In this episode of Kingdom Polemics, Pastor Aldo Leon tackles a highly charged and often misunderstood question: should Christians forgive those who remain unrepentant? The conversation, sparked by recent public discourse around forgiveness in tragic circumstances, goes well beyond the headlines and dives deep into Scripture, theology, and the nature of divine justice and mercy. Aldo challenges sentimental, one-dimensional notions of forgiveness that have become common in the modern church and instead builds a robust biblical argument grounded in God's character, the necessity of repentance, and the proper understanding of Christ's atonement.

Highlights:

• Forgiveness is a divine act that originates with God, not a horizontal gesture independent of Him. Only God can forgive sin, and believers may only extend forgiveness insofar as it reflects His forgiveness.
• True forgiveness is never separated from repentance. The Bible consistently ties remission of sins to repentance; to declare someone forgiven without repentance is to proclaim what God has not declared.
• Forgiveness among believers is relational and covenantal. Even within the church, Jesus commands rebuke and repentance before forgiveness, highlighting that grace is not license for unrepentant sin.
• Aldo explores the parables of Jesus, church discipline, and the necessity of maintaining doctrinal integrity regarding God's justice. He explains that hell exists precisely because forgiveness is withheld from those who refuse repentance.
• The episode examines Christ's words on the cross — "Father, forgive them" — not as a universal declaration but as a priestly intercession for the elect that assumes repentance granted by God's sovereign grace.
• Finally, Aldo addresses the tension between love and justice. Drawing from Psalms and the broader witness of Scripture, he argues that Christians may, at times, rightly pray for God's judgment on the unrepentant wicked, just as they may pray for the repentance and salvation of others. Christian love, he contends, is not sentimental permissiveness but alignment with God's multifaceted purposes — both redemptive and judicial.

This episode challenges modern assumptions about empathy, forgiveness, and the character of God, reminding listeners that biblical forgiveness is rooted in divine holiness, not human emotion.

Support Kingdom Polemics by visiting: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/kingdompolemics and join the conversation on YouTube at https://youtube.com/@kingdompolemics — share your thoughts, questions, and reflections in the comments.

Also, don't miss Aldo Leon's powerful book -In Christ's Crown, Christianity, & The Civil Realm-. In it, Aldo presents a compelling biblical vision of the civil magistrate's role under Christ's mediatorial reign — a vital read for anyone seeking to understand how Christ's lordship extends to every sphere of life. Available now at Berith Press: https://www.berithpress.com/bookstore/p/christs-crown-christianity-the-civil-realm.

In this solo episode, Aldo Leon offers a sustained critique of Eastern (Greek) Orthodoxy—what he pointedly calls the "Greek Unorthodox Church." Drawing from Eastern sources and long-standing Reformed categories, Aldo evaluates Orthodoxy's teaching on the Trinity, Christ, salvation, Scripture, church, and worship. He also explains why many evangelicals and Reformed believers are drifting toward Orthodoxy today, and how certain trends within Protestantism have unintentionally primed that migration. The aim is pastoral clarity: to contrast a participation-driven, apophatic, sacramental ascent with the biblical gospel of Christ's finished work, justification by faith, and the ordinary means of grace.

Discussion Highlights

• Trinity and Christology: a critique of single procession (Spirit from the Father alone) as subordinating the Son and distorting Trinitarian equality.
• Icons and the Incarnation: why venerating images as "extensions" of the Incarnation misidentifies how we confess Christ's true humanity and risks idolatry.
• Theosis vs. Justification: contrast between an ascent into "uncreated energies" and the biblical, forensic good news—Christ's atonement and imputed righteousness.
• Essence–Energies Divide and Apophaticism: how separating God's essence from His energies and privileging "unknowing" undermines knowing the true God revealed in Scripture and in Christ.
• Fall and Anthropology: pushback on mortality-first diagnoses that recast the gospel as therapy; biblically, guilt and sin stand at the root and death is the consequence.
• Sacramentalism and Worship: baptism and Eucharist treated as salvific steps on a mystical ascent; services center on chant, incense, and spectacle with minimal preaching.
• Scripture and Church: rejection of Sola Scriptura and practical collapsing of church and Bible speech; councils assume de facto infallibility.
• Ecclesiology and Exclusivity: claims that Orthodoxy is the church; salvation bound to institution and succession rather than Word preached and believed.
• Why It's Attracting Protestants: Aldo identifies Protestant patterns—performative services, diminished preaching, image use, weekly communion/intinction, and uneven worship practice—that make Orthodoxy appealing by comparison.
• Pastoral Call: recover robust preaching, confessional clarity, congregational psalm-singing, and rich, experiential piety rooted in the finished work of Christ and the ordinary means of grace.

