Do Protestants Need the Church Fathers? (Ep. 270)

It is very easy to get the church fathers wrong. From thinking that their doctrine was better or more pure, or that their proximity to Christ and the apostles gave them greater authority, there are many ways to go astray in considering their proper place in the church’s history. And while Christ has used many men to lead his church, the primary means that He has used to mature and cleanse his bride is the leading of the Holy Spirit working through the power of His Word.

One of the central concepts of the church is its corporate nature and that the church is Christ’s bride, who is being made ready for him. But because we are often tempted to focus on individuals and their personal contributions and achievements, the church fathers often become a distraction from the corporate nature of the church and how Christ has made it more mature in both doctrine and practice.

In this episode, we try to provide a biblical framework for thinking about God’s love and care for the church without putting the wrong emphasis on the people he used. We also discuss how the church fathers are often used to make bad arguments about the church and its doctrine, particularly by the Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox churches. Even the term “church father” gets used far too liberally by many, with the Roman Catholic church recognizing people as fathers as late as the eighth century (and, of course, they choose to elevate those whose writings support their favorite heresies).

The church fathers deserve honor as the ones whom God used to lead the early church. But they do not deserve greater honor than other leaders who came after them. God has and is using different men to lead his church, but in the end, Jesus Christ is the one who is cleansing his bride. We should not sit at their feet and act as if they were made the ones to finalize the doctrine of the church. That honor belongs to our one true father, God himself, who will mature his Son’s bride, “till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”

Timecodes
00:00 Intro
05:24 Early Church in the Bible
17:14 Who Has Authority?
25:01 The Holy Spirit’s Plan
49:35 Theological Development
57:10 Church Father Examples

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 Protestants Need the Church Fathers? (Ep. 270 Audio)

It is very easy to get the church fathers wrong. From thinking that their doctrine was better or more pure, or that their proximity to Christ and the apostles gave them greater authority, there are many ways to go astray in considering their proper place in the church’s history. And while Christ has used many men to lead his church, the primary means that He has used to mature and cleanse his bride is the leading of the Holy Spirit working through the power of His Word.

One of the central concepts of the church is its corporate nature and that the church is Christ’s bride, who is being made ready for him. But because we are often tempted to focus on individuals and their personal contributions and achievements, the church fathers often become a distraction from the corporate nature of the church and how Christ has made it more mature in both doctrine and practice.

In this episode, we try to provide a biblical framework for thinking about God’s love and care for the church without putting the wrong emphasis on the people he used. We also discuss how the church fathers are often used to make bad arguments about the church and its doctrine, particularly by the Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox churches. Even the term “church father” gets used far too liberally by many, with the Roman Catholic church recognizing people as fathers as late as the eighth century (and, of course, they choose to elevate those whose writings support their favorite heresies).

The church fathers deserve honor as the ones whom God used to lead the early church. But they do not deserve greater honor than other leaders who came after them. God has and is using different men to lead his church, but in the end, Jesus Christ is the one who is cleansing his bride. We should not sit at their feet and act as if they were made the ones to finalize the doctrine of the church. That honor belongs to our one true father, God himself, who will mature his Son’s bride, “till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”

Timecodes
00:00 Intro
05:24 Early Church in the Bible
17:14 Who Has Authority?
25:01 The Holy Spirit’s Plan
49:35 Theological Development
57:10 Church Father Examples

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

My Husband Isn’t a Believer! How a Christian Wife Can Live in Peace (Ep. 269)

One of the most challenging issues for a Christian wife to face is when her husband either is openly an unbeliever or even more difficult when he claims to be a believer but behaves in a way that is betrays his faith. And while scripture gives very clear directions in 1 Peter 3:1, “Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives”, understanding how to apply it to specific situations can be very complex.

In this episode we walk through a number of these complexities and look at how God’s word says to deal with them. Because marriage is an intimate relationship, it can seem like it makes up the entirety of a wife’s life, but in reality, marriage is only one of many authority structures that make up the world. Often because of pride, shame, or uncertainty, a wife may feel unable to appeal to other authorities in her life, but God has created them as a protection for both her and her husband. Please join us as we discuss this complex issue.

Thumbnail image by JESUS_is_our_only_HOPE on pixabay

Timecodes

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

My Husband Isn’t a Believer! How a Christian Wife Can Live in Peace (Ep. 269 Audio)

One of the most challenging issues for a Christian wife to face is when her husband either is openly an unbeliever or even more difficult when he claims to be a believer but behaves in a way that is betrays his faith. And while scripture gives very clear directions in 1 Peter 3:1, “Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives”, understanding how to apply it to specific situations can be very complex.

In this episode we walk through a number of these complexities and look at how God’s word says to deal with them. Because marriage is an intimate relationship, it can seem like it makes up the entirety of a wife’s life, but in reality, marriage is only one of many authority structures that make up the world. Often because of pride, shame, or uncertainty, a wife may feel unable to appeal to other authorities in her life, but God has created them as a protection for both her and her husband. Please join us as we discuss this complex issue.

