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Jesus spoke truth to power, confronted injustice, and stood with people pushed to the margins. But does that make the church political—and if so, how can it engage public life without becoming captive to a political party?
In this Summer Series conversation, Tim Stewart is joined by Rev. Dr. Jonathan C. “Jay” Augustine, Senior Pastor of Big Bethel AME Church in Atlanta. Dr. Augustine is a pastor, author, legal scholar, educator, military veteran, and public theologian whose work brings together faith, justice, reconciliation, and the public calling of the church.
Jay shares how his mother’s instruction to “call a thing a thing” shaped his life in law, ministry, and public service. He and Tim explore the crucial difference between being prophetic and being partisan, why Jesus provides the clearest model of speaking truth to institutions of power, and what happens when the church becomes more interested in acquiring power than following Christ.
The conversation also moves beyond public statements and political debates. What does a communal gospel require of us? How can churches stand alongside people affected by injustice, meet practical needs, and become living signs of reconciliation? And why does faithful civic participation still matter?
IN THIS EPISODE
● What it means to “call a thing a thing”
● Why prophetic ministry is political—but not partisan
● Jesus as the model for speaking truth to power
● How Christian nationalism can confuse faith with the pursuit of power
● Why Christian faith is communal, not merely individual
● How churches can meet the practical needs of marginalized communities
● The vertical and horizontal dimensions of reconciliation
● Why informed civic participation and voting still matter
Follow or subscribe to the Impact Nations Podcast for more honest conversations about following Jesus in the real world. If this episode challenges or encourages you, share it with someone wrestling with the church’s role in public life.
FEATURED RESOURCES
Dr. Jay Augustine:
https://www.jayaugustine.com
Big Bethel AME Church:
https://www.bigbethelame.org
When Prophets Preach:
Leadership and the Politics of the Pulpit
Called to Reconciliation:
How the Church Can Model Justice, Diversity, and Inclusion
EXPLORE IMPACT NATIONS
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https://www.impactnations.com
Journeys of Compassion:
https://www.impactnations.com/journeys-of-compassion
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HASHTAGS
#JayAugustine #FaithAndJustice #ChurchAndPolitics #ChristianPodcast #ImpactNations
