Mortification of Spin

Blaise Pascal, the seventeenth-century French philosopher and scientist, is perhaps best known for his "wager," an argument about the existence of God. But there was much more to Pascal and his brilliance, according to today's guest, Douglas Groothuis, a leading Christian thinker and longtime student of Pascal. In his latest book, Beyond the Wager, Doug introduces readers to Pascal's life and the breadth of his intellectual pursuits, including his contributions to mathematics, science, ethics, and theology.  "You really want to read Pascal, and if you write about him, you want to quote him and do justice to what he said because it really was so insightful and profoundly put. Especially his comments about what it means to be a human being and his reflections on the nature of knowing Christ. They're really not just philosophically insightful and compelling, but also devotionally compelling."  – Doug Groothuis Three of our listeners received copies of Beyond the Wager: The Christian Brilliance of Blaise Pascal, thanks to the generosity of our friends at Intervarsity Press. Congratulations to Zane L. from Washington, DC, Sam B. from Deerfield, WI, and Joshua M. from Jonesborough, TN!   Show Notes:  Douglas Groothuis’ original book about Blaise Pascal written 20 years ago: On Pascal Pensées by Blaise Pascal: https://archive.org/details/pascalspenseesor00pasc Christian Apologetics by Douglas Groothuis

Many faithful Christian parents today grieve for their adult children who have left the faith. They ask, "Where did we go wrong? What should we have done differently?" Carl and Todd discuss this important topic in this episode and encourage parents not to give up hope.  "Parents have enormous impact on their kids' lives, even into adulthood. Even when there's been pain, a parent has enormous influence. See how best to leverage that for the soul of your child.  – Todd Pruitt Thanks to P&R Publishing, we awarded copies of Wayward Children: Finding Peace, Keeping Hope to three of our listeners. Congratulations to Renee R. from Little Rock, AR, Karen G. from St. Peters, MO, and Mickie G. from Arab, AL!

Pastor Jon Nielson joins Carl and Todd to discuss the value of systematic theology in understanding God and the Bible. They explore how scripture provides a unity of doctrine, making theology accessible and practical for all, especially new believers and young people. Nielson's new book, Knowing God's Truth, aims to guide readers in applying systematic theology to daily life, offering clarity and meaning in theological study.

For many years, there was a lack of good Protestant literature addressing the transfiguration— a central event in the life of Christ. Thanks to Patrick Schreiner’s new book, The Transfiguration of Christ: An Exegetical and Theological Reading, that is no longer the case. Patrick is an associate professor of New Testament and Biblical Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and writes from a solid conservative Protestant evangelical perspective. So what is it that Protestants miss when we overlook the transfiguration? What is its significance and place in redemptive history, and how can it be applied? “I think the transfiguration is this unique event where the humanity and the deity of Christ come together, where his humanity is transfigured or transformed, but his deity is also revealed. This reality [is] that we have the God-Man in one subject and one person, and both things are made evident at the same time.” – Patrick Schreiner Be sure to tune in for this fascinating conversation on a much-neglected subject. You may gain a new perspective on the importance of this unique event in the life of Jesus and its practical application to our lives. And stay tuned to the end for barbeque recommendations in Kansas City! We are pleased to award three copies of The Transfiguration of Christ to our listeners, thanks to the generosity of our friends at Baker Academic. Congratulations to Dawn W. from Clarkston, WA, David B. from Little Rock, AK, and Harry J. from Brenham, TX! Show Notes: Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary: https://www.mbts.edu/ Recommended Reading: Light on the Mountain: Greek Patristic and Byzantine Homilies on the Transfiguration of the Lord

Chris Castaldo, co-author of 'Why Do Protestants Convert?', discusses the factors behind Protestant conversion to Roman Catholicism or Eastern Orthodoxy. Issues like historical rootedness, beauty in traditions, and theological and sociological influences are examined. The conversation stresses the importance of theological reflection and the potential for a Protestant renewal.

