Banned Books

A Church as Big as the Cosmos! In this episode, we enter into Lent with a reading from C.S. Lewis' The Discarded Image. We discuss the medieval understanding of life, the universe, and everything— how it can help the churches today deepen their "vision" of how God orders the universe, the church, and the human being. We converse about the Grail legend, how God's Word encounters and changes people, being lost in the Garden, how Christ ministers through others, and being annoyed by death. This and much, much more on this week's episode of Banned Books. SHOW NOTES:  Wardrobes and Rings: Through Lenten Lands with the Inklings https://a.co/d/0bjsTwnn  Malcom Guite https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=malcolm+guite The Language of Creation: Cosmic Symbolism in Genesis https://a.co/d/0i6hb3bz  Reflections on the Void: negativity and difference in the Bible and contemporary thinking https://youtu.be/10DS7IxOVro?si=uRlsyIxFLJX-ZYDD    More from 1517: Support 1517 Podcast Network: https://www.1517.org/donate-p

We Don't Need No Education. In this episode, we read The End of Education by Neal Postman, discussing the mechanisms of public education, religious catechesis, the influence of the Enlightenment and psychoanalysis on contemporary learning, and what happens when fiction replaces truth as the basis of meaning. This and much, much more on today's show! SHOW NOTES:  The End of Education https://amzn.to/4qGylnd   More from 1517: Support 1517 Podcast Network: https://www.1517.org/donate-podcasts 1517 Podcasts: http://www.1517.org/podcasts 1517 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@1517org 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/1517-podcast-network/id6442751370 1517 Events Schedule: https://www.1517.org/events 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education: https://academy.1517.org/   What's New from 1517: Being Family by Dr. Scott Keith https://shop.1517.org/products/9781964419961-being-family The Essential Nestingen: Essays on Preaching, Catechism, and the Reformation https:/

Hungry Like The Wolf. In this episode, we read a sermon from 11th-century bishop Wulfstan. The main themes in the Sermon of the Wolf to the English (also often referred to by its Latin title, Sermo Lupi ad Anglos) are corruption and sin. These themes are apparent as Wulfstan chastises the English people for their corruption and warns of God's anger and wrath, which is sure to come: "Understand also well that the Devil has now led this nation astray for very many years." He sees that the devil has played a huge part in influencing the English to sin ("Wulfstan"). Wulfstan also strongly believes that the people need to repent, as God is extremely upset and disappointed by the people's actions on Earth. SHOW NOTES:  Sermon: https://pressbooks.pub/earlybritishlit/chapter/wulfstan-sermon-of-the-wolf-to-the-english/ Guarding the Threshold — A mythic grammar for moral clarity: https://substack.com/home/post/p-186785245 The Disappearance of Childhood by Neil Postman https://amzn.to/3MiDzHr    More from 1517: Suppor

Fight the Power! In this episode, we learn from pastor and theologian Helmut Thielecke about the gods we worship, the God that encounters us, and what technology actually does to us. What do Satan's temptations teach us about Jesus, God's Word, piety, and making sense of mystery? Is Christianity supposed to be a sensible religion? What kind of "opium" does the evil one offer us to lead us away from the Truth? What is distinctive about the worshippers of the God of power? What happens when technology becomes a means of power rather than merely a tool? What does God's fight for the world look like, and how does it conclude? SHOW NOTES:  Between God and Satan: The Temptation of Jesus and the Temptability of Man by Helmut Thielicke https://amzn.to/3OeFEVp    More from 1517: Support 1517 Podcast Network: https://www.1517.org/donate-podcasts 1517 Podcasts: http://www.1517.org/podcasts 1517 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@1517org 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/15

The Hangman's Nous. In this episode, we read an excerpt from The Maniac, by G.K. Chesterton, followed by Myth Became Fact, from C.S. Lewis' book of essays, "God in the Dock." The primary question we discuss, then, is whether men and women can live a healthy and sane life with mystery, without myth, and without higher truth. What has happened to modern churches that exorcised mystery from preaching, teaching, evangelism, and worship? What anchors the Body of Christ when it's unmoored from Church history and tradition? What have been the consequences for churches that treat the Christian story as more fantasy than fact? What does Lewis mean that God is "mythopoeic"? What does it mean that Christianity is, according to Lewis, "perfect myth and perfect fact"? SHOW NOTES:  God in the Dock https://www.orcuttchristian.org/Lewis%20CS%20-%20God_in_the_Dock.pdf Orthodoxy - G.K. Cherston https://ccel.org/ccel/chesterton/orthodoxy/orthodoxy.iv.html Planet Narnia by Michael Ward https://amzn.to/4jYwhFo    More from 1517:

