Gary participated in a round-table discussion recently about Christian worldview and cultural response. While the discussion ran nearly two hours, this short excerpt is a good example of the fun time and great conversation that ensued on this episode of The Burros of Berea. Listen to the entire discussion here: https://rss.com/podcasts/burrosofberea/765632/
In this interview from early 2021, Gary is interviewed on the Plow and Potato show. The topic is the relationship between individual households and the State. Who's in charge, and what's their jurisdiction? These questions and many more are discussed in this short but insightful exchange.
Gary discusses several principles from his book God and Government to a class of homeschoolers. What should the Christian response be to the civil government? We are not always to obey, and we are not always to resist. The civil magistrate has a legitimate and biblically defined role. "We must obey God and not man" (Acts 5:29) must be understood in its proper context.
Gary answers a listener question about the difference between how the word "age" is understood in Matthew 13 and Matthew 24. Is there a difference between what Jesus was teaching in the parable of the wheat and tares in Matthew 13, and between the destruction of the city and the temple in Matthew 24? Read the two-part article based on this topic here: https://americanvision.org/posts/the-end-of-the-age-part-one/...
There’s a lot of talk about "free speech" these days. But is it really? Speech is not free in the sense of being without cost; it’s free (at least theoretically) in the sense of being without restraint. But those who cry the loudest for "free speech" when they think their’s is being restrained, are also the biggest restrictors of speech when given the opportunity.
Gary answers a listener question about resources that best represent and present the dispensational premillennial position. The listener wants to hear the best case for Dispensationalism, even though he has become increasingly convinced of postmillennialism. Gary shows how every position has a couple seemingly perfect Bible verses, but this is not how we should be reading and understanding the Bible as a whole.
The New Testament is filled with references, both explicit and implicit, to Old Testament law and especially the 10 Commandments. Those who believe that the Law is no longer valid and has been done away with by Jesus, do not live lawlessly. All people, even non-Christians, make laws that they expect others to honor and obey. Law is inescapable. The real question is Whose Law? Read the article here: https://americanvision.org/posts/are-christians-exempt-from-keeping-the-ten-commandments/...
The Christian's relationship to the Old Testament is a constant debate, especially in the area of the Law and the 10 Commandments. Are Christian's obligated to keep and honor the law and the commandments, or has Jesus done away with this? Gary responds to several authors and speakers about this topic and their (mistaken) understanding of the relationship between grace and law.
Gary discusses an article on the Front Page Magazine website about the current state of craziness in western culture. Could all the political nonsense and cultural insanity be signals of the end of western civilization? If so, what should be the response of concerned Christians? We can either survive or commit suicide—sink or swim—by using what we have at our disposal. Be sure to subscribe to our newest podcast with Gary and Kim Burgess: Covenant Hermeneutics and Biblical Eschatology . New episo...
Gary responds to a listener from Australia that wonders about how certain Greek words are translated in the new Legacy Standard Bible. Presuppositions, especially eschatological ones, are powerful and affect how translators interpret Greek words, which in turn influences their translation efforts.
Gary responds to a listener question regarding the "man of lawlessness" spoken of in 2 Thessalonians 2. The listener agrees that the biblical definition of "antichrist" does not refer to the Roman Catholic papacy, but wonders if it might fit Paul's man of sin (or lawlessness) in 2 Thessalonians 2.
The stunning and terrifying events of the Bills/Bengals game on Monday provides a perfect worldview opportunity to discuss. While fans, announcers, and players stood watching the field as Damar Hamlin collapsed and was given CPR, one response was universal and it revealed the reality of humanity and its frailty.
Gary discusses a new movie being released from the Left Behind series of books, directed by and starring actor Kevin Sorbo. The lead-up to the movie has been pushing the Dispensational view of "antichrist," while neglecting the biblical view. Statements in the marketing like "the Bible claims the Antichrist is Satan’s counterfeit messiah" are completely misleading and run counter to what the Bible actually says about antichrist.
Gary discusses a post on Facebook recently where he was accused of sounding "popish" because of what he said about Mary. Protestants rightly discredit the Roman Catholic veneration of Mary, but we shouldn't discredit her actual biblical role and how she fits into the Gospel and the biblical narrative. Scripture calls her "blessed" and "favored" and so should we.
Gary responds to a recent radio program by Todd Friel about God's law and its application to society. Friel mentions NAR (New Apostolic Reformation), Christian Nationalism, and Christian Reconstruction, among others. While he admits that differences exist, he seems to be suspicious of all of them, while also condemning some who diverge from historic Christian morality.
