Radical Grace IS the Christian Difference.

Improving your Christian Hate Life Part 3

2012-01-26T08:18:00.002-05:00

The Unrecognizable Church

We've had two other programs devoted to this topic already... Now we feel compelled to offer a third one after Christians have attacked a young atheist for winning a court case to remove (of all things) a prayer banner. The prayer itself asks for grace to be kind and be a good sport and be honorable... too bad the Christians attacking this girl couldn't see that.

Click here to witness the Hate.

Also, we discovered something interesting about people these days. The word "church" does not, in people's minds, automatically mean it's about Christian anything. In the minds of many people, Church could be Muslim or Christian, or any given sect of any religion. Strange, of course, since the word used to be exclusively Christian.

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Standing on the 30 Foot Pole of Good works.

2011-08-12T07:02:00.000-05:00

No matter which direction you fall, it's a long way down.

The other day I heard on a Christian radio broadcast the folling statement. "I has been said that when you don't pray to God, it's like you slapped him in the face". Why it is that people think this is a helpful statement escapes me, but apparently "fundidgelicals" just love this sort of thing. So now I not only have a problems with my prayer life, but I'm slapping God around each time I don't pray to him...

So Pastor and I talk a bit about "the impassability of God", meaning that he doesn't need anything from us to get his work done. And how the Christian life can be compared to standing on top of the 30 foot pole while worrying your going to fall off.

"God says of Jesus, "this is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased"... So if the Father is pleased with Jesus, and we're in Christ, doesn't that mean that the Father is pleased with us?"

Standing on the 30 Foot Pole of Good works.

Preacher, where is thy fruit?

2011-07-14T04:31:00.000-05:00

Can we borrow a cup of seed?

In this edition of Radical Grace we talk about the question "Preacher, where is thy fruit?" in context the parable of the sower and the seed. it's a law and Gospel distinction you don't want to miss.

Also, the jurors weren't morons. We talk a bit about the outcome of the Casey Anthony trial and the vitriol and death threats that have made against here and the rest of her family.

Preacher, where is thy fruit?

Laying Down the Law on Third use of the Law.

2011-06-16T07:34:00.001-05:00

Making use of third use

In this edition of Radical Grace Radio; since we noticed there's a bit of a dust up of confusion about what the uses of the law are (from some rather surprising places I might add) it seemed good also to us to lay down the law on third use of the Law.

Laying Down the Law on Third Use of the Law

Distinctly Jesus Part 1

2011-06-04T09:48:00.001-05:00

What did Jesus do?

Of all the people in the scriptures, both Old Testament and New, no one talks about forgiveness the way Jesus Christ, or Lord, does. He goes around forgiving sins with impunity. He forgives the sins of a paralytic before he heals him, allows a sinful woman to touch him, quite smartly prevent the stoning death of a woman caught in adultry, and like no one else he does this in such a one sided way. The Lamb of God, going around forgiving, event though HE is to be the one put to death for the sins of each person he personally forgave face to face.

Is there an Important message in Jesus' way of doing things? Listen to this week's Radical Grace Radio to find out.

Distinctly Jesus Part 1

Doomsday Fail and Forgiving 70 times 7 times.

2011-05-24T09:26:00.003-05:00

Harold Camping and the End of all things part 2.

It's time for some spiritual triage as Harold Camping's predictions for the rapture fall through. So, in the back half of the hour we talk about a parable, "the unmerciful servant" and how this parable tells us something we Christians often ignore.

Harold Camping and the end of all things Part 2.

Countdown to Doomsday: The Rapture and the 21th.

2011-05-12T09:17:00.000-05:00

Harold Camping and the End of all things.

On this Edition of Radical Grace Radio we talk about Harold Camping's prediction that the Rapture is going to happen on May 21st. We also talk about others who have made such predictions, and about the book "the late great planet earth" by Hal Lindsey. This and more...

Harold Camping and the end of all things.

Boxing Gloves and Fantasy Faith

2011-05-05T06:13:00.001-05:00

Make Believe Faith vs. True Faith.

Second half of the hour, the Gloves come off concerning the Beatification of the Pope John Paul II. AntiChristic language compared to what you get in Protestant circles. Tridentine Catholicism compared with the Bible... Good stuff, but in the first half, we steal back for you 1 Peter 1:3-8 from those who would steal it from you.
1Pe 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe 1:4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you,
1Pe 1:5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
1Pe 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
1Pe 1:7 These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
1Pe 1:8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
1Pe 1:9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Boxing Gloves and Fantasy Faith

Thinking with the Mind of Christ, Part 1

2011-01-20T05:35:00.002-05:00

Which way forward Lord?

In this edition of Radical Grace Radio, we begin the topic of the year, thinking with the mind of Christ, by first setting up some ground rules. Number 1: Remember you're law and gospel distinction. Number 2: Remember that Jesus isn't just a cardboard cutout that people bend and mangle to make him fit their image of him. He's a real person, both man and God. He has a mind, just like you do, and he thinks with that mind and brain using synapses and neural pathways just like you do.

Radical Grace Radio: It's not just academic anymore.

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Thinking with the mind of Christ part 1

New Years Resolutions

2011-01-06T09:13:00.003-05:00

Which way forward Lord?

It's a new year at Radical Grace Radio. A lot of things have happened over the last few years, not the least of which is discovering what the Christian Landscape looks like. But perhaps more important is what we discovered about ourselves.

What we discovered was a couple of things in particular. One is that doing Radio and Podcasting is not as easy as it sounds. The other is that we discovered how we react to the situation. We found that we have sort of strength that comes out between us that we didn't realize was there. We both attribute this work of God, and the next question is this: If God has worked this in the way that he has for everyone's benefit... Where is he taking us?

That is what this episode of Radical Grace Radio is all about.

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New Years Resolutions

The Culture War Examined: Reflections on "Happy Holidays"

2010-12-26T12:20:00.001-05:00

Happy Feast of Saint Stephen!

In this Boxing Day edition of Radical Grace Radio, we talk about the ongoing battles between Christians and the secular world regarding the phrase "happy holidays", and whether there should be a better attempt by Christians abroad to show the world what a real Christmas celabration would be like.

This edition's bumps: Blackmore's Night - Good King Wenceslas, Jose Feciliano - Feliz Navidad

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The Culture War Examined

The Gift and the Defender on Radical Grace Radio

2010-12-21T13:00:00.001-05:00

Tyrel Bramwell's New Tome

On This edition of Radical Grace Radio, we Talk to Tyrel Bramwell about his new Book, the Gift and the Defender. As a gift to our Listeners, Tyrel has set up a coupon for 50 percent off of any eBook version of the book, which would include text versions, the Kindel version, the Nook version... pretty much any version you could imagine.

We also read some of the responses we're getting about a question I posted on facebook and Christianity.com. "What are the minimum conditions a person must meet in order to be saved?" We also Talk about a former Military Man who has been arrested for stalking members of Westboro Baptist Church. Ryan Newell lost his legs in Afghanistan to an IED, and members of Westboro Baptist now plan to picket the Elizabeth Edwards funeral, as well as the police station that Newell was set free from last week.

The Gift and the Defender on Radical Grace Radio

The Gift and the Defender

2010-12-19T15:04:00.000-05:00

The Gift and the Defender, by T. Emmet Bramwell, can be purchased by going to This Link. To get the purchase code that nets you 50 percent off the book, listen to the latest Radical Grace Radio or email us by using the CONTACT us link.

Treasure hidden in a field

2010-12-05T14:31:00.002-05:00

Eh, I'm not going to make you look that hard...

Treasure hidden in a field.

How to improve your Christian Hate Life.

2010-11-22T08:52:00.004-05:00

Making your list of things you hate.

Hate. We've heard this before. For all the talk that Christians make concerning holiness and self help, it appears that even after 2000 years the church still hasn't come to terms with this most perplexing problem. To this day, because the majority of Christians do not properly distinguish law and gospel, people are calling all the time at each other blindly to repent of this or that or there can be no unity... But with the Gospel, there is unity in Faith, in Baptism, in one Lord... How do we know this is too often driven by hate?

