The Westminster Podcast

Preaching and Pastoral Ministry Feb 14, 2025

Stafford Carson has been associated with Westminster Seminary for nearly half of its existence. He has also had a rather prolific preaching ministry with experience in proclaiming the Word of God in many diverse contexts. Dr. Nate Shannon sits down with Stafford to discuss a range of topics including not just how to preach well but how to listen to preaching well.

Apologetics and Exegesis Feb 07, 2025

Many of Cornelius Van Til's critics claim that Van Til did not sufficiently base his apologetic method on Scriptural exegesis. Van Til himself acknowledged that robust exegesis wasn't as prominent in his work as it could have been. That was not, however, an admission that his method was not built on exegesis, just that it's exegetical foundation was assumed more than it was argued. The second generation of Van Tilian scholars (Gaffin, Edgar, Oliphint, Tipton, Poythress, etc.) filled what Van Til claimed was a gap in his theological corpus by focusing on exegetical arguments for Van Til's apologetic approach. In this episode of the Westminster Podcast, Jonathan Brack, Pierce Hibbs, and Brandon Smith discuss what exegetical avenues ought the third generation of Van Tilian scholars explore.

Bonus Ep. C Van Til Goes Pop Aug 31, 2024

With the book The Future of Reformed Apologetics now available, we figured giving you a taste of the audiobook would be a great companion to this podcast. So enjoy chapter 2: Van Til Goes Pop. If you enjoy what you hear, check out wtspress.com to grab yourself a hard copy and/or and audio copy of The Future of Reformed Apologetics.

It's Personal Aug 08, 2024

With no "Oliphint in the room," Brandon goes it alone for a long form, free ranging interview with Nathan D. Shannon (The Great Thinkers series). They touch on Nate's essay in the book, The Future of Reformed Apologetics, as well as his monograph Absolute Person and Moral Experience.

Down the Rabbit Hole Jul 25, 2024

Mr. Anderson punches a plot-hole through simulation theory... In the final episode of this book companion podcast series, Brandon and Scott don't go as all-in on The Matrix references as the guy who wrote this description has. Instead, they follow the white rabbit down Greg Bahnsen Lane as Scott discusses how to interpret one of Van Til's foremost interpreters. Read James Anderson's essay "Van Til versus The Matrix" in The Future of Reformed Apologetics: https://wtspress.com/products/the-future-of-reformed-apologetics-collected-essays-on-applying-van-til-s-apologetic-method-to-a-new-generation

Disillusioned With The Fact That They Can't Change The World Jul 11, 2024

You couldn't ask for a better guide through The Future of Reformed Apologetics than Dr. Strange (No, not that Dr. Strange). Brandon Smith (No, not that Brandon Smith) and Scott Oliphint (Yes, that Scott Oliphint) take us back to Rust Auditorium in the Winter of '23 and review Dan's rousing lecture titled "Van Til Goes Pop." To enjoy Strange's essay in another dimension (print), visit Westminster Seminary Press to order a copy of the book The Future of Reformed Apologetics: https://wtspress.com/products/the-future-of-reformed-apologetics-collected-essays-on-applying-van-til-s-apologetic-method-to-a-new-generation. It is also available wherever sound Christian books are sold.

A Bracing Single Malt (Feel the Burn) Jun 27, 2024

Brandon and Scott sample a draught of Christopher Watkin's cask strength "Van Til's Two-Handed Apologetic." While some claim that Van Til's original malt was tainted with notes of idealism and even (shriek!) "biblicism," Scott suggests that when it comes to the good stuff there's only one ingredient that matters... For a full pour, check out the book The Future of Reformed Apologetics and enjoy Christopher's essay with a tumbler of islay: https://wtspress.com/products/the-future-of-reformed-apologetics-collected-essays-on-applying-van-til-s-apologetic-method-to-a-new-generation. It is also available wherever sound Christian books are sold.

Cowboy? Yes. Jun 13, 2024

Episode II: There is unrest in the theological senate. . . Brandon and Scott revisit Brian G. Mattson's lecture "Attributes, Roots, and Fruit." They get into Van Til's criticism of Herman Bavinck and then into some criticism of Van Til's criticism of Bavinck. If you ride with Bavinck and want to size up this Van Til fellow, please visit Westminster Seminary Press's website and lasso yourself a copy of the book to read the full essay "Attributes, Roots, and Fruit" by Brian G. Mattson: https://wtspress.com/products/the-future-of-reformed-apologetics-collected-essays-on-applying-van-til-s-apologetic-method-to-a-new-generation. It is also available wherever sound Christian books are sold.

Poor Das Jun 06, 2024

BONUSODE! Enjoy an extra slice of Reformed apologetics as Brandon and Scott go off script and talk about Van Til's friendship and theological affinity with J. Gresham Machen, as well as the early days at Westminster Theological Seminary. Visit Westminster Seminary Press's website and order a copy of the book The Future of Reformed Apologetics: https://wtspress.com/products/the-future-of-reformed-apologetics-collected-essays-on-applying-van-til-s-apologetic-method-to-a-new-generation. Also available wherever sound Christian books are sold.

