In this episode, James looks at Genesis 4. He discusses the tension between Cain and God, Cain's poor choice, and the resolution that God ultimately brings about through Seth. He argues that the narrative centers on Cain's unwillingness to worship God on God's terms.

To connect with James, visit usefultogod.com or get his latest book Serpents and Doves: Christians, Politics, and the Art of Bearing Witness on amazon.com. You can also take the Serpents and Doves online course here.

In this episode, James looks at Genesis 4. He discusses the tension between Cain and God, Cain's poor choice, and the resolution that God ultimately brings about through Seth. He argues that the narrative centers on Cain's unwillingness to worship God on God's terms.
To connect with James, visit<a href="http://www.usefultogod.com"> usefultogod.com</a> or get his latest book Serpents and Doves: Christians, Politics, and the Art of Bearing Witness on <a href="https://amzn.to/3S11cUL">amazon.com</a>. You can also take the Serpents and Doves online course <a href="https://usefultogod.pathwright.com/library/serpents-and-doves-223289/about/">here</a>.

Christians shouldn’t just think. They should think Christian. Join Dr. James Spencer and guests for calm, thoughtful, theological discussions about a variety of topics Christians face every day. The Thinking Christian Podcast will help you grow spiritually and learn theology as you seek to be faithful in a world that is becoming increasingly proficient at telling stories that deny Christ.

Find more from James at https://usefultogod.com/.

Christians shouldn’t just think. They should think Christian. Join Dr. James Spencer and guests for calm, thoughtful, theological discussions about a variety of topics Christians face every day. The Thinking Christian Podcast will help you grow spiritually and learn theology as you seek to be faithful in a world that is becoming increasingly proficient at telling stories that deny Christ.
Find more from James at <a href="https://usefultogod.com/">https://usefultogod.com/</a>.

Christians shouldn’t just think. They should think Christian. Join Dr. James Spencer and guests for calm, thoughtful, theological discussions about a variety of topics Christians face every day. The Thinking Christian Podcast will help you grow spiritually and learn theology as you seek to be faithful in a world that is becoming increasingly proficient at telling stories that deny Christ.

Thinking Christian: Clear Theology for a Confusing World

Christians shouldn’t just think. They should think Christian. Join Dr. James Spencer and guests for calm, thoughtful, theological discussions about a variety of topics Christians face every day. The Thinking Christian Podcast will help you grow spiritually and learn theology as you seek to be faithful in a world that is becoming increasingly proficient at telling stories that deny Christ.
Find more from James at <a href="https://usefultogod.com/">https://usefultogod.com/.</a>

Worshipping God on Our Own Terms? Thinking Christian about the Cain and Abel Narrative

In this episode of our German Reformation series, Dr. James Spencer and Dr. Greg Quiggle begin exploring what happens after the attempt to reform the Catholic Church breaks down and the division becomes permanent: What does Protestantism look like under Luther once it’s no longer simply a reform movement?

The conversation opens with a key structural issue: the evolving relationship between church and state in early Protestant contexts. Greg explains that most Protestants still lived inside the world of Christendom—where church and state were distinct but not separate—operating like two authorities under one religious framework. That arrangement also clarifies a disturbing feature of the era: the execution of “heretics.” In the 16th century, the church might declare a person heretical, but it was the state that carried the sword—treating heresy as an act of political-religious destabilization and responding as “self-defense.”

From there, James and Greg move into the heart of the episode: the post-Reformation negotiation of identity. With the old Catholic structure breaking apart, Protestants faced a massive question:

What do we keep from 1,500 years of Christian practice—and what must go?

Greg frames the spectrum of Protestant responses:
Luther’s approach: keep as much as possible, removing only what clearly violates Scripture
Anabaptist/Radical approaches: jettison the entire Constantinian project, rejecting the church-state synthesis and attempting to rebuild from the New Testament alone

This clash didn’t remain theoretical. Greg explains how competing Protestant visions collided—sometimes violently—highlighting cases like Zurich where Anabaptists were condemned and executed under the authority of the city council after theological disputes (including disputes over baptism). The episode also touches on radical apocalyptic movements in Germany (including Münster and Thomas Müntzer), showing how social upheaval, plague trauma, and end-times expectations created fertile ground for charismatic extremism—and why Luther feared the Reformation could spiral beyond control.

James connects these dynamics to modern organizational realities: how policy tools (like catechesis) can become “passive instruments” when accountability structures fail, and why early Protestant instability wasn’t simply “denomination vs. denomination,” but often included fringe movements driven by chaos, charisma, and apocalyptic certainty.

