The American Reformer Podcast

The most interesting man in Presbyterianism, C.R. Wiley, joins the American Reformer crew to talk about seminaries, pastoring, and how to walk into a hospital like you own the place. In Episode 34 of The American Reformer Podcast, Josh Abbotoy, Timon Cline, and Chris Wiley engage in a candid discussion about the need for a shift in the approach to pastoral training. Drawing from their experiences and observations, they explore the limitations of current seminary models, emphasizing the importance of cultivating pastors who are not only well-versed in theology but also competent, compelling, and community-oriented. Listen in for a fresh perspective on what it truly means to be a pastor—one who can bridge the gap between the pulpit and the community, embodying a comprehensive understanding of spiritual leadership in the 21st century. #CRWiley #Pastor #Ministry #Community #Seminary #AmericanReformer #Podcast C.R. Wiley is Pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Battle Ground, Washington, Co-Host of "The Theology Pugcast," and has been married for 30 years with three grown children. He has written for Touchstone Magazine, Modern Reformation, Sacred Architecture, The Imaginative Conservative, Front Porch Republic, National Review Online, and First Things, among others. His most recent book is, "In the House of Tom Bombadil" (2021). He is also the author of, "The Household and the War for the Cosmos" published by Canon Press (2019). He is a board member of the Academy of Philosophy and Letters, as well as New Saint Andrews College. Learn more about C.R. Wiley's work: https://crwiley.com/ https://twitter.com/crwiley1962 https://thetheologypugcast.com/ https://americanreformer.org/author/c-r-wiley/ Buy Chris's latest book: https://canonpress.com/products/in-the-house-of-tom-bombadil/ –––––– Follow American Reformer across Social Media: X / Twitter – https://www.twitter.com/amreformer Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AmericanReformer/ Website – https://americanreformer.org/ Promote a vigorous Christian approach to the cultural challenges of our day, by donating to The American Reformer: https://americanreformer.org/donate/ Follow Us on Twitter: Josh Abbotoy – https://twitter.com/Byzness Timon Cline – https://twitter.com/tlloydcline The American Reformer Podcast is hosted by Josh Abbotoy and Timon Cline, recorded remotely in the United States, and edited by Jared Cummings. Subscribe to our Podcast, "The American Reformer" Get our RSS Feed – https://americanreformerpodcast.podbean.com/ Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-american-reformer-podcast/id1677193347 Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/1V2dH5vhfogPIv0X8ux9Gm?si=a19db9dc271c4ce5

William Wolfe, Jon Whitehead and Josh Abbotoy break down the controversy around a amicus brief rently filed by the Southern Baptist Convention and various SBC entities, and contextualize it within the convention's broader ongoing response to allegations of abuse of cover-ups within the Convention. Follow American Reformer: https://twitter.com/AmReformer Follow Josh Abbotoy: https://twitter.com/AmReformer Follow William Wolfe: https://twitter.com/William_E_Wolfe Follow Jon Whitehead: https://twitter.com/jrwhitehead

The American Reformer team heard rumors of white smoke rising from Doug Wilson's house in Moscow, so they decided to sit down with the newly elected CREC Pope, Uri Brito (Presiding Minister of the CREC) to talk about his the denomination's history and polity, his new role, and the influence of Abraham Kuyper.

After some cajoling on Twitter, D.G. Hart, professor of history at Hillsdale, joins Josh and Timon for a rousing conversation about liberalism in America, the new Christian right, and, of course, Christian nationalism.

Josh and Timon rebut Twitter predictions that the Christian Nationalist movement is over and survey Josh’s recent series on The Regime.

Twitter Space discussion from 9/14/2023 with Josh Abbotoy, Timon Cline, and friends discussing Christian Nationalism one year on.

In a wide ranging discussion, Josh and Timon talk with Joe Rigney and Glenn Moots about their July 4 response in American Reformer to D.G. Hart, "The Myth of Liberal, Secular America." Show Notes: The Myth of “Liberal, Secular America” - American Reformer

Jon Harris, author, producer, and host of the Conversations That Matter podcast, joins Josh and Timon to talk about his provocative American Reformer debut article: "Conservative Nazi Hunters." Show Notes: Conservative Nazi Hunters Conversations That Matter TruthScript

Ben Crenshaw, a 2023 Cotton Mather Fellow and PhD candidate at Hillsdale College, joins Josh and Timon to unpack his recent article, "The Power of Nationalism: A Defense," the nature of the American Constitutional Order and its possible futures. Show Notes: The Power of Nationalism: A Defense - American Reformer Fellowship - American Reformer

Josh and Timon crammed to study up on foundationalism for this show and what they discovered will shock you. Far from a scary anti-American or anti-Christian philosophy, this curious political philosophy is as American as apple pie.

