Mortification of Spin

The state of California has gathered its pitchforks and torches and they’re coming after Grace Community Church, pastored by John MacArthur. The COVID-19 pandemic has opened doors to all kinds of government regulations, including—to no one’s surprise—restrictions on worship gatherings.
The feud between Grace Community Church and the state of California rages on, and our dynamic duo is focusing on the fine line between obedience to Scripture and obedience to the limited, God-given power of the civil magistrate.
Has the state of California overstepped the boundaries of religious freedom, supplanting the authority of the Scriptures and of the Church? The issue has captured a lot of attention on social media with as many different opinions as the number of people offering them. 
As we’re on the subject, we have a few copies to give away of a new release by Concordia Publishing House, Faith in the Shadow of a Pandemic.Register for the opportunity to win one.

Carl Trueman and Todd Pruitt discuss the value of leisure reading and suggest a few outstanding titles. Todd’s dramatic reading at the conclusion of the podcast is worth the price of admission! Perhaps we should put it another way…
You’ll enjoy reading A Christian Guide to the Classics, by Leland Ryken. Enter to win a copy!

When couples struggle with the pain of infertility, surrogacy may be one of the available options. Is surrogacy as simple as finding a “carrier” for your baby, or are there more considerations to bear in mind? 
Carl and Todd sit down with Adeline Allen, associate professor of law at Trinity Law School. Adeline raises some questions about the moral, Christian ethical, and lawful implications of surrogacy. It is biblical that Christians would strive to raise godly offspring, but does the means of surrogacy justify that end? How are pastors to help their congregants to think through such a sensitive issue? There’s much to be discerned from this thoughtful and important episode.

Carl and Todd are virtually visiting the beautiful state of Georgia, sipping some peach sweet tea with Rev. David Hall. David is the senior pastor at Midway Presbyterian Church in the Atlanta area, the hot spot for a yearly conference on reformed worship emphasizing the simplicity of worship and the centrality of preaching. Due to changes in state guidelines, this year’s event was canceled, so David chats instead with our heroes about the newest social phenomenon: Puritanical perfectionism.
At issue, the emergence of a secular kind of absolute morality, which punishes violators to the fullest extent of “woke” standards, leaving the perpetrator without any chance for redemption or forgiveness. Is this “new morality” a good thing for society? David reviews the “Five Points of Neo-Perfectionism,” discussing each in light of their social implications. 
We have free copies of David’s book titled “The Arrogance of the Modern” that we would love to share with our listeners. Register for the opportunity to win one.
 

The emperor of California has granted Joel Kim a temporary release to join Carl and Todd for a short conversation. The gathering happens at the usual spot—in front of an Ann Taylor boutique—so that the wives may have a good time as the men whine and opine! 
Joel is the president of Westminster Seminary California, and he has some peculiar challenges ahead of him regarding the upcoming academic year at WestCal. Kim shares some of the changes the seminary made to accommodate the needs of the students, and what he’s foreseeing as temporary solutions to keep a certain level of continuity and normalcy in the months ahead. 
What does Kim think about online education? Tune in for this clear-cut conversation to hear about WestCal’s focus and commitment in forming pastors despite the challenges of COVID. 
We have copies of With All Your Heart: Orienting your Mind, Desires, and Will toward God by WestCal professor Craig Troxel that we would like to give away. Register for the opportunity to win a free copy. 

Our dynamic duo brings in Chad Vegas with a plan to dig up some dirt he has on Big Eva without raising any controversy. But who are we kidding?
Chad is currently the pastor of Sovereign Grace Church of Bakersfield, CA, and was a pioneer in the Young, Restless, and Reformed (YRR) movement. We’re riveted by his words as Chad tells us what it was like in the early days of the movement. Vegas speaks kindly of the friendships forged during his time in YRR, the support he and his family received from those friends, and the lessons learned. Still, Chad raises some fair concerns about the direction the movement was heading when he left it.
What were some factors that contributed to Chad’s exit from the YRR? Why did he move toward a more Reformed theology? Buckle in for a gripping episode, chock full of confessions, book endorsement repentance, statues being taken down from seminary squares, redemption, and much more!
We are happy to offer you the opportunity to win a copy of The Creedal Imperative by our very own Carl Trueman. Register!!
 

This week’s conversation brings in a New Englander, and--mind you--a Grove City College alum! Megan Hill is a pastor’s wife living in Massachusetts. She’s a pastor’s daughter, a mom, an editor, and the author of A Place to Belong - Learning to Love the Local Church.
The image we personally hold of the church may not be great, but God’s Word paints a different picture. How might we reconcile what we perceive with what God says about his bride? Should we think of the church as merely a means to our own ends, assessing the local body in terms of what it can offer for our lives? How can we reshape our thinking about the church? 
An ordinary group of people who meet weekly and worship their Lord in an ordinary fashion offer a wonderful testimony to the world around them. Megan has much to say about the blessing that is participatory Reformed worship.
Show Notes
· Hiding in the Light by Rifqa Bary
We have copies of A Place to Belong that we would like to give to some of our listeners. Register for the opportunity to win one. The books are a generous gift from our friends at Crossway.
 

Todd and his “sidekick” Carl believe that they have much wisdom to dispense to the world. They’ve picked a tech-free and quiet spot nestled in among the Amish in Pennsylvania to share their thoughts on the “evils” of social media—particularly regarding church officers. Since quitting Twitter Todd’s rosy cheeks are back, his cholesterol and blood pressure are under control, and he’s grown enough hair to sport a man-bun!
In all seriousness, as Christians, do we stop and consider how we interact with others on social media? Has our behavior been irreproachable before God and man? What would our children think if they witnessed our interaction with people with whom we disagree? Is there a higher level of accountability for church officers concerning social media? Listen for Todd’s intriguing story of redemption and social media recovery, as well as Carl’s, “I told you so.” 

As the Covid-19 debate rages and protestors have taken to the streets, the US Supreme Court hands down an important ruling in a case, which—unfortunately—seems to have flown under the radar of the media: Bostock v. Clayton County.
The smartest-dressed man on campus returns! Matthew Franck is the Associate Director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University, and lecturer for their Department of Politics. As you won’t hear much about the Bostock ruling elsewhere, Matt joins Carl and Todd to shed some light on what this decision means regarding the interpretation of the legal text of Title VII, as well as its implications for religious freedom in the short and long terms. 
Show Notes
·Supreme Court Ruling on Bostock v. Clayton County - Justice Alito's dissenting opinion begins on page 38
·Grove City College
·Hillsdale College
·Patrick Henry College

Carl rushes in to introduce today’s guest…lest he, once again, forget the man’s name! Jonathan Master is a friend of The Spin and the co-host of Theology on the Go, another Alliance podcast. Just a few days ago, Jonathan officially took the reins as president of Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, so we brought him back into the bunker to gain some inside info about what the future holds.
What is it like to step into a new position of leadership during a time of so much instability? What are some of the main challenges Jonathan might encounter ahead? If you’re considering going to seminary, you’ll be interested in hearing what Jonathan has to say about GPTS and its distinctives. You’ll also pick up on Carl and Todd’s obvious bookcase ladder envy!
We are pleased to offer you the opportunity to win a free copy of a great book titled Knowing the Trinity by Ryan McGraw, who is a GPTS faculty member.