David Gornoski: My Friend, My Brother, and the Politics of Jesus
Some people enter your life and help you see familiar things with fresh eyes. For me, David Gornoski has been one of those people. He has mentored me in my understanding of Christianity, challenged me to think more deeply, and encouraged me to keep asking what it means to follow Jesus. I’m grateful for the conversations, the friendship, and the opportunity to grow. This post is a thank you to a man whose influence on my faith has mattered: my friend, my brother, and someone I’m glad to have walking alongside me.
In this episode, David speaks at the gathering at Olexa’s in Mountain Brook Village, going into great detail about the politics of Jesus. That subject deserves our attention because it asks us to look beyond familiar slogans and consider Christ Himself. What does His life reveal about power? What does His teaching ask of us when we disagree? How should His example shape the way we treat the vulnerable, the outsider, the neighbor, and even the person we consider an enemy? Those are questions I want to keep bringing before God with humility, patience, and a willingness to learn.
When I hear the phrase “the politics of Jesus,” I find myself thinking about how we live together. Politics reaches into our relationships, our communities, our loyalties, and our understanding of responsibility. Christianity reaches into those places, too. If I call Jesus Lord, that confession has consequences for my conduct. It should influence how I speak, how I listen, how I handle conflict, and how I respond to another person’s pain. It asks something of me long before I have an opinion about what everybody else ought to do. That is where this subject becomes personal and challenging for me.
One reason I value David’s mentorship is that these conversations give me something to wrestle with. I don’t want my understanding of Christianity to stop growing because I have become comfortable with familiar answers. There is value in opening Scripture again, listening carefully, and admitting that I may have missed something. There is value in having a friend who makes room for serious questions. Faith has room for learning. Friendship has room for honest discussion. I’m thankful for people who help me approach both with a more open heart and a greater desire to understand before rushing to speak.
Jesus gives us plenty to consider. He tells us to love our enemies, pray for those who mistreat us, forgive, and care for people in need. Those teachings sound beautiful when we read them quietly. Living them can be difficult when our feelings are hurt, our pride is involved, or our circumstances feel unfair. That is where I need grace. I need the reminder that following Christ involves daily choices, including choices nobody sees. What will I do with my anger? How will I speak about someone who hurt me? What kind of example will I leave behind today?
“As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” — Proverbs 27:17. That verse comes to mind when I think about the gift of mentorship. We need people who help us grow in understanding and character. Sometimes that happens through encouragement. Sometimes it happens through a question that stays with us long after a conversation ends. Sometimes it happens simply because someone gives us the time and attention to think something through. David, I appreciate what you have shared with me. Your friendship has a place in my story, and I wanted to say that publicly.
The politics of Jesus also brings me back to the question of service. What does it mean to use whatever influence we have for another person’s good? For some, that influence reaches a large audience. For others, it happens around a dinner table, in a recovery meeting, at work, or in a conversation with a friend. Every setting gives us opportunities to practice patience, tell the truth, and treat people with dignity. I have plenty left to learn about doing that consistently. Still, I believe those ordinary moments matter. They are places where our faith can take visible form.
Through We Rock Network, we use the words “Good news | Good music | Good works.” I want those words to carry meaning in the way we live and in what we choose to share. Good news can encourage someone who needs hope. Good music can bring people together and express something words alone struggle to hold. Good works can meet a practical need. A conversation about Jesus belongs in that mission because it invites us to consider the source and direction of our lives. I’m grateful to share David’s voice as part of that continuing conversation with our community.
I’m sharing this episode because David has helped me, and I believe thoughtful conversations about Christianity are worth making time for. Bring your questions. Open your Bible. Listen carefully and consider what you hear. You may find yourself reflecting on power, responsibility, mercy, forgiveness, or the way you relate to people whose views differ from yours. For me, the most useful questions are often the ones I carry into my own conduct afterward. What needs attention in my life? Where can I show more patience? Who needs my help? How can I be more faithful with what God has given me?
David, big shout-out to you down in Florida, my friend and brother. Thank you for mentoring me in my understanding of Christianity and for sharing your time, thought, and friendship. I’m glad this gathering at Olexa’s was recorded so others can hear you explore the politics of Jesus in detail. To everyone reading, I invite you to spend some time with the episode and continue the conversation thoughtfully. May we keep learning, keep seeking Christ, and keep finding ways to love our neighbors in the lives we actually live. Love you, brother. Thank you for being part of my journey. 🤘❤️✝️
Watch David at Olexa’s in Mountain Brook Village:
https://youtu.be/VjdU1SeohBw?si=yjTKFd_uTarQXx5W
We Rock Network | Good news • Good music • Good works
