ATW - Conversation with Rod Williams

Summary

 In this conversation, Melissa Lapin interviews Rod Williams, who shares his journey of faith and the different perspectives he gained from his experiences in various churches and ministries. Rod talks about encountering the love of God through a pastor who made him feel seen and loved. He also discusses his involvement in the Jesus movement and the impact of the charismatic movement on his faith. Rod shares how he experienced a pivotal moment of feeling the presence of God during a difficult time in his life. He emphasizes the importance of being conscious of God's nearness and overcoming shame and guilt. The principal themes of the conversation include the beauty of the body of Christ and working together, the influence of the Holy Spirit, and the importance of embracing both sound doctrine and supernatural experiences. The speakers discuss their personal journeys and encounters with God, highlighting the need to let go of religious and political divisions and embrace love, unity, and individuality within the context of union with God. They emphasize the importance of discerning influences and voices in our lives, focusing on whether they make Jesus bigger or smaller. In this conversation, Rod Williams emphasizes the nearness of God and the unity of the Trinity. He highlights that Jesus is not separate from the Father, but rather, when you see Jesus, you see the Father. Williams challenges the idea that God is distant and angry, and instead presents a loving and merciful God who desires to be close to us. He encourages listeners to focus on Jesus and the Trinity, and to find community and support in their journey of understanding and experiencing God's love.

Takeaways

 -Rod Williams shares his journey of faith and the different perspectives he gained from his experiences in various churches and ministries.

-Encountering the love of God through a pastor who made him feel seen and loved was a pivotal moment for Rod.

-The Jesus movement and the charismatic movement had a significant impact on Rod's faith, leading him to experience the goodness of God and see miracles.

-Rod emphasizes the importance of being conscious of God's nearness and overcoming shame and guilt. The body of Christ is beautiful and it is important to work together in unity.

-The Holy Spirit has a powerful influence and can bring about profound encounters with God.

-It is important to embrace both sound doctrine and supernatural experiences.

-Religious and political divisions can hinder our understanding of God and our ability to love others.

-Discerning influences and voices in our lives is crucial, and we should focus on whether they make Jesus bigger or smaller. God is not distant or separate from us; He is near and desires to be close to us.

-When we see Jesus, we see the Father and the Holy Spirit. The Trinity is always present and unified.

-The early fathers and those who were close to Jesus understood that God is good, loving, and for us.

-Fear is not our friend; perfect love casts out fear. We should focus on the love of God and let it cast out our fear.