Voxology Rest That Liberates: Sabbath, Deconstruction, and the Call to Resist Burnout - w/ A.J. Swoboda
How the practice of Sabbath offers spiritual resistance, emotional healing, and economic justice in a world ruled by hustle, exhaustion, and constant noise. Mike Erre is joined by theologian, pastor, and author A.J. Swoboda for a deep and deeply personal conversation about faith, burnout, restless modernity, spiritual deconstruction, and Swoboda's transformative journey through doubt and reconstruction. Drawing from his latest book, “Subversive Sabbath,” A.J. unpacks the liberating power behind God's invitation to rest—not just as self-care, but as a spiritual act of radical resistance and renewal.
Key Takeaways: • Deconstruction with a Return Path – A.J. shares his personal story of theological deconstruction, why he nearly lost his faith, and what helped him reconstruct a deeper, more rooted relationship with Jesus. • Sabbath as Resistance – Reframing Sabbath not as a legalistic obligation or one-day vacation, but as sacred resistance to burnout culture, constant productivity, and digital overwhelm. • Practicing Rest in a Nonstop World – Practical ways to honor Sabbath rhythms even with kids, busy schedules, and unpredictable demands—informed by Jewish tradition, Scripture, and pastoral wisdom. • Rest and Economic Justice – Why privilege can’t be an excuse for non-participation in Sabbath, and how the practice serves as an act of justice for the marginalized and overworked. • Sabbath and the Inner Life – Creating regular space for lament, grief, recovery, and honest prayer—how silence is not complicity, but a form of spiritual courage. • Processing Trauma in a Time-Starved Culture – Why our society has lost the capacity to process suffering, and how the Sabbath (like the boat ride home from war) becomes a vessel for emotional and spiritual integration.
Guest Highlight: A.J. Swoboda – Pastor of Theophilus Church in Portland, OR, author of several influential books including The Dusty Ones, The Glorious Dark, and Subversive Sabbath. He leads a Doctor of Ministry program on the Holy Spirit at Fuller Seminary and teaches at Portland Seminary and Life Pacific University. A.J. unpacks the theological, emotional, and cultural dimensions of Sabbath as a recovery practice for the modern soul.
Resources Mentioned: • "Subversive Sabbath" by A.J. Swoboda – Buy the book • "The Dusty Ones" by A.J. Swoboda – Link • "The Glorious Dark" by A.J. Swoboda – Link • "Redeeming How We Talk" – Link • "The Last Word" by N.T. Wright – Theology of Scripture that helped sustain faith in crisis • C.S. Lewis on the Psalms – Reflections on divine silence and trust • Eugene Peterson’s Sabbath Practices – Psalms, hikes, and quiet renewal
Join the movement toward restivity—not just activism without reflection. Let’s reclaim Sabbath as spiritual defiance and holy healing. Subscribe to Voxology, leave a review, and follow us on social media to keep the conversation going.
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.
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Learn more about the Voxology Podcast
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Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre
Music in this episode 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.
Our Merch Store! ETSY
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 us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook
Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre
Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford
Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy