Two Guys and a Bible

On today's episode, I finish reviewing a video by Professor R. L. Solberg on the topic of God's law. While I agree with most of what Professor Solberg says, I think that there a few points of disagreement. Most of them surround the application and use of the Old Testament law in the life of a Christian.On a different note, if you have not done so yet, please sign up to attend the Future of Christendom conference from October 9-11 in Lancaster, PA. The theme of the conference is No Other Name and includes an address by Pastor Jeff Durbin. If you use the code GovernedbyGod when you sign up, you will get a 10% discount on your tickets!That being said, if you have any questions or comments, please email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com.You can follow also me on Facebook or Twitter, or go to http://www.ericluppold.com/And if you would like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron!

On today's episode, I briefly discuss the Hebrew Roots movement and then begin reviewing a video by Professor R. L. Solberg on the topic of God's law. In what I believe to be his attempt to counter the Hebrew Roots movement, Professor Solberg goes a bit too far and seems to be advocating for a kind of antinomianism. While that may not be his intent, it demonstrates that we must take care to not fall into ditches on either side of the road on any topic, including that of God's law.If you have not done so yet, please sign up to attend the Future of Christendom conference from October 9-11 in Lancaster, PA. The theme of the conference is No Other Name and includes an address by Pastor Jeff Durbin. If you use the code GovernedbyGod when you sign up, you will get a 10% discount on your tickets!That being said, if you have any questions or comments, please email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com.You can follow also me on Facebook or Twitter, or go to http://www.ericluppold.com/And if you would like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron!

On today's episode, I discuss the recent Theonomy Symposium hosted by Future of Christendom in Lancaster, PA. While there I was invited to serve on a three-judge panel that was given a mock trial/case to adjudicate. The specific problem we were presented with was a noise complaint. Aside from going over the trial and how we reached a solution, on this episode I also look at the related issue of zoning laws. Now, if you have not read your local zoning code, I would encourage you to do so. Not only will you see just how ridiculous it is, you will probably be surprised by how many times you have violated the code without even realizing it. Such is the nature of man's attempt to solve problems apart from God's law.And if you have not done so yet, please sign up to attend the Future of Christendom conference from October 9-11 in Lancaster, PA. The theme of the conference is No Other Name and includes an address by Pastor Jeff Durbin. If you use the code "GovernedbyGod" when you sign up, you will get a 10% discount on your tickets!That being said, if you have any questions or comments, please email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com.You can follow also me on Facebook or Twitter, or go to http://www.ericluppold.com/And if you would like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron!

In a follow-up episode from last time, I had the opportunity to chat with David Fowler on the topic of parental rights and responsibilities. David has been a previous guest on the podcast and is a former state senator from Tennessee. He also just recently retired from his position as president of the Family Action Council of Tennessee. Today we cover topics such as child abuse, parental rights, the right to life and limb, and the role of the common law. More specifically, we discuss how many of the current, well-meaning, attempts at protecting the rights of children and parents is a form of compromise with a secular worldview.If you have any questions or comments about our conversation, please email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com.You can follow also me on Facebook or Twitter, or go to http://www.ericluppold.com/And if you would like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron!

What rights and responsibilities do parents have when it comes to their children? Well, according to Colorado, any parents who question or oppose the gender identity or chosen pronouns of their children are considered abusive. While we would agree that parents do not have absolute authority over their children, the limits to their authority must be determined by God. But, in our godless society, the State has stepped in and now decides when parents may keep their children. Caesar giveth and Caesar taketh away...Here is the link to Colorado's most recent bill: Colorado House Bill 1312And, as always, if you have any questions or comments, please email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com.You can follow also me on Facebook or Twitter, or go to http://www.ericluppold.com/And if you would like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron!