The episode closes by returning to a critical constraint often overlooked today: mass illiteracy. “Bible alone” emerges in a world where most people cannot read, intensifying the importance—and vulnerability—of teaching authority, civic enforcement, and communal formation

Quotelos Travel offers small, expert-led “Tours for Ten” that provide an intimate and unforgettable way to explore church history and culture with guides who truly know the locations. Learn more at quotelostravelservice.com, and check out their upcoming trips to Germany, England, and Switzerland.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

🔗 Download a free resource "Making Everyday Decisions So That God Gets the Glory" from Useful to God:www.usefultogod.com

To read James's article on this topic, check out his author page on Christianity.com.

📢 Stay Connected & Keep Growing!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Thinking Christian so you never miss an insightful conversation!

This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. “Whether we’re helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments, Trinity has the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org/ 

In this episode of our&nbsp;German Reformation&nbsp;series,&nbsp;Dr. James Spencer&nbsp;and&nbsp;Dr. Greg Quiggle&nbsp;begin exploring what happens&nbsp;after&nbsp;the attempt to reform the Catholic Church breaks down and the division becomes permanent:&nbsp;What does Protestantism look like under Luther once it&rsquo;s no longer simply a reform movement?
The conversation opens with a key structural issue: the evolving relationship between&nbsp;church and state&nbsp;in early Protestant contexts. Greg explains that most Protestants still lived inside the world of&nbsp;Christendom&mdash;where church and state were distinct but not separate&mdash;operating like two authorities under one religious framework. That arrangement also clarifies a disturbing feature of the era:&nbsp;the execution of &ldquo;heretics.&rdquo;&nbsp;In the 16th century, the church might declare a person heretical, but it was the&nbsp;state&nbsp;that carried the sword&mdash;treating heresy as an act of political-religious destabilization and responding as &ldquo;self-defense.&rdquo;
From there, James and Greg move into the heart of the episode: the post-Reformation negotiation of identity. With the old Catholic structure breaking apart, Protestants faced a massive question:
What do we keep from 1,500 years of Christian practice&mdash;and what must go?
Greg frames the spectrum of Protestant responses:
<ul>
<li>Luther&rsquo;s approach:&nbsp;keep as much as possible, removing only what clearly violates Scripture</li>
<li>Anabaptist/Radical approaches:&nbsp;jettison the entire Constantinian project, rejecting the church-state synthesis and attempting to rebuild from the New Testament alone</li>
</ul>
This clash didn&rsquo;t remain theoretical. Greg explains how competing Protestant visions collided&mdash;sometimes violently&mdash;highlighting cases like Zurich where Anabaptists were condemned and executed under the authority of the city council after theological disputes (including disputes over baptism). The episode also touches on radical apocalyptic movements in Germany (including M&uuml;nster and Thomas M&uuml;ntzer), showing how social upheaval, plague trauma, and end-times expectations created fertile ground for charismatic extremism&mdash;and why Luther feared the Reformation could spiral beyond control.
James connects these dynamics to modern organizational realities: how policy tools (like catechesis) can become &ldquo;passive instruments&rdquo; when accountability structures fail, and why early Protestant instability wasn&rsquo;t simply &ldquo;denomination vs. denomination,&rdquo; but often included fringe movements driven by chaos, charisma, and apocalyptic certainty.
The episode closes by returning to a critical constraint often overlooked today:&nbsp;mass illiteracy.&nbsp;&ldquo;Bible alone&rdquo; emerges in a world where most people cannot read, intensifying the importance&mdash;and vulnerability&mdash;of teaching authority, civic enforcement, and communal formation
Quotelos Travel offers small, expert-led &ldquo;Tours for Ten&rdquo; that provide an intimate and unforgettable way to explore church history and culture with guides who truly know the locations. Learn more at&nbsp;<a href="https://quotelostravelservice.com/">quotelostravelservice.com</a>, and check out their upcoming trips to&nbsp;Germany, England, and Switzerland.
Subscribe&nbsp;to our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Useful_toGod">YouTube channel</a>
🔗&nbsp;Download a free resource "Making Everyday Decisions So That God Gets the Glory" from Useful to God:<a href="https://www.usefultogod.com/">www.usefultogod.com</a>
To read James's article on this topic, check out his author page on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.christianity.com/author/james-spencer/">Christianity.com</a>.
📢 Stay Connected &amp; Keep Growing!
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to&nbsp;subscribe&nbsp;to&nbsp;Thinking Christian&nbsp;so you never miss an insightful conversation!
This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management.&nbsp;&ldquo;Whether we&rsquo;re helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments, Trinity has the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk.&nbsp;Call us at&nbsp;1-800-793-8548&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://trinitycredit.org/">https://trinitycredit.org/</a>&nbsp;

