EPISODE · May 22, 2026 · 1H 47M
They Love Your Questions — Just Not Your Conclusions: Tim Whitaker on Evangelicalism, Apologetics & the Sleight of Hand
from Theology Nerd Throwdown · host Dr. Tripp Fuller & Rev. Bo Sanders
Tim Whitaker finally shows up on TNT, and I want you to know that within the first five minutes he informed us he was homeschooled and never went to college, that his biggest word is "dispensationalism," and that he is a type six on the Enneagram who doesn't know if he can trust people enough to take communion yet, and I was completely at home. Tim is the host of The New Evangelicals podcast, a former drummer in evangelical and charismatic spaces across multiple denominations, a former church planter with the Christian Missionary Alliance, and the guy who got kicked out of his evangelical church in May 2021 for asking — not even fully affirming yet, just asking — whether gay people could be welcomed. He came because Bo and I have been doing this charismatic conspiracy theology series for weeks now and Tim tracks this world the way the rest of us track the weather. He walked us through his own formation — Reformed church with hymns only, charismatic youth group with better music, Assemblies of God, a stint in Finland near the North Pole where headaches were attributed to a heavy shaman presence and a local death metal band with a statue — and somewhere in there the NAR, Peter Wagner, Lance Wallnau, Paula White, and the Cyrus anointing. We talked about where spiritual warfare practices are therapeutic and where they become political machinery, how the prophetic gift Bo had as a charismatic pastor was probably the same neurological scanning system that made him a good point guard, and what it actually costs when the values you were formed in get weaponized against the people you were taught to love. Bo told the story of his brother-in-law's Bethel satellite church in Montana that had to shut down after 2016 because every prophetic word became a Fox News talking point. Tim told the story of getting his first big boy job at a 24-hour Starbucks and discovering that the gay atheist on the overnight shift was just a normal person. Bo told his story of working security at the city library four nights a week and a gay bar three nights a week, which is not the typical preparation for evangelical ministry and was probably the best possible one. Avalon, The Blessing, CCM music production values, Elevation's Hallelujah Here Below trailer, Ecamm, a stream deck, Richard Wolff's undergrad advisor being Paul Tillich, and a benediction involving Valhalla. Raven laid an egg. You can WATCH the conversation on YouTube Join our upcoming online class – THE FUTURE OF RELIGION Tripp and Ilia Delio are teaming up for a brand-new four-week online class, The Future of Religion — for everyone who’s read the books, asked the questions, and realized the faith they inherited doesn’t quite fit anymore. Together they’ll trace religion’s evolutionary arc and map what’s emerging on the other side. Includes 4 video lectures, 4 live Q&As (replays available), and a community of fellow travelers. Donation-based, pay what you’re able (including $0). Live sessions start this month — register at www.thefutureofreligion.com Theology Beer Camp 2026 — The God-Podcalypse — hits Kansas City October 8–10, exactly one month before the election. Thirty scholars (Ilia Delio, Cornel West, Diana Butler Bass, Gary Dorrien, and a stack more), thirty God-pods, four post-apocalyptic stages, and the community everyone keeps telling us is the real reason they come back. Come find your people at Theology Beer Camp This podcast is a Homebrewed Christianity production. Follow the Homebrewed Christianity, Theology Nerd Throwdown, & The Rise of Bonhoeffer podcasts for more theological goodness for your earbuds. Join over 75,000 other people by joining our Substack - Process This! Get instant access to over 50 classes at www.TheologyClass.com Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What this episode covers
Tim Whitaker finally shows up on TNT, and I want you to know that within the first five minutes he informed us he was homeschooled and never went to college, that his biggest word is "dispensationalism," and that he is a type six on the Enneagram who doesn't know if he can trust people enough to take communion yet, and I was completely at home. Tim is the host of The New Evangelicals podcast, a former drummer in evangelical and charismatic spaces across multiple denominations, a former church planter with the Christian Missionary Alliance, and the guy who got kicked out of his evangelical church in May 2021 for asking — not even fully affirming yet, just asking — whether gay people could be welcomed. He came because Bo and I have been doing this charismatic conspiracy theology series for weeks now and Tim tracks this world the way the rest of us track the weather. He walked us through his own formation — Reformed church with hymns only, charismatic youth group with better music, Assemblies of God, a stint in Finland near the North Pole where headaches were attributed to a heavy shaman presence and a local death metal band with a statue — and somewhere in there the NAR, Peter Wagner, Lance Wallnau, Paula White, and the Cyrus anointing. We talked about where spiritual warfare practices are therapeutic and where they become political machinery, how the prophetic gift Bo had as a charismatic pastor was probably the same neurological scanning system that made him a good point guard, and what it actually costs when the values you were formed in get weaponized against the people you were taught to love. Bo told the story of his brother-in-law's Bethel satellite church in Montana that had to shut down after 2016 because every prophetic word became a Fox News talking point. Tim told the story of getting his first big boy job at a 24-hour Starbucks and discovering that the gay atheist on the overnight shift was just a normal person. Bo told his story of working security at the city library four nights a week and a gay bar three nights a week, which is not the typical preparation for evangelical ministry and was probably the best possible one. Avalon, The Blessing, CCM music production values, Elevation's Hallelujah Here Below trailer, Ecamm, a stream deck, Richard Wolff's undergrad advisor being Paul Tillich, and a benediction involving Valhalla. Raven laid an egg. You can WATCH the conversation on YouTube Join our upcoming online class – THE FUTURE OF RELIGION Tripp and Ilia Delio are teaming up for a brand-new four-week online class, The Future of Religion — for everyone who’s read the books, asked the questions, and realized the faith they inherited doesn’t quite fit anymore. Together they’ll trace religion’s evolutionary arc and map what’s emerging on the other side. Includes 4 video lectures, 4 live Q&As (replays available), and a community of fellow travelers. Donation-based, pay what you’re able (including $0). Live sessions start this month — register at www.thefutureofreligion.com Theology Beer Camp 2026 — The God-Podcalypse — hits Kansas City October 8–10, exactly one month before the election. Thirty scholars (Ilia Delio, Cornel West, Diana Butler Bass, Gary Dorrien, and a stack more), thirty God-pods, four post-apocalyptic stages, and the community everyone keeps telling us is the real reason they come back. Come find your people at Theology Beer Camp This podcast is a Homebrewed Christianity production. Follow the Homebrewed Christianity, Theology Nerd Throwdown, & The Rise of Bonhoeffer podcasts for more theological goodness for your earbuds. Join over 75,000 other people by joining our Substack - Process This! Get instant access to over 50 classes at www.TheologyClass.com Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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They Love Your Questions — Just Not Your Conclusions: Tim Whitaker on Evangelicalism, Apologetics & the Sleight of Hand
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