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Latest Episodes:

The Judaizing Heresy Jan 17, 2024

Show notes

Judaizing has been a problem in the Church from the beginning. Even St. Peter fell prey to the Judaizers and their attempt to import into Christianity the false beliefs of Judaism. Today, Judaizing takes a number of forms. In this episode, we will cover circumcision, the use of “Yahweh” (and “Yeshua”), and several related matters. As Christians, we must always ask ourselves both what the source of the thing is and what the purpose of the thing is. When it comes to Judaizing, the source is not God and the purpose is from Satan. The Jews do not have a special relationship with God or even any relationship with God, because they rejected His Son, and the Word of Scripture is clear: No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. Why would we, as Christians, who have the Son by Faith, ask the Jews, who reject the Son and therefore do not have the Father, anything about religion? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? Subscribe to the podcast here. Show Notes “Circumcision’s Psychological Damage” — one article among many Twitter Thread on “Yahweh” If you do not have Twitter, click here. See Also Old Lutheran Synod: “Do You Renounce Jewish Unbelief and Blasphemy?” The old baptismal rite of the LCMS, which included explicit renunciation of certain, enumerated heresies, including Judaism. Further Reading Parental Warnings We have a frank discussion about circumcision, including some technically ‘explicit’ language, in this episode — you may wish to screen it before listening to it with your children.

True Religion Jan 10, 2024

Show notes

Man is, by nature, religious. The Atheist or the agnostic is no less religious than the Buddhist, the Muslim, or the Christian. The question is not whether or not a man is religious, but which God or gods he worships. As Christians, it is incumbent on us not just to recognize this reality, but also to recognize how it plays out in our world, in our culture, and in our own lives. We may believe that because we attend church on Sundays (perhaps even also on Wednesdays), read our Bibles, and do all the things that Christians are supposed to do that we have no idols or that we have not fallen for any of the idols of our day. But is this true? When we examine our beliefs in light of Scripture, we may find that we have been indoctrinated into certain beliefs by the world. To hold such false beliefs is to have an idol. Today, we find that even pastors and teachers have fallen for some of these idols — and will even defend them more vigorously and more vehemently than they will defend the Word of God. And so we turn again to the genealogy of ideas. What do we believe and why do we believe it? And, more importantly: What should we, as Christians, believe? Subscribe to the podcast here. Show Notes Ezekiel 33 See Also “Fear Not, O Little Flock, the Foe” If you would like to hear more Gospel, see this previous episode: “You Are Forgiven” Further Reading Small Catechism First Commandment Second Commandment Large Catechism First Commandment Second Commandment Parental Warnings None.

Liturgical Life Dec 20, 2023

Show notes

Unlike the Old Testament Israelites, New Testament Christians are not required to observe any particular set of feasts, festivals, or commemorations — Scripture does not lay out a Church Year that we are required to follow. However, the Christian standard is not ‘What is required?’, but rather: ‘What is profitable?’ When we ask, instead of what we must do, what we should do for the sake of unity, instruction, and order, we arrive at a far different answer from that of most modern Christians, who have jettisoned from their faith much of the historic practices of the Church. Whereas we affirm that neither we nor you, as Christians, are required to observe the feasts, festivals, and commemorations of the Church and her historic calendar, we also resolutely contend that these observances are good for the body of Christ. It is in the cyclical and seasonal observances that we live out of lives as Christians and recognize our brothers-in-Christ, who are living out similar lives. There is a difference between the minimum of the faith and the fullness of the faith — we want you to have the latter. Subscribe to the podcast here. Show Notes Liturgical Year [Wikipedia] Church Year [Encyclopædia Britannica] See Also Owen Cyclops’ Church Year Calendar, as featured in the show art Ad Crucem’s Church Year Calendar Daily Devotions from Confident.Faith Further Reading The (Lutheran) Church Year Explained Free Church Year Calendar Download from CPH (You do not need to agree to receive emails.) Parental Warnings None.

The Church Dec 13, 2023

Show notes

What do we mean by “Church” or “church”? When we use this term (or these terms, when writing permits distinguishing them with the capital letter), we really mean a handful of distinct things — it is important to keep these clear. In today’s episode, we go over the Church (universal), the church (institutional), and the church (local, congregational). For the Christian, there is great comfort in recognizing the reality of the Church, even when the churches may be in disarray. “In short, according to Lutheran teaching, it is faith in the Gospel which in every case establishes membership in the Christian Church. To him who believes the Gospel, membership in the Christian Church may not be denied; of him who rejects the Gospel, membership in the Christian Church may not be asserted. Excommunication pronounced against true believers does not deprive them of membership in the Church.” Francis Pieper, Christian Dogmatics Subscribe to the podcast here. Show Notes Augsburg Confession: Art. VII: Of the Church Art. VIII: What the Church Is Apology of the Augsburg Confession: Art. VII & VIII: Of the Church Smalcald Articles: Part III, Art. XII See Also Apology of the Augsburg Confession: Art. XV: Of Human Traditions in the Church Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration: Art. X Further Reading Christian Dogmatics by Francis Pieper: Vol. I Vol. II Vol. III Index (you do not need this volume, but it is nice to have) These volumes can be found online as PDFs. Church and Office by C. F. W. Walther This volume may not be available online as a PDF. Parental Warnings None.

