Mortification of Spin

Which is more beautiful?: Bach or Beyonce? Symmetry or asymmetry? Bald or Blonde? Carl or Todd? By natural design, beauty appeals to us and we seek it out daily whether it's music, art, fashion, or romance. Under sin's curse, we attune our minds to wrong perspectives and standards and make more of what God counts as less. The battle with beauty is something everyone has to fight. So how does the Christian combat against Hollywood's norms and not cheapen the inner adornment of our character without going to the opposite extreme? Today we count the costs of our cultural obsession with beauty, pointing out shameful ways we prize the pretty and cast all the Todd & Carl's to the curb.We have a several copies of "Far Above Rubies: The Life of Bethan Lloyd-Jones" by Lynette Clark published by Christian Focus, that we are giving away. Be sure to enter for your chance to win.

While Carl soaked in Italian rays, he treaded the town in his English footgear (black socks and open-toed sandals, to be exact), pondering the differences Protestants have with the Pope and his posse. Over the years, we've hosted numerous guests from the Roman Catholic persuasion on the show so it's no surprise folks have been wondering: on which doctrines do we agree, and on which must we disagree? You may be surprised!We have a several copies of "Roman Catholic Theology & Practice" by Gregg Allison published by Crossway, that we are giving away. Be sure to enter for your chance to win.

Do children belong in Sunday morning worship? Is it worth the potential tantrums in the pew? We have Jason Helopolous on the line to help us answer this parental conundrum. Jason is Associate Pastor at University Reformed Church in East Lansing Michigan. He's also an author, husband and father. As that last role, Jason can sympathize with parents of young children. So when are children "old enough" to join worship? What about the theology behind "children's church”, and the misconception that children take away from worship? Fortunately, we have two children here today to give us their perspective on being in service … thanks for joining us, Carl & Todd!We have a several copies of Jason's book "Let the Children Worship" published by Christian Focus, that we are giving away. Be sure to enter for your chance to win.

Should Evangelicals "celebrate" Martin Luther? With this year marking the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, Luther is on the brain! His life and legacy should be an inspiration to us all - a man God significantly used in the birth of the Protestant Church. But, should we make a big fuss over him every year? Before you buy into the pub-crawl and raise a pint of malty, Martin Luther-y beverage, take a listen to what Carl, Aimee and Todd have to say about this stubborn monk.We have a several copeis of Carl's book "Histories and Fallacies: Problems Faced in the Writing of History" publsihed by Crossway that we are giving away. Be sure to enter for your chance to win.

With us today is Fran Maier, "the most interesting man in the world" … according to Carl Trueman. And here we thought Carl assumed that title (per his own nomination!). Fran, once a screenwriter for Warner Brothers, not only has an impressive resume but a unique perspective on American culture having been submerged in LA's superficiality. This conservative Catholic has never looked back and now serves as the executive personal assistant to the Archbishop of Philadelphia, Charles Chaput. Tune in to hear his informed critique and spin on our culture, technology, and the likes … that's alllll folks!The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals would like to off you a CD message entitled "Engaging the Culture".

Scripture sheds much light on the topic of forgiveness. But what if someone doesn't seek our forgiveness or is unrepentant? Certainly we have all, at some point or another, asked that question and likely wrestled with the answer. But perhaps there's other questions we might also ask: Should we not imitate the Lord's own forgiveness towards us? Are we compelled to forgive others who offend our name? Does God withhold his forgiveness until we repent? If God did not spare his only Son, can we not spare our own self-righteous pride and clothe ourselves in humility and grace? It's tricky answering these questions perfectly as fallible people but Aimee & Todd tackle them with care.The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals would like to give you a free MP3 download of a message entitled "Repentance and Forgiveness of Sin" by Rebecca Pippert.

John Henry Crosby is a man wearing many hats: he is the President and Founder of the Hildebrand Project; he's a translator, critic, and writer. So who is Hildebrand? He was a stalwart who's voice and writings were compelled by exposing the evil he saw in Hitler and his Nazis regime. Described as a public traitor, Hildebrand was one of the first to raise red flags about the Third Reich and God sustained him in the midst of grave adversity. So why should Protestants read and learn from Hildebrand, a Catholic? No better man to answer that question than John Henry...We have a limited number of the book "My Battle Against Hitler" that we are giving away. Be sure to enter for your chance to win.

