S3 Ep. 32 Fellowship with Ben
Description
Today we’re chatting with Ben! In this episode, we explore how Ben went from a youth role model as the son of a renowned conservative Christadelphian preacher to pushing the limits of even the most liberal Christadelphians before leaving. Raised in a conservative branch of Christadelphia, Ben was told that some of their family had “left the faith” but was surprised to discover that there were actually just attending other, less conservative, Christadelphian ecclesias nearby! Even at Ben’s baptism, which surprisingly morphed into a roast, Ben defied convention by asking a member of the “Shield” group to baptism them at a “Logos” hall as Ben began to resist the labels and expectations they had been raised with. Throughout the episode, Ben and I also discuss Christadelphian music. From singing our favorite songs from “Fruit of Our Lips” to discussing what instruments and songs were allowed to be played to learning about their incredibly popular music nights at SCYP, we dive into what was a pivotal moment in Christadelphian music as Ben and their contemporaries created new music that pushed the limits and was even met with walk-outs and bullying. As a singer-songwriter, Ben left a lasting legacy on Christadelphian music as their songs continue to be popular in the present day. However, most Christadelphians probably don’t know that one of their favorite songs was written by a gay man and a non-binary person who both left the faith! We also talk about puppet plays, the Portland frog, and their experience helping create a LGBTQ affirming evangelical church in New York City.
Listener discretion advised.
If you’re interested in coming on the podcast or have comments or questions, you can contact Zinnia at lifeafterleavingpodcast@gmail.com
Resources and References:
Left handedness and sexual orientation
Fruit of our Lips CD (2002)
El Shaddai (Youtube)
As the Deer (unable to find CD Version)
A New Commandment (Youtube)
Shout
Wonder
Every day
Songs in a strange land
Endless
Sydney Christadelphian Young People
Bible Belt Baby (Spotify)
Drag Queen Album Tops Christian Music Charts
Yahweh's Youth from Living Moving Being (Youtube)
With All My Heart by Ben Grace, Worship Vol 1 Track 88
Rob Bell and the Mars Hill Church
Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller
The Danger of Christian Nationalism
Christian Nationalism is neither Christian nor Patriotic
Experts Discuss Christian Nationalism
The Portland Frog :
ICE Protest Frogs Have a Long History
Frogs For Peace: How the Portland Frog Became a Symbol of Resistance and Hope
It’s a Wonderful Life Movie (1946)
It’s a Wonderful Life and World War II
Jane Goodall's Final Message to the World
Audrey Hepburn: “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow”
Learning to Walk in the Dark by Barbara Brown Taylor
As if Words Could Heal the Wounds
Ben Grace: Naked and Unashamed Podcast Episode
United States
