THEOTIVITY | Theology + Creativity

It's Christmas time and with all the hustle and bustle of this season - it is easy to forget the reason why we intentionally make a fuss about it. It is sad that sometimes the real meaning of Christmas can be lost in the busyness of the season. However, when we take some time to reflect on this marvellous truth - that the Creator God of all the Universe stepped into time and was born of a virgin as a little baby - it is truly a thing to inspire appropriate awe, wonder, worship and witness this season.

I pray that this episode will help you to worship our King Jesus and witness to a lost world this Christmas season. Merry Christmas!

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What is a fool?

When the Bible uses the word fool - it is not simply engaging in name-calling. It is describing for us some specific characteristics of foolish living so that we can avoid it. It is preparing us to live a life of wisdom. Thus, it is important for us to see the picture the Bible paints of foolish living. This episode is a bit of a mini-systematic theology of foolishness as we glean from the Bible's wisdom 10 marks of a fool.

Read the article here: https://www.theotivity.com/post/10-marks-of-a-fool

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If there ever was a contender for God's favourite Bible verse, it would probably be Psalm 110:1. It is the most quoted verse in the New Testament - and for good reason! Psalm 110 is one of the clearest Messianic Psalms and also one which clearly shows us the victory of Christ over all his enemies. Some have even called it the most Postmillennial Psalm of the Bible...

In this episode, we take a look at Psalm 110 and its inspired interpretation through the New Testament to see what it means and how it should affect our lives today. We unpack some of the context, the meaning of the original Hebrew and how the New Testament writers used it to speak of Jesus Christ. From this, we see that Jesus Christ really is the Conquering Priest-King who is at the Right Hand of God the Father, ruling and reigning now as he puts all his enemies under his feet in history. This is a vision of the ascended Christ that is not for the faint of heart, but one whom we all need to see!

You can read the article version here: https://www.theotivity.com/post/the-conquering-priest-king-of-psalm-110

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Visit theotivity.com for more content. Sign up for our monthly email Newsletter to stay updated on all the latest content. Please consider sharing this episode and leaving a 5-star review on your podcast app to help us grow. Follow us at @theotivity on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Rumble).

What's the difference between our secular culture's concept of "Social Justice" and the Bible's true concept of justice?

Since the rise of the Black Lives Matter Movement in the wake of the George Floyd riots of 2020, Social Justice has been a hot topic in the cultural conversation. Whether it be through reparations and affirmative action policies, mandatory Equity, Diversity and Inclusion training at our workplaces, Critical Race Theory curriculum in schools, colleges and universities, or not-so-subtle messaging in movies and entertainment - it seems like it is unavoidable these days. As Christians, we must be prepared to give a Biblical answer to our cultural moment today.

In this episode, we unpack 6 markers of true Biblical Justice in contrast to Social Justice and see how God's standards of justice are better and more beautiful than the secular perversion of justice. 

You can read the article version of this episode here: https://www.theotivity.com/post/social-justice-vs-biblical-justice

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:

Confronting Injustice without Compromising Truth: 12 Questions Christians Should Ask About Social Justice by Thaddeus J. Williams Christianity and Wokeness: How the Social Justice Movement Is Hijacking the Gospel - and the Way to Stop It by Owen Strachan Fault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism's Looming Catastrophe by Dr. Voddie Baucham Why Social Justice Is Not Biblical Justice: An Urgent Appeal to Fellow Christians in a Time of Social Crisis by Scott David Allen What Every Christian Needs to Know About Social Justice by Jeffrey Johnson The Victim Cult: How the culture of blame hurts everyone and wrecks civilizations by Mark Milke Discrimination and Disparities by Thomas Sowell

You can also find a lot of helpful resources and book reviews on Neil Shenvi’s website.

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Consider supporting the work at THEOTIVITY.COM/DONATE

Visit theotivity.com for more content. Sign up for our monthly email Newsletter to stay updated on all the latest content. Please consider sharing this episode and leaving a 5-star review on your podcast app to help us grow. Follow us at @theotivity on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Rumble).

Abortion is one of the evilest scourges to plague our modern world. It results in the deaths of over 70 million innocent babies worldwide every year. It is the intentional destruction of life in the womb, made in the image of God and endowed by God with inherent worth, dignity and value. Yet so many today are silent on this horrendous issue. Even many Christians speak "softly" about the hard truth of the massacre of the unborn.

However, we must deal truthfully with the problem if we are to prescribe the right cure. There is hope. But that hope is only found in the Gospel and from a genuinely Christian worldview.

In this episode, in order to understand today's abortion industry, we take a look at its founder - Margaret Sanger. We see how her life and upbringing, the various radical ideologies she espoused (such as racism, Malthusian eugenics and Marxism), and her lifestyle all contributed to the shape of the abortion industry today. As we explore these things, we will see just how dark abortion is, but also how gloriously bright the light of the Gospel can shine into this darkness.

You can read the article version of this episode here: https://www.theotivity.com/post/killer-angel-margaret-sanger

Resources for this episode:

Killer Angel: A Biography of Planned Parenthood’s Margaret Sanger by George Grant The animated shorts “The Procedure” and modern-day child sacrifice Info videos from Live Action CHOICE42.COM - a consistently Christian Pro-Life organization run by Laura Klassen WENEEDALAW.CA - a ministry arm of ARPA Canada that works on the end of advocacy and petitioning the Civil Government Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform, another pro-Life group in Canada that works in public education around the dark truth of abortion

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Consider DONATING to support the work of THEOTIVITY.

Visit theotivity.com for more content. Sign up for our monthly email Newsletter to stay updated on all the latest content. Please consider sharing this episode and leaving a 5-star review on your podcast app to help us grow. Follow us at @theotivity on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Rumble).

One of the greatest challenges to God's total sovereignty over all things is the problem of evil. Is God sovereign over evil, and if so, doesn't that then make Him responsible for evil?

In this last episode of this series, we'll consider this conundrum through the lens of Scripture itself to see what God's Word has to say on the topic. We'll also consider some important implications of this doctrine, and answer a few objections which were raised. Lastly, we'll also give you some recommended resources for further study.

Recommended Resources:

What about Free Will?: Reconciling Our Choices with God's Sovereignty by Scott Christensen Willing to Believe: Understanding the Role of the Human Will in Salvation by R.C. Sproul Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J.I. Packer What About Evil?: A Defense of God's Sovereign Glory by Scott Christensen The Potter’s Freedom: A Defense of the Reformation and a Rebuttal of Norman Geisler’s Chosen But Free by James R. White The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination by Loraine Boettner (available for FREE as an eBook)

Articles in this series:

GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY & HUMAN RESPONSIBILITY | What About Free Will? BIBLICAL COMPATIBILISM | How Does Human Freedom & God's Sovereignty Fit Together? GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY IN SALVATION - An Exposition of Romans 8-10 GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY | Over Who Comes to Faith and Over Evil GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY & MAN’S RESPONSIBILITY | Implications, Objections & Resources

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Visit theotivity.com for more content. Sign up for our monthly email Newsletter to stay updated on all the latest content. Please consider sharing this episode and leaving a 5-star review on your podcast app to help us grow. Follow us at @theotivity on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Rumble).

Who's choice is ultimate in salvation? God's or man's?

This is the question we'll be tackling in the second episode of this series. We'll be taking a look, especially at Paul's teaching on the topic in Romans 8-10 and also from the lips of Jesus in John 6. We'll also consider what other relevant passages of Scripture have to say on God's and our roles in salvation. We'll then contemplate what this means for us today as we reflect on our salvation.

