Theology for the Rest of Us

In this episode Kenny again tackles the “Calvinism and Arminianism” debate (which happens to be one of the most heated debates amongst Protestants). Herein episode 297, Kenny unpacks the doctrine of “total depravity” and explains how this doctrine is at the heart of the debate. What is Total depravity? Total depravity is the doctrine that asserts that 100% of a human being’s soul, mind, and will are radically impacted and corrupted by sin. There is not one element or part of the human essence or existence that is not impacted by sin, therefore rendering every human being incapable of ever seeking God of their own volition of free will. Total depravity is the “T” in the well-known acronym “TULIP” (which is often used to describe the five points of Calvinism). Proponents of “total depravity” assert that human beings are sinful from the time of conception because we all have inherited sinful nature from Adam and Eve, and our sinful nature is so damaging that it causes us to be incapable of ever wanting to choose or seek God. In order for a person to ever want to seek God, God must first do something supernatural in that person’s soul. However, Calvinism and Arminianism have differing ideas of how God does that supernatural thing. In short, both Calvinists and Arminians agree on the “T” of the five points of TULIP, but disagree on the next four points. Arminians argue for a concept called “prevenient grace.” They assert that God bestows a supernatural grace which leads a person to have the ability to believe in God, if they choose. which then leads to regeneration. However, Calvinists argue that the supernatural thing that God does is in fact regeneration, which then causes the person to be regenerated. Therefore, Arminians argue that faith proceeds regeneration, while Calvinists argue that regeneration proceeds faith. Arminians argue that a person could receive prevenient grace and still choose to reject God, while Calvinists argue that 100% of the persons who receive God’s proactive regenerative grace will choose to believe on him. Understanding these differences is essential to understanding this infamous debate. Episode 297 also builds on the content of episode 295 wherein Kenny covers the “five points of Calvinism” and he assumes listeners have some understanding of those five points. This episode also leverages content covered in 296: “Calvinism vs. Arminianism” in which Kenny explains that we’re often not framing the debate in the most helpful manner.

In this episode Kenny tackles one of the most heated debates amongst evangelicals: Calvinism vs. Arminianism. Kenny gives the history of Calvinism and Reformed theology, and then explains the Dutch Remonstrance movement that came out of the Reformed movement and would give birth to the theological system we now call Arminianism and led to the debates at the Synod of Dort. Finally, Kenny explains that the “Calvinism vs. Arminianism” debate isn’t the most helpful way to frame the debate and isn’t the ideal question because there are actually other camps to consider; but rather the more helpful framing for the debate is Monergism vs. Synergism. What is Monergism? Monergism is the theological term used by Christians to explain that salvation is fully the work of God. The prefix “mono” means “one” and it is used to signify that salvation comes from “one” being—in this case referring to God being the one who brings about salvation. If any person is saved by Jesus, the proponents of monergism would argue that the Spirit of God must first grant that person the desire and ability to believer. What is Synergism? Synergism is the theological term used by Christians to explain that the salvation of humans is a cooperative work between God and man. If any person is saved by Jesus, the proponents of synergism would argue that the Spirit of God works on the heart of the person to woe them to God, but that  the decisive action that leads to salvation is ultimately in the hands of the person—they must use their free will to believe, and God cannot override their will.

In this episode Kenny explains the historical origins and evolution of Calvinist soteriology. He then explains that the acronym TULIP is a helpful tool to remember the five main points of Calvinism: T- Total Depravity U- Unconditional Election L- Limited Atonement I- Irresistible Grace P-Perseverance of the Saints

In this episode Kenny explains the heart of Protestant theology, which can be summed up in five key theological statements known as “The Five Solas.” The Five Solas of the Protestant Reformation distinguished the 16th century Protestant Reformers from the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. They include: Sola scriptura (Scripture alone), Solus Christus (Christ alone), Sola fide (Faith alone), Sola gratia (Grace alone), and Soli Deo gloria (Glory to God alone).

In this episode, Kenny briefly explains and outlines the history and essence of Reformed Theology (also known as Calvinism). This podcast episode is designed to be a foundational episode, laying the foundation for future episodes of the podcast that dive deeper into this topic. Kenny argues that there were four types of Protestants in the 1500s: Lutherans, Anabaptists, Anglicans, and Reformed/Calvinists. To hold to “Reformed Theology” would be to affirm the theology of that fourth group. Kenny gives us eight observations of that specific group: Unconditional election Covenantal theology Spiritual reality in participating in the sacraments Primary and secondary uses of the Law Christ-centered hermeneutic Pedobaptism Regulative Principle of Worship Particular application of theology to the public square   Additional Resources Introduction: What is Reformed Theology? with R.C. Sproul “What was the Protestant Reformation?” “If the Reformation Caused Division, Why Was it a Good Thing?” “Why Are There So Many Denominations?” “Where’d All These Calvinists Come From?” “Book Review: ‘The Anabaptist Story’ by William Estep“

After a four year hiatus, Kenny Ortiz is resurrecting the “Theology for the Rest of Us” podcast. He gives an update on his life. Then, he comes back strong by asking the question, “What is kindness?” He makes it clear that niceness is not the same as kindness. We are called to be kind, but often times many Christians confuse niceness with kindness, which can be quite detrimental.

There is a lot of controversy in Evangelical circles about our approach to heresies, false teaching, and erroneous teachers. In this episode Kenny answers the question “Can people still grow in their faith even though they are listening to false teachers or being influenced by some heresies?” Kenny seeks to be diplomatic and gracious in this episode, but inevitably he makes statements that are sure to be offensive to some listeners. Kenny believes that there certainly Christians that have grown in their faith even though they have consumed content, sermons, and books from false teachers. Some Christians even feel as if they have been helped greatly in some ways by those teachings. However, Kenny asserts that merely points to the grace and sovereignty of God. Just because a false teacher somehow helps a believer does not justify that false teacher or the content of his sermons or books. Kenny challenges listeners to be watchful, discerning, and cautious.

