Christ Over All

ABOUT THE EPISODEListen in as David Schrock & Stephen Wellum interview David Closson on his COA Longform Essay "A Case for Abortion Incrementalism"Timestamps00:30 – Intro04:30 – How Did David Closson Become Impassioned about the Issue of Abortion?06:40 – What Should People Take Away from David Closson’s Book?09:00 – What Did Francis Schaeffer Argue For? Why Was No One Else Arguing Against Abortion?12:36 – Anything to Be Encouraged or Discouraged By in Recent Years?16:53 – The Differences Between Abolitionism and Incrementalism19:00 – Is There a Way These Movements Can Work Together?22:50 – Bill HR3755 and Abolitionists25:50 – Are Incremental Bills More Effective?27:47 – Is It Necessary for Pro-Life Advocates to Oppose Abolitionist Bills?30:20 – Are Pro-Life Advocates Against Equal Protection Under the Law?33:00 – The Different Roles of the Three Branches of Government37:11 – Different Strategies Available to Us40:20 – The Need for Cultural Renewal45:05 – Has There Been Any Movement Towards an Abolitionist Bill in Texas?48:38 – What Would Be Effective Against Chemical Abortions?51:28 – An Area Where Abolitionists & Incrementalists Could Unite52:35 – Are Pastors Being Trained on the Doctrine of Humanity?55:43 – Are There Particular Places in Culture Where Christians Should Be Involved?1:00:00 – The Responsibility Our Churches Have Toward This Issue1:02:05 – Final Thoughts & David Closson’s Prayer1:04:36 – OutroResources to Click“A Case for Abortion Incrementallism” – David Closson“Abortion in America After the Fall of Roe: Important Advances and Remaining Challenges” – David Closson“We are Abolitionists” – Free the States“Immediate, Not Gradual Abolition of Abortion” – James Silberman“Abolitionist Perspective on the Texas Heartbeat Bill: Three Quick Observations” – James SilbermanAbolition vs Incrementalism: A Panel Discussion – The Danbury Institute“A National Survey of Churchgoing Americans: Social Issues and Worldview” – Center for Biblical Worldview“Planned Parenthood closes Rolla, MO facility, will continue telehealth” – Nancy Flanders“Planned Parenthood closes 20 clinics after Medicaid cuts, warns of grim future” – Praveena Somasundaram“Two New Studies Provide Broadest Evidence to Date of Unequal Impacts of Abortion Bans” – Blomberg School“How Many Abortions are Occurring in America Post-Dobbs?” – Mia SteupertTheme of the Month: Abolishing Abortion, Advocating for LifeGive to Support the WorkBooks to ReadLife After Roe: Equipping Christians in the Fight for Life Today – David Closson

ABOUT THE EPISODEVirtually all concrete and measurable gains against the abortion industry since the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022 have been through incremental strategies, while abolitionism has yet to result in the passage of a single law.Resources to Click“A Case for Abortion Incrementallism” – David Closson“Abortion in America After the Fall of Roe: Important Advances and Remaining Challenges” – David Closson“We are Abolitionists” – Free the States“Immediate, Not Gradual Abolition of Abortion” – James Silberman“Abolitionist Perspective on the Texas Heartbeat Bill: Three Quick Observations” – James SilbermanAbolition vs Incrementalism: A Panel Discussion – The Danbury Institute“A National Survey of Churchgoing Americans: Social Issues and Worldview” – Center for Biblical Worldview“Planned Parenthood closes Rolla, MO facility, will continue telehealth” – Nancy Flanders“Planned Parenthood closes 20 clinics after Medicaid cuts, warns of grim future” – Praveena Somasundaram“Two New Studies Provide Broadest Evidence to Date of Unequal Impacts of Abortion Bans” – Blomberg School“How Many Abortions are Occurring in America Post-Dobbs?” – Mia SteupertTheme of the Month: Abolishing Abortion, Advocating for LifeGive to Support the WorkBooks to ReadLife After Roe: Equipping Christians in the Fight for Life Today – David Closson

