America's Military Fetish and the Church's Silence, with Ben Daniel, author of Grace Over Guns

America's Military Fetish and the Church's Silence, with Ben Daniel, author of Grace Over Guns

Author: Markus Watson September 15, 2026 Duration: 55:43
Ben Daniel is the Senior Pastor of Montclair Presbyterian Church in Oakland, California, and the author of Grace Over Guns: Pursuing Peace in a Militarized World. In this conversation, Markus Watson and Ben talk about the quiet reverence for military power that has crept into American Christianity, what it cost Ben personally to stop standing for the national anthem, and why he believes the church's silence on militarism is a form of complicity. THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: Ben Da...

Markus Watson hosts Spiritual Life and Leadership, a space where the often-separated ideas of personal faith and organizational direction are woven back together. The conversations here start from a simple, profound premise: that effective leadership in any ministry context isn't primarily a set of managerial skills, but an overflow of a life rooted in something deeper. Each episode features Markus in dialogue with various guests, unpacking the real, sometimes messy, intersection where daily spiritual practices meet the demands of guiding a community. They explore how a leader's inner life-their rhythms of prayer, reflection, and abiding faithfulness-directly shapes their capacity to discern and participate in a mission larger than themselves. This isn't a podcast about church growth strategies, though practical wisdom emerges naturally from its core focus. Instead, it’s a steady invitation for those in roles of influence to consider the source from which their work flows. You’ll hear thoughtful discussions that resist quick fixes, offering instead a perspective where leadership is framed as a spiritual journey first. Tune in for honest reflections on sustaining both a vibrant personal walk and a public calling, ensuring one authentically fuels the other.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

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