Podcast in The Church

Michael Thiessen discusses the recent Crown decision to withdraw charges against Alberta pastors James Coates and Tim Stephens, as well as some other pending legal cases on the question of the relation of church and state. The cases represent victories, but Mike explains why much more advocacy needs to be done at the constitutional level to bring a truly meaningful level of legal protection for religious freedom in Canada.

Pastor Tobias Riemenschneider discusses the church’s responsibility to its people and to the state, explains why he was prompted to draft the Frankfurt Declaration of Church and Civil Liberties, and how our response to Covid-related restrictions is training us for the next cultural and worldview crisis related to trans gender identity.

Idolatry takes any number of forms at the individual, church, and national levels, but its temptation is always the same: you shall be as God. And the results always lead to death. As churches capitulate to antichristian cultural pressures, they often keep their outward form, but lose the power and vitality that ought to sustain and animate them. The Lord reserved some of His hardest words for those who led their people in this apostate way.

Jacob Reaume, pastor of Trinity Bible Chapel, joins us to talk about an upcoming documentary he is producing, Antichrist and His Ruin, dealing with the life and witness of John Bunyan, the biblical teaching on the doctrine of antichrist, and the call to the church for courage and faithfulness.

This episode started out with John Cooper asking Joe Boot about pacifism, and became a wide-ranging dialogue on what it means to be an image-bearer of God, and the implications that reality has for war, self-defense, and living in a state that is hostile to God. We also discuss the descriptions of God in Scripture as a warrior and the fact that the obligation to give honour and obedience is always qualified except when it is due to God.

Pastor Tim Stephens of Fairview Baptist Church, Calgary, joins us to talk about his experience with Alberta Health Services and the reason he persisted in gathering his church together. Andre Schutten considers some of the legal implications and precedents surrounding Tim’s case, and the nature of the relationship between the church and the civil magistrate.

Tim Dieppe is Ezra Institute Fellow for Public Policy and Head of Public Policy at Christian Concern. He joins us to discuss the recent landmark victory for freedom of the church in Scotland and the historic relationship of church and state.

James White joins this week’s episode to talk about the historic development of the doctrine of the church’s freedom and the limits on civil governments.

What constitutes “civil disobedience”? Is it ever an option for God’s people?

Reflecting on the public worship protests of last weekend, we consider the nature of Charter freedoms, the lesser magistrate, and ‘civil disobedience.’ The use of fear has been a significant factor as unelected officials pursue policies that are especially damaging to the working class.

Aaron Rock, pastor of Harvest Church in Windsor, discusses the calling of the pastor in an age where it is being made increasingly difficult for the church to fulfill its mission.

As civil authorities seek to control an increasing number of societal roles and functions, what is the Christian’s responsibility in a democratic society? How do the church and family provide a meaningful check to an excess of state power?