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theology that faithfully summarizes its teachings.
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- 169Paradox in Christian TheologyThe Christ the Center panel recently met with Dr. James Anderson, assistant professor of theology and philosophy at the Charlotte campus of Reformed Theological Seminary, and author of Paradox in Christian Theology, to talk about his book. The discussion covered the basic thrust of the book, involving the presence and legitimacy of paradox (defined as a “merely apparent contradiction resulting from unarticulated equivocation”). Dr. Anderson discussed his two examples of paradox, the Trinity and the incarnation, along with his use and nuancing of Alvin Plantinga’s warrant model of epistemology. Additionally the panel discussed Dr. Anderson’s chapter in the John Frame festschrift Speaking the Truth in Love and whether multiperspectivalism is relativistic as is sometimes said. Participants: Camden Bucey, James Anderson, Jared Oliphint, Jonathan Brack, Nick Batzig
- 170The Preaching of the ScripturesThe Christ the Center panel, ably augmented by Glen Clary, pastor of Immanuel Orthodox Presbyterian Church of West Collingswood, NJ, had the privilege of sitting down and chatting with Dr. Hughes Oliphant Old, the John H. Leith Professor of Reformed Theology and Worship at Erskine Theological Seminary and dean of its Institute for Reformed Worship, about his latest book, volume seven in the profoundly learned and helpful series The Reading and the Preaching of the Scriptures in the Worship of the Christian Church. While the conversation included discussion of various types of preaching and the oral (versus written) form of preaching, the focus of the conversation was on the importance of lectio continua or the consecutive exposition of Scripture, book by book, chapter by chapter, verse by verse. Christ the Center is pleased to offer this episode as a reminder to us all of the centrality of preaching, especially preaching as worship. Participants: Camden Bucey, Glen Clary, Hughes Oliphant Old, Jeff Waddington
- 171The Westminster AssemblyThe Christ the Center panel was joined by Dr. Chad Van Dixhoorn, associate pastor of Grace OPC in Vienna, VA and senior research fellow at Wolfson College, University of Cambridge, to talk about the historical background and context of the Westminster Assembly and the documents that came from that body as well as learning about the Westminster Assembly Project with which Dr. Van Dixhoorn is associated. The conversation was enjoyable, informative, and edifying. A rare combination indeed. Participants: Camden Bucey, Chad Van Dixhoorn, Jeff Waddington, Nick Batzig
- 172RepublocratCarl Trueman visits the program to discuss his much anticipated book Republocrat: Confessions of a Liberal Conservative. Relishing the outsider role, Englishman Trueman provides a helpful critique regarding the current state of American politics. With sections devoted to the lost liberal cause, personality cults, and FoxNews, to name a few, this book is as enjoyable as it is insightful. The foreword by Peter Lillback sets the stage for this sharp, yet humorous work. Republocrat will be available from the Westminster Bookstore. Participants: Camden Bucey, Carl Trueman, Jared Oliphint, Jonathan Brack
- 173The Unwavering Resolve of Jonathan EdwardsNick Batzig, Josh Walker and Michael Dewalt talked with Dr. Steve Lawson, senior pastor of Christ Fellowship Baptist Church in Mobile, Alabama, about his book The Unwavering Resolve of Jonathan Edwards. Dr. Lawson is the author of several books including Famine in the Land, Foundations of Grace, and The Expository Genius of John Calvin. Several of these works are published in Reformation Trust’s Long Line Profiles series. In The Unwavering Resolve of Jonathan Edwards, Dr. Lawson gives consideration to the way in which Edwards’ zeal for the glory of God guided his intellectual attainments. The greatness of Edwards did not ultimately lie in his intellectual genius, rather it was the spiritual and eternal mindedness with which he pursued. Related Books Steve Lawson Foundations of Grace: a Long Line of Glody Men Steve Lawson The Expository Genius of John Calvin John Calvin Institutes of the Christian Religion John Piper A God Entranced Vision of All Things Participants: Josh Walker, Michael DeWalt, Nick Batzig, Steve Lawson
