Why Oaths of Office Matter to God (Ep. 203)

People often think that what made America unique was its separation of powers and system of checks and balances, but those ideas were not really new at the time or unique to America. What actually was unique was having the Constitution as a single written document that formed the structure and scope of powers of the government and having every officer in that government take an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution. In almost every other government, the standard expectation was that officials would try to use their authority in any way they could get away with and the checks and balances against one person becoming a tyrant was that others who had power as well would stand against them. But the oath of office was different. It constrained by establishing that those who did not keep their oaths were both morally and legally impeachable. This allowed for powerful figures to be held in check or even removed without violence and bloodshed.

And one of the reasons for taking oaths is to ask God to judge when the oath is broken.
So here’s the question: Does God still care about oaths and does he still judge people and nations when they fail to uphold them? Because that’s really the key point about oaths. They aren’t just super-serious secular promises. They invoke the name and identity of God. And God promises that He will judge, not just the person who swore the oath (Leviticus 19:11-12), but also the people who were witnesses to the oath, if they do not require it to be upheld (Leviticus 5:1).

So in this episode, we want to look at what God says about oaths, and how we as Americans have broken our promises made before God. We also want to specifically consider how God has judged our nation, not just in general ways, but in ways that are directly tied to our broken promises.

Here’s the important thing to take away: God has not changed. He does not think it is foolish to involve Him in matters of solemnity and seriousness. What is foolish is to believe that his name is nothing more than a societal tool for deepening and embellishing the ceremonies of state, church, and family. God cares about his name. He is a jealous God and a consuming fire. We should not think we can take Him lightly and not be judged. Please join us as we consider this serious matter.

Listen to the audio version here: https://theconqueringtruth.com/2025/01/why-oaths-of-office-matter-to-god-ep-203-audio/

Timecodes
00:00:00 Importance of Oaths
00:28:17 Can You Ever Take an Oath?
00:35:55 Teaching Taking Oaths Seriously
00:50:23 Duty to Bear Witnesses to Oaths
00:56:29 Mental Reservations
01:01:57 Trump’s Executive Orders

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

Why Oaths of Office Matter to God (Ep. 203 Audio)

People often think that what made America unique was its separation of powers and system of checks and balances, but those ideas were not really new at the time or unique to America. What actually was unique was having the Constitution as a single written document that formed the structure and scope of powers of the government and having every officer in that government take an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution. In almost every other government, the standard expectation was that officials would try to use their authority in any way they could get away with and the checks and balances against one person becoming a tyrant was that others who had power as well would stand against them. But the oath of office was different. It constrained by establishing that those who did not keep their oaths were both morally and legally impeachable. This allowed for powerful figures to be held in check or even removed without violence and bloodshed.

And one of the reasons for taking oaths is to ask God to judge when the oath is broken.
So here’s the question: Does God still care about oaths and does he still judge people and nations when they fail to uphold them? Because that’s really the key point about oaths. They aren’t just super-serious secular promises. They invoke the name and identity of God. And God promises that He will judge, not just the person who swore the oath (Leviticus 19:11-12), but also the people who were witnesses to the oath, if they do not require it to be upheld (Leviticus 5:1).

So in this episode, we want to look at what God says about oaths, and how we as Americans have broken our promises made before God. We also want to specifically consider how God has judged our nation, not just in general ways, but in ways that are directly tied to our broken promises.

Here’s the important thing to take away: God has not changed. He does not think it is foolish to involve Him in matters of solemnity and seriousness. What is foolish is to believe that his name is nothing more than a societal tool for deepening and embellishing the ceremonies of state, church, and family. God cares about his name. He is a jealous God and a consuming fire. We should not think we can take Him lightly and not be judged. Please join us as we consider this serious matter.

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

Can Reformed Baptists Be Reformed? (Ep. 202)

Can Baptists actually be Reformed? To answer that, we probably have to answer another question, “What does it mean to be Reformed in the first place? Is it a tradition, a specific set of beliefs, or something else entirely?

There are a lot of online debates and discussions about whether Baptists can be Reformed or not. And while some of those debates are just good-natured ribbing between Presbyterians and Baptists, it’s a subject worth thinking about seriously. When Baptists say they are “reformed” what do they mean, and are they correct? In one sense, the term “reformed” doesn’t have only one definition or use. Words are like that, in the abstract, they can have multiple definitions. But when a specific word is actually used, such as to identify a group of Baptists, that use must have one specific meaning. So are Reformed Baptists really Reformed?

In this episode, we want to talk about why Reformed Baptists are Reformed and what we mean by that. We discuss some of the history of the Protestant Reformation and how Reformed Baptists emerged as a group in the UK. We discuss some of the doctrines that are specific to being considered Reformed, and we also talk about the unifying spirit of the Reformation that existed well before Luther or Calvin and goes back to the leadership and direction of Christ and His Spirit.

Listen to the audio version here: https://theconqueringtruth.com/2025/01/can-reformed-baptists-be-reformed-ep-202-audio/

Timecodes
00:00 What Does it Mean to Be Reformed?
17:36 Soteriology
28:42 Covenants
50:19 Credobaptism

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

Can Reformed Baptists Be Reformed? (Ep. 202 Audio)

Can Baptists actually be Reformed? To answer that, we probably have to answer another question, “What does it mean to be Reformed in the first place? Is it a tradition, a specific set of beliefs, or something else entirely?

There are a lot of online debates and discussions about whether Baptists can be Reformed or not. And while some of those debates are just good-natured ribbing between Presbyterians and Baptists, it’s a subject worth thinking about seriously. When Baptists say they are “reformed” what do they mean, and are they correct? In one sense, the term “reformed” doesn’t have only one definition or use. Words are like that, in the abstract, they can have multiple definitions. But when a specific word is actually used, such as to identify a group of Baptists, that use must have one specific meaning. So are Reformed Baptists really Reformed?

