About this episode

The episode discusses 'loser theology' in modern evangelicalism and introduces the concept of 'high-agency Christianity' as a remedy.

Why does so much of modern evangelicalism seem conditioned to apologize, appease, and lose? Michael Clary and Wade Thomas name the pietistic, winsome-at-all-costs impulse they call "loser theology" — tracing its rise through the city-mission era of the 2010s, how it teaches Christians to feel shame for strength and success, and how sin-appeasement quietly tracks political and cultural pressure. The back half turns to the remedy Clary calls "high-agency Christianity," the subject of his forthcoming Canon Press book. TIMESTAMPS [03:01] Today's topic — loser theology and the pietistic impulse [06:04] How the phrase "loser theology" got its name [07:03] Pitching the book to Canon Press; the high-agency remedy [09:04] Origins — planting the church in 2010 and the winsome era [12:05] Winsomeness and gaining an audience with the world [15:00] A church conditioned to lose and feel shame [19:04] How sins correspond to political leanings [24:06] "Do not offend women" — the gendered pull [26:01] Defining loser theology [30:04] "Pastor, I have concerns" — appeasement in ministry [33:01] NAMB's Send North America and mocking flyover-country…

People in this episode

Host: Wade Thomas

Guest: Michael Clary

Topics covered

• loser theology
• high-agency Christianity
• evangelicalism
• pietism
• cultural pressure
• church planting
• political leanings

Keywords

• loser theology
• high-agency Christianity
• evangelicalism
• pietism
• cultural pressure
• church planting
• political leanings

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Canon Press, NAMB

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