In this episode, we learn about the Holy Spirit and the Divine Service from Dr. John Kleinig. In particular, we discuss how Christ gives the Spirit to the church through his word, how Christ institutes the divine service and empowers it with God's Spirit, and how the church receives the Holy Spirit by faith in God's word as it is proclaimed and enacted in the divine service. The conversation revolves around the central question: How then can we be sure that the Spirit is at work in our worship? SHOW NOTES:  Text: https://www.johnkleinig.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/2017-The-Role-of-the-Holy-Spirit-in-the-Divine-Service.pdf ESV Reader's Edition: https://www.crossway.org/bibles/esv-readers-bible-cob/ Bibliotheca: https://www.bibliotheca.co   More from 1517: Support 1517 Podcast Network: https://www.1517.org/donate-podcasts 1517 Podcasts: http://www.1517.org/podcasts 1517 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@1517org 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/1517-podcast-n

Who Made Who. In this episode, Gillespie takes the wheel and steers us into tradition, liturgy, worship styles, and the various "-isms" that have sprung up within the churches over the centuries. What's the purpose of the Divine Service? What is the fundamental meaning of Christian meaning? Have we jettisoned mystery for sensible explanations that find no seat pulled out for them in God's house? Is Christian worship, polity, and piety about what we know, experience, feel, or conformity to specific doctrines? Why is the old magic not welcome amongst sensible worshippers? What's the place of hymns, prayers, preaching, and Scripture in Christian worship? Is liturgy a delivery mechanism or a tool? SHOW NOTES:  Disney's Robin Hood (1973) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Hood_(1973_film) Still Asking Berry's Question https://www.frontporchrepublic.com/2025/12/still-asking-berrys-question/ Stephen R. Lawhead https://www.stephenlawhead.com   More from 1517: Support 1517 Podcast Network: https://www.1517.org/dona

What's the Frequency, Kenneth? In this episode, we gather for a post-Christmas, post-New Year pastoral debrief. We talk about symbols and meaning, Christmas and holidays, signs and seasons, and how modern churches quietly cleared the path for culture to push Christ out of Christmas without much resistance. We explore the strange and largely arbitrary ways the world measures time, along with the old Adam's never-ending pyramid project. That is, his need to build meaning upward by effort, progress, and control rather than receive it as a gift. From there, we return to symbol and meaning. We ask why ancient liturgy's nostalgia or ornamentation, but the distilled shape of reality itself, why the Lord's Supper isn't a side practice, but the beating heart of the Church, of worship, and of the Christian life. And why stories' decorations for faith, but the way truth takes on flesh and finds us where we actually live. This is a conversation about time, worship, memory, and why the Church invents meaning but receives

Going Cold Turkey at Christmas? In this episode, we read G.K. Chesterton's essay, On Christmas, wherein he discusses celebrating Christmas too early, vivisection, vegetarians versus turkeys, and what to do about the poor at Christmas. It's another curmudgeonly Christmas episode with one of our favorite British apologists and satirists. SHOW NOTES:  "On Christmas" by G. K. Chesterton https://www.english-culture.com/on-christmas/  A Christmas Message for Contemporary Pagans https://www.1517.org/articles/a-christmas-message-for-contemporary-pagans   More from 1517: Support 1517 Podcast Network: https://www.1517.org/donate-podcasts 1517 Podcasts: http://www.1517.org/podcasts 1517 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@1517org 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/1517-podcast-network/id6442751370 1517 Events Schedule: https://www.1517.org/events 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education: https://academy.1517.org/   What's New from 1517: Coming Home for Christmas: 1517 Adv

I'm Wasted, and I Can't Find My Way Home. In this episode, we again invite C.S. Lewis to teach us about Christmas. We also discuss the early church fathers, worship, symbolism, mystery, Freud and Jung's influence on modern Christians, consumerism and gift-giving, and, of course, Christmas: all this and much, much more on this episode of the podcast. SHOW NOTES:  What CHRISTMAS means to me... https://www.pas.rochester.edu/~tim/study/CSLewis.pdf Xmas and Christmas: A Lost Chapter from Herodotus https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/resources/reflections-december-2016/ Christian Wonder Tales by Martin Shaw https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/christian-wonder-tales The Quest for the Holy Grail by Dr. Martin Shaw https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/the-quest-for-the-holy-grail   More from 1517: Support 1517 Podcast Network: https://www.1517.org/donate-podcasts 1517 Podcasts: http://www.1517.org/podcasts 1517 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@1517org 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts: https://podca

