TW/CW: references to sexual assault

Have you ever had Matthew 18 used against you?

Far too often, the forgiveness passage in Matthew 18:15–17 is weaponized against those who experience hurt and harm. Victims are forced to face their abusers, and there is no real reconciliation. The abuser walks away “forgiven” and restored, and the abused walks away humiliated and put in their place.

Yes, forgiveness is important. And, forgiveness cannot be forced. It must be a freely made choice on our part.

This conversation isn’t about holding on to our offenses, grudges, or dismissing what happened to us. It’s not about releasing our abusers from accountability or letting go of our desire for justice.

It is about the ways forgiveness has been weaponized and abused in the church. It’s about having a truly biblical and scholarly understanding of how those passages are meant to be understood. It’s about protecting ourselves from future manipulation and further abuse.

Join me and New Testament scholar Scot McKnight as we dive deep into the original language and nuance of this passage. Discover what it really says about interpersonal conflict and its role in cases of abuse or an imbalance of power. Learn about the role of repentance as implied in the original Greek, even when it doesn’t show up in our English Bibles.

Get the full show notes here.
—————
Episode Resources and Links

• That Sounds Fun podcast Episode 494: Dr. Scot McKnight on When You Feel Like Your Church Is Falling Apart
• That Sounds Fun podcast Episode 879: The Gospel of Matthew with Dr. Scot McKnight

—————
Guest Spotlight
Website | Instagram | Twitter

The Second Testament: A New Testament Translation at Bookshop.org | on Amazon
PIVOT at Bookshop.org | on

—————
Subscribe using your favorite podcast app:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube
—————
Spread the Word. Leave a Rating and Review. It would mean the world if you would leave us a rating and review on Apple or on Spotify. They’ll help us share these conversations and resources with more people, and let us know how we can better serve you.
—————
Broken to Beloved is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that works to provide those wounded by spiritual abuse and religious trauma with practical resources moving toward healing and wholeness, and to provide pastors and church leaders with resources to grow in trauma awareness and implement safeguarding practices. Get more information or give a tax-free donation here.
—————
As an Amazon and Bookshop.org affiliate, I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

This episode contains some explicit language and political content. It does not reflect the views of Broken to Beloved and is not an endorsement of any political view or side.

Have you ever found yourself scratching your head when it comes to what church leaders say and what they do? Have you experienced the cognitive dissonance of condemning behavior one moment then defending it the next?

When it comes to politics, race, sexuality, gender roles, there seems to be no shortage of cultural moments that capture a modern-day view of conservative evangelicalism. More often known for what they’re against than what they’re for, or for who they exclude rather than include, it’s no surprise that so many have become disillusioned with the American church.

Tim offers his own story of trying to reconcile his faith with the words and actions of his local church, and how it led to the unintentional creation of The New Evangelicals, a digital-first organization that aims to hold space for marginalized individuals, advocate for accountability in evangelical spaces, and help people explore the Christian tradition beyond fundamentalism.

🔗 link to full Show Notes and transcript
—————
Episode Resources and Links
The Color of Compromise by Jemar Tisby
The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
—————
Guest Spotlight
Website | Instagram | Podcast | Twitter | TikTok
—————
Don’t Miss the Next Episode!
Subscribe for free and never miss out on these conversations with old and new friends like Laura Barringer, Scot McKnight, Chuck DeGroat and many others. Is there a guest you’d like to hear from? Let us know!

—————
Subscribe using your favorite podcast app:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube
—————
Spread the Word. Leave a Rating and Review. It would mean the world if you would leave us a rating and review on Apple or on Spotify. They’ll help us share these conversations and resources with more people, and let us know how we can better serve you.
—————
Broken to Beloved is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that works to provide those wounded by spiritual abuse and religious trauma with practical resources moving toward healing and wholeness, and to provide pastors and church leaders with resources to grow in trauma awareness and implement safeguarding practices. Get more information or give a tax-free donation here.
—————
As an Amazon and Bookshop.org affiliate, I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Episode 5: Finding Liberation and Reclaiming Agency Through a New Story with Cait West

"By giving voice to the cognitive dissonance required to be a woman under the patriarchy, you robbed it of its power." — Barbie

What does it take to break free from a life controlled by religious patriarchy? Cait shares her journey of awakening to the abuse and control she experienced growing up, and the long and courageous process of reclaiming her agency and voice.

Throughout the conversation, Cait discusses the challenges of writing about trauma, the importance of therapy in her healing journey, and her approach to portraying complex family dynamics with grace. She also reflects on the nature of liberation, both personal and collective, and how she maintains boundaries to avoid falling back into harmful patterns. If you’re looking for insights into the power of storytelling, the ongoing work of healing, and the pursuit of freedom from oppressive systems, this one’s for you.

🔗 link to full Show Notes and transcript
—————
Guest Spotlight

Cait is a writer and editor based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her work has been published in The Revealer, Religion Dispatches, Fourth Genre and Hawai`i Pacific Review, among others. As an advocate and a survivor of the Christian patriarchy movement, she serves on the editorial board for Tears of Eden, a nonprofit providing resources for survivors of spiritual abuse, and co-hosts the Survivors Discuss podcast.

Website | Substack | Instagram | TikTok

Get RIFT: Breaking Away from Christian Patriarchy at Bookshop.org | on Amazon
—————
Don’t Miss the Next Episode!

Subscribe for free and never miss out on these conversations with old and new friends like Tim Whitaker, Laura Barringer, Scot McKnight, Chuck DeGroat and many others.

—————
Subscribe using your favorite podcast app:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube
—————
Spread the Word. Leave a Rating and Review. It would mean the world if you would leave us a rating and review on Apple or on Spotify. They’ll help us share these conversations and resources with more people, and let us know how we can better serve you.
—————
Broken to Beloved is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that works to provide those wounded by spiritual abuse and religious trauma with practical resources moving toward healing and wholeness, and to provide pastors and church leaders with resources to grow in trauma awareness and implement safeguarding practices. Get more information or give a tax-free donation here.
—————
As an Amazon and Bookshop.org affiliate, I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.