Critical theory and its expression in fields like critical race theory, critical pedagogy, and queer theory are having a profound impact on our culture. Carl and Todd sit down with Neil Shenvi and Pat Sawyer, authors of Critical Dilemma: The Rise of Critical Theories and Social Justice Ideology, to discuss how contemporary critical theory’s ideas about race, class, gender, identity, and justice have dramatically shaped how people think, act, and view one another—in Christian and secular spheres alike. As a robust meta-narrative worldview, critical social theory and its expansive expressions are categorically against biblical Christianity. – Pat Sawyer While Neil and Pat acknowledge that critical theory can provide some legitimate insights into issues impacting our culture today and urge Christians to condemn racism and seek justice, racial healing, and unity, they argue that the false assumptions at the heart of critical theory pose a serious threat to both the church and society at large.  Congratulations to Archibald D. from Monroe, NC, Wes W. from Glen Ellyn, IL, and Kristen S. from Cedar Falls, IA who were selected to receive a copy of Critical Dilemma, thanks to the generosity of Harvest House Publishers!   Show Notes: Natasha Crane’s article, “Here Comes the He Gets Us Campaign Again: Why Its Portrayal of Jesus is Still a Problem: https://natashacrain.com/here-comes-the-he-gets-us-campaign-again-why-its-portrayal-of-jesus-is-still-a-problem/ Stand to Reason with Greg Koukl: https://www.str.org/ God in the Dock by C.S. Lewis: https://a.co/d/hNVsBWw

Back in 2013, Carl and Todd launched Mortification of Spin with their first episode, "Rock Star Pastors in Las Vegas," sharing a microphone in a small underground bunker. All these years later, they no longer share a mic, but they're still going strong, celebrating their 500th first-run episode. Joining them for this momentous occasion are their good friends, Kevin DeYoung and Matt Eusey. After reminiscing about the early days, the conversation turns toward the importance of meaningful friendships. The guys consider the benefits of friendship and the current challenges we face as these most vital relationships have undergone a dramatic transformation.  It really is important to have friends. It's not a sufficient condition for being faithful in ministry, but I do think it is a necessary condition, and it's really important to have people to know who you really are and [to] joke with, but also be challenged by, and know that they are looking over your shoulder in a good way. – Kevin DeYoung For best results, enjoy this special episode as a video podcast on YouTube. In honor of the 500th episode, we selected three listeners to receive a box of Mortification of Spin swag. Congratulations to Chris T. from Dallas, TX, Sumit B. from Sammanish, WA, and Greg P. from Greenville, SC!   Show Notes: Listen to "Rock Star Pastors in Las Vegas” : https://mortificationofspin.podbean.com/e/rock-star-pastors-in-las-vegas/ Mortification of Spin on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLq5LVxh1Goi5_ZbzUqOaDNjSw1hicGfMF Mortification of Spin swag: https://reformedresources.org/mortification-of-spin/

Mark Jones, author of The Pilgrim's Regress, talks about confronting backsliding believers post-Covid, a topic rarely discussed in Reformed churches. He emphasizes the need to address this issue with wisdom from theologians past and present. Mark also shares insights on writing challenges and the importance of safeguarding against apostasy in Christian life.

Discussing the true nature of faith deconstruction, the guests break down this sweeping movement in churches. They explore the roots of deconstruction, its impact, and offer insights on how to respond biblically. The conversation dives into the influence of social media, the importance of addressing both intellectual and moral challenges, and the need for grounding beliefs in Scripture to combat subjectivity in modern Christianity.

Join Carl and Todd as they discuss C.S. Lewis' 'The Abolition of Man' and its relevance today, exploring universal values, human nature, and societal challenges. They touch on the impact of eliminating individuals with disabilities, echoing Lewis' insights on intrinsic worth. Get insights on the collapse of human nature in modern society and the importance of objective moral foundations.