In this episode of Theologically Driven, we review Carl Trueman's latest book, The Desecration of Man. Following The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self and Strange New World, Trueman argues that the West's rejection of God has led to the desecration of humanity itself, since humans bear God's image. We discuss his case that our culture's problem is not disenchantment but desecration, how technology has handed us godlike power over life and death (IVF, surrogacy, genetic screening, assisted suicide), why Protestants need a more robust anthropology, and where we think the book falls short on the gospel.

Theologically Driven is a podcast of Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary. Learn more at dbts.edu.

Is God's moral law written on every human heart? In this episode of Theologically Driven, host Phil Cecil continues the discussion of natural law, walking through the key New Testament passages—the Golden Rule in Matthew 7:12, Paul's sermons in Acts 14 and 17, and Romans 1, 2, and 13—including the debated question of whether Romans 2:14–15 describes believing or unbelieving Gentiles. The conversation then turns to how human depravity fits with natural law, the content of natural law (life, family, community, and religion), the five ways it can be known, and its three primary uses for the Christian life and civil society.

Theologically Driven is a podcast of Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary. Learn more or apply at dbts.edu.

What does the Bible actually say about natural law? In part two of our three-part series, host Phil Cecil and his guest make the biblical case that God has woven a real, knowable moral order into creation — one that even unbelievers can perceive.

Guided by three questions (Is there an objective moral order? Has it been revealed? Can the unregenerate perceive it?), they walk through the key Old Testament texts: the ordered creation and image of God in Genesis 1–2, the universal Noahic covenant and the institution of human government in Genesis 8–9, and the wisdom-in-creation theme of Proverbs 3 and 8. Along the way they explore why capital punishment is distinct from murder, the "two governments" framework, Solomon's famous judgment between two mothers, and Old Testament unbelievers like Abimelech and Jethro who clearly grasp God's moral order. They then turn to the New Testament, beginning with Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6 and what our instinctive moral reactions reveal about the law written on the heart.

The discussion continues in part three next week. Theologically Driven is a podcast of Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary. Learn more at dbts.edu.

00:00 Introduction and recap

02:24 Three guiding arguments for natural law

06:16 Genesis 1–2: an ordered, purposeful creation

09:08 The image of God and human nature

13:33 The Noahic covenant and human government (Genesis 8–9)

20:53 Wisdom in creation: Proverbs 3 and 8

26:32 Solomon's judgment and the limits of "rules"

28:52 Unbelievers who perceive moral order: Abimelech and Jethro

32:13 Turning to the New Testament: Jesus in Matthew 6

35:06 What our moral instincts reveal

36:37 Wrapping up — and a look ahead to part 3

In part one of a series on natural law, host Phil Cecil sits down to define natural law, distinguish it from natural theology and general revelation, trace why Protestants grew suspicious of it, and explore how it fits a dispensational, two-governments view of civil and redemptive life.

Learn more about DBTS at https://dbts.edu

What should you do when someone you love says they're "deconstructing" their faith? In this episode of Theologically Driven, host Phil Cecil sits down with Pastor Dave Marriott of Lakewood Baptist Church, whose doctoral research focused on equipping the church to respond to deconstruction and deconversion. They discuss what true conversion is, the difference between deconstruction, deconversion, and a simple doctrinal shift, the four phases that typically lead someone away from the faith, and how the stories people tell about leaving Christianity often hide the real reasons. The conversation closes with practical help for church members walking alongside a doubting friend and for pastors who want to prepare their congregations before doubts take root.

Learn more about DBTS at https://dbts.edu

What did Paul actually teach about slavery — and does it speak to modern controversies? In this episode of Theologically Driven, host Phil Cecil continues his conversation with Dr. Meyer about Paul's view of slavery in the Greco-Roman world. They examine key passages in Ephesians, Colossians, 1 Timothy, Titus, and 1 Corinthians 7 to understand what Paul commanded of both slaves and masters, whether Paul ever encouraged slaves to seek freedom, and why the gospel — not social reform — was always his primary concern. The episode also addresses how Paul's principles undermine ancient slavery from within, why modern chattel slavery and sex trafficking stand directly condemned by his teaching, and what Chrysostom's reflection from AD 400 reveals about the eternal perspective Paul wanted believers to carry into every circumstance.

