Podcast appearances and mentions of Francis A Schaeffer

“Hope is believing in advance what can only be understood in reverse.”These words have been the rally cry of my soul for over a decade now, but I didn't come up with them myself. Philip Yancey did. This gentle, thoughtful writer has spent his career exploring the topic of suffering which, as you can imagine, has meant so much to me. Today I have the honor of sitting down with Philip to talk about some things that we can't understand today, but trust we'll understand some day. (Like his recent Parkinson's diagnosis.)This hour with Philip filled my soul, and I think it'll do the same for you. Here's what you can expect if you join us in the conversation:Why pain is not the enemyThe most helpful definition of health I've heard yetWe can receive God's comfort, even when we don't understand HimStewarding the suffering we never wantedThe best thing we can be for God to use usIf you need a compassionate, encouraging voice speaking into your suffering—whatever it may be—then this episode is for you!Show Notes:Where Is God When It Hurts by Philip Yancey - https://a.co/d/6xf3QxVThe Gift of Pain: Why We Hurt and What We Can Do About It by Philip Yancey and Dr. Paul Brand - https://a.co/d/3GapVr9“Parkinson's—The Gift I Didn't Want” by Philip Yancey for Christianity Today - https://www.christianitytoday.com/2023/02/philip-yancey-ct-parkinsons-diagnosis-gift-i-didnt-want/How Should We Then Live?: The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture by Francis A. Schaeffer - https://a.co/d/f5H3bxkWhere the Light Fell: A Memoir by Philip Yancey - https://a.co/d/47InSUWScriptures referenced in this episode:2 Corinthians 1:4Romans 8***There's so much more to the story. For more messages of hope, free resources, and opportunities to connect with me, visit https://hopeheals.com/katherine.Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopeheals/⁠Subscribe to The GoodHard Story Podcast!Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-hard-story-podcast/id1496882479Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0OYz6G9Q2tNNVOX9YSdmFb?si=043bd6b10a664bebWant a little hope in your inbox? ⁠⁠Sign up for the Hope Note⁠⁠, our twice-a-month digest of only the good stuff, like reflections from Katherine and a curated digest of the Internet's most redemptive content: https://hopeheals.com/hopenoteGet to know us:⁠⁠Hope Heals⁠⁠: https://hopeheals.com/⁠⁠Hope Heals Camp⁠⁠: https://hopeheals.com/camp⁠⁠Mend Coffee⁠⁠: https://www.mendcoffee.org/Instagram⁠: https://www.instagram.com/hopeheals/

Ein Seminar von Ron Kubsch auf der Hauptkonferenz 2024 in Hamburg.

Pastor Brian DrakeTEXT: Genesis 16:1-16BIG IDEA: We must stop achieving and start receiving the promises of God.OUTLINE:1. Reject the Plans of the Flesh (16:1-6)2. Remember the Place you were Found (16:7-16)RESOURCES: ESV Study Bible, EP Study Commentary: Genesis by John Currid; Kidner Classic Commentaries: Genesis by Derek Kidner; Welwyn Commentary Series: Genesis by Philip Eveson; The Christ Key by Chad Bird; Reformed Expository Commentary: Genesis by Richard Phillips; Renewal As A Way Of Life by Richard F. Lovelace, Gentle & Lowly by Gavin Ortland, ‘The Lord's Work in the Lord's Way' by Francis A. Schaeffer

     Biblically speaking, guilt implies one has acted contrary to God's moral character and laws. Divine laws are a reflection of the righteousness of God. The righteousness of God may be defined as the intrinsic, immutable, moral perfection of God, from which He commands all things, in heaven and earth, and declares as good that which conforms to His righteousness and as evil that which deviates. God's character is the basis upon which all just laws derive; either divine laws from God Himself or human laws which conform to His righteousness.[1] The Bible reveals “the LORD is righteous and He loves righteousness” (Psa 11:7). We're informed that at a future time, “He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His faithfulness” (Psa 96:13), and He will “judge the living and the dead” (2 Tim 4:1). The problem is that all humanity is corrupt, for “are all under sin” (Rom 3:9), and “there is none righteous, not even one” (Rom 3:10), for “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). Sin may be defined as the breaking of God's moral laws. John wrote, “Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4). Sin is when we transgress God's law and depart from His intended path. According to J. I. Packer, “Sin may be comprehensively defined as lack of conformity to the law of God in act, habit, attitude, outlook, disposition, motivation, and mode of existence.”[2]The motivation behind sin is self-interest. It means we set our wills against the will of God; that we desire our interests above His interests and are willing to act contrary to His directives. According to Augustus Strong, “the sinner makes self the center of his life, sets himself directly against God and constitutes his own interest the supreme motive and his own will the supreme rule.”[3] Samuel Harris notes four characteristics of sin, namely, “It is self-sufficiency, the opposite of Christian faith…It is self-will, the opposite of Christian submission…It is self-seeking, the opposite of Christian benevolence…It is self-righteousness, the opposite of Christian humility and reverence.”[4] Merrill F. Unger states: "The underlying idea of sin is that of law and of a lawgiver. The lawgiver is God. Hence sin is everything in the disposition and purpose and conduct of God's moral creatures that is contrary to the expressed will of God (Rom 3:20; 4:15; 7:7; Jam 4:12, 17). The sinfulness of sin lies in the fact that it is against God, even when the wrong we do is to others or ourselves (Gen 39:9; Psa 51:4)."[5]      As sinners before a holy and righteous God, we bear an objective guilt because we have violated His holy character and righteous demands. We are responsible to God for what we have, what we are, and what we do. We have Adam's original sin, which has been imputed to our account (Rom 5:12-13; cf. 1 Cor 15:21-22), we are sinners by nature (Psa 51:5; Jer 17:9; Rom 7:14-25; 13:12-14), and we do sin personally (Prov 20:9; Eccl 7:20; Isa 59:2; 64:6; Jam 1:14-15). God holds us accountable for our sinfulness. Our guilt is based on what God says about us and not our subjective impressions of ourselves. J. C. Moyer states, “Guilt is both the legal and moral condition that results from breaking God's law.”[6]Louis Berkhof adds, “Guilt is the state of deserving condemnation or of being liable to punishment for the violation of a law or a moral requirement. It expresses the relation which sin bears to justice or to the penalty of the law.”[7] C.W. Stenschke states: "In biblical language and thought guilt and sin are closely related. While sin usually denotes an action of personal failure (in deed, word or thought), guilt is a legal term that denotes the state resulting from this action. Guilt is an objective fact and arises when God's standards have not been met, when the creator's claim on his creation is neglected or refused whether willfully or unintentionally."[8]      Being guilty before God is a fact and not a feeling. It is based on the objective truth of God's Word and not our subjective impressions or fluctuating emotions. Our emotions are a blessing from the Lord, but only when properly calibrated to the truth of His revelation, otherwise they can be an impediment to our relationship with Him.      Humanism rejects God and His revelation and places mankind at the center of morality and meaning. Francis Schaeffer explains humanism as “Man beginning from himself, with no knowledge except what he himself can discover and no standards outside of himself. In this view Man is the measure of all things, as the Enlightenment expressed it.”[9] But atheism creates a problem concerning moral absolutes, for if there is no God, then there is no moral absolute Law-giver; and if there is no moral absolute Law-giver, then there are no moral absolutes, and we are left to conclude that what is, is right, and any further discussion about right and wrong becomes nothing more than opinion.[10] Francis Schaeffer is correct when he states: "If there is no absolute moral standard, then one cannot say in a final sense that anything is right or wrong. By absolute we mean that which always applies, that which provides a final or ultimate standard. There must be an absolute if there are to be morals, and there must be an absolute if there are to be real values. If there is no absolute beyond man's ideas, then there is no final appeal to judge between individuals and groups whose moral judgments conflict. We are merely left with conflicting opinions."[11]      Those who reject God are left to create and impose arbitrary values on others, and the tyrants of the world are glad to bully and control others by means of strong arm tactics, whether social intimidation, economic coercion, or brute physical force. The only objective standard for measuring righteousness or guilt is set forth in God's Word which defines reality. The Bible reveals God is “the Judge of all the earth” (Gen 18:25), and He “is a righteous judge” (Psa 7:11), and He “judges righteously” (Jer 11:20), and “will by no means leave the guilty unpunished” (Ex 34:7). Yet, the Bible also reveals God is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth” (Psa 86:15), and One “Who pardons all your iniquities” (Psa 103:3), when we come to Him in honesty and humility. And for those who come to Him in humility, who are like the tax collector, who “was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!'” (Luke 18:13), will find Him to be merciful. For those of us who trust in Christ as Savior, we are blessed with “forgiveness of sins” (Eph 1:7; cf., Acts 10:43), the “gift of righteousness” (Rom 5:17; cf., 2 Cor 5:21; Phil 3:9), “eternal life” (John 10:28), and become “children of God” (John 1:12), with a promise that we will spend eternity in heaven with Him (John 14:1-3). J. Dwight Pentecost notes, “If you should be without Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, you stand guilty before God because you are still in Adam's race. Even though Christ bore that sin, it means nothing to you until you are related to Him by faith. The righteousness of Christ cannot be imputed to you unless you personally receive Jesus Christ as your Savior.”[12] If you have not yet trusted in Christ as your Savior, then I “beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Cor 5:20). Dr. Steven R. Cook     [1] If there is no God, then there is no absolute standard for right and wrong and we are left with arbitrary laws based on manufactured values. [2] J. I. Packer, Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs, 82. [3] Augustus Hopkins Strong, Systematic Theology (Philadelphia: American Baptist Publication Society, 1907), 572. [4] Samuel Harris, “The Christian Law of Self-Sacrifice,” Bibliotheca Sacra 18, no. 69 (1861): 149. [5] Merrill F. Unger, et al, “Sin,” The New Unger's Bible Dictionary, 1198. [6] J. C. Moyer, “Guilt; Guilty,” ed. Geoffrey W Bromiley, The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised, 580. [7] Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans publishing co., 1938), 232. [8] C. W. Stenschke, “Guilt,” in New Dictionary of Biblical Theology, ed. T. Desmond Alexander and Brian S. Rosner, electronic ed. (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000), 529. [9] Francis A. Schaeffer, A Christian Manifesto (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2005), 24. [10] God does exist, as “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands” (Psa 19:1). And though people may “suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Rom 1:18), the reality is, “that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse” (Rom 1:19-20). [11] Francis A. Schaeffer, How Should We Then Live?: The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture, 50th L'Abri Anniversary Edition. (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2005), 145. [12] J. Dwight Pentecost, Things Which Become Sound Doctrine (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1996), 48.

     Jesus' suffering and death on the cross has both infinite and eternal value for both God the Father as well as those trust in Christ as their Savior. According to Francis Schaeffer, “Christ's death in space-time history is completely adequate to meet our need for refuge from the true moral guilt that we have. It is final because of who He is. He is the infinite second person of the Trinity; therefore, His death has infinite value.”[1]Though Jesus suffered for our sins for only a few hours on the cross, His death had infinite and eternal value and saves forever those who trust in Him as Savior. Geisler states, “Being by nature the infinite God, Christ's death had infinite value, even though His suffering and death occurred in a finite amount of time. Time is not a mandatory measure of worth—birth, for instance, happens over a relatively short span but produces something of extraordinary value. One death in limited time achieved something of limitless value for all eternity.”[2] Paul Enns states, “At the heart of orthodox belief is the recognition that Christ died a substitutionary death to provide salvation for a lost humanity. If Jesus were only a man He could not have died to save the world, but because of His deity, His death had infinite value whereby He could die for the entire world.”[3]      As a result of what Christ accomplished, there is great benefit for us who have trusted in Him as our Savior. By His work on the cross, Christians become the recipients of great blessings, both in time and eternity. Though He blesses some Christians materially (1 Tim 6:17-19), His main focus is on giving us spiritual blessings which are far better. Paul wrote that God “has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph 1:3). According to Harold Hoehner, “Every spiritual blessing (eulogia) refers to every spiritual enrichment needed for the spiritual life. Since these benefits have already been bestowed on believers, they should not ask for them but rather appropriate them by faith.”[4] Some of the spiritual blessings mentioned in Scripture are as follows: We are the special objects of His love: “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8), and “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10). We are forgiven all our sins: “When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross” (Col 2:13-14; cf. Eph 1:7; Heb 10:10-14). We are given eternal life: Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand (John 10:27-28; cf. John 3:16; 6:40; 20:31). We are made alive together with Christ: “God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ” (Eph 2:4-5). We are raised up and seated with Christ: God “raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph 2:6). We are the recipients of God's grace: “For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace” (John 1:16), “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph 2:8-9). We are created to perform good works: “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith” (Gal 6:10), and “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Eph 2:10; cf., Tit 2:11-4). We are given freedom in Christ: “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery” (Gal 5:1), “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Gal 5:13; cf., 1 Pet 2:16). We are given a spiritual gift to serve others: “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Pet 4:10; cf. Rom 12:6-8; Eph 4:11). We are children of God: “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are” (1 John 3:1a), “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:26). We are made ambassadors for Christ: “We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Cor 5:20). We are gifted with God's righteousness: “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor 5:21), “and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith” (Phil 3:9; cf. Rom 4:3-5; 5:17). We are justified before God: “Being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus…For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law” (Rom 3:24, 28), and “knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified” (Gal 2:16). We have peace with God: “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:1). We will never be condemned: “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18), “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life” (John 5:24), “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1). We are given citizenship in heaven: “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil 3:20). We are transferred to the kingdom of Christ: “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son” (Col 1:13; cf. Acts 26:18), and “walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory” (1 Th 2:12). We are all saints in Christ Jesus: we are “saints by calling” (1 Cor 1:2), and “saints in Christ Jesus” (Phil 1:1), and “are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household” (Eph 2:19). We are made priests to God: “He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen” (Rev 1:6). We are God's chosen: “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him” (Eph 1:4), “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Col 3:12). We are the recipients of His faithfulness: “He Himself has said, ‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you'” (Heb 13:5), and even “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself” (2 Tim 2:13). We have been called to walk in newness of life: “We have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life” (Rom 6:4), and “walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love” (Eph 4:1-2). We are members of the Church, the body of Christ: “For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another” (Rom 12:4-5), and “He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Eph 1:22-23; cf. Col 1:18). We are indwelt with the Holy Spirit: “Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Cor 3:16), “your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you” (1 Cor 6:19). We are sealed with the Holy Spirit: “having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise” (Eph 1:13b; cf. 2 Cor 5:5). We are enabled to walk with God: “I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh” (Gal 5:16), and “Since we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit” (Gal 5:25). We are empowered to live godly: “His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence” (2 Pet 1:3). We have Scripture to train us in righteousness: “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:16-17). We are guaranteed a new home in heaven: “In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2-3). We are guaranteed resurrection bodies: “I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Cor 15:51-53). We have special access to God's throne of grace: “Let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16). We will be glorified in eternity: “When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory” (Col 3:4), for Christ “will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself” (Phil 3:21). Dr. Steven R. Cook   [1] Francis A. Schaeffer, Joshua and the Flow of Biblical History, Second U.S. edition. (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2004), 206. [2] Norman L. Geisler, Systematic Theology, Volume Four: Church, Last Things (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 2005), 403. [3] Paul P. Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1989), 225. [4] Harold W. Hoehner, “Ephesians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 616.