The power to tax is the power to destroy, or kill. But for most of U.S. history, tariffs were the primary means by which the federal government acquired revenue. Yet, since the introduction of the income tax in 1913, tariffs have fallen by the wayside. Only recently have tariffs returned from the dead, causing great consternation and debate. But what is a tariff and how does it work? Furthermore, how were tariffs viewed in the past and why did the U.S. switch to the income tax? Join me as I discuss these questions on today's episode.And, as always, if you have any questions or comments, please email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com.You can follow also me on Facebook or Twitter, or go to http://www.ericluppold.com/And if you would like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron!

Based on my previous natural law episode, today I look at possible traces of theonomy throughout history. Theonomy is often accused of being novel or modern, originating with 20th Century theologians such as Bahnsen, North, and Rushdoony. But it seems that an argument could be made that theonomy is much older than that. Were there Christians during the Roman Empire that advocated for greater conformity to the Old Testament civil laws? Was even medieval Ireland influenced by the Mosaic law code? Today I tackle those questions in the hopes of tracing the threads of theonomy throughout history.And, as always, if you have any questions or comments, please email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com.You can follow also me on Facebook or Twitter, or go to http://www.ericluppold.com/And if you would like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron!

This week I look at the topic of natural law in an attempt to find a clear and useful definition. I consider statements from Aristotle, Aquinas, Calvin, and Blackstone, and compare/contrast their perspectives. Finally, I comment on a short video published by Jon Harris from Conversations that Matter regarding natural law. At the end of the day, any discussion of natural law needs to start with clear a definition of what it is in order to avoid unnecessary confusion.And, as always, if you have any questions or comments, please email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com.You can follow also me on Facebook or Twitter, or go to http://www.ericluppold.com/And if you would like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron!

This week I had the opportunity to chat with Luisa Rodriguez, a friend and fellow Christian who has had extensive experience working with/for the government and seeing the impact of government "assistance" in other nations. We discuss some of the reasons why government help, despite being well-intended at times, is inefficient and ineffective. We also consider the role of both the government and the church in caring for the poor, the widow, and the orphan. And we try to consider some of the reasons why people, including Christians, become upset when government assistance is either reduced or cut.To see more of Luisa's writings, you can follow her work at the below links:https://medium.com/@luisafrodriguezBiblical WarfareFruitfully WomenAnd, as always, if you have any questions or comments, please email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com.You can follow also me on Facebook or Twitter, or go to http://www.ericluppold.com/And if you would like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron!

This week I address the topic of administrative power, which is a use of power that is outside of the ordinary and approved means of wielding power. In effect, administrative law is unlawful. Sadly, the federal government has grown to the point that we are governed by an administrative state. This has resulted in the creation of numerous agencies and an exponential increase in the amount of government spending. But those are not the only consequences. Administrative law threatens the very liberties and freedoms that the Founding Fathers fought to maintain.In this episode, I go through a short clip from Professor Philip Hamburger regarding the topic of administrative power. Here is the video link from the CATO Institute: Is Administrative Law Unlawful?As always, if you have any questions or comments, please email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com.You can follow also me on Facebook or Twitter, or go to http://www.ericluppold.com/And if you would like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron!

This week I spoke with Bradley Pierce, a constitutional attorney and president of the Foundation to Abolish Abortion. We discuss the current situation surrounding abortion in the United States since the Dobbs decision overturned Roe v. Wade. Sadly, the number of abortions nationwide has not significantly decreased, primarily due to the continued distribution of abortion-inducing drugs via mail. Bradley provides some insight regarding that challenge and describes some of the steps being taken to overcome it.For more information, please go to the Foundation to Abolish Abortion.As always, if you have any questions or comments, please email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com.You can follow also me on Facebook or Twitter, or go to http://www.ericluppold.com/And if you would like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron!

Today I am finally able to walk through the 1824 Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling Updegraph v. Commonwealth. This court decision, just a few pages long, serves (in my humble opinion) as one of the best arguments in support of blasphemy laws. The judge who rendered the decision, Justice Duncan, argues both that Christianity is part of the common law of Pennsylvania and that the U.S. Constitution does not negate that reality. He looks at both English and American legal history to substantiate his argument. As always, if you have any questions or comments, please email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com.You can follow also me on Facebook or Twitter, or go to http://www.ericluppold.com/And if you would like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron!