These are important truths for us to not just know, but also to love and to hold dear in our hearts. They are core to our assurance and comfort as believers.

Recommended Resources:

What about Free Will?: Reconciling Our Choices with God's Sovereignty by Scott Christensen Willing to Believe: Understanding the Role of the Human Will in Salvation by R.C. Sproul Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J.I. Packer What About Evil?: A Defense of God's Sovereign Glory by Scott Christensen

Articles in this series:

GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY & HUMAN RESPONSIBILITY | What About Free Will? BIBLICAL COMPATIBILISM | How Does Human Freedom & God's Sovereignty Fit Together? GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY IN SALVATION - An Exposition of Romans 8-10 GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY | Over Who Comes to Faith and Over Evil GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY & MAN’S RESPONSIBILITY | Implications, Objections & Resources

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Consider DONATING to support the work of THEOTIVITY.

Visit theotivity.com for more content. Sign up for our monthly email Newsletter to stay updated on all the latest content. Please consider sharing this episode and leaving a 5-star review on your podcast app to help us grow. Follow us at @theotivity on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Rumble).

If God is sovereign, then how can we have free will?

This is a question that has puzzled Christians and kept theologians debating for centuries now. On the surface, it seems like a conundrum. Some argue that we must be totally free otherwise we would be like robots. Others have argued for a type of hard determinism that resembles pagan fatalism and fate. Many just throw up their hands in frustration. Is there any way we can know for sure?

In this episode, we start a series where we'll be taking a deep dive into the mysteries of God's sovereignty and human responsibility. In this first episode, we'll start by clearly defining our terms and looking at what is meant by Libertarian Free Will and Biblical Compatibilism - two important phrases in this discussion. From there, we'll continue by looking at some important Biblical texts and what they clearly teach. We'll end off this series by contemplating what this means about the fact that evil exists, some pastoral implications and answer some objections.

Recommended Resources:

What about Free Will?: Reconciling Our Choices with God's Sovereignty by Scott Christensen Willing to Believe: Understanding the Role of the Human Will in Salvation by R.C. Sproul Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J.I. Packer What About Evil?: A Defense of God's Sovereign Glory by Scott Christensen

Articles in this series:

GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY & HUMAN RESPONSIBILITY | What About Free Will? BIBLICAL COMPATIBILISM | How Does Human Freedom & God's Sovereignty Fit Together? GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY IN SALVATION - An Exposition of Romans 8-10 GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY | Over Who Comes to Faith and Over Evil GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY & MAN’S RESPONSIBILITY | Implications, Objections & Resources

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Consider supporting at THEOTIVITY.COM/DONATE

Visit theotivity.com for more content. Sign up for our monthly email Newsletter to stay updated on all the latest content. Please consider sharing this episode and leaving a 5-star review on your podcast app to help us grow. Follow us at @theotivity on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Rumble).

The Rapture is one of the most popular beliefs held by many Evangelical Christians today. Yet, it is a doctrine that is relatively new in church history and based on some very shaky foundations.

In this episode, as we end off this series in Matthew 24, we examine this doctrine historically and biblically to see if it is actually true. Like good Bereans, we must search the Scriptures thoroughly to see if the traditions we've inherited are actually biblical or not. This doctrine has captivated the imagination of millions of Evangelicals and shaped their understanding of the End Times. While it is not a primary doctrine, it is not unimportant and has major ramifications for Christians today. By examining Matthew 24 and other relevant passages, we explore whether this popular belief is actually true.

Articles in this series:

JESUS & THE LAST DAYS | Which Generation Would See the End? JESUS & THE LAST DAYS | The End of the Age (Matt. 24:3) JESUS & THE LAST DAYS | Signs: Wars, Famine, Persecution (Matt. 24:3-14) JESUS & THE LAST DAYS | The Abomination of Desolation (Matt. 24:15-28) JESUS & THE LAST DAYS | The Coming of the Son of Man (Matt 24:29-35) JESUS & THE LAST DAYS | The Rapture - Left Behind? (Matt. 24:36-44)

Recommended Resources:

The Last Days According to Jesus by Dr. R.C. Sproul (Also check out Sproul's lectures for free) Last Days Madness by Dr. Gary DeMar He Shall Have Dominion by Dr. Kenneth Gentry (available as free eBook here) Paradise Restored by David Chilton (available as free eBook here)

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Consider supporting at THEOTIVITY.COM/DONATE

Visit theotivity.com for more content. Sign up for our monthly email Newsletter to stay updated on all the latest content. Please consider sharing this episode and leaving a 5-star review on your podcast app to help us grow. Follow us at @theotivity on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Rumble).

Jesus predicted "the coming of the Son of Man" in Matthew 24. Many Christians believe that he was referring to his final coming in glory at the end of history. However, is this what he was referring to?

In this episode, we consider what Christ meant by looking at what the Bible teaches about the "coming of the Son of Man" by comparing it with other Scriptures that Jesus was referring to. We also look at the testimony of history to see whether Jesus's words were actually fulfilled in the timeframe leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. The answer may be surprising to some Christians and has major implications for our view of the End Times (eschatology).

Articles in this series:

JESUS & THE LAST DAYS | Which Generation Would See the End? JESUS & THE LAST DAYS | The End of the Age (Matt. 24:3) JESUS & THE LAST DAYS | Signs: Wars, Famine, Persecution (Matt. 24:3-14) JESUS & THE LAST DAYS | The Abomination of Desolation (Matt. 24:15-28) JESUS & THE LAST DAYS | The Coming of the Son of Man (Matt 24:29-35) JESUS & THE LAST DAYS | The Rapture - Left Behind? (Matt. 24:36-44)

Recommended Resources:

The Last Days According to Jesus by Dr. R.C. Sproul (Also check out Sproul's lectures for free) Last Days Madness by Dr. Gary DeMar He Shall Have Dominion by Dr. Kenneth Gentry (available as free eBook here) Paradise Restored by David Chilton (available as free eBook here)

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Consider supporting at THEOTIVITY.COM/DONATE

Visit theotivity.com for more content. Sign up for our monthly email Newsletter to stay updated on all the latest content. Please consider sharing this episode and leaving a 5-star review on your podcast app to help us grow. Follow us at @theotivity on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Rumble).

What is the "Abomination of Desolation"? This question has puzzled many students of the Bible.

Many think that it refers to an End-Times Anti-Christ figure who will precede the final days. However, is this what Jesus meant to communicate?

In this episode, we consider what Scripture has to say about the "Abomination of Desolation" and what it actually means. We also take a look at the testimony of history to see how it was fulfilled, just as Jesus said it would be and its importance for the Christians he spoke to in his day. We also consider how it affects our own understanding of the End Times today.

Articles in this series:

JESUS & THE LAST DAYS | Which Generation Would See the End? JESUS & THE LAST DAYS | The End of the Age (Matt. 24:3) JESUS & THE LAST DAYS | Signs: Wars, Famine, Persecution (Matt. 24:3-14) JESUS & THE LAST DAYS | The Abomination of Desolation (Matt. 24:15-28) JESUS & THE LAST DAYS | The Coming of the Son of Man (Matt 24:29-35) JESUS & THE LAST DAYS | The Rapture - Left Behind? (Matt. 24:36-44)

Recommended Resources:

The Last Days According to Jesus by Dr. R.C. Sproul (Also check out Sproul's lectures for free) Last Days Madness by Dr. Gary DeMar He Shall Have Dominion by Dr. Kenneth Gentry (available as free eBook here) Paradise Restored by David Chilton (available as free eBook here)

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Consider supporting at THEOTIVITY.COM/DONATE

Visit theotivity.com for more content. Sign up for our monthly email Newsletter to stay updated on all the latest content. Please consider sharing this episode and leaving a 5-star review on your podcast app to help us grow. Follow us at @theotivity on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Rumble).

