Sunday Conversation: Where's Jesus 5: Letting Go of the God's of Christianity

Show Notes: "Letting Go of the Gods of Christianity"In this soul-searching episode of the HeavenEarth Church podcast, founding pastor Ross Stackhouse welcomes listeners to Heaven Earth Church—a space intentionally created for those who don’t fit neatly into religion’s boxes. Ross Stackhouse dives deep into the heart of personal faith, collective spirituality, and what it means to confront our inner struggles and long-held beliefs.

Dr Brad Miller introduces the signature Sunday Morning Conversations, highlighting how the church seeks to meet people where they are, and sets the stage for the main message: “Letting Go of the Gods of Christianity.”

Throughout the episode, Ross Stackhouse shares stories of transformation and renewal within the Heaven Earth Church community. From the historical cast-iron bell that now serves as a “Sobriety Bell” for women completing their recovery program to the multiple organizations finding hope in the church’s spaces, listeners hear firsthand how new life is being breathed into a place filled with legacy.

Central to the message is the challenge to turn toward, rather than away from, difficult emotions and core fears. Using an engaging live illustration, Ross Stackhouse explores the interconnectedness of loving God, neighbor, and self. He shares how avoidance—whether by workaholism, numbness, or rigid religious systems—can fragment us and keep us from authentic relationship with God and others.

On a communal level, Ross Stackhouse candidly addresses how religious institutions can inadvertently (or intentionally) build systems of control that avoid vulnerability. He unpacks the ways doctrine can become dogma, the dangers of unquestionable authority, exclusionary practices, and how fear is often the root of these dynamics.

The episode wraps with Ross Stackhouse's vulnerable testimony about his journey toward full inclusion and affirmation of LGBTQ people, drawing on biblical insights, personal relationships, and a commitment to humility and curiosity.

Takeaway PointsTurn Toward Yourself and God: Facing difficult feelings with honesty is essential for spiritual and personal wholeness. Avoidance leads to fragmentation.Faith Is an Inside Job: True transformation starts from within, not from outward performance or rigid rule-following.Institutional Religion Can Perpetuate Fear: Systems of control within churches often reflect avoidance of vulnerability and can cause harm if left unexamined.Curiosity Over Certainty: Embracing mystery and being open to learning from those different from us is central to the way of Jesus.Radical Inclusion Mirrors Jesus: The call to create a table where all belong, especially those on the margins, is woven throughout Jesus’s ministry—and should be in ours, too.

Find out more or join the conversation at heavenearthchurch.org.The HeavenEarth Church Podcast Exists to Amplify The Conversation Happening at HeavenEarth Church.

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