Preacher: Interim Pastor Jon StorckText: Genesis 1:26-31Title: God Made Me in His Image, Therefore I AmQuote: “People today are trying to hang on to the dignity of man, but they do not know how to, because they have lost the truth that man is made in the image of God....We are watching our culture put into effect the fact that when you tell men long enough that they are machines, it soon begins to show in their actions. You see it in our whole culture -- in the theater of cruelty, in the violence in the streets, in the death of man in art and life.” ― Francis A. Schaeffer, Escape from Reason, 1968

PARADISE LOST & PRIMARY EPIC 1. INVITATION 2. INITIATION 3. DESIGNATION 4. PROBATION 5. CONFERRAL 6. CONFIRMATION 7. CONSUMMATION PARADISE REGAINED & COSMIC EPIC PH12 EXTENDING THE GALACTIC CROWN ∞. TRANSFIGURATION STARCASTER BLASTER - LEFT HAND X2M.145 QUANTIZATION X2M.146 QUANTPULSE X2M.147 QUANTGRAVITON OO X2M.148 QUANTGRAVITON X X2M.149 QUANTGRAVIT X2M.150 QUINTESSENCE XIIM X2M.151 QUASAR STARCLUSTER IMPERIUM - RIGHT HAND X2M.152 4Q418 81 13 X2M.153 4Q491 318.1 X2M.154 1QM 318.2 X2M.155 1QM 318.3 X2M.156 QG 4.181 X2M.157 11Q17 X2M.158 11Q13 --- X2M.144 BIRTH OF STARCHILD REV12:5A X2M.147 DOUBLE C FOR 3H ENTRY X2M.150 3H ENTERED BY CHARIOT REV12:5C X2M.151 STARCASTER BLASTER REV 12:5B ISRAEL WAR STARTS X2M.152 ETERNAL PLANTING REV12:6 X2M.153 318 POSSESSOR OF HEAVEN & EARTH X2M.154 DAYBREAK: PATH TO THE PALACE X2M.155 THE PALACE OPENS INTRODUCTION Welcome to delving deeper into the path of the soldier-3, the prototype of the athlete-1 and the protocol of the farmer-8. In 1976 Francis A. Schaeffer produced, How Should We Then Live: The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture. Many people are still asking that same question today. How are we to thrive and not just survive in live in light of current events and the present cultural milieu. If you're interested I want to take you on a journey into the human condition, a basic overview of the structure of the soul, how to overcome obstacles and how to become a fully activated-integrated SAF. This will be an equipping weekend so bring a notepad, pencil and some glitter glue (hahaha please don't bring glitter glue) and come prepared to be challenged and transformed. SEMINAR NOTES Genesis‬ ‭14‬:‭11‬-‭24‬ ‭NET Jeremiah‬ ‭9‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭NET‬‬ ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬-‭16‬ ‭NET‬‬ But practicing the truth in love, tn The meaning of the participle an@súoves (alqeuonte"; from the verb annesuw [alhqeuw]) is debated. In classical times the verb could mean "to speak the truth," or "to be true, to prove true." In the LXX it appears five times (Gen 20:16; 42:16; Prov 21:3; Isa 44:26; Sir 34:4) and translates four different Hebrew words; there it is an ethical term used of proving or being true, not with the idea of speaking the truth. ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭20‬:‭16‬ ‭NET‬‬ “To Sarah he said, “Look, I have given a thousand pieces of silver to your ‘brother.' This is compensation for you so that you will stand vindicated before all who are with you.”” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭42‬:‭16‬ ‭NET “One of you must go and get your brother, while the rest of you remain in prison. In this way your words may be tested to see if you are telling the truth. If not, then, as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭21‬:‭23‬ ‭NET “The one who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his life from troubles.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭44‬:‭26‬ ‭NET “who fulfills the oracles of his prophetic servants and brings to pass the announcements of his messengers, who says about Jerusalem, ‘She will be inhabited,' and about the towns of Judah, ‘They will be rebuilt, her ruins I will raise up,'” In the NT the only other place the verb appears is in Gal 4:16 where it means "to speak the truth." ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭4‬:‭16‬ ‭NET “So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?” However, in Ephesians the concept of "being truthful" is the best sense of the word. In contrast to the preceding verse, where there are three prepositional phrases to denote falsehood and deceit, the present word speaks of being real or truthful in both conduct and speech. Their deceit was not only in their words but also in their conduct. In other words, the believers' conduct should be transparent, revealing the real state of affairs, as opposed to hiding or suppressing the truth through cunning and deceit. See H. W. Hoehner, Ephesians, 564-65, and R. Bultmann, TDNT 1:251. Going Boldly Where The Last Man has Gone Before! Decrease time over target:  PayPal or Venmo @clastronaut Cash App $clastronaut

Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Keith Plummer to discuss how we can model the love of Jesus to others online and how to engage in embodied community.Questions Covered in This Episode:Can you share your story of how you became a Christian?Where would you trace this transformation to?How has the online experience changed how students are thinking?How do Christians relate with others online?What does it look like to have embodied community in your life? How would you recommend someone to develop that community?Why is it that we want to be loved and heard?Guest Bio:Keith Plummer serves as Dean and Professor of Theology at the School of Divinity at Cairn University. He holds a BA in Health and Society from Brown University, a MDiv with emphasis in Apologetics from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and a PhD in Systematic Theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He and his wife have two adult children.Resources Mentioned:“Five Evangelical Leaders” by Christopher Catherwood“2 Contents, 2 Realities” by Francis A. Schaeffer “True Spirituality” by Francis A. Schaeffer “Disruptive Witness” by Alan Noble Sponsors:To learn more about our sponsors please visit our website.Follow Us:Instagram | TwitterOur Sister Shows:Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon.