Enough! May 30, 2024

Scott Oliphint has had enough of the bad caricatures of Cornelius Van Til. . . but a brand new book is on the way that might change things. The Future of Reformed Apologetics gathers nine essays from the eponymous 2023 conference, and addresses the state and future of the Reformed apologetic that Van Til developed. In this first episode of our podcast companion series, Brandon McLean Smith and K. Scott Oliphint reflect on the conclusion of Scott's lecture titled "The Sensus Divinitatis." Visit Westminster Seminary Press's website and find out more about the book The Future of Reformed Apologetics, which contains the full essay "Van Til and the Sensus Divinitatis" by K. Scott Oliphint: https://wtspress.com/products/the-future-of-reformed-apologetics-collected-essays-on-applying-van-til-s-apologetic-method-to-a-new-generation. It is also available wherever sound Christian books are sold.

The Future of Reformed Apologetics – Trailer May 09, 2024

COMING SOON: Author and apologist K. Scott Oliphint joins host Brandon McLean Smith to discuss a new book, The Future of Reformed Apologetics. Addressing current debates and controversies within theological apologetics, Scott and Brandon review highlights from the eponymous 2023 conference at Westminster Theological Seminary and preview the thought provoking collection of essays from Scott, Vern Poythress, Christopher Watkin, James Anderson, Daniel Strange, Brian G. Mattson, David Owen Filson, and Nathan D. Shannon.

Theonomy and Eschatology Mar 07, 2024

In the fourth episode of the series, Nathan speaks with Nathaniel Gray Sutanto (Reformed Theological Seminary) about Richard B. Gaffin Jr.'s theological methodology and development, his commitment to scripture, and his early work on Herman Bavinck. Then Nate and Thomas Keene (Reformed Theological Seminary) discuss Gaffin's 1989 essay, "Theonomy and Eschatology", which appeared in the now out of print essay collection Theonomy: A Reformed Critique edited by William S. Barker.

To find out more about the book visit wtspress.com and listen in to the episodes for a special discount on Word & Spirit by Richard B. Gaffin Jr.

Music Licensing Code:

IFJG79HLKOLC10UY

0Y2VNVBIGG3QEYMP

TPHGSYIIQFDUVKNQ

DCM8IUSYYOCURWWG

Epistemological Reflections Feb 15, 2024

In a field like theology, epistemology (or the study of the nature of knowledge) is tremendously important. Not just because the very existence of God is debated; not only because the possibility of the knowledge of God must be addressed in a systematic way; but because the conclusions we make about God and about the security of our knowledge of him should matter for our jobs, our relationships, and how we view ourselves.

To find out more about the book visit wtspress.com and listen in to the episodes for a special discount on “Word & Spirit” by Richard B. Gaffin Jr.

Music Licensing Code: IFJG79HLKOLC10UY ZWEDIK6TJER5WHEV VTKMZARBRUDEEQED 4PJZCHJAGTFH4X5L

The Usefulness of the Cross Jan 25, 2024

The Usefulness of the Cross by Richard B. Gaffin Jr. is an article that has revolutionized the approach to suffering for many Christians across the world. It was first published in 1979 but has now been republished in the volume Word and Spirit which showcases the selected shorter writings of Richard B.Gaffin Jr.

To find out more about the book visit wtspress.com and listen in to the episodes for a special discount on “Word & Spirit” by Richard B. Gaffin Jr.

Music Licensing Code: LRQYRKJ5TZBTS3WL BBPFSD2LLIYNW5EP FM80YYSHM9MUOS7Q 5BJBVSQ6PXR4VHOU

Redemption and Resurrection Dec 14, 2023

This is the story of a theologian. A first rate, world class New Testament scholar and Systematics professor whose body of work stands quietly in the confluence of two great church traditions, Scottish Presbyterianism and Dutch Neo-Calvinism. But unless you’ve gone to seminary or happen to subscribe to peer reviewed academic journals, there’s a good chance you’ve never heard of Richard B. Gaffin, Jr.

To find out more about the book visit wtspress.com and listen in to the episodes for a special discount on “Word & Spirit” by Richard B. Gaffin Jr.

Music Licensing Code: O37WTG9DLOFOFZK5 NNWSV7CJUVGVZRWZ 1PWSKHKBKPEVLMNK IL5QAV61EV1PT2JX TIESU7JVTGPRH4RP UWGKUNOWLOAEZ4SI

Word & Spirit – Trailer Nov 27, 2023

Few Reformed theologians have exerted the influence in both the church and the academy that Richard B. Gaffin, Jr. has, shaping the theology and spiritual formation of generations of pastors and teachers. Until now, his most significant published works have been inaccessible to most theological readers, published in academic journals, denominational newsletters, and out of print festschrifts and essay collections. A decade in the making, Word & Spirit gathers Gaffin’s finest works of biblical and systematic theology and arranges them in a singular, organic whole that presents Gaffin’s thought and work as comprehensively and clearly as it ever has been. More than 40 essays, articles, and tracts have been compiled, including “The Usefulness of the Cross”, No Adam, No Gospel, “A Cessationist View,” and “The Work of Christ Applied”. This collection is a must-have for any student of theology.

Music Licensing Code: O37WTG9DLOFOFZK5

The Active Obedience of Christ (Chapter 49) Nov 20, 2023

Shortly before dawn on a cold North Dakota morning, a telegram was sent to John Murray, professor of systematic theology at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia.

