Old Paths Podcast

Michael & Cody continue through The Marrow of Theology by William Ames, with focus on man's fall. Highlights:Men and angels in the fall.Causes and consequences of the fall.The parts and motions of sin.Egalitarianism & disordered nature.Satan's method of temptation.The projections & "pious" pretensions of wicked men.The dangers of gullibility and over-charity.The necessity of men to tell women no.The fall as apologetic tool.Embracing hierarchy.Doom of the angels.Thankfulness to God.

Michael & Cody respond to Pastor Gavin Beers of the FCC on the topic of Christian Nationalism, by playing his sermon-review of Stephen Wolfe's book, The Case for Christian Nationalism. They use it as an opportunity for discussion and criticism. Highlights: Christ the Edge Lord Reactionary vs. Stationary CN vibes & memes Dangers of anachronism Nationalism Christianized: bad or good? Reformed political theory: Aristotelian or Biblicist? False dichotomies of Scripture & Nature Rutherford's political non-sequitur The insufficiency of Scripture Covenanter weirdos Romantic ethnonationalism Jewish Supremacy vs. White Supremacy The gospel of blood and soil The Christian Prince Fascists in Scripture Rutherford: against or for CN? Religious establishment: dogmatic or pragmatic? America as it is Popery: compatible with CN? Papists vs. Jews as political malignants Is it wrong to want countrymen who look like you? Non-Christian European vs. Nigerian Anglican Right-wing: natural + common sense No redpilled, based men: no Christian nation Political change: top-down or bottom-up? CNs as the nation; Covenanters as foreignersNational Religion by Gavin Beers (4 Part Series)

Michael & Cody are joined by Michael Hunter for a discussion surrounding the book, The Marrow of Christian Ethics—be sure to pickup a copy—by Benedict Pictet, the nephew of Francis Turretin. The Marrow is a concise treatise of classical reformed ethics which Michael Hunter recently translated and published. Highlights: Hunter's college background and studies Thoughts on retrieval Who is Benedict Pictet? Why publish this book? Survey of the book's contents The discipline of Ethics and how it has been neglected The importance of Ethics for preaching Man as a social creature Maintaining friendships Self-love, priority of love, and hatred Good works—condition of the Covenant of Grace, for eternal glory, etc. Modern views of good works vs. Benedict Pictet Emotions—what they are, what place they have, how they help us in nature Pleasure and Christian hedonismPurchase the book here.Read Michael Hunter's excellent Natural Communties articles here.

Michael & Cody respond to Pastor Gavin Beers of the FCC on the topic of the Bible and immigration, by playing his sermon and using it as an opportunity for discussion and criticism. Highlights: Christian Nationalism Hitler as Christian Prince Fascism and National Socialism Ethnonationalism, and blood and soil Is it wrong to want a nation where people look like you? Is the true religion the primary concern for all political questions? Should we oppose heart piety to political concerns? How should modern-day Japan and Israel inform us on the question of race and nations? Is America a combination of different nations or races? Is it wrong to want to marry someone of the same race? The prevailing mistake of pandering to the margins What is a political application for us today from Israel being oppressed in Egypt? Does this demand open borders? Should this impinge on the White race? The Old Testament, and questions of race and nation Quotes on the Jews from reformed fathers (Keckermann, Burgersdijk, Voetius) What does "one from among thy brethren" mean? America and White supremacy The political heart piety of Nehemiah, Josiah, & Moses How mass immigration has and is harming us Why anti-racism means Kenya must let in Whites, Asians, and Indians The importance of race and genealogy for Christology Are Christian Nationalists and those like them misled by Satan?

The discussion dives deep into the concept of Christian race realism, exploring how biblical teachings intersect with contemporary views on race. They tackle complex questions like the nature of races, the implications of racial identity, and whether racial differences are minor or significant. Further, they examine perceived oppression and the church's response to societal ideologies on race. The speakers advocate for a proactive acknowledgment of race within theological contexts and ponder the challenges of racial egalitarianism while navigating today's cultural landscape.

Michael & Cody continue through The Marrow of Theology by William Ames, with focus upon chapter 10: special government of intelligent creatures. Highlights: Definition of special government. Moral vs. physical government. The relation of man's nature and God's special government. God's condescension in human characteristics and human language in his special government. Divine sanctions: promises and threats. Does God deal with rational men in a rational way? How does Ames define & distinguish a covenant? Is the Suzerain framework good or bad? Angels—same government as man? In what way can we say the fall glorifies God? Use of earthly things for holy ends. Adam as a public person and federal head. The covenant of works and merit. Was there a necessity of Christ's mediation before the Fall? Objections to the covenant of works: the word "covenant" is not used in Genesis; the covenant of works promotes legalism; is faith a part of the covenant of works?; it's unfair for one man to represent all and to risk death. How the covenant of works and of grace should motivate us to holiness. God's justice in punishment of death. The relation between Adam in the garden and Christ in the gospels.

