Podcasts about divine institutions

Parents are to train their children. What does that involve? Listen to this message to learn that the training grounds for children are the Divine Institutions of marriage and family. Training involves teaching children from the earliest age to respect and obey God-ordained authorities to restrain their sin nature. Find out how parents can be an example to their children in their Bible study and prayer life.

Parents are to train their children. What does that involve? Listen to this message to learn that the training grounds for children are the Divine Institutions of marriage and family. Training involves teaching children from the earliest age to respect and obey God-ordained authorities to restrain their sin nature. Find out how parents can be an example to their children in their Bible study and prayer life.

Parents are to train their children. What does that involve? Listen to this message to learn that the training grounds for children are the Divine Institutions of marriage and family. Training involves teaching children from the earliest age to respect and obey God-ordained authorities to restrain their sin nature. Find out how parents can be an example to their children in their Bible study and prayer life.

This is Pastor Tom Arnould welcoming you to the Good News Radio Broadcast. In John 2, we read where Jesus performed His first miracle at a marriage ceremony. The location of this miracle is a reminder for all time and eternity the honor that the Lord places upon marriage. God is still working domestic miracles today.

Israel and the Church      Israel and the church are distinct. Israel is a special nation that was created by God Himself. The Lord said of Israel, “I am the LORD, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King” (Isa 43:15). This makes Israel unique among all the nations of the world. He even calls Israel, “My glory” (Isa 46:13). God loves Israel, declaring, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have drawn you with lovingkindness” (Jer 31:3). God is eternal and His love is eternal, which means it never fades for His people, Israel. To possess the love of God is to love that which He loves. One cannot claim to have God's love, and simultaneously hate Israel, His chosen people.[1] Today, we observe demonically inspired hatred and attacks against Israelites. But there is no place for anti-Semitism in the heart of anyone, especially the Christian! According to Lewis S. Chafer, “When the Christian loves with a divine compassion he will acknowledge what God loves. Therefore, he too must love Israel.”[2] Satan hates God and His chosen people, Israel. Satan and his demonic forces are behind all forms of antisemitism, and if he had his way, all Jews would be destroyed.      God, who loves Israel with an everlasting love, continues to keep His Word to them. Israel has a future hope because of the promises and covenants God made through the patriarchs and prophets (Gen 12:1-3; 15:18; 17:8; Deut 30:1-10; 2 Sam 7:16; Psa 89:33-37; Jer 31:31-33). Though unbelieving Israel is currently under divine discipline (Matt 23:37-39), God's covenants and promises are still in effect (Rom 9:1-5), and will remain in force until Jesus returns and is accepted as their Messiah. Furthermore, it is wrong to think the church has replaced Israel, for “God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew” (Rom 11:2), even though there is a “partial hardening” among them until Messiah returns (Rom 11:25). Until then, unbelieving Israel is under spiritual darkness and divine judgment. The apostle Paul—a biological Jew himself—revealed that God's promises and covenants are still valid for Israel, and wished all would come to faith in Christ. Paul spoke of Israel as “my kinsmen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen” (Rom 9:3-5). Though Israel is currently under divine discipline (Matt 23:37-38), God has a future for His people and national Israel will be restored. Paul tells us, “A partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so, all Israel will be saved” (Rom 11:25b-26a). Our duty is to view Israel as God does: as His chosen people (Gen 12:1–3; Deut 10:15) and as “beloved for the sake of the fathers” (Rom 11:28b). This does not mean we endorse all of Israel's actions, but we recognize them as a special people chosen by God, with a divinely ordained future, and we “pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Psa 122:6a).      The Christian church is distinct from Israel and Gentiles, and was a mystery not revealed in the OT (Eph 3:4-6; 5:32; Col 1:24-27). The church, which is the body of Christ (Eph 1:22-23), is a company of believers, from Jews and Gentiles (1 Cor 10:32), who have been spiritually united with Christ by means of the baptism of the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation (1 Cor 12:13; Gal 3:26-28). The church began on the day of Pentecost, in Acts 2. The primary purpose of the church is to glorify God (Eph 1:12; 3:21; cf. Rom 11:36; 16:27). Other purposes of the church include evangelizing the lost (Matt 28:18-20), edifying believers through biblical teaching so they might advance to spiritual maturity (Eph 4:11-16; 1 Pet 2:2), praying for one another (Jam 5:16), and showing love (John 13:34). Once the church is caught up to heaven at the rapture (John 14:1-3; 1 Th 4:13-18), God will resume His plan with national Israel and fulfill all the promises made to them through the covenants (Rom 9:1-5; 11:1-2; 25-27).[3] Divine Institutions for Humanity      The concept of divine institutions refers to foundational structures established by God to ensure order and stability within human society. Biblically, these institutions include: 1) individual responsibility, 2) marriage, 3) family, 4) human government, and 5) nationalism. Each of these divine institutions serve a unique purpose in promoting a stable and flourishing society. Robert B. Thieme Jr. states, “These institutions apply to believers and unbelievers—regardless of race, gender, or any other factor—and are ordained by God to restrain the sin nature and protect human freedom.”[4] Understanding and promoting these institutions allow us to align with God's plan for the human race and to stand against Satan's destructive strategies.      Individual responsibility is foundational, as God created humans in His image with the ability to make choices and the obligation to bear the consequences of their actions (Gen 1:26-28). Scripture reveals that “each one of us will give an account of himself to God” (Rom 14:12; cf. 2 Cor 5:10; 1 Pet 4:5). This personal accountability underpins moral behavior and the pursuit of righteousness. Marriage was established as a lifelong union between one man and one woman. In marriage, a man and a woman are regarded as “one flesh” in the sight of God (Gen 2:24), and Jesus said, “What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate” (Matt 19:6). Marriage provides companionship, love, and the proper context for raising children, reflecting the relationship between Christ and the Church (Eph 5:22-33). Family, which is closely tied to marriage, serves as the primary institution for nurturing and teaching subsequent generations. Parents are called to instill moral values and the knowledge of God in their children (Deut 6:6-7; Prov 22:6; Eph 6:4), while children are commanded to honor their parents (Ex 20:12; Eph 6:1-3), which fosters respect and stability across generations. Human government as a divine institution was instituted after the flood (Gen 9:5-6), and plays a critical role in maintaining order, upholding justice, and restraining evil. Governments are tasked with protecting the innocent and punishing criminals (Rom 13:1-7; 1 Pet 2:13-14), ensuring societal peace and security. Scripture reveals that healthy governments are “a minister of God to you for good” (Rom 13:4), and believers are called to submit to governing authorities (Rom 13:1-7; Tit 3:1; 1 Pet 2:13). However, this does not mean blind submission, as we may engage in acts of civil disobedience when necessary (Ex 1:15-17; Dan 3:1-18; 6:1-23; Acts 5:27-29). Nationalism emerged at the Tower of Babel, where God scattered humanity into distinct nations with their own languages and borders to prevent global unity in rebellion against Him (Gen 11:1-9). Scripture reveals that God “made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation” (Acts 17:26). This division hinders the potential for widespread tyranny.      Together, these divine institutions—individual responsibility, marriage, family, government, and nationalism—form the framework for a stable society. When upheld, they create a context for justice, order, and human flourishing. Neglect or distortion of these principles often leads to instability and moral decline, underscoring the importance of honoring God's design in every area of life. Dr. Steven R. Cook   [1] To love the people of Israel is not a blanket endorsement of all their beliefs and behaviors. God, who loves Israel and chose them to be His people (Deut 7:6-8), also called them to be holy (Ex 19:5-6; Lev 11:45), and to live righteously (Deut 6:24-25). Under the Mosaic Law, God's blessings and curses for them were conditioned on their obedience or disobedience (Deut 11:26-28; 28:1-68). For much of Israel's history, we know they failed to walk with God, sometimes rejecting His love for them and walking in the ways of the world (see 2 Ch 36:15-16; Jer 7:25-26; 25:4-7). The national rejection and crucifixion of Jesus (Matt 27:22-23; Acts 2:22-23; 4:27-28), Israel's promised Messiah (Deut 18:15; Isa 7:14; 9:6-7; 53; 61:1; Matt 1:1, 17; Luke 1:31-33), is their greatest historical failure. Jesus loved them even though they rejected Him (Matt 23:37). Did Israel act alone in crucifying Jesus, their Messiah? No! God foretold Israel's Messiah would suffer and die (Psa 22:11-18; Isa 53); and, according to His sovereignty, He used wicked men, both Jews and Gentiles, to accomplish His will (Acts 22:22-23; 4:27-28). [2] Lewis S. Chafer, “Israel” in Systematic Theology, Vol. 7 (Grand Rapids, MI., Kregel Publications, 1993), 206. [3] For more detailed information, see my article: What is the Church? https://thinkingonscripture.com/2018/05/18/what-is-the-church/ [4] Robert B. Thieme, Jr. “Divine Institutions”, Thieme's Bible Doctrine Dictionary, 72.

