Podcasts about willie grills

In this week's episode, we continue to look at articles from my book, “Duty to Defend,” with an chapter by Rev. Willie Grills. In John 13:15, Jesus calls his disciples to follow his example. He did not fight back against those who came to arrest, torture, and ultimately kill him. So, does that mean that we, as his followers, should do the same when it comes to guns and self-defense? Armed Lutheran Radio is a listener-supported podcast. If you value the information and entertainment we provide, consider supporting the show by joining our membership site, The Reformation Gun Club! http://gunclub.armedlutheran.us Links of Interest Buy Duty to Defend, Volume 2 on Amazon – https://amzn.to/3D3frE5* Duty to Defend (Signed Copies!) – https://www.armedlutheran.us/product/duty-to-defend-2nd-edition-signed-copy Prayer of the Week We implore You, almighty God, merciful Father, look upon Your people that by Your great goodness they may be governed and preserved evermore in body and soul; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Get in Touch Visit our Feedback Page - http://www.armedlutheran.us/feedback Please tell your friends about us, leave an iTunes review, and like us on Facebook Join our Facebook group - http://www.armedlutheran.us/facebook Subscribe to us and follow us on Youtube - http://www.armedlutheran.us/youtube Check Out More at our Website- http://www.armedlutheran.us Use these Links to Support Armed Lutheran RadioIf you value the information and entertainment we provide, consider supporting the show by joining our membership site, or shopping at your favorite online stores using the links below. Check out the other Great Armed Lutheran Books - http://www.ArmedLutheran.us/Books Shop at Amazon* - http://www.armedlutheran.us/amazon Armed Citizens Legal Defense Network - https://www.armedcitizensnetwork.org Disclaimer The links above which are indicated with an asterisk (*) are affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you. Please understand that I have experience with all of these items, and I recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions I make if you decide to buy something. Please do not spend any money on these products unless you feel you need them or that they will help you. Original Music by Reformer. Keep Shooting, Keep Praying, We'll Talk to you Next time!  

Willie Grills talks about urban legends in America, how to think about horror stories, and why folk tales are effective at communicating culture. Visit our website - A Brief History of Power Pr. Willie Grills - Zion Lutheran Church Music thanks to Verny

Part 3 of the presentation given by Willie Grills at the American Evangelism in Scarcely Lutheran Areas conference in Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Olive Branch, Mississippi. Visit our website - A Brief History of Power Pr. Willie Grills - Zion Lutheran Church Music thanks to Verny

Part 2 of the presentation given by Willie Grills at the American Evangelism in Scarcely Lutheran Areas conference in Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Olive Branch, Mississippi. Visit our website - A Brief History of Power Pr. Willie Grills - Zion Lutheran Church Music thanks to Verny

The presentation given by Willie Grills at the American Evangelism in Scarcely Lutheran Areas conference in Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Olive Branch, Mississippi. Visit our website - A Brief History of Power Pr. Willie Grills - Zion Lutheran Church Music thanks to Verny

Audio from Youtube: https://youtu.be/TnDO1EHhfOU?si=JJ7bopW8TeiR9dfn 

The hiatus is over, and the boys are back to talk about the need for the Church to have a Henkel mindset in the present time. ----more---- Host: Revs. Willie Grills and Zelwyn Heide Guest: Rev. Adam Koontz Episode: 188 Visit our website for more information.

Col. Willie Grills talks about spiritual discernment, understanding the signs of the times, and the Christian life. Visit our website - A Brief History of Power Many thanks to our sponsors - Direct E-Care and Mission of the Cross, Crosslake MN, (Website, Facebook) Pr. Willie Grills - Zion Lutheran Church Music thanks to Verny

In this Book Talk, Willie Grills walks us through the book Thoughts for Young Men by J.C. Ryle. You can hear more about J.C. Ryle HERE. Host: Fr. Jason Braaten Special Guest: Fr. Willie Grills ----more---- Become a Patron! You can subscribe to the Journal here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/subscribe/ You can read the Gottesblog here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/gottesblog/ You can support Gottesdienst here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/make-a-donation/ As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

