Joe Smith
@therealjoesmith.bsky.social
I help lead an open & affirming church in Gainesville, FL called Shift GNV & host the Shift Happens podcast. Married for 20+ years w/ two awesome kids.
https://linktr.ee/therealjoesmith
https://linktr.ee/therealjoesmith
History shows us what happens when death becomes entertainment: Rome’s crosses. America’s lynching trees. Each one dressed up as “justice,” but really tools of terror.
✍️ I wrote about this in my latest Substack: The Dangerous Fantasy of Televised Executions. 👉 Link in bio to read.
✍️ I wrote about this in my latest Substack: The Dangerous Fantasy of Televised Executions. 👉 Link in bio to read.
September 25, 2025 at 4:21 PM
History shows us what happens when death becomes entertainment: Rome’s crosses. America’s lynching trees. Each one dressed up as “justice,” but really tools of terror.
✍️ I wrote about this in my latest Substack: The Dangerous Fantasy of Televised Executions. 👉 Link in bio to read.
✍️ I wrote about this in my latest Substack: The Dangerous Fantasy of Televised Executions. 👉 Link in bio to read.
Stephen Miller isn’t a builder of worlds. He isn’t shaping history.
He’s a side note. An asterisk in the Trump years. If his name shows up in textbooks, it will be in the footnotes of America’s ugliest chapters.
open.substack.com/pub/therealj...
He’s a side note. An asterisk in the Trump years. If his name shows up in textbooks, it will be in the footnotes of America’s ugliest chapters.
open.substack.com/pub/therealj...
September 22, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Stephen Miller isn’t a builder of worlds. He isn’t shaping history.
He’s a side note. An asterisk in the Trump years. If his name shows up in textbooks, it will be in the footnotes of America’s ugliest chapters.
open.substack.com/pub/therealj...
He’s a side note. An asterisk in the Trump years. If his name shows up in textbooks, it will be in the footnotes of America’s ugliest chapters.
open.substack.com/pub/therealj...
If your theology protects pastors over children, demands purity from teens while excusing predators, and calls itself holy while covering harm—let it die. Some things need to die so something honest can rise. Something that actually looks like Jesus.
May 14, 2025 at 10:59 AM
If your theology protects pastors over children, demands purity from teens while excusing predators, and calls itself holy while covering harm—let it die. Some things need to die so something honest can rise. Something that actually looks like Jesus.
This can’t be real,” I say for the 700th time, knowing full well that it is, in fact, very real and very stupid.
March 6, 2025 at 2:04 PM
This can’t be real,” I say for the 700th time, knowing full well that it is, in fact, very real and very stupid.
If your faith leads you to fight for the right to hit disabled kids but not to feed the hungry ones in the lunchroom, then it’s not Christ you’re following.
March 4, 2025 at 4:35 AM
If your faith leads you to fight for the right to hit disabled kids but not to feed the hungry ones in the lunchroom, then it’s not Christ you’re following.
Why do they always have Jesus is king or Jesus is lord in their bios? What is it about this strain of Christianity that feels entitled or empowered to be such jack wagons?
February 25, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Why do they always have Jesus is king or Jesus is lord in their bios? What is it about this strain of Christianity that feels entitled or empowered to be such jack wagons?
This is what happens when Christianity is co-opted by empire. A government that boasts about chains is a government that has lost its soul. And a church that remains silent has lost its witness.
February 20, 2025 at 2:12 PM
This is what happens when Christianity is co-opted by empire. A government that boasts about chains is a government that has lost its soul. And a church that remains silent has lost its witness.
White Christian nationalism is obsessed with controlling LGBTQ+ people. They’d rather legislate suffering than face the truth:
Queer people exist, thrive, and belong fully in the image of God.
Queer people exist, thrive, and belong fully in the image of God.
February 19, 2025 at 2:39 PM
White Christian nationalism is obsessed with controlling LGBTQ+ people. They’d rather legislate suffering than face the truth:
Queer people exist, thrive, and belong fully in the image of God.
Queer people exist, thrive, and belong fully in the image of God.
He who saves his country does not violate any law” is not patriotism—it’s a confession of corruption. It’s the lie every tyrant tells before they seize total power. And if Christians defend it, we are no longer standing with Christ—we are standing with empire.
February 15, 2025 at 9:30 PM
He who saves his country does not violate any law” is not patriotism—it’s a confession of corruption. It’s the lie every tyrant tells before they seize total power. And if Christians defend it, we are no longer standing with Christ—we are standing with empire.
