I was joined by psychotherapist and Unitarian Universalist lay minister for a bit of an experiment on the Sin Boldly Program. Patti Henry joined me to discuss a number of topics, but it really ended up only being one interesting article about a Roman Catholic priest who came out as gay to his congregation – to a standing ovation. Patti is admittedly to my left, so there was quite a bit of back and forth. This may be a regular feature of the show, if KPFT is interested. We shall see! For now, the goal was to have a bit more built-in debate.
Why the name “Sin Boldly”? Martin Luther wrote to his friend Philip Melanchthon in 1521: “If you are a preacher of mercy, do not preach an imaginary but the true mercy. If the mercy is true, you must therefore bear the true, not an imaginary sin. God does not save those who are only imaginary sinners. Be a sinner, and let your sins be strong [sin boldly], but let your trust in Christ be stronger, and rejoice in Christ who is the victor over sin, death, and the world.” To sin boldly, therefore, is not to seek unholy living, but to follow the course we believe the Bible demands even if the world is against us. And if and when we sin, trust in an even greater savior.
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Dr. Danusha Goska joins me for a second time on the show, this time to look at her lengthy essay on whether or not the Nazis were influenced by Christianity. It is often claimed that 2,000 years of Christian anti-Semitism led (inevitably) to the horrors of the Holocaust. Without whitewashing much evil committed by those who called themselves Christian, Dr. Goska looks at all the other influences that led to such evil.
I was delighted to be joined by Dr. Richard C. Leonard to discuss some articles he had written defending the Prosperity Gospel. In truth, it has been hard for me to find someone willing to defend the Prosperity Gospel, so I really appreciate him coming on and arguing for it. My main contention is that neither a “Prosperity” Gospel or a “Poverty” Gospel are THE Gospel. I think you’ll find the exchange respectful and interesting.
Pastor Tom Baker, a man whose teaching I have admired for years, joins me on this episode to discuss his speciality: the Lutheran understanding of Law and Gospel. Luther said that “The person who can rightly divide Law and Gospel has reason to thank God. He is a true theologian.” Pr. Baker joins me to look at the Lutheran distinctives in understanding Law and Gospel. You’ll love this teaching.
Matt Chandler of The Village Church in DFW recently gave a sermon expressing his desire that the Village Church would embrace the Charismatic gifts, presumably of prophecy, healing and tongues. I reviewed the sermon and the issues behind it.