Ubuntu & Justice with Marlena Graves | Created In The Image of God 222

In a moment when nearly every issue becomes a battlefield, Marlena Graves offers a different starting point: we belong to each other. Drawing on the Southern African concept of Ubuntu—“I am because we are”—and the teachings of Jesus, she argues that genuine spiritual formation cannot be separated from the pursuit of justice. Our well-being, she insists, is tied to the flourishing of those we might be tempted to ignore: the poor, the immigrant, those outside our tribe, and even those we see as enemies.In this episode, Marlena traces how segments of American Christianity, especially white evangelical culture, have often lost sight of that interconnectedness. She names the “fruit of bad theology”—a selective compassion that treats some neighbors as optional—and contrasts it with Jesus’ command to love without exception. Along the way, she weaves in her own pastoral and academic experience, stories of polarization, and the quiet, patient work of building relationships across political, racial, and religious lines.The conversation is honest about harm yet grounded in hope. Marlena speaks about holding space for growth, refusing to cancel people who are just waking up, and remembering that each of us is still on a journey. For anyone weary of culture wars but longing for a faith that looks like Jesus in public as well as in private, this episode offers a thoughtful, courageous vision of what it means to live Ubuntu in everyday life. Get full access to SOOPMedia on Substack at soopllc.substack.com/subscribe Get full access to Created in the Image of God at wadefransson.substack.com/subscribe