I present for your consideration, Westboro Baptist Church. Fred Phelps and his little congregation sound just like a lot of churches and church leaders. But ever since someone set of an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) outside his church, Fred Phelps has made it his single obsession to let the world know that his god would not let this aggregious act go unpunished. In fact, if you didn't already know, they don't randomly pick which funerals they want to picket, no. They always picket the funerals of soldiers who died from being killed by and IED. Now, I want you to imagine for a second. For all his theological bloviating, Fred Phelps' problem winds up being tit for tat. You tried to blow up my church, my god will blow you up.

Really? Is that what the Christian message is? You attack him, God will attack you back?

How to improve your Christian Hate Life

Be Believe it's Magic!

2010-11-11T09:50:00.005-05:00

Bedknobs and Broomsticks and Bibles, Oh My!

Do Christians sometimes Practice Magic in God's name? Here's the deal. Martin Luther, in his Small Catechism, said concerning the second commandment:

We should fear and love God that we may not curse, swear, use witchcraft, lie, or deceive by His name, but call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks.

Now, think about this for a second. How many ways are there to "Use Witchcraft" in God's name? What if the "witchcraft" is cleverly cloaked in evangelical rituals like word/faith prayers that call upon power to manifest changes in reality? What if it were people cursing each other by misusing Jesus' teaching on "cursing the fig tree" in Matthew 21:18? How about swearing by God's name while telling a lie? How about when people try to buy power with their tithes? How about when people call upon "Prophets" of our age to divine the future for us like King Saul did with the witch of Endor in 1st Samuel 28? These seem crass, but they are happening in Churches all around Florida and the Space Coast.

I Believe it's Magic!

You're Tearing the World Apart

2010-11-05T09:09:00.000-05:00

Reformation Day Special 2010

This Reformation Day... We took the Gloves off. Yeah, I went off a bit. The reason? Because it's becoming apparent to me that, as much as I would like to say in unison with everyone else in the LCMS, I don't think we're offering the right corrective to the kind of Christianity that is going on out there these days. It's almost as if we're trying to relive the first reformation and force everyone else to relive it with us.

Martin Luther had no idea that a "reformation" was on it's way. He merely wanted to call a disputation on indulgences. That's it. Nothing out of this world. But it got out of control for him. Called to revoke his teachings, to recant under pain of death, what cause the reformation wasn't a group of people getting together to write a mission statement, assess assets and crunch numbers. And before any of you in the LCMS think to yourselves, "yup, we get that", think again. We're so caught up in our own stupid fads that we're nearly useless.

Kyrie Eleison.

You're Tearing the World Apart!

God's will for my life: Today, I'm sick.

2010-09-10T06:44:00.004-05:00

Selling God's grace at a deep discount.

That's how it goes. We all were coming down with something. Pastor Greg said he was getting over a cold. Pastor Gary had one already. I was coming down with one. But wait just a second. This isn't supposed to happen to a Christian, is it?

Well, in this edition of Radical Grace Radio, we had no choice but to talk about finding God's will for your life, since literally billions of dollars have been spent on self helps books and seminars, prayer beads and trips to faraway places. It seems like people everywhere are seeking God's will for their lives.

Well, there's a couple of things that come to mind here. One, is this: If you're a believer in Christ, and you're in him, how much in God's will can you be? Think about this. Joel Osteen's Your Best Life Now had sold over 2.5 million copies as of May 23rd, 2005. It's 2010 now, and he's written another book, Become a Better You, which sold out it's first printing of 4 million copies in 2007... That's a lot of money spent on self help, just on these two books alone.

I know how Christians are thinking. They worry, day by day, that they are NOT making the cut. It's no wonder, since the world trains us to think this way. You have to work, and you have to do well at what your vocation is if you want to keep working. That's how the world works, and that's how we're trained to think. So of course we think this way with regards to God and all He does.

But Here I'm not going to take the usual take on this *. I'm going to, instead, suggest that what's going on here is unbelief. See, for the average believer (like all of us), we look around and it's very hard to see what God is doing in our everyday lives. With eyes of faith we believe that God is doing things in our lives, but it's very difficult to stay in that sort of mindset. So, we either make the move to help God along by learning to be more cooperative with Him, or we secretly harbor the notion that God isn't as interested in what's going on in our lives as we'd like.

Take Abraham, for instance. He had the sure promise that he was going to have a son as his heir. God said it would happen, but Abraham (then Abram) eventually agreed to sleep with his maidservant, Hagar. Now, I'm not suggesting that Abraham became an unbeliever, because St. Paul tells us that Abraham didn't waver in his belief in the Promise... Yet, he did still sleep with Hagar, didn't he?

I think this shows just how desperate we fallen sinners really are. Even when we can remain in faith, we have a severe problem with remaining faithful. Paul tells us that Abraham didn't waver in his faith, yet he did fail to remain faithful.

Just goes to show you. We're such smart alecks, and so smug. But what do we do, nearly every day? We sell God's grace at a deep discount. We have to learn to unlearn this way of thinking quickly. God is always involved in our lives.

"I am with you always even till the end of the age".

God's will for my Life: Today I'm sick

Ex Christians: Broken by Spiritual Gifts?

2010-09-02T17:04:00.005-05:00

Misapplication of Spiritual Gifts

In this edition of Radical Grace Radio, we talk about how the Spiritual Gifts are misapplied in such a way that Christians wind up broken and sorrowful.

There was a woman at my old church, which was a Pentacostal Church, who was scheduled to recieve her "annointing" one night after many weeks of being taught about fruits of the spirit. All the people who attended classes came up front to be prayed over and begin speaking in tongues... but when it came to be her turn, she didn't start speaking in tongues. She was inconsolable. She thought that since she didn't speak in tongues that God had rejected her! After all, if she learns what she needs to do, and does them faithfully, but she doesn't get the annointing to speak in tongues, what could that possibly mean?

That's why we do this program. We have no choice but to offer a corrective for stuff like this. People's souls are riding on it.

Ex_Christians: Broken by Spiritual Gifts?

Religion: Check off Jedi Knight

2010-08-21T08:41:00.004-05:00

Who are we in Christ?

Our identity in Christ... That sounds like it's the most important thing we could learn about ourselves, but we're all carrying around too much baggage to get it, unless we learn something really simple: Power does not necessarily equal Good.

Second thing is this: The world religions are lying to you. They have no power they can give you. Nothing. Only in Christ are you identified with power, and that power is Christ alone.

Purchase Hi Resolution, commercial free version of the show. (256k stream, full stereo)
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Religion: Check off Jedi Knight

A Reckless Confidence in Christ, Part 2

2010-08-10T07:43:00.009-05:00

By the Power of Greyskull!

In this edition of Radical Grace Radio, we first answer the error that says that Jesus is not God with Colosians 2:9, "for all the fullness of the Diety dwells in him in bodily form"... Hmm... Sounds like God to me.

But we have to pick up on this idea that we can have a "reckless confidence in Christ"... Listen as Tyrel Bramwell of Reformation Underground calls in to join the discussion.

Purchase Hi Resolution, commercial free version of the show. (256k stream, full stereo)
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A Reckless Confidence in Christ, Part 2

Not going well...

2010-07-12T20:42:00.002-05:00

I guess it depends on who you are. Really. I mean, if you're the kind of person who likes to see debate shut out, and narrow margin adoption of resolutions, and people tearing their hair out, then I guess this Convention is for you.

See, during the convention, we have a standing rule that states that, when there is a "con" statement made during a debate, then it MUST be followed by a "Pro" statement. So the chair gets to spend several minutes skipping over people who are waiting to speak their minds to a specific resolution in search of a pro or con statement, till a time limit is up where the chair gets to call the question on the resolution. Then the chair asks a bunch of disgruntled people (namely us delegates) to decided to end the debate and vote, which everyone does for whatever reason... then the resolution passes by a narrow margin (somewhere in the range of 51 percent to 49 percent)...

So are things going well here today? No. People are getting frustrated. Oh yeah. I am, the people next to me are getting frustrated... It's getting old quick.

But tomorrow is the synodical presidential election. Perhaps this will be the bright spot.