The Psalms offer the Christian a unique plethora of language and capture a wide array of human emotion unlike any other book in the Bible. For the distressed and despairing, Psalms help us find words we otherwise counted as lost - what a gift to our weary souls! Please join Carl, Aimee & Todd as they discuss their own experiences wading through the Psalms seeking (and finding!) solace and strength through them.

Child abuse - it's heinous, it's a crime, it's a shame, and it's a sin. Unfortunately, it's quite pervasive in the Church which is often a soft target. Why is that, and what can we do to guard our flock more preventatively instead of reactively? We certainly need to educate our children and train our nursery workers, but how do we impart discernment while not making them critical of everyone. We all have roles of protecting our children, but even some actions of "justice" can further enable the abuse. This is by no means an exhaustive conversation answering all these questions in depth but a discussion that should put any Church worker on high alert.You can puchase all the messages from the event "Sex, Sin, and Salvation: God's Grace in a Fallen World".

Which MOS host was promised to be made a cardinal by the Archbishop Chaput of Philadelphia if he becomes the next Pope? Aside from an empty promise, the Archbishop shares profound insights into the current Sexual Revolution from the Catholic perspective, and from his unique view point as someone committed to celibacy. Archbishop Chaput is also an author of a book our hosts would highly recommend: Strangers in a Strange Land, in which the Archbishop expresses in more vivid detail how the conservative religious camps are being marginalized by a radical progression in cultural norms at an alarmingly rapid pace. We discuss everything from contraception to abortion to gay marriage to transgenderism. For all who listen, this is a stand-out interview full of rich insight with a vital undertaking in how to think in today's world - a world where we ought to live holding the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other.

What's on the rail for the lizard? … To answer that important question, we have Wendy Alsup on the show. She's a Mathematics professor at Community College in South Carolina, a mom, and the author of Is the Bible Good for Women?: Seeking Clarity and Confidence Through a Jesus-Centered Understanding of Scripture. Wendy is burdened for women to appreciate and know the Bible. So beyond talking lizards and women, she's here to help us understand: What do we do with the tough passages of scripture - passages where women are taken advantage of, oppressed, killed? There are loads of untidy and discouraging accounts of injustice in the Bible hard to handle and difficult to find the message in the mess. There's much a pastor can learn from Wendy's book to better engage his congregation with compassion and understanding. So let's talk lizards and ladies!

"There may be something there that wasn't there before" … sings the cast of Beauty and the Beast at a pivotal moment in the Disney Classic. Well, days away from its appearance as a live-action film, those words couldn't ring more true! There is something there that wasn't there before: a homosexual character! It's got a lot of people talking since the director puffs the film as the first Disney movie to have an 'exclusively gay moment'. It's no surprise Hollywood has come to this, but then … it's a children's movie! So question is: As Christians, do we let our children see it? Where do we draw the line for entertainment? Perhaps it's not so black and white …? Listen to what the hosts (aka, Beauty & The Beasts) have to say, it's certainly got them talking!Donate to Mortification of Spinvar r_protocol=(("https:"==document.location.protocol)?"https://":"http://");var r_path="https://www.razoo.com/javascripts/widget_loader.js";var r_identifier='Mortification-Of-Spin';document.write(unescape("%3Cscript id='razoo_widget_loader_script' src='"+r_path+"' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));

When, why, and how should you leave a church? Is it possible to do it graciously and gratefully, or are you just another church-shopping opportunist looking for what's on fleek? Interestingly, leaving a church is somewhat a modern dilemma. It's exponentially more possible with the increase of technology. However, one universal truth stands the test of time: there is no perfect church anywhere. Listen in to what Carl, Aimee & Todd think constitutes the good, the bad and the ugly reasons to leave a church.We're giving away multiple copies of "The Church: God's Kingdom on Earth", be sure to enter for your chance to win.

Suicide is a troubling topic to examine - delicate and disturbing, one must speak carefully about it, especially with those left in its confusing wake. Common questions asked are: Is suicide an unforgivable sin? Could a true Believer take their own life? As a pastor, should I address suicide at the funeral? Carl, Aimee, Todd (…and Thomas Aquinas!), avoid pat answers and offer helpful ways of thinking founded in Biblical truth.We are giving away several pairs of event tickets to either, God Has Spoken, Reformation: Recovering the Essence of the Gospel (Philadelphia), or The Faithful Shepherd: Pastors Conference. Enter Now!