In this episode, we read C.S. Lewis' "A Christmas Sermon for Pagans." Why does the post-Christian person need to become pagan again to be prepared to hear the gospel? How has a mechanistic view of nature led us to kill each other? Why do we reject the good news that Jesus ended the need for guilt-offerings, sin-sacrifices, and fear about the afterlife? What happened as a consequence of moderns pushing heavenly truth out of the material world? What is the message of Christmas that offers a cure for all that ails us? SHOW NOTES:  A Christmas Sermon for Pagans https://ia601205.us.archive.org/24/items/c.-s.-lewis-a-christmas-sermon-for-pagans-1946/C.%20S.%20Lewis%20-%20A%20Christmas%20Sermon%20for%20Pagans%201946_text.pdf    More from 1517: Support 1517 Podcast Network: https://www.1517.org/donate-podcasts 1517 Podcasts: http://www.1517.org/podcasts 1517 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@1517org 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/1517-podcast-network/id6442751370 1

Son of a Preacher Man. In this episode, we conclude our study of Martin Luther's Smalcald Articles, discussing the office of the keys and confession. We go through and sum up the previous episodes — the gospel, the mass, repentance, sin, and the law — then sit with the function and power of the forgiveness of sin. What is the office of the keys for? Where does it come from? Who gets to use the keys? Then, we talk over confession and its consequences for pastoral care and its effect on the churches. SHOW NOTES:  The Book of Concord - Smalcald Articles https://thebookofconcord.org/smalcald-articles/part-iii/ Smalcald Articles history https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smalcald_Articles   More from 1517: Support 1517 Podcast Network: https://www.1517.org/donate-podcasts 1517 Podcasts: http://www.1517.org/podcasts 1517 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@1517org 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/1517-podcast-network/id6442751370 1517 Events Schedule: https://www.1517.org/

How Deep Is Your Love! In this episode, we continue our reading of the Smalcald Articles, focusing our attention on sin and the law. What is sin? What does it do to us? What are its effects? And, in following, what is the relationship of the law to sin? Does the law empower us to sin less? Can the law produce good works and good fruits? What is the function of pastoral care in relation to sin and the law? All this and much, much more on this episode of the podcast. SHOW NOTES:  The Book of Concord - Smalcald Articles https://thebookofconcord.org/smalcald-articles/part-iii/ Smalcald Articles history https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smalcald_Articles The Smalcald Articles are a summary of Lutheran doctrine written by Martin Luther in 1537 for a meeting of the Schmalkaldic League, which aimed to unify Lutheran territories against Roman Catholic forces. Although they were not officially adopted at the meeting, they later became an important part of Lutheran confessional writings included in the Book of Concord.   Mo

Don't Look Back in Anger. In this episode, we continue reading Martin Luther's Smalcald Articles, focusing on contrition, repentance, and freedom. Why does the law need to terrify and leave us hopeless? How does attention to the self lead us into death and hell? What happens when belief is preached as something "we do" rather than something "done to" us? Likewise, when repentance is self-activated and self-actuated, what are the consequences for our daily lives? This and much, much more on this episode of the show. SHOW NOTES:  The Book of Concord - Smalcald Articles https://thebookofconcord.org/smalcald-articles/part-iii/   Smalcald Articles history https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smalcald_Articles The Smalcald Articles are a summary of Lutheran doctrine written by Martin Luther in 1537 for a meeting of the Schmalkaldic League, which aimed to unify Lutheran territories against Roman Catholic forces. Although they were not officially adopted at the meeting, they later became an important part of Lutheran confes

Mass Effect. In this episode, we continue our reading of The Smalcald Articles, focusing on Luther's critique of the Roman Mass and all its consequences for the churches and Christian life. We discuss mimetic desire, sacrificial religion, the exclusive work of Jesus. SHOW NOTES:  The Book of Concord - Smalcald Articles https://thebookofconcord.org/smalcald-articles/part-iii/ Smalcald Articles history https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smalcald_Articles The Smalcald Articles are a summary of Lutheran doctrine written by Martin Luther in 1537 for a meeting of the Schmalkaldic League, which aimed to unify Lutheran territories against Roman Catholic forces. Although they were not officially adopted at the meeting, they later became an important part of Lutheran confessional writings included in the Book of Concord. More from 1517: Support 1517 Podcast Network: https://www.1517.org/donate-podcasts 1517 Podcasts: http://www.1517.org/podcasts 1517 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@1517org 1517 Podcast Network on App

