Hey friends! I wanted to give you the scoop on an eye-opening podcast episode I recently listened to. Host Lori Adams-Brown interviewed activist and author Lisa Sharon Harper about pursuing justice and truth in the world. Lisa shares vulnerably about her personal faith journey and how understanding the Hebrew concept of "shalom" transformed her perspective on the Good News of Jesus. Hearing her ancestors' stories helped Lisa recognize the need to reconcile oppressive narratives if we want to build God's kingdom on earth. Lisa also offers insight into the complex issues in Gaza, clarifying common misconceptions. She gives clear action steps for how US citizens can stand in solidarity with oppressed people groups globally. We walked away feeling challenged and hopeful - we think you will too! The conversation explores themes of equality, reconciliation, and what it means to live out our faith in an unjust world. We'd love to hear your key takeaways in the comments below! What stirred in you as you listened? How might this change your actions or perspective? Let's keep the conversation going.
In this episode, you will be able to:
Understand the far-reaching effects of American exceptionalism on global politics and culture.
Explore the significance of Shalom in navigating contemporary conflicts and fostering peace.
Uncover the historical impact of colonization on shaping religious beliefs and practices worldwide.
Learn effective strategies for addressing and combating racial injustice in society.
Recognize the importance and enduring relevance of the Equal Rights Amendment in today's world.
Our special guest is Lisa Sharon Harper
Lisa Sharon Harper is the founder and president of Freedom Road, a groundbreaking consulting group that crafts experiences that bring common understanding and common commitments that lead to common action toward a more just world. Lisa is a public theologian whose writing, speaking, activism and training has sparked and fed the fires of re-formation in the church from Ferguson and Charlottesville to South Africa, Brazil, Australia and Ireland. Lisa’s book, Fortune: How Race Broke My Family And The World--And How To Repair It All was named one of the “Best Books of 2022” and The Very Good Gospel was named 2016 “Book of the Year” by Englewood Review of Books. Lisa is a board member of The Justice Revival—the leading organization of the #Faith4ERA campaign. An Auburn Senior Fellow, Lisa is also proud to join the inaugural cohort of the Aspen Institute Racial Justice and Religion Collective. The Huffington Post identified Lisa as one of 50 Women Religious Leaders to Celebrate on International Women’s Day. Lisa is host of the Freedom Road Podcast, cohost of The FOUR Podcast and author of her weekly column, “The Truth Is…”, on Freedom Road Substack.
The key moments in this episode are:
00:02:47 - Personal Journey and Ancestral History
00:06:34 - Humanizing History and Faith
00:10:52 - Doing Justice in More Just Ways
00:14:09 - Democratizing Power and Agency
00:14:52 - The Image of God and Stewardship
00:16:04 - Story Reconciliation and Narrative Gap
00:17:56 - Evangelical Institutions and Narrative Reconciliation
00:19:14 - Reckoning with the Gospel
00:23:03 - Shalom and the Situation in Gaza
00:30:58 - Call for Divestment and Ceasefire
00:34:58 - History of Women's Rights in the US
00:39:36 - Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and American Democracy
00:42:21 - Importance of Constitutional Amendments
00:45:51 - Commitment to Repair and Decolonization
00:46:25 - Eurocentrism in Scripture Interpretation
00:47:14 - Global Impact of Faith and Politics
00:48:36 - Decolonization Journey and Resources
00:49:38 - Making a Difference and Embracing Uncomfortable Conversations
The resources mentioned in this episode are:
Visit Lisasharonharper.com to find more about Lisa Sharon Harper's work, writings, and podcasts.
Check out FreedomRoad.us to learn more about the work of Freedom Road and how to get involved in their mission for justice and reconciliation.
Listen to the Freedom Road Podcast to join the journey of decolonization and engage in conversations about justice and repair.
Read Lisa Sharon Harper's books, The Very Good Gospel and Fortune: How Race Broke My Family and the World and How to Repair It All to dive deeper into the concepts of Shalom and the journey of repair.
Research Project 2025 to understand the potential impact and take action to advocate for democracy and human rights.
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