Episode Overview

Episode 97 of The Tim & April Show, "Why Conservative Christians Protect Predators," delves into the troubling patterns within American evangelical culture that enable, ignore, and sometimes platform leaders and celebrities accused of abuse or unethical behavior. Hosts Tim Whitaker and April Ajoy explore the high-profile cases of worship leader Sean Foyt and comedian Russell Brand (who is facing sexual assault charges in the UK), as well as a series of other evangelical figures with histories of abuse, corruption, or cover-up. The conversation critiques the patterns of cheap grace, a lack of accountability, celebrity culture, and theologies that prioritize protecting powerful men over the dignity of victims.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Sean Foyt, Celebrity Christianity, & Financial Scandal

• Sean Foyt's Profile: Once a little-known worship leader from Bethel Church, Foyt rose to national fame during the COVID-19 pandemic by holding maskless "worship protests" and promoting a persecution narrative around church closures. (04:05)
• Financial Allegations: Foyt's ministry exploded in donations, with reports of questionable spending, including real estate purchases and allegations of embezzlement and wire fraud. Rolling Stone reported on two parsonages and nine homes acquired in his name, alongside a current lawsuit claiming he used $250,000 in charitable donations for personal property.
  • Tim (on nonprofit responsibility):

    "When someone donates to your org, there's a legal obligation to spend that money appropriately... the accusation with Sean is that essentially he's using the org as his personal piggy bank." (07:06)

• Parallel to Broader Evangelical Patterns: Both hosts highlight how Foyt's situation echoes familiar stories within evangelicalism, where leaders exploit ministry resources and get away with it because of misplaced trust and weak accountability structures.

2. Russell Brand, Celebrity Redemption, & Sexual Abuse Allegations

• Brand's Background: Comedian Russell Brand, once noted for far-left activism and new age spirituality, has recently repositioned himself in right-wing and evangelical circles, despite facing several current sexual assault charges in the UK. (10:32–14:20)
  • April:

    "He's currently going through trial from charges and accusations from multiple women." (11:45)

• Evangelical Response — 'Redemption Narrative': Evangelicals have warmly welcomed Brand, touting his supposed recent conversion, despite no public evidence of repentance or accountability.
  • Tim (on social media posts):

    "It's unreal that... a man being accused of financial impropriety... and a man who has several accusations... are on tour together, pretending that they're representing holiness and revival." (13:16)

• Cheap Grace & Celebrity Culture: The hosts critique the evangelical tendency to fast-track celebrity "conversions" for PR or clout.
  • Tim:

    "All he has to do is say, 'I'm a changed man.' All he has to do is say, 'I receive Christ.' He doesn't have to show any remorse, any accountability." (20:28)

3. 'Scandalous Grace,' Testimony Culture, and Cheap Forgiveness

• Testimony & Platforming: In the evangelical tradition, tales of radical redemption after egregious sin are prized over 'average' or steady faith journeys, sometimes perversely incentivizing notorious behavior and lionizing high-profile sinners.
  • April (on her church experience):

    "The testimonies that always got the biggest applause...were the people who had done terrible things... it was like the worse your past was, the more likely you were to be celebrated in the church." (25:45)

• Distorted Ideas of Forgiveness: The episode discusses a wave of shallow 'scandalous grace' narratives, such as t-shirts declaring that even Jeffrey Dahmer (the serial killer) is in heaven if he converted before dying.
  • April:

    "I believe everybody is capable of changing for the better, but I feel like we should have some lines, right? Like, I don't want to go to a heaven if there's a Jeffrey Dahmer up there." (24:55)

• Lack of Real Repentance: The church often forgives immediately if someone claims faith, with little concern for evidence of transformation or for real-world consequences.