We're getting group therapy today so we called on the best of the best: David Powlison, Director of Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation, Senior Editor of the Journal of Biblical Counseling, and beloved counseling professor at Westminster Theological Seminary. We are delighted Todd is finally getting the help he needs, but we do have some other ground to cover. What is Biblical Counseling exactly and how important is it to the health of our Church? Is scripture sufficient for counseling? At the close of today's session, everyone's happy and David's take on Todd is as we feared: he's beyond help.We're giving away several copies of David Powlison's book "Good & Angry" courtesy of New Growth Press, be sure to enter for your chance to win.

While Carl's out getting hair plugs, Aimee and Todd steal the show to talk about the Christian term: Quiet Time. What is it exactly - let's talk about the why and how! As thinking people, we should critically consider the theology behind even our daily devotions, as our habits may be founded on false or even contrary doctrine. There's nothing quiet about today's discussion, though more pleasant without our loudest host. Goes without saying: two's company ...

It's round two of the preaching conference and the conversation's heating up. As questions crop up from the crowd we have the usual off-the-wall inquiries but most are measured and helpful. It's yet another conversation where we contemplate the call of the minister, the effects of ministry on everyone's life, and the importance of seeking those more seasoned in the pulpit. No matter if you're a minister or lay person, this discussion is an encouragement to all!

There's a blossoming author in our midst today and she's taking the Spin by storm! While riding the coattails of our most senior host's paper repoitroure, she inspires our "other" host to dream big. (He's making great progress with his coloring books, by the way). Yes, Aimee Byrd is the women of the hour and she's hit her stride, forging a path for both church officers and women to work together in taking theology more seriously. Her latest: No Little Women: Equipping All Women in the Household of God is a stand out for the cause. Somehow, Carl & Todd remain stumped: does learning from a woman threaten their manhood? Aimee spares no expense in confirming that threat with her new book ...We're giving away several copies of Aimee Byrd's book "No Little Women" courtesy of P&R, be sure to enter for your chance to win.

Once again, we haunt the halls of Van Til as it's time for the annual Preaching Conference at Westminster Theological Seminary. Much to our delight (and surprise!), they've invited us back. However, we know better than to think we're the hot commodity when sharing the stage with the likes of Rev. David Helm. Rev. Helm is founding pastor of Hyde Park congregation of Holy Trinity Church in Chicago, and Chairman of the Charles Simeon Trust. Also an avid author, he's written many resources aiding the spiritual growth and development of Christians young and old. This year's conference is about sermon preparation and Rev. Helm is well worth the listen and a great improvement from the balding alternatives.The Alliance has a few of copies of "Expositional Preaching: How We Speak God's Word Today" by David Helm that we are giving away. Sign up for your chance to win.

You should confess all your lustful thoughts to your spouse...Is this a good idea? Unfortunately, this advice is being encouraged (and even taken!) within the evangelical world and Carl, Aimee & Todd discuss their concerns, teasing out the collateral damage such confessionals could cause. The whole crew agrees: There's good reason why we can’t read each other’s minds! Should we leave every idle thought only to God? Whether you're navigating the seas of singleness, dabbling in dating, entering engagement or managing marital bliss this is an important conversation to consider.

We have Dr. Timothy Witmer with us today, and what a story he has to tell! Dr. Witmer is an author and Westminster Theological Seminary professor of Practical Theology. He's also a "Moses" figure for leading St. Stephen Reformed Church, a once United Church of Christ church, to the PCA (or "Promised Land", though Carl & Aimee may beg to differ with Todd on that!). Being a preacher and a teacher of preachers for many years, Dr. Witmer lends a seasoned perspective from the podium to the pulpit and shares the tale leading a congregation to Reformed theology. What a good reminder to us all how God chooses to use his people as a means to fulfill his kingdom purpose. The Alliance has a few of copies of "The Shepherd Leader" by Tim Whitmer that we are giving away. Sign up for your chance to win.

