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Scripture teaches that God is sovereign. Yet many struggle both to understand and reconcile God’s sovereignty and human responsibility. On this episode of the White Horse Inn our hosts explain that God’s sovereignty taught in scripture helps us to recognize God’s transcendent glory reflected in his works of providence and salvation (originally aired 01-13-91).
We live in an age where God is trivialized. God is seen as friend, one whom I can have a personal relationship with and although God is a friend of sinners, has the church lost sight of the significance of this truth? Has the Evangelical Church taken God’s kindness for granted? On this episode of the White Horse Inn our hosts discuss the Holiness of God showing that though God is a friend to sinners who have trusted in Jesus for their salvation, God is still Holy and wrathful against sin. It is only when we recognize that God is holy that we can see his amazing grace toward sinners who trust in Jesus (originally aired 01-06-91).
On this classic episode of the White Horse Inn, Michael Horton, Kim Riddlebarger and Rod Rosenbladt discuss many of the problems facing contemporary Christianity and call for a return to the insights of the sixteenth-century Protestant Reformation. In particular they focus on the five “solas”: Scripture alone, Christ alone, grace alone, faith alone, and glory to God alone. This episode was the eighth program of our weekly live broadcast, which began on KKLA in Los Angeles in early November of 1990.
In our increasingly secular culture, Christians are beginning to feel like strangers and aliens in their own land. Perhaps, however, we’ve felt much too at home in this world in the first place. As it becomes more apparent that we live in Babylon, confusing the gospel with the American dream may become less plausible. But will we be able to stand if and when our faith is tested? On this episode, Shane Rosenthal talks with Alistair Begg about the insights into these issues he has gleaned from his study of the book of Daniel. Alistair recently published a book on this topic titled Brave by Faith: God-sized Confidence in a Post-Christian World.
Have you ever taken the time to reflect on the meaning of the lyrics found in the all the Christmas carols heard on the radio and in countless stores this time of year? On this episode of White Horse Inn, the hosts will do just that as they consider songs such as “Jingle Bells” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” and more traditional carols like “Away in a Manger” and “Silent Night.” Finally, they’ll explore the rich theology expressed in the world’s first Christmas carol recorded in the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke (originally aired 12/18/16).
What is the true spirit of Christmas? That’s the question at the heart of countless Christmas films that clutter the airwaves this time of year. The answer one typically receives from these kinds of movies is not merely a slight deviation from the biblical storyline, but rather should be seen as a complete departure that turns our attention away from the redemption of the incarnate Son of God to a message about ourselves. The hosts will discuss this topic by walking through memorable lines from movies such as A Christmas Carol, It’s a Wonderful Life, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, and many others (originally aired 12/11/16).
In today’s rapidly changing culture, atheism and agnosticism appear to be on the rise. What reasons do people typically give for adopting this kind of worldview, and are these ideas reasonable? How should we respond to an unbelieving friend or family member who asks, “If God really exists, why is there so much evil and suffering in the world?” On this episode, Shane Rosenthal discusses these questions and more with Mark Lanier, author of Atheism on Trial: A Lawyer Examines the Case for Unbelief.
Whenever you watch the news, it becomes increasingly clear that the world isn’t the way it’s supposed to be. But how did things go so wrong in the first place? And if something has gone wrong, does this imply that God is either indifferent to our plight or powerless to do anything about it? How are we to reconcile the existence of a good and all-powerful God with the problem of evil? On this episode, Shane Rosenthal discusses these questions and more with Greg Koukl, founder and president of Stand to Reason. In his book The Story of Reality, Greg argues that, at the end of the day, the Christian worldview is the only belief system that both acknowledges the existence of evil and provides a solution for it.
