Reclaiming the Church's Purpose: How Critique, Feedback, and Cultural Engagement Build a Better Body

Voxology

Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Society & Culture

4.8 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 19 December 2016

⏱️ 46 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

How specific feedback, honest critique, and cultural engagement can help reimagine the Church's role in a changing world. In this open and deeply introspective episode, Mike Erre and Andy unbox some recent listener feedback with striking vulnerability—addressing head-on the accusations of church-bashing, ambiguity around biblical truth, and the challenge of speaking tough topics in a way that honors both grace and truth.

Using a listener email as a springboard, the conversation unfolds around topics like how Jesus critiqued the religious elite, why the Church can be both deeply flawed and deeply beloved, and how Vox embodies hospitality and lifelong learning through the value of feedback. Through stories about Apple's internal culture to training for a Spartan Race (yes, seriously), the episode opens conversation about past hurt, responsibility, and the tension between evangelism and truth-telling.

Key Takeaways: • How and why Vox separates the podcast from the church—legally and missiologically—to allow space for honest political and cultural conversations. • A breakdown of the four types of feedback and why specific feedback is essential for personal and organizational growth. • Why critiquing the Church isn't a declaration of abandonment, but an invitation to reform grounded in love and prophetic tradition. • How Jesus models grace-first engagement with outsiders—and why leading with truth doesn't always reflect his method. • Building a culture where correction, humility, and vulnerability are spiritual disciplines, even in digital spaces.

Resources Mentioned: • Vox Community feedback email: feedback@voxoc.com • Support the show on Patreon – patreon.com/voxology • Vox Merchandise – VOXOLOGY on Etsy • Spotify Channel: Voxology Radio

Join us as we talk candidly about criticism, humility, and the mission of being the Church in a divided world. Your insights matter—email us at hello@voxpodcast.com or join the ongoing conversation on Instagram and Facebook.

Subscribe, leave a review, and help us rethink the church from the inside out.

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Follow Mike on Twitter: twitter.com/mikeerre

Music by Timothy John Stafford Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV.

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Learn more about the Voxology Podcast

Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify

Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon

The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio

Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre

Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, everybody, Merry Christmas.
0:13.4	Happy Holidays, happy Hanukkah and Kwanza.
0:16.2	And whatever other festivals and holidays are going on this time of year,
0:20.2	we are recording in
0:21.1	mid-December 2016. What a year it has been. And so as always, we're super grateful.
0:28.7	We have two podcasts, the Vox Community Podcast, which is VoxOC.com. That is the teaching and the
0:35.7	stories from our little church in North Orange County, California.
0:38.9	And we also have this podcast, the Vox Podcast, which is at VoxPodcast.com.
0:44.8	We are so grateful.
0:46.5	We have 51 Patreon supporters, most $1,500 a month that blows our minds in terms of the kindness and generosity of folks.
0:56.6	We just had somebody donate some new microphones to us, and so we're excited to break those out.
1:01.8	But anyway, I mean, just thank you.
1:03.1	Thank you, thank you for the encouragement.
1:05.5	Thank you for the reviews.
1:07.1	Thank you for your participation, your questions, your criticisms, your feedback.
1:11.6	This is just ridiculously fun.
1:14.5	So if you want to support us on Patreon, go to patreon.com slash Vox Podcast.
1:21.2	And there, for $5, you get a ridiculous gift.
1:25.8	For $25, you get stuff. For $ For $25 you get stuff.
1:27.6	For $50, you get more stuff.
1:29.9	So check that out.
1:30.9	And thank you for those of you who've already signed up.
	...

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