This delegate, however, is beginning to realize we've been talking to the wrong group. We thought that Evangelicals needed help finding the way forward... it turns out it's our own synod that needs help in knowing which way is forward.

Unity and Division

2010-07-11T21:37:00.000-05:00

I'm often surprised to hear things said such as this: We should learn to be more tolerant of the diversity we have among us.

Now, on it's face, it looks like this is a good statement. After all, there is a lot of diversity in the LCMS. But for some reason I don't thing that's what they mean when they say we need to be more tolerant. I think what they are saying is, "we feel threatened when you talk to us about churchly matters". Which, to be honest, is a valid thing to say. Now don't get me wrong when I say this. It's hard sometimes when you're talking to someone about things such as Divine Worship, styles of music, and things of that nature who obviously knows some things about it that you don't. That is not me saying there's a lot of stupid people out there. No, not at all. But there is a tendency amongst people who call themselves "confessional" to be a little bit smug about themselves because they've read all the latest literature about why we shouldn't be adopting modern worship styles and instrumentation. Face facts here. Confessionals are sometimes rabid about the subject.

However, there is something more disturbing about the statement about being more tolerant of diversity among us. It smacks of something reprehensible. There's a way in which it's a bit over the top, suggesting not so good intentions on the part of those deemed "intolerant". If, for instance, someone says that it's an act of Satan to divide us over matters like these, isn't that just a bit over the top? Doesn't it suggest that those who are "intolerant" are seeking to divide us? And by definition in league with Satan?

See, there's a way in which even those who want unity at all costs are making trouble for everyone. I guess what I'm asking is this: When are we all going to own up to our intolerance? Why can't I speak up that I think it would be better is we observed the Divine Service rather than make up some loose set of rules of worship and not get called intolerant? I'm a bit of musicologist, so I know something about ancient worship practices and music from the second temple era that would surprise most people on both sides of the isle... yet in the current climate I get pegged as intolerant because I'm either not "missional" enough or "confessional" enough.

It's been an eye opener here at the convention so far. Keep in mind, the blog posts I'm putting up right now are mainly train of thought stuff... call it me debriefing and decompressing at the end of the day.

The Law of Piety? Or the law of love?

2010-06-11T09:15:00.002-05:00

Navel Gazing Gone Wild

Oh the things the Word of Faithers will say to make their followers think so highly of themselves. Pastor Fred Price provides this edition's "fatal error".

But on this edition of Radical Grace Radio we revisit the "Lukewarm Christian Test" and divide Law and Gospel this way: which is more important? The law of piety? Or the law of love?
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The Law of Piety? Or the law of love?

Judged by our works?

2010-06-02T06:15:00.002-05:00

Law vs. Gospel? Is that right?

On this edition of Radical Grace radio, we talk in the first half hour about a listener email that asks:

"At what point is my sin deliberate? I know I will commit tomorrow, the same sin(s)I committed today. I recite the Lord's prayer every night. I have guilt, but that doesn't matter. I know it's a sin, but yet I keep doing it. Is this not deliberately sinning against God, thus losing my salvation?"

Then on the second half of the hour we talk about Judgment day, and why it seems that scripture is of two minds with regards to how we are saved.
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Judged by our works?

O Sacred Head Now Wounded

2010-04-25T13:36:00.000-05:00

"The Big If"

2010-04-17T07:47:00.006-05:00

Image by kelsey_lovefusionphoto via Flickr

I spend a lot of time listening to the radio when I'm in my car, and most of the time I keep the radio tuned to WMIE. I like listening to the station we pay to broadcast on locally because it gives me an idea of what's going on out there in the evangelical wasteland. Nothing jumps out as entirely out in left field, but I do hear the same set of weird statements and suggestions repeatedly. I heard one pastor the other morning state clearly to his congregation that he wanted them to take the "ninety day Malachi challenge" and start tithing ten percent of their income, and he offered each and every person who did so a money back guarantee! Yes. He told them that if any of them fell into financial hard times during the ninety day period, the church would return the money to them no questions asked. The pastor stated quite clearly that he wasn't in it for the money, but that he wanted to teach his congregation a "lesson" about tithing: If you test God in these matters of tithing, God will reveal Himself to you to be real.

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

On another program I heard a word of faith teacher tell his congregation, quite plainly, that Jesus' name is a talisman that, when used properly, brings health and prosperity. I heard still another word of faith teacher tell me that if I used the name of Jesus regularly I could have victory over all my circumstances in life... If I used his name properly.

Ok, there are a lot of "ifs" out there with regard to Bible teaching. Lots of them. But I'm talking about "The Big If". Here is the big one. "Jesus has won victory over death and Satan, and his victory is yours, if you believe and repent of your sin".

There it is. And what's more, people... Christians believe this schlock. They buy it hook line and sinker. Yes, the Bible does have passages where, when someone is confronted with their sin, they ask "what shall I do". Yes, the answer that is given often times is "believe the Gospel". Yes, people do regularly think that they somehow drum up faith within themselves. But that last thing about drumming up faith inside yourself?

Can't happen. Impossible. Never in a million years. Not part of God's plan. You don't manufacture faith. You don't. I'll assert it again. You don't drum up faith. There's no spark of divinity in you that you can use to drum up faith. There is a part of you wants to hate God. That part of you hates God because it wants to be obedient. It wants to be obedient to God. It wants to obey because it thinks it has to. It hates God, not due to the fact that it's helpless. Not because it perceives its falleness. No, rather it hates God because it doesn't get to obey like it wants to, but rather God chose His only son to come into our human flesh, obey His righteous demands perfectly and make atonement for us. There's a part of you that hates that. It hates the fact that Jesus is the one who get's all praise and honor and glory for what he has done. It hates that it can't make amends for the sins that it has committed.

There's a part of you that hates that.

But it loves "The Big If". It loves The Big If because that kind of teaching holds out the possibility that you can somehow contribute to Jesus' work. You don't want to receive all the benefits of Christ as a gift, but you'd rather earn it. The Big If leaves room for your works to somehow impress God. It leaves room for a Holy Spirit driven work that you did can be more lovely in God's sight instead of Jesus' works. It leaves room for improvement of self by self motivation.

I know all of you love "The Big If". You do. You love to go out and buy books like "Purpose Driven Life", or listen to Beth Moore teach you how to get rid of your insecurities. It's because we all think too highly of ourselves. We think highly of ourselves by thinking that we're ambulatory; able to move around as we please under our own power spiritually. What we don't perceive is that this is a dream. It's a dream where we can get up and move around and do spiritual stuff under our own power. What we don't realize is that we're lying on a gurney in a hospital ward, in triage, waiting for our physician to come administer to us the needed medical procedures and medicines that will keep us from dying...

I'm talking to YOU dear Christian. Where before you were spiritually dead, and now you've been raised to life, you are still not ambulatory. You are still crippled. You still have sin in you. You are still at times hateful to God. You are hateful to God in the same way a patient is hateful to their physician when he or she tells them the prognosis. You still can't move. You're paralyzed and can only speak. You want to move, but you can't. The prognosis hits your ears and you start thinking about what you can do, but it's to no avail. Your situation is hopeless. But you refuse to admit it.

Now, imagine a doctor saying to you, "this medicine will keep you alive, IF"... If what? If the medicine works? What could the IF possibly be? Do you feel like you're going to live when the doctor himself isn't even sure that it will help? You might live? You might die? This is how the Gospel is presented to you, week after week, bad sermon after bad sermon. Because it makes worldly sense that you should be adding some work of your own to the work Jesus has already completed on the cross, you believe a mixed up Gospel with all your heart never realizing how hopeless your situation really is. You are told, literally, "physician, heal thyself".

Well, how about this, dear crippled Christians. Your Physician has acquired everything needed to keep you alive! And He promises to do exactly that! In Jesus Christ, you will live! He will raise you up in the last day! He is the resurrection and the life! He IS the way, the truth, and the life! He has become your Ransom! His promises are sure! His life is yours! You have life! And life more abundant!

No "ifs", "ands", or "buts".

"But what do I do?" You ask?

Stop squirming.

O Sacred Head Now Wounded.