Jim Osman examines the significance of communion in 1 Corinthians 11:18-34, emphasizing its role as a divine institution and a memorial meal that symbolizes the unity of believers. He highlights how the Corinthian church's misuse of the Lord's Supper reflected deeper issues of division and selfishness. The focus is on understanding communion's true purpose and ensuring its observance worthily. The communion significance is essential for the church's unity and reflection on Christ's sacrifice. ★ Support this podcast ★

Jim Osman examines the significance of communion in 1 Corinthians 11:18-34, emphasizing its role as a divine institution and a memorial meal that symbolizes the unity of believers. He highlights how the Corinthian church's misuse of the Lord's Supper reflected deeper issues of division and selfishness. The focus is on understanding communion's true purpose and ensuring its observance worthily. The communion significance is essential for the church's unity and reflection on Christ's sacrifice. ★ Support this podcast ★

Sophie Bjork-James (Ph.D., Cultural Anthropology, City University of New York) is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Vanderbilt University. She has over ten years of experience researching both the US based Religious Right and the white nationalist movements. She is the author of The Divine Institution: White Evangelicalism's Politics of the Family (Rutgers 2021, winner of the Anne Bolin & Gil Herdt Book Prize) and the co-editor of Beyond Populism: Angry Politics and the Twilight of Neoliberalism (2020). She has been interviewed on the NBC Nightly News, NPR's All Things Considered, BBC Radio 4's Today, and in the New York Times. Her work has received support the Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research, the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, the American Academy of Religion, the National Science Foundation, and the Mellon Foundation. Visit Sophie Bjork-James online: https://sophiebjorkjames.com/ Visit Sacred Writes online: https://www.sacred-writes.org/acls-cohort-winter-2024

SUPPORT YANKEE ARNOLD MINISTRIES WITH YOUR DONATION HERE https://yankeearnold.com/donate/ REGISTER FOR DR. ARNOLD'S ONLINE CLASSES AT FLORIDA BIBLE COLLEGE OF TAMPA HERE https://www.floridabiblecollege.us OR EMAIL BOB GILBERT registrar@floridabiblecollege.us EMAIL DR. ARNOLD HERE yankee@yankeearnold.com VISIT OUR BOOKSTORE HERE https://yankeearnold.com/store/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pastor-yankee-arnold/support

SUPPORT YANKEE ARNOLD MINISTRIES WITH YOUR DONATION HERE https://yankeearnold.com/donate/ REGISTER FOR DR. ARNOLD'S ONLINE CLASSES AT FLORIDA BIBLE COLLEGE OF TAMPA HERE https://www.floridabiblecollege.us OR EMAIL BOB GILBERT registrar@floridabiblecollege.us EMAIL DR. ARNOLD HERE yankee@yankeearnold.com VISIT OUR BOOKSTORE HERE https://yankeearnold.com/store/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pastor-yankee-arnold/support

God's Word teaches these divine institutions—freedom, marriage, family, and nationalism. Click for Full Transcript: https://rhem.pub/institutions-transcript-01d40

The Bible teaches that we are all one race. So where does racism come from? Listen to this message to hear about a time when God intervened in human history and scattered the people of the earth by confusing their language. Find out that Nimrod was a mighty world leader who rebelled against God and led the people in building the Tower of Babel. See that racism came from the sin natures of people who made derogatory comments about people who differed from themselves. Learn that God's desire is for all people to seek Him and our mission, as believers, is to reach everyone with the gospel. During this Bible class Dr. Dean recommended the following website articles: Genesis According to the Miao People The Discovery of Genesis by C H Kang and Ethel R Nelson Genesis and the Mystery Confucius Couldn't Solve by Ethel R Nelson and Richard E Broadberry

Is the death penalty morally right? Listen to this message to learn that capital punishment is mandated by God and is necessary to provide safety for people. Understand that it was delegated by God to humans in government after Noah's flood. Learn if people can eat meat or if vegetarianism is necessary. See that the Divine Institutions of personal responsibility, marriage, and family are still part of God's plan for humans. Links to the articles that Dr. Dean mentioned during this class are as follows: When The Thames Froze Over: The ‘Little Ice Age' Thames Frost Fairs Science proves kids are bad for Earth. Morality suggests we stop having them. The French nationals going 'childfree' to save the planet Why this professor's climate-crisis solution is rankling Twitter: 'The worst thing you can do is have a child' Climate Changes Endanger World's Food Output

The Divine Institution: White Evangelicalism's Politics of the Family (Rutgers University Press, 2021) provides an account of how a theology of the family came to dominate a white evangelical tradition in the post-civil rights movement United States, providing a theological corollary to Religious Right politics. This tradition inherently enforces racial inequality in that it draws moral, religious, and political attention away from problems of racial and economic structural oppression, explaining all social problems as a failure of the individual to achieve the strong gender and sexual identities that ground the nuclear family. The consequences of this theology are both personal suffering for individuals who cannot measure up to prescribed gender and sexual roles, and political support for conservative government policies. Exposure to experiences that undermine the idea that an emphasis on the family is the solution to all social problems is causing a younger generation of white evangelicals to shift away from this narrow theological emphasis and toward a more social justice-oriented theology. The material and political effects of this shift remain to be seen. Sophie Bjork-James is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Vanderbilt University. She has over ten years of experience researching both the US based Religious Right and the white nationalist movements. She is the author of The Divine Institution: White Evangelicalism's Politics of the Family (Rutgers 2021, winner of the the Anne Bolin & Gil Herdt Book Prize from the Human Sexuality and Anthropology Interest Group (HSAIG)) and the co-editor of Beyond Populism: Angry Politics and the Twilight of Neoliberalism (2020). Her work has appeared recently in American Anthropologist, Oxford Bibliographies, the Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Feminist Anthropology, and Transforming Anthropology. She has been interviewed on the NBC Nightly News, NPR's All Things Considered, BBC Radio 4's Today, and in the New York Times. She has published op-eds in the LA Times, Religious Dispatches, and the Conversation among others. She is a senior fellow with the Centre for the Analysis of the Radical Right and a fellow with the Institute for Research on Male Supremacism and a board member for the Society for the Anthropology of Religion. Joseph Gaines can be reached at jgaines1091@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

