Ezra Institute Lectures: Recent Episodes
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In this inaugural episode of Ezra Interviews, Dr. Michael Thiessen is joined by homemaker and author Tilly Dillehay to discuss her recent book “My Dear Hemlock,” a re-imagination of C.S. Lewis’ “The Screwtape Letters” for the modern woman.
Episode Resources: Purchase My Dear Hemlock here: https://amzn.to/404MlM4;
The WAIT is OVER!!! Pre-order your copy of the NEW updated and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide! Get it here: https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition;
UPCOMING CONFERENCES:
Christ is King World Missions Conference – “Gospel Culture” | January 19-22, 2025 | San Antonio, TX:* https://christisking.church/lyw; The Mission of God Conferences: U.S. – Denver | Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025 @ 8:00 – 16:00 MST@ Faith Church | Arvada, Colorado: https://www.ezrainstitute.com/mission-of-god-denver/;
Faith & Medicine Conference* | January 19-22, 2025 | Atlanta, GA: https://faithandmedicine.org/;
REFORMCON ’25 | “Out of the Ashes” | April 24-26, 2025 @ Tucson, AZ: https://reformcon.org/
Think Christianly about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings:” https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government;
Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/;
For Ezra’s many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com.
Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute: https://www.ezrainstitute.com;
Subscribe to Ezra’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVvQDHHrOOjziyqUaN9VoA?sub_confirmation=1;
Fight Laugh Feast Network: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/8297;
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;
Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885.
Wherever you find our content, please like, subscribe, rate, or review it; it truly does help.
The post Tilly Dillehay: A Demonic Plot for Women appeared first on Ezra Institute.
HAPPY NEW YEAR from everyone at the Ezra Institute! In this episode of the Podcast for Cultural Reformation, Pastor Nate Wright announces a brand-new Ezra podcast–Ezra Interviews with Michael Thiessen. Would you like to know what to expect? Tune in for this scintillating conversation between Dr. Thiessen and Dr. Voddie Baucham on how Marxism and Critical Race Theory (CRT) have infiltrated the Church.
Episode Resources: Purchase Fault Lines here: https://www.amazon.com/Fault-Lines-Movement-Evangelicalisms-Catastrophe/dp/1684511801;
The WAIT is OVER!!! Pre-order your copy of the NEW updated and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide! Get it here: https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition;
UPCOMING CONFERENCES:
Christ is King World Missions Conference – “Gospel Culture” | January 19-22, 2025 | San Antonio, TX:* https://christisking.church/lyw; The Mission of God Conferences: U.S. – Denver | Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025 @ 8:00 – 16:00 MST@ Faith Church | Arvada, Colorado: https://www.ezrainstitute.com/mission-of-god-denver/;
Faith & Medicine Conference* | January 19-22, 2025 | Atlanta, GA: https://faithandmedicine.org/;
REFORMCON ’25 | “Out of the Ashes” | April 24-26, 2025 @ Tucson, AZ: https://reformcon.org/
Think Christianly about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings:” https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government;
Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/;
For Ezra’s many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com.
Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute: https://www.ezrainstitute.com;
Subscribe to Ezra’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVvQDHHrOOjziyqUaN9VoA?sub_confirmation=1;
Fight Laugh Feast Network: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/8297;
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;
Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885.
Wherever you find our content, please like, subscribe, rate, or review it; it truly does help.
The post NEW YEAR, NEW (OLD) SHOW! – Voddie Baucham: CRT in the Church appeared first on Ezra Institute.
In this episode of the Podcast for Cultural Reformation, Dr. Joe Boot, Pastor Nate Wright, and Dr. Michael Thiessen consider the Christmas message of the heavenly host.
The WAIT is OVER!!! Pre-order your copy of the NEW updated and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide! Get it here: https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition;
CHAPTERS:00:00 Christmas Giving AD
00:34 Opening
00:47 Intro
01:06 Welcome
02:40 Ezra Programs 2025
03:27 Christmas Traditions: Joe
05:41 Christmas Traditions: Mike
08:06 Christmas Traditions: Nate
11:47 Episode Topic
12:24 Scripture Reading | Hebrews 1
14:17 The Supremacy of Christ: Jesus is BETTER Than the Angels
22:26 The Herald Angel’s Greatest Message: Christ
26:13 The Supremacy of Christ Over Silly Spiritual Speculation
27:46 The Angelic Song: Glory to God in the Highest!
30:47 The Humble Shepherd King; to Humble Shepherds the Angelic Host Sing
37:09 Heralds & Messengers: Christians as the Angels in Christ
49:26 Conclusion
50:24 Outro
UPCOMING CONFERENCES:
Christ is King World Missions Conference – “Gospel Culture” | January 19-22, 2025 | San Antonio, TX:* https://christisking.church/lyw; The Mission of God Conferences: U.S. – Denver | Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025 @ 8:00 – 16:00 MST@ Faith Church | Arvada, Colorado: https://www.ezrainstitute.com/mission-of-god-denver/;
Faith & Medicine Conference* | January 19-22, 2025 | Atlanta, GA: https://faithandmedicine.org/;
REFORMCON ’25 | “Out of the Ashes” | April 24-26, 2025 @ Tucson, AZ: https://reformcon.org/
Think Christianly about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings:” https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government;
Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/;
For Ezra’s many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com.
Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute: https://www.ezrainstitute.com;
Subscribe to Ezra’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVvQDHHrOOjziyqUaN9VoA?sub_confirmation=1;
Fight Laugh Feast Network: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/8297;
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;
Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885.
Wherever you find our content, please like, subscribe, rate, or review it; it truly does help.
The post CHRISTMAS EVE SPECIAL: Hark! The Herald Angels appeared first on Ezra Institute.
In this episode of the Podcast for Cultural Reformation, Dr. Joe Boot and Pastor Nate Wright talk about the turbulence of the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Baby Jesus, the meek and mild babe in a manager, shook the entire fabric of the world, troubling many, filling others with wrath and fear, but causing many to come from afar to prostrate themselves before him in worshipful service. What’s your response to the lowborn King of Kings? May it be the way of wisdom: worship and adoration.
Think Christianly about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings:” https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government;
The WAIT is OVER!!! Pre-order your copy of the NEW updated and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide! Get it here: https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition;
CHAPTERS:00:00 Mission of God AD
00:25 Opening
00:36 Intro
01:05 Welcome
02:29 Christmas Gift – Mission of God: 10th Anniversary Edition
03:23 Conference ADs
05:18 Scripture Reading | Matthew 2:1-16
07:23 Sanitizing the Christmas Story
08:51 Trouble in Jerusalem: The Menacing Arrival of the Magi
12:23 Herod, the Great: The Tyrannical Imposter King of the Jews
19:05 Signs in the Skies
26:46 The Magi & the Messiah
32:35 The True King of the Jews, the Ruler of the Kings of the Earth
35:45 Herod’s Relevant Response to Jesus and Ours
43:20 Christmas: A Disturbance in the Force
44:26 Conclusion
45:50 Outro
UPCOMING CONFERENCES:
Christ is King World Missions Conference – “Gospel Culture” | January 19-22, 2025 | San Antonio, TX:* https://christisking.church/lyw; The Mission of God Conferences: U.S. – Denver | Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025 @ 8:00 – 16:00 MST@ Faith Church | Arvada, Colorado: https://www.ezrainstitute.com/mission-of-god-denver/;
Faith & Medicine Conference* | January 19-22, 2025 | Atlanta, GA: https://faithandmedicine.org/;
REFORMCON ’25 | “Out of the Ashes” | April 24-26, 2025 @ Tucson, AZ: https://reformcon.org/
Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/;
For Ezra’s many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com.
Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute: https://www.ezrainstitute.com;
Subscribe to Ezra’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVvQDHHrOOjziyqUaN9VoA?sub_confirmation=1;
Fight Laugh Feast Network: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/8297;
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;
Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885.
Wherever you find our content, please like, subscribe, rate, or review it; it truly does help.
The post CHRISTMAS: A Time of Turbulence appeared first on Ezra Institute.
Scripture has much to say about the way in which our speech reveals the heart and character of a person, ‘For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks’ (Lk. 6:45). The writer of Proverbs understood the very human tendency for loose and agitated mouths to run away with themselves, impatient to speak and stir up anxiety and conflict everywhere when he said, ‘Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding (Prov. 17:27)’ Finding such self-control was evidently rare, even when this jewel of a saying was first written – an era in which there was no such thing as modern communications, media companies, or social media platforms, just small groups of people talking together. Now, communication is digital, instant, and en masse. Millions of people can eavesdrop and be part of a given conversation.
The temptation in such spaces to constantly assert oneself, taking every passing dog by the ears, is too great for many people to subdue – in part because this abstract world is increasingly equalitarian, in so far as every Tom, Dick and Harry can not only join in but feel entitled to speak and comment on almost everyone and everything, as though on an equal footing with all and sundry, the great and the good. And so, the indolent and ignorant, the fornicator or the drug addicted, the prideful and conceited, the thief and pervert, all claim the same absolute right to trumpet their opinion in almost any conversation (being part of the digital social public), as the most qualified, experienced, and righteous of men and women. The older social settings of necessarily incarnated communication exercised a certain restraint on the speaker; social standing, personal and familial reputation, knowledge and experience, not to mention one’s living testimony truly mattered. The proven were generally respected, the wise listened to attentively, and elders honoured. But the new digital public space is the place where the truly virtuous and accomplished can expect a tongue-lashing and good kicking from the mob, where pearls do fall before swine, and rebuking a mocker can lead to being the recipient of overt hatred (Prov. 9:8). Things that people would never say to a person’s face in civilized company, they feel free to scream on social media, often behind a veil of digital anonymity.
Yet access to the new public discourse is not enough if you want to shape the conversation. Our intoxicating age demands something more. To be heard and ‘liked’ requires attracting attention to oneself amidst a vast gallery public that understands a lot less than it pretends to. Unless the crowd is gossiping about you or commenting on you, you may not be heard, and so you must entertain at all costs. And this is the key: the more controversial, aggressive, provocative and sensational, the better for being noticed and to becoming the ‘clickbait’ of the moment whilst building your following – typically requiring fervent self-promotion. There need not be truth here, only noise, entertainment and conviction in equal measure. As Soren Kierkegaard once put it:
Our age…demands that the mouth drop open, for how else is one to visualise a true and genuine patriot except he be making speeches, how else should one visualize the dogmatic face of a ‘profound thinker’ except with a mouth able to swallow the whole world.1
Increasingly, few people are content to be getting on with doing something useful in the world or for the Kingdom of God, but must always be exercising their tongues, vaunting their opinions, creative ideas, image, brand and ‘brilliance’ before that colossal void ‘the public,’ which appears one day to be everything, but the next may be nothing, having moved on to the newer more sensational or controversial moment. A fear of being abandoned by the digital crowd creates a new form of anxiety because the person desperate to create their own movement of followers craves engagements, ‘likes,’ and a majority to ‘certify’ if their ideas or activities are any good. If you want to move anything, you must, of course, be rooted and stand firm, but if this firmness is not specifically in Christ and his Word-revelation, but in some other or even adjacent agenda, the would-be movement leader or influencer will not be able to stand alone as an individual – they will need the crowd. Whilst on the surface, the desire is to move others with endless engagement and commentary, it becomes very apparent that what the active influencer needs is for others to hold onto them so that they might be able to hold fast and later brag that it was they who stood upon the brink and at the head of a new direction or social phenomenon.
The temptations and sins on social media are not just apparent among non-believers. In parts of the professing Christian world inhabiting social media platforms, a digital vaingloriousness is frequently manifest in tribalism, sensationalism, contentiousness (controversy for its own sake), boastfulness, and creating a sense of perpetual disgust at the world and others. Yet the abstract digital forum means an almost total lack of accountability in supposedly social spaces for whatever is said, and rarely does it provide a context for meaningful discussion and debate between mutually respectful persons. Instead, folly is on daily display. Little has changed then since Solomon warned his son, ‘A fool’s mouth is his devastation, and his lips are a trap for his life’ (Prov. 18:7). The tongue is indeed a fire, set ablaze by hell itself, and a tour through social media makes Dante’s Inferno look quite peaceable and pleasant by comparison.
Biblically speaking, we live in a fallen cosmos struggling under sin and rebellion, and yet also being recreated and reconciled to God, in and through Jesus Christ and his Kingdom people. Sadly, some of what we see in Protestantism’s online presence today regards that broken world with a visceral revulsion that can come dangerously close to treating God’s image-bearers themselves as human refuse. One great exponent of God’s law, the Reformed social critic R. J. Rushdoony, called this living by disgust:
More than a few prominent religious figures who present themselves as bold warriors for the Lord have really only one essential purpose: to keep disgust fresh. They publish…a stream of exposures about the menaces to church and state. Their purpose is to freshen disgust. Beyond that, they have little in the way of a gospel to present, and their morality is often suspect…Take away fresh disgust, and you rob a vast number of people of the most important part of their intellectual, religious and moral diet. With many, it becomes their whole life…Similarly, many who have left the modernist churches make it their life to review the horrors of the old church: their gospel is fresh disgust…The Pharisee needs a continual tale of evil, a steady recital of the depravity of men and movements around him in order to feel a moral glow. His self-justification is the sight of fresh evil in others…much historical ‘debunking’ has rested on such shaky moral foundations.2
Part of the appeal of living by disgust in the abstract and unreal world of social media is found not just in constantly pointing to the failures or faults of other Christians and churches but in the moral glow felt in publicly defining oneself down to the last doctrinal and socio-political point of contention – to show how different you are from the sinful and deceived people around you – and by engaging in constant historical debunking that refuses to accept the received account of anything, imagining everything is based on lies except one’s own thinking. It is here that alarm bells should ring, for it was the spirit of the Pharisee that prayed:
‘God, I thank you that I’m not like other people, greedy, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector” (Lk. 18:11).
Rushdoony notes that the Pharisee’s claim was essentially to being, ‘the only true believer, the only activist, and the only person “alive to the issues.”’3 But, the self-aggrandizement and self-righteousness of the Pharisee did not validate his convictions. As Kierkegaard once noted, ‘Not everyone who offers himself as surety for the whole contemporary age proves by such action that he is reliable and can vouch for himself!’ (Humour, 255)4.
Does any of this mean that lies and evil should not be refuted and exposed? Not at all. Truly Christian people seeking to live by the revealed Word of God and in the power of the Holy Spirit will address evil in the ways that truly count, not by mere recital or negation but by quiet, faithful and positive action in every area of life. To endlessly post comments about social, ecclesiastical or cultural evils and lies for the masses to revel in effects no change, even if millions follow and ‘like’ a supercilious tutting that makes them feel better about themselves. The world will not be renewed by social media likes and follows, nor by mere podcasts that express disgust with God’s people and God’s world while decrying the failures and evils of all others with an arrogant and unruly tongue.
You will know if a Christian is truly living by the renewing and creative Word of God if, instead of constantly looking for fresh disgust and running their mouth about it all, they are quietly chaste before marriage, busy being faithful to their spouse when married, conscientious in their vocation, diligently teaching their children, witnessing to the lost, serving the local church, and establishing or supporting godly institutions without making a ‘hue and cry’ about it all on social media. And this patient model of transformation was the example of the early church. It was by their family life and sexual purity, their obedience to the law of God, their financial integrity and quiet stand against social evils, their self-sacrifice and perseverance in the gospel, their mutual care for God’s people and sense of personal responsibility for others, that they created a new social order in the midst of a decaying one.
We would do well as Christians in our digital age of mass media, where everyone wants the mic, to remember the teaching of the apostle James, who warned that not many should presume to be teachers, for those who teach expose themselves to stricter judgment (James 3:1). Instead, we should be ‘quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger’ (James 1:19), just as our God is slow to anger, abounding in tender mercy, not treating us as our sins deserve (Ps. 103:10; 145:8). Don’t be impressed by your social media following, or those of anyone else – as though they represent real impact for the kingdom of God – nor be concerned to engage everyone in the digital ether spoiling for a fight. In fact, ‘Don’t speak to a fool, for he will despise the insight of your words’ (Prov. 23:9). Have no part in the tactics of mockery and online abuse of other people, most especially of fellow Christians, for the mockers end is clear, ‘the ruthless one will vanish, the scorner will disappear’ (Is. 29:20).
Nothing in our time is more conducive to giving free rein to an unruly tongue than social media platforms. All of us who use them for the limited value they do have should be ever mindful that ‘The tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness…it is a restless evil full of deadly poison’ (James 3:6, 8). Tame it, or set on fire the entire course of your life.
Footnotes
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Thomas C. Oden (ed.), The Humor of Kierkegaard: An Anthology (New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2004), 246
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R. J. Rushdoony, Faith and Action, Vol 3, Church, Family and Christian Living (Vallecito, CA: Ross House Books, 2019), 1327-1328
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Rushdoony, Faith and Action, 1329
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Oden, The Humor of Kierkegaard, 255
The post Taming the Tongue in an Age of Mockery and Social Media appeared first on Ezra Institute.
In this episode of the Podcast for Cultural Reformation, Doctors Joe Boot and Michael Thiessen debunk popular myths concerning Christmas.
Think Christianly about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings:” https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government;
The WAIT is OVER!!! Pre-order your copy of the NEW updated and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide! Get it here: https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition;
CHAPTERS:00:00 Mission of God AD
00:25 Opening
00:45 Intro
01:05 Welcome
01:25 Conference ADs
02:01 Mission of God: 10th Anniversary Edition
02:20 The Significance of the Christian Calendar & its Feasts
09:05 Myth #1 – Mary’s Song: The Magnificat and Its Meaning
19:45 Myth #2 – Origins of Christmas: Christian or Pagan?
29:22 Myth #3 – The Dating of Christmas
34:13 Myth #4 – The Magi: Who, What, When, How Many, and Why?
46:17 Myth #5 – The Christmas Tree: Its Symbolism and Significance
00:49:47 Conclusion
00:50:31 Outro
UPCOMING CONFERENCES:
Christ is King World Missions Conference – “Gospel Culture” | January 19-22, 2025 | San Antonio, TX:* https://christisking.church/lyw; The Mission of God Conferences: U.S. – Denver | Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025 @ 8:00 – 16:00 MST@ Faith Church | Arvada, Colorado: https://www.ezrainstitute.com/mission-of-god-denver/;
Faith & Medicine Conference* | January 19-22, 2025 | Atlanta, GA: https://faithandmedicine.org/;
REFORMCON ’25 | “Out of the Ashes” | April 24-26, 2025 @ Tucson, AZ: https://reformcon.org/
Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/;
For Ezra’s many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com.
Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute: https://www.ezrainstitute.com;
Subscribe to Ezra’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVvQDHHrOOjziyqUaN9VoA?sub_confirmation=1;
Fight Laugh Feast Network: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/8297;
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;
Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885.
Wherever you find our content, please like, subscribe, rate, or review it; it truly does help.
The post Christmas Myths BUSTED! appeared first on Ezra Institute.
A participant in a BBC Radio Four religious programme some years ago stated that the doctrine of total depravity no longer has any credence in the Church and that only a few religious sects now adhere to it. Her point is well taken. Indeed, we could go further than this. Few of those who do give assent to the doctrine understand it or recognise its implications either for soteriology or social theory. Yet the Christian doctrines of total depravity and salvation and the Christian doctrine of social order are closely linked.
The doctrine of total depravity does not claim that non-believers are incapable of doing good or virtuous acts. While God is the source of all goodness and, without His grace, humans cannot achieve any true good (cf. Mt. 19:16–17), common grace allows virtuous thoughts and actions among non-believers. The doctrine teaches that the Fall affected every aspect of human nature, including intellect and reason. This contrasts with the Roman Catholic view, which holds that man’s reason remains essentially uncorrupted by the Fall. The Reformers rejected the nature/grace dualism underlying the Roman Catholic doctrine, which limited the Fall’s effects to man’s “spiritual” condition while leaving reason intact. Following Augustine’s doctrine of original sin, they taught that the Fall impacted the whole nature of man, including his reason. Therefore, in all thoughts and actions—virtuous or immoral—the non-believer thinks and acts in rebellion against God. As the Apostle Paul stated, “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Rom. 14:23). Those who do not live by faith are in denial of God and in rebellion against Him. Their acts of charity and virtue, though good in themselves, serve the idols they choose instead of the God of the Bible. In every aspect of their lives, they deny the God who demands that their lives be lived in His service and for His glory. Non-believers’ virtuous thoughts and works are used to deny God and glorify idols. Their hearts are totally turned away from God, who is the author of all good (and the only one who is good, according to Jesus—Mt. 19:17). They are dead in trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1) and cannot, without God’s grace, exercise faith (Eph. 2:8) or please God (Heb. 11:6).
The desire to be like God (Gen. 3:5, 22), defining good and evil without reference to Him, colors the entire outlook of fallen man. In all his thoughts and actions, he seeks to think and act independently of God, denying Him in every aspect of life. This orientation of denial determines how he lives in all spheres, interpreting the world without God. The corruption of sin manifests not only in morals and spirituality but also in his will, which is bound by sin, leading him to use reason to deny God. His defection from God is total; in this sense, man is totally depraved.
The doctrine of total depravity has profound implications for a Christian worldview. It affects not only our view of humanity’s slavery to sin and inability to serve God but also influences how we raise and educate children, provide welfare, organize society politically, and deal with criminals. In essence, it shapes how we apply faith to every aspect of life. As a foundational doctrine, total depravity aids in developing a consistently Christian perspective on the origin, nature, meaning, value, and purpose of life, based on the biblical doctrines of Creation, Fall, and Redemption. The biblical doctrine of the Fall presupposes Creation and rejects views like theistic evolution. Understanding the Fall—its extent and implications—is crucial in shaping our comprehension of salvation.
The Roman Catholic Doctrine
Medieval Roman Catholic theologians distinguished between the image of God in man—his natural ability to reason and exercise free will—and the likeness of God, which was his original righteousness in God’s sight. The likeness was considered a supernatural gift (donum superadditum) bestowed upon Adam in addition to his human nature. According to this doctrine, it was this supernatural gift that was lost in the Fall, breaking man’s communion with God. However, the image of God—man’s reason and free will—remained essentially uncorrupted by sin, though weakened. This led to a division between two realms: nature and grace. Redemption occurs in the realm of grace, not nature, which is largely unaffected by the Fall or Redemption.
This perspective denies man’s total depravity since the Fall, implying that sin is not pervasive and does not affect all of man’s thoughts, words, and actions outside of Christ. Salvation through Christ does not bring about a total transformation of man’s natural life by God’s grace but restores the donum superadditum, serving as a supplement to complete man. In this view, man can, by his own will and abilities, accomplish much of what God requires intellectually, morally, politically, and culturally. However, he cannot achieve supernatural righteousness in God’s sight without God’s grace. This grace is necessary to restore communion with God and to understand the supernatural revelations in Scripture. Meanwhile, the “book of nature” is accessible to all, and through natural abilities, people can attain a proper understanding of it.
In this perspective, which is associated with Roman Catholicism and particularly Thomas Aquinas, man is not totally depraved but only partially fallen. He retains natural abilities like reason and free will, which are not entirely corrupted by sin. According to Aquinas: “The constitution of human nature is neither destroyed nor diminished by sin. The gift of original righteousness was totally lost through the sin of our first parent. The natural inclination to virtue is diminished by sin.” For him, original sin is desire not subject to reason, and sin is “to fall short of the good which befits one according to one’s nature.” Man’s nature is impaired more in the desire for good than in the knowledge of truth, but “human nature is not so entirely corrupted by sin as to be deprived of natural good altogether.” Consequently, “grace does not abolish nature but perfects it.”
Therefore, salvation does not totally transform man’s life and culture but merely perfects them, as they are not perceived as completely fallen. The curse of sin has not entirely corrupted man’s natural life and culture. Man needs saving from sin, rebellion against God, and unbelief, but this is seen narrowly, relating to faith and morals. The Fall is viewed in “religious” terms, and areas considered part of nature are deemed religiously neutral. In this perspective, the Christian faith is a synthesis of nature and grace, with grace completing nature.
Except in areas perceived as “religious,” salvation in such a worldview will not affect the social order. Since man retains his natural abilities intact (e.g., intellect, reason, and free will), his culture and social order are not completely transformed by God’s grace in Christ; only his “spiritual” condition needs correction.
This illustrates that our understanding of the nature and extent of the Fall shapes our understanding of Redemption. If the Fall is total and affects every aspect of man’s life, then Redemption must be total, redeeming and transforming the whole of man’s life. There can be no area of human life or thought that is not to be redeemed by Christ. If the Fall is partial, affecting moral inclinations and faith but not intellect, then natural life is not wholly corrupted, and Redemption is partial, merely perfecting nature rather than transforming it entirely.
The Modern Protestant Doctrine
The Roman Catholic doctrine views Adam’s original righteousness as a donum superadditum, a supernatural gift added to human nature, which was lost in the Fall. This means man’s natural abilities—reason and free will—remain uncorrupted by sin. The Reformers rejected this view and taught the doctrine of total depravity, asserting that sin affects every aspect of human nature, including the intellect. Abraham Kuyper emphasized that sin darkened the intellect and that regeneration transforms both will and consciousness.
Despite this, many Protestants today hold a perspective similar to the Roman Catholic understanding. They are dualists, splitting life into spiritual (grace) and secular (nature) realms. They believe nature doesn’t need redeeming because it isn’t fallen, so conversion affects only the spiritual realm. The Church focuses on the supernatural, often advising congregations not to engage with cultural or worldly concerns. This dualistic worldview has led to pietism, now dominant among Protestants.
Even among those who consider themselves Reformed, the implications of total depravity for areas outside theology and church life are often neglected. In education, politics, economics, art, and culture, faith is seen as largely irrelevant and not requiring transformation. Practically, Reformed believers today have adopted a worldview similar to Roman Catholicism, viewing grace as relevant only to spiritual aspects of life. Consequently, the doctrine of total depravity, while still verbally acknowledged in Reformed churches, is no longer fully understood or its implications appreciated. It is confined to the spiritual realm and is seen as having no relation to secular life.
The Arminian Doctrine
Arminianism, now dominant among Protestants, often denies man’s total depravity since the Fall, sometimes implicitly. While some Arminians acknowledge total depravity, their doctrines of prevenient grace and free will effectively negate it. For instance, Arminians at the Synod of Dordt taught that Adam did not lose the ability to believe in Christ after the Fall.
Reformed Churches have embraced pietism partly because they’ve unwittingly accepted a key premise of both Roman Catholicism and Arminianism: that man is not completely fallen away from God and isn’t totally depraved outside of saving grace. This narrows the Christian faith to a “spiritual” realm, reducing it to a syncretistic mystery cult that combines elements of Christian soteriology, a form of Gnostic dualism, and a secular humanist worldview.
Despite professing adherence to doctrines like TULIP, many Reformed Churches deny the connection between faith and culture. They advocate withdrawing from the world rather than engaging with and transforming it, contrary to the historical linkage of the Great Commission and the Cultural Mandate. By separating religion from culture, they’ve opened the door to the Arminian worldview, rendering the doctrine of total depravity ineffective in practice. They don’t see man’s fallen nature manifesting in all aspects of life and culture; thus, areas like education, medicine, science, art, and politics are viewed as neutral and not in need of redemption.
In practice, many modern Reformed believers are effectively Arminians. Their approach contradicts the teachings of the Reformers they claim to follow, as they believe grace merely perfects nature rather than completely transforming man and his culture.
When Christians disengage from culture and allow society to develop according to its own principles—rooted in original sin where individuals define good and evil without reference to God’s word—they are often shocked by the ensuing moral decline. Culture is essentially the external manifestation of religion; therefore, accepting education and societal development without God leads to His elimination from culture. The rise of secular explanations like evolution and increasing immorality are symptoms of humanity’s desire to live apart from God. Excluding God from areas like welfare and medicine results in issues like widespread welfare abuse and abortion on demand.
By denying the necessity of a Christian culture, Christians have inadvertently opened the door to multiculturalism and the repaganization of society. Instead of retreating, they should preach the full gospel to all creation, bringing God’s redeeming grace into the nation’s cultural life. Those who claim to be Reformed but separate faith from culture have adopted a pietistic perspective, becoming implicit Arminians. This view relegates God to a narrow sphere of church meetings and personal piety, neglecting His influence on broader aspects of life such as education, art, economics, welfare, medicine, law, and vocational life.
As a result of this worldview, society has declined from one that acknowledged and honored God, albeit imperfectly, to one that extensively blasphemes and dishonors Him. This decline has accelerated dramatically, placing the nation on the brink of severe consequences.
The Biblical Doctrine
Our understanding of the Fall directly affects our understanding of redemption. If man is totally depraved by the Fall, his sin and denial of God manifest in every aspect of his life and culture. Therefore, his redemption must be equally total, embracing not just his spiritual life but his culture as well. If the Fall is only partial, sin doesn’t permeate all of life, and the natural life of man doesn’t need total transformation—only perfection. In that case, the gospel becomes merely a “spiritual” addition to man’s life, a donum superadditum, concerned primarily with the world to come.
However, the Bible teaches that man’s fall into sin is total; without God’s grace, every thought is continually evil (Gen. 6:5; 8:21; Rom. 1:18–32). Redemption isn’t just a spiritual addition but a complete transformation of man’s natural life by God’s grace. It’s a re-creation of man in the image of Christ: “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor. 5:17). This new creation must manifest in every aspect of life and culture—the external expression of his religion.
Neglecting this doctrine leads to severe societal consequences, as we fail in our cultural mandate to bring all things under Christ’s lordship (Gen. 1:28; 2 Cor. 10:5). Often, the full implications of this neglect become apparent in subsequent generations, explaining the dire consequences mentioned in the Second Commandment (Ex. 20:5).
Man’s sin affects every area of his life, causing him to suppress the knowledge of God in all spheres (Rom. 1:18–19). Consequently, sin permeates the entirety of culture. Similarly, the salvation accomplished by Christ must transform all aspects of life and culture. This has profound implications for social order: society will either move toward the new creation in Christ or toward a culture of death (Prov. 8:36). A society embracing Christ will align itself with God’s law, recognizing man’s total depravity and God’s grace as the sole remedy. Rejecting this leads to societal deterioration into depravity and death, which is evident in today’s Western society.
Conclusion
The decline of society into a culture of depravity will not be halted until the Church recognizes the full extent of man’s fall into sin and the complete nature of the redemption accomplished by Christ. The Church must actively transform culture by applying God’s word to every sphere of human thought and activity, preaching total salvation to a totally fallen world.
The nature/grace schema of the Roman Catholic Church, popular even among Protestants today, hinders this mission because it compromises with worldly philosophy—specifically, the synthesis of Christian doctrine with Aristotelian thought by Thomas Aquinas. Aquinas attempted to reconcile Aristotelianism and Christianity, accepting key concepts like substance and accident, and viewing grace as perfecting nature rather than transforming it.
This syncretism opposes the biblical worldview grounded in the doctrines of Creation, Fall, and Redemption. Abandoning these doctrines alters our understanding of redemption, resulting in a truncated gospel incapable of transforming the whole of man’s life. Christ came to save the entire world, not just to rescue individuals from damnation; His Great Commission calls us to bring all nations into obedience to His word.
