What Spiritual Authority Looks Like (#1030)

What Spiritual Authority Looks Like (#1030)

From The God Journey by Wayne Jacobsen

April 10, 2026 · 42 min · Season 22 · Episode 14

About this episode

Wayne and Kyle explore the nature of spiritual authority and its contrast to power-driven systems.

Wayne and Kyle discuss an email from the U.K. that they found breathtaking in its simple depth. After a lighthearted reflection on the quirks of people we love, they turn to something more profound—how Jesus offered a completely different way of living than the power-driven systems we see around us. True spiritual authority doesn’t come from titles or positions, but from a life deeply connected to God and genuinely serving others. When authority becomes tied to identity, it often turns inward—becoming self-serving and harmful. But real authority doesn’t demand attention; it creates space—safe, open, and life-giving—for others to encounter God for themselves. Podcast Notes: The video version of this podcast Walter Brueggermann on the Justice from Below Rowena's last paragraph: "If much of what is collapsing right now is authority rooted in structure, perhaps what is emerging is authority rooted in union - not louder, not more visible, but more real. And maybe Kingdom governance won't announce itself clearly at first; it will simply be recognised-by the fruit it carries, and by the life that flows through it." You can read her entire email here. Get your copy of Just Love The post…

People in this episode

Host: Wayne Jacobsen

Guest: Kyle

Topics covered

  • spiritual authority
  • connection to God
  • serving others
  • power-driven systems
  • Kingdom governance

Keywords

  • spiritual authority
  • Jesus
  • serving others
  • identity
  • Kingdom governance

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Just Love

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