Theocast
A Wesleyan's Search For Rest (w/ Doug Hannah)
September 9, 2026
Summary
What happens when the pursuit of holiness leaves you striving instead of resting in Christ? Jon Moffitt sits down with Christian radio professional Doug Hannah to explore his journey from the Wesleyan holiness movement and pietism toward a theology that offers real gospel rest. The conversation examines how pietism can shape the way Christians understand holiness, obedience, and the Christian life. Doug also shares how a clearer understanding of the gospel transformed his view of what it means to rest in Christ.
Topics
- Doug Hannah’s path from Wesleyan holiness and pietism toward gospel rest
- How pietism shapes holiness, obedience, and the feel of the Christian life
- What changes when the gospel relocates assurance in Christ rather than striving
- Christian radio, pietism, and losing the meaning of “gospel”
Links
- Anchored in Christ — Doug Hannah’s podcast
- Enough in Christ — free ebook
- The Bible According to Jesus — how Jesus teaches us to read the Scriptures
- Rest — free ebook on faith vs. faithfulness
- Theocast Community
- Partner with Theocast
Transcript
Edited machine transcript. May contain errors. Select a timestamp to watch that moment.
Today, we're going to learn about a story about a young man who was saved in the Wesleyan holiness movement and then spent most of his life and career in Christian radio.
Yeah, you know where this is going.
A lot of things to do, superficial Christianity, and no rest.
The end of this story is powerful because he does find rest.
And then we talk a lot about Christian radio and just the gospel-centered/slash Jesus-centered movements, how we've lost what even the word gospel means, what is pietism.
It's a powerful and wonderful conversation.
Stay tuned.
Today, I have Doug Hannah from Anchored in Christ podcast with me today.
I think you're going to enjoy this one.
Ever read the Bible and walk away feeling like you're failing?
No matter how hard you try, you're never measuring up.
That's not a motivation problem, that's a reading problem.
Most people have never been taught how to read the Bible the way Jesus taught it.
So when they hear things like be perfect, deny yourself, take up your cross, they assume it's all about trying harder.
But what if that's not what Jesus was doing at all?
What if the law isn't meant to fix you, but to reveal your need for a savior?
And what if the gospel isn't advice, but an announcement of what Christ has already done for you?
That's the difference between law and gospel.
And once you see it, everything changes.
Clarity, rest, and confidence.