When you’re in the midst of suffering, you want answers for the unanswerable, resolutions to the unresolvable. You want to tie up pain in a pretty little package and hide it under the bed, taking it out only when you feel strong enough to face it. But grief won’t be contained. Grief disobeys. Grief explodes. In one breath, you may be able to say that God’s got this and all will be well. In the next, you might descend into fatalism. No pretending. Here, you are raw before God, an open wound. In the midst of some of those darkest times, you will discover that the thing that leads you back to a place of hope is lament. The Bible gives us great examples and models of appropriate lament. In this episode Kenny interviews author Aubrey Sampson about her new book “The Louder Song” which deals with the value and models of lament. Aubrey serves on the preaching team and as the director of equipping and discipleship at Renewal Church in the Chicagoland area. She and her husband Kevin have three great sons. Connect with Aubrey Sampson at: aubreysampson.com Get a copy of her new book “The Louder Song” Follow Aubrey Sampson on Twitter: @aubsamp

In this episode Kenny discusses the concept of apologetics as being the defense of the Christian faith and the Biblical worldview. We are called to defend and give reasons for why we believe the Gospel and in the Bible and why we embrace the theological implications that come with both. Then Kenny unpacks the two primary types of apologetics: classical and presuppositional. In classical apologetics we seek to give evidences for existence of God, the resurrection of Christ, and the authencity of the Bible. Often times these evidences comes from the worlds of science, history, philosophy, ethics, textual criticisms, and occasionally even politics. Presuppositional apologetics is different in that rather than giving evidences, we seek to expose the flawed presuppositions that people have even before they begin a conversation about matters of faith. Both forms of apologetics are valuable if used rightly.

In this episode Kenny discusses the concept of intelligent design, which asserts that the universe was indeed intentionally created and fashioned by some supreme creator or intelligent being. Kenny also discusses the trends and philosophies which are a part of the intelligent design movement in North America today and how Evangelical Christians ought to respond to the movement.

There are various opinions about how we ought to approach our study of the origins of humanity. And there are various pieces of data coming from different genres of science that impact that studying. The world of genetics gives us more information about our origins than most genres of science and it helps us understand humanity and chunks of the created order around us. In this episode, Kenny tackles two questions from listeners by diving into his understanding of human genetics and how that informs how we view evolutionary theory. Kenny unpacks the differences between micro-evolution and macro-evolution, explains why this distinction ought to be embraced, and how the world of genetics bolsters the argument for such a distinction. This episode also includes several elementary metaphors to explain the position being asserted. He also answers the question as to whether we ever ought to embrace something that is not directly taught in the Bible?

In this episode, Kenny explains the Kalam Cosmological Argument and why it is a strong defense for the idea and existence of a supreme Creator. This apologetic argument asserts that since the universe has a beginning, it must also have something (or someone) that caused it to begin in the first place. Additional Resources: The Kalam Cosmological Argument [YouTube Video] 11 Common Objections to the Kalam Cosmological Argument (article By Randy Everist)

In this episode, Kenny responds to a reviewer comment that accuses Kenny of denying creation. Kenny responds by making clear what he believers and why. Kenny also explains his motivations for the recent episodes about creation (and related topics). More importantly, Kenny uses this correspondence to reflect on how Evangelicals approach certain theological topics and he also explains why he believes that overly fundamentalistic ideologies can be harmful to the unity of the body of Christ.

In this episode Kenny interviews world-renowned philosopher and best-selling author J.P. Moreland about his new book “Scientism and Secularism.” The book is about some of the worldviews that have now become mainstream and dominant in the worlds of philosophies and science, that Dr. Moreland says are incoherent and detrimental. In the interview Dr. Moreland unpacks the concept of scientism as being the philosophy that all data and information must directly come from a genre of science in order for it to be considered viable or trustworthy in an apologetics dialogue. Dr. Moreland explains why this philosophy ought to be rejected and how to respond to this way of thinking. Dr. Moreland asserts that data from many other sources ought to be considered in this conversations, including data from the worlds of politics, ethics, morality, psychology, and religion. He’s taught there for more than 35 years. He has earned four earned degrees; an undergraduate degree in chemistry, two graduate degrees in philosophy and theology, and then earned his Ph.D. from the University of Southern California. He’s been a church planter and has been involved in the ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ (Cru) for many years. Before serving as a college professor he served as a bioethicist for PersonaCare Nursing Homes, Inc. in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Moreland has made numerous media contributions including to PBS, Christianity Today, and WORLD magazine. He has authored more than 30 books and more than 70 articles in scholarly journals across North America. Resources Check out J.P. Moreland’s website: www.jpmoreland.com Get a copy of his newest book: Scientism and Secularism

There are many arguments for the existence of a Creator. One of the arguments is the fine tuning Argument. The fine-tuning argument is a philosophical and scientific argument that asserts that the universe is perfectly fine-tuned and specifically designed for life as we know it. Therefore, the likelihood of the universe coming about by accidence is extremely low. It is much more likely that the universe was intentionally created by some intelligent powerful being and specifically crafted for life. There are older variations of this argument but the contemporary variation of the fine tuning argument developed in response to many of the remarkable discoveries made throughout the twentieth century in the fields of astronomy, physics, and Big Bang cosmology. In this episode, Kenny explains this argument and shares various pieces of data that demonstrate why the fine-tuning argument is so compelling. Kenny helps us see that when we rationally and objectively observe the universe, we see that the universe has been perfectly crafted and intentional designed in a manner that is literally the most ideal environment for human life to exist and flourish. This is especially seen through the newest developments and discoveries from the genres of cosmology and physics. According to many physicists, the fact that the universe is able to support life depends delicately on various forces and fundamental characteristics, that if they were altered by even a small amount life as we know it simply could not exist. Even religious scientists and philosophers must concede that this could have all happened by accident. However, all honest observers, religious or non-religious, must admit that the statistical probability that this happened all by itself by accident is simply minuscule, and that it actually defies logic that it came about by random chance. Bibliography, Sources, and Additional Resources Christopher Hitchens Fine Tuning (Conversation with Doug Wilson) [YouTube Video] PragerU: Does Science Argue for or Against God? [YouTubeVideo] COLLISION: Christopher Hitchens vs. Douglas Wilson [DVD] Leonard Susskind – Is the Universe Fine-Tuned for Life and Mind? [YouTube Video] The anthropic significance of the existence of an excited state of 12C (article by M. Livio, D. Hollowell, A. Weiss, and J.W. Truran) An anthropic myth: Fred Hoyle’s carbon-12 resonance level (article by Helge Kragh) Is the Universe Merely a Statistical Accident? (article by Larry Dossey, MD) Improbable Planet: How Earth Became Humanity’s Home (book by Hugh Ross) The Creator and the Cosmos: How the Latest Scientific Discoveries Reveal God (book by Hugh Ross)

