Podcast Summary: "We're Out of Time"

Episode: Pastor Justice Coleman on Exploring Faith, Community and Connection
Host: Richard Taite
Guest: Pastor Justice Coleman
Date: October 7, 2025

Episode Overview

In this thought-provoking episode, Richard Taite sits down with Pastor Justice Coleman, the founding pastor of Freedom Church in Los Angeles. They unpack themes of faith, mental health, community, and resilience—exploring how spiritual and emotional struggles intertwine, and how authentic connection can be a lifeline in a challenging world. With honesty and humor, the conversation ranges from deeply personal stories of addiction and healing to the practicalities of building supportive communities, all underscored by a search for hope and meaning.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Importance of Community and Genuine Connection

• [00:03] Pastor Justice Coleman: “You gotta have people. And I think you can get through just about anything in life if you have the right people around you.”
• Founding Freedom Church: Pastor Justice shares how he and his wife Maria launched the church in their apartment in 2011—aimed at those skeptical, struggling, or feeling disconnected from traditional church settings.
  • The church began with seven people, most of whom “didn’t go to church, weren’t sure if God was real, but were searching for something more.” ([01:11] – [01:58])
• Innovative Outreach:
  • Laundry Love: Monthly events paying for laundry at local laundromats for anyone, “no strings attached.” This practical service created spaces for genuine relationship without pressure to convert. ([07:30])
  • Church gatherings started in an Irish pub—embracing a community-for-all ethos.

2. Faith and Mental Health Intersect

• Prevalence of Anxiety/Depression: Both Richard and Pastor Justice vulnerably share their personal struggles with mental health:
  • [15:08] Pastor Justice Coleman: “If a thousand people walk into my church, how many of them have depression or anxiety? Nine out of ten.”
  • [15:15] Richard Taite: “I’m mental. And I've got the number one mental health podcast in the country.”
• Pastor Justice’s Story: He openly recounts severe childhood struggles—OCD, ADD, dyslexia—and details a life-changing experience where, after his parents fasted and prayed for him, his academic ability and mental health “flipped” overnight.
  • [20:01-21:44] “I was a mess, dude... They fasted for three days... On the third day, they took me back and had me retake all the tests... full flip.”
• Miracle and Grace: Both share stories where faith and prayer led to seemingly miraculous change, particularly around overcoming addictions and self-destructive patterns.
  • [23:31] Richard Taite: “I look up and I go, ‘Shut up. No way.’” (after prayer led him to quit smoking nearly overnight)

3. Faith, Grace, and Truth vs. Prosperity and Punishment

• [10:00] Richard Taite: “Some churches preach prosperity, others preach punishment. How do you preach grace in a way that truly changes lives instead of just filling seats?”
• Pastor Justice debates between ‘grace and truth’, describing a God who is both loving and challenging, like a father to his children. ([10:33]–[12:36])
  • “Grace is when we get what we don’t deserve... but truth, you know?”
• He rejects both punitive and purely prosperity-focused theology, emphasizing transformation, responsibility, and love.

4. Spiritual But Not Religious: The Language Barrier

• Many people claim "spiritual, not religious." Justice affirms the validity and depth of spiritual longing outside of organized religion.
  • [13:44] Pastor Justice Coleman: “I believe I’m made for something more... But I think spiritual realm involves light and dark.”
  • Both discuss the difficulty of describing faith in a way that transcends labels.

5. The Role of AI in Faith & Study

• Humorous, insightful exchange about using AI (ChatGPT) for biblical study and personal growth.
  • Both name their AI (“Alex” and “Chatty Patty”), noting its value and limitations.
  • [18:20] Pastor Justice Coleman: “I call mine Chatty Patty... Tell me 10 interesting things about this verse...”
  • Raises the idea that technology can be a tool for seeking understanding, but must be approached thoughtfully.

