Welcome back to Unpolished Faith! Today, we're diving into a topic that’s heavy but crucial: sexual abuse in the church. Today's episode is marked explicit. I promise it is not for potty language but for the weightiness of the subject matter. Sexual abuse isn't a new issue—it's one that, sadly, has been present throughout history. No space, not even the church, is immune.

How do we protect the vulnerable within our congregations? What steps can we take when abuse is discovered to help those who have been harmed? Has the corporate model of the church worsened this issue? And how has purity culture tangled our understanding of our bodies and worth? There are many questions Mary DeMuth and I answer in today's conversation, but the overarching question is: how should we, the body of Christ, respond to the sexual abuse crisis in the Church? One thing is sure- we must change the narrative about how we view and treat women and the vulnerable, both in our churches and in our modern culture.

**Today’s episode carries a trigger warning for trauma and sexual assault. The hard "r" word is mentioned several times. We don’t go into too much detail, but you may want to skip this episode if you are uncomfortable. Don't worry! You can jump back next week as we discuss singleness, seeking to answer the question: have we made an idol of marriage?

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The FAQs: Report Reveals Sexual Abuse Cover-Up by Southern Baptist Entity

Resource for Survivors: 21 Days- We Too

About Mary DeMuth

Has my political lean become my bow? I often wrestle with the tension between my political beliefs and my ultimate allegiance to King Jesus. It's a journey that's often easier said than done! I want to engage culture. I want to make a difference for Jesus. I desire unity, but sometimes it's difficult to hold that tension- especially in today's political culture. If you feel like that at all, this conversation is for you.

This week, I concluded my conversation with Joshua Ryan Butler. He shares practical tools that can help us engage our culture in a Christ-like way, and he draws inspiration from our Biblical heroes who navigated their political systems. This conversation is a powerful reminder that God is a redemptive God, intervening in our mess for our good and for His glory. Jesus is not only the ultimate party crasher; He is throwing a better party.

Remember to download and share this episode with a friend! Your feedback is invaluable to us. If the conversations that we are having have been helpful to you, let us know by leaving a review. We would love to hear from you!

Josh has also provided incredible resources, including the Christian Political Commitment and the Party Crasher Bible Study.

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Get Josh's Book, The Party Crasher: How Jesus Disrupts Politics as Usual and Redeems our Partisan Divide

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Party Crasher Bible Study

Christian Political Commitment

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA! As an amateur historian, any holiday centered around history is one of my favorites. So, in true American fashion, we are talking about the division we see in America today. I know we have friends listening from around the globe. Off the bat, you may not think this conversation is for you, but what we're talking about this week is looking for security in human institutions rather than God, leading to political idolatry. Josh is here to help us answer the question: Who Can Heal Our Partisan Divide?

We chatted for quite a bit, so this episode is a two-parter. This week, rather than rehashing which party is right, Josh and I break down the 4 (Wat 4? Yes 4!) political ideologies we see sweeping the globe today. Josh and I evaluate the core values of each party, ultimately finding Ecclesiastes to be true: God has indeed placed eternity in the hearts of man. Finally, we talk about his latest book, The Party Crasher: How Jesus Disrupts Politics as Usual and Redeems our Partisan Divide, an incredible book about political discipleship and how followers of Jesus can faithfully engage the political world around us.

Remember to download and share this episode with a friend! Your feedback is invaluable to us. If the conversations that we are having have been helpful to you, let us know by leaving a review. We would love to hear from you!

Show Links

Connect with Madi

Madi's Website

Connect with Josh

Get Josh's Book, The Party Crasher: How Jesus Disrupts Politics as Usual and Redeems our Partisan Divide

Josh's Website

About Josh

Joshua Ryan Butler is a pastor and the author of The Party Crasher, Beautiful Union, The Skeletons in God’s Closet, and The Pursuing God. Josh loves shifting paradigms to help people who wrestle with challenging Christian faith topics by confronting popular caricatures and replacing them with the beauty and power of the real thing. He and his wife, Holly, and their three children live in Portland, Oregon. They enjoy spending time with friends over great meals and exploring the scenic beauty of the Pacific Northwest.