The Citizen of New Jerusalem Podcast - Why We're Protestant with Nate Pickowicz Ep. 37

Why We're Protestant with Nate Pickowicz Ep. 37

10/09/17 • 53 min

Do you know why we're Protestant? Can you explain to your family, friends, and to unbelievers what happened in Germany in 1517, and what it means in Western civilization in 2017? Too many Christians (both Roman Catholic and Protestant) have no idea what the Reformation was and is about! What does it mean to be Protestant, and does it still matter? Pastor Nate Pickowicz recently published Why We're Protestant: An Introduction to the Five Solas of the Reformation. In this episode Nate helps me explore and explain the differences between Rome and Reformation, and why the differences still matter. This interview lays plain why we maintain the protest of Luther, Zwingli, and Calvin, and why our very salvation depends on it. Both living popes have recently given statements on the Reformation which may seem to indicate a moving together of Rome and Reformation, but have things truly changed between us? Are we able to unify? During the show, Adam reads those quotes to get Nate's responses. Justification, sanctification, faith, good works, and grace—we touch on all of these and beyond. Enjoy this Reformation conversation! Be sure to review the Westminster Confession of Faith on Justification (Chapter XI), which Adam reads in part during the show. This episode is not meant to provoke anger in our Roman Catholic friends, but rather to spark honest dialogue about how we are still very much in disagreement over the heart of the Reformation protest. Here's a great review of the book by Joshua Mills at the Sovereign Grace Alone blog. Please support this show with a donation of any amount; I can't do this work without your support, and trust me, there are few who are willing to give to a micro podcast like this one! Is this work worth sharing with your friends and family? Please post this episode on your social media, and recommend the show to your circle of friends. Grace to you all.

Previous Episode

Debunking some Reformation Myths & More with Dr R Scott Clark Ep. 36

The Reformation is such a complex series of events, myths and errors are bound to crop up around its memory. In this laid back conversation with R Scott Clark, professor of Church History and Historical Theology at Westminster Seminary California, we get the details on some of what really went down all those centuries ago, and how the consequences have followed us to this day. Please get more carefully acquainted with this wonderful pastor and theologian, and visit his website at your first chance. You can find him on Twitter here. For more information on the new documentary Calvinist, click here. If you want to hear the clipped segment of conversation where Adam asks Dr. Clark a personal/pastoral question, become a monthly supporter of this show here, at Adam's Patreon! For a monthly pledge of any amount, you will get access to this very interesting bit of discussion between the two men. Thank you for all your grace and support for this show. Listener feedback and questions are always welcomed here.

Next Episode

Not Saved through Faith Alone? Time to Get out the Torches? Ep. 38

Are we or are we not saved through faith alone? The Desiring God website published an article earlier this week using a tweet saying "You're not saved through faith alone. Be killing your sin." For Desiring God (the ministry of John Piper) to put out a title like that in the month of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation is to have dropped a match in gasoline. For this episode, we welcome Pastor Matthew Fletcher of Webster Bible Church, Adam's own pastor. This in-studio discussion was our attempt to fairly and charitably represent the best of both sides in this debate, and to search the Scriptures for keys to understanding what it all means. To everyone else, we in the Reformed world probably look like hair-splitting lunatics as we debate this vital doctrine. But to those of us who know that Western civilization depends on a healthy, vibrant Reformation Church, questions of soteriology are nothing to ignore or brush aside. The issue of how we are saved is the heart and soul of the Reformation, both 500 years ago, and today. If we lose the Reformation distinctives of the 5 Solas, we lose the whole gospel from the churches... So these things are indescribably important. Tune in! This show needs a few dollars from each of you to keep afloat! We are running on about half of what we need to make this thing last for a long time. Please consider becoming a monthly donor at Adam's patreon page, or dropping a one-time show of support at our donate page. It really means everything for this show to have the funds to keep Adam working hard in the studio. Thank you all for your listenership and encouragement!