ABOUT THE EPISODEListen in as the Editorial Board for Christ Over All reviews the year of 2025 and looks forward to what's coming in 2026.Timestamps00:17 – Intro02:05 – Favorite Theme Cover of the Year10:40 – Notable COA Articles Throughout the Year24:22 – Why COA Publishes the Articles That They Do30:58 – The Cross in the Old Testament34:34 – The Paterfamilias36:56 – The Nicene Creed41:07 – One Gospel, Four Witnesses41:50 – Get to Work: Grasping the Doctrine of Vocation44:17 – Essential, Not Optional: Retrieving Biblical Theology48:06 – Do the Reading: Selections in Political Theology52:06 – Christmas Buffet55:35 – Where COA is Going in 20261:05:55 – Closing Thoughts & Outro Resources to ClickCOA Themes Page“When Women in: Recognizing the Subtleties of Feminine Vice” – Abigail Dodds“The Dangerous Secret Your Young Men Are Keeping: Neo-Nazi Thought Has Entered the Church” – Will Spencer“Encore: Yuval Harari: Getting to Know the Enemy (of Humanity)” – Greg Scott“Herbert Marcuse and the Reality of Sin” – Brad Green“Ten Words about Words: Getting a Grip on Godly Speech” – David Schrock“We Can’t Replace Charlie Kirk, But We Can Honor His Legacy: Five Ways to Amplify Truth, Freedom, and the American Way” – Colin Smothers & David Schrock“The Turning Point of a Generation: Remembering Charlie Kirk” – Scott Polender“A North Star for Our Generation: A Tribute to Voddie Baucham” – David Schrock & Trent Hunter“A Personal Tribute to John MacArthur (1939-2025)” – Ardel Caneday“Mark 13 is Not About Jesus’s Second Coming” – Trent Hunter“Vocation Politics: The Discourses of Pierre de La Place” – Timon Cline“Law is King: How the Bible Shapes Our View of Law & Civil Government” – Levi SecordTheme of the Month: Christmas BuffetGive to Support the WorkBooks to ReadWhat is Critical Theory?: A Concise Christian Analysis – Bradley G. GreenServant Not Savior: An Introduction to the Bible’s Teaching about Civil Government – Levi Secord

ABOUT THE EPISODEListen in as David Schrock & Stephen Wellum interview Alex Kocman on his COA Longform Essay "Was Jesus a Refugee? And Why It Matters for Immigration"Timestamps00:30 – Intro04:50 – Alex’s Role in ABWE & Christmas Teaching07:37 – What is a Refugee?09:22 – How Do We Seek to Correctly Interpret Scripture?11:20 – Refugees and Migration15:10 – What Does Scripture Say in Regards to the Refugee, Sojourner, etc.?18:00 – What Makes it Difficult to Think in Categories?21:25 – Thinking About How These Things Affect Nationhood25:52 – What Key Things Should We See from Matthew 2?29:39 – What is the Main Emphasis of the Gospel of Matthew?33:00 – What are the Dissimilarities Between Immigrant and Refugee?36:57 – What are the Church’s and State’s Responsibilities Towards These People?43:40 – Dr. Wellum’s Perspective on Immigration50:26 – The Order Amoris56:14 – Final Thoughts57:23 – OutroResources to Click“Was Jesus a Refugee? And Why It Matters for the Immigration Issue” – Alex Kocman“Christian Nationalism Misconceptions with David Schrock & Steve Wellum” – The Missions Podcast“Jesus Was a Refugee” – He Gets Us“Yes, Jesus Was a Refugee” – Russell Moore“Jesus Was a Refugee and an Immigrant” – Lindsay Popperson“Jesus Was a Refugee” – Salt“Pastor Defends Illegal Alien by Saying the Bible is about “God saving us through immigration”” – Not the Bee“U.S. Code, Title 8, Aliens and Nationality ẞ1101(a)(42)” – Legal Information Institute“Refugees: 2024” – Amanda Yap, U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security“Desecrations, threats, and silence: anti-Christian violence grips France” – Gavin Mortimer“Arson Attacks on Christian Churches Rise to Record High in Germany” – Kurt Zindulka“Some migrant groups are ‘disproportionately criminal’ due to cultural factors, claims renowned Swiss forensic psychiatrist” – Thomas Brooke“Dublin protestors clash with police, burn vehicle after migrant accused of sexually assaulting Irish girl” – Michael Dorgan“Police accused of covering up alleged asylum seeker child rape for fear of ‘Inflaming community tensions’” – Kurt Zindulka“British Parliament rejects inquiry in the ongoing pedophile rape-gang scandal (by a wide majority)” – Edward TeachTheme of the Month: Christmas BuffetGive to Support the Work

