Kuyperian, Author at Kuyperian Commentary

On September 26, 2018 By Kuyperian In Podcast Like

Episode 36, The Religious Context in Brazil with Fabricio De Moraes, KC PODCAST

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In this episode, Pastor Uri Brito interviews one of the leading Reformed theological translators in Brazil, Dr. Fabricio Tavares de Moraes. Fabricio joined the Monergismo team who is responsible for translating into the Portuguese language some of the most important Reformed tomes ranging from Bavink to Van Til. In this episode, we discuss the religious context in Brazil including the relationship between religion and politics as well as the revival of Reformational literature in the country. This is an informative episode for those interested in the growth of Reformed theology in South America.

On September 20, 2018 By Kuyperian In Podcast 1

Episode 35, KC Podcast on the Social Justice Statement with Lisa Robinson and Dustin Messer

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In this double dose of KC podcast,^a Pastor Uri Brito interviews Lisa Robinson^b and Dustin Messer^c on the recent Social Justice Statement.

Lisa Robinson observes that the whole counsel of Scripture portrays a creation that does not separate God’s salvation from His acts in and through Jesus Christ. Lisa observes:

Jesus was addressing the physical concerns of the people…and the social justice statement seems to set up a dichotomy of either you are for the gospel or you are for social justice as if those who can readily proclaim the Christian Gospel could not also be engaged and concerned for issues of social justice.”

For further study, Lisa recommends Al Mohler’s recent Q&A where he addresses directly the definition of social justice and Kevin DeYoung’s article.

Dustin Messer also joined the podcast to talk about the recent statement. Dustin affirms that though he agrees with many of the points in the statement, the statement ultimately offered enough false dichotomies to make it unhelpful. Dustin asserts that flattening out God’s justice may actually lead to greater danger in how the Christian views his role in society. Further, he affirms that the main problem with the parishioner in the pew is not the danger of a subtle Marxist ideology, but sheer apathy.

On September 14, 2018 By Kuyperian In Podcast Like

KC Podcast, Episode 34, Interview with Os Guinness

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“In his new book Last Call for Liberty: How America’s Genius for Freedom Has Become Its Greatest Threat Os Guinness offers a keen analysis of the current state of the West generally, and America particularly. Dustin Messer has a ranging discussion with Os, touching on Donald Trump, social justice, and religious freedom.”

On August 21, 2018 By Kuyperian In Theology 1

The Body of the King: The Lord’s Table in Egypt, Babylon, and Corinth

Guest Post by Jacob Gucker

There are patterns in the meta-narrative of the Bible. The crossing of the Red Sea is a recapitulation of the great flood. The passion of the Christ is the greater Exodus. This post assumes the priest —> king —> prophet pattern of redemptive history and will discuss observations about the similarities among three prophetic moments in the Bible and how they relate to the function of the Lord’s Supper in the life of the church.

Israel became a nation when God brought them up from bondage in the land of Egypt. Israel was a child under the tutelage of Torah, a nation of priests with a special class of priests to guard the community practice of Torah. In time, Israel would gain a good king who would reign with wisdom to do justice. The wisdom literature of the Bible is the literature of kings, who make decisions based not only on Torah but by the maturity and wisdom that begins with fearful obedience to Yahweh. After the period of the kings came the period of prophecy. Prophetic times are times of judgment. If Israel’s kings had been Christlike, the prophets would have gone to the nations only, to tear down the world of the Gentiles and rebuild it with prophetic speech. Prophecy is both an end and a beginning. Prophets oversee the judgment of one world and the recreation of the next. In this, they are like God who created the world with divine speech.

This pattern is repeated throughout the Bible. Adam was a failed priest. His firstborn son, Cain, was a father of tyrant kings who filled the earth with blood, requiring judgment and rebirth through Noah and the flood. The cycle begins again with Abraham being priest, Jacob ascending to kingship by wrestling with God and man to become Israel, and Joseph ascending to a throne over the rest of his brothers. For the purpose of this post, we want to juxtapose three prophetic moments and compare them: Joseph in Egypt, Daniel in Babylon, and the Church in Corinth.

