Dare to Think | Mere Liberty Podcast w/ Kerry Baldwin

Register for free workshop here: https://calendly.com/mereliberty/fall-socratic-workshop More info at mereliberty.com/membership

#christian #reformed #ordaination #patriarchy

Response to John Stossel on Abortion | Kerry Baldwin and Doug Stuart John Stossel on abortion For the past 50 years, the abortion debate has been a polarized issue with common ground on either side. This polarization has created a perfect storm that suggests a deeply divided country. A single data point gets twisted by both sides. 61% of Americans believe 1st trimester abortion (up to 13 weeks) should be legal. The pro-choice side twists this to say, "most Americans are support abortion rights." The pro-life side twists the same data point to say, "most Americans support restrictions on abortion." I don't see it this way. I think most Americans exist in a gray middle. They're the ones who say, "I'm pro-choice, but …" or I'm pro-life, but …". Most Americans intuitively recognize abortion is wrapped up in tangential issues. So, abortion is a concession, not an ideal, in the mind of most. Failure to imagine a life-affirming alternative to the status quo leads to this concession. I was recently invited to be a guest on John Stossel's show to discuss abortion, and was joined by Avens O'Brien; a pro-choice libertarian of feminists for liberty. I have a great deal of respect for John Stossel and what he does. And I appreciate the opportunity to be featured on his show and alongside O'brien. However, I think Stossel missed an opportunity. I hold that libertarianism is a true alternative to the polarized paradigm we've been stuck in. In this episode, I sat down with Doug Stuart of the Libertarian Christian Institute to discuss some important elements of the interview with Stossel that didn't make it into the final edit. Join me, Kerry Baldwin, as we Dare to Think about libertarianism changes the abortion debate. Main Points of Discussion 01:52 Background to John Stossel episode 07:02 John Stossel on Abortion in full 12:42 Opening commentary 14:03 Where do we agree? 15:09 The problem of enforcement and drug bans 16:51 A person exists inside another person 19:02 My hope and the missed opportunity 22:34 Avens O'Brien's nuances 24:15 Initial reactions to Dobbs v Jackson 28:41 Why even Christian women are worried about the overturn of Roe v Wade 31:08 Militant anti-abortion abolitionists are supporting Joe Biden's failed criminal justice legacy 32:16 Women justified in the felt threat from the state 34:01 Pro-lifers "work not done yet" - what does this mean? 35:27 What I'd like to see libertarians do moving forward Resource Links Original episode of John Stossel on Abortion Avens O'Brien, Feminists for Liberty Restorative Justice Libertarian Party Removes Abortion Plank from Platform Become a Monthly Member https://mereliberty.com/membership?utm_source=show+notes&utm_medium=link&utm_id=DTT

Thinking Well in High Stakes Situations| Show Notes Summary It's easy to believe high stakes situations - like a pandemic - create an imperative to act first. But this is false! We cannot take purposeful action, or well-reasoned action without thinking first. This is counterintuitive to most us. When we're under pressure to make a life-altering decisions, it's easy to believe a "shoot first, ask questions later" approach might work well. But especially when dealing with complex problems that affect us in various way, high stakes situations create an imperative to think first - before acting! To compound the issue, getting others to make particular decisions in similar situations means we are left with the power of persuasion. This is what makes life difficult. It's not only that we experience problems, but those problems are dynamic, and we cannot use force against others to make decisions we want them to. In this episode of Dare to Think, I've republished a discussion I had with Doug Stuart at the Libertarian Christian Institute. We're discussing the courses I teach online at mereliberty.com about how to build and develop the skills of thinking well. Join me, Kerry Baldwin as we Dare to Think about the importance of thinking well in high stakes situations. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube, Rumble, or Odysee. Main Points of Discussion 01:49 Intro; Human Action - Do groups act? 05:53 Can people do things without thinking? 09:36 What do we mean by high stakes? 15:32 High stakes decisions and imperatives to make a decision 20:25 How should we treat experts and are they making decisions for us? 27:57 Why we can't take action without thinking first? 30:20 Final thoughts Resource Links The Liberty Seminar opens for registration three times a year with each semester. mereliberty.com/libertyseminar Use DISCOUNT CODE DTT2022 at checkout to receive 30% off the SUMMER 2022 session. Offer expires April 17th. If you find this after the deadline, sign up for the waitlist at mereliberty.com/waitlist Waitlistees will be notified first of upcoming registration and also receive an exclusive discount just for joining the waitlist. Join my monthly newsletter! mereliberty.com/signup Become a monthly MEMBER and receive premium rewards mereliberty.com/membership

