Orthodoxy

In this episode, I got to talk with Katy Faust. Katy is the founder and President of Them Before Us – a global movement defending children’s right to their mother and father. She has written for USA Today, WORLD Magazine, Daily Signal, The Federalist, and many other publications. She has written or co-written three books – Raising Conservative Kids in a Woke City, Them Before Us, and Pro Child Politics.

We discussed whether or not Christian parents should send their children to government schools, how the next generations are going to have to pay for the mistakes of this generation, and how to rebuild institutions that have been destroyed by liberalism. I hope you enjoy!

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In this episode, I got to talk with the Preaching Pastor at Emannuel Church in North Carolina, Alex DiPrima. Alex graduated from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary with his Master's and his PhD. He has written extensively on Charles Spurgeon, his writing includes Spurgeon and the Poor: How the Gospel Compels Christian Social Concern and the books we discuss on this podcast, Spurgeon: A Life.

In our discussion, we talked about Spurgeon’s conversion to Christianity, the dynamics of a megachurch, how Spurgeon became The Prince of Preachers and much more. I enjoyed my conversation with Alex DiPrima, I hope you will too.

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In this episode, I got to interview Dr. Nathan Finn. Dr. Finn is the Executive Director at the Institute for Transformational Leadership, Professor of Faith and Culture at North Greenville University, and the author of many books including, Historical Theology for the Church. Co-edited with Jason G. Duesin. He serves as a Senior Fellow for Religious Liberty for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, a Senior Fellow for the Land Center for Faith and Culture, a Fellow for the Bush Center for Faith and Culture, and a Fellow for the Center for Baptist Renewal. He also directs student and faculty programs for the International Alliance for Christian Education (IACE) and is a senior editor of Integration: A Journal for Faith and Learning.

We discussed a chapter in the book, Social Conservatism for the Common Good by David S. Dockery. In this chapter, David Dockery writes about Robert P. George’s political theory and how it relates to cobelligerency. We talk about Protestants partnering with Catholics in pursuit of a political common good, Billy Graham and his impact on Christian unity and fellowship, and how one can come to practical political partnerships without forsaking their orthodox Christian conviction.

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In this episode, I got to talk with Dr. Scott Jensen. Dr. Jensen ran to be the Governor of Minnesota in 2022 against the current Governor, Tim Walz. Tim Walz was recently chosen by Kamala Harris to be her running mate in the 2024 Presidential race. Scott Jensen knows a lot about Tim Walz and his rhetoric, record, and failures in the political realm. Scott and I talked about who Tim Walz is, and how Americans need to sift through the lying and manipulation in politics to truly figure out who our politicians are. We also discussed an essay on evil and stupidity by Dietrich Bonhoeffer and how that essay related directly to this election. I hope you enjoy.

This week’s podcast was brought to you by Reformation Heritage Books. Reformation Books recently released a 14-piece series of Puritan writings called Puritan Treasures for Today. If you want to start reading the Puritans but don’t know where to begin, Puritan Treasures for Today from Reformation Heritage Books makes the riches of these godly writers of old accessible to the modern reader. With updated language and helpful introductions, these classic works from John Owen, Jeremiah Burroughs, and more are the perfect starting point for the curious reader.

Go to www.reformationbooks.org/puritantreasures and use the code “orthodoxy” at checkout to get 10% off of your order!

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In this episode, I got to talk with Megan Basham. Megan is a culture reporter at the Daily Wire and has written for many publications including First Things, National Review, WORLD Magazine, The Telegraph, and The Wall Street Journal. She recently wrote a book called Shepherds for Sale: How Evangelical Leaders Traded the Truth for a Leftist Agenda.

Megan and I discussed how “climate change” rhetoric and advocacy made its way into the American Evangelical church in the 1990s and how that started a widespread spiral toward a more liberal theology in the church. We also discussed her controversy with Christian apologist Gavin Ortlund. Megan talks about Timothy Keller and other prominent Christians in America and their equivocating theology that has become the mainstream theological approach for many young Christians. We finally discussed Megans own testimony and the proper Christian response to pastors and shepherds who are for sale: the true testimony of Jesus Christ.

This is one of the most important books of the year, I hope you like this episode and buy a copy!

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In this episode, I talked about the best books I've read through over the past year.