Gary recaps what's been done, what's being worked on, and what's to come. As a donation-based ministry, American Vision uses your funds as efficiently as possible to further the Christian and biblical worldview in all areas of life. Lots of new projects were finished in 2022 and new ones were started for 2023. Tune in to hear all about them... Please consider giving a year-end donation to further the work and mission of American Vision here: https://donate.americanvision.org/...
Gary discusses a recent article by Daniel Hummel about how concordances made Dispensationalism—and a "scientific" approach to Bible reading—possible. We take many of our modern study tools for granted, but each new help has brought with it challenges and unintended consequences to how we read and understand what we read in the Scriptures. Read the article here: https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2022/december/concordance-context-bible-reading-dispensationalism-literal.html...
Too much time and money, we hear, are spent on the public side of Christmas — the hustle and bustle of shopping, the lavish decorations, and the often insincere displays of seasonal piety. Meanwhile, the true spirit of Christmas gets left behind. Some even argue that all public displays of Christmas are inappropriate. Read the article on the American Vision website .
Gary summarizes the two recent interviews with Kim Burgess and what we can look forward to in ongoing discussions with him. While many people were enthused and appreciative of the interviews, others have taken issue with them. Gary explains his theological method of reading and interpreting the Bible on its own terms and some questions that arise from reading Scripture in light of Scripture.
Gary continues his interview with Kim Burgess about the complete story of the Bible. In this part, Kim likens systematic theology to dissection and biblical theology to vivisection. While both methods seek to understand what the Bible is saying, one works in bits and pieces, while the other works to understand the Bible as an organic whole. Traditional evangelical interpretations are too often informed by the dissection method and less by vivisection.
Gary has a much-anticipated interview with his long-time friend, Kim Burgess. The two discuss eschatology and how all the pieces of the Bible fit together as a comprehensive whole. Kim talks about the difference between systematic theology and biblical theology and how the Bible needs to be read and understood on its own terms. Part One of Two.
A reading for the first week of Advent in Lectionary A is from Matthew 24. In a devotional published on Christianity Today's website by Craig Blomberg admits that while it sounds like the events in the second half of Matthew's version of the Olivet Discourse are for Jesus' first century audience, they really can't be because the "cosmic" language was not actually fulfilled....
God created trees. He made them for us: for home building, decoration, shade, construction of fences, tables, chairs, sheds, and so much more. Just because pagans might have carved up a tree to make an image of a false god to be worshipped does not mean that we can’t use them to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, God’s “indescribable gift” to us (2 Cor. 9:15). Read Gary's article here: https://americanvision.org/posts/are-christmas-trees-pagan-1/...
Gary interviews Robert Cruickshank at a recent conference in Virginia Beach. Gary and Robert have known each other for a long time through phone calls and email but had never met personally until this interview. The two discuss how questions they had about what they were reading in the Bible led them to where they are today.
Gary discusses the classic Christmas film, Miracle on 34th Street . He points out many instances of how this film (and every film for that matter) presents opportunities for thinking through worldviews and Christian apologetics. Many questions are asked throughout the movie that may seem silly at first glance but are actually quite perceptive and help highlight the issue of ultimate authority.
In this second half of his interview with Dr. Michael Horton, Gary discusses what it means to be a Christian nation. There is much common ground between groups in America and many actually want Christian morality without Christ. This is nothing new. Christians must know biblical history as well as world history and be prepared to show how Christianity is the foundation of a proper and just civilization.
Gary was recently interviewed by Dr. Michael Horton on the White Horse Inn podcast. In this first part, Gary discusses how he came to understand the importance of politics, government, history, culture, and a biblical worldview.
Ideas have consequences and eschatology has implications. What you believe about tomorrow affects how you live today. While Gary often pokes holes in Dispensational eschatology, non-dispensationalists have their own cultural decay problems due largely to their views about the future. Obsessing about how it will all end paralyzes Christians into inactivity while the culture melts down around them.
Gary responds to two recent postings about current events and the "rapture of the church." Two important questions that should precede any discussion of the rapture is 1) what is meant by the rapture and 2) what does the Bible teach (or not teach) about it? Too often, prophecy writers and speakers assume the legitimacy of the doctrine of the rapture and look for newspaper clippings and Bible verses that seem to confirm what they already believe.
Gary concludes his discussion with Luke and Joy by addressing politics and foreign policy. Wars and national tensions are unavoidable in a sinful world, but reconciliation comes through the Gospel, not with guns.
