The Wradcast

Giving to those in Need: Christian vs. Political views

Firstly, I'll point out to those who haven't noticed already that Wradcast I (both parts) had to be taken off the site and off of iTunes, since I only have so much space and I want to keep putting out new Wradcasts. If there are any out there who haven't already downloaded Wradcast I, but who would like to, just email me at jdward@umail.iu.edu or facebook me at Jaek Wrad and I'll get you a copy of the file.
I'd also like to say thanks again to everyone who has supported me and encouraged me in this, and I appreciate any feedback, positive or negative! Criticism or opposing arguments on anything are very much appreciated, as I do not want to lead anyone astray or confuse anyone!
This podcast focuses on a touchy issue: topics of welfare and governmental distribution of wealth, etc.  I suppose my main point is that political and governmental issues aren't our primary focus; God's Word, spreading the gospel, helping those in need and those in bondage to sin--these are more important! Matters pertaining to eternity and to God's kingdom should occupy our thoughts, goals, and efforts.  Worldy government is important, but it is still worldly--therefore we should not be shocked when it does not act according to God's will. That all being said, we should not be opposed to giving to those in need. The government probably won't handle this in an efficient or effective manner, but we as individual Christians CAN help others through God's work in us. We ought to give as we have been given to; we have received all things from God's hand, and so we should give our whole lives to Him, to doing His will and to helping His beloved children, our brethren. He has bought us out of the bondage of sin by the blood of His only Son, and so we ought to give Him our all, even though our all still cannot repay what we have gotten from Him! We are all dependent on his mercy--and so we should not be selfish with what He has blessed us with.

"Inadeqacy" Concluded

Alright, so this should clear a few things up (maybe not all that it is intended to clear up...).  A few more (hopefully) clarifying points on Kierkegaard--the need for passionate committment and difficult work (the thing is, his ideas are hotly debated among scholars, and are so voluminous that it's difficult to convey them in a brief podcast...I'm just using Kierkegaard to prove my point. If you get what I'm saying without him, then just forget about him for now!).  Also, some verses that I quoted but did not give book and chapter and verse numbers for are read in their entirety, and the notions of a loving, merciful God and of Christ's blood making us sinless are reconciled with the ideas of anxiety, difficulty, and perpetual feelings of inadequacy...just listen to it, it'll make more sense that way!

Inadequacy: The Difficulty of Being a Christian

"As Christians, our feelings of inadequacy should be perpetual." Not the cheeriest statement, but I believe it's true. Complacency, comfort, laziness, and pride work on us continually. God seeks to make us perfect, and we must submit ourselves to His scrutiny, to His justice and discipline. Also, just bear with me for the five minutes or so when I talk about Kierkegaard...it gets hairy and I don't maintain the utmost clarity haha, but there are still a lot of good points among all the "um"s and "but"s and "I feel like"s...I'll be coming out with a Part II to this podcast soon to clarify some points!

Wradcast II: The Tripartite Nature of Man

Alright everyone get out your superpowered headphones...It's time for another Wradcast! Drawing pretty much exclusively from Watchman Nee's "The Spiritual Man", this is a discussion of man's nature--that he has three parts: Spirit, Soul, and Body.  Bear in mind I'm still new to podcasting and I'm not the greatest speaker, so there're still lots of um's and awkward silences as people loudly walk by the door to my room and I lose concentration.  But this is an important point, that we cannot trust in our own flesh, our own mind, our own emotions or desires to guide us...only through the spirit and through God's light can we receive guidance and unshakable truth.