Jordan B. Cooper's Blog, page 2
April 2, 2019
Is Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador the “Moral Shakedown Artist of Mexico City”? Or is He Right?
Post by Nathan Rinne +++ The following is a bit long. In order to facilitate a quick read, I have put key elements in bold… In his most recent column, Pat Buchanan comments on Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s message to Pope Francis I and King Felipe VI of Spain demanding that they ask […]
March 27, 2019
Sola Fide in the Church Fathers
On today’s program, I discuss the doctrine of justification by faith alone as taught in the Lutheran tradition and its relation to the teachings of the early church. I argue that there is some precedent for such a teaching in some of the earliest Christian writings. Along with this, I spent a long time talking […]
March 21, 2019
“How Shall We Sing…? With Joy!” by Rev. Delwyn Campbell
Posted by Nathan Rinne For my post this week, I want to give the floor to the Reverend Delwyn Campbell. His excellent article informs us of current Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod mission efforts in inner city communities. Enjoy! For those interested in more of the kind of history Pastor Campbell mentions below, see pages 17-21 […]
March 20, 2019
A Discussion of the Recent Debates on Social Justice
This week’s program covers the controversy which has surrounded the Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel, and the recent 2019 Shepherd’s Conference Q&A. I try to navigate these extremely difficult issues by discussing particular areas of disagreement. I talk about the use of the term “social justice,” the question of corporate guilt, and the […]
March 5, 2019
Should We Learn from the 16th Century Lutherans’ Views of Church and State?
Post by Nathan Rinne +++ Did any kind of “separation of Church and State” exist for 16th-century Lutherans? Is there anything that we can or even should learn from them today? This post seeks to intelligently start the conversation… Undoubtedly, more and more these days, issues of church and state are on the minds […]
February 27, 2019
Q&A Program February 27, 2019
Today’s podcast is the second Q&A program this month. Since last week’s show was limited to two questions, I decided to do a second to address several other important topics. I addressed intersectionality, the loss of mystical language within Lutheranism, Melanchthon’s role in the Reformation, and other issues. Here is the program This is the […]
February 22, 2019
A Q&A Podcast Addressing the Canaanite Conquest and Origen
On this program, I discussed two listener questions, though I intended to address more. The first part of the program was on the Israelite conquest of Canaan. I discussed four different interpretations of the text and the moral issues addressed. The second part of the program was about the church father Origen, wherein I asked […]
Does God Expect Rulers Today to “Kiss the Son, Lest He Be Angry”?
Post by Nathan Rinne +++ Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling. Kiss his son, or he will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are […]
February 8, 2019
A Discussion of Romans 9 and Predestination
On today’s program, I discussed Romans 9 and double predestination. I looked at the entire argument at work in the text, and showed why the subject of double predestination is not Paul’s intent. Instead, Paul demonstrates the nature of true Israel as those who are chosen by grace and saved through faith. Here is the […]
Can Unbelievers Seek God? And What is the Best Reason for Them to Go to Church?
+++ Post by Nathan Rinne First question: “Can unbelievers seek God?” Udo Middlemann, in his book The Innocence of God, says that many Christians give this impression to unbelievers: “their search [for God] is hopeless, they are unable even to seek; it is all a matter of predestination from God alone.” (63). Is Middlemann correct? […]