In this episode, Kenny interviews world-renowned astronomer and best-selling author Hugh Ross about various topics related to Old-Earth creationism and Old Testament hermeneutics. Dr. Ross is well-known for his defense of the “day-age” creationist position. In this interview Dr. Ross dialogues with Kenny about variations of Old-Earth Creationism, the literary framework hypothesis of Genesis 1, the creation accounts in the book of Job, the Garden of Eden, the extent of Noah’s flood, and the most appropriate way to navigate the book of Genesis. The interview ends by touching on the Neanderthals, proto-humans, and Dr. Ross’ opinion of the Leviathan and the Behemoth. Dr. Ross is the founder of Reasons to Believe, an organization that creates and provides various resources that show that science and faith are not enemies. Dr. Ross and his team have lectured at more than 300 universities across North America. Dr. Hugh Ross has an undergraduate degree in physics and later earned a Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of Toronto. For several years he continued his research on quasars and galaxies as a postdoctoral fellow at the California Institute of Technology. Dr. Ross has made countless media appearances, including The Dennis Prager Show, FOX News, The 700 Club, The Eric Metaxas Show, Coast to Coast AM with George Noory, and numerous podcasts. He has also appeared in numerous magazines and news articles such as Christianity Today, Charisma magazine, and The Wall Street Journal. Outside of Reasons to Believe, Dr. Ross teaches as an adjunct professor at both A.W. Tozer Seminary and Southern Evangelical Seminary. He also serves as a minister of apologetics at Sierra Madre Congregational Church where he conducts a weekly apologetics class. He and his wife live in Southern California. Resources Check out “Reasons to Believe” Check out Kenny’s favorite book by Dr. Ross: Navigating Genesis and The Creator and the Cosmos

When it comes to the origins of the Earth, the most prominent perspective held by many contemporary American Evangelicals is the concept of Young-Earth Creationism. This is the idea that God created the universe and everything in this universe in six literal calendar days (six consecutive 24-hour periods). The Young-Earth position asserts that God created everything approximately 6,000 years ago (although some Young Earth Creationists say that it may have happened as far back as 10,000 to 15,000 years ago) and most Young-Earth creationists argue that the science and date that seem to point to an Old-Earth (billions of years old) is science that is being done with flawed presuppositions therefore always leads to flawed conclusions. In this episode, Kenny interviews podcaster and apologist Steve Schramm. They discuss the Biblical reasons why someone might embrace the Young-Earth position as well as discussing various related topics such as the global flood, the Garden of Eden, and the various hermeneutical approaches to Genesis. Steve is an avid proponent of the Young-Earth position. He seeks to train Christians to become confident and passionate about wholeheartedly serving Jesus as well as defending the Christian faith. Additional Reading Check out Steve Schramm’s website: Steveschramm.com Tyler Vela’s response to Steve Schramm: “Rejoinders to a YEC Response” (Part 1) Tyler Vela’s response to Steve Schramm: “Rejoinders to a YEC Response” (Part 2) Steve Schramm’s Response to Tyler Vela: “Defending a Young Earth” (Part 1) Steve Schramm’s Response to Tyler Vela: “Defending a Young Earth” (Part 2)

Many people in our contemporary society claim to be focused on the “evidence” only, therefore they refuse to embrace anything that seems non-scientific, which would cause them to potentially reject the existence of the supernatural realm or would refuse to ever appeal to the supernatural realm for explanations. This approach often demands that people only use natural or physical explanations when explaining trends or phenomenons in our natural world. This is the philosophy of naturalism, which typically goes hand-in-hand with the common evolutionary theories being promoted today. However, if someone actually embraces the common Darwinian evolutionary theories, then there are actually very good reasons to not trust human mental faculties and to therefore question every closely held belief, including naturalism itself. In this episode, Kenny explains why and how evolutionary theory can actually be used as an argument against naturalism. Additional Resources Quick Video: The Evolutionary Argument Against Naturalism (Center for Philosophy of Religion) [YouTube Video] Lecture: “An Evolutionary Argument Against Naturalism – Alvin Plantinga at USC” [YouTube Video]

In this episode, Kenny interviews Ben Stanhope about the topic of the Leviathan and the Behemoth, as mentioned in the Old Testament. In this interview Ben discusses the Ancient Near Eastern manuscripts that have been recently discovered that give us greater insights into these Old Testament references. Ben Stanhope studied apologetics at Biola University and he then studied apologetics and theology at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he also served as a Garrett Fellow. He is now studying manuscript archaeology and textual criticism at the Center for the Study of Manuscript Cultures at Hamburg University in Germany. Check out Ben Stanhope’s YouTube channel: Pixels and Papyrus

In this episode Kenny answers the question, “Are Dinosaurs Mentioned in the Bible?” The primary Bible passages that Kenny examines are Job 40 & 41.

