Bonus Episode! Responding to Some Critiques: Preston Sprinkle | Theology in the Raw Podcast

[@joemisek]

Butterfield's husband and the elders of her church "would not let her have a conversation" with Preston?!?! My goodness, that's coming from a circle of control that I simply cannot understand.

[@EmWarEl]

Conservative Presbyterians. I have encountered it personally. The men are in charge of theology, even when their wives are objectively and obviously brighter and know more. It's a conviction.

[@westyso.cal.8842]

It’s not “control.” It’s headship. Men are the spiritual leaders in the home, and in the church. That’s what it means to be Reformed and Patriarchal. It is a the traditional position of the church down through the ages. The egalitarian and complementarian views are modern liberal positions.

[@davidsilic8603]

Preston I just wanted to say I so appreciate how willing you are to engage with different opinions, even ones you don't necessarily agree with. I think it is very dangerous as truth seekers to avoid discourse and discussion over complex and nuanced issues. As someone who often appreciates Elisa Childer's content and discussions I really hope she would be willing to hear you out and have a discussion on your podcast or her own.

[@shannamathias4176]

Totally agree

[@chad_stew]

The conference sounds amazing. I think the idea of "allowing the attendees to hear different points of view on a topic so that they can weigh each" is amazing! I also think many Christian leaders are afraid of that idea. They don't think people can handle that. It's fear-based leadership. Fear -> -> Control.

[@westyso.cal.8842]

Too bad that Preston hosts his conference every year at a church where many people have left because they disagree with him and his guests. I’d say that is divisive and not unifying.

[@chad_stew]

@@westyso.cal.8842 Since 2020 Christians all over the U.S. have switched churches in an attempt to find folks who think more like themselves. What you describe isn't unusual. Like you, I don't like it, but what's the solution? I think Preston's approach is spot on. I wouldn't recommend he change it. If I went to a church that practiced a more "culture war" type approach to relating to humans attracted to the same sex, should I leave that church? Would that church be open to me staying, but engaging folks in conversation on the topic? Or would they ask me to keep my views to myself? Should they stop culturing waring to satisfy me? Many in our church left because in 2020 we had small groups available for folks who wanted to work through The Color of Compromise, by Jamar Tisby. Should the church not have done the study? Many of us were hungry to explore those topics. In all these scenarios, who should keep quiet, who should leadership minister to, should leadership avoid conversations because opinions on the topic differ? 1 Corinthians 11:19 says "there must be divisions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized." If I went to a Maga church I don't think I could keep quiet. I'd like to think I'd attempt to have reasonable conversations with folks about it. But if they rejected my thoughts and asked me to not have conversations with members about the dangers of Christian Nationalism, then what should I do? If I leave, is it the Maga churches fault, or mine? Based on your comments about Preston's conference above, I assume you'd say that the Maga church should stop presenting stuff that I disagree with. Is that what you would suggest?

[@westyso.cal.8842]

What is your familiarity with Calvary Chapel? Where do you go to church?

[@chad_stew]

Oh, look. I responded to your first reply, but it appears that it got deleted. I wonder why it got deleted. I've been following Jesus for a few decades, so I know some Calvary Chapel history. But I've never regularly attended one of their churches. I went to a Baptist youth group after I got saved. I was a part of some house churches for long time. Now I go to a teaching oriented, non-denominational church that is continuationist, but is pretty tame in its public expression of spiritual gifts, similar to how a Calvary Chapel church would be. My favorite definition of church is "where two or more are gathered in his name...". I wonder if this reply will get deleted too.

[@westyso.cal.8842]

It’s nice to meet you, Chad. Sounds like you love the Lord and got a good foundation. My comments get deleted all the time on this YT channel. Not sure why.

[@dylandean5043]

I love that sprinkle steers away from answering complex questions with simple answers…this has caused alot of people who wont take the time and those who arent even genuinely interested in the conversation to falsely accuse him of believing things he doesnt. They expose themselves.

[@Wren_Farthing]

I wonder at Christians who refuse to engage with those they disagree with. It’s as if they feel they must protect the gospel from any challenge. Truth is indestructible and will hold. It will bear up as we humans wrestle and debate each other. Preston, I appreciate that you provide a space for Christians (and others?) to do that. It seems increasingly rare.

