God, Law & Liberty Podcast

This week David looks at a practical way in which Protestantism’s original promise gave way to a “lostness” that has failed the American people. Its operative principle - coram deo -  is almost forgotten now, especially when it comes to politics. And David explains why and how that lapse changed the Free Exercise Clause away from what Protestants once understood it to mean....

What in Scripture about who God is might be learned from the national election results, and what  that might mean going forward for those who profess the name of Jesus Christ? Support the show: https://www.factennessee.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode, David explains why he thinks Abraham Kuyper, the 19th and early 20th century theologian who became Prime Minister of the Netherlands, would say that Calvinists, in particular, and Protestants, in general, have largely failed Americans in the sphere of politics and failed those who would be our legal and public policy advocates. Thankfully, Protestants can't shoot the real messe...

In today's episode, David explains how he misread and applied Proverbs 13:24 (KJV) -- “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people -- and how Jesus Christ was a stumbling block to a righteous view of law during much of his career in legal and political advocacy. Support the show: https://www.factennessee.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This short episode passes on what David wrote coming out of his study and prayer time this morning. It is for any who might find fear, worry, or doubt creeping into their thinking about something — anything, really. Maybe even the outcome of the upcoming elections? He see lots of that in the Tennessee part of the so-called Bible-belt right now. It is based, ironically, on the beauty of Chris...

Today David explains why law, rightly understood, becomes a beautiful form of art when rightly applied to politics, law, and public policy advocacy. He also shows how Christians have been taken captive by what he calls the "dark arts" of law. Which one will you be taking into the voting booth? Support the show: https://www.factennessee.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information...

Today's episode has two parts. In the first, David uses Abraham Kuyper's description of the four worldview that can apply to politics and law and David summarizes the fifth, nihilism. In the second part, David explains the nature of the worldview capitulation being made by many Catholics and Evangelicals in law and public policy. It not only explains why he expects little "gospel fruitfulness" to...

With mid-term elections on the horizon, David provides a sobering assessment of his 12 years as a state senator and 18 years as a pro-family lobbyist in answer to two haunting questions drawn from Scripture and the writings of John Owen, Abraham Kuyper, and John Owen. His answer looks at the glory of Christ and its relation to how Christians think about the future of politics, public policy, and l...

Today is a short, hopefully helpful bridge between Tuesday's episode and the one Saturday pertaining to a politics for the glory of Christ. David explains what every Christians knows about the problem of socialism that most economists and politicians don't. Support the show: https://www.factennessee.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's limited episode, David uses a fundraising letter from a national Christian public policy and political advocacy organization to help us consider whether its proposed work toward stopping the rise of socialism will be fruitful or unfruitful. Support the show: https://www.factennessee.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today David explains the foundational beliefs drawn from Scripture  and expounded by 17th century Puritan John Owen that re-sculptured his political imagination from one of making proverbial "mud pies in the slums" (C.S. Lewis) to something beyond what he had ever thought to ask for or think of from Christ. Support the show: https://www.factennessee.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for...

Today David provides “gospel grounds” upon which he believes the  imagination of Christians - their vision - for legal and public policy advocacy might be expanded beyond doing politics the way the world does but only better because “we believe in Jesus.” You won’t want to miss what’s in his modernized chapter about a particular glory of Christ in John Owen...

Today David dives into insights he gained from his interview with Jason Farley. He applies the assessments Farley made of today's Christian mind to the sphere of political and legal advocacy. Most importantly, David offers a way forward for expanding the Christian political imagination beyond just doing business-as-usual better than the other side. Support the show: https://www.factennessee.org/do...

Today's episode continues where David's interview with Jason Farley left off last week. The audio picks up with a look at SCOTUSs abortion decisions and flows into a look at the Court’s decision in 2015 about state marriage licensing statutes, Obergefell v. Hodges . It's an eye-opening look at the church's complicity in the culture we have. Support the show: https://www.factennessee.org/dona...

Today’s episode is the first part of an interview with Jason Farley (regular on Knox Unplugged) on law and its influence or effect on forming or transforming a culture. The discussion raises a serious question: Is the way some Christian leaders think about and speak into the sphere of politics and legislation Christian or something else? Don't miss this one. (The second part of the interview...

This short episode is very important to understanding a video clip of apologist William Lane Craig circulating on social media in which he says he is unable to affirm or deny the Nicene Creed (325 A.D.) about the Son of God being begotten of the Father. His agnosticism on this subject drives home the importance of the metaphysical considerations that have passed from the evangelical mind. It also...

Today, David explains something in his first book on politics (published in 2013) that needs fixing. He goes public with the reason, because the thinking he once held to seems prominent among many Christians today. David walks us through a consideration of whether a sound knowledge of the Holy Spirit's essential work and the nature of sin are to be found in Christian political rhetoric and engagem...

Today David takes a sobering look at what is revealed when the wisdom Christ is made unto us by God is applied to the way many Christians today think of politics. He explains why a Christian worldview looks weak when applied in this sphere and discusses from the Word and personal experience the sin Christians are tempted to as a result. Might it reveal the sin of outright unbelief in Christ? Suppo...

Today David offers a second way in which a number of Christians seem to have lost touch with Christ when it comes to politics, law, and public policy. It shocked the Pharisees of old, and it will probably shock today's political pharisees. Find out what it is. Support the show: https://www.factennessee.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is there evidence that a number of Christian political candidates (Republican mostly) and a number of the Christians who support them have, in Abraham Kuyper's words, "lost touch with Christ"? Would the Apostle Paul say to them, "Oh foolish Christians, who has bewitched you?" Today David looks at how our view of justification and sanctification affects our view of politics and what it can accompli...

The question headlining today’s topic comes from Abraham Kuyper’s opening remarks at the First Christian Social Conference convened in the Netherlands in 1891. The news this week makes it clear that our nation is facing the same "social question" addressed by him at that conference: Is socialism or communism a better way to order our social relations in regard to material possessions?...

Today, David offers his final reflection on our nation’s 250th anniversary by taking a look at what happened to "created equal" on the way to the 21st Century. He uses the insights from two speeches given by Abraham Kuyper at the turn of the 19th century to offer a corrective he believes the church must make if there are going to be another 250 years under our original written Constitution....

Today David traces the meaning of the terms "state" and "republic" prior to 1776 through the constitutional revolutions throughout Europe in 1848 to what republic means now in light of the No Kings protest and use of the term "democratic republic." The change in meaning is very revealing, telling Christians what must change in politics, law, and the church. Support the show: https://www.factenness...

Today's episode compares what is said in the Declaration of Independence about how civil governments are "instituted" and for what purpose to what was said on those subjects by John Locke in the late 17th century and Abraham Kuyper at the end of the 19th century. It also offers a vision for how Christians today can be, as William Bradford said, "stepping stones" for continuing the work the Pilgrim...

Today David gives his answer to whether the following statement in the Declaration of Independence is more influenced by enlightenment hubris than sound Christian theology: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights." The difference between the one and the other is manifest in a new version...