God has laid out three basic spheres of authority—Family, State, and the Church. Each of these has unique tasks given by God that are not given to the others. But, there is also overlapping authority. In this episode we will look at instances in which family and church can overreach its authority over the state.

Scriptures Referenced:
• Psalm 72
• Romans 13:1-7

God has ordained certain spheres of authority for the flourishing and well being of humanity. The major ones today are government, church and family. These have at times overlapping responsibilities. Family is the most essential institution of culture and society. In this podcast we will begin to think through when the state and church can overreach its God given role in the lives of family.

Scriptures Referenced:
• Ephesians 5:22-6:4
• Deuteronomy 6:4-9
• 1 Timothy 5:8

Government overreach has been a common concern for centuries. What is the legitimate authority of government according to the Bible? This needs to be framed into the larger context of spheres of authority. This podcast is going to give a brief overview of the doctrine before we start testing various cases.

Scriptures Referenced:
• Titus 3:3
• Genesis 1:26-27
• Genesis 9:5-6
• Deuteronomy 17
• Daniel 2:21
• Romans 13:1-7
• Deuteronomy 6:4-9
• Ephesians 6:1-4
• Titus 5:1-10

If the human flesh still holds propensities toward pride that can manifest itself in racism, is there any hope? Yes. This was a common problem in the New Testament and was always treated with the gospel. In the book of Ephesians Paul lays out a blue print for unity to counter-attack every form of sin. In Christ, we can walk in love as Christ loved the church.

Scriptures Referenced:
• Ephesians 2:13-18
• Ephesians 4:1-7
• Ephesians 4:17, 21-23
• Ephesians 5:1-2
• Matthew 5:21-24

After receiving some godly pushback on the issue of racism from episode #3 (listen at https://fbchurch.org/resource/dealing-with-the-inner-racist ), this episode seeks to give some clarification on racism. Racism’s root is indeed pride, but pride does not necessarily produce racism. The sermon on the mount in Matthew 5 gives us the proper logic for addressing the heart issue.

Scriptures Referenced: Matthew 5:21-30

The volume on social justice issues can easily drown out the true gospel. Astute Christians rightly express concerns about drifting to a social gospel. In this episode we define the social gospel and then keep the true gospel and social justice in their proper places. Examples come from Jesus, the Apostles and Paul’s epistles.

Scriptures Referenced:
• Mark 1:15-39
• Acts 6:1-9
• Galatians 2:8-10

With so many ways we see people suffering in the world, how do I know where to put my time and energy? In this episode we talk about the priorities of the Christian and where helping the poor, vulnerable, and oppressed fits in.

Scriptures Referenced:
• John 15:1-8
• Titus 1:5-10;
• 1 Timothy 3:1-10
• Acts 6:1-6
• Galatians 6:10

What is virtue signaling and how should Christians respond to it? Is there a sense in which virtue signaling can be done in Christian love? Today, John Gardner fills in for Dan Jarms to answer these questions!

Scriptures Referenced:
• 2 Peter 1:3-10
• Galatians 5:22-26
• Romans 12:9-21
• 2 Corinthians 2:15
• Hebrews 10:24
• 2 Timothy 2:25

The moral authority to speak on social justice issues is not related to a persons position of oppressor or oppressed. It comes from alignment with God’s will revealed in scripture. We can only speak with moral authority when our aim is love and the offer of a better peace and justice.

Scriptures Referenced:
• 1 Timothy 1:5
• Proverbs 3:7-8
• Ephesians 4:29
• Proverbs 25:11-13
• 1 Peter 4:10-11
• 1 Timothy 1:14-16

Under the ideology of Intersectionality, only those who are oppressed have the moral authority to speak on issues of social justice. This contradicts the Bible. Anyone can speak with moral authority so long as he/she is in alignment with what God speaks and his/her speech is with wisdom. Multiple proverbs govern our speech, and when we fail to use them we forfeit our moral authority when speaking on social justice issues.

Scriptures Referenced:
• Proverbs 18:13
• Proverbs 18:17
• Proverbs 26:17