White Horse Inn
399 episodes - English - Latest episode: 16 days ago - ★★★★★ - 2K ratingsDo all paths lead to God? Is the Bible history or mythology? Are we saved by grace or good works? Featuring conversations with Christians from a variety traditions, this program is designed to give you a better understanding of what you believe and why you believe it.
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Episodes
What People Believe & Why
November 10, 2021 08:00 - 16.3 MBIf you ask people on the street what they believe about God and the afterlife, you’re likely to get a wide variety of answers. But an important follow-up question you should ask is, “Why do you believe that?” On this program, the hosts will listen to and interact with a number of on-the-street interviews dealing with basic religious questions. Why do people believe what they believe, and do the answers they provide work in other areas of life? Join us for this broadcast as we begin a new ser...
Original Sin vs. Original Goodness
November 07, 2021 07:00 - 21.6 MBBestselling author Richard Rohr has argued in his writings that the concept of original sin “was first put forth by Augustine in the fifth century but is never mentioned in the Bible.” But is this really the case? What does the Bible actually say about man’s nature after the fall? And was Augustine the first theologian in church history to discuss original sin? How are we to make sense of the world, or even our own sinful inclinations, without the insights of this important doctrine? On this...
Do All Paths Lead to God?
November 03, 2021 07:00 - 14.7 MBReligious pluralism seems to be the only perspective that is tolerated in today’s culture, while those who are “trapped” within the confines of a single religious outlook are dismissed as narrow and sectarian. But if you think about it, those who promote this alternative dogma that “all paths lead to God” are also making an exclusive truth claim, since they end up excluding the opposite view that only one religious path leads to God. The hosts will discuss this contemporary outlook and contr...
Katherine Parr: Queen of the English Reformation
October 31, 2021 07:00 - 17.6 MBThe first woman to publish a book in her own name in the English language was Katherine Parr, the sixth and final wife of King Henry VIII. In her book, The Lamentation of a Sinner (1547), she abased herself considerably and outlined her conversion to Reformation theology. In fact, she writes, “I feel myself to come, as it were, in a new garment before God, and now by his mercy, to be declared just and righteous. By faith alone, I am sure to be justified, although the dregs of Adam do remain....
Addressing Popular Misconceptions of Faith
October 27, 2021 07:00 - 15.7 MBWHI Classic • On this program, the hosts interact with a number of man-on-the-street interviews concerning the nature and meaning of faith. Faith is often seen as a kind of leap in the dark. According to the surveys we’ll air on this program, this belief seems to be held by Christian and non-Christian alike. The Christian misunderstanding of faith appears to be rooted in an often-misinterpreted passage from Hebrews chapter 11, so the hosts also spend some time explaining in what sense “faith...
Understanding the Protestant / Catholic Divide
October 24, 2021 07:00 - 19 MBAt the heart of the division between Protestants and Catholics is the disagreement over the doctrine of justification. According to Catholic theology, justification is believed to be a lifelong process in which the sinner becomes intrinsically righteous, to the extent that he or she cooperates with grace. On the other side, Protestants assert that this ends up confusing justification with sanctification. Whereas sanctification is a process, justification is a once-for-all declaration of righ...
Does Faith Conflict with Science?
October 20, 2021 07:00 - 15.1 MBWHI Classic • Are faith and science at odds with each other? The way the story is often told, science is empirical, rational, and objective, whereas faith is experiential, subjective, and dogmatic. While it’s certainly true that many of the world’s religions think of faith in this way, the hosts will attempt to show that the Christian view of faith is unique in that it claims to be a reasonable trust that is grounded in objective facts, rather than subjective wishes or experiences (originall...
Does James Teach Justification by Works?
October 17, 2021 07:00 - 18.1 MBFor the past five hundred years, Protestants have argued that the doctrine of justification by faith alone is a core component of the gospel of Jesus Christ. But sometimes opponents of the Reformation claim that the Bible actually teaches the opposite. In James 2:24, for example, we’re told that “a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.” So what is the point James is making and does his teaching actually conflict with Paul and others? Shane Rosenthal discusses this with Bob Hil...