4. Enabling Systems & Institutional Protection of Abusers

• Pattern of Cover-Ups: Numerous examples are discussed, such as Robert Morris (megachurch pastor convicted of assaulting a minor), Greg Laurie (class action lawsuit for abuse cover-up), the Southern Baptist Convention's abuse crisis, and infamous cases like Ravi Zacharias and John MacArthur's infamous church discipline of Eileen Gray.
  • Tim (on Morris):

    "Robert Morris... was just convicted of assaulting a 12-year-old... another pastor went and visited him in jail and made this whole post about how God forgives..." (29:13)

  • April (on Ravi Zacharias):

    "...he told her that if she were to tell anybody, she would be responsible for the loss of millions of souls." (42:08)

• Church Structures Enable Abuse: The mega-church model, 'touch not God's anointed' theology, and resistance to transparency/lateral accountability all feed into a cycle where powerful men are seldom held responsible.
  • Tim:

    "When you build mega church, everything on one person's personality ... you have every incentive to cover that up." (41:09)

• Survivors Villainized: Victims are frequently disbelieved, shamed, or blamed for harming ministry or the 'lost,' while perpetrators go unpunished and often return to positions of power.
  • Tim (on MacArthur & Eileen Gray):

    "She was excommunicated when she needed the church most. The guy on staff was hailed as a hero. Even today, John MacArthur... corresponding with [the abuser] in prison..." (44:52)

5. Donald Trump, Political Power, and Evangelical Excuses

• Softening for Power: Hosts connect these rationalizations for abusive/predatory leaders to the continued evangelical support for Donald Trump, despite the lack of any sign of repentance or alignment with Christian virtues.
  • April:

    "Trump... never once even kind of repented or shown an ounce of repentance. When you grow up in the church, they'll...say...God can forgive the most heinous of crimes..." (18:34)

• Ends Justify Means: The narrative that God’s purposes justify supporting deeply flawed leaders is pervasive; power and influence matter more than character.
  • Tim:

    "It's the same logic applied to a politician that they believe God has chosen to save the country even though he's doing the complete opposite." (46:49)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Celebrity 'Conversions':
  • Tim (13:56): "Russell Brand is notorious for shapeshifting into different spaces that give him clout and money...when the church, what do evangelicals do? We have to welcome him with open arms because of grace."
• On Deep Consequences:
  • Tim (32:05): "You violated the sacred dignity of another human being who was a child in one of the worst ways possible as a fellow image bearer. The consequence is that you are not fit to lead other people in any kind of spiritual capacity."
• On Abuse & System Protection:
  • April (37:24): "You have a system that protects the people in power. And in your eyes, they can do no wrong because of that verse: 'do not touch God’s anointed.'"
• On Rationalization:
  • April (46:49): "It’s not that difficult for an evangelical to go from the world that they are in to supporting someone like Donald Trump. It’s not that big of a leap."

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Sean Foyt & COVID 'Worship' Protests: 00:59–05:07
• Foyt’s Financial Allegations & Ministry Wealth: 05:11–08:17
• Russell Brand’s Charges & Right-Wing Tour: 10:03–14:20
• Evangelical Obsession with 'Testimony' & Scandalous Grace: 22:14–25:45
• Systemic Cover-Ups & Recent High-Profile Examples: 29:13–34:27
• Discussion of Greg Laurie, SBC, Church Structures: 37:24–42:06
• Case Study: Eileen Gray & John MacArthur: 44:52–46:17
• Linking These Patterns to Evangelical Support of Trump: 46:49–47:14

Conclusion & Call to Action

The episode uncovers a stark pattern in conservative Christian circles: a culture that eagerly forgives predators and grants them platforms, while marginalizing and silencing survivors. The hosts argue this is the product of celebrity worship, weak accountability, a theology of cheap grace, and a hunger for power over true Christlike humility and justice. They invite listeners to pursue a better path—a faith that seeks accountability, protects the vulnerable, and refuses to enable abusers for the sake of image or political gain.

Resources & Next Steps:

• For more, join The New Evangelicals’ community or follow their resources on accountable, justice-driven Christianity.
• To explore referenced scandals further, see investigations into Sean Foyt, Greg Laurie, Robert Morris, Ravi Zacharias, the SBC, and John MacArthur’s church.

(Podcast hosted by Tim Whitaker and April Ajoy on The New Evangelicals Network. Original episode date: March 24, 2026.)