Restitutio

Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts This is part 4 of the Why Christianity class. Is Christianity irrational?  Is believing in God intellectually vacuous?  Jerry Wierwille will address the criticism of skeptics that Christian belief is arrogant, unjustified, and irrational.  Next, he'll describe the popular secular belief in scientism before exposing its deleterious effects. —— Links —— See other episodes of Why Christianity More episodes about defending your faith here Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library —— Notes —— Arrogant, Unjustified, & Irrational?-------------------------------------Justified – a belief is justified if after careful reflection and investigation of a matter, including objections and counter-arguments, it is still found to be strongly compelling.Rational – a belief is rational if it is produced by cognitive faculties that are functioning properly and successfully aimed at discovering what is true.Warrant – a belief is warranted if it is produced by cognitive faculties that are functioning properly in an appropriate framework of knowledge according to a design plan successfully aimed at discovering what is true.Science & Scientism---------------------Science – the investigation and study of the structure and behavior of the physical world through observation and experimentation.Scientism – the belief that science alone has the intellectual authority to give us knowledge of reality.

Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts This is part 3 of the Why Christianity class. How do you know God is real?  What sorts of evidence would you marshal to make a case for God’s existence?  It won’t do to tell skeptics you believe in God because you’ve always believed in him, because you were raised to believe in him, or because the Bible says so.  In this episode you’ll learn six main lines of evidence for God’s existence to equip you to have meaningful conversations with your secular friends, coworkers, and relatives. —— Links —— See other episodes of Why Christianity More episodes about defending your faith here Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library —— Notes —— Objective: to provide six reasons to believe in God and marvel at that God’s attributes. 1 The Beginning of the Universe ——————————– 1. everything that has a beginning has cause of its beginning 2. the universe has a beginning 3. therefore, the universe has an external cause of its beginning 2 Fine-Tuning for Life ———————– 1. our universe is finely-tuned for the existence of complex life 2. fine-tuning is not the result of physical laws 3. therefore, a super-natural fine-tuner exists 3 DNA Code ———– 1. all languages come from a mind not natural processes 2. DNA is a language 3. all biological life requires DNA to exist 4. therefore, a non-biological DNA designer exists 4 Moral Absolutes —————– 1. moral absolutes exist (i.e. torturing children for the fun of it is always wrong) 2. nature, society, and individuals do not supply moral absolutes 3. therefore, a supernatural source for moral absolutes exists 5 Miracles ———- 1. miracles are events in which the laws of nature are interrupted by an agent outside of the natural realm 2. documented miracles have happened 3. therefore, a miracle causer exists 6 Personal Experience ———————- 1. I’ve experienced God 2. therefore, God exists

Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts This is part 2 of the Why Christianity class. It’s so easy to universalize our own local context.  For example, I (Sean) live in a secular, post-Catholic part of New York state.  It would be easy for me to think that most of the state or country or world is just like my area.  However, this ethnocentric perspective will not do justice to the data we have about Christians in the world today.  Sociologists have long held to the “secularization thesis”–the idea that world religions die out as societies improved education, technology, and health-care.  Is this what we see happening globally?  Join me in this episode as we explore the data from a number of sources to get a lay of the land.  How popular is Christianity today? —— Links —— See other episodes of Why Christianity More episodes about defending your faith here Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library —— Notes —— Objective: to understand the local and global religious landscapes in light of Christianity’s popularity and its claims about Christ’s universal supremacy. Secularization Thesis “The seminal social thinkers of the nineteenth century—Auguste Comte, Herbert Spencer, Émile Durkheim, Max Weber, Karl Marx, and Sigmund Freud—all believed that religion would gradually fade in importance and cease to be significant with the advent of industrial society.” -Pippa Norris and Ronald Inglehart, Sacred and Secular, p. 3. Future Projections Religion, especially Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism, is expected to either keep pace with population growth or surpass it while non-religious ideologies are predicted to fall 3% by 2050. Universal Claims about Christ Scriptures that make big claims about Christ’s cosmic importance: – Colossians 1:19​-20; 2:1-3 – Ephesians 1:9-10 – Philippians 2:9-11 Christianity’s geographic distribution testifies to its transnational, transracial, transcultural appeal.

Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts This is part 1 of the Why Christianity class. In a culture where biblical Christianity is falling more and more out of fashion, it’s increasingly important to have confidence in your faith. Today we are beginning a class called Why Christianity, in which we will lay out a few of the ways that our faith makes sense and works best. In this first session, Jerry Wierwille will introduce our class premise, describe the cultural tension, and speak on the value of taking this class. Although this is an apologetics class, it is significantly different from the previous class we aired starting with Podcast 50 (back in 2016) though there will be some overlap. Our end goal for this class is that it would build your confidence and encourage you to share your faith with others. —— Links —— More episodes about defending your faith here Check out these other podcasts with Jerry Wierwille For more about Wierwille, see his site: JerryWierwille.com Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow us on Twitter @RestitutioSF If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library —— Notes —— Class Premise Worldview: A worldview is a set of beliefs about fundamental aspects of reality that ground and influence all of a person’s perceptions, thoughts, knowledge, and behavior. Correspondence Theory of Truth: The view that what is “true” is that which corresponds to, or with, reality (i.e., “what is”). Worldviews are not equal, e.g., religion, science, philosophy Cultural Tension Cultural Polarization: The differences in how people think, especially when two views emerge that drive people apart. Religious Privatization: When people no longer feel comfortable or accepted to discuss or express religious attitudes or behaviors in public. Purpose and Value of This Class Gain a better understanding of the coherence and validity of the Christian worldview. Become more confident and bolder about your faith and the reasons why Christianity is awesome.

