Mortification of Spin

Today, Carl and Todd engage in a thoughtful conversation about the importance of devotional reading in the Christian life, sharing their personal experiences and recommending various devotional books that have enriched their spiritual journeys.  Devotional reading can be tremendously encouraging and helpful for your daily walk with Christ. – Todd Pruitt From the Psalms to the writings of Charles S...

Kevin DeYoung is back on Mortification of Spin, this time to discuss his new book, Church History for Everyone, Volume 1, with Todd and Carl. Together, the three amigos delve into the importance of understanding Church history, exploring its relevance to modern Christianity, and the rich narratives that shape our faith.  This is our family history. It's important to know our family history. –Kevin...

In this episode of Mortification of Spin, Todd and Carl welcome back Neil Shenvi and Patrick Sawyer to discuss their new book, Post Woke: Asserting a Biblical Vision of Race, Gender, and Sexuality. A follow up to their earlier book, Critical Dilemma, Neil and Pat wrote Post Woke to help Christians understand how ideas drawn from critical theory have shaped cultural conversations and practices that...

Carl and Todd welcome Chris Castaldo back to the podcast to shed some light on the apparent trend of young evangelicals converting to Roman Catholicism. Chris, lead pastor of New Covenant Church in Naperville, Illinois, and author of Why Do Protestants Convert?, has some excellent insights into this movement. Together they explore the factors influencing this shift, including the appeal of liturgy...

A new form of relationship estrangement is afoot. Whereas, in the past, relationships tended to rupture over issues like abuse, today, people are increasingly estranged because of politics. On today’s episode of Mortification of Spin, Carl and Todd engage in a thought-provoking discussion with author Noelle Mering about her book, No Contact: How a Seductive Ideology Broke Families and Friendships...

Western culture impatiently demands practical results and therapeutic comfort. Many within the church have even adopted this mindset, falsely believing that God is most important when he is tending to our earthly needs. How can we help churches resist this pragmatic approach and instead embrace the mystery, awe, and reverence of our great God?  Today, the dynamic duo discusses Carl’s latest book,...

Today, Todd and Carl welcome back theology professor N. Gray Sutanto to the podcast. They discuss the profound contributions of Herman Bavinck, drawing on the new book, The Essential Herman Bavinck: A Reader and Commentary, to which Gray contributed. The conversation delves into Bavinck's legacy, his approach to engaging with contemporary issues, and the relevance of his theological insights in to...

Today, our listeners ask the questions, and our fearless hosts, Carl and Todd, have the answers. From the debate on church security measures to the topic of compassion fatigue among pastors, they tackle a variety of subjects that resonate with our audience. They even engage in a humorous discussion about the implications of discovering alien life and its potential impact on faith. Join Carl and To...

Carl and Todd engage in a heartfelt conversation with Leigh Fitzpatrick Snead, author of Infertile but Fruitful: Finding Fulfillment When You Can't Conceive. Leigh shares her personal journey through infertility and adoption, offering insights into the emotional struggles faced by couples yearning for children. Knowing that those suffering from infertility too often do so in silence, isolation, an...

Some fight to recover Christian culture; others abandon any hope of transforming culture. Both mindsets are at odds with the early church. The apostles weren't seeking to convert cultures but people, because God's Word cultivates its own culture--the culture of the Word. When the Word is sown, the culture is grown.  Carl and Todd sit down with returning guests, Harold Senkbeil and Lucas Woodford,...

In this thought-provoking episode of Mortification of Spin, hosts Todd and Carl engage in a critical conversation about Israel, the Jewish people, and the rising tide of anti-Semitism. They explore the historical context of anti-Semitic sentiments, the troubling connections to certain movements, and the theological perspectives surrounding the future of the Jewish people as indicated in Scripture....

Todd and Carl engage in a thought-provoking discussion with Brian Cosby, pastor, author, and YouTube influencer, about the concept of biblical masculinity. They explore the importance of the roles of men in today's society, addressing the challenges and crises facing young men as they seek to understand their identity and responsibilities.  The more I thought about it…really distilling down those...

