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City on a Hill
City on a Hill episodes
- Israel and the Church
We have had more requests to talk about Israel than we have for any other topic. So, today we cave in to the pressure. We hope our conversation about Israel helps you discern at least how to think about current events in Israel from a Biblical perspective.
NOTES:
The book Scott quoted, Dispensationalism Today, is unavailable, even on Amazon!
You can find Lewis Sperry Chafer's influential Systematic Theology here.
RECAP/TAKEAWAYS
- The name "Israel" is used in many ways in the Bible and outside. Make sure you know what you mean when you use it and what the Bible means when it uses the word Israel.
- Dispensationalism is a doctrinal framework that sees Israel and the Church as distinct and posits an eschatological future for the nation-state of Israel. This makes the formation of the modern nation-state of Israel to be extremely important in Biblical prophecy.
- There is no direct connection between Israel of the Old Testament, the covenant people of God, and the modern state of Israel.
- Genesis 12:1-3 is the pivotal text: Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
- Galatians 3: 14-16 identifies the fulfilment of that promise in Jesus: so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. 15 To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. 16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, "And to offsprings," referring to many, but referring to one, "And to your offspring," who is Christ.
- Here are other verses that suggest Jesus fulfills the promises of the Old Testament:
- Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. (Mat 5:17 ESV)
- For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. (Rom 10:4 ESV)
- For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory (2Co 1:20 ESV)
- Revelation promises a new Jerusalem where Jesus will reign: Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
- So what are we to do?
- Lament evil and war.
- Pray for all involved.
- Avoid seeing this conflict as a Biblical one.Do not see this as the impending fulfilment of some prophecy.
- Pray for the salvation of souls through the death and resurrection of Jesus (Romans 9:1-5) and for Jesus to return soon.
GET IN TOUCH:
We'd love to hear from you. Please send us an email or question at [email protected].
MUSIC:
Little Lily Swing, Tri-Tachyon, Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International, https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Tri-Tachyon/the-kleptotonic-ep/little-lily-swing
52 min - This is Our Problem
Just when Aeric began to be depressed about the coming election, he realized that the problem was partially of his making and that he had some responsibility. In this episode, we spend a few minutes trying to encourage listeners that you have more power than you think.
NOTES:
Here is a summary of Stephen Covey's Circle of Influence.
Here is our episode on Social Capital and Intermediate Institutions.
RECAP/TAKEAWAYS
- Take your vote seriously.
- Take responsibility. You are not a victim of the system.
- Steward the influence you have in other areas of life, your social capital.
- Act within your circle of influence and your influence will expand.
GET IN TOUCH:
We'd love to hear from you. Please send us an email or question at [email protected].
MUSIC:
Little Lily Swing, Tri-Tachyon, Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International, https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Tri-Tachyon/the-kleptotonic-ep/little-lily-swing
43 min - Church and State
Separation of Church and State is one of the central topics Christians think about when they think about politics. Today we talk about what separation is and isn't. We also address why it matters more than you think.
NOTES:
Here is the First Amendment.
Here is Thomas Jefferson's letter to the Danbury Baptist Association of 1802.
RECAP/TAKEAWAYS
- Church differed from the state in the most fundamental way. We proclaim and live under the rule of a different king.
- God’s work in the world is through the church now, not through a nation-state. If there is an heir to God's work in the world through Israel, it is the church not the nation of America.
- The Church and State are different spheres. Each is ordained by God for His purposes.
- The Church and the State share common intermediate ends. Both fight evil. Both desire good, even morality.
- The Church has a very different ultimate end than the State. The Church must proclaim Jesus as risen king. That is subversive to the ends of the State. Therefore, they must be separate!
GET IN TOUCH:
We'd love to hear from you. Please send us an email or question at [email protected].
MUSIC:
Little Lily Swing, Tri-Tachyon, Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International, https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Tri-Tachyon/the-kleptotonic-ep/little-lily-swing
34 min - Biblical Justice
In this episode, we talk about Biblical Justice. A few weeks ago we talked to Will Lathrop, candidate for Attorney General in Oregon. He mentioned the difference between social justice, criminal justice, and biblical justice.