"Who did you vote for?" It's a loaded question, but for Carl he simply pulls the green card. So is there such a thing as piety in the poll booth? How should Christians vote? In our recent presidential election, Carl, Aimee & Todd sniff out some sloppy theology that surfaced during and after the vote, and they share pros and cons to Trump's future leadership. Thankfully for the Christian, our hope and firm foundation is not found in a mortal man or woman or a political party ... no matter who goes "home" to the White House, we know who reigns on high.The Alliance has a few of copies of "Republocrat: Confessions of a Liberal Conservative" by Carl Trueman that we are giving away. Sign up for your chance to win.The Sovereignty of God and Politics is a free MP3 download available to everyone.

Today's guest is a Billy Graham wanna-be, city-slickin' Scotsman who believes in emoticons but struggles with social cues. He invited himself to our recording to eat all our pastries and lingered while we interviewed two guests. He's none other than Liam Goligher, Senior Pastor of Tenth Presbyterian Church, and now two-time guest/delinquent on our little show, (the latter being his greater accomplishment).Thankfully he does know a thing or two about preaching a sound sermon so we asked him (in between each scone): How were you called to preach? What are common mistakes made behind the pulpit? Can you actually teach a man to preach? Aside from hearing him answer these, it's well worth the listen to find out what celebrity used his office loo once upon a time…The Alliance has a few of copies of "Joseph: The Hidden Hand of God" by Liam Goligher that we are giving away. Sign up for your chance to win.

A while back, we welcomed Dr. Anthony "Tony" Esolen on the show. He was a striking presence discussing how cultural norms destroy the imaginations of our children. Tony resurfaces today as a hot topic in controversial circumstances. In the wake of a thought-provoking piece recently published by Crisis Magazine, Tony critiques the "diversity" culture that is out of line with biblical doctrine yet pervasive at Providence college, a Roman Catholic institution.Tony's biblical convictions now threaten his career as Professor of English. This shouldn't surprise us. The trend, even within the church, is one growing in tolerant conformity to secular culture and a shut-down on free-speech. How can we stand for what we believe and be protected by the Constitution? And what matters more: tone or doctrine … being politically correct or biblically correct? What happens to Tony should matter to us, and may we not buckle under the same opposition.

"If you have to ask what jazz is, you'll never know" - Louis Armstrong.Well, if ever there was someone to ask about jazz in our circles, it's Dr. William Edgar, Apologetics Professor at Westminster Theological Seminary, President of the Huguenot Fund, and gifted jazz pianist. Dr. Edgar's interests extend far beyond the walls of Van Til Hall to French culture and the arts. But we have more to chat about than berets, baguettes, and piano keys. He recently published a book, Does Christianity Really Work?, as part of a series that asks the "big" questions of the faith. Dr. Edgar offers helpful insights into the common barriers of the skeptic and the Christian seeking the unsaved. One of his boldest critiques: "many Christians enjoy life inappropriately", weakening an otherwise bold witness for Christ.The Alliance has a few of copies of "Does Christianity Really Work?" by Bill Edgar that we are giving away. Sign up for your chance to win.

Does anyone wear black to a funeral anymore? Seems increasingly common to have "celebrations of life" in lieu of funerals. As Christians, we mourn but not as those without hope, but that's just it, we do and should mourn our losses. So why is grief displaced with "happiness", as if we were throwing a party? And is this happiness genuine or are we genuinely in denial that something legitimately sad has happened? Beware Church, you may be sending mixed messages with these "celebrations". Just how difficult is a pastor's job made by all this confusion? To help us consider it, we have a Scotsman who weaseled his way into the recording studio after trading in his kilt for some urban slims.Donate to Mortification of Spinvar r_protocol=(("https:"==document.location.protocol)?"https://":"http://");var r_path="https://www.razoo.com/javascripts/widget_loader.js";var r_identifier='Mortification-Of-Spin';document.write(unescape("%3Cscript id='razoo_widget_loader_script' src='"+r_path+"' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));

"We live with an odd mix of immature people incapable of adult responsibility and yet full of extreme self-confidence,” said an English menace. But perhaps Carl is onto something - what of this Neverland with its abundance of "Lost Boys"? Not surprisingly, women complain of immaturity in the opposite sex, but they themselves aren’t spared this epidemic.What makes us mature adults? Maybe saying "I do" or buying a mini-van? Not really. In today's culture, there’s a restless, sexualized childishness - an endless adolescence, and we want to know who (or what!) is to blame! Carl, Aimee, & Todd have their theories…The Alliance has a few of copies of "Juvenescence" by Robert Harrison that we are giving away. Sign up for your chance to win.

