Theology for the Rest of Us

Latest Episodes:

128: Is It Okay to Be Proud of My Country? Jul 26, 2016

Show notes

Many people are proud of their nation, but some people wonder whether or not it is wrong to have any love of country. Others have wondered if they can find a way to take any pride in a nation that has done bad or evil things around the world. Others have even grappled with the idea as to whether or not any national allegiance is helpful at all.

In this episode, Kenny tackles to topic of patriotism and how we as Christians ought to approach love of country. For modern American Christians in particular, there might not be an issue more complicated or wrapped-up in history and politics than patriotism. Even saying the word patriotism in any gathering of Christians is likely to garner as many responses as there are people. A love for one’s country is looked upon with both reverence and revulsion, depending on who you talk to about it… and Kenny believes that both sides seem to have good reasons for their positions.

So how ought Christians think about patriotism?

Kenny dives into the idea of having patriotism versus having nationalism. Kenny makes it clear that patriotism can be very good, but nationalism is nothing more than a form of arrogance.

It is good to appreciate the things your nation has offered the world, but good patriotism also includes the ability to judge your own nation in both its successes and its shortcomings. It is good to have a love of your fellow countrymen, but arrogant to believe that your fellow countrymen are somehow inherently more valuable than people born in other nations.

They major theme Kenny addresses is the idea of primary allegiances. Those of us that love God must never forget that our primary allegiance is to Jesus and the kingdom of God and the things that Jesus cares about most. Kenny challenges us to make sure that we are more passionate about defending the Gospel than we are about defending our nationalism or our brand of politics.

127: Is It Okay For Christians to Be Cremated? Jul 25, 2016

Show notes

In this episode, Kenny answers the questions whether or not it is okay for Christians to be cremated; or is it sinful. As with many topics, Kenny tells us that asking about whether or not it is “okay” is not the right question, but rather we ought to be asking whether or not it is ideal for us.

We know that when we die we will either end up in heaven or hell, our soul leaves our body. But it is important to remember that whatever happens to our body after we are dead has no impact on our eternal destination.

We also know that one Jesus will return to Earth and give new bodies to all those who were united with Him. Our souls will be reunited with our bodies, therefore no matter which we choose, burial or cremation, our new bodies will be perfect.

With all this stated, Kenny recommends we choose burials whenever possible because it follows the biblical pattern followed by the Old Testament saints and the pattern observed by the early Christians.

126: Does Jeremiah 29:11 Apply to Christians Today? Jul 24, 2016

Show notes

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” ~Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Several centuries before Jesus showed up on the scence, the propher Jeremiah was preaching to the Jewish people as they faced the judgment and discipline of God, meted out at the hands of the Babylonians.

Jeremiah said many things, but there is one verse from his writings that is most commonly quoted within certain modern Christian circles. That verse that is famously quoted is Jeremiah 29:11, often used as a proof-text to demonstrate that God always wants us to prosper.

In this episode, Kenny tackles the question head on: Does Jeremiah 29:11 apply to Christian believers today? If so, how does it apply?

Kenny makes the point that the verse does indeed point to the fact that, overall, God wants good things for
His people… He loves His people… He favors his people… just like any good daddy, God loves showering His children with goodness. He’s the greatest daddy there is.

However, most people quoting this verse ignore the context of Jeremiah’s writing; the fact that the Jewish people were facing a fate that did not seem “good” by their standards.

God declares to have good plans for us, but sometimes His plans do not seem good; but that is mostly because our definition of “good” is often skewed.

God’s greatest desire for His own people is to mold us to be more Godly and to shine His own glory through us. God’s good plans for you may include some short-term forms of suffering because that may very well be the thing that enables you to receive the ultimate good plans that God has for you in the long-term and in eternity.

125: Can We Sin in Heaven? If Not, How Come Lucifer Sinned? Jul 23, 2016

Show notes

It is widely believed by most Evangelical Christians that once we get into heaven and with Jesus, that we will not ever be able to sin or ever choose to walk away from God. This begs the question: How did Lucifer sin in heaven?

Lucifer did indeed sin while he was in heaven (Note: Today Lucifer is often called “Satan” or “the devil” or “the enemy”). So, what confidence do we have that we will not ever sin when we are in heaven?

In this episode, Kenny answers this question by making sure that we understand that it is not the place that keeps us from sinning, but rather the state we find ourselves in once we are in eternity. Once we are in heaven we will be fully transformed, given new bodies, and enter into a state of holy perfection. This will protect us from sin and this shall only be made possible by the power of Christ at work within us.