In continuing the theme of addressing controversial public policies, today I look at the topic of blasphemy laws. Such laws are generally viewed upon in a very negative light, but there is both a biblical and historical case to be made for them. In fact, I argue that there is no escaping blasphemy laws within any society, since there will always be some public speech that is punished. If you do not believe me, just go to a public place and begin saying the most vile things you can think of. I guarantee that, at some point, you will find yourself arrested. The bottom line is that blasphemy laws will always exist. The question is, which standard of law will we adhere to?As always, if you have any questions or comments, please email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com.You can follow also me on Facebook or Twitter, or go to http://www.ericluppold.com/And if you would like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron!

This week, Professor Jeffrey Tuomala joins me to discuss the topic of public education. Growing up, I always assumed that it was the government's job to educate children, and that private schooling or homeschooling was weird. But Professor Tuomala shows that not only is government-run education the exception, not the rule, it is also unconstitutional. Please join us as we discuss this hot topic of public schooling.And, as always, if you have any questions or comments, please email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com.You can follow also me on Facebook or Twitter, or go to http://www.ericluppold.com/And if you would like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron!

On today's episode, Dr. Bob Murphy comes onto the show to discuss banking, specifically fractional reserve banking. At any given time, banks only have to keep on hand a fraction of the money that we deposit, all the while letting us believe that our money is there. Dr. Murphy lays out the implications of this for the economy and also explains how we might move away from such an immoral policy in the future.For more information, please visit the Mises Institute.And, as always, if you have any questions or comments, please email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com.You can follow also me on Facebook or Twitter, or go to http://www.ericluppold.com/And if you would like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron!

On today's episode, I had the opportunity to speak with Aaron Pratt, who is director of Abolish Abortion Pennsylvania. Aaron and I speak about the rules that Pennsylvania has regarding abortion, as well as some of the key differences between the pro-life movement and the abolitionist movement.For more information on the ministry that Aaron is involved in, please visit Abolish Abortion PA And, as always, if you have any questions or comments, please email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com.You can follow also me on Facebook or Twitter, or go to http://www.ericluppold.com/And if you would like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron!

On today's episode, I finished responding to a video published by Dr. Stephen Wolfe, the author of The Case for Christian Nationalism. I address topics such as covenants, federalism, and the role that one's eschatology plays in this.As a reminder, here is Dr. Wolfe's entire critique of theonomy: Theonomy vs. Natural LawIf you have any questions or comments, please email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com.You can follow also me on Facebook or Twitter, or go to http://www.ericluppold.com/And if you would like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron!

On today's episode, I continue responding to a video published by Dr. Stephen Wolfe, the author of The Case for Christian Nationalism. I address things such as separation of powers, preventative vs. punitive law, and how applying God's law sets the foundation for true civic liberty.As a reminder, here is Dr. Wolfe's entire critique of theonomy: Theonomy vs. Natural LawIf you have any questions or comments, please email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com.You can follow also me on Facebook or Twitter, or go to http://www.ericluppold.com/And if you would like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron!

On today's episode, I respond to a recent video published by Dr. Stephen Wolfe. Wolfe, the author of The Case for Christian Nationalism, critiqued the theonomic perspective, specifically a version of it in which there is no legislative body. While I hold Dr. Wolfe in the highest respect, I wanted to offer a thorough response in defense of theonomy. As Christians, we ought to consider what it means to love our neighbor both as individual believers and as a community. My hope is that this response helps to move the conversation forward in that direction.Here is Dr. Wolfe's entire critique of theonomy: Theonomy vs. Natural LawIf you have any questions or comments, please email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com.You can follow also me on Facebook or Twitter, or go to http://www.ericluppold.com/And if you would like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron!