Protestantism Under Luther: Authority, Chaos, and the Cost of “Bible Alone”

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/8ecd24be-0fd5-4344-a311-b3e801621c8c/transcript

In this episode of our German Reformation series, Dr. James Spencer and Dr. Greg Quiggle linger in Wittenbergbefore the Diet of Worms and Wartburg Castle to unpack the moment everyone knows—but few understand: Luther’s 95 Theses.

Greg begins with the real backstory: indulgence-selling tied to the fundraising machine behind the rebuilding of St. Peter’s Basilica and a chain of financial incentives involving an ambitious archbishop, borrowed money, and a gifted salesman—Johann Tetzel—whose catchy jingle promised liberation from purgatory at the drop of a coin. When Luther’s parishioners return with indulgences in hand, Luther doesn’t set out to start a revolution. He does what academics do: he drafts 95 points for debate and posts them publicly—more like a community bulletin board than a Hollywood act of defiance.

But the moment doesn’t stay local. Two forces amplify it:
A new technology: the printing press
A predictable catalyst: students who love promoting their professor

What was intended as a small-town disputation spreads rapidly, lands on the pope’s desk in Rome, and triggers a reaction Luther never expected—one that escalates through excommunication threats, imperial hearings, and eventually Luther’s dramatic stand before the emperor.

James and Greg then trace the chain reaction:
1519 (Leipzig Debate): authority begins shifting toward Scripture over popes/councils
1520 (papal bull): Luther publicly rejects Rome’s demand to recant
1521 (Diet of Worms): Luther expects debate; Rome demands recantation
Luther requests 24 hours, returns, and refuses to recant unless convinced by Scripture and plain reason
Luther leaves under “safe conduct,” is “kidnapped” by agents of Frederick the Wise, and hidden at Wartburg Castle as “Knight George”
In hiding, Luther produces a major turning point: his rapid German New Testament translation

From there, the conversation turns to a crucial clarification often missed today: Luther did not teach modern “private interpretation” as individual autonomy. He wanted Scripture accessible, yes—but not atomized. That’s why catechesisand the teaching office matter: a catechism functions as a faithful constraint that helps the church read Scripture with shared boundaries rather than endless fragmentation.

The episode closes by reframing the word Reformation itself: Luther never intended to create a new church. He aimed to reform the existing one—and the birth of Lutheran Protestant identity becomes, in many ways, an unintended necessity once Rome refuses the correction.

Quotelos Travel offers small, expert-led “Tours for Ten” that provide an intimate and unforgettable way to explore church history and culture with guides who truly know the locations. Learn more at quotelostravelservice.com, and check out their upcoming trips to Germany, England, and Switzerland.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

🔗 Download a free resource "Making Everyday Decisions So That God Gets the Glory" from Useful to God:www.usefultogod.com

To read James's article on this topic, check out his author page on Christianity.com.

📢 Stay Connected & Keep Growing!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Thinking Christian so you never miss an insightful conversation!

This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. “Whether we’re helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments, Trinity has the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org/ 