2010-04-03T10:18:00.000-05:00

Live at Christ Lutheran In Cape Canaveral:Angels and Demons

2010-03-18T20:13:00.002-05:00

Angels and Demons

In this live studio audience edition of Radical Grace Radio, we talked about Angels and Demons, and what they do in our lives. And we talked about the Angel of the Lord.
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Live at Christ Lutheran In Cape Canaveral:Angels and Demons

Law and Gospel Confusion

2010-03-07T14:10:00.000-05:00

Radical Grace Radio Road Show

2010-03-05T07:48:00.003-05:00

For the first time ever, Radical Grace Radio is hitting the road. This Saturday Night at 6pm Radical Grace Radio is live at Faith Viera Lutheran Church. Pastor Gary Held is preaching at the service at 5pm, and Radical Grace Radio goes live, talking about the problems Christians face in the world of evangelism and unity.

Faith Viera Lutheran Church is located at 5550 Faith Drive, Rockledge, FL 32955, and you can phone the church at(321) 636-5504.

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RGR: The New Atheists: Broken by the church?

2010-01-10T12:28:00.004-05:00

On Today's show we're continuing the theme of "Broken by the church" by talking about today's so Called "new atheists". The profile is simple. Many of them are outcasts from the church at large, and not church body or denomination is exempt from being the culprits here. We've done this. We created the situation where all these people have given up on the church and many times on Christ himself.

Listen today

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The Ex-Christian: Broken by the Church?

2010-01-08T08:37:00.003-05:00

A profile of the Ex-Christian

Think carefully. How many times have you heard from someone that they used to be a Christian, but they no longer are? How many times have you heard them say they used to believe in Jesus Christ as their only hope of salvation, but now say they no longer believe that? Or that they wish they could believe it but they just can't?

This year on Radical Grace Radio, we're taking on the toughest of cases: Those broken by the church. They no longer believe, and many times they are either very sad about it or angry! Take, for instance, all the atheists out there who used to evangelicals, but now say that the Christian religion is evil!

Stick with us this year as we take on this important topic.
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The Ex-Christian: Broken by the Church?

Desperate Hearts do Desperate Things

2010-01-02T02:25:00.010-05:00

The other day after I posted about "why Radical Grace Matters", I noticed just how desperate I seemed in the post. Even though I was venting, it wasn't doing me any good to rant about the bad preaching of John MacArthur or how most of the preaching today is shoddy, vapid and shallow. Even though, like most people, I love pointing out the faults of the people around me, it was doing nothing for me with regards to addressing the problem.

But I want to address this tendency of ours to lash out at the ones who we believe have harmed us. It's a sinful act that we get into, oh yes. I don't think I need to put up the scriptures where Jesus calls this lashing out sin. He was well aware of the hatred that rises up in us when we are feeling betrayed or trampled on, and even more so when the slings and arrows are real rather than imagined. Like children we react to provocations from all sides, finding in us either a stifled emotion that only leads us silent disdain, or leading us into acts of so desperate that eventually they disturb even our nearest acquaintances, and eventually us too.

For whatever reason, we just don't actually grow up. Oh, we put on a good show after we learn how act in polite society, but always bubbling under the surface is the tendency to hate. We already know that our hearts are "wicked and deceitful above all things", but no matter how much we take this into consideration, we still run afoul of God's law.

That's why our hearts, indeed our fleshly hearts, are so desperate to impress God. We all know we've done something wrong, in fact, many things wrong. We already sense that we need to try and be reconciled with God and we're constantly coming up with ways we hope will some how make the cut, desperately hoping against hope that something will finally atone for all the sin we've accomplished in our lives. But all the while this is happening, someone we hold in high esteem, usually a pastor (but increasingly our own well meaning brothers and sisters), is hammering us with everything that THEY think will be what atones for our sins.

So imagine how much more desperate we are when we are broken by God's law, and given no recourse; no Gospel to console us. Imagine a heart that's already broken, not only by God's law, but a pervasive sense that God is totally against us. We look around at our lives; where we are daily facing financial ruin either due to job losses or medical emergencies and the like. We look at how things are going for us and we imagine that God is against us AND that there is no way to change his mind on the subject. Desperately we cling to the hope that somehow, somehow... we'll find something.

So I'm reminded again of Elijah in 1 Kings chapter 19. I've often said, "I feel like Elijah under the broom tree", because there are times when I've had the snot kicked out of me by all the doings of this world. I say, agreeing with him, "I have had enough! Take my life Lord! I am no better than my fathers!". And indeed, even though God's still, small voice comes to me each week through right preaching of God's word, and I am fed by Jesus' body and blood, I often continue to complain "I have been zealous for you Lord... but now they are trying to kill me too".

But what I have in Christ is so vividly captured in the Theophany that is displayed here. Eventually, this broken man called Elijah, who was at the end so broken that he could only rely on God to get him through much traveling, was taken home in a chariot up into the heavens. And one day, I will meet my Lord and Savior in much the same way! Elijah was raised up into Heaven! Jesus will raise me up in the Last day!

Now, if that is true, then what are the implications of that with regard to how I perceive God's attitude towards me? Is God against me if His promise to me is that I will be with him in paradise? And since it is true that He is for me, then that means even though they may be trying to kill me in many ways and diverse manners, it doesn't matter! God is for me!

Who can be against me?

Why does "Radical Grace" matter?

2009-12-30T07:56:00.002-05:00

I recently received one of those innocuous notification from a friend on Youtube stating that said friend had "favorited" a video, one featuring popular evangelical preacher John MacArthur. I had never heard this man preach before, and the friend who favorited the video is a Lutheran, so I figured I'd give it a listen.

Now, before I go any further, let me just say this. I had my guard down for this listen. I have a few people who I let my guard down when they preach. One, of course, is when Pastor Gary Held, my cohort on Radical Grace Radio, is preaching. It's likely that I'd also let my guard down for a sermon by Greg LeSieur as well... but for this John MacArthur sermon, I had my guard down because it came from the favorites list of a Lutheran.

I'll never make that mistake again. John MacArthur's sermon nearly killed my faith. I'm dead serious. His sermon was filled with everything from Lordship salvation to works righteousness. He claims that, yes, Christians sin, but if you have a pattern of sin in your life, you need to "check your foundation" before it's too late.

Now, I'm not trying to be too thoughtful here. I'm not interested in talking points, or well crafted prose. What I am interested in is expressing how angry I was with this man. I told Pastor Gary the other day "How dare this man try to take the grace and mercy of God away from me!" I was furious! I wanted to have John MacArthur in my studio for a few minutes, just long enough to ask him this: have you sinned today sir? If so, do you think your going to sin tomorrow? How about the next day? Yes to all? Do we see a pattern here yet? Is there now a discernible pattern of sin emerging?

So back to the point of the day. "Why does Radical Grace matter?" It's simple, yet so difficult for people to grasp: Because we need the Radical Grace of God to match the Radical nature of our sinful condition. We are, as a matter of course, so sinful at any given moment that even if someone were to administer several CCs of curare and render you in a state of coma, the doing of passing out itself would be tainted by sin. The depravity of our existence knows no bounds. That's literal. No pulling punches.

If people are only marginally sinful, then some form of mild grace from God would be sufficient. But the fact is, our sinful nature is matched only by one possible Godly response and that is the immeasurable grace and mercy of our Lord.

Radical Grace matters because it shoots for the dark recesses of our lives and fills up those lives with Christ. You all remember, I'm sure, of that description of the "God-shaped hole" that was a prominent evangelistic analogy for many years. Radical Grace tells us that there is a "sin shaped hole" in our lives that can only be filled with Christ!

I'll be doing more posts on this as time goes by. I have to. It's all I have.

How to fill your spiritual needs

2009-11-30T04:22:00.004-05:00

Recognizing God's blessings

On the way up to the station today, we we're delayed due to two accidents on I95, involving what looked like ten vehicles. Praise God it looked like no one was seriously hurt in either accident, but it sparked a conversation that we had on the air... About how God blesses us even when things don't go like we planned, and how our physical and spiritual needs are met.

