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Wretched Radio with Todd Friel

LEAKY EVANGELICALISM: WHY WE’RE LOSING YOUNG PEOPLE AND WHERE THEY ARE GOING

Wretched Radio with Todd Friel

Fortis Institute

Religion, Christianity, Religion & Spirituality

4.93.1K Ratings

🗓️ 9 January 2025

⏱️ 55 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Segment 1:



• Tired of Church-tainment: Many are leaving evangelical churches due to shallow entertainment and weak leadership.



• Masculinity and Structure: Young men are drawn to Eastern Orthodoxy’s rigid structure and historical depth.



• Podcast Influence: A significant number discover Orthodoxy through online content, seeking deeper commitment.



Segment 2:



• The Appeal of Formality: Eastern Orthodoxy’s formality and disciplined approach attract those disillusioned with modern churches.



• The Strength Dilemma: Many leaving evangelicalism say church leaders aren’t “strong men,” but strength alone isn’t biblical leadership.



• The Evangelical Response: Should evangelical churches embrace more structure while staying rooted in biblical truth?



Segment 3:



• Biblical Justification: Clement of Rome emphasized that God alone justifies—our works play no role.



• Eastern Orthodox Shift: By the 4th century, Orthodoxy began blending justification with sanctification, moving away from the forensic (legal) view.



• Why This Matters: The Bible teaches justification is external—righteousness belongs to Christ and is credited to believers.



Segment 4:



• Works-Based Salvation: Eastern Orthodoxy teaches salvation is progressive, leading believers toward deification.



• Reformers' Stand: The Reformers refuted this, affirming that righteousness is imputed, not infused.



• What Should We Do? As young men continue flocking to Orthodoxy, evangelical churches must refocus on deep discipleship, servanthood, and biblical teaching.



___



Thanks for listening!



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Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Ritchard Radio begins in three, two, one. Now, I am not reintroducing the idea of purgatory,

0:11.2

but on the other hand, I do believe the baby was thrown out with a bathwater. With that came

0:15.7

a belief, when you die, you're instantaneously and magically made perfect. The soul of someone

0:20.5

who dies immediately goes into eternity.

0:23.8

There is no place where you make up for your sins.

0:26.1

There is no purgatory in the twinkling of an eye.

0:28.5

We shall be changed.

0:30.7

It's time for Wretched Radio with Todd Friel.

0:34.3

The theological forecast is in, and it appears the winds are blowing to the east.

0:41.1

This is Wretched Radio.

0:43.0

If you were paying attention, give or take 15, 20 years ago, you started to hear anecdotes,

0:49.8

individuals leaving evangelicalism because they'd had it up to hear with the nonsense, the silliness,

0:56.1

the skinny jeans, the repetitious music, the sound and light show.

0:59.8

They wanted something more serious.

1:02.8

I hold in my never-before nicotine stain fingers proof for those anecdotal observations.

1:10.6

80% increase in membership in the Eastern Orthodox Church in 2022,

1:19.0

60% of which are young, unmarried men.

1:23.9

What does this tell us?

1:25.3

Young guys, they don't want this sissified Christianity,

1:31.0

this limp-risted nonsense entertainment, these well-quafed preachers with their designer clothing,

1:40.2

with a fifth-rate rock concert they put on.

1:46.7

Anybody can observe that and go,

...

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