God Can't Become A Man? Maimonides, Kabbalah, and the Jewish Case Against Jesus — Dr. Brian Crawford (Part 2)

Dr. Brian J. Crawford is the Director of Digital Evangelism for Chosen People Ministries and the author of The Scandal of a Divine Messiah: A Response to Maimonidean and Kabbalistic Challenges to the Incarnation. This is part two of two.In part one, Brian shared his 20-year journey from a beach in Tel Aviv to the streets of Orthodox Brooklyn. In this episode, we get into his book — and the two philosophical traditions that have walled Jewish people off from considering Jesus as Messiah for centuries.The first is Maimonides, the towering 12th-century Jewish philosopher who used Aristotelian logic to argue that it is metaphysically impossible for God to take on human flesh. The second is Kabbalah, the Jewish mystical tradition rooted in Neoplatonism and Gnosticism, which argues the incarnation is redundant because everything is already divine.Brian explains how both traditions imported Greek philosophical ideas into Judaism — often without realizing it — and how those ideas, not the Hebrew scriptures, became the real foundation for Jewish objections to Jesus. In this conversation we discuss:Why Orthodox Jews consider the incarnation idolatrousHow Maimonides used Aristotle to argue God cannot become manHow Kabbalah's Neoplatonic mysticism makes the incarnation redundantThe hidden Greek philosophical foundations of Orthodox JudaismHow the New Testament uses Greek categories without importing Greek errorsWhy Brian kept the New Testament out of the first two-thirds of his bookThe incarnation as the singular crossover between God and the worldHow the book has been received by Orthodox Jewish readersBrian's current PhD work on Maimonides' 13 PrinciplesBook recommendations for Reformed Christians on Israel🔥 MEN'S GROUP — 3 SEATS OPENReformed Christian men. Every other Tuesday on Zoom.$90/month, 3-month commitment. Starts with a screening call.https://willspencer.co/groupGUEST LINKSChosen People Ministries — https://chosenpeople.comChosen People Answers — https://chosenpeopleanswers.comAbout Messiah — https://aboutmessiah.comThe Scandal of a Divine Messiah — https://chosenpeopleanswers.com/the-scandal-of-a-divine-messiah/Support Brian's ministry — https://chosenpeople.com/pray4brianBOOKS MENTIONEDThe Scandal of a Divine Messiah — Brian J. CrawfordFuture Israel — Barry HornerThe Guide for the Perplexed — MaimonidesAgainst Heresies — IrenaeusThe Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS

Dr. Brian J. Crawford is the Director of Digital Evangelism for Chosen People Ministries, which has been evangelizing Jewish people for more than 130 years. He is also the author of The Scandal of a Divine Messiah: A Response to Maimonidean and Kabbalistic Challenges to the Incarnation.In 2005, a Jewish man on a Tel Aviv beach told Brian he had no business explaining the Hebrew Bible to Jews. That challenge sent a structural engineer from Southern California on a 20-year journey into the heart of Orthodox Brooklyn — learning Hebrew, studying the Talmud, and building relationships with one of the most unreached people groups in America.👉 Biblical mentorship for men: https://willspencer.co/mentorshipTopics DiscussedHow a stranger's challenge launched Brian's calling to Jewish missionsWhat the Talmud actually is and why most Christians misunderstand itThe lost history of Jewish sub-denominations within Protestant churchesHow 20th century liberalism killed Jewish evangelismWhy becoming a Christian historically meant dying as a JewMartin Luther's antisemitism vs. Puritan philosemitismWhy Orthodox Jews in Brooklyn are an unreached people groupThis is part one of two. Next week in part two, we get into Brian's book and the philosophical traditions — Maimonides and Kabbalah — that have walled Jews off from considering Jesus for centuries.GUEST LINKSChosen People Ministries — https://chosenpeople.comChosen People Answers — https://chosenpeopleanswers.comAbout Messiah — https://aboutmessiah.comThe Scandal of a Divine Messiah — https://chosenpeopleanswers.com/the-scandal-of-a-divine-messiah/Support Brian's ministry — https://chosenpeople.com/pray4brianBOOKS MENTIONEDThe Scandal of a Divine Messiah — Brian J. CrawfordThe Conflict of the Church and the Synagogue — James ParkesA Century of Jewish Missions — A.E. ThompsonChristianity and Liberalism — J. Gresham MachenFuture Israel — Barry HornerWarrant for Genocide — Norman CohnThe Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS

This isn't fringe. It's in your feed. White power music, Nazi Satanism, and a fake Christian theology are targeting young men — and most churches can't see it. Black Sun Session 5.In this episode, Will Spencer walks through three of the darkest chapters in Black Sun by historian Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke — and connects each one to what is spreading online right now.Chapter 10 documents how neo-Nazis deliberately infiltrated youth music culture to radicalize alienated young men — through concerts, recordings, and fan magazines. The delivery mechanism has changed. The strategy has not.Chapter 11 goes deeper. Behind the skinhead bands lurked an international network of extremist groups practicing ritual magic, invoking Hitler as a satanic archetype, and writing guidelines for human sacrifice as spiritual initiation. This is where the will to power, stripped of all moral constraint, actually ends.Chapter 12 — Christian Identity — should disturb Christians most. It is a theological system claiming white Aryans are the true Israel, Jews are the literal offspring of Satan, and every non-white person is a pre-Adamic "mud person." It wraps racial hatred in biblical language — and its ideas are bleeding into Christian spaces today through podcasters and influencers who may not know where their language comes from.Will also announces the next book club selection: Warrant for Genocide by Norman Cohn, the definitive history of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion — a forged document that has poisoned minds for over a century and is still circulating today.Purchase Black Sun by Nicholas Goodrick-ClarkeAmazon - https://a.co/d/06mG32IXTopics CoveredThe transition from Lucifer to Satan in post-war neo-NazismHow neo-Nazis infiltrated youth music as deliberate strategyBronze Age Pervert and social Darwinism laundered into memesColumbine and the black metal undergroundCrowley, LaVey, and Aquino: three types of SatanismDavid Myatt, the Order of Nine Angles, and human sacrificeChristian Identity: British Israelism corrupted by the ProtocolsThe serpent seed doctrine and pre-Adamic "mud people"Robert Matthews, the Order, and the Brinks robberyBen Klassen, the Church of the Creator, and RAHOWAWhy self-marginalizing communities incubate extremismThe Protocols of the Elders of Zion: still circulating todayAbout the Book ClubThe Book Club is a private reading group where we work through serious books slowly and carefully — not for hot takes or outrage, but for Christian spiritual and intellectual formation.Learn more and join here:https://www.willspencer.blog/7a2894cdMentorshipIf you're interested in working together, you can book a clarity call here:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipThe Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS

Joel and Mary Beeke have spent decades studying, teaching, and living what the Bible says about marriage.In this conversation we explore the biblical foundation of a strong marriage, why many couples slowly drift apart, and how Scripture provides a model for love, respect, friendship, and lifelong commitment.Joel Beeke is a pastor, theologian, and author of more than 100 books. Mary Beeke is a teacher, writer, and longtime pastor’s wife who has helped generations of women and families cultivate strong Christian homes.Together they wrote How to Build a Godly Marriage: 12 Principles for Flourishing and Lasting.We discuss the biblical pattern of marriage found in Ephesians 5, the Puritan vision of joyful family life, and why holiness — not emotional intensity — is the true foundation of lasting happiness.If you want to build a strong Christian marriage, lead your household well, and recover the deeper wisdom of the Christian tradition, this conversation offers practical guidance and time-tested insight.👉 Mentorship for men:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipTOPICS DISCUSSEDThe biblical foundation of marriageWhy couples slowly drift apartSacrificial love and respect in marriageThe Puritan vision of joyful marriageWhy holiness produces happinessThe importance of kindness and encouragementBuilding trust and unity in marriageRaising children with responsibility and faithGUEST LINKSHow to Build a Godly Marriage: 12 Principles for Flourishing and LastingJoel BeekePuritan Reformed Theological Seminary — https://prts.eduReformation Heritage Books — https://heritagebooks.orgMary BeekeThe Law of KindnessTeach Them to WorkThe Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS

What looks like conspiracy theories or internet extremism often has deeper roots.In this episode, Will Spencer explores Nazi mysticism, Esoteric Hitlerism, and the occult mythology that emerged around Nazi UFOs after World War II.This session is part of his Book Club reading of Black Sun by historian Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke, examining how Nazi ideology survived defeat by transforming itself into a mystical religious system.The discussion traces the development of post-war Nazi mythology — from secret SS bases and UFO conspiracies to the elaborate spiritual cosmology created by Chilean diplomat Miguel Serrano.Serrano’s doctrine, known as Esoteric Hitlerism, blended Nazism with Hindu mythology, Jungian archetypes, Gnosticism, occult initiation, and extraterrestrial cosmology. In this system, Hitler becomes an avatar figure in a cosmic spiritual struggle.Understanding these ideas matters because they reveal something often misunderstood in modern discourse: many extremist movements are not merely political.They are religious.Purchase Black Sun by Nicholas Goodrick-ClarkeThe book examined in this series.Amazon - https://a.co/d/06mG32IXTopics CoveredHow Nazi mythology survived defeat after World War IIWilhelm Landig and the creation of polar-base mythologyThe origins of Nazi UFO conspiracy literatureThe fusion of Nazism with occult cosmologyMiguel Serrano and the creation of “Esoteric Hitlerism”Hindu mythology, Jungian archetypes, and Gnostic cosmologyHitler as a divine avatar figureHow political extremism transformed into mystical religionAbout the Book ClubThe Book Club is a private reading group where we work through serious books slowly and carefully — not for hot takes or outrage, but for Christian spiritual and intellectual formation.Learn more and join here:https://www.willspencer.blog/7a2894cdMentorshipIf you're interested in working together, you can book a clarity call here:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipThe Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS

How do Christians remain faithful when suspicion, conspiracy narratives, and cultural pressure reshape how they see Israel, history, and their neighbors?In this episode, I speak with Luke Moon — pastor, activist, and one of our guides during a recent study trip to Israel — about the religious, historical, and cultural tensions shaping how Christians understand Israel, the Jewish people, and their own faith.Our conversation moves beyond headlines and memes to examine the deeper spiritual and intellectual currents influencing Christian thought today: conspiracy thinking, historical distortion, loss of charity, and the subtle ways ideological narratives reshape how believers read Scripture and relate to others.Drawing from firsthand experience in Israel, Luke shares how travel, relationships, and serious engagement with history changed his own views — and why many Christians today find themselves pulled toward suspicion, hostility, and simplified explanations for complex realities.This is not a political conversation. It is a conversation about formation: how Christians think, what shapes their convictions, and how drift in one area of belief often spreads into others.In this episodeWhy travel and firsthand investigation challenge inherited narrativesThe relationship between Christianity, Israel, and Jewish historyHow conspiracy thinking reshapes theological imaginationThe psychological and spiritual roots of hostility within Christian spacesThe role of scripture, tradition, and historical awareness in resisting driftHow ideological narratives influence discipleship, family leadership, and personal directionAbout Luke MoonLuke Moon is a Christian pastor and activist involved in religious and political advocacy, with extensive experience engaging the religious landscape of Israel and the broader Middle East. His work focuses on the intersection of faith, public life, and Christian engagement with Israel and Jewish communities.https://2hammers.com/MentorshipIf this conversation surfaced questions about your own formation — how you think, what shapes your convictions, or where you may have drifted without realizing it — I offer one-on-one mentorship oriented toward clarity, direction, and spiritual formation rooted in Scripture.The next step is a clarity call: a short conversation to explore where you are and whether working together makes sense.Book a Clarity Call: https://willspencer.co/mentorshipBook ClubIn my private Book Club, we read difficult and formative books slowly and seriously in community.We're currently finishing Black Sun by Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke, a study of the occult and ideological currents that shaped modern extremism. Our next book is Warrant for Genocide by Norman Cohn, which traces the origins and influence of The Protocols of the Elders of Zion and explores how conspiracy narratives spread — including within Christian spaces.Subscribers receive access to live sessions and can participate in discussion in real time.Join the Book Club: https://willspencer.blog The Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS

Dr. J. Stephen Yuille joins Will Spencer for a conversation on one of the most misunderstood traditions in Christian history: the Puritans.Often caricatured as cold moralists, the Puritans were in fact pastors of the heart — “physicians of the soul” who endured suffering, cultivated the affections, and pursued holiness with seriousness that still challenges believers today.In this episode we explore Puritan spirituality, the role of suffering in spiritual formation, mentorship across generations, and the importance of devotional reading from past centuries. We also discuss why many modern Christians instinctively sense something missing in contemporary faith and how the Puritan tradition offers a deeper inheritance.If you are seeking a faith that is thoughtful, lived, and capable of bearing the weight of suffering, this conversation offers a rich introduction to Puritan theology and spirituality.Mentorship and clarity for men: https://willspencer.co/mentorshipTopics DiscussedThe Puritans and the life of the affectionsPastors as “physicians of the soul”Suffering and spiritual formationMentorship across generationsDevotional reading and learning from “dead men”GUEST LINKSReformation Heritage Books — https://www.rhb.orgThe Heart Taken Up - BUY HEREHoly Meditation by Thomas Manton - BUY HERERESOURCES MENTIONEDGeorge Swinnock — The Blessed and Boundless GodPuritan Treasures for Today BundleThe Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS

Modern extremism did not survive by remaining political. It survived by becoming mystical.In this episode, Will Spencer examines how post-war extremist movements transformed themselves into a religious worldview built on myth, mysticism, and occult hierarchy.Rather than remaining tied to historical regimes or discredited ideologies, these movements deliberately rebuilt themselves through myth, mysticism, and occult spirituality—rejecting Christianity while absorbing pagan mythology, cyclical cosmology, and hierarchical visions of reality.Continuing the Book Club reading of Black Sun by historian Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke, this session explores how post-war figures reshaped extremism into a transnational religious system; how symbolism and ritual replaced politics; and how popular culture later helped mythologize and sanitize these ideas, allowing them to persist beneath the surface of modern life.Will also reflects on why many Christians misdiagnosed this phenomenon as merely political or reactionary, failing to recognize it as a rival spiritual framework—and why that failure of discernment mattered.This episode is part of an ongoing Book Club devoted to slow, serious reading for Christian spiritual and intellectual formation in an increasingly disordered culture.In this episode, you’ll hear:How modern extremism survived after World War II by becoming mystical rather than politicalWhy myth, symbolism, and occult hierarchy replaced ideology and policyHow pagan mythology and cyclical cosmology displaced biblical creation and linear historyThe role of post-war figures who reshaped extremism into a transnational religious worldviewHow popular culture helped mythologize and sanitize evil for later generationsWhy many Christians misdiagnosed these movements as merely political or reactionaryWhat it means to recognize extremism as a rival spiritual framework, not just an ideologyWhy discernment requires asking what spirit is animating this, not simply who is in powerPurchase Black SunAmazon: https://a.co/d/06mG32IXJoin the Book ClubIf this episode resonates, the full discussion continues in my Book Club, where we read difficult books slowly and seriously for Christian spiritual and intellectual formation.You can learn more and join at willspencer.blogThe Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS

What happens when therapy has no way to say a goal is wrong?In this episode, Will Spencer is joined by Dr. Greg Gifford to examine a foundational assumption of modern therapy: that counseling exists to help clients achieve their chosen goals, but without a shared account of moral truth.The conversation begins with a simple but unsettling question: What if a client’s goal is immoral, destructive, or sinful? If therapy cannot judge goals, what kind of formation is actually taking place?From there, Will and Greg explore the difference between mind and brain, the rise of diagnosis-based identity, the authority of the DSM, and why Christians often adopt therapeutic categories without examining the worldview beneath them.This is not an argument against care or compassion. It is a call for discernment, and for recovering a moral and biblical account of the inner life that modern therapy is structurally unable to provide.CONNECT WITH DR. GIFFORDListen to Transformed on Fortis+ or wherever you get your podcasts:https://fortisplus.org/tabs/listen/podcasts/34123Buy "Lies My Therapist Told Me": https://a.co/d/01NGgZk5Check out the Fortis Institute YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/@Fortis.InstituteLearn more about Transformed Biblical Counseling Centers:https://transformedbc.com/The Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS

What looks like online extremism, grievance politics, or internet trolling is something much older, and much darker.In this episode, Will Spencer shares audio from the first two sessions of his Book Club reading Black Sun: Aryan Cults, Esoteric Nazism, and the Politics of Identity by historian Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke. The discussion explores how Nazism functioned not merely as a political movement, but as a religious system, complete with ritual, myth, demonology, and a vision of racial salvation.Drawing from history, theology, and personal experience, Will explains how neo-Nazi movements reorganized almost immediately after World War II, how figures like George Lincoln Rockwell and Julius Evola fused politics with occult spirituality, and why many modern online movements cannot be understood politically alone.This conversation is about spiritual formation, discernment, and clarity—and why Christians must take the religious roots of extremist ideologies seriously.Topics CoveredWhy Nazism functioned as a religious system, not just a political ideologyHow extremist movements regrouped immediately after World War IIGeorge Lincoln Rockwell’s mystical “conversion” and American neo-NazismJulius Evola, occult philosophy, and anti-Christian spiritual elitismHow grievance politics distorts spiritual developmentWhy these ideas persist in modern online masculinity cultureThe personal and relational cost of extremist belief systemsBooks MentionedBlack Sun — Nicholas Goodrick-ClarkeAmerican Veda — Philip GoldbergThe Myth of Mental Illness — Thomas SzaszThe Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment — Jeremiah BurroughsThe Christian Mind — Henry BlamiresWeird Scenes Inside the Canyon — Dave McGowanAbout the Book ClubThe Book Club is a private reading group where we work through serious books slowly and carefully, not for hot takes, but for Christian spiritual and intellectual formation. The goal isn’t information alone, but depth, clarity, and long-term stability in a culture designed to keep us reactive and distracted.Learn more and join at willspencer.blogProduction NoteThese conversations were recorded live on Zoom and lightly edited to remove long pauses. Audio quality is not studio-perfect. The substance of the discussion is the focus.