It's not Reformation Day anymore but we are still a-buzz about Luther and more specifically, the Biblica Germanica. Our Spin bookworms gawk over its beautiful calligraphy and the black and white illustrations, which Todd mistakenly took for coloring pages ... we knew better than to let him bring his crayons. It's another chance to discuss God's providential work through Martin Luther, a man so instrumental in bringing the Word of God to the common layperson of his day.Find out more about Biblica Germanica from the publisher, Hendrickson Publishers.

It's difficult finding the right thing to say to those in mourning - we clumsily fumble over our words, say nothing, or utter the worst possible thing at the worst possible time. Whatever our experience, we could all use help ministering better to those suffering loss - in particular, the loss of an unborn child.To help us today is Matthew Eusey, Pastor of Trinity Church Central Oahu, and his wife, Karyn.The Euseys share about the loss of their son and what it was like at the receiving end of people's best efforts to help them through their grief. In a few words, they give voice to a darkness so often kept private. Their story is a humbling, sincere account of awaiting the resurrection while honoring the little life God fashioned and took so quickly. It's hard making sense of such a sadness, but Karyn said it best: “There is no silver lining in this … but Christ.”The Alliance has a bunch of copies of "Holding Onto Hope" by Nancy Guthrie that we are giving away. Congratulations to the give away winners:Nicole B., Monroe, GABruce B., Buda, TXJon B., New Lenox, ILGlenda E., Minneapolis, MNDaniel G., San Jose, CANicholas B., Fort Collins, CORebekah M., Fredericksburg, VABeth R., Coventry, CT

Reformation Day has come and gone so naturally we talk about Martin Luther. He's no Halloween has-been, so we thought: "Better get a legit Church Historian and Luther extraordinaire on today's show!" Unfortunately Roland Bainton left the stage in '84 and Robert Kolb would rather be on The White Horse Inn, so no one really knowledgeable on the subject was available ... so we asked Carl Trueman. Carl takes a stab answering questions about the medieval agenda, what church laity gained from Luther's mission, and Luther's lasting impressions on preaching after the reformation. Grab your candy corn, it's gonna be an earful!The Alliance has several copies of "Luther on the Christian Life: Cross & Freedom" by Carl Trueman that we are giving away:Congratulations to:John K., Aurora, COJames M., Williamston, SCWesley G., Gastonia, NCJennifer B., West Chester, OHJeff O., Milwaukee, WI

Simonetta Carr has authored numerous (and superb!) children’s books. It’s our honor to have her on the show today, and it won’t take you long to figure out she ain’t from around here. Originally hailing from lovely Italy, she now lives in sunny Cali - trading one vineyard for another. It does seem all the more fitting she’d write a book on Michelangelo, contender for the Renaissance Man title and a native Italian himself! Simonetta calls us to question: why should reformed protestants know (or even care) about Michelangelo and the Renaissance, and why should our children learn about them, too? Her book will broaden our view of the reformation as well as an appreciation for the arts and the beauty therein. But … what about all the renaissance nudity?! Don't shield your eyes … it’s a bit of Art Appreciation meets Survey of Art History on Mortification of Spin today, so trade your pen for a paintbrush and tap into your inner artist.The Alliance has several copies of "Michelangelo for Kids: His Life and Ideas" by Simonetta Carr that we are giving away.Congratulations to:Amye S., Salem, VAMatt T., Murietta, CAGlenn W., Milwaukee, WIAnn C., Battle Creek, MIAdam F., Broken Arrow, OKMindy S., Lancaster, PA

Happy 10th anniversary to the Young Restless & Reformed! To those unfamiliar with YRR, we aren't marking the anniversary of a soap opera, (though, it's had its fair share of drama!). The YRR, or New Calvinism, is a movement that gained momentum in the late 90's when many grew restless within the Emerging Church. They wanted something more solid on which to stand: doctrine! And so they turned to the theological treasure trove of the olden days. For some it's a revolutionary resurgence of discovery and Biblical understanding, while to others, it's simply review. However good this movement from Emergent to Edwards is, it comes with its criticisms and concerns. Ten years strong and the verdict's still out: Have the Young Restless & Reformed strengthened the Church?