Depending on the circles you're in, it's not too infrequently you hear someone look at some disaster or report of war on the news and remark, "you know, it's the sign of the times..." referring to them as End Times signals. However, was this what Jesus had in mind?

In this episode, we consider the signs that Jesus predicted would happen before "this generation" passed away in Matthew 24 and whether they have already been fulfilled or are still future to us today. We take a look at some important testimony from history from First Century writers like Josephus and Tacitus to see if the events of their day leading up to the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD fit what Jesus had predicted and why it is important for our understanding of the End Times today.

Articles in this series:

JESUS & THE LAST DAYS | Which Generation Would See the End? JESUS & THE LAST DAYS | The End of the Age (Matt. 24:3) JESUS & THE LAST DAYS | Signs: Wars, Famine, Persecution (Matt. 24:3-14) JESUS & THE LAST DAYS | The Abomination of Desolation (Matt. 24:15-28) JESUS & THE LAST DAYS | The Coming of the Son of Man (Matt 24:29-35) JESUS & THE LAST DAYS | The Rapture - Left Behind? (Matt. 24:36-44)

Recommended Resources:

The Last Days According to Jesus by Dr. R.C. Sproul (Also check out Sproul's lectures for free) Last Days Madness by Dr. Gary DeMar He Shall Have Dominion by Dr. Kenneth Gentry (available as free eBook here) Paradise Restored by David Chilton (available as free eBook here)

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Consider DONATING to support the work of THEOTIVITY.

Visit theotivity.com for more content. Sign up for our monthly email Newsletter to stay updated on all the latest content. Please consider sharing this episode and leaving a 5-star review on your podcast app to help us grow. Follow us at @theotivity on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Rumble).

What was Jesus talking about in Matthew 24 when his disciples asked him about the end of the age?

Many people assume that Jesus was prophesying about the end of the world in Matthew 24. Yet, is this actually what he was referring to? Could it be that we have mistaken what he was speaking about because of our ignorance of the Bible and history?

In this episode, we consider from Scripture what "age" Jesus prophesied was ending. The answer to this question significantly affects how we understand the rest of Matthew 24 and what our view of the End Times will be.

Articles in this series:

JESUS & THE LAST DAYS | Which Generation Would See the End? JESUS & THE LAST DAYS | The End of the Age (Matt. 24:3) JESUS & THE LAST DAYS | Signs: Wars, Famine, Persecution (Matt. 24:3-14) JESUS & THE LAST DAYS | The Abomination of Desolation (Matt. 24:15-28) JESUS & THE LAST DAYS | The Coming of the Son of Man (Matt 24:29-35) JESUS & THE LAST DAYS | The Rapture - Left Behind? (Matt. 24:36-44)

Recommended Resources:

The Last Days According to Jesus by Dr. R.C. Sproul (Also check out Sproul's lectures for free) Last Days Madness by Dr. Gary DeMar He Shall Have Dominion by Dr. Kenneth Gentry (available as free eBook here) Paradise Restored by David Chilton (available as free eBook here)

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Consider supporting at THEOTIVITY.COM/DONATE

Visit theotivity.com for more content. Sign up for our monthly email Newsletter to stay updated on all the latest content. Please consider sharing this episode and leaving a 5-star review on your podcast app to help us grow. Follow us at @theotivity on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Rumble).

Many have debated what Jesus meant when he said "this generation" in Matthew 24. Did he mean: "the Jewish race"? "This type of people"? or the people contemporary to his time? How long is a generation? When is the time period referred to as the Last Days?

The answers to these questions have major implications for how we understand Jesus's prophecies about the End of the Age and your view of eschatology. There are two main views on this issue: the futurist view and the preterist view. One sees the things which Jesus said must take place before "this generation" passes away as still yet to happen and in our future. The other sees these things as fulfilled in the period in the First Century leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. Which one is it and can we be sure?

In this episode in this series, we seek to answer these questions and consider how they are important for our view of the End Times.

Articles in this series:

JESUS & THE LAST DAYS | Which Generation Would See the End? JESUS & THE LAST DAYS | The End of the Age (Matt. 24:3) JESUS & THE LAST DAYS | Signs: Wars, Famine, Persecution (Matt. 24:3-14) JESUS & THE LAST DAYS | The Abomination of Desolation (Matt. 24:15-28) JESUS & THE LAST DAYS | The Coming of the Son of Man (Matt 24:29-35) JESUS & THE LAST DAYS | The Rapture - Left Behind? (Matt. 24:36-44)

Recommended Resources:

The Last Days According to Jesus by Dr. R.C. Sproul (Also check out Sproul's lectures for free) Last Days Madness by Dr. Gary DeMar He Shall Have Dominion by Dr. Kenneth Gentry (available as free eBook here) Paradise Restored by David Chilton (available as free eBook here)

-----------------

Consider DONATING to support the work of THEOTIVITY.

Visit theotivity.com for more content. Sign up for our monthly email Newsletter to stay updated on all the latest content. Please consider sharing this episode and leaving a 5-star review on your podcast app to help us grow. Follow us at @theotivity on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Rumble).

The topic of eschatology - the study of last things - is an area of theology that is often considered highly controversial, debatable and divisive. 

A lot of Christians in the Evangelical church today consider eschatology an unimportant part of their doctrine, categorizing it as a secondary or tertiary issue. “We just need to all agree that Christ is coming back” can be a polite dismissive way of turning the topic to something else when it comes up. However, while it is true that one’s eschatology should not divide us in terms of one’s status of salvation and fellowship within a local congregation, it is important to many aspects of daily Christian life and faith. Eschatology is not of primary importance, but it is not unimportant.

This episode reviews some of the major Christian views of the End Times (Eschatology) and why it matters to us today. I also cover some of my own journey in studying eschatology.

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Consider supporting at THEOTIVITY.COM/DONATE

Visit theotivity.com for more content. Sign up for our monthly email Newsletter to stay updated on all the latest content. Please consider sharing this episode and leaving a 5-star review on your podcast app to help us grow. Follow us at @theotivity on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Rumble).

Should Christians be trying to Christianize the world?

Well, we certainly shouldn't be trying to secularize it - that's for sure!

Many today doubt whether the world could actually be won for Christ. Yet, when Jesus commissioned his disciples, he told them to go disciple all the nations - that's a pretty comprehensive mission! Could it be that we've not taken him at his word seriously and trusted that he's given us the promise of his power and presence as we go? Could it be that he's already given us the winning strategy in His Word?

In this episode, we consider 7 simple steps to taking over the world and whether that might actually be possible! The reality may surprise you...

Read the article here: https://www.theotivity.com/post/7-simple-steps-to-take-over-the-world-for-christ

Recommended Resources from this episode:

It’s Good to Be A Man by Michael Foster - hard-hitting, refreshing, and much-needed pointed words to men. Family Driven Faith by Dr. Voddie Baucham - a great primer on what godly family life should look like Raising Boys to be Men by Aaron Gouveia - a good book on some of what it takes to raise boys to be men and not extend boyhood indefinitely A Guide to Biblical Manhood by Randy Stinson - a classic read on the topic Thoughts for Young Men by J.C. Ryle - another classic short, must-read filled with biblical and practical insights

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Consider supporting the work at THEOTIVITY.COM/DONATE

Visit theotivity.com for more content. Sign up for our monthly email Newsletter to stay updated on all the latest content. Please consider sharing this episode and leaving a 5-star review on your podcast app to help us grow. Follow us at @theotivity on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Rumble).

