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

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Chapters:

00:00 The Importance of Community in Faith 01:37 Addressing Church Disconnection Post-Pandemic 04:22 The Role of Scripture in Community Dynamics 07:17 Navigating Church Hurt and Abuse 10:36 Finding Hope in Faithful Communities 13:46 The Broader Picture of Church Life 16:38 Understanding God's Family Beyond the Church 18:39 The Power of Community and Discipleship 20:03 Cultural Blind Spots and Family Loyalty 21:42 The Radical Nature of Church Family 25:24 The Ananias and Sapphira Lesson 27:59 The Role of Green Rooms in Church 31:10 Lamenting Together as a Family 32:45 The Messiness of Community 35:34 The Quest for Like-Mindedness 37:32 Diversity in Church and Community 41:58 Creative Solutions for Multicultural Worship