The questions about the historicity and legitimacy of Adam and Eve are important ones, with serious theological ramifications directly impacting how we view sin, sin nature, and the Gospel. In this episode, Kenny interviews the world-renowned author and Bible scholar Dr. Jack Collins, wherein he tackles the question, “Did Adam and Eve Really Exist?” C. John “Jack” Collins is Professor of Old Testament at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, and was a Senior Research Fellow for The Creation Project. He served as the Old Testament Chairman for the English Standard Version (ESV) translation of the Bible, he worked on the ESV’s Old Testament translation team helping to translate the Scriptures from Hebrew to English, and he has authored (or co-authored) several books on a variety of Bible topics. Recommended: Did Adam and Eve Really Exist?: Who They Were and Why You Should Care (by Dr. C. John Collins) Creation Debate: Dr. Albert Mohler and Dr. Jack Collins [Video] Reading Genesis Well: Navigating History, Poetry, Science, and Truth in Genesis 1-11 (by Dr. C. John Collins) Four Views on the Historical Adam (multiple contributors, including Dr. C. John Collins) Dr. Collins’ Contributions at “Sapientia” [Blog Articles]

Whenever discussing creationism, the topic of dinosaurs will always inevitability always come up as a part of the conversation. In this episode Kenny answers the question, “What happened to the dinosaurs?” He gives three potential responses to this question that are held by evangelicals. Afterwards, Kenny then dovetails into a brief conversation about dragons and whether or not the legends and myths that speak of dragons are actually exaggerated narratives and tales about the dinosaurs and dinosaur-like creatures that were living in pre-modern history, co-existing with humans.

Many people claim to be committed to “science” or claim to be focused on “the evidence” and they demand that every argument and every theory within our natural realm and world solely be argued for (or against) with only secular, natural, and/or physical arguments. This philosophy, called naturalism, is embraced by many people in the Western world today. Many secular progressives (and their contemporary ideological allies) assert things such as “We are committed to evidence” and they make comments like “Christians are only focused on faith, not evidence.” However, while this philosophy is prevalent, is this philosophy really sound? And are the naturalists actually being honest in their evaluation of the known evidence? In this episode, Kenny explains why this philosophy of naturalism is flawed and presents quotes from well known naturalists that show the flaws in this philosophy. Kenny presents information from the worlds of physics, biology, cosmology, and philosophy. He quotes from known philosophers, scientists, and writers such as Antony Flew, Richard Lewontin, Thomas Nagel, Edward Hobble, and Stephen Hawking, and David Brooks, demonstrating that naturalism is an irrational and inconsistent worldview.

Many people claim to be “scientific” or focused on “evidence” when all the while ignoring one important potential genre or stream of evidence, and that is any evidence which may cause people to conclude that there is indeed a God and a supernatural realm. Those people often demand natural or physical explanations for all things in the natural realm. This expectation, which is now prevalent in our society today, is founded upon the ideology of naturalism. In this episode, Kenny explains the history and foundation of naturalism, its re-emergence during the Renaissance and Age of Enlightenment, and its impact upon modern philosophy and science.

In this episode, tackles the question about animal death before the fall of mankind. Some Evangelical Christians assert that all death entered the world through the fall of Adam, therefore there could be no animal death before Adam’s sin. However, does the Bible actually teach this concept? If this were true, Old Earth creationism would be counter-Bible because this view ordinarily affirms the typical understanding of the fossil records that show animals living and dying long before the appearance of humans. If death entered with Adam, this view would be unorthodox and inconsistent. But is this view actually asserted in the Scriptures? Or is there a totally different way to look at animal death?

In this episode, Kenny interviews author, apologist, podcaster, and philosopher Tyler Vela to talk about the literary framework hypothesis of Genesis 1 as well as Tyler’s thoughts about pieces of Genesis 1 being motifs and metaphors that would lead us to believe that Genesis 1 is in large part a polemic argument written by Moses on behalf of Yahweh the creator. Tyler Vela studied Philosophy and English at California State University, Sonoma. He also earned a Bachelors degree in Biblical and Theological Studies from Moody Bible Institute. Currently, Tyler is working towards a Masters of Biblical Studies at Reformed Theological Seminary (Charlotte). Tyler is the host of The Freed Thinker Podcast and blog and is a frequent guest on many Christian and skeptical podcasts and forums. To check out Tyler Vela’s paper: A Historical-Grammatical and Polemical Reading of Genesis 1 Recommended Reading: The Genesis Debate: Three Views on the Days of Creation (multiple contributors, Foreword by Norm Geisler, Edited by David Hagopian)

This episode is very unique because Kenny uses the life of Steve Jobs as an illustration for this point. This episode is a sequel to the previous episode (Understanding Genesis One: Part 1) wherein Kenny gave the audience some history about how Christians have viewed Genesis 1 and where he also challenged the false narrative of uniformity that often is asserted by many modern Evangelical Christians. In that previous episode, Kenny then outlined the two primary ways of understanding and interpreting Genesis 1 (and similar styles of Biblical literature): the concordist view and the non-concordist view. In this episode, Kenny tells about the life and achievements of Steve Jobs, founder of Apple. Kenny tells his story in two separate ways, to illustrate the two approaches to Genesis 1.

There are many different ways to interpret and understand the book of Genesis, especially chapter one. In this episode, Kenny gives some history about how Christians have viewed Genesis 1 and he also challenges the false narrative of uniformity that often is asserted by many modern Evangelical Christians. Kenny outlines the two primary ways of understanding and interpreting Genesis 1 (and similar styles of Biblical literature): the concordist view and the non-concordist view. The concordist interpretations assert that God made the Earth and everything in the natural world using the sequence of events described in Genesis 1. Some proponents of the concordist views take the pieces of Genesis 1 as being literal and others take the pieces of Genesis 1 as being metaphoric, but in either form of concordism, the proponents claim that Genesis 1 is a historical narrative of the sequence of events of all created things. With the non-concordist interpretations of Genesis 1, the proponents assert that Genesis 1 is teaching us about God’s sovereignty over creation and His preeminence over the created things, but that Genesis 1 was not written as a precise historical narrative therefore it ought not be interpreted in that manner. Concordism states that the point wasn’t to teach us how God did created everything or when He created everything, but instead the point of Genesis 1 was simply to point to the fact that God Himself did it, demonstrating His superiority over the creation and dismisses the notion that created things deserve any worship whatsoever, therefore God ought to be glorified for His wonderful works.