On this episode, Shane Rosenthal talks with Dr. Gene Veith about a book he wrote back in 1993 titled Modern Fascism: Liquidating the Judeo-Christian Worldview. Recently Dr. Veith wrote an essay reflecting on the observations he had made in that volume about the rise of fascism, its philosophical and worldview assumptions, and how many of those beliefs later morphed into what we now call “post-modernism.” In fact, in his recent article, Dr. Veith observes that “much of what I predicted and warned against has come true. And even when I was wrong, I was wrong in underestimating the magnitude of the fascist revival.” What exactly is fascism, and how is this movement being revived in our own day? That the focus of this edition of White Horse Inn.
In the early 1800s, a man by the name of Robert Owen began to challenge the concept of original sin. “None are or can be bad by nature,” he mused, “and it must be a gross error to make him responsible for what nature and his predecessors have compelled him to be.” As a result, Owen attempted to establish a utopian socialist community in New Harmony, Indiana. Even though his project utterly failed after only three years, his views would later greatly influence thinkers such as Friedrich Engels and Karl Marx, who in their Communist Manifesto, actually referred to Owen’s work as a kind of “new gospel.” On this episode, Shane Rosenthal continues his conversation with Dr. Michael McClymond, focusing this time on the social and political implications of denying original sin.
Bestselling author Richard Rohr has argued in his writings that the concept of original sin “was first put forth by Augustine in the fifth century but is never mentioned in the Bible.” But is this really the case? What does the Bible actually say about man’s nature after the fall? And was Augustine the first theologian in church history to discuss original sin? How are we to make sense of the world, or even our own sinful inclinations, without the insights of this important doctrine? On this episode, Shane Rosenthal discusses these questions and more with Anglican theologian Michael McClymond, author of The Devil’s Redemption.
The first woman to publish a book in her own name in the English language was Katherine Parr, the sixth and final wife of King Henry VIII. In her book The Lamentation of a Sinner (1547), she abased herself considerably and outlined her conversion to Protestant theology. In fact, she writes, “I feel myself to come, as it were, in a new garment before God, and now by his mercy, to be declared just and righteous. By faith alone I am sure to be justified, although the dregs of Adam do remain.” On this episode, Shane Rosenthal discusses Queen Katherine’s fascinating life and robust convictions with Don Matzat, author of a new biography titled Katherine Parr: Opportunist. Queen. Reformer.
At the heart of the division between Protestants and Catholics is the disagreement over the doctrine of justification. According to Catholic theology, justification is believed to be a lifelong process in which the sinner becomes intrinsically righteous, to the extent that he or she cooperates with grace. On the other side, Protestants assert that this ends up confusing justification with sanctification. Whereas sanctification is a process, justification is a once-for-all declaration of right standing with God that is ultimately rooted in Christ’s perfect righteousness. On this program the hosts walk through all the issues involved in this historic debate (originally aired 08-21-16).
For the past 500 years, Protestants have argued that the doctrine of justification by faith alone is a core component of the gospel of Jesus Christ. But sometimes opponents of the Reformation claim that the Bible actually teaches the opposite. In James 2:24, for example, we’re told that “a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.” So what is the point James is making, and does his teaching actually conflict with Paul and others? Shane Rosenthal discusses this with Bob Hiller, author of Finding Christ in the Straw, as they continue their discussion of the book of James.
Was the book of James written by one of the twelve disciples or the brother of Jesus? Are there any references to James outside the world of the New Testament? Many scholars have concluded that his epistle was likely written in the early- to mid-forties of the first century. Since James so frequently quotes and alludes to the sayings of Jesus throughout his epistle, this provides strong evidence that both he and his readers were saturated in Jesus’ teaching from a very early date. On this episode, Shane Rosenthal begins a two-part discussion of the book of James with Bob Hiller, author of Finding Christ in the Straw, A Forty-Day Devotion on the Book of James.
Are human beings born innocent or corrupt? Do we have the ability to create a perfect world, or is that impossible? Those drawing on Enlightenment assumptions assert that man is born pure, and that corruption comes through outside forces. In this view, utopia becomes achievable to the extent that we eliminate all sources of corruption. But rather than ushering in heaven on earth, this outlook actually has a long track record of creating totalitarian dystopias. So where is our culture headed at present, and which vision of man and society will ultimately prevail? On this episode, Shane Rosenthal talks with Os Guinness about the thesis of his new book, The Magna Carta of Humanity: Sinai’s Revolutionary Faith and the Future of Freedom.
