Plundering Leviathan

Episode #30 || Military

Currently, over 3.3 million U.S. citizens are actively serving across all branches of the United States miliary. We recently had the privilege of sitting down with Marine Private First Class Aukeem Knoop to talk about his experience in boot camp at the Marine Corps Recruitment Depot in San Diego, California.
How does a Christian man seek to be a light in the military?
Should Christians be enlisting in the armed forces?
What is the history of women serving in the Marine Corps?
Are there opportunities for evangelism & spiritual growth at boot camp?
This and more on Episode #30 of Plundering Leviathan.

Episode #29 || Suffering

How does a follower of Jesus plunder the serrated edge of suffering for the glory of God? This valley of shadow is covered with the footprints of the saints. What did they have to say about their suffering that can give us hope and courage in the midst of ours?
This is the question on Episode #29 of Plundering Leviathan.
QUOTES
“God had one Son on earth without sin, but never one without suffering.” ~ Augustine of Hippo (354–430)
“They gave our Master a crown of thorns. Why do we hope for a crown of roses?” ~ Martin Luther (1483–1546)
“When I am in the cellar of affliction, I look for the Lord’s choicest wines.” ~ Samuel Rutherford (1600–1661)
“Suffering so unbolts the door of the heart, that the Word hath easier entrance.” ~ Richard Baxter (1615–1691)
“Such fatigues and hardships as these serve to wean me more from the earth; and I trust will make heaven the sweeter.” ~ David Brainerd (1718–1747)
“I love to live on the brink of eternity.” ~ David Brainerd
“It is good for me to be afflicted, that I might die wholly to this world and be led more fully to God.” ~ David Brainerd
“I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages.” ~ Charles Spurgeon (1834–1892)
“Suffering, then, is the badge of true discipleship. The disciple is not above his master.” ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–1945)
“There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.” ~ Corrie Ten Boom (1892–1983)
“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” ~ Corrie Ten Boom
“Of one thing I am perfectly sure: God’s story never ends with ‘ashes.’” ~ Elisabeth Elliot (1926–2015)
“The weaker we feel, the harder we lean. And the harder we lean, the stronger we grow spiritually.” ~ Joni Eareckson Tada (1949–Present)
HYMNS
"Sovereign Over Us" ~ Shane & Shane
“It Is Well with My Soul” ~ Horatio Spafford
“Is He Worthy?” ~ Andrew Peterson
“He Will Hold Me Fast” ~ Keith & Kristyn Getty
“Yet Not I but Through Christ in Me” ~ CityAlight
"You Are God" ~ WeakSide
“His Eye Is on the Sparrow” ~ Civilla Martin
“Blessed Be Your Name” ~ Matt Redman

Episode #28 || Fantasy Magic

"Fairy tales and magic remind us of the infinite possibilities that lie beyond the walls of the world."
~ G.K. Chesterton
Truly, there is infinitely more to this world than what our physical eyes can see. There is a supernatural power beyond our wildest imaginations, and God's Word is clear when it comes to entertaining powers that don't belong to us (e.g., Exod 22:18; Lev 19:31; Deut 18:10-12; Gal 5:19-21; Rev 21:8).
So, what about the wizards in Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings"?
What about the deep magic in Lewis's "Chronicles of Narnia"?
What about the sorcery in Rowling's "Harry Potter"?
What about the witches in Maguire's "Wicked"?
What about the arcane magic in "Dungeons & Dragons" (D&D)?
What about the dark magic in "Magic: The Gathering" (MTG)?
Adam and Sarah Heim join the conversation as Plundering Leviathan asks the question: "Is there any place for FANTASY MAGIC in Christian entertainment? And, if so, how can we plunder this genre for the glory of Christ?"
RESOURCES
Table Top Recovery || https://www.tabletoprecovery.com/ 

Episode #27 || Strong Language

The Bible has much to say about our language. It tells us that "death and life are in the power of the tongue" (Pro 18:21), that "the tongue is a fire" (James 3:6). It tells us to "let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth" (Eph 4:29) and to "let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt" (Col 4:6).
Yet, the Bible also recounts the stories of godly men who used "strong language" on occasion. Indeed, there is a time to use our words "to build" and a time "to destroy" (Eccl 3:3). But this leaves all kinds of questions:
When should Christians use their words to destroy?
What does this look like in the church today?
Who should be allowed to use strong language?
This is the conversation in Episode #27 on Plundering Leviathan.
RESOURCES
MESSAGES
Jeff Durbin, "Jeff Durbin Confronts The Woke Church" (here) starting at 1:00:35.
BOOKS
Doug Wilson, "A Serrated Edge: A Defense of Biblical Satire and Trinitarian Skylarking"
ARTICLES
Doug Wilson, "Understanding Bad Words" (here). 
www.protestia.com
PODCASTS
JD Hall, "Insights to Incite"
Doug Wilson, "Blog & Mablog"
VIDEOS
Douglas Wilson and Gabriel Hughes, "Flipping Off Idols" (here).
Joe Rigney, "Gracious Speech, Salty Language, and the Sexual Revolution" (here).
John Piper, "Can Christians Cuss to Prove a Point" (here). 

