To what kind of music can a Christian listen? Can listening to secular music affect our life negatively? Should Christians be concerned about the style of music, is one kind better over another? Does the Bible give specifics about the types of music or entertainment from which a Christian may choose?

This week on the Straight Truth Podcast, Dr. Richard Caldwell and host Dr. Josh Philpot dive into the discussion on music, one that often elicits a deep divide among Christians. The range of issues discussed when it comes to music, songs, and personal entertainment choices vary greatly. When it comes to music in the church, some declare no instruments should be allowed, acapella only. Some nay nay drums and or electric guitars, and others yet say hymns only and no contemporary songs/music. When it comes to personal leisure time, some would say that Christians should never listen to secular music, watch secular entertainment, or read secular books. What often happens when we aren’t thinking biblically about these things we tend to run to one side or other of the spectrum. We will lean either towards legalism or towards passivity as if it makes no difference.

Dr. Caldwell provides an example from his own life, showing how this principle rings true. He shares that he doesn’t believe that all forms of entertainment, including music, are sinful even if they aren’t inherently Christian. The Bible doesn’t declare any particular genre of music off-limits; however, it does describe the kind of life and lifestyle that should characterize the Christian. Dr. Caldwell reads from Ephesians 5:18-21, verses that describe the Spirit-filled life the Christian is to live and exhibit. These verses speak of a life that is song-filled, a life that is full of joy and thankfulness. So according to this passage, there is a certain kind of song that belongs to the Christian life. Dr. Caldwell also reads from Philippians 4:8.

Here the Christian is taught the things that their mind ought to be occupied on and with. These things, “whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, if anything is excellent or worthy of praise”, are mostly opposite of what we find in secular music and entertainment. In much secular music and entertainment, there is the presence of vulgar language, immorality, violence, and more. It more often than not mocks what the Word of God calls Christians to be and teaches ungodly messages.

So for a Christian to fill their life (hearts, mind, and soul), with songs and entertainment that celebrate, promote, and encourage sin, filling ourselves with dark things, and things overtly rebellious to God surely cannot be good for their soul. Music affects us; it is a powerful medium. The words of songs we hear and sing remain with us and echo in our minds. So while the Bible doesn’t condemn other music that isn’t Christian, it does condemn what is condemnable and praises what is worthy of praise. Whatever a person allows to occupy their mind will affect their living. We want to make sure that what we listen to is good for our minds and our souls. If we aren’t careful with what we take in, we can expose ourselves to things that aren’t healthy, things that are damaging and dangerous.

So while the Bible doesn’t give specific answers to every issue Christians may encounter it does address how we are to live the Christian life. Dr. Caldwell shares that one of the most important ways the Bible helps us to do this is by calling us to develop discernment. It teaches us of our need for this and how we are to go about accomplishing it. We do this by saturating our minds in and with Scripture.

Our devotion to Scripture saturation is to glorify God. Our purpose for doing this is to obey God, that we can know what is right and what is wrong, and that we would know what pleases and what displeases Him. As we practice meditating upon the Word of God, learning it, and living life through its lens, we develop and practice discernment. In this way, we have a better sense of judgment as to what we should and should not take into our lives.

Dr. Caldwell goes on to explain that the Bible also teaches us the importance of conscience. It exhorts us to pay attention to our conscience. Our consciences can be overly sensitive. When they are, they do not allow us to participate in things that we are free to. Over time there may be teaching from the Word of God that sets you free in this area. In this case, you no longer feel bound to that previous conviction and can now participate without any damage to your conscience. However, until this time comes, you do not violate your conscience. But if we are not careful, this is something we can easily do.

Sometimes we have a clearly defined standard of what is good, safe, and healthy. But over time we begin to allow that line of standard to blur or to move. In doing this, we violate our conscience without having been freed to do so. Violating our conscience is a dangerous thing. It’s better to wait until the Lord brings us to the place of freedom than to plow past our conscience. If we continually ignore our consciences, learn to turn them off or silence them, it only leads to devastating consequences. Hence the need as Christians to be intentional about saturating our minds with Scripture, paying close attention to our consciences, and not violating them.

Should Christians Listen to Secular Music?

To learn more about the responsibilities of the Christian life of growing in discernment, understanding Christian liberty and freedom, developing an informed Christian conscience, and about pleasing God in matters of individual choice, consider listening to the following sermons by Dr. Richard Caldwell:

Characteristics of the Spirit Filled Life – Pts. 1 & 2

Heavenly Minded People

Children of Light

The Life of Peace – Praiseworthy Thinking

God’s Word and God’s People

Discernment for the Ages

Matters of Conscience

Living Like Free Men – Pts. 1 & 2

The Importance of Joy

The Worthy Walk – Pts. 1 & 2

A Thanksgiving Life

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This week on the Straight Truth Podcast, Dr. Richard Caldwell and Dr. Josh Philpot discuss the ramifications of sin in the life of a Christian. Christians understand when they become saved that their sins are forgiven by God, in Christ. Yet, because sin has not been eradicated from our lives, the day-to-day reality continues to be a struggle. How are Christians to deal with this? The desire to do right and obey is there, yet at times we find ourselves still living in disobedience anyway. Often the result of the sinning brings feelings of guilt and grief. Sometimes there are even feelings of despair and worthlessness as Christians are continuously aware of their ongoing failure to please God. Does God punish us for this ongoing sin that we commit now or, will we be punished one day at the judgment seat of Christ?

