Apologetics Profile

Jesus has equipped each of us with spiritual gifts and abilities to reach others with the Gospel. We are created for good works which God prepared beforehand that we may walk in them. But we are called to go to those who do not know Jesus Christ as Lord, whether that's foreign country, a local coffee shop, the workplace, or on a street corner. 

Our guest this week on Apologetics Profile is Christian urban apologist, YouTuber and author, Vocab Malone, whose ministry is on urban street corners. He shares valuable insights about a growing cultic movement known as Hebrew Israelism. Vocab has written a book on the subject and engages different Hebrew Israelism groups in larger urban areas with the truth of the Gospel.

Vocab Malone holds a Master’s from Phoenix Seminary and has engaged in post-grad work at both Talbot School of Theology and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Vocab’s ministry focus is urban contextualized apologetics. He hosts a livestream show on YouTube and across various social media platforms called The Street Apologist (https://www.youtube.com/c/VocabMalone). 

Vocab has participated in many public debates and dialogues with Muslims, atheists, Kemetics, the Eastern Orthodox, and especially “Hebrew Israelites”. He’s the author of the book Barack Obama vs The Black Hebrew Israelites: Introduction to the History & Beliefs of 1West Hebrew Israelism (https://uhop.me/VocabMalone) and a contributing author to Our God is Triune: Essays in Biblical Theology, and a freelance contributor for a few apologetics print publications. Vocab enjoys geek culture and Christian hip hop. He resides in downtown Phoenix, Arizona.

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Rich Day's earlier Apologetics Profile podcast on Black Hebrew Israelites: watchman.org/BlackHebrewPodcast

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Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

Shortly after the founder of the Worldwide Church of God, Herbert W. Armstrong died in 1986, the organization, under the new leadership of Joseph Tkach, Sr., began a remarkable transformation. They slowly jettisoned the cultic and erroneous doctrines of Armstrong and began reexamining the nature of God. By so doing, they began doing away with false doctrine and legalistic restrictions. Eventually they replaced the unique doctrines of "Armstrongism" with traditional Christian beliefs including the Trinity doctrine and salvation by grace through faith alone. Subsequently, under the leadership of Joseph Tkach, Jr. the church joined the National Association of Evangelicals and changed their name to Grace Communion International.

On part two of president of Watchman Fellowship James Walker's discussion with former Worldwide Church of God member Mark Tabladillo, you will hear more of the details of Mark's story as he witnessed firsthand some of the unprecedented changes to the organization during his membership.

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Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

What was the Worldwide Church of God? Who founded it? What happened to it? 

On the next two episodes of Apologetics Profile president of Watchman Fellowship James K. Walker talks with a former member of the Worldwide Church of God, Mark Tabladillo. Mark shares with James a remarkable story of the improbable transformation of Herbert W. Armstrong's heretical sect into an evangelical denomination.

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Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

Racism has been a tragic aspect of our nation's history. But did you know that the Book of Mormon considers dark skin to be a curse? In the Book of Mormon, sections such as Mormon 5:15; 1 Nephi 12:23; 2 Nephi 5:21-22; Alma 3:6; and 2 Nephi 30:6, are clear in what they teach. Dark skin is "loathsome" whereas white or light-skin is "delightsome" and a sign of God's favor. The 1830 version of the Book of Mormon used to read "white and delightsome" (a curious explanation from the LDS Church) but modern versions now say "pure and delightsome." Up until 1978, blacks were not allowed to enter LDS temples or be ordained to the LDS priesthood. But what is the current position of the LDS Church today about racism and dark skin? Is dark skin still a curse?  

On part three of our discussion with former Mormon and the great-great granddaughter of Brigham Young, the church's second President and Prophet, James Walker discusses the difficult issue of racism and dark skin in LDS doctrines and what it means for the church today. We will also be featuring a question-and-answer session with our missionary team on this episode you won't want to miss. 

Related Links: Get the rest of the story including some of our most popular podcasts on Mormonism, access to some of our key LDS articles and our free, 4-page Watchman Fellowship Profile on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormonism):

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Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

In the Book of Mormon, Moroni chapter ten verse 32 says "Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ..." 

The words sound familiar, but do Moroni's references to "grace" and "Christ" really speak of the same grace and of the same Christ found in the New Testament? No. Note that Moroni says God's grace is only sufficient if you deny yourself of all ungodliness first. But how is that to be done? According to Romans 7, not even the Apostle Paul could do that! 