     There are four basic views concerning who saves. First is autosoterism (auto = self + soter = savior) which is a belief that entrance into heaven is entirely by good works. Autosoterists don't feel they need salvation from an outside source. Their good works are enough. Second is syntheosoterism (syn = with + theo = God + soter = savior) which is a belief that people partner with God and contribute to their initial salvation by good works, or a promise to perform them. These frontload the gospel with some human requirement in addition to faith in Jesus (i.e., turn from all their sin, keep the Sabbath, water baptism, etc.). Third is posttheosoterism (post – after + theo = God + soter = savior) which is the belief that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, but later, after being saved, the Christians are persuaded they must perform good works to keep themselves saved (like the Christians in Galatia). Last is solatheosoterism (sola = alone + theo = God + soter = savior), which is the belief that salvation is entirely a work of God through Christ and is provided by grace alone, though faith alone, in christ alone, plus nothing more. In this view, salvation is a gift from God, freely given and freely received with no requirement of good works before, during, or after receiving salvation. These understand that good works should follow salvation (Eph 2:10), but they are never the condition of it.      The autosoterists believe that, from beginning to end, they save themselves by adhering to a moral code that will secure their entrance into heaven. In this system of thought, the Bible becomes a moral guide to one's path to heaven (perhaps among other guides). I've personally heard people say, “I'll keep the Ten Commandments and hope God lets me into heaven”, or “I'll love God and my neighbor and trust that He will let me into His kingdom when I die.” Historically, this would be similar to Pelagianism, a teaching derived from a British monk named Pelagius who lived and preached in Rome circa A.D. 400. According to Ryrie, Pelagius “believed that since God would not command anything that was not possible, and that since He has commanded men to be holy, everyone therefore can live a life that is free from sin.”[1] In this teaching, a person needs only follow God's laws to be saved from hell and accepted into heaven. From beginning to end, this is a works-salvation.      The problem with autosoterism—among several—is that those who think they can save themselves by works fail to grasp God's absolute standard of righteousness to gain entrance into heaven. The Bible reveals God is holy (Psa 99:9; Isa 6:3), which means He is perfectly righteous and completely set apart from sin (Psa 99:9; 1 Pet 1:14-16). Because God is holy, He cannot have anything to do with sin except to condemn it. The Scripture states, “Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, and You cannot look on wickedness with favor” (Hab 1:13), and “This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). Autosoterists also fail to understand the biblical teaching about sin and total depravity, in which sin permeates every aspect of our being—intellect, body, will, and sensibilities—and that we are helpless to correct our fallen position. The biblical teaching is that all mankind is sinful and separated from God (Rom 3:10-23). We are sinners in Adam (Rom 5:12; 1 Cor 15:21-22), sinners by nature (Rom 7:14-25; 13:12-14), sinners by choice (Isa 59:2; Jam 1:14-15), and completely helpless to solve the sin problem and save ourselves (Rom 5:6-10; Eph 2:1-3). Good works have no saving merit before God (Isa 64:6; Rom 4:4-5; Eph 2:8-9; Tit 3:5). Paul wrote, “we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law” (Rom 3:28), and “a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified” (Gal 2:16).      Furthermore, autosoterists are trapped in a vague system of rules-for-salvation that can never provide assurance of their salvation. No matter how much good they do, there is always that nagging question, “have I done enough?” The reason they can never have assurance of their salvation is because the Bible does not teach that salvation is by human works, either in total or in part. Those who approach God by their works are in want of any passage of Scripture that can provide them assurance they've done enough to secure their place in heaven. For if one performs a hundred good works during a lifetime, how do  they know that God doesn't require a hundred and one, or a hundred and two? They don't, because the Bible does not teach salvation by works. Autosoterists are not saved, as they trust entirely in their good works to save them.      The syntheosoterists are those who think good works are required in addition to their initial act of faith in Jesus. These teach faith in Christ, but then muddy the gospel by adding something we do, such as turning from sins, keeping the Sabbath, water baptism, promising to live a moral life, joining a church, receiving sacraments, etc. I don't believe these persons are saved, as human activity is added to the gospel message from the beginning. We observe an example of this in the early church in which “Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, ‘Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved'” (Acts 15:1). This teaching caused a huge reaction in Paul and Barnabas, who had “great dissension and debate with them” (Acts 15:2). The simple gospel message was: “we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 15:11). But some Judaizers from Judea were presenting a false gospel which frontloaded the message with a requirement to follow to the Law of Moses; specifically, circumcision. Concerning Acts 15:1, Arnold Fruchtenbaum states: "Verse 1 describes the issue that led to the debate: Gentile circumcision. After their first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas gave a report to the church of Antioch and spent some time with the Believers there. Eventually, certain men came down from Judea. They were members of the “circumcision party,” mentioned earlier, in Acts 11:2, who had challenged Peter about going into the home of an uncircumcised Gentile. Acts 15:24 makes it clear that these men had not been sent by the church of Jerusalem, but that they simply came down to Antioch of their own accord. In Galatians 2:4, Paul made reference to this same Jerusalem Council and describe these men as false brethren. They came to Antioch to teach. The Greek tense of the verb “teach” means they began to teach, and they kept at it with determination. The false teachers picked on the brethren, meaning the Gentile believers, because they were not circumcised. To these Gentile believers, they said: except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. This was the Judaizers dictum: Believing Gentiles are not saved until they are circumcised. Today certain groups teach another heresy, namely, that believers are not saved until they have been baptized. Both statements are equally wrong. Both involve salvation by works and salvation through ritual."[2]      If any human works or religious rituals are added to the simple gospel message, it is rendered null and void. A gospel message that includes human works is no gospel at all. Such a message saves no one. Warren Wiersbe states: "God pronounces a solemn anathema on anyone who preaches any other Gospel than the Gospel of the grace of God found in Jesus Christ His Son (Gal 1:1–9). When any religious leader says, “Unless you belong to our group, you cannot be saved!” or, “Unless you participate in our ceremonies and keep our rules, you cannot be saved!” he is adding to the Gospel and denying the finished work of Jesus Christ. Paul wrote his Epistle to the Galatians to make it clear that salvation is wholly by God's grace, through faith in Christ, plus nothing!"[3]      The posttheosoterists are those who believe they are saved initially by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, but then later adopt a works-system to continue to be saved. I think many in this camp were saved when they heard and responded positively to the simple gospel message (perhaps as a child), placing their faith in Christ alone for salvation, but then later were persuaded to accept a system of legalistic teaching that told them they must do good works to continue to be saved. These would be similar to the Christians Paul wrote to in Galatia, who said, “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel” (Gal 1:6). These were believers whom Paul called brethren (Gal 1:11; 2:4; 3:15; 4:12, 28, 31; 5:11, 13; 6:1, 18), declaring they were “sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:26). The Christians in Galatia had trusted in Christ as their Savior; however, some “false brethren” (Gal 2:4) came among them and taught they must adhere to the Law of Moses to be saved. These were false teachers. According to Fruchtenbaum, “The problem that Paul was dealing with in his epistle to the Galatians concerns a group that has come to be known as ‘the Judaizers.' These people felt that the Gentiles must obey the Law of Moses in order to be saved (Acts 15:1 and 5).”[4]Paul, in an effort to correct the false teaching, posed a few simple questions to the Galatian Christians, saying, “This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” (Gal 3:2-3). The Christians in Galatia had trusted in Christ as their Savior and had received the Holy Spirit. They were saved. Yet, the legalism of the Judaizers had corrupted the concept of faith alone in Christ alone. Fruchtenbaum notes, “Too many believers think they can and need to add to their salvation. By grace through faith alone does not seem to satisfy. People add the keeping of some of the laws of Moses to their salvation. Others believe their baptism plays a role in it. Again others throw what is commonly known as Lordship salvation into the mix.”[5] I think posttheosoterism describes many Christians today, who truly trusted Christ as their Savior, but then later were led to believe they needed good works to keep themselves saved. Chafer states, “True salvation is wholly a work of God. It is said to be both a finished work and a gift, and, therefore, it lays no obligation upon the saved one to complete it himself, or to make after payments of service for it.”[6]      I personally trusted Christ as my Savior at age eight; however, shortly afterwards I was taught I needed to keep myself saved by ceasing to sin and also by doing good works. Though I did not lose my salvation (which is impossible), the joy I had when I trusted Christ as my Savior was lost, as I became trapped in a vicious system of trying to keep my salvation by good works. Subsequently, I believed I lost my salvation every time I sinned (which  was daily), and felt I needed to come groveling back to God as a failure, and trusting Christ over and over again in order to be saved. Eventually, exhaustion took its toll, and after several years I walked away from God, thinking the Christian life was impossible. It was not until roughly fifteen years later that my assurance of salvation rested in Christ alone, and the joy of my salvation was restored.      Because pride is the default setting of the human heart; it's our natural proclivity to think we can fix the problem of sin and righteousness and either earn God's approval by our own efforts, or at least participate in the effort. Pride must die for salvation to occur, as we come to God with the empty hands of faith, offering nothing, but only receiving the salvation which He offers to us by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Human efforts to save are useless. Lewis Chafer notes, “No one under any circumstances could forgive his own sin, impart eternal life to himself, clothe himself in the righteousness of God, or write his name in heaven.”[7]      Solatheosoterism is the correct biblical view. This teaches that our spiritual salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, plus nothing more. No good works are required for our salvation before, during, or after we trust in Christ. As stated before, good works should follow salvation (Eph 2:10), but they are never the condition of it. This is the record of Scripture in the OT, as “Salvation belongs to the LORD” (Psa 3:8), and “Our God is a God of salvation” (Psa 68:20 CSB), and “Salvation is from the LORD” (Jon 2:9). In the NT we read about Jesus, and that “He will save His people from their sins” (Matt 1:21), and “He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son” (Col 1:13a), and “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit” (Tit 3:5), and it is “God who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity” (2 Tim 1:8b-9). In these verses, salvation is always in one direction, from God to us.      Scripture reveals we are helpless, ungodly, sinners, and enemies of God (Rom 5:6-10), and prior to our salvation, we were dead in our trespasses and sins (Eph 2:1). Salvation is never what we do for God; rather, it's what He's done for us through the death of His Son, who paid the full penalty for all our sins on the cross at Calvary. Having paid the full price for our sins, there is nothing that remains for us to pay. Christ paid it all, and our spiritual salvation was completed at the cross, where Jesus said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). According to Francis Schaeffer, “Salvation is the whole process that results from the finished work of Jesus Christ as He died in space and time upon the cross.”[8]And Lewis Chafer notes, “As for revelation, it is the testimony of the Scriptures, without exception, that every feature of man's salvation from its inception to the final perfection in heaven is a work of God for man and not a work of man for God.”[9]      No one has the means to redeem his own soul, nor the soul of another. Jesus asked, “what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt 16:26). The answer is nothing! If Jesus had not paid our sin-debt to God, there would be no hope of ever being liberated from spiritual slavery, for “no man can by any means redeem his brother or give to God a ransom for him—for the redemption of his soul is costly, and he should cease trying forever” (Psa 49:7-8). However, Paul writes of the “redemption which is in Christ Jesus” (Rom 3:24b), and this speaks to the payment He made on behalf of sinners. The word redemption translates the Greek apolutrosis which means to “release from a captive condition.”[10] Redemption refers to the payment of a debt that one gives in order to liberate another from slavery. Jesus declared “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45), and the apostle Paul tells us that Jesus “gave Himself as a ransom for all” (1 Tim 2:6). When we turn to Christ as our only Savior “we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses” (Eph 1:7; cf. Col 1:13-14). Because Jesus died in our place, He is able to set us free from our spiritual bondage and give us eternal life, but it is only because of His shed blood on the cross that He can do this, for we “were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold…but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ” (1 Pet 1:18-19). The blood of Christ is necessary, for “without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Heb 9:22). And the blood of Christ is the coin of the heavenly realm that paid our sin debt. He paid it all, and there's nothing more for us to pay. Salvation is a gift from God. If we have to pay for it, it ceases to be a gift. Dr. Steven R. Cook   [1] Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1999), 254. [2] Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, The Book of Acts (San Antonio, TX, Published by Ariel Ministries, 2022), 316. [3] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 461. [4] Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, Faith Alone: The Condition of Our Salvation: An Exposition of the Book of Galatians and Other Relevant Topics, ed. Christiane Jurik, Second Edition. (San Antonio, TX: Ariel Ministries, 2016), 9. [5] Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, Faith Alone: The Condition of Our Salvation: An Exposition of the Book of Galatians and Other Relevant Topics, ed. Christiane Jurik, Second Edition. (San Antonio, TX: Ariel Ministries, 2016), 1. [6] Lewis Sperry Chafer, Satan (New York: Gospel Publishing House, 1909), 111. [7] Lewis Sperry Chafer, Systematic Theology, vol. 3 (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1993), 7. [8] Francis A. Schaeffer, Death in the City (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2002), 100. [9] Lewis Sperry Chafer, Systematic Theology, vol. 3 (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1993), 6. [10] Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, rev. and ed. Frederick W. Danker, 3rd ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 117.

In his 1981 book, 'A Christian Manifesto,' Francis Schaeffer waxed eloquent on what many in our day consider too political an application of Christian faith and Biblical teaching. He talked of John Witherspoon, the first president of the college that would eventually become Princeton University, as well as a Scottish presbyterian minister, as well as a signer of the Declaration of Independence. So also, Schaeffer quoted Revelation 3:2 in relation to the American Church, and its lackadaisical indifference to good governance in the late 20th century. "Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God." In sum, writing a mere 8 years after the U.S. Supreme Court made Roe v. Wade the "law of the land" in 1973, Schaeffer demonstrated and argued persuasively that the Christian who reads their Bible, as well as Church history generally, as well as American history especially, must conclude some very important things about the proper role of good government. More specifically, a believer's position relative theirs must be informed by the conviction that God is our supreme authority, with human authority by needs be sublimated to what Scripture prescribes, commands, prohibits, and promises. That is to say, the communists have a manifesto. So, too, the humanists have theirs. The Christians, therefore, must also have a manifesto, and do, in the Word of God, and the faithful testimony of 2,000 years of saints who precede us, particularly since the Protestant Reformation, and the founding of the United States of America. This Episode's Links: The Story of the Teddy Bear - NPS King David's name was just found on a 2,900-year-old slab - Not the Bee Andy Stanley owes the Church some answers - Peter Heck, Not the Bee Signers of the Declaration of Independence: John Witherspoon - UShistory.org A Christian Manifesto - Francis A. Schaeffer, Audible.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/garrett-ashley-mullet/message

Francis & The Sunshine Band. In this episode, we discuss Francis Schaeffer's ecumenical address to Lutherans, the consequences of seeking church unity using legal categories, the dilemma with Christian purity, the distinction between the hidden and revealed church, and why it matters. — SHOW NOTES: A Protestant Evangelical Speaks to His Lutheran Friends in a Day of Theological Crisis by Francis A. Schaeffer http://www.ctsfw.net/media/pdfs/SchaefferAProtestantEvangelicalSpeaksToHisLutheranFriends.pdf Francis Schaeffer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Schaeffer  L'Abri https://labri.org/    SUPPORT 1517 Podcast Network https://www.1517.org/podcasts/ Support the work of 1517 http://1517.org/give Warrior Priest Gym & Podcast https://thewarriorpriestpodcast.wordpress.com St John's Lutheran Church (Webster, MN) - FB Live Bible Study Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/356667039608511 Gillespie's Sermons and Catechesis: https://stjohnrandomlake.org/church/media/ Gillespie Coffee https://gillespie.coffee Gillespie Media https://gillespie.media Tin Foil Haloes https://t.me/bannedpastors CONTACT and FOLLOW BannedBooks@1517.org Facebook Twitter SUBSCRIBE YouTube Rumble Odysee Apple Podcasts Spotify Stitcher Overcast Google Play TuneIn Radio iHeartRadio

What is the History of the Roe v. Wade supreme court decision, what did the Dobbs decision accomplish, and where do Christians go from here? Listen in as David Closson, Jared Bridges, and David Schrock discuss these issues and more. Timestamps · Intro – 00:27 · Jared Bridges – 1:12 · David Closson – 1:55 · History of Roe v. Wade – 3:03 · Who was Norma McCorvey? – 5:38 · SBC Response to Roe v. Wade – 9:35 · Evangelical Response Effects of Roe v. Wade – 14:07 · History of Family Research Council – 16:31 · What led to the Dobbs Decision? – 18:15 · What difference does overturning Roe make? – 21:49 · Counsel for Pastors Depending on State Laws – 24:00 · How should we think about Abolitionism and Incrementalism? – 25:45 · Practical Things Christians Can Do – 30:01 · Closing Thoughts – 36:12 Resources · Roe at 50: Reflections and the Road Ahead by David Closson · The Washington Stand · Family Research Council · Center for Biblical Worldview · Pro-Life Laws in the States Books · The Family Roe: An American Story by Joshua Prager · Biblical Principles for Pro-Life Engagement by David Closson · Whatever Happened to the Human Race? By C. Everett Koop and Francis A. Schaeffer

"I don't have time to be in the Word of God. I wish I could get deeper in my walk with the Lord but I don't have time." "I wish I had more time. I can't finish everything and my to-do list is never-ending. I'm all stressed out! I'm not where I should be!" "I want to get more done. How do I say no to this? I'm scared of what people are going to think." Sis, have you ever found yourself saying or asking one of those? If you have, you have probably been overcommitting! Today, I am asking you two questions to help you say goodbye to overcommitting. It's time for the craziness to stop. It's time to say goodbye to anxiety and being overwhelmed by your schedule. I pray this blesses you! Why you've got to check out today's episode: Examine whether you have been overcommitting in 2022 or in 2021 and why Transform your heart and mind to align your actions with what God desires from you Learn how to listen to God so you'll know when to say Yes or No or Wait and avoid overcommitting in 2023 Check out show notes here >>> herrenewedstrength.com/shownotes/episode109 Resource Join the Facebook group and finish up the Ruth study with us. >>> herrenewedstrength.com/community Grab one of my last coaching slots in 2022! Email hello@herrenewedstrength.com or head to herrenewedstrength.com/coaching The Lord's Work in the Lord's Way and No Little People (Crossway Short Classics) by Francis A. Schaeffer  amzn.to/3F0PrXd Connect with Me! Instagram: @mrsdiazcastro Facebook: @emdiazcastro Website: herrenewedstrength.com Thank you so much for listening! If you love today's episode, the best way you can show love and support is to leave a 5-star rating & a written review on the podcast. This helps other Christian women who want the same support and valuable content find the show.

