You Tube Theology

In this episode, I speak with theologian Roger E. Olson about his journey through Pentecostalism, evangelical theology, and some of the most debated questions in modern Christian thought.

Olson reflects on his early life in Pentecostalism and why he eventually left it, as well as his time studying under Wolfhart Pannenberg. He also shares personal encounters and conversations with major theological figures including Oral Roberts, Jürgen Moltmann, John Piper, Greg Boyd, Stanley Grenz, R. C. Sproul, and Richard Bauckham.

We then turn to one of the most contested areas in evangelical theology: Arminianism. Olson explains why he believes it is frequently misunderstood, and we discuss whether the Calvinism–Arminianism debate still matters for the church today.

The conversation also explores broader shifts in evangelicalism, including why many Christians are moving toward more liturgical traditions, and what this reveals about identity, authority, and worship in contemporary Christianity.

We also discuss a more philosophical question: does God change in any meaningful sense? Could we even speak of God “self-actualizing”?

Finally, Olson reflects on post-conservative evangelical theology and why, despite ongoing tensions, he continues to identify as “evangelical.”

This is a rich and wide-ranging conversation with one of the most important contemporary voices in evangelical theology.