Let’s talk ministerial burnout! It’s a relevant topic at the end of another marathon recording day as we squeeze our hosts for onnnnne more episode. Poor Todd, red-eyed and against his fragile will, did not leave the studio despite his many threats to do so. Just a Diva trapped inside a pipe-smoker’s body. In all seriousness, ministerial burnout can be lurking in the pulpit or present in the pew more often than we realize. The stats are alarming which demand we ask: Do we encourage those who shepherd us? Do we pray often (or even at all!) for them? Are our elders consumed by responsibilities or healthy and happy in their service? Free StuffWe are giving away copies of Christopher Ash's book "Zeal Without Burnout" this week! Click here to enter to win a copy!

As you may know, our hosts are avid readers. But what you don't know may surprise you ... Carl enjoys snuggling up to a good comic & Todd's keen on the Scratch and sniff, pop-up variety but Aimee's leaps and bounds ahead of the boys with the more mature palette, devouring her fair share of Seventeen magazine. Our shining examples of readers beg the question: why read? Outside of studying the Bible, should reading be considered a godly discipline? Should Christians read poetry? Novels? Or only biographies and ... Harry Potter?

Wesley Smith, lawyer and an award winning author, recognized as an expert thinker in the field of bioengineering and a "Great Defender of Life" for his work against assisted suicide and euthanasia, joins us today as we bask in the glories of the one-star Best Western conference room. Wesley is calling in from Cali - how fortunate he should be deprived the novelties of weak coffee and Todd's disgruntled face as he eats another day-old donut. Of course, the trials we face here pale in comparison with today's topic. Wesley bears much knowledge on bioethics, a field of study that tests the ethics and philosophical implications of medical practices and procedures. With the sanctity of life increasingly questioned, "do-harm medicine" is growing in practice. We live in a backwards world where death is more valued than life, and the disabled not worthy of all the medical efforts. Don't be surprised to find yourself catching your jaw during this one!Links:"The Whispers Of Strangers" by Wesley Smith The Patients Rights Council websiteFree Stuff:We are giving away copies of Wesley Smith's book "Culture of Death: The Assault on Medical Ethics in America" this week! Click here to enter to win a copy!

In Reformed Theology, we hold firm to the tradition of true doctrine - we believe it's invaluable to aiding an understanding of our faith and more importantly we believe scripture to be the supreme and normative source of what we believe. Yet why are so many evangelicals leery of combining the words: 'tradition' and 'true doctrine'? In the end, they help define divine realities, and more importantly, lend accurate descriptions of God. Maybe more alarming is not the lay person who misunderstands traditional doctrine, but those who don't preach it from the pulpit or teach it from the lectern. It's necessary that the Church connect scripture to the traditional doctrinal statements lest she get swept away by every wind of novel doctrine.The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals would like to offer you a free MP3 download entitled "The Developing Tradition: From the Reformation Until Now". Discount is applied at checkout.

Name 10 ways to destroy your child’s imagination. Ok, we'll give you 5 to start: 1. Mechanize your kid, 2. pad their resume, 3. send them to Yale, 4. stifle their natural talents and, if you do nothing else, 5. deter any natural tendency to admire God's vast creation. This is but a taste of the (outlandish?) commentary to expect from Dr. Anthony Esolen, professor of English at Providence College and author of Ten Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child. To those of us glued to our screens or whose suffocated imaginations are inhibited by too many distractions, Dr. Esolen is a breath of fresh air.The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals would like to offer you a free MP3 download entitled "Children and Parents". Discount is applied at checkout.The Moral Structure of Pedophilia by Anthony EsolenFox News Anchors Stunned - Punked By Guest?

Today we have Rusty Reno on the line for a special XL Bully Pulpit. Rusty is editor of First Things Magazine, formerly taught theology and ethics at Creighton University, and has authored many theological books of which one is a topic of today's conversation: Resurrecting the Idea of a Christian Society. We are worlds away from the Garden and in the wake of that fateful bite we now navigate amongst many evils. So can we go back to the Garden? What lasting influence do we bring to bear on our pagan societies? Rusty shares quotable insights to sharpen our perspective on these (and many more) questions any Christian should be asking.The Alliance has a copy of Rusty Reno's book entitled Resurrecting the Idea of a Christian Society that we are giving away, enter for your chance to win!