Who is the man who influenced evangelicalism more than any one else in the latter half of the twentieth century? Meet Francis Schaeffer, an unusual man who God used to shape a generation of Christian leaders and thinkers.

The Despair of Atheism And the Hope of Christianity      As we grow and develop mentally, we develop a worldview, which is a biased perspective on life. A worldview is a mental framework of beliefs that guide our understanding of what is. It's the assumptions we employ to help us make sense of the world, ourselves and our experiences. Early in life—when our perception of the world is being shaped—we are influenced by the worldviews of family, friends, and surrounding culture. As we grow older, we are confronted with different and opposing worldviews via religious and educational institutions, literature, movies, music and art. At some point in our development—it's different for each person—we choose what we believe and why. Our worldview is important because it's the basis for our values which influence our relationships, money habits, social and political decisions, and everything we say and do. At its core, there are basically two worldviews a person can have. Either one is a theist or an atheist. Choices have consequences, and the worldview we adopt has far reaching ramifications. The biblical worldview offers value, purpose, and hope. The atheistic worldview—when followed to its logical conclusion—leads to a meaningless and purposeless life that eventuates in despair.      The atheist's worldview denies the existence of God and believes the universe and earth happened by a chance explosion billions of years ago. Rather than intelligent design, he believes in unintelligent chaos, that the earth, with all its complexity of life, is merely the product of accidental evolutionary processes over millions of years. His worldview believes everything is merely the product of matter, motion, time and chance; that we are the accidental collection of molecules; that we are nothing more than evolving bags of protoplasm who happen to be able to think, feel, and act. The conclusion is that we came from nothing significant, that we are nothing significant, and we go to nothing significant. Ultimately, there's no reason for us to exist, and no given purpose to assign meaning to our lives. We are a zero. Some have thought through the logical implications of their atheism and understand this well. Mark Twain wrote: "A myriad of men are born; they labor and sweat and struggle for bread; they squabble and scold and fight; they scramble for little mean advantages over each other. Age creeps upon them; infirmities follow; shames and humiliations bring down their prides and their vanities. Those they love are taken from them and the joy of life is turned to aching grief. The burden of pain, care, misery, grows heavier year by year. At length ambition is dead; pride is dead; vanity is dead; longing for release is in their place. It comes at last – the only unpoisoned gift ever had for them – and they vanish from a world where they were of no consequence; where they achieved nothing; where they were a mistake and a failure and a foolishness; where they have left no sign that they have existed – a world which will lament them a day and forget them forever. Then another myriad takes their place and copies all they did and goes along the same profitless road and vanishes as they vanished – to make room for another and another and a million other myriads to follow the same arid path through the same desert and accomplish what the first myriad and all the myriads that came after it accomplished - nothing!"[1] And Bertrand Russell wrote: "Man is the product of causes which had no prevision of the end they were achieving; that his origin, his growth, his hope and fears, his loves and beliefs, are but the outcome of accidental collocations of atoms; that no fire, no heroism, no intensity of thought and feeling, can preserve an individual life beyond the grave; that all the labors of the ages, all the devotion, all the inspiration, all the noonday brightness of human genius are destined to extinction in the vast death of the solar system, and that the whole temple of man's achievement must inevitably be buried beneath the debris of a universe in ruin – all these things, if not quite beyond dispute, are yet so nearly certain, that no philosophy that rejects them can hope to stand. Only within the scaffolding of these truths, only on the firm foundation of unyielding despair, can the soul's habitation henceforth be safely built [bold added for emphasis]."[2]      No God means we live in a purely materialistic universe. Logically, materialism leads to nihilism which teaches that life is meaningless. If there is no God, then each of us are nothing more than the accidental collection of molecules. All our thoughts, desires, passions and actions can be reduced to electrochemical impulses in the brain and body. We are nothing more than a biochemical machine in an accidental universe, and when we die, our biological life is consumed by the material universe from which we came. But this leaves us in a bad place, for we instinctively search for meaning and purpose, to understand the value of our lives and actions. This tension leads to a sense of anxiety, what the German philosopher, Martin Heidegger, called angst. Angst and fear are different, for fear has a direct object, whereas angst is that innate and unending sense of anxiety or dread one lives with and cannot shake. The French Existentialist philosopher Jean Paul Sartre understood this worldview and the despair connected with it. Sartre proposed that individual purpose could be obtained by the exercise our wills, as we choose to act, even if the act is absurd. Francis Schaeffer wrote: "[Sartre] held that in the area of reason everything is absurd, but nonetheless a person can authenticate himself by an act of the will; everyone should abandon the pose of spectator and act in a purposeless world. But because, as Sartre saw it, reason is separated from this authenticating, the will can act in any direction. On the basis of his teaching, you could authenticate yourself either by helping a poor old lady along the road at night or by speeding up your auto and running her down. Reason is not involved, and nothing can show you the direction which your will should take."[3]      I would argue that most atheists really don't want to talk about the logical conclusion of their position, and choose to go about their daily lives ignoring the issue altogether, as it's too painful to consider. This is why Sartre abandoned reason and advocated that we seek for meaning in the choices we make, even if those choices are irrational. Aldous Huxley proposed using psychedelic drugs with the idea that one might be able to find truth and meaning inside his own head. Schaeffer states, “He held this view up to the time of his death. He made his wife promise to give him LSD when he was ready to die so that he would die in the midst of a trip. All that was left for Aldous Huxley and those who followed him was truth inside a person's own head.”[4]      But there is another implication to an atheistic worldview, and that's in the area of morals. If there is no God, then there is no moral Lawgiver outside of mankind, and no moral absolutes by which to declare anything ethically right or wrong. There is only subjective opinion, which fluctuates from person to person and group to group. We're left to conclude that if there are no moral absolutes, then what is, is right, and the conversation is over. Morality becomes a matter of what the majority wants, or what an elite, or individual, can impose on others. Francis Schaeffer wrote:  "If there is no absolute moral standard, then one cannot say in a final sense that anything is right or wrong. By absolute we mean that which always applies, that which provides a final or ultimate standard. There must be an absolute if there are to be morals, and there must be an absolute if there are to be real values. If there is no absolute beyond man's ideas, then there is no final appeal to judge between individuals and groups whose moral judgments conflict. We are merely left with conflicting opinions."[5]      Ironically, when the atheist states “there is no truth”, he is making a truth claim. And when he says “there are no absolutes”, he is stating an absolute. Logically, he cannot escape truth and absolutes, without which, reasoning and discussion are impossible. The biblically minded Christian celebrates both truth and absolutes which derive from God Himself, in which He declares some things right and other things wrong (e.g., Ex 20:1-17), and this according to His righteousness (Psa 11:7).      The atheistic view regards mankind as merely a part of the animal kingdom. But if people are just another form of animal—a naked ape as someone once described—then there's really no reason to get upset if we behave like animals. A pack of wild lions in the Serengeti suffer no pangs of conscience when they gang up on a helpless baby deer and rip it to shreds in order to satisfy their hunger pains. They would certainly not be concerned if they drove a species to extinction; after all, it's survival of the fittest. Let the strong survive and the weak die off. Evolution could also logically lead to racism, which is implied in Charles Darwin's book, The Origin of Species, which original subtitle mentions the Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life. Ironically, we teach evolution in public schools, telling children they are just another animal species, but then get upset when they act like animals toward each other. We can't have it both ways. We can't logically teach atheistic evolution and simultaneously advocate for morality. It's a non sequitur. If there are no moral absolutes, then one cannot describe as evil the behavior of Nazis who murdered millions of Jews in World War II. Neither can one speak against the murder of tens of millions of people under the materialistic communistic regimes of Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, or Pol Pot.      It's interesting that people cry out for personal and social justice because they're naturally wired that way. But for the atheist, such inclinations are either a learned behavior based on arbitrary social norms, or a biological quirk that developed from accidental evolutionary processes. Again, we're left with no moral absolutes and no meaning for life. Naturally, for the thinking person, this leads to despair. For this reason, some seek pleasure in drugs, or alcohol, partying and/or sexual promiscuity in order to deaden the pain of an empty heart. Others might move into irrational areas of mysticism and the occult. The Burning Man events are a good example of this. The few honest atheists such as Twain, Russell and others accept their place of despair and seek to get along in this world as best they can. But they have no lasting hope for humanity. None whatsoever.      But the Christian worldview is different. The biblically minded Christian has an answer in the Bible which gives lasting meaning and hope; and this allows us to use our reasoning abilities as God intended. The Bible presents the reality of God (Gen 1:1; Ex 3:14; Rev 1:8), who has revealed Himself to all people (Psa 19:1-2). The apostle Paul argued this point when he wrote, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse” (Rom 1:20). This is called general revelation in which God reveals Himself through nature. God has also revealed Himself to the heart of every person, for “that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them” (Rom 1:19). John Calvin referred to this as the sensus divinitatis, which is an innate sense of divinity, an intuitive knowledge that God exists. Calvin wrote, “there exists in the human minds and indeed by natural instinct, some sense of Deity.”[6] He further states, “All men of sound judgment will therefore hold, that a sense of Deity is indelibly engraved on the human heart.”[7] Part of Calvin's argument is based on God's special revelation in Scripture. But part of his observation is also based on human experience. Calvin wrote, “there never has been, from the very first, any quarter of the globe, any city, any household even, without religion, [which] amounts to a tacit confession, that a sense of Deity is inscribed on every heart.”[8] The problem is not with God's clear revelation, but with the human heart which is negative to Him. For those possessed with negative volition have, as their habit, to “suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Rom 1:18). The problem lies in the sinful heart that suppresses that revelation from God in order to pursue one's sinful passions. The apostle Paul wrote: "For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures." (Rom 1:21-23)      However, God is a perfect gentleman and never forces Himself on anyone. People are free to choose whether to accept Him or not. But if they reject what light God gives of Himself, He is not obligated to give them further light, as they will only continue to reject it. Of those who are negative to God, three times it is written that He “gave them over” to “the lusts of their hearts” (Rom 1:24), and “to degrading passions” (Rom 1:26), and “to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper” (Rom 1:28). Once God permits a person to operate by his sinful passions, he is given a measure of freedom to live as he wants, but not without consequence.      God does not render final judgment upon the rebellious right away. Rather, God extends to them a common grace, which refers to the undeserved kindness or goodness He extends to everyone, regardless of whether they are righteous or unrighteous, good or evil. God's common grace is seen in His provision of the necessities of life (i.e., sun, rain, air, food, water, clothing, etc.). This grace depends totally on God and not the attitude or actions of others. Jesus said of His Father, that “He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matt 5:45). Paul affirmed this grace, saying, “In the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways [in rebellion]; and yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness” (Acts 14:16-17). Here, God's grace is most obvious, in that He provides the necessities of life and even blesses those who are unsaved and hostile toward Him. His love and open-handedness toward the undeserving springs completely out of the bounty of His own goodness. Part of the reason God is gracious and patient is that He “not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Pet 3:9). However, grace ends when the unbeliever dies, and if he has spent his life rejecting Christ as Savior, then afterward, he will stand before God's judgment seat, and if his name is “not found written in the book of life”, then he will be “thrown into the lake of fire” (Rev 20:15), where he will be for eternity. This final judgment is avoidable, if Jesus is accepted as one's Savior. The Bible reveals: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:16-18)      To the heart that is positive to God and turns to Christ as Savior, He has revealed Himself in special ways in His Son, Jesus Christ (Heb 1:1-3), and in Scripture (1 Th 2:13; 2 Tim 3:16-17). God's special revelation gives us insights into realities we could never know on our own, except that God has revealed them to us in His Word in propositional terms. As we read the Bible in a plain manner, we come to realize that God exists as a trinity (or triunity), as God the Father (Gal 1:1; Eph 6:23; Phil 2:11), God the Son (Isa 7:14; 9:6; John 1:1, 8:58; 20:28; Col 2:9; Heb 1:8), and God the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4; 1 Cor 2:11-12; 2 Cor 13:14). And that all three persons of the trinity are co-equal, co-infinite, and co-eternal, and worthy of all praise and honor and glory. The Bible also reveals that God personally created His universe and earth in six literal days (Gen 1:1-31; Ex 20:8-11). That He created the first humans, Adam and Eve, in His image, with value and purpose to serve as theocratic administrators over the earth (Gen 1:26-28). We have the ability to reason because we are made in the image of God, who also gave us language as a means of communicating with Him and each other (Gen 2:15-17, 23). God also created a host of spirit beings called angels, but one of them, Lucifer, rebelled against God and convinced other angels to do the same (Isa 14:12-14; Ezek 28:12-17). Fallen angels are called demons and belong to Satan's ranks (Matt 25:41; Rev 12:7-9), and they influence the world of people in many ways in their thinking, values and behavior (1 Tim 4:1; Rev 16:13-14). Lucifer came to earth and convinced the first humans to rebel against God (Gen 3:1-7), took rulership over the earth (Luke 4:5-7; 2 Cor 4:4; Eph 2:2 1 John 5:19), and expanded his kingdom of darkness to include all unbelievers (Matt 13:36-40; John 8:44; Acts 26:18; Col 1:13-14). Adam and Eve's sin brought about spiritual death (i.e., separation from God) and God cursed the earth as a judgment upon them (Gen 3:14-19). God's judgment also explains why everything moves toward decay and physical death (i.e., the second law of thermodynamics). But God, because of His great mercy and love toward us, provided a solution to the problem of sin and spiritual death, and this through a Redeemer who would come and bear the penalty for our sins (Gen 3:15; Isa 7:14; 9:6; Matt 1:23; Luke 1:26-35; Gal 4:4; Heb 10:10, 14; 1 Pet 2:24; 3:18; Rev 1:5). This Redeemer was Jesus Christ, God the Son, the second Person of the Trinity who became human (John 1:1, 14), who lived a sinless life (2 Cor 5:21; Heb 4:15; 1 John 3:5), willingly died on a cross (John 10:17-18), was judged for all our sin (Heb 10:10, 14), and was buried and raised to life on the third day (1 Cor 15:3-4, 20), never to die again (Rom 6:9). After His redeeming work, Jesus ascended to heaven, where He awaits His return (Acts 1:9-11; cf. John 14:1-3; 1 Th 4:13-18). Jesus' work on the cross opens the way for us to have forgiveness of sins (Eph 1:7), and spiritual life (Eph 1:3; 1 Pet 1:3, 23), if we'll trust in Him as our Savior (John 3:16; 20:31).      When a Philippian jailer asked the apostle Paul, “what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30), Paul gave the simple answer, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Act 16:31). Believing in Christ means we turn from trusting in anyone or anything as having any saving value (which is the meaning of repentance) and place our complete confidence in Christ to save, accepting Him and His work on the cross as all that is needed to have eternal life. Salvation comes to us by grace alone (it's an undeserved gift), through faith alone (adding no works), in Christ alone (as the only One who saves). Paul wrote, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph 2:8-9). God also promises us an eternal existence with Him in Heaven (John 14:1-3), who will eventually create a new heavens and earth, which will be marked by perfect righteousness (2 Pet 3:13), and be free from sin and death (Rev 21:1-5). God has already begun this restoration process, and this starts with the restoration of lost sinners to Himself, and progressing toward the complete and perfect restoration of the universe and earth.      If we accept God and His offer of salvation, we have a new relationship with Him, and this means we are part of His royal family. God also gives meaning to our lives and calls us to serve as His representatives in a fallen world. To reject God and His offer is to choose an eternal existence away from Him in the Lake of Fire. This is avoidable, if one turns to Christ as Savior, believing the good news that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and raised again on the third day (1 Cor 15:3-4). Won't you trust in Christ as your Savior and begin this new and wonderful life? I pray you do. Other recommended sources referenced in this lesson: Francis Schaeffer: Trilogy: https://smile.amazon.com/Francis-Schaeffer-Trilogy-Three-Essential/dp/0891075615 Francis Schaeffer: How Should Then Live - https://smile.amazon.com/Should-Then-Live-LAbri-Anniversary-ebook/dp/B00IFG0AD8 Francis Schaeffer: How Should Then Live Ten Part Video Series - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpPMMb50QcE&list=PLP0lSOp9RORx7W0REI8SVK2CNIrMjhS_T James Sire: The Universe Next Door - https://www.amazon.com/Universe-Next-Door-Worldview-Catalog-ebook/dp/B084L3SQDY Jean-Paul Sartre: Existentialism and Human Emotions - https://www.amazon.com/Existentialism-Human-Emotion-Philosophical-Library/dp/0806509023 The Humanist Manifesto - https://smile.amazon.com/Humanist-Manifesto-2000-Planetary-Humanism/dp/157392783X Steve's Blog: https://thinkingonscripture.com/ Steve's Books: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B005FSY6XO Steve's Audio Lessons: https://thinkingonscripture.com/audio-video/   [1] Mark Twain, The Autobiography of Mark Twain, edited by Michael J. Kiskis (Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, WI, 2013), 28. [2] Bertrand Russell, “A Free Man's Worship” from Mysticism and Logic (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1917). [3] Francis A. Schaeffer, How Should We Then Live?: The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture, 50th L'Abri Anniversary Edition. (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2005), 167. [4] Ibid., 170. [5] Ibid., 145. [6] John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 1997), 1.3.1 [7] Ibid., 1.3.3 [8] Ibid., 1.3.1

