Does the Bible support capitalism or socialism—or challenge both? What do Jesus’ teachings about wealth, the early church’s shared possessions, and the Old Testament’s economic laws mean for Christians today?

Dr. Michael Rhodes joins Preston to explore what Scripture says about money, work, poverty, generosity, and economic justice. From Jubilee and debt forgiveness to the difference between earning a profit and maximizing it, Michael challenges us to consider how following Jesus should shape our entire economic life.

We also wrestle with the role of government in helping the poor, minimum wage debates, the dangers of concentrated wealth and power, Michael’s critique of Elon Musk and the USAID cuts, and a question raised by When Helping Hurts: Can our generosity actually harm the people we want to help?

Michael Rhodes holds a PhD from the University of Aberdeen and lectures in Old Testament at Carey Baptist College in New Zealand. His books include Just Discipleship, Practicing the King’s Economy (coauthored), and Reimagining Biblical Politics.

CHAPTERS

00:00 “I Am the Rich Person”00:36 Introducing Dr. Michael Rhodes01:44 How Should We Read the Bible on Economics?05:06 Jubilee, Land Ownership, and Care for the Poor08:57 Beyond Charity: A Soup Kitchen or a Potluck?10:49 Why Did the Early Christians Sell Their Possessions?15:23 Did Jesus Expect Everyone to Give Everything Away?18:43 The Bible’s Warnings About Wealth Apply to Us19:46 Should Biblical Economics Shape Government Policy?22:36 Daniel, Proverbs, and Challenging Those in Power27:35 Can We Trust the Government to Help the Poor?31:15 Minimum Wage: Moving Beyond Political Talking Points38:24 A Business Owner Rethinks Profit—and Encounters Bad Policy41:10 Biblical Principles for Work, Generosity, and Economic Life44:15 Food Aid, Debt Forgiveness, and Breaking Cycles of Poverty46:59 Capitalism, Socialism, or Something Else?49:12 Is Profit Maximization Against God’s Will?50:29 Billionaires, Government, and Concentrated Power52:57 Elon Musk, USAID, and Christian Responsibility55:54 When Party Loyalty Overrides Our Convictions57:38 When Helping Hurts: Can Generosity Do Harm?62:30 Reimagining Biblical Politics

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Is the gospel simply about having our sins forgiven so we can go to heaven? N.T. Wright joins Preston to explore how Isaiah changes the way we understand Jesus, salvation, and the announcement that “Jesus is Lord.”

Drawing on his book, Into the Heart of Isaiah: The Meaning and Message of Isaiah 40–55, Tom walks us through the story of God’s return, the suffering servant, and the renewal of creation. Who is Isaiah’s servant: Israel, Jesus, or both? How does Isaiah help us understand John’s Gospel and Jesus’ parables? And why would the early Christian announcement of good news challenge the most powerful empire in the world?

We also discuss biblical authorship and inspiration, the idols Christians can remain captive to, what Jesus’ authority means for earthly politics, and how to read the Old Testament without missing the bigger picture.

N.T. Wright is a New Testament scholar, former Bishop of Durham, and senior research fellow at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. His many books include Surprised by Hope, Simply Christian, and After You Believe.

In our Extra Innings conversation, I ask Tom why he believes women can serve in every position of church leadership. Hear his response, including his reflections on Mary Magdalene and Phoebe, by joining the Theology in the Raw community:

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CHAPTERS

00:00 Is our gospel missing something?00:46 Introducing N.T. Wright and the gospel in Isaiah03:18 Why a New Testament scholar studies Isaiah05:08 Why Isaiah 40–55 belongs together07:55 Who wrote Isaiah, and does it matter?09:30 Can God inspire editors?12:25 Exile, the temple, and God’s promised return16:07 Why God works through human beings17:00 Israel, the servant, and renewed creation19:19 Sponsor: Boll & Branch20:26 Is the suffering servant Israel or Jesus?24:18 How Isaiah shapes the New Testament26:32 A gospel bigger than escaping the world27:18 Isaiah behind John’s Gospel and Jesus’ parables31:12 What “good news” means in Isaiah33:25 Is the gospel more than forgiveness?34:10 Jesus, Caesar, and the power of the cross35:47 “Jesus is Lord” and turning from idols37:17 What does Jesus’ authority on earth look like?38:24 The politically subversive message of Jesus40:08 American polarization and the church41:28 How to read Isaiah without getting lost46:05 N.T. Wright, the Beatles, and Coldplay48:43 Advice for preaching Isaiah

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Is the death penalty biblical? Should Christians support capital punishment—or does following Jesus lead us toward a different understanding of justice, mercy, and redemption?

Shane Claiborne joins me to discuss what the Bible says about the death penalty and why we both changed our minds. We explore Old Testament laws, Jesus’ teaching on “an eye for an eye,” the early church’s response to violence, and whether Romans 13 justifies capital punishment.

But this conversation goes beyond biblical interpretation. Shane shares stories from years of visiting people on death row, including encounters with people who were later exonerated, families of murder victims, and a former executioner. We wrestle with difficult questions: Can you be pro-life and support the death penalty? What about justice for victims? And what does it mean to believe that no one is beyond redemption?

Shane is an author, activist, and co-founder of Red Letter Christians. His books include Executing Grace: How the Death Penalty Killed Jesus and Why It’s Killing Us and Rethinking Life.

For my further thoughts on Romans 13 and the death penalty, join the Theology in the Raw community and watch or listen to Extra Innings:

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CHAPTERS

00:00 The Bible Belt is the death belt00:33 Why Christians are debating the death penalty05:27 Shane Claiborne: Why I changed my mind08:32 How the death penalty works in practice10:18 Who gets executed? Race, poverty, and geography12:05 The human cost of death row14:11 Can people on death row change?16:50 What does biblical justice look like?17:37 Don Johnson: Redemption on death row20:01 What about the victims?23:59 Forgiveness after the Charleston church shooting25:10 Christian leaders and the death penalty26:36 An invitation to pray on death row29:20 Does the Old Testament justify capital punishment?30:44 Jesus and “an eye for an eye”31:54 The early church on killing and state violence35:38 Why Christians still defend the death penalty37:07 Reading Old Testament laws as Christians39:22 Wrongful convictions and trusting the state41:10 Race, wealth, and unequal justice43:56 A Jewish perspective on the death penalty44:48 Does Romans 13 support the death penalty?47:50 The Reformation and the power of the state49:58 Wrestling with a change of mind51:12 Firing squads and the toll on executioners52:54 Forgiveness, consequences, and the gospel53:37 Shane’s books and further resources

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Have we lost something in communion? Is the Lord’s Supper simply a symbol that reminds us of Jesus’ death, or is something more happening when we receive the bread and wine?

Anglican priest Hannah Miller King joins Preston to explore the Eucharist and its role in spiritual formation. They discuss Catholic, Protestant, and Anglican understandings of Christ’s presence, why communion has become an afterthought in some churches, and whether we should expect to feel anything when we take it.

Drawing from her book, Feasting on Hope: How God Sets a Table in the Wilderness, Hannah shares how communion has shaped her experience of grief, belonging, and healing. They also discuss her experience as a female priest and how Christians can remain in fellowship while disagreeing about women in church leadership.

In Extra Innings, Preston asks Hannah why some evangelicals are drawn to Anglican, Catholic, and Orthodox churches. Hear her own journey and the extended conversation by joining the TITR community: https://www.patreon.com/theologyintheraw

CHAPTERS

00:00 Is communion more than an object lesson?00:46 Have we lost something in communion?04:35 Introducing Hannah Miller King05:01 Different Christian views of the Eucharist07:33 The early church, Luther, and Calvin10:55 What can Christians agree on about communion?13:34 Wasn’t the Lord’s Supper an actual meal?17:03 Sponsors19:09 Has communion become an afterthought?20:42 Making the table central to worship24:05 Wine, grape juice, and why the elements matter26:24 Communion, grief, and those we’ve lost29:43 What if I don’t feel anything?33:25 Embodiment, trauma, and healing37:58 Lament and the hope of resurrection39:06 Bringing our suffering to the table41:30 Teaching a richer understanding of communion43:23 Being a female Anglican priest47:25 Disagreeing about women’s ordination49:41 Unity without agreeing on everything51:57 Why male-only bishops?55:15 Faith when the miracle doesn’t come

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Are evangelicals really defined by Donald Trump, culture wars, and the pursuit of political power? Or are we missing a much bigger picture?

Bonnie Kristian joins Preston to discuss her book, In Defense of Evangelicalism: A Response to Its Cultured Despisers. A journalist and deputy editor at Christianity Today, Bonnie offers a defense of evangelicalism while openly criticizing its failures and explaining why she isn’t a Trump supporter.

We explore what “evangelical” actually means, the accusations leveled against the movement, and why Bonnie believes some critiques overlook the ordinary faithfulness of millions of Christians. We also discuss evangelical support for Trump, what voting statistics can and can’t tell us, and the difference between voting for a candidate and embracing everything that candidate represents.

The conversation also tackles Christian nationalism, the line between voting your values and imposing your beliefs, evangelical attitudes toward war, and Bonnie’s disagreements with Jesus and John Wayne. Can we take evangelical hypocrisy seriously without reducing an entire movement to its worst examples? And can we criticize someone’s politics without dismissing their faith?