Dr. Caldwell says the New Testament is full of teaching given to the Christian that explains what God has done in saving us. It may be that so much attention is given to this because we are a forgetful people. Therefore, the Bible continues to explain the Gospel to people who have received the Gospel, being a continual reminder for us of what God has done for us. We are people who have been justified by faith in Jesus Christ. We are people who have peace with God. So from the standpoint of God as our judge, there is no condemnation left for us.

Because Christ, our Savior, took upon Himself our condemnation, dying as our substitute on the cross, we now lack nothing to be accepted as complete before God. We are declared righteousness, but is not our righteousness. It’s a gift given to us. The perfect righteousness of God’s Son has been imputed to our account. By faith, the very moment we trusted in Christ, we received this gift, all our sins forgiven, a perfect standing with God. So on our best days, we are no more pleasing to God than we are on our worst days. God’s pleasure in us is not explained by us, but by the perfect life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Does this mean there is not any punishment for our sinning as Christians, can we go on and not worry or be concerned about sin in our lives? Is it true, to say that just because we’re saved that we can go on living in sin and that there won’t be repercussions, consequences for sin in this life? Dr. Caldwell says, of course not. Hebrews 12 describes God as Father over His children. We also learn there that God disciplines those who are His children. So as children of God, we can displease our Father, and we will receive discipline for our sins. As Christians, we will experience the ramifications of our sinning in this temporal life.

God still disciplines and corrects us for our sinning because He loves us. So in this sense, there is punishment for our sinning. But, in the coming reality of final judgment and everlasting damnation, we stand and will stand before God wholly accepted in His Son.

When we read through the New Testament, it’s easy to see how we don’t measure up and occasionally even to be pained by our lack of obedience. At times we may experience feelings of guilt, shame, sadness, regret, and a sense of being overwhelmed by our sin. However, if we find ourselves regularly and continually plagued by the guilt of our conscience, we need to deal with it. To ignore it, attempt to brush it off, blame others, or even excuse it is not the answer to dealing with these feelings. The way we deal with a guilty conscience is to confess our sin.

We are to go about confessing and repenting of our sins daily. Repentance is not a one-time event that took place on the day of our conversion. Repentance is an ongoing lifetime experience for Christians. We must do this knowing what God has done for us in His Son, and this involves progressive sanctification. Sanctification is learning what is pleasing to the Lord. Christians should want to learn what is pleasing to God, and as Christians, we know that sinning does not. Therefore we need to know what God says is sin because sanctification involves confessing our sin. Where there is no confession of sin, we aren’t forgiven, and we are not a believer(1John1:9).

So then, Christians must hold two things in tension. One, we are fully forgiven, and we stand before God wholly accepted in His Son. Second, we are to go about daily confessing our sins, turning from our sins, and repenting of our sins, as we seek to pursue a good, clear conscience in the sight of God. This is the perspective that the New Testament teaches us.

Christian maturity is learning how these two things are both true at the same time, and in this way, we will not be overwhelmed with guilt. We understand that we are justified, we continue to learn what is pleasing to God, and we never take sin lightly. We confess our sins as they occur, and God as our Father, in love, disciplines us for our sins and puts our feet on a safe, firm, and sound pathway. Holding these two things together is the Christian life.

Sinning: Why Can’t I Stop Sinning?

To learn more about these truths discussed in today’s podcast please consider watching or listening to the following sermons from the Word of God, delivered by Dr. Richard Caldwell from the pulpit of Founders Baptist Church, in Spring, Texas:

Describing Repentance By Analogy

A Road Map For Repentance

Gospel Comprehension

Marvel at Your Salvation

The Death That Produces Fruit For God

No Chance to Repent

Confessing Our Sin

Confessing Our Sins – Pts. 1 & 2

True Repentance

The Blessed or The Cursed? – Pts. 1,2,3,4

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What is the Word of Faith movement? Does it teach that Christians are to be healthy, wealthy, and prosperous? Is that biblical? Where is it wrong, and why is it? Is it a sin to have wealth? Does the Bible condemn those who are wealthy?

This week on the Straight Truth Podcast, Dr. Richard Caldwell and host Dr. Josh Philpot discuss these questions as they relate to the teachings of the Word of Faith movement. Just what is the Word of Faith movement? It is not a denomination, has no formal organization, no hierarchy, and no formal creeds or confessions. It is a movement that teaches distorted views of biblical faith. It distorts what the Bible teaches about what it means to walk in faith.

The movement is heavily influenced by teachers who would say they do what they do because God told them to do and say these things. They take verses out of context, name, and claim things which they say, agree with God’s will, concluding that God wants us to be healthy, wealthy, prosperous, and more. They do this based on their false understanding of faith. They say faith is a force, believing spoken words have power. So just as God spoke everything into existence, there is power in our spoken words.

They say God wants His people to speak words that agree with His will and bring things into being and cause things to come to pass. In saying and doing these things, they reveal their belief (their faith) is in the words they use, teaching that spoken words have real effects. But this isn’t biblical, it is not what Scripture teaches.