The Divine Institution: White Evangelicalism's Politics of the Family (Rutgers University Press, 2021) provides an account of how a theology of the family came to dominate a white evangelical tradition in the post-civil rights movement United States, providing a theological corollary to Religious Right politics. This tradition inherently enforces racial inequality in that it draws moral, religious, and political attention away from problems of racial and economic structural oppression, explaining all social problems as a failure of the individual to achieve the strong gender and sexual identities that ground the nuclear family. The consequences of this theology are both personal suffering for individuals who cannot measure up to prescribed gender and sexual roles, and political support for conservative government policies. Exposure to experiences that undermine the idea that an emphasis on the family is the solution to all social problems is causing a younger generation of white evangelicals to shift away from this narrow theological emphasis and toward a more social justice-oriented theology. The material and political effects of this shift remain to be seen. Sophie Bjork-James is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Vanderbilt University. She has over ten years of experience researching both the US based Religious Right and the white nationalist movements. She is the author of The Divine Institution: White Evangelicalism's Politics of the Family (Rutgers 2021, winner of the the Anne Bolin & Gil Herdt Book Prize from the Human Sexuality and Anthropology Interest Group (HSAIG)) and the co-editor of Beyond Populism: Angry Politics and the Twilight of Neoliberalism (2020). Her work has appeared recently in American Anthropologist, Oxford Bibliographies, the Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Feminist Anthropology, and Transforming Anthropology. She has been interviewed on the NBC Nightly News, NPR's All Things Considered, BBC Radio 4's Today, and in the New York Times. She has published op-eds in the LA Times, Religious Dispatches, and the Conversation among others. She is a senior fellow with the Centre for the Analysis of the Radical Right and a fellow with the Institute for Research on Male Supremacism and a board member for the Society for the Anthropology of Religion. Joseph Gaines can be reached at jgaines1091@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/gender-studies

The Divine Institution: White Evangelicalism's Politics of the Family (Rutgers University Press, 2021) provides an account of how a theology of the family came to dominate a white evangelical tradition in the post-civil rights movement United States, providing a theological corollary to Religious Right politics. This tradition inherently enforces racial inequality in that it draws moral, religious, and political attention away from problems of racial and economic structural oppression, explaining all social problems as a failure of the individual to achieve the strong gender and sexual identities that ground the nuclear family. The consequences of this theology are both personal suffering for individuals who cannot measure up to prescribed gender and sexual roles, and political support for conservative government policies. Exposure to experiences that undermine the idea that an emphasis on the family is the solution to all social problems is causing a younger generation of white evangelicals to shift away from this narrow theological emphasis and toward a more social justice-oriented theology. The material and political effects of this shift remain to be seen. Sophie Bjork-James is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Vanderbilt University. She has over ten years of experience researching both the US based Religious Right and the white nationalist movements. She is the author of The Divine Institution: White Evangelicalism's Politics of the Family (Rutgers 2021, winner of the the Anne Bolin & Gil Herdt Book Prize from the Human Sexuality and Anthropology Interest Group (HSAIG)) and the co-editor of Beyond Populism: Angry Politics and the Twilight of Neoliberalism (2020). Her work has appeared recently in American Anthropologist, Oxford Bibliographies, the Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Feminist Anthropology, and Transforming Anthropology. She has been interviewed on the NBC Nightly News, NPR's All Things Considered, BBC Radio 4's Today, and in the New York Times. She has published op-eds in the LA Times, Religious Dispatches, and the Conversation among others. She is a senior fellow with the Centre for the Analysis of the Radical Right and a fellow with the Institute for Research on Male Supremacism and a board member for the Society for the Anthropology of Religion. Joseph Gaines can be reached at jgaines1091@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/anthropology

The Divine Institution: White Evangelicalism's Politics of the Family (Rutgers University Press, 2021) provides an account of how a theology of the family came to dominate a white evangelical tradition in the post-civil rights movement United States, providing a theological corollary to Religious Right politics. This tradition inherently enforces racial inequality in that it draws moral, religious, and political attention away from problems of racial and economic structural oppression, explaining all social problems as a failure of the individual to achieve the strong gender and sexual identities that ground the nuclear family. The consequences of this theology are both personal suffering for individuals who cannot measure up to prescribed gender and sexual roles, and political support for conservative government policies. Exposure to experiences that undermine the idea that an emphasis on the family is the solution to all social problems is causing a younger generation of white evangelicals to shift away from this narrow theological emphasis and toward a more social justice-oriented theology. The material and political effects of this shift remain to be seen. Sophie Bjork-James is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Vanderbilt University. She has over ten years of experience researching both the US based Religious Right and the white nationalist movements. She is the author of The Divine Institution: White Evangelicalism's Politics of the Family (Rutgers 2021, winner of the the Anne Bolin & Gil Herdt Book Prize from the Human Sexuality and Anthropology Interest Group (HSAIG)) and the co-editor of Beyond Populism: Angry Politics and the Twilight of Neoliberalism (2020). Her work has appeared recently in American Anthropologist, Oxford Bibliographies, the Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Feminist Anthropology, and Transforming Anthropology. She has been interviewed on the NBC Nightly News, NPR's All Things Considered, BBC Radio 4's Today, and in the New York Times. She has published op-eds in the LA Times, Religious Dispatches, and the Conversation among others. She is a senior fellow with the Centre for the Analysis of the Radical Right and a fellow with the Institute for Research on Male Supremacism and a board member for the Society for the Anthropology of Religion. Joseph Gaines can be reached at jgaines1091@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology

The Divine Institution: White Evangelicalism's Politics of the Family (Rutgers University Press, 2021) provides an account of how a theology of the family came to dominate a white evangelical tradition in the post-civil rights movement United States, providing a theological corollary to Religious Right politics. This tradition inherently enforces racial inequality in that it draws moral, religious, and political attention away from problems of racial and economic structural oppression, explaining all social problems as a failure of the individual to achieve the strong gender and sexual identities that ground the nuclear family. The consequences of this theology are both personal suffering for individuals who cannot measure up to prescribed gender and sexual roles, and political support for conservative government policies. Exposure to experiences that undermine the idea that an emphasis on the family is the solution to all social problems is causing a younger generation of white evangelicals to shift away from this narrow theological emphasis and toward a more social justice-oriented theology. The material and political effects of this shift remain to be seen. Sophie Bjork-James is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Vanderbilt University. She has over ten years of experience researching both the US based Religious Right and the white nationalist movements. She is the author of The Divine Institution: White Evangelicalism's Politics of the Family (Rutgers 2021, winner of the the Anne Bolin & Gil Herdt Book Prize from the Human Sexuality and Anthropology Interest Group (HSAIG)) and the co-editor of Beyond Populism: Angry Politics and the Twilight of Neoliberalism (2020). Her work has appeared recently in American Anthropologist, Oxford Bibliographies, the Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Feminist Anthropology, and Transforming Anthropology. She has been interviewed on the NBC Nightly News, NPR's All Things Considered, BBC Radio 4's Today, and in the New York Times. She has published op-eds in the LA Times, Religious Dispatches, and the Conversation among others. She is a senior fellow with the Centre for the Analysis of the Radical Right and a fellow with the Institute for Research on Male Supremacism and a board member for the Society for the Anthropology of Religion. Joseph Gaines can be reached at jgaines1091@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

