The Crossway Podcast Get to Know Your Favorite Theologians' Favorite Poet (Stephen Witmer)
Feb 2, 2026
Stephen Witmer, lead pastor, editor, and author, guides listeners through George Herbert’s life and poetry. He explains how to read poems as whole, embodied works. He explores why poetry feels countercultural, Herbert’s pastoral aim, and highlights poems like “Easter Wings,” “Sin,” and “Jesu.” Short, curious, and invitational reflections on form, meaning, and spiritual formation.
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Poem As Embodied Message
- A poem is a whole embodied thing, not just a message to decode.
- George Herbert uses form and sensory detail to pastor readers, not merely state propositions.
Accidental Encounter With Herbert
- Stephen discovered Herbert while researching The Country Parson for a book on small-town ministry.
- Reading Herbert's poems transformed his appreciation for poetry and pastoral formation.
Herbert's Wide Influence
- Many influential Christian thinkers loved Herbert, signaling his lasting theological and literary influence.
- Admirers include T.S. Eliot, C.S. Lewis, John Piper, Tim Keller, and Charles Spurgeon.
