The Dominion Podcast

One of the greatest temptations of God's people has always been to 'blend' the values, priorities, and worship of their God with the worship of cultural 'gods'. This is called syncretism.

The blending of cultural values and worship with Christian values and worship produces 'cultural' Christianity. 

This cultural Christianity is a counterfeit, and must be rejected. 

Join us as we discuss the unique ditches of Canadian culture, and how they have shaped the Church. 

One of the constant temptations for God's people has always been to blend the values, practises, and worship of the surrounding culture with the Christian faith.

This is the danger of syncretism.

Compliance as an inherent good is a Canadian value. But it is not a biblical virtue. 

In fact, there can be no meaningful discipleship without daily, moment-by-moment non-compliance. 

Many Canadian Christians don't realize how they have been more shaped by the values of the surrounding culture than Scripture. This is especially true when we think about non-compliance. 

However, Paul tells us not to be conformed to the world, but transformed by the renewing of our minds (Rom 12:1-2). 

This means, on the ground, adopting a posture and practise of non-compliance. 

This week, Jeremy and Alex discuss the nature and reality of persecution against Christians. Jesus promised his people that they, like him, would be persecuted. 

Oddly, many North American Christians are eager to deny the reality of persecution against the church. This is likely owing to a naive, romantic and privileged perspective on persecution. 

We discuss several false assumptions people have about persecutions, and what Scripture actually teaches. 

We need to acknowledge the reality of persecution so that we can be faithful through it. 

All of human existence in a fallen world involves risk. We must, therefor, learn to live faithfully  in a dangerous world.

In our privileged culture, many people have adopted the ideology of 'safetyism', which assumes we can (and should) avoid all risk, no matter how minuscule. 

This irrational, reductionistic and hysteric way of thinking is very dangerous to human flourishing.

Safetyism only acknowledges certain risks, and certain needs, at the expense of all others. 

Ultimately, it is a selfish, self-protective, fear-filled and foolish posture. It causes great harm, and should be confronted with the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

The Gospel frees us to live a life of self-giving, wisdom, and the fear of the Lord. We can assess all risks rationally, and recognize the complexity of human needs. 

Where have all the dudes gone? 

Our world is facing a crisis of masculinity. A big reason we are in the mess we are is because we don't have men who joyfully assume sacrificial responsibility.  If we are to fulfill our task of living under the rule of Christ, and ruling over creation in His name, we need a recovery of biblical masculinity. 

The task of glorifying God, by living under His rule, and ruling over creation in His name, cannot be completed alone. 

We need friends. 

In an increasingly isolated world, filled with followers and fans, we have fewer and fewer meaningful friendships. 

Join Jeremy and Alex as they discuss a biblical vision for friendship, especially amongst men. 

Flourishing as humans, and fulfilling our God-given responsibilities, requires us to know how to rest. This is because God, in whose image we were created, rested. 

Join Jeremy and Alex as they discuss the crucial biblical doctrine and practise of rest. 

This week Alex and Jeremy discuss the central role of work to human flourishing. This reality is ultimately owing to the fact that God works, and He has created us in His image and given us work to do. 

In the past year, the world has experienced restrictions to human freedoms on a scale that has, perhaps, never been experienced before.

Just as concerning as these restrictions to human freedom is the response to the restrictions, or lack thereof. 

Often, advocating for human freedom is viewed as fundamentally selfish; even dangerous to the greater good. But this betrays a profoundly unbelieving and regressive view of human flourishing, and the role freedom plays in that. 

Sadly, the Church in Canada has often perpetuated the lie that we can love our neighbour by robbing them of their liberty. This is unbiblical, unloving, and historically naive folly. 

The Gospel, however, is the foundational solution to all slavery, and produces the kinds of people who love their neighbour enough to care about their freedom, even if it is costly to themselves. 

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This week Alex and Jeremy are joined by Benjamin Inglis. We discuss various philosophical, theological, and practical topics associated with COVID, and how we must fight to keep our humanity in a world gone mad. 

Ultimately, the past year has revealed profound 'cracks' in the materialistic worldview most of our culture adopts, and Christians have a wonderful opportunity to share the hope of Christ with a hopeless world. 

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The following resources have been very helpful to us, and we expect they would be to you as well:

'Cancelling Love in the Name of Love' (Peter J. Leithart): 
https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2021/02/canceling-love-in-the-name-of-love?fbclid=IwAR0CAz75NpCNB1jwmiBMq-Qsnc503DZLBnfmk-nutUvb5pKTnG-HDLJ1fVw

'Christian Liberty Versus Lockdownism' (Dr. Joe Boot):
https://www.ezrainstitute.ca/resource-library/articles/christian-liberty-versus-lockdownism/