We were going to have a conversation about online church, but all the show prep went out the window when we were delayed. We'll have the conversation next week.
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To listen to the show you can click on the play button or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.

How to fill your spiritual needs

http://media.libsyn.com/media/lutherandifference/Episode_117.mp3

Law and Gospel: an example

2009-10-15T22:26:00.001-05:00

I made this video a while back, but I just got it finished today.

Special Edition: LCMS sells KFUO FM

2009-10-06T19:10:00.003-05:00

Another outreach opportunity; Gone

The LCMS leaders have decided to sell KFUO FM in St. Louis, and we've decided to podcast about it. Why oh why are we squandering our resources?
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Special Edition: LCMS sells KFUO FM

ELCA decides: Abandon God's Word

2009-08-24T21:27:00.003-05:00

The ELCA turns it back on God

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, the most liberal Lutheran Church Body in the United States, has voted to abandon the Word of God and support both Same Sex Marriage and Rostered Gay Clergy. In this edition of Radical Grace Race, we talk about the ramifications of this move, about how the media has portrayed Lutherans during this point in history, and how an incident with a Tornado that struck the Convention Center where the ELCA were meeting to discuss these issues may have been a sign from God...

There is a definite sense of pain and anguish over watching this happen. How can we even begin to understand what has happened?
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You've heard it said...

2009-06-17T20:50:00.001-05:00

Magical Spiritual Poofle Dust

In this edition of Radical Grace Radio, Pastor Gary Held talks about how the idea of Christians being at war is misused by some Christians, for instance, how the idea of us being Christian Soldiers fighting against the culture is bolstered by the misapplication of certain Scripture.

We also begin what we hope will be a weekly segment, "You have heard it said", where we take some statements of popular teaching of Christian Teachers today, and do what Jesus did with them on the sermon on the mount. This week it's Pastor Michael Youssef and what he believes is the Gospel, and how "if you believe with all your heart, God can do great things".
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There's a fight brewing at Radical Grace!

2009-06-17T20:46:00.001-05:00

Fighting for the doctrine of the Trinity

Actually, what's going on is we're fighting for the doctrine of the Trinity. It's Trinity Sunday, and we have the Athanasian Creed in mind, and it's time to set the record straight again before the full blown Modalists get their chance to mess things up... Happily, most Modalists don't celebrate Trinity Sunday. Strange...
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God doesn't love you in slices

2009-06-17T20:43:00.002-05:00

In this edition of Radical Grace Radio Pastor Greg does a mean Sean Connery impersonation as he makes a great point about the love of God, and we answer an emailer who wanted to know...

There's something which confuses me about Sola Fide. If we're saved by
grace alone through faith alone by Christ alone on the authority of
scripture alone, why are sacraments necessary? I'm not necessarily
doubting the necessity of sacraments, I just don't understand that if
access to salvation comes down to faith alone (sola), then how is it
alone if a sacrament must be coupled with it? Thank you in advance for
your answer.

-Chris

Danville, Indiana
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Episode 89: Listener Emails and Seminary Experiences

2009-05-24T20:58:00.002-05:00

Is Jesus merely a condiment on the burger of world religion?

In this Edition of Radical Grace Radio we go over some listener emails, and Pastor Greg LeSeiur Tells about his days at ELCA Seminary in Gettysburg... Where apparently he learned the Jesus is reduced to being a condiment on the burger of World Religion. Apparently other religions are just fine, but they are better if you add Jesus... We know, it's bad.
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Larry in KY Writes

Something Matt mentioned in the last was the first time Iâd heard
someone else really articulate it, someone whoâd been there once and
that is the spirit of antichrist wafting in the protestant church. I
use to tell my wife back during my struggles with âwas Christ really
for meâ, that dark, dark, dark time, âI believe more deception and
covering up of Christ occurs not so much overtly but under the guise of
âniceâ and smiles and from well meaning fellows and pastors. Not the
kind of guys youâd label, âthatâs my enemyâ.â Iâve told her, ââI think
weâve been tainted by dispensationalism and Hollywoodâwe think
antichrist and Pharisees are these âdark smoking back room hand
wringing plottersâ, or the church Lady on SNL a few years back.

But
Iâm beginning to think thatâs a fake or rouse to keep us from looking
at the real antichristic spirit of our age, even in the protestant
church. For the real Christ and him crucified cover uppersare not at all like that. In a sense that would be obvious and EASY
to avoidâlike a thief coming at you a mile away with his gun drawn. No
now days itâs sold to you under nice things and generally morals we all
want. Christ is covered up more there than anywhere so that either you
end up overly proud of yourself that you are doing it OR you end up in
despair thinking, âIâm lost for sureâ.â If youâve been in that you
know what that is like and its hard to uncover. In a sense a Hollywood
Pharisee would be refreshingly easy to refute!

You all have done a WONDERFUL job of reorienting what antichrist and
all involved is. It donned on me the other day listening that it makes
sense â the deception even of dispensationalism. If the devil can get
the church laity to be looking for the boogy man in some political
figure, he can then sneak in under the radar under morals and things
whether from Rome or within the protestant church itself in general and
REALLY cover up Christ. Because we can unite with Rome around a moral
issue but at the price of the Gospel itself.

Great, great, great work brothersâkeep it up you have no idea how much you feed us!

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Josh writes...

I heard the "water valve" illustration and find it to be compelling.
However, I feel that illustration still places a burden on the PERSON
and not on GOD because the person can close the valve. In working with
this illustration, we all close the valve all the time. So, how does
the valve stay open for some even when they try to close it and for
some it closes. If election is truly based solely on God, then he must
choose whose valve opens and whose valve closes at the end of their
life. I don't see how you can get around the fact that God elects for
salvation and selects some for condemnation. If condemnation is based
on something in us denying God's offer of salvation then, by default,
salvation is also based on the lack of that same thing IN US. I don't
believe you can have election for salvation from God without selection for condemnation by God as well.

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Jason writes...

I am listening to the program on "The United States of the Beast".
Didn't Luther, Calvin, and all the Reformers point to the dynasty of
the Popes as the beast of Revelation? It seems to fit to me. Maybe I
am getting ahead of myself because I didn't get to the end yet. Some
Lutherans sound really anti-Calvinist. Am I damned for being
Calvinist? If so let me know why before it's too late. I love
Lutherans no matter what they say. Martin Luther rocks. In Christ,
(unless Calvinists are damned)

Jason

Just heard the end. I agree with Luther. Luther rocks!

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Episode 88: The First Resurrection: Revelation 20:5

2009-05-18T09:31:00.002-05:00

Have we partaken already of the first Resurrection?

In this edition of Radical Grace Radio, we talk about literalism applied to the Revelation of Jesus Christ, we look at how Jesus interprets his Revelation, and we get a chance to talk about the consequences of believing messed up versions of End Times Teachings and how it leads us to false Gospels.

Question of the week: Can you get a right faith from wrong doctrines? Email us at RadicalGrace@ live.com your take on this question.

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Episode 87: Sowing Hatred by Teaching Doctrine?

2009-05-18T09:28:00.002-05:00

Does teaching right doctrine cause hatred?

In this edition of Radical Grace we take time to clarify the historic position that Lutherans have confessed concerning who or what the Anti Christ is. We talk about what our confessions say, and about how this same spirit of Anti Christ exists not just in Rome in the form of the Holy See, but also in Evangelicalism, obscuring the Gospel just as much as Rome does.

Also, a caller challenges us on this, stating that we shouldn't be sowing hatred in a time where religious hatred is rampant in the world.

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Episode 86: The Unites States of the Beast?

2009-05-03T20:42:00.003-05:00

Daniel 9

This week on Radical Grace Pastor Greg LeSeiur joins us again, and this time we talk about another part of the book of Daniel, Chapter 7 and the four beasts. Also, Pastor Gary has a very disturbing idea of what the beast of Revelation is, plus we answer a listener named Daniel who asks the question we all ask from time to time... If I've fallen away from Christ, can I be restored to the kingdom, or am I lost eternally?