CHAPTERS

00:00 Critiquing politics without condemning people

00:30 Are evangelicals really that bad?

03:50 Introducing Bonnie Kristian

06:45 What does “evangelical” actually mean?

10:31 Why hesitate to call yourself evangelical?

11:41 Five accusations against evangelicalism

16:35 Are evangelical faith and Republican politics inseparable?

18:24 Putting the “81 percent” statistic in context

20:18 Why evangelicals vote for Trump

24:13 Culture wars, political power, and voting your values

27:12 When does voting your faith become Christian nationalism?

33:28 Defending evangelicals without supporting Trump

35:45 War, conscience, and rejecting both parties

39:28 Why do evangelicals support war?

43:48 Torture, the Golden Rule, and the influence of faith

45:58 Pushback on the book and Jesus and John Wayne

50:42 Why Bonnie won’t denounce evangelical Trump voters

53:36 Criticism, reform, and contempt for evangelicals

54:40 Engaging critics and knowing when to step away

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What does faith look like when healing doesn’t come? And how can churches move beyond welcoming people with disabilities to creating genuine belonging? Cameron and Annie Horner join Preston to explore disability, marriage, suffering, and what the church misses when disabled voices are sidelined.

Cameron and Annie share how they met at the Exiles in Babylon conference and how vulnerability shaped their relationship. Together, they challenge assumptions about disability and offer practical ways churches can remove barriers to worship, community, and leadership. 

Cameron Horner is a quadriplegic pastor, speaker, and ministry leader who became paralyzed from the chest down at age 18 after a diving accident. Annie Horner is a mental health therapist with Living Whole Hearted, a clinic based in Portland, Oregon. Together, they lead Accessible Grace, equipping churches to move beyond inclusion to genuine belonging for people with disabilities.

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CHAPTERS

00:00 Faith when healing doesn’t come 00:45 Why disability belongs in the church conversation 03:36 Meet Cameron and Annie Horner 04:22 A love story that started at Exiles in Babylon 07:18 Annie’s story: abuse, faith, and finding hope 11:40 From Ireland to a marriage proposal 12:47 Dating, disability, and assumptions about relationships 16:37 Building a relationship on what matters 19:33 Sponsor: Western Seminary 20:30 What people misunderstand about their marriage 21:24 Purity culture and the “ideal spouse” checklist 24:06 How vulnerability made room for love 26:46 When disability happens during a marriage 29:59 Disability and the church: where do we start? 32:08 Accessibility beyond ramps and parking spaces 35:21 Seeing disability as part of the body’s diversity 38:48 How church culture can exclude families 40:59 Who gets to lead in our churches? 43:12 Cameron’s calling to pastor and teach 46:03 Moses, disability, and God’s accommodation 48:11 “Stand if you’re able”: why language matters 52:31 Disability theology and the resurrected Jesus 56:18 How should we talk about disability? 58:29 A first step for church leaders: listen 61:09 What disability teaches us about being human 62:48 Celebrating faithfulness without a miraculous ending 65:18 Cameron and Preston’s marathon rivalry

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When does church leadership become spiritual manipulation? And how do you disagree with a pastor who says, “God told me”? Preston talks with New Testament scholar Joshua W. Jipp about how even well-meaning Christian leaders can cross the line from serving people to controlling them.

Drawing on his book, How (Not) to Be a Tyrant, Josh explores what the Bible’s worst rulers reveal about power, ambition, and the temptation to use God’s authority to advance our own agendas. We discuss why charisma and results aren’t enough to identify a healthy leader, how fear can become a tool of control, and what makes Jesus’ approach to leadership radically different.

We also wrestle with church leadership structures, Paul’s use of authority, Romans 13 and Revelation 13, and when Christians should submit, push back, or leave. Along the way, we consider the faithful pastors whose humility and service rarely make the headlines.

Joshua W. Jipp (PhD, Emory University) is associate professor of New Testament at the University of Notre Dame. He is the author of several books, including his most recent book, How (Not) to Be a Tyrant: Ten Lessons on Life and Leadership from the Bible’s Worst Rulers (Brazos Press).

CHAPTERS

00:00 When spiritual authority becomes control

00:39 Introducing Joshua W. Jipp

02:19 Why study the Bible’s worst rulers?

07:04 Leadership and power throughout the Bible

09:55 Did God want Israel to have a king?

13:32 Sponsors

15:53 The temptation facing well-meaning leaders

17:47 Using God to advance a leader’s agenda

18:59 Why success and charisma aren’t enough

23:16 Does the Bible prescribe a church leadership structure?

28:29 How can a servant leader exercise authority?

34:58 Subtle warning signs of controlling leadership

37:57 When disagreeing with a leader means disagreeing with God

39:46 Can other leaders genuinely push back?

40:59 How fear becomes a tool of control

42:18 Submitting to bad rulers: Romans 13 and Revelation 13

47:30 When should you push back on church leadership?

51:13 The faithful pastors who don’t make headlines

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Are Christians being fair in how we understand Islam? Palestinian Christian scholar Dr. Daniel Bannoura joins Preston Sprinkle to explore Islam and Christianity, religious violence, what the Quran says about Jesus, and the treatment of women.

In the fourth and final episode of our Understanding Islam series, Daniel helps me process my conversations with Javad Hashmi, Gabriel Said Reynolds, and Fariza Gulomikova, including some of the pushback the series received.

Daniel grew up in the West Bank and earned his PhD in Islamic Studies at Notre Dame, focusing on the biblical subtext of the Qur’an. We discuss the relationship between the Quran and Hadith, Islamic teachings about Jesus and the Trinity, and Daniel’s interpretation of the Quran’s passage on the crucifixion.

We also wrestle with Christianity’s own history of justifying violence and how politics, culture, and education shape Muslim communities. And I press Daniel on whether Christianity and Islam offer distinct visions for the treatment of women.

It’s a challenging conversation about real theological differences, our own assumptions, and what it means to love our Muslim neighbors faithfully.

Watch or listen to Extra Innings at https://patreon.com/theologyintheraw, where Daniel and I tackle your questions: Is Islam animated by dark spiritual forces? Is it a Christian heresy or a separate religion? What can Christians learn from Muslims? And how should we respond to fears about Sharia law in America?

CHAPTERS

00:00 A Palestinian Christian’s experience of violence

00:31 Understanding Islam: The series finale

02:22 Meet Dr. Daniel Bannoura

05:13 Learning to love Muslim neighbors

08:31 Reflecting on the Islam series

12:31 Was Javad Hashmi representative of Islam?

18:22 The Quran, Hadith, and Islamic scholarship

24:22 What does Islam teach about Jesus?

28:27 The Quran and the Trinity

30:08 Does the Quran deny Jesus’ crucifixion?

35:43 How religious traditions develop

38:14 Why focus on violence and women?

40:27 Comparing Christian and Muslim violence

44:30 Muslim diversity beyond the stereotypes

45:43 Colonialism, politics, and religious extremism

48:37 Women, culture, and education

52:08 Do Christianity and Islam treat women differently?

55:00 Jesus’ countercultural treatment of women

59:41 Your questions answered in Extra Innings

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What is constant noise doing to our souls? And why can being alone with God feel so uncomfortable?

John Mark Comer joins Preston to discuss his latest book, Into the Quiet: Following Jesus in a World of Noise. We explore how noise affects our capacity to love God and others, what surfaced during John Mark’s 21-day solitude retreat, and why silence often brings us face-to-face with the pain we’ve been avoiding.

John Mark also shares why quiet doesn’t come naturally to him, how to practice solitude within the demands of everyday life, the difference between solitude and loneliness, and the surprising structure of the small church he helps pastor.

John Mark Comer is the New York Times bestselling author of eight books, including Practicing the Way, which was named the 2025 Christian Book of the Year by the ECPA, and The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, which has sold more than a million copies and been translated into over 20 languages. His latest book is Into the Quiet: Following Jesus in a World of Noise, which forms the basis of our conversation. John Mark is a pastor and the founder of Practicing the Way, an organization working to see the renewal of apprenticeship to Jesus in our time.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Why solitude is so hard

00:49 Introducing John Mark Comer

03:57 Running, ministry, and friendship

07:24 Why your body matters for spiritual formation

10:27 Writing theology that people can understand

12:53 Noise is a threat to our souls

13:48 Sponsors

15:45 How noise affects our bodies and relationships

21:47 John Mark’s 21-day solitude retreat

24:32 What we learn when distractions are stripped away

27:36 Jesus’ rhythm of retreat and return

30:49 Becoming a person of quiet in an anxious world

34:45 Solitude for busy people and extroverts

38:39 Finding quiet within the life you actually have

42:08 The difference between solitude and loneliness

44:56 Inside John Mark’s small church community

47:51 Extra Innings: Women in church leadership

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What happens when the story you grew up believing meets the people whose voices were missing from it?

