The White Horse Inn: Know What You Believe & Why You Believe It

Thank you from the Staff of the White Horse Inn

All of the staff at the White Horse Inn would like to take a moment and thank all our listeners and supporters! Our vision is to see a rediscovery of Reformation Theology in the context of contemporary Christian thought and practice. We exist to persuade Christians to inform and embrace Reformation Theology - we want you to "know what you believe and why you believe it." We are encouraged we are making a difference when we receive letters like these:

To: staff@whitehorseinn.org
Subject: "Shallow Waters" Podcast

Dear Dr. Horton,

I just finished listening to your Podcast entitled "Shallow Waters." I have one quick comment about this Podcast. I remember coming out of Sunday School in the late 1950's early 60's and my mother asking me, "What did you learn today?" Today, I hear parents ask, "Did you have fun?"

I appreciate your broadcast. The topics are very thought provoking and your comments are very insightful. Sadly, I no longer have Issues, Etc. to listen to. Their removal came two days after my congregation and I resigned our respective memberships in the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. Our desire is to remain faithful, being captive to the Word rather than indulge the world with its "Karaoke Christianity," the crude, amateurish imitation of Christianity that thinks its the real thing because, well, it says it is.

Thank you for taking time to read my email.

Sincerely,
Rev. Douglas Handrich

To: staff@whitehorseinn.org
Subject: Thanks!

Dear Dear Dr. Horton and White Horse Inn Staff:

I wanted to send a big thank you for all your hard work---your message, "The Gospel of Personal Relationship" was by far one of the greatest broadcasts yet. I posted a link to your page on a Christian site with this message and was basically "persecuted" by a few folks:( However, there were others that really enjoyed the message and plan to sign up and listen to your other programs. I've also told them about Modern Reformation magazine.

Thanks again for all your help!

In His grace and peace~
Vinny

From: A Prisoner
To: The White Horse Inn

"Thanks so much for your Christ-centered teaching. Most are straying from these things that the church fathers were willing to die for and straying to 'a different gospel.' Thanks for not wavering."

From: Mark
To: The Staff of the White Horse Inn and Modern Reformation

I grew up in and was catechized in a CRC/URC congregation and attended a Christian school from kindergarten through high school. I have been steeped in the Reformed tradition from my youth and I thank the Lord immensely for that. Even at a Reformed college I was presented with differing views and opinions to which I needed to respond. If there was something I could not give an answer to, my father was a phone-call or an e-mail away. Leaving college to go into the real world presented to me world-views and beliefs I had never been exposed to and more questions and situations were thrown at me. Just over a year after leaving college, my father, my "answer man," died. When situations arose, I was left to fend for myself and needed to find the resources to help me. I was leery of searching the Internet for help, but cautiously I did just that. I ran across articles from Modern Reformation magazine which included some written by Dr. Godfrey, Dr. Horton and Dr. Baugh, who I knew were professors at Westminster Seminary California. Therefore, I felt confident that I could trust those resources to help me deepen my understanding of the Reformed faith.

Since that time I found The White Horse Inn, which I listen to every week. Also, I currently subscribe to Modern Reformation. Those two resources alone have been very valuable in providing my friends and me the ability to dive into the Reformed faith and make it into something that we cherish and not just something we learned in catechism.

By studying God's Word with the help of Modern Reformation, and The White Horse Inn I have been able to make the Reformed tradition alive in my life.

From: Ed
To: staff@whitehorseinn.org
Subject: Thanks for all the hard work!

I have a good friend who immigrated from India several years ago and who is "searching". His wife is a practicing Hindu and he is a very confused, but leaning toward Islam. His impression of Christianity encompass every modern error that we see in too many local congregations. We sat down one afternoon and listened to "The Person of Christ: A Matter of History or Faith? (program 840) and the bonus track "Apologetics, Theology & Legal Reasoning" by Dr. John Warwick Montgomery. He was quite surprised that Christians can and should use their minds. We have listened to several other programs, examined scripture and have continued to have great conversations.

It is wonderful to have resources form people of different traditions who are united on the essentials and who are able to articulate our faith. I am often concerned that when I talk with people about the richness and depth of Christianity, they think that I am introducing them to some new interpretation of Christianity. I use the WHI and Modern Ref to show them that this is historic Christianity and I didn't dream it up. Your work is an outstanding resource!