Is Faith Opposed to Evidence?
October 13, 2021 07:00 - 16.5 MBWHI Classic • Sometimes when discussing evidence for the Christian faith, a person may respond by asking, “What room does this leave for faith?” This question actually reveals a misunderstanding of the Christian view of faith which is grounded in factual claims about the person and work of Christ as reported and authenticated by eyewitnesses. On this program, the hosts will discuss the New Testament view of faith and its relationship to evidence (originally aired 07-16-17). __________ Fo...
An Overview of the Book of James
October 10, 2021 07:00 - 20.5 MBWas the book of James written by one of the twelve disciples or the brother of Jesus? Are there any references to James outside the world of the New Testament? Many scholars have concluded that his epistle was likely written in the early to mid-forties of the first century. And since James so frequently quotes and alludes to the sayings of Jesus throughout his epistle, this provides strong evidence that both he and his readers were saturated in Jesus’s teaching from a very early date. On thi...
Is Faith a Blind Leap?
October 06, 2021 07:00 - 13.9 MBWHI Classic • Why do you believe the Bible? What does it mean to “believe” in the first place? Should we think of faith as a kind of blind leap or shot in the dark? If so, why have you made this particular leap, in contrast to all the other faith options? On this program, the hosts will seek to answer these questions and more (originally aired 07-09-17). __________ For the month of October, become a partner and receive the classic book, The Pearl of Christian Comfort, as a special thank ...
Os Guinness on The Future of Freedom
October 03, 2021 07:00 - 19 MBAre human beings born innocent or corrupt? Do we have the ability to a perfect world or is that sort of thing impossible? Those drawing on Enlightenment assumptions assert that man is born pure and that corruption comes through outside forces. In this view, utopia becomes achievable to the extent that we eliminate all the sources of corruption. But rather than ushering in heaven on earth, this outlook actually has a long track record of creating totalitarian dystopias. So, where is our cultu...
The Story of Reality
September 29, 2021 07:00 - 16.4 MBWHI Classic • Religion is often presented today as a kind of therapy. Find the treatment you like best—the one that meets your needs and warms your heart. That’s the point of religion. But is this the way that Christianity presents itself? Did Jesus offer himself as a kind of sage who could help us to cope with life’s difficulties, or did he come to tell about himself, our problem, and his solution? On this program, Michael Horton and the panel discuss these questions and more with Greg Kouk...
American Spirituality
September 26, 2021 07:00 - 18.6 MBFrom its inception, “the new world” has always been a place of religious experimentation. It was seen as a place where people would be liberated from pre-existing traditions and church structures. And so it’s not surprising that the search for the sacred in this country has often seen radical departures from traditional Christian beliefs and practices. So how do contemporary views of spirituality differ from classical Christian views about God, redemption, and spiritual renewal? On this edit...
The Justice & Mercy of God
September 22, 2021 07:00 - 17 MBWHI Classic • Let’s face it, we all long for justice. But this longing of ours, if we’re honest, is typically focused on the really big sins of other people. It’s the evil we witness on the nightly news, not the evil lurking in the dark recesses of our own fallen hearts that we’re really concerned about. Sure, military leaders need to be tried for their war crimes, but if God is truly just, then he needs to hold all of us accountable for lying, greed, covetousness, sexual impurity, and pride...
The Gospel According to Satan
September 19, 2021 07:00 - 16.2 MBIn his letter to the Galatians, Paul warns believers about the dangers of turning away to alternative gospels, even if they’re found on the lips of an apostle or an angel from heaven. But what if Satan himself actually authored his own gospel? What might it look like and what might some of its popular slogans be? Jared Wilson recently devoted some time to this particular thought experiment, the results of which he published in his recent book, The Gospel According to Satan: Eight Lies About ...
Getting Over Yourself
September 12, 2021 07:00 - 16.3 MBIn his book, Marketing the Church, written back in the late eighties, George Barna argued that “the number one principle of Christian communication is that the audience, not the message, is sovereign.” So what has been the result of this philosophy as it has been implemented over the past few decades? If the audience is sovereign, what is to stop churches from “accumulating for themselves teachers to suit their own passions” (2Tim 4:3). In short, what are the effects of an increasingly narci...