From its inception, “the new world” has always been a place of religious experimentation. It was seen as a place where people would be liberated from pre-existing traditions and church structures. And so it’s not surprising that the search for the sacred in this country has often seen radical departures from traditional Christian beliefs and practices. So how do contemporary views of spirituality differ from classical Christian views about God, redemption, and spiritual renewal? On this edition of White Horse Inn, Michael Horton contrasts “American spirituality” with the historic Christian gospel (originally aired 08-15-10).
In his letter to the Galatians, Paul warns believers about the dangers of turning away to alternative gospels, even if they’re found on the lips of an apostle or an angel from heaven. But what if Satan himself actually authored his own gospel? What might it look like, and what might some of its popular slogans be? Jared Wilson recently devoted some time to this thought experiment, the results of which he published in his recent book, The Gospel According to Satan: Eight Lies About God that Sound Like the Truth. On this episode Shane Rosenthal talks with Jared about this writing project along with his concerns for the contemporary church.
In his book Marketing the Church, written back in the late eighties, George Barna argued that “the number one principle of Christian communication is that the audience, not the message, is sovereign.” So what has been the result of this philosophy as it has been implemented over the past few decades? If the audience is sovereign, what is to stop churches from “accumulating for themselves teachers to suit their own passions” (2 Tim. 4:3). In short, what are the effects of an increasingly-narcissistic culture on contemporary Christian faith and practice? On this episode, Shane Rosenthal continues his conversation with Dean Inserra, author of Getting Over Yourself: Trading Believe-in-Yourself Religion for Christ-Centered Christianity.
In the past, prosperity gospel evangelists were known for their slick suits, gaudy television sets, and prayer cloths. But according to Dean Inserra, this kind of instant health and wealth teaching is now a fringe movement that is more mocked than followed. In its place, a new prosperity gospel has emerged that is now going mainstream. What are the characteristics of this “new and improved” version, and who are the leaders of this movement? On this program, Shane Rosenthal talks with Dean Inserra, author of Getting Over Yourself: Trading Believe-in-Yourself Religion for Christ-Centered Christianity.
Are today’s colleges and universities hostile environments for Christian students? Do our institutions of higher learning value the open pursuit of truth, or does indoctrination rule the day? What can churches and Christian parents do to better prepare students for the challenges they’re likely to face on increasingly-secular campuses? Shane Rosenthal discusses these questions and more with Dr. Michael J. Kruger, president of Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte NC, and author of Surviving Religion 101: Letters to a Christian Student on Keeping the Faith in College.
Martin Luther once noted that in numerous passages throughout the Old Testament, it’s appropriate to “interpret the name Yahweh to refer to our Lord Jesus Christ.” How can this insight change the way we read and interpret a book like Genesis? On this episode Shane Rosenthal continues his conversation with Dr. Thomas Egger, president of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, and together they discuss how so many of the themes introduced in the Bible’s first book are ultimately resolved in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
What are we to make of the God who is presented in Genesis and other Old Testament texts? According to popular atheists such as Richard Dawkins, this God is judgmental, homophobic, racist, misogynistic, and an ethnic cleanser. Is this an accurate representation of the God of Israel, or a completely distorted caricature? Shane Rosenthal discusses these and other important issues with Dr. Thomas J. Egger, professor of Exegetical Theology and president of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis.
On last week’s episode, John Lennox argued that the story of Joseph is one of the most moving accounts in all the world’s literature. But is this famous narrative just a beautiful rags-to-riches tale, or is there evidence that Joseph was a real historical figure who became prime minster of Egypt during the time of a great famine? Shane Rosenthal discusses this question with Egyptologist David Rohl, author of numerous books including Exodus, Myth or History?
