The Pastor Theologians Podcast

How has the Christian faith and its virtue tradition influenced the science of positive psychology and virtue research? Many social scientists acknowledge that virtue reaches its full expression when embedded in a tradition, such as the Christian tradition. Gratitude, for instance, involves the realization that the good that comes to us in our lives often comes from a source outside of ourselves,...

[This episode was recorded on Thursday, November 5, before the election was called by media outlets in favor of Joe Biden.]  Now what? What is the significance of the 2020 election going forward? How can the church be a witness for the gospel in a divided age? Todd Wilson and Joel Lawrence discuss division, unity, and hope in the church. Join us at the CPT Conference

With the 2020 presidential election now upon us, we take some time to slow down and reflect on our spiritual lives. Love desires the good of and union with the other. How does this relate to our calling in Christ in a polarized election and a fractured society? We are joined for this conversation by Eric Johnson, Professor of Christian Psychology at Houston Baptist University. Join us at the CPT C...

Listen now to part two of our conversation with IX Marks Editorial Director, Jonathan Leeman. We discuss a recent lawsuit involving the city of Washington D.C., COVID restrictions, and Capitol Hill Baptist Church. Jonathan also expands further on his political vision for the church, including how to process the 2020 election and considerations for a Christian approach to voting. Join us at the CPT...

How has the cultural situation related to justice, religion, and politics change since the founding of the United States? How should the church engage in politics? How should individual Christians think about their political allegiances? These questions and more are explored as we are joined by Jonathan Leeman, Editorial Director of IX Marks and the author of How the Nations Rage: Rethinking Polit...

How does our spiritual formation relate to our political engagement? How can our spiritual practices and liturgies be both an inward and outward engagement with the world? Kaitlyn Schiess joins the podcast to discuss her new book,  The Liturgy of Politics: Spiritual Formation for the Sake of Our Neighbor . Join us at the CPT Conference

Are there legitimate "conservative" and "liberal" impulses in the Christian faith? How does personality and temperament relate to political affiliation for church leaders and congregants? How can pastors shepherd their congregations well during a time of heightened political polarization? We discuss these and other questions with CPT Co-founder Gerald Hiestand, who serves as th...

What do apologetic discussions look like in a post-Christian age? How can pastors prepare to answer the apologetic questions raised by contemporary culture and the individuals in their congregations? All humans think in stories and narratives. What is the Christian story? What are the contemporary stories being told in our culture? CPT fellow Josh Chatraw joins the podcast to his unique angle on t...

Part 2 of 2: What is the connection between gnosticism, the incarnation, and contemporary controversies related to race and racial injustice? Cherith Fee Nordling joins the podcast to discuss this question, the over-individualization of Christianity, and the tension of living in the radical middle. Join us at the CPT Conference

Part 1 of 2: What is the connection between gnosticism, the incarnation, and contemporary controversies related to race and racial injustice? Cherith Fee Nordling joins the podcast to discuss this question, the over-individualization of Christianity, and the tension of living in the radical middle. Join us at the CPT Conference

What factors go into deciding to apply for a PhD program? What are the advantages and disadvantages of part-time/remote programs versus full-time/residency programs? What family considerations should be taken into account? Listen now to part 3 of CPT Podcast co-host Zachary Wagner’s story of preparing to transition to the UK for full-time study at Oxford. Join us at the CPT Conference

What are the advantages and disadvantages of an M.A. (in either theology or biblical studies) or an M.Div? How does a degree in theology supplement skills in biblical interpretation? We discuss these and other questions on this episode as co-hosts Todd Wilson and Zach Wagner continue to discuss Zach's story of education thus far. Join us at the CPT Conference

CPT Podcast host Todd Wilson and co-host Zachary Wagner discuss Zach's journey of faith and education so far. How does the so-called "anti-intellectualism" of evangelicalism manifest in local churches? Is this a fair characterization of this Christian tradition? What are the strengths and drawbacks of both Bible college education and a liberal arts education for Christians? Zachary...

CPT fellow Gavin Ortlund joins the podcast gain to discuss his habits of study and writing, as well as his recently published  Retrieving Augustine's Doctrine of Creation: Ancient Wisdom for Current Controversy  (IVP Academic, 2020). What were the important emphases of Augustine's doctrine of creation and view of what we would call "science"? What can we learn from this church...

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CPT fellow JT English joins the podcast again to share the story of how he gave up his “dream job” at the Village Church in Dallas to accept a call as Lead Pastor of Storyline Fellowship in Colorado. Listen now to this amazing story of God’s provision and guidance. Join us at the CPT Conference

Listen now to part 2 of our conversation with CPT fellow Rachel Stahle. Rachel shares how she processed her own conversion experience and her call to theological study and pastoral ministry. We discuss Jonathan Edwards on religious experience and the Trinity, as well as perceptions of women pastors in both conservative and progressive theological traditions. Join us at the CPT Conference

How should Christians and pastors approach the 2020 election? How have the two major political parties changed in recent years? How can Christian leaders influence politicians rather than being influenced by politicians? Karen Swallow Prior joins the podcast do discuss her approach to voting, political parties, and the importance of character when Christians engage in politics.  Join us at the CPT...

On this episode of the podcast we are joined by CPT fellow Rachel Stahle. Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Towanda, PA. Rachel shares her story of life, education, and conversion, which involved a unique and dramatic experience where Jesus appeared to her during college. Join us at the CPT Conference

What makes the pastor theologian different from the academic theologian? What types of theological reflection is the pastor particularly well-positioned to engage? What has been lost as the theological task has moved away from the church and into the academy? This episode features a conference lecture from Dr. Gerald Hiestand, co-founder of the CPT. Join us at the CPT Conference

What are the good works that God has prepared for the church to do in 2020? How can white pastors love their black congregants well? What does it look like for Christians as individuals and the church as a whole to reckon with hard questions about politics and faith? On this episode we are joined by Dr. Vincent Bacote, Associate Professor of Theology at Wheaton College and the Director of the Cent...

On Part 2 of our conversation with CPT fellow Matthew Wilcoxen we discuss his interest in Evangelical Anglicanism and his PhD research on divine humility. Matthew also shares some tips for how pastors can prioritize reading, research, and writing. Join us at the CPT Conference

For the Summer of 2020, we will be releasing midweek episodes with special focus on theology and politics. How can Christians engage in politics and public witness while remaining faithful to the lordship of Christ? On this first episode we are joined by Kristen Deede Johnson, a professor of theology at Western Theological Seminary. She tells us her story of becoming interested in the intersection...

We are joined by CPT fellow Matthew Wilcoxen as he tells his story of his education and call to ministry. On this episode Matthew discusses the unique challenges of ministering in Washington DC, his conversion experience as a young person, as well his pursuit and development of his intellectual gifts. Join us at the CPT Conference

How should Christians think about the over-politicization of our culture? What is the theological significance of this cultural trend? How does the Gospel teach us a counter-narrative to the power politics of our day? On this episode, Todd Wilson shares how pastors and Christians can put politics in its proper place within the good world God created. Join us at the CPT Conference