The Divine Institution: White Evangelicalism's Politics of the Family (Rutgers University Press, 2021) provides an account of how a theology of the family came to dominate a white evangelical tradition in the post-civil rights movement United States, providing a theological corollary to Religious Right politics. This tradition inherently enforces racial inequality in that it draws moral, religious, and political attention away from problems of racial and economic structural oppression, explaining all social problems as a failure of the individual to achieve the strong gender and sexual identities that ground the nuclear family. The consequences of this theology are both personal suffering for individuals who cannot measure up to prescribed gender and sexual roles, and political support for conservative government policies. Exposure to experiences that undermine the idea that an emphasis on the family is the solution to all social problems is causing a younger generation of white evangelicals to shift away from this narrow theological emphasis and toward a more social justice-oriented theology. The material and political effects of this shift remain to be seen. Sophie Bjork-James is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Vanderbilt University. She has over ten years of experience researching both the US based Religious Right and the white nationalist movements. She is the author of The Divine Institution: White Evangelicalism's Politics of the Family (Rutgers 2021, winner of the the Anne Bolin & Gil Herdt Book Prize from the Human Sexuality and Anthropology Interest Group (HSAIG)) and the co-editor of Beyond Populism: Angry Politics and the Twilight of Neoliberalism (2020). Her work has appeared recently in American Anthropologist, Oxford Bibliographies, the Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Feminist Anthropology, and Transforming Anthropology. She has been interviewed on the NBC Nightly News, NPR's All Things Considered, BBC Radio 4's Today, and in the New York Times. She has published op-eds in the LA Times, Religious Dispatches, and the Conversation among others. She is a senior fellow with the Centre for the Analysis of the Radical Right and a fellow with the Institute for Research on Male Supremacism and a board member for the Society for the Anthropology of Religion. Joseph Gaines can be reached at jgaines1091@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/religion

The Divine Institution: White Evangelicalism's Politics of the Family (Rutgers University Press, 2021) provides an account of how a theology of the family came to dominate a white evangelical tradition in the post-civil rights movement United States, providing a theological corollary to Religious Right politics. This tradition inherently enforces racial inequality in that it draws moral, religious, and political attention away from problems of racial and economic structural oppression, explaining all social problems as a failure of the individual to achieve the strong gender and sexual identities that ground the nuclear family. The consequences of this theology are both personal suffering for individuals who cannot measure up to prescribed gender and sexual roles, and political support for conservative government policies. Exposure to experiences that undermine the idea that an emphasis on the family is the solution to all social problems is causing a younger generation of white evangelicals to shift away from this narrow theological emphasis and toward a more social justice-oriented theology. The material and political effects of this shift remain to be seen. Sophie Bjork-James is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Vanderbilt University. She has over ten years of experience researching both the US based Religious Right and the white nationalist movements. She is the author of The Divine Institution: White Evangelicalism's Politics of the Family (Rutgers 2021, winner of the the Anne Bolin & Gil Herdt Book Prize from the Human Sexuality and Anthropology Interest Group (HSAIG)) and the co-editor of Beyond Populism: Angry Politics and the Twilight of Neoliberalism (2020). Her work has appeared recently in American Anthropologist, Oxford Bibliographies, the Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Feminist Anthropology, and Transforming Anthropology. She has been interviewed on the NBC Nightly News, NPR's All Things Considered, BBC Radio 4's Today, and in the New York Times. She has published op-eds in the LA Times, Religious Dispatches, and the Conversation among others. She is a senior fellow with the Centre for the Analysis of the Radical Right and a fellow with the Institute for Research on Male Supremacism and a board member for the Society for the Anthropology of Religion. Joseph Gaines can be reached at jgaines1091@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Divine Institution: White Evangelicalism's Politics of the Family (Rutgers University Press, 2021) provides an account of how a theology of the family came to dominate a white evangelical tradition in the post-civil rights movement United States, providing a theological corollary to Religious Right politics. This tradition inherently enforces racial inequality in that it draws moral, religious, and political attention away from problems of racial and economic structural oppression, explaining all social problems as a failure of the individual to achieve the strong gender and sexual identities that ground the nuclear family. The consequences of this theology are both personal suffering for individuals who cannot measure up to prescribed gender and sexual roles, and political support for conservative government policies. Exposure to experiences that undermine the idea that an emphasis on the family is the solution to all social problems is causing a younger generation of white evangelicals to shift away from this narrow theological emphasis and toward a more social justice-oriented theology. The material and political effects of this shift remain to be seen. Sophie Bjork-James is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Vanderbilt University. She has over ten years of experience researching both the US based Religious Right and the white nationalist movements. She is the author of The Divine Institution: White Evangelicalism's Politics of the Family (Rutgers 2021, winner of the the Anne Bolin & Gil Herdt Book Prize from the Human Sexuality and Anthropology Interest Group (HSAIG)) and the co-editor of Beyond Populism: Angry Politics and the Twilight of Neoliberalism (2020). Her work has appeared recently in American Anthropologist, Oxford Bibliographies, the Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Feminist Anthropology, and Transforming Anthropology. She has been interviewed on the NBC Nightly News, NPR's All Things Considered, BBC Radio 4's Today, and in the New York Times. She has published op-eds in the LA Times, Religious Dispatches, and the Conversation among others. She is a senior fellow with the Centre for the Analysis of the Radical Right and a fellow with the Institute for Research on Male Supremacism and a board member for the Society for the Anthropology of Religion. Joseph Gaines can be reached at jgaines1091@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Divine Institution: White Evangelicalism's Politics of the Family (Rutgers University Press, 2021) provides an account of how a theology of the family came to dominate a white evangelical tradition in the post-civil rights movement United States, providing a theological corollary to Religious Right politics. This tradition inherently enforces racial inequality in that it draws moral, religious, and political attention away from problems of racial and economic structural oppression, explaining all social problems as a failure of the individual to achieve the strong gender and sexual identities that ground the nuclear family. The consequences of this theology are both personal suffering for individuals who cannot measure up to prescribed gender and sexual roles, and political support for conservative government policies. Exposure to experiences that undermine the idea that an emphasis on the family is the solution to all social problems is causing a younger generation of white evangelicals to shift away from this narrow theological emphasis and toward a more social justice-oriented theology. The material and political effects of this shift remain to be seen. Sophie Bjork-James is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Vanderbilt University. She has over ten years of experience researching both the US based Religious Right and the white nationalist movements. She is the author of The Divine Institution: White Evangelicalism's Politics of the Family (Rutgers 2021, winner of the the Anne Bolin & Gil Herdt Book Prize from the Human Sexuality and Anthropology Interest Group (HSAIG)) and the co-editor of Beyond Populism: Angry Politics and the Twilight of Neoliberalism (2020). Her work has appeared recently in American Anthropologist, Oxford Bibliographies, the Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Feminist Anthropology, and Transforming Anthropology. She has been interviewed on the NBC Nightly News, NPR's All Things Considered, BBC Radio 4's Today, and in the New York Times. She has published op-eds in the LA Times, Religious Dispatches, and the Conversation among others. She is a senior fellow with the Centre for the Analysis of the Radical Right and a fellow with the Institute for Research on Male Supremacism and a board member for the Society for the Anthropology of Religion. Joseph Gaines can be reached at jgaines1091@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/christian-studies

What does the Bible have to say about work? Listen to this lesson to learn that from the beginning of creation mankind has always been told to work. See that one of the reasons is so that we may be able to help others who are in need as a part of our grace orientation. Find out that responsible labor is a part of the first Divine Institution. See how laziness is treated in Scripture and accept that all labor has value.

