Theology for the Rest of Us

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248: How Old Is the Universe? (Short Version) Apr 01, 2018

Show notes

This episode is somewhat unique in that it covers material from a previous episode, but in a shorter time. This episode covers the same content that is covered in episode 247 however this episode aims to cover the material is much less time (this episode is less than 17 minutes while episode 247 is nearly 45 minutes long).

Questions and topics related to the origins of humanity, the age of the universe, and the age of the Earth often come up in debates and conversations whenever Christians are seeking to reconcile the words of Scripture with the ideologies from the world of science.

The five views that Kenny talks about:

1- Secular Evolution

2- Young Earth and Literal Six-Day Creation

3- Old Earth with “Days” of creation being metaphoric

4- Old Earth with Gap Theory

5- Old Earth with Historical Creationism

In this episode Kenny also foreshadows the content of episode 249 wherein Kenny will tackle a sixth view known as theistic evolution, the concept that God guided and shepherded the process of evolution to the result that He wanted.

247: How Old Is the Universe? (5 Views) Mar 31, 2018

Show notes

How old is the universe? How old is the Earth? These are questions often asked by Christians throughout the world, seeking to understand the origins of humanity while also seeking to reconcile the words of Scripture with the news updates coming from the world of science.

In this episode, Kenny challenges listeners to be charitable and diplomatic when tackling this topic. Kenny gives various historical insights that are helpful, and then Kenny gives us five perspectives that are often embraced when people are answering this question and when tackling the sub-topics that often arise.

The five views that Kenny talks about:

1- Secular Evolution

2- Young Earth and Literal Six-Day Creation

3- Day-Age Creationist with Era-Long “Days”

4- Old Earth with Gap Theory

5- Old Earth with Historical Creationism

Recommended Reading:

Genesis Unbound (by John Sailhamer)

Four Views on Creation, Evolution, and Intelligent Design (multiple contributors, edited by JB Stump)

Three Views on Creation and Evolution (multiple contributors, edited by James Porter Moreland)

Old Earth or Evolutionary Creation? (multiple contributors, edited by Kenneth Keathley & J. B. Stump,)

Ultimate Proof of Creation (Jason Lisle)

Old Earth Creationism on Trial (Tim Chaffey & Jason Lisle)

Navigating Genesis (Hugh Ross)

The Genesis Debate: Three Views on the Days of Creation (multiple contributors, edited by David Hagopian)

246: “Never Settle For Normal” with Jonathan Parnell Mar 15, 2018

Show notes

Many people in our world are lacking true joy and satisfaction, longing for “something more” but so many of them end up settling for a sub-par life and sub-par spirituality, simply because they do not know the true source of joy and satisfaction.

Furthermore, there are many genuine Christians that do not understand or value certain key doctrines and philosophies simply because they haven’t been taught those truths and ideas in a manner that is accessible. In this episode, Kenny interviews pastor and author Jonathan Parnell about these issues and they discuss how Jonathan tackles these trends in his newest book “Never Settle for Normal: The Proven Path to Significance and Happiness.”

Jonathan is the lead pastor of Cities Church in Minneapolis–St. Paul, where he lives with his wife, Melissa, and their seven children. His book “Never Settle for Normal” is not a self-help book, neither is it just another run-of-mill “enrichment book, but instead it is a Gospel-filled book, packed with transcendent Biblical truths, but written in a manner that can be easily digested by just about any person, regardless of where they are in their faith journey.

Jonathan Parnell is also the co-editor of Designed for Joy: How the Gospel Impacts Men and Women, Identity and Practice (2015), and the co-author of How to Stay Christian in Seminary (2014). He has also published a collection of devotional essays under the title, Reading to Walk: Meditations for the Life of Faith (2014).

Follow Jonathan on Twitter @Jonathanparnell

245: Should We Judge Preachers Based on Theology? Jan 17, 2018

Show notes

A frequent (and tragic) trend in modern American Evangelicalism is the devaluing of the importance of quality doctrine and theology. This is evident in many ways in contemporary American Christendom, but fewer moments make this more obvious than when church leaders (and lay people) refuse to objectively (or critically) assess the theology, ideology, and preaching content of many prominent preachers. Many American Christians simply refuse to “pass judgement” on preachers. Is this right or wrong?

After several months off from podcasting, Kenny returns to tackle this important (and apparently controversial) topic. How important is theology? How much does doctrine matter? Is it appropriate to judge preachers’ based on their theology? Or should we only pass judgement on those whom we know well? And is it possible that theology or doctrine can somehow actually get in the way of ministry?

Kenny tackles these questions in this episode, with his ultimate conclusion and statement being a strong, but simple, challenge to all listeners to always objectively exam every church leader’s and every preacher’s doctrine and preaching content, and to seek to make a rational and fair determination as to whether or not the content and doctrine is accurate or erroneous, and allow those determinations to govern how you interact with or talk about that preacher. Kenny also encourages us to be cautious that we never inappropriately or unfairly assault someone’s character.

244: Will People From All Denominations Go to Heaven? Aug 19, 2017

Show notes

In this episode, Kenny answers the question: Will people from all Christian denominations go to heaven, or will only certain ones, with the right doctrine, be saved in the end? This can be a controversial subject indeed, but Kenny seeks to make it simple by making the point that faith in Christ is what actually saves us, not right doctrines.