Dr. Caldwell counters this distorted premise with what the Scriptures teach about faith. Faith is believing God, it has God and His Word as the object of our faith. What God says is true, it’s Him and His words we believe. Nowhere does the Bible, God’s Word, teach that God’s people will always be healthy and wealthy. These teachings by the Word of Faith movement are a distortion of the truth. They have a distorted view of God, the Scriptures, and a distorted view of the Christian life. In contradiction that God desires all men to be wealthy, many scriptural passages warn against greed, selfishness, coveting, the love of money, and idolatry. God’s Word teaches that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Does this mean that being wealthy is a sin and that in having wealth one cannot be saved or will not be saved? Dr. Caldwell says to have wealth is not a sin. Having wealth is not the sin, it’s the wealth having you. This is having money as your ultimate goal, your life’s pursuit, it has your heart. You cannot serve God and money. If your chief desire is for material gain, you are not a God worshipper.

To worship the living God is to know that He is more valuable than anything this world has to offer. His Words are more valuable than even silver or gold. The only One who would ever get any of us to the place where we prefer Christ over anything this world has to offer is God Himself.

It is the Lord who gives wealth and the power to make wealth. So when He brings us to the place where Christ is our treasure, and He has entrusted or entrusts us with material wealth, the wealth does not have us. We see ourselves as stewards of what God has given us, all belonging to Him. Hence it is all at His disposal. Therefore, just as it’s wrong to teach that all believers should be wealthy, it is also wrong to teach that every believer is to divest himself of any or all wealth. The Bible nowhere indicates this teaching either.

The Bible does not condemn wealth nor those who are wealthy, and neither should we. There are certain kinds of ministry work that often only take place because of people who love Jesus and not money. These are people who have the means to invest, and they go forth making use of that money for the kingdom of God.

The issue is not having money but making money your God. What the Word of Faith movement does, it equates godliness with health, wealth, and prosperity. It sees riches as a sign of being blessed by God. It calls us to set our sights and our hearts on that which is temporal, not eternal. It is a distortion of what Scripture teaches and a great sin.

The Fallacy of the Word Of Faith Movement

The presence or absence of money is not the way to measure God’s blessing. As Christians, our hope is in the Lord, not our words, not money, nor even our faith. Our faith comes from God. It is not something we conjure up nor create for ourselves, it is a gift. God is the giver, the object of, and the perfecter of our faith. It is in Him and His Words we believe and trust for our temporal and eternal well-being. To hear and learn more about these truths, consider listening to the following sermons exposited by Dr. Richard Caldwell:

The True Gain of Godliness

True Riches and True Poverty – Pts. 1 & 2

Lessons From a Poor Widow

A Powerful Lesson In Faith

The Faith That Trusts in God

By Grace Through Faith – Pts. 1 & 2

Straight Paths

We Walk By Faith

More Than Money

More Than Bread

The Impossible Possibility

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This week on the Straight Truth podcast Dr. Richard Caldwell and host Dr. Josh Philpot discuss the work of man and the responsibilities a man has as both a husband and father. Biblically speaking, a man has the responsibility to provide, care for, and protect his family. In doing this are there limits a man ought to place on the kind of work he chooses? Some jobs require lots of hours and time commitments. Others place stress on men to achieve certain financial goals or place emphasis on climbing the achievement ladder. Might these kinds of jobs cause a man to become a “workaholic” at the cost of neglecting his responsibilities at home?

Dr. Caldwell discusses the importance of men remembering they have more than one responsibility given to them in the Word of God concerning their family. Man is to work to provide and protect his family, but he is also to be a teacher in his home, called to love his wife and instruct his children. Men might be successful in the financial area and see themselves as good providers for their families. But if they are not spending time with their wife and their children, if they are not loving their wife well and not instructing their children well, then they are failing in God-given areas of responsibility. Men must never feel satisfied when they are achieving in one area if they are neglecting another. A man’s responsibilities are not simply and only to provide financially.

Dr. Caldwell talks with Dr. Philpot about Matthew 6, a text they’ve previously discussed in another podcast. The context of Matthew 6 speaks of things that men are anxious about. It affirms God is the ultimate provider and that men aren’t to be anxious about these things seeing God knows what we need. In verse 33 of chapter 6, Christ calls men to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and in doing so, we can trust that God will provide all these things we need. Dr. Caldwell goes on to say what often drives the “workaholic”, is the sense of satisfaction he finds in his work.

In doing this he feels that he’s in control of the circumstances of providing for his family. Thus he forgets who his provider is. He forgets that the ultimate provider is the Lord and that the Lord calls him to make living for Him preeminent. We are to seek and pursue the things that produce the fruit of godliness, things that belong to the realm of righteousness. It’s not righteous and it’s not godly for men to neglect their wife, their children nor their church. Dr. Caldwell says if your job or work life makes it impossible to pursue righteousness in these God-given areas, then you need to adjust what you’re doing at work.

Dr, Caldwell affirms that God does call us to work hard. He even gives a wonderful example of this that relates to the agrarian culture of biblical times. He explains how people worked hard six days a week and were given one day for rest. Development and advancement in our days have significantly eased these long, hard days of work for our culture, but not removed the necessity of it. So work continues and taking care of families doesn’t mean that men will be home all the time. Men will still have long and often hard days. But at the end of a workday, men still need to have enough left over to invest well in their wives and their children.

