Banned Books 413: Debrief on the Bondage of the Will
Oct 24, 2025
Dive into a thought-provoking exploration of the bondage of the will, highlighting the tension between gospel clarity and church priorities. The hosts reflect on the challenges pastors face, from congregational apathy to the mockery of faithful preaching. Nostalgic discussions of 80s fantasy highlight hope and moral imagination amidst contemporary nihilism. They critique the commodification of morals and the church's current state, emphasizing the importance of authentic sacramental community and the singular task of gospel preaching.
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Churchgoing Fails When Gospel Isn’t Given
- Many Christians now stop attending because local churches fail to deliver the gospel and sacraments faithfully.
- Donovan Riley and Christopher Gillespie found attendees treating conferences as their spiritual “vacation” to receive preaching they can’t find locally.
Pointing At An Empty Altar
- Riley recounts pointing at an empty altar for months during sermons to teach about weekly communion.
- A parishioner finally noticed and said, 'pastor, you keep pointing at the altar and it's empty.'
Pastors Retreat Under Congregational Pressure
- Pastors get worn down by congregational pressure to avoid preaching law-gospel distinctions boldly.
- That fatigue explains part of why faithful gospel preaching is scarce and why pastors retreat from assertive proclamation.