The Holiness & Transcendence of God
September 08, 2021 07:00 - 13.6 MBWHI Classic • We no longer live in a world in which God is conceived as being transcendent and holy. When people think about God today, they rarely conceive of him as “the Holy One of Israel,” but are more likely to think of him as a kind of buddy or friend. Though we are sometimes inspired in our worship to say “Wow!,” we are seldom induced to cry “Woe!” On this edition of White Horse Inn, the hosts will explore the Bible’s teaching on this crucial topic of the holiness and transcendence of...
Prosperity Gospel 2.0
September 05, 2021 07:00 - 17.8 MBIn the past, prosperity gospel evangelists were known for their slick suits, gaudy television sets, and prayer cloths. But according to Dean Inserra, this kind of instant health and wealth teaching is now a fringe movement that is more broadly mocked than followed. In its place, a new prosperity gospel has emerged that is now going mainstream. So what are the characteristics of this “new and improved” version, and who are the leaders of this movement? On this program, Shane Rosenthal talks w...
The Mystery of the Holy Trinity
September 01, 2021 07:00 - 13.7 MBWHI Classic • Why do Christians believe in the Trinity? Is this idea really taught in scripture, or is it a man-made idea that arose at a much later time? Does it even make sense? On this edition of White Horse Inn, the hosts will explore the mysterious nature of God’s self-revelation, namely that he is one in essence, and three in-person (originally aired 09-23-18). __________ Become a partner and you will receive all of the White Horse Inn extended episodes, access to our extensive arc...
Keeping the Faith in College
August 29, 2021 07:00 - 20.1 MBAre today’s colleges and universities hostile environments for Christian students? Do our institutions of higher learning value the open pursuit of truth, or does indoctrination rule the day? What can churches and Christian parents do to better prepare students for the challenges they’re likely to face on increasingly secular campuses? Shane Rosenthal discusses these questions and more with Dr. Michael J. Kruger, president of Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte NC, and author of Survi...
Discipleship & Discipline
August 25, 2021 07:00 - 13.9 MBWHI Classic • While many churches in our day emphasize convenience and comfortability, one of the key ingredients to a life of lasting discipleship is actually discipline. In other words, like marriage or excelling in a particular career path, being a Christian is not always fun, but often involves hard work, faithfulness and perseverance. We also need faithful shepherds to come along side us, to feed and care for us as we make our way through Vanity Fair on our way to the Celestial City (or...
Coming to Grips with the God of the Old Testament 2
August 22, 2021 07:00 - 19.2 MBMartin Luther once noted that in numerous passages throughout the Old Testament, it’s appropriate to “interpret the name Yahweh to refer to our Lord Jesus Christ.” So how can this insight change the way we read and interpret a book like Genesis? On this episode, Shane Rosenthal continues his conversation with Dr. Thomas Egger, president of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, and together they discuss how so many of the themes introduced in the Bible’s first book are ultimately resolved in the p...
From Doxology to Discipleship
August 18, 2021 07:00 - 14.8 MBWHI Classic: How does a life of discipleship flow out of doxology and worship? First, we need to remind ourselves once again that worship is the natural response to encountering the God of Scripture. Once we have been captivated by his mercy and kindness to us in Christ, we not only offer him praise and adoration, but we also give him our very selves, for we are now no longer our own, but have been bought with a price (1Cor 6:19-20). On this program the hosts discuss what it means to become ...
Coming to Grips with the God of the Old Testament 1
August 15, 2021 07:00 - 18.7 MBWhat are we to make of the God who is presented in Genesis and other Old Testament texts? According to popular atheists such as Richard Dawkins, this God is a judgmental, homophobic, racist, misogynistic, ethnic cleanser. So, is this an accurate representation of the God of Israel, or a completely distorted caricature? Shane Rosenthal discusses these and other important issues with Dr. Thomas J. Egger, professor of Exegetical Theology and President of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. _____...