This is the first of a thirteen episode series based on the ideas expressed by Francis A. Schaeffer in his book, True Spirituality: How to Live for Jesus Moment By Moment that was originally published in 1971. We'll be following his basic chapter outline and summarizing his key thoughts on living the Christian life within a modern context. It is well worth noting that even though it's been decades since the first publication, the ideas are perfectly relevant to where we are well into the 21st century as this is being recorded. That said, I have adapted the message into what perhaps better fits today's style of communication while staying faithful to the content as set forth by this brilliant philosopher and theologian. It's also worth noting that although the book was written from the standpoint of belief and to those who are seeking to live as followers of Jesus Christ, it offers unique insights into the essentials of the Christian belief system as an integrated life approach harmonizing belief and practice, and therefore can benefit anyone curious about or looking for a deeper understanding of what Christianity is all about. _______________________________________________________________________________________ Attributions: "Hope" and "Changes" by Kazukii. https://soundcloud.com/ohthatkazuki https://ohthatkazuki.bandcamp.com _______________________________________________________________________________________ Please visit the below sites for more information and resources or to reach out to Pastor Johnny: https://www.invictusmaneopress.com https://www.thoughtoutfaith.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

     In our current section on case laws (Deut 19:1—26:19), we are considering how the nation of ancient Israel was to practice righteous living after they entered the land of Canaan (Deut 16:20), how righteousness was measured by conformity to God's laws (Deut 6:24-25), and obedience would result in the Lord's blessings (Deut 11:26-28). In this section, Moses addresses maintaining purity in military camps (Deut 23:9-14), providing refuge for runaway foreign slaves (Deut 23:15-16), and a prohibition against men and women serving as pagan cult prostitutes (Deut 23:17-18).    Purity in Military Camps      Moses opens this section, saying, “When you go out as an army against your enemies, you shall keep yourself from every evil thing” (Deut 23:9). Here, the military represented a specific group within the nation of Israel, and they were called to maintain purity in their military camp. The word evil translates the Hebrew adjective רָע ra, which commonly denotes “bad, evil, wicked, [or] no good.”[1] The word often refers to what is morally reprehensible to God; however, in the following verses (Deut 23:10-14), it refers to what is physically impure among God's people. Being the source of absolute holiness, God determines and declares what is good or evil.      Moses continued, saying, “If there is among you any man who is unclean because of a nocturnal emission, then he must go outside the camp; he may not reenter the camp. But it shall be when evening approaches, he shall bathe himself with water, and at sundown he may reenter the camp” (Deut 23:10-11). The nocturnal emission is not identified. It could refer to an accidental nighttime seminal discharge, which a man might experience when away from his wife for a period of time. Moses had previously mentioned such a discharge (cf., Lev 15:16-17), which rendered a man ceremonially unclean, not morally unclean. However, the context implies that the nighttime emission more likely refers to one who urinated in his bed. Peter Craigie states: "The first example relates to a man who is unclean because of what happens at night. On the analogy of Leviticus 15:16, these words are often interpreted as signifying the nocturnal, involuntary emission of semen; the Hebrew in this passage, however, is different and less specific than that of Leviticus 15:16, and it is possible that something else is intended. The references may simply be to urinating in the camp at night, either involuntarily or else because a man was too lazy (or tired) to get up and go outside his camp. This interpretation seems to provide a more natural parallel to the legislation contained in Deuteronomy 23:13-15, and it would thus refer to a more typical and common occurrence in any military camp. A man who had behaved in this manner was to remain outside the camp the following day; toward evening he would wash himself, again for hygienic and ritual reasons, and he would be permitted to reenter the camp after sunset."[2]      This law was to go into effect after Israel had entered the land of Canaan; at which time, they would find themselves facing an enemy. Moses continued his instruction, saying, “You shall also have a place outside the camp and go out there, 13 and you shall have a spade among your tools, and it shall be when you sit down outside, you shall dig with it and shall turn to cover up your excrement” (Deut 23:12-13). Some pagan cultures, such as the Egyptians, used animal feces as part of their medical practices. Fawver and Overstreet write: "Much of the information found in the Egyptian medical texts was medically hazardous. For example, donkey feces were used for the treatment of splinters, which probably increased the incidence of tetanus because of tetanus spores present in feces. Crocodile feces were used for birth control. In contrast Moses wrote that God instructed the Israelites to cover their excrement because it was “unclean” (Deut 23:12–13). At no time did Moses resort to adding the popular medical techniques of his day, though he was “educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians” (Acts 7:22), which certainly included their medical wisdom."[3]      Moses concludes, saying, “Since the LORD your God walks in the midst of your camp to deliver you and to defeat your enemies before you, therefore your camp must be holy; and He must not see anything indecent among you or He will turn away from you” (Deut 23:14). Here is the primary rationale for maintaining purity in the camp. When going out to battle, the Israelites must constantly be aware that God is among them, walking in their midst, inspecting the camp for cleanliness. God is holy and He expects His people to be holy (c.f., Lev 19:1-2). In these verses, cleanliness was an act of holiness in God's sight. Warren Wiersbe states: "This section applied to Israel's soldiers when they were encamped away from home. The basic principle was that they treat the camp as they would their land at home, for the Lord was with them even on the battlefield, walking in their midst. The idol-worshiping nations believed that they left their gods behind when they went to another country, but Israel's God was always with them, for He is the God of all the earth. If a soldier had become unclean at home, he would have to leave the community, wash, and return the next day; and that same rule applied in the camp. The men were also to have a place outside the camp for disposing of their excrement. This would not only keep them from being defiled, but it would also promote hygiene."[4] Protecting Runaway Slaves      Concerning runaway slaves from a foreign country, Moses wrote, “You shall not hand over to his master a slave who has escaped from his master to you. 16 He shall live with you in your midst, in the place which he shall choose in one of your towns where it pleases him; you shall not mistreat him” (Deut 23:15-16). The passage considers slaves who ran away from their foreign master to seek refuge in Israel. Such a scenario might be tied to the previous section pertaining to going out to war. It's possible a foreign slave might be near Israel because he/she was brought there by a commander or soldier. Being in proximity might have afforded the slave the opportunity to run away and seek refuge within the Israelite community. If this happened, God's people were to allow such a one to live in their midst for protection and freedom, to reside in whatever town they wanted, and not to take advantage of them or mistreat them. A modified form of slavery was permitted in ancient Israel, in which a person who owed a debt could obligate himself to his debtor to pay off a debt. This contract arrangement was voluntary for both parties and had a divinely set term limit of six years, after which, the slave must be set free (Deut 15:12). Furthermore, the slave was to be set free with a liberal severance package adequate to jumpstart his own economic wellbeing (Deut 15:13-15). Such actions were predicated on the fact that Israel, as a nation, had been enslaved in Egypt, and they were to regard willful Israelite slaves with compassion and fairness. However, if an Israelite served his six-year contract and came to love his master because he was treated very well, he could voluntarily enter into a lifetime agreement of service (Deut 15:16-18). Prohibition Against Cultic Prostitution      Moses continued, saying, “None of the daughters of Israel shall be a cult prostitute, nor shall any of the sons of Israel be a cult prostitute” (Deut 23:17). Here was a prohibition against young Israelite women or men from being a cult prostitute in a pagan temple. Canaanite parents were known to give their sons and daughters to serve as prostitutes in their worship of pagan idols. In such situations, the children were exploited by the parents for sinful purposes.[5] Israel was not to be like the pagan cultures around them. They were to be holy. For a young woman or man to engage in such activity would imply some residual Canaanite influence in the land. Jack Deere writes, “The prohibition here was probably intended to prevent a foreign religion being practiced by Israelites, and to keep the worship of the Lord from being contaminated by temple prostitution.”[6] Unfortunately, this command to prohibit Israelites from serving as temple prostitutes was not followed by later generations (see 1 Ki 14:24; 15:12; 22:46; 2 Ki 23:7). Eugene Merrill writes: "So-called cultic prostitution was widespread among the fertility cults of the ancient Near Eastern world that saw in its employment a means of achieving productivity of plant, animal, and even human life. Whole guilds of male and female temple personnel participated in grossly sexual rituals designed to induce the various gods and goddesses to release their procreative powers on the earth. Nowhere was this more commonly practiced than among the peoples of Syria and Canaan, hence the special need to warn Israel against it."[7]      Moses further states, “You shall not bring the hire of a harlot or the wages of a dog into the house of the LORD your God for any votive offering, for both of these are an abomination to the LORD your God” (Deut 23:18). The male prostitute is called a dog because his brutish behavior is like that of a dog, which indiscriminately mounts another canine for sexual gratification. Whether a female or male prostitute, their wages were regarded as dirty money that was not acceptable to the Lord. Giving to the Lord' work is a valid act, but what is given must be derived from honest work done in an honest way. Present Application      Through our study of Deuteronomy, we learn that God is concerned about just laws and moral behavior among His people. God's laws through Moses were just laws, because they derived from a righteous God. As a theocracy, God was their Judge, Lawgiver, and King (Isa 33:22). Though the church is not under the Mosaic Law as the rule for life, we still have directives to follow, and these are always for our good and the good of others. As Christians, we are not called to form a nation like Israel, but are to go out to many nations (Matt 28:19-20), and this to preach the gospel and God's Word to all who will listen. As Christians living in a fallen world, we realize that a just and moral nation is the product of a just and moral people. As Christians, we desire morality and justice in our society. However, such morality never occurs through social or political force. We have failed as Christians as soon as we seek to politicize our message and control others through legislative means. We realize true and lasting transformation must occur from the inside out, as people are regenerated through faith in Christ and advance to spiritual maturity through learning and living God's Word, not by a forced morality imposed through the halls of congress. Where Christianity prevails in a society, social evils will decline, and freedom will be maintained by a moral and just people. John Adams knew this very well and said, “Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”      As Christians, we are called to share the gospel that people might receive new life and be liberated from Satan's slave-market. If a person rejects Jesus as Savior, then that person chooses to continue as a slave to Satan and his world-system. It's unfortunate, but it's their choice, and it must be respected. God is a perfect Gentleman and He does not bully anyone to accept His offer of salvation, nor to live according to His directives. If people turn away from Him and suppress His truth in unrighteousness, then He will let them go their own way. Concerning those who “suppress God's truth in unrighteousness” (Rom 1:18), three times it is written that He “gave them over” to “the lusts of their hearts” (Rom 1:24), and “to degrading passions” (Rom 1:26), and “to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper” (Rom 1:28). Once God permits a person to operate by his/her sinful passions, they are given a measure of freedom to live as they want. These are described as “being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, and unmerciful” (Rom 1:29-31).        Such people live according to laws of their own making, with no greater source of morality than that which can be derived from their own fallen hearts. However, because they have rejected God, they have no basis for moral absolutes by which to declare anything ethically right or wrong. There is only subjective opinion, which fluctuates from person to person and group to group. If God and His Word are rejected, we're left with no moral absolutes, and then what is, is right, and the conversation is over. Morality then becomes a matter of what the majority wants, or what an elite, or tyrant, can impose on others. Francis Schaeffer wrote:  "If there is no absolute moral standard, then one cannot say in a final sense that anything is right or wrong. By absolute we mean that which always applies, that which provides a final or ultimate standard. There must be an absolute if there are to be morals, and there must be an absolute if there are to be real values. If there is no absolute beyond man's ideas, then there is no final appeal to judge between individuals and groups whose moral judgments conflict. We are merely left with conflicting opinions."[8]      As biblically minded Christians, we realize that without God, there is no final basis for ethics or laws other than finite and flawed people. If there is no God, then right and wrong are reduced to opinion, and cries for justice become nothing more than psychology reports from dissatisfied people. It's interesting that people cry out for personal and social justice because they're naturally wired that way. But for the atheist, such inclinations are either a learned behavior based on arbitrary social norms, or a biological quirk that developed from accidental evolutionary processes.      As believers, we know God exists, that He is there, and He is not silent. God reveals Himself in the human heart (Rom 1:19), through nature (Psa 19:1-2; Rom 1:20), through His Son (Heb 1:1-2), and through His written Word (Psa 119:160; John 17:17; 2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Pet 1:20-21). Furthermore, God has placed within each person a conscience, and this operates according to a morality God has infused within each person. Paul wrote, “For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them” (Rom 2:14-15). Human conscience, when operating properly, serves as God's moral compass placed within each person. People intuitively know that God exists (Rom 1:18-20), and that certain laws are right (Rom 2:14-15). We don't have to persuade anyone. People intuitively know God exists, that He is just, and that actions such as murder, abortion, lying, stealing, and adultery are wrong.      For those who have positive volition, they will hear the Christian message and turn to Christ as Savior, believing Jesus “died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor 15:3-4). Once saved, they can then begin the process of renewing their minds according to God's Word (Rom 12:1-2), advance to spiritual maturity (Eph 4:11-13; 1 Pet 2:2; 2 Pet 3:18), live by faith (Heb 10:38; 11:6), operate in the power of the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:18; Gal 5:16), walk in a manner consistent with their new identity in Christ (Eph 4:1), and manifest the fruit of the Holy Spirit in their daily lives (Gal 5:22-23). Such Christians will become the moral backbone of any society, which will be richer because of their walk with the Lord.   [1] James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament) (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997). [2] Peter C. Craigie, The Book of Deuteronomy, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1976), 299. [3] Jay D. Fawver and R. Larry Overstreet, “Moses and Preventive Medicine,” Bibliotheca Sacra 147 (1990): 275. [4] Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Equipped, “Be” Commentary Series (Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor Pub., 1999), 158–159. [5] The sinful exploitation of children continues today. I knew a girl in Las Vegas who, when she was 11, her mother used to prostitute her out to men in order to maintain the mother's cocaine habit. This went on for several years. That a parent would do such a thing to a young child reveals the depravity of the human heart. The past few decades have seen a global rise in kidnapping and child exploitation as part of the sex-trade. Sin and evil still exist. [6] Jack S. Deere, “Deuteronomy,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 304. [7] Eugene H. Merrill, Deuteronomy, vol. 4, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1994), 313. [8] Francis A. Schaeffer, How Should We Then Live?: The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture, 50th L'Abri Anniversary Edition. (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2005), 145.

