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Todd is pretty excited to have today’s guest on “his podcast,” who is none other than his Mortification of Spin co-host, Carl Trueman. Together, they discuss Carl’s latest book, To Change All Worlds: Critical Theory from Marx to Marcuse, where Carl examines the historical roots of critical theory, its evolution, and its impact on contemporary culture.
I wanted to produce a book that was not a kind of “goodies” and “baddies” book…Everybody coming to critical theory has their opinion on whether the critical theorists are good guys or bad guys. I didn’t really want to address that. What I wanted to do was look at critical theory through the historical lens and say, okay, why did this group of men start thinking this way? What was going on? What sources are they using? What problems are they trying to address or questions are they asking in order to get below the surface? – Carl Trueman
Todd and Carl discuss some key figures of critical theory, such as Marx, Hegel, and Freud, and how they and other early critical theorists shaped modern thought. What are the implications for Christians today? Tune in to find out!
Thanks to the generosity of B&H Academics, we are pleased to offer a copy of Carl’s book to our listeners. Enter here for the opportunity to win one.
Show Notes:
To Change All Worlds: Critical Theory from Marx to Marcuse
https://reformedresources.org/to-change-all-worlds-critical-theory-from-marx-to-marcuse-hardcover/
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Carl and Todd welcome Yannick Imbert and Iain Wright to discuss their new book, Reclaiming the Dark Ages: How the Gospel Light Shone from 500 to 1500. An often overlooked period, Yannick and Iain challenge the notion of the "Dark Ages" by highlighting key Christian figures and their contributions to church history including Leo the Great, Anselm of Canterbury, and Jan Hus.
We wanted to take a selection of church leaders across that thousand years...to show that God was not sitting on his hands for a thousand years. – Iain Wright
Discover how God’s work continued throughout this millennium and why these historical insights are relevant today. Whether you're a history enthusiast or new to church history, this episode offers a captivating exploration of faith across centuries.
Even we who are decidedly Reformed can actually acknowledge that there were Christians prior to the 16th century. – Carl Trueman
Thanks to the generosity of Christian Focus Publications, we are pleased to offer three copies of Yannick and Iain’s book to our listeners. Enter here for the opportunity to win one.
Show Notes:
Reclaiming the Dark Ages: How the Gospel Light Shone from 500 to 1500
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Join us in this enlightening episode as Todd and Carl welcome Thomas Bergler, a distinguished professor of ministry and missions at Huntingdon University, to discuss his insightful book, The Juvenilization of American Christianity. What exactly is “juvenalization?”
Juvenilization is the process by which the beliefs, traits, developmental characteristics of adolescence become normative or celebrated for people of all ages. – Thomas Bergler
Delve into the fascinating exploration of how youth ministry has shaped the modern church, its unintended consequences, and the cultural shift towards therapeutic faith. Discover the historical roots of adolescence, the impact of pop culture on spirituality, and the importance of intergenerational worship.
If you are interested in the evolution of church practices and the future of faith communities, be sure to tune in.
Thanks to the generosity of Wm. B. Eerdman’s Publishing Company, we are pleased to offer three copies of Thomas Bergler’s book to our listeners. Enter here for the opportunity to win one.
Show Notes:
Books by Thomas Bergler:
The Juvenalization of American Christianity
From Here to Maturity: Overcoming the Juvenilization of American Christianity
Recommended by Thomas Bergler:
Handing Down the Faith: How Parents Pass Their Religion on to the Next Generation by Christian Smith and Amy Adamczyk
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Todd and Carl explore Christianity as a supernatural religion, diving deep into the Gospel of John and its portrayal of miracles as signs of Jesus' divine authority. Together they discuss the historical and philosophical shifts in belief systems from the Enlightenment to modern-day skepticism, and reflect on the modern quest for meaning and morality.