Col. Willie Grills talks about cryptid's potentially demonic origins, the church's awareness and preparation for such problems, and our own part in this spiritual warfare. Visit our website - A Brief History of Power Many thanks to our sponsors - Direct E-Care and Mission of the Cross, Crosslake MN, (Website, Facebook) Pr. Willie Grills - Zion Lutheran Church Music thanks to Verny

As we close out another year, we enter the cage to take some listener questions. Join us as we talk about being apt to teach, the need for clarity, Bible translations, and how the Tennessee Synod lives on. ----more---- Hosts: Rev. Willie Grills and Rev. Zelwyn Heide Episode: 186 Visit our website for more information.

Here we come a-wassailing at Word Fitly. Join us as we discuss why the Puritans outlawed Christmas, the importance of holy time, Christmas dinner, and why you should go to church. ----more---- Hosts: Rev. Willie Grills and Rev. Zelwyn Heide Episode: 185 Visit our website for more information.

Though Nebuchadnezzar praises the Lord for delivering the young men, he is now humbled for his pride. It is the Lord who rules men and not the other way around. Join us as we talk about the danger of pride, conditional promises, and the will of man. ----more---- Hosts: Rev. Willie Grills and Rev. Zelwyn Heide Episode: 184 Visit our website for more information.

Giving thanks is more than just a feeling, because it shows itself in concrete ways. Join us as we talk about giving back what we have been given, remembering all the Lord's mercies, and caring for our neighbors on this annual Thanksgiving episode. ----more---- Hosts: Rev. Willie Grills and Rev. Zelwyn Heide Episode: 183 Visit our website for more information.

A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls (Proverbs 25:8). Temperance is a fruit of the Spirit, part of what it means to be a Christian. Join us as we discuss the need to avoid dissipation and what moderation looks like in the Christian life. ----more---- Hosts: Rev. Willie Grills and Rev. Zelwyn Heide Episode: 182 Visit our website for more information.

In this Book Talk, Willie Grills walks us through the book Thoughts for Young Men by J.C. Ryle. You can hear more about J.C. Ryle HERE. Host: Fr. Jason Braaten Special Guest: Fr. Willie Grills ----more---- Become a Patron! You can subscribe to the Journal here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/subscribe/ You can read the Gottesblog here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/gottesblog/ You can support Gottesdienst here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/make-a-donation/ As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

The last time we spoke, Adam Koontz mentioned that the family used to be the place where all the things for Christian living and living in general were passed down. But we live in a culture with no names for things. And we live a culture with no names because we as the church lack a robust modern articulation of the theology of creation and the created order and the wisdom found in that order.  You can hear more from Koontz here: A Brief History of Power with Jonathan Fisk Word Fitly Spoken with Willie Grills and Zelwyn Heide Host: Fr. Jason Braaten Regular Guest: Fr. Adam Koontz ----more---- Become a Patron! You can subscribe to the Journal here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/subscribe/ You can read the Gottesblog here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/gottesblog/ You can support Gottesdienst here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/make-a-donation/ As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

The boys gather back at the roadhouse to answer your questions. Join us as we discuss the call process, the occult, wrasslin', and more on the latest Conclave. ----more---- Hosts: Rev. Willie Grills and Rev. Zelwyn Heide Guests: Rev. David Appold, Rev. Aaron Uphoff, and Rev. Adam Koontz Episode: 177 Visit our website for more information.

Of course we're doing this one. We're back for a new season and opening with a popular request. Join us as we discuss giants in the Bible, the Nephilim, and how God grants the victory over all. ----more---- Hosts: Rev. Willie Grills and Rev. Zelwyn Heide Episode: 177 Visit our website for more information.