Very Eastern, Less Orthodox Dec 06, 2023

Show notes

We are told to ‘test the spirits’, and this is a blanket admonition. You should test the things we say on this podcast against the Word of God; you should test the things your pastor says against the Word of God; you should test the things you believe against the Word of God. Yes, there are things that belong to natural revelation — to wisdom that can be gained from exploration of God’s Creation —, but, where Scripture speaks, Scripture is binding and final. In today’s episode, we will subject Eastern ‘Orthodoxy’ both to Scripture and to natural revelation, which is to say human wisdom derived from God’s good creation. At the end of this episode, we fully believe that you will be left with a simple and unavoidable conclusion: Whatever the EO may have been historically, they are no longer Christian today. The practice they call ‘hesychastic prayer’ is not prayer, but it is a very real spiritual practice — the problem is that those spirits with which it seeks (and even obtains) communion are not of God, but of an entirely different master. And God has spoken on the matter: »“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.« — Matthew 6:7–8 (ESV) These are not idle or unimportant matters. To believe the things taught by the EO is to endanger one’s soul. If you or anyone entrusted to your care has ever expressed or pursued any interest in the EO, then we strongly encourage you to listen carefully to this episode — perhaps more than once. We also encourage you to ask questions, if you have them — we will try to respond promptly. Subscribe to the podcast here. Show Notes “At the Kremlin in 1943: Stalin presented Orthodox leaders with a proposal: the Soviet state that had destroyed their Church would bring it back” “Organization of the Eastern Orthodox Church” [Wikipedia] See Also “The Monks Who Spent Years Turning Themselves into Mummies—While Alive” Sokushinbutsu (the Japanese name for the process) [Wikipedia] Further Reading “Distinction” (Philosophy) [Wikipedia] See also Duns Scotus [Wikipedia] “Eastern ‘Orthodoxy’” Parental Warnings We discuss the demonic in this episode (and also, briefly as an example, sex), so you may wish to screen it before listening to it with your children. Nota When speaking of “distinctions”, I deliberately did not mention the difference between “logical“ and “formal” or “conceptual“ distinctions, because that difference was not relevant or helpful for the episode. If you are interested in the philosophy of this, please start with the links under the “Further Reading“ section.

God’s Gifts, Man’s Duties Nov 22, 2023

Show notes

Whether our gifts are many or few, great or small, God has most assuredly prepared beforehand opportunities for us to use those gifts to serve our neighbors. We, in fact, have a duty to use what God has given us for the good of our neighbor. All that we have we hold in trust as stewards, for all comes from God and all belongs to God. It is through our good works that we demonstrate, both to ourselves and to the world, that we have a living faith. There are no hard and fast rules or mathematical formulae to determine precisely what one should do with what one has been given — these are matters of wisdom. But we know the basics: Faithfully pursue your work, come to the aid of family and neighbor, and render good works when and where God provides you the opportunity. The Christian life is not found in pilgrimages or hair shirts or in putting crosses on every surface in one’s home. The faithful Christian baker makes good bread; the faithful Christian shoemaker makes good shoes; the faithful Christian woman keeps a good home; a faithful Christian man diligently pursues his calling — whatever it may be. These are not matters over which to be anxious or about which to fret or worry; God knows what we need and he knows what our neighbor needs, and He has so ordered things that our neighbor can aid us and we can aid him. The Christian life is lived out in many thousands of small interactions, all undertaken with thanks for the good gifts, all of which flow from God. »17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.« — James 1:17 (ESV) Subscribe to the podcast here. Show Notes Previous episodes: Persuasiveness Matters Conspiracy Theories and Truth The Fear of the Lord Some recommended Scripture passages: Matthew 6:25–34 Matthew 25:1–13 Romans 12:3–13 Romans 14:1–12 1 Corinthians 4:2 1 Corinthians 12:1–11 1 Corinthians 15:58 Ephesians 2:10 Colossians 3:18–4:1 1 Peter 4:7–11 James 1:16–18 Luke 12:35–48 Luke 16:1–13 Proverbs 3:27–28 Proverbs 16:3 Proverbs 22:29 Ecclesiastes 9:9–10 See Also Further Reading “Family Trump Strangers” Parental Warnings None.