"We are creatures who crave meaning, and any intelligent atheist is going to acknowledge that." – Carl Trueman
Discover the opportunities present in today's cultural landscape for engaging with the supernatural claims of Christianity and the hope it offers in a world seeking meaning.
What an opportunity then for the public witness of the church – a message of hope that’s anchored in something that’s real and eternal. – Todd Pruitt
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Many young (and not-so-young) adults today struggle to figure out what they should do with their lives. Focusing on this significant issue, Todd and Carl talk with William (Bill) Boekestein about his new book, Finding My Vocation: A Guide for Young People Seeking a Calling.
If people are in the situation of not having a sense of what they ought to do with their life, or people who are highly motivated but maybe are motivated for the wrong reasons, if they could get a glimpse of what God says to us in his Word about how to work for him, and with him in meaningful calling that serves the Lord and blesses others, that's a project well worth spending some time on. – Bill Boekestein
Bill shares insights on guiding young people through career decisions, the importance of hard work, and the beauty of vocation. Whether you're a parent, pastor, or young adult, this episode offers wisdom on navigating the complex world of work and purpose.
"Vocation is not just about survival; it's about living in God's world and demonstrating that we've been made to glorify and enjoy Him." – Bill Boekestein
Thanks to the generosity of Reformed Free Publishing, we are pleased to award two copies of Finding My Vocation: A Guide for Young People Seeking a Calling to our listeners. Congratulations to Michelle D. from Chino, CA and Julie K. from Wyoming, MI!
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Carl and Todd delve into the evolving complexities of medical ethics in today's world with guest Farr Curlin, the Josiah C. Trent Professor of Medical Humanities at Duke University and co-author of The Way of Medicine: Ethics and the Healing Profession. Together, they explore the crucial role of pastors in guiding their congregations through ethical medical decisions, the significance of understanding human identity, and the challenges posed by advancements in medical technology.
…the field of healthcare, the profession of medicine, is divided by disagreements about what medicine is for, divided by or even completely agnostic regarding what it means to be human, and in the absence of a clear understanding of how medicine fits into a well-lived life, is basically offering to do everything possible to try to keep people alive, or offering to relieve people's suffering, however that's understood, in ways that it seems to me are not really compatible with the Christian story. – Farr Curlin
In this enlightening conversation, Farr shares helpful insights on approaching medical ethics with biblical discernment.
Thanks to the generosity of Notre Dame Press, we are pleased to offer award copies of The Way of Medicine: Ethics and the Healing Profession to our listeners. Congratulations to Judy J. from Summerset, SD, Michael R. from Fresno, CA, and Ben K. from Chesapeake, VA!
Show Notes
https://www.alliancenet.org/giving-tuesday
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Carl and Todd sit down with Harrison Perkins, pastor of Oakland Hills Community Church and lecturer at Westminster and Edinburgh Theological Seminaries, to discuss his insightful new book, Reformed Covenant Theology: A Systematic Introduction. Why is the study of covenant theology significant, and how can it shape our understanding of the Bible and the Gospel?
This is a framework for understanding the way that we relate to God – more specifically, the way He relates to us – with clarity, with assurance, with ways to understand how grace can be free. But also, now we are in this ongoing walk with the Lord…how can we bring these things together, and do so well, without undermining one side or the other? – Harrison Perkins
Tune in to learn how this theological framework can deepen your faith and understanding of the Bible.
Thanks to the generosity of Lexham Press, we are pleased to award three copies of Reformed Covenant Theology: A Systematic Introduction to give away to our listeners. Congratulations to Linda J. from Murphy, NC, Dana W. from Fairchance, PA, and Vincent M. from Bakersfield, CA!
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In an increasingly secular world, Christians are often pulled in two directions. Some urge us to retreat and build insular communities. Others call upon us to wage a culture war, harnessing the government to shore up Christian cultural power. Is there a better way? Stephen Presley, senior fellow for religion and public life at the Center for Religion, Culture, and Democracy and associate professor of church history at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, argues that there is.
