Archive for category: The Dividing Line

We made it all the way through the cross-examination portion of the debate today, waiting, breathlessly, for the “painfully obviously” demonstration of the unbiblical nature of the arguments made against Rome’s veneration of Mary, saints, and angels. We haven’t encountered it yet. Today, though, we did get a fair amount of discussion of ultimate authorities, and saw, once again, the

   Spent the whole hour reviewing the next portion of the debate from 2002, looking for that elusive evidence of how “painfully obviously” the arguments against Rome’s position are unbiblical and incoherent.

   I recently listened to Patrick Madrid speaking of our 2002 debate as a “painfully obvious” example of how “unbiblical” the arguments are against the Roman Catholic perspective on the veneration of saints. So I thought I would start working through the debate itself. It is amazing how many people will proclaim someone a “winner” of a debate without actually listening

I haven’t ever publicly commented on John Loftus before, but a recent YouTube video he posted on the Trinity caught my attention. During the show folks were posting materials indicating he graduated from Trinity, which means there really is no excuse for his ignorance of the doctrine he was attempting to review, and refute. In any case, played that, interacted

Started off light today, discussing my new Kindle and what books I have on it. But then we get rolling, looking at the attack upon the Christian faith by the secularists in the judicial branch of the Canadian government. Those who wish to end freedom of speech and expression are many, and their primary target comprises you and me.

   I mentioned we have some scheduling “issues” this week on the program last Thursday. So, as of right now, we are hoping to do the DL on Tuesday just one hour later than normal—and we really don’t have any idea about later in the week. But, that’s the joy of webcasting…we can roll with the punches. So, tomorrow, 3pm EDT,

Started with a heart-breaking article about a blind Muslim boy killed by his mullah for not memorizing the Qur’an in Pakistan, followed by an article on the simple reality that Canada is not a friendly place for Christians anymore. Then we listened to a response by Tim Staples, newly demoted from “one of the foremost Bible scholars in the Church”

Well, it’s Tuesday, and Tuesday mornings are supposed to be “no phone call” times. Not today! Lined them up early and they kept coming! Spent most of the hour on a wide variety of topics from the KJV Only denial of the Septuagint (LXX) to the wills of God! Quite a potpourri of topics! Then, for the last fifteen minutes

Started out with a period of mourning for the demotion of Tim Staples from one of the “Church’s foremost Biblical scholars” to just “a top apologist.” We are still pondering whether we should send a dozen Tulips as a consolation prize. Then we looked at Hamza Yusuf repeating the “Nicea set the canon” myth, and then played a random clip

Started off with a story DA Carson told about CH Dodd and the meaning of propitiation, moved on to an LDS blog article, and then in the last half of the program, finished up the Steve Ray “verses I didn’t see as a Protestant on the Eucharist” material, including Jerusalem Jones’ “Bloop in and out of the Bubble” analogy. You

Today on the Dividing Line I took the time to review and refute the accusations published nearly a decade ago in Interpretation by D.H. Williams relating to his very poor reading of my chapter in the Soli Deo Gloria book and his provision of a footnote in which he made some negative comments. This footnote had been recently posted by

Yesterday four radical judicial revolutionaries decided to overthrow centuries of practice and law and create a monstrosity called “gay marriage.” No such thing exists. That is like a round square, or a light of darkness. Marriage is not defined by judges who believe themselves free to create new realities. Marriage is a divine institution. But yesterday, the far-reaching proclamation (it

   Since I was out of town all week, we are going to do a special DL Friday morning at the regular Tuesday time (11am PDT). Join me!

Today on The Dividing Line I began by answering a question from a listener on why Reformed theology is important, and then I began examining some of the claims of YouTube’s “KingJamesVideoMan” regarding his denial of the Trinity and promotion of modalism. Here’s the program.

This morning I started reading through James E. Cone’s Black Theology & Black Power. I had ordered the book since Jeremiah Wright had insisted that to understand his views, you have to read Cone. So, today, I started reading quotations from Cone’s book on the program. Racism breeds heresy, and Cone’s racism is absolutely beyond words. It is tremendously sad

Made my one poor caller wait till the last portion of the program as I reviewed some more of the Greer-Heard discussions. Talked a bit about Dan Wallace and the concept of preservation, then listened as Bart Ehrman replied–sorta–to Dan Wallace’s opening statement. Lots of discussion of the text, its transmission, etc.

During the first half hour of the DL today I played some clips from Tim Staples. I also played a commercial from Catholic Answers that identifies Staples as “one of the foremost biblical scholars in the church today.” I had no idea I had debated one of the foremost biblical scholars Rome has to offer! Which made it all the

Went over the opening statements in the Ehrman/Wallace debate from New Orleans. The topic of the integrity of the Bible is the central apologetic issue of our time, and Ehrman’s “400,000 variants, which is more variants than there are words in the NT” argument has become almost ubiquitous. Being able to respond meaningfully and clearly is vital to the Christian

Covered some interesting Catholic Answers clips and noted the parallel between their arguments and those of Arminians like Steve Gregg, and took some calls along the way!

Started off with a reminder of the upcoming debate, conference, and cruise in Ft. Lauderdale in light of Dan Wallace’s debate with my future opponent, Bart Ehrman. Then I had a few things to say about the debate with Jalal Abualrub, we took a call on purgatory, and then I got to the Tim Staples “Who is James White?” Catholic

Pretty much covered the Calvinism debate today with callers, going over a wide variety of background issues. For those who listened to the debate, a useful wrap-up.

Did the first Dividing Line in a number of weeks today. I played clips from the debates in Norfolk and responded to the claims made by Sami Zaatari and Shadid Lewis. Also played some clips from the “debate” with Nadir Ahmed. Also announced that starting Thursday we will have a five-day simulcast debate with Steve Gregg on the freedom of

Started with a discussion of Job and the problem of evil in reference to Bart Ehrman’s new book. Then Manuel was given a shot at discussing Oneness theology, but…we had to move on to talk about a synoptic parallel issue, and then a little discussion of the Pope & Luther issue.

Started off with a few minutes on the topic of the deity of Christ and Victor Paul Wierwille, then moved on to F. LaGard Smith’s closing statement in the ISI debate (wear asbestos gloves while listening to that part if you are Reformed), and finished up with a call on indulgences.

After a brief call from a Oneness Pentecostal who seems to have some self-control/anger issues, I played the audio from a YouTube video of Muslim speaker Khalid Yasin as he leads a group of people through the shahada, the confession that makes one a Muslim. A very informative program!

Another eclectic discussion today, starting with “calciumboy’s” response to me on the Ankerberg stuff, then moving on to some comments by Jamal Badawi in his debate with Rittenhouse in Southern California last week, then going back to the Tim Staples/total depravity clip from last week.

   I did the DL today: but there is no recording of it. Sorry! Rich was sick, I had only a few minutes to try to set everything up and do it all myself, and I simply forgot to start the recording before the program began. I probably should have just used that hour for something more useful anyway, I guess!

Went a little long today because I had a lot to cover. First, Neil from Toronto called to give us a quick review of the Hunt/Ally debate from last Friday. Then I launched into Steve Ray’s now completely documented dishonesty, and his promotion of William Albrecht’s video responses to my series on Ignatius. So I reviewed Ray’s blog article (noted