Critical Issues Commentary Radio

Led by the Spirit, Part 2 - What Does it Mean to be Led by the Spirit, presented by Bob DeWaay and Jessica Kramasz. We discuss Romans 8:14 and show that all Christians are led by the Spirit, not just "elite" Christians who are better at hearing God's voice. To be led by the Spirit is to be brought along by Him, according to God's eternal purpose. (duration 00:29:04) Click here to play

Led by the Spirit, Part 1 - Who Are the Sons of God?, presented by Bob DeWaay and Jessica Kramasz. One phrase that is often misused by NAR teachers is "led by the Spirit." We examine Romans 8:1-14 and show that all true believers are the sons of God. Those who are led by the flesh are unbelievers, while the redeemed of God are led by the Spirit. (duration 00:29:31) Click here to play

John Mark Comer: Is More Bible Study a Losing Strategy? - A Critique of Practicing the Way, presented by Barb Grecth and Bob DeWaay. John Mark Comer claims that "more Bible study" is a losing strategy for spiritual growth. Bob DeWaay contrasts spiritual formation with biblical sanctification, showing how God transforms believers through His powerful Word, the means of grace, and faith in His promi...

Grace Through Faith vs. Self-Effort Spiritual Formation - A Critique of Practicing the Way, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. Bob DeWaay examines John Mark Comer's view of self-effort in spiritual formation and contrasts it with Colossians 1:36. Learn why Paul taught that believers bear fruit through God's grace received by faith, not through human striving. (duration 00:21:25) Click here t...

Reject the "Renaissance" of Spiritual Formation - A Critique of Practicing the Way, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. John Mark Comer credits Richard Foster with launching a "renaissance" of spiritual formation in Protestantism. Bob DeWaay warns this movement replaces confidence in Scripture with mystical practices and calls believers to approach God through Christ alone. (duration 00:22:23...

The Apostasy of Spiritual Formation - A Critique of Practicing the Way, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. Spiritual formation is designed for those who don't know Christ. This is Christianity in name only. Using verses from Hebrews, Bob warns that turning from the promises of God given to all believers and going to spiritual formation leads to apostasy. (duration 00:22:40) Click here to pla...

A Spiritual Journey for the Unconverted - A Critique of Practicing the Way, presented by Barb Gretch and Bob DeWaay. We show that spiritual formation is not a biblical category. We address the spiritual process prescribed by Fuller Seminary and cited in Comer's book. It is appealing to religious consumers but fails to give them what they most need the gospel. (duration 00:22:15) Click here to play

John Mark Comer and the Mystical Union Error - A Critique of Practicing the Way, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. Is being "in Christ" the same as panentheism? Bob DeWaay explains that union with God is legal, not ontological. Believers are declared righteous through faith, not merged with God's essence. We also critique Comer's view of union with the Trinity. (duration 00:23:20) Click her...

The Panentheistic Gospel of Contemporary Theological - A Critique of Practicing the Way, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. We reveal and reject the panentheistic gospel of John Mark Comer, which is typical of progressive, liberal theologians today. Panentheism is the belief that God is in everything. We defend the true gospel, including the substitutionary atonement. (duration 00:23:23) Cli...

An Inward Journey to Utter Deception - A Critique of Practicing the Way, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. Comer claims there is an inward journey that is key to Christian spirituality and finding our "true self." This is contrary to the biblical doctrine of the means of grace and the finished work of Christ. We don't look inward - we look to Christ. (duration 00:23:56) Click here to play

Saints and Surrender: What the Bible Really Says - A Critique of Practicing the Way, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. A common error among mystics and the Roman Catholic Church is an unbiblical definition of "saint." Using Hebrews 10:10-14, we show that a saint is any born-again believer. We also challenge "total surrender," noting that 2 Peter 1:1-4 corrects this idea. (duration 00:23:27)...

Conversion, Not Spiritual Formation: A Critique of Practicing the Way, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. In this episode we examine John Mark Comers' claim that, "Formation into the image of Jesus is a long, slow process, not a one-time event." Bob DeWaay rejects this and clearly defends the biblical position that we are a new creation and secure in Christ the moment we are born again, whic...