Abraham Kuyper said: "There is not one thumb's width in the whole domain of human life which Christ, who is sovereign over all, does not cry, “Mine!” This is a common refrain with the Reformed Calvinist circles as they lay out their post-millennial eschatology. They charge Lutherans with a defeatist attitude because Lutheran amillennial eschatology. Are the Reformed Calvinists right? Are Lutherans defeatist? And if not, can they with as much vigor claim a Lutheran Kuyperian vision of their own? Adam Koontz sorts it out for us.  You can hear more from Koontz here: A Brief History of Power with Jonathan Fisk Word Fitly Spoken with Willie Grills and Zelwyn Heide Host: Fr. Jason Braaten Regular Guest: Fr. Adam Koontz ----more---- Become a Patron! You can subscribe to the Journal here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/subscribe/ You can read the Gottesblog here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/gottesblog/ You can support Gottesdienst here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/make-a-donation/ As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

As we bring another season to a close, we take a look at the troubling trends around us, especially in places where we might not normally look. Join us as we talk about the Southern Baptist Convention and its recent developments, the decline of mainline churches, and why we in the Missouri Synod need to pay attention. ----more---- Hosts: Rev. Willie Grills and Rev. Zelwyn Heide Episode: 176 Visit our website for more information.

The Septuagint (LXX) is the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament. The apostles quoted it in the New Testament, and earliest Christians used it for many years. What role does it play for us today? How does translation shape our understanding of the Scriptures? Why do we turn to the Hebrew Old Testament instead of the Greek today? Join us as we discuss the LXX, the Masoretic Hebrew text, the Vulgate, and how they relate to each other. ----more---- Hosts: Rev. Willie Grills and Rev. Zelwyn Heide Episode: 174 Visit our website for more information.

John Charles Ryle serves as an example of speaking the Gospel clearly and fearlessly in an age of opposition. Join us as we discuss his life, his works, and what we can find to imitate in him today. ----more---- Hosts: Rev. Willie Grills and Rev. Zelwyn Heide Episode: 173 Visit our website for more information.

The Ascension is not just a fact of history, but one of the cornerstones of what it means to be a Christian. Join us as we talk about the Ascension of Jesus, Christ our warrior-king, the right hand of God, and what it means for our lives as Christians. ----more---- Hosts: Rev. Willie Grills and Rev. Zelwyn Heide Episode: 172 Visit our website for more information.

Nebuchadnezzar demands our allegiance even today, threatening us with fiery furnaces of every kind. Join us for a look at Daniel 3 as we talk about the illegitimate demands of governments, the need to be prepared for what is to come, and Christ in the midst of every fire. ----more---- Hosts: Rev. Willie Grills and Rev. Zelwyn Heide Episode: 171 Visit our website for more information.

What do we do when God sends bad weather? When is it permissible to cancel service? Have we become too eager to forsake the meeting of the brethren? Join us as we discuss these questions and more on a special After Dark episode. ----more---- Hosts: Rev. Willie Grills and Rev. Zelwyn Heide Episode: 169 Visit our website for more information.

Though Nebuchadnezzar and the kingdoms of this world imagine that they will last forever, Daniel shows that there is only one Kingdom which will never pass away. Join us as we continue our discussion of the book of Daniel, talking about the rise and fall of kingdoms, the Nebuchadnezzars of our day, and the hand of God in all things. ----more---- Hosts: Rev. Willie Grills and Rev. Zelwyn Heide Episode: 167 Visit our website for more information.

From religious leader to territorial governor, Brigham Young left an undeniable mark on the history of the United States. Some saw him as a prophet. Some saw him as a scoundrel. If we want to understand Mormonism today, we need to understand this man. Join us as we discuss the life of Brigham Young. ----more---- Hosts: Rev. Willie Grills and Rev. Zelwyn Heide Episode: 166 Visit our website for more information.

"Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls" (Jeremiah 6:16). Join us to see the old paths that pastors and people on the frontier blazed for the Gospel, what sacrifices they made, what hardships they overcame, what joys they had, what lives they lived. Be inspired by these pioneers for Christ and consider what new places and new tasks may be yours for the sake of the Word of God reaching our people in our generation. ----more---- Hosts: Rev. Willie Grills and Rev. Zelwyn Heide Guests: Rev. Adam Koontz and Rev. David Appold Episode: 164 Special thanks to listener Bob Schultz who provided us with many wonderful histories and letters for this episode.