An Arm-Twisting Confession. In this episode, we read Martin Luther's Smalcald Articles on the gospel, baptism, and the Lord's Supper. Why did he have to have "his arm twisted" to write them? What is he trying to teach the churches about the gospel? How does the gospel circumscribe and define the Church, worship, and Christian life? Why does something written in the 1530s matter today? We look to answer all these questions and more on this episode of the Banned Books podcast. SHOW NOTES:  The Book of Concord - Smalcald Articles https://thebookofconcord.org/smalcald-articles/part-iii/article-iv/ Smalcald Articles history https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smalcald_Articles Edward Riojas https://edriojasartist.com Study Guide for Impossible Prize steve@1517.org  Simul Iustus et Peccator https://duckduckgo.com/?q=simul+justus+et+peccator+site%3A1517.org   The Smalcald Articles are a summary of Lutheran doctrine written by Martin Luther in 1537 for a meeting of the Schmalkaldic League, which aimed to unify Lutheran t

The Never-Ending Story of our Bound Will & Election. In this episode, we write an epilogue —so to speak— to our series on the Bondage of the Will and wrap up our thoughts about the Here We Still Stand Conference 2025. We ask, “From whence comes a preacher?” Where does one go for gospel-comfort and the gifts of salvation? What is the Gospel? What is the purpose of the Church? What are the practical consequences of having a will that is bound up to sin, the world, and the evil one? What happens when the churches reject the “hinge” upon which all doctrines turn? And we talk about fantasy and science-fiction writing, 80s children’s movies, and other pop culture nostalgia. SHOW NOTES:  The Captivation of the Will: Luther Vs. Erasmus on Freedom and Bondage by Gerhard O. Forde https://amzn.to/4mOYuPx  HWSS SD 2025 https://www.1517.org/events/hwss-2025-sd  What Is Christianity? And Other Essays - Franz Pieper https://www.cph.org/what-is-christianity-and-other-essays  The Mandibles: A Family, 2029-2047 https://amz

For What It’s Worth. In this episode, we conclude our reading of Gerhard Forde’s "Captivation of the Will." We discuss the conclusion of Luther’s treatise on the bound will, arriving at Christ and election, which reveals Erasmus’s fundamental error — his argument for the human will is actually the original sin, choosing between good and evil. SHOW NOTES:  The Captivation of the Will: Luther Vs. Erasmus on Freedom and Bondage by Gerhard O. Forde https://amzn.to/4mOYuPx  HWSS SD 2025 https://www.1517.org/events/hwss-2025-sd  The Gospel for Those Broken By the Church https://www.1517.org/videos/the-gospel-for-those-broken-by-the-church Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress” episodes: #73, #74, #75, #76, #77, #78, #79, #80,  #81   Captivation of the Will Series: 407: Paulson - The free will is demonstrably not Jesus Christ https://www.1517.org/podcast-overview/407-paulson  408: Nestigen - Luther and Erasmus on the Bondage of the Will https://www.1517.org/podcast-overview/408-nestigen  409: Forde - Take away assertions a

Master of Puppets. In this episode, we continue our exploration of the Bondage of the Will, with Gerhard Forde’s book, The Captivation of the Will. We discuss the human will — what it is, what it does, what it wants — and why we are compelled to insist that we have free choice. We also talk about the two paths: one, the path of forgiveness, and the other, the way of morality. Why do we default to morality in matters of choice, and why is the preaching of God’s grace over against morality so offensive to Christians who confess that our knowledge of good and bad is a direct consequence of the original sin in the garden? We also talk about drunkenness, women’s ordination, the offense of irresistible grace, and what the Holy Spirit is up to amidst the disruption that occurs when he sends his preachers to declare an end to the illusion of free choice and reveal his death sentence to bound wills. SHOW NOTES:  The Captivation of the Will: Luther Vs. Erasmus on Freedom and Bondage by Gerhard O. Forde https://amzn.to/

Have You Herd? In this episode, we continue our reading of The Captivation of Will, discussing the problem of God, the death-ride of morality, scandalous election, the dilemma of sin and freedom and more sin, and the singular calling of Christ’s preachers.   SHOW NOTES:  The Captivation of the Will: Luther Vs. Erasmus on Freedom and Bondage by Gerhard O. Forde https://amzn.to/4mOYuPx  To a God Unknown by John Steinbeck https://amzn.to/48xWfM3  Self Esteem Culture https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e__8eVCgjCE   More from 1517: Support 1517 Podcast Network: https://www.1517.org/donate-podcasts 1517 Podcasts: http://www.1517.org/podcasts 1517 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@1517org 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/1517-podcast-network/id6442751370 1517 Events Schedule: https://www.1517.org/events 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education: https://academy.1517.org/   What’s New from 1517: Untamed Prayers: 365 Daily Devotions on Christ in the Book of Psalms by Ch