Rediscovering Holiness - J.I. Packer

Biblical Typology - Vern S. Poythress | https://youtu.be/fw-8OXzmHVY?si=avlsGh1idmC0livI

Five Lies of Our Anti-Christian Age - Rosaria Butterfield | https://open.spotify.com/episode/32jdwlaJG9lAhfpjDu3x03?si=bb114dfb4c624fad

The Justice and Goodness of God - Thomas R. Schreiner | https://youtu.be/WBMrfTCsLz0?si=BAONcW5tBbARUkZE

Chronicles of Narnia: The Horse and His Boy, The Silver Chair, The Last Battle - C.S. Lewis |

The Pilgrims Regress - C.S. Lewis | https://youtu.be/KIqA5A4Ugbo?si=OA3PXS0YMSB6n3Od

Keeping In Step With The Spirit - J.I. Packer

Crisis of Confidence - Carl Trueman

Honorable Mentions:

Tolkien Dogmatics - Austin Freeman | https://youtu.be/LF5f6pKRmgE?si=SvGCt_hqZuMlFQhc

The Complete Works of John Owen: Apostasy From the Gospel, The Church, the Scriptures, and the Sacraments

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In this episode, I got to talk with a Professor of Politics from the University of Virginia, John M. Owen. John is a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture and the Miller Center for Public Affairs. He is the author of Confronting Political Islam: Six Lessons from the West’s Past, The Clash of Ideas in World Politics: Transnational Networks, States, and Regime Change, 1510 - 2010, Liberal Peace, Liberal War: American Politics and International Security, and his new book, The Ecology of Nations: American Democracy in a Fragile World Order. Owens has published in the European Journal of International Affairs, International Security, New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, and many others. He received his Masters of Public Policy from Princeton University and his Ph.D. from Harvard University. He has held visiting positions at Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, Oxford, the Free University of Berlin, and the University of British Columbia.

In our conversation, we talked about his book, The Ecology of Nations, and how different countries in the world interact with each other on the geopolitical landscape. We also discussed his article on First Things on the four stages of liberalism. We talked about the younger generations moving toward authoritarian regime and away from democracy. And finally, we discussed how one’s theology must connect to their political philosophy. I hope you enjoy!

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In this episode, I got to talk with WORLD Magazine Correspondent, Jill Nelson. Jill has focused a large portion of her reporting of the past several years on the Ukraine/Russia war and the Israel/Hamas war in the Middle East. Our conversation covers the history of these conflicts, the reason for the war, and how Christians should think through these sorts of geopolitical issues. 

UKRAINE/RUSSIA

March 10, 2022: “Far From Family”

Interviews: Cyndee Knight, Ambassador of Father’s House Luis Ruiz, and adoptive parents Jennifer Russ and Phil Graves

https://wng.org/articles/far-from-family-1646881083

“Ukrainians seek justice for war crimes” (3-26-22)

https://wng.org/roundups/ukrainians-seek-justice-for-war-crimes-1648315482

Interviews: Serhiy Perebyinis (wife killed in Irpin) and Tatyana Kobzar (nephew killed in same attack) 
 

***“Russia’s Rapid Decline” (May 5, 2022)

https://wng.org/articles/russias-rapid-decline-1651633867

(Interviews: Pastor Andre Furmanov, Pastor Andrew Berdishev, Baptist Pastor Yuri Sipko, Bishop Albert Ratkin, David Satter)  
 

***“Quest for Justice” (Sept. 10, 2022)

https://wng.org/articles/quest-for-justice-1661313430

Interviews: Ludmyla Savchenko, Oleksandra Matviichuk (Nobel Peace Prize 2022), Sergey Rakhuba (Mission Eurasia)

***“Encountering Tribulation” (Dec. 8, 2022)

https://wng.org/articles/encountering-tribulation-1670453390

Interview: Mikhail Britsyn

Pastoral perspectives: “United in Faith, Divided by War” (4-12-22)
 

https://wng.org/podcasts/united-in-faith-divided-by-war-1649734795

Andre Furmanov, Oleg Magdych, Oleg Vasilevsky

War Crimes: “Cracking Down on the Kremlin” (5-23-22)

https://wng.org/podcasts/school-choice-in-maine-1655960967?fbclid=IwAR3N5raQZdKgyzvLtnxaJRQd6WpfXxqsf8UfNSXBeFXPw4NxJYpotj9pfM8

Ludmyla Savchanko and Rachel Kerr (law professor at King’s College London and co-director of the War Crimes Research Group)

