Kingdom Polemics

In this episode of Kingdom Polemics, host Aldo Leon provides an introduction to a rebroadcast of The Westminster Standard (https://www.youtube.com/@RFBWCF/podcasts), hosted by Ryan Biese. Pastor Biese invites four ministers to discuss the historic Protestant view of the second commandment and its implications for the use of images of Christ in worship and education. The panelists are Dr. T. David Gordon, George Sayour, Andrew Smyth, and Aldo Leon. They explore the biblical, theological, and confessional grounds for rejecting any representation of God or any of the three persons of the Trinity, as well as the pastoral and practical challenges of living in an image-saturated culture. They also share their insights and experiences on how to shepherd congregations and families to honor God's will in this matter.

Some of the highlights and discussion points of this episode are:

• The importance of maintaining the creator-creature distinction and the regulative principle of worship as the foundation of the reformed faith.
• The significance of the Genesis account and the incarnation of Christ for understanding God's self-revelation and his exclusive authority to make his image.
• The difference between the apocalyptic imagery of Revelation and the historical narrative of the Gospels, and why the former does not justify making mental or physical images of Christ.
• The role of the sacraments as God's condescension to our weakness and crudeness, and his provision of visible signs and seals of his grace.
• The influence of the development of the camera and the photograph on the culture and the church, and the need to resist the idolatrous tendencies of our fallen nature.
• The benefits of the living preaching of the word and the faithful administration of the sacraments for the strengthening and confirmation of our faith.

The original broadcast, "Loving the Second Commandment," may be viewed on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crz8F8WT7to).

If you enjoyed this episode and want to support Kingdom Polemics, please consider buying us a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/kingdompolemics. Your donation will help us cover the costs of producing and hosting this podcast, and enable us to continue to provide you with edifying and engaging content. You can also leave your comments and feedback on our YouTube page at https://youtube.com/@kingdompolemics. We would love to hear from you and interact with you on the topics we discuss. Thank you for listening.

In this episode, Aldo Leon, the host of Kingdom Polemics, teaches on the Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 19 (https://students.wts.edu/resources/creeds/westminsterconfession.html#Chapter_19), which deals with the law of God and its use for mankind. He explains the difference between the moral, ceremonial, and judicial laws, and how they apply to all people in all times. He also challenges some common misconceptions and errors regarding the law of God, such as antinomianism, theonomy, and natural law. He shows how the law of God reveals the holy nature and will of God, convicts us of our sin and misery, and points us to Christ and his obedience. He also argues that the law of God is a rule of life for believers, and a means of restraining evil and promoting righteousness in society.

Some of the highlights and discussion points of this episode are:

• The 10 commandments are creational and universal, not just for Israel or the church.
• The ceremonial and judicial laws have expired, except for the general equity thereof, which means the moral principles that are binding on all nations.
• The punishments of the judicial laws are not necessarily the same for all times and places, but they indicate the severity of the crimes and the justice of God.
• The law of God is not bad or abolished in the gospel, but rather strengthened and fulfilled by Christ.
• The law of God informs us of our duty, directs and binds us to walk accordingly, humbles us in the sense of our sin, and helps us to see our need of Christ and his perfection.
• The law of God restrains our corruption and forbids sin, and also serves as a tutor to bring us to Christ.
• The law of God is not arbitrary or subjective, but based on the authority and character of God the Creator and King.
• The law of God is not contrary to grace or love, but rather expresses the love of God and guides us to love God and our neighbor.

If you enjoyed this episode and want to support Kingdom Polemics, please consider buying us a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/kingdompolemics. Your donation will help us to produce more quality content and reach more people with the truth of God's word. You can also leave your comments and feedback on our YouTube page at https://youtube.com/@kingdompolemics. We would love to hear from you and interact with your questions and thoughts. Thank you for listening.

In this episode, Aldo Leon, the host of Kingdom Polemics, explores the differences between theonomy and Westminster theology. He argues that theonomy is incompatible with the classic theism, covenantalism, and law distinctions of the Westminster divines. He also critiques the social trinitarianism, monocoventalism, and judicial moralism of the theonomists. He challenges the listeners to examine the sources, systems, and streams of their theology and to be faithful to the confessional standards of the Reformed faith.

