{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"E182 | Brian Zhand | Christian Nationalism, the Kingdom of Jesus, and a More Beautiful Christianity","description":"Brian Zahnd on Christian Nationalism, the Kingdom of Jesus, and a More Beautiful Christianity | Face to Face Podcast Ep. 182 &amp;nbsp; In episode 182 of the podcast, Melinda interviews pastor, author, and theologian Brian Zahnd (Word of Life Church, St. Joseph, Missouri), while co-host Cathy is absent due to losing her voice and shares updates on Immanuel Institute trainings and the standalone Understanding Trauma Course. Zahnd recounts leading one congregation for 44 years, the church\u2019s early rapid growth, and a major theological recalibration that moved them toward the Christian tradition and away from politicized rezligion\u2014costing them about 1,500 people between roughly 2004\u20132014\u2014followed by healing on a 40-day Camino de Santiago pilgrimage in 2016. The conversation contrasts the kingdom of Jesus with Christian nationalism, critiques reducing \u201cChristian\u201d to an adjective serving political agendas, and emphasizes that discipleship requires allegiance to Christ over nation while maintaining a church culture marked by kindness amid political differences. Zahnd centers his theology on \u201cGod is like Jesus,\u201d argues Jesus reveals God as Savior rather than saving us from God, commends the historic creeds as generous guardrails, and discusses leaning into the \u201cbeautiful\u201d as cruciform Christianity, along with his books and an upcoming release, The Unseen Realm (May 19). 02:08 Meet Brian Zahnd: Pastor, Author, Pilgrim 04:05 44 Years at One Church: Calling, Team Leadership &amp;amp; Generations 07:56 A Midlife Faith Shift: From Mega-Growth to Recalibrating Christianity 10:48 Critiquing America, Losing 1500 People &amp;amp; Finding Healing on the Camino 13:39 Kingdom of Jesus vs. Christian Nationalism: Where Allegiance Belongs 19:29 America as Nation, Empire, and \u201cReligion\u201d + The Discipleship Challenge 24:37 \u2018Christian Nation\u2019 Myths, Founding Fathers &amp;amp; Why You Can\u2019t Baptize a Country&amp;nbsp; 27:33 Global Perspective: Sweden, Trump, Team-Sport Politics &amp;amp; Choosing Love&amp;nbsp; 33:52 Creating a Kind Church Culture Across Political Differences 35:42 Seeing God Through Jesus (Not Culture or Politics) 37:14 John\u2019s Prologue: Why Jesus Is the Clearest Revelation of God 40:35 Undoing the \u2018Angry God\u2019 Imagination: Jesus Doesn\u2019t Save Us From God 43:44 Creeds, Control, and the \u2018Heretic\u2019 Label: Keeping Christianity Generous 47:04 Making Room for Mystery: Truth, Goodness, and the Power of Beauty 51:43 Cruciform Beauty in Practice: Open Hands, Leading Without Coercion 55:20 Staying With the Church: Family, Calling, and Local Influence 57:21 Books, New Release, and Reclaiming a Non-Escapist Heaven&amp;nbsp; 01:02:40 What Christ Can Bless + The \u2018Christian\u2019 Label + A Final Blessing https:\/\/brianzahnd.com\/ ","author_name":"Face to Face Podcast","author_url":"http:\/\/facetofacenetwork.org","html":"<iframe title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/40157630\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/88AA3C\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"600\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/assets.libsyn.com\/secure\/item\/40157630"}