The Reformed Libertarians Podcast
May 4, 2023
Special Announcement
playlist_add
Summary - Reformed Libertarians Podcast Announcement We're taking a short break for summer, but listen for some other information and plans for the Reformed Libertarian podcast when we get back.
Additional Resources https://reformedlibertarians.com/about-our-logo/ https://reformedlibertarians.com/reformed-libertarianism-statement/ https://reformedlibertarians.com/articles/ https://reformedlibertarians.com/resources/ https://reformedlibertarians.com/#contact
Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com
More episodes from The Reformed Libertarians Podcast
Apr 20, 2023
Ep. 15: Can Christian Civil Government Be "Theocratic"?
A discussion of whether a Reformed Christian view of civil governance is compatible with theocracy. We explain how the term "theocratic" has been used, and two key elements of a theocratic view (namely, the monopoly state and civil establishment of religion) that must be rejected in a genuinely Christian view of civil governance. We also touch on how some who support a theocratic view go wrong in their eschatology.
https://reformedlibertarians.com/015/
00:00 Start
00:32 Episode description
01:27 About the history of the term
https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences-and-law/political-science-and-government/political-science-terms-and-concepts/theocracy
02:22 All of life, and so all politics, is ultimately guided by central religious commitments
04:45 The objectionable sense of "theocratic" is not entailed by the universality of central religious commitments and their ultimate guidance of all of life
05:28 Two key elements of theocracy are "a monopoly state" and "civil establishment of religion";
Monopoly explained
07:41 Just and unjust uses of coercion;
The obligation of non-aggression;
The illegitimacy of all states
12:13 A simple analogy
15:12 Establishmentarianism explained
https://reformedlibertarians.com/against-civil-establishment-of-religion/
16:46 The unique, symbolic, and temporary (now obsolete) old Mosaic covenant theocracy involved suspension of the common grace order;
It was a temporary symbolic-intrusion of final judgment and the kingdom of God, now inaugurated in the new covenant institutional church, and yet to be consummated in the New Heavens and Earth
19:59 While the old covenant was in effect, it was not a violation of non-aggression
https://reformedlibertarians.com/002 ;
Now, in the new covenant era, the normal operation of the common grace order has resumed;
This entails prohibition of establishmentarianism and monopoly, enacting either is antichrist
22:03 Genuinely limited governance, required by God's ultimate sovereignty, according to a consistent Christian view, entails non-monopoly and non-establishment
24:17 Recap
25:10 The under-realization of inaugurated eschatology in the new covenant by postmillennialism and so-called optimism that often accompanies a theocratic view
Additional Resources
More about the temporary suspension of the normal operation of common grace and the eschatological-intrusion within the old covenant theocracy : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3KFqcQlPuA
More about sphere sovereignty :
Episode 09 - https://reformedlibertarians.com/009
Episode 12 - https://reformedlibertarians.com/012
More about the underrealization of inaugurated eschatology in the new covenant as held by a postmil view (Gaffin refers to postmil's de-eschatologizing) : https://www.newhopefairfax.org/files/Gaffin%20Theonomy%20and%20Eschatology.pdf
The Reformed Libertarians Podcast is
a project of the Libertarian Christian Institute: https://libertarianchristians.com/
and a member of the Christians for Liberty Network: https://christiansforliberty.net
Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com
playlist_add
Apr 6, 2023
Ep. 14: Does Political Representation Make Sense?, with Gerard Casey
An interview with Dr. Gerard Casey about his article "The Indefensibility of Political Representation." Dr. Casey introduces himself and recounts how he became a libertarian anarchist. He speaks about the idea of legitimate command and various options proposed to justify the state's supposed authority. He summarizes some of his examination of political representation from his article. He also talks about what real democracy was like, and closes with a reflection on caring for the poor in a free society.
https://reformedlibertarians.com/014/
00:00 Start
00:32 Episode description
Article discussed (25 min read), "The Indefensibility of Political Representation" by Dr. Gerard Casey : https://mises.org/library/indefensibility-political-representation
Audio presentation (18 mins) : https://mises.org/library/which-be-master-indefensibility-political-representation
01:51 About Dr. Casey
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerard_Casey_(philosopher)
Academia page: https://ucd.academia.edu/GerardNCasey
Interviews by Dr. Casey: https://www.youtube.com/@caseyinconversation6380
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Casey5122dark
05:18 Libertarian conversion
The Theory of Money and Credit by Ludwig von Mises : https://mises.org/library/theory-money-and-credit
10:07 Principles of legitimate command
15:11 Options proposed to justify the state
The main option in the West today is the idea of "representative" democracy which is equated with self-governance
17:54 Hannah Pitkin's analysis and the basic incoherence of political representation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanna_Fenichel_Pitkin
The Concept of Representation by Hanna Pitkin : https://www.amazon.com/dp/0520021568?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
25:44 Inevitable bureaucratic obstacles
BBC2's "Yes Minister" : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yes_Minister
29:46 Actual democracy and sortition
Against Elections by David Van Reybrouck : https://www.amazon.com/dp/1847924220?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
Jury Nullification: https://fija.org
37:24 Let The Poor Starve?
