White Horse Inn

What does Christianity and liberalism look like 100 years later? How does Machen’s writing apply to us today, and what does that mean for the future of the American church? In this episode of White Horse Inn, hosts Michael Horton, Justin Holcomb, Bob Hiller, and Walter Strickland advocate for a modern reformation, reflecting on what must still be recovered and what it looks like to resist the pull of liberalism today.

We admire and imitate our heroes, and we’re often shocked when we discover their flaws. But is there value in facing their failures? In this episode of White Horse Inn, hosts Michael Horton, Justin Holcomb, Bob Hiller, and Walter Strickland break down the history of racism within the American church and consider what we can learn from the past as we move forward in love.

The following is a special bonus episode from our sister program, Core Christianity. In this cross-confessional conversation, Core Radio host Pastor Adriel Sanchez is joined by Kendra Dahl and Gretchen Ronnevik to discuss how to help our kids keep their faith. With both a reformed and a Lutheran perspective at the table, we thought this conversation would be perfect for our White Horse Inn audience. (Episode SP013) You can also watch this three part series on Core Christianity's YouTube channel. Just go to youtube.com/corechristianity.

When we hear the word “liberalism”, we often think of liberal politics. But Christianity and Liberalism has religion in mind. Machen shows what happens when liberalism is inserted into religion—it morphs into something completely different from biblical Christianity. So what makes it so appealing to theologians? In this episode of White Horse Inn, hosts Michael Horton, Justin Holcomb, Bob Hiller, and Walter Strickland define liberalism and dive into its distortion of Christianity.

During the 1920s, American Pastor Harry Fosdick wrote a sermon called, “Shall the Fundamentalists Win?” addressing the controversies he saw rising within American churches. As the ideas of Freud, Marx, and Nietzsche grew in cultural importance, they began to influence theologians as well. So, Fosdick argued, “The liberals must go.” In this episode of White Horse Inn, hosts Michael Horton, Justin Holcomb, Bob Hiller, and Walter Strickland take on the historical details of where fundamentalism came from, explaining how it weaved its way into the Church, and what happened after.

From award speeches to success stories, glory is consistently self-attributed. So, what does it look like to be motivated by God’s glory? In this episode of White Horse Inn, hosts Michael Horton, Justin Holcomb, Bob Hiller, and Walter Strickland consider the foundation of soli Deo Gloria, or “for the glory of God alone.” As they wrap up this series on the five solas in this episode, they also reflect on the current state of the relationship between Protestants and Roman Catholics.

How do we receive and rest in God’s righteousness? This question propelled the Reformers forward, confronting Rome’s insistence that justification is something believers must cooperate to receive. Instead, they proclaimed sola fide, or “through faith alone.” In this episode of White Horse Inn, hosts Michael Horton, Justin Holcomb, Bob Hiller, and Walter Strickland discuss the doctrine of justification by faith alone and consider the role of good works in the Christian’s life.

If our culture is like water, then the concept of grace is its oil. We like to work hard and believe our efforts should merit reward. Until, of course, we come face-to-face with our inability to truly “help ourselves.” In this episode of White Horse Inn, hosts Michael Horton, Justin Holcomb, Bob Hiller, and Walter Strickland break down the history of sola gratia, or “by grace alone,” confronting the continued influence of Pelagianism today and how grace sets us free.

With Solus Christus, or “through Christ alone,” the Reformers addressed our need for a mediator. Taking issue with the role of priests in the Roman Catholic church, the Reformers pointed to the “one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2:5), highlighting the priesthood of all believers. So what role does that leave for ministers today? In this episode of White Horse Inn, hosts Michael Horton, Justin Holcomb, Bob Hiller, and Walter Strickland discuss solus Christus and point to our joy in the sufficiency of Christ.

With Sola Scriptura, or “through Scripture alone,” the Reformers affirmed the authority of Scripture over and above the tradition of the Roman Catholic church. Today, questions of authority and accountability still plague the church, stemming from the influence of radical Anabaptists, modern biblicists, the continued tradition of Rome, and our own culturally shaped desires to have the final say. In this episode of White Horse Inn, hosts Michael Horton, Justin Holcomb, Bob Hiller, and Walter Strickland discuss sola Scriptura and how it can be good news for the church today.