The prophet Daniel through his great example shows us what it mean to remain faithful under pressure. Join us as we talk about Daniel 1 and what it means to reject the king's food in our world today. ----more---- Hosts: Rev. Willie Grills and Rev. Zelwyn Heide Episode: 163 Visit our website for more information.

Sin influences more than just our lives and the lives of others. Sin also leads to a curse being laid upon the creation itself. Join us as we talk about God cursing a land, the places demons inhabit, and what this means for us today. ----more---- Hosts: Rev. Willie Grills and Rev. Zelwyn Heide Episode: 162 Visit our website for more information.

Philipp Jakob Spener sought to correct the abuses of his day by writing a proposal called Pia Desideria. Join us as we consider the problems of the seventeenth century, Spener's own life, and how his famous work speaks to us today. Hosts: Rev. Willie Grills and Rev. Zelwyn Heide Episode: 160 Find articles and other podcast episodes on our website: wordfitlyspoken.org Follow us on Twitter: @wordfitly Send us a message: podcast@wordfitlyspoken.org Subscribe to the podcast: RSS Feed, iTunes, Spotify, or your favorite podcasting app.

Man is born dead in trespasses in sins but, O Christian, "you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." How should we then live as a New Man in Christ? Join us as we discuss the Biblical concept of regeneration and what it means for our daily lives. Hosts: Rev. Willie Grills and Rev. Zelwyn Heide Episode: 158 Find articles and other podcast episodes on our website: wordfitlyspoken.org Follow us on Twitter: @wordfitly Send us a message: podcast@wordfitlyspoken.org Subscribe to the podcast: RSS Feed, iTunes, Spotify, or your favorite podcasting app.

We continue our walkthrough of Revelation with a discussion of the beast from the sea, the beast from the land, its image, the mark, and the beast's number of 666. How do these things relate to John's time? How do they relate to our own? Join us as we discuss the war that the dragon wages on the church.  Hosts: Rev. Willie Grills and Rev. Zelwyn Heide Guest:  Rev. David Appold Episode: 157 Find articles and other podcast episodes on our website: wordfitlyspoken.org Follow us on Twitter: @wordfitly Send us a message: podcast@wordfitlyspoken.org Subscribe to the podcast: RSS Feed, iTunes, Spotify, or your favorite podcasting app.

We look at the rise of modern devotion to Satan in the United States, explain how it's related to biblical and historical examples of witchcraft, and separate fact from fiction in the tragedies the media came to call "the Satanic Panic." The darkness is great, but Christ brings light and immortality to life. We finish with a discussion of how one can face darkness and the devil confidently in the power of Christ. Hosts: Rev. Willie Grills and Rev. Zelwyn Heide Guests:  Rev. Adam Koontz and Rev. David Appold Episode: 156 Find articles and other podcast episodes on our website: wordfitlyspoken.org Follow us on Twitter: @wordfitly Send us a message: podcast@wordfitlyspoken.org Subscribe to the podcast: RSS Feed, iTunes, Spotify, or your favorite podcasting app.

Are the evil dominions of the world governed by men of flesh and bone or is there more at work? What does the Bible teach us about the domain of angels and demons? Join us as we discuss territorial spirits and the bureaucracy of the devil. Hosts: Rev. Willie Grills and Rev. Zelwyn Heide Episode: 155 Find articles and other podcast episodes on our website: wordfitlyspoken.org Follow us on Twitter: @wordfitly Send us a message: podcast@wordfitlyspoken.org Subscribe to the podcast: RSS Feed, iTunes, Spotify, or your favorite podcasting app.

God gives to each man a conscience that he may discern right from wrong. But by what is it shaped? Can we have a broken conscience? Can our hearts be hardened? Is Caesar or the Lord ultimately sovereign? Join us as we discuss these issues in the light of current issues. Hosts: Rev. Willie Grills and Rev. Zelwyn Heide Guest:  Rev. Benjamin Ulledalen Episode: 154 Find articles and other podcast episodes on our website: wordfitlyspoken.org Follow us on Twitter: @wordfitly Send us a message: podcast@wordfitlyspoken.org Subscribe to the podcast: RSS Feed, iTunes, Spotify, or your favorite podcasting app.