Some of the highlights and discussion points of this episode are:

• Theonomy and Social Trinitarianism: Aldo explains how the theonomists have a relational view of God that blurs the oneness and simplicity of God, the distinction between the intra and extra Trinitarian actions, and the distinction between the Creator and the creature. He shows how this view leads to a social and political obsession and a denial of the classic doctrine of God.
• Theonomy and Monocovenantalism: Aldo exposes how the theonomists deny the covenant of works in creation and collapse the covenant of grace into the covenant of creation. He shows how this view leads to a loss of imputation, merit, and justification by faith alone. He also shows how this view leads to a confusion of the penalties and purposes of the law of God.
• Theonomy and Judicial Moralism: Aldo demonstrates how the theonomists fail to distinguish between the moral and judicial aspects of the law of God. He shows how this view leads to a judaizing and pharisaical tendency and a disregard for the general equity principle. He also shows how this view leads to a violation of the second commandment and a softness on idolatry and false religion.

Pastor Aldo is providing the following links for further study and investigation on this topic:

• https://purelypresbyterian.com/2015/06/07/8-differences-between-covenanters-and-reconstructionists/
• https://beta.sermonaudio.com/broadcasters/srpc/series/170606/
• https://www.amazon.com/Federal-Vision-Covenant-Theology-Comparative/dp/1596380330
• https://a.co/d/c3bvUc6
• https://bit.ly/3TKT0tr
• https://greenbaggins.wordpress.com/category/heresy/federal-vision/
• https://beta.sermonaudio.com/sermons/3150381658/

If you enjoyed this episode and want to support Kingdom Polemics, please visit our Buy Me A Coffee webpage (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/kingdompolemics) and make a donation. You can also leave your comments and feedback on our YouTube page: https://youtube.com/@kingdompolemics. Thank you for listening and stay tuned for the next episode of Kingdom Polemics.

In this episode of Kingdom Polemics, host Aldo Leon interacts with Al Mohler's discussion on Christian nationalism and the role of the church in society. Leon, a Presbyterian pastor and theologian, agrees with some of Mohler's points, but also challenges his Baptist perspective on the relationship between the first and second table of the law, the confessional state, and the covenantal worldview. Leon argues that the Christian worldview is both the foundation and the threat of the American constitutional system, and that Christians should seek to influence the society with the whole counsel of God, both natural and revealed.

Some of the highlights or discussion points of this episode are:

• The primary, secondary, and tertiary effects of the gospel on the church and the world
• The difference between external and doxological obedience to the ten commandments
• The problem of unhinging Protestantism from covenantal confessionalism
• The use of both Scripture and creation order arguments in public policy
• The public role of the church and the preaching of the word of God to the larger world

If you enjoyed this episode and want to support Kingdom Polemics, please consider buying us a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/kingdompolemics. Your donation will help us to produce more content and reach more people with the truth of God's word. You can also leave your comments and feedback on our YouTube page at https://youtube.com/@kingdompolemics. We would love to hear from you and interact with your questions and thoughts. Thank you for listening and stay tuned for the next episode of Kingdom Polemics.

In this episode, Pastor Aldo Leon interacts with a conversation between Kevin DeYoung and David VanDrunen on the book Politics After Christendom, written by VanDrunen. Pastor Aldo challenges some of the claims and arguments made by the author, especially regarding the nature and role of the Noahic covenant in political theology. He also offers a different perspective that is more consistent with Reformed covenant theology and the Westminster standards. Some of the topics discussed in this episode are:

• The distinction between common grace and saving grace, and how they relate to the civil government and the church.
• The continuity and discontinuity between the Noahic covenant and the other biblical covenants, and how they reveal God's redemptive plan for his people and his creation.
• The implications of baptizing uneducated or untrained adults, and the problems of congregationalism and diversity within the Baptist tradition.
• The importance of reading the Noahic covenant in light of the whole Scripture, and not isolating it from the rest of covenantal history.
• The legitimacy and accountability of civil magistrates, and the need for Christian involvement and influence in the political sphere.

Note: There are parts of this video-interact broadcast that have been skipped, sped up, reduced in volume or cut due to audio issues or brevity for the benefit of the listener. The full video is available for public viewing at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78BHR6wgdK4.

