Gary responds to several comments from Pastor John MacArthur and Dr. Michael Brown who are pushing back against the preterist interpretation of Bible prophecy. Many Christians are being told that the world getting "worse and worse" is this is what is supposed to happen in the "end times." This interpretation tends to cause Christians to think that nothing can or even should be done.
Gary discusses several recent celebrities' pronouncements of "biblical truth" and how inconsistent they are with the actual biblical text. Just because someone has a platform does not make them authoritative or accurate. While everyone has an agenda and may try to justify that agenda with carefully selected Bible verses (or paraphrases of verses), Christians must be more careful to read the Bible in context and in light of its own complete story.
The conclusion of a lecture given at a Worldview Conference a few years ago where Gary discusses legacy and responsibility. Not all of us are gifted in the same ways, but God has a purpose for every member of His church. Some are hands; some are feet; and some are neither of those. Our talents and skills should be used to expand God's Kingdom, but this can't happen until people are willing to step out of their comfort zones in faith.
In this lecture given at a Worldview Conference a few years ago, Gary discusses legacy and responsibility. Not all of us are gifted in the same ways, but God has a purpose for every member of His church. Some are hands; some are feet; and some are neither of those. Our talents and skills should be used to expand God's Kingdom, but this can't happen until people are willing to step out of their comfort zones in faith.
Gary discusses his trip to Mexico last week where he gave five talks about eschatology and Bible interpretation. The escapism and pessimism prevalent in the majority of theology in Mexico is largely due to the influence of missionaries from North America. The reception Gary received from these 50-60 pastors is evident of the massive need of "re-education" on eschatological issues to combat the improper interpretations of the future in other countries.
In this concluding part of his interview with Pastor Richard Henry, Gary further discusses the recent heresy controversy. Calling people and their views "heretical" happens far too often among Christians. Doctrines that deny the divinity and the humanity of Christ are indeed heretical (as 1 John makes clear), but differences over interpretations of the "end times" or what happens after death are not in the same category.
Gary continues his interview with Pastor Richard Henry. In this second part, he summarizes some of the controversy he was involved in a few months ago. All Christians are preterists to some degree in that prophecies spoken in the historical past have been fulfilled. Modern scholars and writers disagree over certain specifics of Bible prophecy, and even to the timing of certain events, i.e. past or future to us. But these timing disagreements should not be used to determine orthodoxy.
In this first part of a recent interview with Pastor Richard Henry, Gary critiques the modern (and past) response of the church and Christians to cultural decay and immorality. Eschatology and social action are closely tied together and the paralysis of evangelicals is usually preceded by the claim that things getting worse and worse is merely a "sign of the end times." Things are getting bad because Christians aren't involved and active in making things better.
Gary discusses a recent sermon written and "preached" at a worship service in Germany by ChatGPT. When AI is delivering all the information, how will we possibly determine what's accurate or true? AI can synthesize information all day long, but it cannot distinguish truth from falsehood; it simply takes the various inputs and gives an output based on its programming. Spoiler alert: the programming comes from humans.
Gary discusses recent comments by Yuval Noah Harari about Artificial Intelligence. Harari claims that AI has the ability to give us a "correct" bible about humanity and a new (presumably "correct") spirituality. Predictably, Harari is also concerned about AI getting in the wrong hands and the possibilities it possesses. He believes he is the benevolent hero in his own narrative and imagination.
In this talk given at a worldview conference, Gary explains the difference between government and politics. The solution to social and political upheaval is found in the way God has structured government by declaring that government is not synonymous with politics. What we are seeing today was spawned centuries ago.
Gary discusses a recent statement from a well-known faith-healer on the issue of preterism. Andrew Wommack had an employee quit his ministry due to differences in eschatology. Wommack responds by appealing to Revelation 1:19, and Gary points out the problems with this, focusing on the Greek word "mello."
Gary discusses eschatology and worldview issues with Alex Newman. The interview was recorded but never published for reasons that Gary discusses in the leadup. Bible prophecy and cultural issues are closely tied together and many Christians still do not understand the connection.
Gary discusses the death of Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson and the legacy he left behind. Like Jerry Falwell, Robertson was great when it came to mobilizing Christians and getting them to act about social issues, yet their eschatology was such that everything getting worse and worse was supposed to happen. Gary gives an example of an article that ran on the CBN website the day before Robertson died.
Gary responds to a few individuals that took issue with his previous podcast about working for change within the current governmental system. While what they say is true to some extent, it misses the point that we are living in the system either way. Should we remain passive and quiet, even when we have the ability to voice our opinions and effect change? Paul did not remain quiet and neither should we.