NOTES:
We are deeply indebted to Tim Keller's thinking and work on this topic. Here is the article that formed the basis of our discussion: https://quarterly.gospelinlife.com/a-biblical-critique-of-secular-justice-and-critical-theory/
RECAP/TAKEAWAYS
Keller discussed five aspects of Biblical Justice:
- Community:
- Equity:
- Corporate Responsibility:
- Individual Responsibility:
- Advocacy:
What is one thing you can do today to promote Biblical Justice in your sphere of influence?
GET IN TOUCH:
We'd love to hear from you. Please send us an email or question at [email protected].
MUSIC:
Little Lily Swing, Tri-Tachyon, Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International, https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Tri-Tachyon/the-kleptotonic-ep/little-lily-swing
44 min - Political Parenting
In this episode, we talk about how we might teach or disciple our children politically. Politics has split families in these past few years. How can you approach the politics on the front end in a way that will build your family rather than destroy it?
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 encourages parents to be genuine and always on the job of training their children:
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
RECAP/TAKEAWAYS
- Remind your children that Jesus is king. Over and Over.
- Help them find their tribe in the church.
- Don't lead your family out of fear.
- Model how to submit.
- Model how to interact with those who disagree.
- Be a person they talk to about life, so politics is not out of bounds.
- Guard your news and political intake and by extension guard theirs.
GET IN TOUCH:
We'd love to hear from you. Please send us an email or question at [email protected].
MUSIC:
Little Lily Swing, Tri-Tachyon, Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International, https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Tri-Tachyon/the-kleptotonic-ep/little-lily-swing
37 min - Sins of Our Fathers
In this episode, we begin to think about how we might interact with the sins of our fathers. Our guest last week got us thinking about how we interact with sins that others have done before us. Some are done by people we are related to. Others shape the places we live. Others are by institutions we are responsible for. We talk about how we process those sins.
NOTES:
Our interview last week with Sarah Sanderson, author of The Place We Make: Breaking the Legacy of Legalized Hate started us thinking about this topic.
Psalm 106:6-8 is one of many scriptures that talks about the sins of our fathers.
Both we and our fathers have sinned; we have committed iniquity; we have done wickedness. 7 Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wondrous works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea. 8 Yet he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make known his mighty power.
RECAP/TAKEAWAYS
- We think of sin as exclusively individual when the Bible and many cultures throughout treat sins as corporate.
- Identifying with the sins of my fathers is an exercise in humility. One of God's ordained ways to cultivate humility is identifying with sins of your fathers.
- Two options are open to you beyond ignoring sin.
- You can lament sin that is distant from you. Make it clear it is wrong or evil and express your sadness and regret at the consequences of it. Ask God to heal it. "How long oh Lord" is a refrain of lament.
- Or, you can confess those sins that you identify with most closely.
- Differentiate between sins done in the name of Jesus and sins that are committed by others.
GET IN TOUCH:
We'd love to hear from you. Please send us an email or question at [email protected].
MUSIC:
Little Lily Swing, Tri-Tachyon, Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International, https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Tri-Tachyon/the-kleptotonic-ep/little-lily-swing
48 min - The Place We Make: An Interview with Sarah Sanderson
In this episode, we interview Sarah Sanderson, author of The Place We Make: Breaking the Legacy of Legalized Hate. We enjoyed a very fun conversation about a tragic historical event that happened within walking distance of our recording studio. I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as we did.
Sarah L. Sanderson holds a master of fine arts in creative nonfiction from Seattle Pacific University, a master’s in teaching from Seattle University, and a bachelor of English and philosophy from Wheaton College. For the past eight years, she and her family—including her husband, their four children, her brother, and the family’s two dogs—have made their home in Oregon. These days, her pursuits include writing, speaking, teaching creative writing, learning to pray, and building a beloved community.