What does the Bible have to say about work? Listen to this lesson to learn that from the beginning of creation mankind has always been told to work. See that one of the reasons is so that we may be able to help others who are in need as a part of our grace orientation. Find out that responsible labor is a part of the first Divine Institution. See how laziness is treated in Scripture and accept that all labor has value.

What does the Bible have to say about work? Listen to this lesson to learn that from the beginning of creation mankind has always been told to work. See that one of the reasons is so that we may be able to help others who are in need as a part of our grace orientation. Find out that responsible labor is a part of the first Divine Institution. See how laziness is treated in Scripture and accept that all labor has value.

When God created mankind, did He design social structures so they would prosper? Listen to this lesson to learn about the first three social structures God decreed to help the human race know how to live the right way. Find out that when mankind follows these Divine Institutions they live fulfilling lives, and when they disobey them and try to create their own rules, they live in chaos and turmoil. See the importance of submission and authority and the Creator-creature distinction.

Are you ready to have a little fun while learning about the Bible? Stand up and join in as we are led through the motions depicting 19 foundational events in the Bible. Then listen for a detailed account of God as the Creator God. See how the world and everything in it was created by God by His spoken word and find out how this reveals His character. Learn ways to teach this to children and build on it as they are able to understand more. Realize that we were created for purpose and meaning in our lives that can only be known by studying God's Word. The handout for this class is available under the Text: notes link.

How would you explain God and His revealed word, the Bible, to a child or someone unfamiliar with it? Listen to this message to begin a study in the first book of the Bible that tells about origins. Learn about creation and that God created the world out of nothing but spoke it into existence. Hear three principles that will help you remember this and marvel at God's powerful and awe-inspiring attributes.

Pastors ' Point of View Ep. 237 with Dr. Andy Woods   “Prophecy Update”  Topics covered:  1. The World against Israel 2. Divine Institutions demolition 3. Cultural Marxism 4. Global religion 5. Global tyranny 6. Global persecution 7. MOTB technology 8. Apostasy.   Thanks for listening!  This is our last broadcast for the year. We will see you in the year 2023. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 

“Our Belief concerning Civil Government: 1” Genesis 9:1-17 Belgic Confession, Article 36 I. The Necessary Purpose of Government A. The Progress of Humanity B. The Presence of Sin II. The Divine Institution of Government A. The Revelation of the Divine Institution B. The Implications of the Divine Institution III. The Limited Role of Government A. To Punish Evil B. The Protect the Good Rev. Greg Lubbers

In today's episode, Mother Miriam reads a LifeSiteNews article about the government's role in protecting the traditional family.To help keep this and other programs on the air, please donate: https://give.lifesitenews.com/sustainlife?utm_source=mml_091322You can tune in daily at 10 am EST/7 am PST on our Facebook Page: http://FB.com/mothermiriamliveSubscribe to Mother Miriam Live at: http://bit.ly/submml Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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SUPPORT YANKEE ARNOLD MINISTRIES WITH YOUR DONATION HERE https://yankeearnold.com/donate/ REGISTER FOR DR. ARNOLD'S ONLINE CLASSES AT FLORIDA BIBLE COLLEGE OF TAMPA HERE https://www.floridabiblecollege.us OR EMAIL BOB GILBERT registrar@floridabiblecollege.us EMAIL DR. ARNOLD HERE yankee@yankeearnold.com VISIT OUR BOOKSTORE HERE https://yankeearnold.com/store/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/pastor-yankee-arnold/support

April 24, 2022 - Morning Service | Marriage is a divine institution rooted in the creation account, and therefore it should be held in honor the way God has defined it by all people. - Rev. Ben Falconer

The first 4 Divine Institutions (DIs) were established by God before man fell into sin: (1) FREE-WILL, (2) WORK, (3) MARRIAGE, and (4) FAMILY. Therefore these are the primary DIs, which God ordained to form the main structure for our social life. When the Fall happened, sin came into the world, along with the lawless spirit of satan, which attacks the DIs (e.g, crime attacks our personal freedom). Thus the Fall made it necessary to bring in the next two DIs of (5) HUMAN GOVERNMENT and (6) the NATION STATE, in order to protect the first 4 DIs, by restraining sin and limiting the spread of its evil consequences. The division of mankind into nations is necessary to restrain the spread of the virus of sin and evil around the world, because if evil takes over one nation, at least it can be contained within its borders, whereas a one-world system is vulnerable to being completely taken over by evil. If all humanity was united under a One-World Government, an evil man would become world dictator, and be satan's instrument to control all mankind, forcing men to reject the true God. This was and is satan's Plan. So, the main Purpose of the DIs of Human Government and the Nation State is not to interfere in our lives, by overriding our freedoms, but to restrain the spread of evil, which always attacks freedom, and the other primary DIs: (1) by maintaining Law and Order within the Nation, and (2) by defending the Nation against all external attacks. In this video, we focus on the 7th and final Divine Institution - the CHURCH of Jesus Christ, which has been invested with spiritual authority by God. The Church is God's spiritual Representative in the earth, entrusted with the Gospel of Salvation. As a DI, it exists for the sake of all people, including non-members. Its purposes are: (1) to fulfil the Great Commission by preaching the Gospel for the salvation of all people (Mark 16:15-20, Rom 1:16-17), and to teach and make disciples of all people (Matt 28:19), (2) to pray for all men, especially for those in authority, creating peaceful conditions, so that the Gospel might spread freely (1Tim 2:1-4), and (3) to restrain evil and lawlessness in the earth (2Thess 2:6-8, Matt 5:13-16). We have been given the spiritual authority (the keys of the kingdom) to get this job done (Matt 16:18-19). The Church is called to uphold, honour and protect all the DIs, by teaching the truth, preaching the Gospel, and exercising her spiritual authority in prayer, thereby restraining the spirit of lawlessness, which seeks to destroy our freedoms and even society itself, by undermining the DIs, which provide peace, freedom and order, which are necessary for us to be free to fulfil our mission of preaching the Gospel. We are the SALT of the earth (Matt 5:13). SALT is TRUTH, which restrains corruption. The SALT of God's WORD includes the TRUTH of the DIs, so as we respect, value and hold forth the TRUTH of freedom, marriage, family, work, the government, the nation-state and the church, we help to restrain corruption (lawlessness) in society. We must stand for the truth of the 7 DIs. We are SALTY by speaking TRUTH and living in RIGHTEOUSNESS, honouring the DIs, and thereby we restrain the spirit of lawlessness in this world. In our prayers, we are to pray for the DIs (for all those in authority), and to stand against the satanic spirit of lawlessness. The Purpose of the Church is to bring men to Salvation through the Gospel and to know the truth through the Word of God (the Great Commission), but that requires the establishment of peace and order in society through the DIs, so it is of first importance that we pray for the authorities (the DIs).