If this episode sharpened your thinking or encouraged your ministry, please consider supporting Kingdom Polemics so we can continue producing confessional, Bible-saturated content: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/kingdompolemics

Check out Aldo Leon's book In Christ's Crown, Christianity, & The Civil Realm, which makes a compelling biblical case for the Reformed doctrine of the civil magistrate under Christ's mediatorial rule. Available now at Berith Press: https://www.berithpress.com/bookstore/p/christs-crown-christianity-the-civil-realm.

Join the conversation and leave your feedback on our YouTube page: https://youtube.com/@kingdompolemics

This episode is a rebroadcast of a sermon preached by Pastor Aldo Leon at Pinelands Continuing Presbyterian Church (https://www.pinelandspca.org/) on September 14, 2025, in response to the assassination of Charlie Kirk. In the wake of widespread public reaction—including troubling responses from within the church—Aldo turns to Psalm 11 to call Christians to courage, faith, and clarity when the foundations of righteousness are under assault.

Highlights

• Reflections on the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the disturbing responses from Christian leaders
• How Psalm 11 speaks to times of chaos, hostility, and persecution
• The call for Christians not to flee or compromise but to stand firm in trust of the Lord
• The reality of wickedness in society and the futility of placating a hostile culture
• God's holy hatred of wickedness and His promise of judgment against the unrepentant
• The assurance that God sees, knows, and upholds His people even in the darkest times
• A challenge for believers to live with courage and uprightness in a hostile world

If this episode encouraged or challenged you, please consider supporting Kingdom Polemics. Your support helps us continue producing content that strengthens the church with biblical truth. You can give at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/kingdompolemics

We'd also love to hear your thoughts—join the discussion by leaving comments on our YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@kingdompolemics

In this special rebroadcast, guest host David Puente sits down with Pastor Aldo Leon to reflect on his journey of reformation in life and ministry. Originally shared with Pinelands Presbyterian Church (https://youtu.be/4ZkI0XagH_o), this candid interview traces Aldo's path from Baptist church planting to becoming a Presbyterian teaching elder, and the theological convictions that reshaped both his personal walk and his pastoral leadership.

Highlights from this episode include:

• Aldo's journey from Baptist church planting to Presbyterian convictions
• The role of covenant theology in shaping worship practices
• Wrestling with exclusive psalmody, acapella singing, head coverings, and one-cup communion
• Reflections on pastoral struggles, humility, and learning through resistance
• The tension between rapid reform and congregational adjustment
• Addressing critiques of legalism and "radical" changes in the church
• Honest admissions of regret, naivety, and lessons learned in shepherding through change

This conversation offers both an inside look at pastoral reformation and a challenge for believers to consider what it means to worship and live faithfully under God's Word.

To support Kingdom Polemics, visit our Buy Me a Coffee page at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/kingdompolemics.

Check out Aldo Leon's book In Christ's Crown, Christianity, & The Civil Realm, which makes a compelling biblical case for the Reformed doctrine of the civil magistrate under Christ's mediatorial rule. Available now at Berith Press: https://www.berithpress.com/bookstore/p/christs-crown-christianity-the-civil-realm.

Join the discussion by leaving your comments on our YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@kingdompolemics

In this provocative episode of Kingdom Polemics, Pastor Aldo Leon takes on a recent public attack by Tullian Tchividjian against John MacArthur. While acknowledging MacArthur's influence and ministry, Aldo critiques both Tullian's accusations and the deeper theological trends behind them. This episode is not just about two public figures but about how grace, truth, and holiness must be understood and upheld in the church. It's a sharp reminder that neither moral laxity nor graceless rigidity is faithful to the gospel.

Referenced video: "Assured by Grace, Not Grit" by Tullian Tchividjian, Byron Yawn (https://youtu.be/QT2P9xWz3_g)

Discussion Highlights

• Overview of Tullian Tchividjian's criticisms of John MacArthur
• How celebrity culture affects theological disputes and fuels unhelpful rhetoric
• The dangers of antinomianism cloaked in "grace alone" language
• Why MacArthur's ministry, while imperfect, represents a serious commitment to biblical holiness
• A call to reject both extremes: harsh legalism on one side and careless permissiveness on the other
• How the Reformed confessions give a balanced, biblical framework for law, gospel, and sanctification
• Pastoral reflections on how these controversies affect ordinary Christians in the pews

If this episode gave you clarity or challenged your thinking, consider supporting Kingdom Polemics. Your support helps us continue to bring bold, confessional, and timely content to the church. You can contribute at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/kingdompolemics

Check out Aldo Leon's book In Christ's Crown, Christianity, & The Civil Realm, which makes a compelling biblical case for the Reformed doctrine of the civil magistrate under Christ's mediatorial rule. Available now at Berith Press: https://www.berithpress.com/bookstore/p/christs-crown-christianity-the-civil-realm

We'd also love for you to join the conversation by leaving your thoughts in the comments section on our YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@kingdompolemics

Your support and engagement help us continue strengthening the church in truth and grace.

