Power Over or Power With? w/ David Fitch

In this episode, pastor and theologian David Fitch joins Caleb Campbell to explore the nature of power from a biblical perspective. Drawing from his book Reckoning with Power, Fitch outlines the distinction between worldly power—marked by coercion and control—and godly power—defined by presence, mutuality, and love. With insight drawn from scripture, history, and modern-day examples, he challenges the church to reject the allure of political dominance and instead embody the relational, redemptive power of Christ. The conversation also tackles the role of ideology, division in the church, and practical ways Christians can resist power grabs and live faithfully in today’s cultural climate.

About David:David Fitch is a theologian, pastor, and professor passionate about equipping the church to live faithfully in a fractured world. He holds the Lindner Chair of Evangelical Theology at Northern Seminary in Chicago and is the author of several influential books, including The Church of Us vs. Them, The End of Evangelicalism?, and Reckoning with Power. Rooted in the Anabaptist, Holiness, and Pentecostal traditions, Fitch brings a unique perspective that bridges academic theology and pastoral practice. His work often centers on power, ideology, and the church’s witness in a post-Christendom culture. He writes regularly at his Substack, “Fitch’s Provocations,” and is a sought-after speaker on faith, politics, and church renewal.

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