E13: Us vs. Them: How We Lost the Plot — And Why Surrender Matters More Than Strategy

In this final episode of our four‑part series on the image of God, we’re taking a hard, honest look at how the American church has shaped our understanding of evangelism—and how that shaping has quietly distorted the way we see people, ourselves, and even God. For many of us, evangelism has always felt like a strategic, spiritual sales pitch we were supposed to perfect. But what if that weight was never ours to carry in the first place? In this conversation, we explore: how an “us vs. them” mindset took root in evangelical culture why strategy became the center—and why it never belonged there the subtle ways corporate Christianity squeezed the Holy Spirit out of His own job what happens when we stop trying to manage outcomes and start trusting God to introduce Himself how surrender to God reframes personhood, worth, and the way we see every human story This episode is an invitation back to something simpler and far more intimate: a relationship with a God who wants to introduce Himself, who writes every single “once upon a time,” and who doesn’t need our performance. If evangelism has ever felt like pressure, guilt, or a secret agenda, you are not alone. And maybe the Holy Spirit is leading us somewhere gentler, truer, and more honest. Send Bria an email: [email protected] If you’d like to go deeper with some journal prompts, check out www.prayersfromthemiddle.com