Mistaken Christian Views of Culture | Show Notes Summary American Christians are no stranger to the idea of culture. But there are number of ways in which they treat the Christian's relation to culture poorly. Some mistaken Christian views of culture are derived from two broader theoretical views: Scholasticism and Theonomy. This is part two of my interview with Gregory Baus. Listen to part one here: Rethinking a Reformed Christian View of Culture In Scholastic views, for example, the tendency is to view culture as distinct and separate from matters of faith. This often leads to the view that secularism is not only a thing, but a thing to be wary of. It's "worldly" and therefore not something to participate in. In Theonomic views, culture is something to be conquered by counter revolution. Old testament laws are brought forward to the new covenant era as a means of enforcing "cultural Christianity" through the sword. Out of these any number of nuances emerge. But we see both this views to be erroneous. In this episode, I discuss these mistaken views with Gregory Baus, and discuss a neocalvinist view of culture. Featured Guest Bio | Gregory Baus Gregory Baus is a student of the Reformational/neocalvinist philosophy of Herman Dooyeweerd. A former international English teacher; he’s currently living in the US and writing a Master’s thesis on the topic of self-knowledge. (There’s a link to his profile in the show notes). Gregory became a libertarian anarchist in 2008 and we collaborated together on the statement, “What is Reformed Anarchism?” written in 2020 See his full profile: https://sites.google.com/site/ideolog/ Follow Gregory Baus on Academia, Facebook, and YouTube https://independentscholar.academia.edu/GregoryBaus https://www.facebook.com/gregory.baus https://www.youtube.com/c/reformational Main Points of Discussion [01:52] Scholastic errors and the myth of religious neutrality [03:44] Is this secularism? [04:10] The neocalvinist view [06:43] What about 'cultural Christianity? [09:09] Theonomic errors [15:22] Is neocalvinist "transformationalism" also unbiblical? [19:57] Does Christian cultural activity matter "as living sacrifices" or is it all in vain? [25:53] Gregory mentions discussion with PCA pastor Nate Xanders on the Reformed Anarchism statement Resource Links What is Reformed Anarchism? https://www.academia.edu/44884160/What_is_Reformed_anarchism Dialogue with PCA Pastor Nate Xanders on Reformed Anarchism https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwrDNUO5MDu-56FIiArhzVisvc1TayOFS

Original: https://mereliberty.com/026 Rethinking a Reformed Christian View of Culture | Show Notes Summary Culture is important since it’s the second most important thing we can do as humans: love our neighbor. But how exactly does this play out. Evangelicalism has tried to create a “moral majority” through various political activities. But this politicization of our cultural activity has led to unending “culture wars.” This hyperbolic metaphor has caused divisions along political lines. What if Evangelicals got it wrong? What if norms for culture are written into the fabric of reality itself? How does Adam and Eve’s fall into sin affect these norms? And what if the conventional wisdom from leading evangelical figures – on both the left and right – have complicated the question? How should we think of culture and our activity in it? How might we challenge prevailing paradigms of culture toward a free and prosperous society? In this episode, I discuss these questions and more with Gregory Baus, my co-author on the statement of principles, What is Reformed Anarchism? Subscribe to email or become a monthly member at https://mereliberty.com/membership Featured Guest Bio | Gregory Baus Gregory Baus is a student of the Reformational/neocalvinist philosophy of Herman Dooyeweerd. A former international English teacher; he’s currently living in the US and writing a Master’s thesis on the topic of self-knowledge. (There’s a link to his profile in the show notes). Gregory became a libertarian anarchist in 2008 and we collaborated together on the statement, “What is Reformed Anarchism?” written in 2020 See Gregory Baus' full profile here: https://sites.google.com/site/ideolog/ Follow Gregory Baus on Academia, Facebook, and YouTube https://independentscholar.academia.edu/GregoryBaus https://www.facebook.com/gregory.baus https://www.youtube.com/c/reformational Main Points of Discussion 1:47 Introduction to the Reformed Anarchism statement, what is meant by ‘anarchism’? 7:24 What is ‘culture’? 11:48 Why is it important to have a proper understanding of culture? 15:02 What is a Reformed Christian view of culture? 19:07 What is subjective sanctification? 23:51 Does, “be fruitful and multiply,” only refer to procreation and the family? Next episode: Common mistaken views: Scholasticism and Theonomy. And what about neocalvinism and transformationalism? Resource Links What is Reformed Anarchism? https://www.academia.edu/44884160/What_is_Reformed_anarchism Dialogue with PCA Pastor Nate Xanders on Reformed Anarchism https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwrDNUO5MDu-56FIiArhzVisvc1TayOFS