If you enjoyed this episode of Kingdom Polemics, please consider supporting the podcast by contributing to our "Buy me a Coffee" page (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/kingdompolemics). Your support will help KP continue to produce high-quality content that engages with important theological and cultural issues from a Reformed perspective.

Additionally, if you have any feedback, questions, or comments about this episode or any other episode of Kingdom Polemics, please leave them on our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@kingdompolemics). We would love to hear from you and engage with you in a constructive and respectful manner.

Thank you for listening and supporting Kingdom Polemics!

In this episode of Kingdom Polemics, your host Aldo Leon offers insightful commentary on a recent Presbycast podcast episode titled "Surviving Thanksgiving...and Prepping for 2024" (https://presbycast.libsyn.com/surviving-thanksgivingand-prepping-for-2024), featuring guests Dr. R. Scott Clark, Job Dalomba, and Mayor Sean. Aldo delves into the discussion, addressing the critique of Christian nationalism and Presbycast's reluctance to engage in certain conversations. Throughout the episode, he underscores the significance of reformed theology and expresses optimism for the evolution of viewpoints within Presbycast.

Key points covered in this episode:

• Christian Nationalism: Pastor Leon navigates through his differences and alignments on this topic throughout the episode.

• The Whole Counsel of God: Pastor Leon highlights areas where he believes the conversation lacks a comprehensive understanding.

• The Role of the Magistrate: Emphasizing the role of government from a reformed perspective, Pastor Leon explores the responsibilities of the magistrate.

• Right View of Law and Gospel: Pastor Leon elucidates how the correct application of this concept is often misconstrued.

Tune in to gain profound insights into the current discourse on Christian nationalism within the Christian community and to hear Pastor Aldo's reformed perspective on this pertinent subject. Don't miss out on this engaging episode that explores the sovereignty of God, the church's role in society, and the responsibilities of Christians in various spheres of life.

Are you enjoying Kingdom Polemics? Please help us improve our podcast by supporting each episode. Follow this link: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/kingdompolemics. Please support us, leave us a comment or suggestion, a word of encouragement, we appreciate your support!

Join the Kingdom Polemics community on our YouTube page at https://youtube.com/@kingdompolemics, where you can subscribe, leave comments, and access more thought-provoking content. Additionally, find past episodes of Kingdom Polemics at https://reformationmiami.org/kp for a comprehensive exploration of these crucial theological discussions.

In this episode, host Aldo Leon discusses a controversial topic in the church: whether women can teach doctrine to men in settings other than the public worship service. He invites Zachary Garris, a pastor and author, to share his perspective and insights from Scripture and the Reformed tradition. They explore the following questions:

• What do the Westminster Standards say about the role of women in teaching and leading in the church and the family?
• How do the passages in 1 Corinthians 14 and 1 Timothy 2 relate to each other and to the creation order?
• What are the dangers of narrow complementarianism and egalitarianism for the church and society?
• How can we uphold the biblical and confessional view of male headship and female submission in a godly and loving way?

This episode is a challenging and edifying conversation that aims to honor God's design for his people and his kingdom. Tune in and join the discussion!

Are you enjoying Kingdom Polemics? Please help us improve our podcast by supporting each episode. Follow this link: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/kingdompolemics. Please support us, leave us a comment or suggestion, a word of encouragement, we appreciate your support!

Join the Kingdom Polemics community on our YouTube page at https://youtube.com/@kingdompolemics, where you can subscribe, leave comments, and access more thought-provoking content. Additionally, find past episodes of Kingdom Polemics at https://reformationmiami.org/kp for a comprehensive exploration of these crucial theological discussions.

In this episode, Aldo Leon reviews and critiques Doug Wilson's YouTube video response to an article written by Kevin DeYoung on the Moscow mood, the cultural and theological project led by Doug Wilson. Leon argues that DeYoung's article is too flattering and weak, and that Wilson's response is narcissistic and evasive. Leon also points out some of the rotten fruits and false teachings of Wilson's ministry, such as:

• Paedocommunion: Wilson advocates for giving the Lord's Supper to infants and toddlers, which Leon considers a form of baptismal regeneration and a violation of the regulative principle of worship.
• Muddling First Table Matters: Wilson downplays the importance of doctrinal differences on essential matters of the gospel, such as justification, covenant theology, and the law, and instead focuses on second table issues of sociology and culture.
• Cult of Personality: Wilson attracts followers who are obsessed with his rhetoric and style, and who are unwilling to criticize or question his authority. He also seeks to associate with credible people from other circles to gain legitimacy and influence.
• False Ecumenism: Wilson invites people from various backgrounds and traditions, such as Anglicans, Roman Catholics, and Greek Orthodox, to join his denomination and his Christendom project, without requiring them to adhere to the Reformed confessions or standards.

