Mortification Of Spin

Mortification of Spin: Bully Pulpit gives hosts Carl Trueman and Todd Pruitt a chance to briefly discuss timely issues. Listen as they discuss some criticism and lashback they have gotten because of the podcast, and some of the reasons behind their perceived "harshness" toward prominent Christian leaders. How does the Bible guide our critiques of public figures with popular books and speaking tours? Do we need to sit down over a "no-foam, non-fat latte" in order to be able to speak out against these very public ministers? Carl and Todd take a stab at some of these questions. The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals would like to offer you a free download of the audio message, Persevering in the Face of Criticism by Joel Beeke, from the Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology.   

 Author and blogger Aimee Byrd joins your regular hosts Carl Trueman and Todd Pruitt to talk about a perrennial issue throughout the life of the church: abuse. Though Carl and Todd have discussed this issue before, they seek Aimee's wisdom in confronting a more subtle form of abuse that happens more often than it ought within the church. What role should pastors, elders, deacons and their wives play in unveiling marital abuse and reconciling husbands and wives? How can the church better prepare women to deal with these things biblically and theologically? Listen in to the conversation on the Mortification of Spin. Enjoy this free resource from the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals!Betrayed by a Close Friend by Jame M. BoiceDo you ever find yourself wanting to run away?  It’s not that you expected life to be easy, exactly.  But maybe you’re worn out from facing the same problems over and over again, year after year.  Job pressures, bills, taxes, marriage or family problems –  Housewife Theologian: How the Go

What has become of marriage in our society? When the rules are as bent as they are now, even something as absurd as "marrying" oneself is no longer seen as laughable as it would have once been, but is praised and even endorsed. Listen to Mortification of Spin: Bully Pulpit and hear Carl Trueman and Todd Pruitt discuss the state of marriage, and God's clear words about it in Scripture. Enjoy this free resources from the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals!Click here to download the free message "The First Wedding" by Dr. James Boice.God establishes marriage as the first and most basic of all human institutions. From this institution, all other human institutions came: government, education, health care. One cannot think of a contemporary social or cultural organization that does not have a derivative relationship to the home and marriage.Download it for free.

Carl and Todd are at it again! Join them as they discuss Todd's "journey" to his new Presbyterian "tribe" from his Southern Baptist roots. Listen in and learn more about the distintives of church governmental structures between denominations. Call them "elitist" if you must, but our hosts unashamedly assert the importance of getting the right men in the pulpit, as those men are to care for peoples' souls according to God's standard laid out in his Word. This topic is becoming more and more explosive as churches continue to seek the coolest and hippest men to be pastors, instead of choosing the educated and qualified men. Listen to the Mortification of Spin and join the discussion! Enjoy this free resources from the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals! The Westminster Doctrine of Baptism and Current Reformed Trajectories by Sinclair Ferguson  

Listen in as Carl Trueman and Todd Pruitt take to the Bully Pulpit.  On this week’s Pulpit they discuss the means and goals of preaching.  What role does evangelism play in preaching?  How do Jesus and the Apostles teach men to preach?  Today, many preachers give their congregations gobbledygook instead of solid, biblical meat each week.  The Bible confronts us in our sinful state before God, and preachers need to bring that confrontation in through their sermons by turning their own pulpits into Bully Pulpits...  Click here for the free offer The Foolishness of Preaching by Dr. James boice.

Dr. Stephen Nichols, Research Professor of Christianity and Culture at Lancaster Bible College, stops by the “studio” once again to talk with Carl and Todd.  After a rocky start they get to the point of discussion: the overwhelming cultural fascination with youth.  The gang explains how the fixation our culture places on the young and pretty is idolatrous.  And this idolatry has seeped into the church.  How are we to respond?  What is the Bible’s antidote for a youth-driven church?  What do 80s rock stars and blues music have to do with anything?  Listen to the Mortification of Spin to find out!        Enjoy this free resource from the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals!The Christian's Responsibility to His Culture by R.C. Sproul    Youth-Driven Culture by Stephen Nichols     Getting the Blues by Stephen Nichols  

Carl from his pulpit and Todd from his heavily armed bunker kick off a new Mortification of Spin series, The Bully Pulpit. In this first episode, in light of a recent hypersexualized musical performance,  Todd asks if the church has any credibility on sexual ethics and decency? Or does an unabashed desire for self promotion lie behind such public sexual escapades? Are pastors guilty of the same behavior when they promote themselves or their latest book in the pulpit or on Facebook? We need to be careful not to erode the boundary of what is appropriate for the public sphere and what is a appropriate for the private sphere or we are just as guilty as the pornographers.