“I’m so thankful for the active obedience of Christ,” it read, “no hope without it.”

Not long after composing this telegram, J. Gresham Machen died after a short battle with pneumonia and entered the eternal rest of his savior, who had redeemed his sins and given him peace with God.

Not long before he left for North Dakota, Machen wrote and recorded the message you’re about to listen to. It’s these thoughts—of the incomprehensible act of salvation--which occupied him as he considered the prospect of meeting his Savior face to face.

Music Licensing Codes: XREZU8QW9IIZ0HQA

Christ our Redeemer (Chapter 47) Nov 15, 2023

In the previous episodes, we heard from J. Gresham Machen about how we can know that God exists, and about our sin that keeps us from having peace with God. In this broadcast, Machen introduces us to the hope for that grim reality, the only person who can redeem us from our sin and give us the peace with God that we need: Jesus Christ.

To find out more about the book visit Wtsbooks.com and listen in to the episodes for a special discount on “Things Unseen” by J. Gresham Machen.

Music Licensing Codes: 3V1UAIHD9FWSWNYC

What is Sin? (Chapter 33) Nov 08, 2023

In the previous episode, we talked about how we can know and have confidence that God exists. But the difference between knowing that God exists, and enjoying a relationship with God is a vast distance. Just believing in God doesn’t explain why he seems so far away.

The answer to that dilemma isn’t a popular one these days. When we talk about sin a lot of modern preconceptions come to mind. Ideas about guilt and shame, judgment and brokenness. But none of these terms really captures what the Bible says about sin, the power that separates us from God.

It’s that biblical definition of sin that J. Gresham Machen sets out to explain in this broadcast, and this isn’t just an exercise in academic theology. Although it can be uncomfortable to dig deeper into the darkness of our hearts, there’s hope. As we learn more about what sin is, we can begin to understand the real meaning of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross.

To find out more about the book visit Wtsbooks.com and listen in to the episodes for a special discount on “Things Unseen” by J. Gresham Machen.

Music Licensing Codes: 21E1AHRFGTH0PMIJ

Reformed Standards of Unity: Special Episode Oct 30, 2023

Creeds and confessions are the banner of the church militant. They contain statements of doctrine that are to be believed, for knowledge unto godliness; and are to be confessed, for the ministry of the church unto the world. In this way, creeds and confessions are for each member of Christ’s body, and for the body as a whole.

In this podcast I chat with Dr. Peter Lillback about a project that he has been working for close to fifty years. Reformed Standards of Unity is a new volume that carries Christians down ancient paths, so that they might walk in today’s world with a living and confident faith. A church living in accord with these “standards of faith” is essential in the world today.

Westminster Seminary Press has issued a portable, durable, and elegant edition of the ecumenical creeds, the Westminster standards, the three forms of unity, and the second helvetic confession. Order today: www.wtsbooks.com/rsu For the Reformed Standards of Unity database, visit: standards.wts.edu

Music Licensing Codes: 2OZFINSZ5ESK89YC 920JGILS7A5UGZQR

How May God Be Known (Chapter 2) Oct 25, 2023

How can you know that God is real?

This question has always been difficult, but in 1935, when J. Gresham Machen broadcasted the first of these little talks, the ground had shifted. Cultural Christianity was giving way to new ideas about truth and the universe. Darwinian evolution was becoming entrenched in the public school system, and it had even become fashionable to openly question the existence of God.

In the best of times, it isn’t easy to find a place to start to give answers proving the existence of God, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t answers. It just takes careful, patient explanation. And that’s just the challenge J. Gresham Machen takes up from the beginning of his talks in Things Unseen, giving a clear, succinct and easy to understand case for a God who not only exists, but actually tells us he exists a lot!

To find out more about the book visit Wtspress.com and listen in to the episodes for a special discount on “Things Unseen” by J. Gresham Machen.

Music Licensing Codes: SXFMCPYQTPBPWMFF

The Present Emergency (Chapter 1) Oct 18, 2023

The year is 1935. The Great Depression grinds on in the United States, and dramatic action by the federal government is deepening political divides. Abroad, things aren’t any better. War between communist and fascist factions is about to break out in Spain, and there’s fear o f it spreading to the rest of Europe. In a word, things are looking grim.

Stepping into a broadcast booth in Philadelphia, J. Gresham Machen had all of this in mind. But for more than a decade he had grown accustomed to grim outlooks. Between leaving Princeton Seminary and being defrocked by his denomination, he’d lost everything that gave him significance in the eyes of the world. Along the way, he’d started a new seminary and a new denomination. And none of it had been easy.

For another man, these radio broadcasts might have been a great opportunity to give the world a piece of his mind. But Machen had something else planned. He knew his audience saw the same things he did — a series of impersonal events that seemed to keep the world perpetually teetering on the brink of disaster. And so he did the only thing a Christian can do, he introduced them to things they could not see.

To find out more about the book visit Wtspress.com and listen in to the episodes for a special discount on “Things Unseen” by J. Gresham Machen.

Music Licensing Codes: AXO0OPAGWQET3LG9

Things Unseen by J. Gresham Machen – Trailer Oct 16, 2023

When theologian J. Gresham Machen died suddenly during a visit to North Dakota on New Year’s Day, 1937, he left unfinished one of the most innovative theological projects of his time.