In this bonus episode of White Horse Inn, Michael Horton interviews Jon Ward about his new book Testimony: Inside the Evangelical Movement that Failed a Generation, which discusses his experience in the Evangelical church and his takeaways after stepping out of it. (Episode SP012)

Throughout history, Christianity has profoundly impacted societies for the better, with Christians founding hospitals and adoption agencies and advocating for the poor and oppressed. Today, we may benefit from these Christian influences, but do we carry on their legacy? Are we contributing to the growth of Christianity, or are we growing out of it? In this episode of White Horse Inn, hosts Michael Horton, Justin Holcomb, Bob Hiller, and Walter Strickland point us to God’s work all around us, encouraging us toward a faith-centered life in the “already” as we anticipate the joy of the “not yet.”

The darkness can often feel out of control, tempting us towards hopelessness and fear. Scripture assures us that God is powerful and his mercy is abundant, and even now the gospel is planting seeds of Christ’s kingdom in and through his people. So, where are these sprouts of the new creation? In this episode of White Horse Inn, hosts Michael Horton, Justin Holcomb, Bob Hiller, and Walter Strickland reflect on God’s work in their own lives, helping us see the age to come breaking in on this present evil age through the ministry of sinful human beings.

Trying to achieve salvation through works is a human tendency, but this works-based ideology is contrary to the Bible’s message of salvation by grace alone through faith in Christ alone. So, how does living in the already-but-not-yet impact our standing before God? What does it mean for where our citizenship lies? In this episode of White Horse Inn, hosts Michael Horton, Justin Holcomb, Bob Hiller, and Walter Strickland discuss the role of the church and what it means to be in the world but not of it.

When someone mentions the “end times,” what comes to mind? Does it make you anxious, or perhaps tempt you to sit back and idly wait? Eschatology refers to the end, but really, it ought to come first. Our understanding of how things end positions us in God’s timeline and orient's us toward the ultimate goal of our salvation. In this episode of White Horse Inn, hosts Michael Horton, Justin Holcomb, Bob Hiller, and Walter Strickland dive into the theological history of eschatology, how we should be practicing it, and why it’s vital.

In this bonus episode of White Horse Inn, Michael Horton interviews Richard Lints about his new book Uncommon Unity and dives into the history of American politics and social issues in relation to Christianity. (Episode SP011)

When the trials of tragedy and trauma feel overwhelming, we can forget the victory our Savior accomplished for us. Our own Creator came to us in the flesh—God’s one and only Son bore the full weight of sin and death, giving us everlasting life. We are undeserving; nevertheless, he defeated death for us. How do we remember this marvelous truth in the midst of chaos? How do we continue to have the full hope God intended for us? In this episode of White Horse Inn, hosts Michael Horton, Justin Holcomb, Bob Hiller, and Walter Strickland discuss how Jesus triumphs over death and suffering, and they reflect on how we wait on the Lord during our own difficult trials.

In some ways, trauma has become a buzzword, both culturally and within the church. Even in places that are supposed to be the most safe, traumatic experiences seem rampant. So, how do we deal with it all? Where does God’s will come into play and how can we have hope during some of the darkest times of our lives? In this episode of White Horse Inn, hosts Michael Horton, Justin Holcomb, Bob Hiller, and Walter Strickland wrestle with the issues we’re facing when it comes to addressing trauma and how the church can help others see the hope of God—even in the dark.

When tragedy strikes us, what do we do? Do we want to immediately blame God? Do we try to rationalize it in some way? Or do we just lose hope? When trials feel like a main player in our lives, it can be overwhelming. We might feel entitled to the answers for our questions. In this episode of White Horse Inn, hosts Michael Horton, Justin Holcomb, Bob Hiller, and Walter Strickland take on the challenge of addressing God’s part in our tragedies and consider how to find our way when we feel lost.

German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche once said that there’s an old illusion, and “it is called good and evil.” Throughout the ages, people have either thrown out the idea of evil, like Nietzsche, or attempted to rationalize it with their belief system. So, if everyone in some way gives an account for real evil and suffering in the world, what do Christians have to say about it? In this episode of White Horse Inn, hosts Michael Horton, Justin Holcomb, Bob Hiller, and Walter Strickland tackle the historical reasons for evil and suffering and what resources we have, as believers, to face this fallen world.