A Word About God

In this episode, Nate gets brutally honest in his assessment of the American church and how it operates. Why do churches advertise the way they do? Why do churches advertise at all? Is the goal really to preach the Gospel and see souls saved, or to just recruit other Christians to come to our churches instead of the other ones? While many churches appear different, or even opposed to one another, deep down, many of them are exactly the same-and not in a good way. If you listen really carefully, you can hear the sound of people pressing the "unsubscribe" button at the end of this episode...

What are some of the major differences between Catholic and Protestant theologies? Is there common ground? Protestantism has traditionally stood on the "Five Solas" and some other differences. Nate takes a look at these differences and realizes that there just might be more in common than we think, and we might not want to start pointing fingers too quickly...

Nate comes back from the podcast dead with an episode on what has been keeping him away since May. Fair warning, this is not your average A Word About God podcast episode. Nate gets as real as maybe he's ever been and opens up about being diagnosed with anxiety disorder, depression, and what going through personal, painful experiences have taught him about the real purpose of studying theology. Mental illness is a real thing, and pain in life is real-sometimes the realest thing you'll experience. But true hope is intricately linked to pain.  If you, or someone you know has suicidal thoughts, please visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or call 1-800-273-8255. 

This week, Nate takes on the headlines in a way that only a total non-professional can. Vaccines, masks, politics, cancel culture and more! The moral of the story: Christians should be peacemakers, and not stirrers (is that word?) of the pot like everyone else. 

In this episode, Nate sits down with Dr. Adonis Vidu to discuss his new book, "The Same God Who Works All Things: Inseparable Operations in Trinitarian Theology" (Eerdmans). Christians have always declared that God is three in one, but how does that work? Do all of the persons, Father, Son and Spirit, share the same qualities? Are there aspects of the Father that are not shared by the Son or Spirit? How might this help us understand this vital aspect of our faith? How might it help us to defend against objections to the penal substitutionary atonement view? What does is mean for believers who are invited into the Triune relationship? 

In a recent episode of the "Building Bridges" podcast, guests Kris Valloton, Kim Maas and Mark Chironna attempted to defend those (including Kris Valloton) who made "prophecies" that Donald Trump would win the most recent presidential election. In this episode of the A Word About God podcast, Nate responds to their claims about modern-day prophecies, and begs believers to, as we reevaluate modern-day prophecies, to not only reevaluate the words spoken, but reevaluate whether or not these men and women should even be bearing the title of "prophet". 

As we wrap up 2020 and our study of theology, Nate takes a look in this episode at the prophecies of the book of Revelation. Are they of horrifying things to come? Have they already happened? How has the Church interpreted this book in the past? Will there be a rapture? What verse is it again that talks about a seven-year tribulation? All this and more in the final episode of 2020. 

Surprise! There's still time in 2020 for the world to end, so we're pushing out not one, but TWO EXTRA EPISODES! In the first episode of this two-part series on the doctrine of the end of the world (Eschatology), Nate looks at heaven and hell and the different ways that the Church has explained the eternal outcome of every living soul. 

As we get close to the end of 2020, Nate also gets close to the end of the study on theology. In this episode, we look at who makes up the Church, what a church service looks like, as well as the different interpretations on communion and baptism. 

Woo-hoo! We're back after a long hiatus. The world might be crazy right now, but at least you can buy a cube from Joel Osteen that gives you encouraging words, and at least Kenneth Copeland finds a way to laugh through the pain.  Nate picks up on our theological studies with the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. Who is the Holy Spirit? Does the Bible claim that He is God? What does the work of the Holy Spirit look like in our lives? Is He just for miracles, or more? Do the supernatural gifts of the Spirit still happen today? How can Joel Osteen sleep at night charging $39.99 for this stupid cube? Answers are revealed...mostly. 

David Bentley Hart is one of the leading voices in the recent resurgence of universalism. Compared to his extreme intelligence and brilliant writing, Nate is a dum-dum. However, no matter how smart Hart may be, anyone armed with half a brain and (most importantly) the Word of God, you can start to see that when it comes to his belief that all people will be saved and hell is simply some sort of personal experience we go through on earth, welp...even this dum-dum can see that he's flat-out wrong.  In this episode, Nate reviews Hart's book, That All Shall Be Saved: Heaven, Hell and Universal Salvation. What we see is that Hart's attempt to support universalism relies on taking Bible verses out of context (or ignoring other ones altogether), pretending that universalism was a valid belief in the historical church, and, mostly, on making people who disagree with him look dumb. 