If your faith doesn’t compel you to speak out against this kind of blatant racism and sexism, it’s time to re-evaluate. Silence isn’t neutrality. Silence sides with oppression.
February 6, 2025 at 2:45 PM
If your faith doesn’t compel you to speak out against this kind of blatant racism and sexism, it’s time to re-evaluate. Silence isn’t neutrality. Silence sides with oppression.
This was easily one of my favorite interviews. Not only b/c The Spirit of Justice is that good but b/c @jemartisby.bsky.social that engaging.
The episode drops Wednesday. Don’t miss it. The story he tells in his book give us the way forward. Link in bio. #podcast
The episode drops Wednesday. Don’t miss it. The story he tells in his book give us the way forward. Link in bio. #podcast
February 3, 2025 at 1:29 PM
This was easily one of my favorite interviews. Not only b/c The Spirit of Justice is that good but b/c @jemartisby.bsky.social that engaging.
The episode drops Wednesday. Don’t miss it. The story he tells in his book give us the way forward. Link in bio. #podcast
The episode drops Wednesday. Don’t miss it. The story he tells in his book give us the way forward. Link in bio. #podcast
My deconstruction zoom group is open for registration. It’s free but we do ask you make a donation to the Pride Center of NCFL for the student group.
We’ll look at stages of decon, inerrancy, LGBTQ, hell & more. It start 2/12 @7:30 pm eastern.
Registration is in bio & comments. #deconstruction
We’ll look at stages of decon, inerrancy, LGBTQ, hell & more. It start 2/12 @7:30 pm eastern.
Registration is in bio & comments. #deconstruction
January 31, 2025 at 1:36 PM
My deconstruction zoom group is open for registration. It’s free but we do ask you make a donation to the Pride Center of NCFL for the student group.
We’ll look at stages of decon, inerrancy, LGBTQ, hell & more. It start 2/12 @7:30 pm eastern.
Registration is in bio & comments. #deconstruction
We’ll look at stages of decon, inerrancy, LGBTQ, hell & more. It start 2/12 @7:30 pm eastern.
Registration is in bio & comments. #deconstruction
So much of the harm of fundamentalism is the anthropology behind it. Our first acts of violence are often toward ourselves. Episode 4 with @matthewpaulturner.bsky.social is live now! Link in bio. #podcast
January 29, 2025 at 10:57 PM
So much of the harm of fundamentalism is the anthropology behind it. Our first acts of violence are often toward ourselves. Episode 4 with @matthewpaulturner.bsky.social is live now! Link in bio. #podcast
I talked to @annaforflorida.bsky.social for the Shift Happens podcast. She’s a fighter and we need leaders like her right now. Click the bio link to hear all she had to say.
Make sure to subscribe, rate & share. Every little bit of resistance helps. #podcast
Make sure to subscribe, rate & share. Every little bit of resistance helps. #podcast
January 27, 2025 at 8:25 PM
I talked to @annaforflorida.bsky.social for the Shift Happens podcast. She’s a fighter and we need leaders like her right now. Click the bio link to hear all she had to say.
Make sure to subscribe, rate & share. Every little bit of resistance helps. #podcast
Make sure to subscribe, rate & share. Every little bit of resistance helps. #podcast
Tomorrow we drop BONUS EPISODE #1 with our favorite Florida politician @annaforflorida.bsky.social!
We talked about what keeps her going, what the country can learn from FL being & how we can all make a difference.
Subscribe so you don’t miss any of our surprise bonus episodes!
#podcast
We talked about what keeps her going, what the country can learn from FL being & how we can all make a difference.
Subscribe so you don’t miss any of our surprise bonus episodes!
#podcast
January 26, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Tomorrow we drop BONUS EPISODE #1 with our favorite Florida politician @annaforflorida.bsky.social!
We talked about what keeps her going, what the country can learn from FL being & how we can all make a difference.
Subscribe so you don’t miss any of our surprise bonus episodes!
#podcast
We talked about what keeps her going, what the country can learn from FL being & how we can all make a difference.
Subscribe so you don’t miss any of our surprise bonus episodes!
#podcast
Episode 3 with Mariko Clark and Rachel Eleanor is now LIVE!
We talked about how The Book of Belonging how it gives us a path of loving resistance. This episode feels like a safe haven given the long year this week has been.
Don’t forget to subscribe, rate & share. It all helps! Link in comments.
We talked about how The Book of Belonging how it gives us a path of loving resistance. This episode feels like a safe haven given the long year this week has been.
Don’t forget to subscribe, rate & share. It all helps! Link in comments.
January 22, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Episode 3 with Mariko Clark and Rachel Eleanor is now LIVE!