Providentially, my friend has lost his driver's license for 6 months because of serious health conditions. He phoned me the other day and told me that he had bad news for me. He explained that he couldn't drive, so I asked him how that was bad news for me. He replied that because I was his friend, I would have to drive him around town. I responded that I would be happy to help him, but I listen to the WHI when I drive and I have no intention of turning it off. He said that that was no problem.

From: Darrell
To: The White Horse Inn

Thank you for helping me to realize how broken I am. I am a 22 yr old Southern Baptist Youth Pastor and I have never heard any of what you talk about on the White Horse Inn podcast until a reformed friend of mine started to question me and point me to your podcast. I feel that I have done a lot of damage to kids I have taught up until now and I pray that God keeps blessing your ministry.

From: Brian
To: staff@whitehorseinn
Subject: Love the show

Thanks so much for WHI... I'm here in the Arabian Peninsula and your show is a wonderful spiritual encouragement for me to think more deeply about my faith and doctrine. I find myself repeating things I've heard on the show in my ministry with those around me from all different religious backgrounds.

From: Jeff
To: staff@whitehorseinn
Subject: Thank you

Thank you, Dr. Horton and your staff, for your excellent broadcast on "Christless Christianity." You and your guests hit the nail squarely on the head. There is so much of this in today's church that it is difficult for believers to know where to turn. It was a great relief to hear your broadcast and to learn that our family and friends are not alone. We are hearing these things from the pulpit of our own church and have been troubled about it for some time, yet have found it difficult to clearly define or state why we were troubled. Please keep up the good work.

We think there are many believers like us who are trying to cope with this deluge of what I call the "hollow sermons" - the preacher says all the right things, and uses the right theological terminology, but the words are hollowed out shells with no meaning -- or at least no scriptural meaning -- behind them.

Thank you and may God bless your broadcast.

From: Lynn
To: staff@whitehorseinn

Have been downloading podcasts of your program and listening to them for several weeks now. THANK YOU for your continued work in addressing the issues of the church. I have been helped in my thinking and understanding through your labors. Keep up the good work!

From: Gary
To: staff@whitehorseinn
Subject: Three Cheers for the White Horse Inn

Greetings to you! I want to send this quick letter and ask that you share it with the staff and specifically with all members of the "panel" there at the WHI. Your radio program has been such boost to my life. I keep saying to myself, "Yes!", that is what I thought all along and nobody really understands! I have not always been able to put a specific word or title to what I see happening to the church today. You have adhered to the "meat and potatoes" of the gospel and don't let people get away with half truths or sloppy theology, philosophy, or logic. Your program is heard in more places than you think. Thanks to my MP3 player and the ability to download your program, I am able to tune in again and again. I am a pilot for Southwest Airlines and commute across the country for work. I have plenty of time to fill my mind of mush with TRUTH. It is all because of God and you, the humble members of the White Horse Inn that enable me to know what I believe and why I believe! Thank you!

From: Michael
To: staff@whitehorseinn
Subject: Gnosticism Gnot Sticking

Dear Michael, Kim, Ken and Rod,
Personally, I found Sunday's broadcast on Gnosticism to be a timely word for evangelistic purposes. Also Ken's statement of believers' universal testimony (paraphrased: "I'm a sinner and Christ died for me") affirmed a recent conviction that many "testimonies" are more unseemly autobiographies of the speakers, not testimonies of redemption in Christ. I've been guilty of this; I won't be guilty of this again. As you speak the truth in love, you and all Inn-mates remain in my fervent prayers.

From: Aaron
To: staff@whitehorseinn
Subject: Thank you

Dear Dr. Horton and White Horse Inn Staff, I just want to say thank you for so succinctly articulating truth in season and out. We certainly live in an age of pragmatism and ambivalence. Truth is maligned at every corner. Yet WHI is a Howitzer belting out the bare truth that is so needed today. You may not be saying what people want to hear, but it is certainly what we need to hear. Keep it up.

I come from Grand Rapids, Michigan. I have a Dutch last name but that is where it stops. My church background, from all I can tell, is very similar to Dr. Horton. I grew up in G.A.R.B churches my whole life. I went a Baptist High school and I attended Moody Bible Institute. I currently live and work in Papua New Guinea with New Tribes Mission. My Biblical upbringing has been shaken to the core since the Lord drew me to Reformed theology over the past 10 years. (It needed to be shaken to the core.) Knowing what you believe and why you believe it, it's about time. Thank you for doing your part and being faithful to the Word. It has not return void.