In this episode, I have a conversation with my brother-in-law, Josh Ankenmann to talk about his theological journey toward a more optimistic eschatology and the implications that have had on his life and faith. We also discussed the book, Live Not By Lies by Rod Dreher and some of the important and urgent warnings it brings to us today as we see governments grow more controlling over the lives of their citizens.

Josh is a creative, music and audio producer who has a passion for theology and using his talents to make high-quality media. 

Follow Josh on Instagram @joshankenmann  Visit his website: https://www.soundflip.co/ Get the book, Live Not By Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents by Rod Dreher. 

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Consider supporting at THEOTIVITY.COM/DONATE

Visit theotivity.com for more content. Sign up for our monthly email Newsletter to stay updated on all the latest content. Please consider sharing this episode and leaving a 5-star review on your podcast app to help us grow. Follow us at @theotivity on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Rumble).

You can read the article version of this episode here.

Wokeness is a big issue in our culture today and it is seeping into the Church. Yet many don't realize just how insidious and dangerous this ideology really is to the Church and the Gospel.

This episode builds on our last episode - "Wokeness, Social Justice and the Church" - to dive deeper into the underlying worldview issues.

Woke ideology has a different account of origins and purpose, of sin and what's wrong with the world, of what we must do to make things right again and of its hope for the future. Stemming from its Marxist origins, it tends to be utopian in its outlook, yet brings with it destruction and division leading to dystopia. It is applied to a wide array of cultural issues today such as racism, feminism, LBGTQ issues, post-colonialism, ableism, gender studies, and many more. However, as we will see in this episode, wokeness is an Anti-Gospel that only offers perpetual guilt, never-ending penance with no hope of absolution or forgiveness and a false promise of a utopian future that it can't deliver on.

Christians must be aware and prepared to give an answer to these important issues.

Recommended Further Resources:

Confronting Injustice without Compromising Truth: 12 Questions Christians Should Ask About Social Justice by Thaddeus J. Williams Christianity and Wokeness: How the Social Justice Movement Is Hijacking the Gospel - and the Way to Stop It by Owen Strachan Why Social Justice Is Not Biblical Justice: An Urgent Appeal to Fellow Christians in a Time of Social Crisis by Scott David Allen Fault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism's Looming Catastrophe by Dr. Voddie Baucham Christianity and Social Justice: Religions in Conflict by Jon Harris Cynical Theories: How Activist Scholarship Made Everything about Race, Gender, and Identity―and Why This Harms Everybody by James Lindsey & Helen Pluckrose The Victim Cult: How the culture of blame hurts everyone and wrecks civilizations by Mark Milke

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Consider supporting at THEOTIVITY.COM/DONATE

Visit theotivity.com for more content. Sign up for our monthly email Newsletter to stay updated on all the latest content. Please consider sharing this episode and leaving a 5-star review on your podcast app to help us grow. Follow us at @theotivity on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Rumble).

You can read the article version of this episode here.

Social Justice is an often misunderstood, hot-button issue these days. Yet it is one which the Church must grapple with. However, instead, many churches have succumbed to it, adopting anti-biblical doctrines and woke ideologies, they have forfeited biblical justice for the world's secular version of social justice.

In this episode, we take a look at how woke ideology and social justice have invaded the Evangelical church through many prominent teachers and pastors and take a look at the dangers it poses. We also define some of the common phrases and concepts such as Postmodernism, Cultural Marxism, Critical Theory, Intersectionality, and Equality versus Equity to see how they are applied on a host of issues such as racism, ableism, feminism, LBGTQ issues, and more. Finally, we will compare and contrast the Bible's vision of justice with that of woke social justice to see that it is antithetical to Scripture.

Recommended Further Resources:

Confronting Injustice without Compromising Truth: 12 Questions Christians Should Ask About Social Justice by Thaddeus J. Williams Christianity and Wokeness: How the Social Justice Movement Is Hijacking the Gospel - and the Way to Stop It by Owen Strachan Why Social Justice Is Not Biblical Justice: An Urgent Appeal to Fellow Christians in a Time of Social Crisis by Scott David Allen Fault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism's Looming Catastrophe by Dr. Voddie Baucham Christianity and Social Justice: Religions in Conflict by Jon Harris Cynical Theories: How Activist Scholarship Made Everything about Race, Gender, and Identity―and Why This Harms Everybody by James Lindsey & Helen Pluckrose The Victim Cult: How the culture of blame hurts everyone and wrecks civilizations by Mark Milke

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Consider supporting the work at THEOTIVITY.COM/DONATE

Visit theotivity.com for more content. Sign up for our monthly email Newsletter to stay updated on all the latest content. Please consider sharing this episode and leaving a 5-star review on your podcast app to help us grow. Follow us at @theotivity on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Rumble).

You can read the article version of this episode here.

There is a lot of dating advice out there today. Some of it helpful. Some of it... not so much.

Oftentimes, Christians can simply go along with how the culture approaches finding a mate. However, are there some Biblical principles that we can apply to dating and finding a spouse?

Following up on our last episode on why men should seek a young lady's father's blessing before pursuing dating, this episode considers 7 further thoughts on how to approach dating as a Christian with wisdom.

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You can read the article version here.

Many Christians today simply go along with the ways our culture approaches dating and finding a mate. Yet we are to submit all of our lives, even our romantic pursuits to God's Word, seeking His wisdom on all matters of life.

In this episode, we consider what the Bible's teaching about a godly father's headship should mean for a young man seeking to pursue a young lady. Although it may seem old-fashioned to some, I think that seeking the father's blessing before formally entering into dating is both respectful and wise. Hopefully, this episode will give you some biblical points to consider on this matter.

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This is an audio narration of the article, "Dietrich Bonhoeffer | Pastor, Theologian, Spy, Martyr... Evangelical?"

The life and works of Dietrich Bonhoeffer have inspired many Christians over the years from various denominations and theological persuasions. However, he remains somewhat of an enigmatic figure to us. Some Evangelicals want to claim him as their own hero, while Liberal and Progressive Christians also claim him for themselves. Bonhoeffer's life stands out in the context of his times, resisting the Nazi takeover of Germany during the Second World War. He was implicated in an assassination attempt on Hitler and was sentenced to death by hanging. His life of Christian resistance and even espionage intrigues many today and continues to be relevant to us as we consider what faithfulness in the midst of oppressive and evil governments might look like.

There is much to learn from Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and I hope that this brief biographical article will encourage, inspire, and educate you on why he's such an interesting and important figure.

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Nazi Germany was one of history's greatest examples of the deplorable depths of depravity that humanity can sink to... yet many today have forgotten its lessons. During the reign of Hitler and the Third Reich, the German Church was caught unprepared and unready to take necessary action to stem the totalitarian dictatorship that would take the lives of over 6 million Jews and millions more as it led to history's bloodiest war. 

There are some important lessons for us to learn from Nazi Germany, particularly regarding some of the warning signs that led up to the reign of the Nazis and some of the concerning things we see happening in our day. We cannot take freedom for granted and as Christians, we must love our neighbours by also being zealous for their freedoms and rights. Many churches today retreat into a religious pietism that concerns itself only with personal salvation, piety and ecclesiastical matters. Yet our Lord has called us to disciple the nations and be salt and light to the world. 

This episode is 8 lessons Christians must learn from Nazi Germany. 

Recommended Resources:

When a Nation Forgets God by Erwin Lutzer A Brief Biography on Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Article)

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You can read the article version of this episode here.