[@Wren_Farthing]

​@@inYTbio_SiteLINKs2Verses_Bruv Am I serious that Truth can withstand any challenge? Am I serious that Christian anxiety around engagement with others is unreasonably high these days, and there are few forums in which good faith discussion happens? Am I serious that we can engage with each other and with non-Christians without fear? Yes to all of that.

[@inYTbio_SiteLINKs2Verses_Bruv]

@@Wren_Farthing You don't know Preston like I know Preston.

[@Wren_Farthing]

@@inYTbio_SiteLINKs2Verses_Bruv Then take your gripe to Preston, and leave me out of it.

[@inYTbio_SiteLINKs2Verses_Bruv]

@@Wren_Farthing Wow. You turned on a dime. I don't have a problem with him personally, I'm sure he's a swell guy. It's his theology and the fake attempt to seem fair with this discussion is what I have issue with.

[@Wren_Farthing]

@@inYTbio_SiteLINKs2Verses_Bruv I don’t know what you mean by my “turning on a dime.” Look back at how you started your interaction with me. Your comment was both shaming and goading. If you’ve got a vendetta against Preston, if you disagree with his theology or think he’s deceptive, that’s really for you to take up with him. I don’t want to be drawn into it, either to join you in denouncing him or to defend him. I stand by original comment. There are few forums in which Christians can address polarizing cultural issues, and I appreciate that Preston provides one.

[@jennyniemi4690]

Thank you for making this video Preston. I love how you were able to offer a defense and a critique of the critique against you in a calm and loving manner. I really respect you and I am deeply saddened by Rosaria’s words against you and your ministry. I have lost some respect for her because of this. I just wish she could have a dialogue with you directly. I really hope Alyssa takes you up on your offer to have a conversation about this directly. Keep up the good work! I just ordered your new book on the 21 conversations and I look forward to reading it! Grace and peace. ❤

[@roxanasalazar1234]

I am glad you responded, I made some comments there…

[@shannamathias4176]

Thank you for being a person trying to love all people, not just people you agree with, which is what much of Christiandom tends to do.

[@ringthembells143]

Haters gonna hate, if you’re not getting called a heretic you’re not doing a good job following Jesus. Good job Preston🔔✅❤️

[@dylandean5043]

I love what ur ministry has grown into. Appreciate u man. Its funny some of ur critics who only disagree with the terms/words +strategy u use arent reaching the lgbtq community like ur ministry has- what uve been doing has been working- the people criticizing most dont actually reach anybody.

[@njpen2048]

Preston, I'm so sorry. It must be very frustrating to be condemned as a heretic for things you didn't say and misreadings of your book. Thanks for striving to respond in a clear and Christ-like manner. I hope some of your critics will be willing to discuss these topics with you in the future.

[@roxanasalazar1234]

Can someone tell me why the reformers keep this posture of my way or no way? I am reformed and I realized I was doing the same God forgive me

[@XfreshcakesX]

Given the many other interviews Rosario has done on other platforms, it’s clear that she lacks the ability to properly evaluate the ideas and writings of others. This showed in her interview on Sean McDowell’s platform. In fact, it seems to be an outright unwillingness. What she has presented is misrepresentation and defamation. That’s concerning being that’s she’s a writing teacher and holds influence over others. Her story is inspiring of what God can do but she’s been captured by an ideology for sure. Would love to see an interview between the two of you.

[@janethorsman194]

Here’s the thing, though. If that passage in Romans is indeed “leveling the playing field” why has the sin of homosexuality been singled out as a special sin that one can use as an identity. Each sin listed in that passage start out on our periphery. The more we engage with them, the more they will consume and control us. I really don’t understand why Preston and his followers use the framing of Gay Christian. It’s the modern, secular framing and should be rejected. This, I believe is the crux of Rosaria’s argument and I 100% agree with her. Preston is UNLEVELING the playing field by elevating homosexuality to its own ontological category, and not just a sin that one struggles against.

