http://www.start.urclearning.org/audio/Atheism_4.mp3 Unable to plug the gaping hole left by his inability to account for absolute standards of morality, Dawkins resorts in chapter seven to try and discredit the Bible as that plug. Of course, he again proceeds to critique something without any foundation for objectivity; also, he analyzes the Scripture in such a simplistic manner that you are forced to wonder if such a learned man ever actually read this Bible he attacks....
Jan 14, 2007
http://www.start.urclearning.org/audio/Atheism_3.mp3 The title of Dawkins’ sixth chapter, “The Roots of Morality: Why Are We Good?,” betrays his inability as an atheist to account for the absolute standards of morality which he so readily embraces and applies throughout the book and his own life. His speculations about humanity’s moral consensus are merely descriptive, and when he finally (though half-heartedly) acknowledges this problem, the chapter ends with but a whimper....
Jan 09, 2007
http://www.start.urclearning.org/audio/Atheism_2.mp3 In part one, we urged people to see the necessity of actually believing that the Christian religious claims are true. This time, we affirm Dawkins’ assertion that most religion, even much of what is said and done in the name of Christ, is untrue, and superstitious, and devised and promoted for selfish, bad reasons. Professing Christians open up the name of Christ to be slandered when they pervert and trivialize the truth or tolerate those who ...
Jan 03, 2007
http://www.start.urclearning.org/audio/Atheism_1.mp3 Here we begin an eight-part series discussing this best-selling book by acknowledging that professing Christians are much to blame for the kinds of critiques Dawkins levies against theism. If we forsake orthodoxy, or if we keep it but trivialize it; if we say we believe something that we don’t think is true, or if we suppress our doubts, then Dawkins is right–our faith is deluded....
Dec 26, 2006
http://www.start.urclearning.org/audio/The_Tattoo_Redo.mp3 Have you been pierced or inked? Are you artistic or are you simply defacing your body? Does God have anything to say about it? Lots of questions with some at least mildly interesting debate about the answers on this recut of a show on body piercing and tattoos.
Dec 19, 2006
http://www.start.urclearning.org/audio/But_What_about_the_Children.mp3 61% of kids active in youth groups–that’s right, SIXTY-ONE PERCENT–are not found in church as adults. Questions like, “What is a better model for youth ministry, how can we improve it and make it more substantial?” or “What is a Reformed youth ministry model?” are trumped by the right question, “Where in the world did we come up with the idea that God is pleased by the whole idea of youth ministry in the first place?”...
Dec 11, 2006
http://www.start.urclearning.org/audio/Haggard_Fall_2.mp3 How should we react to the fall of Ted Haggard? In this second show of two, we ask if a true Christian can struggle with sin, especially the sin of homosexuality. We also think about how the church should face the “homosexual issue” in our culture.
Dec 04, 2006
http://www.start.urclearning.org/audio/Haggard_Fall_1.mp3 How should we react to the fall of Ted Haggard? In this first show of two, we look inside at our own hearts and outside at the evangelical cult complex to learn some sobering lessons. We also think about a wife’s obligations to an adulterous husband and a church’s obligations to an adulterous pastor.
Nov 27, 2006
http://www.start.urclearning.org/audio/Happy_Thanksgiving.mp3 Every thankful Christian should be in church this coming Thursday morning, right? The Bible calls every world culture to set aside a national Thanksgiving Day, right? Tape your ankles for the Turkey Bowl, lick your lips for the feast, and dive in to the Sinners & Saints chat about good ol’ Thanksgiving.
Nov 21, 2006
http://www.start.urclearning.org/audio/Prosperity_Light.mp3 Have you caught on yet? Have you claimed your promises? The good news is that Christ saved you, but the really good news is that He wants you to be rich. So say some of the most visible leaders in the “Christian” church today.
Nov 13, 2006
http://www.start.urclearning.org/audio/Christian_Trinket_Culture.mp3 The sales numbers don’t lie: “Got Jesus” coffee mugs, “Huggy-Jesus” teddy bears, and “O.C.” t-shirts (“only in Christ”) have become the preferred piety of many professing Christian people. Underlying this triviliazation of Christ and culture are life-denying, idolatrous beliefs that are just as much a threat to the Reformed churches as they are to the broader evangelical world....
Nov 06, 2006
http://www.start.urclearning.org/audio/Political_Ethic_2.mp3 Yes, politics again. This is part two of a very brief, whet-your-appetite-for-further-study series on how to begin answering political questions from the biblical, Reformed perspective. Here, we introduce our approach to defining government and addressing a Christian’s political responsibilities.
Nov 01, 2006
http://www.start.urclearning.org/audio/Political_Ethic_1.mp3 Yes, politics. This is part one of a very brief, whet-your-appetite-for-further-study series on how to begin answering political questions from the biblical, Reformed perspective. Here, we critique “theonomy” in order to lay the foundation for answering political questions from Scripture.