Dr. Philpot says that it seems that being removed from the agrarian culture, in modern and developed countries, we have sort of come to a five day work week. How does this compare to the pattern we see that God set forth for the Israelites in the Old Testament?

Dr. Caldwell shares that it sort of speaks to the mindset adjustment about work that we as a culture ought to have. He says that we are given five days to work hard and two days to rest and invest in our families – this is a blessing. We aren’t being overworked by having to work five days a week, nor are families being neglected by men working hard five days a week. We are truly blessed, God has given us ample time to work at both providing and lovingly care in leading our families well.

What’s more important than trying to truncate their work-life is that men realize when they come home that their work hasn’t ended. The work of provision has been taken care of for that day, but the other work and responsibilities that God has assigned still await the days’ completion. Men have been given this role that is servant oriented. They must be prepared to sacrifice, give, and serve their families. The perfect example we have for this is our Lord Jesus Himself, His mindset ought to be that of every man’s. There was a joy that He knew in the work that was set forth before Him. While not the same and not comparable, there is a joy that men can know by being faithful to work hard at all the things God has assigned to them as well.

Man and His Work: The Responsibilities of Man as Husband and Father

Following are sermons preached by Dr. Richard Caldwell, that will help in furthering your understanding of the roles and responsibilities that God has given to men:

The First Husband and Wife

A Christian Marriage

The Context For Christian Parenting

The Beautiful Life and Work

God’s Word & God’s People

God’s Work & Our Work

A Thanksgiving Life

The Call to Endurance

The following link is an additional podcast spoken about in this podcast, along with additional sermon links there:

How Can I Best Lead My Family?

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This week on the Straight Truth podcast Dr. Richard Caldwell and host Dr. Josh Philpot tackle a question received from a listener. Dr. Philpot tells us the question pertains to family leadership. The listener wants to know if Dr. Caldwell can share some useful steps for carrying out responsible actions in family leadership. Dr. Philpot asks Dr. Caldwell if he will address this from the perspective of the man as the head of the family, but also from the place of the woman’s role in that family unit.

Dr. Caldwell explains that the simple answer is the husband is to take all the statements God has given in the Bible about living as a husband and father and live them out in the home. But beyond this what is often missed are the qualifications that are given in the Bible for pastors/elders. Included in those qualifications is the emphasis on a man’s home life. Dr. Caldwell says that every man whether he will ever serve as an elder or pastor, ought to be striving to live an elder qualified life.

The same leadership style, quality, and character that belong to the leader of a home are those that describe and characterize the life of elders and pastors. This would also include what the Apostle Peter says of those leading the church as not lording their position over the church. So the husband as head of the wife and family must lead by example never lording himself over his family. Some of the ways the Bible speaks of doing this is by loving and caring for them, not being harsh or dictatorial, being kind and patient, gentle and peaceable. The husband will lead well by striving to be a good example.

Dr. Caldwell says the wife’s role is to be a helper. Wives need to be encouraged to embrace everything the Bible teaches about being a godly wife. This role includes biblical submission. However, he says, this is not meant to be a voiceless submission. He does not see Peter as teaching the complete silence of the wife. The passage is more likely reminding a woman that her most forceful influence will not be her words, but her example. She is to be a godly helper walking alongside her husband as a wise counselor. A woman will glorify God, and best love her husband and her children when she embraces the role that God has assigned her in the Scriptures.

Dr. Philpot asks about how husbands and wives should react when they don’t, haven’t, and can’t agree on a decision? What should they do when one or the other makes a decision that turns out to be wrong?

Dr. Caldwell shares the example of how he and his wife have worked through these things in their marriage of 36 years. Neither the husband or wife are inerrant, they aren’t perfect and mistakes will be made. But in the end, the husband and father must do his best and a wife must trust that God’s at work even when mistakes are made. It is not an opportunity for either one of them to cease to live out the roles that God has placed them in. Every part of living out the roles that God has given to husbands and wives is about trusting God.

The more we love and sacrifice as unto the Lord, for the Lord’s sake, the more we live together like this, the more we love each other on a personal level. Then when decisions have been made that don’t turn out as planned, we still love each other through our imperfections. We’re able to do this because our Savior is perfect and He’s at work in these situations and circumstances to sanctify both husband and wife.

How Can I Best Lead My Family?

To learn more about approaching family leadership in the manner Dr. Caldwell has discussed in today’s podcast consider studying the biblical passages that relate with him as he exposits them in the following sermons:

God’s Plan for Marriage

Foundations for a Godly Family – Pts. 1 & 2

The Beautiful Life & Marriage – Pts. 1,2,&3

The Temperament of A Godly Leader

A Noble Work

The Husband of One Wife

Above Reproach

The Qualifications of Overseers – Pts. 1 & 2

A Well Managed Home

The Devil & Elder Qualifications

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This week on the Straight Truth podcast, host Dr. Josh Philpot tells us anyone who has been married for any length of time knows that in marriage you will face difficulties and challenges. Sometimes it’s as simple as disagreeing over something small and then getting along despite the disagreement. Knowing these things, could a Christian still choose a spouse that isn’t right for them? If a Christian follows and satisfies all the parameters outlined in Scripture for taking a spouse, is it possible that they may have married the wrong person? This is the focus of this week’s discussion between Dr. Richard Caldwell and host Dr. Josh Philpot.

