22: The Wilderness

In this today’s episode, we address the wilderness experience not as a daunting obstacle, but as an essential pathway to a deeper, richer Christian life. We challenge the notion that Christianity's purpose is solely salvation and the afterlife. Instead, we discuss a more holistic journey where Jesus is the guiding force in every aspect of life.  

From the celebration of salvation to the transformative work required in the spiritual desert, we draw parallels with Israel's desert wanderings and discuss the importance of discipline and trust in God's process. Our discussion extends to the multifaceted role of wilderness in personal and communal development, the responses to life's barren stretches, and how faith communities can support each other through these transformative times.  

Topics Discussed: 

• Dr. David Pocta’s book, Cries from the Wilderness: Reimagining Church Culture in an Age of Uncertainty 
• Why he felt a calling to write about the wilderness 
  Christian wilderness journey as a critical and often neglected aspect of spiritual growth 
• Limitations of a Christianity that focuses solely on salvation and neglects the fullness of life with Jesus 
• Importance of understanding and navigating the post-salvation wilderness to avoid additional suffering from misconceptions 
• Celebration of the moment of salvation and the transition to the work required in the wilderness, drawing from the Israelites' experience 
• The concept of home as a relationship with God rather than a physical place 
• The role of punishment, and how it should be framed as a positive instead of a negative 
• Examination of a biblical wilderness framework and its implications for spiritual formation and community shaping 
• Wilderness as something that communities go through as well as individuals 
• Different responses to wilderness experiences: retreat, paralysis, or moving forward with trust and surrender 
• 10 postures for navigating wilderness 
• Importance of faith communities providing support during wilderness periods and embracing the journey as part of God's transformative work 

Quotes: 

 “We don't fully understand a holistic approach to the Christian life, because we can tend to really focus and really do some things really really well and that becomes what we're known for and that's a wonderful thing.” –Dr. David Pocta 

“I think I've also seen how, when kind of the sum of our Christianity is this salvation paradigm or we reduce it to that, that we do miss out on all the fullness.” –Hannah DeSouza 

“Punishment is love when it comes from God. And we do that even for ourselves, in our own self-love. We want to be better. We punish ourselves. We call it spiritual disciplines.”–Dr. David Pocta 

Links: 

Dr. David Pocta 

Hannah DeSouza 

Slideshow