Tiptoe Through the Tulips: Recent Episodes
Mathias, Travis, & Aaron
Join three friends as they venture through the allegedly intimidating and ominous book known as Calvin's Institutes on the Christian Religion. Together they examine Calvin's writings to make sure they match up with scripture, church doctrine, and common sense.
Sections.
-
Scripture, in teaching that there is but one God, does not make a dispute about words, but attributes all honour and religious worship to him alone. This proved, 1st, By the etymology of the term. 2d, By the testimony of God himself, when he declares that he is a jealous God, and will not allow himself to be confounded with any fictitious Deity.
-
The Papists in opposing this pure doctrine, gain nothing by their distinction of dulia and latria.
-
Passages of Scripture subversive of the Papistical distinction, and proving that religious worship is due to God alone. Perversions of Divine worship.
-
Absurd defence of the worship of images by the second so-called Council of Nice. Sophisms or perversions of Scripture in defence of images in churches.
-
Passages adduced in support of the worship of images.
-
The blasphemous expressions of some ancient idolaters approved by not a few of the more modern, both in word and deed.
Listen to Aaron, Travis, and Mathias discuss the importance or potential lack thereof for dressing a certain way for church. Read more about Aaron's perspective on this potentially hot-button issue here: https://letterstodustin.blog/2019/09/20/the-purpose-of-posture/
-
Third division of the chapter--viz. the use and abuse of images.
-
Whether it is expedient to have images in Christian temples.
-
The second division of the chapter. Origin of idols or images. Its rise shortly after the flood. Its continual progress.
-
Of the worship of images. Its nature. A pretext of idolaters refuted. Pretexts of the heathen. Genius of idolaters.
-
Evasion of the Papists. Their agreement with ancient idolaters.
-
Refutation of another evasion or sophism--viz. the distinction of dulia and latria.
Sections.
-
Objection,--That images are the books of the unlearned. Objection answered, 1. Scripture declares images to be teachers of vanity and lies.
-
Answer continued, 2. Ancient Theologians condemn the formation and worship of idols.
-
Answer continued,--3. The use of images condemned by the luxury and meretricious ornaments given to them in Popish Churches. 4. The Church must be trained in true piety by another method.
Sections.
-
God is opposed to idols, that all may know he is the only fit witness to himself. He expressly forbids any attempt to represent him by a bodily shape.
-
Reasons for this prohibition from Moses, Isaiah, and Paul. The complaint of a heathen. It should put the worshipers of idols to shame.
-
Consideration of an objection taken from various passages in Moses. The Cherubim and Seraphim show that images are not fit to represent divine mysteries. The Cherubim belonged to the tutelage of the Law.
-
The materials of which idols are made, abundantly refute the fiction of idolaters. Confirmation from Isaiah and others. Absurd precaution of the Greeks.
-
Explanation of the knowledge of God resumed. God as manifested in Scripture, the same as delineated in his works.
-
The attributes of God as described by Moses, David, and Jeremiah. Explanation of the attributes. Summary. Uses of this knowledge.
-
Scripture, in directing us to the true God, excludes the gods of the heathen, who, however, in some sense, held the unity of God.
Sections.
-
The temper and error of the Libertines, who take to themselves the name of spiritual, briefly described. Their refutation. 1. The Apostles and all true Christians have embraced the written Word. This confirmed by a passage in Isaiah; also by the example and words of Paul. 2. The Spirit of Christ seals the doctrine of the written Word on the minds of the godly.
-
Refutation continued. 3. The impositions of Satan cannot be detected without the aid of the written Word. First Objection. The Answer to it.
-
Second Objection from the words of Paul as to the letter and spirit. The Answer, with an explanation of Paul's meaning. How the Spirit and the written Word are indissolubly connected.
Join Travis and his cousin as they discuss what cross cultural ministry looks like and the importance of obeying God's instructions of sending The Gospel to every nation. (Please forgive the audio skipping. Travis has already repented of this corruption.)
-
Objection against Moses and the Prophets. Answer to it.
-
Another objection and answer. Of the wondrous Providence of God in the preservation of the sacred books. The Greek Translation. The carefulness of the Jews.
-
Special proofs from the New Testament. I. The harmony of the Evangelists, and the sublime simplicity of their writings. II. The majesty of John, Paul, and Peter. III. The calling of the Apostles. IV. The conversion of Paul.