Dr. Caldwell says the Bible never uses that kind of language or even addresses marriage from that kind of perspective. The standard Scripture sets forth is “only in the Lord”. This is the standard for all Christians who are seeking to be married – someone who is a Christian, walking with Christ, and both ready for marriage. It would be wrong later, after your married, to be thinking you married the wrong person. This is actually very dangerous thinking. The day that you married, that person became the right one. Now, you are called to live in and preserve that marriage in ways that please Christ. Marriage, according to the Scriptures is for a lifetime.

You are either going to be happy or unhappy for a lifetime, but either way, you are going to be together for a lifetime. He goes on to gives lots of food for thought when we begin to think or say things about our marriages like this. He shares that marriage is one of the greatest tools that God uses to sanctify people. He also exhorts us to not use verbal phrases and sayings that he sees as dangerous for our marriages. Saying they aren’t only dangerous, but also unkind and sinful.

Dr. Philpot states that often the words that people express during their difficulties, even introducing the possibility of divorce, all begins with a thought. The very question that’s being discussed for the podcast today is more about thought. Should Christians even be entertaining these kinds of thoughts?

Dr. Caldwell speaking plainly says no, Christians should not be thinking this way. Every bad decision we ever make emanates from the mind. The path that Christians are to pursue is disciplining our thoughts to agree with Scripture. We must go to God’s Word and ask what does the Bible say and teach about marriage. Throughout the Scriptures, God’s standards for marriage do not change. What we find in His Word is what God commands and demands of us in that union. We must shut any doors of our minds that have been opened to disagreeing with the Word of God. Our minds must be disciplined to agree with the Scriptures. When we don’t, we are standing on very dangerous ground.

Dr. Philpot asks if marriages would be stronger if both parties in the marriage committed themselves to be content in the Lord. Shouldn’t we be finding joy and happiness in life through knowing and belonging to Christ, rejoicing in the good things in life we get to experience just because of God’s goodness towards us, instead of dwelling on thoughts that only make us miserable, and lead to more misery?

Dr. Caldwell agrees that this is ought to be our pursuit. He shares that one of the best things couples can do for their marriage relationship is to live the Christian life at home. We can take the general teachings of Scripture about Christian life and bring them into our home and live them out there before each other and the Lord. Dr. Caldwell gives an example from Philippians 4 and explains how it holds true in marriage. He also gives examples of exercises he uses when counseling those with marriage issues, relating that these are often helpful in changing people’s point of view.

Something he’s noticed, especially with those having extended conflict in marriage, is that we forget how blessed we are, we forget what we are thankful for in the other person, we neglect to remember. Our thought life not only leads to wrong thinking and wrong speaking, but it also leads to wrong behaviors and actions. In not remembering, we actually starve the other person from the knowledge of how much we love them.

Have I Married the Wrong Person?

Knowing and understanding God’s design, purposes and goals for marriage will help us know we haven’t married the wrong person. Right thinking and understanding of God’s commands and demands for marriage will help us pursue the will of God in the relationship, no matter how difficult or challenging. To learn more about biblical marriage and how to honor God in marriage, consider listening to the following sermons by Dr. Richard Caldwell:

The Priority, Qualities, and Permanence of Biblical Love – Series on 1 Cor. 13:1-8

A Love the Christian Must Reject

Commanded to Love

Foundational Matters for a Healthy Marriage

Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage Series

Difficult Marriages – Pts. 1 & 2

Dealing With Disobedience in Marriage – Pts. 1 & 2

Applying the Principles

Also consider this previous podcast along with the additional sermons that are linked there:

The Keys For a Successful Marriage

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This week on the Straight Truth Podcast, Dr. Richard Caldwell and host Dr. Josh Philpot discuss the discipline of children, specifically the often controversial use of physical discipline through spanking. Verses in the book of Proverbs speak of using a rod for disciplining. Are these verses instructing parents in spanking their children? Since these verses are in the Old Testament are they even applicable to Christians? Are there New Testament passages that affirm and confirm discipline by spanking? Aren’t we teaching our children to hit and that hitting is okay by spanking them? Therefore, is spanking appropriate?

Dr. Caldwell begins by stating he believes these kinds of questions are asked because we do not rightly conceive what physical discipline with children should look like. He shares with us that some would say the passages that use the word rod in the book of Proverbs are emblematic. Hence it’s only a metaphor for right guidance, instruction, and teaching, so the Bible isn’t really teaching a physical discipline. Quoting Proverbs 23:13-14, he explains how this just isn’t the case. He next tells us that taking biblical teaching as a whole and practicing sanctified common sense will help us know what physical discipline is meant for and for what it is not.

We are taught to love our children, not to exasperate them, and not to be harsh but to be gentle towards them. We’re commanded to bring up our children in the admonition of the Lord, teaching and instructing them in the ways of God all day, every day. So the main component in the training of our children is verbal instruction. But when they violate the will of their parents and do it in a way that is rebellious and challenging of their authority, then there is a place, not only for verbal discipline but also for physical discipline to restrain their disobedience. The reason for this – it’s about teaching our children that disobedience brings painful consequences.