Up next in our theological journey is an overview of the doctrine of Christ. Who was Jesus, really? Was he really God? Could it be that he was just a really good guy? Was he really man? Could it be that he was just God pretending to be a man? Does it matter? Spoiler alert...it does matter...a lot. All this and more on this episode of A Word About God. 

Back on theology train! This week, Nate goes over the doctrines of creation and how sin came into the world in what's called the "fall". Although there are a few different theories out there as to how God did it, the Bible is clear that He DID it-creation, that is. And when He did it, it was good. Unfortunately, it didn't stay that way, and after the rebellion of mankind, things went downhill fast, and we found ourselves in desperate need of a savior. 

In this special episode, Nate has a video chat with Joe Musten, vocalist for Advent and Torn and drummer for Beloved and The Almost (this guy can basically do it all) to talk about his Instagram page called Wisdom of the Cross. Each week, Joe posts old paintings/pictures of the cross and shares a devotional about how the cross, no matter how ugly, violent, or defeating it looks, is the only place where we as Christians can find true victory, salvation and wisdom. Of course, we start talking about the hardcore scene for a while too. Make sure to look up @widsomofthecross on Instagram, and go follow all of Joe's bands, and join us in prayer that (Please, God!) live music will happen again someday...

Continuing on in our dialogue about racism and reconciliation, Nate interviews his friend Doug. Doug moved from his home in Ghana fifteen years ago, and has been figuring out how to live in North America ever since. Doug brings a great balance to firmly finding his identity in Christ, rather than in racist opinions of him, but also refusing to ignore the hurt and suffering that his brothers and sisters in North America are going through. Nate also concedes that Black Panther was a good movie. At one point Doug laughs so loud that the microphone cuts out, but if you know him, that's not surprising. 

A Word About God unflinchingly stands on the truth that all people are created in the image of God, and therefore, all people have intrinsic worth. While all lives do matter, at this point in history and with the recent events, it is vital to affirm that black lives matter. In light of all this, we will be dedicating the next series of episodes to interviewing some good friends who are people of color in order to get their perspective on issues of racism, police brutality, reconciliation and the role of the Church and the Gospel in all of this.  In this episode, Nate interviews his good friend Kyle Jones. Kyle calls Christians to focus on Christ, the Gospel, and the compassion of Jesus when dealing with these issues within the Church. 

This week, we tackled another theological topic-the doctrine of Scripture. What does it mean that the Bible is the Word of God? Can we really trust that the Bible is without error? What happens if something in life seems to contradict what the Bible says? In a world filled with anger, turmoil, and racial injustices, Nate talks about how the Bible is the only place we can turn to to affirm that there is such things as right and wrong. 

In this episode, Nate answers some follow-up questions from our discussion on the doctrine of God. Also, Nate addresses the whole topic of wearing masks in public during a pandemic. How should Christians be handling this whole thing? Should we fearfully wear them? Should we obstinately refuse, and smack people with an American flag instead? There's also some random thoughts about coffee. And a new intro song. 

This week Nate kicks off our series on theology for normal people by taking a look at the doctrine of God. What does it mean that God is three in one? Do Christians worship more than one God?  What do the names of God tell us about Him? Is this topic way over Nate's head? The answers to these questions and more in the latest episode of A Word About God Podcast. 

In this episode, Nate kicks off a new series on (surprise, surprise) theology! Now, more than ever, it's so important for Christians to actually know what they believe about God, humanity, sin, Jesus, salvation, the Holy Spirit, the Church, the end of the world (no, it's probably not right now, sorry Hal Lindsey) and all of that good stuff. 

Reaching out from self-quarantine, Nate tries to speak some peace and encouragement to believers around the world. He also probably laughs too hard at the complete and utter nonsense of Kenneth Copeland trying to scream at COVID-19. Stay safe and healthy out there world! Praying for not only a speedy deliverance from all of this, but also that while you are spending time alone or with family, that you are making the most of it. 

In this episode Nate responds to YOUR Bible and theology questions! If your question hasn't been answered yet, please don't be angry. Nate can't handle letting people down, and besides, he'll get to it eventually. 