- 174Technology and the Christian LifeDr. David P. Murray is Professor of Old Testament and Practical Theology at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Dr. Murray speaks about his latest endeavors in media and theology. Dr. Murray has started a DVD series that deals with such subjects as “Christian parents training their children in the right use of media,” and a series on “Covenant Theology.” Information about his projects are available at the website Head, Heart, Hand. David also blogs at a Posterous blog titled Head, Heart, Hand and co-hosts the Connected Kingdom podcast with Tim Challies. Joel Beeke at Independent Presbyterian Church in Savannah, GA (8/21/2010 – 8/22/2010) Puritan Reformed Conference Heidelberg Conference on Reformed Theology post image from washingtonydc Participants: Camden Bucey, David Murray, Michael DeWalt, Nick Batzig
- 175Country and Gospel MusicReformed Media Review had the privilege of interviewing Don Reid, former lead singer of the award winning country music group the Statler Brothers, about his involvement in that group and his more recent work as an author. Especially of interest was Don’s insights into the relationship of country and gospel music. Our listeners will be especially interested to learn that Don Reid is also a long standing ruling elder and Sunday School teacher in his home church in Staunton, VA. Jeff Waddington was more than ably assisted by Michael Dewalt, Dr. Stephen Nichols of Lancaster Bible College and Graduate School and Dr. Russell Moore of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. Participants: Don Reid, Jeff Waddington, Michael DeWalt, Russell Moore, Stephen J. Nichols
- 176The AtonementGabe Fluhrer on the lasting importance of Christ’s act of penal substitutionary atonement. Gabe has recently edited Atonement, a collection of writings and sermons from J.I. Packer, Sinclair Ferguson, and several others on this critical doctrine. Participants: Camden Bucey, Gabe Fluhrer, Jared Oliphint, Jeff Waddington
- 177New Media and the Technological FrontierThe Church stands at the beginning of a new technological frontier. Along with great opportunities come new challenges. Today the panel discusses mobile applications, intellectual property, and exciting news regarding Reformed Forum. Participants: Camden Bucey, Jared Oliphint, Jonathan Brack
- 178Christian EducationChrist the Center interviews Daniel Kunkle, Bible teacher at Phil-Mont Christian Academy. The panel discusses Christian education and the issues involved in teaching secondary education from a Reformed perspective. Dan has been a Bible teacher, among other subjects, at Phil-Mont Christian Academy since 1979. He attends Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, has taught education courses in the area for a number of years, and has also taught courses in Christian Education for Westminster Theological Seminary. Outline of Topics History of Phil-Mont Christian Academy The Bible department Curriculum in Bible classes Philosophy of education and the Christian school’s role within the broader culture The Christian school in relation to the family and church Communicating theology to students of various ages and backgrounds Education and special needs students Technology and education post photo by davidrn Participants: Camden Bucey, Daniel Kunkle, Jared Oliphint, Jonathan Brack, Michael DeWalt
- 179The Theology of B.B. WarfieldFred Zaspel is the author of the soon to be released volume on the theology of B.B. Warfield, published by Crossway titled The Theology of B.B. Warfield: A Systematic Summary. He has also authored a recent timely article in Themelios on Warfield’s take on evolution. We discuss the background of his interest in Warfield, the great Princeton theologian’s take on evolution, and what we can learn from him today. From Crossway: Fred G. Zaspel has spent many years studying Warfield’s published and unpublished writing, and presents here a concise and coherent systematic theology per B. B. Warfield. For the first time ever, readers can, in one volume, access the content of this great theologian’s academic, sermonic, and devotional works. Scholars, pastors, and students will profit from the unique combination of comprehensive detail and devotional warmth in this systematic theology. Fred Zaspel is also the author of a series of booklets published by the Interdisciplinary Biblical Research Institute (IBRI), entitled, The Continuing Relevance of Divine Law (1991); The Theology of Fulfillment (1994); Jews, Gentiles, & the Goal of Redemptive History (1996). Along with Tom Wells, Pastor Fred has co-authored a major work entitled New Covenant Theology. Other Related Works B.B. Warfield: Selected Shorter Writings The Plan of Salvation The Person and Work of Christ The Inspiration and Authority of the Bible The Religious Life of Theological Students B.B. Warfield: Essays on His Life and Thought Participants: Camden Bucey, Fred Zaspel, Jim Cassidy