On today's episode I look at the rather controversial topic of Church and State. Starting with Scripture, I consider both Deuteronomy 13 and Romans 13 in their context. The topic then moves to some historical examples of church/state relations before addressing the modern example of the United States. Ultimately, Scripture lays the foundation for a broadly Christian affirmation by the civil magistrate without the need for the magistrate to get involved in denominational disputes.If you have any questions or comments, please email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com.You can follow also me on Facebook or Twitter, or go to http://www.ericluppold.com/And if you would like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron!

On today's episode I had the pleasure of speaking with Luke Saint who works with The Future of Christendom and is the author of The Sound Doctrine of Theocracy. We first discuss the main premise of his book, as well as what it means to be a theocracy and to love God's law. We then move into the topic of immigration, where Luke presents the case that he will be defending in debate at the upcoming Future of Christendom conference. If you have any questions or comments for either myself or Luke, please email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com.You can follow also me on Facebook or Twitter, or go to http://www.ericluppold.com/And if you would like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron!

This week, before we go into specific public policy topics, I want to discuss how to understand and apply God's law. This is the starting point for addressing any public policy issue. If we misunderstand God's law we end up engaging in legalism like the Pharisees. They used God's law in a wooden fashion to try to earn God's favor. But God's law is a common law system that requires the exercise of wisdom grounded in moral principles. This is quite the opposite from the positivist system of law that we are embracing today in our culture.If you have any questions, comments, or other topics you would like me to address, please email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com.You can follow me on Facebook or Twitter, or go to http://www.ericluppold.com/And if you would like to support the show, please become a patron!

Welcome to Season 5 of Governed by God! Today I open up with a planned theme for the season, considering what the Biblical position is (if there is one) on topics such as drugs, immigration, pornography, regulations, etc. Do these topics have a biblical perspective, or is it a matter of choosing your own adventure?But before we dive into those topics, we first need to see if the Bible even applies to the area of public policy. Politics is dirty (right?), so the Bible has nothing to say about it (or does it?). But when we look closely at Scripture, I think we will find that it says more about politics (i.e., the concerns of the city) than we give it credit for.If you have any questions, comments, or other topics you would like me to address, please email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com.You can follow me on Facebook or Twitter, or go to http://www.ericluppold.com/And if you would like to support the show, please become a patron!

In concluding this season of Governed by God, I had the pleasure of interviewing Pastor Joel Saint on the topic of loving God's law. Joel is pastor of Independence Reformed Bible Church in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He also serves as executive director of Future of Christendom Press. Although we touch on a variety of topics concerning politics and government, our focus today is on the importance of God's law and why Christians should have a deep love for it. To find out more about Pastor Saint's ministry, please check out Future of Christendom.If you have any questions, comments, or other topics you would like me to address, please email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com.You can follow me on Facebook or Twitter, or go to http://www.ericluppold.com/And if you would like to support the show, please become a patron!

As we finish up this series on Christian Nationalism, I wanted to respond to the next challenge on the list: isn't the law powerless to save? So why should we even focus on it? Furthermore, isn't God's law too complicated and difficult to follow? This two-fold challenge is quite common, but usually involves an over-simplification of the purpose of the law. The law can never save, but it does point us to Christ, it does serve as a guide for holy living, and it does restrain evil. And while the civil government is not in the business of trying to save souls, it has a duty to restrain and punish evil as God's servant, or deacon.If you have any questions, comments, or other topics you would like me to address, please email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com.You can follow me on Facebook or Twitter, or go to http://www.ericluppold.com/And if you would like to support the show, please become a patron!

As part of this series on Christian Nationalism, I had the pleasure of interviewing Chris Hume about his new book, Seven Statist Sins. In this episode, we discuss man's pride in attempting to ignore God's law and create man-made traditions. We also consider the issue of coerced taxation, along with several other related topics, such as the Luke Saint - Justin Magill debate. You can learn more about Chris Hume and his work at Future of Christendom. If you have any questions, comments, or other topics you would like me to address, please email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com. You can also follow me on Facebook or Twitter, or go to http://www.ericluppold.com/And, of course, if you would like to support the show, please become a patron!