According to Oxford mathematician John Lennox, the account of Joseph’s rise to power in the latter part of Genesis—which leads to the climactic moment in which he reveals himself to his brothers and publicly forgives them—“is one of the most moving scenes in all the world’s literature.” On this episode, Shane Rosenthal talks with Professor Lennox about the implications of this amazing story, as well as other important scenes from Genesis which he has written about in his book, Joseph: A Story of Love, Hate, Slavery, Power and Forgiveness.
As mentioned on last week's program, most commentators tend to argue that Genesis 32 is about Jacob’s refusing to let go of God until he received his desired blessing, which of course is something that all believers should strive to do as well. Or is it? On this episode the hosts continue to explore the idea that Jacob was literally “in the dark” about his assailant’s identity and may even have thought he was fighting his own brother, Esau. If so, this would indicate that he was still trying to secure the blessing of firstborn status by his own efforts. So what’s the ultimate point of this passage, and how does it relate to the Gospel in Genesis? Tune in to find out as Shane Rosenthal continues his conversation with Matt Foreman and Doug Van Dorn.
As Jacob returns to the promised land in Genesis 32, he's attached in the middle of the night. As the two men struggle until the breaking of day, it slowly begins to dawn on Jacob that there’s something special about his wrestling partner. In fact, by the end of the encounter it’s revealed to Jacob that he’s actually been “striving with God.” Many commentators suggest that the patriarch wrestled with God in order to receive a divine blessing, but is that really what’s going on here? At what point does Jacob even realize this man’s true identity? Shane Rosenthal discusses this mysterious passage with Matt Foreman and Doug Van Dorn, authors of The Angel of the Lord.
In Genesis 29, Jacob the deceiver is himself deceived. Though he had intended to marry Rachel, he was first tricked into marrying her older sister. Later, as she struggles with infertility, Rachel gives Jacob her maidservant to be a kind of surrogate mother. When two sons are born to her in this way, Rachel believes that she has “wrestled with God and her sister and prevailed.” But if, according to Paul, Sarah and Hagar represent covenants of grace and works, what are we to think about the events recorded here? On this program Shane Rosenthal discusses the implications of Genesis 29 and 30 with Adriel Sanchez, host of Core Christianity.
Many people today think of religion as a metaphorical stairway that leads to heaven. Basically, it’s an upward path that all of us are meant to ascend by our own good works. In Genesis 28, however, Jacob encounters a great stairway between heaven and earth, but he’s not invited to climb it. Instead, God graciously descends the stairway and makes one-sided promises to Jacob, who is fast asleep at the bottom. What’s the point of this chapter and how does it foreshadow the work of Jesus Christ? On this episode Shane Rosenthal discusses this fascinating scene with White Horse Inn founder Michael Horton as we continue our series on The Gospel in Genesis.
As we saw last week, difficulties arise when we attempt to read the story of Jacob and Esau as a traditional morality tale. In reality, the book of Genesis does not present Jacob as a hero to be emulated, but as a great sinner in whom God’s mysterious grace is richly on display. And as we’ll see in Genesis 27, Jacob actually deceives his father by clothing himself in his brother’s garments and calling himself “Esau.” So then, why does God allow him to receive his brother’s blessing? On this episode, Shane Rosenthal continues his conversation with Dr. Iain Duguid, author of Living in the Grip of Relentless Grace.
The story of Jacob and Esau raises a number of important questions. Why did God choose Jacob in favor of Esau? Was it due to some kind of foreseen virtue on Jacob’s part? In reality, that approach fails on a number of levels, since Jacob is presented throughout Genesis as a schemer, deceiver, and master-manipulator. In Romans 9, Paul argues that ultimately, the story of Jacob and Esau is about “God’s purpose in election—not because of works, but because of him who calls.” Shane Rosenthal discusses this with Dr. Iain Duguid, author of Living in the Grip of Relentless Grace: The Gospel in the Lives of Isaac & Jacob.