For the last two years of his life, Machen had begun work on what he hoped would be an accessible four part introduction to Christian theology. Only, he wasn’t just writing. He was broadcasting. Throughout 1935 and 1936, WIP radio in Philadelphia broadcast 50 of Machen’s “little talks,” as he called them, introducing listeners to profound doctrines in a popular and exciting format.

Machen’s complete radio talks have now been collected into a single volume titled “Things Unseen” with an introduction by Tim Keller, a foreword by Sinclair Ferguson, and more.

Over the next few weeks, we’re going to share some specially selected chapters from the audiobook of “Things Unseen.” I hope you’ll listen in and enjoy experiencing these talks the way their author intended.

To find out more about the book visit Wtsbooks.com and listen in to the episodes for a special discount on “Things Unseen” by J. Gresham Machen.

Music Licensing Codes: KYVU3POTAHRCXLMN

Facing Christ (Chapter 6: Salvation) Sep 21, 2023

A lot has changed in 100 years. But a lot has stayed the same. The church in the United States is once again in a crisis. Critical theory has gripped a nation experiencing vibrant technological and societal change. America in the 2020s is accelerating. Our screens are filled with incredible stunts and spectacle. The entire globe is connected like never before. Electric cars, Artificial Intelligence, and on demand shopping have transformed how we live and work. Smartphones and the advent of social media mean that information travels faster than ever before. . .

Visit christianityandliberalism.com for more on the book, audiobook, and show.

Music: “Line in the Sand (C&L)” by Timothy Brindle Produced by Nobody Special Wrath and Grace Records Music Licensing Codes: 4YSGYBY1U85JIQQ3 OONLFIXUVURCFEZU

Just the Facts (Chapter 2: Doctrine) Sep 14, 2023

Facts. We like to think they can be taken for granted, but human feelings always seem to get in the way. Even in 1923, when J. Gresham Machen wrote Christianity and Liberalism, liberal theologians struggled to reconcile the history presented by scripture with their experience of that history as 20th century men and women.

Although we like to think of ourselves as scientific and objective, we nevertheless remain subjectively biased, twisting beliefs like the resurrection or ascension of Christ to conform to more comfortable man-made doctrines. If anything, the 100 years since Machen wrote this book have shown us when the facts don’t align with our feelings, we will find a way to reinvent them.

Visit christianityandliberalism.com for more on the book, audiobook, and show.

Music: “Line in the Sand (C&L)” by Timothy Brindle Produced by Nobody Special Wrath and Grace Records Music Licensing Codes: BY7YJK2IDM5IUOOZ VOD7IXAXVJWQ0782

Bonus Episode: The Church Sep 07, 2023

One of Christianity Today’s “100 Most Influential Books of the 20th Century”, J. Gresham Machen’s earnest case for true, biblical faith and communion in Jesus Christ has been read around the world for 100 years. Originally published in 1923, this new edition features a brand-new foreword by Kevin DeYoung and is issued with the hope and prayer that the next century will be celebrated as one of reformation and renewal for Christ’s church throughout the world.

God Breathed (Chapter 4: The Bible, Pt. 2) Aug 31, 2023

The Bible. A divinely-inspired book so glorious and yet so debated these days that we decided to record another podcast on this essential topic.

In 1820 Thomas Jefferson completed his redacted version of the Four Gospels he called “The Philosophy and Morals of Jesus.” Although it wasn’t published in his lifetime, “The Jefferson Bible” would become a popular example of an alarming trend in post-enlightenment hermeneutics: cutting and pasting with the Word of God.

According to Jefferson and other readers and scholars since, the Bible is an imperfect text. There might be truth in its pages, but it needs a modern lens, or additions, or subtractions to purify it or to make sense of its ancient obscure meaning. There are hard things to understand in the Bible, they say, supernatural events that are difficult to believe. So, does the Bible need to change? Or do we?

Visit christianityandliberalism.com for more on the book, audiobook, and show.

Music: “Line in the Sand (C&L)” by Timothy Brindle Produced by Nobody Special Wrath and Grace Records Music Licensing Codes: E1SE4GBTPOVFBRDI YSO2WXNPTOPNUQYH

Bonus Episode: Christianity & Liberalism: 100th Anniversary Edition (Now Available) Aug 24, 2023

One of Christianity Today’s “100 Most Influential Books of the 20th Century”, J. Gresham Machen’s earnest case for true, biblical faith and communion in Jesus Christ has been read around the world for 100 years. Originally published in 1923, this new edition features a brand-new foreword by Kevin DeYoung and is issued with the hope and prayer that the next century will be celebrated as one of reformation and renewal for Christ’s church throughout the world.

The 100th Anniversary Edition of Christianity & Liberalism officially launches today! + Free downloadable study guide included with any purchase Order: https://wtsbooks.com/collections/westminster-seminary-press/products/christianity-liberalism-100th-anniversary-edition-9781955859103?variant=42693609881800

Clarity (Chapter 4: The Bible, Pt. 1) Aug 17, 2023

Inspiration means a lot of things to a lot of people. For some it’s the thrill of creative expression, or motivation to accomplish something great. But in a biblical theological context, it has a very specific, very important meaning: that God is the author of the Bible.