The first 4 Divine Institutions (DIs) were established by God before man fell into sin: (1) FREE-WILL, (2) WORK, (3) MARRIAGE, and (4) FAMILY. Therefore these are the primary DIs, which God ordained to form the main structure for our social life. When the Fall happened, sin came into the world, along with the lawless spirit of satan, which attacks the DIs (e.g, crime attacks our personal freedom). Thus the Fall made it necessary to bring in the next two DIs of (5) HUMAN GOVERNMENT and (6) the NATION STATE, in order to protect the first 4 DIs, by restraining sin and limiting the spread of its evil consequences. The division of mankind into nations is necessary to restrain the spread of the virus of sin and evil around the world, because if evil takes over one nation, at least it can be contained within its borders, whereas a one-world system is vulnerable to being completely taken over by evil. If all humanity was united under a One-World Government, an evil man would become world dictator, and be satan's instrument to control all mankind, forcing men to reject the true God. This was and is satan's Plan. So, the main Purpose of the DIs of Human Government and the Nation State is not to interfere in our lives, by overriding our freedoms, but to restrain the spread of evil, which always attacks freedom, and the other primary DIs: (1) by maintaining Law and Order within the Nation, and (2) by defending the Nation against all external attacks. In this video, we focus on the 7th and final Divine Institution - the CHURCH of Jesus Christ, which has been invested with spiritual authority by God. The Church is God's spiritual Representative in the earth, entrusted with the Gospel of Salvation. As a DI, it exists for the sake of all people, including non-members. Its purposes are: (1) to fulfil the Great Commission by preaching the Gospel for the salvation of all people (Mark 16:15-20, Rom 1:16-17), and to teach and make disciples of all people (Matt 28:19), (2) to pray for all men, especially for those in authority, creating peaceful conditions, so that the Gospel might spread freely (1Tim 2:1-4), and (3) to restrain evil and lawlessness in the earth (2Thess 2:6-8, Matt 5:13-16). We have been given the spiritual authority (the keys of the kingdom) to get this job done (Matt 16:18-19). The Church is called to uphold, honour and protect all the DIs, by teaching the truth, preaching the Gospel, and exercising her spiritual authority in prayer, thereby restraining the spirit of lawlessness, which seeks to destroy our freedoms and even society itself, by undermining the DIs, which provide peace, freedom and order, which are necessary for us to be free to fulfil our mission of preaching the Gospel. We are the SALT of the earth (Matt 5:13). SALT is TRUTH, which restrains corruption. The SALT of God's WORD includes the TRUTH of the DIs, so as we respect, value and hold forth the TRUTH of freedom, marriage, family, work, the government, the nation-state and the church, we help to restrain corruption (lawlessness) in society. We must stand for the truth of the 7 DIs. We are SALTY by speaking TRUTH and living in RIGHTEOUSNESS, honouring the DIs, and thereby we restrain the spirit of lawlessness in this world. In our prayers, we are to pray for the DIs (for all those in authority), and to stand against the satanic spirit of lawlessness. The Purpose of the Church is to bring men to Salvation through the Gospel and to know the truth through the Word of God (the Great Commission), but that requires the establishment of peace and order in society through the DIs, so it is of first importance that we pray for the authorities (the DIs).

The first 4 Divine Institutions (DIs) were established by God before man fell into sin: (1) FREE-WILL, (2) WORK, (3) MARRIAGE, and (4) FAMILY. Therefore these are the primary DIs, which God ordained to form the main structure for our social life. When the Fall happened, sin came into the world, along with the lawless spirit of satan, which attacks the DIs (e.g, crime attacks our personal freedom). Thus the Fall made it necessary to bring in the next two DIs of (5) HUMAN GOVERNMENT and (6) the NATION STATE, in order to protect the first 4 DIs, by restraining sin and limiting the spread of its evil consequences. The division of mankind into nations is necessary to restrain the spread of the virus of sin and evil around the world, because if evil takes over one nation, at least it can be contained within its borders, whereas a one-world system is vulnerable to being completely taken over by evil. If all humanity was united under a One-World Government, an evil man would become world dictator, and be satan's instrument to control all mankind, forcing men to reject the true God. This was and is satan's Plan. So, the main Purpose of the DIs of Human Government and the Nation State is not to interfere in our lives, by overriding our freedoms, but to restrain the spread of evil, which always attacks freedom, and the other primary DIs: (1) by maintaining Law and Order within the Nation, and (2) by defending the Nation against all external attacks. In this video, we focus on the 7th and final Divine Institution - the CHURCH of Jesus Christ, which has been invested with spiritual authority by God. The Church is God's spiritual Representative in the earth, entrusted with the Gospel of Salvation. As a DI, it exists for the sake of all people, including non-members. Its purposes are: (1) to fulfil the Great Commission by preaching the Gospel for the salvation of all people (Mark 16:15-20, Rom 1:16-17), and to teach and make disciples of all people (Matt 28:19), (2) to pray for all men, especially for those in authority, creating peaceful conditions, so that the Gospel might spread freely (1Tim 2:1-4), and (3) to restrain evil and lawlessness in the earth (2Thess 2:6-8, Matt 5:13-16). We have been given the spiritual authority (the keys of the kingdom) to get this job done (Matt 16:18-19). The Church is called to uphold, honour and protect all the DIs, by teaching the truth, preaching the Gospel, and exercising her spiritual authority in prayer, thereby restraining the spirit of lawlessness, which seeks to destroy our freedoms and even society itself, by undermining the DIs, which provide peace, freedom and order, which are necessary for us to be free to fulfil our mission of preaching the Gospel. We are the SALT of the earth (Matt 5:13). SALT is TRUTH, which restrains corruption. The SALT of God's WORD includes the TRUTH of the DIs, so as we respect, value and hold forth the TRUTH of freedom, marriage, family, work, the government, the nation-state and the church, we help to restrain corruption (lawlessness) in society. We must stand for the truth of the 7 DIs. We are SALTY by speaking TRUTH and living in RIGHTEOUSNESS, honouring the DIs, and thereby we restrain the spirit of lawlessness in this world. In our prayers, we are to pray for the DIs (for all those in authority), and to stand against the satanic spirit of lawlessness. The Purpose of the Church is to bring men to Salvation through the Gospel and to know the truth through the Word of God (the Great Commission), but that requires the establishment of peace and order in society through the DIs, so it is of first importance that we pray for the authorities (the DIs).

