Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Why does the evangelical church have so little influence on culture today? To get to that answer, we must understand the last 120 years of American Protestant history, back to the fundamentalist-modernist controversy of the late 1800s/early 1900s.
In this powerful conversation on the Ideas Have Consequences podcast, Scott D. Allen and I walk you through the history that shaped modern evangelicalism. This is a call for renewal, not retreat or cultural accommodation. My hope is that leaders will return to a distinctly biblical approach to culture, education, justice, and discipleship.
This is essential history for anyone who wants to understand progressive Christianity, deconstruction, and doctrinal drift in evangelical institutions. Learn how we got here and what it will take to chart a better way forward.
Time stamps of key moments:
0:14 — Intro and welcome
2:10 — Overview of the Fundamentalist-Modernist Controversy (late 1800s–early 1900s)
8:39 — Connection to today: Progressive Christianity today is the same battle, now in a postmodern context
11:54 — Fundamentalist response: founding of Biola and the Bible college movement
17:34 — Praise for their courage + critique of their retreat from culture into parallel institutions
21:40 — Long-term consequences of the fundamentalist strategy
30:20 — Will today’s leaders fight postmodernism the way the fundamentalists fought modernism?
32:21 — Shift to neo-evangelicalism; drift in Christian higher education
38:17 — Call to fight for renewal of institutions (not abandonment)
46:04 — Encouragement to actively fight for your favorite Christian institutions rather than leave them
48:44 — Closing
👉 Recommended: The episode that inspired this discussion: “Biola’s Founders Fought Modernism. Will Today’s Leaders Fight Postmodernism?”
youtu.be/Tdr-4LaZviQ
👉 Recommended: My podcast series, "The Biola Chronicles"
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHfxxaVbHJaajgjRpeC6w2d2h3ftjiYrD
--
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Support my work
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Stay connected by downloading the CFBU app! With the CFBU app, you'll have all our resources (Theology Mom, All the Things Show, and CFBU) at your fingertips. Search for "center for biblical unity" in your app store.
👉 centerforbiblicalunity.com/mobileapp
#theologymom #fundamentalism #modernism
Why does the evangelical church have so little influence on culture today? To get to that answer, we must understand the last 120 years of American Protestant history, back to the fundamentalist-modernist controversy of the late 1800s/early 1900s.
In this powerful conversation on the Ideas Have Consequences podcast, Scott D. Allen and I walk you through the history that shaped modern evangelicalism. This is a call for renewal, not retreat or cultural accommodation. My hope is that leaders will return to a distinctly biblical approach to culture, education, justice, and discipleship.
This is essential history for anyone who wants to understand progressive Christianity, deconstruction, and doctrinal drift in evangelical institutions. Learn how we got here and what it will take to chart a better way forward.
Time stamps of key moments:
0:14 — Intro and welcome
2:10 — Overview of the Fundamentalist-Modernist Controversy (late 1800s–early 1900s)
8:39 — Connection to today: Progressive Christianity today is the same battle, now in a postmodern context
11:54 — Fundamentalist response: founding of Biola and the Bible college movement
17:34 — Praise for their courage + critique of their retreat from culture into parallel institutions
21:40 — Long-term consequences of the fundamentalist strategy
30:20 — Will today’s leaders fight postmodernism the way the fundamentalists fought modernism?
32:21 — Shift to neo-evangelicalism; drift in Christian higher education
38:17 — Call to fight for renewal of institutions (not abandonment)
46:04 — Encouragement to actively fight for your favorite Christian institutions rather than leave them
48:44 — Closing
👉 Recommended: The episode that inspired this discussion: “Biola’s Founders Fought Modernism. Will Today’s Leaders Fight Postmodernism?”
youtu.be/Tdr-4LaZviQ
👉 Recommended: My podcast series, "The Biola Chronicles"
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHfxxaVbHJaajgjRpeC6w2d2h3ftjiYrD
--
📌 Help me be cancel proof! Let's connect OFF of YouTube:
👉 theologymom.com/contact
📌 Find out more about my work
👉 theologymom.com
📌 Grab my FREE e-book, "Discipling Yourself As You Disciple Your Children"
👉 theologymom.com/contact
Follow my work on socials
👉 instagram.com/centerforbiblicalunity
👉 facebook.com/theologymom
👉 youtube.com/@TheologyMom
👉 youtube.com/@centerforbiblicalunity
👉 youtube.com/@AllTheThingsShow
👉 facebook.com/attlivestream
👉 instagram.com/allthethings.show
Support my work
👉 centerforbiblicalunity.com/donate
Stay connected by downloading the CFBU app! With the CFBU app, you'll have all our resources (Theology Mom, All the Things Show, and CFBU) at your fingertips. Search for "center for biblical unity" in your app store.
👉 centerforbiblicalunity.com/mobileapp
#theologymom #fundamentalism #modernism