Why did God call Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac? Why would he ask a loving parent to even consider such a thing? Is this story a kind of object lesson meant to show us how much we should be willing to give up for God, or is something else being revealed in this unsettling account? What if the focus of the narrative actually centers on that which God is promising to sacrifice for us in the fullness of time? Shane Rosenthal discusses the significance of this scene from Genesis 22 with Matt Foreman and Doug Van Dorn, co-authors of The Angel of the Lord: A Biblical, Historical, and Theological Study.
In his Genesis commentary, Walter Brueggemann notes that in chapters 16 to 18, Abraham and Sarah “are not offered as models of faith but as models of disbelief.” In this part of the narrative, he says, “the call is not embraced, but is rejected as non-sensical.” This helps to explain why the couple sought to fulfill God’s promise with Hagar’s assistance. But as Paul explains in Galatians chapter 4, this entire narrative is a tale of two covenants: one of grace, and another of works. Shane Rosenthal talks with Mike Brown about these issues and more as we continue our series on the Gospel in Genesis.
The story of Abraham is a record of both faith and doubt. While we’re told in Genesis 15 that “Abraham believed the Lord and it was counted to him as righteousness,” in the very next chapter we find him agreeing with his wife Sarah to attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God’s promises by impregnating her maidservant Hagar. Later in the story, Abraham actually falls on his face and laughs at God as he reiterates the promise that his wife Sarah, even in her advanced age, would conceive and bear a son. What is the point of this narrative, and how does it help us to better understand both the complexity of sin and the grandeur of God’s grace? Shane Rosenthal discusses this with Mike Brown, co-author of Sacred Bond: Covenant Theology Explored.
In Genesis 3:15, God promises that one day a seed of the woman would crush the serpent’s head. What would happen if we began to read the rest of Scripture in the light of this promise? What would result if we stopped to consider whether subsequent Bible characters and heroes qualified to be the one promised who would ultimately defeat God’s enemy and restore order to his creation? Reading the story this way helps us to see with greater clarity the ways in which other Bible characters are presented as failed heroes, as well as why Christ alone is able to triumph. On this episode Shane Rosenthal discusses this approach to reading the Bible with Justin Holcomb.
In the beginning God created man in his image and likeness. What are the implications of this important truth, and how was that image twisted and distorted after the fall? What was so significant about Adam and Eve’s transgression in the first place, and how do the effects of that original sin continue to echo and reverberate throughout the rest of Scripture? Finally, how is the gospel of Christ hinted at and foreshadowed in these early chapters of Genesis? Shane Rosenthal discusses these questions and more with Anglican theologian Justin Holcomb.
Does the idea of the multiverse provide a good explanation for all the fine tuning we see throughout our universe? Is there any way to test the multiverse hypothesis or does it operate as a kind of unquestioned dogma? How do naturalistic scientists explain the origin of life, or the complex amount of information that exists in our own genetic code? Shane Rosenthal discusses these questions and more with Stephen Meyer as they continue their conversation begun last week related to the release of Dr. Meyer’s latest book, The Return of the God Hypothesis.
How do contemporary physicists and cosmologists explain the origin of the universe? If in the very beginning there was no space, time, or matter, then what could have caused the Big Bang? Also, as scientists have studied the exquisite nature of our finely-tuned universe, some have concluded that this points us toward the existence of some kind of divine “super-intellect” who is responsible for the laws of nature and the origin of life. On this edition of the program, Shane Rosenthal discusses these issues with Dr. Stephen Meyer, author of The Return of the God Hypothesis.
Many Christians find it difficult to understand the Old Testament. Not only is it full of obscure rituals and strange laws, but it also includes a mixture of inspiring and horrifying stories. So how are we to make sense of all these narratives, laws, and rituals? What rules are still in effect, and how should we apply them to our lives today? More importantly, since Jesus taught that all Scripture bears witness to himself (Jn. 5:39), how are we to authentically find Christ throughout the Old Testament? Shane Rosenthal discusses these questions and more with Iain Duguid, author of Is Jesus in the Old Testament?
