#18: On the gospel and church history with Obbie Tyler Todd.

Caravaggio, “Saint Jerome in his study”

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One of the great benefits of 21st century Christianity is the ability for brothers and sisters in Christ to connect and encourage each other through means otherwise impossible. The advent of social media has brought with it many vices and evils to be sure, but the virtues of these platforms can’t be over-sung. The freedom with which believers are able to relate with each other is a powerful vehicle for the mutual encouragement of the brotherhood of faith. Such is the nature of my relationship with Obbie Tyler Todd. While I’ve never met Obbie, I feel a special bond with him because of his passion for history and the gospel. Above all, we share a mutual fervor for LeBron James.

In this episode, I’m thrilled to be joined by fellow Baptist and church historian, Obbie Tyler Todd, to about talk the failures and successes of the Baptist denomination, the pivotal role creeds and confessions have in the church today, and what it means to be a gospel-centered student minister. Likewise, we endeavor to answer a number of questions, such as, how the gospel shapes our understanding of church history. Similarly, are creeds inherently Catholic? By the way, was Jonathan Edwards really just a crusty old Puritan? This and much more is covered in this lengthy discussion between Obbie and I, namely, a conversation that’s fueled by history and a passion for the gospel.

Resources.

“3 Reasons Every Pastor Should Read Church History,” Obbie Tyler Todd

“The Prodigal Baptist,” Obbie Tyler Todd

The Democratization of American Christianity, Nathan O. Hatch

History of Christian Doctrines, Louis Berkhof

The Excellency of Christ, Jonathan Edwards

Heaven: A World of Love, Jonathan Edwards

Sermons of Jonathan Edwards

The Bondage of the Will, Martin Luther

Luther’s Small Catechism, Martin Luther

Grace: So Much More Than You Know and So Much Better Than You Think, Brad J. Gray

Sponsor.

This episode is brought to you by the Christian Standard Bible. Find out more by going to CSBible.com.

Notes.

Obbie, his wife Kelly, and their two kids, Roman and Ruby, are in the midst of a transitional season, as God as seen fit to move them from Louisiana to Georgia. He currently serves as the campus pastor at the Haynes Creek campus of First Baptist Church in Covington, Georgia. He’s also an avid writer and excellent thinker, having already attained a Master’s in Theology and an M.Div., Obbie is also pursuing a Doctoral degree from New Orleans Theological Baptist Seminary. He’s a rampant blogger and zealous studier of God’s Word. The majority of his writing can be found on The Majesty’s Men network site, Vernacular. You can also follow him on Twitter, @obbietyler.

Credits.

Intro music: “West Coast” by Ryan Little, licensed under CC BY 4.0.