Francis Schaeffer's 'How Should We Then Live?' was published in 1975, making it 11 or 12-years older than I am. No matter. Schaeffer could have just as easily have been writing today. The thoughts and accounting here are not old, they are timeless. And their timeliness may only be greater today than when he first published because the fruition of some of what he explains is more and more becoming apparent as secular humanism wreaks more havoc than many would have been willing to suppose four-and-a-half decades ago. As Ezekiel 33:10-11 puts it, in the passage from which the title of Schaeffer's book drew its inspiration, “And you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, Thus have you said: ‘Surely our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and we rot away because of them. How then can we live?' Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?" And just before that, in verses 7-9. "So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul." And thus we do so live. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/garrett-ashley-mullet/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/garrett-ashley-mullet/support

This is the first of a thirteen episode series based on the ideas expressed by Francis A. Schaeffer in his book, True Spirituality: How to Live for Jesus Moment By Moment that was originally published in 1971. We'll be following his basic chapter outline and summarizing his key thoughts on living the Christian life within a modern context. It is well worth noting that even though it's been decades since the first publication, the ideas are perfectly relevant to where we are well into the 21st century as this is being recorded. That said, I have adapted the message into what perhaps better fits today's style of communication while staying faithful to the content as set forth by this brilliant philosopher and theologian. It's also worth noting that although the book was written from the standpoint of belief and to those who are seeking to live as followers of Jesus Christ, it offers unique insights into the essentials of the Christian belief system as an integrated life approach harmonizing belief and practice, and therefore can benefit anyone curious about or looking for a deeper understanding of what Christianity is all about. _______________________________________________________________________________________ Attributions: "Hope" and "Changes" by Kazukii. https://soundcloud.com/ohthatkazuki https://ohthatkazuki.bandcamp.com _______________________________________________________________________________________ Please visit the below sites for more information and resources or to reach out to Pastor Johnny: https://www.invictusmaneopress.com https://www.thoughtoutfaith.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/john-armstrong4/support

Welcome to A Christian Manifesto Today episode #52. My name is Daniel Whyte III, president of Torch Leadership Foundation. Pastor and Christian philosopher, Francis A. Schaeffer, warned us and created the war plan that we as Christians need today to deal with a society that is increasingly moving away from God, the Bible, and moral principles. He wrote “A Christian Manifesto” over 33 years ago and its words are just as relevant today as they were back then.

The Christian really has a double task. He has to practice both God’s holiness and God’s love. The Christian is to exhibit that God exists as the infinite personal God; and then he is to exhibit simultaneously God’s character of holiness and love. Not his holiness without his love: that is only harshness. Not his love without his holiness: that is only compromise. —Francis A. Schaeffer

The Reverend and the Reprobate sit down with the scholar in residence at Houston Baptist University and author of "Love Thy Body", Nancy Pearcey, about her time studying with Francis A. Schaeffer, interpreting the works of Leonardo DaVinci, and the importance cultural apologetics. See more from Professor Pearcey: http://www.nancypearcey.com More from the Reverend and Reprobate: https://reverendandreprobate.com Rev and Rep Linktr.ee (all the show links can be found below) https://linktr.ee/revreppodcast

Critical Race Theory is a hot button topic in our culture. Some Christians support it, some reject it, and some don't even know what it is. In this episode I will give you my preliminary thoughts on CRT and touch on why the philosophical foundation of CRT is crucial to understand if you are going to objectively examine it.    This podcast series is based on a semester long research project I undertook in the fall of 2020. I read books, articles, blogs, websites, and watched lectures both in support and in criticism of CRT. Each reference in the podcast will be cited below in this description. Footnote Francis A. Schaeffer, How Should We Then Live?: the Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2005), 121.   None of the views or comments expressed in this episode necessarily reflect the doctrines and/or approach of LifePointe Christian Church, which is the place I currently (2021) am on staff as the Connections Minister.    Apple Podcast (DyerConversations) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dyerconversations/id1522600920 Spotify (DyerConversations)  https://open.spotify.com/show/4uGRyCpKYEPcVDj0JcTsuI   Connect with Me: Instagram Twitter   Special Thanks to Melissa Baines at MBainesGDP.com for the Logo Design

In this episode of The Greater Heritage podcast we review the Francis Schaeffer TV series How Should We Then Live?  available at Vision Video and Amazon Prime.Francis A. Schaeffer was one evangelical Christianity's foremost philosophers and theologians of the 20th century.He was also a committed apologist for the Christian faith, and frequent author.In 1955, he and his wife Edith establish the L'Abri Fellowship in Switzerland as a place for people to ask honest questions about life and Christianity.The organization is still around today, as are Schaeffer's over 20 books.In 1977, Schaeffer broke into the world of television with the series How Should We Then Live? He developed the series as a response to Kenneth Clark's 1969 art and world history series Civilisation.However, while exceptional in its own right, Civilisation's view of world history was entirely humanistic.So, Schaeffer set out to do a series that got to heart of the meaning of history, namely that it is first and foremost God's story.Across the series' 10 episodes, he takes viewers on a journey through the Roman era, Middle Ages and Renaissance, and the age of non-reason, until finally stopping in the contemporary world.The primary thesis for the show, is that God is the only source of absolutes.He then explains, in a clear and profound manner throughout the show, how mankind is inherently rebellious against God.Nevertheless, the creator God is personal, infinite and has revealed Himself through the Bible and creation.Therefore, when man follows God and starts with Him as the source of meaning and purpose he finds peace, salvation, strength, meaning, law, order and answers to his deepest questions and needs.However, when man follows himself, and starts from within to find meaning and purpose, instead of by starting with God, it only leads him to apathy, and despair.It is within this tension that history has found itself since the fall in the Garden of Eden.How Should We Then Live? is nothing short of spectacular.In the end, Schaeffer demonstrates how man's designs for life are nothing more than circles in the sand.One decade the rules are represented by one man-made circle, then in another man crosses that circle out and forms a new one.History, without God, is a never ending series of futile attempts for man to be his own measure, until finally the ocean of God's return washes it all away.Francis A. Schaeffer was one of the leading Christian thinkers of the 20th century, and How Should We Then Live? is just as sound, profound and stirring as the man himself.Highest recommendation!Intro and outro music provided by Five Minute Plan. Be sure to check them out!Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this review are solely those of the reviewer. They do not represent any endorsement.

