Rethink Faith with Nelson Jackson III

Did God Really Say That? How Bent Interpretations Keep You Stuck

Most people who love God and still feel stuck aren't failing — they're  building on a foundation that was quietly bent before it ever reached them. This episode traces one of the most overlooked patterns in all of scripture:  The moment interpretation replaces revelation. It starts in Genesis 3 — not  with the fruit, but with a question. "Did God really say…?" That single  question didn't erase God's words. It bent the meaning. And humanity has  been repeating that pattern ever since. From the judges to the prophets, from the Pharisees to the modern church —  The issue was never access to God's word. The issue was what kept happening  to the understanding of it. In this episode, you'll explore: • Why generations inherit distorted theology without realizing it • The difference between reading scripture and actually studying it • How oral tradition shaped what most believers know about God • Why positions in the church can feel like growth but replace transformation • The question Jesus asked Peter — and why your answer matters more than    anything you were taught This episode is for anyone who has quietly wondered if the version of God  they were handed the full picture. Question the narrative. Honor the text. Be Part of the Conversation: 1. Subscribe to the podcast 2. Find weekly episodes on YouTube [LINK [https://youtube.com/@rethinkingitallwithnelson?si=PmfwppesYNJbkfuK]] 3. Join our "Weekly Unlearning" newsletter for exclusive insights and reflections [LINK [https://podcast.nelsonjacksoniii.com/home]]

You’re Fighting the Wrong Battle

What if the behavior you keep confessing is only the symptom of something deeper? In this episode, Nelson unpacks the difference between fighting sins and addressing the condition underneath them. Through the woman at the well, Cain and Abel, David and Bathsheba, and Peter’s denial, we explore how Scripture reveals the root beneath the visible struggle. This is not about shame. It is about learning to ask better questions: What am I aiming at? What need am I trying to meet? What identity am I operating from? If you have been managing behavior but still feel stuck in the same patterns, this episode will help you rethink what freedom actually looks like. Be Part of the Conversation: 1. Subscribe to the podcast 2. Find weekly episodes on YouTube [LINK [https://youtube.com/@rethinkingitallwithnelson?si=PmfwppesYNJbkfuK]] 3. Join our "Weekly Unlearning" newsletter for exclusive insights and reflections [LINK [https://podcast.nelsonjacksoniii.com/home]]

Why You Keep Falling Into the Same Sin (And How to Break Free)

Why do you keep falling into the same sin even after confessing and repenting? The church taught you to fight sins (plural), but Jesus warned about the empty house. In this episode, we break down why the reason you're stuck isn't a willpower problem—it's a diagnosis problem. You'll discover: • The difference between sin (singular) and sins (plural) in 1 John 1:8-9 • What Jesus' empty house parable reveals about symptom management vs. root healing • Why Romans 6:12 isn't about trying harder—it's about changing lordship • How to stop managing symptoms and start addressing the condition This isn't about behavior modification. This is about healing the condition that keeps creating the symptom. If you're tired of confessing the same struggle over and over, this episode will give you a completely different framework for breaking free from guilt, shame, and the sin cycle. EPISODE CHAPTERS: The kind of freedom that looks free but isn't | The symptom trap | Jesus' empty house warning | What the church taught us to fight (and what it missed) | Sin singular vs. sins plural (Greek breakdown) | Sin as a ruling power | When the symptom relocates | Hope and the next step Reply "ROOT" on social media if you're ready to stop managing symptoms and start addressing the condition. Be Part of the Conversation: 1. Subscribe to the podcast 2. Find weekly episodes on YouTube [LINK [https://youtube.com/@rethinkingitallwithnelson?si=PmfwppesYNJbkfuK]] 3. Join our "Weekly Unlearning" newsletter for exclusive insights and reflections [LINK [https://podcast.nelsonjacksoniii.com/home]]

Five Words for Sin Your Bible Hides (And Why You Feel Like You're Never Enough)

What if the version of yourself you're chasing was never meant for you? If you've ever felt like you're failing as a Christian or constantly falling short, this episode will change everything. Most of us have been taught that "sin" is just about breaking rules—but the Bible actually uses five completely different Greek words that your English translation flattens into one. When you flatten five problems into one word, you treat every struggle the same way. That's not just bad translation—it's spiritual malpractice. 🎯 THE FIVE GREEK WORDS: • HAMARTIA - Missing the mark (about potential, not performance) • PARAPTOMA - Stumbling (needs gentle restoration, not exile) • PARABASIS - Crossing a boundary (requires repentance) • ANOMIA - Lawlessness (rebellion—the only one that leads to separation) • ADIKIA - Injustice (causing harm to others) The problem? The church treats stumbles like rebellion and ignores actual injustice. It tells you that all sin leads to death—but 1 John 5:17 says "there is sin that does not lead to death." ✅ IN THIS EPISODE: • Why "missing the mark" is about trajectory, not rule-breaking • God's first question after the Fall: "Who told you that you weren't enough?" • How to know if you stumbled or rebelled—and why the response is completely different • The sin the church won't talk about: systemic injustice • Which of the 5 words describes your struggle—and what God's actual response is 📖 KEY SCRIPTURES: Romans 3:23 | Galatians 6:1 | 1 John 3:4 | 1 John 5:17 | Matthew 7:23 Not all sin is the same. The Bible gives you five different words because there are five different problems. When you know which word describes your struggle, you stop hiding, stop performing, and start hitting the mark God actually set for you. #RethinkingSin #Hamartia #MissingTheMark #ChristianPodcast #BiblicalTruth #FaithDeconstruction Be Part of the Conversation: 1. Subscribe to the podcast 2. Find weekly episodes on YouTube [LINK [https://youtube.com/@rethinkingitallwithnelson?si=PmfwppesYNJbkfuK]] 3. Join our "Weekly Unlearning" newsletter for exclusive insights and reflections [LINK [https://podcast.nelsonjacksoniii.com/home]]

Rethinking Sin: What 'Missing the Mark' Really Means & Why You're Aiming at the Wrong Target

What if sin isn't what you think it is? The Greek word "hamartia" means "to miss the mark"—an archery term. It's not about breaking rules. It's about aiming at the wrong target. In Genesis 3, the serpent convinced Eve she was missing something she already had. She was already made in God's image (Genesis 1:26-27). But the serpent said, "You will be like God." She already WAS like God. The serpent didn't offer something new. He convinced her she lacked what she already possessed. And we're still falling for the same lie. In this episode: ✅ The real meaning of "hamartia" (missing the mark) ✅ What happened in Genesis 3 (it wasn't about fruit) ✅ Why God asked "Who told you?" instead of "What did you do?" ✅ How to stop aiming at the wrong target The mark hasn't changed. You're still made in God's image. The question is: Are you going to believe it? SCRIPTURES: Genesis 1-3, Romans 3:23, Romans 5:19, 1 John 2:16, 2 Corinthians 11:3, Colossians 3:10, Ephesians 4:24 Be Part of the Conversation: 1. Subscribe to the podcast 2. Find weekly episodes on YouTube [LINK [https://youtube.com/@rethinkingitallwithnelson?si=PmfwppesYNJbkfuK]] 3. Join our "Weekly Unlearning" newsletter for exclusive insights and reflections [LINK [https://podcast.nelsonjacksoniii.com/home]]