Mortification of Spin

Has social justice taken a prominent stage over sharing the Gospel message? What is social justice anyway? A growing number of Christians are giving voice to social justice. Yet one needs to beware of the snare of liberal camp movements too. Perhaps a good historian could be helpful here. Maybe Carl can recommend one? Join the conversation with Carl, Aimee & Todd! We have a several copies of "Soci...

With Carl visiting his mum, Todd and Aimee can finally consider the very real beauty gap between the Brits and the Americans! However, when we pick up the conversation Todd and Aimee return to talk about how the church deals with a repentant sinner versus one that is unrepentant. We all know that sin has consequences, often the teenage girl who gets pregnant or a divorced individual knows this bes...

Today’s special guest Rosaria Butterfield was once a bold advocate for the LGBTQ community. Since then, she has come to Christ and married an Evangelical pastor, with whom she has had several children. She has authored two marvelous books about this "unlikely conversion" and one on hospitality. Why hospitality, one might ask. Because it was through Christian hospitality, God, slowly but surely, di...

The church has a silent killer, much like when carbon monoxide creeps into your house and you don’t even know it. Why are people coming to your church? Do they want to hear the Bible preached or do they want something more superficial? Is the purpose of the church to meet your individual felt needs? The church is called to provide an ordinary means of grace - those things which it ought to be emph...

Which is more beautiful?: Bach or Beyonce? Symmetry or asymmetry? Bald or Blonde? Carl or Todd? By natural design, beauty appeals to us and we seek it out daily whether it's music, art, fashion, or romance. Under sin's curse, we attune our minds to wrong perspectives and standards and make more of what God counts as less. The battle with beauty is something everyone has to fight. So how does the C...

While Carl soaked in Italian rays, he treaded the town in his English footgear (black socks and open-toed sandals, to be exact), pondering the differences Protestants have with the Pope and his posse. Over the years, we've hosted numerous guests from the Roman Catholic persuasion on the show so it's no surprise folks have been wondering: on which doctrines do we agree, and on which must we disagre...

Do children belong in Sunday morning worship? Is it worth the potential tantrums in the pew? We have Jason Helopolous on the line to help us answer this parental conundrum. Jason is Associate Pastor at University Reformed Church in East Lansing Michigan. He's also an author, husband and father. As that last role, Jason can sympathize with parents of young children. So when are children "old enough...

Should Evangelicals "celebrate" Martin Luther? With this year marking the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, Luther is on the brain! His life and legacy should be an inspiration to us all - a man God significantly used in the birth of the Protestant Church. But, should we make a big fuss over him every year? Before you buy into the pub-crawl and raise a pint of malty, Martin Luther-y beverage,...

With us today is Fran Maier, "the most interesting man in the world" … according to Carl Trueman. And here we thought Carl assumed that title (per his own nomination!). Fran, once a screenwriter for Warner Brothers, not only has an impressive resume but a unique perspective on American culture having been submerged in LA's superficiality. This conservative Catholic has never looked back and now se...

Scripture sheds much light on the topic of forgiveness. But what if someone doesn't seek our forgiveness or is unrepentant? Certainly we have all, at some point or another, asked that question and likely wrestled with the answer. But perhaps there's other questions we might also ask: Should we not imitate the Lord's own forgiveness towards us? Are we compelled to forgive others who offend our name...

John Henry Crosby is a man wearing many hats: he is the President and Founder of the Hildebrand Project; he's a translator, critic, and writer. So who is Hildebrand? He was a stalwart who's voice and writings were compelled by exposing the evil he saw in Hitler and his Nazis regime. Described as a public traitor, Hildebrand was one of the first to raise red flags about the Third Reich and God sust...

The Psalms offer the Christian a unique plethora of language and capture a wide array of human emotion unlike any other book in the Bible. For the distressed and despairing, Psalms help us find words we otherwise counted as lost - what a gift to our weary souls! Please join Carl, Aimee & Todd as they discuss their own experiences wading through the Psalms seeking (and finding!) solace and strength...

Child abuse - it's heinous, it's a crime, it's a shame, and it's a sin. Unfortunately, it's quite pervasive in the Church which is often a soft target. Why is that, and what can we do to guard our flock more preventatively instead of reactively? We certainly need to educate our children and train our nursery workers, but how do we impart discernment while not making them critical of everyone. We a...

