The Fracturing of Evangelicalism & Bethlehem Baptist

The Roys Report

Julie Roys

Religion & Spirituality, Society & Culture, Philosophy, Christianity

4.5 • 839 Ratings

🗓️ 9 September 2021

⏱️ 47 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this episode of The Roys Report, Julie Roys investigates why the once seemingly united evangelical movement is splintering into sharply opposed factions. The conversation centers on the high‑profile upheaval at Bethlehem Baptist Church, where John Piper’s successor, Jason Meyer, resigned, citing a rising “neo‑fundamentalism” in the church. Julie shares leaked emails and new evidence that expose deep tensions at Bethlehem over race, culture, and alleged abuse—tensions that mirror broader conflicts across American evangelicalism. Guests Michael Graham and Skyler Flowers, pastors and coauthors of the influential article “The Six-Way Fracturing of Evangelicalism,” unpack the emerging camps within evangelicalism—such as white nationalists, “woke” Christians, and ex‑evangelicals—and explain what’s really driving these divides. Together, they explore: What these new evangelical factions are and what they believe How political, racial, and cultural fault lines have reshaped churches Why Christians who share core theological convictions now sharply disagree in practice and posture How believers can better understand one another and discern where they themselves fit in this fractured landscape If you’ve been confused by how people under the same “evangelical” label can think, vote, and act so differently, this episode offers a clear framework, fresh insight, and a starting point for deeper reflection and healthier dialogue.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Recently, John Piper's successor at Bethlehem Baptist Church stepped down, citing numerous issues,
0:10.1	including a neo-fundamentalism that had crept into the church.
0:14.4	But what is neo-fundamentalism, and why is the evangelical movement, once united by firm theological
0:20.5	convictions, now splitting apart.
0:23.3	Welcome to the Roy's report, a podcast dedicated to reporting the truth and restoring the church.
0:28.6	I'm Julie Roy's. If you've been following my reporting, you know that three pastors, including
0:33.6	Jason Meyer, the successor to John Piper, recently resigned from Bethlehem Baptist Church,
0:39.5	and a main issue cited by the pastors was spiritual abuse. But also prominent in Pastor Meyer's
0:45.5	resignation letter was a complaint that the church had become neo-fundamentalist. And today, I'm going
0:51.6	to present new evidence revealing more about this neo-fundamentalism at Bethlehem and the deep divisions over racial and cultural issues that led to Pastor Myers' resignation.
1:02.5	But beyond that, I'm going to explore how what's happening at Bethlehem is just a microcosm of a much larger fracturing across evangelicalism. There are now, not just
1:12.6	neo-fundamentalists, but neo-evangelicals, post-evangelicals, and even de-churched evangelicals.
1:19.5	If you've been scratching your head wondering how Christians subscribing to the same movement
1:23.7	could believe and behave so differently, I think you're really going to appreciate this
1:28.9	podcast. Joining me are Michael Graham and Skyler Flowers, two pastors who have authored a
1:34.7	groundbreaking article entitled The Six-Way Fracturing of Evangelicalism. Their insights on this topic
1:41.0	are profound, and I'm so looking forward to our conversation. But first,
1:45.4	I want to thank the sponsors of this podcast, Judson University and Marquart of Barrington. Judson is a
1:52.0	top-ranked Christian University providing a caring community and an excellent college experience.
1:58.0	Plus, the school offers more than 60 majors, great leadership opportunities,
2:02.2	and strong financial aid. Judson University is shaping lives that shape the world. For more
2:08.2	information, just go to judsonu.edu. Also, if you're looking for a quality new or used car,
	...

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