-
Proofs from Church history. I. Perpetual consent of the Church in receiving and preserving the truth. II. The invincible power of the truth itself. III. Agreement among the godly, not withstanding of their many differences in other respects.
-
The constancy of the martyrs. Conclusion. Proofs of this description only of use after the certainty of Scripture has been established in the heart by the Holy Spirit.
Join Aaron with special guest star Zach Kuntz as they discuss what it looks like to love God with our strength and how that translates to discipline across the Christian life.
Mathias and Aaron stumble forward without Travis in sections 5-8.
-
The miracles and prophecies of Moses. A profane objection refuted.
-
Another profane objection refuted.
-
The prophecies of Moses as to the sceptre not departing from Judah, and the calling of the Gentiles.
-
The predictions of other prophets. The destruction of Jerusalem; and the return from the Babylonish captivity. Harmony of the Prophets. The celebrated prophecy of Daniel.
Join the gang as they discuss what they've experienced/learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and how they've seen God at work through it all.
-
Secondary helps to establish the credibility of Scripture. I. The arrangement of the sacred volume. II. Its dignity. III. Its truth. IV. Its simplicity. V. Its efficacy.
-
The majesty conspicuous in the writings of the Prophets.
-
Special proofs from the Old Testament. I. The antiquity of the Books of Moses.
-
This antiquity contrasted with the dreams of the Egyptians. II. The majesty of the Books of Moses.
Section.
-
The authority of Scripture derived not from men, but from the Spirit of God. Objection, That Scripture depends on the decision of the Church. Refutation, I. The truth of God would thus be subjected to the will of man. II. It is insulting to the Holy Spirit. III. It establishes a tyranny in the Church. IV. It forms a mass of errors. V. It subverts conscience. VI. It exposes our faith to the scoffs of the profane.
-
Another reply to the objection drawn from the words of the Apostle Paul. Solution of the difficulties started by opponents. A second objection refuted.
-
A third objection founded on a sentiment of Augustine considered.
-
Conclusion, That the authority of Scripture is founded on its being spoken by God. This confirmed by the conscience of the godly, and the consent of all men of the least candour. A fourth objection common in the mouths of the profane. Refutation.
-
Last and necessary conclusion, That the authority of Scripture is sealed on the hearts of believers by the testimony of the Holy Spirit. The certainty of this testimony. Confirmation of it from a passage of Isaiah, and the experience of believers. Also, from another passage of Isaiah.
Special guest Rielle Boliou shares how theology is for all Christians. Tune in as she shares how diving deeper into her knowledge of God has helped her to love Him for completely!
Sections.
-
God gives his elect a better help to the knowledge of himself--viz. the Holy Scriptures. This he did from the very first.
-
First, By oracles and visions, and the ministry of the Patriarchs. Secondly, By the promulgation of the Law, and the preaching of the Prophets. Why the doctrines of religion are committed to writing.
-
This view confirmed, 1. By the depravity of our nature making it necessary in every one who would know God to have recourse to the word; 2. From those passages of the Psalms in which God is introduced as reigning.
-
Another confirmation from certain direct statements in the Psalms. Lastly, From the words of our Saviour.
Join Aaron Cunningham with his special guest Alan Vester as they discuss what it means to love God with their minds.
- The second part of the chapter, which describes the stupidity both of learned and unlearned, in ascribing the whole order of things, and the admirable arrangements of divine Providence, to fortune.12. Hence Polytheism, with all its abominations, and...
Join Dustin and Aaron as they discuss what discipleship is, what it means to be a good mentor and a good disciple and why discipleship is so important.
Join us as we look at Book 1 Chapter 5 Sections 7-10:7. The second class of works--viz. those above the ordinary course of nature, afford clear evidence of the perfections of God, especially his goodness, justice, and mercy.8. Also his providence,...
Join Dustin and Aaron as they discuss the season of Lent, its history, the pros, the cons and whether or not it's a "Christian" thing to do.
Join us as we start Chapter 5 by looking at sections 1-6:1. The invisible and incomprehensible essence of God, to a certain extent, made visible in his works.2. This declared by the first class of works--viz. the admirable motions of the heavens and the...
Join us as we discuss:1. The knowledge of God suppressed by ignorance, many falling away into superstition. Such persons, however, inexcusable, because their error is accompanied with pride and stubbornness.2. Stubbornness the companion of impiety.3. No...
Join Dustin and I as we discuss dating, engagement, marriage, and what it looks like to glorify God in all of that.