Therefore, the Church must abandon the dualistic nature/grace schema and pursue a biblical understanding of Creation, Fall, and Redemption. God’s grace doesn’t merely perfect an unfallen nature but completely transforms the natural life of man, who is totally depraved and in need of grace in every sphere. The grace of God in Christ claims the whole of man’s life—including family, politics, art, and business. No area of life or culture is religiously neutral; it either serves Christ or denies Him (Matthew 12:30).
The post Total Depravity & Social Order appeared first on Ezra Institute.
In this episode of the Podcast for Cultural Reformation, Pastor Nate Write and Doctors Joe Boot and Michael Thiessen discuss the recent Mission of God Conference: Ontario and, during this advent season, delve deep into the importance of the incarnation of Christ and its political and ministerial ramifications.
Think Christianly about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings:” https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government;
The WAIT is OVER!!! Pre-order your copy of the NEW updated and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide! Get it here: https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition;
CHAPTERS:00:00 Mission of God AD
00:25 Opening
00:45 Intro
01:05 Welcome
01:52 Mission of God: 10th Anniversary Edition
02:29 Conference Re-cap – Mission of God: Ontario
11:29 This is War! The Great Historical Conflagration
25:33 The Political Ramifications of the Incarnation
38:47 The Incarnation as the First-fruits of the New Creational Order
46:31 Incarnational Ministry
01:14:52 Conclusion
01:19:56 Outro
UPCOMING CONFERENCES:
Christ is King World Missions Conference – “Gospel Culture” | January 19-22, 2025 | San Antonio, TX:* https://christisking.church/lyw; The Mission of God Conferences: U.S. – Denver | Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025 @ 8:00 – 16:00 MST@ Faith Church | Arvada, Colorado: https://www.ezrainstitute.com/mission-of-god-denver/;
Faith & Medicine Conference* | January 19-22, 2025 | Atlanta, GA: https://faithandmedicine.org/;
REFORMCON ’25 | “Out of the Ashes” | April 24-26, 2025 @ Tucson, AZ: https://reformcon.org/
Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/;
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Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;
Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885.
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The post The Politics of Christmas & Incarnational Ministry appeared first on Ezra Institute.
In this episode of the Podcast for Cultural Reformation, Dr. Joe Boot and Dr. Michael Thiessen are joined by the pastor and author, Doug Wilson (www.dougwils.com), to discuss the recent Antioch Declaration and its various issues and controversies.
Think Christianly about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings:” https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government;
Episode Resources: The Antioch Declaration: https://antiochdeclaration.com/; Tobias’ Controversial Appearance on Iron Sharpens Iron: https://ironsharpensironradio.com/2024/09/16/september-13-2024-show-with-tobias-riemenschneider-on-the-rise-of-anti-semitism-admiration-of-adolf-hitler-in-the-21st-century/; Joe Boot on The Antioch Declaration on Iron Sharpens Iron: https://ironsharpensironradio.com/2024/11/25/november-25-2024-show-with-dr-joe-boot-jacob-tanner-on-the-antioch-declaration/; “When a Member of Our Church Shared a Holocaust Meme” | Right Response Ministries: https://youtube.com/watch?v=pj7L7b66xLY&t=520s.
CHAPTERS:00:00 Mission of God AD
00:25 Opening
00:44 Intro
01:04 Welcome
01:38 Mission of God: 10th Anniversary Edition
02:55 (Issue 1) Tobias Reimenschnieder vs. Joel Webbon Feud
03:47 (1.1) Who Knew What, When?
04:04 (1.1.1) Doug’s Response
05:08 (1.1.2) Joe’s Response
06:19 (1.2.1) Would You Recommend Arbitration Towards Reconciliation?
06:48 (1.2.1) Doug’s Response
08:56 (1.2.2) Joe’s Response
11:36 (1.3) Tobias: When Will He Respond & Why He was Included?
12:42 (1. 3.1) Joe’s Response
14:52 (1. 3.2) Doug’s Comment: A Necessary Distinction: 2 Issues, 1 Group
18:11 (2) The Antioch Declaration
18:16 (2.1) The Goal of the Declaration?
18:18 (2.1.1) Drawing a Line in the Sand: Doug’s Response
20:07 (2.1.1) NTTR not for the BETTER
21:12 (2.1.2) Doug’s Comment on the Unhinged Response
22:17 (2.1.3)Why the Name – Antioch?
24:08 (2.1.4 ) “An [Necessary] Instituting Consideration:” Joe’s Response
25:52 (2.1.5) Joe’s Comment on the Unhinged Response
26:26 (2.1.6) The Necessity of Contextual Ministry & Theological Application to Life
30:16 (2.2) Fighting the Temptation to Black-pill
32:31 (2.3) What’s with the Style?
33:12 (2.2.1) A Rejoinder on Black-pilling
35:48 (2.3.1) What’s with the Style?
40:50 (2.4) Aristotle & Pagan Philosophy is not Biblical
42:41 (2.4.1) A Reformed, Presuppositional Critique
46:00 (2.4.2) Rejecting the Pagan Synthesis
48:40 (2.4.3) The Insanely Unbiblical Nature of Aristotelian Natural Law
49:59 (2.4.4)The Danger of Pagan Primordial Aristotelian Nationalism
51:40 (2.4.5)The Christ NOT the Philosopher
53:22 (2.4.6)The Greek Philosophers Penchant for Statism
54:38 (2.4.7) Natural Affections & the Kingdom of God as “the Totalizing Bond”
01:02:17 (2.4.8)The Law of Love
01:05:27 Conclusion
01:08:45 Outro
UPCOMING CONFERENCES:The Mission of God Conferences:Canada – Ontario | Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, 9:00 EST @ Harvest Bible Church Windsor: https://brushfire.com/ezrainstitute/missionofgod2024-ontario/587020/details; Denver | Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025 @ 8:00 – 16:00 MST@ Faith Church | Arvada, Colorado: https://www.ezrainstitute.com/mission-of-god-denver/
REFORMCON ’25 | “Out of the Ashes” | April 24-26, 2025 @ Tucson, AZ: https://reformcon.org/
The WAIT is OVER!!! Pre-order your copy of the NEW updated and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide! Get it here: https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition;
Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/;
For Ezra’s many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com.
Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute: https://www.ezrainstitute.com;
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Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;
Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885.
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The post The Antioch Declaration – WHY!?: Joe & Doug Speak for Themselves appeared first on Ezra Institute.
In this episode of the Podcast for Cultural Reformation, Dr. Joe Boot and Dr. Michael Thiessen are joined by author Stephen C. Perks to talk about nature/grace dualism and how its unfortunate effect on Christians’s understanding of politics and Church & State relations down through the ages. How can consistent Reformational correct these errors? Tune in to find out.
Think Christianly about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings:” https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government;
Episode Resources: Kuyper Foundation Website: https://www.kuyper.org/; Kuyper Foundation Publications: https://www.kuyper.org/books;
CHAPTERS:00:00 Mission of God AD
00:25 Opening
01:04 Intro
01:25 Welcome
01:48 Upcoming Conference Information
02:41 Conversation Set-up
07:11 Romish Anthropology & its Dualistic Error
10:54 Nature/Grace Dualism in Theology
25:10 Nature/Grace Dualism & Politics
31:52 The Nature of the State & the State of Nature
44:40 Church Tradition, Authority & Semper Reformata
51:07 The Church of England (CoE), Reformable?
55:50 The Church & Ecclesiastical Renaissance
01:03:34 The Church & the Kingdom of God
01:16:00 A Political Gospel?
01:21:00Conclusion
01:23:00 Outro
UPCOMING CONFERENCES:
Join us this October 31- November 2 @ The Presence of Christ Conference at Trinity Bible Chapel in Kitchener/Waterloo: https://mytrinitybiblechapel.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2343549;
The Mission of God Conferences:Canada – Ontario | Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, 9:00 EST @ Harvest Bible Church Windsor: https://brushfire.com/ezrainstitute/missionofgod2024-ontario/587020/details; Denver | Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025 @ 8:00 – 16:00 MST@ Faith Church | Arvada, Colorado: https://www.ezrainstitute.com/mission-of-god-denver/
REFORMCON ’25 | “Out of the Ashes” | April 24-26, 2025 @ Tucson, AZ: https://reformcon.org/
The WAIT is OVER!!! Pre-order your copy of the NEW updated and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide! Get it here: https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition;
Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/;
For Ezra’s many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com.
Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute: https://www.ezrainstitute.com;
Subscribe to Ezra’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVvQDHHrOOjziyqUaN9VoA?sub_confirmation=1;
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Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;
Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885.
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The post Christianity & Politics: Nature, Grace & Church & State ft. Stephen C. Perks appeared first on Ezra Institute.
In this episode of the Podcast for Cultural Reformation, Dr. Joe Boot, Dr. Michael Thiessen, and Rev. Nate Wright recap the results of the recent U.S. election and help Christians think through what another Trump presidency means for the Church.
Think Christianly about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings:” https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government;
UPCOMING CONFERENCES:
Join us this October 31- November 2 @ The Presence of Christ Conference at Trinity Bible Chapel in Kitchener/Waterloo: https://mytrinitybiblechapel.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2343549;
The Mission of God Conferences:Canada – Ontario | Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, 9:00 EST @ Harvest Bible Church Windsor: https://brushfire.com/ezrainstitute/missionofgod2024-ontario/587020/details; Denver | Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025 @ 8:00 – 16:00 MST@ Faith Church | Arvada, Colorado: https://www.ezrainstitute.com/mission-of-god-denver/
REFORMCON ’25 | “Out of the Ashes” | April 24-26, 2025 @ Tucson, AZ: https://reformcon.org/
The WAIT is OVER!!! Pre-order your copy of the NEW updated and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide! Get it here: https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition;
Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/;
For Ezra’s many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com.
Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute: https://www.ezrainstitute.com;
Subscribe to Ezra’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVvQDHHrOOjziyqUaN9VoA?sub_confirmation=1;
Fight Laugh Feast Network: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/8297;
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;
Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885.
Wherever you find our content, please like, subscribe, rate, or review it; it truly does help.
The post Christianity & Politics: Trump’s HUGE Win… Now What!? | Podcast for Cultural Reformation appeared first on Ezra Institute.
Ideological feminists and other modern Leftists routinely accuse biblical Christians and sociopolitical conservatives of misogyny on account of their support for biblical or traditional male-female distinctions. The guiding tenet of contemporary Leftism is egalitarianism,1 particularly sexual egalitarianism, which demands across-the-board equality of men and women, not legal equality (which has been pervasive in the West for many decades and reflects the biblical view), but existential equality — there are no ontologically rooted differences between men and women that dictate some distinct callings and roles.
In the creation order man and woman are equally made in God’s image, equally valuable in his sight, and equally charged with stewarding his creation — but are not called to do all things equally. The divinely established natural order itself (in biblical terms, creation) must yield to the Leftist utopian dream that differences between men and women are merely social constructions invented by a hegemonic patriarchy remedied by monstrosities like womb-encasing males and phalloplasty-re-engineered females.
The fact that anybody with two eyes can discern there are obvious and insurmountable differences between men and women, which no surgery can mask or erase, has done nothing to impede the bizarre Leftist ideology at war with the cosmos. The cosmos will win that war.
Since this Leftist egalitarianism has gained the upper hand in Western culture, the leading political component, in fact, of the larger Sexual Revolution since the 1960s, we should not be surprised at the emergence of a conservative counter-revolution reasserting male-female differences and traditional social hierarchies. The impulses behind this reaction are warranted: sexual egalitarianism assaults God’s creational order and sows social chaos.
However, since the counter-revolutionaries are usually not guided by the word of God but by alien, worldly presuppositions, they offer no cure for the disease, and in some cases, their alternative proposal is every bit as injurious as the disease itself. An ingenious insight of Christian philosopher Herman Dooyeweerd is that apostate thought always swings between a “dialectic” of opposing poles that absolutize some aspect of the temporal order. Since apostates deny the absoluteness of the word of God, they have only the shifting sand of the temporal world on which to stand.2 They end up with one foot planted and then quickly unsettled, only to plant a foot in the opposite direction, with equally unsettling results. The Leftist egalitarianism and the conservative counter-revolution are equally futile attempts at a foothold in quicksand.
Since, in review, Leftist egalitarianism is based in modern secularism, the conservative counter-revolutionaries look around for alternative foundations resisting it. Since they refuse to submit to the word of God, they are open to alien alternatives just as spurious as secularism. One of them is ancient paganism. Enter the Bronze Age Mindset.
The Bronze Age MindsetBronze Age Mindset (BAM) is both a book3 and a movement targeting young white right-wing males. The author (who also hosts a wildly popular website of the same name) designates himself the anonymous Bronze Age Pervert. He has since been widely identified as the Romanian-American far-right figure Costin Vlad Alamariu. He holds a Ph.D. from Yale, and his dissertation was titled “The Problem of Tyranny and Philosophy in the Thought of Plato and Nietzsche.”
BAM romanticizes, embellishes, and seeks to revive the spirit of the ancient pagan world in countering the evils of modern Western civilization, which it sees as terminally diseased and fit only for a quick and violent death. Christians who have correctly pinpointed the emergence of neopaganism from the Left,4 notably in its sexually egalitarian feature, might be surprised at the seemingly out-of-nowhere emergence of a competing right-wing version. But BAM is every bit as pagan as Leftist neopaganism and by far more explicit. The book is a rambling, punchy, raunchy, occasionally intellectually coherent argument against modernity, feminism, human equality of all sorts, and, notably, biblical Christianity. To BAM, the hope for humanity is a revival of a very pagan past.
The Bronze Age MalesThe vanguard of that pagan revival is a cadre of robust, muscle-bound, beautiful young males animated by the “life force” of nature. BAM is animist (a supernatural principle pervades all life), pantheist (god is nature itself), and vitalist (life is dependent on a principle beyond chemical or physical forces). It holds that to deny the one God is not to deny the gods. Indeed, the beautiful young white muscular males will themselves become the new gods (“[m]any of the Greek heroes and gods had fair hair and blue or grey eyes,” Alamariu alerts the reader). They will cultivate their deity by “sun and steel”: lying in the sun every day and soaking up its health-producing power and, in fact, becoming sun-worshipers. In tandem, they must take up a regimen of weightlifting to enhance the godlike beauty of their physique. “Only physical beauty,” Alamariu opines, “is the foundation for a true higher culture of the mind and spirit as well. Only sun [worship] and steel [weightlifting] will show you the path.” Beautiful male bodies are the pinnacle of nature, “the body in its glorious and divine beauty.” In this Bronze world, females are subordinate creatures whose consummation of sexual desire drains young males of life-force. Therefore, girlfriends and marriage should, at best, be a tangent, necessary evil. Life’s real focus should be the formation of a camaraderie of young, white, muscular pirates and the domination of all inferiors, that is, all who are not other Bronze Age Males.
Pirates? Yes. They do not support themselves by work or vocation but rather by piracy — they pillage and take at will. Work, sweat, and toil are debasing; the pirate is the original form of the “free man.” They revel in a world they create, a world of absolute freedom on which they impose their will to power. Parents must, therefore, allow sons freedom from any oversight to express their life-force in our otherwise decadent world. Eventually, they will grow up to create a white ethnostate of their own, separate from the rest of human civilization, which they will visit occasionally to solve its recurrent problems and to exert their inexorable will. Let it never be supposed, therefore, that utopianism is an exclusively Leftist concept. BAM is right-wing pagan utopianism at its zenith.
The ultimate cause of all modern decadence is feminism, Alamariu contends, and we live in a “gynocracy,” the rule of women. The only way out of this “absolute hell” and “iron prison” of modernity is a reversion to ancient pagan animas and pantheism, recognizing that the basic truth of humanity is the life-force we must cultivate in impressionable but spiritually, psychologically, and sociologically hungry young men.
Modifying Darwin and Aping NietzscheBAM argues a modified Darwinist but almost entirely Nietzschean view of history. Alamariu agrees entirely with Darwin’s naturalism that the world is nothing but materiality. However, he accuses Darwin and Darwinists of lacking the courage of their convictions in the reluctance to support their survival of the fittest thesis as it consistently applies to humans. Of course, the original Social Darwinism, in its commitment to eugenics, was more consistent and courageous, though insufficiently so. BAM, by contrast, champions a Darwinist teleology (design toward a goal). Nature itself has its own goal, the triumph of superior humans, that is, young, beautiful, muscular white males. That is the Darwinism the Bronze Age Males must revive and commandeer.
History is not a natural progression from benightedness to enlightenment. Rather, as Nietzsche believed, it is cyclical. We will always have the enlightened and unenlightened with us, and the ancient world was populated by wiser and more enlightened individuals than exist today (“supermen”). This is why BAM espouses reincarnation. The conscious goal of the BAM is to revive their spirit. “Because of reincarnation,” he declares, “greatness can be instantaneously reborn.” Therefore, though naturalistic, BAM must advocate vitalism: the very old theory that a mysterious life principle within the natural order relentlessly impels it toward a self-sustaining and -perpetuating goal. BAM meets its paradox of holding simultaneously to both naturalism and teleology (how can a purely materialistic nature possibly have a design or goal?) by suggesting that while humans are biologically determined, we are still responsible because there is no one else to be responsible. There is nothing but nature, yet nature always favors Bronze Age Males, destined for world domination. This is the teleology and eschatology of BAM. We cannot successfully fight nature, but we can harness it.
BAM apes Nietzsche in insisting there is no transcendent morality given by God or his revelation in either creation or the Bible. The only morality is biological hierarchy. The superior humans, the supermen, impose their will on the rest of the world. In the Bible, the basic human impulse is the God-given cultural mandate (Gen. 1:28–30), exercising benevolent dominion over the non-human creation under God’s authority and for his glory. For the youthful Bronze Age Males, the cultural mandate is perverted into the quest for more “living space.” Young men need room to exercise their superiority, and they expropriate it as warriors akin to ancient pirates. (This sounds precisely like the rationale for war in most traditional societies.)
BAM epistemology (view of knowledge) reflects the deep imprint of Nietzsche. The intellect is simply an expression of will, which is a concentration of life-force. Channeling the Nazi court philosopher Martin Heidegger, Alamariu writes, “Direct perception is already intellectualized.” He means that how we perceive things is determined by the kind of being we are. The more of the life-force we concentrate and cultivate, the more we perceive the world as it really is. We do not experience the world and then interpret it; our embodied being makes our particular interpretation possible, an interpretation impossible to a different, lower kind of human being. Alamariu states, “The intellect is a purely physical quality like muscular strength.” By becoming physically superior, we become intellectually superior. (The quadriplegic Stephen Hawking must have been an outlier.)
The Western world, like the ancient world, despises Bronze Age Males, and works to deprivilege, subjugate, and crush them whenever possible. Its leaders hatch conspiracies to control and subjugate everyone else. They rewrite history such that what we today recognize as objective historical fact is actually a sophisticated modern myth. History rightly grasped is actually an account of the battles and triumphs of Bronze Age Males and their superior world.
In its place have emerged the “bugmen,” who suppress the life-force and misdirect and pervert that natural energy into attacks on human superiority. These conspirators have crafted the calm, tranquil, egalitarian society of human rights, freedom within law, and equality of all humanity, including women. This is simply hatred for nature itself. BAM believes natural law should prevail everywhere and that law, if observed, will lead to the ubiquitous superiority of beautiful young white muscular males. He writes, “Youth and beauty are universally hated in all human societies in history. These societies are run by decrepit, sclerotic old men.” What constitutes youth? Well, you are over the hill if you’re in your 30s — middle-aged bodies nauseate nature. BAM counsels its young acolytes not to reason with their opponents (he laments the Western “development of logos and reason”) but to ridicule them: “[M]ake the enemy look ridiculous … dour, old, sclerotic, ugly, and pedantic,” and never to underestimate the value of “a good prank.”
One way the Bronze Age Males disrupt the current egalitarian regime is to capture the spirit of cultural chaos — prostitutes, drug addicts, rapists, and murderers. The superior males must immerse themselves in the deepest depravity to tap into nature’s power to sow chaos, which they must unleash to gain world control: “a whore puts cocaine on your tongue, and you feel true power.” They must spend time with this despised underclass, which manifests in suppressed form the genuine spirit of the life-force that has been marginalized by the Western egalitarian regime. “In your life,” Alamariu declares, “you can break their [the bugmen’s] power and ascend to a chaos of joy and destruction.” Nihilism never sounded more delicious — the ecstasy of the destruction of everything and the return to nature and natural law spawned by the impulse within society’s most depraved.
The real world is not civilization and culture. The real world is uninhibited nature. The natural society is a “brotherhood of the free youths.” There must be a “holy war” against the enemies of the youthful gods and their uninhibited life-force. Natural law must triumph.
Bronze Age PoliticsBAM envisions a rigidly hierarchical social order with a certain kind of superior human (the Bronze Age Male) at the apex. But every social order implies a secondary yet important political order, and the Bronze Age political order coheres precisely with its social vision. It cannot be democratic, and by this BAM does not mean the sort of pure democracy that the Anglo-American tradition deplored, but, rather, precisely the sort of classically liberal order espoused by England and the United States and the modern West: the rule of law; constitutions and bills of rights; religious, political and economic liberty; negotiated politics; peaceful political transitions; and so forth. This classical liberalism leads to the egalitarian decadence we see around us, including ethnic heterogeneity. There is no way to create the BAM ethnostate without eliminating this Western, Christian-shaped constitutional democracy.
In the piratical world of the BAM, “the only right government is military government… We need warlord rule,” Alamariu advises. And in actuality, the rationale for classical liberalism is just a conspiratorial veneer designed to cover up its own sordid will to power. The U.S. Founders, for example, were merely seeking “dominion and freedom of space to expand.” They couldn’t care less about a constitution, individual rights, free speech and press as they altruistically claimed. Like Nietzsche, BAM suggests that behind the curtain of every political rationale is the wizard imposing a will to power. While the most biblical political order possible in a fallen world is one of principled liberty and self-government within the bounds of law (ultimately God’s law), the BAM political order is government by the young, beautiful, body-building, sun-worshiping elite gods imposing their will on their inferiors. The only free citizens must be the governing pirate class.
The Bronze Age Mentality Versus ChristianityBAM’s conspiratorial view of history leads it to distrust Christian history. Actually, suggests Alamariu, Christianity likely began as paganism and was only later contorted into a theological system at the center of which rules a single deity imposing universal ethics. This was the nefarious work of Christian theologians and historians. Because of the instability and subjectivity of Christian history, argues Alamariu, “Christianity is a versatile faith, capable of many interpretations.” Not that Christianity lacked any exhibition of paganism at all. Most Christian historians and theologians are ashamed (for example) of the conquistadors, but they, in fact, manifested the pagan life-force under the guise of the Christian Faith. Still, Christian history, in general, is designed to crush the life-force in man. (This also was Nietzsche’s take, by the way.)
By its very nature, therefore, BAM must repudiate the heart and soul of Christianity. The Bible is a texture of myths. Christ is not a hero because true heroes never sacrifice; they take territory. Man is not created in God’s image, because there is no God to create anything. There is no creation. Matter is eternal. There is no resurrection, only reincarnation. Perhaps Alamariu’s most explicitly anti-Christian tenet, however, is found in his statement that
So much of this [monotheistic] story makes time a line and makes matter conditional on a deity or creator that lives outside it: the creation of matter out of nothing, the creation of your soul out of nothing. Matter is dead, and in some ways, homogeneous, and its meaning is “divine” only in the sense that it reveals the creation of the external deity, or even better, just the laws he made to govern. It seems and feels wrong, or runs against the immediate perception of the world, so it requires faith, a concept unknown to ancient pagans of all kinds. For this reason, the Romans considered Christians and Jews to be no different from atheists. (emphasis in original)
BAM is thoroughly existentialist. There is only this material world and what we (especially the Bronze Age Males) make of it. There can be no faith. WYSIAYG: What you see is all you get. And what you get is a divinized nature: there is no benevolent, sovereign Creator and Redeemer God behind it and working within it all.
But God’s word tells us that without faith, it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6). Therefore, BAM is blatantly contra-Christian. The reason the imperial Romans considered Christians atheists is not because the Christians believed in faith but because they repudiated all the false gods of the ancient world and demanded allegiance to the one true God.5 In other words, the primitive Christians were considered atheists precisely because of their explicit repudiation of the kind of religion BAM is trying to revive.
The Bronze Age Mentality Christians and ConservativesThis contra-Christianity has not prevented BAM from influencing modern sociopolitical conservatism and conservative Christianity. Just as androgynous paganism has deeply infiltrated the Left, so Bronze Age paganism has influenced significant sectors of the Right, including the Christian Right. Matthew Continetti has shown how the New Right6 has become suspiciously like the New Left in its statist lunge. The New Right is an influential, mostly younger segment of American conservatism convinced the American Founding Protestant experiment of liberty under law has been a failure (“as momentous as this founding was, it is also where our current trouble began” 7) and must be supplanted by a new conservative statism that crushes its Leftist enemies by any means possible.8 Continetti says:
The first thing to say about the New Right is that it can get weird. Its ranks are composed almost entirely of men. They inhabit a social-media cocoon where they talk a lot about manhood, and strength, and manliness, and push-ups, and masculinity, and virility, and weight-lifting, and testosterone. “Wrestling should be mandated in middle schools,” write Arthur Milikh and Scott Yenor in the [New Right] collection Up from Conservatism. “Students should learn to build and shoot guns as part of a normal course of action in schools and learn how to grow crops and prepare them for meals. Every male student should learn to skin an animal and every female to milk a cow.”9
The influence of BAM is palpable, whether most in the New Right have read the book or not. The New Right is not simply opposed to sexual egalitarianism (as it should be). In addition, it advocates “muscular” politics, meaning the abandonment of the biblical idea of the rule of law applying to all equally, checks and balances on political power (since politicians, too, are depraved, even those on “our” side), and the state’s role as limited to protecting life and liberty and property. The New Right wants to out-Left the Left at its political power game. Virtue is the exercise of coercive political power. Virtuous liberty be damned.
Conservative Christianity has not been spared the poison tentacles of BAM. A leading platform is the American Reformer, a cadre of youngish Protestants who blame the Protestant political philosophy of classical liberalism (liberty under law) for the evils of modern culture. Human freedom leads to sin; therefore, freedom must be abolished. (Apparently, God himself was mistaken to give Adam and Eve free will in the garden.)
“Christian Vitalism”Christian Winter writes in American Reformer that young men are attracted to BAM because it offers a counter to the confines of modernity in its non-hierarchical, egalitarian order. What we need is a modified vitalism, not BAM’s pagan version, of course, but a revival of nature, which leads to human flourishing. We need to set before the eyes of young men, not the heroes and gods of ancient Greece and Rome but Christian forefathers of masculine fortitude.
Winter argues that theory and theology are insufficient to persuade these young men. They need before their eyes muscular, masculine, overcoming Christian heroes they can emulate. The idea of enlisting Christian heroes is indeed a noble objective (just read Hebrews 11), but the quick, makeshift strategy of “Christian Vitalism” in the face of the popularity of BAM as the best way to appeal to young men and forestall their gravitation to pagan vitalism is what Francis Schaeffer called a “form of the world spirit.”10 It seems a “seeker-sensitive” program for the 21st century among the very people who would have derided Bill Hybels of Willow Creek and Rick Warren of Saddleback for fashioning an ideal faith to appeal to the unchurched “seekers.”
While correlation is not causation, it is highly suspicious that “Christian Vitalism” just seemed magically to appear after and as a consequence of BAM. And it would seem less selective or even disingenuous if its heroes included obese Christian intellectuals like G. K. Chesterton, emaciated Christian prisoners like famed Bulgarian pastor Haralan Popov, and urbane and modest Christian poets like Gerard Manly Hopkins. I suspect, however, that these mighty Christian men are not the sort of male Christian heroes Winter has in mind.
This Christian-modified vitalism veers toward a new syncretism, the attempted fusion of biblical faith and pagan religion. If unchecked, it will be no less poisonous than the syncretism of ancient Israel when it attempted to fuse biblical-covenantal faith to the religion of the surrounding pagan nations. God abhors syncretism, and he sent his prophets to both plead with Israel and fulminate against its apostasy. Let us pray that “Christian Vitalism” reconsiders before it walks itself into the syncretist camp.
Recently Jeffery J. Ventrella, Senior Fellow of the Ezra Institute and noted Christian leader, posted on Facebook a reminder to the young Christian masculinists talking so much about the necessity of weightlifting that physical fitness, while creditable, is not a fruit of the Spirit. I re-posted his statement. The pushback was swift and severe. One of the nation’s young Christian masculinist leaders wrote privately begging me not to support this warning since I would alienate my audience of young men influenced by Christian masculinity (which, in reality, is the syncretistic “Christian Vitalism”). I responded that truth is truth and my interest has never been in avoiding offending a sector of my audience succumbing to sinful, worldly temptations.
It is, moreover, difficult to believe Christian-modified vitalism has grappled with the issues surrounding how the Bible’s teaching on masculinity (what of it there is; 95% of the Bible’s commands are not sex-specific) applies in an informational and postindustrial world. The Bible’s exhortations to and expectations of strength with reference to men are not arguments levelled against the sort of egalitarian and androgynous society presently afflicting the West. To argue, as many conservatives today, for the proper “roles” of men and women is to surrender the battle already. In the words of David Polansky:
Once we acknowledge the need to establish masculine roles is more pressing than the need for masculinity itself, the cat’s already out of the bag. We can argue, for example, that certain gender roles are salutary or desirable, but having admitted to ourselves that these are in fact roles, they necessarily lose their seriousness. It all becomes a kind of elaborate game. This is, incidentally, why the “trad” [traditionalist] accounts one finds on social media [like BAM] have the feeling of camp. The men are caricatures of manliness, just as the women are caricatures of womanhood. They have the same uncanny feeling one gets from encountering AI.11
In God’s creational world (even a fallen one not overrun by egalitarianism), masculinity is not a “role” to be recovered but a natural existence. How that looks in an age divinely blessed with labour-saving devices like automobiles and smartphones is not identical to how it looks in a premodern age that requires most men to skin a sheep for clothing, forge a wheel for transportation, or fall a tree for shelter. If it is necessary to revive an age that requires robust physical strength for everyday tasks, the Bible’s authority and application are severely emaciated. The man’s strength as a customer-serving warrior in the economy of contemporary culture and the wealth of free markets with which God has blessed the West, for example, is just as masculine as his strength had to be in premodern cultures. Assuming the physical strength necessary for modern bricklayers is the sort young Christian men need to aspire to impoverishes the Bible’s authority and dismisses vast areas of contemporary culture that require a different kind and measure of man’s strength.
If young Christian men are seeking guidance in our apostate egalitarian age, they should start with the book of the Bible, written specifically and explicitly to young men: the book of Proverbs. This book teaches that the true man is the man of God, and the man of God is the man of wisdom. Not a muscled physique but a righteous life is the mark of the true man. Care for the body is, of course, a biblical imperative since the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (we must never be body-hating Gnostics). However, physical fitness is not a fruit of the Spirit, and if young males wish to become true men, they must begin with the fear of the Lord, not with a CrossFit regimen. This syncretistic adaptation of BAM to Christianity, the book of Proverbs, would identify as folly, whose end is destruction.