Dr. Caldwell gives instructions about how parents should approach physical discipline with their children. Reminding us of the importance that spanking should never be reactive, but proactive, never in anger but always in love. He assures us if we follow these guidelines we will not be teaching our children to hit, nor that hitting is okay. In the physical disciplining of our children, we are teaching them that there are consequences for disobedience.

The spiritual element of this is that there are deadly consequences for sin. As we discipline our children early on we rescue them serious and painful consequences that increase as sin increases. If we love and care about our children’s soul there is a component to restraining evil that takes place as we aim to shepherd their heart. We pray for our children to learn what the Psalmist in Psalm 23 says about God’s rod and staff bringing comfort to him.

Lastly, Dr. Caldwell says it’s true to say that these passages that have been mentioned are all from the Old Testament. But there are passages of Scripture in the New Testament that reflect back on and even echo the Old Testament concept of discipline and they make the same application. One passage that is more clear that others is Hebrews 12. Here it discusses the discipline of the Lord; the text makes clear that God chastises every son whom He receives. The word that is used there, in the discipline process, chastises, is the word for scourging (12:6). The text goes on to speak of discipline as painful in the moment it’s administered, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness(12:11).

Dr. Caldwell tells us that this world is full of its own punishments and that sin is its own worst avenger. We want to spare our children from this by loving them with both instruction and discipline. This will, at times, include physical discipline, for both the consequence of disobedience and for the restraining of evil. For as Hebrews 12:10 says, God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness, the holiness without which no one will see the Lord(Heb. 12:14).

How Parents Should Approach Physical Discipline

If you’d like to learn more about parenting, raising children up in the admonition of the Lord, and godly discipline, consider listening to the following sermons from the Word of God exposited by Dr. Caldwell:

Parents and Children

Christian Parents – Pt. 1 & Pt. 2

Children and Parents

No Chance To Repent

God’s Word For The Weary

The Lord is My Shepherd

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Matthew 6:33 tells us, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” What is meant by this saying? What exactly are we to be seeking? What is the kingdom of God in this passage? What is it that will be added to us in our seeking? How will we know that we have received it? These are the topics of this week’s Straight Truth Podcast. Dr. Richard Caldwell and host Dr. Josh Philpot take up and discuss these questions and more as they relate to Jesus’ words from the sermon on the mount found in Matthew chapter 6.

Dr. Caldwell tells us that the kingdom of God is used in more than one sense in the scriptures. The context in which these words occur will always be key to help us understand the meaning. Here, in Matthew 6, it speaks of that which pleases God. We are called to prioritize and strive after that which would advance God’s will on the earth. Specifically, in this section of Scripture, what’s been discussed are temporal things that all people need. These are things that people worry about and become anxious over as they live their lives here on earth.

What our Lord is saying is that as children of the kingdom, we don’t have to be anxious about these things because our heavenly Father knows what we need. Jesus, our Lord, Master, and King, points us to that which is eternal and on that which our emphasis should be placed. We are to seek to please God first and foremost. As we go about our daily living for Him, we then need not worry about these temporal things, we can trust God to provide the things we need for existing here on the earth.

Dr. Philpot asks about the person who would come along and say, I’ve done this all my life from the time of my conversion. Further telling us, they’ve been faithful to seek the Lord in this way, yet things have been difficult. Things have not turned out better for them and everything continues to be a struggle. What can be said to this person?

Dr. Caldwell says it’s important to distinguish between what we think we need and what our heavenly Father knows we need. What we are promised in this and other texts is that He knows what we need even before we ask. Our asking comes by way of prayer. Prayer is a means that God uses as He supplies for us. However, not everything we ask for is what we need. There are times that God withholds things from His children. In this passage, we’re taught that it’s in having food and clothing we are to be content.

We must learn and have contentment so that we can be discerning when we don’t receive that for which we have asked. What this comes down to is knowing the character of God. Questions we need to consider are: Do I know God? Do I know His character? Do I know that He loves me? Do I know that He is good? Do I know that He’s the perfect Father? Knowing these things, can I, therefore, trust that whatever I need I will have and that if I don’t have it, I don’t need it?

Dr. Philpot tells us it’s in this very same chapter that Jesus also says, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…”. Is there a sense here then, that we are not to be so fixated on what we need today? How can we practically understand and apply this?

Dr. Caldwell explains that if we don’t trust our Father to supply for us then we think it’s our jobs to supply for ourselves. What this often results in is the hoarding up in this temporal realm, instead of having the freedom to serve God well, which would include acts of generosity, sharing, and giving. So then part of pursuing the kingdom of God first includes meeting the needs of other people, sometimes in the material realm. This is a way of being rich toward God and others.

But we can’t live our lives in this sort of fearless abandonment if we believe it’s our job to take care of ourselves. However, this is not to say that the Bible doesn’t teach and call us to wise financial management, good stewardship, and to save and prepare for the future.

But the point is that we will lose the context for all of these things if we don’t trust our heavenly Father. We will end up obsessing over what we think is safety in material things instead of recognizing that our only real safety is in the hands of God. We don’t have to be afraid. We can be free to be generous, to give, and to invest in ministry knowing that our God cares for us and knows exactly what we need.