ABOUT THE EPISODEListen in as David Schrock and Stephen Wellum interview Levi Secord on his COA Longform Essay: "Law is King: How the BIble Shapes Our View of Law & Civil Government"Timestamps00:30 – Intro03:38 – The Background Behind Servant Not Savior05:11 – What are Some Things that Need to be On Our Radar as We Discuss This Subject?08:15 – Walking Us Through the History from the King to the Law10:27 – The Place of Natural Law13:15 – Where in the Bible Do We Encounter Rutherford’s Ideas?15:49 – Nations Making Covenants21:00 – What is the Responsibility of Christians to Remind the Government of Their Role Before God?22:57 – Who’s Role is it to Preach Before the Government?29:00 – Political Theology is not Just from the Old Testament31:32 – How Should We Read the OT Law to the King and Apply It Today?36:50 – How Does Progressive Covenantalism Apply the Law?40:22 – The Principle of General Equity42:03 – What Can Nations Learn from Israel? From the Church?47:20 – Good Government is the Exception to the Rule51:25 – The Case for Bringing the Bible to the Public Square54:50 – Natural Law is Not Devoid of Special Revelation56:10 – Levi Secord’s Final Encouragements57:40 – OutroResources to Click“Law is King: How the Bible Shapes Our View of Law & Civil Government” – Levi Secord136: Political Islam – Just Thinking Podcast2026 National Founders Conference: Make DisciplesTheme of the Month: Christmas BuffetGive to Support the WorkBooks to ReadServant Not Savior: An Introduction to the Bible’s Teaching about Civil Government – Levi SecordDefending the Declaration: How the Bible and Christianity Influenced the Writing of the Declaration of Independence – Gary AmosA Christian Manifesto – Francis SchaefferHow Should We Then Live? – Francis SchaefferHe Is There and He Is Not Silent – Francis SchaefferLex Rex: The Law is King – Samuel RutherfordThe Origins of American Constitutionalism – Donald LutzColossians and Philemon (ZECotNT) – David W. PaoThe Gospel of Matthew (NICNT) – R.T. FranceThe Mission of God: A Manifesto of Hope for Society – Joseph BootThe Emergence of Liberty in the Modern World – Douglas F. KellyDominion – Tom HollandThe Book that Made Your World: How the Bible Created the Soul of Western Civilization – Vishal MangalwadiMere Christendom – Douglas Wilson

ABOUT THE EPISODEIn an effort to steer well-meaning Christians’ sympathies, some leaders in the church have cited the life of our Lord as evidence for their progressive political agenda. But are they getting their facts straight? Read as Alex Kocman dispels the emotional trump-card, “Jesus was a refugee.”Resources to Click“Was Jesus a Refugee? And Why It Matters for the Immigration Issue” – Alex Kocman“Jesus Was a Refugee” – He Gets Us“Yes, Jesus Was a Refugee” – Russell Moore“Jesus Was a Refugee and an Immigrant” – Lindsay Popperson“Jesus Was a Refugee” – Salt“Pastor Defends Illegal Alien by Saying the Bible is about “God saving us through immigration”” – Not the Bee“U.S. Code, Title 8, Aliens and Nationality ẞ1101(a)(42)” – Legal Information Institute“Refugees: 2024” – Amanda Yap, U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security“Desecrations, threats, and silence: anti-Christian violence grips France” – Gavin Mortimer“Arson Attacks on Christian Churches Rise to Record High in Germany” – Kurt Zindulka“Some migrant groups are ‘disproportionately criminal’ due to cultural factors, claims renowned Swiss forensic psychiatrist” – Thomas Brooke“Dublin protestors clash with police, burn vehice after migrant accused of sexually assaulting Irish girl” – Michael Dorgan“Police accused of covering up alleged asylum seeker child rape for fear of ‘Inflaming community tensions’” – Kurt Zindulka“British Parliament rejects inquiry in the ongoing pedophile rape-gang scandal (by a wide majority)” – Edward TeachTheme of the Month: Christmas BuffetGive to Support the Work