Michael & Cody take up the topic of women and modesty. First, they define woman; second, they define and distinguish modesty; third, they consider some examples of immodesty and applications of modesty, including motives for modesty; and fourth and finally, they wrap up with objections and submitted questions. Highlights:Nature, experience, and Scripture on womanSocial and aesthetic power of womanPersonal & sensual modesty / immodestyWhat is the relation of modesty to the law of God?Other principles, like charity and loyaltyWhat place do women have in social media?Loud, argumentative, unruly womenWomen in male spaces: why a problem?What constitutes sensual immodesty?How have modesty standards regressed?The magistrate & public immodestyRosaria Butterfield, Chris Gordon, Anthony DiehlShould pastors preach on women's modesty?The use of "whore" and immodestyWomen weaponizing sexualityThe refreshing, enriching power of modestyFor whom are the sensual treats?Is modesty objective or subjective?What is the relationship between modesty in dress and behavior?Must women hide their figure to be modest?Are pants immodest? What about makeup? Showing hair?The red dress controversyMust modesty be boring?Resources:David Silversides'⁠ sermon on modesty⁠⁠Manuscript⁠ of SilversidesFree book:⁠Christian Modesty & the Public Undressing of America⁠ by Jeff Pollard

S2E15—Marrow 8: Providence — Michael & Cody continue through ⁠⁠The Marrow of Theology⁠⁠, by William Ames, with particular focus upon Providence. Highlights: What is providence? its etymology? its parts? and how is it distinct from the decree, counsel, and creation? How should we consider God's attributes (e.g. justice, wisdom, holiness) in relation to providence? Primary and secondary causes: what are they, why should we care, and what can we learn? Participation in the divine. Should this doctrine beget activity or passivity in us? The abuse of providence. Ordinary and extraordinary providence; Hurricane Helene and western North Carolina. What is God's incarnate justice and comfort? How do they relate to providence? President Donald Trump and the bullet—extraordinary providence? Fear and thanks. Conservation and government: what are they: how can we see them today? what can we learn? Paul, Titus, and the imitation of God's conservation and government. Common government vs. special government. How does God cause secondary causes? How can we draw comfort from the seeming conflict of secondary causes? Thomas Cartwright's applications. Romans 8:28 and providence. If God causes all things, does he cause sin? If not, do we have hope? How should Christians think this through?

S2E14: Haitian Crusaders w/ Matt Marino — Cody, Michael, & returning guest, ⁠Matt Marino⁠, engage in discussion on two chief topics: the dynamics of immigration and the metaphysics of historiography. Inspired by Matt's two articles: ⁠Who is the Sojourner?⁠ and ⁠The Lost Tools of Learning from History.⁠ Highlights: Sojourner—defined and abused. Is America being deliberately destroyed through illegals? Abuses of Scripture to justify demographic warfare. Can we love humanity in general? Who is a neighbor?—can Wolfgang Musculus help us here? The imago Dei and immigration. How is our compassion exploited? Is the government required by God's law to remove illegals? Who is a native? Is C. Jay Engel's "Heritage American" helpful? Can Aristotle help? What place does race play? Culture? The ⁠"Anglo-Saxon supremacy"⁠ demanded by the VA Senate in 1905 + the NC and SC demands of immigrants of Celtic, Teutonic, and Saxon origins. Is America facing an identity crisis? Has the 1965 Hart-Celler Act radically redefined America? The failure of Blacks to assimilate into White America—real, important? Discussing race & politics without lighting our hair on fire. The reality of race as expressed in voting patterns. Hostiles vs. Hospitables. If the "immigrants" are in need, why are they all military-aged males? Natural law—does it require distinct nations and borders? The place of voting in these things. Political liars and gaslighters. Is the invasion of illegals a judgment of God? Gideon & Samson as lesser saviors of God's people while God was yet judging his people. The prophets on strangers as a judgment. Passivity and pacifism—besetting sins of our age and church? Is it a matter of natural law to defend your own people and place, even using violence if need be? How John Piper & James White fail here. Metaphysical thinking and the Crusades, the Civil War, and WW2. What place should the Civil War have in our thinking today? The South as one of the last holdouts of Christian orthodoxy; as a real opponent against egalitarianism, including upholding slavery; and as upholding racial superiority and inferiority. Are things that are not the gospel important? "Not the gospel" is deployed against political interests. Apolitical posture—idolatry? The punch right, kiss left spirit. Should "metaphysical thinking" be applied to WW2? The failure of piecemeal facts vs. the narrative. The place of shotgun facts in destroying the narrative. Proxy battles vs. substance, e.g. Romanists vs Protestants, the Crusades, etc. Can a syllogism convert the masses? The place of vibes and memes in sociopolitical renewal. The Holodomor, 10M Germans starved, Adolf Hitler & Christianity. Righteous deconstruction. Stephen Wolfe as a brilliant Twitter troll. Historiography as self-loathing and damning heroes. Dabney & Secession; Crusades & the present invasion of the West by Islam. The difference between how Crusades may have been used by Romanists in the past vs. how they are abused today against us. Responding effectively to the shibboleths and struggle sessions of words like racist, Nazi, white supremacist, and events like WW2, the Civil War, and Civil Rights. The danger of friendly fire & undue fear. Do not play the disavowal game. Purity spiraling & the failure of the Right to unite against a common enemy. Struggle sessions as opportunity for victory. The rationality of becoming white supremacist.

S2E13—Marrow 7: Creation — Benjamin, Michael, & Cody continue through ⁠The Marrow of Theology⁠, by William Ames, with particular focus upon Creation. Highlights: Creation ex nihilo. What is the creator-creature distinction? Is macro-evolution compatible with Christianity? What about micro-evolution, speciation, & natural selection? Will earth or heaven be our final home? The 3rd heaven and annihilation of earth. What are angels, and why is the idea of angel-human hybrids stupid? 1 Enoch, Jude, Nephilim, sons of God & daughters of men. Fanciful speculation about the angelic and spiritual world. Pit bulls—utter abomination or useful destroyer of creatures? "Grace restores nature"—what does this mean and why should we care? Is it crucial? Ames & Paul: modern sexists. Do ladies need to get out of politics? Beth Moore & Rosaria Butterfield. Men need to restrain their women. Dominion—what is it? How should it factor into our thinking and ethics?