Peter Beinart joins Preston to discuss how spending time with Palestinians challenged his understanding of Israel, Jewish identity, and the relationship between safety and freedom. They explore his experience of October 7, the history of Palestinian displacement, his comparison with apartheid South Africa, and why he believes the conflict is bigger than Hamas. Peter also reflects on the personal cost of challenging his community’s assumptions and why he argues that nationalism can become a form of idolatry.

Peter is Professor of Journalism and Political Science at the Newmark School of Journalism at the City University of New York, a contributing opinion writer at The New York Times, Editor-at-Large of Jewish Currents, an MS NOW political commentator, and a Non-Resident Fellow at the Foundation for Middle East Peace. He writes the Beinart Notebook newsletter on Substack. His latest book, Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning, is a New York Times bestseller and winner of the PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Award for Nonfiction.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction08:00 Peter’s experience of October 710:35 Rethinking Israel after meeting Palestinians13:52 The history Peter grew up believing18:44 Understanding 1948: Independence and the Nakba23:43 Grieving October 7 and opposing Israel’s response26:40 Why this conflict is bigger than Hamas32:01 Lessons from apartheid South Africa35:05 Why Peter calls Israel’s system apartheid40:59 America’s role and support for Israel45:19 The personal cost of speaking out48:19 Judaism, Zionism, and nationalism as idolatry52:47 Is there hope for equality and freedom?56:29 Extra Innings: American evangelicals and Israel

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What happens when immigrants who came to the U.S. legally lose their status and face deportation? And what happens to their American-born children when the country their parents could be sent to is considered too dangerous to visit?

Matthew Soerens joins Preston to unpack some of the biggest questions and misconceptions surrounding immigration. Why don’t immigrants just come legally? Do undocumented immigrants take American jobs? What does the evidence say about immigration and violent crime? And how should Christians weigh respect for the law alongside the biblical commands to love our neighbors and welcome strangers?

Matthew Soerens is World Relief’s vice president of advocacy and policy and is the co-author of three books: Welcoming the Stranger (InterVarsity Press, 2018), Inalienable (InterVarsity Press, 2022), and Seeking Refuge (Moody Publishers, 2026), which just released a second edition. Matt also serves as the National Coordinator for the Evangelical Immigration Table, a coalition that advocates for immigration reforms consistent with biblical values.

Chapters:

0:00 Haitian families and the danger of separation

0:44 How should Christians think about immigration?

5:15 Starting with Scripture, not party talking points

10:34 Romans 13 and changing legal status

12:38 What’s happening to Haitian families in Springfield?

18:51 Why was temporary protected status withdrawn?

21:25 What can churches do for affected families?

23:58 Can people with temporary status apply to stay?

26:42 Why don’t immigrants just come legally?

35:54 Do immigrants take American jobs?

41:46 What about undocumented immigrants and the economy?

48:36 A proposed path to make things right

51:00 Do immigrants commit more violent crime?

55:25 What would mass deportation mean for the church?

58:26 What do evangelical Christians actually believe?

1:00:54 Seeking Refuge and the global refugee crisis

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Is the Book of Revelation a roadmap to the future, or was it meant to help Christians see their own world more clearly?

New Testament scholar David deSilva joins Preston to walk through Revelation from the seven churches to the New Jerusalem. They discuss why John wrote to real communities living under the Roman Empire, what the throne room reveals about Jesus’ authority, and how the seals, trumpets, and bowls speak to suffering, judgment, and faithful witness.

They also explore Revelation’s critique of empire and political allegiance. What did “Babylon” mean to John’s first readers? What does it mean to “come out of Babylon” today? And which parts of Revelation should Christians understand as future hope?

Dr. David deSilva is an ordained elder in the Florida Conference of the GMC and has served as Professor of New Testament and Greek at Ashland Theological Seminary since 1995. He is the author of forty books, including Seeing Things John's Way and his recently released Archaeology and the Revelation of John.

Chapters

0:00 Introduction

5:12 Who Was Revelation Written For?

10:21 Who Was John?

12:11 Jesus and the Seven Churches

16:19 Prophecy and John’s Authority

20:40 The Real Cities Behind the Seven Churches

26:49 Revelation, Empire, and Political Allegiance

35:19 Speaking Prophetically to Our Own Political Side

40:25 The Throne Room: Who Is Really in Charge?

46:21 What Does the Scroll Represent?

49:05 The Seals, Trumpets, and Bowls

55:17 Is Reading Revelation as Prediction Overrated?

58:34 How Should We Read Revelation Today?

1:02:44 Babylon and the Roman Empire

1:10:14 What Does “Come Out of Babylon” Mean?

1:13:23 The New Jerusalem and Revelation’s Future Hope

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Fariza Gulomikova grew up in a Shia Ismaili family in Tajikistan. As a child, she saw how much a person could lose by leaving Islam. Then her cousin became a Christian, and the kindness she encountered at his church challenged everything she thought she knew about Christians.

In part three of our Understanding Islam series, Fariza tells Preston about her childhood, her encounter with Jesus at age 11, her family’s response to her conversion, and the challenges of starting over in the United States. She also shares what she wishes Christians understood about their Muslim neighbors.

Chapters

0:00 Fariza’s decision to become a Christian

0:32 Introduction to part three of Understanding Islam

2:23 Growing up in Tajikistan during a civil war

5:31 Sunni, Shia, and Fariza’s Ismaili background

12:22 Growing up as a girl in a Muslim majority country

17:47 The pressures and dangers Fariza saw women face

26:41 Fariza’s people, language, and culture

29:10 Her childhood view of Christianity

31:34 The cousin who changed her view of Christians

33:32 The kindness that drew her toward Jesus

34:30 Fariza’s encounter with Jesus at age 11

36:45 What she was taught about Jesus in Islam

38:44 Fariza’s advice for Christians talking with Muslims

43:39 How her family responded to her conversion

47:33 Starting over in America

52:28 Islam, terrorism, and stereotypes

55:28 Searching for belonging in Christian communities

58:41 Fariza’s final word to Christians

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How does the Qur’an compare to the Bible? Do Muslims read it the way evangelical Christians read the Bible? And if the Qur’an is Islam’s sacred text, why are the Hadith so important for understanding what Muslims believe and how they live?

In part two of our series on Islam, Preston sits down with Dr. Gabriel Said Reynolds, a Catholic Qur’an scholar and the Crowley Professor of Islamic Studies and Theology at the University of Notre Dame. He earned his Ph.D. from Yale University and is the author of The Qur’an and Its Biblical Subtext, The Qur’an and the Bible, and Christianity and the Qur’an.

Together, they explore how Muslims understand the Qur’an, where it came from, how it took shape, and how its form and use compare with the Bible. They also discuss Muhammad’s relationship to the Qur’an, the early Islamic conquests, passages concerning violence and women, and why reading the Qur’an by itself does not necessarily tell you how Muslims will interpret or apply it.

Gabriel’s books explore how the Qur’an engages earlier scriptures and what that relationship can tell us about the emergence of Islam. His latest book, Christianity and the Qur’an, was published by Yale University Press in 2025.

You can find more of Gabriel’s work on his YouTube channel, Exploring the Qur’an and the Bible.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Why reading the Quran alone isn’t enough

00:42 Introducing Dr. Gabriel Said Reynolds

02:15 How Gabriel began studying Islam

05:31 What is the Quran?

09:03 Where did the Quran come from?

12:24 Did Muhammad write the Quran?

14:13 How does the Quran compare to the Bible and Psalms?

19:13 The biggest differences between the Quran and the Bible

21:42 Violence and the early Islamic conquests

27:10 How early Muslims treated Christians and other conquered peoples

32:29 Does the Quran command violence?

39:32 How Muslims interpret difficult Quranic passages

43:28 Is Islam inherently violent?

47:25 What does the Quran say about women?

49:58 Polygamy and the disputed passage about striking wives

52:29 Modesty, honor, and women in Muslim societies

59:07 What are the Hadith, and why do they matter?

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What do Christians misunderstand about Islam? Is it inherently violent? Was it spread by the sword? What do Muslims believe about Christians, Sharia, women, the Quran, and the Hadith?

In the first episode of our three-part series on Islam, Preston sits down with Dr. Javad Hashmi, a Muslim scholar and PhD candidate in Islamic Studies at Harvard University.

The conversation explores the origins of Islam, what historians can know about Muhammad, the development of the Quran and Hadith, Sunni and Shia Islam, Sharia, early Muslim-Christian relations, Islamic empires, religious violence, ISIS and al-Qaeda, the treatment of women, and how Muslims view Christians and Americans.

This conversation is not intended to settle every question or present one definitive account of Islam. It is an attempt to listen carefully, understand Islam’s internal diversity, and ask difficult questions without reducing an entire religious tradition to slogans or stereotypes.

This is Part 1 of our series, Understanding Islam.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Does the Quran Promote Violence?

00:43 What Is Islam, Really?

05:21 Introducing Dr. Javad Hashmi

06:32 How to Understand Any Religion

12:41 Muhammad and the Origins of Islam

23:40 Early Muslim-Christian Relations

29:16 Was Islam Spread by the Sword?

42:30 Sunni, Shia, and Sufi Islam

49:50 Core Beliefs and Sharia

55:46 The Quran Versus the Hadith

1:04:36 Islam, Violence, and Terrorism

1:15:41 Islam and Women

1:27:03 How Muslims View Christians and Americans

1:32:22 Closing

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Who decided what a “good woman” should look like?