Thumbnail image by JESUS_is_our_only_HOPE on pixabay

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

Was Jesus a Legalist? Why the Modern Church Hates God’s Law (Ep. 268)

When people try to live according to God’s law, they are frequently accused of being legalists, prompting us to ask a startling question: Was Jesus a Legalist? To truly answer this, we must look past cultural definitions and ask from a scriptural standpoint, What is Legalism?
In this episode of The Conquering Truth, we dismantle the widespread confusion surrounding what is properly called legalism and examine how the term is routinely weaponized against those who seek to live holy lives. By looking at Christ and the Law, we demonstrate that while the law is NEVER the means of obtaining righteousness, Jesus explicitly demands our total duty to keep and teach it.

Unpacking Matthew 5:17-20, we address the severe judgment reserved for those who subtract from God’s commandments—a serious issue confronting many modern “Reformed” churches today regarding doctrines relating to Sabbath-keeping, head coverings, and the second commandment.

We also break down Phariseeism vs. Legalism, showing how true Phariseeism actually elevates human traditions over God’s statutes rather than faithfully obeying His word. We also discuss how people want scripture to tell us exactly what to do in each situation, but scripture almost always conveys the law through case law and case law needs to be understood and applied to specific situations. This doesn’t mean that truth is relative but rather that, as 1 Timothy 1:5-11 teaches, the law can be applied to every area of life and every aspect of sound doctrine.

As a ministry of Reformation Baptist Church, we desire to promote a greater understanding of God’s Word and His law. Join us as we prove once again that theology drives the world and that true love for Christ means keeping His commandments.

Playlist on applying God’s law
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn4FNbOHlBQ&list=PLYj_G2CFyWPl8j2y75I84K2xgCL-xKyN3

Timecodes
00:00:00 Purpose of the Law
00:07:17 Fulfilling the Law
00:19:03 The Sabbath Example
00:31:15 Adding to the Law
00:46:55 Tradition
00:54:48 The Charge of Legalism
01:09:35 Conclusion

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

Was Jesus a Legalist? Why the Modern Church Hates God’s Law (Ep. 268 Audio)

When people try to live according to God’s law, they are frequently accused of being legalists, prompting us to ask a startling question: Was Jesus a Legalist? To truly answer this, we must look past cultural definitions and ask from a scriptural standpoint, What is Legalism?
In this episode of The Conquering Truth, we dismantle the widespread confusion surrounding what is properly called legalism and examine how the term is routinely weaponized against those who seek to live holy lives. By looking at Christ and the Law, we demonstrate that while the law is NEVER the means of obtaining righteousness, Jesus explicitly demands our total duty to keep and teach it.

Unpacking Matthew 5:17-20, we address the severe judgment reserved for those who subtract from God’s commandments—a serious issue confronting many modern “Reformed” churches today regarding doctrines relating to Sabbath-keeping, head coverings, and the second commandment.

We also break down Phariseeism vs. Legalism, showing how true Phariseeism actually elevates human traditions over God’s statutes rather than faithfully obeying His word. We also discuss how people want scripture to tell us exactly what to do in each situation, but scripture almost always conveys the law through case law and case law needs to be understood and applied to specific situations. This doesn’t mean that truth is relative but rather that, as 1 Timothy 1:5-11 teaches, the law can be applied to every area of life and every aspect of sound doctrine.

As a ministry of Reformation Baptist Church, we desire to promote a greater understanding of God’s Word and His law. Join us as we prove once again that theology drives the world and that true love for Christ means keeping His commandments.

Playlist on applying God’s law
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn4FNbOHlBQ&list=PLYj_G2CFyWPl8j2y75I84K2xgCL-xKyN3

Timecodes
00:00:00 Purpose of the Law
00:07:17 Fulfilling the Law
00:19:03 The Sabbath Example
00:31:15 Adding to the Law
00:46:55 Tradition
00:54:48 The Charge of Legalism
01:09:35 Conclusion

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 the American Dream Dead? (Ep. 267)

Most of us grew up hearing about the “American Dream” As a political slogan, it’s is useful, primarily because the hearer gets to decide exactly what it means. And politicians on both sides love to argue that they are the ones fighting for the American Dream while their opponents are actively destroying it—but is the American Dream itself just a lie? Coined during the Great Depression by James Adams as a critique of 1920s materialism, the “dream” has shifted from an ethos of freedom and opportunity into a hyper-materialistic checklist: mandatory college degrees, homeownership, and retiring early at 62.

In this episode we examine the historical evolution and spiritual danger of the American Dream through a biblical lens. Looking at American history, we unpack how secular definitions look to government intervention or welfare handouts, which actually paralyze economic mobility and strip away the foundational value of productive work. Furthermore, we address how state-sanctioned theft—through inflation and heavy taxation—actively drains the fruit of people’s labor.