In this episode of our&nbsp;German Reformation&nbsp;series,&nbsp;Dr. James Spencer&nbsp;and&nbsp;Dr. Greg Quiggle&nbsp;linger in&nbsp;Wittenbergbefore the&nbsp;Diet of Worms&nbsp;and&nbsp;Wartburg Castle&nbsp;to unpack the moment everyone knows&mdash;but few understand:&nbsp;Luther&rsquo;s 95 Theses.
Greg begins with the real backstory:&nbsp;indulgence-selling&nbsp;tied to the fundraising machine behind the rebuilding of&nbsp;St. Peter&rsquo;s Basilica&nbsp;and a chain of financial incentives involving an ambitious archbishop, borrowed money, and a gifted salesman&mdash;Johann Tetzel&mdash;whose catchy jingle promised liberation from purgatory at the drop of a coin. When Luther&rsquo;s parishioners return with indulgences in hand, Luther doesn&rsquo;t set out to start a revolution. He does what academics do: he drafts&nbsp;95 points for debate&nbsp;and posts them publicly&mdash;more like a community bulletin board than a Hollywood act of defiance.
But the moment doesn&rsquo;t stay local. Two forces amplify it:
<ol>
<li>A new technology:&nbsp;the printing press</li>
<li>A predictable catalyst:&nbsp;students&nbsp;who love promoting their professor</li>
</ol>
What was intended as a small-town disputation spreads rapidly, lands on&nbsp;the pope&rsquo;s desk in Rome, and triggers a reaction Luther never expected&mdash;one that escalates through excommunication threats, imperial hearings, and eventually Luther&rsquo;s dramatic stand before the emperor.
James and Greg then trace the chain reaction:
<ul>
<li>1519 (Leipzig Debate):&nbsp;authority begins shifting toward Scripture over popes/councils</li>
<li>1520 (papal bull):&nbsp;Luther publicly rejects Rome&rsquo;s demand to recant</li>
<li>1521 (Diet of Worms):&nbsp;Luther expects debate; Rome demands recantation</li>
<li>Luther requests 24 hours, returns, and refuses to recant unless convinced by&nbsp;Scripture and plain reason</li>
<li>Luther leaves under &ldquo;safe conduct,&rdquo; is&nbsp;&ldquo;kidnapped&rdquo;&nbsp;by agents of&nbsp;Frederick the Wise, and hidden at&nbsp;Wartburg Castle&nbsp;as &ldquo;Knight George&rdquo;</li>
<li>In hiding, Luther produces a major turning point:&nbsp;his rapid German New Testament translation</li>
</ul>
From there, the conversation turns to a crucial clarification often missed today:&nbsp;Luther did not teach modern &ldquo;private interpretation&rdquo; as individual autonomy.&nbsp;He wanted Scripture accessible, yes&mdash;but not atomized. That&rsquo;s why&nbsp;catechesisand the&nbsp;teaching office&nbsp;matter: a catechism functions as a faithful constraint that helps the church read Scripture with shared boundaries rather than endless fragmentation.
The episode closes by reframing the word&nbsp;Reformation&nbsp;itself: Luther never intended to create a new church. He aimed to&nbsp;reform the existing one&mdash;and the birth of Lutheran Protestant identity becomes, in many ways, an unintended necessity once Rome refuses the correction.
Quotelos Travel offers small, expert-led &ldquo;Tours for Ten&rdquo; that provide an intimate and unforgettable way to explore church history and culture with guides who truly know the locations. Learn more at&nbsp;<a href="https://quotelostravelservice.com/">quotelostravelservice.com</a>, and check out their upcoming trips to&nbsp;Germany, England, and Switzerland.
Subscribe&nbsp;to our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Useful_toGod">YouTube channel</a>
🔗&nbsp;Download a free resource "Making Everyday Decisions So That God Gets the Glory" from Useful to God:<a href="https://www.usefultogod.com/">www.usefultogod.com</a>
To read James's article on this topic, check out his author page on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.christianity.com/author/james-spencer/">Christianity.com</a>.
📢 Stay Connected &amp; Keep Growing!
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to&nbsp;subscribe&nbsp;to&nbsp;Thinking Christian&nbsp;so you never miss an insightful conversation!
This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management.&nbsp;&ldquo;Whether we&rsquo;re helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments, Trinity has the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk.&nbsp;Call us at&nbsp;1-800-793-8548&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://trinitycredit.org/">https://trinitycredit.org/</a>&nbsp;

Luther’s 95 Theses: What He Meant to Do—and What Actually Happened

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/4f9a2ae4-ea50-46a0-94fc-b3e801621930/transcript

In this episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer and Dr. Greg Quiggle pick up the story after Luther’s intensifying crisis of conscience. If the monastery wasn’t bringing peace—what could? Luther’s mentor, Johann von Staupitz, attempts an intervention, first by sending Luther to Rome, hoping the pilgrimage and the center of the Church might relieve the pressure.

Instead, Rome does the opposite. Luther returns disillusioned by the moral and spiritual decay he sees—corruption, scandal, and a religious economy saturated with spiritual “transactions.” Rather than loosening Luther’s burden, Rome deepens the problem.

The turning point comes through Luther’s move to Wittenberg, where rigorous study of Scripture in the original languages (and in the intellectual wake of the Renaissance and renewed interest in Greek texts) forces Luther to confront a question that had been crushing him: How can an unrighteous sinner stand before a righteous God?

Greg explains how Luther’s breakthrough forms as he wrestles with texts like Psalm 31 and then Romans 1—and begins to grasp righteousness not as something he can achieve, but something God can give. Luther’s language for this is striking: “alien righteousness”—a righteousness that belongs to God, received by faith, and credited to the believer.

