Episode 059 - How the Beatitudes Could Save the World and Us. (With Dr. Bradley Jersak)
An offhand comment by Dr. Jersak prompted this conversation. "We’re pushing back against the construction of a Christianity that’s the opposite of the Beatitudes. For those who don’t want to be susceptible to the lure of power-over Christianity, I recommend praying the Beatitudes every day . . . it is a furnace of discernment like none other." Woah...In a world where Christian leaders and many of their followers are increasingly espousing structures of power-over, saying empathy is a sin, and even co-opting the language of "Godly Hate,"1 For instance, "Christians must recover the lost virtue of Hatred. If not, Christianity will survive, but the West will be finished." - Pastor Joel Webbon, Twitter message, May 19, 2025. there is a real urgency to re-center our practice on Jesus' teaching in the Beatitudes.
Show Notes
In this conversation, Dr. Bradley Jersak and I explore the urgent need for Christians to re-center themselves in the Beatitudes as a guide for spiritual growth, ethical living, and community engagement. The need for this has only increased with the rise of Power-over ideologies such as Christian Nationalism, and forms of Christianity that are denying the way of Jesus in their actions.
Takeaways
Praying the Beatitudes can lead to personal transformation.
Kenosis, or self-emptying, is a key aspect of living out the Beatitudes.
Christian nationalism and all forms of power-over ideology contradict the teachings of Jesus, and this can be most clearly seen in the Beatitudes.
The Beatitudes call for a radical rethinking of patriotism and can counteract misguided theology.
A commitment to praying the Beatitudes regularly will serve as a "furnace of discernment" for wise discernment of what is truly "the word of the Lord" in our lives.
Recommended Resources
The Ladder of the Beatitudes, by Jim Forest.
Beatitudes: When Mountain Meets Valley, by Ron Dart.
Are We Done Fighting: Building Understanding in a World of Hate and Division, by Matthew Legge.
Downloadable "Furnace of Discernment" Beatitute Prayer PDF
Scroll down for a full transcript of this episode.
You can also watch and share the video version on YouTube.
More about My Conversation Partner
Dr. Bradley Jersak
Bradley is an author and teacher based in Abbotsford, BC. He currently serves as the Principal of St. Stephen’s University in New Brunswick, where he continues as the Dean and faculty member of SSU’s School of Theology & Culture. He also teaches peace studies courses with the Jim Forrest Institute. Through his books and seminars, Brad shares the good news that God is Love, perfectly revealed in Jesus Christ, and that God’s love heals wounded hearts and empowers us to heal this broken world.
Find Bradley Here
Website: https://bradjersak.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bradley.jersak
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradley.jersak/
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@bradley.jersak
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