Long before social media, paintings, sculptures, religious images, and other forms of visual culture were shaping our expectations of women. Those images did not merely reflect society. They helped define beauty, sexuality, motherhood, virtue, and even what Christians imagined a godly woman should be.

Dr. Elissa Yukiko Weichbrodt is an art historian (Ph.D. from Washington University) and is a professor of art and art history at Covenant College. She’s also the author of two books: the award-winning Redeeming Vision: A Christian Guide to Looking at and Learning from Art (Baker Academic 2023) and her recent book Look Like a Lady: Five Visual Tropes of Womanhood and How to See Ourselves Differently (Brazos 2026), which forms the basis of our conversation today.

Chapters:

00:00 The Desire to Be Desirable

00:41 What Is a Woman?

03:39 Meet Elissa Yukiko Weichbrodt

06:16 How Art Shapes Christian Theology

09:58 Why Medieval Jesus Looks Like a Little Man

14:22 Five Images of Womanhood

15:20 The Venus Trope and Sexual Desirability

18:10 Why Women Learn to See Themselves as Objects

23:21 Purity Culture and the Objectification of Women

28:37 Mary, Elizabeth, and a Better Way of Seeing

33:35 The Myth of the Perfect Mother

38:02 How the Reformation Changed Womanhood

43:44 Are Women Competing for God’s Love?

46:27 Infertility, Motherhood, and Female Identity

49:30 “Is Something Wrong With Me?”

52:24 Do Fathers Get More of a Free Pass?

54:45 How Women Become “Monsters”

59:47 Does the Church Still Vilify Women?

63:45 Shaped by Trauma, Not Defined by It

65:36 A Bigger Vision of Christian Womanhood

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Are parents accidentally making their kids more anxious by protecting them from discomfort?

Dr. Chinwé Williams joins Preston to explain why anxiety, depression, loneliness, and social avoidance have risen among young people. They discuss the role of smartphones and social media, the disappearance of real-world community, constant exposure to frightening news, trauma, pornography, and the pressure many kids feel to avoid failure.

Dr. Chinwé Williams is a Licensed and Board-Certified therapist with expertise spanning a variety of domains, including youth and family mental health, parenting & and trauma recovery. Chinwé has served in academic, corporate, school, and faith-based work settings. She’s also the co-author of the best-selling book Seen: Healing Despair and Anxiety in Kids and Teens Through the Power of Connection and her latest book is: Calm, Courageous, and Connected: A Parent's Guide to Raising Emotionally Resilient Kids

Chapters:

0:00 Avoidance Is Feeding Kids’ Anxiety

2:20 Is the Youth Mental Health Crisis Real?

5:30 What Is Causing the Mental Health Crisis?

8:08 What Social Media Is Taking Away From Kids

9:32 Why Kids Need “Third Spaces”

12:41 Are Kids Becoming Afraid to Take Risks?

16:54 Why Teens Struggle With Social Anxiety

20:04 How Avoidance Makes Anxiety Worse

21:15 Building Grit and Emotional Resilience

23:58 How Parents Accidentally Reinforce Anxiety

26:22 How Parents’ Childhood Wounds Shape Their Parenting

29:57 Fear, Bad News, and the “Milk Carton Generation”

35:10 Trauma, Sexual Abuse, and Pornography

43:30 How Parents Can Help Anxious Kids

44:04 Co-Regulation and Connection Before Correction

48:30 Teaching Kids Cognitive Flexibility

51:12 The “Grace Check”

52:42 Healthy Smartphone and Social Media Boundaries

55:41 Who Could Your Teen Call at 2 A.M.?

56:29 Calm, Courageous, and Connected

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Hey friends,

Check out the top voted questions from my September Q & A! For the full episode, join the Theology in the Raw Patreon Community at https://www.patreon.com/theologyintheraw

Here's the full list of Questions:

00:59 Isn’t it unfair to consider gay-affirming Christians “outside the fold” when pro-war Christians have an equally unbiblical view, but are not treated as such?09:15 Prophecy of male birth aside, could Jesus have been female and still died for the sins of the world?13:21 Assuming a view of Jesus with literal brothers, sons of Mary, why do you think Jesus at the cross entrusted the care of Mary to John and not to his literal brothers?15:45 My mother-in-law is a hospice nurse and had a patient request that she be present at their medically assisted suicide. My mother-in-law would not administer anything, but should she go?17:40 Are David and Jonathan and Ruth and Naomi good biblical kinship examples of modern same-sex celibate partnerships?20:11 I really appreciated your two discussions of biblical masculinity. Any further thoughts or takeaways after you’ve had some time to mull over the conversations?24:11 How is it that believers, all with the Spirit guiding them, come to such opposing conclusions? How can we be confident we know what God is actually saying or leading us to?27:03 After a decade at a fast-growing church, should I be concerned that I don’t feel rooted or have a role, while later arrivals become deacons and become known by the leaders?28:11 Do Job’s speeches function as valid lament for Christians, or are they out of bounds? Some of his statements are pretty intense.31:09 Would you ever consider having a Christian polygamist on your show? I’ve seen a lot more recently. I strongly disagree, but would love a real back-and-forth.33:27 How would you explain the doctrine of the Trinity to a nonbeliever or a child? How does it make sense that the Son doesn’t know the day or time of the end?37:33 Is communion in the Bible always done with the group eating from a common loaf and drinking from a common cup? If so, should that be the standard practice today?42:18 Is Satan God’s enemy or just ours? If we fail a test, is it Satan’s fault or the proctor’s fault? Was Satan upset when Jesus and Job passed the test? Is the Satan of Job and Matthew 4 the same as Revelation?44:22 In thinking about friendship as an intimate relationship, what is the place of physical affection? What is cultural versus biblical, especially for men? How do we get there?47:32 What do you think of Greg Boyd’s cruciform hermeneutic of Old Testament violence described in The Crucifixion of the Warrior God?50:35 My son asks what we know about angels and archangels from the Old Testament versus pop culture. What do Judaism and Christianity say about ranks, personhood, and the reason for their creation?53:59 Does a Genesis-first hermeneutic in Matthew 19 imply Christians should be vegetarian as New Eden people, like Adam and Eve? Also, Isaiah 11.58:37 Do Jews and Christians worship the same God, or does the incarnation fundamentally change who God is? I still feel unclear.1:00:40 In 1 Timothy 3:2, one of the qualifications for an elder is “able to teach,” which doesn’t appear for deacons or women. Is this a good argument against women teaching?1:04:19 What’s the likelihood that Paul was married and subsequently widowed or divorced? I’ve heard that to be a Pharisee, he would have had to be married. Is this true?

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What if Christian unity doesn’t mean agreeing about everything?

Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez joins Preston to discuss the difference between genuine Christian unity and the false peace created by forced agreement. Drawing from her new book, False Peace, Pricelis explains why sameness can silence people, erase meaningful differences, and prevent churches from addressing conflict honestly.

They discuss political and theological disagreement within the church, pastoring a diverse congregation in the Bronx, creating a church culture that welcomes criticism, and deciding which doctrines Christians should divide over.

In the Patreon-exclusive Extra Innings segment, Preston and Pricelis continue the conversation by discussing women in church leadership, Pricelis’s journey toward becoming an ordained pastor, and how she maintains meaningful relationships with Christians who strongly disagree with her.

Join the Theology in the Raw Patreon community to listen to Extra Innings: https://www.patreon.com/theologyintheraw

Learn more about Pricelis and her book, False Peace: How to Reject the Lie of Sameness, Embrace Difference, and Embody True Unity: https://www.pricelispd.com/my-books

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What does the Bible really mean by modesty, and why have Christian conversations about clothing so often produced shame, especially for women and teenage girls?

Dr. Sandra Richter is a renown biblical scholar, author, and professor of Old Testament at Westmont College. The 2nd edition of her killer book, The Epic of Eden, releases in November 2026. Sandy is also a faithful mom, and one of her daughters, Noël Tsoukalas, joins us in this conversation about modesty. Noël is a Pop singer-songwriter and worship leader. She made a name for herself on Season 21 of American Idol, where she received a golden ticket and three “yeses” from celebrity judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan. Check out her music on Spotify!

00:00:00 “Your Outfit Is Causing My Husband to Stumble”

00:06:55 Sandy & Noel on Modesty and Purity Culture

00:12:50 How the Church Has Mishandled Modesty

00:18:10 Sandy’s Experience with Christian Dress Codes

00:21:26 When Modesty Culture Makes Girls’ Bodies “Public Property”

00:27:21 The Billy Graham Rule and Women in Church Leadership

00:32:21 What Does Biblical Modesty Actually Look Like?

00:36:18 Body Shaming and Modesty in the Church

00:38:26 Teaching Girls to Set Boundaries with Church Leaders

00:42:51 Should Churches Have Dress Codes?

00:51:26 Body Types and the Subjectivity of Modesty

00:53:36 What Does Modesty Look Like for Men?