What do you do when everything is stripped away?  You find out who you really are. In this sermon you'll see what happened in ancient Judah when the Babylonians besieged Jerusalem, ultimately resulting in utter destruction, humiliating shame, and forcible deportation. Although our times today can't really compare to the level of suffering these people went through, their experience has much to teach us about hope in dark times. I pray that as you consider this traumatic episode in biblical history that you too would learn to say when you go through suffering, "God is enough."   —— Links —— More episodes about suffering here. If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here. Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library —— Notes —— Jehoiachin - reigned 3 months- did evil before God- surrendered to Neb. after siege- thousands deported 2Ki 24.13-14 13 He carried out from there all the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the LORD, just as the LORD had said. 14 Then he led away into exile all Jerusalem and all the captains and all the mighty men of valor, ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and the smiths. None remained except the poorest people of the land. Zedekiah - reigned 11 years- did evil before God- rebelled against Babylon- city besieged again- as Babylonians swept through countryside on way to Jerusalem, - lodging would become difficult- surround city w/ army 2Ki 25.1 Now in the ninth year of his reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, camped against it and built a siege wall all around it. - Jerusalem was fortunate- fuel to cook food- disease Lam 5.9-10 9 We get our bread at the risk of our lives Because of the sword in the wilderness. 10 Our skin has become as hot as an oven, Because of the burning heat of famine. - food Lam 1.11 All her people groan seeking bread; They have given their precious things for food To restore their lives themselves. "See, O LORD, and look, For I am despised." Lam 2.11-12 11 My eyes fail because of tears, My spirit is greatly troubled; My heart is poured out on the earth Because of the destruction of the daughter of my people, When little ones and infants faint In the streets of the city. 12 They say to their mothers, "Where is grain and wine?" As they faint like a wounded man In the streets of the city, As their life is poured out On their mothers' bosom. - corpses- 18 months! 2Ki 25.1-3 1 Now in the ninth year of his reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, camped against it and built a siege wall all around it. 2 So the city was under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah. 3 On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine was so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land. Lam 4.8-10 8 Their appearance is blacker than soot, They are not recognized in the streets; Their skin is shriveled on their bones, It is withered, it has become like wood. 9 Better are those slain with the sword Than t

This is part three of our Biblical Giving Series. In this third and final interview with Will Barlow, we'll spend some focused time looking at Malachi 3 to understand what this passage meant in it's original context and how it relates to us today.  Next we'll take a look at three myths about Christian giving: 1. Christians are in debt to God. 2. Christians must pay for God’s protection. 3. The gifts of God can be purchased with money. Lastly, Barlow will share four keys to Christian giving: Everything that we have, from our finances to our abilities, are God’s. We are only giving back to God what we have from Him. When we give financially, let’s keep in mind the biblical precedent for giving: to support ministers, to support missions work, and to help the poor or those in need (especially among believers). As we follow Jesus and the examples of other faithful disciples in the NT, we will develop an attitude of service, which fuels the amount given. God works in the financial category to teach us about how to walk with Him. —— Links —— Find out more about Will Barlow on his ministry website: Study Driven Faith Check out these other episodes and posts about giving, especially A Biblical Theology of Finance (Craig Blomberg) If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here. Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library

This is part two of our Biblical Giving Series. Today Will Barlow continues to lay out a comprehensive biblical theology of giving. First he looks at three areas of continuity between the Old and New Testaments: regarding ourselves as stewards of God's wealth giving to the poor giving to ministers Next, Barlow explains three ways in which the New Testament diverges from the Old Testament: no more sacrifices greater emphasis on freewill giving the need for wealthy believers to give liberally —— Links —— Find out more about Will Barlow on his ministry website: Study Driven Faith Check out these other episodes and posts about giving, especially A Biblical Theology of Finance (Craig Blomberg) If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here. Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library

This is part one of our Biblical Giving Series. Having grown up with a prosperity theology, Will Barlow begins by sharing about his background regarding tithing before tackling five myths about giving: The tithe was monetary and applied to all Israelites.The tithe was the first fruits of the harvest The tithe was always 10%.The poor Israelites tithed to God.Abraham's tithing makes it applicable for all time. Now, I realize that finances, tithing, and giving are sensitive subjects within Christianity. Even so, I think you'll benefit a great deal from what Barlow has to share in this series. Today we'll mostly focus on the Old Testament tithe and next time we'll get into what the New Testament says about this important topic. —— Links —— Find out more about Will Barlow on his ministry website: Study Driven FaithCheck out these other episodes and posts about giving, especially A Biblical Theology of Finance (Craig Blomberg)Here is the Myth Busters Series that Barlow mentionedIf you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or commentsIntro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library

Growing up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Timypaul Lupe came face to face with poverty, hunger, and even war. However, his relationship with God provided him with stability and strength through the hardest of times. In this interview, you'll hear about what life was like in Africa, how Timypaul came to America as a student, and how he eventually came to find his role as a passionate evangelist and caretaker for the elderly. —— Links —— To get in touch with Timypaul Lupe on facebook, twitter, instagram, or by email: timypaul@lhim.org Find out more Living Hope International Ministries LHIM and the Congo Mission Check out these previous episodes about evangelism If you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here. Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library  

Have you ever attended an online bible study? Would you like to start one, but don't know how? In our episode today, John Paola Ely share about their own journey of faith and how they have come to appreciate the interactive bible study model of fellowship. Not only does this type of meeting help attendees engage with the text of scripture, but it also fosters genuine community in an age where we are all increasingly isolated. —— Links —— For more information, email the Elys at salt.light.studynight@gmail.com or visit the Salt & Light Study Night facebook group.Check out Jerry Wierwille's episodes, especially Paul and Covenantal NomismOn the topic of baptism, listen to Ken LaPrade's Baptism JourneyIf you’d like to support Restitutio, you can donate here.Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or commentsIntro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library