Today, Carl and Todd talk to Stephen about his new book, Cultural Sanctification: Engaging the Word like the Early Church, in which he points to the first few centuries AD to show us how the first Christians approached cultural engagement. Amid a pagan culture that regarded their faith with suspicion, early Christians founded a religious movement that transformed the ancient world. Though many of the challenges they faced were unique to that time, close comparisons can be drawn between the early church and modern culture.
Some of the similarities have to do with the church in its relationship to the broader cultural world. I mean, you can’t get out of the first three centuries of the church without recognizing that the church is embedded in a culture that is often set against them. – Stephen Presley
Listen as they discuss the parallels between the early church and today's cultural challenges, and consider how ancient Christian teachings can inform how we engage with the wider culture.
Thanks to the generosity of Eerdman’s Publishing Company, we are pleased to send three copies of Cultural Sanctification: Engaging the World like the Early Church to our listeners. Congratulations to Cristian B. from Washington, D.C., Tim T. from Lititz, PA, and Bryan K. from Normal, IL!
Show Notes:
Stephen recommends five ancient texts for listeners interested in learning more about how the early church engaged the culture:
On the Apostolic Preaching by IraneausTertullian’s ApologeticusOn the True Doctrine by CelsusThe Epistle to Diognetus (author unknown)The Christians as the Romans Saw Them by Robert Louis Wilken*Image: Saint Augustine Disputing with the Heretics, by Vergós Group, Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, Public domain
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How do we know if we're making the best choices possible? Todd and Carl discuss this important topic with their guest, T. David Gordon, former professor at Grove City College and the author of Choose Better: Five Biblical Models for Making Ethical Decisions. Over the centuries, Christians in different traditions have distilled scriptural guidance into five models for ethical decision-making: law, imitation, communion, wisdom, and warfare. Today, the discussion centers around the relevance and application of these five models in everyday life and pastoral ministry.
"One of the things I really appreciate about the book, David, is with each of the models, you give sort of pluses and minuses in order to bring out the fact that we can't just have one model or even two models. They all complement each other." – Carl Trueman
Biblical, profound, and practical, these models provide clear questions to ask in every situation. They help us improve our choices and better understand the choices of fellow believers—especially when they differ from ours.
We were pleased to award two copies of Choose Better to our listeners, thanks to the generosity of our friends at P&R Publishing. Congratulations to Jon C. from Covington, LA and Francine C. from Louisburg, KS!
Show Notes:
Why Johnny Can’t Preach by T. David Gordon: https://reformedresources.org/why-johnny-cant-preach-paperback/
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Carl and Todd welcome special guest Harold Senkbeil, executive director of Doxology, the Lutheran Center for Spiritual Care, and the author of the popular book The Care of Souls: Cultivating a Pastor's Heart. Together, they discuss the essence of pastoral ministry, the significance of patience, and the importance of the Word and sacraments in pastoral care.
Pastoral work is really the work of Jesus in our time, in any given contemporary moment in history… In the twentieth century, pastoral work kind of took a left turn and reinvented itself in the mold of business perhaps or counseling, and so forth, all of which is helpful, but the essence is really the Word of God and the sacraments. To apply those with the goal of introducing people to Jesus and Jesus to them, is what pastoral work is about. - Harold Senkbeil
What are the challenges and expectations pastors face today, and how can they stay true to their calling amidst modern-day complexities? And tune in to discover what part congregations should play in the life of the Church.
We were pleased to award three copies of The Care of Souls to our listeners, thanks to the generosity of our friends at the Lexham Press. Congratulations to Patrick H. from Valencia, CA, Terry C. from Perkasie, PA, and Stephen W. from Naperville, IL!