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Episode 85: The Doomsday Clock

2009-04-28T18:20:00.003-05:00

Daniel 9: Days of Weeks of Years

This week on Radical Grace Pastor Greg LeSeiur joins us again to talk about end times. This time we struggle to find Biblical reference to a 7 year tribulation... Aaaaaand we think we found it. Plus the doomsday clock! Time is running out!

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Episode 84: Wrong or Right on Left Behind?

2009-04-28T18:16:00.003-05:00

Darby: The beginning of the end.

The beginning of a series on popular eschatology, Hal Lindsey, Left Behind, and Darby and his dispensationalistic end times dance. In this edition we talk about being left behind and how Jesus seems to think about this differently than popular teachers of today.

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Episode 83: Making Payments on the Free Gift?

2009-04-16T18:42:00.003-05:00

Compound interest on Salvation

How much do we pay God for our Salvation? Seriously, the church is in the same kind of state that our economy is in right now. Think about it. God offers His gifts to us for free, but then we try to create an economy of salvation and sanctification here on earth by parsing out the gifts and making our people pay for the privilege of being partakers in the kingdom of God. We do this over and over again, whether is was Rome with indulgences or today's Pentecostal movement asking it's people to buy their way into spiritual gifts. It's all the same. Even during the second temple era forgiveness came at the cost the temple laid on so called "blemish free" sacrifices they sold for those whose sacrifices were not good enough.

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Episode 82: Rick Warren's Folly

2009-04-16T18:37:00.003-05:00

Putting God in a Box

On the one hand people want us to stop putting God in a Box, but on the other hand they put God in a box by trying to hold some doctrine over God's head as though God can be held accountable to a doctrine. Also Rick Warren and his own words about hos Jesus makes up the difference between my good works and the perfection I need to stand before God's judgment.

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Turning a TULIP into a Tare

2009-04-02T20:21:00.004-05:00

Episode 81: A Calvinist corrective

Believe or not sometimes Christians want to be persecuted. They do. Seriously.

Also Pastor Gary tells us what he thinks is the real problem with the culture today.

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Persecuted Christians

2009-04-02T20:16:00.005-05:00

Episode 80: Who's persecuting who?

Believe or not sometimes Christians want to be persecuted. They do. Seriously.

Also Pastor Gary tells us what he thinks is the real problem with the culture today.

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Put on your Happy Faith!

2009-04-02T19:48:00.010-05:00

Episode 79: Listener emails

In this Edition of Radical Grace we read some listener emails and we talk about that age old method Christians use to shut down talk of discernment. “Judge Not Lest Ye be Judged”. We will be getting to more of your emails in the future.

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How can the Gospel get things done?

2009-03-20T19:59:00.005-05:00

Episode 78: How sweet the sound

Considering how often it is that people misunderstand what “church” is when compared businesses and corporations, on this edition of Radical Grace we talk about clarifying doctrine, what a church is, and my favorite whipping boy: The idea of the Amazing Grace of God will somehow make Christians lazy and more sinful.

John Newton, the author of the hymn “Amazing Grace”, understood Radical Grace.

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May the Force of Faith be with you

2009-03-01T20:03:00.005-05:00

Episode 77: Thank you Obi Wan Kenobi

This week on Radical Grace Pastor Greg LeSieur of Christ Lutheran in Cape Canaveral joins us as we talk about "the Force of Faith" as the Word of Faith preachers have called it. It's amazing to think that people will play so fast and loose with Holy Scripture that they can actively re write the particulars of our faith and create what amounts to a Folk Religion.

To listen to the show you can click on the play button, click on "Windows Media" to open in a new tab, or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.

The Prosperity Gospel and Word Faith Movement.

2009-03-01T08:16:00.003-05:00

This week on Radical Grace Radio, we talk about the Prosperity Gospel and the word faith movement. Here is a link to a 25 page document on the subject.

The Prosperity Gospel in Modern Christianity.

5 Easy Step to Perfect Repentance

2009-02-25T05:11:00.004-05:00

Episode 76: 40 Days of Purple?

We at Radical Grace Radio believe that the reason there are so many Christian self help books is because Christians know deep down inside themselves that they are failing in their Christian walk. In the spirit of helping people out in this time of economic uncertainty we have compiled the best and most perfect advice available on the subject of repentance and are now offering them free of charge to our listening audience.

All we ask in return is that you commit to following these five steps daily for 40 days. You must follow them perfectly. We mean it. We REALLY mean it.

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Repentence?

2009-02-18T05:46:00.003-05:00

Episode 75: What does it mean to repent?

This edition of Radical Grace originally aired in 2007 during lent. In it we talked to a special guest in the second half of the show.

To listen to the show you can click on the play button, click on "Windows Media" to open in a new tab, or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.

Advent, and the Spirit of Diotrophes

2008-12-18T08:28:00.003-05:00

Episode 66: Comfort Comfort Ye my People

On this edition of Radical Grace, we start off by talking about the Advent hymn, Comfort Comfort ye my people, which is the opening theme music for our show.

Comfort, comfort ye My people,
Speak ye peace, thus saith our God;
Comfort those who sit in darkness,
Mourning ’neath their sorrow’s load;
Speak ye to Jerusalem
Of the peace that waits for them;
Tell her that her sins I cover,
And her warfare now is over.

For the herald’s voice is crying
In the desert far and near,
Bidding all men to repentance,
Since the kingdom now is here.
O that warning cry obey!
Now prepare for God a way!
Let the valleys rise to meet Him,
And the hills bow down to greet Him.

Yea, her sins our God will pardon,
Blotting out each dark misdeed;
All that well deserved His anger
He will no more see nor heed.
She has suffered many a day,
Now her griefs have passed away,
God will change her pining sadness
Into ever springing gladness.

Make ye straight what long was crooked,
Make the rougher places plain:
Let your hearts be true and humble,
As befits His holy reign,
For the glory of the Lord
Now o’er the earth is shed abroad,
And all flesh shall see the token
That His Word is never broken.

We also talk about an old concept, the Spirit of Diotrophes, presumably a spirit that causes an individual to divide over doctrine and to put people out of the church.

To listen to the show you can click on the play button, click on "Windows Media" to open in a new tab, or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.

Eternal Life and Damnation

2008-12-09T07:39:00.006-05:00

Episode 65: Brother Mort and the Mercy of God

On this edition of Radical Grace we talk about the interview with Pastor Seth Florentino who, along with his District President and Synodical President, could face time in a Philippino prison for defying an order by a Methodist Judge to give Holy Communion to a rival group of Lutherans. Does all of that sound crazy? Well, it is a bit crazy, and you can hear more about it by listening to the interview.

Click here to listen to the interview

Before the show began Mort and absentee host Troy Curtis got into a discussion about Revelation chapter 20. The way he reads it, when people are thrown into the lake of fire they are instantly snuffed out and there is no eternal punishment. As the host of the show who is always on the lookout for the “live issues” of Christianity, I couldn’t resist making this the topic of the show. Does brother Mort believe in Annihilationism ? And can we set him straight? Can he be transformed by the renewing of his mind? If you haven’t listened an episode of Radical Grace yet, now is the time to start.

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Persecution and Lord's Supper

2008-12-02T08:25:00.003-05:00

Episode 64: An Interview with Reverend Seth Florentino

Greetings and Welcome to a Special Edition of Radical Grace. Today I have the Reverend Seth Florentino of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in the Philipines, Who has been in the middle of a controversy involving the courts in the Philipines, believe it or not, over Holy Communion. A judge wants Seth and his Synod to Practice open communion with a Rival Lutheran Group, and very likely the Judge will issue a contempt order to have Seth and two other pastors thrown in Jail. All because he stands by the word of God and the Lutheran Confessions.

To listen to the show you can click on the play button, click on "Windows Media" to open in a new tab, or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.

Of Baptism, Wartberg Headquarters and Witness Protection

2008-12-01T00:51:00.004-05:00

Episode 63: Baptismal Regeneration and how we can get confused.

In this edition of Radical Grace we talk about Baptism and Baptismal regeneration. What is the difference between the common view of Baptism in American Evangelicalism and the Biblical view of Baptism and why is it so important to understand the difference?
To listen to the show you can click on the play button, click on "Windows Media" to open in a new tab, or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.

Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit

2008-12-01T00:35:00.004-05:00

Episode 62: If they hated you, remember that they first hated me.

Some Christians out there are still wondering what blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is and whether or not they have committed it. In this edition of Radical Grace we answer the question that seems to be a live issue for the church at large.

To listen to the show you can click on the play button, click on "Windows Media" to open in a new tab, or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.

The Parable of the Ten Minas

2008-11-19T23:31:00.003-05:00

Episode 61: Pastor's forehead slapping moment!.

In this edition of Radical Grace we first have a brief discussion on the word Martyr, brother Mort shows us how NOT to talk about Jesus, and the parable of the Ten Minas from Luke 19:11. Listen in amazement as Pastor Held has one of the Pastor crushing forehead slapping moments.

To listen to the show you can click on the play button, click on "Windows Media" to open in a new tab, or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.

Barack Obama wins the Election

2008-11-10T18:23:00.004-05:00

Episode 60: For this Purpose I have raised you up.

Senator Barack Obama has won the Presidential Election. But there are those out
there who believe that this is the work of Satan. In this edition of Radical Grace we talk about God putting people in positions of authority and how He has done this sort of thing in the past.

To listen to the show you can click on the play button, click on "Windows Media" to open in a new tab, or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.

Listen Live today, November 8th, 2009

2008-11-08T00:54:00.000-05:00

You can also chat with us during the program! Just log on!

EveryWhereChat Free Flash Chatrooms

One Gospel, one Christ

2008-11-06T19:46:00.002-05:00

Episode 59: Who do you say that He is?

In this edition of Radical Grace we talk about something a lot of people have forgotten about. Who is Jesus? After all, he asked his own disciples the very same question, and then built his Church on the answer.

To listen to the show you can click on the play button, click on "Windows Media" to open in a new tab, or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.

Reformation Sunday 2008

2008-10-28T19:10:00.003-05:00

Episode 58: Reformation Day Special

In this edition of Radical Grace we talk about Reformation Day... And Elsie’s cabbage rolls and German beer. And about some guy named Martin Luther.

To listen to the show you can click on the play button, click on "Windows Media" to open in a new tab, or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.

Dr. Uwe Seimon-Netto on Radical Grace

2008-10-20T15:37:00.003-05:00

Episode 57: Race, Abortion, and Civil Rights

On this edition of Radical Grace Dr. Uwe Seimon-Netto joins us to talk about racial divides in the church. We also talked about how the culture seems to have had a moral lobotomy with regards to Abortion, and the role of journalist in the culture as well as the state of journalism today.

To listen to the show you can click on the play button, click on "Windows Media" to open in a new tab, or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.

This Bread that we Break...

2008-10-13T19:06:00.003-05:00

Episode 56: Where is Jesus?

In this edition of Radical Grace we talk about the Lord's Supper. Over the last few weeks we've talked about the questions "where do I find God?" and today we talked about a specific place where Jesus can be found and is available for all his people.

To listen to the show you can click on the play button, click on "Windows Media" to open in a new tab, or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.

Today on Radical Grace, Uwe Siemon-Netto

2008-10-09T07:21:00.000-05:00

On Today's Show, Dr. Uwe Siemon-Netto joins us to talk about Race and Segregation, The vocation of Jounalist, and the state of education. If you'd like to listen, tune in at 2pm Eastern Standard Time (1pm in Nebraska) by clicking >>here<<, and the audio will begin playing. If you'd like to give us a call from anywhere in Brevard County Florida, call 1-321-632-1510, or if you are out of the area call 1-800-648-1437.

Of Radical Grace, Hypocrisy and the Church

2008-10-08T08:05:00.002-05:00

Episode 55: What is Radical Grace?

Jerry is our board opp. Jerry asked a question. Jerry wanted to know what Radical Grace is. We told him. His spiritual life imploded.

End of Story? We sometimes assume too much when we believe that people understand what we mean by Radical Grace, so I pointed Jerry and the listners to the end of Romans Chapter 5 and the beginning of Chapter 6.

We also talked about hypocrisy and how people use this as an excuse not to come to Church.

To listen to the show you can click on the play button, click on "Windows Media" to open in a new tab, or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.

Seek the Lord while He may be found.

2008-09-30T07:35:00.003-05:00

Episode 54: The solution to Cheap Grace

In this edition of Radical Grace we continue a discussion of Isaiah 55:6, and more importantly a discussion of the solution to an attitude of treating God's Grace as if it were a common thing.

It also looks like we're going to tackle the often hard subject of "where is God when I'm suffering".

To listen to the show you can click on the play button, click on "Windows Media" to open in a new tab, or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.

Cheap Grace

2008-09-25T04:27:00.003-05:00

Episode 53: Can Christians truly abuse God's Grace?

Is there really a problem with Cheap Grace these days? Pastor Greg Leseur of Christ Lutheran Church in Cape Canaveral joins us again as we look at the idea of Cheap Grace and talk about how this might be possible for Christians… if it’s possible at all.

To listen to the show you can click on the play button, click on "Windows Media" to open in a new tab, or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.

Trust God and Hang on Tight!

2008-09-07T19:54:00.003-05:00

Episode 51: Sanctified: Set apart by God?

I heard something that said a lot to me this week. "Those who have learned to do good will do what they've learned to do. Those who have learned to do evil will do what they've learned to do. Those who have learned to obey will obey. Those who have learned to disobey will disobey. All of them need forgiveness".

One of the most difficult things I had to learn after coming understand the Gospel and how it's important in my life was to learn that no matter how good I get at obeying God's law, I am still as much a sinner as I ever was. In fact, I read in the Bible that knowing the law actually makes the sin worse, and a lot of the time I see how much more sinful I really am just by trying to follow God's law. It took a long time for me, in fact... it's still taking a long time because I still don't feel like I get this right. Sanctification would be easy if it really were only about changing the way I act or changing the way I behave. But it's not easy at all, because it involves a problem I have in my heart. There's something broken in me that's just not responding to treatment. People around might say, "oh Matthew, your acting so much better this year than you did last year", but to me I'm only going through the motions. It was hard to learn that this is how it is for a Christian.

To listen to the show you can click on the play button, click on "Windows Media" to open in a new tab, or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.

The Miracle of Suffering

2008-09-02T19:54:00.004-05:00

Episode 50: "But first, I need to get right with God"...

I remember a while back, there was a man who lived in the apartment complex across the parking lot from me. He was once a Roman Catholic, long since "backslidden", so to speak, not a practicing Catholic at all. I tried several times to get him to come to church, to bring his family. But every time he'd say, "No. First I gotta get right with God".

Now what do you say to that? I have to admit, I didn't know what to say to him. Even though I knew enough about the Bible back then to understand what Jesus had done for me, and I could speak plainly about all of things that had happened in my life and I could give a pretty good testimony, none of that could address what his problem was. He knew well what was wrong, that he was sinful, that he needed a savior, but he couldn't get over this idea that he needed to get right with God before he could start going back to church.

Is he wrong?

To listen to the show you can click on the play button, click on "Windows Media" to open in a new tab, or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.

What does it mean to be sanctified?

2008-09-02T19:25:00.003-05:00

Episode 49: Faint Praise? How do I make it better?

Last night I had a dream, and in the dream I said a prayer. Now, I have to say, I can’t remember ever dreaming about praying, but leaving that aside for the time being, the prayer went like this.

“Lord forgive me because this is going to sound like I’m offering you faint praise”

This made me realize something. One of the things that has been going on in my life for a long time now is that I’m realizing, more and more, how much of my prayer and praise life just doesn’t measure up to what it should be. For instance, I could get 100 people to plan the most fantastic worship service, write the finest music, find the finest pastors to preach the most enlightening sermons and organize and practice the service for weeks on end… and in the end, it still wouldn’t be what it should be or even enough to achieve the type of praise and worship that God truly deserves.

I think, too often in our own lives, that we find ourselves in a similar situation. We feel as though we aren’t what we ought to be. We definitely don’t feel like we’re children of God, nor do we feel like we have attained any kind of sanctified life or any level of holiness. But what I’ve found is good to do is to ask this question: What does it mean to be sanctified?