Highlighted Passages:

Philippians 3:21

Jude 1:24

Revelation 21:27

1 Timothy 5:21

124: Is Gambling a Sin? Jul 22, 2016

Show notes

Gambling, card games, sports betting, games of luck or chance, poker tournaments, and even raffles. These are all forms of contests that have been labeled as “gambling” by many people. And with the label of “gambling” comes a taboo within North American evangelicalism. So that begs these questions: Is gambling a sin? Should Christians participate in any such events or contests? Why or Why not?

In this episode, Kenny gives a thorough response to the topic of gambling. The Bible does not directly label these contests or games as sinful, but as with many things in life, we need to examine the topic more closely before indulging.

Kenny opens the episode giving us an important warning about gambling addictions. Just like addictions to drugs or porn, addictions to gambling have destroyed families, therefore we must be extremely cautious and careful before participating. Kenny encourages anyone dealing with a gambling addiction to immediately seek help from a church elder or visit www.gamblersanonymous.org.

The Bible does not specifically condemn gambling, so Kenny makes the point that he does not have any specific issues with people participating in contests where money is on the line such as a sports pool or a poker tournament (and Kenny makes the admission that he himself has participated in some such activities), but there are several important elements to remember before choosing to gamble in anyway whatsoever:

1- The Bible warns us about the dangers of loving money (see 1 Timothy 6:10 and Hebrews 13:5).

2- The Bible encourages us to stay away from attempts to “get rich quick” (see Proverbs 13:11 and Ecclesiastes 5:10)

3- Gambling is often a waste of money, but so are many other things we indulge in or purchase (ie: going out to eat, cable television, owning a more expensive car than what we actually need, many forms of entertainment, etc.). Seek to be consistent in your convictions.

4- The Bible tells us that all things are “permissible” but not all things are “beneficial” (see 1 Corinthians 6:12; 10:23). This should always be our guide when these topics arise.

After highlighting these important reminders, Kenny then closes the episode by reminding each person to also consider their own personal evangelism opportunities and Christian witness. We must always ask the question: “Will this hurt or help my chances to preach the Gospel?”

There is a strong argument to be made for either position. Some people say that some forms of gambling could harm your credibility, and therefore harm your opportunities for evangelism. However, other people might state that participating in such activities could lead you to building relationships that help bring the Gospel to unsaved people that otherwise might not have heard it.

Kenny feels that each person ought to prayerfully seek wisdom from the Holy Spirit as to what he/she ought to do, but none of us ought to be flippant or careless when making this sort of decision.

123: Did Jesus Have Siblings? Jul 21, 2016

Show notes

Did Jesus have physical siblings? If so, wouldn’t that prove that Mary was not a virgin for her entire life? And, if that is the case, why do Catholics still refer to her as the “Virgin Mary” even though she conceived and gave birth to several children after Jesus? These questions and thoughts came to Kenny by email from a listener.

In this episode, Kenny makes the point that Jesus did indeed have physical siblings, children of Mary and her husband Joseph.

Catholics have been known to have a deep reverence for Mary, the mother of Jesus. Mary was very deserving of honor for her role in God’s redemptive story, however some of the beliefs embraced by Catholics (and some other Christians) about her “perpetual virginity” may not be a Biblically-founded doctrine.

Some other Christians may not embrace the doctrine of her perpetual virginity, however they may still refer to her as the “Virgin Mary” simply a sign of respect, although she clearly was not a virgin for her entire life.

The Biblical evidences for Jesus having biological siblings:

– Matthew 13:55: A group of people questioning Jesus’ authority, referring to His Earthly parents and siblings.

– Matthew 12 and Mark 3: Mary and the brothers of Jesus sought to talk with Jesus.

– John 7:5: Makes mention that even some of Jesus’ siblings didn’t believe He was the Messiah.

– Galatians 1:19: Paul mentions meeting James, the younger brother of Jesus.

122: Should Christians Give to Charities? Jul 20, 2016

Show notes

In this episode, Kenny responds to a regular listener asking about giving to charities. Kenny opens the episode by making it clear that Christians should be extremely generous; God has given us so much, we ought to demonstrate His generosity by choosing to be generous to others.

There is no set amount that we ought to give, but we should seek to be sacrificial in how we give. There are no shortage of options when it comes to organizations that are in need of money, so where should we give our money? Kenny gives us three primary places where we ought to consider giving:

1- Your local church.