Human authorities are imperfect, but we are still required to submit to their authority, which is from God. Authority can be abusive, when it oversteps its boundaries, especially if it tries to override our free-will without good cause. In such cases, we are not required to OBEY it, especially if it tells us to do something that is contradictory to God's Word, which is the higher authority: “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). However, we are to maintain a respectful, submissive attitude toward that authority, even when we are justified in disobeying it, because that authority is ordained by God. An illustration of how the spirit of lawlessness (rebellion) works (manifests itself), when the authority fails, is seen from the story in Genesis 9 of Noah's drunkenness after the Flood. This reveals how the spirit of lawlessness works to undermine, discredit and destroy the authority, when it gets the chance. It looks for an opportunity to strike when the authority fails, using this occasion as an excuse and basis to attack and even overthrow that authority, all done under a cloak of righteousness. Thus the lawlessness (rebellion) in a person's heart is often manifested when an authority sins or fails. This story also reveals that those who are rebellious against God-ordained authorities) come under a curse. The first 4 Divine Institutions (Free-will, Work, Marriage, Family) were all established by God in Genesis 1-2, before the Fall of man, so they define and describe how God has structured our society, revealing the way that He intends us to live together. So it is vital we honour these institutions and authorities as being of God. The next 2 Divine Institutions: HUMAN GOVERNMENT (Genesis 9:5-6) and the NATION STATE (Genesis 11, Deut 32:8, Acts 17:26) were brought in after the Fall, in order to restrain sin and to limit the spread of its evil consequences, and to help create a society of order and peace, so that the Gospel can go forth freely (1Timothy 2:2-4). Through the DI of HUMAN GOVERNMENT, God gave man the responsibility and authority to restrain evil in society, and to exercise judgment upon evil. So the primary purpose of Human Government is to maintain Law and Order - restraining evil, by punishing evildoers, according to justice (Romans 13:1-7, 1Peter 2:13-17). The DIVISION of mankind into NATIONS was instituted by God at the Tower of Babel, when He multiplied the languages. This was necessary, because satan's plan was to use the Institution of Human Government to unite fallen mankind under a One World Government at Babel, in rebellion against God. The Tower of Babel was satan's first attempt to bring mankind under one ruler (Nimrod, a type of his final world-ruler, the antichrist). Satan's plan is to create a totalitarian one-world government, under one evil ruler, so he can subjugate all humanity to his will, and cut them off from God, forcing them to worship his antichrist instead of worshipping God. Although globalism with a one-world government sounds like a good idea, it will be the means for evil to take over the world. The one-world vision is based on humanism, that man is basically good, who can create utopia independently from God. But man is sinful and corrupted by power, so this project is doomed to failure. With satan's help, an evil man will take all the power, and then evil will take over the world through him. So God restrains evil by dividing the world into different nations, which limits the power of any evil ruler. If an evil dictator takes over a nation, his control is limited to that nation. Thus, the spread of evil is restrained. At this time, satan's spirit of lawlessness wants to destroy all the Divine Institutions, which are God-ordained structures, which preserve freedom, and stand in the way of satan's one-world government under antichrist. In particular, satan wants to destroy the Nation State, by removing borders and replacing nationalism by globalism. In the Tribulation, in the last 3.5 years, satan will succeed in establishing his totalitarian one-world government, with antichrist as world-dictator, forcing everyone under penalty of death to take the mark of the beast, and reject God and His Christ, and instead worship the antichrist. Thus, the modern rise of globalism is a sign of the end-times. God will destroy this lawless one-world empire established in rebellion against God (Babylon the Great, the 2nd Tower of Babel), just as He judged man's rebellion at the first Tower of Babel. He will do this at the 2nd Coming of Christ, when King Jesus will establish His Kingdom over the whole earth. Thus God ordained the Nation State, giving it the right (authority) to protect and defend its borders, to be a brake on the spread of evil over the world, and to restrain satan's efforts to set up his one-world antichrist empire. Based on the 5th and 6th Divine Institutions, Human Government and Nation State, the 2 main purposes

Human authorities are imperfect, but we are still required to submit to their authority, which is from God. Authority can be abusive, when it oversteps its boundaries, especially if it tries to override our free-will without good cause. In such cases, we are not required to OBEY it, especially if it tells us to do something that is contradictory to God's Word, which is the higher authority: “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). However, we are to maintain a respectful, submissive attitude toward that authority, even when we are justified in disobeying it, because that authority is ordained by God. An illustration of how the spirit of lawlessness (rebellion) works (manifests itself), when the authority fails, is seen from the story in Genesis 9 of Noah's drunkenness after the Flood. This reveals how the spirit of lawlessness works to undermine, discredit and destroy the authority, when it gets the chance. It looks for an opportunity to strike when the authority fails, using this occasion as an excuse and basis to attack and even overthrow that authority, all done under a cloak of righteousness. Thus the lawlessness (rebellion) in a person's heart is often manifested when an authority sins or fails. This story also reveals that those who are rebellious against God-ordained authorities) come under a curse. The first 4 Divine Institutions (Free-will, Work, Marriage, Family) were all established by God in Genesis 1-2, before the Fall of man, so they define and describe how God has structured our society, revealing the way that He intends us to live together. So it is vital we honour these institutions and authorities as being of God. The next 2 Divine Institutions: HUMAN GOVERNMENT (Genesis 9:5-6) and the NATION STATE (Genesis 11, Deut 32:8, Acts 17:26) were brought in after the Fall, in order to restrain sin and to limit the spread of its evil consequences, and to help create a society of order and peace, so that the Gospel can go forth freely (1Timothy 2:2-4). Through the DI of HUMAN GOVERNMENT, God gave man the responsibility and authority to restrain evil in society, and to exercise judgment upon evil. So the primary purpose of Human Government is to maintain Law and Order - restraining evil, by punishing evildoers, according to justice (Romans 13:1-7, 1Peter 2:13-17). The DIVISION of mankind into NATIONS was instituted by God at the Tower of Babel, when He multiplied the languages. This was necessary, because satan's plan was to use the Institution of Human Government to unite fallen mankind under a One World Government at Babel, in rebellion against God. The Tower of Babel was satan's first attempt to bring mankind under one ruler (Nimrod, a type of his final world-ruler, the antichrist). Satan's plan is to create a totalitarian one-world government, under one evil ruler, so he can subjugate all humanity to his will, and cut them off from God, forcing them to worship his antichrist instead of worshipping God. Although globalism with a one-world government sounds like a good idea, it will be the means for evil to take over the world. The one-world vision is based on humanism, that man is basically good, who can create utopia independently from God. But man is sinful and corrupted by power, so this project is doomed to failure. With satan's help, an evil man will take all the power, and then evil will take over the world through him. So God restrains evil by dividing the world into different nations, which limits the power of any evil ruler. If an evil dictator takes over a nation, his control is limited to that nation. Thus, the spread of evil is restrained. At this time, satan's spirit of lawlessness wants to destroy all the Divine Institutions, which are God-ordained structures, which preserve freedom, and stand in the way of satan's one-world government under antichrist. In particular, satan wants to destroy the Nation State, by removing borders and replacing nationalism by globalism. In the Tribulation, in the last 3.5 years, satan will succeed in establishing his totalitarian one-world government, with antichrist as world-dictator, forcing everyone under penalty of death to take the mark of the beast, and reject God and His Christ, and instead worship the antichrist. Thus, the modern rise of globalism is a sign of the end-times. God will destroy this lawless one-world empire established in rebellion against God (Babylon the Great, the 2nd Tower of Babel), just as He judged man's rebellion at the first Tower of Babel. He will do this at the 2nd Coming of Christ, when King Jesus will establish His Kingdom over the whole earth. Thus God ordained the Nation State, giving it the right (authority) to protect and defend its borders, to be a brake on the spread of evil over the world, and to restrain satan's efforts to set up his one-world antichrist empire. Based on the 5th and 6th Divine Institutions, Human Government and Nation State, the 2 main purposes

