Upcoming Annihilationism Debate: Your Input Needed!

It’s about two and a half weeks until my upcoming debate with Joshua Whipps of http://www.choosinghats.com/ on the topic of annihilationism. I’ve carefully followed the posts Joshua has authored and have listened to his recent podcast episode, and am looking forward to discussing the biblical texts and the theological issues Joshua intends to bring to bear in the debate. As of yet I remain convinced of the biblical case for annihilationism, and I find Joshua’s responses unconvincing, but I am thankful as he has caused me to study the topic in greater depth, further consider its place within systematic theology, better nuance my view and articulate it more precisely. What’s more, I appreciate the intensity and seriousness with which he is coming into the debate, for if my position is unbiblical (and therefore untrue), my prayer is that the Lord would use Joshua to make that clear to me and everyone who listens to the debate.

We do need your help, though. Our debate moderator, my friend Dee Dee Warren, will have some time to pose your questions to Joshua and me after our closing arguments. I’ve found that the Q&A portion of debates can be very useful, so long as the questions are relevant and of high quality. Dee Dee has received a number of questions for me, but as of a few days ago she had not yet received any questions for Joshua. If you have a question you’d like one of us to answer, please email her at preteristpodcast@gmail.com, letting her know to which of us she should pose the question (we will both have an opportunity to respond, but the one asked the question will have longer).

Also, in addition to your questions, please pray for us and for the debate. Pray that Joshua and I would be humble and gracious toward one another, while nevertheless treating our opponent’s position as the serious error—perhaps even heresy—we believe it to be. Pray that the truth God has revealed to us in the Bible—whether that’s what I’ll be arguing or what Joshua will be arguing—would be made evident to both of us and to everyone who listens. The Lord can and does soften hearts and open minds, and if any of us is stubbornly refusing to see the truth, may the Lord be merciful.

Some of the Best Advice I’ve Received…

I got an email today from someone who heard of my upcoming debate with Joshua Whipps (a.k.a. Razor’s Kiss) of Choosing Hats, in which he told me he’s praying for me and gave me some of the best advice I’ve received. I take it seriously, and to heart, and I think I’ll find some way to crystalize this in the form of a notecard I can carry around in my pocket or something, as I think it’s that important. I’ve kept the sender anonymous.

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Debate Announcement: Chris Date vs. Joshua Whipps on Annihilationism

What does the Bible teach is the nature of eternal punishment? To answer that question, Chris Date, host of the Theopologetics podcast, goes toe to toe with Joshua Whipps, creator of the Razor’s Kiss blog and author at Choosing Hats. Dee Dee Warren, friend to Chris and host of The Preterist Podcast, moderates. Tentatively scheduled for the June, 2012 timeframe, finalized details are below.

Be sure to email Dee Dee at preteristpodcast@gmail.com if you want to pose a question to either participant. The debate will be pre-recorded, so Dee Dee will be asking questions on behalf of those who send them to her in advance. Make sure to specify which participant you would like asked your question; he will have 2.5 minutes to answer, and his opponent will have 60 seconds to follow up.

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Episode 61: Lost Forever

Debate topic: “Some people will not be saved from their sins according to the following passages and their contexts: 2 Thess. 1:9, Matt. 25:41/46, Matt. 18:8, Romans 9:22 and Jude 1:6.” Pseudonymous blogger TurretinFan affirms, whereas Jason Pratt from The Evangelical Universalist Forum denies. This episode is part 3 of their debate, including Q&A and their closing arguments. Listen to episode 59, “God Save Us All,” for part 1’s opening statements and rebuttals, and listen to episode 60, “No More One More Chance,” for part 2’s cross-examination.

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Episode 60: No More One More Chance

Debate topic: “Some people will not be saved from their sins according to the following passages and their contexts: 2 Thess. 1:9, Matt. 25:41/46, Matt. 18:8, Romans 9:22 and Jude 1:6.” Pseudonymous blogger TurretinFan affirms, whereas Jason Pratt from The Evangelical Universalist Forum denies. This episode is part 2 of their debate, including cross-examination. Listen to episode 59, “God Save Us All,” for part 1’s opening statements and rebuttals, and listen to episode 61, “Lost Forever,” for part 3’s Q&A and closing arguments.

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Episode 59: God Save Us All

Debate topic: “Some people will not be saved from their sins according to the following passages and their contexts: 2 Thess. 1:9, Matt. 25:41/46, Matt. 18:8, Romans 9:22 and Jude 1:6.” Pseudonymous blogger TurretinFan affirms, whereas Jason Pratt from The Evangelical Universalist Forum denies. This episode is part 1 of their debate, including their opening statements and rebuttals. Listen to episode 60, “No More One More Chance,” for part 2’s cross-examination, and listen to episode 61, “Lost Forever,” for part 3’s Q&A and closing arguments.

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Episode 42: Post Mortem

Michael Burgos from Grassroots Apologetics joins me to discuss his recent debate on my show with Oneness Pentecostal, James Anderson. This episode contains the second half of the discussion; see episode 41, “The Aftermath,” for the first half.

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Episode 41: The Aftermath

Michael Burgos from Grassroots Apologetics joins me to discuss his recent debate on my show with Oneness Pentecostal, James Anderson. This episode contains the first half of the discussion; see episode 42, “Post Mortem,” for the second half.

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Episode 38: Only One

Debate topic: “The Son personally preexisted the incarnation with the Father.” Michael Burgos from Grassroots Apologetics affirms that statement, whereas Oneness Pentecostal James Anderson from Evidential Faith rejects it. This episode is part 2 of their debate, including cross-examination and closing statements. Listen to episode 37, “My Father’s Son,” for part 1, including their opening statements and rebuttals.

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Episode 37: My Father’s Son

Debate topic: “The Son personally preexisted the incarnation with the Father.” Michael Burgos from Grassroots Apologetics affirms that statement, whereas Oneness Pentecostal James Anderson from Evidential Faith rejects it. This episode is part 1 of their debate, including their opening statements and rebuttals. Listen to episode 38, “Only One,” for part 2, including cross-examination and closing statements.

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