Mortification Of Spin

Today the Spin team considers a Tim Challies post. There Tim ponders three themes or challenges for Reformed Christians in 2018. (Is that some sort of prophesy?) The crew discusses his third prediction–the growing Charismatic movement inside Reformed-ish circles.Historic confessionalism, or Reformed theology, throughout the centuries has been cessationist - meaning the apostolic gifts have ceased. But some New Calvinists insist that one can be Reformed, yet be an "open but cautious" continuationist. What’s one to make of that? On the other hand, does Reformed mean a denial of a supernatural God? What about the sacraments?Theology does matter and there are consequences to beliefs. Join us for an episode of pixie dust, dental golden filling, fallible prophecies, and the sufficiency of Scripture!We apologize for not being able to offer the book mentioned on the podcast, but you can enter to win this another great title "Rediscovering the Holy Spirit" by Michael Horton courtesy of Zondervan. Enter for your chance

While sipping peach tea in Georgia, the crew chats up Darrell Harrison for a great conversation on justice and race reconciliation. Once in a while Darrell gets into trouble for his writing at Just Thinking… For Myself – and for "applying biblical truth to social, cultural, political, and theological issues in our world".  Odd, as his posts with the Alliance at reformation21 have always seemed subdued, but guess that’s compared to our own crew! The conversation goes back and forth but at the end of the day the issue lies on humanity's deepest need to be reconciled to God through Christ and consequently to one another. Darrell shines the light of divine justice on, so called, social justice, calls the church to recapture the biblical language around issues that have spiritual roots, and encourages understanding of those issues within a biblical framework. Darrel and the crew drill into the true mission of the church, the sovereignty of God in the ethnic composition of congregations, man – the image of God, der

The Lord impressed upon my heart… The Lord told me… The Lord is calling me to... The Lord is leading me to… These are common church speak when making decisions. The crew has been led to offer some thoughts on them. Is strong conviction or impression the same as God calling? Is there a place for “calling”? What does it look like, and how do we know it’s real? Are there dangers in believing that God is calling one to do this or that? And is “feeling a peace about it” an accurate indicator?There’s no question that God leads His people through sovereign providence, but do we really have an infallible insight into that? Let’s listen in about sanctifying wisdom and the role other believers play in our decision making!We have a several copies of "Just Do Something" by Kevin DeYoung courtesy of Moody Publishers that we are giving away. Enter for your chance to win.

This week we bring the doctor in! Dr. Mike Emlet recently wrote Descriptions and Prescriptions – A Biblical Perspective on Psychiatric Diagnoses and Medications. He’s trained as a medical doctor, as a pastor, an active counselor, and he teaches counseling. Dr. Emlet seriously cares for people’s body and soul, taking both a biblical and scientific approach to that care.As Christians, should we be skeptical about psychiatric diagnoses and their treatments? Is it helpful to label such approaches as unbiblical? On the other hand, is it proper to dive right into the use of medication, trusting everything related to science and medicine, while ignoring spiritual issues? Dr. Emlet shows us a third way and lays the groundwork for a balanced, biblical approach toward those struggling mentally, spiritually, and physically.Please join us for this informative interview!We have a several copies of "Descriptions and Prescriptions" by Michael Emlet courtesy of New Growth Press that we are giving away. Enter for your chance

For the first time in 25 years, the state of Alabama has a Democrat senator. In a special senate election, Doug Jones defeated Republican Roy Moore, who is fighting sexual misconduct allegations.The crew discusses politics and morality in light of a recent article written by an evangelical commentator who claims Christian black women saved evangelicalism by overwhelmingly voting for Mr. Jones guaranteeing his victory.Should we trade, so far unproven sexual allegations for straightforward immorality, pat ourselves on the back, and celebrate the outcome? And at the very core, what if all the options before us are contrary to Scripture?Even Aimee’s dog has something to say about that one!We have a several copies of "Republocrat" by Carl Trueman courtesy of P&R that we are giving away. Enter for your chance to win.

After public confession of generational sin and absolution at the hands of the Spin team, Dr. Jonathan Master is ready to talk about pastoral integrity, accountability, disqualifying sin in the minister’s life, and the response from the church. Spoiler: No cover up here!Jon is the host of Theology on the Go - the other podcast of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals! He’s also professor of theology, dean of the School of Divinity at Cairn University, and a minister in the OPC.Today, we're reminded that it’s for good reason that Paul tells Timothy to watch his life and doctrine closely - lives are at stake… eternally! Yet, we can't forget that ministers are sinners too and fellow travelers on the road of sanctification. Jonathan helps us spot the fine line between indwelling sin, humility, and washing dirty laundry in front of the congregation.We have a several copies of "Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome" by Kent and Barbara Hughes courtesy of Crossway that we are giving away. Enter for your ch

What do we know about Empress Mathilda, or Maud, as she was best known? Well until now, not so much. “The Girl Empress – The Chronicle of Maud” by Amy Mantravadi is a series of historical novels on the life of this fascinating English character of the 12th century.Amy lets Empress Maud tell her own life story. From the extensive historical research Amy has done, we learn much about the time period. But this conversation is not only about Maud, it’s also about a certain modern theologian and church historian. Thanks to Amy, his wish was fulfilled in the character of Karl of Worms - a heroic character with some moral flaws who briefly appears in the pages of this volume. You’ll not believe me if I tell you who it is, you must listen for yourself!We giving away several Mortification of Spin posters. Enter for your chance to win.You may purshase "The Girl Empress: The Chronicle of Maud - Volume I" from Amazon.