As we continue this series on Christian Nationalism, I wanted to respond to the next challenge on the list: Aren't we too focused on getting power, and doesn't that make us just like the world? This is an important challenge, and one that we need to take seriously. All things, even good things, can become idols. But civil power, like money, is not a dirty thing that should never be touched. If it were, then Christians should never vote or advocate for democratic societies, since such societies by nature distribute civil power among the voters. If you have any questions, comments, or other topics you would like me to address, please email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com.You can follow me on Facebook or Twitter, or go to http://www.ericluppold.com/And if you would like to support the show, please become a patron!

Today I continue a series on the topic of Christian Nationalism, specifically responding to common challenges to it. One of those challenges is: Won't Christian rulers enforce laws against blasphemy and heresy? Shouldn't we avoid that risk by not having Christian lawmakers or a Christian nation? In response to this, I will look at an 1824 Pennsylvania Supreme Court case titled Updegraph v. Commonwealth. The decision handed down by that court stands as one of the best summary defenses of blasphemy laws.As always, if you have any law/government related questions, feel free to email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com, and I will be happy to address them on the program. Thank you and God bless!Follow me on Facebook or Twitter or go to http://www.ericluppold.com/Please support me on Patreon!

Today I continue a series on the topic of Christian Nationalism, specifically responding to common challenges to it. One of those challenges is: Won't Christian rulers be tempted to use power to coerce others into becoming Christian? And can power even be used in a God-honoring way? At the end of the day, this challenge boils down to who should be trusted with power and how it is to be used. Someone is going to have it and use it (it's not whether, but which). But we need to see what Scripture has to say about who can use it, and how. As always, if you have any law/government related questions, feel free to email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com, and I will be happy to address them on the program. Thank you and God bless! Follow me on Facebook or Twitter or go to www.ericluppold.com Please support me on Patreon!

Today I begin a series on the topic of Christian Nationalism. While there are many other available podcasts that discuss what Christian Nationalism is, my focus is on responding to the challenges to Christian Nationalism. Most, if not all, of those challenges come from within the Christian community. For example, are we saying that the gospel is spread by force? If a political ruler becomes a Christian, won't that person engage in an abuse of power? And if the culture becomes Christian, won't the Church become less pure, since there won't be any persecution? These are some of the questions that I will be addressing in this series. As always, if you have any law/government related questions, feel free to email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com, and I will be happy to address them on the program. Thank you and God bless! Follow me on Facebook or Twitter or go to www.ericluppold.com Please support me on Patreon!

In this episode, I review and respond to an interview of Professor Richard Dawkins that took place near Easter. Professor Dawkins is a very outspoken atheist, having written numerous books against religion and against Christianity. In this interview, he reveals a very inconsistent and contradictory position: he loves Christian culture but does not believe a single word of it. In other words, he wants the fruit of Christianity but still is in the business of cutting down its trees. Such a strange - but common - attitude is one worth discussing, especially as Christians seek to defend the faith against an increasingly hostile culture. Watch the full video interview with Professor Dawkins on the LBC: Richard Dawkins: I'm a Cultural Christian As always, if you have any law/government related questions, feel free to email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com, and I will be happy to address them on the program. Thank you and God bless! Follow me on Facebook or Twitter or go to www.ericluppold.com Please support me on Patreon!

In this episode, I look at President Biden's recent proclamation regarding the Transgender Day of Visibility. What does this have to do with Easter and the White House Easter Egg Roll? And how is transgenderism actually one of the most deadly and dangerous false gospels that exist today? I do not mean that transgenderism is dangerous to Christians, but rather to those who are deceived by it and who deceive others by it. As always, if you have any law/government related questions, feel free to email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com, and I will be happy to address them on the program. Thank you and God bless! Follow me on Facebook or Twitter or go to www.ericluppold.com Please support me on Patreon!