Episode #26 || Death, Transhumanism, Neuralink, and Living Forever

The Bible tells us that the last enemy to be destroyed is death (1 Cor 15:26).
In recent days, superstar individuals such as Hulk Hogan (the wrestler), Ozzy Osbourne (the musician), and John MacArthur (the pastor) have walked through the doorway of death and into eternity.
This spurs the question: how should Christians prepare for the finish line?
Should we join those like Bryan Johnson, the centimillionaire tech entrepreneur, who is seeking to find a way to keep his body alive forever?
Should we join those like Elon Musk who are investing into transhumanism, seeking to override the aging and dying processes through artificial intelligence and nanotechnology?
Is it possible for human beings to conquer death?
What does it mean to "finish well"?
This is the conversation on Episode #26 of Plundering Leviathan.

Episode #25 || Church Words

Words create worlds, and phrases create philosophies. Truly, the language we use is more powerful than we will ever know - for better or for worse.
This is true in every sphere, including the church.
In this episode, Pastor Jeremiah argues that we are unintentionally harming the church by the way we talk about it. Instead of strengthening the covenant community of believers, our words have unwittingly created a world of individualism, consumerism, and entertainment.
"What church do you attend?" = no good
"What time does your church start?" = no good
"Where is your church located?" = no good
"Welcome to church!" = no good
"Let's grab lunch after church." = no good
The way we talk shapes the way we think. Therefore, Pastor Jeremiah suggests a better kind of "church talk".

Episode #24 || Head Coverings

Every worldview has a wardrobe.
For over 1900 years of church history, Christian women wore head coverings in congregational worship on the Lord's Day. This was the universal practice across every continent. Today, however, this practice has all but disappeared in the Western world. Why is that?
What is the meaning of head coverings?
What are the biblical arguments & historical evidences for head coverings?
Were they merely a cultural practice in the Corinthian church (1 Cor. 11). 
And why is there a resurgence of this practice in evangelicalism today?
This is the question on Episode #24 of Plundering Leviathan.
RESOURCES
WEBSITES
Garlands of Grace || www.garlandsofgrace.com
Head Covering Movement || www.headcoveringmovement.com   
Femina Sola Gratia || https://feminasolagratia.com/ 
PODCAST
Bright Hearth || S2E18 || www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPDDixO2Gr4 
BOOK
"Head Coverings" by Jeremy Gardiner || https://www.amazon.com/dp/0995203601/?tag=gebcover-20 
ARTICLE
Purely Presbyterian || https://purelypresbyterian.com/2019/07/15/head-coverings-in-worship/comment-page-1/ 

Episode #23 || Church Clothes

Church Clothes
Should Christians really wear their "Sunday best" to the church gathering?
Why does Pastor Jeremiah wear a hoodie when he preaches?
What is the history of "church clothes" over the past 2,000 years?
When it comes to our Sunday attire, are some standards timeless and universal while others are merely cultural?
This (and more) in Episode #23 of Plundering Leviathan.

Episode #22 || The Manosphere

In the words of Newton, "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction." In other words, when something (e.g., feminism) exerts a force on another thing (e.g., masculinity), the second object exerts an equal force back on the first.
Enter: the "Manosphere" - a varied collection of voices promoting groups like
Misogyny,
PUA (Pickup Artists),
MGTOW (Men Going Their Own Way),
Men's Rights Activism,
The Red Pill Movement,
Fathers' Rights groups,
Incels,
Etc.
...all aimed at countering the onslaught of feminism.
In this episode of Plundering Leviathan, Pastor Steve and Pastor Jeremiah argue that, while many young men have rightly diagnosed the problem of feminism, they are using the wrong prescriptions.
How can a young man stand against this tidal wave of feminism while embracing a biblical vision of masculinity? This is the overarching question of Episode #22.

Episode #21 || Feminism & the Church (Part 4)

In a culture that has been deliberately and systematically shaped by the movement known as "feminism", there is a fresh wave of confusion and controversy regarding the role of women in the church.
What is God's design for women within the context of the local church?
Does the Bible have a category for female pastors, elders, and overseers?
What is the connection between being a preacher and being a protector?
How can the local church stand against this tidal wave of feminism with unwavering confidence in and allegiance to the unchanging and inerrant Word of God?
This is the trajectory in this multi-episode conversation of "Feminism & the Church". In this final episode, Pastor Steve and Pastor Jeremiah seek to highlight the practical ("what now") side of the conversation.
RESOURCES
BOOKS
"Eve in Exile: The Restoration of Femininity" by Rebekah Merkle
"Five Lies of Our Anti-Christian Age" by Rosaria Butterfield
"Women in the Church" by Dr. Andreas Kostenberger
"Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood: A Response to Evangelical Feminism" by John Piper & Wayne Grudem
PODCASTS
"After Complementarianism, What? Why Egalitarians Are (Still) Winning the Evangelical Gender Debate" by Christ Over All (Doug Ponder, June 2025)