New Testament Only Christianity

Kingdom Polemics

In this episode, Aldo Leon critiques the views of Owen Strachan, a Baptist theologian and professor, on the relationship between the Great Commission and the civil sphere. Leon argues that Strachan has a narrow and pietistic understanding of the Great Commission, which excludes the role of the law, the magistrate, and the Christianization of society. Leon contends that the Great Commission is not just about making disciples through baptism and teaching, but also about applying the lordship of Christ to every sphere of life, including the family, the church, and the state. Leon challenges Strachan's interpretation of various biblical texts, such as Psalm 2, Matthew 28, and 1 Timothy 2, and shows how they support a more holistic and comprehensive vision of the Great Commission.

Some of the highlights or discussion points of this episode are:

• How Strachan creates a false dilemma between the ecclesiastical and the civil realms, and how he fails to see the connection between the law and the gospel.
• How Strachan misreads Psalm 2 as an eschatological text, rather than a present reality that calls the kings and nations to submit to Christ and his law.
• How Strachan ignores the implications of Christ's authority over all things, and how he limits the scope of the Great Commission to the church and its mission.
• How Strachan misunderstands the role of the magistrate as a deacon of God, and how he neglects the biblical examples of civil rulers who supported and protected the church and its mission.
• How Strachan overlooks the covenantal and creational aspects of the Great Commission, and how he fails to appreciate the importance of the family, the Sabbath, and the creation mandate.

The Strachan video referenced in this episode may be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LThak7Iy5G4

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