Timon is joined by Nancy Pearcey, professor at Houston Christian University and author of The Toxic War on Masculinity (Baker, 2023) to discuss the present state and future of men, masculinity, and the family. Link to book: The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes: Pearcey, Nancy R.: 9780801075735: Amazon.com: Books Link to website: NANCY PEARCEY - Home

Scott Yenor joins Timon on the show to review the work of George Gilder, America's sexual constitution, Christian education, and his star role in the most recent hit job on the Claremont Institute in the New Republic.

Timon talks with Dusty Deevers about his ministry as a bivocational Southern Baptist pastor and his recently announced campaign for Oklahoma state senate.

Timon talks with Ben Zeisloft, editor-in-chief of The Sentinel, about his reporting on the arrest of Marcus Schroeder for reading the Bible at a public drag queen event in Wisconsin, and Ben's new article at American Reformer, "Which Way, Christian Man?"

Josh talks with Timon about his recent article at American Reformer, “A Polity Undone: Parental Rights Will Not Save Us,” about the growing legal and political problems surrounding transgenderism and parental rights.

Aaron Renn, senior fellow at American Reformer, joins Ben, Josh, and Timon to discuss his recent piece, “Big Eva Says Out with Complementarianism, In with Anti-Fundamentalism.” Show Notes: https://www.aaronrenn.com/p/newsletter-78-big-eva-says-out-with

Dr. Hunter Baker joins Josh and Timon to talk about how Christians should engage on political and cultural matters as 21st century America takes a hard leftist turn. Should the winsome approach remain the dominant or exclusive method of Christian cultural engagement? The gang moves on to a wide-ranging substantive discussion of the political prudence of Christian Nationalism and other emerging political movements that question the late 20th century consensus.

To celebrate Independence Day Josh, Ben, and Timon dive into a wide ranging discussion of patriotism, nationalism, America’s political heritage, and more. How about that? CT Article: https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2021/july-august/how-to-have-patriotism-without-nationalism.html Kevin Slack piece: https://thefederalist.com/2023/07/04/the-declaration-of-independence-defends-american-citizenship-not-abstract-ideas/ Michael Lind’s Next American Nation: https://www.amazon.com/NEXT-AMERICAN-NATION-Nationalism-Revolution/dp/0684825031

Ben Dunson and Josh Abbotoy weigh into recent discussions about what Christians should do about worsening political conditions in Blue States, and how major views on missions and Christian cultural engagement play into the conversation.

he annual meetings of the Southern Baptist Convention and Presbyterian Church in America were held last week. Josh and Ben discuss what took place, focusing on some very encouraging signs of conservative/confessional faithfulness in both denominations, as well as challenges that remain. Show notes: On the SBC annual meeting: https://americanreformer.org/2023/06/breaking-sbc-decisively-approves-law-amendment-restores-male-only-pastorship/ https://americanreformer.org/2023/06/how-many-female-pastors-are-in-the-sbc/ https://americanreformer.org/2023/06/slippery-when-wet/ https://americanreformer.org/2023/04/mr-smith-goes-to-the-convention/ On the PCA general assembly: https://rfbwcf.substack.com/p/a-plea-for-patience-in-the-pca-1 https://rfbwcf.substack.com/p/report-on-the-pcas-jubilee-assembly https://irreverentreverend.org/2023/06/17/pca-ga-50-summary-of-20-key-events-highlights/

Chase Davis, formerly a pastor in the Acts 29 network, comes on the show to discuss how his church was recently kicked out of Acts 29. Join us for a dive into the murky, good ol’ boy politics of Big Eva in a post-George Floyd world. Show Notes: https://americanreformer.org/2023/05/acts-29-and-the-big-sort/?_thumbnail_id=7021 https://fullprooftheology.buzzsprout.com/1249781/12859853-91-the-truth-behind-why-acts-29-removed-our-church https://fullprooftheology.buzzsprout.com/1249781/12928819-92-about-that-acts-29-call https://boulderwell.org/

Timon Cline, American Reformer's assistant editor, joins the pod to discuss the week's news with Josh. While erstwhile conservative icons Ted Cruz and Chick-fil-a disappoint by capitulating to the spirit of the age, legislative progress against transgender excesses continues in Florida banning minor gender-affirming care.

