After an election season, many may be burned out by politics. However, the subject of this book is still an important topic and one that is more than just a political one. The book we will review here is one that I recently read: Marx, Lenin, and Jesus: Communism or the Bible? by David E. Pratte.Continue Reading
December 16, 2020
What Has This Year Taught Us?
With a global pandemic, lockdowns, economic woes, a contested Presidential election, and more, this has been quite an unusual year. While the wise man noted that “there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9), from our perspective it can seem like we are living in unprecedented times.
As the events of this year have unfolded, there are some important truths that have been highlighted. These have always been true, but they are more apparent in light of recent events. Let us briefly consider a few points.Continue Reading
October 15, 2020
Can/Should Christians Vote? (Episode 17)
The question we’ll be considering in this episode is this:
Can/should Christians vote?
As we approach an upcoming election, how should we view this as Christians? Should we vote or refrain from voting? If we vote, on what basis should we decide how to vote? We will consider these questions in this episode.
Additional resources:
- Civil Government: Its Origin, Mission, and Destiny, and the Christian’s Relation to It by David Lipscomb (PDF)
- Civil Government: Its Origin, Mission, and Destiny, and the Christian’s Relation to It by David Lipscomb (book)
Do you have a question you would like to submit for a future episode? Fill out the Plain Bible Teaching Podcast question form.
Thanks for listening!
If you found this episode to be useful, please share it with others. Thanks.
September 2, 2020
Some Thoughts on Sheep
The term “sheep” has become somewhat controversial in our current social and political climate. It is often used disparagingly to describe those who seem to naively follow whatever their leaders tell them to do, even if they are being told to do what appears to be foolish, harmful, irrational, or even wrong. Some have pushed back against this criticism by arguing that, as Christians, we have been called to be like sheep so we should simply follow whatever these orders might be (though each one who argues this will probably have in mind some limit as to how far they believe this compliance should go).
[Note: In this article, I am not going to address any specific cases in which this concept may arise; but I do believe it will be helpful for us to consider some general principles.]
Does the Bible say anything that would address this controversy? Let us consider some thoughts.Continue Reading
June 11, 2020
Race, Riots, Right, and Wrong (Episode 10)
In this episode we’re going to be looking at some principles relating to current events:
Race, riots, right, and wrong
Current events have turned our national attention to the problem of racism. Protests have occurred across the country, as well as rioting and violence. During events like these, it is important that we remember some Biblical principles.
Additional resources:
- Bible Lessons for Times of Civil Unrest (article)
- Social Issues (Part 5): Racism (article)
Do you have a question you would like to submit for a future episode? Fill out the Plain Bible Teaching Podcast question form.
Thanks for listening!
If you found this episode to be useful, please share it with others. Thanks.
May 25, 2020
Social Issues (Part 9): Socialism
Socialism is the political ideology that a central, national government ought to oversee and control all aspects of the economy rather than leaving private businesses and individuals to conduct their business and affairs as they see fit. It is rooted in the notion that all property and wealth are to be shared and the national government is the entity which determines how they are to be shared. Of necessity, socialism demands a strong centralized government to be able to function in this way.
Those who argue in favor of socialism will often claim that it is the fairest way for a society to function economically and that it protects poorer citizens from oppression by wealthy individuals and big corporations. Many will even attempt to use the Bible in order to defend this idea (hence the reason why we are discussing it here). One alleged example of socialism that is commonly given is that of the early Christians who sold their property to share with those who were in need (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-35).Continue Reading
May 20, 2020
Remember the Lawgiver
After delivering the Israelites from Pharaoh and their bondage in Egypt, God gave them the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3-17). These commandments served as a foundation for the rest of the law.
Yet in a sense, this foundation also had a foundation. The Ten Commandments provided the basis for the law, but the only reason the law mattered was because of the one who gave the law. So who was the lawgiver? That was God. They needed to understand this in order to appreciate the importance of the laws that were given. They were reminded of this in the “preface” to the Ten Commandments:
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery” (Exodus 20:2).