In recent times there has been a new debate about the historicity of Adam. Was he a real man or is the Biblical figure just a metaphoric figure? Was he uniquely created or did he evolve? Does this even matter to modern Christians? In this episode, Kenny gives us several clear reasons why we should believe in a historical Adam and he teaches us why this matters to the Gospel. Recommended Reading 10 Reasons to Believe in a Historical Adam [Blog Post] Did Adam and Eve Really Exist?: Who They Were and Why You Should Care (C. John Collins) Four Views on the Historical Adam (multiple contributors, edited by Matthew Barrett and Ardel Caneday)

This episode is unique from most episodes of the podcast because this episode covers content and material from a previous episode, but simply does so in a shorter time (episode 248 is similar, that particular episode was the shorter version of content from episode 247). This episode covers the same content that is covered in episode 249 however this episode aims to cover the same material is much less time (this episode is less than 18 minutes while episode 249 is nearly 47 minutes long). Questions and topics related to the origins of humanity, the age of the universe, and the age of the Earth often come up in debates and conversations whenever Christians are seeking to reconcile the words of Scripture with the ideologies from the world of science. In this episode, Kenny tackles the question, “Should Christians Believe in Evolution?” First, Kenny asserts the importance of clarifying what type of evolution we’re actually talking about. There are many different types of evolution, and making sure that we have clear understanding of our verbiage is essential. The two prominent types of evolution that are being alluded to when we’re discussing the topic of the origin of species are macro-evolution and micro-evolution. Macro-evolution is the concept that species evolve into other species, a concept for which there is no scientific evidence, just theory. Micro-evolution is the concept that species change and evolve over time within their own kind, a concept for which there is scientific evidence. Secondly, Kenny explains the two types of macro-evolution being asserted by people today: secular (naturalistic) macro-evolution and theistic evolution. The secular (naturalistic) form of macro-evolution is the concept that all living creatures today all evolved from a single cell organism over the course of millions of years, without the help or guidance of any supreme being. The secular or naturalistic viewpoint (also sometimes referred to as the Darwinian perspective) generally disregards the existence of God altogether. This view is rightly rejected by most professing Christians. Another form of evolution that Kenny discusses is the concept of theistic evolution. This form of evolution is the belief that God guided and shepherded the process of evolution to help the process achieve the result that He desired. There is no Scriptural evidence for this view, and this view is logically insufficient in many regards, so Kenny encourages his listeners to reject this view as well. Recommended Reading: Genesis Unbound (by John Sailhamer) Four Views on Creation, Evolution, and Intelligent Design (multiple contributors, edited by JB Stump) Three Views on Creation and Evolution (multiple contributors, edited by James Porter Moreland) Old Earth or Evolutionary Creation? (multiple contributors, edited by Kenneth Keathley & J. B. Stump,) Ultimate Proof of Creation (Jason Lisle) Old Earth Creationism on Trial (Tim Chaffey & Jason Lisle) Navigating Genesis (Hugh Ross) The Genesis Debate: Three Views on the Days of Creation (multiple contributors, edited by David Hagopian)

In this episode, Kenny tackles the question, “Should Christians Believe in Evolution?” First, Kenny asserts the importance of clarifying what type of evolution we’re actually talking about. There are many different types of evolution, and making sure that we have clear understanding of our verbiage is essential. The two prominent types of evolution that are being alluded to when we’re discussing the topic of the origin of species are macro-evolution and micro-evolution. Macro-evolution is the concept that species evolve into other species, a concept for which there is no scientific evidence, just theory. Micro-evolution is the concept that species change and evolve over time within their own kind, a concept for which there is scientific evidence. Secondly, Kenny then explains the two types of macro-evolution being asserted by people today: secular (naturalistic) macro-evolution and theistic evolution. The secular (naturalistic) form of macro-evolution is the concept that all living creatures today all evolved from a single cell organism over the course of millions of years, without the help or guidance of any supreme being. The secular or naturalistic viewpoint (also sometimes referred to as the Darwinian perspective) generally disregards the existence of God altogether. This view is rightly rejected by most professing Christians. There have been some prominent secular evolutionist that readily admit the lack of evidence and logical arguments for this naturalistic view, however they still embrace it because the only alternative is creation, and they would rather not embrace that view. Here are some quotes supporting this… “Evolution itself is accepted by zoologists not because it has been observed to occur or is supported by logically coherent arguments, but because it does fit all the facts of taxonomy, of paleontology, and of geographical distribution, and because no alternative explanation is credible… The theory of evolution is a theory universally accepted by zoologists, not because it has been observed to occur… or can be proved by logical coherent evidence, but because the only alternative, special creation, is clearly incredible.” ~D.M.S. Watson, “Adaptation,” in Nature, Vol. 123, p. 233 (1929) [sometimes misquoted and often wrongly attributed to Sir Arthur Keith by many young-Earth creationists] “I suppose the reason why we leapt at the Origin of Species was that the idea of God interfered with our sexual mores.” ~Sir Julian Huxley “I’m an evolutionist because I cannot take the alternative.” ~Thomas Nagel “I speak from experience, being strongly subject to this fear myself: I want atheism to be true and am made uneasy by the fact that some of the most intelligent and well-informed people I know are religious believers. It isn’t just that I don’t believe in God and, naturally, hope that I’m right in my belief. It’s that I hope there is no God! I don’t want there to be a God; I don’t want the universe to be like that. My guess is that this cosmic authority problem is not a rare condition and that it is responsible for much of the scientism and reductionism of our time. One of the tendencies it supports is the ludicrous overuse of evolutionary biology to explain everything about human life, including everything about the human mind… This is a somewhat ridiculous situation… It is just as irrational to be influenced in one’s beliefs by the hope that God does not exist as by the hope that God does exist.” ~Thomas Nagel “We should be open to order in nature. Nature is uniquely suitable for life.” ~Michael Denton The second form of evolution that Kenny discusses is the concept of theistic evolution. This form of evolution is the belief that God guided and shepherded the process of evolution to help the process achieve the result that He desired. There is no Scriptural evidence for this view, and this view is logically insufficient in many regards,

This episode is somewhat unique in that it covers material from a previous episode, but in a shorter time. This episode covers the same content that is covered in episode 247 however this episode aims to cover the material is much less time (this episode is less than 17 minutes while episode 247 is nearly 45 minutes long). Questions and topics related to the origins of humanity, the age of the universe, and the age of the Earth often come up in debates and conversations whenever Christians are seeking to reconcile the words of Scripture with the ideologies from the world of science. The five views that Kenny talks about: 1- Secular Evolution 2- Young Earth and Literal Six-Day Creation 3- Old Earth with “Days” of creation being metaphoric 4- Old Earth with Gap Theory 5- Old Earth with Historical Creationism In this episode Kenny also foreshadows the content of episode 249 wherein Kenny will tackle a sixth view known as theistic evolution, the concept that God guided and shepherded the process of evolution to the result that He wanted.