But for liberal theologians this doctrine—that the Bible is the reliable and sufficient source of God’s revelation to man—poses a problem. If we can trust the Bible, then we can trust what Jesus says about sin, about judgment, and about his being the only way to salvation. But if Jesus isn’t who he says he is in the Bible, as liberal and progressive Christians claim, how can we say anything about him at all?

Visit christianityandliberalism.com for more on the book, audiobook, and show.

Music: “Line in the Sand (C&L)” by Timothy Brindle Produced by Nobody Special Wrath and Grace Records Music Licensing Codes: LALR51CL47QXJH0R AHN6NBP8WIVBOELW

The Safest Place in the World (Chapter 7: The Church) Aug 10, 2023

The Church. Few institutions are more unpopular or controversial these days than the Christian church. And, let’s face it, a lot of the time, even Christians don’t appear to like it very much. Every week it seems there’s a new scandal or debate splitting congregations. It can be tempting to think that maybe the church is obsolete, maybe we’d be better off going our own way.

But there’s a tragic irony in that. Sometimes it’s lost on us that in the Gospel of Matthew, when Jesus says “upon this rock I will build my church” he’s not talking about flawless rich young ruler types, or even the pharisees. He’s talking about the disciples but especially Peter, the one who would later deny Christ, who needed to be confronted by the apostle Paul, and who often had to have things repeated three times before he understood it.

The point is, from the very beginning Jesus knew that his church would be filled with the messy, sinful men and women that he gave his life to save. And so he gave his apostles specific guidance on how the church should help Christians grow in faith, in repentance, doctrine and ethics through preaching, sacraments, and prayer.

The liberals of Machen’s day didn’t believe this was enough. They began to look for ways to accommodate Jesus’ vision to the culture at the expense of our core beliefs about Christ, the Bible, Salvation, God, and even our own identity. We find ourselves at a similar crossroads today, surrounded by a culture asking the question: does the church even matter?

Visit christianityandliberalism.com for more on the book, audiobook, and show.

Music: “Line in the Sand (C&L)” by Timothy Brindle Produced by Nobody Special Wrath and Grace Records Music Licensing Codes: G08J1KLITZPVAYHB RXVVJOBYPXUFAYET

Bonus Episode: God and Man Aug 03, 2023

One of Christianity Today’s “100 Most Influential Books of the 20th Century”, J. Gresham Machen’s earnest case for true, biblical faith and communion in Jesus Christ has been read around the world for 100 years. Originally published in 1923, this new edition features a brand-new foreword by Kevin DeYoung and is issued with the hope and prayer that the next century will be celebrated as one of reformation and renewal for Christ’s church throughout the world.

Bonus Episode: Living up to the Name Jul 27, 2023

Losing is never fun. And it’s even less fun when the New York Times is paying attention. But by 1929 that’s what had happened. J. Gresham Machen had lost the fight against liberalism at Princeton seminary. Even after reading Machen’s warning in Christianity and Liberalism, the Presbyterian church voted to reorganize Princeton to allow liberal theology on faculty.

That would’ve been the perfect time to pack it in. But for Machen the fight had never been about Princeton. True Christian doctrine could never belong to a single organization, no matter how influential. So Machen did what any God fearing independently wealthy bachelor would do. He quit, poached Princeton’s best faculty, and started his own seminary.

Politics. Technology. Identity. Power. Science. Everything seems to be changing. So why not faith?

Visit christianityandliberalism.com for more on the book, audiobook, and show.

Music: “Line in the Sand (C&L)” by Timothy Brindle Produced by Nobody Special Wrath and Grace Records Music Licensing Codes: TE3MR2SOLBRPRFDR MWQUIJMABYWNGWYE

Supernatural (Chapter 5: Christ) Jul 20, 2023

What’s in a name?

In the past, when Christians talked about Jesus, it was safe to assume we were talking about the son of God become man who conquered death to save the lost. You know, the person the Bible’s about.

But with the rise of liberal theology in the 19th and 20th centuries, that meaning began to change. At least for some people. Christ, liberal theologians said, might be better understood as an idea, a metaphor, or a good example, rather than the sinless supernatural savior who accomplished our redemption in the first century.

This was J. Gresham Machen’s line in the sand in 1923. If we don’t worship the same Christ, Machen said, we don’t have the same religion.

Politics. Technology. Identity. Power. Science. Everything seems to be changing. So why not faith?

Visit christianityandliberalism.com for more on the book, audiobook, and show.

Music: “Line in the Sand (C&L)” by Timothy Brindle Produced by Nobody Special Wrath and Grace Records Music Licensing Codes: G80CW5LAONGBUAXB BYDTC3Y8K96ACYJ2

Bonus Episode: Southern's Story Jul 13, 2023

In the 1980s the Southern Baptist Convention found itself at a crossroads. While many of its churches were faithfully teaching biblical Christianity, the seminaries where its pastors were trained had been immersed in theological liberalism for decades.

In a lot of stories, this is where the split would occur. But this time something different happened. Instead of dividing, a group of courageous Christians decided to change the equation. They came up with an unprecedented plan to turn Southern Seminary from liberal theology, back to its confessional roots.

Politics. Technology. Identity. Power. Science. Everything seems to be changing. So why not faith?

Visit christianityandliberalism.com for more on the book, audiobook, and show.

