In this episode of The Unpolished Church, Jon Sherwood (https://www.jonsherwood.com) interviews a prominent New Testament scholar, author, and speaker known for his work on early Christianity, the historical Jesus, and Christian living Dr. Scot McKnight.

Drawing from decades of teaching, writing, and walking with the church, Scot shares his thoughts on how Jesus-centered communities can navigate toxic church culture, spiritual abuse, and the lure of celebrity leadership. We also explore the tension of civic engagement from a Christian perspective—what it means to participate in politics without compromising Jesus's ethic.

This conversation invites us to rethink what goodness looks like in the Church and how we can embody Kingdom values in everyday life.

Timestamps:

[00:00] - Intro

[02:15] - What Is Tov and Why Does It Matter?

[10:01] - Why Prioritizing Character Might Be the Only Way Forward

[17:04] - Reimagining Faith Communities Through the 12 Principles of Tov

[22:38] - What If Power Looked Like Sacrifice?

[27:08] - What If Everyone’s a Priest?

[31:24] - Following Jesus’s Path of Creative Nonviolence and Peaceful Power

[37:08] - Vote as an Act of Love

[40:28] - How Should Christians Use Power?

[46:16] - What Do We Do When Politics Defies the Kingdom?

[48:50] - How Do You Choose the Lesser Evil?

[51:34] - What to Do When Christians Choose Not to Vote

[54:32] - Outro

UNpolished Church podcast exists to help equip and resource Christians toward experiencing greater intimacy with one another, transformation into Christ, and impact for Jesus' redemptive mission in the world. If you have enjoyed or benefited from this podcast, please share with a friend and be sure to turn notifications on so you will be alerted to future episodes!

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