Leon challenges Wilson to be more faithful to the Reformed faith and to repent of his errors and sins. He also warns Christians to be discerning and not to be deceived by Wilson's worldly appeal and mood.

Are you enjoying Kingdom Polemics? Please help us improve our podcast by supporting each episode. Follow this link: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/kingdompolemics. Please support us, leave us a comment or suggestion, a word of encouragement, we appreciate your support!

Join the Kingdom Polemics community on our YouTube page at https://youtube.com/@kingdompolemics, where you can subscribe, leave comments, and access more thought-provoking content. Additionally, find past episodes of Kingdom Polemics at https://reformationmiami.org/kp for a comprehensive exploration of these crucial theological discussions.

In this episode, host Aldo Leon discusses how the law or gospel paradigm, popularized by some Reformed theologians, can lead to ethical problems and biblical distortions. He argues that this paradigm is not faithful to the Reformed tradition or the Scripture, and that it fails to account for the complexity and diversity of the law and the gospel in their various senses and uses. He interacts with some tweets by R. Scott Clark, a prominent proponent of this paradigm, and shows how they are inconsistent and problematic. He also quotes from some Reformed sources, such as Burgess, Owen, and Calvin, to demonstrate how they understood the law and the gospel in a more nuanced and balanced way. He concludes by warning against the Tarantino tendencies of the law or gospel spirituality, and calling for a more holistic and ethical approach to the Christian life.

Some of the topics covered in this episode are:

• The law or gospel duality: How some theologians reduce everything to a law or gospel issue, and why this is not biblical or helpful.
• The law and the gospel: How the law and the gospel are both related and distinct, and how they have different senses and uses in Scripture and in the Christian life.
• The law or gospel spirituality: How this paradigm affects the way we read the Bible, apply the law, understand the gospel, and relate to God and others.
• The law and the gospel sanctification: How the law and the gospel both sanctify us in the covenant of grace, and how we need both the promises and the commands of God.

Are you enjoying Kingdom Polemics? Please help us improve our podcast by supporting each episode. Follow this link: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/kingdompolemics. Please support us, leave us a comment or suggestion, a word of encouragement, we appreciate your support!

Join the Kingdom Polemics community on our YouTube page at https://youtube.com/@kingdompolemics, where you can subscribe, leave comments, and access more thought-provoking content. Additionally, find past episodes of Kingdom Polemics at https://reformationmiami.org/kp for a comprehensive exploration of these crucial theological discussions.

In this episode, Aldo Leon challenges the common view that the New Testament church is in a state of perpetual wandering and exile, like Israel in the wilderness or Babylon. He argues that this view is based on a misinterpretation of the biblical motifs of sojourner and exile, and that it ignores the promises of God to restore and renew his people and his creation. He also explains how this view leads to pessimism and passivity in the church, and how it contradicts the hope and mission of the gospel.

Some of the topics and questions he addresses are:

• What does it mean to be a sojourner and an exile in the Bible?
• How does the Old Testament prophesy the reversal of exile and the restoration of Eden in the new covenant?
• How does Jesus fulfill the role of the true sojourner and exile who brings us back to God?
• How does the New Testament use the language of sojourner and exile to describe the ethical and eschatological identity of the church?
• How does the book of Revelation depict the final consummation of God's kingdom on earth?
• How should we live as sojourners and exiles in light of our inheritance and mission in Christ?

Are you enjoying Kingdom Polemics? Please help us improve our podcast by supporting each episode. Follow this link: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/kingdompolemics. Please support us, leave us a comment or suggestion, a word of encouragement, we appreciate your support!

Join the Kingdom Polemics community on our YouTube page at https://youtube.com/@kingdompolemics, where you can subscribe, leave comments, and access more thought-provoking content. Additionally, find past episodes of Kingdom Polemics at https://reformationmiami.org/kp for a comprehensive exploration of these crucial theological discussions.