In this episode, I tackle the rather relevant and controversial topic of immigration. How should Christians approach that topic? Does the Bible have anything to say about freedom of movement, or lack thereof? How do we properly love the stranger and sojourner among us? These are important questions that we need to think about carefully and biblically. As always, if you have any law/government related questions, feel free to email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com, and I will be happy to address them on the program. Thank you and God bless! Follow me on Facebook or Twitter or go to www.ericluppold.com Please support me on Patreon!

This week I tackle the controversial Alabama Supreme Court ruling on the topic of IVF and the rights of embryos. More specifically, I look at a brief history of the term 'embryo' and 'fetus' and then consider Chief Justice Parker's opinion in the case. What is a fetus and an embryo? Do embryos have rights? And if they do, what does that mean for IVF? Alabama Supreme Court Ruling As always, if you have any law/government related questions, feel free to email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com, and I will be happy to address them on the program. Thank you and God bless! Follow me on Facebook or Twitter or go to www.ericluppold.com Please support me on Patreon!

This week I look at some of the writings from the 16th Century Reformer Pierre Viret. Viret was a Swiss Reformer around the time of John Calvin, and he wrote several treatises and biblical commentaries. His works on government have been collated into a book titled The Christian and the Magistrate. What is the duty of Christian citizens? How should Christians honor rulers, even wicked ones? And how should a Christian act if he or she is in the position of a civil magistrate? The questions asked by Viret 500 years ago remain just a relevant for our culture today. As always, if you have any law/government related questions, feel free to email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com, and I will be happy to address them on the program. Thank you and God bless! Follow me on Facebook or Twitter or go to www.ericluppold.com Please support me on Patreon!

This week I complete my review and response of a recent episode of the White Horse Inn concerning misunderstood passages of Scripture. In their discussion, Dr. Michael Horton, Pastor Bob Hiller, and Dr. Walter Strickland talk primarily about passages such as 2 Chronicles 7:14, and how such passages are misapplied today. While I agree with much of what they say, there are significant areas of disagreement. Once such area is whether passages that apply to the New Covenant people can be applied in any corporate sense or if they can only be applied individually. Another key area of disagreement is the meaning of "nations" in the New Testament, such as in Jesus's command to baptize and disciple the nations. Does the word refer to the modern nation-state? If not, what does it refer to? Here is the link to the original White Horse Inn episode: Misunderstood Passages About Culture As always, if you have any law/government related questions, feel free to email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com, and I will be happy to address them on the program. Thank you and God bless! Follow me on Facebook or Twitter or go to www.ericluppold.com Please support me on Patreon!

This week I begin a multi-part review of a recent episode of the White Horse Inn concerning misunderstood passages of Scripture. In their discussion, Dr. Michael Horton, Pastor Bob Hiller, and Dr. Walter Strickland talk primarily about passages such as 2 Chronicles 7:14, and how such passages are misapplied today. While I agree with much of what they say, there are significant areas of disagreement. Once such area is whether passages that apply to the New Covenant people can be applied in any corporate sense or if they can only be applied individually. Here is the link to the original White Horse Inn episode: Misunderstood Passages About Culture As always, if you have any law/government related questions, feel free to email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com, and I will be happy to address them on the program. Thank you and God bless! Follow me on Facebook or Twitter or go to www.ericluppold.com Please support me on Patreon!

Today I analyze and critique an interview between Dr. Jordan Peterson and well-known atheist thinker, Sam Harris. More specifically, I look at the last several minutes of their discussion, where Harris presents his understanding of evil and the theoretical solution. Ultimately, Harris presents an entirely secular gospel that includes repentance, evangelism, and the giving of a personal testimony. The world knows that it needs saving, but Harris believes that man can save himself. Here is the link to the original interview on YouTube: Jordan Peterson and Sam Harris As always, if you have any law/government related questions, feel free to email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com, and I will be happy to address them on the program. Thank you and God bless! Follow me on Facebook or Twitter or go to www.ericluppold.com Please support me on Patreon!

