Mortification of Spin

This week’s conversation brings in a New Englander, and--mind you--a Grove City College alum! Megan Hill is a pastor’s wife living in Massachusetts. She’s a pastor’s daughter, a mom, an editor, and the author of A Place to Belong - Learning to Love the Local Church. The image we personally hold of the church may not be great, but God’s Word paints a different picture. How might we reconcile what we perceive with what God says about his bride? Should we think of the church as merely a means to our own ends, assessing the local body in terms of what it can offer for our lives? How can we reshape our thinking about the church?  An ordinary group of people who meet weekly and worship their Lord in an ordinary fashion offer a wonderful testimony to the world around them. Megan has much to say about the blessing that is participatory Reformed worship. Show Notes · Hiding in the Light by Rifqa Bary We have copies of A Place to Belong that we would like to give to some of our listeners. Register for the opportunity to win one. The books are a generous gift from our friends at Crossway.

Todd and his “sidekick” Carl believe that they have much wisdom to dispense to the world. They’ve picked a tech-free and quiet spot nestled in among the Amish in Pennsylvania to share their thoughts on the “evils” of social media—particularly regarding church officers. Since quitting Twitter Todd’s rosy cheeks are back, his cholesterol and blood pressure are under control, and he’s grown enough hair to sport a man-bun! In all seriousness, as Christians, do we stop and consider how we interact with others on social media? Has our behavior been irreproachable before God and man? What would our children think if they witnessed our interaction with people with whom we disagree? Is there a higher level of accountability for church officers concerning social media? Listen for Todd’s intriguing story of redemption and social media recovery, as well as Carl’s, “I told you so.”

As the Covid-19 debate rages and protestors have taken to the streets, the US Supreme Court hands down an important ruling in a case, which—unfortunately—seems to have flown under the radar of the media: Bostock v. Clayton County. The smartest-dressed man on campus returns! Matthew Franck is the Associate Director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University, and lecturer for their Department of Politics. As you won’t hear much about the Bostock ruling elsewhere, Matt joins Carl and Todd to shed some light on what this decision means regarding the interpretation of the legal text of Title VII, as well as its implications for religious freedom in the short and long terms.  Show Notes ·Supreme Court Ruling on Bostock v. Clayton County - Justice Alito's dissenting opinion begins on page 38 ·Grove City College ·Hillsdale College ·Patrick Henry College

Carl rushes in to introduce today’s guest…lest he, once again, forget the man’s name! Jonathan Master is a friend of The Spin and the co-host of Theology on the Go, another Alliance podcast. Just a few days ago, Jonathan officially took the reins as president of Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, so we brought him back into the bunker to gain some inside info about what the future holds. What is it like to step into a new position of leadership during a time of so much instability? What are some of the main challenges Jonathan might encounter ahead? If you’re considering going to seminary, you’ll be interested in hearing what Jonathan has to say about GPTS and its distinctives. You’ll also pick up on Carl and Todd’s obvious bookcase ladder envy! We are pleased to offer you the opportunity to win a free copy of a great book titled Knowing the Trinity by Ryan McGraw, who is a GPTS faculty member.

Todd and Carl’s guest today is Kevin DeYoung. He’s the pastor of Christ Covenant Church in Matthews, NC, assistant professor of systematic theology at the Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte campus, and author/contributor for numerous outstanding books. Kevin joins us today for the first time to discuss the recently-released PCA report on human sexuality. DeYoung recently served as a member of the ad-interim committee that produced this useful study, and he briefs us on the process, structure, purpose, and legality of such reports. Be sure to tune in for this incredibly helpful discussion. Nota bene: While we may safely recommend any of Kevin's many helpful books on several topics that have been a great blessing to the church at large, please beware if he ever publishes a collection of recipes or offers any sort of dieting advice.  Register for the opportunity to win a free copy of Kevin’s book What Does the Bible Really Teach About Homosexuality? Show Notes PCA’s General Assembly Committee Report on Sexuality

We’re living in a time of many, simultaneous world crises. Are these global challenges in some way related? Seeking perspective and clarity, our hosts discuss one of Carl’s recent articles at First Things, where he ponders why the British seem more concerned with incidents of police brutality in the US than with China’s aggressive plan to diminish Hong Kong’s democracy as Britain’s former colony.  How may identity politics and social media be shaping this behavior, and what does it say about us as a society? Carl’s one-word answer: Belonging! Show Notes A Dark Cloud for Democracy

Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary debuted on “The Spin” in 2019 in the person of Michael Morales, the seminary’s professor of Biblical Studies. Who Shall Ascend the Mount of the Lord? is Michael’s latest work on the book of Leviticus, and part of the New Studies in Biblical Theology series by IVP. Don’t dismiss this outstanding book merely on the subject matter! Leviticus is not “the most boring book in the bible,” and you’re about to learn why! Michael identifies an intriguing theme in Leviticus, along with its relationship to the sacredness of time and the Sabbath. Don’t miss this important perspective on the Pentateuch!

Matthew Barrett joined us in 2019. He’s associate professor of Christian Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas, MO. Matthew stopped by to chat about his latest work, None Greater: The Undomesticated Attributes of God. If you’re wondering what Matthew means by the word “undomesticated,” you’re not alone! Could it be that—because of our fallen, limited abilities to apprehend the infinite attributes of God—we tend to try and “tame” Him, or “pull Him down” to our level? Are those immutable attributes what make Him worthy of worship? Don’t miss this thoughtful conversation about the relationship between the doctrine of God and His divine attributes.

The crew receives a visit from Fr. Thomas Weinandy. He is a Franciscan Capuchin priest, systematic theologian, long-time professor, and author of many books. In his latest--Jesus Becoming Jesus: A Theological Interpretation of the Synoptic Gospels--Thomas focuses on the doctrine and theology of the synoptic gospels, zooming in closely on the acts of Jesus in his earthly life, and the mysteries of the faith as the Lord becomes Yahweh Saves. The conversation emphasizes the importance of connecting the saving acts of God in the person of Jesus Christ, and the orthodox doctrines of immutability and impassibility. Hear what Fr. Weinandy says about holding both together in preaching, and what is truly essential for our salvation. Show Notes About Thomas Weinandy Does God Suffer? Thomas C. Oden Theologian John Webster

Mortification of Spin is on holiday in June, so we are enjoying a few powerful episodes of the podcast just one more time. In 2018, Douglas Groothuis joined the conversation. He’s professor of philosophy at Denver Seminary and had recently written a very personal book titled Walking through Twilight - A Wife’s Illness, A Philosopher’s Lament. Groothuis reflects on his role as his wife's primary caregiver. He shares with us his personal suffering and life’s dynamics in light of her illness, the ministry of the body of Christ, and how God is glorified through it all. How does one lament biblically? What are some practical ways in which the local church can minister to and help the suffering brother or sister? This topic is one that many of us have or will face one day. Listen closely and learn about lamentation from the tender heart of a philosopher. Show Notes Know more about Douglas Groothuis Dr. Groothuis’ 2015 article Primary Progressive Aphasia