Protestants focus, almost exclusively, on Salvation. (Who's against salvation? Not me! Praise God for salvation!) But that pressure-driven focus causes Protestants to look at every Bible passage or story as a matter of soteriology (salvation, pertaining to salvation). So we end up making the Bible say things it wasn't trying to say. And to that poi…

The Ultimate Dwelling Place Audio // Jenny Cuyuch by CuhowBy Cuhow

Tune in as Pastor Lisa closes out our Ephesians summer series with a powerful word on the full armor of GodBy Cuhow

A classic prooftext for Divine Determinism is Romans 9. Especially verse 13, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated," is a pet verse for those who favor Divine Determinism. Across the last 500 years that verse has particularly been cited as an example of predestination: God chooses some for salvation and some for damnation. But is that what Pau…

Significant to a notion of Divine Determinism is the Exodus. In chapters 7-12 we watch an ongoing interaction between Egypt's Pharaoh and Yahweh (via Moses and Aaron). What does that running exchange reveal to us? What does it reveal to us about freedom from slavery? About freedom of religious expression? About human agency? About how God deals wit…

Who We Should Be Looking At // Book of Ephesians (Part 9) // Thomas Ransome by CuhowBy Cuhow

The Reformed's Westminster Shorter Catechism, point #1, "What is the chief end of man? The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." That's a solid claim! I don't disagree, except it doesn't explain a deeper-still question, why did God create? What motivated Him? Was there a need in God to be glorified? Did God have a lack He neede…

God created the universe, and planet earth, with an inherent quality of free-play. Free-play is where energies, gravity, animals, weather and more all have their ability to move and be and impact reality. Given that, is life a matter of chance? Still more, is life a matter of unruly randomness? Both the Reformed and the Arminians have a high emphas…

Tune in as Mike Sunbury unpacks the difference between focusing on the roles we play at church versus buying into the vision of the house.By Cuhow

Across my last five or so episodes I've put enormous weight on human agency in understanding a biblical theology. This cast O' the pod, following Reformed vs. Arminian constructions and the priority of prevenient grace, emphasizes both the 'that' and the 'why' of God's revelation (the Gospel) being the premise of salvation. We cannot save ourselves…

Who Are You Wearing///Book of Ephesians//Ruben Remedios by CuhowBy Cuhow

Once saved always saved is a popular theology in the modern world. It is the idea that once you have been saved, regardless of future actions or sins you can never lose your salvation. But is this really the case? To find more "Uncensored Christian" content including Video versions of the podcast, Social Media links, and more use the Link down belo…

The Reformed doctrine of Total Depravity rather necessitates their doctrine of Common Grace, or better, common graces. When I was in seminary I realized that most other Christians talked about life in terms of grace, whereas my tradition spoke about life in terms of God's Spirit. What are the benefits of each? What are important biblical frames for…

In part 6 of our Ephesians series, Pastor Jorge unpacks how dying to self daily is a gangster act.By Cuhow

The P of TULIP is Perseverance of the Saints. And so the question rises, "can you lose your salvation?" Just asking that question will get you kicked out of many in-home bible studies! Nevertheless, the Reformed and the Arminian Protestants answer this in ways that we note and unpack. And then me? The UU? Who takes Trinity (and so personhood, and a…

Is the grace of God resistible? Can the Holy Spirit's efforts be frustrated? When does the new birth (regeneration, justification) happen in time? In their historical context, why do Protestants, both Reformed and Arminians, so resist having works be involved in salvation? Those questions are all plowed-through in this eighth episode in this series…

For Vision Builder's Sunday we pause our series on Ephesians to reflect on the ways in which we can allow God to move our hearts to give towards his vision.By Cuhow

Probably like me you hear it all the time, "everything happens for a reason." More than likely? Those who say that do not realize they are espousing Reformed theology, or drawing on Reformed sensibilities. But really, does the Bible teach that everything happens for a reason? And if so, doesn't that make God the author of evil, and so make him a mo…

In this fourth installment of our Ephesians series, Pastor Marquez reminds us of our kingdom citizenship and the healing power of love and forgiveness.By Cuhow

The New Testament, from the Gospels to Revelation, proclaim Jesus to be the "lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." But how do the Reformed and the Arminians process the effective nature of Jesus' atoning death? I explore the logic of each divergent camp's theology. What does John Piper teach? What did John Calvin teach? What interesting…

This week, Pastor Ruben takes us through the second chapter in Ephesians and unpacks how God had created the work we were meant to do before he created us.By Cuhow

The desire to see God reveal Himself or provide a sign is not inherently wrong. Scripture recounts numerous instances where God provided signs to affirm His truth. However, trouble arises when we seek signs in places where God is not present, or when we repeatedly ask God to prove Himself. To find more "Uncensored Christian" content including Video…

The Reformed and Arminians agree that God predestined the elect, but they don't agree together who the elect are. They also don't agree on what God decreed about the reprobate (unbelievers). Frankly, they don't agree on several important things: God's power and whether He can (or does) limit himself; the levels of mystery at work in life; or the th…

What an unexpected service! Join us for a time of intimacy with God as we live out the message found in part 2 of Ephesians 1. Truly know God today.By Cuhow

Predestination: it's a big topic of controversy. The Reformed and Arminians each emphasize predestination in varied ways. Why did God predestine? Whom did God predestine? I also explore the very common sentiment, "but, I only want to believe what the Bible says!" That sentiment has historic (and, gulp!, philosophic) roots that those who assert it d…