"Cultural Marxism" is a hot topic these days that has generated no small amount of controversy. The term itself has been disputed, but the ideas it represents are valid concerns of a dangerous ideology that has spread throughout our Modern Western societies. It has often been called "wokeness" and is related to concepts such as Social Justice and Critical Theory. 

In 2020, with the BLM riots after the death of George Floyd, these concepts burst into the forefront of our culture's conversations and left many Christians confused and trying to make sense of things. Terms like Critical Race Theory, Intersectionality, white guilt, hegemony and oppression were suddenly thrust into public dialogue in an intensely volatile atmosphere. However, with all of this unfolding, it became clear that even some in the Church had become compromised on these issues and held unbiblical views of justice, racism, sexuality and more. Even some prominent Evangelical and conservative leaders have come out supporting this dangerous set of ideas. 

In this episode, we look at 10 distinguishing markers of Cultural Marxism as a way to start analyzing and understanding it and be alert to its dangers. In future episodes, we'll dive more in-depth into giving a Christian and Biblical response to these issues. For now, this episode is meant as an introduction and, hopefully, a helpful diagnostic aid. 

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Have you ever noticed that we often express our opinions with "I feel that..." instead of "I think that..."? This shift in how we reason culturally has not come without its consequences. 

Today, many people make decisions by means of their feelings and emotions and our Postmodern culture encourages it with its slogans: "do what feels right" and "you've got to trust your gut!" Additionally, our current cultural climate and the influence of radical ideologies tend to pit us against each other - dividing society into warring tribes. Our media and news outlets constantly frame things in terms of "us versus them" which tend to exacerbate tensions between differing groups. How can we navigate such volatile times? Does the Bible give us wisdom for this? 

In this episode, we continue to consider some insightful observations from the book by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt, "The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure". Their book has been very helpful in the task of cultural analysis to understand how we got to this present moment. In response to these analyses, we will seek Biblical wisdom to guide our response and how we process these things from a Christian worldview. 

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We've probably all experienced it... when someone takes your words or actions and assumes motives wrongly on you. They end up misinterpreting your heart and it leads to conflict. Yet, this phenomenon seems to be becoming more and more common in our culture. Why is that? 

Perhaps part of the reason is that we've moved from a society that puts primacy on judging intent to rather only looking at impact... even felt impacts which may not be legitimate. Our first episode in this series considered whether or not we are fragile or robust and adaptable by nature. This episode moves that conversation forward. In this episode, we continue to consider some insightful observations from the book by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt, "The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure". We'll consider some of their observations about the Three Great Untruths our culture has bought into and then seek to apply a Biblical worldview to these issues to glean God's wisdom on them. I think many will find it fascinating information, and I pray that we all will find some Biblical wisdom to navigate these issues today. 

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These days it can seem like everyone takes offence to any and everything - especially on social media! Even if you post about your preference about salads, you'll have the "garden salad" crowd waging a comment war against the "no salad but Caesar!" crowd. 

It can seem like our culture is moving more and more towards emotional fragility on even the most trivial of issues - and so it is no surprise to see the rise of cancel culture in our days. However, are we actually as fragile as many of our cultural pundits seem to think? In this episode, we consider some insightful observations from the book by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt, "The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure". We'll consider some of their observations about our cultural moment, especially in regards to the culture within institutions of higher education, and then seek to apply a Biblical worldview to these issues to glean God's wisdom on them. This will probably be the start of a series of episodes where we continue to explore the three Great Untruths that Lukianoff and Haidt explore in their book. I think many will find it fascinating information, and I pray that we all will find some Biblical wisdom to navigate these issues today. 

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This is an audio narration of the article: "The History of Pentecostalism | How was this movement birthed?" 

In this last episode in this series, we will take a look at some of the historical factors which led up to the Pentecostal Movement in order to understand our current time. 

How did this movement come about? What were the factors that led to its emergence? The Pentecostal and broader Charismatic Movement have had a huge impact on global Christianity. 

The major theological distinctive of Pentecostalism from the earliest beginnings has been a concern for an experience called the baptism in the Holy Spirit accompanied by speaking in tongues and other spiritual gifts to empower the Christian for witness and sanctified living. This particular understanding of the doctrine of Spirit baptism with tongues emerged alongside the rise of Pentecostalism.  To understand any movement it is important to understand its roots and the circumstances out of which it arose. 

Read the articles:

The Nature of Tongues | A Theological Analysis  The Nature of Tongues | A Historical Analysis  The History of Pentecostalism | How was this movement birthed?

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This is an audio narration of the article: "The Nature of Tongues | A Historical Analysis" 

In our first episode in this series, we considered the theological arguments for the nature of the gift of tongues in the Bible. In this episode, we briefly consider the historical argument for the gift of tongues. 

How have tongues been understood throughout Church History? Are there any legitimate recorded instances of the gift of tongues after the period of the New Testament era? How did thinking on tongues change throughout Church History? There's a lot that we can learn by considering the past - so this episode should be an informative and enlightening one for many seeking clarity on this topic! 

Read the articles:

The Nature of Tongues | A Theological Analysis  The Nature of Tongues | A Historical Analysis  The History of Pentecostalism | How was this movement birthed?

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You can read the article "The Nature of Tongues | A Theological Analysis" here. 

What is the Biblical gift of tongues? 

The debate concerning the continuation or cessation of the gift of tongues is one that has brought more than its fair share of confusion and division among Evangelicals. This was a topic I wrestled with personally in my journey of faith, and one I know many more have or are wrestling with today. Many questions abound: Are tongues necessary today? Are tongues the sign of being truly "filled with the Spirit"? What are tongues anyways - are they humanly unintelligible utterances or some sort of real language? 

In this first episode in this series, we consider what the Bible teaches about the Theological Nature of the gift of tongues. 

Read the articles: 

The Nature of Tongues | A Theological Analysis  The Nature of Tongues | A Historical Analysis  The History of Pentecostalism | How was this movement birthed?

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In this episode, I interview a good friend, Steven R. Martins, who is a pastor, author and apologist. 

We talked about Steven's journey in the study of Apologetics (the defence of the Christian faith) and the difference between Classical, Evidential and Presuppositional Apologetics. We cover why a Presuppositional approach to Apologetics is both most Biblical and effective in Evangelism and how Steven uses it in pastoral ministry. We also talked a bit about the concept of worldviews and how Christians need to be prepared in today's world to defend the faith in a comprehensive way.  

We also talked a bit about Steven's upcoming book on a Christian view of philosophy and why it's important.  

EPISODE LINKS:

Cantaro Institute - https://cantaroinstitute.org/ Sevilla Chapel - https://sevillachapel.org/ Paideia Press - https://paideiapress.ca/ Ezra Institute - https://www.ezrainstitute.com/ 

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#Apologetics #Philosophy #PresuppositionalApologetics #DatPresup #Presup #Theology

Our first episode in this series introduced the 5 Points of Calvinism (The Doctrines of Grace) and started our study of how these doctrines are deduced from the clear teaching of Scripture. We looked at Total Depravity and Unconditional Election to see that since the Fall, man's nature has been corrupted by sin in every area so that apart from the grace of God he cannot respond to God and that God's election or choice of people is not based on any merit in them, but on God's goodness and mercy.

In this episode, we take a look at the controversial topics of Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace and the Perseverance of the Saints.