How old is the universe? How old is the Earth? These are questions often asked by Christians throughout the world, seeking to understand the origins of humanity while also seeking to reconcile the words of Scripture with the news updates coming from the world of science. In this episode, Kenny challenges listeners to be charitable and diplomatic when tackling this topic. Kenny gives various historical insights that are helpful, and then Kenny gives us five perspectives that are often embraced when people are answering this question and when tackling the sub-topics that often arise. The five views that Kenny talks about: 1- Secular Evolution 2- Young Earth and Literal Six-Day Creation 3- Day-Age Creationist with Era-Long “Days” 4- Old Earth with Gap Theory 5- Old Earth with Historical Creationism Recommended Reading: Genesis Unbound (by John Sailhamer) Four Views on Creation, Evolution, and Intelligent Design (multiple contributors, edited by JB Stump) Three Views on Creation and Evolution (multiple contributors, edited by James Porter Moreland) Old Earth or Evolutionary Creation? (multiple contributors, edited by Kenneth Keathley & J. B. Stump,) Ultimate Proof of Creation (Jason Lisle) Old Earth Creationism on Trial (Tim Chaffey & Jason Lisle) Navigating Genesis (Hugh Ross) The Genesis Debate: Three Views on the Days of Creation (multiple contributors, edited by David Hagopian)

Many people in our world are lacking true joy and satisfaction, longing for “something more” but so many of them end up settling for a sub-par life and sub-par spirituality, simply because they do not know the true source of joy and satisfaction. Furthermore, there are many genuine Christians that do not understand or value certain key doctrines and philosophies simply because they haven’t been taught those truths and ideas in a manner that is accessible. In this episode, Kenny interviews pastor and author Jonathan Parnell about these issues and they discuss how Jonathan tackles these trends in his newest book “Never Settle for Normal: The Proven Path to Significance and Happiness.” Jonathan is the lead pastor of Cities Church in Minneapolis–St. Paul, where he lives with his wife, Melissa, and their seven children. His book “Never Settle for Normal” is not a self-help book, neither is it just another run-of-mill “enrichment book, but instead it is a Gospel-filled book, packed with transcendent Biblical truths, but written in a manner that can be easily digested by just about any person, regardless of where they are in their faith journey. Jonathan Parnell is also the co-editor of Designed for Joy: How the Gospel Impacts Men and Women, Identity and Practice (2015), and the co-author of How to Stay Christian in Seminary (2014). He has also published a collection of devotional essays under the title, Reading to Walk: Meditations for the Life of Faith (2014). Follow Jonathan on Twitter @Jonathanparnell

A frequent (and tragic) trend in modern American Evangelicalism is the devaluing of the importance of quality doctrine and theology. This is evident in many ways in contemporary American Christendom, but fewer moments make this more obvious than when church leaders (and lay people) refuse to objectively (or critically) assess the theology, ideology, and preaching content of many prominent preachers. Many American Christians simply refuse to “pass judgement” on preachers. Is this right or wrong? After several months off from podcasting, Kenny returns to tackle this important (and apparently controversial) topic. How important is theology? How much does doctrine matter? Is it appropriate to judge preachers’ based on their theology? Or should we only pass judgement on those whom we know well? And is it possible that theology or doctrine can somehow actually get in the way of ministry? Kenny tackles these questions in this episode, with his ultimate conclusion and statement being a strong, but simple, challenge to all listeners to always objectively exam every church leader’s and every preacher’s doctrine and preaching content, and to seek to make a rational and fair determination as to whether or not the content and doctrine is accurate or erroneous, and allow those determinations to govern how you interact with or talk about that preacher. Kenny also encourages us to be cautious that we never inappropriately or unfairly assault someone’s character.

In this episode, Kenny answers the question: Will people from all Christian denominations go to heaven, or will only certain ones, with the right doctrine, be saved in the end? This can be a controversial subject indeed, but Kenny seeks to make it simple by making the point that faith in Christ is what actually saves us, not right doctrines. Studying theology and doctrine is very important, and there are indeed certain types of doctrines and certain theological beliefs that may very well impede a person’s faith in Christ, or may demonstrate that their faith in Christ is actually fraudulent, but the act of embracing certain doctrine, in and of itself, doesn’t necessarily save or condemn human beings. Kenny believes that there will be people from all sorts of Christian denominations represented in heaven.

Last year, our host Kenny did a mini-series on the Holy Spirit, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Kenny tackled multiple topics related to the Holy Spirit. One of those topics was the topic of prophecy. You can listen to that episode here: “87: What is Prophecy?” Kenny made the case that the gift (or function) of New Testament prophecy has been grossly misunderstood by many contemporary Christians, and that the spiritual gift of prophecy often gets maligned or abused. In response to that previous episode, Kenny received an email from a regular listener asking for clarification about the topic of prophecy. In this episode, Kenny seeks to bring clarity by again explaining that the Old Testament office of “prophet” was restricted to only one person, meaning that only one person had access to the fullness and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, but that ever since the day of Pentecost, all New Testament Christians now have full access to the fullness and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. And as such, anytime a believer is empowered by the Spirit of God to speak boldly to the people of God on behalf of God, then in essence, that person is prophesying. The spiritual gift of prophecy does not mean that someone is foretelling the future, but rather that they are being empowered by the Spirit to speak boldly to God’s people for a specific person of cause. Occasionally this may indeed involve elements of “words of knowledge” or unique spiritual discernment, but in most cases it ought to be more focused on admonishment, rebuke, correction, teaching, calls to worship, and calls for repentance.

