Episode 6: The Part We Skipped in Sunday School, What History Forgot, and Faith Can’t Ignore
We can’t tell the story of justice without naming the stories the Church forgot, or chose not to tell. In this episode of Jesus, Justice + Mercy, Kristen kicks off a 3-part arc by unearthing the roots of racial inequality in the U.S., tracing how race was constructed to uphold power, and how theology was twisted to justify injustice. From slavery and Jim Crow to redlining and church silence, she names the uncomfortable truths many of us never learned in Sunday School and why telling them now is an act of faithful discipleship.
This episode isn’t about shame, it’s about clarity. And it’s a call to step into a more courageous, Jesus-shaped faith rooted in truth, justice, and holy disruption.
In this episode:
· Why race is a social construct, not a biblical one
· How the American Church helped build, and sometimes resisted, systems of injustice
· The real legacy of redlining, the GI Bill, and Christian complicity
· How discipleship requires truth-telling, even when it’s uncomfortable
· A preview of Episodes 7 and 8 in this 3-part mini-series
Reflection questions at the end include:
· What part of this story was new to you?
· Where do you see these patterns in your community or church?
· How might this awareness shape how you live out your faith?
Listener Note: This episode may be challenging, especially if you’re just beginning to explore the history of race and faith. Stay curious. Stay grounded. And know you’re not alone.
Resources Mentioned:
Ibram X. Kendi: Stamped From the Beginning
Jemar Tisby: The Color of Compromise
If you find hope and challenge here, help grow this community by liking, sharing, and leaving a review so more people can join us in pursuing justice and Jesus together.
RESOURCES:
Holy Disruption: Reclaiming a Justice-Rooted Faith course info and interest list
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