Early access is available to members only mereliberty.com/membership

Interpersonal Communication, A Dialogue with Antony Sammeroff | Show Notes It's very easy to think of libertarianism and the principle of self-ownership as being an extreme form of individualism. In fact, cynics of libertarian thought chide libertarians for being atomistic, selfish, egotistical, and the like. While any student of libertarian philosophy knows these accusations are baseless, other self-described libertarians may have difficulty relating ideas like self-ownership to relationships. This is for any kind of relationship - whether platonic, romantic, or more indirect like with the state. Antony Sammeroff and Kerry Baldwin dialogue about the importance of good communication skills, why most of us don't have them, what the consequences have been on a societal scale, and how we can start making changes for the good. Antony Sammeroff co-hosts the Scottish Liberty Podcast and has featured prominently on other libertarian themed shows including The Tom Woods Show, Lions of Liberty, School Sucks Podcast, and many more. His book Universal Basic Income — For and Against (with a foreword by Robert P. Murphy) is available in paperback and on Amazon Kindle. Subscribe to his Substack here: https://psychosocial.substack.com/ Resources Mentioned Placating People by Antony Sammeroff 6 Reasons Why People Communicate ... Can You Name Them? by Antony Sammeroff Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships by Marshall Rosenberg (Affiliate Link) How To Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber Who's Pulling Your Strings?: How to Break the Cycle of Manipulation and Regain Control of Your Life by Dr. Harriet Braiker Harsh Nazi Parenting Guidelines May Still Affect German Children of Today by Anne Kratzer Become a Member! Mereliberty.com/membership Follow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mereliberty/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MereLiberty Minds: https://www.minds.com/KerryBaldwin/ Locals: https://mereliberty.locals.com

Become a Member! Mereliberty.com/membership Follow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mereliberty/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MereLiberty Minds: https://www.minds.com/KerryBaldwin/ Locals: https://mereliberty.locals.com Resources Mentioned: What is Reformed Anarchism? Daniel 3 Podcast - Interview with Gregory Baus What is Feminism in Simple Terms? What is Christian Love?

mereliberty.com

Much of what is being said on the news and social media about abortion by both pro-choice and pro-life activists is just plain wrong. In this episode, three pro-life libertarian women "take the mic" to discuss some of the most common myths about abortion Listen to the full episode: https://libertarianchristians.com/2019/06/10/episode-122/

Resources Referenced Man, Woman, and the Meaning of Love by Dietrich von Hildebrand (https://amzn.to/2UxRaQa) The Myth of Religious Neutrality by Dr. Roy Clouser (https://amzn.to/2UxRaQa) The Wisdom of Trauma produced by Science and Nonduality What does the Bible say about loving one another? "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another." John 13:34 Jesus gives this command to his disciples at the Last Supper and following. At this time Jesus has washed the feet of his disciples and predicted the betrayal of Judas. He then prefaces this new commandment by saying, "Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.' A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." We Protestants love our law/Gospel distinction. It aims at ensuring we neither fall into legalism nor antinomianism. Christ fulfilled God's Law in our place so that we may enjoy renewed fellowship with God our Father. But questions concerning obedience to God's Law in the Christian life persist. And now we have this new commandment, directly from the mouth of Jesus Christ. So, what does this mean? The command to love one another is repeated 15 times in the New Testament. Christ repeats it in John 15. Paul repeats it in Romans and Thessalonians. Peter repeats it in his letter to exiles of the Dispersion. And John repeats it in his first and second letters warning against false teaching. Paul even says that love is the fulfillment of the law. But didn't Christ himself say that he fulfilled the law in Matthew 5:17? Romans 8:3-4 explains this: "For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." So the fulfillment of the law in us, through the work of Jesus Christ, manifests in our love for one another. Become a Member! Mereliberty.com/membership Follow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mereliberty/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MereLiberty Minds: https://www.minds.com/KerryBaldwin/ Locals: https://mereliberty.locals.com