***A 2014 story that unpacks why some Christians support Putin

https://wng.org/articles/putins-playbook-1617325335
 

First invasion:
 

***https://wng.org/articles/cold-realities-1617329918

https://wng.org/articles/winter-at-the-barricades-1618235450

ISRAEL

December Reporting trip: 

***“Seed of Hope” (Israel Trip) (1-25-24)

Interviews: David Pileggi (Rector of Christ Church in Old City), Pastor Michael Beener, Ran Ferdman, Israel Iluz

https://wng.org/articles/seeds-of-hope-1705899552

***I really enjoyed talking with David: “Christians in the Holy Land” (Q&A with David Pileggi-Christ Church Jerusalem) (1-26-24)

https://wng.org/articles/christians-and-the-holy-land-1706119688

“Remembering their faces” (Hostages Square in Tel Aviv) (1-23-24)

Interviews: Michael Levy, Liad Gross, and others)

https://wng.org/podcasts/remembering-their-faces-1705961515

“Daily Bread in a War Zone” (feeding troops fighting Hezbollah) (1-25-24)

Interview: Pastor Israel Iluz

https://wng.org/podcasts/daily-bread-in-a-war-zone-1706130658

***“Neighbors at War” (Settler violence in the West Bank) (2-7-24)

Interviews: Mustafa Al Kabeyta, "Joshua Pex"

https://wng.org/podcasts/neighbors-at-war-1707243200

Myths and Miracles about Israel on its 70th anniversary 

https://wng.org/articles/miracles-and-myths-1620595714

“A history of violence: Hamas’ attack on Israel is only the latest in a 75-year war” (Timeline) (10-19-23)

https://wng.org/articles/a-history-of-violence-1697674996?_gl=1*i505qe*_ga*MTc4NzMzMTg4OS4xNjYzMzY0Mjgx*_ga_QH42Y1N34C*MTcwNTQ1MTU5NS42My4xLjE3MDU0NTMyOTAuNjAuMC4w

“Mass murder gambit: Hamas has the world’s attention. But Can it reignite Arab sympathies?”

(12-21-23)

Interviews: Pastor Israel Pochtar (WhatsApp), Daniel Pipes, and Haisam Hassanein (FDD)

https://wng.org/articles/mass-murder-gambit-1702953880?_gl=1*1jypt5a*_ga*MTc4NzMzMTg4OS4xNjYzMzY0Mjgx*_ga_QH42Y1N34C*MTcwNTQ1MTU5NS42My4xLjE3MDU0NTM0NjEuMTQuMC4w

***An older story about pro-Hamas elements on U.S. campuses (2009)

https://wng.org/articles/pro-palestinian-junta-1620659027
 

ISOLATIONISM
 

“Exit Stage Right: American conservatives are urging Uncle Sam to bow out of world affairs” (1-11-23)

Interviews: AEI’s Matthew Continetti. Sen. John Thune, and Oleg Magdych)

https://wng.org/articles/exit-stage-right-1704860393
 

ISLAM and ISLAMISM

***https://wng.org/podcasts/fighting-radicalization-in-the-west-1618322328
 

https://wng.org/articles/too-cozy-for-comfort-1617303645
 

***https://wng.org/articles/northern-migration-1617305085
 

And I'm including this one because it seems as Christians, we have to also be careful not to shun our Muslim neighbors. God is at work: 
 

***Muslim Background Believers “Seeking a Savior” (3-9-23) 
 

Interviews: Georges Houssney (Horizons International), Fouad Masri (Crescent Project), Farah Marvil Saada (Hope for Ishmael), Hamid Hatami (MEHR Ministries), Mike Westerfield (convert) , Abdu Murray (Embrace the Truth) 

https://wng.org/articles/seeking-a-savior-1678156456

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Just an update: Optiv Theology Podcast is no more! The new name is Orthodoxy.

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In this episode, I break down the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump this past weekend. I talk about the ideology and manipulation that leads toward these types of outbreaks, why young people are saying that they wish the bullet hit him, and how Christians should respond to this type of news.

Assassination attempt video:

https://youtu.be/LAk6dXEzIUo

Full ABC clip:

https://youtu.be/XPmpKXy_3P8

Secret Service Director About Page: https://www.secretservice.gov/about/leadership/director

Kimberly Cheatle on making the Secret Service 30% woman: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2024/jul/14/secret-service-director-dei-hiring-under-scrutiny-/

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