Though it may seem like a hard time to give thanks for anything, in the midst of evil, suffering, and even supply chain issues, the prophet Habakkuk shows us what it means to be thankful to the Lord who gives all things. Join us as we talk about why we can be thankful even for hard times and what it means to rejoice in the Lord when all earthly things are gone. Hosts: Rev. Willie Grills and Rev. Zelwyn Heide Episode: 153 Find articles and other podcast episodes on our website: wordfitlyspoken.org Follow us on Twitter: @wordfitly Send us a message: podcast@wordfitlyspoken.org Subscribe to the podcast: RSS Feed, iTunes, Spotify, or your favorite podcasting app.

As John enters the heart of the book of Revelation, he shows us a picture of the great spiritual war between Satan and the Church. Join us as we discuss Revelation 12, talking about persecution, the victory of the Church, and the ever growing dominion of Christ. Hosts: Rev. Willie Grills and Rev. Zelwyn Heide Regular Guest:  Rev. David Appold Episode: 152 Find articles and other podcast episodes on our website: wordfitlyspoken.org Follow us on Twitter: @wordfitly Send us a message: podcast@wordfitlyspoken.org Subscribe to the podcast: RSS Feed, iTunes, Spotify, or your favorite podcasting app.

The boys are back to celebrate our 150th episode. Join us as we answer listener questions and discuss everything from how we got to here to church polity to Uphoff's internet. Hosts: Rev. Willie Grills and Rev. Zelwyn Heide Guests:  Rev. David Appold, Rev. Aaron Uphoff, and Rev. Adam Koontz Episode: 150 Find articles and other podcast episodes on our website: wordfitlyspoken.org Follow us on Twitter: @wordfitly Send us a message: podcast@wordfitlyspoken.org Subscribe to the podcast: RSS Feed, iTunes, Spotify, or your favorite podcasting app.

May the government compel us in matters of church worship? To what degree can a Christian in good conscience  accommodate such demands? Join us on Thursday as we take up a listener question about adiaphora and how it relates to secular questions in clown world. Hosts: Rev. Willie Grills and Rev. Zelwyn Heide Episode: 147 Find articles and other podcast episodes on our website: wordfitlyspoken.org Follow us on Twitter: @wordfitly Send us a message: podcast@wordfitlyspoken.org Subscribe to the podcast: RSS Feed, iTunes, Spotify, or your favorite podcasting app.

The epistle of 1 John, despite being so short, is full of rich meaning for Christians. Join us as we discuss repentance, living without sin, and the dangers of the Antichrist. Hosts: Rev. Willie Grills and Rev. Zelwyn Heide Episode: 146 Find articles and other podcast episodes on our website: wordfitlyspoken.org Follow us on Twitter: @wordfitly Send us a message: podcast@wordfitlyspoken.org Subscribe to the podcast: RSS Feed, iTunes, Spotify, or your favorite podcasting app.

Another angel appears holding a scroll, commanding John to eat it. Join us as we continue our discussion of Revelation, including different ways to approach it, the date of the book, the two witnesses, and hope for the Christian in trying times. Hosts: Rev. Willie Grills and Rev. Zelwyn Heide Regular Guest:  Rev. David Appold Episode: 144 Find articles and other podcast episodes on our website: wordfitlyspoken.org Follow us on Twitter: @wordfitly Send us a message: podcast@wordfitlyspoken.org Subscribe to the podcast: RSS Feed, iTunes, Spotify, or your favorite podcasting app.

All around you is a cacophony of conflicting information and malevolent distractions. The Christian must learn to unplug and detach. Plug in for a few and join us as we discuss how a Christian can retreat from our electric world. Hosts: Rev. Willie Grills and Rev. Zelwyn Heide Episode: 143 Find articles and other podcast episodes on our website: wordfitlyspoken.org Follow us on Twitter: @wordfitly Send us a message: podcast@wordfitlyspoken.org Subscribe to the podcast: RSS Feed, iTunes, Spotify, or your favorite podcasting app.