Can Reformed Women be Ordained Deacons? | Show Notes Are ordained Deaconesses compatible with historic Christian orthodoxy? Complementarians insist not, egalitarians insist, yes! A recently published book, by Medieval Historian and Baptist egalitarian, Beth Allison Barr claims that women were most definitely ordained as deacons and that patriarchalist church leaders today are unjustly barring women from being ordained. Join me, Kerry Baldwin, with Deaconess Melissa DeGroot, as we dare to think about the ordination of Women Deacons. Guest: Melissa DeGroot, Deaconess, LCMS (Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod Melissa DeGroot is a certified and consecrated deaconess in The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. She studied Theology at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN. She served at the seminary in recruitment and formation, then later with the Synod as a Writer/Researcher for the LCMS Deaconess Department based out of St. Louis, MO. She has been a contributor to blogs: He Remembers The Barren and The Lutheran Witness. She was a weekly guest on KFUO radio’s bible study segment. DeGroot has also written articles pertaining to theology, women’s roles and the vocation of Deaconess in The Lutheran Witness, Higher Things Magazine, and For The Life of The World. She has also written and contributed to two books, He Remembers the Barren (both editions) by Katie Schuermann, and Never Forsaken: God’s Mercy in the Midst of Miscarriage by Dcs. Kathryn Ziegler. Melissa currently resides in Rio Rancho, New Mexico with her husband, son and dog, and has recently tried her hand at putting up shiplap. While DIY-ing has seemingly taken over her life, she prefers reading, hiking and cooking. And good conversation! Ordination Lutheran & Presbyterian Augsburg Confession and Westminster Confession, Compared (Relevant Sections) VII. Of the Church | XXV. Of the Church VIII. What the Church is | XXVI. Of the Communion of Saints XIV. Of Ecclesiastical Order | I. Of Holy Scripture XV. Of Ecclesiastical Usages | XXX. Of Church Censures XXI: Worship of the Saints | XXI. Of Religious Worship Baptist Baptist Faith & Practice - On the Church "The biblical teaching about women in ministry is not about ordination because Southern Baptists do not believe in ordination or a clerical class. There is an argument that says, “A woman can do everything a non-ordained man can do.” The problem with that is that we are Baptists and have no theology of ordination whatsoever. For that reason, we have to understand that the pastoral office and pastoral function are the same thing." - Al Mohler, 10 Points of Complementarianism Three strains of Reformed and Presbyterian Confessions The Dutch Reformed hold the “Three Forms of Unity” (3FU) which encompass the Belgic Confession (1561), The Heidelberg Catechism (1563), and the Canons of Dort (1619). The Swiss Reformed have the Second Helvetic Confession (1566). The Scottish Presbyterians hold to the Westminster Confessions - WCF (1647) and Shorter (1647) and Larger (1648) Catechisms. The Westminster Confession also has a revised American version (1788) which denounced Establishmentarianism (the idea that the church should run the civil government). Later, in 1689, came the London Baptist Confession, which is essentially a Baptist version of the Westminster. NOTE: There is/was a “new” strain of “Reformed” theology that became popular through John Piper, John MacArthur, and others. Piper later dubbed this “New Calvinism.” I and many other Calvinist/Presbyterians reject this “New Calvinism” as not being Reformed. So we distinguish ourselves as "Old School" Presbyterians. Another term that shouldn’t be confused with “New Calvinism” is “neocalvinism” which was a historical resurgence of the Dutch Reformed tradition through Abraham Kuyper. John Piper is responsible for both “New Calvinism” (2014) and the Danver’s Statement (1987) and the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (1988). His “12 Points of New Calvinism” has “Complementarianism” as a cornerstone tenant, among other tenants I find questionable. Vocation Luther on Vocation by Gustaf Wingren God at Work by Gene Edward Veith The Reformation on Vocation by D. G. Hart Resources on Deaconesses in Church History Deaconesses: An Historical Study by Aime Georges Martimort Deacons and Deaconesses Through the Centuries by Jeannine E. Olson A Historical and Biblical Examination of Women Deacons by Brian Schwertly OPC Report of the Committee on Women in Church Office Phoebe Was a Deaconess, but She Was Not Ordained by Gregory E. Reynolds Additional Resources of Interest Images of the Spirit by Meredith Kline Women in the Church – A Redemptive Historical Approach by Pastor Todd Bordow What is Feminism in Simple Terms? | Dare to Think MEMBERS ONLY CONTENT Full (uncut) Interview with...