We observe that Joseph and Daniel are in very similar situations. They are both exiled to a foreign land where they ascend to prominence among the Gentiles despite their Hebrew heritage. They are both nearly killed for their faithfulness, facing the dangers of pit, dungeon, furnace, and lions’ den. They both rise to prominence by advising kings through dream interpretation. The kings call upon them because they are known to have the “spirit of the gods” in them. The same is true of the apostles and first century Christians. The first-century was a period of judgement upon Israel and the nations. They have the Spirit. They suffer persecution. They rise to prominence among Gentiles, even in Caesar’s household (Phil. 4:22). The major difference in Corinth is that Jesus is Lord, having ascended to the right hand of God. Corinth is in Christ… or at least they are supposed to be, but let’s go back to Daniel and Joseph.

James Jordan has shown that Belshazzar’s feast in Daniel 5 is a sort of anti-Christian communion feast, the result of which is that the king of Babylon is found wanting as a king in the eyes of God. The word for “feast” is actually “bread.” Belshazzar’s feast is a feast of bread and wine, and he orders the vessels stolen from the temple of Yahweh in Jerusalem to be used to drink the wine. The lampstand, the symbol of Yahweh’s vigilance, is brought in to observe this feast. Belshazzar has manifested the Jerusalem temple within Babylon and has drunk judgment upon himself. The temple vessels are in exile and symbolize the people of God as vessels of worship. The body of Israel is being used to prop up a wicked head. The divine response: “This is not my Son, and I am not well pleased.”

Something similar happens in Genesis 42-44 when Joseph’s brothers appear before him looking for grain during a famine. Joseph’s brothers were not brother-keepers, having sold him into slavery. Now, Joseph is in the place of God and he wants to see what these men will do. Joseph divides the brothers for the purpose of reassembling them, for this is the end of prophetic judgment. Joseph wants the brothers to prove their brotherhood, so he keeps Simeon and sends them for Benjamin. They go home, but the only way to get more bread and restore Simeon is to also bring the youngest brother to the table.

When the eleven brothers come before Joseph, he tests them again by hiding his wine cup of divination in Benjamin’s grain sack. Wine has been added to bread; now is the hour of judgment. Joseph’s steward pursues them and accuses them of stealing his master’s sacred cup. The life of the thief is forfeit. However, when the cup is discovered in Benjamin’s sack, Judah returns and offers his own life for Benjamin’s. Joseph breaks down at this and reveals himself to his brothers, for Judah has laid his life down for the youngest. Judah has washed his own garments in the wine of judgment and thus all the brothers in Israel are found faithful. It is for this reason that the scepter of rule did not depart from Judah, but was given to Jesus, who washed His own garments in the wine of judgment by taking up His cross and laying down His life.

The lesson that Paul teaches the Corinthians is the same. The factions in Corinth are the opposite of brotherhood and kingship. The rich feast while the poor go hungry. However, communion is a manifestation of the new temple of God and the body of the King. In order for the church to pass as Christ, the youngest or poorest brothers and sisters must be welcomed to the table, whether poor of pocket or poor in theological understanding. To fail in this area is to fail to discern the body of the King.

On July 23, 2018 By Kuyperian In Podcast Like

Episode 32, Music in the Church with Jarrod Richey, KC Podcast

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On this episode, Pastor Brito interviews Mr. Jarrod Richey. Jarrod is a gifted musician and thinker. He directs the Jubilate Deo Music Camp (Rejoice in the Lord) every summer in Munroe, LA. The camp provides an opportunity to saturate students in the wonder of God in music, but it also adds art and dancing to their experience. Students from 4th-12th grade spend a wonderful week learning about a particular theme in the Scriptures culminating in a concert on the last Sunday on the theme which they have immersed all week.

Jarrod Richey is an avid apologist for church music. In this interview, he discusses the reason music has taken such a secondary role in the life of the church. “Individualism in worship has hurt the cause of music. Music in history was something you did for others, but after the Enlightenment, music has become about how I feel,” he observes. Richey further notes, “You can’t miss the imperative to sing joyfully…the historical understanding of singing is that the Triune God sings first and we follow.”