6. Gratitude, Grace, and Perspective with Age

• Life Review & Gratitude Practice:
  • [25:47] Pastor Justice Coleman: “What if God shows me all the times He had mercy on me and I didn’t even see it?... All the things He spared me from?”
  • Practicing gratitude shifts mood and outlook: “You can’t be grateful and depressed at the same time.” ([27:21] – Richard Taite)

7. Challenges in Relationships and Community

• Mental Health’s Ripple Effect:
  • Struggles are not just individual but spread across marriages, families, and communities.
  • Strong Mindset: “That comes from knowing who you are. So much of the Scriptures just tell you who you are so when things go bad, you can fall back on that.” ([28:02] – Pastor Justice)
• Community is Essential:
  • “It’s not good for man to be alone.” ([33:02])
  • The pandemic underscored the necessity of spiritual and social networks.
  • Value of Relationships: “The best gifts God’s ever given me are the people he’s put in my life.” ([34:32] – Pastor Justice)

8. Addressing Loss, Suicide, and Compassion

• [36:48] Richard Taite: “Suicide is tragically common now. What do you say to a parent who has lost a child to that kind of despair?”
  • Pastor Justice shares personal family trauma: His grandmother died by suicide; this legacy has shaped his empathy for others.
  • He avoids doctrinal certitude on afterlife fate—insists on God’s mercy and the limits of human understanding:
    • [38:48] Pastor Justice: “I don’t see anywhere in scripture where God would hold somebody responsible for the last thing they did like that. That doesn’t line up with a father.”

9. The Body, Addiction, and Spirituality

• Body as Sacred:
  • “Your body is not your own; you were bought at a price. So honor God with your body.” ([41:01])
  • Substance abuse and sexual trauma are not just physical but spiritual wounds—“You can’t really separate those two things.” ([41:56])
• Taking Care of the Body as a Spiritual Act:
  • Both discuss the disconnect people feel between body and spirit, especially in addiction recovery.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (w/ Timestamps)

• “Love is grace and truth.” – Justice Coleman ([00:10])
• “If I got what I deserved, I’d be living in a two-bedroom apartment in Culver City.” – Richard Taite ([23:39])
• “I just feel lucky... if you think about it too long, you just start crying. Yeah, it doesn’t make any sense at all. None.” – Richard Taite ([25:01])
• “You can't be grateful and depressed at the same time.” – Justice Coleman ([27:21])
• “The first thing [God] says is not good is for man to be alone... That’s not just marriage—that’s relationships in general.” – Justice Coleman ([33:03])
• “Whoever we yoke ourselves to is going to determine our direction and strength.” – Justice Coleman ([36:29])
• “I don't see anywhere in scripture where God would hold somebody responsible for the last thing they did like that. That doesn't line up with a father.” – Justice Coleman ([38:48])
• “Your body is not your own. You were bought at a price. So honor God with your body.” – Justice Coleman ([41:01])

Important Segments (Timestamps)

• Introduction & Freedom Church Founding – [01:11]–[09:00]
• Mental Health Discussion / Personal Stories – [15:00]–[25:00]
• On Grace, Prosperity, and Punishment in Preaching – [10:00]–[13:00]
• Spiritual But Not Religious “Rorschach Test” – [13:14]–[14:44]
• Discussing Tech, AI, and Faith – [16:15]–[19:31]
• Community, Relationships, and the Pandemic – [32:41]–[34:47]
• Suicide, Loss, and Compassionate Theology – [36:48]–[39:23]
• The Body as Sacred in Addiction & Healing – [39:23]–[42:27]

Tone and Atmosphere

The episode is raw, open, and heartfelt, blending humor with seriousness and anchored by both men’s willingness to be vulnerable. Pastor Justice’s energy is warm, inclusive, and humble. Richard’s questioning is direct, personal, sometimes irreverent, but always searching. The tone remains hopeful—emphasizing honesty, growth, and the healing power of loving relationships.

Summary

This episode is a masterclass in how spiritual leadership can meet people where they are—honoring doubt, pain, and struggle while providing practical wisdom and genuine hope. It tackles tough issues—addiction, loneliness, anxiety, suicide—without easy answers, always pointing back to grace, community, and honest self-examination. For listeners seeking a bridge between faith and mental health, and for anyone longing for deeper connection, it’s a resonant and memorable conversation.