Restitutio

How do you know the difference between what's right and wrong?  Do morals have an absolute source or does society determine them?  In this talk, Kenny Willenburg explains the classic moral argument as well as how we can use this approach to "turn the tables" when people object to Christianity on moral grounds.  I've also left in a fair amount of discussion following Willenburg's presentation. —— Notes —— if morals are objective then they are obligatorythere must be a source for moralsthe most reasonable source is God if there is no God, there couldn't be objective morality Richard Dawkins (God Delusion)- God of the OT is jealous, petty, control freak, etc. three problems saying God is immoral doesn't disprove God's existence○ Hitler didn't exist b/c the things he did were too badsaying the creator is evil is arrogant○ if there is a creator then he would have the right to interact w/ creation however he wantedcan't claim God is immoral b/c w/o God's existence there's no standard by which to judge God relativism is taught in our culture as the only absolute truth tolerant of anything but intolerancecan't push religious ideas on others, but that is pushing secularism on usno one is allowed to criticize anyone's actions sources for morality morality can't be individually determinedmorality can't be socially constructed○ actually, our culture got its ideas from a Judea-Christian background○ thus, this proves what the non-theist is trying to disprovemorality comes from nature (i.e. Darwinian evolution)○ how is self-sacrificial care of the weak/unproductive helpful to the herd?○ morals are simply evolutionary hold overs○ not clear how this is obligatory —— Links —— Check out the other talks in this Apologetics ConferenceFor more, here’s an entire Apologetics ClassIntro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

In the second presentation of this Apologetics Conference, we delve into a comparison of three major time periods: (1) the age of authority, (2) the age of reason, and (3) the age of authenticity.  We look at how people practiced their faith in each as well as what criticisms apologists answered.  For our post-modern time, I recommend the strategy of discussing a social issue, showing how our society is failing to address it, and how Christianity can offer a solution.  Last of all we try out this strategy on a number of controversial issues, including gun violence, sexual harassment, and  technology use. Here is the handout I used: —— Links —— Check out the other talks in this Apologetics ConferenceFor more, here's an entire Apologetics ClassIntro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

Today we are starting something new. I’m very excited to present to you in its entirety, the apologetics conference held in Paducah, KY last June. We’ve got a great line up of speakers for you including Jerry Wierwille, myself, Kenny Willenburg, Dale Tuggy, Kegan Chandler, and John Truitt. It was a wonderful time of meeting people and working together to figure out ways of reaching the millennial generation with the gospel. As it turned out, a great majority of the presentations focused on understanding the post-modern worldview. This was so helpful, because it’s nearly impossible to discuss important issues if both people are unaware of the fact that they are each coming from incompatible worldviews. Although, for many of us, our natural inclination is to show someone why their underlying assumptions are invalid, a better starting point for evangelism is to work within their post-modern outlook to show how attractive and awesome the gospel is. In this first presentation, Jerry Wierwille covers a brief history of how major philosophers initiated a movement that led to sequestering away of faith as something personal and private.  Then he shares how to broach spiritual topics with secular people around us. His talk is relatively short, only 34 minutes long, but I also included the questions and comments, which went for another half hour. —— Notes —— Rene Descartes (1596-1650) early 1600s cogito ergo sum put himself at the center of reality rather than God previously, scientists located God at the center of the universe and from there derived his laws divided mind from matter   John Locke (1632-1704) empiricism sense perception is the basis for true knowledge/reality   David Hume (1711-1776) skepticism anything not proven using scientific method is not verifiable   Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) appearances of forms absolute idealism law of non-contradiction freedom above nature   Georg Hegel (1770-1831) dialectic idealism thesis, antithesis, synthesis   value/fact divide religion relegated to the mind, but not objective   humanism manifestos in 1933, 1973, 2003 progressive philosophy of life that w/o supernaturalism affirms our responsibility to lead ethical lives live well, fully values and ideals however carefully wrought are subject to change knowledge derived by empirically  humans are part of nature, the result of unguided evolution ethics derived from trial and error, treat others as having inherent worth and dignity life’s fulfillment found in wonders and joy of human existence humans find meaning in relationships; want a world free of cruelty; differences resolved cooperatively w/o violence working to better society maximizes happiness; support a just distribution of nature’s resources so as many as possible can enjoy a good life; human rights; civil liberties; civic duties to vote the responsibility for our lives is ours and ours alone   private life (values) ————————- public life (facts)   you can have beliefs, but they are private privatization is one of the main problems in our society for evangelism culture/public life must be devoid of religion you can believe what you want, but don’t tell me what to believe we all make our own truth called judgmental, traditionalist, intolerant

