Posts by Todd Pruitt

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As Carl has already pointed out over at Ref 21 , we recently interviewed Aimee Byrd about theology, women, the church, and her new book Housewife Theologian . You can also check out Aimee's excellent blog HERE . Never let it be said that two middle aged cranks like me and Carl cannot get in touch...
Jerry Brown, the Governor of California wound up in the news recently for signing legislation that allows "equal access" in schools for students who believe themselves to be "transgendered." That is, students in California schools who believe that they are not the gender into which they were born,...
Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing ( P & R ) will soon be releasing what promises to be an excellent new series of short books entitled Christian Answers to Hard Questions . Titles in the series include: Christian Interpretations of Genesis One by Vern Poythress Christianity and the Role of...
[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/71765067 w=400&h=300] I come, God, I come I return to the Lord The one who’s broken The one who’s torn me apart You strike down to bind me up You say you do it all in love That I might know you in your suffering Though you slay me Yet I will praise you Though you...
John Dickson is an Australian pastor, historian, and evangelist. Denny Burk has called Dickson's review of Reza Aslan's book on Jesus "the most devastating" he has read. After reading it myself, I must agree. In fact, if you read only one review of Aslan's best-seller, Dickson is the one to read...
Later this week Carl and I will be recording some more installments of the Mortification of Spin . We received so much feedback from our recent edition on spousal abuse and divorce that we decided to record a follow-up. We will also be welcoming back the delightful Aimee Byrd . On the docket as...
Helpful observations from Carl Trueman: I have never been convinced by the Madonna-Paglia argument that pornography liberates and empowers women; but one does not have to agree with that argument to see that pornography has been normalized in society. When one reflects on this, it is hardly...
The latest Mortification of Spin is up and running: Your favorite comedian/theologians, Todd Pruitt and Carl Trueman, team up yet again - this time to answer some important questions about how the church should be run and who should be running it. We'll learn that faithful teaching, a willingness...
Michael Oh is chairman and founder of CBI Japan ( cbijapan.org ), which includes a graduate level theological seminary ( Christ Bible Seminary ), church planting efforts ( All Nations Fellowship ), and various outreach ministries, including Heart & Soul Café . Dr. Oh is the executive director...
Rachel Held-Evans made the news again for a piece she wrote for CNN's Belief Blog. In it she argues that the church must begin listening to the concerns of Millenials if it is to survive. She asserts that the church is losing the younger generation because it is too conservative, opposes gay...
From Charles Spurgeon : “One week-night, when I was sitting in the house of God, I was not thinking much about the preacher’s sermon, for I did not believe it. The thought struck me, How did you come to be a Christian? I sought the Lord. But how did you come to seek the Lord? The truth flashed...
The Good Book Company (an excellent publisher) has released a new series of books with the enticing title Questions Christians Ask . Titles in this series include: Is God Anti-Gay? And other questions about homosexuality, the Bible and same-sex attraction by Sam Allberry Did the Devil Make Me Do It...
The latest issue of Credo Magazine is now available online. If you are not familiar with Credo I encourage you to check it out. It is an excellent resource and the entire website has a wealth of helpful articles. The theme of the latest issue is God's sovereignty in regeneration.
"I was asked last week why some evangelicals convert to Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism. Reasons vary, I am sure, but I commented that one theme I have noticed over the years is the fact that evangelicalism lacks historical roots. That is not to say that it has no history; rather it is to...
From God's Prophet, God's Servant by John Goldingay I have heard many people whispering – There is terror on all sides. “Report him, let’s report Him!” All my friends are watching for my downfall. “Perhaps he can be persuaded and prevailed over, then we can catch him and take vengeance on him. -...
I have been thinking lately about how difficult it must be to serve actively in a church as a layperson. It isn’t the demand on one’s time that is the hardest thing but the more challenging demand on one’s heart. To serve a local body of believers is to inevitably be exposed to both the best and...
“In the church the risen Christ rules through His word. This is why the only skill required of church leaders is that they can teach, rightly handling and applying the word of God. Their authority is a mediated authority. They have no authority in and of themselves. Instead they exercise Christ’s...
It's no surprise that the media love Bart Ehrman. Through his highly promoted books, he mounts a seemingly endless attack on the reliability of the Bible and historic Christianity. Ehrman is a man on a mission. His disdain for the faith in which he was raised is, at times, palpable in his writing...
Now that I am moving from Philadelphia to Harrisonburg, VA (more on that later) I am being asked if the humble little podcast I record with Carl Trueman will continue. And since most of the evangelical world seems to be holding its collective breath over this vital issue I want to assure you that...
Here is the latest: Today's episode of The Mortification of Spin takes on a more serious tone as Todd and Carl offer a pastoral approach to the sensitive topic of spousal abuse. In tragic cases of abuse within the church, where does the dividing line between church discipline and civil law exist?...
From Patrick Chan at Triablogue : In the prologue of his recent book Darwin's Doubt: The Explosive Origin of Animal Life and the Case for Intelligent Design , Stephen Meyer cites several books and articles from scholars in relevant scientific fields which "express[...] doubt about various aspects...
Well, as my friend Carl Trueman points out , I have crossed over Lake Geneva. It is great to announce that the congregation of Covenant Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Harrisonburg, Va., has voted to call Todd Pruitt, co-host of Mortification of Spin as pastor. A salutary lesson to all: if you hang...
If you are not familiar with the work of Michael Kruger then I encourage you to check him out. Dr. Kruger is President and Professor of New Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary , Charlotte, NC. He is the author of the EXCELLENT Canon Revisited: Establishing the Origins and Authority of the...