In this episode, we want to talk about why Reformed Bapsists are Reformed and what we mean by that. We discuss some of the history of the Protestant Reformation and how Reformed Baptists emerged as a group in the UK. We discuss some of the doctrines that are specific to being considered Reformed, and we also talk about the unifying spirit of the Reformation that existed well before Luther or Calvin and goes back to the leadership and direction of Christ and His Spirit.

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

When Should a Pastor Be Permanently Removed? (Ep. 201)

Does the Bible teach that there are sins serious enough that a pastor should be permanently removed and never be able to serve as a pastor again? Frequently, when an elder or a pastor falls into sin, people immediately start to say that they hope he can repent, so he can resume his ministry. This is often because the pastor was particularly gifted in preaching or teaching or leading the church. He often had a great deal of charisma or motivation, when it is easy for people to look at this gifted man and think that it would be a shame for the church to lose his talent and ability. But that is looking at it from man’s perspective. God is far more concerned about his reputation and protecting his glorious bride, the church.

So what does scripture say about removing a man from office permanently? Please join us as we discuss this important topic.

Listen to the audio version here: https://theconqueringtruth.com/2025/01/when-should-a-pastor-be-permanently-removed-ep-201-audio/

Timecodes
00:00:00 Calling of Elders
00:10:17 Removal of False Shepherds
00:28:03 Theft
00:33:38 Sexual Abuse of the Flock
00:40:38 Abusing the Weak
00:48:43 Not Seeking Lost Sheep
00:58:46 Force and Cruelty Towards the Sheep
01:11:42 Could a Polygamist Be an Elder?

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

When Should a Pastor Be Permanently Removed? (Ep. 201 Audio)

Does the Bible teach that there are sins serious enough that a pastor should be permanently removed and never be able to serve as a pastor again? Frequently, when an elder or a pastor falls into sin, people immediately start to say that they hope he can repent, so he can resume his ministry. This is often because the pastor was particularly gifted in preaching or teaching or leading the church. He often had a great deal of charisma or motivation, when it is easy for people to look at this gifted man and think that it would be a shame for the church to lose his talent and ability. But that is looking at it from man’s perspective. God is far more concerned about his reputation and protecting his glorious bride, the church.

So what does scripture say about removing a man from office permanently? 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

Can Christians Be Vigilantes? (Ep. 200)

Both Daniel Penny and Luigi Mangione were in the news recently due to associated murder charges. Both men claimed they were trying to stop evil. Both men claim their use of force was justified. The public is also divided, with some claiming one or both of them a hero and many others strongly believing the opposite.

But for those of us who believe in the sufficiency of scripture, we should be able to go to God’s word to understand these two situations as well as the general question of, “When does God say that men are allowed to use force?” Please join us as we discuss this culturally relevant topic.

Podcast on self defense
https://theconqueringtruth.com/2022/01/why-christians-must-defend-themselves-ep-53/

Sermon on Sampson
https://legacy.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=72224183820340

Listen to the audio version here: https://theconqueringtruth.com/2025/01/can-christians-be-vigilantes-ep-200-audio/

Timecodes
00:00:00 Penny vs Mangione
00:08:18 Why is Murder Wrong?
00:16:52 Can We Avenge?
00:26:25 When You Can Stop Evil
00:34:00 Assasination like Ehud?
00:42:17 Killing like Jael?
00:47:39 Duty to Get Involved
01:03:47 Bombing Abortion Clinics

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

Can Christians Be Vigilantes? (Ep. 200 Audio)

Both Daniel Penny and Luigi Mangione were in the news recently due to associated murder charges. Both men claimed they were trying to stop evil. Both men claim their use of force was justified. The public is also divided, with some claiming one or both of them a hero and many others strongly believing the opposite.

But for those of us who believe in the sufficiency of scripture, we should be able to go to God’s word to understand these two situations as well as the general question of, “When does God say that men are allowed to use force?” Please join us as we discuss this culturally relevant topic.

Podcast on self defense
https://theconqueringtruth.com/2022/01/why-christians-must-defend-themselves-ep-53/

Sermon on Sampson
https://legacy.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=72224183820340

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

Jimmy Carter’s Legacy: Was He a Christian President? (Ep. 199)

Jimmy Carter was one of the most outspokenly Christian presidents of the modern age, but was he an accurate representative of Christianity in the public sphere? His view of Christianity was that his beliefs should not impact his decisions or inform his policies, a view that many professing Christians shared at the time.

In this episode, we examine the legacy of Jimmy Carter, both during his time as president and in the years that followed. Please join us as we consider this topic.

Listen to the audio version here: https://theconqueringtruth.com/2024/12/jimmy-carters-legacy-was-he-a-christian-president-ep-199-audio/
Timecodes
00:00:00 Character
00:15:01 Deregulating Airlines
00:22:02 Camp David Accords
00:28:47 Leadership Failures
00:42:36 Iran Hostage Crisis
00:48:01 Damage to the Economy
00:55:09 His Christianity
01:16:12 Panama Canal
01:18:00 Playboy Interview
01:21:08 Women in the Church
01:33:00 Habitat for Humanity
01:34:37 Nobel Peace Prize

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

Jimmy Carter’s Legacy: Was He a Christian President? (Ep. 199 Audio)

Jimmy Carter was one of the most outspokenly Christian presidents of the modern age, but was he an accurate representative of Christianity in the public sphere? His view of Christianity was that his beliefs should not impact his decisions or inform his policies, a view that many professing Christians shared at the time.

In this episode, we examine the legacy of Jimmy Carter, both during his time as president and in the years that followed. Please join us as we consider this 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