What Do the Words – the Kingdom of God – Mean?

Matthew chapter 6 is about being brought into the kingdom of God, knowing our heavenly Father, and having the whole of our lives transformed. It teaches us that knowing our heavenly Father is key to living in the kingdom of God. The difference this makes in our lives will be between living for ourselves and living for the glory of God. If you’d like to learn more about these things discussed in today’s podcast consider listening to the following sermons by Dr. Richard Caldwell:

Trusting In the Trustworthy God

The Fear Free Life

Words to Worriers Pt.1 & Pt.2

Christian Contentment Pt.1 & Pt.2

Understanding the Kingdom

Fearless Expectations

Biblical Giving

Four Fruits of Biblical Giving

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This week on the Straight Truth Podcast, Dr. Richard Caldwell and host Dr. Josh Philpot discuss the topic of biblical contradictions. Contradictions are where parts of a text seem to say the opposite of what is said in another part. When reading the Bible people often come across certain verses or passages that seem to contradict each other. On the face of it, one set of verses says one thing and then another set appears to say something entirely opposite. How does one reconcile these difficult passages of Scripture? How do we answer supposed Bible contradictions?

Dr. Philpot tells us the specific question this week relates to 1 Timothy 6:13-16 and Exodus 24:9-11. The verses in Timothy tell us that no one has ever seen or can see God and those in Exodus say, Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, along with seventy elders of Israel saw the God of Israel. These texts seem contradictory, contradicting each other and even other texts which describe various people “seeing” God. Throughout the Old Testament and the New Testament, we find several verses like these that seem to contradict each other. We know what the verses say is true, but there still appears to be a real contradiction. How do we understand these verses?

Dr. Caldwell explains that these people saw God to the extent that God wanted them to see Him, but they didn’t see Him in all His fullness. God manifested His presence in such a way that was real and tangible to them, but not in a way that revealed His full glory and holiness.

In Exodus 33 Moses asks to see God’s glory, but God tells Moses, “you cannot see my face, for man cannot see me and live.” Man is tainted by sin, in our fallen condition we cannot see God in His perfect righteousness and go on living. Therefore He veils Himself and appears in ways that men can see Him and still go on existing without being consumed. So then it’s not inaccurate for the text to say they saw God.

Dr. Philpot tells us that when someone thinks they’ve found a contradiction in the Bible, often there is a misunderstanding of the context of a passage. He reminds us that in this particular passage of Scripture and in others, it’s not even the face of God that’s described, it’s other things. In the passages that he mentions, it’s the surrounding text that helps us to understand what these people have seen- it’s only a limited manifestation of God. So relying on the surrounding context is important, yet we also see how other Scripture helps to interpret Scripture.

Dr. Caldwell tells us when you believe the Bible’s message about itself, you’ll find that every so-called contradiction has answers. He says that we must be willing to look at these issues closely and fair-mindedly. If the Bible seems to contradict itself, we want to find an explanation, we want to be able to reconcile the differences we see. Using Scripture as our guide to interpret itself helps us to gain clarity and understanding. This requires both careful reading and studying.  He assures us there are solutions. There are reasonable ways to solve these difficulties that are not forced nor dishonest.

Dr. Philpot states that from Scripture, we know that God is Spirit and does not have a body like a man. But, we are also told in Scripture that Jesus is the image of the invisible God, and in Him, all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell. We are told that Jesus is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature. The Apostle John, speaking of Jesus in John 1:14 says, “and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” So then don’t we see God clearly in the face of Christ, people saw Jesus’ face and lived?

Dr. Caldwell reminds us that when Moses desired to see God’s glory, it was God’s goodness that passed before him as He proclaimed His name to him. Moses could not see God’s face and live, but God did reveal something of His glory to Moses. So when we think about God’s glory, it’s who God is. It’s His character. So while it is true that God’s glory is revealed in Christ, but even there it was veiled in human flesh, think- mount of transfiguration. Namely, how we see God’s glory in the person of Christ is by His character and attributes being displayed through Jesus’ life. But in the sense of seeing God fully, we have not.

Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8) but even after His resurrection and ascension, Paul tells us, ‘for now we see dimly, but then face to face’(1 Cor. 13:12a). Hence this promise still remains for the people of God. It is yet a future continuous reality that the last book and chapter of the Bible confirms: “They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever” (Rev.22:4-5). He will be our God and we will be His people; we will live forever in His presence worshipping and rejoicing in Him, face to face.

Debunking So-called Biblical Contradictions.

To hear more on topics addressed in this weeks podcast consider listening to the following sermons exposited by Dr. Richard Caldwell from the Word of God:

The Seriousness of the Ministry

The Glory of the Incarnate Word

Why Christians Love Each Other

Seeing Jesus

The Glory of the King

Hope & Holiness

The New Jerusalem

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Is the coronavirus like a biblical plague? Is there a connection or relation to sin? Is God judging all the earth with the coronavirus? If not, what is God doing in allowing Covid19 to take place?