An Invasion of Eastern Religion - A Critique of Practicing the Way, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. Comer's version of spiritual formation is an invasion of eastern religion sweeping through churches today. Comer claims that spiritual formation leads us to our truest self. Bob rejects this and shows that our greatest need is to be born again. (duration 00:23:29) Click here to play

The Hopelessness of Spiritual Formation - A Critique of Practicing the Way, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. We compare spiritual formation with the biblical doctrine of sanctification. The beginning point of Comer's version of spiritual formation is the mother's womb (in Adam); the beginning point of true sanctification is supernatural regeneration (in Christ). (duration 00:23:31) Click h...

Replacing Sanctification with Unbiblical Spiritual Formation - A Critique of Practicing the Way, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. Comer promotes unbiblical spiritual formation, again citing Catholic monks rather than Scripture. Bob explains why this is unbiblical and points us to many Scriptures that remind us of the finished work of Christ. All who are born of God are saints. (duration 00...

Evangelicals Taken Captive by Roman Catholic Mysticism - A Critique of Practicing the Way, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. Roman Catholic monastic mysticism is taking evangelicals captive through the teachings of John Mark Comer and Rod Dreher. Both men promote the teachings of the mystic "Saint" Benedict. We must reject the darkness of monasticism and stand firm in our faith. (duration 0...

A Misdiagnosis of Hurry - A Critique of Practicing the Way, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. John Mark Comer makes the claim that you must ruthlessly eliminate hurryfrom your life. Rather than warning about hurry, Scripture warns about laziness. Being busy and hardworking is not a sin. (duration 00:23:00) Click here to play

Jesus is Unique - A Critique of Practicing the Way, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. Comer presents Jesus as a mystical moral role model. The Gospels show us that Jesus is unique. He is the sinless Savior, not a role model for mystics. We reject Comer's claim that solitude is vital to the Christian life. What we need is the means of grace. (duration 00:24:38) Click here to play

Defending the Meaning of the Lord's Prayer - A Critique of Practicing the Way, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. In this episode we continue to discuss John Mark Comer's misuse of Matthew 5:5-6. Comer claims that we need to learn to hide - to find a secret place - to pray. We show that Jesus was warning about hypocrisy, not prescribing a special location to pray. (duration 00:24:54) Click h...

The Danger of Deserting the Gospel: Galatians 1:6-10, Part 3, presented by Bob DeWaay. Bob explains the concepts of the outer call of the gospel compared to the inner call, God's means of sanctification, and the fact that there is only one gospel. We begin the Christian life by grace through, and that is how God sanctifies us as well. (duration 00:21:26) Click here to play

The Danger of Deserting the Gospel: Galatians 1:6-10, Part 2, presented by Bob DeWaay. Bob exposes the dangers of deserting the gospel. He rejects the common phrase "the missionary is the message." Only the true gospel can save. The apostle Paul pronounces condemnation on anyone who proclaims a different gospel, no matter how kind they seem. (duration 00:25:13) Click here to play

The Danger of Deserting the Gospel: Galatians 1:6-10, Part 1, presented by Bob DeWaay. Paul considers the Galatians brothers through the gospel but sees the imminent danger of apostasy characterized by the wilderness generation who deserted God for the golden calf. Bob shows the grammatical links to that episode and the irony involved. (duration 00:21:47) Click here to play

The Gospel of Grace: Galatians 1:1-5, Part 3, presented by Bob DeWaay. Believers are joined together in a gospel family as brothers and sisters in Christ. We must love fellow believers who have been purchased by the blood of Christ. We are rescued from sin, and the evil of the wicked age we live in through the gospel. (duration 00:26:02) Click here to play

The Gospel of Grace: Galatians 1:1-5, Part 2, presented by Bob DeWaay. Bob DeWaay shows that Paul's greeting, grace and peace, describes the cause of salvation (grace) and the result (peace). These concepts are found in the Old Testament as well. He then shows the importance of Christ's voluntary substitutionary atonement. (duration 00:19:13) Click here to play