ConclusionOpposition to the pervasive egalitarian, sociocultural regime of our time is a Christian imperative. Biblical Christianity is simply not compatible with sexual egalitarianism, but in Jerry Bowyer’s metaphor, we cannot simply put the car in reverse; it is futile to traverse backwards on the road that led us to our present debacle in the first place. Rather, he suggests, we should do our best to “loop around” to get back to a biblically hierarchical time — which is by no means identical to a pagan anti-egalitarian time.
In this sense, we must be non-egalitarian and not anti-egalitarian. Anti-egalitarianism carries in its bosom not just an aversion to the sexual egalitarianism of our time but also concessions both to the kind of thinking that got us here and to the battle tactics necessary to combat the present destination. In other words, anti-egalitarianism is a unique modern position possible only in the aftermath of egalitarian apostasy. It is not an older biblical non-egalitarianism. Although we cannot pretend as though the apostasy never occurred, we should do our best to restore the sort of thinking culturally prominent before egalitarianism came along. That certainly is not modern pagan anti-egalitarianism.
Non-egalitarianism is rooted in the creational order: recognition of men and women equally bearing God‘s image but created to fulfill diverse callings as they share the cultural mandate. The woman was made for the man, and the man was not made for the woman, but the man knows he is incomplete without the woman and knows that his very life is bound up in hers, just as hers is in his (1 Cor. 11:8–12). Therefore, he leads, and he doesn’t dominate. Non-egalitarianism, therefore, is just as distant from the Christianized version of the Bronze Age Mindset (which is not the simple restoration of an ancient pagan way of thinking but rather the appropriation of that thinking to very unique, postmodern circumstances) as it is from modern apostate sexual egalitarianism.
Machismo and the misogyny it spawns are the marks of a mindset no less revolutionary than secular egalitarianism and the ideological feminism it exhibits. Both spring from rebellion against God’s word and Christ’s Lordship. The destiny of apostate thinking is to swing incessantly between two or more poles of intellectual insurrection, assuming it can avoid one by adopting its opposite. In reality, all contra-biblical thinking is of the same species — man’s rebellion against God and his revelation doomed for destruction and judgment apart from repentance.
Within the present secular egalitarian regime, the imperative of biblical Christians is to resist anti-egalitarianism (and its attendant Christianized version of the BAM) and work to restore non-egalitarianism. That restoration will equally restore truly biblical masculinity.
Footnotes1. Kenneth Minogue, The Servile Mind (New York and London: Encounter Books), 2010, 296. 2. Herman Dooyeweerd, Roots of Western Culture (Ancaster, Ontario, Canada: Paideia Press, 2012), 12–15. 3. Independently published, 2018. I’m working from the Kindle edition. 4. See Peter Jones, Capturing the Pagan Mind (Nashville, Tennessee: Broadman & Holman, 2003). 5. Larry W. Hurtado, Destroyer of the Gods (Waco, Texas: Baylor University Press, 2016), 37–76. 6. James M. Patterson, “Is the New Right Fascist?”, Religion & Liberty, Summer 2003, 14–25. 7. Jason Michael Morgan, “The Pernicious Myth of ‘Two Americas,’” Chronicles, October 2017, 12. 8. Derek Suszko, “The Problem of Libertarianism,” The St. Croix Review, Vol. LV, No. 4 [August/September 2022], 4–8. 9. Matthew Continetti, “The Left of the Right,” https://www.commentary.org/articles/matthew-continetti/new-right-vs-conservatism/?fbclid=IwAR1dvXqqGBECuQCKivGb3E9PfJ-C140sQMH3HTwzMD9mWjv4LYs-997IALM_aem_ASWQgQFCU42Uamu1iPt4WV2TBzP-0oHCrgfPuT9rACuFPtVzs22MJ_v3ay3Plr8qswg, accessed October 2, 2013. 10. Francis A. Schaeffer, The Great Evangelical Disaster (Westchester, Illinois: Crossway, 1984), 111–140. 11. David Polansky, “No End of Men,” Washington Examiner, October 3, 2023, 54.
The post The New Right-Wing Paganism: Bronze Age Pagan Masculinity appeared first on Ezra Institute.
In this episode of the Rebel – Podcast for Cultural Reformation, Pastor Nate Wright leads a wide-ranging panel discussion with Pastors Tom Ascol, Tim Stephens, James Coates, and Jacob Reaume, which was held at the recent The Presence of Christ Conference @ Trinity Bible Chapel in Waterloo, Ontario.
Episode Resources: Trinity Bible Chapel Website: https://trinitybiblechapel.ca/;
CHAPTERS:00:00 Opening
00:45 Intro
00:53 Welcome
01:50 Topic: Christian Nationalism & Culture
03:54 Question 1: Have You Seen a Rise of Racism/Ethnocentrism on the Right?
04:08 Answer(s) #1 – Jacob Reaume: Sadly, Yes.
04:35 Answer(s) #1 – James Coates: Online NOT in My Church
04:58 Answer(s) #1 – Tim Stephens: An Overreaction & Misunderstanding of Our Critique of Multiculturalism
06:18 Answer(s) #1 – Tom Ascol: A Few Load Voices are Overreacting to the Serious Problem of Globalism
08:12 Answer(s) #1.2 – Jacob Reaume: A Caveat
09:05 Question 2: NETTR NOT for the Better – Should Pastor Address Sins on the Right?
10:35 Answer(s) #2 – Jacob Reaume: Good vs. Evil, NOT Left vs. Right
12:45 Question 3: How would you Define Nation?
10:35 Answer(s) #3 – Tom Ascol: Definition
14:50 Answer(s) #3 – James Coates: “I am a Christian Nationalist.”
16:52 Question 4: How Do Christians Go About Advocating for Biblical Nations & Immigration
18:17 Answer(s) #4 – James Coates: Keep Standing Faithfully & Speaking Prophetically
19:19 Answer(s) #4 – Tim Stephens: Build; Do NOT Destroy!
20:50 Answer(s) #4 – Tom Ascol: The Church MUST Return to “An Uncompromising Declaration of God’s Law & Gospel”
25:00 Answer(s) #4 – Jacob Reaume: Christ is the Answer to Chaos NOT White Identity
28:05 Question 5: Is Tyranny Inescapable?
29:00 Answer(s) #5 – Jacob Reaume: “There is No Such Thing as Christian Tyranny”
29:27 Question 6: The Presence of Christ at the Center of a Vision for Christian Cultural Transformation
29:27 Answer(s) #6 – Jacob Reaume: Christian Reformations via Legitimate Lesser Magistrates Require a Transformed Population
32:48 Answer(s) #6 – James Coates: The Misguided Hearts of Young Men & the Necessity of Sanctification
36:45 Answer(s) #6 – Tim Stephens: The Supremacy of Law & Gospel & Christian Homes as a Model for Godly Society
39:03 Answer(s) #6 – Tom Ascol: Radical Christian Ordinariness
41:13 Conclusion
41:40 Outro
Think Christianly about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings:” https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government;
UPCOMING CONFERENCES:The Mission of God Conferences: Canada – Ontario | Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, 9:00 EST @ Harvest Bible Church Windsor: https://brushfire.com/ezrainstitute/missionofgod2024-ontario/587020/details; Alberta | Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, 9:00 MST@ Fairview Baptist Church: https://brushfire.com/ezrainstitute/missionofgod2024-alberta/587306.
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In this episode of the Podcast for Cultural Reformation, Dr. Joe Boot, Dr. Michael Thiessen, and Rev. Nate Wright talk about the upcoming U.S. election and help us to think Christianly about the religious root of culture and how that affects politics, elections, marriages, families, and human identity.
Think Christianly about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings:” https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government;
UPCOMING CONFERENCES:
Join us this October 31- November 2 @ The Presence of Christ Conference at Trinity Bible Chapel in Kitchener/Waterloo: https://mytrinitybiblechapel.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2343549;
The Mission of God Conferences:UK | Sat, 2 Nov 2024 10:00 – 17:30 GMT @ Birmingham City Centre: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mission-of-god-conference-2024-tickets-932486039847; Canada – Ontario | Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, 9:00 EST @ Harvest Bible Church Windsor: https://brushfire.com/ezrainstitute/missionofgod2024-ontario/587020/details; Alberta | Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, 9:00 MST@ Fairview Baptist Church: https://brushfire.com/ezrainstitute/missionofgod2024-alberta/587306.
REFORMCON ’25 | “Out of the Ashes” | April 24-26, 2025 @ Tucson, AZ: https://reformcon.org/
The WAIT is OVER!!! Pre-order your copy of the NEW updated and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide! Get it here: https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition;
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The post Christianity & Politics: The Presidency, Politics, and Patriarchy appeared first on Ezra Institute.
In this episode of the Podcast for Cultural Reformation, Dr. Joe Boot and Dr. Michael Thiessen sit down with Christian Concern‘s and Ezra Fellow for Public Policy Tim Dieppe to talk about the British effect on the foundations of constitutional freedoms the world over.
Episode Resources: Christian Concern: https://christianconcern.com/; Tim’s Website: https://dieppe.co.uk/.
Think Christianly about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings:” https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government;
CHAPTERS:00:00 Intro
00:20 Opening
00:41 Welcome
01:52 Magna Carta & British Constitutionalism
09:52 From Whence Do Our Liberties Come?
18:15 Freedom vs. Rights
20:24 The Coronation Oath & the Obvious Christian Foundation of Great Britain
25:10 Recovering a Christian Covenantal Foundation for Civil Authority in Britain and the West
30:30 The Ghost of Our Christian Past
34:10 The Prophetic Role of the Church in Politics & Culture
37:41 Principle vs. Pragmatism in Politics
41:30 Brexit: British Sovereignty & the European Union
45:11 Criticism of English Constitutional Arrangements
51:08 Faith is Essential for Freedom
52:28 Who is Truly Sovereign?
55:21 One Final Criticism: What’s with the House of Lords?
01:00:35 Wrap-up
01:02:30 Upcoming Events
01:04:07 Joe’s Unabashed British Patriotism
01:05:34 Conclusion
01:05:59 Outro
01:06:37 Rule Britannia!
UPCOMING CONFERENCES:
Join us this October 31- November 2 @ The Presence of Christ Conference at Trinity Bible Chapel in Kitchener/Waterloo: https://mytrinitybiblechapel.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2343549;
The Mission of God Conferences:UK | Sat, 2 Nov 2024 10:00 – 17:30 GMT @ Birmingham City Centre: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mission-of-god-conference-2024-tickets-932486039847; Canada – Ontario | Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, 9:00 EST @ Harvest Bible Church Windsor: https://brushfire.com/ezrainstitute/missionofgod2024-ontario/587020/details; Alberta | Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, 9:00 MST@ Fairview Baptist Church: https://brushfire.com/ezrainstitute/missionofgod2024-alberta/587306.
REFORMCON ’25 | “Out of the Ashes” | April 24-26, 2025 @ Tucson, AZ: https://reformcon.org/
The WAIT is OVER!!! Pre-order your copy of the NEW updated and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide! Get it here: https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition;
Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/;
For Ezra’s many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com.
Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute: https://www.ezrainstitute.com;
Subscribe to Ezra’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVvQDHHrOOjziyqUaN9VoA?sub_confirmation=1;
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Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;
Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885.
Wherever you find our content, please like, subscribe, rate, or review it; it truly does help.
The post Christianity & Politics: Britain & the Foundation of Constitutional Freedom ft. Tim Dieppe appeared first on Ezra Institute.
On this episode of the Podcast for Cultural Engagement, P Nate delivers the final message in his four-part series on winning the culture for Christ.
HOW TO WIN THE WORLD PAST EPISODES:
Part 1 – “Believe the World is Winnable” ft. Josh Howard: https://youtu.be/jhXUt0OFFDM; Part 2 – “War with Worship” ft. Doug Wilson: https://youtu.be/EqgR9Ewba7g; Part 3 – “Cultivate Christian Community” ft. Toby Sumpter: https://youtu.be/a5YQdrgJ_wg; Part 4 – “Recover Biblical Households” ft. C.R. Wiley: https://youtu.be/cRFIdIlSyhY; Part 5 – “Practice Hospitality” ft. Rachel Jankovic: https://youtu.be/pWXJI8_SGlE; Part 6 – “Lead Courageously” ft. Joe Rigney: https://youtu.be/iNQQciI21Rg; Part 7 – “Seek the Lost” ft. Cory McKenna: https://youtu.be/P1ZcYoqW9QQ;
Part 8 – “Tell Better Stories” ft. Ben Garrett: https://youtu.be/7orktGUPdx0;
Part 9 – “Take Bold Risks” ft. Marcus Pittman: https://youtu.be/u3LXM6a0OL4;
Part 10 – “Rebuilding Christian Institutions” ft. Jamie Bambrick: https://youtu.be/iBOJqgTJJHc;
Part 12 – “Build Biblical Marriages” ft. Jacob Reaume: https://youtu.be/sCkZgkkJ0BI.
Part 13 – “Learn to Love God’s Law Word” ft. Dr. Joe Boot: https://youtu.be/PfHYidc2elE;
WORSHIP: Bring Heaven to Earth [HOW TO WIN THE WORLD – Sermon Series: Part 1] ft. Pastor Nate Wright: https://youtu.be/PqLLA9AHAJQ;
LIVE: Faithfully in Your Sphere [HOW TO WIN THE WORLD – Sermon Series: Part 2] ft. Pastor Nate Wright: https://youtu.be/gbB8WEIsAjI
BUILD: God’s Kingdom on Earth [HOW TO WIN THE WORLD – Sermon Series: Part 3] ft. Pastor Nate Wright: https://youtu.be/SF9FfmvhfXc.
The WAIT is OVER!!! Pre-order your copy of the NEW updated and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide! Get it here: *https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition;*
Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/;
Think biblically about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings”: https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government;
For Ezra’s many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com.
Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute: https://www.ezrainstitute.com;
Subscribe to Ezra’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVvQDHHrOOjziyqUaN9VoA?sub_confirmation=1;
Fight Laugh Feast Network: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/8297;
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;
Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885.
Wherever you find our content, please like, subscribe, rate, or review it; it truly does help.
The post Part 4 – MULTIPLY: So That the Mission Doesn’t Die With You [HOW TO WIN THE WORLD – Sermon Series] appeared first on Ezra Institute.
In this episode of the Podcast for Cultural Reformation, Pastor Nate Wright and Dr. Michael Thiessen are joined by Pastor & Ezra Fellow for Evangelism & Apologetics Jeff Durbin of Apologia Church & Studios and End Abortion Now to discuss the upcoming American election, Social Conservatism, and the need to root conservative principles in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Episode Resources: Apologia Church: ; Apologia Studios: https://apologiastudios.com/; End Abortion Now: https://endabortionnow.com/; ReformCon ’25: https://reformcon.org/.
Think Christianly about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings”: https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government;
CHAPTERS:00:00 Opening
00:27 Intro
00:47 Welcome
01:28 Homelife & Adoption
05:51 Conversation Set-up
07:31 How Jeff is Thinking About the Upcoming Election
14:57 Social Conservatism is NOT Enough
16:33 Christless Conservatism CANNOT Save Us
23:21 How Can an Abolitionist Vote for Trump?
38:33 What are Christians To Do When the Conservative Foundations are Destroyed? GO LOCAL!
47:30 “We’ve Got a Lot of [Exciting] Work Ahead of Us!”
48:43 God’s Law Word at the Heart of All of Society
49:13 Thinking Christianly & Other Upcoming Conferences
51:47 Conclusion
52:10 Outro
UPCOMING CONFERENCES:
Join us this October 31- November 2 @ The Presence of Christ Conference at Trinity Bible Chapel in Kitchener/Waterloo: https://mytrinitybiblechapel.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2343549;
The Mission of God Conferences:UK | Sat, 2 Nov 2024 10:00 – 17:30 GMT @ Birmingham City Centre: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mission-of-god-conference-2024-tickets-932486039847; Canada – Ontario | Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, 9:00 EST @ Harvest Bible Church Windsor: https://brushfire.com/ezrainstitute/missionofgod2024-ontario/587020/details; Alberta | Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, 9:00 MST@ Fairview Baptist Church: https://brushfire.com/ezrainstitute/missionofgod2024-alberta/587306.
REFORMCON ’25 | “Out of the Ashes” | April 24-26, 2025 @ Tucson, AZ: https://reformcon.org/
The WAIT is OVER!!! Pre-order your copy of the NEW updated and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide! Get it here: https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition;
Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/;
For Ezra’s many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com.
Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute: https://www.ezrainstitute.com;
Subscribe to Ezra’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVvQDHHrOOjziyqUaN9VoA?sub_confirmation=1;
Fight Laugh Feast Network: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/8297;
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;
Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885.
Wherever you find our content, please like, subscribe, rate, or review it; it truly does help.
The post Christianity & Politics: Social Conservatism (Or Christless Conservatism?) ft. Jeff Durbin appeared first on Ezra Institute.
On this episode of the Podcast for Cultural Engagement, P Nate delivers another powerful sermon on how to win the culture by building kingdom culture through faithful service to Christ our King.
HOW TO WIN THE WORLD PAST EPISODES:
Part 1 – “Believe the World is Winnable” ft. Josh Howard: https://youtu.be/jhXUt0OFFDM; Part 2 – “War with Worship” ft. Doug Wilson: https://youtu.be/EqgR9Ewba7g; Part 3 – “Cultivate Christian Community” ft. Toby Sumpter: https://youtu.be/a5YQdrgJ_wg; Part 4 – “Recover Biblical Households” ft. C.R. Wiley: https://youtu.be/cRFIdIlSyhY; Part 5 – “Practice Hospitality” ft. Rachel Jankovic: https://youtu.be/pWXJI8_SGlE; Part 6 – “Lead Courageously” ft. Joe Rigney: https://youtu.be/iNQQciI21Rg; Part 7 – “Seek the Lost” ft. Cory McKenna: https://youtu.be/P1ZcYoqW9QQ;
Part 8 – “Tell Better Stories” ft. Ben Garrett: https://youtu.be/7orktGUPdx0;
Part 9 – “Take Bold Risks” ft. Marcus Pittman: https://youtu.be/u3LXM6a0OL4;
Part 10 – “Rebuilding Christian Institutions” ft. Jamie Bambrick: https://youtu.be/iBOJqgTJJHc;
Part 12 – “Build Biblical Marriages” ft. Jacob Reaume: https://youtu.be/sCkZgkkJ0BI.
Part 13 – “Learn to Love God’s Law Word” ft. Dr. Joe Boot: https://youtu.be/PfHYidc2elE;
WORSHIP: Bring Heaven to Earth [HOW TO WIN THE WORLD – Sermon Series: Part 1] ft. Pastor Nate Wright: https://youtu.be/PqLLA9AHAJQ;
LIVE: Faithfully in Your Sphere [HOW TO WIN THE WORLD – Sermon Series: Part 2] ft. Pastor Nate Wright: https://youtu.be/gbB8WEIsAjI
The WAIT is OVER!!! Pre-order your copy of the NEW updated and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide! Get it here: *https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition;*
Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/;
Think biblically about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings”: https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government;
For Ezra’s many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com.
Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute: https://www.ezrainstitute.com;
Subscribe to Ezra’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVvQDHHrOOjziyqUaN9VoA?sub_confirmation=1;
Fight Laugh Feast Network: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/8297;
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;
Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885.
Wherever you find our content, please like, subscribe, rate, or review it; it truly does help.
The post Part 3 – BUILD: God’s Kingdom on Earth [HOW TO WIN THE WORLD – Sermon Series] appeared first on Ezra Institute.
The contemporary humanistic faith in an evolving universe in Western society precludes any standard above or distinct from itself; this immediately implies that the law of the state (as a product of nature) is beyond criticism by any transcendent source of authority — for there can be no such thing as a transcendent source of authority and law. This means state law is inescapably totalitarian law. There is no right, realm of justice, nor source of law beyond or above what the state enacts. As such, the modern state seeks to unite absolute power and total jurisdiction with a growing claim to total competence. As the new source of law, the humanistic secular state claims to stand above the law as the new god of being, planning and ruling over every sphere of life. This is the idolatry of statism, “It is a reductionist vision of mankind and society … a vision that absolutizes — and therefore idolizes — one aspect of the created order above other equally legitimate aspects of creation that exist independently of the state.”[1]
As a result, and in the name of secular psychology, anthropology, and sociology, our era is experiencing a reversal and repealing of biblically derived law for man’s so-called “rational law,” sociological law and social-scientific planning. This has created the modern crisis in law and politics and a growing disillusionment with and disregard for law and justice.
The Meaning of Law
The central question that confronts us in considering a Christian view of law is the nature and meaning of law. There have been a variety of views of law (jurisprudence) in modern Western thought. From the secular humanistic standpoint, there have been two main approaches to fulfill the desire to jettison God from the realm of law in human society.
In the ‘Pure Theory of Law’ (analytical jurisprudence), the question of whether a law is good or bad, just or unjust, is not the concern of jurisprudence — moral judgments supposedly cannot be defended by “rational” argument. There are various norms (situations of fact) operating in a variety of legal systems based in diverse constitutions. Each constitution is a hypothesis and legal rules are deductions from this hypothesis. Law is therefore the structural analysis of positive rules within these various systems. It is concerned with the actual and not with the ideal.
In the “Sociological School,” law as a social institution is really based in an experimental science which has the task of satisfying human desires and wants that are constantly changing. It is not concerned with deductions from first principles. As such, “human interests” are the subject of the law. The goal is the smooth working/control of a social machine in terms of various social interests. Law on this view is simply what the courts do and decide. Law is reduced to a form of legal behaviorism where we simply “scientifically observe” the way courts behave in various cases.
In either case, laws are reduced to the commands of human beings, and the goals are purely pragmatic — law is ultimately whatever “works.” If most people obey them, then they are “valid.” Certainty here is being sought not in God’s Word but in culture and experience.
God’s Law
By contrast, from the scriptural standpoint, law in its restricted (juridical) sense is not concerned with prescribing but with discovering the meaning of the concept of justice and its implications for social and political society.
The norms of law which lie at the foundation of the jural/legal dimension of created reality are different from those governing the natural sciences. Critically, in law and justice, we are not merely dealing with descriptive observation of states of affairs, but truly normative criteria for human life by virtue of creation and God’s self-revelation in scripture. People show an everyday awareness (however much suppressed) of creational norms as God’s creatures with their sense of injustice, their demands for justice, and by inescapably invoking normative criteria like truth, fairness, right and wrong, crime and punishment for legal societal relationships.
The Word of God reveals that he has placed the entire cosmos under His law-Word and ordinances for creation. This includes, but is more than, the decalogue (Ten Commandments), case law, and prophetic instruction. It encompasses all the universal ordinances that constitute the structural principles for the existence of all differentiated things and societal entities. God’s Law-Word for all reality is the condition of life. We can therefore speak of a creational law-order because of the multiplicity of laws for the various dimensions of creation.
Torah and Just Recompense
In scripture torah is translated as “law” and its essential meaning is instruction, which is reflected in some English translations. The English word instruction reminds us that we are in-structure in God’s creation. Our life is structured within and governed by God’s Law-Word. God Himself is not to be confused with His law (temporal law is not eternally existing in God), but neither is law apart from God. Rather, he binds himself to his creation law in covenant faithfulness.
Unless God in scripture teaches us the nature of creation and reveals to us His Law-Word, we would not of ourselves, in our sinful and ruined condition, seek true justice or rightly apply his norms for legal life in the political sphere. Because legal norms regulate relations between people and human institutions, what they are concerned with is the just balancing of human legal interests, that is, giving people their due. As such the principle of retribution is at the heart of legal life.
In scripture we see an excellent example of this principle formulated in what we call the Lex Talionis, the law of recompense seen in Exodus 21:24–25:
If there is an injury, then you must give life for life,eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, bruise for bruise, wound for wound.
This passage is sometimes used by thoughtless critics who think they are identifying barbarism in Scripture. However, the principle here is not that a judge is to order the burning of one who burned someone else; rather, it is concerned with just recompense. Here, in the case of personal injury, the retribution must be commensurate with the nature and scale of the offense — in short, proportionality is the governing principle. Thus, retribution must properly balance legal interests, and punishments must fit the crime.
The central meaning of justice as re-tribution is grasped through direct intuition by God’s creatures who bear His image within His law-order and it is republished in the written Word of God which is why we are able to grasp the meaning of the Decalogue. This human consciousness of accountability stems from our awareness that the judgment of God rests upon the lawless, individually and corporately. The principle of just retribution restrains excessive severity or lax leniency in the administration of justice in the courts.
Love and Justice
It is critical to observe that this justice does not conflict with love. The love of God lies at the religious root of all creation itself and is covenantal in character. Retribution is the foundation of love in its moral sense. Legal norms, which are presupposed in the commandment to love God and neighbor — since you cannot love your neighbor while denying them what they are due (Rom. 13:8-10) — are the principles for public social order, whereas ethical norms govern our personal lives. This is why not all sins are crimes.
All the moral commands of the Decalogue, such as “You shall not murder,” appeal to and presuppose the legal order, without which it has no meaning. Justice is therefore the temporal foundation of love in that it protects the weak and the wronged and restores order when disrupted by wickedness. As such, Christians must not try to break down the distinction between legal norms and the moral demand for love to neighbor as though justice is unloving!
Love certainly goes beyond justice, but not without justice as its foundation. To oppose love and justice to each other produces a false dichotomy, an artificial contradiction that can lead to a world of tyranny by shattering the very idea of justice itself.
The goal of legal justice in political life is not primarily deterrent (though that may at times be a secondary benefit); neither is it moral education or “treatment” toward rehabilitation. Crime is not a disease, but rebellion against God’s law-order that demands retribution and restitution. If crime were a disease, then you might be cured by compulsion by for any behavior the state deems a sickness! C. S. Lewis’ warning about humanitarian theories of justice is very telling:
The humanitarian theory removes from punishment the concept of desert. But the concept of desert is the only connecting link between punishment and justice. It is only as deserved or undeserved that a sentence can be just or unjust…There is no sense in talking about a just deterrent or just cure. We demand of a deterrent not whether it is just but whether it succeeds. Thus, when we only consider what will cure him or deter others, we have tacitly removed him from the sphere of justice altogether; instead of a person, a subject of rights, we now have a mere object, a ‘case’ to be in a clinic… The humanitarian theory wants simply to abolish justice and substitute mercy for it. This means you start being kind to people before you have considered their rights, and then force upon them supposed kindnesses which no one but you will recognize as kindnesses and which the recipient will feel as abominable cruelties. You have overshot the mark. Mercy detached from justice grows unmerciful. That is the important paradox. As there are plants which will flourish only in mountain soil, so it appears that mercy will flower only when it grows in the crannies of the rock of justice. Transplanted to the marshlands or mere humanitarianism, it becomes a man-eating weed, all the more dangerous because it is still called by the same name as the mountain variety.[2]
We can either retain the biblical legal norm of just retribution and stand with the law of God or be condemned to the control and “healing” of a pseudo-scientific political elite.
Law, Politics and the Lord Jesus Christ
The final and all-important manifestation of the unity of love and justice is found in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ who is both creator and redeemer. As the living Word, He is author of the jural dimension of creation as well as the inscripturated Word. In him, love and mercy, righteousness and justice, meet. At the cross, Christ has vindicated and proven the sanctity of God’s law and reconciled law and love by paying the price for man’s lawlessness. There he took the retributive punishment for sin demanded by a holy and just God while manifesting his divine love. There is thus no contradiction between law and love, or law and gospel. As Cornelius Van Til pointed out,
The very content of the Gospel is that Christ has fulfilled the law. The joy of the gospel is that man can in Christ know and obey the law and therefore live in the presence of God forever. There is no Gospel but that of the law. On the other hand, the Gospel is law because all must obey it.[3]
This good news about God’s law must be applied culturally and politically or we will only inherit a lawless world. The British Anglican thinker and reformational philosopher, Hebden Taylor, correctly saw that without belief in God’s law-order there is no valid basis for the enforcement of law in society:
When God and his laws and creation structures are rejected by nations then all defense against arbitrary power vanishes at the same time. If Americans and Britons refuse to acknowledge God as their ultimate sovereign in this life they will finish up as having tyrants as their masters because it is only God himself who can subject the powers of politicians, judges, police, and scientists to conscience. Without such a conscience enlightened by God’s Word and God’s Law there can be no abiding defence against injustice and tyranny. It is therefore imperative that Christians realise the vital necessity for a constant witness on their part to the saving, reforming and liberating power of the Lord Jesus Christ…. The Christian philosophy of life must not be allowed to hang in thin air but it must be brought down to earth in the hearts and consciences of the common people and in the concrete political, economic and legal situations of life.[4]
For the flourishing of our families and nations, the Law-Word of God must be proclaimed and commended to all power and authority.
[1]Stephen C. Perks, The Politics of God and Man: Essays on Politics, Religion and Social Order (Taunton: Kuyper Foundation, 2016), 49
[2]C.S. Lewis, God in the Dock (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1970), 288-289, 294
[3]Cornelius Van Til, The Ten Commandments (United States: Cantaro Publications, 2023), 9
[4]Hebden Taylor, The New Legality (Philadelphia: P&R, 1967), 51
The post Biblical, Creational Law appeared first on Ezra Institute.
In this episode of the Podcast for Cultural Reformation, Doctors Joe Boot and Michael Thiessen talk with best-selling author, podcaster, and blogger Mike D’Virgilio about Republicanism, its past, present, and future.
Episode Resources: Mike’s Website: https://mikedvirgilio.com/; Going Back to Find The Way Forward: Trump, A Great Awakening, and the Refounding of America: https://amzn.to/4868zRH; The Based Boomer Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@eschatology_matters/videos;
Think Christianly about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings”: https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government;
CHAPTERS:00:00 Opening
01:10 Intro
01:30 Welcome
06:30 Going Back to Find the Way Forward: Republicanism Red-pilled
09:52 Uprooted and Searching for Truth
11:05 Hegel’s Distorted View of History
14:00 The Upcoming U.S. Election
19:05 RINOs & the Red-pilled Right
26:40 Growing Christian Political Influence
28:16 Getting the Cultural Task of the Church Right
33:42 The Christian’s Cultural Task
36:34 Reformed Con ’25: Out of the Ashes
37:42 What Does Going Backward to Move Forward Really Mean?
43:35 From a Reformed Worldview at the American Founding and How We Got to Where We Are Now
49:25 Christian Influence on American Republicanism
51:29 The Antichrist Takeover of the Demo(n)cratic Party by the New Left
55:15 The Death of Secularism and its Political Ramifications
59:24 Special Guest Shoutout: Cromwell
01:00:00 Call to Action
01:01:31 Conclusion
01:06:36 Outro
UPCOMING CONFERENCES:
Join us this October 31- November 2 @ The Presence of Christ Conference at Trinity Bible Chapel in Kitchener/Waterloo: https://mytrinitybiblechapel.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2343549;
The Mission of God Conferences: UK | Sat, 2 Nov 2024 10:00 – 17:30 GMT @ Birmingham City Centre: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mission-of-god-conference-2024-tickets-932486039847; Canada – Ontario | Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, 9:00 EST @ Harvest Bible Church Windsor: https://brushfire.com/ezrainstitute/missionofgod2024-ontario/587020/details; Alberta | Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, 9:00 MST@ Fairview Baptist Church: https://brushfire.com/ezrainstitute/missionofgod2024-alberta/587306.
