A Discussion of The Great Divide: A Lutheran Evaluation of Reformed Theology

Last updated on: January 6, 2016 at 3:54 pm By Jordan Cooper

On today’s program, I discussed a number of issues surrounding my book The Great Divide: A Lutheran Evaluation of Reformed Theology. I talked about the variety of perspectives within the Reformed tradition, and the impossibility of explaining the Reformed tradition through one particular school of thought. Here is the program. Update: At one point in the program, I mentioned, regarding Mark Jones, that he considers Tullian and Horton to be influenced by antinomianism. Jones has corrected this assertion by pointing... Read more

Do Proponents of Other Abrahamic Faiths Worship the Same God? The Answer is Not in Philosophy but in the Distinction Between Law and Gospel

Last updated on: January 10, 2016 at 6:12 am By nathanrinne

Post by Nathan Rinne Note: this is my third post on this issue. The first one, “Wheaton Professor’s Suspension Is Not About Anti-Muslim Bigotry: a Response to Miroslav Volf and Others” (this one is shorter and quite direct), is here, and the second, “When Christians Say “Idolatry”, It Is – or Should Be – Because of Love: Another Appeal to Miroslav Volf” (this one is a bit more challenging), is here. This third post will necessarily be the most nuanced, detailed,... Read more

Question and Answer Program (December 2015)

Last updated on: December 31, 2015 at 3:38 pm By Jordan Cooper

On today’s program, I answered a variety of listener questions on a large number of topics. I discussed liturgy, original sin, my favorite theologians, and much more. Here is the program. Read more

This New Year’s, Consider Becoming Perfect in Jesus Christ

Last updated on: December 31, 2015 at 8:13 am By nathanrinne

Post by Nathan Rinne “Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well-pleased” (Luke 3:22). Actually, this post should be titled “How Could Jesus Christ, Being Sinless Man, Increase in Favor with God?”, but we do get to New Year’s resolutions at the end…. In Luke 2:52, it says “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” (NIV). The ESV, however, has “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor... Read more

Confession and Absolution (A Guide to the Liturgy Part 2)

Last updated on: December 22, 2015 at 2:05 pm By Jordan Cooper

On today’s program, I continued my series on Lutheran liturgy. I spent the hour discussing confession and absolution. I looked at the Old Testament liturgical basis for this aspect of worship, differences in how this practice is done, and the place of confession and absolution within the structure of the Divine Service. Here is the program. Read more

Wheaton Professor’s Suspension Is Not About Anti-Muslim Bigotry: a Response to Miroslav Volf and Others

Last updated on: December 18, 2015 at 3:55 pm By nathanrinne

Post by Nathan Rinne Do Muslims and Christians, as Pope Francis re-asserted last week, worship the same God? After the recent suspension of Wheaton college professor Larycia Alaine Hawkins, for her explanation[i] of why she is wearing a hijab during Advent to show solidarity with Islam, this topic is on many people’s minds. As we confessional Lutherans like to say, there arise moments in the church’s life where giving a clear confession is essential. This is called being in “statu... Read more

The Call (Jacobs Study)

Last updated on: December 10, 2015 at 3:25 pm By Jordan Cooper

On today’s program, I was joined once again by Rev. Lewis Polzin to discuss the call of God as we continue going through Henry Eyster Jacobs’ book A Summary of the Christian Faith. Here is the program. Read more

Does “Non-Denominational” Now Mean “Hermeneutical Democracy”?

Last updated on: December 8, 2015 at 6:28 am By nathanrinne

Post by Nathan Rinne First of all, what is a “hermeneutical democracy”? The popular blogger Rod Dreher recently talked about an article by Abilene Christian University professor Richard Beck. In the article, Beck points out the complexity that lies behind the word “Protestant”, and urges Protestants to own the fact that they “have never agreed on what the Bible says.” Rod Dreher goes on to say: Beck goes on to make what I think is a solid point: that what... Read more

2 Peter 3:9 Does Not Teach Particular Redemption

Last updated on: December 5, 2015 at 12:22 pm By Jordan Cooper

Lutheran theologians contend that the principles of salvation sola gratia (by grace alone), and universalis gratia (universal grace) stand together within the Biblical text. God’s salvation and election are freely granted; God’s grace is given without condition. Yet, God’s grace is not limited to a particular group. God’s saving will embraces all of his creation. We thus affirm the Calvinistic belief monergism, while simultaneously affirming the Arminian commitment to universal grace. Calvinism has embraced sola gratia at the expense of... Read more

A Review of Jesus Calling

Last updated on: December 1, 2015 at 9:22 pm By Jordan Cooper

On my program today, I was joined by my wife Lisa Cooper. We talked about the popular women’s devotional book Jesus Calling. We addressed a number of issues including enthusiasm, passive righteousness, law and gospel, Scripture, and much more. This is an important program for Christian women to listen to. Here is the program Read more