00:56:28 Biblical Modesty Is About More Than Sexuality

00:59:12 Double Standards for Men and Women at Christian Camps

01:01:41 How Should Christian Camps Handle Swimsuit Dress Codes?

01:06:15 Does Modesty Culture Discourage Women from Ministry?

01:08:30 Social Media, Body Image, and Female Musicians

01:11:30 Healing from Shame Around Modesty and Purity Culture

01:14:05 Who Should Talk to Women About Their Clothing?

01:15:20 Forrest Frank and Cory Asbury make the internet stumble

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Colleen Ramser is an EMDR-certified licensed professional counselor (LPC) who specializes in trauma, particularly the effects of spiritual abuse, domestic abuse, and complex trauma. She’s a survivor of spiritual trauma, which she talks about in the show, and she’s the author of the book The Shattered Soul: Restoring Wholeness and Rebuilding Your Faith After Spiritual Trauma, which addresses a lot of the things we discuss in this fasciainating conversation.

00:00 Why Spiritual Trauma Can Make Faith Feel Impossible

00:30 Introduction

02:52 What Qualifies as Trauma?

05:49 Trauma vs. PTSD

07:46 Resilience, Support, and Post-Traumatic Growth

17:06 What Is Spiritual Trauma?

21:00 Colleen’s Experience with Spiritual Abuse

31:18 Signs and Symptoms of Spiritual Trauma

32:48 How Spiritual Trauma Affects Pastors and Church Leaders

39:14 Recognizing and Treating Spiritual Trauma

41:20 Healing Trauma and Rebuilding Your Faith

46:06 Complex Spiritual Trauma vs. Theological Disagreement

49:46 Is the Term “Spiritual Abuse” Overused?

57:30 Are Churches Getting Better at Addressing Abuse?

63:24 Jesus, Power, and the Fruit of the Spirit

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To listen to or watch our extra innings conversation, become a member of the Theology in the Raw community at https://www.patreon.com/theologyintheraw.

Dr Sandra Glahn has spend more than a quarter of a century working as a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary. She's the cofounder of the Visual Museum of Women in Christianity and the author of more than 25 books--her latest being A Woman's Place Is in the Story. In this episode, we discuss several women in the Old Testament and how the biblical narrator frames their stories. In our "extra innings" conversation, we discuss the question: "What do Egalitarians and Complementarians get wrong about the women in leadership debate." 

00:00:00 Introduction

00:02:56 How Biblical Narrators Shape the Story

00:04:39 Word Repetition in the Bible: Why It Matters

00:05:29 Tamar in Genesis 38: Hero or Villain?

00:11:32 Are All Women in the Bible Meant to Be Role Models?

00:12:08 Judah and Tamar: A Biblical Character Transformation

00:16:44 Shiphrah and Puah: The Midwives Who Defied Pharaoh

00:21:05 Why Every Christian Should Know Shiphrah and Puah

00:22:17 Did Moses Challenge Patriarchy in the Old Testament?

00:29:57 Abigail in 1 Samuel: Wisdom, Courage, and Leadership

00:36:34 Was Ancient Israel Really a Patriarchy?

00:39:51 Elisha and the Shunammite Woman: A Surprising Biblical Story

00:43:17 Job's Daughters and Women's Inheritance Rights

00:48:15 Why Reading the Full Biblical Story Changes Everything

00:50:10 Jezebel: Justice, Power, and the Biblical Narrative

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Max Lucado is a pastor with decades of ministry experience and one of the most bestselling Christian authors of all time, who’s written more than 40 books that have sold around 150 million copies and have been translated in 56 languages. His latest book is Unbreakable Courage: Strong Faith in an Age of Anxiety, Chaos, and Exhaustion.

Chapters 

00:07:42 Revisiting 2020: Covid and BLM

00:13:30 The Backlash to Max “Going Woke” 

00:16:41 Responding to Generational Pain with Compassion

00:20:55 Tips for Good Writing 

00:25:56 The Impact of AI on Writing 

00:27:58 AI, Plagiarism and Christian Integrity

00:35:21 Is the World Really Getting Worse?

00:40:11 Over Exposure to Negative Information in the World

00:43:54 What Elijah Can Teach us about navigating the chaos of our world 

00:49:01 How God Can Meet us in Our Isolation

00:51:19 Battling with Sinful Thoughts 

00:54:09 Was Ahab Elijah’s Enemy? 

00:55:07 Elijah Was Human: Hope for Ordinary Christians

00:56:54 Does Prayer Accomplish Anything? 

01:00:31 Does Prayer Really Change Anything?

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Max Lucado is a pastor with decades of ministry experience and one of the most bestselling Christian authors of all time, who’s written more than 40 books that have sold around 150 million copies and have been translated in 56 languages. His latest book is Unbreakable Courage: Strong Faith in an Age of Anxiety, Chaos, and Exhaustion.

Chapters 

00:07:42 Revisiting 2020: Covid and BLM

00:13:30 The Backlash to Max “Going Woke” 

00:16:41 Responding to Generational Pain with Compassion

00:20:55 Tips for Good Writing 

00:25:56 The Impact of AI on Writing 

00:27:58 AI, Plagiarism and Christian Integrity

00:35:21 Is the World Really Getting Worse?

00:40:11 Over Exposure to Negative Information in the World

00:43:54 What Elijah Can Teach us about navigating the chaos of our world 

00:49:01 How God Can Meet us in Our Isolation

00:51:19 Battling with Sinful Thoughts 

00:54:09 Was Ahab Elijah’s Enemy? 

00:55:07 Elijah Was Human: Hope for Ordinary Christians

00:56:54 Does Prayer Accomplish Anything? 

01:00:31 Does Prayer Really Change Anything?

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Be sure to check out our “Extra Innings” conversation where we discuss what the Old Testament actually says about sex outside of marriage. Surprisingly, there’s no explicit verse in the OT that forbids it. To listen to the full conversation, become a member of the TITR community at https://www.patreon.com/theologyintheraw

Dr. Dru Johnson (PhD, University of St. Andrews) is Templeton Senior Research Fellow and director of the Abrahamic Theistic Origins Project at Wycliffe Hall, University of Oxford. He is also a visiting professor of religion at Hope College, director of the Center for Hebraic Thought, editor of the Routledge Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Biblical Criticism series, host of The Biblical Mind podcast, and cohost of the OnScript podcast. And, he’s written a bunch of awesome books including his recent book Understanding Biblical Law: Skills for Thinking With and Through Torah, which forms the basis of our fascinating conversation. 

00:00:00 Introduction00:01:36 What Is the Old Testament Law?00:04:00 Does "the Law" Mean the Ten Commandments or the Entire Old Testament?00:06:24 The Law Is More Than Rules: Understanding Biblical Law00:08:52 Does "Eye for an Eye" Mean Literal Retribution?00:14:28 Reading Old Testament Laws as Principles, Not Just Rules00:18:07 "You Shall Not Murder" vs. "You Shall Not Kill"00:22:49 How to Learn Ethics from Bible Stories00:24:53 Does the Bible Endorse Polygamy?00:25:58 Why the Laws of Moses Are Different from Other Ancient Laws00:28:11 Moses, David, and Other Morally Complex Bible Stories00:33:44 Are Women Portrayed Better Than Men in the Bible?00:38:13 How to Apply Biblical Narratives Today00:41:25 Biblical Discernment vs. Looking for Easy Answers00:45:21 How Should Christians Read Difficult Old Testament Laws?00:51:13 Why Were Old Testament Punishments So Severe?00:57:17 Restorative Justice in Ancient Israel: Why Were There No Prisons?01:00:31 The Sons of Korah and Other Difficult Old Testament Judgments

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To listen to our extra innings conversation, head over to patreon.com/theologyintheraw and become a member of the TITR community and get access to all of my extra innings conversations and a bunch bonus content

Dr. Alison Cook is a therapist, psychologist of religion, bestselling author, and host of the top-ranked The Best of You podcast. She holds degrees from Dartmouth College (BA), Denver Seminary (MA), and the University of Denver (PhD). Alison has spent over two decades helping people move from feeling disconnected to feeling secure, grounded, and loved. She’s the author of four books including her most recent book: The Secure Soul: Finding Inner Strength and Connection When Trust Doesn’t Come Easy, which forms the foundation of our conversation. https://www.amazon.com/dp/1400352606?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback

Time Stamps

00:00 Introduction

02:06 Splitting time between Wyoming and Boston

07:35 Attachment Theory Explained

10:35 How Childhood Trauma Shapes Adult Relationships

18:01 What About People That Didn’t Experience Trauma?

22:47 Does everyone have some kind of attachment issue? 

23:59 Why the Church Often Misunderstands Self-Care

24:37 The Problem with Secular Self-Care Culture 

25:22 Avoidant Attachment: First Steps

30:09 Preston Gets Live Therapy

34:00 Thinkers vs. Feelers 

39:04 Core Memories and Emotional Healing

46:43 Getting to Know our own Souls 

48:06 Can Christians Trust Psychology?