This is an important episode. Please listen and share.

On July 13, 2018 By Kuyperian In Interviews, Podcast Like

Episode 31: Apocalyptic Novels with Brian Godawa

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The Left Behind Series was captivating because of its fast-paced rhythm and its dispensational appeal. It sold millions of copies. But imagine if a work of fiction was published based on an eschatological position that has gravitas in Church History but also a work of fiction which is based on actual historical events! This is what Hollywood Screenwriter Brian Godawa does in his new series The Chronicles of the Apocalypse.

In this interview with Pastor Uri Brito, Brian delves into controversial theological areas and explains his rationale behind this successful series. Take a listen and visit godawa.com for more resources on worldview and writing.

On June 28, 2018 By Kuyperian In Podcast, Theology Like

Episode 30: Baptisms in the Bible: Fire, Spirit, and Water

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Does baptism save? What is the role of the Spirit in baptism? What is the nature and significance of our baptisms today? These questions and others are the focus of this insightful podcast. Pastor Uri Brito speaks with Pastor Adam McIntosh who recently published a three-part essay developing the connections of fire, water, and Spirit to baptisms (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3). Adam uses his charismatic background to develop the contrast between a sacramental view and the non-sacramental views found in the charismatic and broad evangelical traditions. Adam hopes that these essays will provide a helpful introduction of the various baptisms found throughout the Bible foundational for how we are to understand baptism in the New Covenant.

On June 20, 2018 By Kuyperian In Podcast, Theology Like

Episode 29: The History of Infant Baptism

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The debate over the proper recipients of baptism is a long one. While the biblical text takes a primary role in shaping our view of baptism, we are also a people incorporated into a holy, catholic, and apostolic church. While tradition does not solve this question for us, it certainly orients our attention to the way the Church has considered the issue of baptism for centuries. In this conversation, Pastor Uri Brito interviews Dr. Tim LeCroy on the history of infant baptism. His article can be found here. The discussion is quite interesting and will shed some light on this important topic.

Pastor Tim LeCroy blogs here.

On June 19, 2018 By Kuyperian In Scribblings Like

Let’s go back to the early church!

Have you ever desired to be a part of the first century apostolic Church? Imagine the glories of knowing people who actually met Jesus and seeing signs and wonders? If you lived in the first century Church then you would know what a real church would look like, right? In our day, we hear churches and individuals saying, “We just want to be like the primitive Church. Let’s go back to the real deal.” But the apostles would be utterly perplexed at this statement. Why would you want to be an infant again? Now, it is not as if the 21st century Church has grown up into full maturity since those days. In fact, the first century Church in many ways is no different than the 21st century church. Is there division in our churches today? is there a lack of biblical wisdom? is there sexual immorality? are Christians suing one another? are there problems in marriages? do people abuse their liberties? is there idolatry in the Church today? The answer to all these questions is a resounding “Yes.” We still have a lot of growing up to do! We may not be infants anymore, but we are still in great need to grow up. But to treat the early church as a perfect model is to think falsely of the maturity of that first-century body. It is true that our cultures are very different–after all 2,000 years change a lot of things– but principally, our sins remain the same. Let us grow up, then, and desire the maturity of the church, not a return to its infancy.

On June 14, 2018 By Kuyperian In Podcast, Politics Like

Episode 28, Fake News and the Christian Responsibility

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On this episode, KC contributors Uri Brito and Dustin Messer discuss the nature of fake news. Dustin recently contributed to the discussion by writing on the recent debate over Donald Trump’s “These are Animals” comment.

Dustin concludes that “Journalists indeed need more integrity, but so too do we need more empathy. Until we’re able to see the villain in our tribe (and, indeed, ourselves) and the hero in the other tribe, we’ll keep getting half the story.”

This discussion also touches on the responsibility of Christians to share and engage the news. We hope you will enjoy and share this discussion. Please leave a comment.