We're here again with our boy, Max “Rambouski” Benfer. Strangely he always finds our secret bunker! Despite our better judgment, we let him appear on the show … (what can we say, we feel bad for the guy!). He's had quite a colorful past and in his previous life, Max served in men’s ministry - basically calling men to set up camp in Neverland and play in the dirt. In all seriousness, what is men's ministry supposed to look like and what makes it successful? If ministering to the men-folk looks like a pack of Tarzans in the woods while "Jane" stays home, it's time we reconsider our strategy.Please make a donation to the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals so we can continue producing Mortification of Spin. When you donate, please select the category Mortification of Spin so that your gift is designated to the correct ministry. Thank you for your support.

Are all things being redeemed … even Pokemon Go?! C'mon. We're handing out our very last Desperate Theology award and we hope the winner will take it in stride! In light of Pokemon, Carl, Aimee, and Todd sit down to talk "Hyperreality", that is, the reality that isn't. We live in a world increasingly fixated on what's fabricated. Screens have gripped our eyes and crippled the imagination. "It’s all crap and it’s destroying our souls," says one no-name Englishman. So what is reality and why do we shy away from it? You'd think it's an obvious answer, but how often do we function far from the natural created world before and around us with little awareness?The Alliance has MP3 set that we are really excited to be giving away. It's entitled Developing a Christian Mind by James Boice. It's some of his best messages and it will help you to think biblically about our world.

According to Carl, Aimee & Todd, church membership isn’t an extra-biblical idea, so where does it originate from and what does it even matter? More importantly who does it better: the OPC or the PCA? (Carl's got the answer to that). Once we tease out why church membership is important, what purpose do membership classes serve? What pros are there to having them and for goodness sake, how long should they be?! And surely college or seminary students are off the hook since they are in such a transitory time, and they're taking enough classes. Right?The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is giving away a few copies of The Church: God's Kingdom on Earth, an event featuring the teaching of Rick Phillips, Carl Trueman and several others.

Today's Desperate Theologizer gets a failing grade from MOS, but they need more than a trip to the principal's office to straighten them out. Speaking of authority, the pulpit grants power to those behind it, but sometimes it becomes a weapon taken to extremes. Heavy shepherding, control, throwing your weight around - these are twisted approachs to pastoral ministry that any minister has the temptation to fall into and every lay congregant should be able to recognize. Today's addition of Bully Pulpit is more true to its name than ever.The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals would like to offer you a free MP3 download entitled "A Pastor's Self Care: Friends and Mentors" by by Daniel Doriani. Discount is applied at checkout.

How on earth can we trust the books in the Bible to be the only Word of God, or “canon”, to which no man should add or subtract? What exactly is the canon and why is it important? What are its fundamental flaws, (and if there are any), then how can we be confident in it? The canon can be an intimidating topic so naturally we spared no expense in bringing out the big guns: Michael Kruger. Dr. Kruger is President of Reformed Seminary Charlotte, Samuel C. Patterson Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity, and author of numerous books. However, he’s more widely known for being married to Melissa Kruger. Hopefully we will get her on the show soon - but Michael makes for a nice Plan B.The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals has a few copies of The Heresy of Orthodoxy by Michael J. Kruger that we would like to giveaway.

Can mercy and grace find their way into your workout? Well, uniting brain and brawn has never been more feasible thanks to the desperate efforts of another Theologizer. In other news: Carl has a piercing question for Todd: “Is your Frat-Boy-Honeymoon period with the PCA over?” General Assembly recently ruffled some feathers, but thankfully they’d never get rid of Systematic Theology or start ordaining women … right?! … or would they?The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals would like to offer you a free MP3 download entitled "The Vitality of Reformed Systematic Theology" by Richard Gaffin. Discount is applied at checkout.Valerie Hobbs' article, "What’s in a Name? Critical Reflections on the PCA’s Women in Ministry Study Committee" can be found on the Aquila Report.

