The Biblical Mind is dedicated to helping its audience understand the deep structures of Scripture. It is published by the Center for Hebraic Thought, a hub for research and resources promoting biblical literacy and the intellectual world of the Bible.
All content for The Biblical Mind is the property of centerforhebraicthought and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
The Biblical Mind is dedicated to helping its audience understand the deep structures of Scripture. It is published by the Center for Hebraic Thought, a hub for research and resources promoting biblical literacy and the intellectual world of the Bible.
Becoming God’s Family: Against Church Hurt, Isolation, and Autonomy (Carmen Imes) Ep. #214
The Biblical Mind
45 minutes 1 second
1 week ago
Becoming God’s Family: Against Church Hurt, Isolation, and Autonomy (Carmen Imes) Ep. #214
Can you be a Christian without the church? In this timely episode, Dr. Carmen Imes argues forcefully—and pastorally—that Christianity without community is a contradiction. Drawing from her new book Becoming God’s Family, she and Dru Johnson explore why so many people are walking away from church and what it would take to draw them back.
From church hurt to spiritual abuse to toxic celebrity culture, Carmen doesn’t shy away from the reasons people leave. But she also offers theological and pastoral wisdom on why we can’t give up on the church. They explore biblical stories of failed community, why Hagar’s story matters, and what healthy faithfulness looks like in a flawed body.
They also discuss when it’s time to leave a church, how American and global cultures can distort biblical community, and why true belonging means discomfort, difference, and even lament. Drawing on stories from her life and ministry, Carmen makes the case that church isn’t about getting what we want—it’s about becoming who we’re meant to be.
For Carmen Imes' substack:https://substack.com/@carmenjoyimes
We are listener supported. Give to the cause here:https://hebraicthought.org/give
For more resources:https://thebiblicalmind.org/
Social Links:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HebraicThoughtInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hebraicthoughtThreads: https://www.threads.net/hebraicthoughtX: https://www.twitter.com/HebraicThoughtBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hebraicthought.org
Chapters:
00:00 The Importance of Community in Faith01:37 Addressing Church Disconnection Post-Pandemic04:22 The Role of Scripture in Community Dynamics07:17 Navigating Church Hurt and Abuse10:36 Finding Hope in Faithful Communities13:46 The Broader Picture of Church Life16:38 Understanding God's Family Beyond the Church18:39 The Power of Community and Discipleship20:03 Cultural Blind Spots and Family Loyalty21:42 The Radical Nature of Church Family25:24 The Ananias and Sapphira Lesson27:59 The Role of Green Rooms in Church31:10 Lamenting Together as a Family32:45 The Messiness of Community35:34 The Quest for Like-Mindedness37:32 Diversity in Church and Community41:58 Creative Solutions for Multicultural Worship
The Biblical Mind
The Biblical Mind is dedicated to helping its audience understand the deep structures of Scripture. It is published by the Center for Hebraic Thought, a hub for research and resources promoting biblical literacy and the intellectual world of the Bible.