[@EmWarEl]

Butterfield's Calvinism pushes her over a line, in my view. The Bible nowhere says that Adam's guilt is imputed to us or that we are born ontologically corrupt, rather than as inoocent but corruptible flesh (human beings with a "sinful nature") which we individually corrupt with sin 100% of the time. If Adam and Eve sinned in an idyllic world, perhaps the first time they were directly tempted (maybe Satan was working on them for a long time but we aren't told that), then we will certainly sin in a fallen, broken world. I have a flesh that wants food, and does not care how I get it. Nor is it satisfied with only what my body needs. I have a rather persistent bent towards gluttony, especially of ice cream, which is a distortion/perversion of the good impulses that God created me with. If I indulge it, there will be consequences. I don't believe I should identify as a glutton or elevate gluttony to the place of an essential part of my personality. But I am not sinning when I am tempted toward gluttony, and if I reject the gluttony it will have less power over me me with time. Some temptations only come as a result of earlier compromise, and our sinful desires do grow darker and stronger if indulged. But to fight a temptation at the outer gate of our hearts? How can that be sin? It's Holy Spirit fueled victory.

[@dylandean5043]

She’s disingenuous really, its shameful.

[@DanteInfernski22]

Where can I find the response to the critique of punching right and coddling left?

[@Juniper333]

The conference sounds amazing, I wish I could go.

[@paulstone8900]

It is sad to me Rosaria has taken this route and refuses to even speak to Preston on these matters when he has a) refuted their misrepresentations and b) offered to have a meaningful clarifying conversation, which she has refused. I have lost respect for Rosaria in this misguided head-hunting expedition.

[@HJM0409]

Preston, thanks for trying to thoughtfully and respectfully answer accusations against you. I think a lot of the problem here is definitional. James makes it clear there is a step between a desire (a thought) and a sin. The problem is in our culture a desire has often been defined as lusting after. If you take away the weirdness around same sex, lets just talk about any form of porn. If you had ever succumb to porn in the past those images are there and my pop into your mind without your permission. At that moment you can decide to entertain them or dismiss/ take captive to the obedience of Christ those thoughts. If you obey Christ and take them captive RATHER than inviting them in for tea, you did not sin. Regardless that the image that popped into your head was sinful. That is the law of sin (habits and traditions) that you have laid down in your mind when you were following after your flesh/ desires and did not say no to them. If we define a desire as anything that pops into your mind- those are not sin unless we consent to them- we conceive with them- then sin is born.

[@1timeslime971]

The ‘talks’ must always revolve around scripture..VS talk, talk, talk, blah, blah, blah…it becomes people centered VS God centered.

[@Lexingtonlion]

When do you begin to focus on the truth? As it pertains to being a new creation in Christ, repentance and deliverance?

[@dylandean5043]

Lack of integrity on butterfield, she doesn’t understand the conversation and its clear she isnt trying to. the way she butchered ur book there and asserted that u claim things which u have spent entire books on saying the opposite says it all.

[@EleanorMcHugh]

Christ freed Rosaria from defining herself as a Lesbian and being free she chose a new life. That’s a powerful miracle. Unfortunately rather than marvel at just what a miracle it is to have one’s innermost desires changed, and embrace the compassion that should rightfully engender towards those who suffer still from their desires, she instead uses it as a bludgeon against Christians with same sex desires or gender dysphoria. She rails against the mote in our eyes and doesn’t even see the beam in her own. Preston I only know by his videos here on KZbin which I’ve been watching for many years. He’s not “affirming” of homosexual or transgender identities. Instead he respects the people who hold those identities and treats them with kindness and affection. He’s honest in his convictions, thoughtful in how he explains them, and seems compassionate in his dealings with others. If I lived in the USA I’d quite like to attend one of his conferences as I think it would be thought-provoking and doubtless challenge some of my own reconstructed beliefs. Preston’s a good example of how the Church can have integrity in how it approaches these matters without giving up on the essential point that we are all sinners who need the Grace only Jesus Christ can extend to us. There is freedom in the Grace of God not because we’ll stop sinning (the natural man remains with us as Paul himself attested) but because we have a relationship with the Godhead through Jesus Christ. A relationship which allows God to awaken His image within us, so we might stumble as best we can in His ways where previously we walked with full confidence in our own.