In this episode of Theologically Driven, host Phil Cecil sits down with Dr. Ryan Meyer to explore one of the most challenging topics in New Testament studies: Paul's view of slavery. Before diving into Paul's letters, Dr. Meyer lays essential groundwork by unpacking what slavery actually looked like in the first-century Greco-Roman world — and it may surprise you.

Dr. Meyer explains how slavery in Paul's day differed dramatically from the race-based chattel slavery of American history. In major Roman cities, up to a third of the population were enslaved. Slaves held roles ranging from household servants to doctors, teachers, ship captains, and city officials. Slavery was primarily a legal category, not an ethnic one, and manumission by age 30 was a reasonable expectation for many urban slaves.

Yet none of that softens its fundamental evil. As Dr. Meyer puts it, what makes all slavery wrong — ancient or modern — is one image bearer owning another.

This episode helps listeners avoid two common errors: minimizing how bad slavery was in order to defend Paul, or reading first-century texts through a purely modern lens. It's an honest, careful look at the historical context every reader of Paul's letters needs.

Today on the podcast, we welcome Dr. John Aloisi to talk about the Protestant Reformation.

Learn more about DBTS at https://dbts.edu

Today on the podcast, we welcome Dr. John Aloisi to talk about the Protestant Reformation.

Learn more about DBTS at https://dbts.edu

Host Phil Cecil continues his conversation with Dr. Mark Snoeberger on one of theology's most debated distinctions — the relationship between justification and sanctification. After reviewing the Roman Catholic view from last week, they turn to Holiness theologies, tracing their roots through Wesley. Dr. Snoeberger unpacks Wesley's "sequence of graces," the concept of a second work of grace, and why that framework falls short of the Reformation view — which holds justification and sanctification as distinct but inseparable benefits of union with Christ, both received at the moment of regeneration. A clear and accessible walk through a topic that matters for how every believer understands the Christian life.

Learn more about the DBTS summer schedule here.

Preorder McCune's Systematic Theology of Biblical Christianity here.

What's the difference between justification and sanctification — and why does it matter? In this episode of Theologically Driven, host Phil Cecil sits down with Dr. Mark Snoeberger of Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary to unpack two of the most important doctrines in Christian theology and explore how different traditions relate them to one another.

Dr. Snoeberger begins by carefully defining each term. Justification is the one-time, legal declaration that a sinner is righteous before God, grounded in the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ and received by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Sanctification, by contrast, is the experiential process of being made holy — typically described in three phases: definitive (or initial) sanctification at conversion, progressive sanctification throughout the Christian life, and final sanctification or glorification.

From there, the conversation turns to the central question: how are justification and sanctification related? Dr. Snoeberger lays out three major positions:

• The Roman Catholic view, which absorbs sanctification into justification through an ongoing process of infused grace, sacraments, merit, and a final justification at the end of life.
• The Holiness/Keswick view, which divorces the two by inserting a "second work of grace."
• The Reformation view, which treats them as parallel, simultaneous benefits flowing from the believer's union with Christ.

This episode focuses on a thorough examination of the Roman Catholic position — including baptismal regeneration, the role of the sacraments, venial and mortal sins, purgatory, and why the Reformers' insistence on sola fide (faith alone) was such a watershed moment. Dr. Snoeberger also explains the "hopeful and causal relationship" Catholic theology draws between sanctification and final justification, and why this framework leaves believers without assurance.

Whether you're a pastor, student, or curious listener, this episode offers a clear, accessible introduction to a doctrine at the heart of the gospel and the Protestant Reformation.

Topics covered:

• Definitions of justification and sanctification
• Imputed vs. infused righteousness
• Definitive, progressive, and final sanctification
• Union with Christ and the duplex beneficium
• Roman Catholic soteriology, sacraments, and purgatory
• Venial and mortal sins
• Why Luther opposed the sale of indulgences

Theologically Driven is a podcast of Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary. Learn more at dbts.edu.