Given the Christmas season, this week I compare two different narratives: one of Jesus of Nazareth and one of Caesar Augustus. Several years before Christ, Caesar was declared to be the savior of the world, whose coming brought good tidings for all the people. We see that Luke's account of the gospel parallels this, and offers a clear contrast between Christ and Caesar. I also look at Isaiah 9 and consider what it means for the government to be upon the shoulders of the Messiah. What does it mean that Christ is Lord of Lords? How should earthly lords think of that? As always, if you have any law/government related questions, feel free to email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com, and I will be happy to address them on the program. Thank you and God bless! Follow me on Facebook or Twitter or go to www.ericluppold.com Please support me on Patreon!

This week I take a break from historical documents to look at some recent events here in Central Bucks School District. Our recent school board meeting on December 4, 2023 made Fox News and also was mentioned on The Michael Knowles Show. While there is much to discuss, the highlight of the evening involved the new board chair, Karen Smith, being sworn in not on the Bible, but a stack of LGBTQ+ books (including some sexually explicit ones). Today I look at Jeremiah 44 and see how Karen Smith, perhaps without knowing it, has sworn by the authority of a different god, the Queen of Heaven. As always, if you have any law/government related questions, feel free to email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com, and I will be happy to address them on the program. Thank you and God bless! Follow me on Facebook or Twitter or go to www.ericluppold.com Please support me on Patreon!

This week I look at the concept of thanksgiving. First, I consider the importance of giving thanks as described in Romans 1. Then, I address the historical significance of Thanksgiving, including two Thanksgiving proclamations given by Thomas Jefferson and George Washington. Their proclamations are nothing short of Christian in their theology and terminology. If those proclamations were given today by a governor or president, I imagine that the person would quickly be labeled a Christian Nationalist. As always, if you have any law/government related questions, feel free to email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com, and I will be happy to address them on the program. Thank you and God bless! Follow me on Facebook or Twitter or go to www.ericluppold.com Please support me on Patreon!

In continuing our study of John Locke's two treatises on government, today I finish up looking at his second treatise. The premise of Locke's version of Social Contract Theory is that, at some point in the past, everyone was completely independent and free but then explicitly consented to form a government. Locke does not explain when this meeting took place, or why it resulted in a system of majority rule for those who consented. Those who come later still have to consent, but Locke fails to point out that later generations only need to give implicit, or silent, consent. The problem with these two different forms of consent is that no serious long-term relationship can be based purely on consent, whether implicit or explicit. We see the failure of this concept in many different areas within our culture. As always, if you have any law/government related questions, feel free to email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com, and I will be happy to address them on the program. Thank you and God bless! Follow me on Facebook or Twitter or go to www.ericluppold.com Please support me on Patreon!

Today I shift over to a discussion of John Locke and his works on government. Many consider Locke to be both a secularist and a key influence in the American War for Independence. I challenge both of those notions. More specifically, I look at his first treatise on government, which was a response to the concept of the divine right of kings. Then I begin looking at his second treatise on government regarding the matter of consent of the people. Consent is a vague concept, and one that I think hinders Locke from really reaching an accurate conception of civil government. As always, if you have any law/government related questions, feel free to email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com, and I will be happy to address them on the program. Thank you and God bless! Follow me on Facebook or Twitter or go to www.ericluppold.com Please support me on Patreon!

Today I finish our study of Democracy in America, by Alexis de Tocqueville, by looking at what he says concerning the women of America. In the 1830s, Tocqueville drew a stark contrast between American women and the women of France. He went so far as to say that the prosperity, success, and strength of America was a direct result of "the superiority of their women." But what was it about American women that made them superior? The answer might be surprising. As always, if you have any law/government related questions, feel free to email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com, and I will be happy to address them on the program. Thank you and God bless! Follow me on Facebook or Twitter or go to www.ericluppold.com Please support me on Patreon!

