0022 - The Weight - Brian Zahnd - "America: Empire or Exile"

Show Notes:

Critiquing popularized Christianity from within the church is not always an easy thing to do, especially when such critique extends to American ideals held near and dear by many Christians. For many pastors, fear of backlash and congregational abandonment can be enough to stifle any attempt to challenge social norms ingrained within Evangelical culture. 

Brian Zahnd is no stranger to this struggle, yet has continued to respond to the American exceptionalism and political indoctrination that he perceives has tainted the witness of the Church. A product of the Jesus Movement, a charismatic revival of evangelicalism in North America, Zahnd planted what was once one of the fastest-growing congregations in America, Word of Life Church. In 2004, Zahnd experienced a personal awakening that led him to drastically change the trajectory of his congregation from the “excesses of the charismatic movement” and towards an understanding of the Kingdom of Christ “in juxtaposition to the Empire of America.” Zahnd has continued to be a thought leader in this effort as an author, social media presence, and speaker. 

Brian spoke with Eddie and Chris about his personal transformation from conservative evangelicalism to what he calls the “biblical Gospel of peace.” He uses the narrative of his life and the evangelical movement to offer a wholehearted critique of the marriage of civil religion and the American church and the ways it can inhibit faithfulness to the call of Christ. Though Zahnd’s ideas may rub against the grain of the beliefs of some, it offers an important perspective to consider in the discernment of faithful witness in the United States.

Resources:

Water to Wine: Some of My Story chronicles the story of Zahnd’s life and the disenchantment with popular Christianity that led him to risk everything to pursue a more faithful vision of faith.

https://www.amazon.com/Water-Wine-Some-My-Story/dp/0692569189

Postcards from Babylon discusses the counter-cultural nature of the early Christian movement, the failure of American Christianity to emulate it, and the challenge posed to believers to embrace the daring nature of Christ that can “turn the world upside down.”

https://www.amazon.com/Postcards-Babylon-Church-American-Exile-ebook/dp/B07M5HJ5XB

Follow Brian Blog: https://brianzahnd.com/

Follow Brian on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrianZahnd?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Follow Brian on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrianZahnd/