Theology in the Raw

We discuss three issues in this podcast: (1) Imperial critical readings of the New Testament (i.e. how the NT critiques the Roman empire in its language), (2) the benefit of studying first-century philosophy for understanding the New Testament, and (3) why Romans 7:9-25 is not talking about a Christian or Christians. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Don Pape is the master Yoda of Christian publishing. He has over 35 years of experience working for some of the biggest Christian publishers and has also been a literary agent. Don is responsible for finding a relatively unknown pastor from Simi Valley named Francis Chan and signing him to a book deal. In this conversation, Don and I talk about what it takes to be a successful writer, the pros and cons of Christian publishing, the role that having a platform plays in landing a book deal, what to do if you feel called to write a book, the kind of financial advances that new authors should expect, and many other things related to the industry.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The last couple of years has kicked up a lot of dust regarding race relations in America and in the church, but why did it take so long? Thabiti, or “Pastor T,” helps us understand some of the concerns and frustrations that black people have had about how white people (progressives and conservatives) have gone about the race conversation. Pastor T helps us understand what Critical Race Theory is, the real meaning of systemic racism, why issues of justice are not subsidiary to the gospel, and how the church can have better conversations about race.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Justin Bronson Barringer is a pastor, consultant, writer, editor, and a PhD candidate in religious ethics at Southern Methodist University. He’s also a star in the hit reality show Duck Dynasty. (Just kidding.) I met Justin many years ago when he agreed to read (and critique!) early drafts of my book Fight, now called Nonviolence: The Revolutionary Way of Jesus. He was very influential in helping me understand Christian nonviolence and the ethical challenges it presents. In this episode, we talk about his new book that he edited: The Business of War: Theological and Ethical Reflections on the Military-Industrial Complex​. Once we understand how profitable war can be, it sort of changes your view on the whole military industrial complex.   We also talk about a theology of country music. So, yeah... Along with his wife, Justin hosts the Rogue Ministry Podcast, a show dedicated to helping people create and sustain faithful ministries. Justin and Rachel founded Diapers, Etc. a ministry which "exists to provide diapers, feminine hygiene products, and other important goods not typically covered by government programs or other service providers." In this effort, they work alongside the good folks at Owenwood Farm and Neighbor Space, a campus of White Rock UMC, as well as with the fantastic organization Hope Supply Co., and other partners to serve over 200 families a month.  Justin has a BA in Oral Communication from Lipscomb University, and an MDiv from Asbury Theological Seminary, with a focus on Christian ethics, and he studied faith and public policy in Washington, DC. He has been a missionary in Greece and China, worked extensively among homeless people in cities as varied as Nashville and Los Angeles to Lexington and Little Rock. Justin has served at mercy and justice organizations like The Dream Center and Sojourners. He was also Outreach Pastor at Embrace Church for three years.  Support Preston Support Preston by going to patreon.com Venmo: @Preston-Sprinkle-1 Connect with Preston Twitter | @PrestonSprinkle Instagram | @preston.sprinkle Youtube | Preston Sprinkle Check out his website prestonsprinkle.com If you enjoy the podcast, be sure to leave a review. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

While many Christians read the book of Revelation as mostly about future events, it’s best understood as a piece of political protest. John is writing to confront Chrisitan Nationalism--in a first-century sort of way. There’s no better person to help us read Revelation in this way than Dr. Dan Morrison. Dan is assistant professor of New Testament at George Fox University and he wrote his doctoral dissertation on Revelation. It’s called: “Apocalypse as Protest: Reading Revelation from Places of Poverty, Privilege, Power, and Persecution” Dan Morrison joined George Fox in 2020 as an assistant professor of New Testament, working remotely on a half-time basis. He worked the previous three years as an assistant professor of New Testament and expository preaching at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary at Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri. During that same span, he served as a U.S. Navy reserve chaplain at Navy Operation Support Center (Springfield, MO). He was also director of the Cordas C. Burnett Center for Biblical Preaching at Evangel (2016-18) and, before that, served as a college and young adult pastor at Evangel Temple Christian Center in Springfield (2014-17). His experience previously included working as a communications manager at McMaster Divinity College in Hamilton, Ontario (2012-14), and as an editor/media specialist (2010-11) and editorial assistant (2007-10) for The Alliance for Assemblies of God Higher Education organization. He lives in Springfield, Missouri, and attends All Saints Anglican Church in Springfield. Support Preston Support Preston by going to patreon.com Venmo: @Preston-Sprinkle-1 Connect with Preston Twitter | @PrestonSprinkle Instagram | @preston.sprinkle Youtube | Preston Sprinkle Check out his website prestonsprinkle.com If you enjoy the podcast, be sure to leave a review. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jon Tyson is a brother from another Australian mother (or mum). Jon’s one of the wisest, most intelligent, astute, prophetic, and spiritually authentic Chrisitans leaders in the church today. This dude walks with Jesus in both heart and mind. In this episode, I wanted Jon to give a prophetic perspective on 2020. How should we think about this crazy year? What should we learn from it? How should we look forward in 2021 and beyond? What should the church keep doing after Covid, and what should the church leave behind? Oh, and we also discuss the roots and symptoms of Trumpism and I actually say “you are Trump; we are Trump.” Or something like that. I can’t remember exactly what I said, but I know I’ll get some emails. You can address them to JonTyson@hotmail.com (Just kidding...as if Jon has a hotmail account.)  Jon Tyson is a Pastor and Church Planter in New York City. Originally from Adelaide, Australia, Jon moved to the United States twenty years ago with a passion to seek and cultivate renewal in the Western Church. He is the author of Sacred Roots, A Creative Minority, and The Burden is Light. Jon lives in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan with his wife and two children. He serves as the Lead Pastor of Church of the City New York. Support Preston Support Preston by going to patreon.com Venmo: @Preston-Sprinkle-1 Connect with Preston Twitter | @PrestonSprinkle Instagram | @preston.sprinkle Youtube | Preston Sprinkle Check out his website prestonsprinkle.com If you enjoy the podcast, be sure to leave a review. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dr. Hruz (pronounced “rooz”) is an associate Professor of Pediatrics, Cell Biology & Physiology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. He has a Ph.D. and an M.D. and specializes in pediatric endocrinology. Dr. Hruz has clinical interest in a wide range of endocrine disorders, with a special interest in diabetes mellitus. Dr. Hruz's research interests include intermediary carbohydrate metabolism, glucose transporter structure and function and mechanism of insulin action. Dr. Hruz has also become an expert in the discussion currounding puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and trans* teenagers seeking transition. This is what we focused on in our discussion. We looked at the health risks and benefits of blockers and cross sex hormones and some of the ideology surrounding the discussion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Addie was raised in a conservative Christian home and has always had a strong faith in Jesus. Addie also has experienced severe gender dysphoria from a young age, and after much prayer, study, and seeking counsel, she decided to transition from male to female toward the end of college.  Add is very happy with her decision, believes it was the right thing for her to do, and still has a robust faith in Jesus. Addie is still theologically and politically conservative, so she doesn’t fit neatly into the categories that people often have of trans* people.  If you would like to learn more about the trans* conversation from a Christian perspective, check out my new book Embodied: Transgender Identities, the Church, and What the Bible Has to Say: https://www.amazon.com/Embodied-Transgender-Identities-Church-Bible/dp/0830781226 Support Preston Support Preston by going to patreon.com Venmo: @Preston-Sprinkle-1 Connect with Preston Twitter | @PrestonSprinkle Instagram | @preston.sprinkle Youtube | Preston Sprinkle Check out his website prestonsprinkle.com If you enjoy the podcast, be sure to leave a review. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Helena is one of many females who have experienced “Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria,” where gender dysphoria seems to come out of nowhere and is allegedly brought on, in part, through social contagion. Helena talks honestly and opening about her journey where, as a teenager, she used to identify as trans* but later renounced that identity and detransitioned back to her biological sex as female. Helena believes she was brainwashed into this identity through various online social media sites such as Tumblr and Reddit.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this third part of our series “Diversity of Trans*,” I sit down with my good friend Kyla Gillespie. Kyla is female, transitioned to male 10 years ago, then back to female 4 years ago. She tells her story in this episode and discusses why she transitioned in the first place, the results of that transition, her encounter with Jesus in 2017, her decision to detransition back to her birth sex, and her ongoing journey in the gospel.  Pre-order my book Embodied: Transgender Identities, the Church, and What the Bible Has to Say from this website to recieve pre-order incentives: https://davidccook.org/books-preston-sprinkle-embodied/ Support Preston Support Preston by going to patreon.com Venmo: @Preston-Sprinkle-1 Connect with Preston Twitter | @PrestonSprinkle Instagram | @preston.sprinkle Youtube | Preston Sprinkle Check out his website prestonsprinkle.com If you enjoy the podcast, be sure to leave a review. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.