In this timely and convicting episode of Kingdom Polemics, Pastor Aldo Leon confronts the subtle yet destructive sin of pride in the pastorate. Speaking from experience, Scripture, and confessional wisdom, Aldo offers a sober warning against the spiritual self-deception that often hides beneath confidence, gifting, and influence in ministry. He challenges pastors and church leaders to honestly evaluate the hidden motives behind their work, pointing to the dangers of building ministries on ego rather than on Christ.

Discussion Highlights

• The marks of pride in pastoral ministry and how they differ from biblical confidence
• Why success, theological precision, or platform growth can quietly inflate self-importance
• How pride disguises itself as concern for the truth, love for the church, or commitment to excellence
• The way pride can drive pastors to dominate, self-protect, or resist correction
• Biblical examples of humble, Christ-centered leadership that resists self-glorification
• Confessional insights on the pastoral call to self-denial, mutual accountability, and servant-leadership
• Why repentance, not rebranding, is the path to true pastoral renewal
• Encouragement for both pastors and congregants to cultivate gospel-centered humility in the church

If this episode helped you reflect more deeply on your walk or your ministry, consider supporting Kingdom Polemics. Your support helps us continue to offer bold, confessional content for the church. You can contribute at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/kingdompolemics

Check out Aldo Leon's book In Christ's Crown, Christianity, & The Civil Realm, which makes a compelling biblical case for the Reformed doctrine of the civil magistrate under Christ's mediatorial rule. Available now at Berith Press: https://www.berithpress.com/bookstore/p/christs-crown-christianity-the-civil-realm.

We'd also love to hear your thoughts and reflections. Join the conversation by leaving a comment on our YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@kingdompolemics

Thank you for helping us strengthen the church by recovering faithful, Christ-centered ministry.

In this episode of Kingdom Polemics, Pastor Aldo Leon takes listeners into the heart of what has long shaped robust Reformed preaching but has recently become neglected: experimental preaching. Drawing from historic Reformed tradition, Aldo and his guest, Gavin Beers, outline how true preaching is not just doctrinal or exegetical—it is experiential, applicatory, and deeply concerned with the spiritual condition of the hearers. This episode is a call to return to preaching that engages both the conscience and the affections, helping God's people not only hear the truth but also live it.

Pastor Gavin Beers is currently the minister of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church, the first North Carolina congregation of the US Presbytery of the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing). https://cornerstone-presbyterian.com/

Discussion Highlights

• The difference between informational preaching and experimental (experiential) preaching
• How Reformed orthodoxy historically emphasized preaching to the whole person—mind, heart, and will
• The preacher's role in pressing the implications of doctrine into the lives of the hearers
• How experimental preaching resists both hyper-intellectualism and shallow emotionalism
• The biblical mandate for preaching that convicts, comforts, warns, and directs
• Insights from 17th-century Presbyterian tradition on distinguishing the true believer from the hypocrite
• Why pastors must be soul physicians, not mere lecturers or motivational speakers
• The dangers of pulpit minimalism and the retreat from serious, pointed application
• Encouragement for ministers to reclaim the depth, force, and pastoral heart of Reformed proclamation

If you found this episode stirring or helpful, please consider supporting Kingdom Polemics by buying us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/kingdompolemics.

Check out Aldo Leon's book In Christ's Crown, Christianity, & The Civil Realm, which makes a compelling biblical case for the Reformed doctrine of the civil magistrate under Christ's mediatorial rule. Available now at Berith Press: https://www.berithpress.com/bookstore/p/christs-crown-christianity-the-civil-realm.

You can also be part of the conversation by commenting on our YouTube page and subscribing to future episodes: https://youtube.com/@kingdompolemics,

Help us continue to sharpen, strengthen, and challenge the church with truth-centered, Christ-exalting content.

In this unfiltered, detailed, and thoughtful reflection, Aldo Leon offers his personal account and theological evaluation of the 2025 PCA General Assembly. Unlike curated recaps or safe institutional summaries, this episode brings a pastor's-eye view of what actually went down—from overtures to worship debates, controversial speeches, and questions of identity within the PCA. If you're seeking clarity on where the PCA stands and where it might be heading, this is the episode to hear.