The WAIT is OVER!!! Pre-order your copy of the NEW updated and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide! Get it here: https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition;
Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/;
For Ezra’s many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com.
Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute: https://www.ezrainstitute.com;
Subscribe to Ezra’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVvQDHHrOOjziyqUaN9VoA?sub_confirmation=1;
Fight Laugh Feast Network: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/8297;
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;
Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885.
Wherever you find our content, please like, subscribe, rate, or review it; it truly does help.
The post Christianity & Politics: Republicanism (Red-Pilled?) ft. Mike D’Virgilio appeared first on Ezra Institute.
On this episode of the Podcast for Cultural Engagement, P Nate delivers a powerful sermon on how to win the culture through living faithfully to the Lord in every sphere of life.
HOW TO WIN THE WORLD PAST EPISODES:
Part 1 – “Believe the World is Winnable” ft. Josh Howard: https://youtu.be/jhXUt0OFFDM; Part 2 – “War with Worship” ft. Doug Wilson: https://youtu.be/EqgR9Ewba7g; Part 3 – “Cultivate Christian Community” ft. Toby Sumpter: https://youtu.be/a5YQdrgJ_wg; Part 4 – “Recover Biblical Households” ft. C.R. Wiley: https://youtu.be/cRFIdIlSyhY; Part 5 – “Practice Hospitality” ft. Rachel Jankovic: https://youtu.be/pWXJI8_SGlE; Part 6 – “Lead Courageously” ft. Joe Rigney: https://youtu.be/iNQQciI21Rg; Part 7 – “Seek the Lost” ft. Cory McKenna: https://youtu.be/P1ZcYoqW9QQ;
Part 8 – “Tell Better Stories” ft. Ben Garrett: https://youtu.be/7orktGUPdx0;
Part 9 – “Take Bold Risks” ft. Marcus Pittman: https://youtu.be/u3LXM6a0OL4;
Part 10 – “Rebuilding Christian Institutions” ft. Jamie Bambrick: https://youtu.be/iBOJqgTJJHc;
Part 12 – “Build Biblical Marriages” ft. Jacob Reaume: https://youtu.be/sCkZgkkJ0BI.
Part 13 – “Learn to Love God’s Law Word” ft. Dr. Joe Boot: https://youtu.be/PfHYidc2elE;
WORSHIP: Bring Heaven to Earth [HOW TO WIN THE WORLD – Sermon Series: Part 1] ft. Pastor Nate Wright: https://youtu.be/gbB8WEIsAjI.
The WAIT is OVER!!! Pre-order your copy of the NEW updated and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide! Get it here: *https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition;*
Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/;
Think biblically about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings”: https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government;
For Ezra’s many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com.
Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute: https://www.ezrainstitute.com;
Subscribe to Ezra’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVvQDHHrOOjziyqUaN9VoA?sub_confirmation=1;
Fight Laugh Feast Network: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/8297;
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;
Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885.
Wherever you find our content, please like, subscribe, rate, or review it; it truly does help.
The post Part 2 – LIVE: Faithfully in Your Sphere [HOW TO WIN THE WORLD – Sermon Series] appeared first on Ezra Institute.
If you missed the recent Iron Sharpens Iron Pastor’s Luncheon at Church of the Living Christ in Loysville, PA, you’ll want to catch up on the keynote address by Dr. Joe Boot.
The post Dr. Boot at the Iron Sharpens Iron Pastors Luncheon appeared first on Ezra Institute.
In this episode of the Podcast for Cultural Reformation, Pastor Nate Wright and Dr. Jeffrey Ventrella explore the intricate relationship between American constitutionalism and Christianity. They ask the question: “Is the Constitution Dead?” They discuss the historical foundations of America, the role of religion in the founding, the impact of rationalism, and the current state of constitutionalism in a nation that has largely rejected its Christian roots. Dr. Ventrella emphasizes the importance of Christians engaging in cultural and institutional power to effect change, advocating for a long-term, incremental approach to renewal and transformation.
Episode Resources: TruthXchange: https://truthxchange.com/;
Think Christianly about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings”: https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government;
CHAPTERS:00:00 Opening: Introduction to American Constitutionalism
00:30 Intro
00:51 Welcome
03:05 The Foundations of America: A Historical Perspective
11:31 American Idea of the Separation of Church & State
16:30 The Impact of Modernism/Rationalism on American Ideals
20:37 Evolution and the Mutation of Law & Society
24:33 Christianity’s Influence on American Governance
29:48 The Importance of a Biblical Anthropology in the U.S. Founding
33:00 Current State of American Constitutionalism
38:19 Why Do Insitutions Tend to Bloat and Shift Left?
42:09 Christian Culture & Institutional Power
44:27 Why Fight for American Constitutionalism?
51:22 TruthXchange Information
53:25 Conclusion & Mission of God Conference Information
54:14 Outro
UPCOMING CONFERENCES:
Join us this October 31- November 2 @ The Presence of Christ Conference at Trinity Bible Chapel in Kitchener/Waterloo: https://mytrinitybiblechapel.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2343549;
The Mission of God Conferences: UK | Sat, 2 Nov 2024 10:00 – 17:30 GMT @ Birmingham City Centre: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mission-of-god-conference-2024-tickets-932486039847; Canada – Ontario | Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, 9:00 EST @ Harvest Bible Church Windsor: https://brushfire.com/ezrainstitute/missionofgod2024-ontario/587020/details; Alberta | Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, 9:00 MST@ Fairview Baptist Church: https://brushfire.com/ezrainstitute/missionofgod2024-alberta/587306.
The WAIT is OVER!!! Pre-order your copy of the NEW updated and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide! Get it here: https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition;
Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/;
For Ezra’s many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com.
Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute: https://www.ezrainstitute.com;
Subscribe to Ezra’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVvQDHHrOOjziyqUaN9VoA?sub_confirmation=1;
Fight Laugh Feast Network: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/8297;
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;
Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885.
Wherever you find our content, please like, subscribe, rate, or review it; it truly does help.
The post Christianity & Politics: Is the Constitution Dead? American Constitutionalism ft. Dr. Jeffery Ventrella appeared first on Ezra Institute.
OK, friends. I know we said the How to Win the World series was over, but P Nate was so inspired by it that he decided to do a sermon series on it. So, while Elder P and P Nate are busy with their 5-century plan on how to take back Canada for Christ, we thought you’d enjoy P Nate sermons.
HOW TO WIN THE WORLD PAST EPISODES:
Part 1 – “Believe the World is Winnable” ft. Josh Howard: https://youtu.be/jhXUt0OFFDM; Part 2 – “War with Worship” ft. Doug Wilson: https://youtu.be/EqgR9Ewba7g; Part 3 – “Cultivate Christian Community” ft. Toby Sumpter: https://youtu.be/a5YQdrgJ_wg; Part 4 – “Recover Biblical Households” ft. C.R. Wiley: https://youtu.be/cRFIdIlSyhY; Part 5 – “Practice Hospitality” ft. Rachel Jankovic: https://youtu.be/pWXJI8_SGlE; Part 6 – “Lead Courageously” ft. Joe Rigney: https://youtu.be/iNQQciI21Rg; Part 7 – “Seek the Lost” ft. Cory McKenna: https://youtu.be/P1ZcYoqW9QQ;
Part 8 – “Tell Better Stories” ft. Ben Garrett: https://youtu.be/7orktGUPdx0;
Part 9 – “Take Bold Risks” ft. Marcus Pittman: https://youtu.be/u3LXM6a0OL4;
Part 10 – “Rebuilding Christian Institutions” ft. Jamie Bambrick: https://youtu.be/iBOJqgTJJHc;
Part 12 – “Build Biblical Marriages” ft. Jacob Reaume: https://youtu.be/sCkZgkkJ0BI.
Part 13 – “Learn to Love God’s Law Word” ft. Dr. Joe Boot: https://youtu.be/PfHYidc2elE;
The WAIT is OVER!!! Pre-order your copy of the NEW updated and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide! Get it here: *https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition;*
Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/;
Think biblically about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings”: https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government;
For Ezra’s many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com.
Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute: https://www.ezrainstitute.com;
Subscribe to Ezra’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVvQDHHrOOjziyqUaN9VoA?sub_confirmation=1;
Fight Laugh Feast Network: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/8297;
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;
Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885.
Wherever you find our content, please like, subscribe, rate, or review it; it truly does help.
The post Part 1 – WORSHIP: Bring Heaven to Earth [HOW TO WIN THE WORLD – Sermon Series] appeared first on Ezra Institute.
In this episode of the Podcast for Cultural Reformation, we continue our series on Christianity & Politics; Dr. Joe Boot is joined by Ezra Fellow for International Law, Comparative Politics, and International Relations, Prof. Dan Ogden, J.D., to discuss national conservatism, its Christian roots, its strengths and weaknesses and whether or not it’s biblical.
Episode Resources: Collected Works of Edmund Burke: https://www.amazon.ca/Collected-Works-Edmund-Burke-ebook/dp/B00FL2FH82; National Conservatism Overview: https://nationalconservatism.org/about; National Conservatism Statement of Principles: https://nationalconservatism.org/national-conservatism-a-statement-of-principles; “National Conservatism and Its Discontents”: https://claremontreviewofbooks.com/national-conservatism-and-its-discontents; “National Conservatism, Freedom Conservatism, and Americanism”: https://imprimis.hillsdale.edu/national-conservatism-freedom-conservatism-and-americanism; Edmund Burke Foundation: https://burke.foundation.
Think Christianly about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings”: https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government;
CHAPTERS:
0:00 Opening
0:43 Intro
01:04 Welcome
02:30 The Importance of Developing a Christian View of Politics
07:35 The Difference Between Political Philosophy and Public Policy
12:05 Why Do Christians Tend Not to Engage in Public Policy?
14:55 Upcoming Mission of God Conferences & Other Events
16:28 Politics: The Art of the Possible – From Theory to Application
17:00 The Problem of Statism: Defining the Beast
20:29 The Structure and Direction of the State
22:36 National Conservatism (NC): What is it?
23:23 NC’s Basic Idea of Nation
28:13 Not All Nations are Equal
29:13 Nationhood as Covenant
33:15 Covenant & Conservatism
34:13 Ruler of Kings AD
35:15 What is Conservatism?
38:06 Burkian Conservatism
41:09 Our Own Radically Rousseauian Revolution
44:43 The Political Binary: The Sovereignty of God or the Sovereignty of Man
46:15 The Principles of National Conservatism
48:11 National Conservatism: The Movement
56:23 Foreign Policy: NC Realism vs. Liberalism
01:00:16 The Newest Boogeyman: Project 2025
01:04:25 Sphere Sovereignty & Political Liberty
01:12:25 Dan’s Closing Remarks
01:14:39 Conclusion
01:15:23 Outro
UPCOMING CONFERENCES:
Join us this October 31- November 2 @ The Presence of Christ Conference at Trinity Bible Chapel in Kitchener/Waterloo: https://mytrinitybiblechapel.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2343549;
The Mission of God Conferences: UK | Sat, 2 Nov 2024 10:00 – 17:30 GMT @ Birmingham City Centre: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mission-of-god-conference-2024-tickets-932486039847; Canada – Ontario | Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, 9:00 EST @ Harvest Bible Church Windsor: https://brushfire.com/ezrainstitute/missionofgod2024-ontario/587020/details; Alberta | Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, 9:00 MST@ Fairview Baptist Church: https://brushfire.com/ezrainstitute/missionofgod2024-alberta/587306.
The WAIT is OVER!!! Pre-order your copy of the NEW updated and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide! Get it here: https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition;
Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/;
For Ezra’s many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com.
Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute: https://www.ezrainstitute.com;
Subscribe to Ezra’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVvQDHHrOOjziyqUaN9VoA?sub_confirmation=1;
Fight Laugh Feast Network: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/8297;
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;
Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885.
Wherever you find our content, please like, subscribe, rate, or review it; it truly does help.
The post Christianity & Politics: National Conservatism | Podcast for Cultural Reformation appeared first on Ezra Institute.
In this, the second instalment of our newest Podcast for Cultural Reformation series on Christianity & Politics, Dr. Joe Boot is joined by Dr. P. Andrew Sandlin, Ezra Fellow for Public Theology & Cultural Philosophy, to discuss classical liberalism, its Christian roots, its strengths and weaknesses, and whether or not it’s biblical. Tune in for this riveting discussion.
Episode Resources: Virtuous Liberty ed. Dr. P. Andrew Sandlin: https://www.amazon.com/Virtuous-Liberty-Christian-Classical-Liberalism/dp/B0CN4MDQ5L; Center for Cultural Leadership: https://www.christianculture.com.
CHAPTERS:
0:00 Opening
0:40 Intro
01:00 Welcome
02:43 Recap of Last Week’s Show
03:45 The Background for the Rise of Classical Liberalism
07:30 The Idea(s) of Classical Liberalism
11:00 The Nature of Human Beings in Relation to the State
11:55 The Resurgence of Aristotelian Statism on the “Right” & the “Left”
17:36 The Unbiblical Foundation of Aristotelian Statism & the Christian Alternative
22:01 The Kingdom of God as the Totalizing Christian Principle
22:34 The Failure of the Pagan & Synthesized Anthropology & Teleology
25:26 The Impact of the Fall and its Relationship to Reformational Thought & Classical Liberalism
29:38 A Ditch on Both Sides
31:46 The Swiss Ditch
36:17 Silver Lining AD
38:03 The Breakdown of Classical Liberalism
42:04 Classical Liberalism, Limited Government & Sphere Sovereignty
47:22 The Inherent Liability of Classical Liberalism
50:55 The Absolutism of the Common Good
53:11 Christianity’s Influence on the State
55:29 The Religious Root of the State and Western Apostasy
58:11 Conclusion
01:00:29 Outro
Join us this October 31- November 2 @ The Presence of Christ Conference at Trinity Bible Chapel in Kitchener/Waterloo: https://mytrinitybiblechapel.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2343549;
The WAIT is OVER!!! Pre-order your copy of the NEW updated and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide! Get it here: https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition;
Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/;
Think biblically about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings”: https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government;
For Ezra’s many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com.
Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute: https://www.ezrainstitute.com;
Subscribe to Ezra’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVvQDHHrOOjziyqUaN9VoA?sub_confirmation=1;
Fight Laugh Feast Network: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/8297;
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;
Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885.
Wherever you find our content, please like, subscribe, rate, or review it; it truly does help.
The post Christianity & Politics: Classical Liberalism | Podcast for Cultural Reformation appeared first on Ezra Institute.
If you are seeking a deeply insightful and timely exploration of the Church’s mission in today’s increasingly secular world, Dr. Aaron Edwards’ review of Dr. Joe Boot’s “The Mission of God” is a must-read.
Dr. Edwards, who first encountered this significant work during his tenure as a lecturer at Cliff College—where Dr. Boot himself had studied—offers a compelling analysis now available on Clear Truth Media.
https://cleartruthmedia.com/s/363/the-tale-of-a-book-the-decline-of-the-west-and-the-return-of-the-puritans
“The Mission of God” is not merely another book on Christian mission; it is a comprehensive and ambitious manifesto that challenges the Church to reexamine its role in a society increasingly shaped by secular ideologies. Dr. Edwards candidly recounts his initial hesitations about the book, only to discover the profound impact of Dr. Boot’s arguments for a vigorous Christian engagement with the world, firmly rooted in the rich legacy of the Puritans.
In his review, Dr. Edwards delves into the book’s major themes, addressing everything from the decline of Western culture to the necessity of a Christian vision that boldly asserts Christ’s lordship over all aspects of life. His analysis not only highlights the depth and breadth of Dr. Boot’s work but also serves as a call to action for the Church to embrace a renewed sense of purpose and mission.
Whether you have already read “The Mission of God” or it has been sitting on your shelf, Dr. Edwards’ review provides a compelling invitation to engage with this critical work. Visit Clear Truth Media to read the full review—you will find it to be both thought-provoking and inspiring.
For those interested in reading “The Mission of God,” the book is available for purchase through Ezra Press. Additionally, you can preorder the upcoming 10th Anniversary Edition, which includes new content on the Church’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, expanded dialogue on Romans 13, and a chapter-by-chapter study guide. Perfect for individual or group study, this updated edition invites readers to engage deeply with God’s mission.
The post An Insightful Review of “The Mission of God” appeared first on Ezra Institute.
On this, the first episode of a new season of the Podcast for Cultural Reformation, Pastor Nate Wright and Dr. Joe Boot embark on a BRAND NEW SERIES: Christianity & Politics, in which they contrast a biblical view of politics and the State with it dualistic pretenders.
CHAPTERS:
0:00 Opening
0:14 Intro
0:34 Welcome
01:09 NEW SERIES: Christianity & Politics
01:54 Christianity & Politics Intro
03:08 Is the Bible Even Political?
08:56 Examples of Biblical Politics
17:59 The Biblical Concept of Office
20:50 The Religious Root of All of Creation
25:33 There is NO NEUTRALITY in Religion or Politics
26:23 Statism: The Pagan View of the State
37:52: ADVERTISEMENT: Silver Lining
39:38 Synthesis: Pagan Dualism and its Poisonous Effects on Christian Political Thought
54:00 Sphere Sovereignty: The Proper Foundation of a Christian View of Politics
47:27 Conference Promotions
01:02:20 Closing
01:02:39 Outro
Join us this October 31- November 2 @ The Presence of Christ Conference at Trinity Bible Chapel in Kitchener/Waterloo: https://mytrinitybiblechapel.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2343549;
The WAIT is OVER!!! Pre-order your copy of the NEW updated and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide! Get it here: https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition;
Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/;
Think biblically about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings”: https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government;
For Ezra’s many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com.
Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute: https://www.ezrainstitute.com;
Subscribe to Ezra’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVvQDHHrOOjziyqUaN9VoA?sub_confirmation=1;
Fight Laugh Feast Network: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/8297;
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;
Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885.
Wherever you find our content, please like, subscribe, rate, or review it; it truly does help.
The post Christianity & Politics: A Christian View of the State appeared first on Ezra Institute.
The Law Word of God is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Ps. 119:105), and Isaiah makes it abundantly clear that the Messianic reign of King Jesus will spread that Law throughout all the earth (Is 2:2-4, 9:2-7, 42:1-9, 52:6-53).
On this last episode of our series on How to Win the World, P Nate and Elder P are joined by friend of the show, Founder & President of the Ezra Institute, Rev. Dr. Joseph Boot, to discuss theonomy and a properly biblical view of the law and gospel distinction, and the centrality of God’s Law in the transformation of the world.
Episode Resources: Ezra Institute: https://www.ezrainstitute.com/;
CHAPTERS:
0:00 Intro
0:56 Opening & Welcome
3:07 Topic and Scripture Reading (Isa. 2:2-4)
5:08 How God’s Law Transforms Society
8:38 Properly Understanding the Law/Gospel Distinction
19:20 Hysteria Over & Misunderstandings of Theonomy
35:37 Regeneration the Heart of Theonomic Transformation
41:04 The Law as Love
42:43 God’s Total Law Word in the Life of the Church
46:19 The Goodness of the Law, Its Proper Use, and the Gospel
51:28 The Kindness & Attractiveness of God’s Law
53:06 The Aesthetic Aspect of the Law and Worship
56:52 The Beauty of God’s Law & its Ghastly Alternative
58:42 Upcoming Ezra Events
01:01:40 Closing
01:02:08 Outro
HOW TO WIN THE WORLD PAST EPISODES:
Part 1 – “Believe the World is Winnable” ft. Josh Howard: https://youtu.be/jhXUt0OFFDM; Part 2 – “War with Worship” ft. Doug Wilson: https://youtu.be/EqgR9Ewba7g; Part 3 – “Cultivate Christian Community” ft. Toby Sumpter: https://youtu.be/a5YQdrgJ_wg; Part 4 – “Recover Biblical Households” ft. C.R. Wiley: https://youtu.be/cRFIdIlSyhY; Part 5 – “Practice Hospitality” ft. Rachel Jankovic: https://youtu.be/pWXJI8_SGlE; Part 6 – “Lead Courageously” ft. Joe Rigney: https://youtu.be/iNQQciI21Rg; Part 7 – “Seek the Lost” ft. Cory McKenna: https://youtu.be/P1ZcYoqW9QQ;
Part 8 – “Tell Better Stories” ft. Ben Garrett: https://youtu.be/7orktGUPdx0;
Part 9 – “Take Bold Risks” ft. Marcus Pittman: https://youtu.be/u3LXM6a0OL4;
Part 10 – “Rebuilding Christian Institutions” ft. Jamie Bambrick: https://youtu.be/iBOJqgTJJHc;
Part 12 – “Build Biblical Marriages” ft. Jacob Reaume: https://youtu.be/sCkZgkkJ0BI.
The WAIT is OVER!!! Pre-order your copy of the NEW updated and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide! Get it here: *https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition;*
Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/;
Think biblically about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings”: https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government;
For Ezra’s many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com.
Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute: https://www.ezrainstitute.com;
Subscribe to Ezra’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVvQDHHrOOjziyqUaN9VoA?sub_confirmation=1;
Fight Laugh Feast Network: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/8297;
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;
Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885.
Wherever you find our content, please like, subscribe, rate, or review it; it truly does help.
The post Learn to Love God’s Law Word ft. Dr. Joe Boot [HOW TO WIN THE WORLD – PT. 13] | Podcast for Cultural Reformation appeared first on Ezra Institute.
On this episode of the Podcast for Cultural Reformation, Ezra fellow Dr. Michael Thiessen and Canadian Director Pastor Nate Wright are joined by the Pastor of Trinity Bible Chapel, Jacob Reaume, to discuss the importance of the upcoming conference, The Presence of Christ (Oct.31-Nov. 2). The conference aims to shift the focus from fighting against the world to cultivating a deep love for Jesus Christ, and it seeks to unite believers around the central theme of the presence of Christ in their lives and the importance of worshiping Him.
Episode Resources:Trinity Bible Chapel: https://trinitybiblechapel.ca/; The Presence of Christ Conference: https://mytrinitybiblechapel.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2343549; Pastor Jacob’s Blog: https://trinitybiblechapel.ca/blog/the-pastors-blog/;
CHAPTERS:
0:00 Intro
0:23 Opening
0:43 Guest Welcome
02:14 Pastor Reaume’s Biography
02:50 From Church at War to the Presence of Christ
08:05 The Timeliness of the Conference
11:36 The Focus of the Conference
12:41 Fighting for the Love of Christ
16:08 From Where Does the Christian’s Hatred Come?
19:10 Dangerous Demagoguery
20:44 The Purpose of the Conference
21:22 Conference Speakers & Topics
26:25 Breakout Sessions & Speakers
29:45 The Presence of Christ Conference AD
30:15 The Presence of Christ–the Heart of the Christian Motive
31:44 Pastors as Generalists
32:39 Preparation for the Conference
34:48 Setting the Tone for Discipleship
38:44 Corporate Worship: The Heartbeat of the Life of the Church
40:25 Modelling the Mind of Christ
43:59 Thoughtful Preaching in a Reactionary Age
47:27 Conference Promotions
49:56 Closing
50:32 Outro
Join us this October 31- November 2 @ The Presence of Christ Conference at Trinity Bible Chapel in Kitchener/Waterloo: https://mytrinitybiblechapel.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2343549;
The WAIT is OVER!!! Pre-order your copy of the NEW updated and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide! Get it here: https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition;
Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/;
Think biblically about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings”: https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government;
For Ezra’s many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com.
Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute: https://www.ezrainstitute.com;
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Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;
Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885.
Wherever you find our content, please like, subscribe, rate, or review it; it truly does help.
The post Having the Mind of Christ Amid the Darkness ft. Pastor Jacob Reaume appeared first on Ezra Institute.
On this episode of the Podcast for Cultural Reformation, Ezra fellow Dr. Michael Thiessen and Canadian Director Pastor Nate Wright wade into the latest controversy concerning the latest New St. Andrews College AD and Johnny Cash’s famous (infamous?) hand gesture. This leads them to discuss the importance of setting a culture in churches and other institutions. They explore the role of pastors as cultural architects and the impact of culture on various aspects of church life. In an age of radical unbelief, how do we raise reformed rebels? Tune in to find out.
Episode Resources: New Saint Andrews College: https://nsa.edu/; New Saint Andrews AD [WARNING! VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED!]: https://nsa.edu/blog/the-men-we-want-and-need;
CHAPTERS:
0:00 Intro
0:23 Welcome
2:06 Setting Church Culture
06:43 NSA AD Controversy
10:30 Thoughts?: Mike’s Concerns
15:32 Thoughts?: Nate’s Rebuttal
21:09 Mike: Need for a Culture of Dialogue, Repentance in a Vulgar Age
25:25 Nate: The Serrated Edge & Colourful Biblical Language & the Need to Fight Effeminacy
30:20 The Presence of Christ Conference (Oct.31-Nov.2) AD
31:18 Navigating Controversy & Disagreement Through Dialogue
39:59 Navigating Our Cultural Moment with Biblical Wisdom & Discernment
52:32 Ezra’s Culture & Programming
01:08:50 Wrap-up
01:08:59 Outro
Join us this October 31- November 2 @ The Presence of Christ Conference at Trinity Bible Chapel in Kitchener/Waterloo: https://mytrinitybiblechapel.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2343549;
The WAIT is OVER!!! Pre-order your copy of the NEW updated and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide! Get it here: https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition;
Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/;
Think biblically about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings”: https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government;
For Ezra’s many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com.
Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute: https://www.ezrainstitute.com;
Subscribe to Ezra’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVvQDHHrOOjziyqUaN9VoA?sub_confirmation=1;
Fight Laugh Feast Network: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/8297;
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;
Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885.
Wherever you find our content, please like, subscribe, rate, or review it; it truly does help.
The post Rightly Raising REFORMED Rebels: NSA Controversy & Cultivating Culture appeared first on Ezra Institute.
At the heart of God’s rescue plan for the world is the family…. The first and foundational institution God establishes on the earth for His glory and for the advancement of his kingdom. Is it any wonder, then, why Satan focuses so much of his attack on the church on the families that comprise them?
How do we wage cosmic war with our marriages? How do we build marriages on the rock of God’s word?
P Nate is joined by friend of the show, Pastor Jacob Reaume, from Trinity Bible Chapel, to discuss all these topics and more!
Episode Resources: Trinity Bible Chapel: https://trinitybiblechapel.ca/; Pastor Jacob’s Blog: https://trinitybiblechapel.ca/blog/the-pastors-blog/;
HOW TO WIN THE WORLD PAST EPISODES:
Part 1 – “Believe the World is Winnable” ft. Josh Howard: https://youtu.be/jhXUt0OFFDM; Part 2 – “War with Worship” ft. Doug Wilson: https://youtu.be/EqgR9Ewba7g; Part 3 – “Cultivate Christian Community” ft. Toby Sumpter: https://youtu.be/a5YQdrgJ_wg; Part 4 – “Recover Biblical Households” ft. C.R. Wiley: https://youtu.be/cRFIdIlSyhY; Part 5 – “Practice Hospitality” ft. Rachel Jankovic: https://youtu.be/pWXJI8_SGlE; Part 6 – “Lead Courageously” ft. Joe Rigney: https://youtu.be/iNQQciI21Rg; Part 7 – “Seek the Lost” ft. Cory McKenna: https://youtu.be/P1ZcYoqW9QQ;
Part 8 – “Tell Better Stories” ft. Ben Garrett: https://youtu.be/7orktGUPdx0;
Part 9 – “Take Bold Risks” ft. Marcus Pittman: https://youtu.be/u3LXM6a0OL4;
Part 10 – “Rebuilding Christian Institutions” ft. Jamie Bambrick: https://youtu.be/iBOJqgTJJHc.
The WAIT is OVER!!! Pre-order your copy of the NEW updated and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide! Get it here: *https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition;*
Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/;
Think biblically about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings”: https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government;
For Ezra’s many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com.
Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute: https://www.ezrainstitute.com;
Subscribe to Ezra’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVvQDHHrOOjziyqUaN9VoA?sub_confirmation=1;
Fight Laugh Feast Network: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/8297;
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;
Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885.
Wherever you find our content, please like, subscribe, rate, or review it; it truly does help.
The post Build Biblical Marriages ft. Jacob Reaume I Podcast for Cultural Engagement appeared first on Ezra Institute.
On this flashback episode of the Podcast for Cultural Reformation, we go all the way back to 2017, when Dr. Joe Boot joined Apologia TV with Pastors Jeff Durbin, Luke the Bear, and Joy the Girl to discuss the relationship between the Gospel and culture.
Episode Resources: Apologia Studios: https://apologiastudios.com/;
The WAIT is OVER!!! Pre-order your copy of the NEW updated and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide! Get it here: https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition;
Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/;
Think biblically about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings”: https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government;
For Ezra’s many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com.
Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute: https://www.ezrainstitute.com;
Subscribe to Ezra’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVvQDHHrOOjziyqUaN9VoA?sub_confirmation=1;
Fight Laugh Feast Network: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/8297;
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;
Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885.
Wherever you find our content, please like, subscribe, rate, or review it; it truly does help.
The post The Relationship of the Gospel and Culture on Apologia TV [FLASHBACK FRIDAY] appeared first on Ezra Institute.
On this episode of the Podcast for Cultural Reformation, Dr. Joe Boot and Pastor Nate Wright are joined by the CEO of Creation Ministries International (Canada) of Answers, Richard Fangrad, for a Q&A recorded LIVE at Worldview Youth Academy – Canada 2024.
The WAIT is OVER!!! Pre-order your copy of the NEW updated and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide! Get it here: https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition;
Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/;
Think biblically about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings”: https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government;
For Ezra’s many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com.
Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute: https://www.ezrainstitute.com;
Subscribe to Ezra’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVvQDHHrOOjziyqUaN9VoA?sub_confirmation=1;
Fight Laugh Feast Network: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/8297;
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;
Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885.
Wherever you find our content, please like, subscribe, rate, or review it; it truly does help.
The post Q&A: Session 2 – WYA Canada 2024: Dr. Joe Boot, Richard Fangrad & Nate Wright | Podcast for Cultural Reformation appeared first on Ezra Institute.
In the last decade, not only have Christians seen secular institutions collapse all around us but sadly, most Christian ministries, organizations and institutions have failed us, compromised or proven themselves to be sliding to the left.
This week, P Nate is joined by Pastor and Chief Editor of Clear Truth Media Jamie Bambrick from Ireland to discuss the need to rebuild Christian institutions for God’s glory and the advancement of His kingdom.
