We The Peace

This episode helps land the plane by discussing the transcultural (fixed) truths that we can build our theology upon. These biblical truths are meant to guide people as they create theology in the world. 

This episode unpacks various principles to help leaders become more Jesus-centered in their theology. Through these principles, it helps leaders and those reading the Bible discover ways to honor different theological perspectives and positions.    

How has colonization impacted the way we see God and salvation? Josh is joined by Dr. Randy Woodley to talk about his experiences as a Native American who has been actively decolonizing his faith for many years and teaching others to do so. He explains how, in many ways, Jesus was decolonial.

Why is it so important to decenter western theology? In this episode, author, leader, activist, and pastor Sandra María Van Opstal joins We The Peace to talk to us about decentering white, western theology for the betterment of the church and its witness to the world.

In this episode, author and professor Dr. Angela Parker tells us why it is so important to understand the Bible from your own social location. Through her experiences in the academy, she explains why it's healthy to question many of the ways we've interpreted biblical text. How does your own cultural background impact your own reading of the text?

In this episode, author and spiritual director, Osheta Moore, joins the show to talk about the ways she has come to embrace the Anabaptist theological traditions of peacemaking, nonviolence, and belovedness. Osheta shares the ways she has to  navigate the intersections of being an African American woman and an Anabaptist, and how Jesus, Howard Thurman, and other important figures have guided her way.

In this episode, Josh is joined by Dr. Vince Bantu, author, President of the Meachum School of Haymanot, and Assistant Professor of Church History and Black Church Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary. Dr. Bantu helps us see that the white, western lens of understanding God is not a new phenomenon that started in America but one that first began in the 4th century with Constantine in Rome. Get a rapid history lesson to see how we got to where we are today, and why the western colonial framework of understanding God is antithetical to the gospel movement God started in the 1st century.

In this episode, Josh sits down with East African priest, theologian, and professor Father Emmanuel Katongole to talk about the ways the church in the West can learn from the church in East Africa. Fr. Katongole speaks to the important ways followers of Jesus can reject tribalism and its harmful consequences and cling to a vision of unity that brings all Christians from around the globe to sit at the same table.

In this episode, we unpack the way Christian leaders can develop a Jesus-centered theology. Using a popular analogy about God as the Elephant, Josh explores how we can listen to fellow Christians of other cultural and ethnic perspectives to better know and understand God.

In this episode, Josh goes behind the veil to answer these questions: What is theology? Where did theology come from? How is theology made? Who are the gatekeepers of theology? Through this, Josh shows how biased we can be when creating and promoting theology from a western perspective. This episode will help you get a grasp of the discipline of theology so you can better address the biases in your own thinking. 

Jesus-centered theology means that we embrace the image of God in all peoples as we seek to make sense of God. Josh uses John Eliot, an early American missionary to Native Americas, to illustrate how the Bible and theology has been used as a tool of domination instead of a tool that fosters local theology among Christians. Josh proposes that theology should honor the image of God in all peoples, not just those with power and control of land.   

In this episode Josh recaps the seven practices of Christians looking to be faithful to the political witness of Jesus. He encourages Christians to adopt a common language, develop a multifaceted approach to political engagement, show the way of Jesus is worth living, carefully endorse politicians, and be content for a social contract in collaboration with other worldviews.

In this episode, Josh interviews Dr. Andrew Rillera on how Christians ought to understand Romans 13.

In this episode, Josh interviews Mark Charles to discuss how Christians can and should engage national politics as a prophetic and subversive act.

In this episode, Josh interviews the Catholic political theologian Dr. William Cavenaugh to talk through the ways the sacraments should impact our politics as followers of Jesus.

In this episode, Josh interviews Dr. Michelle Reyes and Jose Humphries to discuss the role of the local church in political engagement.

In this episode, Josh interviews the amazing Brandi Miller to discuss the ways Christian leaders should follow Jesus in holy subversion.

In this episode, Josh gives an overview of three views of political theology by using the reformation as case study. He offers a fourth view called Political Witness, Faithful Subversion of Politics as a solution for the church.

In this episode, Josh shows how the kingship of Jesus is central to our political vocation as Chrisitian disciples.

In this episode, Josh expresses through the scriptures how Jesus is not only a religious leader but a political leader.

In this episode, Josh defines politics and gives a brief biblical foundation on why/how humans are fundamentally political. 

In this last episode of season one, Josh talks about the format of this show, the tone of the show, and what will be covered in season two!

In this short episode, Josh talks about the target demographic for We The Peace.

Josh spends time expressing the deep need for majority culture leaders to assess their ministry models, philosophies, and theologies in order to better match the life and ministry of Jesus.

Josh introduces himself as the host. He covers topics including his upbringing, personal experience, work, education, and his own brokenness.