Critical Issues Commentary Radio

A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 11 - Definition by Imagination, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. We show that Comer's teaching is based on imagination - what one thinks Jesus would do - not what Scripture calls us to do. Gods moral will is revealed to us in Scripture, and it is true of all believers. "What Would Jesus Do?" is theological liberalism. (duration 00:24:42) Click here to play

A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 10 - The Grumbling Heart of Unbelievers, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. We continue our discussion of the healing at Bethesda in John 5 and include a brief overview of John 6. These passages clearly demonstrate the sin nature. Though the lame man was healed and the crowd was fed, they grumbled and remained in their unbelief. (duration 00:21:24) Click here to play

A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 9 - True Followers of the One True Jesus, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. We discuss how the term "followers of Jesus" is misused in Comer's book and contrast it with the biblical term saint, meaning sanctified one. True followers are those who repent and believe the gospel, and we must determine who the true Jesus is as well. (duration 00:22:01) Click here to play

A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 8 - The Uniqueness of the Apostles, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. 1John 1:1-3 clearly describes the objectivity of the incarnation. John's relationship with Jesus as an apostle was unique and tangible in ways that aren't true of believers today. John describes how we can have fellowship with Him, not be His apprentices. (duration 00:22:34) Click here to play

A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 7 - Jesus is the One and Only, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. We discuss the informal logical fallacies of equivocation and false equivalence and show how John Mark Comer uses these in the book regarding the terms "disciple" and "apprentice." We can't be an apprentice of Jesus because He is unique--the one and only. (duration 00:20:46) Click here to play

A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 6 - The Importance of Authorial Intent, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. In this episode we discuss the importance of authorial intent in biblical interpretation. We contrast Comer's discipleship model with the Great Commission in Matt 28. We refute Comer's claim that "disciple" is a noun, not a verb, using the same passage. (duration 00:24:40) Click here to play

A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 5 - Diminishing the Uniqueness of Christ, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. John Mark Comer claims that we can "do as Jesus did." Bob DeWaay shows that to "do as He did" assumes that you have to "be who He is." We cannot do what Jesus did - He is completely unique. We are called to do what He commanded, not to do what He did. (duration 00:21:58) Click here to play

A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 4 - Deity Doesn't Have Apprentices, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. Bob DeWaay shows that equivocation creates confusion and false categories throughout the book, beginning with the idea that we can be apprentices of Jesus. We also discuss the influence of Eastern mysticism and show that true deity cannot have apprentices. (duration 00:21:36) Click here to play

A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 3 - Diminishing the Atonement, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. Comer claims that many Western Christians view Jesus as a "delivery mechanism for a particular theory of atonement." This is the latest iteration of theological liberalism. We encourage listeners to reject this and cling to the truth of the gospel. (duration 00:21:17) Click here to play

A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 2 - Diminishing the Deity of Christ, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. Comer claims that Jesus did not call people to convert and become Christians. We refute this claim and defend the intensity of our need for Christ. We are commanded to repent and believe. We show that no one qualifies to be an apprentice of Christ. (duration 00:27:33) Click here to play

A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 1 - Disciple or Apprentice?, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. In his book Practicing the Way John Mark Comer claims that we can be an apprentice of Jesus and that there is "...no problem that apprenticeship to Jesus cannot solve." We show that the apprenticeship model fails because Jesus is unique. (duration 00:20:48) Click here to play

Rescued, Transferred, Redeemed and Forgiven, Part 14 - Safe in Christ, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. The gospel is the armor of God, and that those who are in Christ are safe. Jesus has prayed for us to be kept from the evil one while we are still in this world and that we will be sanctified by the truth which is God's word. These are our essential needs (duration 00:30:32) Click here to play

Rescued, Transferred, Redeemed and Forgiven, Part 13 - Means of Grace or Spiritual Formation?, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. Believers are forgiven and are continually cleansed from sin through the means of grace. We contrast this with the man-centered techniques of spiritual formation. We can trust in the outcome of the means of grace - God carries us to glory. (duration 00:27:33) Click here to play

Rescued, Transferred, Redeemed and Forgiven, Part 12 - True Messianic Salvation, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. We show that Messianic salvation in Luke/Acts means release from sins. We defend the deity of Christ as we clarify the message of the gospel, and remind listeners of Christ's once-for-all sacrifice for our sins. We close with a discussion of repentance. (duration 00:29:35) Click here to play

Rescued, Transferred, Redeemed and Forgiven, Part 11 - Our Status in Christ, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. We discuss the dangers of occultism, the problem of false converts, and our need to stand firm in the gospel. We do not need to work our way through Satan's kingdom. We need to remember our status in Christ and avail ourselves of the means of grace. (duration 00:29:08) Click here to play

Rescued, Transferred, Redeemed and Forgiven, Part 10 - God's Wrath is Appeased, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. We show that evangelicalism has de-emphasized the promised results of the gospel and replaced it with case-specific therapy. We explain and refute the ransom theory of the atonement and show that God's wrath was appeased through the shed blood of Christ. (duration 00:29:52) Click here to play

Rescued, Transferred, Redeemed and Forgiven, Part 9 - Conversion is Deliverance, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. We discuss unbiblical case-specific counseling programs that come about in churches filled with unbelievers. We need the gospel and the means of grace, not programs for unbelievers, and we need to believe in the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ. (duration 00:31:32) Click here to play

Rescued, Transferred, Redeemed and Forgiven, Part 8 - Fully Transferred by God, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. Those who teach the warfare worldview today claim that Christians can have demons that have to be cast out one at a time. We show that Christians were transferred out of the domain of darkness at conversion and are now safe under the authority of Christ. (duration 00:29:40) Click here to play

Rescued, Transferred, Redeemed and Forgiven - Part 7, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. A faulty gospel leads to the need for false systems and programs for deliverance. Paul refutes this in Colossians and points us back to the sufficiency of Christ. Deliverance happens when we are converted; not through a gradual process. (duration 00:32:36) Click here to play

Rescued, Transferred, Redeemed and Forgiven - Part 6, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. In this episode we continue our discussion of "rescue" as used in Colossians 1:13,4. Bob encourages listeners to ignore the activities of demons and focus on what God has done in rescuing us from the domain of Satan. (duration 00:30:18) Click here to play