NOTES:
Here is the relevant text from the Oregon State Constitution:
No free Negro, or Mulatto, not residing in this state at the time of the adoption of this constitution, shall come, reside, or be within this state, or hold any real estate, or make any contracts, or maintain any suit therein; and the Legislative Assembly shall provide by penal laws, for the removal, by public officers, of all such Negroes, and Mulattos, and for their effectual exclusion from the state, and for the punishment of persons who shall bring them into the state, or employ, or harbor them. —amendment to the Oregon State Constitution, 1857, Oregon State Archives
GET IN TOUCH:
We'd love to hear from you. Please send us an email or question at [email protected].
MUSIC:
Little Lily Swing, Tri-Tachyon, Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International, https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Tri-Tachyon/the-kleptotonic-ep/little-lily-swing
41 min - The Mysterious Curse of Meroz
In this episode, we take another look at the ways people bend scripture to support their points of view. The number one most referenced chapters in published sermons during the hundred years leading up to the Revolutionary War were Judges 4-5. The Curse of Meroz was the highlight of those sermons.
NOTES:
The book that prompted this episode is Sacred Scripture, Sacred War by James P. Byrd.
RECAP/TAKEAWAYS:
You are performing a biblical gyration when you:
- Don’t know what something means, but apply it to your life anyway (in any way you choose). The curse of Meroz fits here. No one knows what it was or anything about Meroz.
- Decide we are them. We, of course, decide that we are the good guys. Israel most likely. And someone else, like England, stands in for Egypt.
- Determine he is the man. Any linkage between a person today and a biblical character is completely arbitrary, like former president Trump and King Cyrus.
Again, read the Bible for what it says, not for what you want it to say or what you hope it will say.
GET IN TOUCH:
We'd love to hear from you. Please send us an email or question at [email protected].
MUSIC:
Little Lily Swing, Tri-Tachyon, Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International, https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Tri-Tachyon/the-kleptotonic-ep/little-lily-swing
37 min - Prayer – Your Most Potent Political Weapon!
Last week our guest, Will Lathrop, challenged us to pray. He listed that as the first thing Christians could do for justice. We are taking that challenge seriously and reminding you all again that prayer is your best political tool.
NOTES:
- PRAY YOU LIVE GODLY LIVES WITHOUT IMPEDIMENT BY ENVIRONMENT/GOVERNMENT First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1–4.
- PRAY FOR THE CITY 7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. Jeremiah 29:7.
- PRAY THE RULER WILL BE MOVED. The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will. Proverbs 21:1.
- PRAY THE RULER WILL BE REMOVED! Daniel 2:21 - He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;
- PRAY GOD’S CHARACTER IS REFLECTED IN LEADERSHIP OR POLICIES, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” Exodus 34:6–7.
- PRAY THAT YOU CAN BE SUBMISSIVE Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. Titus 3:1–2.
- PRAY GOD WOULD PUT YOUR HOPE, AFFECTION, AND LONGING ON HIS KINGSHIP 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. Isaiah 9:6–7.
RECAP/TAKEAWAYS:
Which do you think will be more effective, praying without action or action without praying?
GET IN TOUCH:
We'd love to hear from you. Please send us an email or question at [email protected].
MUSIC:
Little Lily Swing, Tri-Tachyon, Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International, https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Tri-Tachyon/the-kleptotonic-ep/little-lily-swing
39 min - Interview with Will Lathrop
In this episode, we interview Will Lathrop, a candidate for Oregon Attorney General in 2024. We found his answers to several questions to be very helpful. We hope you enjoy meeting him as much as we did.
NOTES:
You can follow and support Will in these places:
- Website: www.willlathrop.com
- Facebook: @WillLathropOregon
- Twitter: @LathropWill
Learn about the International Justice Mission.
Isaiah 1:16 -18 -- Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, 17 learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause. 18 "Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
Will suggested a simple way ordinary people could work for justice was to serve as a CASA.
Will distinguished between Social Justice, Criminal Justice, and Biblical Justice.
GET IN TOUCH:
We'd love to hear from you. Please send us an email or question at [email protected].
MUSIC:
Little Lily Swing, Tri-Tachyon, Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International, https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Tri-Tachyon/the-kleptotonic-ep/little-lily-swing
40 min
About City on a Hill
From the publisher's feed
A podcast about being a citizen of the kingdom of heaven and a citizen in the United States