Capitalist Idolatry Nov 15, 2023

Show notes

Of all the idols of modern man, Capitalism may be one of the most challenging to overcome. Not because the wickedness of Capitalism is not manifest, for it is (and we will demonstrate this in today’s episode), but because it has been sold as the only alternative to Communism — a system so wicked that no Christian can possibly support it. Yet the choice is not binary, and those who would claim that it is seek to mislead the Christian into supporting a system that is, in point of fact, anti-Christ. It is the lack of concern for one’s neighbor — a feature built into the Capitalist system and inextricable from it — that should immediately raise alarm bells for the Christian man. Under Capitalism, it is the maximum extraction of profit (itself a dubious category, insofar as it is a vague term) that serves as guiding principle, and yet this is an alien and hostile thing to the Christian system of ethics and morality. Need it even be said that the extraction of maximized profits runs diametrically counter to the second-greatest commandment: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Throughout the pages of Scripture, God repeatedly states His concern for the poor, the needy, and the exploited, and yet Capitalism relies, in no small part, upon the extraction of profits from those very categories of the most vulnerable. Ours is not a Marxist critique of Capitalism, but a Christian one. The central question: Is Capitalism compatible with Christianity? We answer in the negative. Mammon is an old god, an idol served by many men from may nations across many centuries. The love of money is not the root of all evils, but, in the words of Scripture, it is certainly the root of many evils, and, in fact, may serve as the stumbling stone upon which faith may founder: »For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.« — 1 Timothy 6:10 (ESV) Subscribe to the podcast here. Show Notes Mises Definition of “Capitalism” See Also Berlin State Museum: Coin Collection The ‘boots’ theory of poverty [Wikipedia] Further Reading On Trade and Usury by Martin Luther [PDF] Parental Warnings None.

The Lord’s Supper Nov 08, 2023

Show notes

Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of me.” In the same way also, He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” Subscribe to the podcast here. Show Notes John 6 1 Corinthians 11 Luke 22 Mark 14 Matthew 26 See Also The Mode of Christ’s Presence in the Supper Further Reading Small Catechism: The Sacrament of the Altar Large Catechism: The Sacrament of the Altar Augsburg Confession: Of the Mass Apology of the Augsburg Confession: Of the Mass Epitome of the Formula of Concord: The Lord’s Supper Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord: The Holy Supper Parental Warnings None.

Dispensing with Dispensationalism Nov 01, 2023

Show notes

Dispensationalism is a modern heresy. (No, we are not going to bury the lede.) Taking shape, primarily, in the 1800s and 1900s, Dispensationalism posits a distinction between God’s plans for ‘Israel’ and the Church — this is contrary both to Scripture and to the historical teachings of the Church. God is no polygynist — He has but one bride. Today, the churches, particularly in the US, are rife with Dispensationalist teachings, and it is our duty as Christians to refute these lies. God has only ever had one plan for humanity and one path to salvation — declared to the first man, Adam, in Genesis 3:15 and echoed throughout the pages of Scripture; there is no path to the Father except through the Son. In today’s episode, we go over the history of Dispensationalism, what Dispensationalism teaches, and why we, as Christians, must oppose this particularly pernicious false doctrine. Subscribe to the podcast here. Show Notes Exegesis of Genesis 12 (As promised near the end of the episode.) A Brief History of Power: What Is Dispensationalism? A Word Fitly Spoken: Dispensationalism [Overcast] A Word Fitly Spoken: Cyrus Ingerson Scofield [Overcast] Luther’s Preface to the Book of Romans See Also The Augsburg Confession, Art. XVII — “Of Christ’s Return to Judgement” “Dispensationalism Today” by Charles Ryrie [PDF] Further Reading John Nelson Darby [Wikipedia] Plymouth Brethren [Wikipedia] Cyrus Ingerson Scofield [Wikipedia] Samuel Untermeyer [Wikipedia] Amillennialism [Wikipedia] Dispensationalism [Wikipedia] Revelation by Louis A. Brighton from the Concordia Commentary series [Amazon] This commentary is from the Concordia Commentary series from CPH, and, thus, is from a Lutheran perspective, which is to say it teaches Amillennialism. A Case for Amillennialism by Kim Riddlebarger [Amazon] This book is from the Reformed perspective, and so, naturally, includes Reformed distinctives, but it still gives a good overview of Amillennialism and also spends times refuting various Millenarian claims. Parental Warnings None.

The Reformation, Its Causes, and Its Consequences Oct 25, 2023

Show notes

The Reformation was not the beginning of the problems in the Western Church, nor in the Church more generally. Over the centuries before the beginning of the Reformation, generally accepted as 31 October 1517, the Church faced a number of heresies, divisions, and other problems. Yet God has always seen her through these tumultuous waters. Today, we find ourselves yet again in need of reformation, for the existing church bodies are corrupt — virtually all from the top down. This does not mean that there are no faithful churches, that there are no faithful congregations, but we do, indeed, find ourselves virtually bereft of faithful, ‘official’ leadership. To address these challenges and to restore Christendom, we will have to work together. Not as Lutherans or Reformed or Baptists or Romans or whatever other tradition or denomination we may call our own, but as Christians. This is not a call to abandon our distinctives or our doctrinal convictions; rather, it is a call to work together across these lines in the kingdom of the left hand of Christ. God willing, our grandchildren will see a Christendom we have known only in history books. Subscribe to the podcast here. Show Notes The Book of Concord See Also Facing Wokeism as a Church (After Lutheranism Part 4) The Book of Gomorrah by St. Peter Damian Further Reading The Apostles’ Creed The Nicene Creed The Athanasian Creed Parental Warnings None.

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