Today I look at two documents. The first is the book of Philemon from the New Testament, which sets the stage for the peaceful end of slavery. The second is Alexis de Tocqueville's book Democracy in America, in which he discusses the issue of slavery in the southern states. He argues against slavery not only on the basis of Christianity, but also on the basis of economics. Simply put, slave states were far worse off economically than free states, and that is not an accident. As always, if you have any law/government related questions, feel free to email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com, and I will be happy to address them on the program. Thank you and God bless! Follow me on Facebook or Twitter or go to www.ericluppold.com Please support me on Patreon!

Today I continue looking at Alexis de Tocqueville's work Democracy in America, written in the 1830s. He saw Americans as having an inordinate love of the power of the majority. Yet even so, liberty remained strong in the land. How was that possible? What was restraining the power of the majority in the United States? Tocqueville provides the answer to that by highlighting three things that preserve liberty: demographic/geographic factors, federalism/decentralization, and the Christian faith. As always, if you have any law/government related questions, feel free to email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com, and I will be happy to address them on the program. Thank you and God bless! Follow me on Facebook or Twitter or go to www.ericluppold.com Please support me on Patreon!

To start off this season, I look at the writings of Alexis de Tocqueville, specifically his work Democracy in America written in the 1830s. Today I consider his chapter on omnipotence and tyranny of the majority. In democracy, we say that majority rules. But what restrains the majority from abusing their power? What about when the majority opinion is formed? How are those who go against the majority treated? Tocqueville answers those questions while also describing what we would call the roots of cancel culture in America. Now, almost two hundred years later, the roots of cancel culture have produced the fruit. As always, if you have any law/government related questions, feel free to email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com, and I will be happy to address them on the program. Thank you and God bless! Follow me on Facebook or Twitter or go to www.ericluppold.com Please support me on Patreon!

This week, I finish the series on idolatry and the demonic by looking at our modern context. Secularism, at its root, is a modern form of paganism. The idea that there is no God, there is no meaning, and we are all just little autonomous gods running around is simply paganism repackaged. These ideas have possessed our culture today, similar to other cultures in the past. But there is a solution. So please join me today as I end this season of the podcast looking at a very important, and relevant, topic. As always, if you have any law/government related questions, feel free to email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com, and I will be happy to address them on the program. Thank you and God bless! Follow me on Facebook or Twitter or go to www.ericluppold.com Please support me on Patreon!

This week, I continue with the series on idolatry and the demonic by looking at the god Molech, or Moloch. Molech was a god of death and harvest, requiring sacrifices for success and protection against evil. He was most well-known for the demand of child-sacrifices, something that the people of Israel failed to resist. Join me today as I consider the worship of Molech through the ancient world and how it continues today. As always, if you have any law/government related questions, feel free to email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com, and I will be happy to address them on the program. Thank you and God bless! Follow me on Facebook or Twitter or go to www.ericluppold.com Please support me on Patreon!

This week, I continue with part two regarding the ancient worship of Asherah, or Ishtar. As an androgynous goddess whose holiest month was June, what else did Asherah worship involve? Most importantly, why does that matter for today? This is part of my greater series on idolatry, the demonic, and the pagan deities of the ancient near east. As always, if you have any law/government related questions, feel free to email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com, and I will be happy to address them on the program. Thank you and God bless! Follow me on Facebook or Twitter or go to www.ericluppold.com Please support me on Patreon!

This week, I continue with a series on the demonic by looking at the ancient worship of Asherah, or Ishtar. As an androgynous goddess whose holiest month was June, what else did Asherah worship involve? Most importantly, why does that matter for today? As always, if you have any law/government related questions, feel free to email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com, and I will be happy to address them on the program. Thank you and God bless! Follow me on Facebook or Twitter or go to www.ericluppold.com Please support me on Patreon!