The Empire Always Strikes Back

We’re continuing our journey through Manna and Mercy—unpacking its deceptively simple but deeply radical message. As we explore the rise and fall of rulers, the voices of prophets, and the arrival of Jesus, one thing becomes clear: we keep learning the same lessons… and we keep failing to act.A people cry out for a leader to save them. A promise of power and order. A system that starts with hope and ends in corruption. Again. And again.And here we are—watching democracy unravel, watching the church get hijacked by empire, watching the same cycle repeat.But what if we’ve been looking in the wrong place all along? What if the answer isn’t at the top of the pyramid, but at the bottom?In this episode, we explore:🔥 How Dan Erlander’s Manna and Mercy reveals a deceptively simple but radical truth⚡ The prophets we’ve ignored—again and again🛑 White Christian Nationalism and its hijacking of faith🕊 Why God doesn’t enter from the top, but from the lowest and most vulnerable placesSo here’s the real question: Where are you looking for hope?Join the conversation on The Expedition, and let’s figure this out together. Get full access to The Expedition at gethsemanelutheranchurch.substack.com/subscribe