Kirk Cameron came out recently saying that he leaned toward a view of conditionalism which is a flavor of annihilationism. Many people started to ask, “Is Kirk Cameron a heretic?” Todd Friel described why he thinks annihilationism is not a heresy and why therefore Cameron is not a heretic. To do this, he utilized a common method that categorizes each theology as either “Essential” or “Non-Essential”. In his view, to be classified as a heresy, the wrong idea must be about an essential doctrine (he also seemed to say if you hold to a heresy, then you are a heretic, but that may have just been in the context of Cameron’s position as a teacher) The problem is that this method of categorization regarding heresy does not come from Scripture. So we feel that it is worth discussing what the bible actually says about heresy and what makes a man a heretic. While Friel and many others say that heresy is different than error or being wrong, the Greek word that is translated heresy means “to choose”. The word also contains the idea of creating divisions. So heresy fundamentally means to choose to believe something that is not true. But does this mean that everyone who chooses to believe something that is not true is a heretic. NO. Absolutely not. According to scripture, a heretic is one who refuses to repent when corrected and who teaches their false view to others, causing division in the body of Christ.

So, why is it dangerous to make heresy to hold to something essential? Because what scripture teaches us is that God loves those things that we do out of faith and he hates those who love lawlessness. And lawlessness is not limited to “essential” doctrines, but springs up in many places and defiles many. It’s also dangerous to define heresy as something other than error, as it makes distinctions and categories that God does not make. It lets us give ourself a pass on willful disobedience to the word, and it ignores the fact that all doctrine is connected. As we will discuss in this episode, annihilationism attacks the nature of the atonement and the depth of God’s justice and mercy. This is true of many other doctrines that would not be considered “essential”. So we disagree strongly with Todd Friel about whether annihilationism is a heresy. But is Kirk Cameron a heretic? Watch the episode, and let us know what you think in the comments (more importantly, let us know what you believe the scriptures say, and help us correct our thinking if we are wrong).

Timecodes
00:00:00 Todd Friel on Heresy
00:03:51 What is Heresy?
00:10:32 Gradations of Heresy
00:34:37 Confessions
00:36:59 Essential Doctrines?
00:43:35 Advancement of Doctrine
01:00:09 Lofty Goal
01:05:00 All Doctrine is Serious
01:09:58 Reject a Heretic
01:32:47 Pulled from the Fire

Production of Reformation Baptist Church of Youngsville, NC
Permanent Hosts – Dan Horn, Charles Churchill and Joshua Horn
Technical Director – Timothy Kaiser
Theme Music – Gabriel Hudelson

Do the New Testament writers ever use the Old Testaments verses that they quote out of context? It’s an important concept to consider because many people use proof texting to make theological arguments. They will quote a verse divorced from its context and declare that it means what they want it to mean. So if the writers of the NT, who were inspired by God, used those same techniques, then proof texting must be approved. But of course that is ridiculous, because the heart of proof texting is to put your words in God’s mouth rather than putting His words in your mouth which is the purpose of the Word of God.

In this episode, we examine how the New Testament writers handled the Old Testament and how often comprehending the meaning of a passage in the New Testament requires knowing and understanding the fuller context of the Old Testament passage that was referenced. New Testament writers would often just quote a single line from the Old Testament, expecting that those who love God and His Word would be willing to study the Bible and spend the time to understand. But today, most people in the pews, and even most pastors know very little about the Old Testament. So here’s the question: If it is wrong to proof text, how does that change how we should look at the Word of God when it quotes from an earlier writer?

Production of Reformation Baptist Church of Youngsville, NC
Permanent Hosts – Dan Horn, Charles Churchill and Joshua Horn
Technical Director – Timothy Kaiser
Theme Music – Gabriel Hudelson

Christians are often told to tithe, but many often wonder, is tithing really commanded for Christians? Or is it an Old Testament ordinance that passed away with the ceremonial law.

Before we talk about whether the tithe is biblical, it is important to understand something. God doesn’t need our money. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He can provide whatever is needed, so we need to start with the idea that God had another purpose for His people to give. So here’s the question: Why are His people to give, when many lack resources?

Timecodes
00:00:00 Where is Our Heart?
00:19:03 Church’s Financial Security
00:23:23 Faithful in Lesser Things
00:30:19 Honoring God with Money
00:33:37 Old Testament Tithing
00:37:20 Examples of Giving
00:49:08 Consequences of the Love of Money
01:00:07 Tithes vs Offerings
01:05:22 Old Testament Tithes

Production of Reformation Baptist Church of Youngsville, NC
Permanent Hosts – Dan Horn, Charles Churchill and Joshua Horn
Technical Director – Timothy Kaiser
Theme Music – Gabriel Hudelson

Since Charlie Kirk’s assassination, more people are naming the name of Jesus in public. And many Christians think that if they are willing to mention the name of Jesus Christ in public that they are not ashamed of Him or His gospel. But is that really what scripture teaches?

In Romans 1, Paul says that he is not ashamed of the gospel, and then he says two things
1) For it is the power of God to salvation
2) In it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The Just shall live by faith”

It is easy to miss what this means for us. Paul is saying that words are not enough, that we must confront and deal with the sin in us and around us. It is not enough to say his name, we must walk in righteousness.

In this episode, we look at what is required to confront unrighteousness both when we are in public in private. We also look back at times when John MacArthur and Voddie Baucham were given the opportunity to confront evil and they both set a good example. But because most of us will never be on national television, we also talk about what this looks like in our everyday life.

We also try to look at some situations where Charlie Kirk didn’t stand up for the gospel in the way that he probably should have. The point isn’t to beat him up, it’s to make sure we don’t make him the pinnacle. Christ is the example we are to follow. Paul and the apostles. The words of God and how they challenge and direct us to stand for righteousness. That is what we are to look to.

Timecodes
00:00 Ashamed of the Gospel
07:40 John MacArthur
15:55 Voddie Baucham
20:30 Charlie Kirk
24:54 Kirk to a Homosexual
28:53 Validating Sin in the Church
37:45 What This Says About Kirk
49:23 Kirk on Mormons
55:40 Proclaiming the Gospel
01:07:15 Rejecting the Power of the Gospel

Production of Reformation Baptist Church of Youngsville, NC
Permanent Hosts – Dan Horn, Charles Churchill and Joshua Horn
Technical Director – Timothy Kaiser
Theme Music – Gabriel Hudelson