If you get heartburn over the mention of the word "liturgy," you may find some proverbial antacid in the thoughtful conversation between our hosts on this episode of The Mortification of Spin. In fact, Carl and Todd remind us that our churches are all liturgical in one way or another - the question is whether we are basing the order and structure of our worship on Scripture or whether we're simply, shall we say, flying by the seat of our pants. Can the seat of our pants sufficiently guide us in corporate worship that is Christ-centered? If you've never opened The Book of Common Prayer, buckle up and listen in...you're bound to learn quite a bit from this helpful podcast.   Free Resource from Alliance of Confessing EvangelicalsHumble Suggestions for Reformed Worship by Richard PhillipsRev. Richard Phillips, speaking at the 2006 Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology, teaches on the practice of reformed worship. This discussion is helpful for pastors and church members who desire to see our worship reform

 Todd and Carl interview Aimee Byrd in an attempt to answer the question: can anything good really come out of West Virginia? Mrs. Byrd is the popular blogger, now published author and self-identified "Housewife Theologian." If you're picturing a woman - pregnant, barefoot and in the kitchen - pouring over commentaries and studying Greek while mixing up a batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies, you're probably only slightly stereotyping. Aimee herself admits to being quite ordinary. In fact, she believes that everyone is a theologian and that doctrine is a very real part of everyday life. If you're as important as Carl, then you already have a copy of her pre-released book. But in case you aren't, you better listen in to this episode of The Mortification of Spin...  Housewife Theologan book winners!J. Lynn - Temple, GAA. Larson - Athens, GAE. Laczny - Appleton, WIB. Bishop - Nine Mile Falls, WAA. Murphy - Toledo, OHD. Narva - Rockford, MIL. Skillman - Vermilion, OHK. Gray - Jacksonville, FLR. Amador - Hamle

Your favorite comedian/theologians, Todd Pruitt and Carl Trueman, team up yet again - this time to answer some important questions about how the church should be run and who should be running it. We'll learn that faithful teaching, a willingness to contend for truth and godly maturity are all important characteristics of a good pastor or elder. But women listeners won't be surprised to learn what Todd and Carl eventually conclude...that the way an elder treats his wife may be the best indicator of his ability to lead well.    Free resource from the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals The Westminster Assembly on Marriage and Divorce a free MP3 by Richard Gamble.

This episode of The Mortification of Spin takes on a more serious tone as Todd and Carl offer a pastoral approach to the sensitive topic of spousal abuse. In tragic cases of abuse within the church, where does the dividing line between church discipline and civil law exist? Does abuse stand as justifiable, biblical grounds for divorce? During their thoughtful discussion, the hosts answer these questions and more, offer helpful book recommendations on this challenging topic, and (surprisingly) reveal what's right about feminism.       Free resource from the Alliance of Confessing EvangelicalsGod's Design for Marriage and Sex by Richard Phillips   Mentioned on What is the Church To Do?The Stain That Stays by Armstrong John     Marriage: Sex in the Service of God by Christopher Ash    Married for God: Making Your Marriage the Best it Can be by Christopher Ash  

Todd and Carl interview Steve Nichols, author and professor of Christianity and Culture at Lancaster Bible College, and they respectfully dub their guest the "Peter Pan of reformed theology." While Steve may look young, he is certainly insightful when it comes to this episode's topics of discussion: the doctrine of Scripture and the current relevancy of church history. If you can put up with the hosts' frequent wise cracks, listen in to hear Steve raise what he calls the compelling question of the modern age. Mentioned on Can I Trust the Bible? Ancient Word, Changing World by Stephen Nichols Bonhoeffer on the Christian Life: From the Cross, for the World by Stephen Nichols Martin Luther: A Guided Tour of His Life and Thought by Stephen Nichols J. Gresham Machen: A Guided Tour of His Life and Thought by Stephen Nichols The Reformation: How a Monk and a Mallet Changed the World by Stephen Nichols Christianity and Liberalism by J. Gresham Machen  

Is there such a thing as a tan Englishman? Todd and Carl debate the issue momentarily before focusing their attention on the recent news surrounded Pope Francis' universalist comments. If you're not familiar with the term "anonymous Christian" (don't worry...we weren't either), listen in and learn how the Pope's flawed theology has been plaguing the church from Justin Martyr in the 2nd century to misguided modern day teachers like Rob Bell. Is there a difference between universalism and inclusivism? What's the real problem with the Roman Catholic Church? Our hosts will answer these questions and more in this "no guest needed" edition of your favorite reformed podcast!    Free resource from the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals We Are Beggars: Luther's Famous Last Words by Carl TruemanThis is one of the Seminar Messages from the 2012 Quakertown Regional Conference on Reformed Theology, Alone: The Solas of the Reformation. This message is brought by Carl Trueman.    Mentioned on Anonymous Christians Anyone? R

 As Todd and Carl report from "The Batcave" to offer a solemn critique of Andy Stanley's book, Deep and Wide, the hosts discuss the biblical role of the church, Jesus' example and the definition of happiness. While both the topic and their critique are serious, the musical interludes certainly are not. If you've ever wondered how the church should relate to the culture around it and what the song "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" could possibly have to do with it, you'll love this episode of The Mortification of Spin!    Free resource from the Alliance of Confessing EvangelicalsHappy, Though Poor by Dr. BarnhouseJoy is the blessing of being at peace with God, and this is by believing in Jesus Christ as one's Savior and having Him remove the burden of sin and guilt from one's life. One may be poor by the world's standards, but belonging to Jesus now and for eternity is true wealth.  Mentioned on Happiness Questing Deep & Wide: Creating Churches Unchurched People Love to Attend by Andy Stanley      Deliberate C