A Life of Doxology & Praise
August 11, 2021 07:00 - 14.8 MBWHI Classic • As contemporary Christians have become increasingly detached from both the drama of Scripture and its doctrinal significance, our praise has shifted from a focus on God and his glory to our individual worship experiences. We are not only called to gather once a week to sing God’s praises and to receive his good gifts, but throughout the rest of the week (and the rest of our lives as well), we are called to be loving, generous and hospitable to others, not in order to be saved, ...
The Search for the Historical Joseph
August 08, 2021 07:00 - 18.8 MBOn last week’s episode, John Lennox argued that the story of Joseph is one of the most moving accounts in all the world’s literature. But is this famous narrative just a beautiful rags to riches tale, or is there any evidence that Joseph was a real historical figure who became prime minister of Egypt during the time of a great famine? Shane Rosenthal discusses this question with Egyptologist David Rohl, author of numerous books including, Exodus: Myth or History? __________ If you would ...
From Doctrine to Doxology
August 04, 2021 07:00 - 15.4 MBWHI Classic • How should we respond to the announcement of God’s redemptive mission to seek and save the lost, or to the doctrinal implications of Christ’s atoning death and his resurrection from the dead? On this program, the hosts will move from the drama and the doctrine to a discussion of doxology, or worship. What is the appropriate response to the good news of the gospel, and what patterns of living should flow out of an understanding of God’s grace in Christ? As with doctrine, we cann...
John Lennox on the Story of Joseph
August 01, 2021 07:00 - 18.6 MBAccording to Oxford mathematician John Lennox, the account of Joseph’s rise to power in the latter part of Genesis, which leads to the climactic moment in which he reveals himself to his brothers and publicly forgives them, “is one of the most moving scenes in all the world’s literature.” On this episode, Shane Rosenthal talks with professor Lennox about the implications of this amazing story, as well as other important scenes from the book of Genesis which he has written about in his book, ...
How Our Beliefs Shape Us
July 28, 2021 07:00 - 14.1 MBWHI Classic • According to the doctrines of nihilism, nothing at all is sacred. In fact, nothing really matters except that which gives momentary pleasure or excitement. Christianity, on the other hand, starts with a completely different premise. This world is God’s world, and everything we do matters. So what are the implications of these two views? Do ideas like these just float around in a person’s head, or do these beliefs shape us in ways we can’t even comprehend (originally aired 1-22-...
The Gospel of God’s Weakness
July 25, 2021 07:00 - 19 MBAs mentioned on last week’s program, most commentators tend to argue that Genesis 32 is about Jacob’s refusing to let go of God until he received his desired blessing, which of course is something that all believers should strive to do as well. Or is it? On this episode, the hosts continue to explore the idea that Jacob was literally “in the dark” about his assailant’s identity and may even have thought he was fighting his own brother, Esau. If so, this would indicate that he was still tryin...
From Drama to Doctrine
July 21, 2021 07:00 - 15.6 MBWHI Classic • Many Christians today have uncritically accepted the idea that “doctrine is irrelevant,” without even realizing that this very idea is itself a doctrine. In fact, the very moment one turns away from any particular belief or opinion, other beliefs rush in to fill the void. So everyone has a doctrine, but the question is whether our beliefs and assumptions about God or the world in which we live are true, false, or somewhere in between (originally aired 1-15-21). __________ B...
Wrestling with God
July 18, 2021 07:00 - 19.5 MBAs Jacob returns to the promised land in Genesis 32, he’s attacked in the middle of the night. As the two men struggle until the break of day, it slowly begins to dawn on Jacob that there’s something special about his wrestling partner. In fact, by the end of the encounter, it’s revealed to Jacob that he’s actually been “striving with God.” Many commentators suggest that the patriarch wrestled with God in order to receive a divine blessing, but is that really what’s going on here? At what po...
The Greatest Story Ever Told
July 14, 2021 07:00 - 15.6 MBWHI Classic • The Bible did not fall down from heaven as a sourcebook for spirituality, personal life lessons, or even as a collection of doctrines. Rather, it should primarily be understood as a report of an unfolding drama that took place in real space and time history that culminates in the life of a particular Jew born in Bethlehem in the days of Caesar Augustus. If this story isn’t true, it should be completely rejected and set aside. But if it is true, it’s the greatest story ever told...
