Equipoise

In this episode, I talk about what it means to do the work necessary to properly understand and teach the Bible. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I enjoyed making it. I did have fun with this one. :) Used music: "The Little Flying Bears" (C) Zagreb Film and CinéGroupe. Use protected under Fair Use as described in the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976.

With anything this large and looming on the world stage, there appear many people who feel that they know a lot about what's going on, as if they have the inside scoop. Thing is, they often disagree with each other. So who's right? What do we do? Well, at the very least, we ought to check our biases. That's a good place to start.

A recent FB post containing a quote from the late scholar Søren Kierkegaard was used to defend simplicity and consequently vilify learning, criticism, and careful research. But was this quote used in context? Is simplicity equal to saintliness after all? Let's take a look.

Is there virtue to be found in a declaration of simplicity and ignorance? Or is it just a cover to veil a retreat from complexity?

I finish up our brief look at this phrase "the Word of God" and talk about why correctly using this phrase matters.

Today we're beginning a two-parter on the phrase "The Word of God." I hope it's a help to you. As promised in the episode, here's a list of how the phrase "Word of God" is used in the Old Testament as follows: It’s found 49 times across 48 verses in the while Protestant Bible, but only four of those times are in the Old Testament. Three out of the four times it’s found in the English Old Testament...

Here's 15 little tips to help keep us from camping out in one extreme or the other. Hope this helps!

I've gone off the deep end. I've taken a sharp turn left, theologically and politically. I've compromised. I've been brainwashed by all those smart academics and all their degrees. You name it -- I've done it. Have a listen to know what I mean. Music credit: "Cute Avalanche" by RKVC - No Copyright (Thanks, RKVC!)

Is Christmas pagan? Is Santa Claus really "Satan's Claws?" How do we sort through all the stuff we've heard and read about this? Well, in the interest of balance, I try to disabuse us of the notion that there is a demonic boogeyman hiding under the Christmas Tree. Have a listen. I hope it helps. For more on this, check out “TOP TEN Christmas Traditions (& their Origin Stories)” by InspiringPhi...

In this second of a brief two-parter on individualism, I try to bring a little balance to the notion of individualism with regards to church life and community and Christ himself. I also provide a warning against running to the opposite extreme of a hard and fast " Extra Ecclesium nulla salus " stance concerning church attendance as it applies to final salvation for wayward sheep.  Music cred...

This is part one of a two-parter on how individualism has negatively affected Christianity. In case you get the wrong idea -- this podcast episode is not about me discouraging you from reading your Bible. I'm simply trying to get folks to read it with the right lens, from the right perspective.  Music credit: "Cute Avalanche" by RKVC - No Copyright (Thanks, RKVC!)

This is a short podcast to touch base and let you know that the Equipoise Podcast is preparing to return soon after an unexpected hiatus. Music credit: "Cute Avalanche" by RKVC - No Copyright (Thanks, RKVC!)

So -- Halloween is about here. What's a balanced way to view this holiday? Is it pagan? If it was, is it okay to celebrate now? Should Christians categorize this with "works of darkness?" Well, to be fair, I don't go too much into how Christians should respond -- that's on you -- but rather take a look at the history of this holiday to decipher whether or not it always was a "pagan" holiday or if...

An open letter to Almost Every Baptist College. It's not written to any college in particular, including my own Alma Mater. It's written to an institution known as AEBC; simple as that. :) Music credit: "Cute Avalanche" by RKVC - No Copyright (Thanks, RKVC!)

We made it to the end of this miniseries! Hooray! Music credit: "Cute Avalanche" by RKVC - No Copyright (Thanks, RKVC!)

After two weeks, I hereby release a really rough episode that doesn't flow very well but hopefully still makes some degree of sense. Music credit: "Cute Avalanche" by RKVC - No Copyright (Thanks, RKVC!)

Sorry -- I wasn't able to get my regularly scheduled podcast out on time this week, so I apparently chose to ramble, bloviate and chat for ten minutes. Sorry about this one. :) Music credit: "Cute Avalanche" by RKVC - No Copyright (Thanks, RKVC!)

In today's episode, I talk a bit about the Christian and how to consume alcohol in a way that is glorifying to God. I hope it is a blessing to you. Here's the link I mentioned in today's episode: https://observer.com/2012/04/bottoms-up-the-ballmer-peak-is-real-study-says/ Music credit: "Cute Avalanche" by RKVC - No Copyright (Thanks, RKVC!)

In today's episode, I try to build a balanced case for abstaining from alcohol. Despite Christianity's rich, intertwined history with alcohol, many Christians often choose to not drink for some legitimate reasons (while some are not-so-legitimate). Here are some of them. Here's the link I mentioned in today's episode: https://www.healthline.com/health/addictive-personality-traits#alleged-traits Mu...

In this episode, I trace the history of Christians and their relationship to alcohol. We find that the default position of Christians since the time of Christ (and Jews before Christ) has been well-summarized by Luther as follows:  “If you are tired and downhearted, take a drink; but this does not mean being a pig and doing nothing but gorging and swilling… You should be moderate and sober; t...

In this episode, I trace the origins of the belief that alcohol consumption is a sin. Did this start in AD 30 or so? Or earlier? Or much later? In short, I conclude that the alcohol-as-a-sin, abstinence-only movement is likely about 150-200 years old in total, making it a relatively novel innovation for such a widespread persuasion in America. Music credit: "Cute Avalanche" by RKVC - No Copyright...

In this episode, I attempt to begin wading into the waters of the alcohol discussion. It's going to take a while to address this issue, even briefly! So bear with me as we manage a brief introduction this week to the subject. I hope this helps.  Music credit: "Cute Avalanche" by RKVC - No Copyright (Thanks, RKVC!)

In this episode, I discuss the dangers of allowing entertainment to dictate what we consider to be valuable or good. I hope it helps bring balance to the issue of what I'm calling "The Postman Postulate." Music credit: "Cute Avalanche" by RKVC - No Copyright (Thanks, RKVC!)

In today's episode, we touch on the relationship between a pastor and the flock over which he is called. It's a little different than the format I'd like to be in on a regular basis, but it'll have to do for today. :) Music credit: "Cute Avalanche" by RKVC - No Copyright (Thanks, RKVC!)

This is my episode on how to dress for church. I could have done a three-parter on this one pretty easily, and maybe I should have, but here's my attempt to find a little balance in the discussion. Music credit: "Cute Avalanche" by RKVC - No Copyright (Thanks, RKVC!)