2- Missionaries that you know personally or missions organizations that you trust.

3- Any cause or campaign focusing on social justice that reflects well on the Gospel.

Kenny’s encouragement and advice to believers: Determine a vision for what types of causes that you want to give towards, based on your personal passions and the specific arenas that grab your heart, and then seek to give as much as possible to those types of causes and organizations. This also allows you to develop a clear strategy as to when you ought to say “yes” and when you ought to say “no.”

Eventually, many of us will end up giving money to non-profit organizations and charities. Kenny closes the episode by giving us the parameters he uses when determining which organizations to give to, and he also encourages us to vet the organizations, as best as we can, before giving them money, and he gives us some resources to help us in our quest to determine which charities are the best to consider giving our money towards.

Recommended Helps When Vetting Charities:

Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA)

CharityWatch.org

CharityNavigator.org

121: What Are Angels? Why Do They Exist? Jul 19, 2016

Show notes

Throughout the Scriptures we see these supernatural creatures called “angels” highly involved in a variety of things that God is doing with and through His own people.

While we don’t have a lot of specific information about angels, there are plenty of things about them that we can observe. In this episode, as a response to an e-mail from a regular listener, Kenny tells about these creatures, their nature, and their purpose.

Angels are supernatural spiritual creatures that God employs in His service to accomplish tasks as God sees fit to employ them. They are living beings with personality, intellect, emotions, and their own sense of determination. They are powerful, but not omnipotent. They are wise, but not omniscient.

We don’t know precisely how many angels there are, but we do know that there are a lot of them; maybe thousands, or maybe even billions.

We know a few of their names, such as Gabriel, Michael, and Lucifer (check out episode 17), but overall we don’t know much about specific angels. They were likely created in eternity past, they never die, and it appears that God isn’t going to create any more of them.

In the Bible, angels always appear male, however gender is not ascribed to angels in the way we understand gender.

Highlighted Passages:

Colossians 1:16-17

Luke 20:36

Luke 16:22

Hebrews 13:2

120: Does God Give Personal Revelations to Certain People? Jul 14, 2016

Show notes

Throughout the centuries God revealed His truth to certain people, and in most cases those persons documented the revealed truth.

Typically the truth was revealed for some specific contemporary purposes, but those truths were also typically transcendent and therefore valuable to all peoples of any time period. God did this many times throughout the pages of the Old Testament through the prophets.

Any time God revealed some element of truth to His people, this was referred to as a form of revelation. One of the greatest forms of revelation we have ever received has come through the writers of the New Testament, after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, giving us the clarity of the full Gospel message and its implications.

In this episode, Kenny explains that we, as orthodox Christians, believe that the “cannon has been closed” ever since the death of the last Apostle; meaning there will be no more new writings ever added to the Bible.

The Apostles and the New Testament writers were the last group of people God gave special revelation to; everything we needed revealed was fully revealed to us through the pages of the New Testament.

Kenny makes the point that any truth that God has ever intended to reveal, about Himself and about His plan of salvation for humanity, has indeed already been fully revealed through the Bible, therefore there is no longer any need for anyone to ever experience any sort of personal revelation of any kind.

Kenny makes the simple point that any revelation that agrees with the Bible is unnecessary, because we already have that truth, and any revelation that disagrees with the Bible is false, which means it must be completely disregarded. Any and all contemporary revelations are either wholly unneeded or are completely false, there are no other options.

119: Does God Still Speak Through Dreams? Jul 13, 2016

Show notes

Throughout the Bible we see several moments when God spoke to people through dreams and visions. Does God still do this? Does He still speak to people in this manner?

In this episode, Kenny reminds us that the Bible is sufficient in terms of knowing what God desires from us. The Scriptures must always be the ultimate authority in our lives when it comes to determining the will of God and determining what we believe to be absolute truth, therefore we should not ever expect God to speak to us through a dream or vision in order to directly reveal any new truth to us.

We should not be getting our primary spiritual guidance or our doctrine through dreams. However, there is nothing in the Bible that ought to lead us to believe that God has stopped doing this as a secondary manner of getting people’s attention and helping them see that Jesus is indeed the only way to God.

In addition, there have been some contemporary accounts of people around the world seeing dreams that eventually points them to the Gospel. While these events are rare, Kenny challenges us to consider that God is using these supernatural dreams to draw people unto Himself.

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