God’s Grace vs. Human Striving
July 11, 2021 07:00 - 20.2 MBIn Genesis 29, Jacob the deceiver is himself deceived. Though he had intended to marry Rachel, he was first tricked into marrying her older sister. Later, as she struggles with infertility, Rachel gives Jacob her maidservant to be a kind of surrogate mother. When two sons are born to her in this way, Rachel believes that she has “wrestled with God and her sister and prevailed.” But if, according to Paul, Sarah and Hagar represent covenants of grace and works, what are we to think about the e...
Finding Yourself in God’s Story
July 07, 2021 07:00 - 13.6 MBWHI Classic • What are the stories we tell ourselves, and how do these stories shape what we believe and how we live? On this program, the hosts are taking a look at four Ds: drama, doctrine, doxology, and discipleship. As they unpack these key concepts, they’ll help us to see that every belief system is rooted in some kind of narrative or story that ends up forming a person’s core values, goals, and habits (originally aired 01-01-17). __________ Become a partner and you will receive all...
Stairway to Heaven
July 04, 2021 07:00 - 18.2 MBMany people today think of religion as a stairway that leads to heaven. Basically, it’s an upward path that all of us are meant to ascend by our own good works. In Genesis 28, however, Jacob encounters a great stairway between heaven and earth, but he’s not invited to climb it. Instead, God graciously descends the stairway and makes one-sided promises to Jacob, who is fast asleep at the bottom. What’s the point of this chapter and how does it foreshadow the work of Jesus Christ? On this epis...
Repentance & Personal Transformation
June 30, 2021 07:00 - 15.7 MBWHI Classic • On the last edition of the White Horse Inn, the hosts discussed the problems associated with a "try it, you'll like it" approach to the Christian faith. But does the Christian faith make a practical difference in a person's life? Should converts to Christianity expect to experience real transformation? How should we think about remaining sin? Will Christians continue to struggle with habitual sins, or is that possibly a sign that they are not really true believers? The hosts ta...
Blessed in the Garments of the Firstborn
June 27, 2021 07:00 - 16.8 MBAs we saw last week, difficulties arise when we attempt to read the story of Jacob and Esau as a traditional morality tale. In reality, the book of Genesis does not present Jacob as a hero to be emulated, but as a great sinner in whom God’s mysterious grace is richly on display. And as we’ll see in Genesis 27, Jacob actually deceives his father by clothing himself in his brother’s garments and calling himself “Esau.” So then, why does God allow him to receive his brother’s blessing? On this ...
The Gospel of Pragmatism
June 23, 2021 07:00 - 15.2 MBWHI Classic • Why do so many contemporary Churches or best-selling Christian books focus almost exclusively on practical application rather than doctrinal truth? Why do most Christians prefer to talk about their own testimonies of changed lives, rather than arguing for the truth of the Christian faith? On this edition of the White Horse Inn, the hosts take a look at the philosophy of Pragmatism and its effects on contemporary Christian thought and practice (originally aired 11-20-11). ____...
Grace & Election in the Story of Jacob
June 20, 2021 07:00 - 16.9 MBThe story of Jacob and Esau raises a number of important questions. Why did God choose Jacob in favor of Esau? Was it due to some kind of foreseen virtue on Jacob’s part? In reality, that approach fails on a number of levels, since Jacob is presented throughout Genesis as a schemer, deceiver, and master-manipulator. In Romans 9, Paul argues that ultimately, the story of Jacob and Esau is about “God’s purpose in election—not because of works, but because of him who calls.” Shane Rosenthal dis...
The Mission & Its Methods 2
June 16, 2021 07:00 - 15.2 MBWHI Classic: On this special edition of the White Horse Inn recorded before a live audience at the Desiring God conference in Minneapolis, the hosts continue their discussion of the marks and mission of the Church based on the words of the Great Commission and also take questions from the audience (originally aired 11-13-11). __________ Get our new collection, The Spirit of the Age: Challenging the Alternative Gospels of Our Time. Just go to whitehorseinn.org/spiritoftheage. __________...