The new 9 Marks Journal is focused on the topic of the sufficiency of Scripture. Specifically the writers deal with whether or not the Scriptures are sufficient to govern the polity and worship of the church. Why New Testament Polity is Prescriptive by Bobby Jamieson Contextualizing Ecclesiology by...
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From John Piper's deeply moving address on the life and ministry of Charles Spurgeon who was himself the target of unremitting criticism... The question for us is not, How do you live through unremitting criticism and distrust and accusation and abandonment; for us the question is also, How do you...
From Rosaria Champagne Butterfield - Her testimony, then a helpful Q&A: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkJZSeUGzWw] [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-AQlrcTr5w] Her book, The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert was my top book of 2012.
On Sunday I preached part four in our series through Jude, The Alert Christian . It is entitled "Persevere" and you can listen to it HERE .
Rosaria Champaign Butterfield has written a thoughtful and thoroughly biblical reflection on the Supreme Court's decision to demolish DOMA and thus pave the way to make homosexual "marriage" the law of the land. Also, her thoughts on the closing of Exodus International and reparative therapy are,...
There is a bit of a mystery going on over at the Ref21 blog . My first post is causing quite a bit of stir within the evangelical world. From what I understand, there are already high level meetings going on with the leadership of the Gospel Coalition to discern its meaning and whether or not it...
The latest edition of the Mortification of Spin is up and running: Todd and Carl interview Steve Nichols, author and professor of Christianity and Culture at Lancaster Bible College, and they respectfully dub their guest the "Peter Pan of reformed theology." While Steve may look young, he is...
Charles Spurgeon was a man who contended for the faith. As a result he was reviled and misunderstood. Refusing to yield ground to those who attacked the inerrancy of the Scriptures, the substitutionary atonement, the necessity of the new birth, etc. led eventually to his being censured by his...
Dr. Scott Oliphint on Covenantal Apologetics and his new book by that title: [vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/69759164 w=400&h=300] I was honored to have Dr. Oliphint preach for me twice this year. I would encourage you to check out his two excellent sermons HERE .
Crossway has begun publishing an excellent series of what I would call spiritual biographies. It began with Fred Zaspel's excellent B.B. Warfield On The Christian Life . I am currently reading Bill Edgar's volume on Francis Schaeffer and am very much looking forward to Carl Trueman's contribution...
I have been preaching a short series of sermons through Jude. One sermon , covering verses 3 and 4 focuses on Jude's call to "contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints." The White Horse Inn recently posted some helpful links on this very theme. Check it out HERE .
I'll admit that I tend to think we have more than enough specialty Bibles. There are Bibles for every conceivable market niche. Although I'm still waiting for the middle-aged balding dude Study Bible. That said, I am enthusiastic about the latest version of the ESV. It is entitled the ESV Gospel...
Good stuff from Stephen Nichols: I know it is summer time, but here is a quiz. It’s only one question and it’s fill in the blank. Ready? Christology is by nature bound up with the doctrine of _________ ? This sentence comes from lectures given by Dietrich Bonhoeffer at the University of Berlin in...
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The latest edition of the Mortification Of Spin is up and running. Is there such a thing as a tan Englishman? Todd and Carl debate the issue momentarily before focusing their attention on the recent news surrounded Pope Francis' universalist comments. If you're not familiar with the term "anonymous...
If you are not familiar with the website/magazine/blog CREDO then you ought to be. It is an excellent resource for Christians who want to grow in the knowledge of the Scriptures and the Faith once for all delivered to the saints. Each edition of the webzine is given to a particular topic. The most...
I am currently preaching through the epistle of Jude. The series is entitled The Alert Christian. Here is where we stand so far: Part 1 - "Slaves of Christ Loved by God" (vv.1-2) Part 2 - "Contend For The Faith" (vv. 3-4) Part 3 - "The Most Unpopular Message in the World" (vv. 5-16)
Here are a few new titles worth checking out... Living in the Light of Inextinguishable Hope by Iain Duguid The latest volume in the outstanding series The Gospel According to the Old Testament Journey To Joy: The Psalms of Ascent by Josh Moody Rebels Rescued by Brian Cosby I really enjoy Cosby's...
History was made today by the Supreme Court of the United States. The door is now fully open to require all 50 states to recognize homosexual marriage. Time will tell how this will further our decline as a society. But in the short run it will certainly speed the rate at which Christians are...
The following panel discussion was hosted by Ligonier Ministries at the 2013 PCA General Assembly, with Sinclair Ferguson, Robert Godfrey, Ligon Duncan, Richard Pratt, and R.C. Sproul, moderated by Steve Nichols. It's well worth a watch: [vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/68771601 w=400&h=300]
We call those things mercies which please us, ease us, suit our wants, and fall in with our cravings. Truly they are so, but not less gracious are those benefits which cross us, pain us, and lay us low. The tender love which chastises us the gentle kindness which bruises us, the fond affection...
The Silence of God by Andrew Peterson It's enough to drive a man crazy; it'll break a man's faith It's enough to make him wonder if he's ever been sane When he's bleating for comfort from Thy staff and Thy rod And the heaven's only answer is the silence of God It'll shake a man's timbers when he...
From The Juvenilization Of American Christianity : "Juvenilization happened when no one was looking. In the first stage, Christian youth leaders created youth-friendly versions of the faith in a desperate attempt to save the world. Some hoped to reform their churches by influencing the next...
Reading up on HOPE... The One Year Book of Hope by Nancy Guthrie Too Good To Be True by Michael Horton Hope: The Best Of Things by Joni Eareckson Tada Night Of Weeping, Morning Of Joy by Horatius Bonar The Last Enemy by Michael Witmer
On Sunday I preached part 23 of our current series through Philippians. It is entitled "Strengthened For Contentment" and can be listened to or downloaded HERE .