Oct 27, 2006
http://www.start.urclearning.org/audio/Papa_Chuck_Baby_Chuck.mp3 In an unexpected, un-planned Calvary Chapel series post-mortem, we take our cue from a recent Los Angeles Times article about Chuck Smith, Sr. and his son, Chuck Smith, Jr. The article solidified earlier critiques of the Chuck Smith/Calvary Chapel movement as market-driven and more concerned about reflecting happy cultural moods than the biblical faith....
Oct 17, 2006
http://www.start.urclearning.org/audio/Calvary_Chapel_Remix_3.mp3 Part three of three in a series evaluating the Chuck Smith/Calvary Chapel movement addresses the Calvary Chapel position on the Arminian/Calvinist debate. The Calvary Chapels are decidedly “Arminian,” but the historic Protestant church is “Calvinist.” These labels are important because they describe how different people understand the basic biblical answers to life’s most important questions....
Oct 09, 2006
http://www.start.urclearning.org/audio/Calvary_Chapel_Remix_2.mp3 Part two of three in a series evaluating the Chuck Smith/Calvary Chapel movement addresses Smith’s self-understanding as an authority like unto Old Testament Moses. Also, the Calvary Chapel “Statement of Faith” is analyzed.
Oct 04, 2006
http://www.start.urclearning.org/audio/Calvary_Chapel_Remix_1.mp3 Find out what all the controversy was about. Listen to the shows that made babies cry, women scream, and slick-speaking “pastors” with Hawaiian shirts, cargo shorts, and flip-flops run scared. Okay, not really, but at least we shook up the chicken coup a little bit. Part one of three in a series evaluating the Chuck Smith/Calvary Chapel movement addresses its roots in marketing strategy and unbiblical anti-authoritarianism....
Sep 28, 2006
http://www.start.urclearning.org/audio/Reformed_Renaissance.mp3 You probably have seen the recent Christianity Today cover story titled “Young, Restless, Reformed: Calvinism is Making a Comeback–and Shaking Up the Church.” It misdefines “Reformed,” “Calvinism,” and “church;” and it rehashes bad, old objections to Calvinism. Its chief value, however, is that it should cause you (if you happen to be one of these young and restless “Calvinists”) to finally realize you have to junk the martyr comple...
Sep 20, 2006
http://www.start.urclearning.org/audio/tounges.mp3 Many people are uneasy with the charasmatic/pentecostal practice of tongue-speaking, but are also hesitant to condemn it as unbiblical and a scam. We are more sickened by that stuff than uneasy, and are NOT hesitant to say that whatever is going on in those circles, it is NOT the tongues and prophecy the Bible talks about.
Sep 14, 2006
http://www.start.urclearning.org/audio/talking.mp3 Let’s face it–Christian churches seem to attract more than their share of people who lack basic social graces. We must give more effort to cultivate our social skills in obedience to Christ’s command “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Sep 07, 2006
http://www.start.urclearning.org/audio/seriousacrement.mp3 You’d be shocked to hear “Christians” say it, but given their ignorance of and apathy about the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, they may as well shout it from the rooftops.
Aug 29, 2006
http://www.start.urclearning.org/audio/state-olitry.mp3 The common right is as bad as the common left as it worships the State and its leaders. The Bible does not teach that the United States’ military is Yahweh’s prophetic sword, an idea that has swept conservative Christian circles and denominations. Beware of shallow nationalism and also of blind obedience to the government in the name of Christ.
Aug 22, 2006
http://www.start.urclearning.org/audio/Liberal_Christianity.mp3 Beautiful, historic church buildings all across the United States and the world are homes to “liberal” Christianity. We’ll tell you why those buildings are really spiritual graveyards, and why what is believed and taught by the people in them is really not Christianity at all.
Aug 14, 2006
http://www.start.urclearning.org/audio/Jesus_Loves_Pornstars.mp3 From the “Christian” newswire comes the bizzare story of a man with a heart for porn stars; he thinks God has called him to set up a booth and pass out pink leather Bibles at porn conventions. Is his “ministry” the modern day application of Jesus seeking and saving prostitutes, or just another good old-fashioned deviancy?
Jul 24, 2006
http://www.start.urclearning.org/audio/sinnersaint-finale.mp3 Now what? What should the Christian do with the Law?
Jul 21, 2006
http://www.start.urclearning.org/audio/sinnersaint-10thlaw.mp3 What is it to “covet� Is capitalism based on coveting?
Jul 21, 2006
http://www.start.urclearning.org/audio/sinnersaint-9thlawpt2.mp3 What is it to lie? Are there “white†lies; do we always need to “tell the truth� What about hairpieces and deodorant?
Jul 21, 2006
http://www.start.urclearning.org/audio/sinnersaint-9thlawpt1.mp3 Are we liers? An “honest†discussion.
Jul 21, 2006
http://www.start.urclearning.org/audio/sinnersaint-8thlawpt2.mp3 Does God permit Christians to pursue “richesâ€; does He encourage it?
Jul 21, 2006
http://www.start.urclearning.org/audio/sinnersaint-8thlawpt1.mp3 What is “ownership” and “private property”?
Jul 21, 2006
