Grits and Eggs Podcast Episode 96 - Kristian A. Smith
Oct 28, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Kristian A. Smith, a digital pastor and public theologian leading The Faith Community, dives into the radical reimagining of faith. He shares his journey from a reluctant preacher to a visionary of inclusive church practices, emphasizing love and community over dogma. Kristian critiques fundamentalism while celebrating Black spirituality and joy. The conversation also tackles navigating online ministry, the importance of consent in sexual ethics, and the challenges of financial stability in pastoral work. An inspiring look at liberation and self-love!
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Church As Hood Social Space
- Kristian describes growing up around gang-affiliated church members and vivid Bible study teachers who used scripture with street stories.
- He recalls powerful supernatural moments like being prayed for during an allergic reaction that genuinely calmed him.
Curiosity Breaks Religious Certainty
- Curiosity clashes with rigid church systems that prize certainty over questioning.
- Kristian's seminary study applied critical thinking to theology and triggered his deconstruction.
Audible Call In Grad School
- Kristian heard an audible call to preach while studying in grad school and disclosed it to his parents.
- He went to seminary and that preparation led him to question inherited theology and spark his ministry.
