On the eve of America's election, what is at stake? I clarify and explain my answer to that now-historic question. Also, I explain what it means to vote on the basis of biblical values. Along the way I sing multiple versions of a popular children's song from the 1800s. . . hey, let's have fun while we ponder together! Near the show's ending I quote…

Tune in as Pastor Russ Hodgins preaches a word on the transformative power of beholding Jesus in order to transform our hearts and lives.Bởi Cuhow

I am a theologian, so why am I of all people voting for Donald Trump? Shouldn't I know better than to vote for, as the progressives call him, Orange Hitler? After all, not only is Donald Naranja not my Lord and Savior, he's not even an Evangelical Christian. So, why? Interrupting my current series, I explain the Christian-worldview-reasons together…

"If your right eye or right hand causes you to sin? Cut it off! Better to be dismembered in this life than to enter Gehenna with all your body parts," Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount. But, in order to understand that billboard-loud statement we need to understand what Jesus is doing in his hill-side-y sermon. Was he issuing a new, once-and-fo…

This week, Pastor Marquez is unpacking the power of grace when it comes up against the suffering and agony of pain.Bởi Cuhow

This is as important an episode as I have ever recorded. Jesus used "salty" imagery in three different Gospel stories. In this fourth episode on Jesus' tough sayings we explore what he meant by that useage, what first-century Jewish rabbis meant when they used salty imagery, and how being salt spills over into the political realm. On the cultural-a…

In this week's installment of our Grace VS series, Mai uses the story of the woman with the issue of blood to highlight how Grace chooses us.Bởi Cuhow

"There are different kinds of eunuchs," Jesus flashed back at them, "and some have so chosen for the sake of the kingdom of heaven." This followed the disciples' own astonished response to Jesus' teaching on the exclusive nature of marriage. So Jesus took their emotional blurt and turned it on them. What does "eunuchs for the kingdom" mean? What's …

In this week's installment of our Grace VS series, Pastor Ro uses the story of the good Samaritan to demonstrate how when grace comes up against apathy, grace always wins.Bởi Cuhow

Jesus said harsh things. Sometimes they were tough because they were riddled even for Jesus' own listeners, other times they were tough because they were just so demanding! This episode? "I came for the sick, sinners." What did that mean in its social context? What did it mean in its literary context? What does it mean over against massively-widesp…

Grace VS Addiction // Grace VS (Part 4) // Ruben Remedios & John Miranda by CuhowBởi Cuhow

The first episode in a new series, this cast o' the pod is about John 6:53, "unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you." What did Jesus mean by that? What does the chapter's context establish for us? What does the book of John establish for us? Was Jesus promoting cannibalism? What does Jesus say a few …

In part 3 of our Grace VS series, Pastor Ro unpacks how in a fight between grace and religion, grace wins out every time.Bởi Cuhow

Twenty-first century folk define flesh as being about the body. So the human body, in popular Christian thought, gets paired against the spirit. But that's not at all what the apostle Paul meant by flesh (sarx) in the book of Romans. He was being nuanced, technical even. He wanted to establish a comparison that remains critical even for believers t…

Grace VS Sin // Grace VS (Part 2) // Ro Remedios by CuhowBởi Cuhow

Following a 16-part series it's time for a happy-break! In this Theology-and-Culture shotgun I work through the following: a famous racist's plagiarism, a quote by the Chinese ancient Laozi, why I love Spudlandia culture (and why you won't want to move here!) (and why KS is angry at the I.D.!), how an embrace of divine determinism theology makes ev…

Tune in as Pastor Marquez kicks off our newest series "Grace VS" and unpacks the transformative power of grace over our need to perform.Bởi Cuhow

Protestants focus, almost exclusively, on Salvation. (Who's against salvation? Not me! Praise God for salvation!) But that pressure-driven focus causes Protestants to look at every Bible passage or story as a matter of soteriology (salvation, pertaining to salvation). So we end up making the Bible say things it wasn't trying to say. And to that poi…

The Ultimate Dwelling Place Audio // Jenny Cuyuch by CuhowBởi Cuhow

Tune in as Pastor Lisa closes out our Ephesians summer series with a powerful word on the full armor of GodBởi Cuhow

A classic prooftext for Divine Determinism is Romans 9. Especially verse 13, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated," is a pet verse for those who favor Divine Determinism. Across the last 500 years that verse has particularly been cited as an example of predestination: God chooses some for salvation and some for damnation. But is that what Pau…

Significant to a notion of Divine Determinism is the Exodus. In chapters 7-12 we watch an ongoing interaction between Egypt's Pharaoh and Yahweh (via Moses and Aaron). What does that running exchange reveal to us? What does it reveal to us about freedom from slavery? About freedom of religious expression? About human agency? About how God deals wit…

Who We Should Be Looking At // Book of Ephesians (Part 9) // Thomas Ransome by CuhowBởi Cuhow

The Reformed's Westminster Shorter Catechism, point #1, "What is the chief end of man? The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." That's a solid claim! I don't disagree, except it doesn't explain a deeper-still question, why did God create? What motivated Him? Was there a need in God to be glorified? Did God have a lack He neede…

God created the universe, and planet earth, with an inherent quality of free-play. Free-play is where energies, gravity, animals, weather and more all have their ability to move and be and impact reality. Given that, is life a matter of chance? Still more, is life a matter of unruly randomness? Both the Reformed and the Arminians have a high emphas…