Tune in for the first installment of our new sermon series on Ephesians and listen as Pastor Ro unpacks our true identity in Christ.By Cuhow

Jesus shows himself to be God in more ways than one, through words, prophetic fulfillment, and also through his actions. The question of "Is Jesus God" is quickly answered by looking at the actions of Jesus and asking yourself, who is capable of doing such things? To find more "Uncensored Christian" content including Video versions of the podcast, …

The Reformed and Arminians (R'n'A) seldom agree. But they do agree on the doctrine of total depravity. In this episode I work through what that means, respectively, to the R'n'A. What did Sproul say about it? What did Wesley assert? Then I ask questions about what it means to be human: a) do we still, after the fall, exist as the image of God? b) d…

3 Lies the Enemy wants you to believe about Your Giving // Ro Remedios (Vision Builders Sunday) by CuhowBy Cuhow

Tune in as Pastor Thomas Ransome unpacks how serving is built into our purpose and that we are all called to the ministry of service.By Cuhow

"God seeks glory." That is critical and foundational to both a Reformed and an Arminian theological perspective. But the two camps diverge on how it is, principally, that God seeks glory. And it finally comes down to a matter of premises. It's sort of like when you go hiking: you get to the trail head and you have a choice between different trails.…

The Secret to Serving // Serving Changes Everything (Part 4) // Ruben Remedios by CuhowBy Cuhow

Let's compare the Reformed with the Arminians (no, not Armenians!). What are their emphases? Where, at surface level, do they disagree? Who are the famous leaders on each side? I'm betting that my listeners will be surprised to learn that the Arminians started out in the Reformed branch of the Church. One way (not the only way, as this series will …

Because I taught college for 25 years I'm tracking the devolution of Pro-Hamas rallies on university campusi. But it wasn't that which provoked this show's one-off reflection. No, instead it was a couple articles in my denomination's quarterly ministers' magazine that smacked me upside the head. They accepted the premise. Accepted the definitions a…

In Part 3 of the "Serving Changes Everything" sermon series, Pastor Ro unpacks the importance of walking in our calling as an act of ultimate service.By Cuhow

Thousands of people got to witness the power of God firsthand. This event ultimately changed these people's lives forever. Encountering an unexpected sense of fulfillment, how did they react? To find more "Uncensored Christian" content including Video versions of the podcast, Social Media links, and more use the Link down below! https://lnk.bio/dan…

In this, the last, episode of my series on God's Holy Spirit I present the theology of Kallistos Ware. A bishop in the Eastern Orthodox Church, Ware emphasizes that God's Spirit is encountered especially through other people. More particularly, through holy fools and seasoned soul-guides. What are those two types? How do we, might we, encounter suc…

For our Vision Builder's Sunday, Pr. Ruben asks what areas in are lives have held back in that are causing us to hold back from doing what we know God has already called us to do.By Cuhow

In the theological component of this episode we examine the unique contributions of Michael Welker to Pneumatology (God's Spirit). Why does Welker land where he does? Why does his presentation seem to take itself apart? What are his foundational commitments? Do they align with biblical commitments and teachings? Along the way I also unpack the sign…

Pastor Ro shares the second installment of the sermon series "Serving Changes Everything" with his teaching entitled "Serve like Jesus". In this sermon, he highlights three main points on using our gifts and talents to serve as Jesus did.By Cuhow

Belief without evidence is foolish and antithetical to the teachings of Jesus. Faith is not meant to be blind, it is a result of putting your trust in something that has proven itself true, don't believe me? Don't take my word for it take Jesus' word. Join me this episode as we discover how important evidence is to our faith. To find more "Uncensor…

He came through a resolutely Baptist upbringing. In that context he was taught that the gifts of God's Spirit ceased with the time of the Apostles. So he was shocked when, attending a revival meeting at the Toronto Airport Vineyard, Clark Pinnock was dramatically healed of an eye affliction. It spurred him to go on and write an entire systematic th…

Pastor Ruben kicks off our new sermon series Serving Changes Everything with this powerful message empowering us to be workers ready for the harvest.By Cuhow

Those who deny the deity of Jesus often go to a few common passages, typically when read in isolation these verses appear to contradict with the doctrine of the Trinity. Today we deep dive into one of those passages and explore whether or not Jesus is truly divine. To find more "Uncensored Christian" content including Video versions of the podcast,…

How is God present in and for His creation? Traditionally, that has been addressed through Christological categories. Our theologian for this episode, Wolfhart Pannenberg, presses us to consider that it is God's Spirit who is immanent (in, with, for, to) regarding creation. What does that look like? Is it biblically based? We also examine Pannenber…

Gains and Losses at the Cross by CuhowBy Cuhow

While he was a young man Jürgen Moltmann was conscripted into the Germany Air Force. After an Allied bombing of his city Moltmann then spent 3 years in a Scottish prison. While there he encountered the Gospel. But his own dramatic experience became foundational seedbed for his own theological career. What did that mean for his theology? What did th…

Tune in for our Easter Sunday service as Pastor Ro reminds us of how the love of God invites us to a life of no condemnation.By Cuhow

Christianity is grounded in God's revelation, and so in theology, and so in doctrine. But Christianity is not mere doctrine. It is a life, a life that can be felt and experienced. J. Rodman Williams was a Presbyterian theologian who experienced the profound presence of God's Spirit. He articulated what that meant for believers. I explain the whats …

There is a process to everything we are becoming. Sometimes it does not look like what we expected or hoped, but in this week's sermon Amanda Remedios teaches how we can trust the process because of the one that is control of it.By Cuhow