Which MOS host was promised to be made a cardinal by the Archbishop Chaput of Philadelphia if he becomes the next Pope? Aside from an empty promise, the Archbishop shares profound insights into the current Sexual Revolution from the Catholic perspective, and from his unique view point as someone committed to celibacy. Archbishop Chaput is also an author of a book our hosts would highly recommend:...

What's on the rail for the lizard? … To answer that important question, we have Wendy Alsup on the show. She's a Mathematics professor at Community College in South Carolina, a mom, and the author of Is the Bible Good for Women?: Seeking Clarity and Confidence Through a Jesus-Centered Understanding of Scripture. Wendy is burdened for women to appreciate and know the Bible. So beyond talking lizard...

"There may be something there that wasn't there before" … sings the cast of Beauty and the Beast at a pivotal moment in the Disney Classic. Well, days away from its appearance as a live-action film, those words couldn't ring more true! There is something there that wasn't there before: a homosexual character! It's got a lot of people talking since the director puffs the film as the first Disney mo...

When, why, and how should you leave a church? Is it possible to do it graciously and gratefully, or are you just another church-shopping opportunist looking for what's on fleek? Interestingly, leaving a church is somewhat a modern dilemma. It's exponentially more possible with the increase of technology. However, one universal truth stands the test of time: there is no perfect church anywhere. Lis...

Suicide is a troubling topic to examine - delicate and disturbing, one must speak carefully about it, especially with those left in its confusing wake. Common questions asked are: Is suicide an unforgivable sin? Could a true Believer take their own life? As a pastor, should I address suicide at the funeral? Carl, Aimee, Todd (…and Thomas Aquinas!), avoid pat answers and offer helpful ways of think...

We're getting group therapy today so we called on the best of the best: David Powlison, Director of Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation, Senior Editor of the Journal of Biblical Counseling, and beloved counseling professor at Westminster Theological Seminary. We are delighted Todd is finally getting the help he needs, but we do have some other ground to cover. What is Biblical Counseling...

While Carl's out getting hair plugs, Aimee and Todd steal the show to talk about the Christian term: Quiet Time. What is it exactly - let's talk about the why and how! As thinking people, we should critically consider the theology behind even our daily devotions, as our habits may be founded on false or even contrary doctrine. There's nothing quiet about today's discussion, though more pleasant wi...

It's round two of the preaching conference and the conversation's heating up. As questions crop up from the crowd we have the usual off-the-wall inquiries but most are measured and helpful. It's yet another conversation where we contemplate the call of the minister, the effects of ministry on everyone's life, and the importance of seeking those more seasoned in the pulpit. No matter if you're a mi...

There's a blossoming author in our midst today and she's taking the Spin by storm! While riding the coattails of our most senior host's paper repoitroure, she inspires our "other" host to dream big. (He's making great progress with his coloring books, by the way). Yes, Aimee Byrd is the women of the hour and she's hit her stride, forging a path for both church officers and women to work together i...

Once again, we haunt the halls of Van Til as it's time for the annual Preaching Conference at Westminster Theological Seminary. Much to our delight (and surprise!), they've invited us back. However, we know better than to think we're the hot commodity when sharing the stage with the likes of Rev. David Helm. Rev. Helm is founding pastor of Hyde Park congregation of Holy Trinity Church in Chicago,...

You should confess all your lustful thoughts to your spouse...Is this a good idea? Unfortunately, this advice is being encouraged (and even taken!) within the evangelical world and Carl, Aimee & Todd discuss their concerns, teasing out the collateral damage such confessionals could cause. The whole crew agrees: There's good reason why we can’t read each other’s minds! Should we leave every idle th...

We have Dr. Timothy Witmer with us today, and what a story he has to tell! Dr. Witmer is an author and Westminster Theological Seminary professor of Practical Theology. He's also a "Moses" figure for leading St. Stephen Reformed Church, a once United Church of Christ church, to the PCA (or "Promised Land", though Carl & Aimee may beg to differ with Todd on that!). Being a preacher and a teacher of...