Cults and Solutions: Scientology

It has been an amazing semester for SQ@CC and we are grateful for all our faithful listeners in 12 countries and well over 1000+ downloads. While we are grateful for the numbers, we are even more grateful to be a part of the changed hearts and minds of those of you who are listening and who now have a resource to embolden and encourage them to stand for the truth in their personal lives, workplaces, families, assemblies, and communities. Listen in as Brian and Luke review their favorite moments from this season and talk about the personal impact of their work with SQ@CC and some of the exciting changes coming Fall 2023! Please continue to personally utilize these episodes and share them with friends (or "enemies") and family alike. We will be back in the Fall and until then, thank you for listening!

Is Jesus God? In what way is He God? As we considered Modalism last week, we looked at forms of Modalism we discussed the truth that Jesus has always been God. This podcast, we are looking at Arianism, yet another heresy concerning the trinity, where Jesus is seen "ontologically" and "chronologically" subordinated to the Father as a created being, or non-eternal. In other words, they may claim that Jesus is God, but he is only 'a god' who is somehow 'less than' the Father.  This idea is captured in... you probably guessed it, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, and others.  Listen in as Brian and Luke seek to unpack this false teaching and discuss its solution! Next week, there will be another gap in our episodes due to staffing availability, but don't miss the next two after that because they will be the final episodes of the semester!!

What is meant by the Oneness of God? Unity of course comes to mind... at least among the orthodox. But to have 'unity' implies that there is more than one. Among the unorthodox, anti-trinitarian groups, including Judaism, the oneness of God means that there is only one person who is God. However, that is not what Scripture teaches. Interestingly, the false doctrine of Monarchianism (anti-trinitarian) doctrine, almost certainly coming from the same Jewish misunderstanding of scripture that drove the crucifixion of Christ for claiming to be God, was confronted in the early church within the 2nd century (between 100 and 200 AD). Even by that time, and with an imperfect distribution of scriptures, the church still knew that to teach that God was just one person was incorrect, if for no other reason than the teachings of Christ himself. Listen in as Brian and Luke give the history, unpack this doctrine, define the trinity from scripture, and provide extensive scriptures that rebut this doctrine that lies at the root of the current modern heresies that are preserved in Oneness Pentecostalism, Apostolic fellowships, as well as some other infamous cults that were founded in the 19th century!

Many Christians are drawn away from sound doctrine by the promise of a 'new work' of God where there are prophets and 'new truth' and promises to 'bring in the kingdom'. Montanism was just such an early movement. While ultimately it was condemned by the early church, much damage was done. In fact, one of the church's most well-known apologists Tertullian was drawn into the web himself. Listen in as Brian and Luke speak to issues like radical Pentecostalism, Revivalism, the New Apostolic Reformation, and perhaps most importantly the dangers that ecumenism poses to sound doctrine, particularly when unity is placed above doctrinal purity.

Have you ever had someone challenge you about the resurrection of Jesus Christ? If you've been a Christian for almost any length of time, you have probably felt the pressure that comes with this belief. This episode is specifically engineered to give you confidence when presenting the truth of the resurrection. Easter Sunday is right around the corner! What a perfect time to share the truth of Christ's rising from the dead.  Listen in to get some great resources and hard-hitting facts to share with your agnostic and atheist friends and family. Though often people make claims of agnosticism and atheism from a point of pain, they will try to say that it's because 'there isn't any evidence'. This episode will give you the tools to help build a bridge so that someone else can start their journey of faith. Happy Easter!! He is Risen!!

Have you ever wondered where the ideas behind false doctrine come from? Well, they aren't new, despite what you may have heard. Many of them were condemned in the first few centuries of Christianity. In this episode, Brian and Luke dig into Gnosticism and some of its current forms within the modern church and society. Listen in for some eye-opening content!  By the way, there will be no episode next week (March 31st) due to Spring Break at Calvary College but tune in for our April 7th Good Friday/Easter Episode.

Is God adding apostles and prophets back to the church in these last days? A more radical form of five-fold ministries is on the rise and people who adhere to their teaching may already be unwittingly under its influence within your local ministries and churches. This form is so extreme that most Pentecostal and Charismatic churches do not agree with it. It is not its own denomination. But on the surface, it sounds and looks so good. It is a movement that is intentionally designed to establish the apostolic and prophetic 'authority' of particular individuals whose calling cards are deliverance ministries, extra-biblical revelation, dominion theology, post-millennial theology, and the demonic possession of believers. Listen in to this important episode to find out more!

Can a Christian be demon possessed? There are a growing number of ministries that are preying on the lack of biblical certainty of Christians by peddling their own private interpretation of the Word of God. The recent rise of these 'Deliverance' ministries is a threat to the doctrinal solidarity and freedom of Christians everywhere. These so-called ministers are bringing people into bondage by the very means they claim to use to 'deliver' them. Listen in as Brian and Luke examine the reality of biblical spiritual mechanics and the true freedom that we already have in Christ. Next week, be sure to listen in to our analysis of a similarly dangerous related movement- the 'New' Apostolic Reformation. Stay Tuned!

The Jesus Revolution is taking theaters by storm! People all over the world are now hearing about Chuck Smith and the central role he played in the Jesus Revolution and the expansion of Calvary Chapels. But... perhaps you did not know, Dr. Brian Nixon had a long-standing personal and working relationship with Pastor Chuck Smith and has had access to the original story through founding documents and personal interviews. Also hear some truth about a biblical perspective on those involved with the founding that will best prepare us for our next steps in seeing God 'do it again'. We here at SQ@CC have a special treat to go behind the scenes and hear a blow-by-blow account of 'how it all began'. As usual, the movie is great, but it's never quite the same as the book. Find out why in this important episode!

Many people are disconcerted by the urgency of the assertions of the atheistic worldview and shocked by the vehemence of its 'anti-god(s)' stance. It is unsettling, but not for the reasons why atheists say it is. They claim that Christians avoid atheism because they are afraid of the truth. In this podcast, Luke and Brian dig into the positive reasons for theism and examine several of the inconsistencies of atheism to demonstrate that it is not that Christians fear to acknowledge the 'truth' of atheism, but that atheists feel a need to escape God. Listen in for a good place to start your examination of this worldview!