- 180Natural TheologyThe idea of natural theology has been much debated. One’s understanding regarding the project of natural theology will inevitably impact substantially one’s apologetic methodology and epistemology. K. Scott Oliphint and James Dolezal visit the Reformed Forum studio to discuss natural theology. Michael Sudduth’s book The Reformed Objection to Natural Theology (Burlington: Ashgate, 2009) will act as the foil of the discussion. The book is in the Ashgate “Philosophy of Religion” series edited by Paul Helm and Linda Zagzebski. In The Reformed Objection to Natural Theology Sudduth identifies three main categories in the world of Reformed objections to natural theology: objections from the immediacy of our knowledge of God, the noetic effects of sin, and the logic of theistic arguments. While recognizing various forms of natural theology, Sudduth argues that none of the main Reformed objections are successful against the project of natural theology itself. The foundation for Sudduth’s book was laid in his 1996 D.Phil. dissertation at the University of Oxford. In that work, Sudduth attempted “to synthesize the Reformed epistemology of Alvin Plantinga and features of the evidentialist tradition with its emphasis on natural theology – rational arguments for the existence and nature of God.” (Sudduth, Preface) The book is even titled after Plantinga’s 1980 paper of the same title. Links James Anderson’s review at Themelios. Participants: Camden Bucey, James Dolezal, K. Scott Oliphint
- 181The Pilgrim’s ProgressDr. Barry Horner joins the program to discuss John Bunyan’s classic The Pilgrim’s Progress. Horner has thought deeply on the subject and has written a book of his own titled The Pilgrim’s Progress: Themes and Issues. His Doctor of Ministry degree from Westminster Seminary in California focused on the biblical/theological content of The Pilgrim’s Progress as well as its validity as an appropriate means for the communication of the Word of God. Dr. Horner teaches The Pilgrim’s Progress in church, seminar, and camp settings, and pastors Christ’s New Covenant Church, Tucson, Arizona. Links Bunyan Ministries Dr. Derek Thomas Lecture Series on the Pilgrim’s Progress The Bolton Conference Participants: Barry Horner, Camden Bucey, Nate Shannon
- 182Van Til, Barth and LiberalismJim Cassidy and Camden Bucey open the subject of Van Til’s criticisms of Karl Barth. Van Til was one of Barth’s earliest English-writing critics, and his criticisms are found in his books The New Modernism and Christianity and Barthianism. Van Til’s take on Barth has come under fire, but at least one noted Barthian, Bruce McCormack, has vindicated Van Til’s understanding. Participants: Camden Bucey, Jim Cassidy
- 183The Point of a SermonChrist the Center speaks with Dennis Prutow, Professor of Homiletics and Pastoral Theology at Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary, to speak about his book So Pastor, What’s Your Point? Participants: Camden Bucey, Nick Batzig
- 184Presuppositional ApologeticsChris Bolt from Choosing Hats discusses presuppositional apologetics. Participants: Chris Bolt, Jared Oliphint, Jonathan Brack
- 185Modern Roman CatholicismChrist the Center discusses the developments in Roman Catholic theology that came with Vatican II. In this episode, we welcome an able panel including Nathan Shannon, who wrote a ThM thesis on Karl Rahner, Michael Matossian, PhD candidate at Marquette University, and Danny Olinger, who studied at Duquesne University. Danny has written a helpful primer on Vatican II which appears in the lastest edition of Ordained Servant. Participants: Camden Bucey, Danny Olinger, Michael Matossian, Nate Shannon
- 186Word, Water and SpiritJohn V. Fesko provides an historical, biblical-theological, and systematic view of baptism in his new book Word, Water and Spirit. Dr. Fesko is the academic dean and associate professor of systematic theology at Westminster Seminary California. He is also the author of The Rule of Love and Justification: Understanding the Classic Reformed Doctrine. Rev. Fesko has appeared on two prior episodes of Christ the Center. Participants: Camden Bucey, Jim Cassidy, John Fesko, Nick Batzig