The episode also highlights a key detail that becomes explosive: Luther starts noticing where the Church’s claims don’t match the text itself—especially when he reads Scripture in Greek. The famous early example is the shift from “do penance” to “repent” (metanoia)—a translation issue with massive theological consequences.

This segment ends by setting up what comes next: the 95 Theses, the Diet of Worms, and why Luther’s translation work (and his commitment to Scripture as final authority) becomes the fuse that ignites the Reformation.

Quotelos Travel offers small, expert-led “Tours for Ten” that provide an intimate and unforgettable way to explore church history and culture with guides who truly know the locations. Learn more at quotelostravelservice.com, and check out their upcoming trips to Germany, England, and Switzerland.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

🔗 Download a free resource "Making Everyday Decisions So That God Gets the Glory" from Useful to God:www.usefultogod.com

To read James's article on this topic, check out his author page on Christianity.com.

📢 Stay Connected & Keep Growing!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Thinking Christian so you never miss an insightful conversation!

This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. “Whether we’re helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments, Trinity has the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org/ 

In this episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer and Dr. Greg Quiggle pick up the story after Luther&rsquo;s intensifying crisis of conscience. If the monastery wasn&rsquo;t bringing peace&mdash;what could? Luther&rsquo;s mentor,&nbsp;Johann von Staupitz, attempts an intervention, first by sending Luther to&nbsp;Rome, hoping the pilgrimage and the center of the Church might relieve the pressure.
Instead, Rome does the opposite. Luther returns disillusioned by the moral and spiritual decay he sees&mdash;corruption, scandal, and a religious economy saturated with spiritual &ldquo;transactions.&rdquo; Rather than loosening Luther&rsquo;s burden, Rome deepens the problem.
The turning point comes through Luther&rsquo;s move to&nbsp;Wittenberg, where rigorous study of Scripture in the original languages (and in the intellectual wake of the Renaissance and renewed interest in Greek texts) forces Luther to confront a question that had been crushing him:&nbsp;How can an unrighteous sinner stand before a righteous God?
Greg explains how Luther&rsquo;s breakthrough forms as he wrestles with texts like&nbsp;Psalm 31&nbsp;and then&nbsp;Romans 1&mdash;and begins to grasp righteousness not as something he can&nbsp;achieve, but something God can&nbsp;give. Luther&rsquo;s language for this is striking:&nbsp;&ldquo;alien righteousness&rdquo;&mdash;a righteousness that belongs to God, received by faith, and credited to the believer.
The episode also highlights a key detail that becomes explosive: Luther starts noticing where the Church&rsquo;s claims don&rsquo;t match the text itself&mdash;especially when he reads Scripture in Greek. The famous early example is the shift from&nbsp;&ldquo;do penance&rdquo;&nbsp;to&nbsp;&ldquo;repent&rdquo;&nbsp;(metanoia)&mdash;a translation issue with massive theological consequences.
This segment ends by setting up what comes next: the&nbsp;95 Theses, the&nbsp;Diet of Worms, and why Luther&rsquo;s translation work (and his commitment to Scripture as final authority) becomes the fuse that ignites the Reformation.
Quotelos Travel offers small, expert-led &ldquo;Tours for Ten&rdquo; that provide an intimate and unforgettable way to explore church history and culture with guides who truly know the locations. Learn more at&nbsp;<a href="https://quotelostravelservice.com/">quotelostravelservice.com</a>, and check out their upcoming trips to&nbsp;Germany, England, and Switzerland.
Subscribe&nbsp;to our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Useful_toGod">YouTube channel</a>
🔗&nbsp;Download a free resource "Making Everyday Decisions So That God Gets the Glory" from Useful to God:<a href="https://www.usefultogod.com/">www.usefultogod.com</a>
To read James's article on this topic, check out his author page on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.christianity.com/author/james-spencer/">Christianity.com</a>.
📢 Stay Connected &amp; Keep Growing!
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to&nbsp;subscribe&nbsp;to&nbsp;Thinking Christian&nbsp;so you never miss an insightful conversation!
This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management.&nbsp;&ldquo;Whether we&rsquo;re helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments, Trinity has the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk.&nbsp;Call us at&nbsp;1-800-793-8548&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://trinitycredit.org/">https://trinitycredit.org/</a>&nbsp;

Luther Goes to Rome: Corruption, Crisis, and the Breakthrough in Romans

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/b0c4a035-e88a-40fb-a1ae-b3e801621579/transcript

Worshipping God on Our Own Terms? Thinking Christian about the Cain and Abel Narrative

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