Mortification of Spin

The Bible teaches that all people are created in the image of God, but how can believers remain firmly rooted in the imago Dei when culture is more confused than ever about issues of human dignity? Today’s guest, Lauren McAfee, along with co-editor David Dockery, gathered a team of expert collaborators to bring clarity and guidance from a biblical perspective as they explored what it means to be made in the image of God in their new book, Created in the Image of God: Applications and Implications for our Cultural Confusion. Lauren shares the compelling story of how she became interested in this subject with Carl and Todd and touches on many important issues discussed in the book. 

Forefront Books generously provided a few giveaway copies of Created in the Image of God for our listeners. Congratulations to Alexander T. from Altamonte Springs, FL, Jeremy H. from Madison Heights, VA, and Will K. from Charlotte, NC!

Show Notes:

Lauren’s website: https://www.laurenamcafee.com/

Stand for Life organization, started by Lauren: https://standforlife.com/

The Abolition of Man by C.S. Lewis

Carl and Todd are joined by Ryan Anderson and Alexandra DeSanctis to discuss their book, Tearing Us Apart: How Abortion Harms Everything and Solves Nothing. Todd puts this exceptional book in the top three of all time on this critical issue. Now that the Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade and returned abortion law to the democratic process, Ryan and Alex reflect on our fifty-year experiment with unlimited abortion and argue that it has harmed everyone—even its most passionate proponents.

Congratulations to Ken D. from Marietta, GA, the winner of a copy of Tearing Us Apart: How Abortion Harms Everything and Saves Nothing, thanks to the generosity of Regnery Press!

Returning to the podcast today is Jonathan Landry Cruse to discuss his new book, The Character of Christ, with Todd and his plaid waistcoat-wearing partner, Carl. In this practical and applicable book, Jonathan examines the godly attributes of the fruit of the Spirit in the Lord’s example, showing us that we can bear true fruit for God only by our union with the life-giving Vine. Be sure to tune in, and as a bonus, you’ll also get a mini-class on Scottish tartans!

Thanks to our friends at Banner of Truth for providing three giveaway copies of The Character of Christ for our listeners, and congratulations to the winners: Christa V. from Appleton, WI, Lori E. from Kenna, WV, and Stephen S. from Springfield, VA!

Joseph Minich joins Todd and Carl to discuss his new book, Bulwarks of Unbelief. Millions of people in the West identify as atheists. Christians often respond to this reality with proof of God’s existence, as though rational arguments for atheism were the root cause of unbelief. Joseph argues that a felt absence of God, as experienced by the modern individual, offers a better explanation for the rise in atheism. In response, Christians should reattune themselves to God’s story, reintegrate the whole person, and re-inhabit the world so that faith can thrive in this age of unbelief.

Our friends at Lexham Press generously provided a few giveaway copies of Joseph’s book for our listeners. Congratulations to Jack E. from Elk Grove, CA, Robert M. from Manville, NJ, and Keenan W. from El Cajon, CA!

Show Notes:

A Secular Age by Charles Taylor, particularly the chapter titled “Bulwarks of Belief.”  

Thomas Aquinas’ Five Proofs for the Existence of God:

(1) argument from motion 

(2) argument from efficient cause

(3) argument from necessary being 

(4) argument from gradations of goodness

(5) argument from design

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

Enduring Divine Absence: The Challenge of Modern Atheism by Joseph Minich

Todd and Carl are quite excited about the new Mortification of Spin swag available at Reformed Resources. Still, they’re even more excited about their guest, Christopher Yuan, and his latest work, The Holy Sexuality Project, a 36-part video series intended for teens and their parents. It is a thoroughly gospel-centered study on sex, sexuality, and gender. With so much confusion regarding these issues in our culture, this timely series will be a great help to many Christian families and churches.

Thanks to the generosity of Dr. Christopher Yuan, three of our listeners were selected to receive a redemption code for The Holy Sexuality Project video series. Congratulations to Brent C. from Granbury, TX, Cathryne S. from Fuquay Varina, NC, and Ike H. from Ronceverte, WV!

Show Notes:

For more information about the video series, visit https://holysexuality.com/.