ABOUT THE EPISODEDeuteronomy 17 shows that kings stand under God’s law. This article explores how rulers rise to power, why they must obey the law, and whether these truths apply beyond Israel.Resources to Click“Law is King: How the Bible Shapes Our View of Law & Civil Government” – Levi SecordTheme of the Month: Christmas BuffetGive to Support the Work Books to ReadServant Not Savior: An Introduction to the Bible’s Teaching about Civil Government – Levi SecordDefending the Declaration: How the Bible and Christianity Influenced the Writing of the Declaration of Independence – Gary AmosA Christian Manifesto – Francis SchaefferHow Should We Then Live? – Francis SchaefferHe Is There and He Is Not Silent – Francis SchaefferLex Rex: The Law is King – Samuel RutherfordThe Origins of American Constitutionalism – Donald LutzColossians and Philemon (ZECotNT) – David W. PaoThe Gospel of Matthew (NICNT) – R.T. FranceThe Mission of God: A Manifesto of Hope for Society – Joseph Boot

ABOUT THE EPISODEListen in as David Schrock & Stephen Wellum interview Marc Minter on his Longform essay, "Liberty Not Separation: The Historic Development of Baptist Perspectives on Church and State"Timestamps00:48 – Intro05:52 – Marc Minter and His Academic Aspirations10:30 – The State of Political Theology in the SBC14:48 – Influences on Political Theology19:00 – The Significance of Everson v. Board of Education 194721:42 – How This Case Shaped Subsequent Generations’ Worldviews24:27 – Jefferson’s Letter to the Danbury Baptists30:10 – How Much Did Jefferson’s Views Change Between 1776-1802?33:37 – The Distinction Between Reformation and Enlightment Traditions37:55 – The Two Notions of the Term ‘Separation’43:05 – Have We Adopted an Anabaptist Tradition of Church & State?45:47 – E.Y. Mullins’ Views on the State49:10 – Mullins’ Interjection into the Baptist Faith & Message58:48 – What Should Pastors Do In Light of All This?1:04:24 – Readings for Baptist Political Theology1:06:10 – OutroResources to Click“Liberty, Not Separation: The Historic Development of Baptist Perspectives on Church and State” – Marc Minter“Views of Individuals in Southern Baptist Congregations on Baptist Political Theology” – Lifeway Research“The Impotence of Secular Conservatism” – R. Albert Mohler Jr.Comparison Chart of the Baptist Faith and MessageTheme of the Month: Do the Reading: Selections in Political TheologyGive to Support the WorkBooks to ReadEcclesiology: A Study of the Churches – Edwin Charles DarganBaptist Political Theology – eds. Thomas Kidd, Paul Miller, & Andrew T. WalkerThomas Jefferson and the Wall of Separation Between Church and State – Daniel DreisbachAgreeing to Disagree: How the Establishment Clause Protects Religious Diversity and Freedom of Conscience – Nathan S. Chapman and Michael W. McConnellSeparation of Church and State – Philip HamburgerMore Than Just a Name: Preserving Our Baptist Identity – Stan NormanThe Axioms of Religion: A New Interpretation of the Baptist Faith – E.Y. MullinsThe Baptist Story: From English Sect to Global Movement – Anthony L. Chute, Nathan A. Finn, & Michael A.G. HaykinDemanding Liberty: An Untold Story of American Religious Liberty – Brandon J. O’BrienLet Men Be Free: Baptist Politics in the Early United States (1776-1835) – Obbie Tyler ToddBaptist Confessions, Covenants, and Catechisms – John A. Broadus, ed. Timothy GeorgeBaptist Theology: A Four-Century Study – James Leo GarrettBaptist Confessions of Faith – William L. LumpkinChristianity & Liberalism – J. Gresham MachenUneasy in Babylon: Southern Baptist Conservatives and American Culture – Barry Hankins