A major key to the order, peace and stability of our society is that the Divine Institutions (DIs) are upheld as God intended, and a major key to our personal success in life is discerning, honouring and submitting to God's authorities in these DIs. Our submission to God is not just about our direct relationship with Him. A major part of being submitted to God is being submitted to His Government in the earth, which is mediated through the delegated authorities of His Divine Institutions (Romans 13:1-2). Although human authorities are imperfect, we are still required to submit to their authority from God, remembering that He will hold all authorities accountable for how they use their authority, for they are functioning under His authority. This video especially focuses on revealing the ORIGIN and NATURE of LAWLESSNESS, which is not just transgression, but rebellion against God and His authority. It seeks to undermine, overturn and destroy the authority of God, including the DIs. We need to discern the spirit of lawlessness, and be on guard against it, wherever it is working in the world, because it is toxic to our spiritual life and health - it originates from the spirit of satan. Jesus predicted in the end-times: “Lawlessness will abound" and as a result "the love of many will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12). Like Christ, we must love righteousness and hate lawlessness (Hebrews 1:9). Lawlessness rejects God, the Source of all authority, which results in atheism and secular humanism, with its ultimate manifestation in atheistic communism, where God is rejected and His Divine Institutions (especially free-will) are subjugated under the all-powerful totalitarian state, resulting in the destruction of freedom. The whole world is heading towards experiencing a global totalitarian dictatorship under the antichrist - 'the man of sin' (2Thess 2:3), literally: 'the man of lawlessness' (the embodiment of lawlessness), who will be possessed by satan. Right now the spirit of lawlessness is at work in the world, but the Holy Spirit through the Church is restraining it, delaying the revelation of the antichrist (the ultimate manifestation of lawlessness) until the time ordained by God. This restraining action will continue until the Church is taken out of the way in the Rapture, and then the lawless one (the antichrist) will be revealed in the Tribulation. But when Christ returns in power and glory at the end of the Tribulation, He will totally destroy him (2Thess 2:6-8).

God governs this world through delegated authorities, through human beings, who carry His authority. There are 7 different realms of delegated human authority called the Divine Institutions. The spirit of lawlessness in the world comes from satan. Lawlessness is not just disobedience to God, but the very rejection of God's authority and His right to rule over us. It is rebellion against all law and authority. Jesus said in Matthew 24:12: “Because LAWLESSNESS will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” This spirit of lawlessness will come to its fullness in the antichrist, the man of lawlessness (2Thess 2:3), and it involves a rejection of all Divine Authority, including His Divine Institutions. The 4 Divine Institutions established by God BEFORE the FALL: (1) Free-will, (2) Work, (3) Marriage, (4) Family. Free-Will is the first and fundamental Divine Institution (D.I). The other DIs are built on the foundation of free-will. When they work properly, they protect our freedom by creating a society of order and peace. This video focuses on the what God's Word tells us about the DIs of WORK, MARRIAGE (husband and wife) and FAMILY (parents and children). The lawless view says authority is the problem, and if you remove authority then all will be well, but actually sin is the real problem. So, children need the restraint of authority, until they learn to master their flesh (sin-nature), at least in a basic way. They need authority to grow up properly, otherwise they become spoilt and selfish. If you just let children do whatever they want, their selfish sin-nature will be fully expressed and thrive, and you will spoil them, and they will end up disrespecting their parents, teachers and other authorities. When you take the restraint of authority away, lawlessness thrives, and as a result everyone loses their freedom, because it becomes a lawless environment - chaos reigns. Righteous authority creates an atmosphere of order, peace and unity. It protects freedom and good self-expression. Abusive authority should be dealt with, but not by diminishing or destroying the principle and institution of authority itself. Rather we need to teach authorities how to express their authority correctly in love. All authorities should sanctify God as the final authority, to whom they are accountable. Your authority is delegated to you by God, in order to represent Him. It does not give you the right to do what you want. God will hold you accountable and judge you for how you have used your authority. We are to carry our authority in humility before God and man. Don't be ashamed to claim and operate in your authority, but if you misrepresent God, and treat your children wrongly or unfairly, don't be ashamed to apologise, for you are acknowledging that you are under a higher authority. Let them know that you are under God's authority, and that your authority comes from God (it is not intrinsic to you), and that you are to represent God, and are accountable to Him. This is how you sanctify God. This makes you accountable, and will cause them to respect you more. If they understand that you are acting under God's authority, then you will carry more authority in their eyes, because they will see you as representing God and acting with His authority, so that by submitting to your leadership, they are also submitting to God. Sanctifying God also makes you accountable, so when you fail, you apologise, and that will cause them to respect you more.

A major way God, the Lawgiver, governs this world and expresses His authority is through the DIVINE INSTITUTIONS, which are spheres of delegated human authority in the earth. He governs through human beings, who carry His authority, in 7 distinct realms: (1) FREE-WILL – our God-given authority over our own life, (2) WORK, (3) MARRIAGE (between a man and a woman), (4) FAMILY (this includes their children), (5) Human GOVERNMENT, (6) the NATION STATE, and (7) the CHURCH. These define the distinct realms of delegated authority that God entrusts to man. The first 4 Divine Institutions were introduced by God at the beginning before the Fall of man. The opposite spirit to God's Spirit is the spirit of lawlessness, which rejects God's Law in this world, especially through the Divine Institutions. The Bible predicts that in the end-times the spirit of lawlessness will increase in the world and even infect many in the Church. Lawlessness is not just breaking God's Law of God, but it is to reject the Law of God itself. It is rebellion against God's authority and right to govern the world. The spirit of lawlessness attacks and seeks to undermine true authority, especially as embodied in and expressed through the Divine Institutions, as defined by God's Word. A big part of our submission to God is submitting to the human authorities in our life, for they carry the authority of God. All authority comes from God. Only God has absolute authority, but He delegates His authority to man, so man is meant to exercise authority under God, in His Name. God entrusts man with authority and holds him accountable for how he uses it. We are called to honour and submit to God's delegated authorities, even though they are imperfect. The spirit of lawlessness seeks to overthrow God's delegated authorities, often using their failures or imagined failures as a basis and excuse. You cannot submit to God without also submitting to His delegated authorities. A major key to success in life is to understand and honour God-ordained authority (Ephesians 6:1-3). The Divine Institutions are real structures, built into man's social existence, designed, initiated and ordained by God, revealed through His Word, and they apply to all mankind. God designed the Divine Institutions for our good, to provide stability, peace, blessing and prosperity. Satan works through the spirit of lawlessness to attack and undermine all the Divine Institutions. It is vital to understand the Divine Institutions and respect, defend and uphold them, not violate them. In this Series, we will study all 7 of the Divine Institutions, and in this teaching (Part 1), we study the first and fundamental Divine Institution: FREE-WILL.

Rev. Dr. Gregory Schulz joins The Wittenberg Hour to discuss The Logos.  This episode is a recording of Plenary Session IV from Wittenberg Academy's Family Retreat. ______________ What is Jesus' prescription for keeping postmodernism in remission?  In what way is The Word authoritative for both Church and State? ______________ Bump music: Lord, Help Us Ever to Retain - Kirk Meyer - Kloria Publishing   _____________ Coming up: Tuesdays with Tallmon 2021- Bringing Back Weaver for a Responsible Rhetoric Reset _____________   _____________ Learn more about Wittenberg Academy. Register for classes (2020-21 academic year- Trinity term). Register for classes (2021-22 academic year).