But according to Moroni, you must deny yourself of all ungodliness before Christ bestows sufficent grace upon you. Then and only then does God's grace "kick in." The second book of Nephi, chapter 25, verse 23 says for example that "it is by grace we are saved" however grace comes only "after all we can do." 

Clearly this is not in accordance with what the New Testament teaches. It is indeed by grace we are saved, but not by works of our own. We can't simply do stuff in church to make ourselves right with God. We cannot earn our salvation. "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9, NASB). 

On part two of our conversation with former LDS Sandra Tanner, we explore in more detail the LDS concept of grace, works, and salvation. We also discuss the problematic LDS scripture known as the Book of Abraham.

Related Links: Get the rest of the story including some of our most popular podcasts on Mormonism, access to some of our key LDS articles and our free, 4-page Watchman Fellowship Profile on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormonism):

Additional Resources

FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.

PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (over 600 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: watchman.org/notebook.

SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.

Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

Our very special guest for the next three episodes of Apologetics Profile is Sandra Tanner, former Mormon and the great-great granddaughter of LDS Prophet Brigham Young. Sandra sits down with Watchman Fellowship President James Walker to discuss her and her late husband Jerald's journey out of the LDS church in her new biography Lighthouse - Jerald and Sandra Tanner Despised and Beloved Critics of Mormonism by Ronald V. Huggins.

Sandra was kind and gracious enough to come and speak with our mission team that traveled to Utah this past July to share the gospel with members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The full interview was recorded live with our team and part three will feature a question-and-answer session with our missionaries and Sandra.  Here on part one, Sandra describes how she as a Mormon boasted of being related to Brigham Young but had never read any of his most famous sermons. 

Related Links: Get the rest of the story including some of our most popular podcasts on Mormonism, access to some of our key LDS articles and our free, 4-page Watchman Fellowship Profile on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormonism):

Additional Resources

FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.

PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (over 600 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: watchman.org/notebook.

SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.

Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

NASA recently displayed several breathtaking new images taken by the recently launched James Webb Space Telescope. But by the time you have seen the pictures and have read a little something about the science behind the stunning cosmic entities, the information has been filtered multiple times. It is filtered first by the enormous industrial-technical conglomerate of NASA itself, then by the scientists and engineers who present the information, then by members of the media and press, then by the media outlets, many of which are large for-profit corporations. But it is not just the universe which is processed and interpreted this way.

Any event that makes the headlines or goes viral on social media is likewise filtered through a variety of agencies and interpretations. In such a predominantly secular and technological culture like ours which gives deference to science, technology, and the economy, reading the times in light of Scripture is no easy task, especially when the volume of news and information thrown at us is far more than we could ever keep up with, let alone respond to. 

Our guest again this week is associate professor of English at Grove City College in Pennsylvania, Dr. Jeffery Bilbro. Jeff discusses with us his new book Reading the Times - A Literary and Theological Inquiry Into the News. Here on part two, Jeff continues to discuss some of the ideas of Wendell Berry in reflecting about ways in which we as believers can begin to filter, read, and understand news and social media.

Dr. Jeffrey Bilbro is an Associate Professor of English at Grove City College and the Editor-in-Chief at Front Porch Republic. He grew up in the mountainous state of Washington and earned his B.A. in Writing and Literature from George Fox University in Oregon and his Ph.D. in English from Baylor University. His books include Reading the Times: A Literary and Theological Inquiry into the News, Loving God’s Wildness: The Christian Roots of Ecological Ethics in American Literature, Wendell Berry and Higher Education: Cultivating Virtues of Place (written with Jack Baker), and Virtues of Renewal: Wendell Berry’s Sustainable Forms.

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Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship
For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

We are inundated with social media, non-stop news, and information coming at us from all directions. How do we even begin to filter it all? What are some ways in which we can think Christianly about the news and social media today without succumbing to the secularist assumptions and the often overwhelmingly trivial, inane, and tragic events that routinely fill our newsfeeds? 

One way is to refamiliarize ourselves with our physical environments. Though not a cure-all for our hypermodern technological media culture we inhabit, a reorienting of ourselves to Christ, to nature and neighbor, as mediated through the lens of Scripture, is certainly one way we can healthfully filter the information inundation we daily encounter online. 

Our guest author on the next two episodes of Apologetics Profile, Dr. Jeffery Bilbro, has written a smart little book (the idea of which sprang from a discussion in social media) about how we as Christians can not only think but act redemptively and contemplatively toward the news and social media. 