James Lindsay's recent twitter antics spur a conversation about the nature of political coalitions. When to make compromises to broaden the tent, and when to draw a line in the sand? Ben and Josh discuss all this and more. Show Notes: https://twitter.com/yhazony/status/1661293047856939008

As America's Southern Border faces an unprecedented crisis, Josh and Ben explore how Christians should think about immigration policy, and how the American political tradition and current reality factors into the equation.

A Christian Prince, an Established Church, King Charles’ Impeccable Style, and more.

Are the fears of some Christians about Christian Nationalism warranted? What even is Christian Nationalism? Is it worthwhile? Josh Abbotoy and Ben Dunson discuss all of this and more. Show Notes: https://americanreformer.org/?s=Christian+Nationalism https://g3min.org/christian-faithfulness-the-biblical-alternative-to-christian-nationalism/

Megan Basham recently published an important (and disturbing) journalistic investigation into cultural capitulation within the Southern Baptist Convention. Josh Abbotoy and Ben Dunson use this article as springboard to to discuss the intense cultural pressures placed on evangelical churches in today’s world. Show notes: Megan Basham, “Mr. Smith goes to the Convention” (https://americanreformer.org/2023/04/mr-smith-goes-to-the-convention/)

American Reformer Executive Director Josh Abbotoy and American Reformer Editor-In-Chief Ben Dunson in The American Reformer Podcast's seventh episode. Show Notes: Pluralism Won’t Save Us: https://americanreformer.org/2022/10/pluralism-wont-save-us/ The Deep Heaven of the Gay Gods: https://americanreformer.org/2023/03/the-deep-heaven-of-the-gay-gods/ Transgender Terrorism? https://americanreformer.org/2023/04/transgender-terrorism/

Should the state privilege Christianity? Should it allow full, public expression of all religions? Josh Abbotoy and Ben Dunson discuss this with regard to recent bills on religious freedom currently before the Texas legislature. Show Notes: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/state/2023/02/08/texas-legislature-religious-freedom-muslim-jewish-christian/69877452007/

American Reformer Executive Director Josh Abbotoy and American Reformer Editor-In-Chief Ben Dunson in The American Reformer Podcast's fifth episode. Show Notes: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2022/07/abortion-fugitives-extradition-laws.html “I think it will be easy to recognize when the American Republics begin to degenerate: it will suffice to see whether the number of political judgments increases.” Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America (trans. Arthur Goldhammer; New York, Library of America: 2004), p. 125 (political judgments = using impeachments and courts to settle what should be political issues)

American Reformer Executive Director Josh Abbotoy, American Reformer Editor-In-Chief Ben Dunson and Associate Editor Timon Cline feature in The American Reformer Podcast's fourth episode. Show Notes: On Josh Butler’s cancellation Stiven Peter at American Reformer : https://americanreformer.org/2023/03/the-gospel-cancelation/ Denny Burk: https://www.dennyburk.com/taking-a-dog-by-the-ears/

American Reformer Executive Director Josh Abbotoy and American Reformer Editor-In-Chief Ben Dunson feature in The American Reformer Podcast's third episode. Show Notes: Scott Yenor on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs and their negative effects in Texas Universities: https://lukemacias.com/dei-programs-exposed-in-texas/ (podcast interview) https://americanreformer.org/2023/01/higher-ed-reform/ https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/equality-not-elitism/dei-is-poisoning-college-campuses https://americanmind.org/salvo/dei-by-any-other-name-still-stinks/ https://americanmind.org/salvo/how-texas-am-went-woke/ https://www.jamesgmartin.center/2023/02/at-texas-am-a-different-kind-of-climate-change/ https://texasscorecard.com/state/texas-am-goes-woke-with-discriminatory-diversity-policies/ https://texasscorecard.com/state/texas-am-students-say-they-dont-feel-like-they-belong-on-campus/ https://www.city-journal.org/university-of-texas-and-texas-am-embrace-dei

American Reformer Executive Director Josh Abbotoy and American Reformer Editor-In-Chief Ben Dunson feature in The American Reformer Podcast's second episode. Show notes: John Witherspoon, “The Dominion of Providence Over the Passions of Men” (1776): https://www.the-highway.com/providence_Witherspoon.html Kevin DeYoung, “John Witherspoon: President and Patriot”: https://princetoniansforfreespeech.com/john-witherspoon-president-and-patriot Kevin DeYoung, “A Fuller Measure of Witherspoon on Slavery”: https://princetoniansforfreespeech.com/fuller-measure-witherspoon-slavery

American Reformer Executive Director Josh Abbotoy and American Reformer Editor-In-Chief Ben Dunson feature in The American Reformer Podcast's pilot episode.