Many in the online world are caught in the social media spin cycle of partisan bickering around politics, religion, and celebrity gossip. What is one to think of the frustration, the insults, and the open hostility that have become the normal pattern of response? Do we forget a human being is typing on the other side?Our hosts need help as they consider how to think in this heated environment. There is no one better than Alan Jacobs to provide it! He is the distinguished professor of Humanities at Baylor University and an outstanding writer. His newest book How to Think: A Survival Guide for a World at Odds is a rich resource of well done research on how to navigate life from an Augustinian view of humanity. He might help us not view people as RCOs (Repugnant Cultural Others).Warning, convicting content!We have a several copies of "How to Think" by Alan Jacobs courtesy of Convergent that we are giving away. Enter for your chance to win.

The crew travels West, picking Hollywood as their destination this week. Unfortunately, the topic is not “holiday” hit movies but the publicity of the Harvey Weinstein sex scandals. Questions are on the table and the discussion is on: Consent among two adults, how is that determined in Hollywood’s environment? Is it fair to say that Weinstein is merely acting upon his industry’s philosophy? How can these sex scandals be so prominent amidst a culture that claims to defend and empower women? What is the solution for these abuses? Will more laws and codes be able to curb the depravity of the human heart? The crew offers some alternatives that Hollywood might not find ideal. Let’s hear what they have to say!We hope you find value in Mortification of Spin. Your gifts enable us to be a strong, independent voice in the contemporary church. Please make a donation.Donate to Mortification of Spin at Razoovar r_params = {"title":"Mortification of Spin","short_description":"Thank you for tuning in to Carl Trueman, Todd P

We’re taking a ride in a Mustang GT through Western PA with our special guest T. David Gordon. He’s the professor of religion and Greek at Grove City College, he's also been studying and teaching media ecology for years.T. David offers some astute thoughts on how the media has impacted Johnny. He shows us how pulpits and pews have been affected by cultural illiteracy. Johnny can’t preach, he can’t sing hymns either, and the crew wants to know why. What are the basic elements missing from preaching and why must they not be ignored? He also gives us great insight on the exclusivity of Psalm singing. All that, while listening to the powerful V8 engine and ZZ Top playing on the radio.We have a several copies of "Why Johnny Can't Preach" by T. David Gordon courtesy of P&R Publishing that we are giving away. Enter for your chance to win.

The crew is playing “Pin the Tail on the Donkey” in the underground bunker as they take a look at the statement “Evangelicalism is as much of a culture as it is a theological movement,” and they discuss the difficult job of defining evangelicalism.What does evangelicalism look like in the broad spectrum? Where do Reformed confessional protestants fit in? How do we separate evangelicals like Joel Osteen and D. A. Carson? Not so simple! "Big Eva" or small, the conversation weighs in on our unity with brothers and sisters from other denominations against the threat of losing denominational identity when we get into the big movement.We have a several copies of "Here We Stand" edited by James Boice that we are giving away courtesy of P&R. Enter for your chance to win.We would also like to offer all listeners to Mortification of Spin a free MP3 download entitled "What Is happening to the Evangelicals".

It’s getting chilly in the Northeast so we head down to the Sunshine State, order a freshly-squeezed orange juice, and sit out in the sun with Michael Allen, professor of systematic theology at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando to talk about his New Study in Dogmatics volume entitled Sanctification. The crew has many questions for him, and I bet they’re not the only ones.What is holiness, and what does it really mean to become holy? Should moral living be addressed upfront in evangelism? Is there a connection between sanctification and assurance? Michael kindly answers these and more, by connecting sanctification to other fundamental doctrines of Scripture.We have a several copies of "Sanctification" by Michael Allen that we are giving away courtesy of Zondervan. Enter for your chance to win.

What does it take to disqualify a man from ministry? Adultery? Emotional and spiritual abuse? Manipulation? According to cultural Christianity, none of these!If God’s Word is not the rule of faith and life, the moral compass is lost and anything goes! We’re talking about the “come-back” of Mark Driscoll and Tullian Tchividjian to the public life, and worse, to the pulpit after serious public scandals.The gang opens up the issues and answers some of the questions that many of us are asking. What are the qualifications of an office bearer? How seriously should the church and the office bearer take the standards laid out in the pastoral epistles? Are there warning signs one should watch for? Does repentance mean full restoration to ministry?Turn it on, turn it up, and let's see what they’ve got!We have a several copies of "Disciplines of a Godly Man" and "Disciplines of a Godly Woman" by Kent and Barbara Hughes that we are giving away courtesy of Crossway. Enter for your chance to win.