Season 5 begins with the Conclave convening to answer your questions. Join us as we discuss annihilationism, Rad Lufs, bison, truck stops, and more. Hosts: Rev. Willie Grills and Rev. Zelwyn Heide Guests:  Rev. David Appold, Rev. David Buchs, and Rev. Adam Koontz Episode: 142 Find articles and other podcast episodes on our website: wordfitlyspoken.org Follow us on Twitter: @wordfitly Send us a message: podcast@wordfitlyspoken.org Subscribe to the podcast: RSS Feed, iTunes, Spotify, or your favorite podcasting app.

A Christian Criticism of Critical Theory: a Word Fitly Spoken While on the treadmill at the gym, I was listening to a podcast, A Word Fitly Spoken. This particular program was about Critical Theory, and it was hosted by the Revs. Willie Grills and Zelwin Heide. The guests were the Revs. Adam Koontz and David Buchs. It was an outstanding presentation, and I commend all of our readers and listeners to give this episode a listen! What was especially poignant for me was the juxtaposition of the bank of TVs on the wall and the messages being flashed before the eyes of the millions of viewers around the country. Right in front of me was a screen running the USA Network. There were closed captions, so I could glance at what was going on. But it was really the visual imagery that was telling - especially while listening to a biblical analysis of this very thing being promoted by the secular world in real time. Television is a powerful medium. It not only sells Budweiser, Toyotas, Doritos, and innumerable pharmaceuticals, it gives something away for free: a worldview. The USA Network was running a cop show (I think it was “Chicago PD”) featuring several encounters between police and criminals. In this episode, without exception, every violent thug was a white male. And with only one exception, every crime victim was black: the exception being a white female who was being brutalized by a white male. Only glancing up at the screen without hearing dialogue or background music gave me a sense of disconnect that made it an interesting observation. One of the scenes involved a black female shoplifter who was attempting to steal a loaf of bread. The store owner, an angry white male, was aggressively trying to get the police to arrest her. He complained about junkies constantly ripping him off. The accused woman looked sad, sitting limply on the floor with big puppy-dog eyes. She told the female police officer that she wasn't a drug user, but that she just wanted to make a sandwich for her boy. The female cop looked at her indulgently and sympathetically, and asked the scowling, angry white male shop-keeper the price of the loaf of bread which was a dollar fifty. But before paying for the woman's bread, the cop told the shop-owner that she could probably find some code violations in the store. She immediately claimed to see mouse droppings on the floor, and a wire at the ceiling that was not up to code. She threatened to ticket the shop-owner for $20,000. In the face of this police shakedown, the store owner told the police to release the woman. The lady cop then paid for the woman's bread and sent her on her way - before scolding the shop-owner one more time. The racial component presented on shows like this are pushing a false narrative, one that simply doesn't comport with reality, a narrative clearly designed to promulgate a lie to the detriment of the target demographic. Another scene involved a cop questioning a suspect on the street by inserting the muzzle of his pistol into the suspect's mouth and demanding answers in three seconds, then he started counting. Fortunately, the suspect was a white guy. Otherwise, the cops would have been seen as the baddies. There was also a commercial for trans pride. Since I don't watch TV any more, this is all unfamiliar territory to me. But it's very easy to see what's going on. It's brainwashing. It's Critical Theory training in the guise of entertainment. It does not reflect reality, but it is designed to create resentment against the white male population. And it is working for people of every racial and sexual tribe. Whites are conditioned to hate themselves and see their own existence as toxic. Many a Christian parent has been shocked by their children coming back from college holding a completely different worldview - one formed by Critical Theory. Some return from school declaring themselves to be of a different gender identity, bearing a new sexual preference, holding radicalized political views, and even in some cases, confessing hostility to the Christian faith itself. Parents generally blame the universities - albeit too late. But I think academe is only partly to blame. I believe that the universities are merely the last domino to fall. Children typically grow up watching a lot of TV. And all contemporary mainstream television programs - and the vast majority of movies and online series - are pushing a Critical Theory narrative. This is being done under the noses of everyone. I don't think Christian parents have a clue as to how formative and normative and powerful these TV shows are, nor the cumulative effect of the propaganda. They are based on a narrative - and the story is consistent, emotional, compelling, and part of a larger holistic model of re-education. But we have been boiled slowly like the proverbial frog in the pan of warm water. We are being lied to all the time. Reality itself is a casualty of Critical Theory. As a Christian pastor, this is a source of frustration. If our parishioners attend Divine Service and Bible Class every week, we will get maybe two hours to preach and teach our Christian narrative, which is, the Biblical and liturgical Gospel of Jesus Christ that runs from eternity to eternity. The rest of the time, most of our parishioners are watching TV, movies, sports, and taking part in other aspects of popular culture - all of which push a narrative at odds with, and hostile to, the Christian faith. And as adults, we may well be able to roll our eyes and discern what we are seeing. But then again, let us not underestimate the power of the visual narrative on our minds and psyches. But think about children and youth - whose brains are still in a state of plasticity, whose minds and souls are being formed by