50:29 How Your Parents Shape Your View of God

53:41 Common Unaddressed Issues: Shame or Blame

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Dr. Daniel Bannoura (Ph.D. Notre Dame University) is a Palestinian theologian and Director of Public Engagement at the Bethlehem Institute for Peace & Justice. Daniel received his PhD degree in Qur'anic Studies from the University of Notre Dame. His research focuses on the history and redaction of the Qur'an, Christian-Muslim relations, and Palestinian theology. Daniel also host of “Across the Divide”, a podcast that provides a space for thoughtful conversations about Palestine-Israel through the lens of faith and peace-making. Check out the Church at the Crossroads conference in Atlanta, Nov 5-7, 2026 and the Christ at the Checkpoint Conference in Bethlehem, Dec 27th-31st, 2026. 

Time Stamps: 

00:00:00 Intro

00:02:29 Why a Palestinian Christian Researches the Qur’an

00:05:04 Did Muhommed Actually Exist?

00:11:43 Christian assumptions about Muslims in Gaza 

00:16:00 Double Standards for Gazan Christian Deaths 

00:16:48 Why are People Still Dying during the Ceasefire?

00:18:53 The Debate Around Using the Term “Genocide” 

00:23:49 The Shrinking Borders Around Gaza 

00:25:24 UN Report on Children being Targeted in Gaza

00:27:36 Life Expectancy, Malnutrition, and the Hidden Death Toll

00:29:16 Why the World Knows but Hasn’t Stopped it 

00:45:54 The Shifting Political Landscape

00:51:08 Upcoming Conferences in Bethlehem and Atlanta 

00:56:34 What can the Church do? 

01:04:38 An Appeal to Christian Leaders

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If you want to listen to our "Extra Innings" conversation about whether marriage is necessary for men to be truly masculine, head over to patreon.com/theologyintheraw and become a member of the Theology in the Raw community.

Dr. Zachary Wagner (DPhil, Oxford) is an author, ordained minister, and New Testament scholar. He’s written two books that deal with masculinity, male sexuality, and virtue: Non-Toxic Masculinity: Recovering Healthy Male Sexuality and his most recent Men of Virtue: How the Fruit of the Spirit Forms Male Character in the Modern World. He is currently pursuing publication for his DPhil thesis, as well as a further writing and research projects on Christianity and Stoicism. Learn more about Zachary on his website.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Introduction to Part 2

01:59 Defining “Biblical” masculinity

03:37 What do people mean when the call their view “biblical”?

04:29 How much of the Bible is directed specifically to men?

07:22 Cultural Norms vs Universal Mandates around Gender

10:59 Biology: The impact of Testosterone

19:42 How Important are Gender Roles for Discipleship?

21:34 How Jesus “rewrites” Masculinity

25:19 Do husbands have a moral mandate to be the primary breadwinner?

29:03 Post Industrial careers and gender

38:02 Do men have a moral obligation to protect women?

49:29 Christian masculinity and non-violence

52:27 Does the Bible mandate Chivalry?

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Join the Theology in the Raw Community on Patreon to listen to our Extra Innings Segment about whether or not you need to be married to truly be masculine. You’ll also get bonus episodes, Zoom meet ups, and more! 

What does it mean to be a man? It's a question that's generating plenty of heat online, but not much clarity. In this first episode of a two-part series on biblical masculinity, Preston sits down with Seth Troutt to separate what Scripture actually teaches from the messages coming from the online manosphere.

Before we can have a meaningful conversation about masculinity and femininity, Seth argues that we first need to understand the difference between man and God. From there, the conversation explores what it means to bear God's image as men and women, the role of humility, responsibility, chivalry, provision, and the significance of the real physical differences between the sexes.

Seth Troutt is the Teaching Pastor at Ironwood Church in the Phoenix metro area. He holds a doctorate focused on digital technology, Generation Z, and gender identity, and writes and teaches on the intersection of theology, technology, and culture. He’s also the author of Authentic Masculinity: Leaving Behind the Counterfeits for God’s Design which is available now. 

Part 2 of this series, featuring Zachary Wagner, releases next week.

Time Stamps

00:00:00 Introduction

00:06:15 What is Biblical Masculinity?

00:07:58 What Andrew Tate and the Manosphere get wrong

00:14:48 Is Chivalry a calling for men only? 

00:16:41 Examples of powerful women from Scripture 

00:21:32 Cultural expectations versus scriptural mandates for men and women

00:23:45 Physical differences between men and women (and the exceptions)

00:25:52 Should men be providers? Culture vs. Biblical mandate 

00:28:43 Should Mothers of young children have jobs? 

00:31:33 Why discipline is important for young men 

00:33:28 Should certain careers be just for men?

00:38:23 Do Christian men have a moral mandate to protect women? 

00:41:19 Why did god make men and women differently? 

00:45:50 Physical Differences do not mean “better” 

00:50:41 Nick Fuentes, Andrew Tate, real influence? 

00:58:01 Pastoring in this weird cultural moment 

01:02:28 Should Pastors podcast? 

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Join the Theology in the Raw Patreon community to watch the full episode! For as little as $5 per month, you'll get these bonus Q&A's, as well as Extra Innings segments, Zoom conversations, and our brand new At Home with The Sprinkles videos.

Here's the full list of Questions:

00:00 Intro00:36 How do you think purity culture has affected asexuality among Christians? Have you done any study of asexuality? And if not, would you consider it?04:33 Several young people in my life are doubting Jesus' divinity. What are some of the best thoughts you have on helping them see & understand Jesus' divine nature? And what resources would you recommend those of us in conversation with these young people?13:04 How would you respond to someone who says that everything is God's will and God never makes mistakes, when something really bad happens?15:54 If same-sex attraction is not a sin, then what is it? And how should Christians relate to it in their own lives?18:07 How do I help my Conservative friends know why I'm not "fixing" my lgtbq friends' orientation and am first loving them and helping them experience Jesus? 21:03 How can lay people practically ensure the strength of our research matches the strength of our convictions/passions?24:32 How do Pastors of small and financially struggling church make income to live? Balance of trusting God’s calling and provision vs quitting ministry? 27:20 Rom 12:18 says if possible live in peace with everyone: how do you go about sharing church community with broken relationships that can’t be reconciled?29:54 What have you seen that helps people to become formed and developed as disciples of Jesus in different seasons of life— 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s etc? 36:45 Recently there’s been renewed conversation online about the dangers of Islam, Sharia Law, and Muslims taking over the United States. Is this just fear mongering? Should someone speak out against that? 47:06 Rachel Held Evans had a phrase she used to say: "On the days when I believe...", implying there were days when she struggled to believe the beautiful but crazy and often bewildering story of Jesus and the gospel. If there are days when you struggle to believe, what do you do? 51:29 How do you reconcile the Biblical account of creation with the evidence for pre-human hominids? Is there any way to believe in a literal Adam and Eve without disbelieving all the evidence for pre-human hominids?54:46 In Does the Bible Support Same-Sex Marriage?, you argue that you don’t need sex and marriage to have a fulfilling life, referring to the NT’s view of singleness. While this is a great response when talking to a fellow inerrantist, how would you make the same point when talking to a skeptic (specifically, a skeptic who thinks the Bible is anti-Gay)?57:32 Which view of interpreting the story of Noah & son’s sin in Genesis 9 is your preferred?

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Janice Rosser Allen is CEO and President of International Cooperating Ministries (ICM), the global ministry founded by her father, Dois Rosser, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. She has served on ICM’s Board of Directors since 1986 and has led the organization as CEO since 2008. A graduate of the University of Virginia and Duke University, Janice worked in clinical and academic oncology nursing before God called her into full-time ministry with ICM. Widowed at 51, she is an ordained elder, author of God in the Crossroads, and she’s passionate about empowering indigenous Christian leaders worldwide.

00:00 — Introduction: How ICM Is Growing the Global Church

06:07 — Albert Schweitzer's Missionary Legacy and Radical Faith

08:09 — Indigenous Missions: Why Local Church Leaders Matter

11:46 — Cooperating with local, indigenous leadership in missions

16:12 — How Technology Is Transforming Christian Missions

18:07 — How Mission Organizations Vet Trusted Partners

22:07 — What the Global Church Can Teach Western Christians

29:37 — Powerful Mission Stories from Vietnam and Rwanda

34:31 — American Christianity vs. the Global Church

41:41 — Church Growth in Iran, Nepal, and Other Restricted Nations

45:54 — Why Christianity Is Growing in Thailand

47:03 — Prosperity Gospel and Persecution: Challenges Facing the Global Church

50:08 — Building local churches with local workers and materials

51:20 — Are Short-Term Mission Trips Helping or Hurting?

56:56 — How You Can Support Indigenous Missions

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Dr. O. Alan Noble is Professor of English at Oklahoma Baptist University, a fellow at the Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics, and author of four books, including his most recent book: To Live Well: Practical Wisdom for Moving Through Chaotic Times.

Check out the Christ at the Checkpoint conference at: www.christatthecheckpoint.bethbc.edu

Time Stamps:

00:00 Introduction 

03:46 Advice for Aspiring Writers

07:03 Moral Confusion and Living Well in Chaotic Times

10:47 Can Going Offline Fix Modern Life?

