Right Doctrine is NOT Enough: Why Orthopraxy Matters (Ep. 187 Audio)

Having right doctrine is important, but it’s not enough. That why orthopraxy (having correct practices) matters.

People like to debate theology. Many people believe that Christians should make an effort to persuade other Christians to their understanding of scripture – and the bible is clear, while pointless debates are foolish, persuading others to understand sound doctrine is a good and important thing to do. Right doctrine is how the church is made one. Unity comes from the right and complete understanding of who Christ is. But many are satisfied with only having right doctrine. They do not go on to apply it to their lives and to have right practices. And when orthopraxy is ignored, it is reasonable to ask whether the doctrine was ever really and correctly understood. In every field of study, there is a recognized difference between abstract knowledge and application. And as anyone who has tried to build a building or follow a recipe for the first time knows, applying knowledge can be much more difficult than obtaining it.

In this episode, we want to discuss why right doctrine is insufficient. While the wicked do not love right doctrine, it is almost always actions that they find most offensive. When Christ came to his own, they would not receive him, and while many of them were offended by his doctrine, what the religious leaders were most offended by was that he revealed them to be hypocrites, not just by his words, but by his deeds. We also want to talk about how orthropraxy and orthodoxy cannot be separated from one another. And when we try to separate them, we often lose what doctrine we have or create practices that teach a false doctrine. We can see this in how the world describes “servant leadership”. Leaders really should serve those they are called to lead, but they also still have authority. As the world tries to destroy Biblical manhood and womanhood, even among those who have correct doctrine the practice of male head of household and male representative authority has been discarded and as a result the doctrine has grown weaker. So please join as a we discuss this and many other points related to the question: “Why is orthopraxy, which means to practice what is right, important?”

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

What God’s Law Says About Divorce, Remarriage, and Abandonment (Ep. 186 Audio)

There are well-meaning Christians who teach that no one should ever be allowed to remarry after divorce. The main problem with that interpretation is that God divorced and remarried. Spiritually, God is only ever married to the invisible church, but that is not true in an earthly sense. According to Scripture, God divorced Israel and He was divorced from Judah when he came to them and they put him to death. But then Christ is betrothed to the church, with his death paying the bride price. So, if God, who is perfectly righteous, divorced and remarried what does that mean for us?

In this episode, we want to discuss what scripture teaches about marriage, divorce, remarriage, and abandonment. We will look at the Old Testament law of divorce and see how its substance and intent are consistent with Christ’s and Paul’s teachings in the New Testament. We will look at marriage as both a picture of the gospel and of Christ and the church and how the message throughout scripture of “hardness of heart” is a central theme demonstrated through the differences between the old and new covenant.

Marriage is an important institution, and while God hates divorce, he hates hardness of heart even more. While the church needs to protect the importance and sanctity of marriage by requiring fidelity, the church must also recognize that hardness of heart can bring a marriage to an end. When we deny this, we obscure the perfect righteousness of God. Please join us as we discuss this very important topic.

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

25 Ways Christ’s Kingdom Has Improved the World (Ep. 185 Audio)

Do you understand the many ways that Christianity has made the world a better place?

Some people think of eschatology as this far-off thing dealing only with future events that are primarily spiritual in nature. But scripture does not teach that this is true. Christ came to establish his kingdom and to destroy the works of the devil. After his life, death, and resurrection, he ascended to heaven, his rule and reign were established, and his kingdom has been going forth and transforming the world.

The word of God says that Christians are the light of the world, but so many believe that the darkness wins over the light. But God designed light and darkness to give us a picture of how the world works. Just as light will dispel the darkness so will the light of Christ through his church push back and destroy the darkness of the world. In this episode we want to look at the many ways that Christ’s kingdom of light has taken dominion over the darkness and how that victory has been made manifest in the world. Christians of all people should see and understand these things and glorify God for his goodness. Please join us as we discuss this important topic.

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

Is Democracy Good? What Does the Bible Say? (Ep. 184 Audio)

If you pay attention to the news at all, you’ll hear a lot of worried cries about how we need to work to “save democracy”. But if you know much about American history, you’ll know that the US isn’t a democracy and has never been one. In fact, if you’ve really studied history you’ll know that pure democracies tend to be short-lived institutions. And because this is a podcast by Christians, and largely aimed at Christians, you shouldn’t be surprised that we want to take this all back to scripture and talk about what the Bible teaches about government, how people should rule themselves, and why pure democracies tend to lead to evil.

In this episode, we want to look at the danger of democracies and how this is demonstrated throughout scripture. The people collectively always have a great deal of power, the question is how should that power be both harnessed and constrained? There will also always be leaders among the people. Even if there is no official position anyone who can influence others will always have some form of power. Pure democracy gives great power to those who can influence the public and typically leads to mob rule. And this is not only true in the nation but also in our churches (and not only in congregational churches).

Scripture has much to say about government, authority, and the principles that shape a nation, and while in this episode we can only scratch the surface and begin to lay a framework for this should be thought about, it is a discussion that the Christians in America desperately need to have. Please join us as discuss this important topic.

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

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