In the last few week’s we’ve been setting the table, so to speak, by taking a few of the parables of Jesus and other difficult passages and interpreting them in the light of the Gospel. We’re not leaving that behind by no means, but since the question has been asked, what does it mean to be sanctified, we believe we are now in a good position to talk about one of the most daunting and most perplexing problems Christians face daily.

What does it mean to be sanctified?

To listen to the show you can click on the play button, click on "Windows Media" to open in a new tab, or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

2008-08-18T18:31:00.003-05:00

Episode 48: How Much Glory is enough for God?

This time on Radical Grace we asked the question, "how much glory is enough for God?", to which we reply, "all glory and honor and praise belong to Him". Pretty simple? Well, some people say things like this: "My righteousness is about 55%, but Jesus thankfully makes up the difference". Doesn't that take away from the Glory that God deserves?

Also, we take another parable, the 10 Virgins in Luke Chapter 25, and look at it from a Law and Gospel perspective.

To listen to the show you can click on the play button, click on "Windows Media" to open in a new tab, or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.

The Lost Son

2008-08-12T07:03:00.002-05:00

Episode 47: The Parable of the Prodigal Son

In this edition of Radical Grace, we spend some time with the parable of the Prodigal Son. This fascinating look at the parable is another exercise in dividing Law and Gospel and should not be missed.

To listen to the show you can click on the play button, click on "Windows Media" to open in a new tab, or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.

The Good Samaritan

2008-08-12T06:51:00.002-05:00

Episode 46: "Unbelievable Power Cards"

This week on Radical Grace we talk about "Power Verses" as Evangelicals call them and look at how all too often people choose law verses rather than gospel verses. Also we take a look at the parable of the good Samaritan from a Law and Gospel perspective.

To listen to the show you can click on the play button, click on "Windows Media" to open in a new tab, or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.

The Rich Young Ruler

2008-07-28T03:06:00.002-05:00

Episode 45: The Church and Falling Away

In this edition of Radical Grace, Pastor Gary, Troy Curtis and I are joined by Reverand Paul Espisito of First Baptist Church in Cocoa and General Manager of WWBC to discuss the topic of the Church falling away from the faith, and to discuss the narrative in Mark chapter ten concerning the Rich Young Ruler. This will be an ongoing segment where we tackle tough sections of scripture from a Law and Gospel perspective.

Pastor Paul literally ran from the room to get his bible just before the bible study portion... The man loves God's word!

To listen to the show you can click on the play button, click on "Windows Media" to open in a new tab, or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.

Treasure hidden in a field

2008-07-24T19:16:00.004-05:00

Episode 44: Law and Gospel

In this edition of Radical Grace, Pastor Held and I discuss the parable of the Treasure Hidden in a Field, and the implications of properly distinguishing between Law and Gospel.

To listen to the show you can click on the play button, click on "Windows Media" to open in a new tab, or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.

Thank you for signing up.

2007-07-24T23:28:00.001-05:00

The following song was actually written in 1989. I wrote it after a number of my family had passed away, and after a period of time where I was not sure about this world I was living in. I had read the Poem "Crossing the bar", liked it well enough, so I wrote a tune to go with the poem. But after I was done, I felt like there was something missing...

Fast forward to 2003, I purchased a program called "mixcraft", and realizing that is was extremely powerful I began working on a number of my old songs I'd written during that period. When I came to "Crossing the Bar" again, I wrote a second verse to the song, one that finally filled in the missing piece.

Here are the Lyrics...

Sunset and an evening star, and one clear call for me!And may there be no moaning of the bar, when I put out to sea,
For such a tide as moving seems asleep, too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell and after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell when I embark;

For tho' from out our bourne of time and place the flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face when I have crossed the bar.

Sunrise and the morning star, and I have heard the call!
And now I go to lay me down to rest in he who paid it all
For such a time I hear the voice of God and all that he's declared
The finest news to those in chains and hardened hearts impaired

Twilight and morning breeze, O what a wonderous sight!
The Son of Man, the Lamb of God: My only light

For tho' from out our bourne of time and place the flood may bear me far,
I KNOW I'll see my pilot face to face when I have crossed the bar.

Long feed archive

2007-07-13T22:08:00.000-05:00

Book of the month

2007-07-13T02:14:00.000-05:00

This months Book of the Month is Pastor Peter Kurowski's The Everlasting Angel and Mountain of Fire. In the book, theology concerning the Angel of the Lord is explored in detail in an entertaining and eye-opening way. The story Begins on Mt. Moriah, with Abraham about Sacrifice his son, Isaac, and slowly throughout the book the "Everlasting Angel" is revealed to be none other than the Pre-incarnate Christ!

We have Copies of this Book available and we are giving them as a thankyou to anyone who donates Fifty Dollars or more to help us on Radical Grace continue to spead the word of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If you'd like to make a donation, call us at 321-984-8987 or write us at Risen Savior Lutheran Church, 2220 Port Malabar Blvd, NE, Palm Bay, Florida, 32905.

Associate Blogs

2007-07-10T14:10:00.005-05:00

Tear Down the High Places

The official Blog for Matthew Pancake, co-host and producer of Radical Grace Radio.

A Cloud of Witnesses

The official Blog for Pastor Gary Held, co-host of Radical Grace Radio

Babylon Falling

"Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the great! Rev. 14:8" Reverand Jonathan Fisk's Blog about culture, religion and Christ.

Grace Notes

Topics and subjects from around the world, Christianity and Culture.

This Week's Show

2007-07-09T12:56:00.000-05:00

Unconditional Grace

What’s so amazing about grace? When we read about where Salvation comes from Ephesians 3 reads this way… “For it is by Grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not by works, so that no one can boast”. If we read this passage in Ephesians honestly we begin to realize that Salvation is a gift that has no conditions attached to it. This understanding of God’s grace messes everything up in an amazing way. Where we want salvation to be about us, God says it’s about him. Where we think we earn salvation by our own works, God says it’s a gift, even if it’s as simple as us believe that our decision to accept Jesus is what makes God respond. Throughout the centuries people have objected to this teaching saying that if Grace is free, it will lead people to be morally bankrupt and spiritually lazy. Nevertheless, Scripture says it’s free.

Press play below to listen to the show now...

Or click the button below to download the Mp3! Left click to open the show in your preferred media player, or right click and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.

Is Jesus the Only Way? Part 2

2007-07-03T07:13:00.000-05:00

Is Jesus the Only Way? Part 1

2007-07-03T07:12:00.002-05:00

Continue to Part 2
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Where did the Old Testament Come From? Part 2

2007-07-03T07:11:00.000-05:00

Where did the Old Testament Come From? Part 1

2007-07-03T07:10:00.000-05:00

Is the New Testament Reliable? Part 2

2007-07-03T07:09:00.000-05:00

Is the New Testament Reliable? Part 1

2007-07-03T07:08:00.000-05:00

Where did the New Testament Come From? Part 2

2007-07-03T07:07:00.000-05:00

Where did the New Testament Come From? Part 1

2007-07-03T07:05:00.001-05:00

Did Jesus Rise from the Dead? Part 2

2007-07-03T07:01:00.000-05:00

Did Jesus Rise from the Dead? Part 1

2007-07-03T06:57:00.000-05:00

What is Christian Apologetics? Part 2

2007-07-03T06:55:00.000-05:00

What is Christian Apologetics? Part 1

2007-07-03T06:51:00.000-05:00

Apologetics

2007-07-03T06:22:00.002-05:00

---------------------------

Included here is a collection of Apologetics resources. The collection below consists of a group of videos created by Doug Powell.

What is Christian Apologetics? Part 1
What is Christian Apologetics? Part 2

Did Jesus Rise from the Dead? Part 1
Did Jesus Rise from the Dead? Part 2

Where did the New Testament Come From? Part 1
Where did the New Testament Come From? Part 2

Is the New Testament Reliable? Part 1
Is the New Testament Reliable? Part 2

Where did the Old Testament Come From? Part 1
Where did the Old Testament Come From? Part 2

Is Jesus the Only Way? Part 1
Is Jesus the Only Way? Part 2