Making Disciples: The Mission & Its Methods 2
June 16, 2021 07:00 - 15.2 MBWHI Classic • On this special edition of the White Horse Inn recorded before a live audience at the Desiring God conference in Minneapolis, the hosts continue their discussion of the marks and mission of the Church based on the words of the Great Commission and also take questions from the audience (originally aired 11-13-11). __________ Get our new collection, The Spirit of the Age: Challenging the Alternative Gospels of Our Time. Just go to whitehorseinn.org/spiritoftheage. _________...
The Sacrifice of Isaac
June 13, 2021 07:00 - 18.2 MBWhy did God call Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac? Why would he ask a loving parent to even consider such a thing? Is this story a kind of object lesson meant to show us how much we should be willing to give up for God, or is something else being revealed in this unsettling account? What if the focus of the narrative actually centers on that which God is promising to sacrifice for us in the fullness of time? Shane Rosenthal discusses the significance of this scene from Genesis 22 with Matt...
Making Disciples: The Mission & Its Methods 1
June 09, 2021 07:00 - 16.3 MBWHI Classic • Many churches in our day put a lot of emphasis on "being the church" or living missionally. Other churches focus on the worship experience, spiritual formation, or the pursuit of various social and political agendas. What is the mission of the Church? How are we to make disciples of Jesus Christ? Turning to the Great Commission itself and various passages that unpack it, this special live edition of the White Horse Inn, recorded at the Desiring God conference in Minneapolis, fo...
Grace & Works Contrasted
June 06, 2021 07:00 - 17.7 MBIn his Genesis commentary, Walter Brueggemann notes that in chapters 16 to 18, Abraham and Sarah “are not offered as models of faith but as models of disbelief.” In this part of the narrative, he says, “the call is not embraced, but is rejected as non-sensical.” This helps to explain why the couple sought to fulfill God’s promise with Hagar’s assistance. But as Paul explains in Galatians chapter 4, this entire narrative is a tale of two covenants: one of grace, and another of works. Shane Ro...
The New Covenant
June 02, 2021 07:00 - 15.1 MBWHI Classic • Over five hundred years before the time of Christ, Jeremiah prophesied that the days would come when God would "make a new covenant with the house of Israel" (Jer 31:31). So how is this new covenant fulfilled in Jesus' life and sacrificial death? How is it different from the old covenant received by Moses on Mount Sinai? Is it true that before Christ the Old Testament saints were really saved by works? On this edition of the program the hosts will discuss these questions as the...
Abraham, Sarah, & Hagar
May 30, 2021 07:00 - 16.5 MBThe story of Abraham is a record of both faith and doubt. While we’re told in Genesis 15 that “Abraham believed the Lord and it was counted to him as righteousness,” in the very next chapter we find him agreeing with his wife Sarah to attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God’s promises by impregnating her maidservant Hagar. Later in the story, Abraham actually falls on his face and laughs at God as he reiterates the promise that his wife Sarah, even in her advanced age, would conceive a...
The Gospel of God
May 26, 2021 07:00 - 14.1 MBWHI Classic • If you ask contemporary Christians what they think the gospel is, you're likely to get a number of responses that focus on an individual's life and testimony. But is the gospel really about what God does for us today? Is the good news that we are called to proclaim in the Great Commission chiefly about our changed lives, or about Christ's life, death, and resurrection? On this program, the hosts tackle this issue as they discuss the implications of Paul's comments on the "Gospe...
Failed Bible Heroes
May 23, 2021 07:00 - 16.9 MBIn Genesis 3:15, God promises that one day a seed of the woman would crush the serpent’s head. What would happen if we began to read the rest of Scripture in the light of this promise? What would result if we stopped to consider whether subsequent Bible characters and heroes qualified to be the one promised who would ultimately defeat God’s enemy and restore order to his creation? Reading the story this way helps us to see with greater clarity the ways in which other Bible characters are pre...