We talked about how The Book of Belonging how it gives us a path of loving resistance. This episode feels like a safe haven given the long year this week has been.
Don’t forget to subscribe, rate & share. It all helps! Link in comments.
We talked about how The Book of Belonging how it gives us a path of loving resistance. This episode feels like a safe haven given the long year this week has been.
Don’t forget to subscribe, rate & share. It all helps! Link in comments.
I had THE best time talking with @coreysnathan.bsky.social from the Talkin’ Politics & Religion podcast. Really enjoyed his approach and tone. Thankful we connected here on Bluesky. Give it a listen (link in comments).
January 21, 2025 at 2:29 PM
I had THE best time talking with @coreysnathan.bsky.social from the Talkin’ Politics & Religion podcast. Really enjoyed his approach and tone. Thankful we connected here on Bluesky. Give it a listen (link in comments).
Anyone else feeling this way?
January 20, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Anyone else feeling this way?
I’m sick as a dog- do I downloaded the videos I wanted to keep from Tik Tok. Now, I’m forcing them on you.
January 19, 2025 at 2:54 AM
I’m sick as a dog- do I downloaded the videos I wanted to keep from Tik Tok. Now, I’m forcing them on you.
Millions have left the evangelical church not because they stopped believing in Jesus, but because they couldn’t find Him in the walls of a church more devoted to power than love.
The exodus isn’t a rejection of faith—it’s a search for a faith that looks more like Jesus and less like empire.
The exodus isn’t a rejection of faith—it’s a search for a faith that looks more like Jesus and less like empire.
January 15, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Millions have left the evangelical church not because they stopped believing in Jesus, but because they couldn’t find Him in the walls of a church more devoted to power than love.
The exodus isn’t a rejection of faith—it’s a search for a faith that looks more like Jesus and less like empire.
The exodus isn’t a rejection of faith—it’s a search for a faith that looks more like Jesus and less like empire.
A faith that sanctions withholding aid for political gain is a faith corrupted by the very power structures Jesus opposed.
January 14, 2025 at 1:48 AM
A faith that sanctions withholding aid for political gain is a faith corrupted by the very power structures Jesus opposed.
“Her beauty is treated as contaminating his purity. He is therefore vulnerable; he is weak. But men can’t be weak & fragile.”
This Wednesday, @billieiswriting.bsky.social dives deep into the psychology of disgust- how it dehumanizes & harms. Don’t miss this powerful episode of Shift Happens! 🎙️
This Wednesday, @billieiswriting.bsky.social dives deep into the psychology of disgust- how it dehumanizes & harms. Don’t miss this powerful episode of Shift Happens! 🎙️
January 13, 2025 at 5:19 PM
“Her beauty is treated as contaminating his purity. He is therefore vulnerable; he is weak. But men can’t be weak & fragile.”
This Wednesday, @billieiswriting.bsky.social dives deep into the psychology of disgust- how it dehumanizes & harms. Don’t miss this powerful episode of Shift Happens! 🎙️
This Wednesday, @billieiswriting.bsky.social dives deep into the psychology of disgust- how it dehumanizes & harms. Don’t miss this powerful episode of Shift Happens! 🎙️
Full inclusion is not just some theological nicety. It is at the heart of the gospel. Jesus wasn’t scandalous for who we excluded but for who he included.
A clip from our teaching today at Shift GNV. #christiansky
A clip from our teaching today at Shift GNV. #christiansky
January 12, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Full inclusion is not just some theological nicety. It is at the heart of the gospel. Jesus wasn’t scandalous for who we excluded but for who he included.
A clip from our teaching today at Shift GNV. #christiansky
A clip from our teaching today at Shift GNV. #christiansky
If you’ve been thinking about getting married and need an officiant- I’ll do it for free. If it’s in #Gainesville then it’s easy peasy. If it’s not local just get me there and I’ll do it.
This is ludicrous and just a taste of what we’re going to be dealing with.
This is ludicrous and just a taste of what we’re going to be dealing with.
January 8, 2025 at 7:36 PM
If you’ve been thinking about getting married and need an officiant- I’ll do it for free. If it’s in #Gainesville then it’s easy peasy. If it’s not local just get me there and I’ll do it.
This is ludicrous and just a taste of what we’re going to be dealing with.
This is ludicrous and just a taste of what we’re going to be dealing with.
I don’t want to brag but I did get this today. 2025 off to a pretty sweet start.
January 3, 2025 at 12:20 AM
I don’t want to brag but I did get this today. 2025 off to a pretty sweet start.