Romantic relationships can be complicated, even under the best of circumstances, but they get even more complicated when flawed philosophies and bad theology are thrown into the mix. One of the flawed philosophies that often gets embraced, in terms of romance, is the ideal concept of a soulmate. While this concept has lost popularity over the past two decades within contemporary Christian circles, there are still many that believe and embrace it. In this episode, Kenny clearly tackles the question: Does God have only one specific person you’re meant to marry or is it more a matter of personal choice? Kenny’s answer in this podcast is clear: There is no such thing as “the one.” This concept of “the one” or the idea of a soulmate is totally a result of modern media, movies, and pop culture. The idea of “the one” is not at all a result of any Biblical insights. Kenny explains that the Bible talks extensively about marriage and relationships, but it never says anything that would cause us to embrace this concept of only one specific person that you’re supposed to marry. Furthermore, Kenny explains that this concept is overly idealistic and severely impractical.

Civil disobedience has long been an effective manner of protest, both in antiquity as well as in contemporary societies. The protests led by Gandhi in India, the American civil rights movement of the 20th century, and the Boston Tea Party (as a part of the events leading up to the American Revolution) have all been some of the most famous and most effective forms of civil disobedience in world history. Was it sinful for the founders of the USA to disobey the king of England in this manner? Should they not have rendered unto King George what seemingly was King George’s right? Was it sinful for globally-known civil rights leaders like Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and Martin Luther King to encourage people to disobey the law? When should we submit and obey our leaders, and when should we intentionally disobey? Is it always sinful to disobey leaders, or are there moments when it is okay to disobey the law In this episode, Kenny clearly answers these questions by reminding us about the purpose of governments in the first place. Humans are sinful, therefore too much freedom isn’t good, because it would lead to sinful anarchy. Government structures and restraints are good because they bring law and order. But when a leader or the government is no longer fulfilling its God-ordained purpose, for which is was established in the first place, then it is time for the people to disobey that structure as a form of protest, or in some extreme cases, it may indeed be time to get rid of that particular leader or government.

In response to an email from a regular listener which included a question about the mixture of Christian theology and American nationalism. Some Christians claim that the USA is a “Christian nation” and that we ought to structure our government with this ideal in mind. Is this true? Are we a Christian nation? If not, should we seek to make it an officially “Christian” country?

In this episode, Kenny explains the concepts of natural rights and natural law. Kenny compares and contrasts natural rights, that originate from a source that transcends governments, with legal rights that originate from a national government or from the leadership of some jurisdiction. Kenny explains that the Biblical purpose for national governments is to bring law and order for the people, to acknowledge the natural rights of humans that have been given to us by God, and to build and cultivate the appropriate systems which will honor and protect natural rights. Whenever a government violates natural law, or fails to acknowledge and protect the natural rights of the people, then that specific government, and its leaders, has lost its right to survive and exist. Whenever a government has violated this idea, and hence therefore has forfeited its own right to even exist, then it would be appropriate for the people of that nation (or the leadership of other nations) to remove the existing government from power, whether diplomatically or by force, in order to establish a new or reformed government that will indeed acknowledge and protect the natural rights of the people. The concept of natural rights greatly influenced the founders of the United States. The philosophy of natural rights was asserted and taught by many philosophers throughout the centuries, but the greatest proponent of the modern understanding of natural rights was the 17th century British philosopher and physician John Locke.

Throughout the pages of the Old Testament, many of the kings were sinful and wicked. In other cases they may not have lived a totally wicked lifestyle, but they made some very sinful choices. Why did God permit this? In response to an email from a regular listener, Kenny dives into this topic in this episode by asking Why did God allow the kings of the nation of Israel to sin in so many different ways? More importantly, does this mean that certain sins are okay for certain leaders or people?

In this episode, Kenny covers the topic of “replacement” theology, which is the term that Dispensationalists use when they are referring to concept that the Jews are no longer God’s chosen people. That the church has “replaced” Israel. Dispensationalist typically embrace the idea that the Jews are still God’s chosen people, that they still have a special covenant with God (which is separate and distinct with God’s covenant with the church), and that the Jews still have special blessings and rights that other nations do not have access to, including the rights to the “promise land” (the property which makes up the contemporary nation of Israel). Orthodox Christianity has traditionally held to the idea that any person who places faith in God is declared righteous and therefore is invited into the group of people that are in covenant with God; and there is only one group of people that are in covenant with God (known as God’s “covenant people”). The Jews were the group that God was in covenant with, but that has been expanded in the New Testament to include Jews and Gentiles. The New Testament also makes the point that not all of the Jews were ever actually in covenant anyway (see Romans 9:6-7). Ethnic Jews should not be viewed as God’s covenant people, but instead anyone with genuine faith in God ought to be considered a part of God’s covenant people; and this has not replaced the “old way” of viewing God’s covenant people because this is ho we ought to have always viewed God’s chosen people.

Recently, a regular listener sent Kenny an email asking about Yoga, and whether or not it is okay for Christians to practice it. Yoga is the traditionally Hindu theistic philosophy and ascetic discipline, that involves the suppression of activity, and is aimed at connecting with the spiritual realm in hopes of attaining a higher sense of self-awareness and also aimed at the absolute liberation from all desire and natural human inclination. Yoga traditionally has included mantras, unique breathing control, meditations, and the adoption of specific bodily postures. In this episode, Kenny makes clear that engaging in Yoga, in its traditional sense, does indeed potentially invite unwanted spiritual beings and evil principalities to enter your life and potentially have influence over your life in ways that would wreak havoc on your faith, soul, and overall well-being. But Kenny also recognizes that many people in Western societies practice the physical disciplines and elements of Yoga, but are doing so in a way that is divorced from any spiritual connections. In this context, there is probably not issue for Christians to participate in the physical elements of Yoga. Kenny finishes the episode by giving pastoral wisdom about how we ought to approach any such topic, where something may seem spiritual or taboo to some extent, in the minds of some. Christians, overall, ought to never be flippant in these matters, but always be prayerful, cautious, and diligent before engaging with anything that may have influence over your life or soul (ie: media, books, music, holiday celebrations, relationships, food, spiritual things, etc.). Also, Christians ought to never mock or be judgmental towards another believer that may have different convictions, or Christians that choose to refrain from something that you feel is “no big deal.” Lastly, Christians ought to never go against their own conscious when making determinations about what to engage with and what not to engage with. If you feel uneasy about doing Yoga (or any other comparable thing), then you ought to refrain from it, regardless of what others may say or do.