How much does truth matter to you?  In particular, how should we think about Christians who hold very different views on key subjects?  For example, I’m a biblical unitarian, someone who believes that we should take Jesus literally when he called his Father “the only true God.”  Of course I believe Jesus is God’s only begotten son, the anointed Messiah who died for our sins, but I don’t affirm the fourth century doctrine of the Trinity.  Some Christians would call me a heretic beyond the pale of fellowship or even salvation (even if I do believe the gospel message with all my heart).  Others would say I’m deceived but would have no problem working together in various areas.  Chuck Whitlock, a bible student, husband, and father of five has been wrestling with precisely these questions over the last 5 or so years.  Having grown up in strong evangelical denominations his whole life, he had to rethink his relationship with mainstream Christianity when he began changing several of his key beliefs.  In this interview, we discuss various ways to think about this issue, based on Whitlock’s paper (see below).  He steaks out a balanced position between writing everyone off who disagrees with him and accepting everyone as brothers and sisters without regard for their beliefs. —— Links —— Read Chuck Whitlock’s entire paper below Email him at chuckw@whitlox.net Check out his blacksmith forges For Dale Tuggy’s presentation on John Locke’s minimalist definition of Christians based on the simple confession that Jesus is Messiah, see Heretic! Four Approaches to Dropping H-Bombs For more on biblical unitarianism, check out these podcasts, especially Podcast 44: The Immutable Shema as well as christianmonotheism.com More info about KingdomFest (Sep 7-9, 2018) Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.   Does Truth Matter? Truth matters! … but how much?   Introduction: There is a significant distance between the Biblical Unitarian faith and ‘orthodoxy’ in its various forms. If you haven’t come to this conclusion, just try to advance the idea that Jesus is not God and see what kind of reception this gets:)  Even less divisive topics, such as resurrection or the gospel of the kingdom, meet with great opposition. The apparent incompatibility between Biblical Unitarianism and ‘orthodoxy’ causes one to wonder what it means that other Christians don’t seem to be interested in the truths we’ve discovered. Both parties reference the same book and so there is something very familiar in ‘orthodoxy’. A little scholarship shows us how ‘orthodoxy’ represents the Hellenization of the original Jewish Christian faith.  Most of the terms and characters are retained but the meanings are either co-opted or obscured such that, today, in very real terms, they have a different Jesus, a different God, and a different Gospel.    How much does that matter? What does it mean?   Who is saved?: I recognize that this bumps into the impossible question of who is truly saved.  That s

Are you looking for a Christian blog to encourage you in your faith?  In this short interview Kirk Walden shares about his new website, 1stfaith.com, and the work he and his team are doing to live out 1st century Christianity in the 21st century.  First Faith aims to simplify and strengthen your faith so you can take the next step in your journey with God. —— Links —— Visit 1st Faith at 1stfaith.com Check out Jennifer Walden’s fine articles “Buried Desires” and “When Life Sucks, Jesus Carries Us“ More about Kirk Walden’s pro-life work here Listen to his earlier interview, “Advocating for the Unborn“ Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

Kirk Walden has been advocating for the lives of the unborn since 1991 when he became the director of a small pregnancy help center in Auburn, Alabama.  Over the last 17 years, he’s focused on fundraising for Heartbeat International, which supports pregnancy centers, adoption agencies, and maternity homes.  In this interview I ask him about how he talks to both Christians and non-Christians about this sensitive and emotionally explosive issue.  He lays out his case using biblical and scientific reasoning, but what really comes through strongest is his incredible sense of compassion for those who find themselves in this situation. —— Links —— More about Kirk Walden here Get a copy of his book, The Wall, on Amazon Find out more about Heartbeat International Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

This is part 6 of the Calvinism Debate Can you lose your salvation?  If God saves someone, will they always persevere?  What about people who leave the church?  These are important questions and they are at the heart of this last discussion on Calvinism.  Blake affirms that after regeneration, absolutely nothing can separate someone from God’s saving love.  Jacob denies “once save always saved,” putting forward instead that the warning passages in the bible make the most sense if someone can actually fall away. Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll. —— Links —— Check out the other posts in this Calvinism debate here More info about Jacob and Blake here See Jacob Roher’s interview on the gospel or watch his sermon, “How to Treat Other Christians.”  His email is thekingdomgospel@outlook.com See Blake Cortright’s podcast on spiritual disciplines as well as how to quit pornography.  Follow him on Twitter @blakecortright Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

This is part 5 of the Calvinism Debate When God calls you, can you say, “No?” According to Calvinism, God’s grace is irresistible, meaning when he determines to save someone, he always achieves his goal. In other words, his call is always effectual.  On the other side, Arminianism teaches that God offers grace, but people can freely choose to accept it or reject it.  His call is general and people respond differently. Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll. —— Links —— Check out the other posts in this Calvinism debate here More info about Jacob and Blake here See Jacob Roher’s interview on the gospel or watch his sermon, “How to Treat Other Christians.”  His email is thekingdomgospel@outlook.com See Blake Cortright’s podcast on spiritual disciplines as well as how to quit pornography.  Follow him on Twitter @blakecortright Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

This is part 4 of the Calvinism Debate Did Jesus die to make it possible for anyone to be saved or did he only die for the elect? In this discussion between Blake Cortright and Jacob Rohrer, they discuss this important issue and how it relates to evangelism. Blake affirms limited atonement while Jacob argues that Jesus died for sinners in general. Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll. —— Links —— Read my biblical and historical survey of the atonement, called Why Did Jesus Die?, or watch the video presentation.  Also check out these other posts on the subject. Check out the other posts in this Calvinism debate here More info about Jacob and Blake here See Jacob Roher’s interview on the gospel or watch his sermon, “How to Treat Other Christians.”  His email is thekingdomgospel@outlook.com See Blake Cortright’s podcast on spiritual disciplines as well as how to quit pornography.  Follow him on Twitter @blakecortright Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

This is part 3 of the Calvinism Debate Does God predestine everyone who will ever be saved before they’re even born?  Blake affirms that not only does God choose whom he will save in eternity past, but he did so without regard to any conditions or qualities of what these people will do.  Jacob denies, arguing that everyone has free will to choose God or reject him.  God does predestine, but in a general rather than specific way. Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll. —— Links —— Check out the other posts in this debate here More info about Jacob and Blake here See Jacob Roher’s interview on the gospel or watch his sermon, “How to Treat Other Christians.”  His email is thekingdomgospel@outlook.com See Blake Cortright’s podcast on spiritual disciplines as well as how to quit pornography.  Follow him on Twitter @blakecortright Intro music: Jazzy Frenchy by bensound.com. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.