Episode 265
BOB THE BAPTIST - Faithful or Fooled? How Evangelicals Got Caught Between Bad Pastors and Bad Politics
Former pastor Caleb Bobrycki aka "Bob the Baptist" joins Will Spencer to unpack how theology, politics, and culture collided inside modern evangelicalism — and why so many faithful Christians feel stuck in the middle.
Description:
Former pastor and YouTube creator Bob the Baptist (Caleb Bobrycki) joins Will Spencer for a wide-ranging conversation about how modern Reformed evangelicalism arrived at its current crisis — and why sincere believers are often caught between bad leadership and bad political options.
They trace the influence of the Young, Restless, and Reformed movement, purity culture, and American Reconstructionism, and discuss how theological shortcuts and reactionary politics have replaced deeper confessional grounding. Along the way, they examine figures like John Piper, Machen, Van Til, and Rushdoony, and why responding to cultural chaos without first principles leads to repeated mistakes.
Rather than choosing sides in today’s church culture wars, this episode asks a harder question: What would real theological reform actually require?
Discussion Highlights
- Why sincere Christians often follow bad leadership
- How theology — not just politics — shaped today’s crisis
- The legacy of Young, Restless, and Reformed
- Purity culture as a reaction to cultural drift
- Why reactionary movements repeat old errors
- The danger of tribal theology
- Why confessional depth matters for cultural engagement
About Bob the Baptist
Caleb Bobrycki, known as Bob the Baptist, is a former associate pastor and creator of the YouTube channel Brave New Tube, where he explores evangelical theology, church culture, and political theology through in-depth video essays.
His work focuses on helping Christians understand the deeper roots of today’s church controversies while remaining grounded in confessional faith.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bravenewtube
T-Shirts: https://bobthebaptist.printful.me/
Patreon: https://patreon.com/bobthebaptist
X: https://x.com/BobTheBaptist
Email: CanvidFilms@gmail.com
Watch my viral video with Bob: The Dark Trajectory of New Calvinism
Mentioned in this episode:
Biblical Mentorship for Men
If you’re a man who knows something needs to change — not because life is “too hard,” but because you’ve been drifting, avoiding responsibility, or lacking direction — Will Spencer’s Biblical Mentorship for Men is a disciplined, Scripture-based process focused on clarity, responsibility, and spiritual depth. This is not therapy. It’s not self-help. And it’s not about numbing pain. It’s about learning how to suffer well, lead yourself, and live faithfully. You can book a free Clarity Call to talk through where you are and whether mentorship is the right next step.
https://willspencer.co/mentorship
The Will Spencer Book Club
A guided reading community for men and women who want to slow down, think clearly, and understand the deeper intellectual and spiritual roots shaping our moment. We read demanding books together and discuss them live — not to signal intelligence, but to form judgment. Our first book: "Black Sun: Aryan Cults, Esoteric Nazism, and the Politics of Identity" by Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke.