This week the crew hops on their bikes and goes cycling with James White. They try to carry a conversation, but it’s tough to keep up with him! He’s the director of Alpha and Omega Ministries, a Christian apologetics organization, and he wears many hats (literally and figuratively). He’s an author, professor, an elder in his church, and an outstanding worldwide debater.James has been in some hot water lately. We want to know what the hubbub is all about so he fills us in, revealing the (to some) absurd reason why he’s into debates. We hear about the opportunities he’s had to learn from people of diverse belief systems, to teach, and to proclaim the Gospel, adorning it with kindness and hospitality.We have a several copies of "What Every Christian Needs to Know About the Qur'an?" by James White courtesy of Bethany House Publishers that we are giving away. Enter for your chance to win.

OK, let’s see if we got this right - Todd’s taking off from church because Carl’s giving him a hard time, and Aimee’s doing God’s work Sunday morning by doing Habitat... Well, not really! But they’re talking about some sad, even weird things happening on the Internet.Is it OK to distance yourself from the means of grace when hurt by the local church? What’s the biblical course of action? Community work instead of Sunday worship, yea or nay? The proper understanding of the Church, sacraments, and the Sabbath will shine a light on these questions. Plus, a plea to those suffering mistreatment in their churches.But not everything is doom and gloom - Todd’s church is about to get a sabbatical from him!We have a several copies of "What Is The Mission Of The Church?" by Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert courtesy of Crossway that we are giving away. Enter for your chance to win.

By popular demand we bring Darryl Hart over from Michigan to the Chesapeake Bay State for a conversation about the fascinating life of J. Gresham Machen. His influence reached the highest levels of the U.S. government in matters of education, alcohol consumption, and military draft to name a few. We can’t help but ask how Machen would had approached issues on civil and religious life in our day.If that’s not enough for you, Darryl also brings up the life of H. L. Mencken and his relationship with Machen. Who was he? Could these two opposite poles have anything in common? You might be surprised!And as pipe smoke fills the room, the tables are turned as the guest takes over, and Carl is put on the spot to answer some serious questions!We have a several copies of "Defending the Faith" by D. G. Hart courtesy of P&R that we are giving away. Enter for your chance to win.

While on a celeb tour, Carl worked on a cool mustache - maybe compensating for hair loss? In the meantime, Aimee and Todd, two recovering Baptists, tell of their “journey” to Presbyterianism. Todd even wanders into his love for the Book of Church Order. Tune in to get that whole story!But that’s not all folks! The conversation explores the term “redemption” and its meaning. Who or what is the object of redemption? Could God have co-redeemers? Then, what about us redeeming the culture? What does THAT even mean? What does the Bible tell us about God redeeming the present culture? Or will He simply destroy it all and create new heavens and a new earth at His coming? So much to cover!So join us for all these things and to see who's losing hair faster (spoiler alert, it’s not Aimee)!We have a several copies of "Redeemed! Redemption Accomplished" from the Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology that we are giving away. Enter for your chance to win.

This week the crew invites James Dolezal for a crucial conversation on the doctrine of God. James is the assistant professor of Theology in the School of Divinity of Cairn University. In his latest book All That Is in God he defends the classic orthodox doctrine of God while engaging with some contemporary deviations.What is divine simplicity? Why is it so important for the doctrine of the Trinity? What’s the cost of getting it wrong? Can we even have a doctrine of the Trinity without it? The answers are not so simple, but James does a wonderful job taking us back in history and guiding us through.And what do a Capuchin Friar, classic rock, and Thomas Aquinas have in common? Well, you’ll have to listen to find out!We have a several copies of "All That Is In God" by James Dolezal courtesy of Reformation Heritage Books that we are giving away. Enter for your chance to win.

Is it the end of the world as we know it? Recent natural disasters around the world have once again drawn speculative voices claiming it’s the end times. Yep! And the date now is September 23rd, 2017… Really?How are we to think about natural disasters and personal tragedy? Are they indicators that we’ve come to the end? What do we do when tragedy strikes? God is sovereign, subverts evil for His greater glory and for the ultimate good of Christians. But what motivates God to act in certain ways at certain points and time?So finish up that ice cream in the freezer as the 23rd is approaching fast. And listen in to the very interesting conversation turned argument between Carl and Aimee about the correct pronunciation of the word hurricane.We have a several copies of "Eschatology in Church History" an audio set from the Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology that we are giving away. Enter for your chance to win.

From rocking chairs on Todd’s front porch, our hosts try to sort out the lack of common sense among evangelicals. The mega-market of media is often “guiding” Christians to replace their mama’s basic teaching or their conscience as to what’s right and wrong.Do we need multiple reasons not to send nude selfies, not to shoot grandma, or not to punch the kid at the bus stop? Are we over spiritualizing things and becoming unable to make common sense decisions? What about that voice inside your head? What about The Pogues? Prophetic Rock? Seeing Jesus in Wonder Woman? The conversation continues into the wee hours, and you’re welcome to join in!We have a several copies of "Good News for Anxious Christians: 10 Practical Things You Don'd Have To Do" by Phillip Cary published by Brazos Press that we are giving away. Enter for your chance to win.Mortification of Spin LiveFor the first time ever (in almost five years), the underground bunker is being cracked open to the public.  Aimee opens the door of her home and welco