- 187Christianity and PoliticsDr. Carl Trueman, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Westminster Theological Seminary, and Dr. Peter A. Lillback, President of Westminster, discuss the proper relationship of Christianity to the political sphere. Dr. Trueman is the author of Republocrat, a new book that challenges the reigning partisan brand of politics in the U.S. Dr. Lillback is the other of Wall of Misconception, a book arguing that the separation of church and state does not mean the separation of Christianity and government, as well as the book George Washington’s Sacred Fire, which was featured on the Glenn Beck program. Links Reformed Media Review episode 38 with Carl Trueman on Republocrat Kevin DeYoung’s review of Republocrat Participants: Camden Bucey, Carl Trueman, Jared Oliphint, Peter A. Lillback
- 188Machen and Bultmann at MarburgBill Dennison discusses the possibility of a personal acquaintance between J. Gresham Machen and Rudolf Bultmann. Both men are key figures in opposing wings of Protestantism. Machen being the figurehead of conservative Presbyterianism in the early 20th c. as he founded Westminster Theological Seminary and led the movement to begin the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Rudolf Bultmann, on the other hand, pioneered the Second Quest of higher biblical criticism. Dr. Dennison is Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, GA and Professor of Apologetics and Systematic Theology at Northwest Theological Seminary in Lynnwood, WA. Dennison is the author of The Young Bultmann: Context for His Understanding of God, 1884-1925. Links Comparing J. Gresham Machen and Rudolf Bultmann: Reflections upon the Marburg Experience, 1905–06 Rudolf Bultmann’s Review of J. Gresham Machen’s, The Origin of Paul’s Religion J. Gresham Machen’s Letters Home from Marburg, 1905–1906 Christ the Center episode 53 with Dr. Dennison on The Young Bultmann Photo of the University of Marburg by maywaskind Participants: Bill Dennison, Camden Bucey, Jared Oliphint
- 189Formulating a Christian EpistemologySeveral contributors to Philosophy for Theologians convene to discuss the guidelines for formulating a Christian epistemology. As a starting point, the panel looks at the seminal work by Edmund Gettier Is Justified True Belief Knowledge? In 1963 Gettier published a 3-page paper that turned the philosophical world on its head by supplying counterexamples that challenged the common definition of knowledge. Gettier’s examples have come to be known as demonstrating the Gettier Problem. Links Matthias Steup. The Analysis of Knowledge Participants: Camden Bucey, Jared Oliphint, Jonathan Brack, Nate Shannon
- 190AmillennialismChrist the Center is pleased to welcome Kim Riddlebarger to the program to discuss amillennialism. Dr. Riddlebarger is senior pastor of Christ Reformed Church in Anaheim, California (www.christreformed.org), visiting professor of systematic theology at Westminster Seminary California, and co-host of The White Horse Inn. In 2003 Dr. Riddlebarger’s book A Case for Amillennialism: Understanding the End Times was published by Baker Books. It has proven to be a tremendous resource for people struggling to make sense of various eschatological positions. Riddlebarger has also written a book titled The Man of Sin: Uncovering the Truth about the Antichrist. Links Riddleblog Monergism links to Riddlebarger resources Participants: Camden Bucey, Jeff Waddington, Kim Riddlebarger, Nick Batzig
- 191Contemporary Issues in EcclesiologyJeff Waddington, Nick Batzig, and Camden Bucey engage in an open conversation about current issues in the life and understanding of the church. The discussion addresses multi-site churches, the culture of celebrity, social networking, and the democratization of information. post photo by Paul Watson Participants: Camden Bucey, Jeff Waddington, Nick Batzig
- 192The Philosophy of ScienceIn a call to our modern society to reexamine the fundamental presuppositions of the dominant worldview, the panel discusses the philosophy of science. post photo from NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center Links The Bavinck Institute Participants: Camden Bucey, Carlton Wynne, Jared Oliphint, Jeff Waddington
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