a constant barrage of narrative in opposition to the Holy Scriptures. So what should Christian parents - and even those who are not parents - do in the face of this onslaught? I would say to cancel the cable, and stop watching modern TV shows. Older TV is not nearly as toxic, and some of the older programs may even be neutral or uplifting. But even there, wisdom and discernment are called for. There are older movies - and perhaps a new one or two - that are not antagonistic to the Christian worldview. But allowing children unfettered access to highly suggestive Critical Theory training is, in the long run, as toxic as if they had such access to porn. These shows are designed not only to sell product, but to push a worldview, one that is, without exaggeration, Luciferian in its orientation. Instead of sitting in front of the boob tube for hours on end, why not listen to podcasts that either uphold, or do not contradict, our worldview? Why not learn a new skill? Take up an instrument? Study a foreign language? Learn how to fix cars or quilt or do woodworking or cooking? How about daily reading or listening to the Bible and great literature? One of the things that individuals and families can do is to replace the trash narrative of TV with the Holy Narrative of the Scriptures - by incorporating daily liturgical worship into their lives. The Treasury of Daily Prayer (which is also available as an app) is an accessible and yet robust resource for interacting with the Scriptures - especially the Psalms - in a liturgical way that counters the evil and unrealistic narrative and worldview promoted by the TV networks and by Hollywood. Children need to be reading a lot more and looking at screens a lot less. Adults too. And the beauty of such prayer is that it is liturgical, providing an annual reading of the lion's share of the Bible but set in a beautiful liturgical setting that can be spoken or sung, simple or elaborate. The liturgical repetition provides children with an anchor for their young memories. And technology has made it possible to hear and pray along with these daily prayer offices in their full majestic beauty as sung by the Concordia Theological Seminary Kantorei. I recently stayed a couple days with a delightful Lutheran family that had three young children. They had a TV, but it was in the basement, and the children acted like they didn't even know it was there. The kids were surrounded by books. They all excitedly clambered up next to me so I could read to them, and so they could read to me. These children really knew the Bible, the Catechism, and the liturgy of the church. The family prays Matins together every morning. Their six year old reads the One Year Bible (ESV) every day on her own - and was breathlessly explaining the narrative of the day's readings to me. And the children's reading was impeccable. Aside from Biblical names and foreign words (with the exception of the little toddler) the children could read and pronounce each word effortlessly and fluently - better than most adults that I know. What was especially poignant was the fact that the biblical narratives are already embedded in the minds of these very young children. They know the stories of the biblical characters - and not just the usual felt-board Sunday School sections. They relate the Biblical accounts with excitement and intimacy as though they are telling about what happened at the swing-set with the neighbor children only yesterday. These children are happy, well-adjusted, and intelligent. They are being well-prepared for a future in which their worldview will be challenged. They are being placed on the firm foundation of the Bible and the Confessions, of the liturgy and the Catechism, the Psalter and the hymns. These children clearly know the faith, and they know who (and whose) they are. And they weren't only reading the Bible. They were also reading standard childhood storybooks and great literature and books covering a range of topics. But they weren't reading anything about “Two Mommies” or any trashy kids' books that one might find at a Drag Queen event. In our modern world, there is huge pressure to conform. And children - especially if they are in public school - are subject to incredible peer pressure to watch those programs that are most at odds with our Christian worldview. This is increasingly the case even in kindergarten and nursery school. And by the time these kids face puberty, they are under enormous pressure to be anything but “normal.” It is, as though to be accepted, one must be of some exotic sexual identity or preference, not to mention, hold radical leftist political views and to question or repudiate the Christian faith. And if you understand Critical Theory, you will know that this is not by accident. This is what Critical Theory is all about. We are seeing it bearing rotten fruit after many decades of patient brainwashing in school, on TV, in movies, in music, in sports, and in the mainstream media in general, not to mention benign neglect by Christian parents. It's all about the replacement narrative and how to smash the old Christian worldview. It is important for us Christians to know what the Enemy is up to, to sever our ties to Luciferian “entertainment,” to equip our children in our own Biblical worldview, and to instill it in their minds and souls through the church's liturgy - which has formed minds into the mind of Christ our Logos for two millennia. It is high time that the Church become unequivocally critical of Critical Theory and stop ignoring it or pandering to those who advocate it. We need to put our foot down and reject it at every level - from the parish and the district to the synod, from our publishing house to our universities and seminaries. Critical Theory is just one more serpentine “Did God actually say…?”. I'd like to thank the guys at A Word Fitly Spoken for their solid analysis, and for their lively and informative program. What a blessing to have faithful pastors putting out programming that confirms, rather than contradicts, reality and the Christian worldview. The contrast between what I was hearing and what I was seeing could not have been more clear. The Word is being fitly spoken indeed. The real question is, is it being fitly heard?