Music: “Line in the Sand (C&L)” by Timothy Brindle Produced by Nobody Special Wrath and Grace Records Music Licensing Codes: SRMLYXTJPKIJ7KT1 DYWHAHXSILHN6QAG

Bonus Episode: Christianity & Liberalism Free Audiobook Jul 06, 2023

One of Christianity Today’s “100 Most Influential Books of the 20th Century”, J. Gresham Machen’s earnest case for true, biblical faith and communion in Jesus Christ has been read around the world for 100 years. Originally published in 1923, this new edition features a brand-new foreword by Kevin DeYoung and is issued with the hope and prayer that the next century will be celebrated as one of reformation and renewal for Christ’s church throughout the world.

https://wtspress.com/products/christianity-liberalism-100th-anniversary-edition

Bonus Episode: Machen: The Man Jun 29, 2023

On a cold winter’s day in 1921 pallbearers carried the body of one of the great theologians of the 19th and 20th centuries to a graveside in Princeton, New Jersey. Writing to his mother afterwards, J. Gresham Machen would remark that when they carried B. B. Warfield’s body out, that Old Princeton went with him. Old Princeton had been the primary seedbed for pastors and missionaries in the Presbyterian church, but now, more than 100 years from its founding, the roots of declension had taken hold and modernist theology had made inroads, infiltrating the pulpits and pews of the Presbyterian church as well. As Machen saw it, Warfield’s vital orthodoxy had been the last vestige of orthodoxy keeping Princeton from a catastrophic embrace of liberal theology.

Over the next 15 years, J. Gresham Machen’s struggle to preserve an orthodox Presbyterianism would become a touchpoint of the larger “fundamentalist controversy” boiling over in churches all around the United States. His book, Christianity & Liberalism, precipitated a series of events that culminated in Machen and other professors leaving Princeton in 1929 to plant a new seedbed for pastors and missionaries called Westminster Theological Seminary. Then, in the 1930s, Machen would break away from the mainline Presbyterian church he had spent his life in and establish a new denomination devoted to faithful teaching of God’s ancient word — an idea completely antithetical to the most influential and powerful forces of the day.

Politics. Technology. Identity. Power. Science. Everything seems to be changing. So why not faith?

Visit christianityandliberalism.com for more on the book, audiobook, and show.

Music: “Line in the Sand (C&L)” by Timothy Brindle Produced by Nobody Special Wrath and Grace Records Music Licensing Codes: HGUBSIMJ58IH3NEB XOORY3CLGEDUW4C5

The Affirming Church (Chapter 3: God and Man, Pt. 2) Jun 22, 2023

What does it mean to be a human being created in the image of God? In the brave new world of today, that’s a loaded question. Modern culture in the West has affirmed a radical reinvention of the self that was barely imaginable when J. Gresham Machen wrote Christianity & Liberalism in 1923. Not only is LGBTQ ideology inescapable—in schools, books, movies, fashion, sports, even beer and car commercials. It has become a dogma of the mainstream.

And yet, as radical as this seems, there are prescient notes throughout Machen’s 100 year old book, words from his time that can help us make sense of our own. Principles that help us to take every thought captive, even in a world that insists on allegiance to being everything we want to be, whenever we want it, on demand. . .

Politics. Technology. Identity. Power. Science. Everything seems to be changing. So why not faith?

Visit christianityandliberalism.com for more on the book, audiobook, and show.

Music: “Line in the Sand (C&L)” by Timothy Brindle Produced by Nobody Special Wrath and Grace Records Music Licensing Codes: NLBIDNZFO0KSQJKB JAWQDKU3NABLF4LG

Reinvention (Chapter 3: God and Man, Pt. 1) Jun 15, 2023

What does it mean to be a human being created in the image of God? In the brave new world of today, that’s a loaded question. Modern culture in the West has affirmed a radical reinvention of the self that was barely imaginable when J. Gresham Machen wrote Christianity & Liberalism in 1923. Not only is LGBTQ ideology inescapable—in schools, books, movies, fashion, sports, even beer and car commercials. It has become a dogma of the mainstream. And yet, as radical as this seems, there are prescient notes throughout Machen’s 100 year old book, words from his time that can help us make sense of our own. Principles that help us to take every thought captive, even in a world that insists on allegiance to being everything we want to be, whenever we want it, on demand. . . Politics. Technology. Identity. Power. Science. Everything seems to be changing. So why not faith? Visit christianityandliberalism.com for more on the book, audiobook, and show. Music: “Line in the Sand (C&L)” by Timothy Brindle Produced by Nobody Special Wrath and Grace Records Music Licensing Codes: NLBIDNZFO0KSQJKB KJNJEKWBCFMJQ9GI

The Ampersand (Introduction) Jun 08, 2023

Arrested Development. In the 1990s, it was a hip hop group. In the early 2000s, it was a sitcom. But it’s a real psychological phenomenon that happens when, due to a variety of causes, a person or institution stops growing and ceases to thrive. And it’s a phrase J. Gresham Machen uses in his book Christianity & Liberalism to describe the consequences of a liberal theology.

In the book, Machen is describing liberals who ridicule Christians for defending a defenseless cause. It’s like defending the belief that the earth is flat, they say, or that miracles happen, or that sins need to be forgiven. What’s the point, says the Liberal. Everyone knows those things are impossible, so why bother defending them?

