Celebrating 300 Episodes: Lament, Hope, and the Birth of Voxology - w/ Bonnie Lewis, Shane Claiborne & Dr. Timothy Gombis
How the voices of lament, deconstruction, and justice led to a renewed vision of the church and the launch of Voxology. In this monumental 300th (and now Voxology’s first!) episode, Mike Erre and Tim Stafford pause to reflect on six years of podcasting and the journey that brought about the transformation from The Vox Podcast to Voxology. This episode is a heartfelt collection of gratitude, vision-casting, and a look ahead.
Joined by special guests Bonnie Lewis, Shane Claiborne, and Tim Gombis, the conversation dives deep into themes of church trauma, nationalistic Christianity, systemic brokenness, and the audacious hope we still cling to for the future of the church.
Key Takeaways: • From Vox to Voxology – The story behind the name change and what the new name represents for the podcast's future mission and identity. • Lament & Trauma in Church Spaces – Bonnie Lewis shares her transition to being “post-church,” detailing how EMDR therapy and her experiences with patriarchal systems realigned her vision for faith and freedom. • Nationalism and American Christianity – Shane Claiborne exposes the toxic mix of nationalism and faith, calling for a radical return to Jesus, not just as savior but as guide for political and social engagement today. • Jesus at the Center – Why the path forward for a fractured church begins with reclaiming the radical teachings and life of Jesus. • The Long Road of Repentance – Tim Gombis brings historical context to how American Christianity has long supported systems of oppression, and what hopefulness looks like when we attend to the grief and redemption together. • Voices from the Vox Community – Powerful call-ins from listeners reveal a passionate global community searching for healing, deconstruction, justice, and belonging in the body of Christ.
Guest Highlights: • Bonnie Lewis – Theologian and cohost of past Vox episodes, Bonnie reveals her personal journey through trauma, EMDR therapy, and researching the intersections of literature and gendered biblical interpretation. • Shane Claiborne – Author, activist, and visionary, Shane challenges the commodification of Christianity and invites listeners to embody a faith that subverts systems of exploitation and power. • Tim Gombis – Biblical scholar and returning guest, Tim frames the four-century legacy of Christian complicity in empire and offers a theology robust enough for both lament and hope.
Resources Mentioned: • Red Letter Christians – redletterchristians.org • Womanist Midrash by Wilda C. Gafney – [Link] • The Evangelicals by Frances FitzGerald – [Link] • What Happened to You? by Bruce Perry & Oprah Winfrey – [Link] • Voxology Community Resources and Merch – https://voxologypodcast.com
Join the journey as we celebrate big milestones, confront painful truths, and commit to deeper reflection and resurrection. Welcome to Voxology.
Continue the conversation with us—email your thoughts and questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and join us on Facebook and Instagram.
Watch full episodes and interviews on VOXOLOGY TV
Check out our Merch Store on ETSY
Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon
Listen and Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: iTunes Or on Spotify: Spotify
Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre
Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy
Here’s to the next 300. Let’s walk this road together.
#VoxologyStartsNow #ChurchLamentAndHope #JesusAtTheCenter #DeconstructionAndFaith #FaithAfterEvangelicalism
As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, 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