Show Notes:
The Care of Souls series (5 volumes): https://lexhampress.com/product/258922/the-care-of-souls-bundle
The Care of Souls (audiobook):https://lexhampress.com/product/254940/the-care-of-souls-cultivating-a-pastors-heart
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Maintaining appropriate Christian behavior can be particularly challenging in a world where political discourse often becomes heated and divisive. In today's timely episode, Carl and Todd delve into the complexities of navigating faith and politics, especially during an election year.
"We want to talk today about how Christians can have strong opinions on important issues and express those opinions in a way that does not undermine their broader Christian witness." – Carl Trueman
What impact does political discourse have on Christian testimony, and how can we express strong opinions without compromising our witness? Their conversation delves into the rise of neo-Christian nationalism, the infantilism in modern politics, and the need for Christians to engage in the public sphere with integrity and honor.
"We are not going to win the culture by aping the culture. Seek influence, push back against the darkness, but do so uniquely as Christians." – Todd Pruitt
We were pleased to award three copies of Carl's book Crisis of Confidence to our listeners, thanks to the generosity of our friends at Crossway Books. Congratulations to Bradley L. from Rock Hill, SC, Brent B. from Longview, WA, and Alex O. from Jenison, MI!
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Carl and Todd dive deep into the complex relationship between religion and politics with Miles Smith from Hillsdale College as they discuss his new book, Religion and Republic: Christian America from the Founding to the Civil War. Why did he decide to write this book now, and why did he intentionally not use the more commonplace terms “Church and State”? What is the difference between Christian institutionalism and Christian nationalism? And what is the role of the church in addressing political issues?
"I'm actually someone who doesn't want the church to do politics. I think the church is quite frankly, not competent to do politics." – Miles Smith
Miles’ book offers profound insights into how Christians can maintain their witness in times of political polarization. Listen as they discuss the historical and contemporary challenges Christians face in navigating their faith within the civic and political spheres,
Thanks to the generosity of our friends at the Davenant Institute, we are pleased to award three copies of Miles Smith’s book Religion and Republic to our listeners. Congratulations to Elizabeth B. from Poland, OH, Philip M. from Maidsville, WV, and Doug N. from Clendenin, WV.
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Many adults look back fondly on their years in the church youth group or other parachurch ministries like Young Life and understand the impact that those ministries had on their faith. How has youth ministry changed over the years, and what has stayed the same? What qualities are needed to be an effective youth minister, and what challenges do leaders face in today’s culture?
To shine some light on this subject, the guys are joined by Carl’s friend and a fellow Grove City College professor, Duffy Robbins, Professor of Youth Ministry and a 45-year veteran in the field. Widely respected as one of the leading voices in youth and family ministry, Duffy talks to Carl and Todd about the history, purpose, and future of youth ministry, as well as some of the issues that he sees.
“Another problem is that youth ministry intentionally tries to make sure their ministries and messages and programming are suited to young people, but the problem is we really breed in our young people an appetite for ‘juvenalized’ Christianity, and so when they get into big church, adult church, they still want to have ‘juvenalized’ worship services.” – Duffy Robbins
We are pleased to award three copies of Duffy Robbins’ book Building a Youth Ministry that Builds Disciples: A Small Book About a Big Idea to our listeners, thanks to the generosity of Zondervan Press. Congratulations to Nick H. from Sandy Lake, PA, Tyle G. from Wooster, OH, and Paula B. from Stamford, CT.
Show Notes:
The Juvenalization of American Christianity by Thomas Bergler
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Is it ethical for physicians to assist patients in hastening their own death? Should Christians who are facing death accept the offer of an assisted death? Carl and Todd talk to physician Ewan Goligher about these important issues addressed in his book How Should We Then Die? In his book, Ewan draws from general revelation and Scripture to persuade and equip Christians to oppose physician-assisted death.
