Review of The Allender Center Podcast - Be naked and not ashamed.

Be naked and not ashamed.

☆

“Dr. Dan Allender is good. I really like his boldness, and that he doesn’t kowtow to christian religion. He does kowtow a bit to academic religion. But he does seem much more free than most teaching in, or coming from seminary. I have read almost all of his books, and was delighted to find the podcasts after I registered for the Restoration of the Heart conference. A bit of what follows are some specifics where I thought that Dr. Allender fell short, and might want to consider for topics of future podcasts. Even in that, part of the message that he has reinforced is that we are where we are. God’s intention is to bring us back to the Eden-like state of being naked and not ashamed. He humbles us by our knowing that though the completion of the work is sure, if you are reading this He isn’t finished yet (Phl 1:6). What moved me to write a review was an episode that had an incredible start and then ended. It was a podcast from Nov 2014, called “Honest Conversations”. I was so looking forward to his getting into the meat of things. Speaking with his incredible loving and compassionate heart to people who are waiting for God’s intention for sexuality, and that is not what He necessarily intends for all. I fully agree that focusing on purity has become its own end, with all the religious trappings applying. But, as one who God used adverse circumstances to bring me to the state of undesired waiting for the right person, so that He might bless me. And as one who knows the trauma of divorce, when a partner chooses to leave when she no longer has feelings. And as a man, whose body has equipped him with eyes and testosterone to remind him that he is sexual. I had such desire for this respected man to dive into the hard and wonderful truth of sexuality. But the podcast ended, almost with a whimper of some hard to apply language on holiness, and an obtuse reference to that you may end up sexual in unexpected ways later in life. There is forgiveness. There may be trauma for sex outside of marriage. Tearing happens when any one flesh union is dissolved, married or otherwise. And it breaks God’s heart. It isn’t punishment, as much as it is … that was where I hoped that his words could express where my words fail. I want to describe that trauma in real terms for my 20 year old son. I am praying like crazy that Jesus would bring a godly young woman to him. And praying like crazy that he wouldn’t listen to half-baked psychology that delaying marriage or not marrying at all is a benefit. But it just stopped. I hope that the book is better. When I listened to the series on church and trauma, I had a similar experience. He was talking about the people on the first line, which I thought at first was just whoever was a “neighbor”. But then he spoke more of a pastor in this role. And bridging the gap to professional help. I think that professional help is over-rated. First, because it doesn’t scale. Where the church is alive and well, there is no professional help. There also aren’t seminaries. Where the church is alive and well is where there is persecution, and trauma. And the gospel of Jesus Christ is undiluted. Jesus name means “God is salvation”. He can use professional help to bring salvation (health, wholeness, peace, love). But when I described being hurt by a christian counselor to a retired counselor, he said that his opinion was that more than half of counselors are working on their own stuff in counseling sessions, and hoping that their clients get something out of it too. God uses willing, broken vessels, and works miracles, sometimes not the type of miracles that we would like. To pick the topic of persecution and trauma back up a bit. I believe that we are being persecuted, and that Dr. Allender addresses that in many ways in his books and podcasts. He brings Jesus’ heart close in so much of what he does. The persecution that we face is the lie of a distant God, a God who doesn’t hear, a santa claus God, a God so obtuse (along with His word being obtuse too) that professionals need to interpret it. Dr. Allender, and his friend/co-author Dr. Longman bring God close without giving Him a red robe, big belly, and a sack over His shoulder. When we see Jesus, we have seen The Father.”

Different Jim M via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 02/23/16

More reviews of The Allender Center Podcast

See all »

Disappointing

☆

“Attempting to be relevant and culturally “woke”- even hip I’m afraid there isn’t much room for Christ, for the Gospel here. Made me sad to hear this shift as our family loved his speaking and books back before this intellectual and social tool center stage over Christ.”

Marie Marriott via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 11/02/20

Vital

☆

“This podcast invites its listeners to believe that the power of the resurrection of Christ is available to restore the deep brokenness in all of us. It also gives permission to be curious about our story, which will reveal how God has been there throughout our story, hurting over our hurts and...”Read full review »

Amy Wolford via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 05/02/18

Awesome

☆

“Thanks for these. I really enjoy them!”

Kingsdaughter/.44 via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 04/28/15

Do you host a podcast?

Track your ranks and reviews from Spotify, Apple Podcasts and more.