Preachers preach theology, but what about our theology on preaching? Should sitting under the preached word take priority over other forms of scriptural intake? What about one-on-one discipleship, small-group Bible studies, biblical counseling, and Christian fellowship - do they take the backseat to sunday morning service? For some of us, a sermon is simply informative, but to others it’s one of God’s means to confront and encourage us in our Christian lives. That said, what’s your theology on preaching, truly and functionally?The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals would like to offer you a free MP3 entitled "The Regulative Principle of Preaching" by Steve Lawson. Discount is applied at checkout.

The recent Trinity Debate has raised an eyebrow (or two) in both the Protestant and Roman Catholic churches. If you're not in the know by now, we'll give you the twenty-minute brief today. There's more at stake than the ontology and economy of the Trinity. This also impacts how we view women as well. The Word's alleged submission to the Father in eternity has been used in this debate to provide justification for the authoritarian headship of men over women ... hmm, something's not right here. There are patriarchal undertones to this debate and Carl, Aimee, & Todd have sniffed them out and express serious concern for how this theology can cause great harm within the Church and within marriages.The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals would like to offer you a free pdf booklet download entitled "How to Be Happy as Family" Discount is applied at checkout.

Today we have Rod Dreher on the show. Rod is a Gumbo-eatin’, Louisiana City-Slickin’ Eastern Orthodox and author. He’s here to explain the Benedict Option, and … we’re still not sure we get it! He talks about moral and civil life, and how Christians ought to live in this crooked world. Rod says preaching of the word and the Benedict Option are the only way forward in sharing our faith with the world around us. Very interesting … please pass the hollandaise!The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals would like to offer you a free MP3 download entitled "Christianity & 'Culture Wars'" by Michael Horton. Discount is applied at checkout.

In Desperate Theology this week is… it's always 2008 somewhere. Fast forward 8 years and we find our public schools are an ever-increasing world of confusion especially in regards to gender. Is the (latest) Sexual Revolution as bad as it looks? The transgender issue is a fundamental redefinition of personhood with huge implications on the malleable minds of our youth. We fight for hormone-free chickens yet parents are berated (or worse!) for refusing hormone therapy for their "transgender" child. What on earth is happening here? We need to know what we believe and thus equip our children with sound theology to stand firm on Christ the solid rock.The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals would like to offer you a free MP3 download entitled "Christian Godliness and Holiness: The Importance of Sexuality to the Next Generation" Discount is applied at checkout.The Global Sexual Revolution by Gabriele Kuby

Most assume sex trafficking starts with a brutal kidnapping - like in a movie. However, it’s often a long process: seduction, coercion, seasoning, and recruiting. VAST (Valley Against Sex Trafficking) works diligently to bring awareness about trafficking while restoring God-given dignity to survivors of this dark market. Heather Evans, co-founder of VAST, is here to share sobering stats, and lessens the appeal and glamour often associated with this social justice movement. Are you part of a middle-class church? Then you worship in one of the most common sources fueling the sex industry due to the common use of pornography - so much to your surprise, this hits quite close to home.The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals has a few copies of Girls Like Us: Fighting for a World Where Girls Are Not for Sale: A Memoir by Rachel Lloyd that we would like to giveaway.Heather Evans serves at VAST where you can find links to additional resources and does counseling at Evans Counseling Services. She also writes - check out her blog.BooksSomebody's Daughter by Julian SherHands that HealGood News About Injustice by Gary A. HaugenWalking Prey by Holly Austin SmithArticlesReflections on Prostitution Sting (PDF)What I have Learned (PDF)The song at the end of today's episode, "Real", was written by John Hufford. John wrote this song in honor of VAST's ministry to victims of the sex trafficking industry. You can visit his website here.

Desperate theology has gone viral in the Church of...! Not to worry, we have more class than to spoil the win but let’s just say Liam Goligher will wish he's Welsh after crowning today's Desperate Theologizer. In other news, the Gang discuss some recent pulpits going political. Is Sunday morning an appropriate place to discern whether Hillary or Trump is the godlier vote? Is it wise for pastors to campaign from the pulpit? Today’s conversation is a charge to all ministers: beware the divisive nature of misusing the pulpit!The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals would like to offer you a free MP3 download entitled "To Each His Own." Discount is applied at checkout.