Here on part one, Jeff discusses some of the thoughts and theology of Wendell Berry, an agrarian, poet, and essayist. Can Berry's theology of creation and place serve as a means by which we can recover a thoughtful Christian response to today's hypermedia culture?

Dr. Jeffrey Bilbro is an Associate Professor of English at Grove City College and the Editor-in-Chief at Front Porch Republic. He grew up in the mountainous state of Washington and earned his B.A. in Writing and Literature from George Fox University in Oregon and his Ph.D. in English from Baylor University. His books include Reading the Times: A Literary and Theological Inquiry into the News, Loving God’s Wildness: The Christian Roots of Ecological Ethics in American Literature, Wendell Berry and Higher Education: Cultivating Virtues of Place (written with Jack Baker), and Virtues of Renewal: Wendell Berry’s Sustainable Forms.

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Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship
For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

We worship a God who speaks. All that is contained in the heavens and earth has been created and is presently being sustained by the LOGOS, the Word of God, God made flesh, who existed in the beginning, even "before" the foundation of the world (Genesis 1; John 1; Colossians 1; Ephesians 1).

The Lord Jesus spoke creation into existence. By His Spirit, He inspired the Bible to be written through the agency of men. And when He proclaimed His Good News in and around Jerusalem, His stories and parables displayed a dazzlingly simple but profound logic that not only encouraged the brokenhearted but silenced His fiercest critics. His teaching glistened brightly like the very stars He has created, numbered and named, fitting His wisdom into brilliant constellations of exhortation, rebuke, encouragement and hope.

On part two of our conversation with Professor of Philosophy at Dallas Baptist University, Travis Dickinson, Travis unpacks the glorious brilliance of Jesus' timeless teaching and proclamation of Good News and reminds us that the life of the mind is a commandment; an essential part of Christian discipleship. Though we fall short of obeying any of the commandments, a pursuit of knowing more about God's love and mercy in light of our own sin can only serve to strengthen our faith and enable us to give reasonable and logical defense for the hope that is in us.

Travis Dickinson is the author of three books with one more on the way. His most recent book, Logic and the Way of Jesus, discusses logic and critical thinking modeled in the life and ministry of Jesus. And his forthcoming book, Wandering Towards God: Finding Faith in Doubts and Big Questions (IVP, October 2022), argues that leaning into our questions and doubts can lead to even greater faith as we discover truth and knowledge. Dr. Dickinson also posts articles and resources about the study of apologetics and philosophy on his blog, www.travisdickinson.com.

Related Links: You may order Dr. Dickinson's book, visit his personal website, and access free copies of our related 4-page Watchman Fellowship Profiles:

Additional Resources
FREE: We are also offering a free subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.
PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (over 600 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: watchman.org/notebook.
SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.

Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

"What does Athens have to do with Jerusalem?" a church father from the ancient past once asked. In other words....

On this two-part episode of Apologetics Profile we sit down with Professor of Philosophy at Dallas Baptist University, Dr. Travis Dickinson, to discuss a few of these questions as well as his new book Logic and the Way of Jesus - Thinking Critically and Christianly (https://uhop.me/LogicJesus). Travis argues that though one need not become a scholar in order to love God with all of our minds, we are called to think logically and reasonably about our faith and not neglect the gift of the intellect with which God has equipped all of us. The life of the mind, Travis argues, is an important part of how we worship God and fulfill the Great Commision. 

On part one Travis talks about what he sees as a disconnect between Jesus and formal logic in contemporary evangelicalism and how important it is for us as believers to know both what God has made and what He has inspired to be written in order that we may properly love God and our neighbors.

Travis Dickinson is the author of three books with one more on the way. His most recent book, Logic and the Way of Jesus, discusses logic and critical thinking modeled in the life and ministry of Jesus. And his forthcoming book, Wandering Towards God: Finding Faith in Doubts and Big Questions (IVP, October 2022), argues that leaning into our questions and doubts can lead to even greater faith as we discover truth and knowledge. Dr. Dickinson also posts articles and resources about the study of apologetics and philosophy on his blog, www.travisdickinson.com.

Related Links: You may order Dr. Dickinson's book, visit his personal website, and access free copies of our related 4-page Watchman Fellowship Profiles:

Additional Resources
FREE: We are also offering a free subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.
PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (over 600 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: watchman.org/notebook.
SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.

Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

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