After their exodus from Egypt, God announced to the people of Israel that he would “send an angel to guard them on the way and to bring them to the place he has prepared” (Ex. 23:20). Who was this angel, and how are the words of this passage echoed and alluded to throughout all of Scripture? What does this text, as well as others like it, end up revealing about God’s triune nature? On this program, Shane Rosenthal continues his conversation with Matt Foreman and Doug Van Dorn about their new book, The Angel of the Lord: A Biblical, Historical, and Theological Study.
What are we to make of all those passages in the Old Testament in which “the Angel of the Lord” appears on the scene and proceeds to speak and act as God himself? In their new book, The Angel of the Lord: A Biblical, Historical, and Theological Study, Matt Foreman and Doug Van Dorn argue that this mysterious Angel appears much more frequently than many people realize, since he is called by a variety of names including the Angel, the Name, the Glory, the Face, the Right Hand, and the Word. Shane Rosenthal talks with Matt and Doug about their research into this important topic, and its implications for our understanding of God’s self-revelation.
In Luke’s account of the resurrection, we are told of two disciples who encountered Jesus as they walked from Jerusalem to the nearby village of Emmaus. Though their eyes were kept from recognizing him, Jesus revealed why it was necessary that the Christ should suffer, and “beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Lk. 24:26-27). What Old Testament passages would Jesus likely have discussed with these disciples? Shane Rosenthal discusses this with Jason DeRouchie, Research Professor of Old Testament at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
On this episode we’ll be concluding our brief series through the Servant Songs by taking a look at the song of the Suffering Servant from Isaiah 53. Where exactly does this famous hymn begin, and is there any evidence that readers of Isaiah believed it pointed to the coming Messiah? Are there any references to a suffering messiah in the Dead Sea Scrolls or other ancient Jewish texts? Shane Rosenthal discusses these issues with Dr. Craig Evans, author of The Holman Quicksource Guide to the Dead Sea Scrolls and, more recently, Jesus and the Manuscripts.
In Isaiah chapter 43 God reveals that he alone is the redeemer of his people, and that “there is no other savior.” So what are the implications of these words for the way we think about religion in general, and our view of Jesus in particular? How does Isaiah’s prophecy help us to better understand the significance of Christ’s person and work? On this program Shane Rosenthal continues his discussion of the Servant Songs of Isaiah with Dr. Andrew Abernethy, author of Discovering Isaiah and God’s Messiah in the Old Testament.
On this edition of White Horse Inn, we’re beginning a new three-part series on the Servant Songs of Isaiah. Who was Isaiah and what were the circumstances in which he wrote his prophecy? Was this book written by more than one author? What are the Servant Songs, and how do these prophecies point ahead to the coming of Christ and his work of redemption? Joining Shane Rosenthal to discuss these questions and more is Dr. Andrew Abernethy, author of The Book of Isaiah and God’s Kingdom.
“Christless Christianity” continues to be a problem in many churches around the world. Too often, though, even in places where Jesus’ name is frequently mentioned, he’s presented as a divine therapist or motivational speaker who encourages us to “be all we can be.” In other cases, he’s a kind of political organizer who calls us to various degrees of social activism. What seems to be missing, however, is the singular focus of the Apostle Paul who wrote to the Corinthians saying, “I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (originally aired 01-13-08).
Though evangelicals and liberals are often at each other’s throats in the culture wars, this division is best understood as a kind of “sibling rivalry.” […]
According to a recent Pew study, less than 30% of evangelicals were able to identify Protestantism as the faith which embraces the doctrine of “justification […]
In his bestselling book The Universal Christ, progressive theologian Richard Rohr claims that the doctrine of original sin was invented by Augustine and that the […]
In her new book, Another Gospel, Alisa Childers argues that “progressive Christianity is not simply a shift in the Christian view of social issues. It’s […]
How did so many people in our day come to believe that sexuality is at the core of a person’s individual identity? And how is […]
What is a covenant? Is there a difference between the Abrahamic covenant and the Sinai covenant, or are they basically the same? What is the […]