From: Martin
To: staff@whitehorseinn

I wanted to thank you for exposing the very false teachings of Joel Osteen. Keep up the great work that the staff does.

From: Pastor Charles
To: staff@whitehorseinn
Subject: Thank you for your ministry

To Whom it May Concern;

I wanted to let the fellows know who speak on the White Horse Inn podcast that I truly appreciate their topic of discussing faith alone and justification over the last few months. I am a pastor of a church and have had to deal with an individual who continually challenges the doctrine of justification by faith alone.

Listening to your podcast has shored up my understanding of this important doctrine and was very timely to help me once again cement clearly in my mind the value of justification, especially the imputed righteousness of Christ. I would not call myself reformed theologically, but I hold firmly to the biblical definition of justification by faith alone and the value of continually looking to the amazing grace of Christ as our sole provider of relationship with God and the motivation to live for Christ on a daily basis.

May God richly bless you as you continue to remind us in the church to hold fast to the fundamental teachings of the faith that enable us to know and live for God.

Pastor Charles

Letter From: Mark

Dear Mike, "Dad" Rod, Ken & Kim,

I've been a listener since 1997 when you were on 1100 AM KFAX S.F. CA. At that time I was in the Found and Lost Basket of confused converts. Then I said to myself one day after work I said "self" turn on the radio and see (hear) some more Christian Confusion or in the Greek - bologna-and alas I hear Rod's voice saying we don't know where to send people to hear God's word being rightly divided." Instantly my ears perked up. He was speaking about The Law and The Gospel. It was a Sunday and your show was 15 min. from 3:00 pm to 3:15, I couldn't wait until next Sunday so I called the phone number given and still have the cassette series 2 tapes one Mike and the other Rod entitled The Law and The Gospel. At that time I wasn't even attending a church. Being born and raised Roman Catholic then born again in an Assembly of God Church that I now term a Partial Birth Abortion ReBirth. You know The Toungues Thing. Law, Gospel, Law, or Law, Gospel, Tongues then your in. I even tried faking tongues LA LALA Shala him to LA boob A LA. I even found myself laying on the floor in front of the pulpit after a voice of a man behind me said "don't worry we'll catch you" as I resisted the push of the pastor. So when I got your tape series I listened to them over and over...And with Luther I can say as I read my Bible, Romans and Galatians, the Gospel leaped off the pages, and the Gates of Heaven opened and I entered in. I still have those tapes and many more from these years, and grace was revealed to me. But I tested it! I took the ball and ran towards Hell. Fell back into every sin I had during and before grace, and then some. I spent 5 yrs plus "In Vegas" not just a weekend as you (Mike) joked about the prodigal son did. I said "How about this God? Do you love me now? Yes? Well then how about this? Do you love me now? Yes! For years I tested Lord thy God and the answer kept coming back "Yes I still love you Mark."

Well what else could I do but start loving him back. As Rod said when we focus on growth and maturity we get worser (bad grammar I know but that's how I talk. I don't spill good either). But as Rod said and I've learned to be true that if we focus on the cross, when we're not looking some growth and maturity comes. So after God passed my test (if I dare say) I told myself I said "self" I think I can go back to a church again now that I know the truth. I've tried almost all of them and I can agree with Kim when he said that it's hard to tell who's in the zoo. I guess I'll call myself a Roman Presbacostal Bapto-lic-Reformed! ... Mike, on one of the CD's I have (being an Innkeeper) a gal called the show Ioda was her name ( I hope I spilled it right). But she critisized you guys saying something to the affect of "Instead of critiqueing the bad preaching of todays churches why aren't you guys just preaching", and you said "because this isn't a church, this is not where you come to get your food." Well Mike I have to agree that the White Horse Inn is not a church but it's the only place I have to get fed... thank you and your co hosts for your boldness in speaking out against today's American heresies and pharisies, protestant Liberalists, pragmatists, palageonism, and the rest. The world needs W.H.I... I hope to meet and perhaps even study under your guidance some day at Westminster Seminary.

Mark