Episode 561 When The Church Gets In the Way

What happens when the systems we build to support the mission of the church actually begin getting in the way of it? In this episode, Pastor Brad sits down with Pastor Ryan Dockery for an honest conversation sparked by a provocative reflection on some of the systemic challenges facing organized Christianity. From our obsession with bigger and better to celebrity leadership, constant programming, institutional self-preservation, image management, and the difference between activity and genuine community, we wrestle with some uncomfortable questions about the church we love. This isn’t an anti-church conversation—it’s a conversation born out of a desire for the church to become more faithful to its calling. What if instead of asking only whether our churches are growing, we started asking whether the people within them are actually being transformed?