The logic of assisted death is predicated on the idea that you’re rendering someone better off by ending their life. And [in] the philosophical and ethical literature where people write about this, they represent the logic as a kind of calculus where you weigh up the good of remaining alive and the bad of remaining alive, and you essentially decide that if the bad of remaining alive outweighs the good, then it makes sense to end my life. And the glaring gap in that logic is that it ignores the question of what it is like to be dead. – Ewan Goligher
Proponents of euthanasia presume what it is like to be dead. But for Christians, death is not the end. Christ Jesus has destroyed death and brought life and immortality through the gospel. For this reason, Christians must think deeply about these life-and-death issues.
We are pleased to award three copies of How Should We Then Die? to our listeners, thanks to the generosity of our friends at Lexham Press. Congratulations Erin D. from Sacramento, CA, Ben C. from Andover, KS, and Tom M. from Greer, SC!
Show Notes:
The Desecration of Man by Carl Trueman
On Death and Dying: A Catechism for Christians by Ewan Goligher
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Blaise Pascal, the seventeenth-century French philosopher and scientist, is perhaps best known for his "wager," an argument about the existence of God. But there was much more to Pascal and his brilliance, according to today's guest, Douglas Groothuis, a leading Christian thinker and longtime student of Pascal. In his latest book, Beyond the Wager, Doug introduces readers to Pascal's life and the breadth of his intellectual pursuits, including his contributions to mathematics, science, ethics, and theology.
"You really want to read Pascal, and if you write about him, you want to quote him and do justice to what he said because it really was so insightful and profoundly put. Especially his comments about what it means to be a human being and his reflections on the nature of knowing Christ. They're really not just philosophically insightful and compelling, but also devotionally compelling." – Doug Groothuis
Three of our listeners received copies of Beyond the Wager: The Christian Brilliance of Blaise Pascal, thanks to the generosity of our friends at Intervarsity Press. Congratulations to Zane L. from Washington, DC, Sam B. from Deerfield, WI, and Joshua M. from Jonesborough, TN!
Show Notes:
Douglas Groothuis’ original book about Blaise Pascal written 20 years ago: On Pascal
Pensées by Blaise Pascal: https://archive.org/details/pascalspenseesor00pasc
Christian Apologetics by Douglas Groothuis
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Many faithful Christian parents today grieve for their adult children who have left the faith. They ask, "Where did we go wrong? What should we have done differently?" Carl and Todd discuss this important topic in this episode and encourage parents not to give up hope.
"Parents have enormous impact on their kids' lives, even into adulthood. Even when there's been pain, a parent has enormous influence. See how best to leverage that for the soul of your child. – Todd Pruitt
Thanks to P&R Publishing, we awarded copies of Wayward Children: Finding Peace, Keeping Hope to three of our listeners. Congratulations to Renee R. from Little Rock, AR, Karen G. from St. Peters, MO, and Mickie G. from Arab, AL!
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When considering theology, you may think of confusing, lofty terminology that only concerns scholars and pastors. But really, theology is for anyone who wants to understand God better and learn more about the Bible. Carl and Todd welcome Jon Nielson, pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church in Wheaton, IL, to discuss his new book Knowing God's Truth.
Written to make systematic theology clear, meaningful, and practical, Nielson introduces systematic theology in this volume and guides readers through its application in their daily lives. Jon's highly accessible book is a valuable resource for those yearning for a deeper understanding of God and the Bible, including young people and newer believers.
"Systematic theology is important… it's recognizing that Scripture actually does give us a system of doctrine; that we're able to do systematic theology because the Bible gives us a unity of theology and so we're able to actually say, here's what the Bible says about God, about sin, about salvation, etc., etc. " – Todd Pruitt
We are pleased to award three copies of Knowing God's Truth to our listeners, thanks to the generosity of our friends at Crossway. Congratulations to Rena C. from Florence, CO, Gary S. from Jackson, MS, and Jared W. from Spring, TX!