https://reformedlibertarians.com/let-the-poor-starve-gerard-casey/
How Govt "Solved" The Healthcare Crisis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFoXyFmmGBQ&list=PLwrDNUO5MDu95jfsFdfN2oe8vXQ6Cma-h&index=7
Books by Dr. Gerard Casey:
(2012) Libertarian Anarchy : https://www.amazon.com/dp/1441144676?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
(2013) Murray Rothbard : https://www.amazon.com/dp/1441100792?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
(2017) Freedom's Progress? - a history of political thought : https://www.amazon.com/dp/1845409426?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
(2019) ZAP - free speech and tolerance in light of the Zero Aggression Principle : https://www.amazon.com/dp/1788360176?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
(2020) After #MeToo : https://www.amazon.com/dp/1788360273?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
(2021) Hidden Agender : https://www.amazon.com/dp/1788360583?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
Also see Episode 7: Can Libertarians Be Conservatives? : https://reformedlibertarians.com/007
The Reformed Libertarians Podcast is
a project of the Libertarian Christian Institute: https://libertarianchristians.com/
and a member of the Christians for Liberty Network: https://christiansforliberty.net
Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com
playlist_add
Mar 23, 2023
Ep. 13: What Do We Mean By "Scripture Alone"?
A reading of the essay "What Do We Mean By Sola Scriptura?" by W. Robert Godfrey, which focuses on explaining some key features of the Protestant principle or doctrine of Sola Scriptura (that is, Scripture Alone). Godfrey defines the principle, discusses several Bible passages that teach it, and answers 4 basic objections.
https://reformedlibertarians.com/013/
00:00 Start
00:32 Episode description
Article read: https://reformedlibertarians.com/mean-by-sola-scriptura-robert-godfrey/
It appears as the first chapter in the book Sola Scriptura : https://www.amazon.com/dp/1567693334?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
02:07 Introduction
Sola Scriptura is one of the two main issues that separates Protestants from non-Protestants, along with Sola Fide (that is, justification by faith alone).
Book mentioned Justification By Faith ALONE : https://www.amazon.com/dp/187761193X?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
04:30 Definition and some passages that teach it
"Scripture alone is our ultimate religious authority [ie, infallible rule]... [and] all things necessary for salvation, concerning faith and life, are taught in the Bible clearly enough for the ordinary believer to find it there and understand."
For a more elaborate statement see the Westminster Confession of Faith
chapter 1 : https://opc.org/wcf.html#Chapter_01
20.2 : https://opc.org/wcf.html#Chapter_20
21.1 : https://opc.org/wcf.html#Chapter_21
and 31.2-3 : https://opc.org/wcf.html#Chapter_31
14:44 The sufficiency of the Bible as God's Word
15:37 Different senses of the term "tradition"
19:16 Tradition vs. the Bible
21:43 Tradition vs. Tradition
24:44 Recognition of the "canon", or the specific writings that constitute the Bible
Book mentioned The Structure of Biblical Authority by Meredith G. Kline : https://www.amazon.com/dp/1579100694?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
33:03 Unity in the interpretation of the Bible
Additional Resources
WSCal Office Hours podcast, with Bob Godfrey on Sola Scriptura (26 minutes)
https://wscal.edu/resource-center/whats-in-a-name-sola-scriptura
Why God Gave Us A Book, booklet by Gene Edward Veith : https://www.amazon.com/dp/159638378X?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
What Is The Bible?, booklet by Guy Prentiss Waters : https://www.amazon.com/dp/1596387114?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
Scripture Alone: The Evangelical Doctrine, by R.C. Sproul : https://www.amazon.com/dp/1596389540?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
Zondervan 5 Solas Series : https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KG9V455?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
Zaspel's summaries of 5 Zondervan books included in this course on the Five Solas from the Gospel Coalition : https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/course/the-five-solas/
The Cambridge Declaration : https://www.alliancenet.org/cambridge-declaration
More resources on the Five Solas : https://www.monergism.com/search?keywords=five%20solas
Just And Sinner Podcast with Jordan Cooper discussing Martin Chemnitz on Sola Scriptura and Tradition
Part 1 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kisWf3I528U
Part 2 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxN4WxFOhYg
Part 3 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7s6TVAKQNk
On the canon, also see
Redemptive History and the New Testament Scriptures, by Herman Ridderbos : https://www.amazon.com/dp/0875524168?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
Canon Revisited, by Michael J. Kruger : https://www.amazon.com/dp/1433505002?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
The Question of Canon, by Michael J. Kruger : https://www.amazon.com/dp/0830840311?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
See also several videos from Truth Unites with Gavin Ortlund
Sola Scriptura Defended : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlF57ewhXAI
Response To Critics Of Sola Scriptura : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdIYoXQGYmw
Augustine Affirmed Sola Scriptura : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6ZAa0gNMvE
More On Augustine And Sola Scriptura : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbTPHSv5Rtc
Review of Sola Scriptura Debate : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-O18bhDPGc
The Reformed Libertarians Podcast is
a project of the Libertarian Christian Institute: https://libertarianchristians.com
and a member of the Christians for Liberty Network: https://christiansforliberty.net
Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com
playlist_add