Into the Void

Every biblical counselor assumes their approach comes straight from Scripture alone, but what if the underlying architecture came from an apologist rather than a counselor? In this third episode of our MarsCast series on biblical counseling, Dr. Jared Poulton joins Jared and Dr. Alan Strange to reveal the hidden intellectual DNA of the biblical counseling movement: how Cornelius Van Til's presuppositional apologetics (covenantal knowledge, the antithesis, the rejection of "brute facts") became the theological scaffolding Jay Adams built his entire system on. But it's not a simple story of inheritance. Dr. Strange raises a pointed challenge about what gets lost when the antithesis is applied to counseling without its necessary counterweight, common grace, right down to what that means for how Christians assess the insights of secular psychology. If you've ever wondered why biblical counselors are so skeptical of Freud, CBT, or trauma therapy, this episode traces that instinct straight back to its source.

The sermon centers on the divine worthiness of Jesus Christ, the slain Lamb, as the only one capable of opening the scroll of God's redemptive plan, thereby revealing the ultimate triumph of grace over sin and death. Drawing from Revelation, it emphasizes Christ's eternal sovereignty, His sacrificial death before the foundation of the world, and His victory over evil through resurrection and ascension, which secures salvation for all who believe. The message is one of profound comfort and hope, affirming that believers—though enduring tribulation—are assured of eternal life, a new creation, and intimate fellowship with God in the heavenly Jerusalem, where the Lamb is worthy to receive all honor, glory, and praise. The sermon calls for faithful perseverance, warns against doctrinal compromise, and affirms the finality of Scripture, urging all to respond in worship and obedience to the One who is Alpha and Omega, the bright and morning star.

The sermon explores the nature of theology as a living, faith-driven engagement with divine revelation, distinguishing between propositional truth, experiential faith, and the role of Scripture as both immediate revelation and the foundation for theological reflection. It critiques the reduction of theology to mere job, abstract speculation, or subjective experience, affirming instead that true theology arises from a covenantal relationship with God, grounded in the authority of Scripture and the person of Christ. Key themes include the logical priority of regeneration to faith in Reformed soteriology, the distinction between general and special revelation, and the necessity of a coherent, biblically rooted worldview that resists syncretism with secular philosophies. The discussion emphasizes that theological reflection, while involving rigorous analysis, must remain rooted in divine authority and not be severed from the believer's existential faith, rejecting both irrationalism and the false dichotomy between 'naive' and 'theoretical' understanding. Ultimately, theology is presented not as a neutral academic pursuit but as a faithful, covenantal response to God's self-revelation in Christ, demanding both intellectual rigor and spiritual humility.

Mainly focused upon the question of where Reformed Baptists will go in 2023 when it comes to the Neo-Thomist Revival, prompted by comments on line regarding Thomas, Van Til, and Bahnsen. What is the key issue? Scriptural sufficiency, as always!

An interview with Dr. Lane G. Tipton on "The Thought of Cornelius Van Til." This interview was featured on the Covenant Podcast.

Cornelius Van Til referred to the ultimate result of humanistic thinking as becoming, "integrated downward, into the void,." The Old Testament church sadly walked that path. A strong lesson for us today. Note: the title of this sermon was changed after it was recorded.

"Why I Believe in God" by Cornelius Van Til

Shocking Fulfilled Prophecy, Islam In Revelation, Free MP3 at http://ow.ly/YPEz30nfReY "For a number of years now, I have followed, and benefited from, the work of Still Waters Revival Books, particularly the Reformation and Puritan Bookshelf CD sets, and now the Puritan Hard Drive. The Puritan Hard Drive is a remarkable accomplishment! The common Christian can now have a world-class Presbyterian and Reformed library at his fingertips, for only pennies per volume. I do not think that it is an exaggeration to say that the Puritan Hard Drive presents an historic and singular opportunity. The works on the Puritan Hard Drive have been invaluable to me in sermon preparation and in improving personal and familial piety. If these had been the only blessings attached to the reading of these documents, the expense (even if it had been much greater) would have been justified; but there is more here. In this present time, a great many Presbyterians (particularly in North America) have forgotten and implicitly (perhaps unwittingly) rejected their Presbyterian heritage. Strangely, Westminster confessing churches have rejected the theological distinctives of the Westminster Standards. For anyone interested in recovering our Presbyterian and Reformed past, the Puritan Hard Drive is a must. It is my hope and prayer that the Puritan Hard Drive will be used by God to bring to light the things that were hidden, to call to remembrance the things that were forgotten." - Dr. Dilday, Puritan/Reformed Pastor/Scholar Puritan Hard Drive (PHD) http://ow.ly/dZ3ua PHD REVIEWS http://ow.ly/114A30nd6Uq

Elder John Terpstra provides a brief overview of the origins, biography, influence, and life of Dr. Cornelius Van Til. With additional informal comments from Pastor Cassidy.

Dr. James Anderson was our guest as we discussed his upcoming GPTS Spring Theology Conference lecture scheduled for March 12 at 9 AM ET. Dr. James Anderson is an ordained minister in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. Dr. Anderson came to RTS from Edinburgh, Scotland, and specializes in philosophical theology, religious epistemology, and Christian apologetics. His doctoral thesis at the University of Edinburgh explored the paradoxical nature of certain Christian doctrines and the implications for the rationality of Christian faith. His research and writing has also focused on the presuppositionalism of Cornelius Van Til, particularly his advocacy of the transcendental argument. Dr. Anderson has a longstanding concern to bring the Reformed theological tradition into greater dialogue with contemporary analytic philosophy. Before studying philosophy, Dr. Anderson also earned a Ph.D. in Computer Simulation from the University of Edinburgh. He is a member of the Society of Christian Philosophers, the British Society for the Philosophy of Religion, and the Evangelical Philosophical Society. Prior to joining RTS Charlotte, Dr. Anderson served as an assistant pastor at the historic Charlotte Chapel in Edinburgh where he engaged in regular preaching, teaching, and pastoral ministry. He is active now in service at Ballantyne Presbyterian Church in Charlotte. He is married to Catriona and they have three children.