How elevating Jesus' countercultural vision in the Sermon on the Mount invites us to deconstruct politics as usual, reimagine our role as the people of God, and embody a different way of being in a divided world. Mike and Tim kick off a brand new journey through the Sermon on the Mount by laying crucial groundwork: asking how the teachings of Jesus are inherently political — not in the Republican vs. Democrat idea of politics, but in how we shape life together as communities of faith. With insight from Lee Camp's Scandalous Witness and personal reflections on the dangers of partisanship, this episode explores why Jesus' way is "neither right, nor left, nor religious," and what that means for the church in America today. Key Takeaways: • Jesus Is Political — But Not Partisan: How the Sermon on the Mount redefines what it means to be "political" by offering a radical alternative to coercive power and political idolatry. • Deconstructing the American Church's Political Entanglement: Understanding why neither conservatism nor progressivism reflects the full vision of the Kingdom of God. • Unlearning Cultural Christianity to Recover Jesus: Why starting with the words and way of Jesus — especially post-deconstruction — helps reorient faith toward the radical love, justice, and mercy of the Gospel. • The Church as a New Political Community: Embracing our identity as a people marked by reconciliation, hospitality, nonviolence, repentance, and self-sacrificial love. • Living "Proleptically" in a Not-Yet Kingdom: How the church is called to embody God's future now — resisting both escapism and culture war postures that miss the heart of Christ. Resources Mentioned: • Scandalous Witness by Lee Camp – Amazon Link • Faith Improvised Podcast with Tim Gombis – Link • Tim Schell Podcast with Bonnie – [Link pending] • The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7) – Bible Gateway Join the conversation as we rediscover the Sermon on the Mount not as spiritual suggestions but as revolutionary marching orders for the people of Jesus. Subscribe, leave a review, and follow Voxology on social media to make sure you don't miss any of the series. As always, we encourage and welcome discussion as we pursue this journey together. Email us your thoughts or questions at hello@voxpodcast.com and connect with us on Facebook and Instagram. We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV Our Merch Store: ETSY Learn more at the Voxology Podcast Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon Find curated playlists and bonus tracks at our Voxology Spotify channel Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and on Facebook Follow Mike on Twitter: @mikeerre Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy 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