Discussion Highlights

• Thoughts on the retirement of the former Stated Clerk and the need for depoliticized clerking in the PCA
• Encouragement over PCA growth: more baptisms, professions of faith, and members
• Celebration of the PCA's continued break from unbiblical affiliations, especially on sexual ethics
• Worship reflections: critique of theatrical liturgies and appreciation for Psalm singing and acapella moments
• The overture on Christian Nationalism: why Aldo believes a study committee is misguided, and how it reflects broader PCA discomfort with historic Reformed political theology
• Race and representation: deep dive into the Irwyn Ince and Timothy Brindle controversy, including a critique of the tone, assumptions, and imbalance in handling racial rhetoric
• Worship and polity: conversations around the Directory of Worship, weekly communion, and who should administer the sacraments
• The PCA's ongoing identity crisis: Are we confessional? Broad evangelical? Bureaucratic?
• Encouragements: approval of important overtures related to the Sabbath, paedocommunion, elder/deacon subscription, and local church accountability
• Concerns: increasing bureaucratic consolidation, fear of clear confrontation, and discomfort with biblical authority applied plainly
• A call for serious, courageous, and convictional leadership—especially in the face of cultural pressure and denominational ambiguity

If this episode gave you insight, clarity, or challenge, consider supporting Kingdom Polemics. Your contributions help us continue producing bold, thoughtful, and biblically grounded content. Visit: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/kingdompolemics

Check out Aldo Leon's book In Christ's Crown, Christianity, & The Civil Realm, which makes a compelling biblical case for the Reformed doctrine of the civil magistrate under Christ's mediatorial rule. Available now at Berith Press: https://www.berithpress.com/bookstore/p/christs-crown-christianity-the-civil-realm.

Also, join the conversation and leave your feedback in the comments section of our YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@kingdompolemics.

We value your engagement as we contend for a faithful, confessional future for the church.

In this episode of Kingdom Polemics, Aldo Leon offers a direct response to a recent episode of the Theocast podcast titled "Did John Piper Get Perseverance Wrong?" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUcqFgIieZ0). Using that conversation as a launch point, Aldo examines the biblical, theological, and confessional categories of perseverance, assurance, and apostasy. He critiques what he sees as a growing antinomian drift in some Reformed circles—where warning passages are either dismissed or misapplied—and argues for a more faithful confessional approach to sanctification and spiritual vigilance.

Highlights & Discussion Points

• A critique of biblicism vs. confessionalism in the handling of warning passages like those in Hebrews
• The confessions (Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms) rightly interpret apostasy passages as real threats, even for the visible church
• Why the law/gospel framework used by some modern Reformed thinkers is incomplete and unconfessional
• Assurance is strengthened by good works, love, and obedience—not undermined by examining one's spiritual fruit
• The difference between apostasy and temporary sin; how real apostasy often flows from practical neglect and not just doctrinal error
• How Hebrews uses the example of the wilderness generation to warn professing believers of spiritual complacency
• The necessity of fearing God's warnings and persevering through both faith and holiness
• A call to recover a balanced view of sanctification and warning—grounded in grace, but not shy about divine threat or discipline

If this episode challenged or clarified your view of perseverance, assurance, or apostasy, please consider supporting the Kingdom Polemics podcast. You can help fund our continued work by visiting: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/kingdompolemics.

We also invite you to leave your feedback and join the discussion on our YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@kingdompolemics.

Your voice and support are essential as we contend for a robust and faithful expression of Reformed theology in the church today.

As the PCA's 2025 General Assembly approaches, Pastor Aldo Leon and guest George Sayour walk through many of the most discussed and debated overtures on the docket. From Christian Nationalism to church governance and from weekly communion to worship standards, this episode of Kingdom Polemics offers a sharp, theologically grounded, and at times humorous look at where the denomination stands—and where it could go. This is a must-listen for anyone wanting to understand what's really at stake at this year's Assembly.

Discussion Highlights

• An overview of the multiple overtures related to Christian Nationalism, including why some are vague, unnecessary, or potentially overreaching
• Reflections on the ethno-nationalist elements influencing certain Christian Nationalist circles, and why that's a real pastoral concern
• The AI Study Committee overture: Is it needed or just a waste of time and resources?
• The continuing conversation around the Directory for Worship—why we need more unity and clarity in PCA worship
• Strong critiques of ByFaith's editorial direction and calls to make it a press-only outlet
• The problem with non-elected members having voting rights in key PCA committees
• A breakdown of the overture requiring sessions to report who is serving as deacons and why that matters for church integrity
• Evaluating the proposal for fixed-term assistant pastors and the implications for accountability and biblical ecclesiology
• Concerns around MNA's past publication encouraging illegal immigration—repentance vs. overreach
• Why uniformity in worship and presbyterian governance is not optional but essential to our denominational identity

If you appreciate the detailed, unfiltered, and biblically driven content from Kingdom Polemics, support our work by buying us a coffee at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/kingdompolemics

Check out Aldo Leon's book In Christ's Crown, Christianity, & The Civil Realm, which makes a compelling biblical case for the Reformed doctrine of the civil magistrate under Christ's mediatorial rule. Available now at Berith Press: https://www.berithpress.com/bookstore/p/christs-crown-christianity-the-civil-realm.

And don't forget to leave your comments and engage in the conversation on our YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@kingdompolemics

Your voice and support help us build a stronger, more faithful confessional church.