Anxiety, fear, and worry. What is the Christian to do when struggling with what he sees in the world? Turn to the Lord Jesus Christ, who has and will overcome all things. Join us as we close another season by celebrating the victory of Jesus over all things. Hosts: Rev. Willie Grills and Rev. Zelwyn Heide Episode: 141 Find articles and other podcast episodes on our website: wordfitlyspoken.org Follow us on Twitter: @wordfitly Send us a message: podcast@wordfitlyspoken.org Subscribe to the podcast: RSS Feed, iTunes, Spotify, or your favorite podcasting app.

Pastor Willie Grills is pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Mattoon, Illinois and is the vacancy pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church in Mattoon, Illinois. He's also a host of the podcast of Word Fitly Spoken (http://wordfitlyspoken.org/podcast/ (http://wordfitlyspoken.org/podcast/)). St. Paul's Lutheran Church's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/StPaulsMattoon/ (https://www.facebook.com/StPaulsMattoon/) St. John's Lutheran Church's website: https://stjohns-mattoon.org/ (https://stjohns-mattoon.org/) St. John's Lutheran Church's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/StJohnsChurchMattoon (https://www.facebook.com/StJohnsChurchMattoon) Pastor Grills' recommended things to check out: McQuarter's Pub: https://www.facebook.com/McQuarters-Pub-112313943535698/ (https://www.facebook.com/McQuarters-Pub-112313943535698/) El Vaquero Mexican: https://elvaqueromattoon.com/ (https://elvaqueromattoon.com/) Yoder's Kitchen: https://www.yoderskitchen.net/ (https://www.yoderskitchen.net/) Aikman Wildlife Adventure: https://aikmanwildlife.com/ (https://aikmanwildlife.com/) Check out Pastor Grill's Podcast, Word Fitly Spoken: http://wordfitlyspoken.org/podcast/ (http://wordfitlyspoken.org/podcast/) Today's sponsor is Audible, go to https://lutherancartographer.com/audible (https://LutheranCartographer.com/audible) for a free audio book and to try out Audible. If you enjoy the show, please take a moment to rate and review the show on iTunes so that more people will see and listen!

On this episode of Cross Eyed Christian radio Pastor Mize asks river and Willie Grills random bad interview questions, the blind boys of Alabama sing Tom waits, a holy happy hour with the feast of Bernard of Clairvaux and Honest John sings Pastor Mize. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/CrossEyedChristians/support