13:04 The Seven Classical Virtues Explained

14:28 On Prudence and Difficulty Making Decisions

22:49 Why Courage Is Hard for Young Adults Today

27:19 Justice, Social Media, and Virtue Signaling

36:07 Suffering, Courage, and Healing from Trauma

42:23 Which Virtues Are Hardest to Practice?

44:50 Politics, Institutions, and the Common Good

52:47 Are Big Corporations Inherently Evil? (Closing Thoughts)

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Lindsey Medenwaldt is an assistant professor of business and economics at Northwestern College in Iowa. Lindsey has written two books: Bridge-Building Apologetics and her recent (co-authored with Dr. Douglas Groothuis) What If Jesus Is Right? will be released in August 2026. Lindsey engages extensively on the topics of apologetics and worldview as a writer, editor, teacher, and speaker. She has a Jurist Doctorate, a masters in public administration, and a masters in apologetics and ethics from Denver Seminary.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Introduction 

01:42 How Lindsay Became an Apologist

06:20 When you Don’t Know the Answer

07:49 Apologetics without being Argumentative

11:32 Making friends as Adults 

14:20 Evangelism for Introverts 

26:20 Moving from Small Talk to Big Faith Conversations 

30:06 Evangelism on a Plane 

35:47 When you can’t Figure out what to say 

40:36 Political Division and Evangelism 

45:49 Social Media and A.I impact on Relationships 

49:37 Gen Z, Relationships, and Human Connection

57:39 What if Jesus was Right? Biblical reliability matters 

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Dr. Ben Norquist is a writer, scholar, and serves as the Director of Communications & Development for Bethlehem Institute for Peace & Justice, bringing Palestinian Christian teaching into conversations within the global church. Dr. Brian Miller is a professor of sociology at Wheaton College, and his research interests include the American suburbs (particularly their development, culture, depictions in media, and housing), cities, religion and place and how it relates to American evangelicalism and culture. Together, Ben and Brian wrote a recent book together called: Every Somewhere Sacred: Rescuing a Theology of Place in the American Imagination

Time Stamps

00:00 Introduction

02:01 What is a Theology of Place? 

06:56 Ethics and Place. 

11:29 The Morality of Cities. Why do we build these places? 

17:11 Patriotism, Christian Citizenship & Love of Place 

23:54 Gentrification, NIMBYism & Who Is My Neighbor?

30:33 What Theology of Place Is Trying to Recover

34:40 Israel-Palestine Through the Lens of Land

40:34 Christianity in the Big City vs. Rural Christianity and the Suburbs

49:2 Where to Find More Brian and Ben

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Dr. Jeannine Brown is The David Price Professor of Biblical and Theological Foundations at Bethel Seminary, where she has taught for 26 years. She focuses her research on the New Testament, hermeneutics, and integration. She’s written a bunch of books and commentaries, including Scripture as Communication, Becoming Whole and Holy, Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels (editor), commentaries on Matthew, Philippians, and 1 Peter (forthcoming), and a couple books most pertinent to our conversation: Gospels as Stories and The Greatest Story Ever Retold (with John Anthony Dunne). Jeannine is a member of the NIV translation committee. In this podcast conversation, we talk about reading the gospels as narratives versus harmonizing the 4 Gospels, and we also talk about the portrayal of Jesus in film, including the popular The Chosen series.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Introduction

02:57 Why Read the Gospels as Narrative?

07:36 Are the Gospel Differences Contradictions?

11:45 Ancient Biography and the Gospels

21:45 Why John's Gospel Is Different

33:44 How Each Gospel Presents Jesus

39:15 How to Read the Gospels Well

44:15 Bible Movies and Portraying Jesus

54:20 The Chosen: Creative License and Biblical Faithfulness

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Andrew Bunt is the Content Director at Living Out, a UK based ministry that equips the church in matters related to sexuality and gender from biblical perspective. (living out.org). Andrew is a pastor, speaker, and author who’s written several books including his latest book: Getting God’s Perspective: A Short Christian Introduction to Worldviews, Sexuality & Gender. In this conversation, we discuss questions about the Christian sexual ethic—is it beautiful or oppressive and harmful? Why a Christian worldview is essential for understanding the Christian sexuality ethic. How a Christian view of freedom and progress are important for understanding sexuality. And then, in our "extra innings" portion of this conversation, we discuss, once again, whether Christians should “identify” as gay (and what the term “identity” even means).

Time Stamps

00:00:00 Introduction

00:02:12 The Beauty of Christian Sexuality & God's Design 

00:06:33 Why the Secular Story About Sexuality Falls Short 

00:14:17 Talking with Young People About LGBTQ Friends & Biblical Boundaries 

00:22:58 Living with Unmet Sexual Desires and Spiritual Growth 

00:27:15 Singleness, Loneliness, and the Community Jesus Envisioned 

00:34:30 The Importance of Deep Friendship and Belonging in the Church 

00:45:00 Why Worldview Matters for Conversations About Sexuality & Gender 

00:55:00 A Christian Worldview of Progress and Living Faithfully in a Changing Culture 

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Dr. Ellie Paley received her Ph.D. from Cambridge University, where she studied the book of Job, and she’s currently pursuing a post-doc at Bar-Illan University in Israel. Ellie literally memorized the entire book—in Hebrew…in 6 months! Job is her gig and she knows more about the book than anyone I know. In this episode, Ellie gives a master class on the book of Job, discussing its date, the setting, the meaning of “The Adversary” (hasatan, or Satan?), the purpose of the prologue (Job 1-2), the content of purpose of the dialogue cycle of Job’s 3 friends, the purpose of the transitionary wisdom poem of Job 28, the role and function of Elihu’s speech and why she thinks he’s a rather presumptuous young buck who thinks he knows better than he really does, God’s response to Job, and how the book resolves in the latter chapters. We end by reflecting on Job’s contribution to the question of theodicy and the problem of evil. To follow Ellie’s work, check out her Substack “Compulsively Contemplative” here.

Time Stamps

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:05 Why Memorize the Book of Job? (Hebrew, Theology & Spiritual Formation)

00:12:30 Who Wrote Job? Date, Setting & Historical Background

00:24:28 Is Job Historical? Debating the Origins of the Book of Job

00:28:10 Satan in Job: Understanding the Divine Adversary

00:38:42 God's Speeches & the Meaning of Suffering in Job

00:43:57 What’s up with Job’s friends? Retribution Theology Explained

00:55:14 Who Is Elihu? His Role in the Book of Job

01:01:05 God Answers Job from the Whirlwind

01:06:41 Job's Repentance, Restoration & the Ending Explained

01:16:05 Theodicy: Job on the Problem of Evil, Suffering, and Trusting God

01:23:17 Ellie Paley's Ministry, Writing & Substack. 

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Click here for your free copy of When Faith is Forbidden by Todd Nettleton

Dr. Ellie Paley received her Ph.D. from Cambridge University, where she studied the book of Job, and she’s currently pursuing a post-doc at Bar-Illan University in Israel. Ellie literally memorized the entire book—in Hebrew…in 6 months! Job is her gig and she knows more about the book than anyone I know. In this episode, Ellie gives a master class on the book of Job, discussing its date, the setting, the meaning of “The Adversary” (hasatan, or Satan?), the purpose of the prologue (Job 1-2), the content of purpose of the dialogue cycle of Job’s 3 friends, the purpose of the transitionary wisdom poem of Job 28, the role and function of Elihu’s speech and why she thinks he’s a rather presumptuous young buck who thinks he knows better than he really does, God’s response to Job, and how the book resolves in the latter chapters. We end by reflecting on Job’s contribution to the question of theodicy and the problem of evil. To follow Ellie’s work, check out her Substack “Compulsively Contemplative.” 

Time Stamps

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:05 Why Memorize the Book of Job? (Hebrew, Theology & Spiritual Formation)

00:12:30 Who Wrote Job? Date, Setting & Historical Background

00:24:28 Is Job Historical? Debating the Origins of the Book of Job

00:28:10 Satan in Job: Understanding the Divine Adversary

00:38:42 God's Speeches & the Meaning of Suffering in Job

00:43:57 What’s up with Job’s friends? Retribution Theology Explained

00:55:14 Who Is Elihu? His Role in the Book of Job

01:01:05 God Answers Job from the Whirlwind

01:06:41 Job's Repentance, Restoration & the Ending Explained

01:16:05 Theodicy: Job on the Problem of Evil, Suffering, and Trusting God

01:23:17 Ellie Paley's Ministry, Writing & Substack. 

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If you want to watch the full Exiles Conference on demand, you can get access to the whole thing—including all the breakout sessions—for just $49 here.

In today’s episode, I’m working through some of the top upvoted questions from my conversation with Sandy Richter at Exiles 26 about women in leadership and my new book, From Genesis to Junia. If you haven’t listened to that conversation yet, I’d encourage you to go back and start there, since this episode really picks up where that one left off.

Thanks so much for all the thoughtful questions—and sorry it took me a month to get to them. I’m grateful for how engaged you all were in this conversation, and I hope this follow-up is helpful.

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To listen to the full episode, join the Patreon Community for as little as 5 dollars a month! You'll also get access to Zoom chats, Live Q&A's, Exiles Content, and more!