Tune in as Mike Sunbury unpacks the difference between focusing on the roles we play at church versus buying into the vision of the house.Bởi Cuhow

Across my last five or so episodes I've put enormous weight on human agency in understanding a biblical theology. This cast O' the pod, following Reformed vs. Arminian constructions and the priority of prevenient grace, emphasizes both the 'that' and the 'why' of God's revelation (the Gospel) being the premise of salvation. We cannot save ourselves…

Who Are You Wearing///Book of Ephesians//Ruben Remedios by CuhowBởi Cuhow

Once saved always saved is a popular theology in the modern world. It is the idea that once you have been saved, regardless of future actions or sins you can never lose your salvation. But is this really the case? To find more "Uncensored Christian" content including Video versions of the podcast, Social Media links, and more use the Link down belo…

The Reformed doctrine of Total Depravity rather necessitates their doctrine of Common Grace, or better, common graces. When I was in seminary I realized that most other Christians talked about life in terms of grace, whereas my tradition spoke about life in terms of God's Spirit. What are the benefits of each? What are important biblical frames for…

In part 6 of our Ephesians series, Pastor Jorge unpacks how dying to self daily is a gangster act.Bởi Cuhow

The P of TULIP is Perseverance of the Saints. And so the question rises, "can you lose your salvation?" Just asking that question will get you kicked out of many in-home bible studies! Nevertheless, the Reformed and the Arminian Protestants answer this in ways that we note and unpack. And then me? The UU? Who takes Trinity (and so personhood, and a…

Is the grace of God resistible? Can the Holy Spirit's efforts be frustrated? When does the new birth (regeneration, justification) happen in time? In their historical context, why do Protestants, both Reformed and Arminians, so resist having works be involved in salvation? Those questions are all plowed-through in this eighth episode in this series…

For Vision Builder's Sunday we pause our series on Ephesians to reflect on the ways in which we can allow God to move our hearts to give towards his vision.Bởi Cuhow

Probably like me you hear it all the time, "everything happens for a reason." More than likely? Those who say that do not realize they are espousing Reformed theology, or drawing on Reformed sensibilities. But really, does the Bible teach that everything happens for a reason? And if so, doesn't that make God the author of evil, and so make him a mo…

In this fourth installment of our Ephesians series, Pastor Marquez reminds us of our kingdom citizenship and the healing power of love and forgiveness.Bởi Cuhow

The New Testament, from the Gospels to Revelation, proclaim Jesus to be the "lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." But how do the Reformed and the Arminians process the effective nature of Jesus' atoning death? I explore the logic of each divergent camp's theology. What does John Piper teach? What did John Calvin teach? What interesting…

This week, Pastor Ruben takes us through the second chapter in Ephesians and unpacks how God had created the work we were meant to do before he created us.Bởi Cuhow

The desire to see God reveal Himself or provide a sign is not inherently wrong. Scripture recounts numerous instances where God provided signs to affirm His truth. However, trouble arises when we seek signs in places where God is not present, or when we repeatedly ask God to prove Himself. To find more "Uncensored Christian" content including Video…

The Reformed and Arminians agree that God predestined the elect, but they don't agree together who the elect are. They also don't agree on what God decreed about the reprobate (unbelievers). Frankly, they don't agree on several important things: God's power and whether He can (or does) limit himself; the levels of mystery at work in life; or the th…

What an unexpected service! Join us for a time of intimacy with God as we live out the message found in part 2 of Ephesians 1. Truly know God today.Bởi Cuhow

Predestination: it's a big topic of controversy. The Reformed and Arminians each emphasize predestination in varied ways. Why did God predestine? Whom did God predestine? I also explore the very common sentiment, "but, I only want to believe what the Bible says!" That sentiment has historic (and, gulp!, philosophic) roots that those who assert it d…

Tune in for the first installment of our new sermon series on Ephesians and listen as Pastor Ro unpacks our true identity in Christ.Bởi Cuhow

Jesus shows himself to be God in more ways than one, through words, prophetic fulfillment, and also through his actions. The question of "Is Jesus God" is quickly answered by looking at the actions of Jesus and asking yourself, who is capable of doing such things? To find more "Uncensored Christian" content including Video versions of the podcast, …

The Reformed and Arminians (R'n'A) seldom agree. But they do agree on the doctrine of total depravity. In this episode I work through what that means, respectively, to the R'n'A. What did Sproul say about it? What did Wesley assert? Then I ask questions about what it means to be human: a) do we still, after the fall, exist as the image of God? b) d…

3 Lies the Enemy wants you to believe about Your Giving // Ro Remedios (Vision Builders Sunday) by CuhowBởi Cuhow

Tune in as Pastor Thomas Ransome unpacks how serving is built into our purpose and that we are all called to the ministry of service.Bởi Cuhow

"God seeks glory." That is critical and foundational to both a Reformed and an Arminian theological perspective. But the two camps diverge on how it is, principally, that God seeks glory. And it finally comes down to a matter of premises. It's sort of like when you go hiking: you get to the trail head and you have a choice between different trails.…

The Secret to Serving // Serving Changes Everything (Part 4) // Ruben Remedios by CuhowBởi Cuhow

Let's compare the Reformed with the Arminians (no, not Armenians!). What are their emphases? Where, at surface level, do they disagree? Who are the famous leaders on each side? I'm betting that my listeners will be surprised to learn that the Arminians started out in the Reformed branch of the Church. One way (not the only way, as this series will …