The Reason 365 (Mary Edwards-host)

Jesus vs. Jesus: Identity, Power, and the Cost of Co-Option

In this standalone episode, I explore a question that often goes unasked: Which Jesus are we actually talking about? Using the frame of “Jesus vs. Jesus,” this episode contrasts the biblical Jesus—rooted in lived purpose, humility, and daily practice—with the version of Jesus that has been repeatedly co-opted, reshaped, and weaponized in service of power, politics, and agenda. If Jesus is “the reason for the season,” when does that season begin—and when does it end? And what happens when faith becomes seasonal, marketable, or boxed in rather than lived out 365 days a year? This episode is not about changing minds. It’s about inviting thought. About examining how centuries of identity theft have shaped public response to the name Jesus—and why so many people react not with comfort, but with pain, distance, or resistance. This conversation leans into history, simplicity, and responsibility—without condemnation, without agenda, and without trying to fix anyone. Just an honest examination of what happens when identity is taken—and what it costs all of us.

Empathy vs. Action Part 2

Empathy without action is only witnessing suffering.

Empathy vs. Action Part 1

Empathy without action is just witnessing the suffering.