Episode Resources: Clear Truth Media: https://cleartruthmedia.com/; Jamie Bambrick on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jamie.bambrick; Jamie’s X: https://x.com/j_bambrick;
HOW TO WIN THE WORLD PAST EPISODES:
Part 1 – “Believe the World is Winnable” ft. Josh Howard: https://youtu.be/jhXUt0OFFDM; Part 2 – “War with Worship” ft. Doug Wilson: https://youtu.be/EqgR9Ewba7g; Part 3 – “Cultivate Christian Community” ft. Toby Sumpter: https://youtu.be/a5YQdrgJ_wg; Part 4 – “Recover Biblical Households” ft. C.R. Wiley: https://youtu.be/cRFIdIlSyhY; Part 5 – “Practice Hospitality” ft. Rachel Jankovic: https://youtu.be/pWXJI8_SGlE; Part 6 – “Lead Courageously” ft. Joe Rigney: https://youtu.be/iNQQciI21Rg; Part 7 – “Seek the Lost” ft. Cory McKenna: https://youtu.be/P1ZcYoqW9QQ;
Part 8 – “Tell Better Stories” ft. Ben Garrett: https://youtu.be/7orktGUPdx0;
Part 9 – “Take Bold Risks” ft. Marcus Pittman: https://youtu.be/u3LXM6a0OL4.
The WAIT is OVER!!! Pre-order your copy of the NEW updated and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide! Get it here: *https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition;*
Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/;
Think biblically about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings”: https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government;
For Ezra’s many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com.
Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute: https://www.ezrainstitute.com;
Subscribe to Ezra’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVvQDHHrOOjziyqUaN9VoA?sub_confirmation=1;
Fight Laugh Feast Network: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/8297;
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;
Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885.
Wherever you find our content, please like, subscribe, rate, or review it; it truly does help.
The post Rebuild Christian Institution ft. Jamie Bambrick [HOW TO WIN THE WORLD: PART 10] | Podcast for Cultural Reformation appeared first on Ezra Institute.
On this episode of the Podcast for Cultural Reformation, Dr. Joe Boot is joined by Drs. Aaron Rock and Michael Thiessen at Worldview Youth Academy – Canada 2024 to discuss sex, dating/courtship, marriage and masculinity. You won’t want to miss this riveting conversation filled with God-glorifying insights and practical application.
The WAIT is OVER!!! Pre-order your copy of the NEW updated and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide! Get it here: https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition;
Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/;
Think biblically about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings”: https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government;
For Ezra’s many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com.
Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute: https://www.ezrainstitute.com;
Subscribe to Ezra’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVvQDHHrOOjziyqUaN9VoA?sub_confirmation=1;
Fight Laugh Feast Network: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/8297;
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;
Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885.
Wherever you find our content, please like, subscribe, rate, or review it; it truly does help.
The post Dating, Sex, Marriage & Masculinity ft. Dr. Joe Boot, Dr. Aaron Rock & Dr. Michael Thiessen appeared first on Ezra Institute.
This week P Nate and Pootie welcome back to the show Marcus Pittman, filmmaker, podcaster and CEO of Loor.tv.
Marcus discusses with the Rebels the mandate to put art, media and entertainment under the feet of Jesus in victory. To win the world we have to win in the sphere of the arts where minds and affections are moulded. The conversation reveals a major problem in North American Christianity: it’s lost the risk taking courage it takes to win this cultural battle!
Episode Resources: Loor: https://www.loor.tv/; Babies Are Murdered Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxDyfSHEq5g; Babies Are STILL Murdered Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-vyYE6C8MU
HOW TO WIN THE WORLD PAST EPISODES:
Part 1 – “Believe the World is Winnable” ft. Josh Howard: https://youtu.be/jhXUt0OFFDM; Part 2 – “War with Worship” ft. Doug Wilson: https://youtu.be/EqgR9Ewba7g; Part 3 – “Cultivate Christian Community” ft. Toby Sumpter: https://youtu.be/a5YQdrgJ_wg; Part 4 – “Recover Biblical Households” ft. C.R. Wiley: https://youtu.be/cRFIdIlSyhY; Part 5 – “Practice Hospitality” ft. Rachel Jankovic: https://youtu.be/pWXJI8_SGlE; Part 6 – “Lead Courageously” ft. Joe Rigney: https://youtu.be/iNQQciI21Rg; Part 7 – “Seek the Lost” ft. Cory McKenna: https://youtu.be/P1ZcYoqW9QQ;
Part 8 – “Tell Better Stories” ft. Ben Garrett: https://youtu.be/7orktGUPdx0;
The WAIT is OVER!!! Pre-order your copy of the NEW updated and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide! Get it here: *https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition;*
Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/;
Think biblically about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings”: https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government;
For Ezra’s many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com.
Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute: https://www.ezrainstitute.com;
Subscribe to Ezra’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVvQDHHrOOjziyqUaN9VoA?sub_confirmation=1;
Fight Laugh Feast Network: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/8297;
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;
Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885.
Wherever you find our content, please like, subscribe, rate, or review it; it truly does help.
The post Take Bold Risks ft. Marcus Pittman appeared first on Ezra Institute.
We have crossed over the mid-way point in this series “How to Win the World” after last week’s mid-season review.
This week, P Nate is joined by Ben Garrett from Haunted Cosmos to discuss the theme of storytelling. Throughout Scripture, history is described as the unfolding drama of God’s great narrative. How does understanding God’s story properly and finding our place in it help to win the world? How does reading, loving, and writing stories help advance the Kingdom of God in history?
Join Ben and P Nate for some answers!
Episode Resources: Haunted Cosmos: https://www.youtube.com/@hauntedcosmos_; Haunted Cosmos Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HauntedCosmos; Ben’s X: https://x.com/tompawnbadil
HOW TO WIN THE WORLD PAST EPISODES:
Part 1 – “Believe the World is Winnable”: https://youtu.be/jhXUt0OFFDM; Part 2 – “War with Worship”: https://youtu.be/EqgR9Ewba7g; Part 3 – “Cultivate Christian Community”: https://youtu.be/a5YQdrgJ_wg; Part 4 – “Recover Biblical Households”: https://youtu.be/cRFIdIlSyhY; Part 5 – “Practice Hospitality”: https://youtu.be/pWXJI8_SGlE; Part 6 – “Lead Courageously”: https://youtu.be/iNQQciI21Rg; Part 7 – “Seek the Lost”: https://youtu.be/P1ZcYoqW9QQ;
The WAIT is OVER!!! Pre-order your copy of the NEW updated and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide! Get it here: *https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition;*
Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/;
Think biblically about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings”: https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government;
For Ezra’s many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com.
Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute: https://www.ezrainstitute.com;
Subscribe to Ezra’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVvQDHHrOOjziyqUaN9VoA?sub_confirmation=1;
Fight Laugh Feast Network: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/8297;
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;
Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885.
Wherever you find our content, please like, subscribe, rate, or review it; it truly does help.
The post Tell Better Stories ft. Ben Garrett appeared first on Ezra Institute.
The Ezra Institute recently concluded another successful Canadian Worldview Youth Academy in Port Colborne, Ontario. This year’s event brought together 50 passionate young students eager to deepen their understanding of a biblical worldview and its application in daily life.
Throughout the week, participants were blessed with world-class teaching from an impressive lineup of speakers. Ezra’s own Joe Boot and Nate Wright, Cal Smith from Answers in Genesis, Richard Fangard from Creation Ministries International, André Schutten from Redeemer University and The Justice Centre, and Dr. Ted Fenske all shared their expertise and insights, challenging and inspiring the students to think critically about their faith and its implications for society.
Beyond the classroom, the academy was filled with exciting activities that fostered friendship and fun. Students showcased their talents in a lively talent show, enjoyed bonfires under the stars, and engaged in friendly competition through games of ultimate frisbee and capture the flag. These moments of recreation and bonding were integral to the holistic experience of the academy.
It was truly inspiring to witness the dedication of these young people who take their faith seriously and are eager to be equipped with a biblical world and life view. Their enthusiasm for applying these principles to their future vocations, whatever they may be, was palpable throughout the week.
The success of the academy wouldn’t have been possible without the tireless efforts of our mentors, who generously gave their time to guide and support the students. Equally crucial were our amazing volunteers, whose culinary skills kept everyone well-fed and energized throughout the event.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Rathfon Inn and Jericho House for providing the excellent facilities that made this transformative week possible. Their hospitality created the perfect environment for learning, growth, and fellowship.
As we reflect on this enriching experience, we are filled with encouragement and hope. It’s clear that God has used this week to equip these young minds and hearts to return to their communities as faithful ambassadors for Christ. We look forward with anticipation to seeing how He will use their renewed passion and knowledge to advance His kingdom in Canada and the United States.
May the seeds planted during this academy continue to grow and bear fruit, as these young leaders apply their biblical worldview in every aspect of their lives, contributing to the flourishing of their communities and nations.
The post Another Great Year of WYA in Canada appeared first on Ezra Institute.
On this episode of the Podcast for Cultural Reformation, Dr. Joe Boot and Pastor Nate Wright are joined by Executive Director of Answers in Genesis – Canada, Calvin Smith, for a Q&A recorded LIVE at Worldview Youth Academy – Canada 2024.
The WAIT is OVER!!! Pre-order your copy of the NEW updated and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide! Get it here: https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition;
Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/;
Think biblically about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings”: https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government;
For Ezra’s many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com.
Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute: https://www.ezrainstitute.com;
Subscribe to Ezra’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVvQDHHrOOjziyqUaN9VoA?sub_confirmation=1;
Fight Laugh Feast Network: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/8297;
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;
Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885.
Wherever you find our content, please like, subscribe, rate, or review it; it truly does help.
The post LIVE Q&A WYA Canada 2024: Dr. Joe Boot, Calvin Smith & Nate Wright appeared first on Ezra Institute.
On this episode of the Podcast for Cultural Reformation, Dr. Boot is joined by Dan Smithwick, President of the Nehemiah Institute, to talk about the appalling state of Christian education and worldview thinking among Christians and the need for Christians to think Christianly.
Episode Resources:Nehemiah Institute Website: https://worldviewcheckup.org/;
PEERS Test: https://worldviewcheckup.org/peers;
The WAIT is OVER!!! Pre-order your copy of the NEW updated and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide! Get it here: https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition;
Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/;
Think biblically about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings”: https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government;
For Ezra’s many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com.
Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute: https://www.ezrainstitute.com;
Subscribe to Ezra’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVvQDHHrOOjziyqUaN9VoA?sub_confirmation=1;
Fight Laugh Feast Network: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/8297;
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;
Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885.
Wherever you find our content, please like, subscribe, rate, or review it; it truly does help.
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On this episode of the Podcast for Cultural Reformation, Drs. Boot and Thiessen are joined by Ezra Institute fellow Dr. P. Andrew Sandlin to talk about the Bible as the Word of God.
Episode Resources:Center for Cultural Leadership: https://christianculture.com/;
Dr. Sandlin’s Substack: https://pandrewsandlin.substack.com/
The WAIT is OVER!!! Pre-order your copy of the NEW updated and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide! Get it here: https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition;
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We are thrilled to share that our first-ever Worldview Youth Academy in the United States was a tremendous success! Nearly 30 enthusiastic students from across the United States and Canada came together in the beautiful Smoky Mountains for a week of learning, growth, fellowship, and teamwork.
From daily morning worship to evening devotionals, these young adults were immersed in a transformative experience, grappling with complex issues through a biblical worldview. The Academy aimed to equip students with the ability to think Christianly in all aspects of life. Expert speakers delivered thought-provoking lectures on a variety of topics, including evolution, biblical law, masculinity and femininity, the purpose of marriage, vocation, abortion, and euthanasia.
The days were filled not only with insightful lectures but also with fun and engaging activities. Students participated in camp competitions, enjoyed lake and pool activities, and played soccer, basketball, and tennis. The talent show was a highlight, showcasing the diverse and admirable skills of the student group. The week culminated in a lively hoedown, where students enjoyed square and line dancing on the final night.
The Academy concluded with an unforgettable trip to Gatlinburg, where students marveled at the magnificence of God’s creation from Anakeesta Mountaintop Adventure Park. It was a fitting end to a week of deep learning and meaningful connections.
We are grateful for the opportunity to impact the lives of these young adults and look forward to many more successful academies in the future. Thank you to everyone who made this event possible and to the students who brought their enthusiasm and curiosity to the Academy.
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P Nate and Pootie take a quick breather from this series eight weeks in to review the interviews and discuss what they’ve learned. There have been so many great interviews, great conversations, and so many takeaways that we needed to slow down to digest it all.
If you missed any of the episodes, now is your chance to catch up before the next half of the series drops!
HOW TO WIN THE WORLD PAST EPISODES:
Part 1 – “Believe the World is Winnable”: https://youtu.be/jhXUt0OFFDM; Part 2 – “War with Worship”: https://youtu.be/EqgR9Ewba7g; Part 3 – “Cultivate Christian Community”: https://youtu.be/a5YQdrgJ_wg; Part 4 – “Recover Biblical Households”: https://youtu.be/cRFIdIlSyhY; Part 5 – “Practice Hospitality”: https://youtu.be/pWXJI8_SGlE; Part 6 – “Lead Courageously”: https://youtu.be/iNQQciI21Rg; Part 7 – “Seek the Lost”: https://youtu.be/P1ZcYoqW9QQ;
The WAIT is OVER!!! Pre-order your copy of the NEW updated and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide! Get it here: *https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition;*
Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/;
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The post HOW TO WIN THE WORLD: Mid-Series Review appeared first on Ezra Institute.
The man who is content to sit ignorantly by his own fireside, wrapped up in his own private affairs, and has no public eye for what is going on in the Church and the world, is a miserable patriot, and a poor style of Christian. Next to our Bibles and our own hearts, our Lord would have us study our own times. – J. C Ryle
Idolatry, Folly, and the Natural Mind
The ignorant firesides of privatized Christians are a sad reality that no era of the church has been entirely without. Relatively few believers today want to bother with careful Christian thinking about culture as the prerequisite for truly Christian action in the world. Today’s Western church is generally either paralysed by a pietistic retreatism and cultural disengagement or misled by unthinking enthusiasts. The latter – ‘influencers,’ agitators and activists, loud and sweeping in opinion, the alleged victims of past generations and ready to act as judge, jury, and executioner – like revolutionaries with metaphorical guillotines, go about trying to liberate the triangle of its three sides. Invariably making haste to dispense with careful thought and get on with ‘changing the world,’ they head off to get a selfie of themselves conquering Mount Everest without knowing where it is on the map. They are ready to sternly excoriate the pastor for his privilege, alleged phobias and participation in the patriarchy before listening to his sermons or being able to find Zephaniah between the binding, never mind quote from the minor mouthpiece of divine revelation. Consequently, it is not an easy task to persuade believers to adopt a particular sort of careful thinking, studying the times in service to Christ, and harder still to make appealing the kind of Christian thought which is unconcerned with the self-justifying abstractions so popular in our woke culture for what is radically transformational – which is to say, cutting to the root of the human selfhood and by extension moving out like ripples on a lake, to touch all of life.
The self-justifying ideology that dominates society today, with its shameless moral posturing – the jiggery wokery of the West – is especially difficult to deal with because it is a form of stupidity which is less self-aware than rank evil and is no respecter of persons. It seems immune to reasoning and inconvenient truths. Intellectuals, scholars, political elites, and journalists are frequently afflicted with this brand of stupidity – indeed more so than ordinary working people who are practically forced to consume their vacuous messaging in every form of media. Stupidity is a peculiarly human condition that arises, not because of a lack of intellectual capacity, but because of a herd mentality formed around powerful propaganda – a collective stupidity. It is the abstraction Kierkegaard railed against – public opinion:
The public is a kind of colossal something, an abstract void and vacuum that is all and nothing…the most dangerous of all powers and the most meaningless…Now everyone can have an opinion, but there must be a lumping together numerically in order to have it. Twenty-five signatures to the silliest notion is an opinion.1
The collective folly that emerges is a kind of sociological phenomenon which evidently undermines rudimentary human capabilities, depriving people of their inner independence – their ability to think and assess individually and decide for themselves as an image-bearer before God. This they are prepared to renounce, with varying degrees of self-consciousness, in order to adapt their behavior to the prevailing ideological situation. In the early 1940s the noted Christian martyr in Nazi Germany, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, had time to reflect whilst languishing in prison, on how and why the highly educated German people had become afflicted with collective ideological stupidity. His comments are startlingly reflective of our own cultural moment:
The fact that stupid people are often stubborn should not hide the fact that they are not independent. When talking to him, one feels that one is not dealing with him personally, but with catchphrases, slogans, etc. that have taken possession of him. He is under a spell; he is blinded; he is abused in his own being. Having become an instrument without an independent will, the fool will also be capable of all evil, and at the same time, unable to recognize it as evil…But it is also quite clear here that it is not an act of instruction, but only an act of liberation that can overcome stupidity… The Bible states that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Thus, the inner liberation of man begins by living responsibly before God. Only then may stupidity be overcome.2
Transforming the Mind
The need of the hour in the West is the liberating reality of Jesus Christ and the recovery of the Christian mind – the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16) – that leads to distinctly Christian activity. Merely political and sociological arguments will not suffice because collective folly is an abstraction, a slogan and one cannot simply reason people out of it. Liberation must come from the outside, which involves the recovery of an inner independence in confrontation with the truth.
So, what is the Christian mind? And where do we begin in the study of our time? From the standpoint of scriptural revelation, truly Christian thinking must be concerned first and foremost with Jesus Christ, being His disciple, and having His Word dwell and abide in us by His Spirit. But submitting oneself to being a humble follower does not come easily to anyone. The human inclination is always toward autonomy, preferring to live the illusion that we can legislate for ourselves, like kings without a country. Being a professing Christian in the life of the church does not entirely remove the temptation or inclination to strike out alone and follow our own desires, living by our own priorities and setting to one side the awesome and all-consuming call to be a disciple of Christ; to come and die in order to truly live. Yet this is precisely what Christ calls us to. Being a ‘living sacrifice’ sounds excruciating and involves a transformation of the mind, which implies the pain and suffering of rejection by a world conformed, in the final analysis, to a very different spirit. But the divine midwife insists this is the only way. We must be reborn, transformed and given a new heart, a new mind.
As Christians, we may claim to follow Christ, but the lifelong challenge in developing a truly Christian mindset requires regularly asking ourselves if we have followed him far enough? Have we been to Jordan and seen the dove descending, but hung back from the mountain to avoid His exposition of the law and radical insistence that only those who teach that law can be great in the Kingdom? Have we fallen asleep in pious satisfaction at the gates of Gethsemane, or lingered from a safe distance at Golgotha, never making it to the slopes of Olivet or to the Upper Room in Jerusalem with the dancing flames of fire? Is it possible that we are not yet Christian enough? It is all too easy to follow Christ only as far as is convenient, till the tarrying is just too tiring. If we are unwilling to stand under Christ’s Lordship in all of life, then we are uninvolved in key aspects of the drama and miss the significance of God’s full act in history.
The entire work of Christ in all his offices must become contemporaneous with us if we would truly be transformed by the renewing of our minds. It is not sufficient to appreciate Christ washing Simon Peter’s feet at the last supper as a model of service if we refuse to see him, let alone join him, where the bloodied Stephen saw him – exalted in heavenly places, standing up from his seat of total authority at God’s right hand. Unambiguously, we must certainly see him as priest on the road to Calvary, but we must also recognize him on the footpath to Emmaus as resurrected Lord, the gardener of creation among Arimathea’s roses, if we are to truly follow Christ and know the renewal of our minds.
In a hostile context, the temptation is to follow Him just as far as culture permits. When the storm rises and dread grips us is precisely the time we are called to step out of the boat and walk upon the Word – despite the wind and waves of the world’s antagonism. We must not suddenly become hard of hearing. And if we will not hear that Word over the inimical clamour of idolatry, we certainly cannot then speak it. If our cultural moment is allowed to determine how far we follow Christ, then we cannot follow him at all. We may perhaps hear Hosanna’s from a distance, but we won’t be found stammering with the doubter, “My Lord and my God!” We might be permitted to stand near the cross of a ‘martyr’ but not ascend to the seat of total authority with the ruler of the kings of the earth.
The sad end of hearing and heeding only the word our culture will permit is first an unwillingness, then a tragic inability to speak the whole counsel of God as faithful prophets. As priest and prophet Christ was hated, knew the world’s enmity, and warned that the spirit at work in the children of disobedience would naturally hate his followers also. But we cannot follow our prophet nor share in his sufferings if we refuse to prophesy. Many contemporary priests would rather predict with Balaam to preserve their living than stand with Elijah against Baal. It is certain an ass has spoken with more wisdom in the annals of prophetic utterance than many English bishops in recent years – hirelings who would flog the meekest of God’s prophets if they could for hindering their progress in vexing the church. Always loquacious but lacking true substance, they deceive and flatter themselves that their goal is unity when, in reality, it is revolt. Like powdered-wigged courtiers fighting over who will fetch the kings chamber pot, much of the Western church’s leadership, even amongst evangelicals, simply courts the culture – ingratiating themselves with the influential, the powerful, the professors, even senior clergy who have whored themselves to the spirit of the world. Largely in the name of scholarliness they are avidly committed to half-measures, truth to a certain degree.
The moment that God’s people call a truce and reach a settlement with the spirit of the world, the mindset of the age, is the moment they set aside the Christian mind and overturn true Christianity. The kingdom of God is indeed in this world, but not of it; it is surely present here, but it is not from here – its power, authority and mandate derive from a transcendent source. In history, the church is always the church militant not yet fully triumphant. The struggle will continue over our graves till the king comes who will open all graves. We are called to victory but not to peaceful collaboration. It is only where the battle is fiercest that the fealty of Christ’s soldiers is proved. To desert the frontline but deny cowardice and disloyalty because you once served up beans in the officer’s mess is to lie to oneself.
When God’s people say ‘peace, peace,’ when there is no peace, and sign a treaty with a rebel world, it pretends to be the church triumphant, that the struggle against lawlessness and spiritual darkness is complete – but before the consummation of Christ. Declaring an armistice with sin or striking a deal with the godless state is not a victory nor faithfulness to God’s kingdom. If the church acquiesces to blessing homosexual relationships to make peace with the culture, like the Church of England’s Synod, or meekly surrenders Christ’s authority over public worship, assembly and sacraments to the state, like many Christian leaders during the Covid-19 debacle, defeats are being dressed up like conquests. It is a tragic irony that those who preach righteousness and hope for history through following Christ to the uttermost, bringing them into direct conflict with the world on the frontlines of battle, are charged with ‘triumphalism,’ whilst popular collaborators who claim neutrality with the world, making a compact of surrender or privatization to the applause of culture, are thought pious and realistic. In reality they are triumphalist – seeking to immanentize a false eschaton by denaturing the faith, abstracting it from the affairs of daily life and coating what remains in honey so as to avoid any bitter taste in society’s mouth – for a church no longer at war is a church triumphant.
This compromised situation is one Christians should be ashamed of, as today’s unthinking Christianity, harmonized with the world, humiliates itself. Like an old man decked out in the fashions of youth, it becomes an object of ridicule. Accommodating the Christian mind to society’s whims reduces the priceless bread of life to play dough, molded to superficial preferences. Worse, those willing to sit quietly by in pious self-satisfaction amidst a failing church and culture, refusing to either understand or respond with faith and courage to the times in which they live, are traitors to the cause of the king. Our age requires men of Issachar, not cowards who, bringing counsels of despair, head for home and hearth because they saw giants in Jericho.
What kind of Christian will you be?
—
1 Kierkegaard, Two Ages, 93, 106.
2 Bonhoeffer, Dietrich.“Von der Dummheit”: Widerstand und Ergebung. Briefe und Aufzeichnungen aus der Haft. S. 17–20. Muenchen, Christian Kaiser Verlag, 1951.
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In this episode of the Podcast for Cultural Reformation, Drs. Joe Boot and Michael Thiessen are joined by Dr. Ted Fenske, from the inaugural Worldview Youth Academy—USA, to discuss true, biblical masculinity in our confused and effeminate age.
The WAIT is OVER!!! Pre-order your copy of the NEW updated and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide! Get it here: *https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition;*
Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/;
Think biblically about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings”: https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government;
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Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;
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As the Rebels continue the summer series on how to win the world, we turn our attention to evangelism. How can we win the world if we do not seek the lost with the transforming power of the gospel? This week, Chris invites returning guest and friend of the show, Cory McKenna, an equipping evangelist with the Cross Current, to discuss how real, biblical evangelism is the heart of cultural reformation.Episode Resources: Cross Current: https://thecrosscurrent.com/
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The post How to Win the World – Part 7: Seek the Lost appeared first on Ezra Institute.
What is cultural apologetics? Can a biblical worldview make sense of human experience? What are some of the biggest objections to the Christian faith? Rev Dr Joe Boot, founder and president of the Ezra Institute for Contemporary Christianity shares his thoughts. This interview was recorded in front of a live audience at Holy Trinity Church, Aylesbury in partnership with Aylesbury Youth For Christ.
The post Unapologetic Podcast: Why Believe? appeared first on Ezra Institute.
It’s that time of the month again! It’s time for another Q&A with Dr. Joe Boot. This month Dr. Mike Thiessen asks Dr. Joe Boot your questions. Tune in as they discuss the religious character of culture and the religious foundation for law & politics.
Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/;
Think biblically about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings”: https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government;
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The sixth episode of The Ezra Institute’s special series with the Rebels, “How to Win the World,” is one not to miss!This week, Dr. Joe Rigney joins the show to discuss the necessity of courageous leadership if we want to see the world won!Episode Resources: Canon+: https://canonpress.com/;Joe’s Resources: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Joe-Rigney/author/B00F6VS6UE?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true;Leadership and Emotional Sabotage: https://www.amazon.com/Leadership-Emotional-Sabotage-Resisting-Anxiety/dp/1591280400/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=5Hc4V&content-id=amzn1.sym.f911c8db-3a2b-4b3e-952f-b80fdcee83f4&pf_rd_p=f911c8db-3a2b-4b3e-952f-b80fdcee83f4&pf_rd_r=145-1583662-1169046&pd_rd_wg=xLPRz&pd_rd_r=d010179b-4165-440c-89aa-d957c201c871&ref_=aufs_ap_sc_dsk;Douglas Wilson & Friends with host Joe Rigney: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaUso8l3U_deJ9bAb8-rPjI3ndRP3sLgK;For Ezra’s many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com.Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute: https://www.ezrainstitute.comSubscribe to Ezra’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVvQDHHrOOjziyqUaN9VoA?sub_confirmation=1;Fight Laugh Feast Network: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/8297;Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885.Wherever you find our content, please like, subscribe, rate, or review it; it truly does help.The post How to Win the World – Part 6: Lead Courageously with Dr. Joe Rigney appeared first on Ezra Institute.
In celebration of Canada Day (better known as Dominion Day) and the upcoming UK election, which happens to fall on July 4th, American Independence Day, Dr. Joe Boot is joined by Professor Daniel Ogden, Ezra Fellow for International Law, Comparative Politics, and International Relations, to discuss principles of political freedom, rights and responsibilities, good governance, and the rule of higher law.
Think biblically about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings”: https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government;
Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/;
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Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;
Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885.
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https://www.ezrainstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/S07E38.mp3The post From Where Do Our Rights Come?: An Independence Day Special ft. Dan Ogden appeared first on Ezra Institute.
Happy Dominion Day, Canada! Are you having people over to celebrate? Then, you’re not going to want to miss this podcast. In this fourth episode, the Rebels are joined by Author, Podcaster, and all-around Christian influencer Rachel Jankovich to tackle the very important, often overlooked subject of Christian Hospitality! Over our summer series “How to Win the World,” P Nate and Pootie have the privilege to sit down with some amazing guests and discuss practical Christian commands that, when faithfully obeyed, push back the darkness and cultivate Christian culture! Continue to join us as we learn how to put our hand to the plough in real, tangible ways.
Episode Resources: Canon+: https://canonpress.com/; Rachel’s Resources: https://canonpress.com/collections/all/rachel-jankovic; What Have You Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-have-you/id1287267219;
For Ezra’s many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com.
Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute:https://www.ezrainstitute.com Subscribe to Ezra’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVvQDHHrOOjziyqUaN9VoA?sub_confirmation=1; Fight Laugh Feast Network: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/8297; Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503; Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885.
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The post How to Win the World, Part 5: Practice Hospitality with Rachel Jankovic appeared first on Ezra Institute.
‘The crowd is untruth. Therefore, was Christ crucified’ – Soren Kierkegaard
One of the most fascinating figures for me in the history of European thought, is the controversial and prophetic, Soren Kierkegaard. He recognized, back in the mid-nineteenth century, that Western Europe was reaching a tipping point. As a devout Christian, although he strongly believed an emphatic ‘turn’ toward a renewed consolidation of faith in the eternal worth of human beings as God’s image-bearers lay ahead, he was also convinced that before this could happen, there would be a protracted time of upheavals and catastrophes.[i] The portent of this was already heralded by the revolutionary movements of 1848 – beginning in the Italian peninsula and spreading throughout much of Europe. Shortly thereafter, Europe was rocked by two World Wars and a sexual-social revolution that continues to this day. Kierkegaard foresaw the late-modern age of radical democratization as one of steady disintegration, suffering and bloodshed, in which man would try and solve his existential problems by politics – by his own power and reason.
This, he recognized, was an essentially religious issue resulting from the uprooting of a scriptural world and life view. In fact, just as Karl Marx was embarking on what would prove a highly influential writing career, Kierkegaard noted with remarkable prescience that the godless secular movements which were emerging would arrive as ‘political’ trends but would soon be unmasked as deeply religious in nature. He wrote,
The future will correspond inversely to the reformation: then everything appeared to be a religious movement and became politics; now everything appears to be politics but will become a religious movement.[ii]
We are seeing this played out before our eyes in modern political life. Under the profound and lasting influence of Hegel and Marx, modern statism has become the neo-pagan religion of choice across Western Europe – politics is again priestly and saving in its pretentions. The conservative and classically liberal vision of a small and delimited state, focused on its task as a ministry of justice, has almost entirely given way to a plan for radical social democracy, in which the state is an omnipresent and totalizing institution in which civil government swallows all other forms of government in a parts to whole relation. This messianic state, hailed and erected by the crowd, has sought to redefine marriage and sexuality, truth and justice, the meaning of money, the value of life and the concept of law. As a result, family, church, private enterprise, and independent nationhood have been assaulted on every side.
Inevitably, sacrifices must be made to the new god – the unborn, historic freedoms, family inheritance, progressive taxes, and property. State tyranny is no longer dressed in the luxurious robes of royal privilege, and yet, adorned with the positive law of ‘the people,’ equally asserts its eminent domain. Ahab wants your vineyard, and he will plot, bribe, lie, and grind you to powder to get it, all under cover of a sovereign seal. Yes, the new god will ‘level up’ the world through a vast democratization and equalization of all life. The modern West’s mutiny against God, whether kitted out in proletarian or aristocratic, elitist boots, is of a demonic character and so no purely political solution is possible. The root problem is unquestionably the underlying religious worldview, and it is imperative it be addressed.