Studying theology and doctrine is very important, and there are indeed certain types of doctrines and certain theological beliefs that may very well impede a person’s faith in Christ, or may demonstrate that their faith in Christ is actually fraudulent, but the act of embracing certain doctrine, in and of itself, doesn’t necessarily save or condemn human beings. Kenny believes that there will be people from all sorts of Christian denominations represented in heaven.

243: Prophecy Revisited Aug 19, 2017

Show notes

Last year, our host Kenny did a mini-series on the Holy Spirit, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Kenny tackled multiple topics related to the Holy Spirit. One of those topics was the topic of prophecy. You can listen to that episode here: “87: What is Prophecy?”

Kenny made the case that the gift (or function) of New Testament prophecy has been grossly misunderstood by many contemporary Christians, and that the spiritual gift of prophecy often gets maligned or abused. In response to that previous episode, Kenny received an email from a regular listener asking for clarification about the topic of prophecy.

In this episode, Kenny seeks to bring clarity by again explaining that the Old Testament office of “prophet” was restricted to only one person, meaning that only one person had access to the fullness and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, but that ever since the day of Pentecost, all New Testament Christians now have full access to the fullness and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. And as such, anytime a believer is empowered by the Spirit of God to speak boldly to the people of God on behalf of God, then in essence, that person is prophesying.

The spiritual gift of prophecy does not mean that someone is foretelling the future, but rather that they are being empowered by the Spirit to speak boldly to God’s people for a specific person of cause. Occasionally this may indeed involve elements of “words of knowledge” or unique spiritual discernment, but in most cases it ought to be more focused on admonishment, rebuke, correction, teaching, calls to worship, and calls for repentance.

242: Is There Such a Thing as “The One” Person to Marry? Aug 18, 2017

Show notes

Romantic relationships can be complicated, even under the best of circumstances, but they get even more complicated when flawed philosophies and bad theology are thrown into the mix. One of the flawed philosophies that often gets embraced, in terms of romance, is the ideal concept of a soulmate. While this concept has lost popularity over the past two decades within contemporary Christian circles, there are still many that believe and embrace it.

In this episode, Kenny clearly tackles the question: Does God have only one specific person you’re meant to marry or is it more a matter of personal choice? Kenny’s answer in this podcast is clear: There is no such thing as “the one.” This concept of “the one” or the idea of a soulmate is totally a result of modern media, movies, and pop culture. The idea of “the one” is not at all a result of any Biblical insights.

Kenny explains that the Bible talks extensively about marriage and relationships, but it never says anything that would cause us to embrace this concept of only one specific person that you’re supposed to marry. Furthermore, Kenny explains that this concept is overly idealistic and severely impractical.

241: When is It Okay to Disobey the Law? Aug 17, 2017

Show notes

Civil disobedience has long been an effective manner of protest, both in antiquity as well as in contemporary societies. The protests led by Gandhi in India, the American civil rights movement of the 20th century, and the Boston Tea Party (as a part of the events leading up to the American Revolution) have all been some of the most famous and most effective forms of civil disobedience in world history.

Was it sinful for the founders of the USA to disobey the king of England in this manner? Should they not have rendered unto King George what seemingly was King George’s right?

Was it sinful for globally-known civil rights leaders like Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and Martin Luther King to encourage people to disobey the law? When should we submit and obey our leaders, and when should we intentionally disobey? Is it always sinful to disobey leaders, or are there moments when it is okay to disobey the law

In this episode, Kenny clearly answers these questions by reminding us about the purpose of governments in the first place. Humans are sinful, therefore too much freedom isn’t good, because it would lead to sinful anarchy. Government structures and restraints are good because they bring law and order.

But when a leader or the government is no longer fulfilling its God-ordained purpose, for which is was established in the first place, then it is time for the people to disobey that structure as a form of protest, or in some extreme cases, it may indeed be time to get rid of that particular leader or government.

240: Is the United States a Christian Nation? Aug 16, 2017

Show notes

In response to an email from a regular listener which included a question about the mixture of Christian theology and American nationalism.

Some Christians claim that the USA is a “Christian nation” and that we ought to structure our government with this ideal in mind. Is this true? Are we a Christian nation? If not, should we seek to make it an officially “Christian” country?

239: What Are Natural Rights? Aug 10, 2017

Show notes

In this episode, Kenny explains the concepts of natural rights and natural law. Kenny compares and contrasts natural rights, that originate from a source that transcends governments, with legal rights that originate from a national government or from the leadership of some jurisdiction.

Kenny explains that the Biblical purpose for national governments is to bring law and order for the people, to acknowledge the natural rights of humans that have been given to us by God, and to build and cultivate the appropriate systems which will honor and protect natural rights.

Whenever a government violates natural law, or fails to acknowledge and protect the natural rights of the people, then that specific government, and its leaders, has lost its right to survive and exist. Whenever a government has violated this idea, and hence therefore has forfeited its own right to even exist, then it would be appropriate for the people of that nation (or the leadership of other nations) to remove the existing government from power, whether diplomatically or by force, in order to establish a new or reformed government that will indeed acknowledge and protect the natural rights of the people.

The concept of natural rights greatly influenced the founders of the United States. The philosophy of natural rights was asserted and taught by many philosophers throughout the centuries, but the greatest proponent of the modern understanding of natural rights was the 17th century British philosopher and physician John Locke.

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