Last week we compared liberalism (what Thomas Sowell calls the Unconstrained Vision) to the Ten Commandments; today it's time to turn the same scrutiny on conservatism (the Constrained Vision). What happens when conservatism, rather than the Bible, becomes our default authority? This Episode Features: Civil Religion; Rotten Oranges; Quacking Like A Christian; Suddenly, Scientology!; As Real As Burnt Bacon; The Apotheosis of George Washington; Honesty Is A Policy; and Everyone Is Now Most Assuredly Mad At Us. Transcript: https://bit.ly/3gkGoDK-htz-49 Links: A Conflict of Visions - Thomas Sowell: https://amzn.to/31jQRcm Death in the City - Francis A. Schaeffer: https://amzn.to/3ouYeq6 For a Time Such as This - Jim Halsey: https://amzn.to/36Lj5zH Total Truth - Nancy Pearcey: https://amzn.to/2VHsbqJ Two Treatises of Civil Government - John Locke: https://oll.libertyfund.org/page/john-locke-two-treatises-1689 Lex Rex - Samuel Rutherford: https://www.monergism.com/lex-rex-ebook The Constitution of the United States: https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript The Apotheosis of George Washington - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Apotheosis_of_Washington The Children's Story - James Clavell: https://amzn.to/3lHQG1L Good Omens - Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett: https://amzn.to/31lWbwk Federalist 51 - James Madison: https://bit.ly/3mQ6alx Horatius at the Bridge - Thomas Babington Macaulay: https://www.thoughtco.com/horatius-at-the-bridge-4070724 McGuffey's Readers: https://amzn.to/2JE8PR0 Recos: In Search of the City on a Hill - Richard M. Gamble: http://bookstore.hillsdale.edu/MerchDetail?MerchID=725322 The Stormlight Archives - Brandon Sanderson: https://amzn.to/37GsyHx Christmas Carolling in Public Buildings --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/haltingtowardzion/support

In this episode of Help Me Teach the Bible, Nancy sits down with Dale Ralph Davis at First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina, where, in his “retirement” he serves as minister in residence or, as senior pastor Derek Thomas calls him, “the preacher of the night.” Davis is a long-time pastor and former professor of Old Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi. Davis's book, No Falling Words, has long been a must-have commentary on Joshua.We sat down with him as he was reworking his messages on Joshua for an upcoming conference to talk about “the strange God” of Joshua as well as:old promises fulfilled in Joshua;the meaning of the land;God’s command to destroy the Canaanites;the unlikely recipient of mercy;the grace demonstrated and response to grace commanded in Joshua.Here are some additional audio resources that you may find helpful in preparing to teach Joshua:Overview of Joshua by Dale Ralph DavisDavid Jackman messages on JoshuaJohn Woodhouse messages of JoshuaEntering into the Promises series at All Souls Langham PlaceTGC sermon resources on JoshuaFor further study, here are some books you may find helpful, including titles from Crossway, the sponsor of Help Me Teach the Bible:No Falling Words by Dale Ralph DavisJoshua: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Scripture (New American Commentary) by David HowardJoshua: People of God's Purpose by David JackmanJoshua and the Flow of Biblical History by Francis A. Schaeffer

IT IS HERE!Tuesday, November 3, 2020 is here. It calls us to action; it calls us to:         THE VOTE.The most important vote in all of America's 240–year history. It is your last opportunity, my fellow Americans to vote, whether Monday, November 2 or in person Tuesday, November 3. And, you will vote, citizens of the greatest country in the world, will you not? You must!The future of this great country depends upon your vote. The political choices we have are as clear and as different as they have ever been. You will vote for America as it is, essentially so, or you will vote for a radical America, lurching to the left, employing the incredible weapon of:         CANCEL CULTUREand American history, and its political traditions, and its religious pillars and so many of its freedoms we have held dear since 1776. How will you vote? What do you believe America should be?Will you vote BIBLICAL VALUES? America in so many ways was built upon Judeo – Christian values, the pillars of our society. Its laws and rule of law were taken from the old English Common Law and from the Commandments, the moral principles of scripture. It created for us and for the world to see an EXCEPTIONAL society, men and women building upon essential freedoms, the freedom of religion, and speech, press, assembly and petition. It was a REPUBLIC for all the world to see. But this republic, built upon democratic principles, required hard work over and again. It required diligence, strong protections, passionate adherence to its principles, growth and development day and night. This American experiment and freedom was fragile, difficult and looked upon by the world at large as temporary. Our Founders who gave us this republic knew the dangers and the difficulties, which led Founder Benjamin Franklin to state:         WE GAVE YOU A REPUBLIC IF YOU CAN KEEP IT.Our beloved constitution gave us a republic if we could keep it. Can we? We have done so for 244 years. But will these elections 2020 take it from us? If we vote for and allow radicals, progressives, socialists to take power and rule us, this long–standing republic will be done away with, in part overnight and the rest step by step. The vote you cast will determine our future. And you must vote, my fellow Americans, YOU MUST VOTE! Have you?We and our ancestors built this country. It was the blood, sweat and tears of our ancestors which gave us the America we now enjoy. This BUILDING took leadership, entrepreneurs, men and women with vision, mission and purpose guiding and directing, accumulating capital and financial resources, persuading others to invest and providing jobs, millions of jobs for those who were willing to work. America required the very best of the Captains of Industry and the hard work and diligence of workers white and blue collar. This combined effort made us great. It built a society affluent, opportunistic and abundant especially as compared to the rest of the world. The question for us and for all history is:         CAN WE KEEP IT?Can we? That depends on how you will vote, my fellow Americans and for which party, politician and platform you wish for America. We will continue on as a nation essentially as we are, working to better ourselves, for reform, revival, growth, equality, fairness and justice for all, solving our problems without destroying our country. And as we vote, we pray, and we pray for the blessings of our Lord on our country, our leaders and we the people. We do the best we can and then we trust the will of God Almighty for our country.The results begin Wednesday, November 4. The elections in final form may not be known for days. There will be protests, claims of fraud, legal challenges. There will be protests, civil unrest, even the resumption of riots and perhaps even massive civil disobedience. We may well have a country in turmoil for days to come. We may witness the tearing apart of the Great Society and the resumption of the hatred, animosity, and deep division which characterizes America today. These will be the times, as Founder Thomas Paine well said that:         TRY MEN'S SOUL.But the die is cast and we pray for fair elections, all votes counted and accurately so and the results when final, clear and indisputable. Without that, we will live with civil unrest and even disobedience for weeks and months to come. These are revolutionary days in America and those who are real patriots must stand up, fight the fight of freedom, and fight the fight of faith. We are now in this fight, like it or not, and it will require eternal vigilance, activity and reassertion of the right moral and political principles in order for the America we love to survive. Are you ready? I pray to that end. And I pray for America, and its future, and yours and mine.And as we pray, we seek the blessing of God Almighty. But this God we love and worship has told us that there can be no divine answer to our petitions unless we humble ourselves. America is a prideful nation, our people turn secular and humanistic more than ever, they regard man as the measure of all things with no need of anything divine or spiritual. So much so that no divine blessing can come. And then, our God says, we must turn from wicked ways. Immorality is so deeply imbedded in American society and culture that will be extremely difficult, requiring radical change. That will take revival, a deep sense of culture born again, doubtful it is that America is ready for that. But it must turn if it is to be blessed.And then we are told we must seek God with all of our hearts, to love HIM with all of our strength. That is so little evident in America today and as such, there can be no divine blessing, and then we must pray, and pray without ceasing, pray believing that this God will bless America and us with it. And if those four things occur, if we the people are humble, turn, pray and seek his will, then and only then will the God of our Lord Jesus Christ answer, and not before. It is apparent that we have work to do before that blessing will come. And then we as a people as we contemplate the America we have recreated must:         BE STILL AND KNOW THAT HE IS GOD. Be still, wait patiently, pray for enlightenment and wisdom and wait for the events divinely directed to unfold. We can be still if we know in our hearts that we have done everything possible that we should do as American citizens and voters. If we have done our duty, and if we have voted, and if we have stood tall for the America which has given us so much, then we can wait patiently for the will of God to happen. And as we do, give thanks in everything. Give thanks as God has commanded, for everything, EVERYTHING! And especially for the America we are privileged to live in. And as you do, stand up, stand tall, fight the fight of faith, run the race. Vow to be better, work harder, and be ready at all times to place your:         ALL ON THE ALTER. As millions of Christians and patriots have in times past. Pray my fellow Americans that Pastors, Christian leaders, lawyers, doctors and businessmen, White, Black and Latino will stand up as Christians and defend. America desperately needs that. In so many ways, there has been an America as we are told by Francis A. Schaeffer that in Christendom and its leadership, there has been a:         VAST SILENCE.And that must end, end now and forevermore. Even if America lurches to the left, even if radicals and those anti–American prevail, there is opportunity, different, more challenging and certainly more difficult. But it is there nonetheless to champion the faith, and the freedoms of this great country. We will be called upon as citizens and Christians to respond to a much higher responsibility, with more work, more doing, a harder life in every way. Then, the mettle of our character and our faith will be surely tested and the cost, the true cost of standing for the Gospel will be demanded. Are you ready for that? Are you ready to fight the fight of faith? We the people of THE BOOK and the scriptures can never again take our freedom of religion for granted. I pray for this great country. I pray for you and yours, your family, friends and those you love and for all Americans. We have always been one nation under God, striving to be indivisible, striving as well to provide liberty and justice for all. We have done all of that within the structure of our great republic. Now we say with Ben Franklin of old:         CAN WE KEEP THIS GREAT REPUBLIC?What becomes of America in our hands, with our votes, with our actions. Who are we and will we be as a people and what will become of our great country. Those are questions now eternal, challenges to each of us forevermore. There is much to be done before we can really honestly and sincerely ask that:         GOD BLESS AMERICA.I do hope and pray that you voted and that you voted for an America under God, moral, with character to be led by people who believe the same. We have always been the world's leader, a shining city on the hilltop. I pray with all my heart we stay that way. 

Studies in the Atonement – by Robert A. Morey Dr. Morey’s ministry is recommended by some of the best-known Christians leaders in this generation: D. James Kennedy, John Ankerberg, Gordon Clark, John Frame, Cornelius Van Til, Walter Martin, Gleason Archer, Stephen Olford, Francis A. Schaeffer and many others. He is the author of over fifty-eight books. “This book is “practical” in the best sense; not a mere simplification, but an attempt to communicate solid content; to warm the heart; and to move the will to obedience as well as to inform the mind. This is done quite skillfully without any reluctance to get into some depth.” Prof. John M. Frame (Reformed Theological Seminary) “Dr. Morey has provided a very useful work dealing with both the accomplishment and the application of the redemptive work of Christ. This is presented in a soundly Reformed perspective and deals in a straightforward manner with all the major issues to be considered. An interesting original approach to the order of salvation is to be noted.” Dr. Roger Nicole (Reformed Theological Seminary) “We recommend this 300+ page book as a fine statement of the doctrine of the Atonement. It is comprehensive, readable, practical and Scriptural. We hope it finds wide acceptance.” Puritan Reformed Book Club Dr. Robert A. Morey Ph.D., D. Min., D.D. Faith Defenders http://www.faithdefenders.com

In approaching the topic of the First Commandment, we come to--surprise! The gospel, because God's plan was always to conform us to the image of His Son. Every human action is religious, because the very existence of humanity is for the sake of covenant with God. So if we are in Christ, everything we make and do is holy and acceptable to God for His sake. That applies to philosophy and art, as well as to our daily vocations, relationships, even hobbies. This Episode Features: The First Commandment and the Cultural Mandate; While Poseidon's Away The Greeks Will Play; Bacon Grease; Spoon Collecting; The Great British Bake Off; Learning Obedience; Heidelberg Snark; and Bach's Toccatas. Transcript: https://bit.ly/2QCDrlT-htz-35 Links: How Should We Then Live? - Francis A. Schaeffer: https://amzn.to/2YmOuUf The Whole Christ - Sinclair Ferguson: https://amzn.to/3jrNPci Hamilton on Disney Plus: https://bit.ly/2QDtGUw The Great British Baking Show (2010-): https://amzn.to/34KBYSP Heidelberg Catechism: http://www.heidelberg-catechism.com/en/lords-days/1.html Time Bandits (1981): https://amzn.to/2QF0g8c Recos: The Calvinistic Concept of Culture - Henry Van Til: https://amzn.to/31HjqAZ Hiking Audiobooks --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/haltingtowardzion/support

What's better than perfect justice? Swift, reliable justice--at least, that's the case we make in this discussion of the appellate court system that Jethro recommended to Moses in Exodus 18, with God's blessing. Going to court these days is notorious for sapping time and energy from everyone involved... surely there's a better system. This Episode Features: Justice Systems And The Nature Of Man; Going Splat; Thanks, I Hate It; Presbyterian Forms Of Government; Political Hot Potatoes; You Want The Whales To Die; In The Name Of Love, What More In The Name Of Love; and Alfred the Great. Transcript: https://bit.ly/2YpC6Tu-htz-34 Links: Exodus 18: https://www.esv.org/Exodus+18/ Murder on the Orient Express - Agatha Christie: https://amzn.to/31kIEF9 1 Kings 3: https://www.esv.org/1+Kings+3/ The Constitution of the United States of America: https://bit.ly/2Yo3UHY The Bill of Rights: https://bit.ly/2YsrL9v A Crime A Day on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CrimeADay Recos: Mixology Physical Exercise The White Horse King - Benjamin Merkle: https://amzn.to/2Qgfe4z The Ballad of the White Horse - G. K. Chesterton: https://amzn.to/3aURIDF A Conflict of Visions - Thomas Sowell: https://amzn.to/31jQRcm How Should We Then Live? - Francis A. Schaeffer: https://amzn.to/2YmOuUf --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/haltingtowardzion/support