If that sounds familiar, it’s because we hear similar arguments from within the church today. Many are calling for a reevaluation of biblical views on sexual attraction, the sanctity of life, ethnic diversity, or even what it means to be a man or a woman. Although the topics have changed, the motivation for liberalism today isn’t all that different from that scathing critique of the church Machen confronted 100 years ago. Back then, the American church tried to compromise essential tenets of orthodox Christianity in order “to make it work.” And, as Machen predicted, it resulted in arrested development. In the years after Machen’s book, liberal protestant mainline liberal churches folded, thousands made a shipwreck of their faith, denominations split, and scores of ministries succumbed to the trajectory of theological compromise and, ultimately, to decline into the outward appearance of faithfulness—beautiful buildings and good deeds on the outside, but without a genuine saving faith in Jesus within.

So, what should we do? Visit christianityandliberalism.com for more on the book, audiobook, and show. Music: “Line in the Sand (C&L)” by Timothy Brindle Produced by Nobody Special Wrath and Grace Records Music Licensing Codes: G1HX88SIQCSCHHVQ RAHXBDKANRLMHSBS

Christianity & Liberalism – Trailer Jun 06, 2023

In 1923, the church in the United States was in a crisis. Modernist theology born in pre-War Europe now gripped a country experiencing vibrant technological and societal change. America in the “Roaring Twenties” was booming. Fashion was changing. Music was faster, louder. Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin were astonishing moviegoers with impossible stunts. The cities were electric. Industry was booming. The country was three years into a progressive prohibition of hard liquor. For the first time, a person could fly non-stop from New York to Seattle. President Harding was the first president to be elected by women who’d won the right to vote. Even so, much of the country remained racially segregated. Mass produced cars, trucks, and tractors had replaced horses and wagons, and were transforming the landscape. Telephones and the advent of radio meant that information traveled faster than ever.

Politics. Technology. Identity. Power. Science. Everything seems to be changing. So why not faith?

https://wtspress.com/products/christianity-liberalism-100th-anniversary-edition

Worship and the Power of the Spirit Dec 22, 2022

In this episode, Westminster faculty discuss John Murray on Romans 12, noting how worship of God puts us in the perfect place to follow the commands of God. The power of the Spirit enables us to lead a life commensurate with Christ, to whom we are united. This life is a life that glorifies God and enriches the church.

God's Adoption, Love, and Justification in Christ Dec 19, 2022

In this episode, John Murray's exposition of Romans explores adoption in Christ and the full restoration and renewal of all things in him. Westminster faculty also dig into Romans 9 to explain Paul's teaching on God's unconditional, electing love and our justification through union with the person of Christ.

Union with Christ and the Real Change of the Gospel Dec 16, 2022

In this episode, Westminster faculty reflect on John Murray's passionate teaching on union with Christ and its pastoral comfort. Union with Christ brings real change in us and offers his personal presence in the midst of our suffering so that we can persevere with hope.

How Christ Saves and Identifies You Dec 14, 2022

In this episode, Westminster faculty discuss John Murray's work on Romans 6 and how union with Christ changes everything. Being united to Christ defines not just our eternal destiny, but our very identity in the present. His work doesn't just forgive us of sin; it defeats the power of sin in our lives right now.

John Murray's Childlike Joy Dec 02, 2022

Mark Garcia speaks passionately of John Murray's childlike joy in the gospel, even in darker passages such as Romans 5. Westminster faculty also talk about the importance of Christ's righteousness, shared by all those who are in union with him.

https://wtspress.com/products/the-epistle-to-the-romans

The Humble Son of God in Power Nov 28, 2022

In this episode, Westminster faculty discuss Murray's commentary on Romans 1. Following Geerhardus Vos, Murray points out the importance of what is called a "redemptive historical view" of Christ in Romans 1:1-7. In other words, Murray focuses on the humiliation of the Son of God as our human representative, whose exaltation crowns him with power. This helps us see that we follow in the same path: going through humiliation before receiving our exaltation with the risen Christ. The faculty also discuss the apologetic implications of Romans 1:18 and following.

Standing Under God’s Word Nov 16, 2022

John Murray’s historic Romans commentary has been republished by Westminster Seminary Press. In this video, Westminster faculty passionately discuss and recall John Murray’s focus on the biblical text, tying this to how we do theology in faithful dependence on God’s Word. They show how Murray’s serious exegetical work produced a commentary that was both careful and devotional, giving pastors and Bible readers the gift of entering the text of Scripture with awe, joy, and certainty.

Music

Code: LD-NDXFV0XZRVM4F

The Epistle to the Romans – Episode 3: DeYoung, Reeder, and Currie Nov 09, 2022

In 1959, John Murray, a Scottish systematic theologian at Westminster Theological Seminary, published the first volume of his commentary on the book of Romans, one that John Piper would later call “the most beautiful commentary ever written.”

In more than 60 years since it first appeared, Murray’s commentary has changed the way scores of pastors and teachers read and teach the Bible, helping to draw many readers and congregations into deeper communion with their savior.

Now Westminster Seminary Press has reprinted John Murray’s commentary on Romans in an beautiful new hardcover edition, updated with a new introduction by Sinclair Ferguson. In this podcast, we’ll revisit this classic text with some of the pastors and teachers it has influenced the most. Along the way, we’ll explore the ways in which the Paul’s letter to the Romans and John Murray’s commentary on that letter help us to understand, to teach, and to preach in the present day.