Read the articles:

Limited Atonement | Definite Redemption Irresistible Grace | Effectual Calling Perseverance of the Saints | Eternal Security

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The 5 Points of Calvinism, also known as The Doctrines of Grace, have stirred up no small controversy in Christian circles. Many Christians have often debated over how God saves us and the role of election, predestination, free will and faith. I remember having passionate conversations about Arminianism vs Calvinism with friends before I even had a proper understanding of either system. Yet these conversations are good and right to have if we have a high view of Scripture and a desire to understand what God's Word teaches on this topic.

In this 2-part series of episodes, we take a look at the Biblical case for the Doctrines of Grace to see how they derive from Scripture - because at the end of the day, we want to be submitted to God's Word as the ultimate standard on the matter. We'll see from Scripture how these doctrines are clearly taught and why they matter.

Read the articles:

The Doctrines of Grace (TULIP) | Series Introduction Total Depravity | Humanity's Radical Corruption Unconditional Election | God's Sovereign Choice

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You can read the written version of this episode here.

Many Christians today view politics as “dirty” and something secular which they should not involve themselves with - far less, bring their faith into it!

However, much of the decline of Western societies in recent years is due to the decreasing influence of Christian beliefs over our societies, in all areas including politics. If Jesus says that we are “salt and light”, an analogy of our preserving and illuminating influence. So, then it stands to reason that in whatever spheres of life Christian influence retreats, it will lead to inevitable decay and darkness. This increasing decay and darkness in the realm of politics and government lead to ever-increasing forms of totalitarianism wherever this happens. Christians should not retreat from the political sphere any more than they should retreat from education, business, the arts or any other part of public life.

If we want to avoid the descent into totalitarianism, we must recover a Christian view of Law and Government in our societies.

Recommended Resources:

Ruler of Kings: Toward a Christian Vision of Government by Dr. Joseph Boot Restoring the Foundation of Civilization: God's Government Or Chaos by Dr. Gary DeMar When A Nation Forgets God: 7 Lessons We Must Learn From Nazi Germany by Erwin W. Lutzer Slaying Leviathan: Limited Government and Resistance in the Christian Tradition by Glenn S. Sunshine Ruler of the Nations: Biblical Blueprints for Government by Dr. Gary DeMar The Mission of God: A Manifesto of Hope for Society by Dr. Joseph Boot

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In this first video episode, we talk with Tyler J. Rutherford, a talented young creative who is a photographer, podcast producer, graphic designer, musician and thoughtful Christian, about Reformed Theology, creativity and financial stewardship. We spoke about how he became Reformed and what exactly drew him to Reformed Theology. We also spoke about how his theology impacts his creativity and how God has used it to bless and impact others. He also gave us some tips for fellow photographers looking to use their skills and talents to serve others and glorify God. Finally, we spoke about the importance of financial stewardship and a little bit about his new project The Stewardology Podcast, which seeks to equip Christians to think Biblically about how they steward their finances to the glory of God. One of their most recent series of episodes considers Cryptocurrency in light of God's Word and whether or not it is something Christians should get involved in.

Tyler was one of the hosts of The Happy Holy Hour and is the producer of The Stewardology Podcast. He currently works as a freelance photographer and you can check out his work here.

You can also watch this episode on YouTube here.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

The Doctrine of Repentance by Thomas Watson (book) Renewing Your Mind Podcast by R.C. Sproul The Ask Pastor John Podcast The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul (book) Shocking Youth Message (YouTube video) Life Financial Group Life Institute

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This short episode is an audio narration of the article "Humble by Design".

Many Christian artists can struggle with issues of pride and self-focus in their craft. The nature of our industry tends toward self-promotion and inflated egos oftentimes, so we need to think theologically about what should be the Christian artists' disposition - especially in Christian ministries.

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There is a problem in our cultures today of weak men. This is in all areas of life and society but is particularly felt in the home and in the Church. In this episode, I team up with my best friend, Tristan, to talk about this important issue - analyzing the Environmental, Ecclesiological and Eschatological problems that contribute to breeding weak men. How can we combat these problems and help train up strong men of God who are ready to take the battlefield of life and fight for the expanse of the Kingdom of God?

This is the first of a series of conversations we're calling "Theology in Traffic" where you get to be a fly on the dash of a discussion between two guys wrestling through important issues of life and theology together.

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In this second part of this interview, we sit down with Joel Nicoloff of The Six Cents Report to talk about some important social and political issues. The word "Meritocracy" has become a dirty word nowadays. Shouldn't we desire equal outcomes and aren't meritocracies unfair? We get into the concepts and talk out some of the economic realities. We also talk about the concept of a welfare state in countries which lean more socialistic. Is this a good thing? Does it encourage laziness and decrease productivity?

Lastly, we talk about the place of Christian charity and what should be the alternative to massive government welfare programs. How should Christians think about charity and their role in social issues and support of the poor? What about our own responsibilities to our family and stewarding our finances?

It was a great conversation together, and I hope you enjoy being a fly on the wall to it!

You can follow Joel and The Six Cents Report on Youtube, Facebook and Twitter, or email them at sixcentsreport@gmail.com

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For many creatives, the topic of economics just sounds like a bunch of boring numbers and traumatizing flashbacks of math class we may have blocked from our memories... joking! (kinda) Many artists and creatives simply aren't interested in economics. However, economics is an important subject for us and everyone to have at least a basic grasp and understand how it impacts our lives. But even more importantly, how can we think Christianly about economics and creativity?

In this episode, we sit down with a good friend - Joel Nicoloff of The Six Cents Report Podcast to talk about economics and creatives. We touch on topics and questions such as "Why should pastors and Christian creatives care about economics?", "What is Subjective Value Theory? And why does it matter for creatives and entrepreneurs?" We also talk about how we can think about pricing a piece of art or creative work fairly with an understanding of market forces.

This is the first part of a 2-part episode we recorded.

You can follow Joel and The Six Cents Report on Youtube, Facebook and Twitter, or email them at sixcentsreport@gmail.com

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The problem of evil is one of the most significant and challenging objections to Christianity. If you've been a Christian and attempted to engage with unbelieving people in your life, you've probably run into some variation of this problem. It usually goes something like, "How can a Good God allow such evil and suffering as we see today?" It can seem to be an insurmountable problem for Christians to face. Is there a way to answer this problem satisfactorily?

There are many different ways that Christians and apologists attempt to answer this problem. However, not all answers are Biblical - such as the traditional "free will" defence. Thus, we want our apologetic to be both Biblically faithful and pastorally sensitive because we know that often, the people raising this question of the problem of evil have been personally affected by evil themselves.

In this episode, we aim at giving a compelling and Biblical answer.

You can also read the articles here:

The Problem of Evil | Part 1 - The Apologetic Challenge The Problem of Evil | Part 2 - Finding Meaning in Suffering

Additional resources:

What about Evil? A Defense of God's Sovereign Glory by Scott Christensen What about Free Will? Reconciling Our Choices with God's Sovereignty by Scott Christensen

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I went to the Ezra Institute's Mission of God 2022 Conference which happened on May 21, 2022, with a group of guys from my church. The conference's theme was "Utopianism vs the Kingdom of God". The conference was really great. Informative and thought-provoking. The three main speakers were Dr. Joe Boot, Graeme Leach and André Schutten.

The topics of the plenary sessions were:

Utopianism and Philosophy - Dr. Joe Boot
Dr. Boot covered Globalism versus the concept of Biblical Nationhood as two competing views of society. He did this by digging into the genetics of Globalism and the role of Technocracy in this push toward Globalism. He also helped to sketch view of the Biblical vision of how God intended to organize societies. Utopianism and Economics - Graeme Leach
Graeme expounded how we've moved from a vision of humanistic utopia to the reality of dystopia that it produces. He presented a lot of helpful economic statistics and insights, showing a little of the potential economic prosperity that God's design held. His bottom line was that we either have a Big God and a small state or a Big state and a small god. Utopianism and Law - André Schutten
André's talk focused in on E.D.I. (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) ideology and its impact on society and law. He pointed out that anarchy and tyranny end up meeting each other at the extreme ends of the spectrum and that only Christianity's vision of ordered liberty and institution pluralism is the solution. The loss of this Christian vision has led to the death of the Rule of Law.