This week on the Straight Truth Podcast, Dr. Richard Caldwell and host Dr. Josh Philpot discuss the current pandemic that we find ourselves both living through and dying as a result of. Dr. Philpot brings these concerning questions to Dr. Caldwell. He also asks how should we be thinking as we seek to protect ourselves, our families, and others as we go through something we’ve never experienced on such a global level, nor in our lifetimes.

Dr. Caldwell shares that in the Word of God calamity and destruction are often tied to the hand of God. So the first thoughts he has when it comes to Covid19 and other things like it are yes, God is involved. If we think that God is not actively involved, then we are thinking wrongly. God is involved with all that is taking place. Nothing happens in this world that God doesn’t have a plan for; God is sovereign in and over all things. There is not a single stray atom in this universe.

We are Living in a World That is Fallen

What’s important to remember is that we are living in a world that is fallen. When Adam fell in sin, there was a curse pronounced not only upon mankind but also upon creation itself. The Bible teaches us that this world we live in is living out its existence in corruption. Dr. Caldwell reads from Romans 8:18-21 showing us that these verses confirm this truth. Here it reveals that as Christians we can expect to suffer as we live out our lives on the earth during the present age.

We will deal with pain, suffering, and even death. But also here, the Apostle Paul shows that creation itself expresses futility, being a result of the fall and sin. Therefore in this world, we will see diseases, earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding, tornados, etc. These are all expressions of this world that is subject to that curse. So we shouldn’t be surprised as believers when we also experience many of the heartaches, difficulties, and sufferings that are part of the fall and the curse. We all await with great eagerness the day when the Lord Jesus Christ returns. On that day, the sons of God will be revealed and we will enter into a brand new era in which these things are no longer true.

Dr. Philpot comments that as Dr. Caldwell shared this, Genesis 3 came to mind. The wording there, where God speaks to Adam in the garden after he has sinned, is “cursed is the ground because of you.” So he asks if Dr. Caldwell is saying that one of the consequences of the fall and ongoing sin, is that the whole earth is cursed in such a way that brings about calamities and futility like this?

This World Reflects The Fall

Dr. Caldwell affirms that this is so. Telling us that this world reflects that fall, we are not living in a paradise. Adam and Eve were placed into the paradise that God made, where He saw all that He made, and it was very good. But for us this is not paradise, we are living in a jungle, a wilderness of sorts where all things are not good. We live in a very deadly, dangerous realm. However, our comfort should come from the fact that in the midst of this, God had all of our days written down in His book before we ever had one of them.

We are absolutely safe in the hand of God until the day comes that He is finished with our existence on this side of eternity. Nothing will cut our life short of a single day that God has planned for us, be it a hurricane or Covid19. We do not need to live our lives in fear, we can trust God who is sovereign.

Dr. Philpot shares that during this crisis he has been thinking about Amos 3:6. This verse says “Does disaster come to a city unless the Lord has done it?” (Amos 3:6bESV). He says to Dr. Caldwell that he seems to be saying that this virus is the Lord’s work and that faithful Christians need to have a theology that accounts for this. But what about the person who doesn’t have this, where are they left?

A Constant Sense of Anxiety

Dr. Caldwell explains that they are left making no sense of the world. They either have no understanding of God’s explanation for why the world is the way it is or they just reject it. In this way, they are not able to make sense of what happens. They will live with a constant sense of anxiety because they believe they are in charge or in control of their own safety, wellbeing, and all the rest. However, he also says we would be wrong to pretend we have all knowledge and understanding of what God is doing and why He is allowing something to take place. It may or may not be for judgment, we cannot say. But, to think that we do not deserve judgment and to think that we will never meet with judgment from the hand of God would be misguided.

Lastly, Dr. Philpot discusses what churches are doing during this time and how there are lots of thoughts on how to go about having church when you can’t assemble. He shares that Founders Baptist Church is doing a single live service on Sunday mornings that is broadcast on SermonAudio, Facebook, and YouTube. They also hold weekly zoom meetings for ABF classes and for men’s and women’s bible studies. Yet, how does a pastor go about shepherding God’s people through a situation like this?

Dr. Caldwell explains that there’s a sense in which this preparation began long ago. The best way you can prepare the people of God to face any kind of crisis is by continually feeding the congregation with the Word of God. It’s the Word of God that stabilizes the people of God. As we learn the Word of God, we grow up. We grow into maturity, we grow into the image of Christ who is our Lord and Savior. Then as mature children of God, we are not tossed around to and fro by every wind of doctrine, we are stabilized and stand firm in the truth. So what you do then in times like this is remind the congregation of what they know, what they’ve been taught, and what they should believe.

We go about living out the Word of God, seeking to abide in and by it. This includes respecting the governing authorities over us, so long as we are not being asked to violate God’s Word. We try to normalize ministry as much as we can, while we remind people that our God is good and that He is in control. We go on believing and obeying His Word, on a personal level, in our families, and as a congregation, as we go through the crisis.

Coronavirus, The Hand of God at Work or Something Else?

To gain a deeper understanding of God’s sovereignty and the importance of knowing that He is, consider listening to the following sermons exposited by Dr. Richard Caldwell from the Word of God:

The Sovereignty of God

Sovereignty & Urgency

The Providence of God

The Judge of All the Earth

The Fear Free Life

Patience Under Trial – Parts 1 & 2

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