Governed by God

Today I posted my recording of a class I have been teaching at Hilltown Baptist Church titled God and Government. This week I provide an introduction into sphere sovereignty and look at the various responsibilities of each sphere. Individuals are ordained by God to exercise self-control and to govern their daily activities. Families are ordained to provide healthcare, welfare, and education to the...

(00:40) Abortion in the Ancient World - Today I finish Part Two of a series on abortion in ancient Greece and ancient Rome. One Jewish historian, Philo, describes in detail the practice of exposure and its affect. While men like Hippocrates and Philo attempted to speak out against abortion and infanticide, things change when Christianity arrives. The early Christian leader Tertullian argues that l...

(01:50) Law of the Day - "When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman’s husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine. But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for...

Today I finish the three-part series on theonomy by looking at what it means to legislate morality. All legislation, or law, is a declaration of value. The question is what we will value and how value will be determined. There is always a standard, but the debate is on what standard will be used. The law that God gave to Israel was not just for Israel but was meant to be an example to the nations....

00:30 - Defending Theonomy, Part 2: What does it mean for Jesus to reign over all powers and dominions? What is the Kingdom of God? What does it look like, where is it, and how do we enter? What does it mean for Jesus to have all authority on heaven and on earth? As always, if you have any civic/government related questions, feel free to email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com, and I will be happy to...

00:15 - Introduction to Theonomy. What is Theonomy and what is a basic definition of it? What does Deuteronomy 4:5-8 say and how does it apply to us today? 09:48 - On today's program I play and review several clips from a recent Pastors Talk episode produced by 9Marks. The hosts, Jonathan Leeman and Mark Dever, interview Carl Trueman about his most recent book, The Rise and Triumph of the Modern S...

On today's program I provide an audio recording of a recent article I wrote in defense of Sola Scriptura. I have several friends and family who are either Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox, so many of our discussions tend to revolve around the authority of Scripture. In the article, I first present a case for Sola Scriptura. Then I offer a few criticisms, specifically focused on the Roman Catholi...

On today's program I had the pleasure of interviewing Steve Moyer on the topic of behavioral economics. Steve is a certified financial planner and a chartered financial consultant, currently working for Mariner Wealth Advisors. He is also a Christian and has spent his career applying Christian principles to the realm of economics. We cover a lot of topics today, from behavioral finance to the role...

(00:36) Law of the Day: Numbers 5:5-10 – “When a man or woman commits any of the sins that people commit by breaking faith with the LORD, and that person realizes his guilt, he shall confess his sin that he has committed. And he shall make full restitution for his wrong, adding a fifth to it and giving it to him to whom he did the wrong..." (09:03) American Colonies and Lesser Magistrates: Today I...

(01:00) Law of the Day: Leviticus 5:1 – “If anyone sins in that he hears a public adjuration to testify, and though he is a witness, whether he has seen or come to know the matter, yet does not speak, he shall bear his iniquity.” (09:18) Idolatry Watch: Today I look at two recent clips, one from Vice-President Kamala Harris and the other from Secretary Pete Buttigieg. VP Harris presents a false go...

(01:40) Interview: Today I had the opportunity to interview Brad Lanning, who is running for the 1st Congressional District of Pennsylvania. We discuss his background as well as his reasons for running. We also consider some key topics, including vaccine tracking, minimum wage laws, the Paris Climate Agreement, and concerns about China. Finally, we end the conversation on the topic of human rights...

(00:50) Part I: Law of the Day (Unsolved Murders) - "If in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess someone is found slain, lying in the open country, and it is not known who killed him, then your elders and your judges shall come out, and they shall measure the distance to the surrounding cities..." (Deut. 21:1-9) (11:33) Part II: Today I consider another example of lesser magistr...

(01:15) Part I: Law of the Day - "You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD." (Lev. 19:18) (11:05) Part II: Today I look at some historical examples of lesser magistrates. First, I discuss Jehoiada from 2 Kings 11 and his resistance to Athaliah the usurper. Second, I consider the Roman Governor Pub...

(Originally aired in March, 2021) Part I: Law of the Day - "When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.” (L...

Part 1: Law of the Day (Matthew 22:15-22) - “Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes...

Part 1: Law of the Day (1 Corinthians 10:23-33) - “...But if someone says to you, 'This has been offered in sacrifice,' then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience...?" Part 2: Today I continue with the series on idolatry and civil disobedie...

Part 1: Law of the Day (Deuteronomy 7:17-26) - “...You shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them or take it for yourselves, lest you be ensnared by it, for it is an abomination to the LORD your God. And you shall not bring an abominable thing into your house and become devoted to destruction like it. You shall utterly detest and abhor it, for it is devoted to destruction." Part 2: Tod...

Part 1: Law of the Day (Deuteronomy 12:29-32) - “When the LORD your God cuts off before you the nations whom you go in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, take care that you be not ensnared to follow them, after they have been destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire about their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods?—that I also may do the same....

Part 1: Law of the Day (Exodus 23:13) - “Pay attention to all that I have said to you, and make no mention of the names of other gods, nor let it be heard on your lips.” Part 2: Today I begin another series on the topic of idolatry and civil disobedience. In this first episode, I define idolatry and discuss what it looks like. Passages like Romans 1 and Isaiah 44 are central to understanding the n...

Part 1: Law of the Day (Leviticus 25:1-7): “The LORD spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land that I give you, the land shall keep a Sabbath to the LORD...” Part 2: Today I continue with the topic of climate change and consider several passages from the Old Testament prophets. I also look at how secularism views climate chan...

Part 1: Law of the Day (Deuteronomy 22:6-7): “If you come across a bird’s nest in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs and the mother sitting on the young or on the eggs, you shall not take the mother with the young. You shall let the mother go, but the young you may take for yourself, that it may go well with you, and that you may live long.” Part 2: Today I introduce the topic of c...

In opening up Season 2, I sit down with fellow military veteran and co-worker, Gordon Beecroft, to discuss the topic of democracy. We also consider related topics such as nation-building, national security, and the situation in Afghanistan. As always, if you have any civic/government related questions, feel free to email me at thegbgpodcast@gmail.com, and I will be happy to address them on the pro...

Part 1: Discussion of 1 Samuel 8:10-20 Part 2: I finished Season 1 of the podcast by discussing and reviewing the article "Society of Satan" written by Rousas J. Rushdoony in 1979. I look at how the Society of Satan compares with the Kingdom of God. I also discuss both how the Tower of Babel depicts the Society of Satan and how it remains today. Useful Links: Society of Satan As always, if you hav...

Part 1: Law of the Day (Deuteronomy 12:1-9) Part 2 (14:00) - I interview Dr. Glenn Sunshine about his new book, Slaying Leviathan. We discuss what Leviathan is and how Christianity has, throughout history, worked to reduce the size, strength, and power of that monster. We touch on topics such as lesser magistrates, liberty versus license, and the role of Christians in society. Useful Links: Every...

Part 1: Law of the Day - “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.” (Lev. 18:22) Part 2 (26:00) - I review and critique a portion of the most recent Bucks County Commissioner Meeting from June 2, 2021. The first ten minutes of the meeting involved a proclamation in support of LGBTQ+ Pride month. This proclamation was received by three individuals from the LGBTQ+ communi...