False and spurious speculation about events and technologies continue to be found everywhere, from Tabletalk Magazine to NPR. The supposed biblical teaching about the "end times" serve to confirm what modern Christians already believe about the world "getting worse and worse" as a prophetic inevitability and the nearness of the return of Jesus; it could be any day now, they say, etc, etc. The problem is that the Bible doesn't actually teach this.
Gary discusses some arguments people are raising online against trying to reform our current system of government. The civil and the religious realmMoses and Aaronare both in need of constant reformation and this is the responsibility of those with a proper worldview. Should Christians do nothing? Or should they do their own thing? How will either of these responses avoid becoming as corrupt as the current system eventually?
Gary discusses the biblical lessons on hearing and seeing. The Bible constantly sets physical eyes and ears against each other as a way to teach how we should respond to God's Word in faith. "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God" (Romans 10:17). Just like the Bereans, we must compare what we both hear and see against the standard of the biblical text. We must have, as Jesus says, "eyes to see and ears to hear."
Gary responds to a meme he saw on Facebook about Christians being more concerned with the Constitution than the Sermon on the Mount. While the sentiment is understood, the practicality of it is being missed by this meme. Christians in the United States live under the Constitution just as Paul lived under Caesar. It's both and, not one or the other.
The First Amendment does not require the federal government to be secularized. The early history of the United States, both before and after ratification of the Bill of Rights, shows that no secularization took place. Congress began its sessions with divine worship.The First Amendment was intended to limit Congress in its use of power regarding religion, including the Christian religion. The only authority that the federal government has is specified in the Constitution....
Both Genesis 1:28 and Matthew 28:18-20 tell God's followers to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth with generations of faithful covenant-keepers. In this final Paradise Restored episode, Gary discusses how the knowledge of the glory of God will cover the earth, as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14).
Gary discusses Judges 8-9 as well as the biblical understanding of the separation of church and state. The state is not the church and the church is not the state. When Christians lose focus in either jurisdiction, the danger of overreach becomes very real. Just like kudzu, one area of authority will overgrow and choke the other.
Gary interviews author and artist Doug Giles about his most recent book about John the Baptist. The reality of the details about the people and events of the Bible are gritty and real. John the Baptist was not a "gentleman" in the sense of modifying his behavior and message to meet the approval of the ruling elite in the first century. John was a real guy and a real prophet, paving and leveling the way for the Messiah Himself. Get Doug's book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1618082159?psc=1&smid...
Princeton recently announced that learning Greek and Latin would no longer be required for its Classics majors. "Inherent racism" was of course the rationale for this major decision by the Ivy League school. Gary discusses this decision and its ramifications and consequences on today's episode.
Gary continues his series on biblical government about how to change society. It's not a quick-fix top-down endeavor; it's a long-term bottom-up lifetime job. Freedom is always a single generation from being lost and it takes vigilance and hard work. We live in a convenient, push-button, instant culture and generational work and commitment are a very difficult sell.
Gary discusses two recent news items about individuals pushing back against the prevailing ideology and newspeak. A 12-year-old and a Christian photographer had the courage to speak the truth and found that many more agree with them than with the trans-agenda propagandists. We should all heed the lesson: Christians should not be allowing the minority to dominate the conversation. Read Liam's story here: https://www.foxnews.com/media/7th-grade-student-fights-back-school-told-him-change-there-are-...
Gary talks about the film, Galaxy Quest , and the idea of borrowed capital. Just like the aliens in the film, atheists and humanists try to build a world on what they appreciate from what they see in Christianity, without having any basis for it in their own philosophical worldview.
Gary responds to a lady that claimed the Bible was a book of fairy tales and that American Vision is a hate group. Her claims are so flimsy as to be laughable, but it's a good opportunity for a lesson in presuppositional apologetics. Atheists constantly borrow capital from Christianity in order to argue against it and never once credit the Bible from which they are stealing their ethical code.
In this excerpt from Covenant Hermeneutics and Biblical Eschatology , Gary's podcast with Kim Burgess, the two discuss the worldview implications of Bible prophecy. History is filled with examples of Christians disengaging with the world around them because of their end-time view. This is essentially the church voluntary removing itself from its Christ-given mission of being salt and light and a city on a hill. Subscribe to CHBE here: https://sites.libsyn.com/453213...
Gary continues his series on biblical government and how Christians should respond to the current overreach of politics to every area of life. As in Exodus 18in many ways a model for the United States Constitutioncivil government should be decentralized. Limited jurisdiction and spheres of responsibility are the biblical model, not what we have today.