ABOUT THE EPISODEA historical exploration showing that Baptists long affirmed religious liberty without requiring a separation of church and state, tracing the shift in the 20th century.Resources to Click“Liberty, Not Separation: The Historic Development of Baptist Perspectives on Church and State” – Marc Minter“Views of Individuals in Southern Baptist Congregations on Baptist Political Theology” – Lifeway Research“The Impotence of Secular Conservatism” – R. Albert Mohler Jr.Comparison Chart of the Baptist Faith and MessageTheme of the Month: Do the Reading: Selections in Political TheologyGive to Support the WorkBooks to ReadEcclesiology: A Study of the Churches – Edwin Charles DarganBaptist Political Theology – eds. Thomas Kidd, Paul Miller, & Andrew T. WalkerThomas Jefferson and the Wall of Separation Between Church and State – Daniel DreisbachAgreeing to Disagree: How the Establishment Clause Protects Religious Diversity and Freedom of Conscience – Nathan S. Chapman and Michael W. McConnellSeparation of Church and State – Philip HamburgerMore Than Just a Name: Preserving Our Baptist Identity – Stan NormanThe Axioms of Religion: A New Interpretation of the Baptist Faith – E.Y. MullinsThe Baptist Story: From English Sect to Global Movement – Anthony L. Chute, Nathan A. Finn, & Michael A.G. HaykinDemanding Liberty: An Untold Story of American Religious Liberty – Brandon J. O’BrienLet Men Be Free: Baptist Politics in the Early United States (1776-1835) – Obbie Tyler ToddBaptist Confessions, Covenants, and Catechisms – John A. Broadus, ed. Timothy GeorgeBaptist Theology: A Four-Century Study – James Leo GarrettBaptist Confessions of Faith – William L. LumpkinChristianity & Liberalism – J. Gresham MachenUneasy in Babylon: Southern Baptist Conservatives and American Culture – Barry Hankins

ABOUT THE EPISODEListen in as David Schrock and Stephen Wellum interview Brad Green on his Longform Essay "Do the Reading: Selections in Political Theology"Timestamps00:20 – Intro05:50 – What’s the Place for Reading in the Life of the Christian?07:40 – When Did Dr. Wellum Start Thinking about Serious Reading?10:20 – What’s the Importance for Reading Books in the Life of a Pastor?15:54 – How Do We Think About the Reading of Old and New Books?19:29 – Political Issues in the Apostolic Fathers22:08 – How Do These Apologists Maintain the Defense of the Faith?24:54 – Augustine’s City of God31:19 – Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica37:20 – Why Should Dante Be on the List for Political Theology?41:50 – Luther and Calvin’s Political Theologies49:50 – Stephen Junius Brutus Vindiciae Contra Tyrannos55:45 – Samuel Rutherford’s Lex Rex1:01:15 – Althusius’ Politica1:04:37 – Oliver O’Donovan1:08:40 – R.J. Rushdoony1:15:47 – OutroResources to Click“Do the Reading: Selections in Political Theology” – Brad GreenTheme of the Month: Do the Reading: Selections in Political TheologyGive to Support the WorkBooks to ReadFrom Irenaeus to Grotius: A Sourcebook in Christian Political Thought – Oliver O’DonovanApostolic Fathers – J.B. Lightfoot ed. Michael HolmesCity of God – Augustine of HippoSumma Theologica – Thomas AquinasThe Divine Comedy: Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso – Dante AlighieriLuther: Selected Political Writings – Martin Luther; ed. J.M. PorterInstitutes of the Christian Religion – John Calvin ed. John T. McNeill, trans. Ford Lewis BattlesVindiciae Contra Tyrannos: A Defense of Liberty Against Tyrants – Stephen Junius BrutusPolitica – Johannes AlthusiusLeviathan – Thomas HobbesLex Rex: The Law is King – Samuel RutherfordThe Emergence of Liberty in the Modern World: The Influence of Calvin on Five Governments from the 16th-18th Centuries – Douglas F. KellyThe Oxford Guide to the Historical Reception of Augustine – eds. Karla Pollman and Willemien OttenThe Desire of the Nations: Rediscovering the Roots of Political Theology – Oliver O’DonovanThe Moral Obligation to be Intelligent and Other Essays – John ErskineThe Institutes of Biblical Law – R.J. RushdoonyThe Myth of Overpopulation – R.J. RushdoonyRevolt Against Maturity – R.J. RushdoonyThe Messianic Character of American Education – R.J. Rushdoony