The masses in Europe have been bought off for decades by false and impossible promises of cradle to grave security, the omnicompetent state embracing the gullible crowd in its providential beneficence and paternal solicitude. But Dagon has toppled. And though we keep trying to stand him on end and glue his head and hands back on, some people are beginning to realise, the jig is up. The emperor has no clothes. The social democracy proffering utopian political salvation is a powerless idol, no more capable of delivering on its promises than the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel.
This is now painfully true in the UK. Like much of the West, Britain is broken, bankrupt and decaying rapidly. The British states ludicrous attempt to ‘save’ its people from Covid-19 with state largesse led to runaway inflation from which the economy has still not recovered. Its borders are overrun by both legal and illegal migrants from largely Islamic lands, and there is presently no meaningful political will to prevent it; its public services are at breaking point; twenty percent of its working age population is economically inactive, with over 50% of the nation taking more directly and indirectly in benefits and welfare than they pay in taxes, despite taxation being at a record post war high; its demography is in freefall as the family collapses; and its favorite goddess of state, the National Health Service, is teetering on the brink of total collapse; the military has shrunk to its smallest size since before the Napoleonic war as recruitment becomes an uphill struggle, and confidence in social and political institutions has reached a radical low.
The ideological difference between the two main parties in Britain is shockingly invisible. Both the Conservative and Labour Parties are addicted to an intoxicating status quo of high tax, high spend, debt ridden, la la land economic policy to appease the abstract ‘public,’ and a social liberalism unwilling to tackle head on the ruinous continuation of the sexual revolution – with both abortion and the queering of culture being a national disgrace. With few, but notable exceptions among the Tories, both the main parties promote a left-leaning social democracy, undergirded by stagnant socialistic welfare economics. Their actions show they are true believers in the fickle god of state – who now plans to save us from the climate itself, with mindless net zero policies.
Yet ironically, Britain remains in a better state than most of Western Europe. Over the English Channel, revolutionary rumblings are once again afoot in France, with elections happening on July 7. France has been riven by religious, economic, and social disintegration for decades, and its looks as though a day of reckoning is looming for the Justin Trudeau of Europe, Emmanuel Macron.
In Britain, the general election takes place on July 4th. The chances of the British public voting for their own ‘Independence Day’ from an overreaching nanny state are presently zero. Our democracy is currently eating itself, and things are liable to get considerably worse before they get better. Segments of the population are starting to rediscover their individuality from the crowd and realizing something has gone badly wrong. A form of British conservative populism is on the rise. It looks back with understandable nostalgia to the days of the Christian Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, and though it does not fully know how, because its overlooks the religious root, longs to recover its British identity – decency, fairness, politeness, hospitality, generosity, justice, with a daring ‘can do’ spirit full of hope, fortitude and faith. But July’s election will almost certainly deliver a larcenous socialist government power in the UK for at least five years, as a disillusioned and furious electorate, lurching at the ballot box from bad to worse, unwittingly decides to watch the illusion of political salvation die a painful death.
A recent prediction regarding the expected outcome of our forthcoming election from one noted political commentator in the UK makes for sobering reading. Following the crowd is almost always a ruinous course:
It will merely make a bad situation worse, further ruining an already broken Britain, and will be remembered as the last hurrah of an ancien regime that never learnt from its mistakes. Our taxes will go up to even more extortionate levels, especially on capital and property, making it even less worthwhile to work, invest or create; our drift to European-style social democracy will accelerate; our ultra-regulated economy will carry on stagnating in terms of per capita GDP, delivering paltry wage growth and ensuring children can no longer expect to be better off than their parents. The NHS, pensions and the welfare state will career ever-faster towards bankruptcy; immigrants will arrive at extraordinary rates, fuelling problems of integration and exacerbating the housing crisis; the gap between London and the rest will grow; the somewheres will still be pitted against the anywheres; the education system, state and private, will be trashed by egalitarian fanatics. Quangos and human rights lawyers will be handed even greater powers. The woke revolution will tear through more institutions; the family will continue to wither, intensifying the baby-bust; criminals will run riot; energy costs will rocket further in a mad rush to net zero, while the war on mobility will be intensified; and our Armed Forces will remain preposterously small.[iii]
For good reason, Christ never entrusted himself to the crowd – for the crowd is untruth. The 51% is not the path of righteousness. The masses that would make him king, soon called instead for his crucifixion. We can never place our faith in ‘the public’, elections or the political life of a nation. Through all the ups and downs, twists and turns of history, our faith must be in Christ alone who calls all peoples, kings, judges, and rulers to serve Him. Christ did not permit the crowd as mass-man to help him. He ‘did not permit balloting, but would be what He is, the Truth, which relates itself to the individual.’[iv] With Kierkegaard, I have no doubt that Christianity will not only have the last laugh, but will have the final word in this great struggle of our time.
[i] Soren Kierkegaard, cited in, Gregor Malantschuk, The Controversial Kierkegaard, trans., Howard V. Hong & Edna H. Hong (Ontario: Wilfred Laurier University Press, 1976), 72-73
[ii] Kierkegaard, The Controversial Kierkegaard, 73
[iii] The Telegraph, Allister Heath, ‘Britain is Heading for a Populist Tsunami Far Greater than Anything Seen in Europe’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/06/12/britain-faces-populist-tsunami-greater-anything-seen-europe/ accessed, June 2024.
[iv] Soren Kierkegaard, in, Walter Kaufmann, Existentialism from Dostoevsky to Sartre (New York: Plume, 1975), 96
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On this episode of the Podcast for Cultural Reformation, Doctors Joe Boot and Michael Thiessen address whether or not democracy is compatible with a biblical worldview. It’s Election Season. Think biblically about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book “Ruler of Kings”: https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government; Get your copy of “Covenant Sexuality” from Ezra Press for 20% off today!: https://ezrapress.ca/products/covenant-sexuality-1; Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Should we do this more often? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/;
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This summer the Rebels are learning “How to Win the World” through various guests discussing practical Christian theology and how it can apply to the immediate world around us. Continue to join us as we learn how to put our hand to the plough in real, tangible ways.
In this fourth episode, P Nate and Elder P are joined by Pastor/ Author C.R. Wiley of the Theology Pugcast to discuss how Christians can reclaim productive, anti-fragile, biblical households.
Episode Resources: Canon+: https://canonpress.com/; C.R.’s Website: https://crwiley.com/; C.R.’s Books: https://crwiley.com/books/; Theology Pugcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-theology-pugcast/id1452933071?ign-mpt=uo%3D4&mt=2; Fight, Laugh, Feast (FLF) Network: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/menu/checkout;
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On this episode of the Podcast for Cultural Reformation, Dr. Michael Thiessen and Pastor Nate Wright address the accusation that the God of the Old Testament is cruel and, accordingly, Christians should “unhitch” themselves for the Old Testament.Get your copy of “Covenant Sexuality” from Ezra Press for 20% off today!: https://ezrapress.ca/products/covenant-sexuality-1;Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Should we do this more often? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/; For Ezra’s many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com. Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute: https://www.ezrainstitute.comSubscribe to Ezra’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVvQDHHrOOjziyqUaN9VoA?sub_confirmation=1;Fight Laugh Feast Network: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/8297;Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885. Wherever you find our content, please like, subscribe, rate, or review it; it truly does help.The post Is the God of the Old Testament Cruel? | Podcast for Cultural Reformation appeared first on Ezra Institute.
In this episode of Ezra Institute’s special series with the Rebels, “How to Win the World,” P Nate and Pootie will be joined by a variety of guests talking about several key practical outworkings of theological concepts that will help Christians expand the Kingdom of God, fix what is broken and slowly but surely win the world.
In this third episode, the Rebels are joined by pastor and author Toby Sumpter to talk about the intentional cultivation of Christian community. How can we build the kind of communities that will be necessary to win the world? TUNE IN TO FIND OUT.
Episode Resources:
Canon+: https://canonpress.com/;
Having Two Legs (Toby’s Blog): https://tobyjsumpter.com/;
Crosspolitic: https://crosspolitic.com/;
Fight, Laugh, Feast (FLF) Network: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/menu/checkout;
Christ Church (Moscow): https://www.christkirk.com/.
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On this Podcast for Cultural Reformation episode, Dr. Michael Thiessen and Pastor Nate Wright address the Pagan high holy month of Pride. Not only do they expose the 2SLGBTQIA+ cult for the false religion it is, but they also provide a positive biblical vision for sex and sexuality.
Get your copy of “Covenant Sexuality”from Ezra Press for 20% off today!: https://ezrapress.ca/products/covenant-sexuality-1;
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The Ezra Institute brings you a new series with the Rebels when P Nate and Pootie are joined by a variety of guests talking about several key practical outworkings of theological concepts that will help Christians expand the Kingdom of God, see the dark pushed back and slowly (like leaven working through the loaf) win the world.
In this episode, P Nate and Pootie invite Doug Wilson onto the show to discuss an unlikely place for world-conquering to start… with corporate worship. Wilson lays out a vision of worship that extends from the corporate gathering of local churches to the private practices of every Christian behind closed doors. If we want to win the world, we need to start with proper worship… because, in the Christian worldview, worship is warfare!
Episode Resources:
Canon+:https://canonpress.com/;
Blog & Mablog: https://dougwils.com/;
Blog & Mablog on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEeDTCe9GnbRPbUfNwoqEYQ;
Christ Church (Moscow): https://www.christkirk.com/.
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It’s that time of the month again when Pastor Nate Wright and Dr. Joe Boot answer your questions. Tune in as they discuss church leadership and accountability, the intermediate state and where Christians go after they die, and Christians’ response to the pagan high, holy month of perversion and debauchery, Pride Month.
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The Ezra Institute brings you a new series with the Rebels when P Nate and Pootie are joined by a variety of guests talking about several key practical outworkings of theological concepts that will help Christians expand the Kingdom of God, see the dark pushed back, and slowly (like leaven working through the loaf) win the world.
This episode P Nate is joined by pastor/ author Dr. Josh Howard, who hosts the Eschatology Matters podcast, to discuss step one to saving the world… believing this world can actually be won!
Episode Resources:
Eschatology Matters:eschatologymatters.org;
Eschatology Matters YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@eschatology_matters;
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Tune in starting June 03, 2024, to the Rebel Podcast for Cultural Engagement’s NEW series: How to Win the World ft. Dr. Joe Boot, Doug Wilson, Toby Sumpter, Joe Rigney, Rachel Jankovic and many more!
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Work is a central aspect of life. On today’s show, we continue our series, Conversations & Presuppositions, by examining a Christian view of work, wealth, and capital and investing our time, talents, and treasures to advance the Kingdom of God.
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Countering Pro-Abortion Rhetoric with Grace and Truth
Some things seem best not discussed. In polite society, it’s generally recommended to avoid all inflammatory topics, and in particular, religion and politics. Since abortion hits both of these, and represents the single most divisive issue in our society, sidestepping the subject seems prudent, if not life-preserving. In an effort to keep the peace and maintain a congenial atmosphere, most would agree to let this sleeping dog lie. Outside of the realms of pro-life rallies and pro-choice protests, little is said on the topic and silence tends to prevail, leaving the issues surrounding abortion largely unaddressed. So much so, that for many people, abortion has become a non-issue all together and conveniently dismissed.
Remarkably, this silent treatment takes place despite the fact that abortions occur commonly and exact a widespread and costly toll. Of the adult surgeries done in North America, abortion is the most commonly performed, with one in four pregnancies ending in abortion.1 Following the American legalization of abortion in 1973, untold millions of preborn children have been brutally killed, skulls crushed, bodies dismembered, and remains suctioned from the womb. This procedural reality is accurately portrayed in the excellent movie, “Unplanned,”2 which, in its opening scenes, graphically depicts the black and white ultrasound image of a baby fetus being suctioned apart, juxtaposed with bright red blood filling an adjacent container. I know this from my own medical training experience, when I helped provide anaesthesia for long slates of “therapeutic” abortion cases, and remember all too well the vacutainer filling in spurts and starts with blood and body parts, as the gynecologist tried to make light of the situation with attempts at dark humor.
The murdered preborn aren’t the only casualties. Of course, women who have had an abortion suffer, as well, both in coming to their decision, and in the months and years that follow. They are the ones that have to live with the fact that their choice resulted in the death of their developing child; a decision which is often associated with deep regret, and even lifelong remorse.3 As well, there is the societal injury, devaluing human life, and not just for the preborn, but for all stages of life, from the infant through to the elderly and the infirm. Although the recent U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe versus Wade may help to stem part of this tide – allowing state legislators to place some restrictions on abortion in their jurisdictions – it won’t necessarily do much for Canada, where abortion-on-demand is readily available nationwide, right up to and including the time of delivery. Like the totalitarian state of North Korea, Canada has no laws protecting the unborn, rendering the womb a most dangerous place for many.
At the center of the abortion debate is a war on words. As Eric Bentley aptly summarized, “Ours is the age of substitutes: Instead of language we have jargon; instead of principles, slogans; and, instead of genuine ideas, bright ideas.”4 To render abortion more palatable and foster societal agreement, it is referred to as a “reproductive health choice,” and defined as “the termination of a pregnancy by removal of an embryo or fetus.” This use of medical euphemisms functions to desensitize and confuse people about what it actually is – the murder of an innocent preborn baby. Pro-abortion activism is rife with slogan usage. These catchy phrases make use of prepackaged ideas to allow for easy acceptance and to divert attention away from the grim reality of the abortion procedure. However, resorting to slogans as the primary means of propelling their anti-life views only betrays their impoverished philosophy and indefensible moral position. As such, there is ample opportunity to speak truth into this void.
As professing Christians, remaining silent in the face of widespread abortion is not an option. Jesus demonstrated unending compassion and concern for the most vulnerable in society, of which the preborn would be considered the most preeminent. As followers of the Risen Lord, like Him, we need to demonstrate concern, as well. Something needs to be said to stop the killing. So, rather than opposing the pro-abortion rhetoric with counter sloganeering, fighting fire with fire, pithy with pithy, tit for tat, our conversations need to “be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that we may know how to answer everyone” (Col 4:6). This is because the battle over the sanctity of human life isn’t just our personal fight, but rather the Lord’s, and needs to be waged on His terms. As such, “the weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have the divine power to demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God (2 Cor 10:4-5). It’s a battle that won’t be won in the political arena or the court room, but in the heart of hearts of each and every person, and not only by political might and legislative muster, but by the transformative work of the Holy Spirit, “as we take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor 10:5). The ambition of this essay is to provide an approach for followers of Christ to winsomely counter pro-abortion slogans with productive dialogue that will not only help persuade others to adopt a prolife stance, but point them to the Gospel and the need for a saving faith in Jesus Christ.
Biblical Foundation for Prolife Stance
Before engaging with those who hold pro-abortion views, it’s worthwhile considering the firm foundation on which our argumentation rests, and in the process, better appreciate their shaky one. All philosophical systems of thought rest upon a series of background assumptions or beliefs. These include a metaphysical starting point on which the system is based and from which all thinking derives – an ultimate commitment – as well as an understanding of how things are known, and known that they’re known – an epistemology – and an ethical guide for how we should live our lives – a moral standard. For Christians, the Bible is that objective starting place. The Triune God of Scripture – the creator and sustainer of the universe – is understood as being behind everything that exists. Similarly, Christian epistemology is based upon Biblical revelation. We know things because God has made them known to us through His Word, our understanding of which is enabled by the power of the Holy Spirit. Because of God’s revelation, we are brought into the Kingdom of light and are able to make sense of our experiences and understand things in their proper relationship to Him, “the alpha and the omega” (Rev 1:8). As King Solomon said, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is Understanding” (Prov 9:10). Likewise, the Christian moral standard is clearly detailed in Scripture, and summarized by Jesus as, “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind…and your neighbor as yourself” (Matt 22:37-39).
By contrast, those who reject Holy Scripture and the knowledge of God, which has been made plain in the created order, begin their thinking with themselves. Attempting to function in an automatous fashion, they set stand-alone reason as their starting point, and base their thinking and their means of knowing things on their own wits and wisdom. In regard to moral behaviour, they become their own arbiter of right and wrong, and base their ethics on their own darkened sensibilities, shaped by the surrounding values of the culture, “everyone doing as he sees fit” (Ju 21:25). Rene Descartes, who was considered the father of the so-called Enlightenment Period, formalized this approach with the assertion, “I think therefore I am.” Descartes reckoned that his ability to think – while being shut off from all external stimuli and influences – provided him with the definitive foundation for being. He referred to this ultimate commitment as the Archimedean point, named after the ancient Greek mathematician, who boldly claimed to be able to move the earth if he had a place to stand and a long enough lever.
However, like Archimedes’ metaphorical image, Descartes’ maxim isn’t workable. For Archimedes to move the earth with a lever, he would need to have, in principle at least, a place to stand separate from the created order. Otherwise, there would be no net movement, just a lot of huffing and puffing. It would be like trying to punt a boat by pushing off from the boat floor rather than the river bottom, or attempting to pull yourself up by your own bootstraps. Similarly, if we base reality on our finite capacity to think, disengaged from all else, we have no way of making sense of our experiences and our relationship to the world, beyond the confines of our subjective thoughts. We are in the woods and unable to see the forest for the trees. Like Archimedes, we also require a separate point from ourselves and the created order to objectively understand reality – a transcendent point – which only the Bible, as the transcendent Word of God, can provide.
With this in mind, the Christian approach to the ethical issue of abortion becomes quite straightforward – just don’t do it! We know abortion is wrong because the Bible says it’s wrong. While quoting Scripture may not be the most effective means of persuading a non-believer to reject abortion, it’s essential that we, who stand on God’s word, understand the Biblical underpinnings of the pro-life position. Although people from antiquity were largely indifferent to the practice of abortion, historians agree that “the language of the Christians from the very beginning was widely different. With unwavering consistency and with the strongest emphasis, they denounced the practice, not simply as inhuman, but as definitely murder.”5 This is because the verdict about abortion in the Bible is clear. The opening pages of Genesis present humankind as set apart from all other living things, created not by his law-word, but “formed from the dust of the ground” into the image of God (Gen 2:7). The sanctity of human life is explained to Noah that, “Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind” (Gen 9:6). This prohibition against murder makes the top-ten list of commandments given to Moses and is twice repeated in the Torah (Ex 20:13, Deut 5:17). Furthermore, Scripture condemns child sacrifice and makes clear not to murder the innocent (2 Ki 21:16; Ps 106:37,38; Jer 19:4), but to celebrate children as “a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him” (Ps 127:3).
As God incarnate, Jesus lived and redeemed the entirety of human life and experience, from its very beginnings in the womb to death in the tomb. By living a perfect life before the Father, he sanctified every phase of human life, including embryonic development, when his cousin, John the Baptist, leapt for joy in Elizabeth’s womb at his presence (Lk 1:44). And Jeremiah was reassured by the Lord that he was known by God in the womb, and before he was born, was “set apart and anointed as a prophet to the nations” (Jer 1:5). Therefore, our inherent value as image bearers doesn’t begin at birth, nor at any other arbitrary cut point preceding it, such as womb implantation, or measurable brain wave activity, heartbeat, quickening, viability, or the babe’s first breath. In fact, the Apostle Paul tells us that we were chosen before the very foundations of the world (Eph 1:4). So, although our souls are inextricably connected to our physical bodies, our value is not dependent on us attaining any particular stage of development nor age of maturity. It follows then that the preborn are precious to God and deserve our unfaltering protection.
Proverbial Approach to Argumentation
Since abortion is an emotionally charged and polarizing topic, articulating a counter view requires a thoughtful approach. We need to be “shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves” (Matt 10:16), not “nasty as serpents and stupid as pigeons,” as Preston Manning quipped. Considering our response, then, we would do well to draw from Biblical wisdom and take a lesson from King Solomon, who said, “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes” (Prov 26:4-5). In this context, the term fool carries moral rather than intellectual meaning. Similar to its use in Psalm 14, “A fool says in his heart there is no God,” fool refers to emptiness of belief rather than stupidity. While at first blush, the two verses of this proverb may seem contradictory, their purposeful juxtaposition underscores how they necessarily complement each other and work together. In the first portion, “not answering a fool according to their folly” (verse 4), we are warned not to be drawn into argumentation based on secular thought, otherwise we are at risk of also being mired in confusion. In the second portion, “answering the fool according to their folly” (verse 5), we are encouraged to show understanding of the unbeliever’s viewpoint and temporarily put on their worldview glasses.
When applying this proverb to the real world of abortion dialogue, it works best to reverse the order, and begin by showing an understanding with the pro-abortionist position, followed by drawing out their position to its natural conclusions, and then showing its failings. The Canadian Centre for Bioethical Reform, a prolife equipping ministry, applies this method superbly.6 After first exposing the visual evidence of what abortion does to preborn children, the dedicated team of staff, interns, and volunteers winsomely articulate why human rights must begin when a human’s life begins. They do so by making use of a proven-effective three-part approach to proactively engage Canadians in productive conversations on the topic of abortion.
First, they establish a point of contact by demonstrating a level of understanding and some degree of agreement. This acts a bit like an olive branch and can help diffuse initial tensions around the topic. Second, they ask them to consider an analogous scenario involving a toddler rather than a preborn baby. This brings the conversation out from the realm of the abstract fetus and into concrete relatable terms of a living child. Third, they pose an “if/then” question to gently challenge the pro-abortion stance by demonstrating its inconsistency and contradiction. During the entire process, the aim is to steer the conversation towards the humanity of the preborn child. This is because once the pro-abortionist sees the truth of abortion and faces the reality of their stance – that abortion is the intentional killing of an innocent human being – they are more likely to soften their position, and even accept the prolife view. The hope then is to make the Gospel attractive and direct those who have held a proabortion view towards Jesus Christ, in whom there is forgiveness of sins and regeneration of sinners.
To illustrate this three-part approach, and provide some example responses, five brief scenarios are outlined below that address common appeals for abortion. For a more comprehensive review of the topic, Randy Alcorn’s book, Prolife Answers to Prochoice Questions is highly recommended.7
Scenario (1) Responding to abortion as a right to bodily autonomy
Appealing to abortion as a right to bodily autonomy is quite popular, as evidenced by the recent enshrinement of the right to abortion in France’s constitution, celebrated with the rhetorical slogan, ‘my body, my choice’ emblazoned on the Eiffel Tower.8 The contact point here is our agreement in general terms with both the right to bodily autonomy, and the importance of free choice. When Jesus died for our sins, he freely gave up his body, implying, of course, that he was not coerced, but free to do so, and that it was his body in the first place, to give up, and not Rome’s. No State should have the power over another’s body. The Nurenburg Code, 9 which was written in response to the Holocaust of Nazi Germany, has these protections, as has the more recent Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights,10 which in no uncertain terms upholds our fundamental rights to voluntarily choose to receive medical intervention or not. Up until COVID-19, the medical community honored this right, even to the point of allowing Jehovah’s Witness patients, who refuse blood products, to die of exsanguination, bleeding to death rather than being transfused. Those who were concerned about the COVID vaccines used this same slogan, “my body, my choice,” to protest against vaccine mandates. Governmental over-reach during the pandemic demonstrated how easily our fundamental rights, including the right to assembly and freedom of movement, can be immediately stripped away. Since our civil freedoms have been hard won, and are worth fighting to preserve, we can respond in guarded agreement to the pro-abortionist on this point with, “Yes, I agree. Bodily autonomy and personal freedoms are very important.”
To then build on this point of agreement, and move the conversation from abstract general terms into relatable specific terms, we can make use of an analogy between the preborn and a toddler. We could say, for example, “but imagine a mother made a choice to end the life of her 2-year-old child. Would that be an appropriate choice for her to make?”
If they respond with “no” (which is the only reasonable response), then we have established that although personal freedom and choice are important, they aren’t ultimate. They have limitations. Not all things done with a person’s body are right, nor should they all be legally protected. A person isn’t permitted to expose themself or urinate in public, nor steal or strike another at will. Our rights and freedoms need to be considered in the context of the rights and freedoms of others, and restrictions are required to prevent one person from bringing harm to another. Abortion, of course, is an example of harm in the extreme.
If there is agreement that killing the toddler would not be a good choice, then we can challenge them on the topic of abortion by asking, “Well, if it isn’t right for the mother to choose to end the life of her toddler, why would it be right for her to end the life of her preborn child?” This question draws the rhetorical slogan in this context to its logical conclusion, and demonstrates its inconsistency.
If, at this point, an appeal is made for abortion on the basis of bodily autonomy along the lines of “every woman should have control over her own body, reproductive freedom is a basic human right,” we can respond by saying that the time for the mother to exercise reproductive freedom of choice has passed. She already made the choices to have sexual intercourse and to do so without contraception, and now there are the rights and freedoms of two bodies that need to be considered –mother and child – not just her body. As a pro-abortion advocate, Mary Anne Warren admitted, “the right to control one’s body, which is generally construed as a property right, is at best a rather feeble argument for the permissibility of abortion. Mere ownership does not give me the right to kill innocent people whom I find on my property.”11
Scenario (2) Response to abortion as a solution to an unwanted pregnancy
Over 60% of unintended pregnancies end in abortion.12 The commonly used slogan to justify this outcome is, “Every child a wanted child,” with the argument that it’s unfair to bring children into a world where they aren’t wanted. The clever use of rhetorical language brings to mind a utopian world filled with lovingly cared for children, with no more child abuse and no more abandonment. And what could possibly be wrong with that? Plenty, of course, considering that the implied flip side of this slogan is “Every unwanted child a dead child.” It’s an attitude that says that the worth and dignity of the lives of children are not related to being created in God’s image, but are solely dependent upon whether or not the parent wants them.
The reasons given for abortion of an unplanned pregnancy are many and varied, and often relate to challenging circumstances, such as teen pregnancy, a broken-off relationship, lack of finances, insufficient social supports, current or anticipated educational training, or bad timing with career aspirations. These reasons, of course, have more to do with convenience rather than necessity, and convenience should never be an acceptable reason to kill someone. Besides, abortion as a proposed solution to these circumstances doesn’t get to the root of the problem, but only results in a compounding of the problem: still having to deal with the challenging circumstance, while now being a parent of a dead child.
Despite these concerns, we can nonetheless empathize with a teen parent or a financially-strapped single mother facing an unintended pregnancy, and agree that their circumstances are challenging. As a parent, I can certainly attest that it’s difficult enough to raise children with two parents and a stable income, let alone being a single parent with few supports. So, our point of contact here can be one of agreement, phrased, “Yes, I agree. That sounds very difficult. The care of a child certainly takes a level of responsibility and finances.”
Then, to build on this point of agreement, and bring the conversation from abstract generality into a real-world example, we can trot out the toddler and say, for example, “but imagine that a high school student carried through with her pregnancy because her parents promised to support her. However, let’s say that when this child turned 2-years-old, the girl’s parents could no longer provide any further financial assistance. Should the mother, at this point, be allowed to kill the 2-year-old because of lack of finances?”
If there is agreement that killing the toddler would not be appropriate, then we can challenge them on the topic of abortion by asking, “Well, if it isn’t right for the mother to kill her toddler for lack of finances, why would it be right for her to kill her preborn child for the same reason?” Again, this question draws the rhetorical slogan to its logical conclusion, that lack of finances, or any of the other challenging circumstances, cannot justify the taking of a life.
As Gilbert Meilaender wisely said, “If we seek to save ourselves by doing away with the child who is unwanted, we hand ourselves over to the destructive powers of the world… and we act as if those powers are ultimately worthy of our worship, as if they could save, and take our stand beside King Herod after he heard the news the Magi brought.”13 Rather than be brought to that murderous place, we want to celebrate children, and to point those who would harm them towards a solution that might benefit both the mother and the child; solutions for life, not death. This could include listing readily accessible supports that young mothers can access to assist them in their pregnancies, and mentioning the utility of adoption agencies to help find parents who would desire more than anything else to care for their child as their own.
Scenario (3) Response to abortion for pregnancy due to sexual assault
Although rape leading to pregnancy is not a common cause for abortion, and certainly not the driver for our society’s desire for abortion-on-demand, it’s nonetheless a terrible crime and needs to be highlighted as such. Our point of contact can be simply that: “Yes, I agree that rape is a heinous crime and should be severely punished. Steps should be taken to prevent rape from happening and there should be ample support for the pregnant mother.”
To then build on this point of sympathetic agreement, we can again make an analogy about a toddler and say, for example, “But imagine the mother of a 2-year-old who left her physically-abusive husband. Should it be permissible for her to kill her toddler, if looking at the child reminded her of her past trauma with her husband?
If there is agreement that killing the toddler would not be appropriate, then we can challenge them on the topic of abortion by asking, “Well, if it’s not okay to kill the 2-year-old child because of past trauma, why is it okay to kill a pre-born child?”
The psychological turmoil of recovering from sexual assault, however grievous, is not undone by abortion. Though the child may serve as a constant reminder of the assault that the mother suffered, and although she may forever be reminded of the perpetrator as the father of her child, none of this serves as sufficient warrant to take the life of an innocent baby. Sympathy and supports are needed for the victim, to be sure, but abortion for such cases does nothing to bring healing to the situation. If anything, the procedure of abortion with its invasive nature and cold instrumentation applied to the woman’s reproductive organs, actually mirrors the violence of rape, and only compounds the trauma of the assault with the additional guilt and shame of killing an innocent child.
The same response can apply to pregnancy from incest, also a terrible situation. However, in both instances – pregnancy resulting from sexual assault or from incest – the value of the child remains. No circumstance around conception, no matter how adverse, changes the nature or worth of the preborn child. And in both cases, the child is the innocent party, and shouldn’t have to receive the blame for the crime and be saddled with the death penalty.
Scenario (4) Response to abortion for pregnancy that threatens the mother’s life
Promoting abortion as an argument to promote safety of the mother is really a non-issue. Even under restrictive abortion laws, exceptions have always been made to protect the mother’s life. The reality of the matter is that this is an exceedingly rare situation. On infrequent occasion, high-risk pregnancies are managed in our intensive care unit at the hospital, either because of pre-existing maternal illness or complications that arise during the pregnancy. In all such cases, the intention is always to save lives, not take them. If in the course of the delivery, the baby dies, the tragic loss is understood as an unintended outcome of the life-saving efforts. Even modern medicine has its limitations.
Nonetheless, for the sake of argument and to achieve a connecting point of agreement, we can say to those who make this pro-abortion argument that, “Yes, I agree it would be a terrible situation to face a life-threatening pregnancy – bad enough when one person’s life is in danger, let alone both mother and child at risk.”
Then to begin to draw out this argument, we can ask, “But imagine that a 2-year-old child has a disease that could kill the mother, if she became exposed. Should it be permissible to intentionally kill the child to prevent the mother from dying?
The answer is clearly “no.” A multiplicity of other options would be explored to both manage the child’s condition and protect the mother’s life, of which killing the child would never make the list. If then there is agreement that killing the toddler would be wrong in this scenario, we can ask, “Well, if it’s not alright to take the life of the toddler, why should it be permissible to kill the preborn child for the same reason.” There are situations where an expectant mother may have a serious medical condition, which is complicated by pregnancy. But even so, efforts can – and should – always be made that value the lives of both mother and child.
