Tobias Riemenschneider’s infamous podcast debut on Eschatology Matters was the match that lit the powderkeg of Woke Wars II. In this podcast, he made slanderous accusations against Joel Webbon that were enough for Eschatology Matters to pull the episode and issue an apology. Tobias Riemenschneider disputed the account that Joel Webbon gave of events on October 2 whereby Webbon claimed that Riemenschneider had demanded that he church discipline a member over a meme. In response, Riemenshnieder denied the demands for church discipline and further made the accusation that this member, and by extension Webbon, affirmatively quoted Corey Mahler of Stone Choir making a derogatory comment about mixed-race children. The released Zoom call made clear that these were lies perpetuated by Riemenschneider.
Tobias Riemenschneider went all in to discredit Joel Webbon’s ministry, but the secret recording of the Zoom call by the church member caught Riemenschneider with his pants down. It’s been over two weeks since the Zoom call circulated and longer since Eschatology Matters removed the podcast. Speaking through third party backers, Reimenschneider has delayed responding with frustration of being secretly recorded. He demanded a church court settle the matter, against Baptist polity.
James White defended Tobias Riemenschneider’s reticence by claiming his laptop battery died while he traveled internationally and then when he returned home, he hosted a conference. Additionally, Tobias Riemenschneider was a collaborator on the Antioch Declaration.
Now, Tobias Riemenschneider has finally responded. His laptop was finally recharged, and he released a 90 minute video on Thanksgiving Eve telling his side of the story again.
Riemenschneider claims that a social media mob is attempting to control the narrative and label him a liar, and blamed Webbon for not sharing the recording which was already leaked. Riemenschneider claims that recording the meeting was a sin, citing German law which forbids secret recordings. Texas is a one party consent state. He claims that the Zoom call was a setup to entrap Riemenschneider. He says that “no court” would accept this as evidence right before demanding a church court.
Riemenschneider claims that Eschatology Matters was divided as to whether he had slandered Joel Webbon.
There was zero split. There are only two people who founded and have ever ran Eschatology Matters. Myself and Josh Howard.
— Eschatology Matters (@Eschatology22) November 28, 2024
The third member you speak of is a contributor and part of Eschatology Matters, but is not responsible for decisions like this. It was unanimous.
Tobias Riemenschneider incidentally peddled false information again, although he might not have known this nuance.
Joel Webbon Responds
Joel Webbon responded to Riemenschneider’s video.
1) [AD Robles] is one of the godliest men I know.
You think he’s more “unhinged” than me, but really, he’s just more courageous than me. Simply put, he’s better than me.
2) I have no ill will towards anyone, even Tobias. My efforts in all of this was to defend my church member, first and foremost, and then my own ministry (so that I could continue for as long as the Lord would have me).
It’s helpful to stop and pan out, from time to time. Tobias is probably the best pastor Germany has (yes, that’s partly because Germany sucks, but also because, putting this conflict aside, I’m willing to bet Tobias is probably a good preacher, pastor, husband, and father). Christendom gains nothing by his downfall. He finally got to say his piece, and now hopefully he feels can move on.
I’ll admit, from things people keep sharing with me (such as screenshots of emails), it has become difficult to trust that [James White] and/or [Doug Wilson] didn’t plan with Tobias to try to take me out from early on (perhaps that’s what motivated Tobias). But honestly, I don’t care. I can’t prove it. I had my guys helping me throughout this conflict, and apparently, Tobias had his. Obviously, you probably won’t see me speaking with Doug or James at a conference any time soon, but I wish them both the best. Learned a ton from them. They’ve blessed me immensely. In fact, I even have hope Doug might eventually stop calling me a “Revoice pastor for Nazis.”
3) And yes, of course there’s more I could say to defend myself. There’s always more.
But let’s be honest. You’re all sick of it. I certainly don’t blame you. And most of you have already made up your minds.
For the few of you that still find yourself in the middle, feel free to watch Tobias’ recent video. And if after watching, you’re still willing to give my side a shot, you can scroll through my X profile. There’s a few recent clarifications I already made on the whole debacle (who recorded the call, timeline of events, who first made things public, etc).
But no, I’m not doing a full response video. It’s been a month. If I do something, Tobias will (justifiably) feel that he needs to do something in his defense.
In other words, it’ll never end.
But it needs to end. And so, assuming the other players have said their final words, I bid you all a very…
Happy Thanksgiving.
Joel Webbon announced that he would no longer discuss the issue. He also insinuated his awareness that James White and Doug Wilson played a role in emboldening Riemenschneider.
