Jon Guerra on the American Gospel

The Russell Moore Show

Christianity Today, Russell Moore

Religion & Spirituality, Christianity

4.8 • 914 Ratings

🗓️ 23 April 2025

⏱️ 53 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

What does it mean to sing about Jesus when the name has been co-opted by politics, performance, and power? In this episode Dr. Moore welcomes singer-songwriter Jon Guerra to discuss Guerra's new album simply titled "Jesus." Guerra shares how his music serves as devotional art—less Sunday morning worship and more Monday morning prayer—and explains his journey back to the words of Christ after experiences that created distance. Moore and Guerra explore themes of nationalism, church collapse, and finding authentic faith in a politically charged culture. Guerra reflects on his time as a worship leader during the painful public downfall of James MacDonald's ministry, offering honest insights about power, performance, and platform in Christian leadership. The conversation moves through Guerra's creative process, including his work on Terrence Malick's films, and unpacks the countercultural message of songs like "Citizens"—which confronts the marriage of faith and political power. As the child of Cuban immigrants, Guerra also opens up about his fear of scarcity and how it shapes his understanding of Jesus's teachings about treasure and provision. At a time when Jesus's name is often wielded as a tribal symbol, Guerra's music invites listeners to encounter Christ not as a political mascot, but as the One who welcomes immigrants as citizens and calls us to a narrower, and better, way. Join Jon on tour this spring, and listen to Jesus here. Special offer for listeners of The Russell Moore Show: Click here for 25% off a subscription to CT magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:37.7	As you know here on the Russellmore Show, we explore questions and conversations from a Christian
0:42.8	perspective to help all of us think through how to live as a follower of Jesus in really
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1:36.2	The diagnostic for God is our ability to see Christ where maybe he's a little bit obscured.
1:42.6	So see Christ in the stranger, and the least of these,
1:45.7	his brethren, and the orphan and widow. You know, Christ, when he says to the churches, I was thirsty,
1:50.9	and you gave me something to drink, I was hungry and you fed me. And to the goats, you know,
1:55.0	he says, you didn't see me.
2:08.1	Hello, this is Russell Moore, and you're listening to The Russellmore Show brought to you by Christianity today.
2:19.4	Every week we explore here conversations and questions from a Christian perspective to help you sort out how to live as a follower of Jesus in confusing times.
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