If you're ready for a little education on church history, check out this edition of The Mortification of Spin with special guest and children's book author, Simonetta Carr. A successful teacher, writer and homeschooling mother of eight kids, Simonetta is certainly busy, but denies being any sort of "supermom." As Todd and Carl interview their guest, you'll learn about her passion for communicating doctrine through the powerful stories and dynamic characters of church history. With several books already published and a few more in the works, her writings are a great resource not only for children, but also for adults like Todd and Carl who tend only to read books with lots of pictures in them.   Free resource from the Alliance of Confessing EvangelicalsA Christian View of History, free MP3 by James BoiceIn our day and age people are always asking "Why was I born?, What am I here for?" and "Why am I here at this time and in this place?" These questions reflect two needs that we have: the need for a sense of ide

Todd Pruitt and Carl Trueman meet with PCA church planter, Jon “No Gain” Payne, to discuss the struggles, victories and overall philosophy of biblical church planting.  All jokes about skinny jeans and soy lattes aside, the hosts jump right in and ask the tough questions. What does the gospel-centered, reformed version of this ministry look like in an age when church planting is considered “sexy” and glamorous? Jon outlines 8 essential keys to building a proper biblical foundation for any church. While he speaks with excitement about his and his family’s upcoming move to Charleston, SC, he also recognizes that flashy gimmicks will not be the means through which God builds His church. Jon is stepping out in faith and obedience and relying on the means of ordinary grace alone.Free resource from the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals How to Have a Healthy Church, free pdf booklet by James BoiceWhat should be the distinguishing marks of the Church of Jesus Christ? What should be its most important characteristic

What does good theology, Pelagius, fish-n-chips and suffering have in common? It's not the sufferings of Job that is discussed at length, but the special guest who will be discussing suffering. It's not important that Job understands why suffering came to him,  what's important is that Job trusts God. At the end of the day, the book of Job is about trust. It's believing that God does what is right in the end, even if we don't understand. Listen now to Stop My Mouth with Carl and Todd with a special guest as they discuss the benefits of being fined for skipping church.  Free resource from the Alliance of Confessing EvangelicalsDownload the free message Suffering, the Path of Glory by Dr. James Boice.Suffering is usually not something to be desired. But the apostle Paul speaks about suffering as an ever present reality for the Christian. Therefore, the Christian, who does not suffer, may not be living enough for Christ. Mentioned on Stop My Mouth Calvin's Teaching On Job by Derek Thomas

With no students to teach Steve Nichols, Research Professor of Christianity and Culture at Lancaster Bible College, joins Todd and Carl on Mortification of Spin to discuss Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Was Bonhoeffer an Evangelical, was he even a Christian? At what point are his writings helpful for us? Steve demonstrates that Dietrich Bonhoeffer is clearly an important Christan thinker whose life and death lend weight to his writings. Whether we agree, disagree, love or hate him, Bonhoeffer has earned the right to be heard. Free resource from the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals Download the free message A Christian View of History by Dr. James Boice.In our day and age people are always asking "Why was I born?, What am I here for?" These questions reflect two needs that we have: the need for a sense of identity, and the need for a purpose and meaning in life. Dr. Boice shows that being a part of the family of God gives us identity and a sense of belonging. He looks at our relationship to the past, present, and fut

On Mortification of Spin, Todd Pruitt and Carl Trueman talk about the necessity of dressing up in order to attend church on Sunday and how that standard must be maintained at all costs. However, both aim to avoid conflict but understand that only through conflict will the church be around in 53 years. Listen right now to this episode of Mortification of Spin and Carl will tell you the correct way to pronounce controversy.    Free resource from the Alliance of Confessing EvangelicalsDownload the free message Conflict and Triumph by Dr. Donald Barnhouse.An exploration of the great conflict going on between good and evil within the spiritual realm, Dr. Barnhouse carefully traces this vast spiritual conflict back to the period before the beginning of recorded time. Mentioned on Necessary ControversiesFools Rush In Where Monkeys Fear To Tread, by Carl TruemanWestminster Theological Seminary

Todd Pruitt and Carl Trueman discuss the recent publication of Rosaria Champagne Butterfield’s Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert.  Dr. Butterfield, a former Lesbian professor, came to faith in Jesus Christ through the ministry of an unassuming Reformed pastor and his family.  Not only so, but she has come all the way from radical professor to home-schooling pastor’s wife in an exclusive psalm singing denomination.   Free resource from the Alliance of Confessing EvangelicalsDownload the message The Conversion of Saul by Dr. James Boice. Use coupon code emezym.He watched the killing of Stephen, the first martyr. He went on to do everything he could to stamp out the newly formed Christian church. We would not expect him to become a convert a missionary and an apostle, but that is what God did. After Paul knew that Jesus was the Son of God, the first action he took was to tell others. This is exactly what everyone who wants a vital spiritual life must do.  Mentioned on Unsensational Supernatural Unlikely Con