In this episode of Spiritual, Not Religious, Shawn, Mollie, and James explore the “mismatched messages” many people—especially young adults—receive from faith communities: a proclaimed gospel of love, hope, and welcome paired with exclusion, judgment, and rejection. Using real examples (including LGBTQ+ inclusion, “love the sinner/hate the sin,” Christian nationalism, and nostalgia for a “golden age” church), they discuss how these contradictions dehumanize people and push seekers away from church and even from God. The conversation lifts up the importance of seeing the Imago Dei(the image of God) in every person, practicing nonviolent truth-telling, and choosing “the practice of the better” rather than condemnation—grounding faith in compassion, listening, and humble self-examination. They close by inviting listeners to use Lent (or any season) as a time of realignment—returning to Scripture, prayer, and inner centeredness—so our lives and communities embody the love we claim to proclaim.