Music

Code: LD-NDXFV0XZRVM4F

The Epistle to the Romans – Episode 2: Gaffin, Broekhuizen, and Currie Nov 02, 2022

In 1959, John Murray, a Scottish systematic theologian at Westminster Theological Seminary, published the first volume of his commentary on the book of Romans, one that John Piper would later call “the most beautiful commentary ever written.”

In more than 60 years since it first appeared, Murray’s commentary has changed the way scores of pastors and teachers read and teach the Bible, helping to draw many readers and congregations into deeper communion with their savior.

Now Westminster Seminary Press has reprinted John Murray’s commentary on Romans in an beautiful new hardcover edition, updated with a new introduction by Sinclair Ferguson. In this podcast, we’ll revisit this classic text with some of the pastors and teachers it has influenced the most. Along the way, we’ll explore the ways in which the Paul’s letter to the Romans and John Murray’s commentary on that letter help us to understand, to teach, and to preach in the present day.

Music

Code: LD-NDXFV0XZRVM4F

The Epistle to the Romans – Episode 1: Ferguson, Begg, and Currie Oct 28, 2022

In 1959, John Murray, a Scottish systematic theologian at Westminster Theological Seminary, published the first volume of his commentary on the book of Romans, one that John Piper would later call “the most beautiful commentary ever written.”

In more than 60 years since it first appeared, Murray’s commentary has changed the way scores of pastors and teachers read and teach the Bible, helping to draw many readers and congregations into deeper communion with their savior.

Now Westminster Seminary Press has reprinted John Murray’s commentary on Romans in an beautiful new hardcover edition, updated with a new introduction by Sinclair Ferguson. In this podcast, we’ll revisit this classic text with some of the pastors and teachers it has influenced the most. Along the way, we’ll explore the ways in which the Paul’s letter to the Romans and John Murray’s commentary on that letter help us to understand, to teach, and to preach in the present day.

Music

Code: LD-NDXFV0XZRVM4F

The Epistle to the Romans – Trailer Oct 27, 2022

In 1959, John Murray, a Scottish systematic theologian at Westminster Theological Seminary, published the first volume of his commentary on the book of Romans, one that John Piper would later call “the most beautiful commentary ever written.”

In more than 60 years since it first appeared, Murray’s commentary has changed the way scores of pastors and teachers read and teach the Bible, helping to draw many readers and congregations into deeper communion with their savior.

Now Westminster Seminary Press has reprinted John Murray’s commentary on Romans in an beautiful new hardcover edition, updated with a new introduction by Sinclair Ferguson.

In this podcast, we’ll revisit this classic text with some of the pastors and teachers it has influenced the most. Along the way, we’ll explore the ways in which the Paul’s letter to the Romans and John Murray’s commentary on that letter help us to understand, to teach, and to preach in the present day.

Bonus Episode: A High Calling Oct 12, 2022

It’s a high calling to serve the people of God, and a hard one in today’s world. Pastors need wisdom, encouragement, and guidance to serve people living in the context of secularism. In The Pastor and the Modern World, they get exactly that. Three seasoned pastor-scholars―William Edgar, R. Kent Hughes, and Alfred Poirier―come to the aid of today’s pastor, bringing their experience to bear on cultural engagement, the craft of preaching, and the care of souls. How has secularism infiltrated culture and the arts, and what is a Christian response to it? How does a pastor prayerfully construct a message that moves the hearts of his congregants? What can we learn from Gregory of Nazianzus about being a “physician of souls”? These questions are answered, with many more, in a volume that’s sure to encourage pastors to take up their call with fresh enthusiasm and Spirit-led vigilance.

Gregory of Nazianzus: The Pastor as Physician of Souls Oct 10, 2022

In Episode 3 of this companion series to the book The Pastor and the Modern World, host Peter A. Lillback and guests John Currie, K. Scott Oliphint, and Todd M. Rester discuss chapter 3: “Gregory of Nazianzus: The Pastor as Physician of Souls” by Alfred Poirier.

Code: EVOQLSDDMVZ9RESC

The Heart of the Pastor and the Pulpit Oct 10, 2022

In Episode 2 of this companion series to the book The Pastor and the Modern World, host Peter A. Lillback and guests John Currie, K. Scott Oliphint, and Todd M. Rester discuss chapter 2: “The Heart of the Pastor and the Pulpit” by R. Kent Hughes.

Code: EVOQLSDDMVZ9RESC

Are We Really Secular? Oct 07, 2022

In Episode 1 of this companion series to the book The Pastor and the Modern World, host Peter A. Lillback and guests John Currie, K. Scott Oliphint, and Todd M. Rester discuss chapter 1: “Are We Really Secular?” by William Edgar.

Code: EVOQLSDDMVZ9RESC

The Pastor and The Modern World – Trailer Oct 04, 2022

In this companion series to the book The Pastor and the Modern World, host Peter A. Lillback and guests John Currie, K. Scott Oliphint, and Todd M. Rester discuss the chapters, “Are We Really Secular?“, “The Heart of the Pastor and the Pulpit”, and “Gregory of Nazianzus: The Pastor as Physician of Souls”.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected