Theology For the Rest of Us | Quick Answers to the Questions About God and the Bible

In this episode, Kenny answers the question: Will people from all Christian denominations go to heaven, or will only certain ones, with the right doctrine, be saved in the end? This can be a controversial subject indeed, but Kenny seeks to make it simple by making the point that faith in Christ is what actually saves us, not right doctrines. Studying theology and doctrine is very important, and there are indeed certain types of doctrines and certain theological beliefs that may very well impede a person's faith in Christ, or may demonstrate that their faith in Christ is actually fraudulent, but the act of embracing certain doctrine, in and of itself, doesn't necessarily save or condemn human beings. Kenny believes that there will be people from all sorts of Christian denominations represented in heaven.

Last year, our host Kenny did a mini-series on the Holy Spirit, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Kenny tackled multiple topics related to the Holy Spirit. One of those topics was the topic of prophecy. You can listen to that episode here: "87: What is Prophecy?" Kenny made the case that the gift (or function) of New Testament prophecy has been grossly misunderstood by many contemporary Christians, and that the spiritual gift of prophecy often gets maligned or abused. In response to that previous episode, Kenny received an email from a regular listener asking for clarification about the topic of prophecy. In this episode, Kenny seeks to bring clarity by again explaining that the Old Testament office of “prophet” was restricted to only one person, meaning that only one person had access to the fullness and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, but that ever since the day of Pentecost, all New Testament Christians now have full access to the fullness and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. And as such, anytime a believer is empowered by the Spirit of God to speak boldly to the people of God on behalf of God, then in essence, that person is prophesying. The spiritual gift of prophecy does not mean that someone is foretelling the future, but rather that they are being empowered by the Spirit to speak boldly to God's people for a specific person of cause. Occasionally this may indeed involve elements of "words of knowledge" or unique spiritual discernment, but in most cases it ought to be more focused on admonishment, rebuke, correction, teaching, calls to worship, and calls for repentance.

Romantic relationships can be complicated, even under the best of circumstances, but they get even more complicated when flawed philosophies and bad theology are thrown into the mix. One of the flawed philosophies that often gets embraced, in terms of romance, is the ideal concept of a soulmate. While this concept has lost popularity over the past two decades within contemporary Christian circles, there are still many that believe and embrace it. In this episode, Kenny clearly tackles the question: Does God have only one specific person you’re meant to marry or is it more a matter of personal choice? Kenny's answer in this podcast is clear: There is no such thing as "the one." This concept of "the one" or the idea of a soulmate is totally a result of modern media, movies, and pop culture. The idea of "the one" is not at all a result of any Biblical insights. Kenny explains that the Bible talks extensively about marriage and relationships, but it never says anything that would cause us to embrace this concept of only one specific person that you're supposed to marry. Furthermore, Kenny explains that this concept is overly idealistic and severely impractical.

Civil disobedience has long been an effective manner of protest, both in antiquity as well as in contemporary societies. The protests led by Gandhi in India, the American civil rights movement of the 20th century, and the Boston Tea Party (as a part of the events leading up to the American Revolution) have all been some of the most famous and most effective forms of civil disobedience in world history. Was it sinful for the founders of the USA to disobey the king of England in this manner? Should they not have rendered unto King George what seemingly was King George's right? Was it sinful for globally-known civil rights leaders like Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and Martin Luther King to encourage people to disobey the law? When should we submit and obey our leaders, and when should we intentionally disobey? Is it always sinful to disobey leaders, or are there moments when it is okay to disobey the law In this episode, Kenny clearly answers these questions by reminding us about the purpose of governments in the first place. Humans are sinful, therefore too much freedom isn't good, because it would lead to sinful anarchy. Government structures and restraints are good because they bring law and order. But when a leader or the government is no longer fulfilling its God-ordained purpose, for which is was established in the first place, then it is time for the people to disobey that structure as a form of protest, or in some extreme cases, it may indeed be time to get rid of that particular leader or government.

In response to an email from a regular listener which included a question about the mixture of Christian theology and American nationalism. Some Christians claim that the USA is a "Christian nation" and that we ought to structure our government with this ideal in mind. Is this true? Are we a Christian nation? If not, should we seek to make it an officially "Christian" country?

In this episode, Kenny explains the concepts of natural rights and natural law. Kenny compares and contrasts natural rights, that originate from a source that transcends governments, with legal rights that originate from a national government or from the leadership of some jurisdiction. Kenny explains that the Biblical purpose for national governments is to bring law and order for the people, to acknowledge the natural rights of humans that have been given to us by God, and to build and cultivate the appropriate systems which will honor and protect natural rights. Whenever a government violates natural law, or fails to acknowledge and protect the natural rights of the people, then that specific government, and its leaders, has lost its right to survive and exist. Whenever a government has violated this idea, and hence therefore has forfeited its own right to even exist, then it would be appropriate for the people of that nation (or the leadership of other nations) to remove the existing government from power, whether diplomatically or by force, in order to establish a new or reformed government that will indeed acknowledge and protect the natural rights of the people. The concept of natural rights greatly influenced the founders of the United States. The philosophy of natural rights was asserted and taught by many philosophers throughout the centuries, but the greatest proponent of the modern understanding of natural rights was the 17th century British philosopher and physician John Locke.

Throughout the pages of the Old Testament, many of the kings were sinful and wicked. In other cases they may not have lived a totally wicked lifestyle, but they made some very sinful choices. Why did God permit this? In response to an email from a regular listener, Kenny dives into this topic in this episode by asking Why did God allow the kings of the nation of Israel to sin in so many different ways? More importantly, does this mean that certain sins are okay for certain leaders or people?

In this episode, Kenny covers the topic of "replacement" theology, which is the term that Dispensationalists use when they are referring to concept that the Jews are no longer God's chosen people. That the church has "replaced" Israel. Dispensationalist typically embrace the idea that the Jews are still God's chosen people, that they still have a special covenant with God (which is separate and distinct with God's covenant with the church), and that the Jews still have special blessings and rights that other nations do not have access to, including the rights to the "promise land" (the property which makes up the contemporary nation of Israel). Orthodox Christianity has traditionally held to the idea that any person who places faith in God is declared righteous and therefore is invited into the group of people that are in covenant with God; and there is only one group of people that are in covenant with God (known as God's "covenant people"). The Jews were the group that God was in covenant with, but that has been expanded in the New Testament to include Jews and Gentiles. The New Testament also makes the point that not all of the Jews were ever actually in covenant anyway (see Romans 9:6-7). Ethnic Jews should not be viewed as God's covenant people, but instead anyone with genuine faith in God ought to be considered a part of God's covenant people; and this has not replaced the "old way" of viewing God's covenant people because this is ho we ought to have always viewed God's chosen people.

Recently, a regular listener sent Kenny an email asking about Yoga, and whether or not it is okay for Christians to practice it. Yoga is the traditionally Hindu theistic philosophy and ascetic discipline, that involves the suppression of activity, and is aimed at connecting with the spiritual realm in hopes of attaining a higher sense of self-awareness and also aimed at the absolute liberation from all desire and natural human inclination. Yoga traditionally has included mantras, unique breathing control, meditations, and the adoption of specific bodily postures. In this episode, Kenny makes clear that engaging in Yoga, in its traditional sense, does indeed potentially invite unwanted spiritual beings and evil principalities to enter your life and potentially have influence over your life in ways that would wreak havoc on your faith, soul, and overall well-being. But Kenny also recognizes that many people in Western societies practice the physical disciplines and elements of Yoga, but are doing so in a way that is divorced from any spiritual connections. In this context, there is probably not issue for Christians to participate in the physical elements of Yoga. Kenny finishes the episode by giving pastoral wisdom about how we ought to approach any such topic, where something may seem spiritual or taboo to some extent, in the minds of some. Christians, overall, ought to never be flippant in these matters, but always be prayerful, cautious, and diligent before engaging with anything that may have influence over your life or soul (ie: media, books, music, holiday celebrations, relationships, food, spiritual things, etc.). Also, Christians ought to never mock or be judgmental towards another believer that may have different convictions, or Christians that choose to refrain from something that you feel is "no big deal." Lastly, Christians ought to never go against their own conscious when making determinations about what to engage with and what not to engage with. If you feel uneasy about doing Yoga (or any other comparable thing), then you ought to refrain from it, regardless of what others may say or do.

In this episode, Kenny responds to an email from a regular listener asking about the word "glory" and its definition in relation to how Jesus refers to it in John 17:22. In the passage in question, Jesus says these words: "I have given them the glory You have given Me. May they be one as We are one." (HCSB). Kenny explains that the word "glory" refers to fame, praise, exaltation, and honor. Typically, humans ought to make God famous as well as seek to praise and honor Him for who He is, and in doing so our innermost souls are fully satisfied. Jesus is making the point that Jesus will then present humans as fully redeemed, not to praise or exalt our character, but so that the work of God in us can be made known, praised, honored, and exalted. And in doing so, God Himself will take joy, delight, and sanctification in us because of the amazing redemption that has been completed in us.

At face value, prayer seems to be one of the simplest and most powerful disciplines that any Christian can engage in. Prayer is an incredible privilege! We have the opportunity to talk with and potentially request things from the Supreme Creator of the universe who has the power to grant whatever we ask. This is an amazing truth! However, it seems to many believers that prayer can simultaneously be one of the more complex elements of the Christian life. When should we pray? How should we pray? What things impact our prayers? In a few verses, it even seems that Jesus is saying that we can pray for whatever we want and as long as we have faith, we're guaranteed to get it. Is that true? In this episode, Kenny responds to an email from a regular listener about the verses that seem to allude to the fact that we can pray for "whatever we want" as long as we have faith. Kenny explains these verses in context, and the importance to allow God's Word to transfer our desires so that our prayers will be in line with that which God already wants. Some preachers and churches have taken many of these verses out of context and began to promote the "name it, claim it" theology; claiming that we can have whatever we want and God is obligated to grant our requests, even if they are sinful or selfish in any manner. This is clearly a false teaching that has permeated the church, and in this episode Kenny exposes "name it, claim it" theology as being nonsense that maligns the actual power and beauty of prayer. Highlighted Scriptures 1 John 5:14-15 ‭‭John‬ ‭15:7-8‬ ‭‭John‬ ‭15:16-17‬ ‭‭John‬ ‭16:23-24‬ Mark 11:20-24 Matthew 6:9–13 ‭Matthew‬ ‭21:21-22‬ ‭‭James‬ ‭1:6‬ ‭‭James‬ ‭4:1-3‬  

In this episode, Kenny dives into the terms "conservative" and "liberal" explaining what they literally mean, and more importantly, explaining how those terms are utilized within our modern Western culture in the realm of politics and in the realm of theology.

Within Christian theology, heterodoxy has typically been explained as any Biblical interpretations or Christian doctrines that are different from the official or orthodox positions of the church at-large. In this episode, Kenny explains the concept of heterodoxy, and expounds upon the differences between orthodoxy, heresy, and heterodoxy. Kenny also makes clear that heterodox doctrines might be different from orthodox doctrines, but heterodox doctrines are not opposite or contrary to any traditionally embraced Christian orthodoxy, neither is heterodoxy opposite or contrary to any clear Biblical mandates. Kenny then gives some pastoral advice on how to view heterodoxy, and challenges the listeners to be cautious to not assume that other Christians are not orthodox simply because those believers may have some theological disagreements. Kenny finishes the episode with this great quote from Charles Spurgeon: "Again, you shall find spiritual life in every church. I know it is the notion of the bigot, that all the truly godly people belong to the denomination which he adorns. Orthodoxy is my doxy; heterodoxy is anybody else’s doxy who does not agree with me." (August 13th, 1871)  

Traditionally, heresy has been said to be any belief or opinion contrary to orthodox religious dogma and is profoundly at odds with what has generally been accepted. In this episode, Kenny defines heresy as any doctrine or teaching that is... * Outside of the bounds of traditional Christian orthodoxy * Opposite of the foundational or essential doctrines embraced by orthodox Christians * Clearly contrary to the Scriptures, * potentially harmful or destructive to the persons who might embrace those false teachings   Kenny then gives some pastoral advice and insights on how to rebuke and address a heretic, if a heretic should appear in your church or your community. Scriptures 2 Peter 2:1 Galatians 1:8-9 1 Corinthians 16:22 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 1 Timothy 1:18-20 Titus 3:10

With the popularity of non-orthodox Christian theology and modern liberal ideology growing within contemporary Christian circles, there has been a need to label or identify those specific Christian groups and churches which hold closely to the doctrine and ideals of traditional orthodox Christianity. That group has been labeled "Evangelical Christians." The Evangelical movement is a worldwide interdenominational movement within Christianity (specifically Protestant Christianity) which seeks to maintain fundamental Christian beliefs and conserve the traditionally embraced elements of the Gospel. Typically, Evangelicals affirm these truths and ideals: * Inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture * Jesus' virgin birth, physical death on a cross, and physical resurrection * Deity of Christ * Every human's need for faith in Christ alone for salvation * Importance of our Christian faith actually governing our daily lives and choices * Importance of evangelism (spreading the Gospel to others)   Many people in modern Western society use the terms "Protestant" and "Evangelical" interchangeably, but these two words do not mean the same thing. There are many people whom identify as Protestant but do not embrace the truths and ideals typically embraced by Evangelicals. It has been estimated by some media outlets that the population of the USA is 38-60% Evangelical, but upon further review we discover that the actual number is probably significantly less than that. Resources https://www.nae.net/what-is-an-evangelical http://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2015/november/what-is-evangelical-new-definition-nae-lifeway-research.html https://www.barna.com/research/survey-explores-who-qualifies-as-an-evangelical