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For many years, there was a lack of good Protestant literature addressing the transfiguration— a central event in the life of Christ. Thanks to Patrick Schreiner’s new book, The Transfiguration of Christ: An Exegetical and Theological Reading, that is no longer the case. Patrick is an associate professor of New Testament and Biblical Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and writes from a solid conservative Protestant evangelical perspective. So what is it that Protestants miss when we overlook the transfiguration? What is its significance and place in redemptive history, and how can it be applied?
“I think the transfiguration is this unique event where the humanity and the deity of Christ come together, where his humanity is transfigured or transformed, but his deity is also revealed. This reality [is] that we have the God-Man in one subject and one person, and both things are made evident at the same time.” – Patrick Schreiner
Be sure to tune in for this fascinating conversation on a much-neglected subject. You may gain a new perspective on the importance of this unique event in the life of Jesus and its practical application to our lives. And stay tuned to the end for barbeque recommendations in Kansas City!
We are pleased to award three copies of The Transfiguration of Christ to our listeners, thanks to the generosity of our friends at Baker Academic. Congratulations to Dawn W. from Clarkston, WA, David B. from Little Rock, AK, and Harry J. from Brenham, TX!
Show Notes:
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary: https://www.mbts.edu/
Recommended Reading:
Light on the Mountain: Greek Patristic and Byzantine Homilies on the Transfiguration of the Lord
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Many of the best and brightest Protestant thinkers have converted to Roman Catholicism in recent decades. Some have found Protestantism shallow in doctrine, history, ethics, and worship. Chris Castaldo, co-author of Why Do Protestants Convert? sits down with Carl and Todd to discuss the psychological, theological, and sociological factors behind these conversions.
As someone who has had conversations with those who have converted from Protestantism to Catholicism or, in some cases, Eastern Orthodoxy as well, very often in my conversations with them, theology is not the first thing. Oftentimes [there are] other issues that they will name first, like the historical rootedness or the reverence that they found or the beauty that they found in the Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox traditions. – Todd Pruitt
Although many converts’ criticisms of contemporary Protestantism may be warranted, Chris points out that historic Protestantism contains the answers to these objections and the resources for a Protestant renewal.
Thanks to the generosity of the Davenant Institute, we had two copies of Why Do Protestants Convert? to give to our listeners. Congratulations for Jennifer W. from Southern Pines, NC and Nicholas R. from Plantation, FL!
Show Notes:
Chris’ article on the state of the Roman Catholic Church:
https://mereorthodoxy.com/is-rome-a-true-church
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Critical theory and its expression in fields like critical race theory, critical pedagogy, and queer theory are having a profound impact on our culture. Carl and Todd sit down with Neil Shenvi and Pat Sawyer, authors of Critical Dilemma: The Rise of Critical Theories and Social Justice Ideology, to discuss how contemporary critical theory’s ideas about race, class, gender, identity, and justice have dramatically shaped how people think, act, and view one another—in Christian and secular spheres alike.
As a robust meta-narrative worldview, critical social theory and its expansive expressions are categorically against biblical Christianity. – Pat Sawyer
While Neil and Pat acknowledge that critical theory can provide some legitimate insights into issues impacting our culture today and urge Christians to condemn racism and seek justice, racial healing, and unity, they argue that the false assumptions at the heart of critical theory pose a serious threat to both the church and society at large.
Congratulations to Archibald D. from Monroe, NC, Wes W. from Glen Ellyn, IL, and Kristen S. from Cedar Falls, IA who were selected to receive a copy of Critical Dilemma, thanks to the generosity of Harvest House Publishers!
Show Notes:
Natasha Crane’s article, “Here Comes the He Gets Us Campaign Again: Why Its Portrayal of Jesus is Still a Problem: https://natashacrain.com/here-comes-the-he-gets-us-campaign-again-why-its-portrayal-of-jesus-is-still-a-problem/
Stand to Reason with Greg Koukl: https://www.str.org/
God in the Dock by C.S. Lewis: https://a.co/d/hNVsBWw
- Visa fler
