2024: A Look Back
Substack, book deals, and other bits and bobs
Our Year in Review 🪩
Public Theology launched:
October 27, 2024
Total posts:
25
Total subscribers:
4,533
Top Posts:
1. What Religious Persecution in America Really Looks Like
What Religious Persecution in America Really Looks Like
Christians in the West, specifically white evangelical Christians in America, have a tendency to cry “persecution” in ways similar to how the boy in the famous story cried “wolf.”
2. Keep Christ in Christmas
Keep Christ in Christmas
There’s a person in my neighborhood with a bumper sticker that says, “KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS.” Have you ever seen one of those? It’s a cartoon manger scene with those words emblazoned in all-caps across the bottom.
3. No, Everything Doesn’t Happen for a Reason
No, Everything Doesn't Happen for a Reason
Everything doesn’t happen for a divine reason, because God isn’t orchestrating every earthly event. We have to stop attributing the hateful actions of humans, and the consequences that follow, to a loving, benevolent God.
4. A Voice for Progressive Christians in Texas (and beyond)
A Voice for Progressive Christians in Texas (and beyond)
Several weeks ago, Chron religion reporter Eric Killelea asked if we could set up a call to discuss progressive Christianity in Texas and how it relates to politics in the lone star state. I was obviously interested and we set a date.
5. Our Place in God’s Great Story
Our Place in God's Great Story
We’ve all heard a lot about who God is, who we are, and what that means for our lives, but there are three things I need you to know:
Top Notes:
What subscribers are saying:
"You help me realize that being a Christian doesn't mean I have to fit in the perfect little box of Christian Nationalism. For that I am eternally grateful. " -R
"You give me hope that the Christianity I saw as a child is not lost." -Stephanie
"I supported your work because you speak directly to the issues in my church and life. I appreciate your perspective that enhances my understanding of God's calling to us all." -Jonathan
"I appreciate your witness." -M
"I think we have a lot in common in our life journeys as we allow Jesus to challenge our thinking. Thank you. I also appreciate how you write and it challenges me to improve how I express my thoughts on paper." -D
"Thanks for your insight. Really enjoy seeing your perspective, especially in times like these." -T
"I believe in diversity, equity and inclusion and that it is the cornerstone of Jesus’ message. I appreciate that this what you share." -Lynda
"Your writing is valuable, and I consider you someone who walks the talk who furthers my walk. It's the closest to pure love from the pulpit that I've experienced but solid scholarship. You think like I think so of course I get you! I need less of me though and more of Jesus. " -Melissa
"I was very moved by your recent post about loving your enemy. I am despondent after the election, but knowing that there are people like you out there makes it easier." -A
"I still believe in loving people like Jesus is an extremely powerful thing and am blessed to part of a community that believes this too.” -Katherine
"I supported Public Theology because Zach Lambert is an important prophetic voice of our time. I know very few people who elevate the voices of those who are silenced, and seek to bring light to dark places - speaking grace and truth in a way that resembles Jesus.” -Jeanna
"You give voice to the way I believe following Jesus is meant to be and was not in my traditional evangelical church.” -Kathleen
"You’ve helped me to ask really important questions about theology, challenged my thinking and have helped me to understand so much more about living out faith. Really thankful and look forward to hearing more through your substack. Thanks!" -Jessica
"I am excited to see how you use this medium to discuss a belief in the God who loves first. Congratulations on finding yet another way to shine your light." -Jerri
"I am so excited about this. I look forward to learning from you and others in this space. Thank you for your courage and faithfulness to speaking truth. 🫶🏻" -Marguerite
"I am an old, retired pastor, and feeling very far apart from my denomination of origin because of its stand on inclusivity of the LBGTQ+ community, and also - the terrifying rise of Christian nationalism. So I find it refreshing to read your take, and I’m grateful for your presence online.” -Diana
"I'm so excited about this Substack! Finding Pastor Zach on social media was a Godsend for me. His messages restored my hope in what the church can be when we keep the radical love and inclusion of Jesus as our focus and lens for everything. And I can't wait to hear more from Amy!" -Amy
Our 2024 Highlights:
Zach wrote his first book, Better Ways to Read the Bible! It will be published in August but you can preorder here. He also started his Doctorate of Ministry at Duke Divinity. He was a keynote speaker at CenterPeace’s conference in Dallas, TX, and the Post Evangelical Collective annual gathering in Raleigh, NC.
Amy committed to start writing again. She helped elementary and middle schoolers (and their caregivers) navigate speech therapy and special education in Texas public schools.
We started a Substack 🤩 and learned how to work together. Our church turned nine years old. We celebrated fourteen years of marriage and a bunch of birthdays, cheered through countless sporting events, and read almost one hundred books. We survived a presidential campaign and election. We ate a lot of queso. But most importantly, we tried to make our corner of the world (and internet) a little bit better.
Thank you for your support over the past two months. We are grateful for each and every one of you 🧡 Cheers to 2025— whatever it brings, we’re in this together.
Zach & Amy
Zach...so glad I found you and Amy here on Substack!