“I’ll pray for you.” How many times have we said this and neglected to follow through? Can we actually develop a habit of praying for others? Today, we are joined by Maryanne Challies Helms, and she reminds us that we can be people who faithfully pray for others. She shares practical advice on how we can develop a habit of praying for others, and she gives encouragement for those who wrestle with the role of prayer and God’s sovereignty, unanswered prayers, and more.    Connect with us:  www.dailygracepodcast.com  www.thedailygraceco.com  https://www.facebook.com/thedailygraceco/  https://www.instagram.com/thedailygraceco/    Questions? Email us!  podcast@thedailygraceco.com  _______________________________  Resources mentioned in this episode:  Ep. 71 Teach Me to Pray by Daily Grace  Prayer Aate - Christian Prayer App  “Practicing Prayer An Invitation to Pester God” TGC Workshop by Jani Ortlund  Susie: The Life and Legacy of Susannah Spurgeon by Ray Rhodes Jr.   Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery  Letters of Francis A. Schaeffer by Francis Schaeffer    Scripture mentioned in this episode:  John 17  James 5:16  Ephesians 6:18  Isaiah 62:7  Proverbs 27:6    Connect with us:  Subscribe to Daily Grace: on iOS, go to our iTunes page and click subscribe.  On Android, click this podcast RSS feed link and choose your podcast app.  If needed, you can copy this link directly into your favorite podcast app (like Stitcher or Overcast).  Or follow us on Spotify!  We would love if you took a few minutes to leave us an iTunes review to help spread the word about Daily Grace!  We want to invite more women into our conversations!  Download The Daily Grace app: for iOS, click here to download.  On Android, click here to download.  Visit The Daily Grace Co. for beautiful products for the whole family that will equip you on your journey to knowing and loving God more.   Subscribe to The Daily Grace Newsletter and receive free Bible study resources in your inbox.   Like The Daily Grace Co. on Facebook.  Follow on Instagram for the latest updates on the podcast and The Daily Grace Co.   Engage with our Facebook community, “The Daily Grace Co. Communityt”.   Read The Daily Grace blog for encouragement throughout the week that is steeped in biblical truths.  **Affiliate links used are used where appropriate.**  Thank you for supporting the products that support the production of this podcast! 

Cultural influence is the goal of any worldview. Wars have been fought, legislation created, and empires torn done because of emerging word views. What we believe matters and will have an impact on how we live our lives, which includes how we build culture. As Christians, we should always strive to shape culture according to God's word. We have a significant role to play in liberating the oppressed, protecting the innocent, enacting a just and fair society, and loving our neighbors as ourselves. The Christian worldview has brought the most innovation in science, medicine, education, and art in western culture. As Christians, we have a significant role to play in creating a culture that helps humanity thrive in the manner that God created us to operate. We hope this is an encouragement and an enlightening episode that helps you to build culture the way that God intends you too. Books mentioned in this episode: How Should We Then Live? by Francis A. Schaeffer https://www.amazon.com/dp/1581345364/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_xo66Eb2FY5Q5H Check us out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP1ScpZNFou4QP1UY7qnBzg Make sure to join our Insiders Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/christculturecoffeeinsiders/

Greg talks about how he was influenced by Francis Schaeffer, then he answers questions about the nature of morality, whether body-mind-soul is a good analogy for the Trinity, and Hell.Topics:Commentary: Concepts Greg learned from Francis Schaeffer (00:00)If morals only exist because we do, doesn’t that mean they’re just a social construct? (21:00)Is our division of mind, body, and soul a good analogy for the Trinity? (42:00)What is Hell like, and would it be better to never be born than to go to Hell? (51:00)Download the mp3...Mentioned on the Show: L’Abri Fellowship International – The organization started by Francis SchaefferThe Francis A. Schaeffer TrilogyTactics by Greg KouklInside Out by Greg Koukl (discusses Schaeffer’s “mannishness of man” concept)Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakersRelativism: Feet Firmly Planted in Mid-Air by Greg Koukl and Frank BeckwithRelated Links:Why Did God Create People if He Knew So Many Would Go to Hell? by Amy Hall

Reformers Bookcast episode for February 2020: Tom and Andrew sat down with Mark Earngey and talked about books on the topic of Culture and the Christian. Books reviewed: - The Household and the War for the Cosmos (C. R. Wiley, Canon Press) - How Should we then Live (Francis A. Schaeffer, Crossway) - The Other Worldview (Peter Jones, Kirkdale Press)

In this special, extended edition of 1st incision, CMF Associate CEO John Greenall talks to Nancy Pearcey, the American author and leading Evangelical academic about her seminal book, Love Thy Body, and how our worldview affects how we understand our bodies, identity and how we value humanity and human life.Heralded as 'America’s preeminent evangelical Protestant female intellectual' (The Economist), Nancy Pearcey is author of Love Thy Body: Answering Hard Questions about Life and Sexuality, Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from Its Cultural Captivity, which won a 2005 ECPA Gold Medallion Award, and How Now Shall We Live? (coauthored by Harold Fickett and Chuck Colson), which won a 2000 ECPA Gold Medallion Award, in addition to other works.Pearcey has been a visiting scholar at Biola University’s Torrey Honors Institute, professor of worldview studies at Cairn University, and Francis A. Schaeffer scholar at the World Journalism Institute. Currently she is professor of apologetics and scholar in residence at Houston Baptist University, a fellow at the Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture, and editor at large of The Pearcey Report.Support the show (https://cmf.li/Give)

"To be God's Church in the Midst of the 20th Century Confusion."Dr. Francis A. Schaeffer was the featured speaker for the Wednesday evening worship service of the 1st General Assembly, September 23, 1981, at Ward Presbyterian Church in Livonia, Michigan.Schaeffer was a noted evangelical theologian, author, Presbyterian pastor, and Christian statesman.

Deception Detection Radio Network                        presents         Soaring Eagle Radio with                  Mike Spaulding                 and Special Guest Nancy Pearcey In Mere Christianity, CS Lewis noted that, “Nearly all that we call human history... is one long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.” The cultural mantra most often heard today is “don’t think just believe” and that is true whether you find yourself in a church, on a college campus, and even the workplace. Asking questions, especially questions that challenge the status quo are off-limits in many places and on many subjects. But does this uncritical approach to life really provide any emotional satisfaction? Is it really possible to go through life without assessing the reasons why we believe and act in certain ways as opposed to believing and acting in certain other ways? The fact is friends, people want answers to their very serious questions. This in turn means that people believe truth exists. Do you consider yourself prepared to answer questions from your friends, family, or co-workers? This episode of SER is my conversation with author and apologist Nancy Pearcey. Nancy bio Nancy Pearcey is the author of “Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from Its Cultural Captivity”, which won a 2005 ECPA Gold Medallion Award, and “How Now Shall We Live?” (coauthored by Harold Fickett and Chuck Colson), which won a 2000 ECPA Gold Medallion Award. Her most recent release and the subject of our conversation today is entitled “Finding Truth: 5 Principles for Unmasking Atheism, Secularism, and Other God Substitutes.” Pearcey has been a visiting scholar at Biola University’s Torrey Honors Institute, professor of worldview studies at Cairn University, and Francis A. Schaeffer scholar at the World Journalism Institute. Currently she is professor of apologetics and scholar in residence at Houston Baptist University, a fellow at the Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture, and editor at large of The Pearcey Report. She holds a BA from Iowa State, a MA from Covenant Theological Seminary, and pursued graduate work in history of philosophy at the Institute for Christian Studies in Toronto. Nancy's website for more resources - www.nancypearcey.com The Pearcey Report - www.pearceyreport.com Soaring Eagle Radio Pastor MikeSpaulding                                                      Calvary Chapel of Lima                                                         682 W. Grand Avenue                                                         Lima, Ohio 45801 Isaiah 40:31 - But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

In this episode of Theology Matters, Devin & Melissa Pellew of Ratio Christi Apologetics Alliance interview apologist, theologian, best-selling author and professor, Nancy Pearcey. We will discuss Pearcey's newly released book, Love Thy Body: Answering Hard Questions About Life and Sexuality. In her book, Pearcey fearlessly and with compassion, makes the case that secularism denigrates the body and destroys the basis for human rights. Throughout, Pearcey sets forth a holistic and humane alternative available to all -- one that offers authentic, reality-oriented solutions that embrace the dignity of the human body and provide a sustainable basis for unalienable human rights. Formerly an agnostic, Pearcey has been heralded as “America’s preeminent evangelical Protestant female intellectual” (The Economist) and in addition to Love Thy Body has authored Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from Its Cultural Captivity, which won a 2005 ECPA Gold Medallion Award, and How Now Shall We Live? (coauthored by Harold Fickett and Chuck Colson), which won a 2000 ECPA Gold Medallion Award, in addition to other works. Pearcey has been a visiting scholar at Biola University’s Torrey Honors Institute, professor of worldview studies at Cairn University, and Francis A. Schaeffer scholar at the World Journalism Institute. Currently she is professor of apologetics and scholar in residence at Houston Baptist University, a fellow at the Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture, and editor at large of The Pearcey Report.  

Christianity was never intended to be limited to "quiet time" or the church or personal evangelism. The vastly successful manmade medieval and Enlightenment project of dividing life into what Francis A. Schaeffer termed the lower story of "the real world" — education, logic, science, law, politics, the arts, economics, for example — and the separate upper story of Christianity is the utter denial of biblical faith.

This week, Devin and Melissa will be joined by scholar, apologist and author, Nancy Pearcey. Previously Mrs. Pearcey was the Francis A. Schaeffer Scholar at the World Journalism Institute, where she taught a worldview course based on her book Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from Its Cultural Captivity, winner of the 2005 ECPA Gold Medallion Award for best book on Christianity and Society. She has also served as professor of worldview studies at Philadelphia Biblical University, during which time she wrote Saving Leonardo: A Call to Resist the Secular Assault on Mind, Morals, and Meaning. Pearcey also co-authored How Now Shall We Live?, which was a 2000 ECPA Gold Medallion Award winner. Her latest book, which we will discuss during this episode, is Finding Truth: 5 Principles for Unmasking Atheism, Secularism, and Other God Substitutes. Formerly an agnostic, Pearcey studied under Francis Schaeffer at L'Abri in Switzerland. She earned an MA from Covenant Theological Seminary and pursued further graduate work in History of Philosophy at the Institute for Christian Studies in Toronto. Heralded as "America's pre-eminent evangelical Protestant female intellectual" (The Economist), Pearcey is professor and scholar in residence at Houston Baptist University. She is a fellow of the Discovery Institute and editor-at-large of The Pearcey Report. As founding editor of the radio program BreakPoint, she also coauthored a monthly column with Chuck Colson in Christianity Today.  Pearcey has contributed to several books and published more than a hundred articles. She has spoken in the US Capitol and the White House; at universities such as Princeton, Stanford, and Dartmouth; to actors in Hollywood and artists in New York City; on NPR and C-SPAN. Her earlier books include The Soul of Science.

En este programa contestaremos dos preguntas sobre Génesis: ¿Qué pasó entre los versículos 1 y 2 de ese capítulo? y ¿En qué momento Dios creó a Eva?, también sobre lo que implica que alguien sea entregado a satanás como está escrito en 1 Corintios 5:5. Recomiéndanos un libro: “¿Cómo debemos vivir entonces?” de Francis A. Schaeffer Recomendamos el programa XV de Converso Verso a Verso donde conversamos acerca de la Teoría de la Brecha: ( http://bit.ly/1ChBQr3 ) Puedes enviar tus preguntas al correo: conversovav@hotmail.com y contactar a los conversos de este programa por: @ibertcruz , @AlexAwadh , @dodorobles Music “Mano Soberana” del proyecto Alabanzaré.

Setting aside the Bible for a moment, if there is a Supreme Being, and if he is able to communicate, and if he created humanity, it would seem logical that the Supreme Being would reach out and communicate with humanity. Francis A. Schaeffer expressed the principle that a personal communicating God would certainly want to communicate to the personal communicating beings he created. Now, picking up the Bible we find that it explains that God has communicated directly, through his creation, through others, and in so doing, he has set out a revelation of historical interactions with mankind. Among God’s communications in Scripture is the book of Proverbs. This is a book where we read principles of behavior and instructions for wise living. These are concepts that understandably a communicating God would want to give to his people. They are also concepts that are applicable, and to some extent evidenced, by the lives of all peoples, whether Godly or not. Join Mark Lanier and find out why the book of Proverbs has always been associated with wisdom for living.

Nancy Randolph Pearcey is an American evangelical author on the Christian worldview. Pearcey was the Francis A. Schaeffer Scholar for several years at the World Journalism Institute.In September 2007, Pearcey was named Scholar for Worldview Studies at the Center for University Studies at Philadelphia Biblical University, Langhorne, Pennsylvania. In 2011, Pearcey joined the faculty at Rivendell Sanctuary. Pearcey is a columnist for the conservative magazine Human Events. Pearcey is a fellow of the Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture, the center of the intelligent design movement, where she has had the primary responsibility for promoting the intelligent design movement's viewpoint through op-eds, for journals and magazine's, especially Marvin Olasky's World magazine.

David Appold and T. Emmett Bramwell do what they always do, exhuminate the dead!

David Appold and T. Emmett Bramwell do what they always do, exhuminate the dead!