Conclusion
With comments turned off and dislike button disabled, Tobias Riemenschneider did not win over his detractors. His narrative had already been argued during his absence by his proxies. And thus they did not air this on Monday, but rather going into a holiday.
Tobias Riemenschneider dropped his response the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving, to delay replies and give the impression that he’s responded even though he’s got nothing meaningful to add to his defense. Many won’t have the time to watch 90 minutes of obfuscation, but enough astroturfing from big figures will help save face. Joel Webbon has no interest in going for the kill shot, but the reputations of Tobias Riemenschneider and his backers James White, Doug Wilson, and Joe Boot have taken a hit because of this German misadventure. Tobias Riemenschneider will attempt to make a name for himself in American Evangelicalism, but it appears a doomed venture.
8 Responses
James, Jeff, Joe and Doug taking a hit is putting it mildly. I’ve lost so much respect. Any desire to join LOOR, Apoligia All Access, FLF, or any other venture even loosely affiliated with them has been stunted in my eyes.
Using affiliations to gain a reputation means you have ongoing ties to said affiliation. Much like how political endorsements tell you more about the endorser than the one being endorsed. I don’t make the rules.
Individuals can defend themselves as tertiary parties, but that is hard to swallow in light of Federal Vision. You are who you roll with, and bad company ruins good morals. Psalm 1:1 also speaks about the influence of who you accompany.
He wants to apply German law to Americans. This incident just stands as a cautionary tale for Christian Nationalists that trying to run and International church is contrary to Christian Nationalism. Similar to how the Reformation made the same point against Roman Catholicism.
It says a lot about James White that he did a 2 hour livestream ( “Tobias Speaks, So Finally, So Can I”) on Thanksgiving, to attack Joel, with LGBTQP+ flag lighting behind him. Clearly James White’s family can’t stand him any more than anyone else can.
It is wild to me that professing Christians, like the author of this post, could be so dishonest. Calling what Tobias said about Joel “slander” after the meeting recording was released and anyone can see that Joel lied is wild. Joel claimed Tobias demanded he excommunicate Benjamin. The recording proved that was false.
I also noticed this article left out that there are screenshots, in Webbon’s own words, of him inciting people to create anonymous Twitter accounts to attack Tobias. What kind of Christian, let alone pastor, engages in this sort of behaviour?
He also proved accoring to the LBCF that wanting a third party to facilitate reconciliation is not “against baptist polity”.
Given the overwhelming evidence provided by Tobias, I did wonder how the Webbon fans would spin it (I unfortunately had little faith they would admit to being wrong). I did not think bold-face lying and galighting was on the table.
I reiterate: how a professing Christian can so obviously lie as you have done… I hope you realize how serious that is and repent. You can disagree with Tobias and side with Joel, but you can do so without lying. You will give an account. Let’s see if this comment is deleted.
Proverbs 12:22
James White, its already been covered that you want to split hairs between the terms “church discipline” and “excommunication” when everyone knows they are the same.
To a Christian who knows Scripture, they are not the same thing. Excommunication is the very last step of church discipline if someone doesn’t repent. How long have you been in the faith to make such an incorrect statement as “they’re the same thing”?
But regardless, Tobias did not tell Webbon to do church discipline or excommunicate. So Webbon lied. The evidence is there.
I also notice you did not respond to anything I said. That’s because you can’t. You are fighting for your tribe even though you know the evidence is against them. The evidence speaks for itself.
Matt 18 is a defunct church small claims court idea. Real church discipline is in 1 Cor 5 and is exclusively excommunication.
Furthermore, if the Holocaust happened, then Tobias Riemenschneider as a desendants of the Nazis is a non-person and has no rights, thus no right to be heard (which he opened his first video with, a claim that “I have a biblical right to be heard”); No Tobia, you don’t, because per your own Holocaust narrative all Germans lost all rights due to what they did to the poor innocent Jews, and therefore Tobias Riemenschneider is not a person and has no rights, per his own narrative. Only in the world of Joel Webbon’s church member who questions the Holocaust does a German have any rights. Therefore, since Tobia Riemenschneider insists on the Holocaust narrative which de-persons all Germans and takes away their rights, I AFFIRM that it makes no sense to fellowship Germans, and that all Germans must of necessity be excommunicated for the complicity of their ancestors in such a genocide against the poor innocent Jews, and for their admission of such a genocide, and that Germans have such an original sin as to be unforgiveable, because per the Holocaust narrative they are unforgiveable, and since Germans perpetuate that narrative, they admit themselves to be non-persons, and non-persons cannot be Christians, therefore all Germans are heretofore excommunicated, and I call this the Frankfurt Germany Declaration, not because I make it from Frankfurt Germany, but because Tobia is from Frankfurt Germany.