This episode is a recap from Seb, Dan, Jeremy, Jim, Collin, Tristan and I of some of the things we learnt at the conference.

Additional resources:

The Mission of God: A Manifesto of Hope for Society by Dr. Joseph Boot Ezra Institute Podcast and Feeds Ruler of Kings: Toward a Christian Vision of Government by Dr. Joseph Boot

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Karl Marx has been one of the most influential thinkers of modern history. His ideas and philosophy have inspired many world leaders and people toward revolution. Marxism's ideology has spawned Socialism and Communism - both of which have brought incalculable damage to humanity over the years, yet their ideas don't die easy. Many young people today are seduced by more recent applications of Marx's thought to social issues, such as in Critical Race Theory. In politics, many politicians are putting forward socialist policies which they tout as being what's best for society.

But what of Marxism's founding father? What kind of man was he and what can we learn about the movement from his life?

In this episode, we explore 10 dark (and disturbing) facts about Karl Marx and why it matters for us today. Movements are often inseparable from their genesis and creators since they often reflect their character and priorities. Thus, in studying some of the dark truths about Karl Marx, the dark truth about Marxism becomes clearer.

You can read the article here.

Additional resources:

The Devil and Karl Marx: Communism's Long March of Death, Deception, and Infiltration by Paul Kengor Karl Marx (Great Thinkers series) by William D. Dennison

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This is an audio narration of the article, "Cornelius Van Til | The Grandfather of Modern Presuppositional Apologetics"

Cornelius Van Til is an important figure in the field of Christian Apologetics - that is, the defence of the Christian faith. We're commanded in scripture to always be prepared to give an answer for the hope that is in us (see 1 Peter 3:15-16). But how do we go about doing that? Is there a right and a wrong way to do it? Van Til believed there was a Biblically faithful way to defend the faith to which all Christians should commit themselves. He stressed being faithful to the Calvinistic interpretation of Scripture, considering the depravity of man and suppression of truth in unrighteousness as we engage the unbeliever with the Gospel. His apologetic methodology seeks to be consistent with Scripture's primacy and clarity on these topics.

Thus, he is a pivotal figure who is worthy of study and careful consideration. His Transcendental Argument for the existence of God has shaped the thought of many Presuppositional Apologists today and influenced the field of Reformed Apologetics and Epistemology in significant ways. I hope that this brief biography of his life and work will edify and encourage you to look into his works more.

Soli Deo Gloria.

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I had the opportunity recently to go support the Toronto March for Life together with some guys from my church small group. The Toronto March for Life is a Pro-Life annual rally that helps to raise awareness about abortion and advocate for the lives of unborn children. It happened the day after the National March for Life in Ottawa where large crowds marched in support of life against abortion, assisted suicide and euthanasia.

At the event, there were several speakers who gave moving testimonies of choosing life over abortion as well as Pro-Life messages explaining the horrors of abortion. I was happy to have a short interview with Ryan Mans who is the Ontario Manager of ARPA Canada, a grassroots Christian political advocacy organization that seeks to educate, equip, and encourage Reformed Christians to political action, and to bring a biblical perspective to our civil authorities. ARPA is also associated with WeNeedALaw.ca who seeks to mobilize Canadians and persuade our political leaders to pass laws that protect children before birth. Canada is the only democracy in the world to have zero legal protection for pre-born children. Every other country recognizes the humanity of pre-born children at some point, and has found a way to protect them.

This episode gets into some of the apologetic arguments for the Pro-Life cause from a distinctly Christian worldview. We must argue consistently as Christians that abortion is the murder of an innocent child in the womb, created in the image of God, worthy of honour and protection.

Some further resources:

Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform End Abortion Now Write your MP using the SimpleMail tool - it makes it super easy! Choosing Death: The Legacy of Roe Documentary by the Daily Wire The Silent Scream Documentary (1984) Abortion: A Rational Look at an Emotional Issue by Dr. R.C. Sproul (Free eBook)

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Freedom of Speech is a fundamental right in many modern Western developed nations. However, in recent times, this has been coming under increasing attack by governments.

US government seeking to implement a Disinformation Governance Board to monitor and combat "disinformation". Jen Psaki told reporters that the Disinformation Governance Board “is not to adjudicate what is true or false online or otherwise” adding, “it will operate in a nonpartisan and apolitical manner.” In Canada, the Liberal government is seeking to pass Bill C-11 which will give power for them to basically "police" and regulate the internet and social media content. There are plenty of other examples of this happening around the world.

How should Christians think through the concept of free speech and whether or not there should be any restrictions on speech? How are we to think about governments enforcing speech codes? This episode starts to explore these issues.

Check out ARPA Canada's article here and use their EasyMail to send an email to your MP! Read the full show notes here.

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What's the deal with all the talk of "Deconstruction" these days and Progressive Christianity? 

This episode explores the topic of Progressive Christianity and Deconstructing the Faith by interacting with Alisa Childer's book - Another Gospel?: A Lifelong Christian Seeks Truth in Response to Progressive Christianity. In it, Childers recounts her journey of faith wrestling through the challenges of Progressive Christianity and the movement to Deconstruct her faith. She tells of how through study and apologetics, God used it to strengthen her face and show her the errors and dangers of Progressive Christianity and Deconstructionism. 

This issue is continuing to grow in popularity with many famous contemporary Christian musicians 'deconstructing' their faith in the public eye. So, it is a live issue that we should be aware of and prepared to give an answer to. 

This is an audio narration of the article: "Progressive Christianity and Deconstructing the Faith"

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Bethel Church is a charismatic church that has made waves amongst many Evangelicals with its dynamic worship band. Many churches and Christians sing their songs and have been blessed by their productions. However, there are some very concerning things about this movement that Christians should be aware of and discerning about. These are not trivial matters, but rather issues of the Gospel and, in some cases, outright heresy.

In this episode, we take a look at some of the questionable practices at Bethel, some concerning issues, and some heretical doctrines their leaders have taught in the past through books and sermons. May we think soberly and biblically about these issues as we seek to live faithfully to God's Word and righteous standards.

This is an audio narration of the article, "Bethel Church | Deception, Heresy & A Call to Discernment"

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Continuing from our last episode, we consider how Christ transforms our understanding of a Gospel-Shaped Theology of Creativity and what should be our proper response as Christians and creatives.

Christian creatives need redemption from our fallenness as much as anyone else. Jesus Christ shows us what true humanity should look like, and interestingly enough, he also shows us God's creativity. As he walked the dusty Middle-Eastern roads, he spoke and acted in very creative ways - telling stories and parables that ignited the imagination. We have much to learn from Christ. We also must refocus our gaze upon Christ to turn our heart's idolatrous tendencies back to true worship of God with all of our lives - including our creative talents.

You can read the articles for this episode here:

A Gospel-Shaped Theology of Creativity | CHRIST (Part 1) - Embodied Exegesis A Gospel-Shaped Theology of Creativity | CHRIST (Part 2) - Redeemed Creativity A Gospel-Shaped Theology of Creativity | OUR RESPONSE

Some of the books cited in these episodes:

IMAGES AND IDOLS: CREATIVITY FOR THE CHRISTIAN LIFE by J. Ryan ListerThomas J Terry Art for God's Sake: A Call to Recover the Arts by Philip Graham Ryken Art and the Bible by Francis A. Schaeffer A Redemptive Theology of Art: Restoring Godly Aesthetics to Doctrine and Culture by David A. Covington 

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Have you ever wondered how does theology shape the way we think about creativity and use our creative gifts as Christians?