Scenario (5) Response to abortion for a disabled child
It’s very natural for parents to want a healthy baby. Depending on the nature of the disability, raising a handicapped child can be an emotional challenge that incurs additional financial burdens. In an attempt to reduce the likelihood of disability, amniocentesis is routinely offered to women during the mid-trimester of pregnancy to detect genetic anomalies. The procedure entails the removal of a sample of amniotic fluid from the uterus for genetic analysis, specifically for Down syndrome (Trisomy-21) and neural tube defect (a condition affecting the babys brain or spinal cord). Test results allow parents the opportunity to “terminate the pregnancy,” if the risk of debility is unacceptable to them. Although considered low risk, amniocentesis can still result in needle injury to the fetus, leaking of amniotic fluid, Rh blood-group sensitization, infection, and in some cases even miscarriage.14 As a result of the procedure, normal pregnancies have been compromised and healthy babies lost. As well, abortions undertaken based on genetic testing tend to dehumanize the preborn and reduce them to a commodity – something to be kept or discarded depending upon the desire or convenience of others. This diminishes their God-given worth and dignity. By contrast, Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matt 19:14). He didn’t qualify “healthy children without disability,” but implied that all children give us a glimpse of heavenly citizenship.
Nonetheless, we can appreciate the desire for parents to have a healthy baby and the natural disappointment there would be on learning that their preborn child has a disability of some sort. So, our point of contact can again be one of agreement, phrased for example as, “Yes, I agree that it would disappointing to be told that your developing baby has a disability; everyone wants a healthy child.”
Then to build on this point of agreement, we can move the conversation forward by making use of an analogy to a disabled child, and ask, “What if a mother doesn’t learn that her child is disabled until it’s a toddler. Should she be allowed to take its life then? This use of analogy broadens the discussion and gently challenges prejudices surrounding physical and mental disabilities.
If there is agreement that killing the disabled toddler would not be appropriate, then we can challenge them on the topic of abortion by asking, “Well, if it’s not okay to kill the 2-year-old disabled child, then why should it be permissible to kill a pre-born disabled child?” This question demonstrates the inconsistency of their argument. It’s a complete contradiction to show concern for children with leukemia, give financial support to those with multiple sclerosis, and cheer on others in the Special Olympics, and then say it’s best to kill the disabled child before its born.
To up the ante, those in favor of abortion might well ask, “But what if the fetus has a condition not compatible with life?” Certainly, there are those tragic cases. Babies are sometimes born anencephalic, for example, and have an undeveloped brain, destined to die. But even in these extreme cases, our response must remain undeterred. Even though such little ones will be unable to survive in the long-term, it doesn’t mean that we should be the ones to take their lives from them. Rather, it’s an opportunity to demonstrate compassion and provide palliative care to mitigate any suffering. No one knows for sure if the child may actually have a few minutes, or hours, or even days of life. Parents should be given that time with their precious child, and be supported in their time of grief. As per Edward Trudeau’s adage, “The role of the physician is to cure sometimes, relieve often, and comfort always.”
The justification of abortion on the grounds of disability devalues the lives of those who live with disability in our society, and betrays a form of discrimination towards handicapped persons, termed ableism. In our contemporary era of doctor-assisted suicide, this sentiment calls into question whether a disabled life is worth living, or in the case of abortion, if the disabled baby be permitted to live, throwing all of these lives in jeopardy. During WWII, an estimated 300,000 physically and mentally disabled people, who were deemed unworthy to live, were systematically murdered by the National Socialist regime: a mass crime considered the forerunner of the extermination of European Jews.15 Mahatma Gandhi said, “The true measure of any society is how it treats its weakest members.” What will our measure be, if we allow the murder of the disabled preborn by not speaking up?
Humanity and Personhood of the Preborn
In all of these scenarios, a common pro-abortion rebuttal is simply that abortion should be permissible because “the fetus isn’t human.” They maintain that if the preborn are somehow non-human, this would justify their sub-human treatment. In keeping with this sentiment, Mary Anne Warren provocatively said, “A fetus has no more right to life than that of a newborn guppy.”16 This certainly seems to be the case in Canada, where being considered a human being doesn’t officially begin until after the baby exists in the birth canal, and why abortion for partial delivery remains permissible in our country. If the preborn are but a “clump of cells,” as many insist, then why not? Why should a nondescript entity, like a so-called clump of cells be treated with dignity and given human rights and protections; be kept alive if unwanted; be carried to term if deemed a reminder of rape trauma; be allowed to develop and grow, if in doing so, it places a woman’s life in danger; or be permitted to be born at all, if disabled from the get go?
Why not, indeed, unless, of course, the opposite is the case, and the preborn are human, no different than you and I when we were at their stage of development. Basic biology makes the humanity of the preborn abundantly clear. When a human sperm and human ovum fuse to produce a human zygote – the first diploid cell that forms following fertilization – the entire human genetic blueprint of the individual is established. In that moment, the complete DNA sequencing that determines the uniqueness and novel giftedness of a human being is present, which then gets worked out and developed from the implantation of the fertilized ova in the uterus, onward to birth and beyond. So, if the preborn aren’t human, what possibly could they be? If two gorillas conceive, is it not a preborn gorilla that is developing? Or two dolphins, a preborn dolphin? Even children know that gorillas don’t give birth to dolphins. So surely then, if a living organism has human parents, he or she is also a human being, no? “Yes, and Amen” is the only cogent answer; there are simply no other possibilities available from which to choose.
After losing the humanity debate, abortion advocates continue to argue their position by pointing out that although the pre-born may be considered human from a biological standpoint, they aren’t human persons from a societal standpoint, and therefore can be rightly denied human-right protections, which are afforded to the rest of us. In brief, that although the preborn are human by nature, they remain expendable because they lack the additional qualifier of personhood. It’s an exclusivity argument that says to be valued in society, you need to be human plus, where the plus is usually equated with a set of capacities, such as consciousness, self-awareness, ability to feel pain and form relationships. If these are lacking, then abortion can be justified. Human fetal life may have value to a certain extent, but lacking personhood, the preborn child’s claim on us cannot be sufficient to rule out abortion.
When asked what the differences are between preborn and born humans, people cite the preborn’s small size, their location in utero, their dependency on the mother, or their lack of awareness, all of which are simply markers of development. The differences between born and preborn babies lie solely in their differences in age. If not tampered with, the preborn baby will naturally mature and achieve all the human-plus markers. They just need time. To discriminate based on age is a form of racism termed “ageism,” the very same that Canadian elderly are unjustly experiencing in our society today.17
When it comes down to it, there’s no significant difference between discrimination based on age, to that based on any other parameter, including race or gender or ethnic background. They are all forms of discrimination and are counter to the Scriptural understanding that we are all equal before God, since “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:28) and “God shows no partiality” (Ro 2:11). So, by latching onto the developmental age of the preborn as a justification for abortion, those who make this argument, unwittingly or not, end up joining ranks with the likes of the colonial slave owners and the Nazi war criminals, who deemed those under their control as unworthy of liberty and life base on their own schemes of discrimination. The preborn are human persons, and qualify for membership in the human family simply because they are begotten of human parents.
Gospel Call
Consequently, abortion isn’t a fundamental human right to be demanded for, but rather a deplorable human rights violation to be repented of. The demand for human rights, bodily autonomy, equality, justice, and free choice, so often seen on pro-abortion placards, only really make sense within a Christian worldview. If we live in a chance universe, where life is but a crap shoot, then none of these intangibles have any tangible meaning at all. If Bertrand Russell was right when he said, “we are but a statistical anomaly in the chaos,” then the immaterial realities of rights, equality, justice…and free choice, are simply human constructs, and as such, can just as easily be knocked over as propped up. It’s only because we are created in the image of God, that we have dignity; and it is only because we have been paid for by the blood of Jesus, who died for us on the cross to atone for our sins, that we have value. Nothing matters but the Gospel, but because of the Gospel, everything matters: our lives have meaning, and our activities have purpose.
As the Bible makes clear, creation was commanded into being and set upon a designed trajectory with a planned end date. At that predetermined time, Jesus Christ, the risen Lord of the universe, will return. When he does, there will be a general resurrection, “when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment” (Jn 5:28-29). Judgement is coming for those who have done evil, and abortion is such an evil. Those who promote abortion need to realize this, both for the sake of the children who are in harm’s way, and for their own eternal sake. They need to realize that abortion is a sin, and in the process, acknowledge that their lives lived in disobedience to the Holy God are sinful, and like all of sin, are deserving of eternal punishment. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Ro 6:23). At the same time, they need to be told that while abortion is a sin, it’s not the unforgivable sin. Forgiveness is available, for those who promote abortion, as well as, for those who have had an abortion. they are repentant and turn to the Lord for forgiveness, salvation is possible by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
Our prayer for those who promote abortion is that they not only turn away from their pro-abortion stance and accept the pro-life view, but that they turn away from their sinful lives and accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. We wish for them to not only recognize the value of the preborn, but to recognize their personal need to be born again. After all, it’s not just a matter of endorsing a prolife perspective, but a matter of life and death. It would take a miracle for pro-abortionists to come to a saving faith, some might say, but so did our salvation. And if Christ can redeem us, then he can redeem anyone, even those who promote abortion. Finally, ours is not to persuade, but to be faithful witnesses to the truth. So, as we converse with those who promote abortion, we should do so prayerfully, in the hopes that our engagement with them, undertaken with gentleness and respect, might lead them to Christ. Preborn children are precious, but so too are all of God’s children, at whatever biological age of development, and at whatever point in faith development. Soli Deo Gloria.
1 https://www.guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/induced-abortion-worldwide
2 Konzelman, C., & Solomon, C. (2019). Unplanned. Pure Flix Entertainment.
3 Brown, D. Prolonged grieving after abortion: a descriptive study. J Clin Ethics. 1993 Summer;4(2):118-23.
4 Eric Bentley in New Republic 29 December 1952.
5 W.E.H. Lecky. History of European Morals: From Augustine to Charlemagne (1869; London: Longmans, Green, and Co, 1911), Vol. 2, pp. 20, 22.
6 Canadian Center of Bioethical Reform (https://www.endthekilling.ca/).
7 Alcorn, Randy. Prolife Answers to Prochoice Questions. Eternal Perspective Ministries; Multnomah Books ©2000.
8 https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/04/europe/france-abortion-constitution-intl/index.html
9 Nuremburg Code, BMJ 7 December 1996; Vol 313: No 7070 Page 1448.
10 Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights. https://en.unesco.org/themes/ethics-science-and-technology/bioethics-and-human-rights
11 Mary Anne Warren, “On the Moral and Legal Status of Abortion” in The Problem of Abortion, 2nd Ed. Joel Feinberg (Belmont, Calif.: Wadsworth, 1984), p. 103.
12 https://www.guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/induced-abortion-worldwide
13 Meilaender, G. Bioethics: A Primer for Christians. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. ©1996; p. 38.
14 Kong, CW et al. Risk factors for procedure-related fetal losses after mid-trimester genetic amniocentesis. Prenatal Diagnosis. 09 October 2006.
15 Uwe Neumaerker, director T4 memorial foundation (https://www.timesofisrael.com/berlin-to-open-memorial-to-nazis-disabled-victims/)
16 Mary Anne Warren; On the Moral and Legal Status of Abortion, The Monist, Volume 57, Issue 1, 1 January 1973, Pages 43–61.
17 Fraser, S. Ageism and COVID-19: what does our society’s response say about us? Age and Aging. Volume 49, Issue 5, September 2020, Pages 692–695.
The post Conversations for Life appeared first on Ezra Institute.
Continuing our series Conversations & Presuppositions, Drs. Boot and Thiessen are joined this week by Ezra Fellow for Public Policy Tim Dieppe to discuss the steady Islamization of the West.
Episode Resources:
Questions to Ask Your Muslim Friends by Tim Dieppe: https://amzn.to/3Kc6Uig
“Is Islam a Religion of Peace?” by Tim Dieppe | Christian Concern:
https://christianconcern.com/resource/is-islam-a-religion-of-peace/;
“What’s wrong with Islamic finance?” | Christian Concern:
https://christianconcern.com/resource/whats-wrong-islamic-finance/;
“Is Islam Antisemitic?” | Christian Concern:
https://christianconcern.com/resource/is-islam-antisemitic/;
“The Challenge of Islam in the UK”| Christian Concern:
https://christianconcern.com/resource/the-challenge-of-islam-in-the-uk/
Chapters:
0:00 Cultural Leadership Academy AD
1:17 Podcast Opening
1:40 Intro & Show Set-up
4:20 Ezra Events
7:00 Topic Introduction & Palestinian Protest Footage
10:03 What is Islam?
14:00 Relationship of Islam & Sharia Law
16:20 The Islamization of the West
23:22 Islamic Finance & Sharia Entryism
27:54 Jihad
35:30 The Elitist’s False View of Islam, the Weaponization of Multiculturalism & a How Radical Two Kingdoms View Helps the Destruction of the West
40:45 Islam, Progressivism, and the Massive Rise of Antisemitism in the West
50:28 What Can Christians Do About It?
54:11 Outro
56:55 Closing Credits
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The Task
If you see a turtle perched on top of a fencepost, you know immediately he didn’t get there on his own! To excel and reach their full potential in life as followers and servants of Christ, our children cannot get there on their own either. We urgently need a rebuilding of Christian schools to partner with parents in faithfully educating their children so that in facing the task which is ‘the self,’ they can become all that God is calling them to be.
This task is an urgent one. As we look around, we are watching our deceived culture fail and decay for want of wisdom. And what error needs most is the last thing it thinks of – otherwise, it would not be error. People are casting off restraint for lack of knowledge, and what knowledge there is is frequently misapplied. What our own misled and disillusioned time doesn’t know, or more accurately has forgotten, is currently killing it. Christ has faded from view – we no longer teach in the light of His Word and so we live in the stifling embrace of our own presumptuous errors.
This is not for a lack of seers claiming to be the oracles of wisdom for the ‘moment.’ A long tradition in the West stretching back to the 6th Century BC when an intellectual movement arose in Miletus with a man later called Thales, has given the West what it came to call philosophy (lit. love of wisdom). The story of the Western philosophical tradition – a discipline looking to search out the boundaries of human experience – is a fascinating one, but without Christ, its concern for insight, knowledge and truth led to one dead end after another, producing intellectual and spiritual exhaustion. St. Paul understood well the pitfalls of a godless search for wisdom and so placed Christ at the fulcrum of all true learning, wisdom and knowledge:
For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the understanding of the experts. Where is the philosopher? Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God made the world’s wisdom foolish? For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of the message preached (1 Cor. 1: 18-25).
The apostle did not intend to say here that intellectual and academic labour is worthless – on the contrary, Paul’s own studies, inspired discourses and letters involved real mental exertion – only that without the proper grafting, it will fail and fall like a leaf because of our sins and the wind will carry it away. Human understanding and our wisdom traditions outside of Christ can only lead to error and despair. Hence, the apostle warns, ‘Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elemental forces of the world, and not based on Christ’ (Col. 2:8). Our captive culture needs deliverance. We must start with our children and their education.
The Danger
In the cradle of our civilization, with the ancient Polis unable to penetrate to the root of the human condition, the intellectual pride and prominence of the Grecian world with its academies and schools of philosophy steadily declined. Cynicism and skepticism set in as people became increasingly exhausted and disillusioned with an endless proliferation of empty rhetoric and regurgitated ideas in an obviously decaying culture. It is easy to see parallels to our waning Western world in the vice-like hold of unbelief and spiritual amnesia. As Soren Kierkegaard poignantly observed:
Our age reminds one very much of the disintegration of the Greek state. Everything continues, and yet there is no one who believes in it. The invisible spiritual bond that gives it validity has vanished, and thus the whole age is simultaneously comic and tragic: tragic because it is perishing, comic because it continues.
Soren Kierkegaard, The Humor of Kierkegaard: An Anthology ed. Thomas C. Oden (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2004), 220
To put the matter plainly, our society has become afflicted on all sides with a particular brand of stupidity – but it isn’t funny. Stupidity is a peculiarly human condition that arises, not because of a lack of intellectual capacity or education but because of a herd mentality formed around powerful religious ideologies – it is a collective stupidity.
The collective folly that emerges is a kind of sociological phenomenon, cultivated in many of our schools and universities, currently vividly on display, which evidently steadily deprives people of their inner independence. This they are prepared to renounce, with varying degrees of self-consciousness, in order to adapt their behavior to the prevailing ideological situation. In the early 1940’s, the noted Christian Martyr in National Socialist Germany, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, had time to reflect whilst languishing in prison, on how and why the highly educated German people had become afflicted with collective ideological stupidity. His comments are telling:
The fact that stupid people are often stubborn should not hide the fact that they are not independent. When talking to him, one feels that one is not dealing with him personally, but with catchphrases, slogans, etc. that have taken possession of him. He is under a spell; he is blinded; he is abused in his own being. Having become an instrument without an independent will, the fool will also be capable of all evil, and at the same time, unable to recognize it as evil…But it is also quite clear here that it is not an act of instruction, but only an act of liberation that can overcome stupidity… The Bible states that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Thus, the inner liberation of man begins by living responsibly before God. Only then may stupidity be overcome.
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich.“Von der Dummheit”: Widerstand und Ergebung. Briefe und Aufzeichnungen aus der Haft. S. 17–20. Muenchen, Christian Kaiser Verlag, 1951.
Merely modified instruction with some additional information or minor amendments to curriculum is not enough to avoid collective stupidity and cultural disaster – a new foundation for education is required. The need of the hour in the West is the liberating reality of Jesus Christ and the recovery of the Christian mind – the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16). For the ‘fear of the Lord is the beginning (principle part) of wisdom.’ A compromising fudge of the issue won’t do. Ironically, often in the name of scholarliness, contemporary Christianity has been avidly committed to half-measures, truth to a ‘certain degree.’ But the moment that God’s people call a truce and reach a settlement with the spirit of the world, the mindset of the age, and regard education as a ‘neutral’ tool is the moment we abolish the Christian mind and overturn true Christianity.
With a truly Christian education, the goal is not to graduate students and scholars who are neither one thing nor another (neutral) but faithful, excellent, committed disciples, readied to make their mark in the various spheres of life for God’s Kingdom and glory.
The Daniel’s
A wonderful example of the end goal of Christian education is found in the great prophet Daniel – a captive in Babylon. Having been prepared by a thorough education in the Word of God and raised in a noble family, his gifts become evident, and he is recruited into an elite Babylonian college for scholars from among whom some would emerge to give guidance to society and government (Dan. 1:3-6). Along with some noble friends from Judah (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego), who were noted for their resistance to idolatry, Daniel is identified as having real potential as an advisor in the king’s court.
The key is that these young men, because of what was instilled in them from their youth, were determined to honour God in their studies and occupations from the start. As a result, Scripture says:
God gave these four young men knowledge and understanding in every kind of literature and wisdom. Daniel also understood visions and dreams of every kind. No one was found equal to Daniel. So they began to serve in the kings court. In every matter of wisdom and understanding that the king consulted them about, he found them 10 times better than all the diviner-priests and mediums in his entire kingdom (Dan. 1:17-21).
Notice that it was God who gave them understanding, not simply in theological matters, but in every kind of literature and wisdom – just as God had given wisdom to Solomon about the human condition and the natural world to the extent that rulers from around the known world came to hear him teach. Daniel and his friends went on to distinguish themselves and find high positions in a pagan kingdom and government, and there they had a profound influence for the kingdom of God. This is what Christian education should be aiming for!
This was only possible because they worked hard and were determined to trust and obey God above all. As such, they were granted knowledge, wisdom, and understanding by the Lord Himself—the true teacher. They were intimately acquainted with the truth that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The other scholars and advisers lacked the coherence, understanding, and insight that Daniel and his friends had because the foundation of their thought was wanting.
This advantage should be even more true of the Christian student who is self-consciously subject to God’s Word-revelation in creation and scripture. In Christ, the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden so that the Christian student can avoid the pitfalls and mistakes of a godless education by seeing all things in their true context from within a scriptural world-and-life view. The literature, music, science, and technology of what we once called Christendom are testaments to God’s faithfulness in this matter, even within an imperfect culture.
We need a new generation of Daniels, Deborahs, Josephs, and Esthers, grounded and educated in the faith with their ultimate trust in God and his Word. To place our final trust in the thought and spirit of the age is to be like the unwise man who built his house upon the sand. But to put our trust in Christ and His wisdom is to be wise and build our educational house, indeed our future, on the rock.
The post Collective Stupidity & the Urgent Need for Christian Education appeared first on Ezra Institute.
Our series, Conversations & Presuppositions, has generated a lot of questions. On this week’s Podcast for Cultural Reformation, Dr. Joe Boot and Pastor Nate Wright answer some of those questions.
Enjoyed today’s Q&A? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Should we do this more often? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/;
Chapters:
0:00 Worldview Youth Academy AD
1:42 Podcast Opening
2:05 Intro & Show Set-up
5:09 Question 1: Singleness
23:58 Question 2: Excusing Israel?
43:45 Question 3: Christian In-fighting
56:02 Outro
56:55 Closing Credits
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Continuing our series Conversations & Presuppositions, Dr. Michael Thiessen and Pastor Nate Wright unpack the worldview convergence of the conflicted Red-Green Alliance between Leftist Communists/Socialists (red) and Islamists (green). What unites them is a common enemy, namely, Christ and His Church and anything built upon that sure foundation.
Episode Resources:
Watch Dr. Thiessen’s Helpful Conversations on Islam:
“Robert B. Spencer: Islam, Jihad, and Threats to Freedom of Speech” | Open Mike with Michael Thiessen: https://rumble.com/v3tj9h7-robert-b.-spencer-islam-jihad-and-threats-to-freedom-of-speech.html; or, read Robert’s Book The Palestinian Delusion: https://amzn.to/3V18s53;
“Understanding Islam ft. Dr. David Wood” | Open Mike with Michael Thiessen: https://rumble.com/v3qnfm2-understanding-islam-ft.-dr.-david-wood.html;
Want to Better Understand Islam? MUST READ:
What Every Christian Needs to Know About the Qur’an | by Ezra Fellow Dr. James R. White: https://amzn.to/3Wy6dan.
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The post Conflicted Comrades: The Left and Islam’s Unholy Alliance Against Christianity appeared first on Ezra Institute.
In the fifth episode of our series, Conversations & Presuppositions, thanks to the recent controversy in the UK, Dr. Michael Thiessen and Dr. Joe Boot wade into the current cultural conversation on euthanasia (lit. “the good death”), or as it is euphemistically called assisted suicide, join the discussion as they unpack what lies beneath the culture of death as it spreads throughout the world, and why Christians need to cultivate a thoroughgoing Christian view of the sanctity of life.
Episode Resources:
They Want To Kill Us: Here’s how and why | Dr. Jack King: https://www.amazon.com/They-Want-Kill-Us-Heres/dp/B0D172G4LG;
American Worldview Inventory 2021-22: The Annual Report on the State of Worldview in the United States | George Barna: https://www.amazon.com/American-Worldview-Inventory-2021-22-Annual/dp/1735776343;
“Assisted Suicide in Canada” | The Canadian Encyclopedia: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/assisted-suicide-in-canada;
Documentary – The Death Debate: https://youtu.be/-Vot5bkR_VQ;
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The post Euthanasia: Death by Doctor & the Cosmology of Killing appeared first on Ezra Institute.
In the fourth episode of our series, Conversations & Presuppositions, Dr. Michael Thiessen and Pastor Nate Wright examine a SHOCKING evolution in the abortion debate. Since pro-aborts have lost the scientific argument concerning when life begins, they’re now admitting that abortion is murder and arguing for their right to murder innocent, living children inside the womb.
Episode Resources:
End Abortion Now Website: https://endabortionnow.com/;
End the Killing Website: https://www.endthekilling.ca/;
[WARNING: EXPLICIT CONTENT] “Louis CK – Abortion” | YouTube: https://youtu.be/EQmER4-WwjA?si=o3aBxlcvFbwlnQC4;
LIFE SITE NEWS – “Bill Maher Reveals the Grim Truth of What Pro-Abortion Leftists Really Think” | YouTube: https://youtu.be/NrlUVr0vlPY?si=auFxAQgl9q3cJh8C;
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The post SHOCKING! “Murders Gonna Murder”: Pro-Aborts Say the Quiet Part Out Loud appeared first on Ezra Institute.
In this third episode of our new series, Conversations & Presuppositions, Doctors Boot and Thiessen revisit their conversation on slavery and the Bible by examining why Christianity is the only worldview that can consistently lead to liberty and how a culture’s rejection of Christ naturally leads to slavery. Choose ye this day, dear listener, freedom in Christ or slavery to sin and death?
Episode Resources:
Sam Harris on Ben Shapiro’s Sunday Special | Daily Wire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTJTD8vzBoo;
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The post Does the Bible Condone Slavery? – Part II appeared first on Ezra Institute.
In this, the second episode of our new series Conversations & Presuppositions, Doctors Boot and Thiessen discuss a common objection to Christianity: that Christianity condones slavery. But does it? You’re not going to want to miss part one of this fascinating discussion.
Episode Resources:
What About Slavery in the Bible | Ask Cliffe: https://youtu.be/SSfTggjS31s?si=7RoUUPkzpohDwMiz;
Matt Dillahunty Clip: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/kva4cqeZ3rc;
Sam Harris on Ben Shapiro’s Sunday Special | Daily Wire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTJTD8vzBoo;
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The post Does the Bible Condone Slavery? – Part I appeared first on Ezra Institute.
We have just celebrated Easter in our Western calendar. Calendars are important across the world because they punctuate time, its meaning and significance. For this reason, we celebrate things like birthdays and have special days of remembrance. Easter is one of those times of celebration and remembrance. But what exactly does it all signify?
Most people are still aware that about 2000 years ago in the area of the Middle East called Israel, a man named Jesus was born. Several independent ancient witnesses tell us he lived a short life in which for a few years he taught about knowing God and the true meaning of life. According to those witnesses he healed many sick, disabled, blind and deaf and even raised the dead. For claiming to be equal with God he was executed by crucifixion on a Friday, was buried and according to the ancient witness of the Gospel writers was raised to life on the first day of the week (Sunday). On what we call Ascension Day he was taken up into heaven where, as Son of God, both God and man, he rules and reigns. We call these and other days of celebration, the Christian calendar. Even famous atheist Richard Dawkins wants to identify with this cultural structure and now calls himself a cultural Christian!
From a small number of followers of Jesus, the news of this man who claimed to be one with God spread everywhere transforming the entire pagan Roman Empire. The followers of Christ were called Christians and the Good News about him came from the East to the land of Britain through the Romans in the 4th century A.D – a time our ancestors we were still drinking the blood of the dead and sacrificing children to pagan deities. It spread rapidly from 597 A.D through the mission to England of Augustine of Canterbury who came from Europe with about 40 Christian missionaries to teach and share the Good News of Christ.
So transformative was the life, death and resurrection of Jesus for people that it shattered our calendar into two halves, B.C (Before Christ) and A.D (Anno Domini), meaning the year of our Lord, changing for much of the world the meaning of history itself. That is why today you can go through Britain, Canada and the United States find in every town, hamlet and village tall church spires which symbolise the historic centre of meaning for a community. It is also why our head of state in Britain and Canada (king Charles) at his Coronation last year swore an oath to uphold the gospel of Jesus Christ and openly submitted to his Lordship.
It is not just the UK where people have just celebrated the resurrection. Over 100 million people in communist China where Christianity is supressed celebrated the resurrection. In fact, almost 2.4 billion people today call themselves Christian and believe Jesus rose from the dead – they are spread across Europe, the America’s, Asia Pacific, Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. These social facts in themselves don’t prove the resurrection, but they certainly get our attention. How can a poor carpenter who taught for only three years, never travelled more than 200 miles from his own home, was rejected by his own people, never wrote a book nor appeared on TV, died as a criminal and had no natural children, have changed the world and have so many believe he is the resurrected Lord and Son of God 2000 years later?
The bible calls the resurrection a sign. Signposts grab our attention to give directions and the miracles of Jesus – most especially the testimony to the resurrection – grabs our attention! The event of Christ’s resurrection itself is offered as the great sign and a special kind of proof that the good news about Jesus is real and relevant to us all: that he really is God in human form, died for our sin and evil ways, was raised to life to rescue us from death and a meaningless and empty way of life, and opens the way to know relationship with God forever. That is why it’s called “Good News.” I don’t prove the proof, or it wouldn’t be the proof. But the sign captures our attention and points the way.
All of us look at life and the world with a certain set of beliefs and assumptions – with a certain set of lenses. We all understand the ‘calendar of life’ in terms of a big story we believe about the world. Some believe that all human beings are is cosmic stardust and that we got here from the goo, through the zoo to you – it all eventually ends in heat death for the cosmos and oblivion. We all must answer the question of the meaning of life and address the inevitability of death. For death is the ultimate statistic – 1 out of 1 die! The English poet Steve Turner writes:
The really worrying this about death
Is that all major religions agree on it
All beliefs take you there
All philosophy bows before it
All arguments end there
Governments can’t ban it
Or the army diffuse it
Judges can’t fail it
Lawyers can’t sue it
Scientists can’t quell it
Nor can they disprove it
Doctors can’t cure it
Surgeons can’t move it
Einstein can’t halve it
Guevara can’t free it
The thing about dead
Is we’re all gonna be it!
Yet the testimony of God through his Word and people down the centuries assures us that death has admitted of one true exception. One grave is totally unique and can transform both our life and death – that one day we can in fact follow Christ out of the grave – that he has defeated death as one defeats an enemy. This is why the English philosophy professor Cyril Joad once said, “The most important question in the world is, did Jesus Christ rise from the dead?”
Through its witness to the resurrection, our own calendar binds us to the claim of the scriptures. And four, well attested historical events, admitted by the vast majority of New Testament scholars (even those who are not Christians) continue to confront us. Five independent witnesses in reliable ancient sources preserved for twenty centuries tell us of:
- The burial of Jesus
- The empty tomb of Jesus
- Reports of after-death appearances of Jesus
- The belief in the resurrection of the first disciples leading to the birth of the church and expansion of Christianity.
These facts are as historically certain as the Fall of Jerusalem in AD 70. However, when we ask what is the best explanation for these events we must decide between it being a fanciful tale/conspiracy of the disciples, a widespread delusion or the actual truth. Our answer is not determined by our grasp of history to which we have no direct access, but by our assumptions and presuppositions about what is possible or not and the status of God’s revealed Word. Our moral attitude toward God also plays a central part in what we are prepared to accept.
When the women came to the tomb early Sunday morning to anoint the body of Jesus he was not there. An Angel said to them:
“Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” …“He is not here, but He has been resurrected! (Luke 24:5-6)
When St. Paul was sharing this good news with King Agrippa while on trial, he asks the all-important question:
“Why is it considered incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?” (Acts 26:8)
If God is real as the scriptures make clear, then God can raise the dead. In addition, the resurrection of Jesus is then the final proof of the truth of his life’s work and message, to save us from our sins and restore us to relationship with God. Critically, if Christ is indeed alive, as he truly is, then you can know him. The calendar of your life has real meaning and you and I may become one of a great family across the earth that knows Jesus Christ is alive.
The post Resurrection and the Calendar of Life appeared first on Ezra Institute.
