Episode 4: Baptized in Flames

Episode 4 of the Theopologetics Podcast is available to download, available also in the iTunes Store and the Zune Marketplace! In this episode I discuss ”baptism in the Holy Spirit,” which Charismatics, Pentecostals and some others claim is a special empowering by the Holy Spirit manifested through spiritual gifts, and is separate and distinct from the saving indwelling of the Holy Spirit experienced by all genuine Christians.

Episode 3: You Spin Me Round

Episode 3 of the Theopologetics Podcast is available for your downloading pleasure! In this third episode of the Theopologetics Podcast I interview a guest concerning the topic of “presuppositional apologetics,” an approach to apologetics in which one does not attempt to provide evidence that proves the truth claims of Christianity, but rather that the presupposition that God exists is necessary to account for many of the things we instinctively know to be true.

Take Me To the River: Baptismal Regeneration

Episode 2 of the Theopologetics Podcast is available for your downloading pleasure! In this episode I tackle the notion of "baptismal regeneration," a view shared by the Roman Catholic Church and a few other Christian sects, and one similar to that of the Churches of Christ. Enjoy!

Bring Me to Life: Let the Downloading Begin!

The first ever episode of the Theopologetics Podcast is available for download now! The topic is the general resurrection of all the dead, which I use to introduce myself and what this podcast is all about. Related is a seeming ignorance of the doctrine in American Evangelicalism, which instead focuses on “heaven” as a place where our spirits go when we die, as well as a refutation of hyperpreterism’s claim that the resurrection is non-physical and happened in the first century.

Let me know what you think!

Get Your Zunes (and, ugh, iPods) Ready!

I'm pleased to announce that Theopologetics.com is coming to a podcast near you! I was recently blessed with the opportunity to guest host an episode of The Preterist Podcast, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Plus, I've received some positive feedback, including from the show's normal host, Dee Dee Warren, so I must not have done all that badly.

I have longed to do my own podcast for some time now, and what I've learned from guest hosting Dee Dee's show has left me without experience. So, it is with great excitement that I can say recording has begun, and you can expect the inaugural episode soon. I hope you'll listen in!

Chris Calls In to "Stand to Reason"

Some of you may be familiar with Greg Koukl's "Stand to Reason" apologetics ministry. They have a weekly radio show, archived in podcast form, and I've recently begun listening. In a couple of recent episodes, callers in have asked about preterism, and Greg (and the callers in) has distinguished between preterism and hyperpreterism using the abhorrent "partial" and "full" prefixes, against which Dee Dee Warren of the Preterist Podcast has rightfully railed (see this blog post, a shorter version of Dee Dee's article, "Perfuming the Hog").

Being new to Greg's show but having developed a respect for him and his aim toward teaching Christians how to think, rather than merely what to think, I decided I'd call in and humbly request that he change his terminology. I agree with Dee Dee that the terminology we employ is important, and likewise wrote about it in "A War Over Words". If you would like to listen to my discussion with Greg, check out his podcast and listen to July 18th's show, "Reflections on UK Vacation." I was the first caller in the second hour of the show, and you can fast forward to 00:59:43 if you want to skip to my call.

Now, keep in mind I was terribly nervous; I've struggled with stage fright all my life. As such, I likely spoke too quickly at times, missed certain points I shouldn't have and failed to clarify certain of Greg's statements. For example, I said at one point that preterists would agree to an extent with hyperpreterists concerning the "time texts," but should have clarified that we don't think those refer to the Second Coming. Also, when asked what hyperpreterists think the resurrection was, I said they believe that refers to the spiritual rebirth all Christians undergo, otherwise known as being "born again," but I am not certain that that's the case and should have prefaced my statement with, "I believe" or "I think." Other examples, I'm sure, could be identified (and I encourage you to let me know so I don't make similar mistakes in the future).

Nevertheless, I'm pleased overall with how things went (despite Greg's having mistakenly called it the book of "Revelations;" I can forgive him for that). In the end, Koukl seemed to agree with my reasoning, said I put my request well, and I gather that in the future he will use terminology which more clearly distinguishes the orthodox view from the heretical one. Let me know what you think!