Here's the questions answered in the full episode:

0:46 You mentioned you have a complicated relationship with church. However, as a trained Bible scholar, what do you view your responsibility is to the local church? 8:52 Is regular sexual intimacy necessary for marriage? I am thinking about a mixed orientation marriage or a marriage where one or both partners are asexual.14:04 Thoughts on lay people going to seminary? If we can’t find good theological training/space to discuss from local church, where to get it in person(not online)?19:03 What Bible verses would you reference when a Christian college student asks why it's sinful to have sex before marriage?28:24 Most churches lack women leaders and training for women— how do we collectively get more female pov heard and taught at church?34:22 What do you think of IVF and egg freezing?35:40 What do you think makes a healthy church? ( from your experience being exposed to so many different churches)45:37 Fiscal conservatism is a hallmark of the political Right. Is a conservative financial approach consistent with the bible as it describes how we relate to money?54:20 What are your thoughts on usage of social media as Christian— with the rise of Christian contents/pastors on social media using as platform?58:55 What has your experience been like or thoughts on building community or friendships— in church or outside of church/faith community that felt flourishing?1:01:25 Whose job is it to gatekeep a closed communion? Should clergy stop people from taking communion, or is it up to the individual?01:05:30 Thoughts, insight or advice? I sometimes feel more drawn to read about the Bible than read the Bible or more drawn to those drawn to Jesus than Jesus himself.01:09:19 Matthew Vines referenced your discussion on the Hebrew word "kenegdo" in a conversational debate with David Bennet: how would you respond to his pushback?01:13:58 Hypothetically, with humility about our own blind spots, what warning can we give about what Jesus might say on Judgment Day to supporters of the Gaza genocide?01:17:46 Is there anything uniquely troubling to you about Trump, or do you see him as just another flawed leader of a flawed Babylon?

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Watch the full Exiles Conference On Demand and get access to the entire conference—including all breakout sessions—for just $49.

At Exiles 26, my friend Dr. Sandy Richter joined me for a panel discussion and Q&A about my new book, From Genesis to Junia: An Honest Search for What the Bible Actually Says about Women in Leadership. Once we got going, we ended up talking longer than expected and only had about three minutes left for audience questions.

So to make up for it, we’re releasing the full conversation here, along with a follow-up episode where I respond to the top upvoted questions from the event. That follow-up episode drops on Thursday. In the meantime, enjoy this conversation.

You can find more from Dr. Richter at sandyrichter.org.

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To listen to our extra-innnings conversation, where we talk about LGBTQ Pride Night at major league baseball games, become a member of the Theology in the Raw community at patreon.com/theologyintheraw.

Dr. Paul Putz is Assistant professor of Christianity and sports and director of the Faith & Sports Institute at Baylor’s Truett Seminary. He's the author of The Spirit of the Game: American Christianity and Big-Time Sports (Oxford University Press, 2024), and the forthcoming Jesus and James Naismith: A History of Basketball and Christianity from Origins to the NBA (Eerdmans. 2027).

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Brittany Dicus is a sales and marketing director for a beverage company, a master's student at Talbot School of Theology, and serves on the teaching team at Church of the Open Door in Maple Grove, MN. With one foot in the corporate world and another in the church world, Brittany has thought a lot about viewing her work as mission. 

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Fares Abraham is a Palestinian Christian and Daniel Klein is a Jewish Christian. Both Fares and Daniel grew up minutes from each other in the West Bank, and yet they were worlds apart—Fares lived in occupied Palestine and Daniel live in an Israeli settlement. Both of them share about their very different journies, which end up in similar places, culminating in a friendship, which offers a glimpse of what peace between Israelis and Palestinians could look like: not through politics or slogans, but through the reconciling power of Christ, honest truth-telling, mutual dignity, and a shared commitment to justice, mutual flourishing, and peace for all who call the Holy Land home. Daniel is the author of My Freedom from Zionism and Fares leads Levant Ministries.

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To listen to the extra innings portion of this episode, where David discusses why it's okay for faithful Christians to identify as gay, head over to https://patreon.com/theologyintheraw to become a member of the Theology in the Raw community.

Dr. David Bennett (DPhil, Oxford) is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Systematic Theology and Christian Ethics at the University of Oxford and Associate Research Fellow at Wycliffe Hall. He is the author of the bestselling memoir A War of Loves --the story of his journey from atheistic gay activist in Sydney to celibate gay Christian—and a member of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s College of Evangelists. His Oxford doctoral thesis, Queering the Queer in Contemporary Theology: An Augustinian Ethics of Same-Sex Desire and Gay Celibacy, is in press with T&T Clark/Bloomsbury (2027), as is his second popular-level book, Beyond Compromise: Reclaiming a Biblical Vision of Love, Sexuality, and the Kingdom of God (Tyndale House).

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To watch my Extra Innings segment with Lecrae, join my Patreon community. You'll also get bonus episodes, Zoom meetups, Q&A's and more!

Lecrae Moore is an American hip-hop artist, author, entrepreneur, and social activist. He is widely recognized as one of the most influential figures in Christian hip-hop (CHH). He has accumulated over a dozen Grammy nominations and is a multi-Grammy Award winner, alongside numerous GMA Dove Awards, Stellar Awards, and Soul Train Music Awards. In 2014, his landmark seventh album, Anomaly, debuted at No. 1 on the mainstream Billboard 200 and the Top Gospel Albums chart simultaneously—a historic first. This episode is a raw conversation with Lecrae—his journey with Christ, music, and the evangelical church—a journey with many twists and turns, as you’ll see. In the extra innings portion of this episode, Lecrae opens up about his current place in Christian church—is he conservative, liberal, right, left, evangelical, or whatever.

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Dan Chung is the Executive Director of Crossing Borders, an organization that brings the gospel to North Korean refugees. Dan is one of the foremost experts on the North Korean refugee crisis, with relationships with both organizations and scholars researching the ongoing developments of the Korean Peninsula. Dan’s book, A Hard Freedom: The Dreams and Trauma of North Korean Refugees, chronicles his insights and observations in his work with Crossing Borders.

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Join my Patreon community to listen my Extra Innings where I respond to egalitarian critiques from Dr. Beth Allison Barr and more!

Preston's book From Genesis to Junia: An Honest Search for What the Bible Really Says about Women in Leadership has been out for 3 months and has received many positive reviews--but also some critical ones. In this episode, Preston responds to some of the critiques he's received, focusing largely on John Whittaker's critical response. Preston has responded to John's review on his blog.

Learn more about the NLT here

Read John Whittakers Blog here

Read Preston's Response here

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Hey friends, every month I do bonus episodes where I tackle questions from my Patreon community. For May, I hit 16 questions (see below). For this free bonus, I've included the first few questions. For the full thing, join a bronze, silver, or gold tier on my Patreon! You'll also get access to Extra Innings, Exiles conference content, free tickets, Zoom chats and more!

Questions:

0:52. If a pastor commits adultery, but repents, is he still disqualified from his office for the rest of his life in view of elder reqs in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1?7:55. What were your thoughts on the Pete Enns session at Exiles? In particular, how would you steel man his position about the flood narrative? 22:27. When Pete Enns spoke at Exiles I think he mentioned maybe Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses did not actually exist. What are your thoughts on this? 29:16. Advice for initiating movement into mutualism in practice & policy?31:50. How do "non-affirming" traditions engage the practice of ecumenical unity with "affirming" traditions? Does "Side A" operate outside the bounds of orthodoxy? 37:39. Is your family's current church egalitarian? If not, now that you've landed on a position, has that impacted your ability to serve/teach/etc?42:19. Why follow some OT laws (lying) but not others (shellfish, polyester)? Had an OT prof that taught that ‘ceremonial/civil/moral’ distinction doesn’t hold water46:07. If the annihilation theory is correct, how does that help people see their need for a savior? If you don’t believe in God, ceasing to exist seems preferable. 48:13. Do you think the accommodating and not judging mentioned in Romans 14 could be applied to pronoun hospitality and how we interact with others we disagree with? 49:04. What spiritual rhythms feel most grounding for you in your ministry? And how do you balance a rhythm like scripture reading with scholarly work?50:46. How do you interact with non-Christian Biblical scholars? I have a hard time taking them seriously if they don’t actually believe in what they’re studying.52:56. I’ve read recently claims that most Israelites worshipped Asherah as Yahweh’s wife and that it wasn’t until later that she was condemned. Any insight?54:05. Has there been any updates or significant changes in research around gender dysphoria since Embodied was released?58:36. Do Jesus' statements in Matthew 19 and the Sermon on the Mount imply that anyone has grounds for divorce because lusting after someone is committing adultery?01:00:43. At what point does being wrong about theology become sin? I'm thinking of pre-civil-war churches preaching slavery was OK, and extrapolating to today's issues.01:02:41. I heard a conservative Christian reporter refer to individuals experiencing gender dysphoria as "gender confused." Do you consider this term pejorative? 

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Preston's book From Genesis to Junia: An Honest Search for What the Bible Really Says about Women in Leadership has been out for 3 months and has recieved many positive reviews--but also some critical ones. In this episode, Preston responds to some of the critiques he's recived, focusing largely on Tom Schreiner's critical review. Preston has also written a response to Tom Schreiner's review.

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