Ultimately, we expose why equating the American Dream with God’s covenantal blessing is a false theology. True biblical dominion isn’t about escaping work or hoarding luxury; it is about seeking the Kingdom of God first. Join us as we explore how a faithful hermeneutic frees us from worldly materialism and points us back to Christ as the sovereign King and the only hope we need.

Timecodes
00:00 Intro
02:09 Defining the American Dream
06:44 Not Everyone has the same Dream
19:39 Economic Mobility
27:39 Sacrificed Opportunity
35:01 Sin makes the world unproductive
40:01 The difference work makes
48:12 Christian work ethic
55:57 Taxes
01:14:16 False theology ruins the American Dream

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 the American Dream Dead? (Ep. 267 Audio)

Most of us grew up hearing about the “American Dream” As a political slogan, it’s is useful, primarily because the hearer gets to decide exactly what it means. And politicians on both sides love to argue that they are the ones fighting for the American Dream while their opponents are actively destroying it—but is the American Dream itself just a lie? Coined during the Great Depression by James Adams as a critique of 1920s materialism, the “dream” has shifted from an ethos of freedom and opportunity into a hyper-materialistic checklist: mandatory college degrees, homeownership, and retiring early at 62.

In this episode we examine the historical evolution and spiritual danger of the American Dream through a biblical lens. Looking at American history, we unpack how secular definitions look to government intervention or welfare handouts, which actually paralyze economic mobility and strip away the foundational value of productive work. Furthermore, we address how state-sanctioned theft—through inflation and heavy taxation—actively drains the fruit of people’s labor.

Ultimately, we expose why equating the American Dream with God’s covenantal blessing is a false theology. True biblical dominion isn’t about escaping work or hoarding luxury; it is about seeking the Kingdom of God first. Join us as we explore how a faithful hermeneutic frees us from worldly materialism and points us back to Christ as the sovereign King and the only hope we need.

Timecodes
00:00 Intro
02:09 Defining the American Dream
06:44 Not Everyone has the same Dream
19:39 Economic Mobility
27:39 Sacrificed Opportunity
35:01 Sin makes the world unproductive
40:01 The difference work makes
48:12 Christian work ethic
55:57 Taxes
01:14:16 False theology ruins the American Dream

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

Arminian Verses Debunked: Are They Rightly Handling the Word? (Ep. 265)

When confronted with the historical doctrines of grace, Arminians frequently respond by citing popular proof-texts like John 3:16, 2 Peter 3:9, and 1 Timothy 2:4 to deny God’s absolute sovereignty over salvation. But are these passages being handled righteously, or are they being ripped entirely out of their biblical contexts?

And this question about context matters, because the main problem with the way Arminians handle scripture is that they ignore or twist the context of their proof texts to arrive at the conclusion they desire. This is true whether you are talking about the general context of the harmonization of the Old and New Testaments, where so many Old Testament passages show the weakness and inability of man and are quoted in the New Testament, and Arminians act as if the Old Testament and New Testament have no relation with each other. The other way they do this is by quoting only one or two verses and completely divorcing this short excerpt from the context of the passage it was found in. This second category is where we spend most of out time in this episode

In this episode we break down the most common verses used to defend Arminian theology. By examining the surrounding text, the immediate audience, and the overarching counsel of Scripture, we expose wrong thinking and the poor hermeneutics that drive these misinterpretations—and try to show how ignoring context can pave the way toward serious errors.

Thumbnail image by AgnieszkaMonk on Pixabay

Timecodes
00:00 Hermeneutics
07:46 John 3:16
24:19 2 Peter 3:9
35:59 1 Timothy 2:4
51:02 Matthew 23:37

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

Arminian Verses Debunked: Are They Rightly Handling the Word? (Ep. 265 Audio)

When confronted with the historical doctrines of grace, Arminians frequently respond by citing popular proof-texts like John 3:16, 2 Peter 3:9, and 1 Timothy 2:4 to deny God’s absolute sovereignty over salvation. But are these passages being handled righteously, or are they being ripped entirely out of their biblical contexts?

And this question about context matters, because the main problem with the way Arminians handle scripture is that they ignore or twist the context of their proof texts to arrive at the conclusion they desire. This is true whether you are talking about the general context of the harmonization of the Old and New Testaments, where so many Old Testament passages show the weakness and inability of man and are quoted in the New Testament, and Arminians act as if the Old Testament and New Testament have no relation with each other. The other way they do this is by quoting only one or two verses and completely divorcing this short excerpt from the context of the passage it was found in. This second category is where we spend most of out time in this episode

In this episode we break down the most common verses used to defend Arminian theology. By examining the surrounding text, the immediate audience, and the overarching counsel of Scripture, we expose wrong thinking and the poor hermeneutics that drive these misinterpretations—and try to show how ignoring context can pave the way toward serious errors.

Thumbnail image by AgnieszkaMonk on Pixabay

Timecodes
00:00 Hermeneutics
07:46 John 3:16
24:19 2 Peter 3:9
35:59 1 Timothy 2:4
51:02 Matthew 23:37

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