mentioned:

First Peter – Discussions on living as exiles and foreigners.
Jeremiah 29 – Instructions to the exiles in Babylon.
Book of Daniel – Examples of faithful living in exile.
PCA Overture 23 – Recent developments in the Presbyterian Church in America.
Bridget Eileen Rivera – Insights on inclusion within the church.
David Bennett's "A War of Loves" – Perspectives on faith and sexuality.

Join us as we explore what it means to live faithfully as exiles within the church. Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and follow Voxology Podcast on social media to continue the conversation.

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Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

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