Perhaps few Christian creatives today have ever stopped to ponder how their faith affects their identity as creatives and their utilization of their creative gifts. However, the Bible is full of a wealth of wisdom for every area of life - including creativity! In this first part of this two-part series, we explore some of the foundations for building a Gospel-Shaped theology of creativity by considering God as the original Creator and Creative, our own imaging of God as creatives created in His image, and how sin has marred our creativity.

Theology is not just for the pastors and church leaders. It is for everyone and it affects every area of life. We are all theologians. The question is whether or not we'll be good ones.

This is an audio narration of the first half of the article series, A Gospel-Shaped Theology of Creativity. You can read the articles in this episode here:

A Gospel-Shaped Theology of Creativity | Introduction A Gospel-Shaped Theology of Creativity | GOD (Part 1) - The Creator A Gospel-Shaped Theology of Creativity | GOD (Part 2) - Understanding Beauty A Gospel-Shaped Theology of Creativity | MAN (Part 1) - Marred Creativity A Gospel-Shaped Theology of Creativity | MAN (Part 2) - Exchange and Autonomy

Some of the books cited in these episodes:

IMAGES AND IDOLS: CREATIVITY FOR THE CHRISTIAN LIFE by J. Ryan ListerThomas J Terry Art for God's Sake: A Call to Recover the Arts by Philip Graham Ryken Art and the Bible by Francis A. Schaeffer A Redemptive Theology of Art: Restoring Godly Aesthetics to Doctrine and Culture by David A. Covington 

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This is an audio narration of the book review, "Strong Medicine for a Fatal Disease | Social Justice, Critical Race Theory & the Gospel"

The issue of racism has come to the fore more and more in recent years. With the death of George Floyd, we saw an eruption of mass protests, demonstrations, and even riots break out all over the U.S. Many different voices have expressed differing opinions about the issue. However, one of the ideologies that have come to the forefront is that of Critical Race Theory. Some Christians believe that it can be a helpful "analytical tool". However, is it really that innocent? In Dr. Baucham's book, he analyzes the issues and applies solid, biblical theology to the topic to analyze the roots and merits of Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality. He also points out some of the dangers of movements like Black Lives Matter and how Christians are sometimes carried away with errant teachings on this topic.

His book is a clarion call and strong medicine for what Dr. Baucham diagnoses as a fatal disease. It is well worth the read and a needed challenge to a lot of the prevailing narratives and ideologies of our day. I hope that this book review will be helpful and perhaps inspire you to pick up a copy of Dr. Voddie Baucham Jr's book, "Fault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism's Looming Catastrophe".

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This episode is an audio narration of the article, "A Not-So-Coffee-Mug Psalm"

You can also tune into the Drop-In Bible Study I led at my church on this Psalm.

Psalm 139 is a precious passage of Scripture to many. However, sometimes our familiarity with its words may make us miss some of the depth of its meaning. The Instagram selfie with the caption "fearfully and wonderfully made" tends to cheapen the amazing truth of this Psalm... (not that any of you are doing that, of course!) In this devotional episode, we reflect on the words of the Psalmist and how it applies to us today in these troubled times of pandemics, government overreach and loss of freedoms. Could it be that this Psalm has some very needed reminders for us in our situations today?

I believe it does. Tune in to find out more!

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It is vitally important for every Christian to intentionally develop a robust Biblical worldview.

Here are some of my top 10 podcasts that have helped me to form a more complete Christian worldview.

Apologia Radio - Apple | Google Ezra Institute Podcast for Cultural Reformation - Apple | Google Fight Laugh Feast Network Podcast- Apple | Google Relatable with Allie Beth Stuckey - Apple | Google The Sword & the Trowel - Apple | Google Just Thinking Podcast - Apple | Google The Briefing with Albert Mohler - Apple | Google The Six Cents Report - Apple | Google The Antithesis with Owen Strachan - Apple | Google Rushdoony Radio - Apple | Google

I hope that you find some useful content to help you grow!

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This is an audio narration of the article, "No Chill | Graciousness in an Age of Outrage"

These days it can seem like our culture has no chill at all! Even if you post something on social media about what type of toast you prefer you might end up in a never-ending debate and inquisition. Why is this? Why is it that we have seemed to have lost all our chill pills? Why are people so antagonistic against each other? And how can God's Word help us navigate this cultural moment?

In this episode, we explore some of these questions.

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This is an audio narration of the article "A Theological Basis for Excellence in Christian Art & Design"

Is there a theological basis for pursuing excellence in arts and design for Christians and Christian ministry in particular? Or are we supposed to just do what is most cost-efficient and pragmatic? Does God even care about aesthetics and beauty in worship? Why is it that so many Christian artistic productions lack excellence and quality?

These are some of the questions that we take a look at in this article.

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With the advent of the Coronavirus pandemic and many governments around the world taking historical powers and actions in efforts to combat the pandemic, it has many today question the proper role and limits of civil government. What is rightly the sphere of the government's God-given authority? Can governments do whatever they please in any sphere of life including education, healthcare, welfare, business, religion, etc.? Or are there limits and who gets to set those limits?

Because of these questions, many Christians, pastors and leaders have turned to the now-famous text of Romans 13 seeking answers. However, there have been many poor and shallow interpretations of this text - often leading to an imbalance of either disregarding the clear commandment to "be subject" or to advocating blind, unlimited submission and obedience to any edict of the civil government. There has also been the legitimate question of "when is civil disobedience warranted for the Christian?" Is it ever right to disobey the government? How do Christians live honourably in these troubling times?

This episode considers some important exegetical considerations when interpreting Romans 13. We will look at some insights from the Greek text as well as from several commentaries to inform how we understand this important passage. However, it is not meant to be a thorough theology of the Christian's relationship to the State, but rather to deal specifically with issues arising out of the text of Romans 13:1-7.

If you'd like to read the article version of this episode, check it out here: God & Government | Exegetical Considerations on Romans 13:1-7

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In this episode, we explore what is the Gospel?

There are so many opinions out there on what the word "Gospel" means to people. 

Some associate it with a genre of music. Others think its a legalistic stuff old church term that's outdated and irrelevant. Sometimes it's used in common slang, such as "ain't that the Gospel-truth!" However, the word simply means "Good News". It is the Good News that God has provided the means for our salvation through the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Yet, the Gospel isn't \just some private belief that only affects individual believers. It also has a cosmic scope that encompasses all of reality and helps us make sense of our world and gives us hope for the future.

In this episode we expore some of the common misconceptions and misunderstandings about the Gospel and salvation, and then take a look at what the Bible says. In doing so, we seek correction and clarity on this most important of issues - because getting the Gospel wrong has major implications both in this life and eternity!

If this episode was helpful to you, or you'd like to use it to help your loved ones understand the hope of Christianity, consider sharing it with others. You can also visit the Gospel Page on our website.

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Why start a website and podcast focusing on theology and creativity?

I saw within my own life the need for developing a robust biblical worldview to process and navigate the many challenges we face in our increasingly secularized societies. Thus, THEOTIVITY was born our of my life's journey as a creative and a theologian and my desire to help others along the way. In this episode, I discuss the reasons and vision behind THEOTIVITY and what I hope to achieve.

Read the article here.

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