Summary
We approach Theology In the Raw as a conversational theology podcast that often explores contested questions within contemporary evangelicalism. The series is wide ranging, with interviews and long form discussion. That format can be genuinely helpful, because it allows space for nuance, but it also means the series is not consistently anchored to sustained biblical exposition.
When the conversations are careful and Scripture engaged, they can help listeners think slowly rather than react quickly. That is valuable in areas where many Christians have more heat than light. The tone is often open and exploratory, which can lower defences and invite engagement. For pastors, that openness can be both strength and risk, depending on the listener’s maturity.
The series is best received as a window into current debates and as a prompt toward deeper study, rather than as a settled guide for doctrinal formation.
Why Should I Listen to This Series?
We listen because we need to understand the questions people are asking. Pastoral ministry regularly involves issues that are being discussed online in complex, emotionally charged ways. A long form interview format can help us hear the arguments, the assumptions, and the pastoral pressures that shape those discussions. That can aid discernment and equip us to respond with both truth and patience.
We also listen because the series can model slower thinking. In an age of quick takes, a willingness to explore details, ask follow up questions, and acknowledge complexity can be refreshing. It can also help listeners avoid caricature. For pastors, that can be useful as we seek to shepherd people away from tribalism and toward wisdom.
A strength is its openness to conversation and its willingness to engage a range of views. A limitation is theological steadiness. Not every episode will reflect confessional clarity, and some listeners may find themselves unsettled rather than strengthened. That does not mean the series has no place. It means we should treat it as a selective tool, recommended to mature listeners who can evaluate claims by Scripture and who understand the difference between exploration and instruction.
If we want a resource for tracking debates and hearing long form discussions, it can be useful. If we need a stable diet of doctrinal teaching and text driven exposition, we should look elsewhere and use this as an occasional supplement.
Closing Recommendation
We can recommend Theology In the Raw as a selective listening option for pastors and thoughtful Christians who want to understand contemporary evangelical debates. It can serve discernment when used carefully and when Scripture remains the final authority.
We should be cautious about recommending it widely, especially to newer believers, and we should encourage listeners to test every claim by the Word of God and by historic Christian orthodoxy.
Preston Sprinkle
Preston Sprinkle is an American evangelical scholar and pastor, serving in the contemporary broadly evangelical tradition with Anabaptist and peace church sympathies.
He is known for his work in New Testament studies and for public engagement on questions of sexuality, violence, and Christian discipleship. Through books, podcasts, and teaching ministry, Sprinkle has sought to handle contested issues with careful attention to the biblical text and historical context. His writing often aims to slow the conversation, urging readers to examine Scripture patiently before drawing conclusions. In doing so, he has encouraged thoughtful engagement rather than reactionary argument.
Sprinkle is valued for his willingness to address complex cultural questions with seriousness and pastoral concern. He writes with a desire to hold together conviction and charity, seeking to form Christians who think biblically and act graciously. While some of his conclusions prompt debate within confessional Reformed circles, his commitment to Scripture as authoritative and his appeal for careful exegesis remain central to his ministry.
Notable works include People to Be Loved, Embodied, and Fight.
Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical