That’ll Preach

The Ethics of Immortality

Death scares most of us. We do not enjoy thinking about the fragility of our existence nor the vulnerability of mortality. Billionaires like Jeff Bezos now invest their fortunes into experimental treatments and technologies in order to maximize their "health spans" and ensure longevity. Modern technology stands on the cusp of healing DNA and maximizing healthy lifespans beyond what was previously thought possible.

How should Christians react to such this rapidly developing new technology? What ethical issues arise if we extend our lives to 200 years? 2,000 years? How will our perspective shift on what it means to mature, grow, and experience a lifetime?

Our desire to prolong life, seek healing, and mourn over death appears appropriate, but God also enacted death as a judicial sentence for sin. God subjected his creation to death and decay in order to bring about further glory. Christ himself rose to immortal life through the crucible of death. If we try to circumvent this reality we might subvert God's purposes to redeem death.

We dive into all these issues and more in this episode. Be sure to subscribe and leave a review!

Getting the Trinity Right with Dr. Scott Swain

Modern Christians lack clarity on the fundamental doctrine of their faith: the Trinity. But why is this the case? Dr. Scott Swain suggests the problem lies in the desire for a Christ who fulfills our expectations. We want Jesus to give a solution to the practical problems in out lives.

The doctrine of the Trinity seems abstract and detached from our marriages, careers, and mental health. But what if the doctrine of the Trinity exceeds our expectations? What if we desire too little? 

Getting the Trinity right does more than provide a proper theological answer -- it strikes at the heart of the identity of the God we worship. We believe in one God eternally existent in three equally divine persons. From this central belief flow all other doctrines.

A failure to grasp this basic theology leads to many modern errors: social trinitarianism, eternal subordination of the Son, and various forms of modalism. Each of these distortions trickles down into our understanding of gender, human nature, and the meaning of authority. 

The Trinity reveals to us a God who from eternity past lives in a triune relation of love between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We must gain Trinitarian fluency in order to speak rightly about him because his glory demands precision and careful meditation.

The church fathers defended the Trinity because they saw in this vital doctrine the essence of the Christian faith and the revelation of God in Christ. But this doctrine belongs not only to the theologians of the past, but the everyday faithful Christian in the present who desires to know his or her Lord in a deeper way.

Check out this episode with Dr. Scott Swain, one of the foremost Trinitarian theologians in the world, and dive in to the mystery and the glory of the doctrine of the Trinity.

Show Notes

Dr. Swain's blog Reformed Blogmatics

Dr. Swain's Trinity Lectures at the Theology in Practice Conference

Finding Meaning in Our Work with Dr. Joe Minich

Joe Minich joins us again to talk about the nature of work and how Christianity gives meaning to the mundane.

Show Notes

"Protestant Social Teaching" by the Davenant Institute 

A Secular Case Against Hook-Up Culture

Bryan and Paul talk about why feminists, "Me Too" advocates, and secularists should reject hook-up culture. Also, Paul plans to create a cult. 

The Secret Message of Till We Have Faces with Andrew Lazo

Andrew Lazo joins us with a fascinating look at the underlying message of C.S. Lewis's masterpiece Till We Have Faces and unravels the mystery of how the book ends.

Show Notes

Check out Andrew on the Pints with Jack Podcast

Homesteading, Communes, and Romanticizing Small Towns

We talk about the merits of homesteading and raising kids in the community while we ourselves have no kids nor do we homestead. But that won't stop us from discussing Ryan Anderson's article on how homesteading changed his perspective on parenting. Also, Paul gives an update on his life as he squats in a stranger's home.

Show Notes

"Mama Shot the Deer" by Ryan Anderson 

A Theology of Emotions with Dr. Matt LaPine

Dr. Matt LaPine joins us to discuss how the Christian tradition provides a framework for understanding how our emotions interact with our faith and the surprising emotional depth of Scripture.

Show Notes:

Want to receive counseling, but don't know the next steps? Visit matthewalapine.com for help

"The Logic of the Body" by Dr. Matt LaPine

 

Why Creeds Matter (Throwback Episode)

We talk about the importance of creeds and how the help us gain confidence in our faith in this throwback episode. 

Three Phases of Christian Growth with Dr. Scott Redd

Christians, like teenagers, go through phases. We come to Christ through a powerful experience, then understand that experience through doctrine. Then that doctrine takes on new life through liturgy which depends our experience. Dr. Scott Redd joins us with insights on why this happens and how our Christians "phases" work together to grow our love for God.

Show Notes

"Three Modes of Christian Formation: Experience, Doctrine, and Liturgy" by Dr. Scott Redd

 

Re-centering Our Hope with Dr. Michael Allen

Much of the anxiety we experience in life stems from misplaced hope. Dr. Michael Allen helps re-establish the historic and biblical concept of "heavenly-mindedness" without neglecting love for neighbor. He also provides practical ways in which Christians can cultivate heavenly-mindedness in a culture that emphasizes the here and now.

Show Notes

"Grounded in Heaven: Re-centering Christian Hope and Life on God" by Michael Allen