16. Tim Whitaker (The New Evangelicals) – Rebuilding Faith Beyond Fundamentalism

🎙 Episode 16. Tim Whitaker – Rebuilding Faith Beyond Fundamentalism

This week, Alexis welcomes Tim Whitaker @timwhitakerspeaks, founder and host of The New Evangelicals@thenewevangelicals, a digital-first community holding space for honesty, justice, and theological exploration. Tim’s story mirrors so many of ours: deep roots in white evangelical subculture, then courageous questions the old answers couldn’t hold—culminating in a movement inviting Christians into a wider house of faith. 

We Explore

• From “basement” faith to a bigger house: conservative upbringing (AWANA, missions, purity culture), cracks of doubt, and the books/voices that opened windows (Irresistible Revolution, Pagan Christianity, BibleProject).
• The cost of conscience: losing a church role and friendships, and how grief gave way to healing.
• Christian nationalism: Ten Commandments in schools, pluralism, and why symbolism-as-power misses Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.
• Good-faith dialogue: critiquing ideas, not people; refusing dehumanization.
• Empathy isn’t a sin: why “toxic empathy” is propaganda, and why gospel-shaped empathy is essential.
• Beyond deconstruction: letting anger tell the truth, then building something better.

💡 Key Takeaways

• Accountability > “safety.” Real community risks hurt; healthy community repairs it.
• Dehumanization is a red line. Hold convictions without mocking image-bearers.
• Empathy is gospel-shaped. Love of neighbor demands proximity and policy concern.
• Reconstruction matters. Tearing down isn’t the finish line; rebuilding with Jesus’ fruit is.

⛪ About Our Guest

Tim Whitaker is the founder of The New Evangelicals, a nonprofit creating pathways out of fundamentalism toward a Jesus-centered, justice-rooted faith. Through podcasts, content, and events, TNE models theology, good-faith dialogue, and a zero-dehumanization posture.

📚 Resources & Links

• The New Evangelicals Podcast (Apple): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-new-evangelicals-podcast/id1557794865
• BibleProject Podcast: @thebibleproject
• Shane Claiborne @shane.claiborne– The Irresistible Revolution 
• Frank Viola & George Barna – Pagan Christianity?
• Scott Coley – Ministers of Propaganda: https://www.eerdmans.com/9781467466004/ministers-of-propaganda/
• Theology Beer Camp (Homebrewed Christianity): @theologynerd 

Where the slippery slope becomes sacred ground.
For the spiritually tender—raised in or rooted in Christianity, exploring its many expressions.

🌿 Community Guidelines

If we claim to follow Jesus, let’s be known by our love—evidenced by the Fruit of the Spirit: ❤️ love • 💫 joy • ☮️ peace • 🕊 patience • 💝 kindness • 🌿 goodness • 🙏 faithfulness • 🤲 gentleness • 💪 self-control
🕊 May our words online and actions offline reflect that love.

🔗 Connect
🎧 Explore episodes & community: linktr.ee/TheSacredSlope
🎙 Hosted by Alexis Rice
🎵 Music by Brett Rutledge, Eddie Irvin & Sean Spence
📬 Nominate a guest: [email protected]