In this episode, Nate touches on how the death of Kobe Bryant should cause us all to evaluate not just our life now, but what will happen when our lives end. Nate also gives some pointers for getting more out of your Bible study. Whether it's your own personal devotions, or you are preparing a sermon or a Bible teaching, hopefully these pointers will help get you unstuck if you feel like you're in a rut. 

The streaming giant, Netflix, has produced multiple films that pervert and misrepresent the Gospel and Jesus Christ. These films are an unfortunate byproduct of a Western society that touts "religious tolerance" yet is increasingly intolerant, mocking and openly hostile towards Christianity. American Christians are quick to get upset over this imbalance, yet have we inadvertently burned our own bridges? For decades now, Christians have been crying out, "It's not a religion, it's a relationship!" In doing so, it seems like we may have surrendered our right to have our faith respected and/or protected.  

What's really ironic about Universalism, is that even though some Christians teach it in order to make Christianity seem more appealing and thus gain more converts, the harsh reality is that in teaching it, they long punt people into the depths of hell. Suffice it to say...Nate gets a little worked up about the recent surge of Universalist teachings in the Church. 

In the wake of the whole MacArthur vs. Moore showdown, there has been a lot of fiery discussion about the Biblical role of women in the church. Unfortunately, a bunch of people have been focusing on the wrong issues, and arguing about things that aren't even part of the discussion. Nate lays out some helpful Scriptures and interpretations that might point us in the right direction. 

In this episode, Nate talks about the throwdown between John MacArthur and Beth Moore (or, more accurately, between John MacArthur fans and Beth Moore fans). He also wraps up the series on the Doctrines of Grace with one of the most encouraging realities in our Christian life: the Perseverance of the Saints.

In this episode, Nate hits on the topic of Irresistible Grace and how it's not only Biblical, but wonderful, encouraging and should be the main driving force behind our evangelism. God's grace upon His people is undeserved and unearned, and that's what makes it amazing grace. I'm sure there are other things that Nate talks about in this episode, but it's been a while since it was recorded, so you're going to have to take my word on it. 

This week Nate tackles the oftentimes controversial topic of Limited Atonement. He also mentions that Christians need to stop saying that people rejecting their faith are going through a "hard time"-it's actually one of the easiest things you could do. Reviewed this week "Chosen by God" by R.C. Sproul and "Just Do Something" by Kevin DeYoung. 

In this episode Nate covers the "U" of TULIP, otherwise known as Unconditional Election. This continues the whole question of "How free is your will, really?" Nate also briefly touches on the whole Joshua Harris debacle and reviews "What Did You Expect?" by Paul David Tripp, and "Saving the Reformation" by W. Robert Godfrey. 

IT'S EPISODE 20!!! Total Depravity definitely sounds like some grindcore/death-metal band. Maybe it is...what we know for sure though, is that it is a Biblical principle, and the "T" in the TULIP acrostic that represents the Five Points of Calvinism, or the Doctrines of Grace. Nate takes us through this doctrine this week, and points out that if you agree that you are powerless in yourself to save yourself from sin, then you might be a bit more Calvinist than you think. Nate also goes through some of his most recent reads, and throws out quick reviews of "The Holiness of God" by RC Sproul, "In the Year of Our Lord" by Sinclair Ferguson, and "The Lost World of the Torah" by Walton and Walton. 

Who really gets the credit in our salvation? Does God get all the glory for it? Or, do I get to keep a little for myself, since, you know, I'm super cool? Continuing in our discussion of Reformed Theology, and before jumping into the Five Points of Calvinism, Nate takes some time to introduce the whole topic of Reformed Theology a bit more. In this episode, he (hopefully) clears up some misconceptions about Reformed theology and touches on the heart of the Reformation: the Five Solas.

Nate takes a quick detour from the discussion on Reformed Theology after a looooooong break from the podcast to sit down with Jesse Wilson and discuss the topic of Dispensationalism. What is Dispensationalism? Where did it come from? What does it teach? Is it totally Biblical? All that, plus stuff on Covenant Theology, Israel, faith, salvation, and all kinds of fun stuff.  For more Biblical and theological teachings, and ramblings, visit www.awordaboutgod.com 

Actually, I prefer the term "Reformed". In this episode, Nate complains for way too long about people posting about the Notre Dame Cathedral, and then answers the question he gets asked all the time: "Why are you a Calvinist?"

After making some questionable new buds, people started to wonder about just where Francis Chan was at theologically these days. Well, he responded to those concerns, and now Nate is responding to that response to people's responses. Also, we FINALLY wrap up our long discussion on Satan (if he maybe wasn't a fallen angel...then where DID he come from?). 

The Send was a recent gathering of believers in Florida that brought in almost 60,000 people. But in a country where the proof of genuine, long-lasting effects of large evangelical events seems dismal at best, how do we keep from suffering from "Church Camp Syndrome"? Is it possible to see real change from gatherings like this, or will we just get bored again until the next big thing? Hey, don't hate the guy asking tough questions. 

This week Nate announces some big changes coming up (for him at least). He also answers the question: "How do you deal with teachers/preachers misquoting the Bible?" In our ongoing study of Satan, Nate takes a look at four passages in the Old Testament that actually do talk about (the) Satan. 

You had to know that with a podcast called A Word About God, we'd get to the topic of Satan eventually. Nate continues the discussion about what the Bible says (and doesn't say) about Satan and more!

This week, Nate dishes out his own opinions on Gillette's campaign to redefine "manhood." Also covered is Lady Gaga's misunderstanding of what a Christian is, a terrible Arnold Scharzeneggar impersonation and the beginning of our study on what the Bible actually says about Satan.

People apologizing on the radio is the saddest thing in the world. Nate also wraps up our discussion of Cessationism vs. Continuationism and notes that if you're gonna say "God said this..." you'd better be sure you're right. Also, Nate answers a question about Mark 7 (calling someone a dog doesn't seem very nice). 

Nate discusses the reconciliation between Tim Lambesis and the other members of As I Lay Dying, continues the discussion between Cessationism and Continuationism, and shows that Obi-Wan Kenobi would make a great Calvinist. This might be the strangest episode description yet...but hey...it's our tenth episode!

Nate talks about the real reason why Hollywood doesn't like Chris Pratt (and why they're afraid to say it). Also in this episode, Nate hits on not letting concerns turn into worries, and kicks off our first of several discussions on the debate between Continuationism and Cessationism. 

Merry Christmas! Nate talks about Advent, the hope that we have as believers, rants a little bit about the end times and then wraps it all up with a new Straight Outta Context segment.

Nate starts to relate to the Grinch...Christmas can be super annoying! Not because of what it really means, but because of all the dumb debates that people get in. Nate gripes about Christians getting worked up over the wrongs things (and not caring about the right things...like the real reason why Lauren Daigle can't respond to tough questions). Visit us at www.awordaboutgod.com

Nate sits down with Professor/author/classical historian/archaeologist/part-time pilot (so, basically real-life Indiana Jones) Mark Smith and discusses his book "The Final Days of Jesus" and why the Bible has nothing to fear from history. *Disclaimer: This episode was recorded in a different location, and right in the middle of transitioning audio equipment, so unfortunately, the sound quality is not the best.

Nate's a bit late when it comes to talking about Thanksgiving, but what more can you expect from a guy who uses his bedroom as a back-up recording location? Nate talks a bit more about the potential dangers of emotionalism, brings out something that every single Christian can be thankful for, and squeezes in something that he's super annoyed with. All that and more on this week's episode. To learn more about A Word About God and find Bible teachings, visit www.awordaboutgod.com

This week Nate is joined by Jake Vassiliou and the two discuss the topic of emotionalism within church and worship settings. When do we take it too far? When do we start seeking after an emotional experience more than an experience with God. Nate also discovers that Australians do not live in huts.

After a slew of technical difficulties, Nate somehow manages to mash together an episode. This week's topic was trials and temptations and how we should view them. Nate also introduces the new segment "Straight Outta Context." Keep an eye out this week also for the first few VxV Bible teachings at www.awordaboutgod.com.

Nate discusses Silent Planet raising awareness of teenage homelessness within the LGBTQ community and the Biblical response to that issue. He also dives into more easy, not-super-heavy-and-divisive topics like Reformation theology, Halloween and voting. All this, and we're only two episodes in...

Nate awkwardly kicks off A Word About Podcast by laying out the groundwork for what to expect with the podcast...and remarkably, there was only one technical difficulty.