Christopher Yuan's memoir, highly recommended by Todd: Out of a Far Country

Book recommendation: Openness Unhindered by Rosaria Butterfield 

Mortification of Spin swag: https://reformedresources.org/mortification-of-spin/

Having narrowly escaped being held hostage at gunpoint, Carl and his partner-in-crime, Todd, sit down with Thaddeus Williams to discuss his latest book, Don't Follow Your Heart: Boldly Breaking the Ten Commandments of Self-Worship. Don't Follow Your Heart offers a compelling vision for the kind of Christianity that is truly countercultural, that rebels against the status quo, and offers something genuinely revolutionary. Thaddeus also tells the guys it's "an accessible and readable version of Carl's The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self." Them's fightin' words! You won't want to miss this episode!

Robert G. from New Holland, PA, Carl P. from White Post, VA, and Tracey L. from Chickamauga, GA were the winners of the giveaway of Thaddeus’ book, courtesy of Harper Collins Publishing. Congratulations!

Show Notes:

Thaddeus Williams’ website: https://jointheheretics.com/

Todd acts as solo host today as Carl, clad in the latest fashions from J.Crew (thanks to his wife), shifts to the other side of the table to discuss John Owen’s book for which he recently wrote the foreword, The Doctrine of Justification by Faith. Owen’s classic work presents one of the most rigorous defenses of the Reformed doctrine of justification. While technical and challenging, Carl argues that it is well worth reading and offers suggestions for those new to Owen. 

Thank you Reformation Heritage Books for providing giveaway copies of The Doctrine of Justification by Faith by John Owen, with an introduction by Carl Trueman, and congratulations to our winners: Mark J. from Stanfield, NC, Jeffrey T. from Haltom City, TX, and Jordan H. from Roanoke, VA!

Show Notes:

The Doctrine of Justification by Faith: https://reformedresources.org/the-doctrine-of-justification-by-faith-paperback/

For those new to John Owen, Carl recommends the following books:

Knowing God:  https://reformedresources.org/knowing-god-paperback/

https://reformedresources.org/the-mortification-of-sin-dealing-with-sin-in-your-life-paperback/

https://reformedresources.org/the-glory-of-christ-paperback/

https://reformedresources.org/gospel-ministry-paperback/

https://reformedresources.org/gospel-life-paperback/

Banner of Truth Puritan Paperbacks: https://banneroftruth.org/us/store/christian-living/puritan-paperback-series/

The PCA has been the subject of much buzz on the podcast, but today it’s the OPC’s turn to grab the spotlight. Carl and Todd sit down with David Nakhla and Tim Hopper, deacons in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, to talk about the ways the OPC is working to create a network of deacons within the OPC and how they seek to train and encourage deacons in their local church.

Show Notes:

In case you haven’t heard about The Reformed Deacon, you can find it on most podcast players or by going to: thereformeddeacon.org. 

You can find out more about the OPC Committee on Diaconal Ministries by going to OPCCDM.org.

Thank you to this month's sponsor Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Explore which theological degree best fits you at SBTS.EDU/EXPLORE.

Mortification of Spin welcomes Mary Harrington to the podcast, and Carl is in full fan-boy mode. Mary, the author of Feminism Against Progress, shares how the birth of her daughter radically changed her view of feminism and why she now describes women’s liberation as more of an economic transition than “progress.” Mary purports that this so-called progress no longer benefits the majority of women, and only a feminist that is skeptical of it can truly defend their interests in the twenty-first century.

Thank you Regnery Publishing for providing three copies of Mary Harrington’s book, Feminism Against Progress, as a giveaway for our listeners. The winners were Christy B. from Escondido, CA, Vineeta R. from Chapel Hill, SC, and Shawn L. from Matthews, NC.

Show Notes:

British Ezine where Mary writes: https://unherd.com/

Books recommended by Mary: Transhumanist: From Transgender to Transhuman by Martine Rothblatt 

Thank you to this month's sponsor Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Explore which theological degree best fits you at SBTS.EDU/EXPLORE.

Clad in a Texas flag shirt, Carl and his button-down-wearing cohost Todd welcome their good friend Rosaria Butterfield back to the podcast to discuss her latest book, Five Lies of Our Anti-Christian Age. In this powerful book, Rosaria uses Scripture to confront cultural lies she once believed about sexuality, faith, feminism, gender roles, and modesty. Tune in to hear why Rosaria says it’s more important than ever that women see the truth about who God created them to be.

Congratulations to Kristin P. from Haskell, OK and Stephen K. from Saint Augustine, FL , the winners of our giveaway for a copy of Rosaria's book, Five Lies of Our Anti-Christian Age, provided by Crossway Books!