In this episode, Kenny responds to an email from a regular listener asking about the word “glory” and its definition in relation to how Jesus refers to it in John 17:22. In the passage in question, Jesus says these words: “I have given them the glory You have given Me. May they be one as We are one.” (HCSB). Kenny explains that the word “glory” refers to fame, praise, exaltation, and honor. Typically, humans ought to make God famous as well as seek to praise and honor Him for who He is, and in doing so our innermost souls are fully satisfied. Jesus is making the point that Jesus will then present humans as fully redeemed, not to praise or exalt our character, but so that the work of God in us can be made known, praised, honored, and exalted. And in doing so, God Himself will take joy, delight, and sanctification in us because of the amazing redemption that has been completed in us.

At face value, prayer seems to be one of the simplest and most powerful disciplines that any Christian can engage in. Prayer is an incredible privilege! We have the opportunity to talk with and potentially request things from the Supreme Creator of the universe who has the power to grant whatever we ask. This is an amazing truth! However, it seems to many believers that prayer can simultaneously be one of the more complex elements of the Christian life. When should we pray? How should we pray? What things impact our prayers? In a few verses, it even seems that Jesus is saying that we can pray for whatever we want and as long as we have faith, we’re guaranteed to get it. Is that true? In this episode, Kenny responds to an email from a regular listener about the verses that seem to allude to the fact that we can pray for “whatever we want” as long as we have faith. Kenny explains these verses in context, and the importance to allow God’s Word to transfer our desires so that our prayers will be in line with that which God already wants. Some preachers and churches have taken many of these verses out of context and began to promote the “name it, claim it” theology; claiming that we can have whatever we want and God is obligated to grant our requests, even if they are sinful or selfish in any manner. This is clearly a false teaching that has permeated the church, and in this episode Kenny exposes “name it, claim it” theology as being nonsense that maligns the actual power and beauty of prayer. Highlighted Scriptures 1 John 5:14-15 ‭‭John‬ ‭15:7-8‬ ‭‭John‬ ‭15:16-17‬ ‭‭John‬ ‭16:23-24‬ Mark 11:20-24 Matthew 6:9–13 ‭Matthew‬ ‭21:21-22‬ ‭‭James‬ ‭1:6‬ ‭‭James‬ ‭4:1-3‬

In this episode, Kenny dives into the terms “conservative” and “liberal” explaining what they literally mean, and more importantly, explaining how those terms are utilized within our modern Western culture in the realm of politics and in the realm of theology.

Within Christian theology, heterodoxy has typically been explained as any Biblical interpretations or Christian doctrines that are different from the official or orthodox positions of the church at-large. In this episode, Kenny explains the concept of heterodoxy, and expounds upon the differences between orthodoxy, heresy, and heterodoxy. Kenny also makes clear that heterodox doctrines might be different from orthodox doctrines, but heterodox doctrines are not opposite or contrary to any traditionally embraced Christian orthodoxy, neither is heterodoxy opposite or contrary to any clear Biblical mandates. Kenny then gives some pastoral advice on how to view heterodoxy, and challenges the listeners to be cautious to not assume that other Christians are not orthodox simply because those believers may have some theological disagreements. Kenny finishes the episode with this great quote from Charles Spurgeon: “Again, you shall find spiritual life in every church. I know it is the notion of the bigot, that all the truly godly people belong to the denomination which he adorns. Orthodoxy is my doxy; heterodoxy is anybody else’s doxy who does not agree with me.” (August 13th, 1871)

Traditionally, heresy has been said to be any belief or opinion contrary to orthodox religious dogma and is profoundly at odds with what has generally been accepted. In this episode, Kenny defines heresy as any doctrine or teaching that is: Outside of the bounds of traditional Christian orthodoxy Opposite of the foundational or essential doctrines embraced by orthodox Christians Clearly contrary to the Scriptures Potentially harmful or destructive to the persons who might embrace those false teachings Kenny then gives some pastoral advice and insights on how to rebuke and address a heretic, if a heretic should appear in your church or your community. Scriptures Referenced 2 Peter 2:1 Galatians 1:8-9 1 Corinthians 16:22 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 1 Timothy 1:18-20 Titus 3:10

With the popularity of non-orthodox Christian theology and modern liberal ideology growing within contemporary Christian circles, there has been a need to label or identify those specific Christian groups and churches which hold closely to the doctrine and ideals of traditional orthodox Christianity. That group has been labeled “Evangelical Christians.” The Evangelical movement is a worldwide interdenominational movement within Christianity (specifically Protestant Christianity) which seeks to maintain fundamental Christian beliefs and conserve the traditionally embraced elements of the Gospel. Typically, Evangelicals affirm these truths and ideals: Inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture Jesus’ virgin birth, physical death on a cross, and physical resurrection Deity of Christ Every human’s need for faith in Christ alone for salvation Importance of our Christian faith actually governing our daily lives and choices Importance of evangelism (spreading the Gospel to others) Many people in modern Western society use the terms “Protestant” and “Evangelical” interchangeably, but these two words do not mean the same thing. There are many people whom identify as Protestant but do not embrace the truths and ideals typically embraced by Evangelicals. It has been estimated by some media outlets that the population of the USA is 38-60% Evangelical, but upon further review we discover that the actual number is probably significantly less than that. Resources What is an evangelical? What Is an Evangelical? Four Questions Offer New Definition