[@dylandean5043]

@@EleanorMcHugh well said

[@daveflanagan4213]

Part B: The Alicia Childers Podcast with Rosario last fall I found very ungracious towards Preston at best. Not sure blurting out leading statements on a fellow podcast believer that sits on the WWW forever is not appropriate. Agree to meet Rosario and chat eyeball to eyeball. That’s more the biblical narrative of how to solve disagreements. Please amend Alicia and Rosario asap!

[@daveflanagan4213]

Not the greatest ‘journalism’ Rossaria in leaving out a key statement from the book you are critiquing thereby castigating the said author

[@daveflanagan4213]

Tim Whittaker and Brian Zahnd: progressive to the core. Guess Rosaria’s point is should you even give these guys a platform? I see Preston’s POV on the Exiles conference as a forum rather than a conference where it’s more appropriate to host this panoply of speakers rather than platforming them at your local Church which biblically would be much more problematic.

[@philipabraham4613]

I really admire your grace with this pharisee. I call her a pharisee because she is terrribly interested in being legally correct according to her Reformed Protestant construct in condemning her Christian sisters and brothers who are clever, who were born clever. I mean beautiful, who were born physically beautiful. I mean extroverted, who were born extroverted. I mean slow, who were born slow. I mean SSA, who were born SSA. Christ is saving us and redeeming us wholly through His blessed Incarnation, through His bodily death and resurrection from the dead, thanks be to G-d. "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, clever and dim, beautiful and ugly, rich and poor, Republican and Democrat, black and white and brown, gay and straight, side A and side B, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." --the Rather Liberally Amplified Version! of St Paul's Letter to the Galatians. Indeed, I believe Christ is redeeming our sinful preoccupation over the very issue of SSA praxis, for cryin' out loud (for rejoicing out loud).

[@bskaje]

It's so interesting that you want to "allow attendees to hear different points of view on a topic" but then avoid inviting any affirming viewpoints in your sessions directly about sexuality and gender issues. Even in your defense of inviting Tim, you point out that no one else there is going to agree with him about the affirmation of LGBTQ+ people in the church and that he's going to get pushback if he tries to bring it up. Why is it that so many doctrines are open for disagreement within the body of Christ, but on the issue of sexuality and gender, evangelicals seem to be so afraid to listen to or even share the stage with affirming points of view? Why is it that the only LGBTQ+ people you are willing to have talk about their experience of sexuality or gender on your podcast or at your conference are those who have landed on non-affirming positions? That does not sound like diversity of viewpoint to me.

[@westyso.cal.8842]

Poor Preston. He will never be orthodox enough to appeal to the conservatives, and never liberal enough to appeal to the progressives. That’s what happens when someone tries to walk the line. They end up disappointing everyone.

[@annlowry9841]

She is using (and slightly distorting) that portion of your book in order to keep people from reading it. Most of their followers won't read it for themselves and see what your book is actually about. I think she is sadly platforming. I think she is trying to eliminate the competition....which is disgusting quite frankly.

[@1timeslime971]

Once your identity is in Christ, you no longer identify as your old self-focused desires. Die to self, take up your cross…the ‘cross’ is your own personal sacrifice of giving up your old ways to live for Jesus…You should just keep the focus on actual scripture. Such as in John when he speaks of pruning the branches that do not produce fruit. He’s referring to fake Christians.

[@annlowry9841]

She didn't read your "clencher sentence".

[@1timeslime971]

The ‘image’ of God is spiritual IMAGE….right God is spirit….so no, a practicing homosexual or lesbian cannot have His spirit in dwelt in your body that which is a temple of His Holy Spirit…..practicing sin VS giving it up….giving up a sin as horrendous as homosexuality requires the work of God. So FIRST admitting it’s a sin, confessing Jesus died for that…RESULTS in a gratitude to live for Him, Jesus!

[@carolyncampos287]

Watched you interview Micharl Heisner. Because of your Q-anon hat I will no longer watch your videos.