In this episode, Dr. Joe Boot and pastor Nate Wright talk about the world-changing implication of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, its evidence, and its explanation. REJOICE FOR HE IS RISEN!
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The post The Resurrection Changes Everything appeared first on Ezra Institute.
In this episode, Dr. Michael Thiessen and Dr. Joe Boot respond to the recent controversial interview by Chancellor of Reformed Theological Seminary, Ligon Duncan, on the Room for Nuance podcast where he answers questions on theonomy, postmillennialism, and faithful cultural contextualization all while throwing barbs at unnamed parties and mixing up Scripture. YOU’RE NOT GOING TO WANT TO MISS THIS ONE!
Episode Resources:
“On Culture War: Doug Wilson and the Moscow Mood” by Kevin DeYoung | Clearly Reformed: https://clearlyreformed.org/on-culture-war-doug-wilson-and-the-moscow-mood/
“My Rejoinder to Kevin DeYoung” (VIDEO)| Doug Wilson via YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2mHSXAVge8
“My Rejoinder to Kevin DeYoung” by Doug Wilson | Blog and Mablog: https://dougwils.com/books-and-culture/s7-engaging-the-culture/novembers-done-kevin-deyoung.html
End Abortion Now: https://endabortionnow.com/
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The post Responding to Ligon Duncan on Theonomy & Cultural Engagement appeared first on Ezra Institute.
In this episode, Pastor Nate Wright is joined by Ezra Fellow of Medicine and Public Christianity, Dr. Ted Fenske to discuss how to slay the dragon of pornography.
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If we ask at the most basic level what Christianity is, if we are to be scriptural, we must answer that it consists in knowing and following Christ Jesus. It is not simply affirming certain doctrines, reciting confessions or knowing historical theology to engage in learned dogmatic dispute, but in the here and now to worship and follow Jesus Christ the Lord. He is the Master, and the disciple is not greater than his Master.
Growing up in the Western tradition, we are less familiar with the ancient Eastern style of learning by literally attaching oneself to the teacher and learning their way of life and thought by imitation. We do speak of tutors, professors and even mentors, but these fall short of the ancient Jewish tradition of following a rabbi and committing to heart their teaching. When Jesus called the first disciples it was not to an academy for a lofty exchange of ideas in Socratic dialogue, still less was it to have essays or exam papers marked and reviewed by a mere tutor. When Christ called the disciple’s it was to follow him and devote their lives to him; to live with and learn from him, to memorize his sayings, witness his actions, hear his prayers, question him about his parables and tread the dust he trod. In short, to be a disciple of Christ meant and means to imitate him in everything; to take up the cross and follow him. As the apostle Paul wrote, ‘Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ’ (1 Cor. 11:1).
Imitation is the basic meaning of Christian discipleship. This is easily overlooked when we come to the question of God’s law and faithful Christian witness as a whole in a secularized and repaganizing culture. More often than not, the matter of God’s law, of theonomy, is approached by Christians in a detached theoretical way as though they personally are uninvolved with the question – theonomy as simply a matter of theological dispute or theoretical dogmatic interest. The not uncommonly derisive language of its more vehement opponents reflects a posture of treating God’s revealed law lightly or at times even with a haughty disdain.
It is impossible to see our Master in such an attitude and yet to some professing Christians, God’s law is regarded as a threat, an aberration, something parenthetical that has been and gone – an unchristian blemish on the pages of scripture that has, to all intents and purposes, been ripped out for the believer in favour of living as one personally sees fit or feels led, as though law and gospel are as incompatible as oil and water. But Jesus’ relationship to the law as author, exegete, master-teacher and Lord is of profound significance for all true disciples. Jesus modelled taking the totality of the law seriously and what matters to Jesus should matter to us (c.f. Matt. 5:17-19; John 14:15-24). What he taught we must believe, remember and teach. What he did, we must emulate and copy. If we want to call ourselves Christian, we must be truly yoked to the one true rabbi.
This is no easy task coming without a cost. For this attachment must take place in a rebellious age that wants to vanquish God, trumpet its nihilism, champion a grand levelling, and through fear and intimidation cow the faithful individual into a mouses hole. Our time embraces and effectively deifies an unofficially established order in both state and liberalising church, whilst fear and trembling before a holy God and his righteousness are abolished. Truth and justice are now made the province of man alone. As Soren Kierkegaard prophetically put it:
If you are a student, then you can be sure that the Professor is the measure and the truth; if you are a parson, then the bishop is the way and the life; if you are a scrivener, the judge is the standard…the deification of the established order is the is the secularization of everything…the established order desires to be totalitarian, recognizing nothing over it, but having under it every individual, and judging every individual who is integrated in it. And “that individual” who expounds the most humble, but at the same time the most humane doctrine about what it means to be a man, the established order desires to terrify by imputing to him the guilt of blasphemy.[1]
Such it is that the true Christian faces today, accused of blasphemy against state orthodoxy, just as Jesus was accused of blasphemy by the Pharisees who neither knew the scriptures nor the power of God (Matt. 22:29). Ours is a time where human beings have made themselves the gauge, the measuring reed, the canon, in place of God’s law-Word.
The impact of this on the church has been very great because in place of God’s law the new Pharisees, parroting the culture, elevate human preferences, customs, positivistic laws, desires and wants into articles of faith. Following Jesus is no longer the measure; the established order of the world, infecting a progressive church institute like a virus, takes the place of Christ:
So holy in fact had the Pharisees and scribes become, and so holy do men always become when they deify the established order, that their divine worship is a way of making a fool of God. Under the pretense of serving and worshipping, they serve and worship their own device, either in self-complacent joy at being themselves the inventors or through fear of men.[2]
We cannot be ruled by the fear of man but only by the Word of God. A servant is not greater than his master, and so we must be attentive to our saviour who shows us how to regard the law of God in a lawless world. Jesus said, ‘You call Me Teacher and Lord. This is well said, for I am…a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him (John 13: 13,16).
[1] Soren Kierkegaard, Training in Christianity, trans, Walter Lowrie (New York: Vintage Books, 2004), 77-78
[2] Kierkegaard, Training, 79
The post Following Master Jesus appeared first on Ezra Institute.
In this episode, the latest of our series on the family, Dr. Joe Boot and Pastor Nate Wright discuss the relationship between parents and children, how it mirrors the Triune nature of God, and how family is, indeed, the nucleus of civilization.
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In this episode, Dr. Michael Thiessen and Pastor Nate Wright recap last weekend’s Right Response Ministries Conference, “Blueprints for Christendom 2.0,” by unpacking the seven doctrines presented at the conference for Christians to rule the world righteously under the Lordship of King Jesus.
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In this episode, Michael and Joe are joined by Ezra Fellow for International Law, Comparative Politics, and International Relations, Daniel Ogden J.D., to talk about the disturbing rise of antisemitism and how to think about it biblically.
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In this episode, Michael and Nate are joined by Harvest Windsor’s Women’s Life Director, Susie Rock, to continue the discussion on the family by discussing what it means to be a woman made in the Image of God, their role in the Kingdom of God and the family, and how they are to fulfill it for the good of others and the glory of God Almighty.
Episode Resources: Harvest Windsor | A Vertical Church: https://harvestwindsor.ca/;
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In this episode, Joe, Michael, and Nate continue their discussion on the family by discussing what the archetypal fatherhood of God means for our ectypal familial relationships. Simply put, they discuss what God’s fatherhood means for us and our relationships. Oh, how sweet it is to be part of the household of God through Christ our Lord.
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In this episode, Joe, Michael, and Nate continue their discussion around Allistair Begg’s recent controversial advice to a grandmother about attending a queer wedding and his recent sermon defending his advice.
Episode Resources:
Responding to Attacks on the Family – PART 1: https://www.ezrainstitute.com/resource-library/podcast/responding-to-attacks-on-the-family/;
Responding to Attacks on the Family – PART 2:
Allistair Begg’s Original Comments: https://youtu.be/rXDYYPLwgYE?si=B0XrmelFb6BH6VC9&t=1726.
Allistair Begg’s Sermon, “Compassion vs. Condemnation”: https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/compassion-vs-condemnation/.
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In this episode, Joe and Michael continue to discuss the big compromise of Big Eva and the need for strong fathers leading well–leading biblically.
Episode Resources:
Responding to Attacks on the Family – PART 1: https://www.ezrainstitute.com/resource-library/podcast/responding-to-attacks-on-the-family/ ;
Allistair Begg’s Comments: https://youtu.be/rXDYYPLwgYE?si=B0XrmelFb6BH6VC9&t=1726.
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In the Christian world-and-life-view, we cannot make progress in truth unless we understand ourselves and can answer the question, who am I? Yet our understanding of personal identity does not spontaneously emerge from a pure inner subjectivity, even less out of theoretical scientific knowledge; it always begins as a response to somebody who relates to us as a person – first our Creator, then our parents, wider family, and friends.
The existentialist philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre realised that human beings “are a choice and for us, to be is to choose ourselves”.[i] But Sartre also recognized that human consciousness is a rebellious attempt to become God – to be totally original and create de novo. Eventually admitting this was impossible, he despaired saying, “man is a useless passion.”[ii] The Bible teaches that whenever human beings fail to become themselves in relation to Jesus Christ, by trying to ground and construct their identity in substitute gods, frustration and despair is ultimately the result. Scripture identifies the attempt to define ourselves and our lives in this way as sin – a choice to live in untruth.
We hear a great deal in our present culture about ‘authenticity’ and are constantly being told to ‘be yourself,’ to ‘express yourself’ and so on. And in one sense we must be ourselves. Indeed, God calls us to become our unique selves in terms of His purposes. Even though we belong to the human family, we are not summed up by the abstract term humanity as though we are each simply one example of a species like an earthworm or ant. As God says to the prophet Jeremiah:
I chose you before I formed you in the womb;
I set you apart before you were born.
I appointed you a prophet to the nations. (Jer. 1:4-5)
We are uniquely made with a purpose and plan in mind. Scripture says God the Father is the source, “from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named” (Eph. 3:15).We might say that we each have a divine name; God has defined our being. This is the givenness of the self. We were all intended, called forth, wanted, loved, with a specific calling to become and do that for which we were made. Yet the prophet Jeremiah still had to choose to become himself – he did not arrive in the world fully actualized as a prophet.
As creatures, the self (the ‘I’) is therefore partly a given but is not fully actualized. This means we must grow and develop, accountable in the context of God’s order, as we confront possibility and choice. It is here in the realm of both possibility and necessity that we tend to flounder. We may rightly recognize that the self is a task, a calling, and we may will to be a self, but not the true self we are created to be. Instead, we demand to decide for ourselves who we are and who we are to become. But if we lose sight of our creatureliness and the givenness of our personhood, our God-given imagination can become an end in itself and life starts to be lived through a kind of inner fantasy, actually leading us away from true selves – the reality of possibility runs wild and unrestrained.
The tragedy is that all such ephemeral choices become arbitrary because, lacking contact with one’s God-given self, they have no stability and can always come apart and be undone, for a person to try and reinvent themselves all over again. The illusion of absolute freedom makes finally for an empty self and empty life.
The astonishing claim of Jesus Christ is to being the absolute Person – the appearance of the living and eternal God, the Creator and Sustainer of all things, in time – that the Truth about life and the liberating Truth for the lost and tormented self is found in Him as a person:
I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:6).
If you continue in My word, you really are my disciples. You will know the truth and the truth will set you free (John 8:31).
In the appearance of the God-man we do not judge the Truth, but the Truth brings our hearts into judgment by gently helping us to see that we have lived up till now in untruth. In short, we are not free in relation to Truth but must be set free, and once released by Jesus Christ, discover to our joy that we are not the ultimate criterion, nor the measure of all things. Ironically, in letting go of the illusion of autonomy, the Truth really is now ‘your truth’ because you belong to the Truth and the Truth belongs to you.
When God reveals Himself in Christ to a person, He offers true rest for the embattled and confused self by bringing to an end the wearisome struggle for true self-identity. The Saviour’s gentle yoke of necessity makes sense of our human possibility. Jesus said:
Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your-selves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light (Matt. 11:28-30)
It is in the Son of God, Son of man, our Creator and brother that we discover who we truly are, and through whom we are finally liberated to be ourselves. In the words of C. S Lewis, “…it will never be lawful simply to ‘be ourselves’ until ‘ourselves have become sons of God….”[iii]**
[i] Jean-Paul Sartre, The Wisdom of Jean-Paul Satre (New York: Philosophical Library, 1956), 40.
[ii] Jean-Paul Sartre, Being and Nothingness, trans, Hazel E. Barnes (New York: Washington Square, 1992), 754.
[iii] C.S. Lewis, God in the Dock (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1972), 286.
The post Being and Finding Yourself appeared first on Ezra Institute.
In this episode, Joe, Nate and Michael respond to yet more bad advice from Big Eva. How can we remain faithful fathers in a world full of compromise? Tune in to find out.
Allistair Begg’s Comments: https://youtu.be/rXDYYPLwgYE?si=B0XrmelFb6BH6VC9&t=1726
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In this episode, Joe, Nate and Michael discuss the centrality of the family in God’s redemptive story and consider how to disciple families and churches in an age where we have imbibed an individualistic idea of the gospel.
The post Raising Faithful Christian Families appeared first on Ezra Institute.
A bittersweet start to 2024, as we announce some changes to the hosting of the Podcast for Cultural Reformation, but we are also excited to see the founding of a new Christian school in the Niagara region, and the work of cultural reform being implemented in concrete ways. We also take this occasion to look back on the origins and naming of the Ezra Institute, and how the podcast and our broader work will continue and grow moving forward.
Register for the Worldview Youth Academy soon to get early bird pricing!
Learn more about Niagara Classical Academy, the new school led by Ryan Eras.
Contact the school at info@niagaraclassical.com, and invest by etransfer at give@niagaraclassical.com
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In the first episode of 2024, we consider the tradition of New Year’s resolutions, look ahead at some of the newsmaking trends that we anticipate, and conclude with a prayer for a new year.
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In this Christmas replay, we discuss several opposing pairs of virtues and vices that shape our Christian character. If you’re considering how you can grow in godliness and holiness this coming year, here are some timeless biblical concepts to consider.
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The post Christmas Replay 2023: Leadership and Character appeared first on Ezra Institute.
In one of my favorite editions of the Bible there are beautiful illustrations depicting magnificent biblical scenes reproduced from the original wood engravings of Gustave Doré (1832-1883). I find many of them aid in appreciating the majesty of God’s Word-revelation, including his expressive recreation of the birth of Jesus surrounded by the shepherds on that holy night when angelic voices offered humanity a choral work like no other.
The nativity accounts of Matthew and Luke both contain an elusive and enigmatic beauty in portraying the incomparable events of that ‘fullness of times.’ Matthew tells us of magi bearing luxuriant gifts from the East who saw the shimmering star of the great King rising, calling them from their observatories and contemplations to participate in the truth of the paradox that the divine and the human were colliding in the man Jesus Christ. As if by contrast, Luke tells us of poor local shepherds whose herds would likely have provided animals for sacrifice at the temple, suddenly arrested in the crispness of the night by the glory of the Lord and the terrible beauty of an angelic host bringing evensong from the third heaven. They too are invited to participate in the day filled with eternity and promised that they will find the absolute, the paradox, wrapped in swaddling bands and lying in a manger. These exquisite images persist as a fading memory in our present cultural moment in which we wallow in the self-disgust of a debased society. And yet, despite all the efforts against it reflected in secularism’s disenchantment of life, brutalist buildings and moribund art – gripped by a cult of ugliness and utility whilst enamoured with the crude and vulgar – Christmas refuses to be painted over or demolished. The lights, the sounds, the decorations, feasts, songs and spires still draw many whose culture denies any use for the incarnation.
I worshipped recently in my local parish church situated in a small village and perched on a hillside like a lonely sparrow on a rooftop; people have worshipped Christ on this site since the time of the Saxons. Yet it was very difficult to find a seat. Extra chairs were hurriedly being put out as the last candles were being lit and bell ringers made final preparations to chime out the first two carols at the back of the nave. This ancient sanctuary was not only crowded, it was also beautiful to look at. Small children unaccustomed to seeing ancient church architecture were gazing up and around as other little ones read passages for our nine lessons and carols to the delight of the older people packed into pews like gifts in a Christmas stocking.
This scene would have been repeated many times in the shadow of great spires across weary old England, though but for a few shepherds on the fringe of human society, the humble birth of Christ was barely noticed by the world that first Christmas night, taking place as it did among livestock whose mucky old feeding trough was used as a makeshift crib. Yet somehow in the dust of Bethlehem, this tear in time is the embodiment of the beautiful in both its ordinary and extraordinary aspects; the ordinariness of the birth of a child in an impoverished setting and extraordinariness of hymns from heaven enlightened by the brightness of a unique star combining for a moment of beauty in which we sense the presence of the divine.
Our longing for beauty as a vital aspect of meaning in human life accounts for why the beautiful paradox retains a hold on so many hard hearts. As the ancient Hebrew poet foretold, truth springs, as it were, out of the earth, mercy and truth meet together; righteousness and peace have kissed (Ps. 85:10 ff). Here is mysterious beauty in everyday human form – the face of a babe in the arms of his mother. As Rembrandt’s Simeon in the Temple (1669) amply proves, the human face is a truly beautiful thing that awakens a depth of feeling, and this infant visage reminds us in a way that no other face has or can of our moral and spiritual need. The Christ child is the enchanting “paradox, which history can never digest or convert into a common syllogism. In His humiliation He is the same as in His exaltation.”[1] In the furtive beauty of Christ’s birth is true consolation in our sullied culture that, taking vengeance on its maker, incessantly paints God’s world as ugly and unlovable. Here in the quiet simplicity of the cradle a divine beauty redeems life, amplifying our joys and consoling us in our many sorrows. From the manger the beauty of peace smiles up at us in the presence of our sadness and suffering.
Time and eternity cannot be reconciled by human reasoning any more than of ourselves we can bridge the gulf between the human and divine. But now, the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. Now our eyes have seen your salvation. It only remains to participate, to follow the appointed sign of swaddling clothes. Then we might take hold by faith of the infant Jesus and discover that he is God with us.
[1] Soren Kierkegaard, Training in Christianity, trans. Walter Lowrie (New York: Vintage Books, 2004), 25
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There is a certain type of attitude or personality that creeps up this time of year that tries to suppress the joy of other believers in celebrating the birth of Christ. It alleges that Christmas was originally pagan, and that we are participating in idolatry. In today’s episode we discuss how there is good evidence that this is not the case, and that even if it were, the kingdom of God overcomes all opposition, and that all holidays ultimately belong to Christ.
Registration is open for the Worldview Youth Academy and Cultural Leadership Academy. Act now to get the early-bird rates.
The post Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? appeared first on Ezra Institute.
In this lecture from the 2023 Mission of God conference, Joe Boot explains the pagan nature of trans ideology, and offers a scriptural response.
Watch the video here: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/h1ON45AahF0
In this video Joe Boot explains the difference between the Christian and the unbelieving mind: To think Christianly is not to think about church-related things, but to think about all things in a way that understands Christ as the foundation of all knowledge.
Watch the video here: https://vimeo.com/853018424
At the 2021 Runner Academy, Joe Boot explains how there is a distinctly Christian way to view political life, and that it is a view that subordinates politics under the rule of Jesus the King.
ible depicts the family as God’s basic institution for a peaceful and orderly social order. It is no exaggeration to say that if we try to redefine the nature of the family, we redefine society itself.
At the 2021 Colombian Association for Christian Schools Conference Joe Boot explains how Christian Education is vital for Christians, especially in light of the current cultural climate.
In the first of a new series produced in partnership with Answers in Genesis, Joe Boot discusses how Scripture clearly connects the activities of creation and redemption as a unified totality in Jesus Christ, pointing to the ultimate destiny of redeemed humanity in resurrection life. In Colossians 1:15-20, Paul affirms that all things in the…
At the 2021 Colombian Association for Christian Schools Conference Joe Boot explains how Christian Education is a vital for Christians, especially in light of the current cultural climate.
At the 2021 Colombian Association for Christian Schools Conference Joe Boot introduces what it means to transform the culture through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, especially as it relates to the field of Education.
God’s response to idolatry throughout Scripture is one of judgment. Idolatry always leads to cultural decay and collapse, and we must see the supervening hand of God in our present situation.
Andre Schutten explains the significance of recent court cases and legal developments in Canada as they relate to the freedoms and values of Canadians, and especially to the work of pastoral ministry.
What do we mean when we talk about "the church"? At the Ezra Institute Church & Culture Pastors' Colloquium, Joe Boot describes the five different senses that the church is spoken of in Scripture.
God is continually active in His created world, sustaining it at every moment. Human beings were made to worship and serve, to tend and keep God’s good creation, and our attitude toward work reflects our theology.
Andrew Sandlin speaks to incoming university and college students about the origins and issues of Critical Theory at the 2019 To Give an Answer training program.
At the 2019 Worldview Leadership Camp, Joe Boot introduces the discipline and practice of apologetics, demonstrating the need for a foundational trust in the Word of God.
The early church experienced growth not through politics or church growth models, but by the grace of God, and produced the most free societies the world has ever seen. The gospel – not politics or planning – still has this power.
At ReformCon 2019, Joe Boot explains that without freedom to live as Christians in every area of society, engaging in culture becomes a moot point.
The state is a ministry of justice – God’s diaconate. But how should Christians respond when the state commands what God forbids or forbids what God commands?
EICC Founder Joe Boot answers audience questions on the subject of witnessing to Christ in an anti-Christian cultural context.
A proper Christology militates against statism or salvation by politics, because God's reign is not mediated by human powers and institutions, but by Christ alone.
EICC Founder Joe Boot discusses whether morality is possible in an atheistic worldview, and how the 'new atheism' movement has in fact become pantheistic.
In many cases, heretical, anti-God ideas only show themselves outside the sphere of the church. Joe Boot addresses the ARPA Niagara chapter on the heresy of liberal democracy.
EICC Fellow Jonathan Burnside explains the blessings of following God's law that accrue to a nation.
The urgent task before God’s people in our time is the recovery of a Christian mind – most especially for those in ecclesiastical and cultural leadership. What we need is a wholesale recovery, and in some instances a fresh discovery, of what it means to think Christianly and therefore to be Christian.
At the 2019 Worldview Leadership Camp, Cory McKenna of the Cross Current explains why the Word of God must be the foundation for everything we believe, and that we can only recognize the false by first establishing a standard for what is true.
EICC Founder Joe Boot addresses pastors and church leaders at the CMI Canada Pastor's Retreat. What do Jesus and the kingdom of God have to do with the question of creation?
Wesley Huff outlines the nature and history of Bible translation, demonstrating that we have good reason for confidence in the Bible as the inerrant Word of God.
A consistently Christian worldview has almost vanished from culture and church in our time. Joe Boot demonstrates the importance of recovering a view of all things that centres on recognizing Christ as the religious foundation of all knowledge.
Andrew Sandlin traces the development of Scholasticism and Romanticism, two worldview movements that have contributed to the dominant contemporary worldviews of Western society.
EICC Fellow and Runner Academy faculty member Willem Ouweneel explains the concept of sphere sovereignty.
Rev. Douglas Wilson discusses the doctrine of the Two Kingdoms. This is a controversy that carries enormous practical significance. How should we live in a world that refuses to acknowledge the kingship of Jesus?
Rev. Douglas Wilson discusses our contemporary "empires of dirt" - the self-destructing strategy of secularism - and the way forward as Christian leaders in calling our nation back to Jesus Christ.
Rev. Michael Thiessen addresses the issue of the family as a foundational institution of society and our Christian responsibility to respond to the identified crisis of our hemorrhaging faith.
We live in a difficult time to live as faithful Christians. The unbelieving world urgently needs the message of the gospel, whatever the cost may be.
The biblical vision of the human person is based on the all-powerful Word of Jesus Christ, and cannot be synthesized or compromised with evolutionary thought.
Darwinian evolutionary theory has no basis in science - it is an ideologically motivated worldview that leads to a culture of death.
Jeffery Ventrella unpacks the concept of worldview, explaining how a person’s network of beliefs influences the way they understand and approach the world and every area of life.
The church is the body of God's called-out people, to testify to the reign of Christ over all things, and pastors have a special responsibility to disciple the nations and confront systematic unbelief with systematic belief.
Founder Joe Boot and EICC Fellow Ted Fenske join a panel discussion at BreakForth Edmonton to talk about racism, Christianity as colonialism, teaching your kids critical thinking, the relationship of the state to other spheres of society, and the principle of cultural diversity found in the Trinity.
How should the Christian understand the work and teaching of Jordan Peterson? Is he an ally for Christian principles?
Peter Jones demonstrates the wide gulf between the Christian and non-Christian worldview, and the implications they each have for sexuality.
In order to have true and equal justice in society, we must have a standard outside of and higher than society in which the idea of justice is grounded.
The residual Christian worldview is declining in our culture. Rather than seeking to encounter the world as it is given, the prevailing cultural motive is to impose on the world an artificial and unrealistic vision of origins, ethics and destiny that stands in rebellion to God.
Many Christians have deliberately avoided the sphere of art as an immoral and ungodly realm. But God has created man to be his representative and image-bearer in every area of life. It is part of the Christian duty to pursue godly art as a part of pursuing godly culture.
Rev. Dr. Joe Boot describes the theological framework from which to understand the missional call of every Christian. He encourages and challenges the church to fully understand and apply what it means to be called by Christ as culture shapers and transformers.
What is the role of the church in society, and how does God expect His church to fulfil that role?
The Protestant Reformation helped to recover a biblical understanding of personal, church, and political liberty.
In memory of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, Dr. David Robinson speaks on the reformer Martin Luther, the nailing up of the 95 Theses, and his understanding of God's Justifying and Sanctifying Love.
How do we understand our present cultural moment? What is our relationship to the culture surrounding us? And what hope does Scripture offer our culture? In the first of a series of Cornerstones lectures, Dr. Joe Boot introduces us to the biblical concept of gospel culture.
When we talk about the uniqueness of Christ, we are actually making a statement about the meaning and purpose of all human history.
The significance of the resurrection is more than a historical fact, though it certainly is that. It means that Christ is now glorified, reigning over all the world as the righteous king. Learn about the implications of the reign of Christ for daily life.
The family is a covenant institution and relationship which requires faithfulness. If we are to have any impact on the world around us, the first thing that must be transformed in our hearts and lives is our immediate relationships with our family.
In a society that is steadily abandoning its Christian heritage, how do we witness to and communicate with our unbelieving neighbours?
Without love to God and a recognition of his Word-revelation to us in Christ and in Scripture, we are not only unable to truly love our neighbor, we cannot even identify them truly. We find, in fact, that we cannot answer the most elementary question ‘what is a human person?’ Our rejection of God and the image of God in man leads to the endless defacing and destruction of that image,rather than seeking life and light in the triune God.
Worship of the true God has always been unintelligible to depraved minds. Natural man's impulse is toward self-worship, most clearly depicted in humanism and paganism. These false doctrines are most insidious not in the broader culture, but in the church.
Amidst all the complexity of the world, there are two basic ways to understand it - either in terms of God's Word or man's idea. Learn more about the significance of God's self-revelation through his Word.
Modern Western culture is increasingly hostile to the Christian worldview. How did we get to this point, and what is the Christian response?
The biblical story begins and ends with a wedding; sexuality is a major issue in the Kingdom of God, and is an area that the devil has sought to twist and distort. Learn about the robust biblical teaching on sexuality and marriage.
The question as to whether there is a conflict between reason and religion is misleading when we come to understand the biblical concept of 'reasoning' (understanding) and its subjection to man's religious nature.
What does the incarnation of Jesus Christ mean? The historic nature of Christianity makes it a unique, real and living faith, over against materialist or spiritual heresies.
MOG2015 05: Joe Boot, David Robinson and Michael Nazir-Ali answer questions regarding: the Mission of God; Christian Education; Radical Islam; Christian Transformation of Society; Male and Female Roles; Climate Change from a Christian Perspective.
MOG2015 02: The book of Revelation sets forth two groups of people: those who follow the Beast and bear his mark and those who follow the Lamb and bear his name. The book declares the eternal gospel (Rev 14:6-7), which is a universal summons to follow the Lamb in true worship and salvation.
MOG2015 01: The fall of Adam and Eve in the garden is the essential foundation for understanding the gospel meta-story. The gospel is cosmic in scope and in the cross all creation is being restored in proper relation to its Creator and Owner.
MOG2015 04: Denying his Creator, man is alienated from the very source of his existence and seeks to cope by turning to idolatry in the form of addictions, money and power. But because of God's radical love at the cross, people are attracted out of the world into participation in the transforming work of God.
MOG2015 03: Created in God's image, man and woman are agents capable of changing the world as they undertake the task of fulfilling the cultural mandate.
Politics has been described as "the art of what is possible." We consider how Christians can and should engage in the political arena on the issues of human trafficking and prostitution, abortion, euthanasia.
What does God's word have to say about our livelihoods, families, neighborhoods and nations? What place does Scripture have in the public sphere, and how does it relate to the government of nations?
Where do jihadists find the support for their convictions and terrorist actions? How do we understand the popular refrain that Islam is a religion of peace?
Christ is not one authority among many, but the ruler of the kings of the earth.The Son of God appeared on earth to destroy the works of the devil, and has given us the task of cultural renewal in every area of life, including the public square.
The basic freedom of the Christian is the freedom from bondage to sin and death. The state is God's minister to punish wrongdoing, but when a state oversteps its God-given bounds of authority, it ceases to be legitimate. In God's economy, church, state and family are partners, with distinct roles in society.
One of the most significant ways that Christians fulfill the Great Commission mandate, making disciples of all nations, is by educating our children in a God-honouring way.
Like a precious coin, the Lord works constantly to rescue and redeem His people, and through us, to redeem our culture and world.
At the heart of Ontario’s radical new sex-ed curriculum is the false belief in human autonomy and the perverse claim that children raise themselves. We may deny the reality of sin, but without Christ, can never truly free ourselves from the sense of guilt that accompanies it.
The foundation of true education is the truth that man, though fallen and sinful, is made in the image of God the creator and king. Education is a core implication of the gospel truth that Jesus Christ is Lord over all the earth.
Worship includes the use of our minds. A Christian cosmology maintains that the laws of nature are only laws because they are God's ordinary way of working. There is no conflict inherent between science and religion.
There is a humanistic movement towards a superficial religious unity, which amounts to little more than the abolishment of distinctions as part of a greater effort towards man-centered sociopolitical unity.
The Judeo-Christian worldview stands alone among every view of reality; all other worldviews ultimately eliminate distinctions, but the distinction of creator-creature makes Christianity utterly unique and ultimately, our only hope
Joe Boot demonstrates that historically, philosophically, economically and sociologically, the religious commitments of the Judeo-Christian worldview form the only solid foundation for the philosophy and practice of education
Education is inescapably a religious exercise, shaping the hearts, minds, and faith of the next generation. The pagan and humanist program of today's state schools cannot be reconciled with the biblical mandate to train our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
MOG2014 06: As King of kings, Jesus requires all creation to worship him and to serve his kingdom purposes. Our hope is the gospel of the kingdom. By the power of the resurrection Christ is restoring all creation to a condition of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.