Carl and Todd engage in a lively discussion today with returning guest Michael Morales, a professor of Biblical Studies at Greenville Theological Seminary. They delve into the concept of God's glory, drawing from Donnie Berry’s book, The Earth Will Be Filled: A Biblical Theology of the Glory of God, which was edited by Michael. According to Donnie Berry, glory refers to all the things the triune G...

Today, Carl and Todd engage in a thought-provoking discussion about the difficult issue of church discipline. They explore the historical context of church discipline, its necessity for maintaining the integrity of the church, and the challenges pastors face in implementing it. With personal anecdotes and theological insights, they shed light on how discipline serves not only the church community...

Carl and Todd continue their engaging conversation about Carl's new book, The Desecration of Man: How the Rejection of God Degrades Our Humanity. Today, they delve into the implications of modernity on human dignity, exploring the tension between freedom and belonging, and the significance of being made in the image of God. The discussion also addresses contemporary issues surrounding reproductive...

Carl has come out with yet another book, and today, he and Todd sit down for Part 1 of a two part discussion about The Desecration of Man: How the Rejection of God Degrades Our Humanity. In The Desecration of Man, Carl argues that modern man’s crisis of meaning stems from a rejection of a simple fact—that he was made in the image of God.  The revolutions of modernity have proved in the long run to...

Carl and Todd welcome philosopher J. Budziszewski to discuss his insightful new book, The Pandemic of Lunacy: How to Think Clearly When Everyone Around You Seems Crazy. They delve into the current societal confusion surrounding morality, ethics, and identity, exploring the philosophical underpinnings of these issues.  The confusion in the society has caused us to dig deeper and to think more thoro...

In this episode of Mortification of Spin, Carl and Todd welcome Ryan Anderson, president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, to discuss the critical topic of religious freedom in America. As the nation grapples with challenges to this fundamental right, they delve into its historical context, the implications of recent political climates, and the intersection of religious liberty with contempo...

Todd and Carl engage in an interesting discussion about the church calendar and its role in the Reformed Protestant tradition. They explore the historical context of the church calendar, its significance, and the nuances of its acceptance among different denominations.  I think observation of the church calendar should be a matter of, should we say, congregational conscience. My own view on it has...

Carl and Todd are a bit giddy as they talk to astronaut Jeffrey Williams, the subject of the new biography, Zero Gravity, by Chris Anderson. Spending 534 days in space across four missions, Jeff not only broke records but captured stunning images of Earth—offering a powerful perspective on God’s handiwork in the universe and His love for humanity revealed in Christ. From the challenges of living i...

Carl and Todd sit down with Devan Patel to discuss the hot topic of artificial intelligence. A legal and political strategist in Washington, D.C., an adjunct professor of law at Notre Dame Law School, and the senior advisor of public policy and ethics at the American Security Fund, Devan advises on religious and scholarly engagement to ensure that AI development and use are ethical, human-centric,...

Based on the current state of the church and the challenges faced by congregations today, many Christians find themselves asking, "When should I consider leaving my church?" Or, "When does my church need to leave the denomination?" Carl and Todd discuss these topics today, touching on reasons an individual should (or should not) consider leaving a church, as well as the implications of leaving a d...

Carl and Todd are pleased to welcome returning guest, Robert Letham, to the podcast to discuss his new book, The Eternal Son. The Eternal Son is the second of a planned trilogy on the Father, Son, and Spirit that will complement Letham’s prizewinning book, The Holy Trinity. The conversation delves into the critical issues surrounding Christology and the importance of understanding the doctrine of...

Todd and Carl engage in a lively discussion about the cultural influences shaping evangelicalism today. They explore the phenomenon of 'Gig Eva,' a term coined by Carl in an article he recently wrote, to describe the new landscape of evangelical influence that has shifted from traditional conference settings to the informal and often chaotic realm of social media. The conversation touches on the i...

Today, Todd is joined by Timothy Winterstein, pastor and author of the new book, Worshiped & Glorified: A Study of the Nicene Creed. Celebrating its 1700th anniversary this year, the summary of Christian faith known as the Nicene Creed has been a fixture in the church for centuries and is still recited in worship to this day. Todd and Timothy explore the significance of creeds in the Christian...