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Did God set humanity up to fail in the Garden of Eden? Was the Fall inevitable—or even unjust? In this episode of Wade in the Balance, Jonathan Brooks and Josh Howard respond to a popular atheist objection: that God gave Adam and Eve an unfair test with impossible odds. But when we look at the biblical text, the covenant framework, and the goodness of God, the narrative tells a very different story. We explore the purpose of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, the nature of obedience, and what it really means for God to be just and holy—even in judgment.

If you’ve ever wrestled with questions about original sin, free will, or divine fairness, this conversation is for you.

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Do Roman Catholic doctrines like purgatory, indulgences, or papal supremacy reflect the organic development of early Christian teaching—or are they later additions with no real roots in Scripture? In this episode of Wade in the Balance, Jonathan Brooks critically engages Joe Heschmeyer’s ranking of arguments against Catholicism, exploring what counts as legitimate doctrinal growth and what veers into theological invention. From the Chalcedonian box to Ephraim the Syrian, from Nestorianism to the office of the pope, we dig deep into church history, biblical authority, and how we distinguish between faithful continuity and dangerous departure.

If you've ever wondered whether “doctrinal development” is just a nice name for doctrinal drift, this conversation is for you.

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Martin Luther wasn’t trying to start a new church—he was trying to start a conversation. In this episode of Wade in the Balance, Jonathan Brooks and Matthew Duraski break down the real story behind the 95 Theses, challenge the myth of a fully-formed “Lutheran Luther” in 1517, and unpack how the Reformer’s theology actually developed over time. From lightning storms to excommunications, from indulgences to justification by faith, we explore the messy, fascinating, and often misunderstood early years of the Protestant Reformation.

Along the way, we respond to common Catholic critiques, highlight key historical turning points, and even reflect on the pastoral power of church discipline. If you think the Reformation was a single moment nailed to a door, think again.

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Martin Luther didn’t set out to start a new church—so how did we get here?

In this episode, Jonathan Brooks is joined by fellow PCA minister Matt Duraski for a no-holds-barred look at the Reformation, the myths surrounding Luther, and the infamous “44,000 denominations” claim. They tackle historical misunderstandings, Roman Catholic critiques, and the real reasons Protestant churches are so numerous (hint: it’s not just theological slap fights). From lightning storms and guilt-ridden monks to Bonclarken and Bible studies, this is a fun and thoughtful deep dive into how the church got so complicated—and why Christ is still building His Church.

References:
Original Video

Book Recommendations: Lyndal Roper, Martin Luther: Renegage and Prophet (New York: Random House, 2016). Timothy George, Theology of the Reformers (Nashville: B&H Academic, 2013). Michael Reeves, The Unquenchable Flame: Discovering the Heart of the Reformation (Nashville: B&H Academic, 2009).

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Was Peter really the first pope? Or have we misread one of the most famous passages in the Gospels?

In this episode, Jonathan and Alex take a deep dive into Matthew 16 and the Roman Catholic argument for papal authority. They unpack the grammar, explore the Greek, and show why the “keys of the kingdom” may not mean what you’ve been told. Along the way, they compare Matthew 16 to Matthew 18 and the Great Commission, argue that Christ—not Peter—is always the focus, and offer a distinctly Reformed take on ecclesial authority and church discipline. If you've ever wondered what Jesus really meant when he said, “I will give you the keys,” this episode is for you.

This is part 3. If you haven't seen part 1 or 2 look for them in previous episodes!

Scripture references:
- Matthew 16:13–20
- Matthew 18:15-20
- Matthew 28:16-20
- 1 Peter 2:4–9
- John 20
- Philippians 2
- Acts 1–10

Resources:
Cameron's Original Video
John Chrysostom’s Homily on Matthew 54
John Calvin’s Commentary on Matthew 16

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What really happened on the floor of the 2025 PCA General Assembly? Was Teaching Elder Timothy Brindle unfairly cut off? Did Moderator Kevin DeYoung cross a line—or keep things from crossing it?

In this special edition of Weighed in the Balance, Jonathan Brooks is joined by Ryan Biese and Nathan Xanders to unpack the clash between parliamentary order and rising tensions around the reelection of Dr. Irwin Ince. Along the way, we respond to Doug Wilson, CrossPolitic, and the growing conversation about race, power, and polity in the PCA. Was it a kerfuffle... or a crisis? You decide.

Check out their podcasts!

Ryan Biese: The Westminster Standard
https://open.spotify.com/show/0W12Hy3Rszfwwt9iClDlDm

Nate Xanders: Reforming Men
https://www.thereformingmenpodcast.com

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In this second installment of our three-part series on Matthew 16 and the Roman Catholic claim to papal authority, Jonathan Brooks and Alex Lott take a deep dive into the controversial question: Is Peter really the rock on which Christ builds His Church?

Drawing from Scripture, grammar, and the writings of early Church Fathers like John Chrysostom, they unpack what Jesus meant in His famous words to Peter: “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.”

You'll hear:

• Why Petros and Petra are grammatically different but semantically identical
• Why Chrysostom and Calvin reject the idea that Peter alone is the “rock”
• A pastoral look at 1 Peter 2 and the priesthood of all believers
• Why Protestants may overcorrect in response to Rome
• And yes…a few Christian rock jokes (Petra does rock)

Featured passages:

• Matthew 16:13–20
• 1 Peter 2:4–9
• John 20
• Philippians 2
• Acts 1–10

Resources and References:

• John Chrysostom’s Homily on Matthew 54:
  https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/200154.htm
• John Calvin’s Commentary on Matthew 16:
  https://ccel.org/ccel/calvin/calcom32/calcom32.ii.lii.html
• Original Claim: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KG9YvkNqg6E&t=1959s

Whether you’re Reformed, Roman Catholic, or just wrestling with the text, this episode invites you to ask: What is Jesus really trying to teach us here?

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In this episode, Jonathan Brooks and Alex Lott begin a three-part series responding to a video by Cameron Riker, who argues that Matthew 16 supports the Roman Catholic claim to papal authority. While acknowledging Riker’s sincerity and catechetical background, Jonathan and Alex take a close look at what the text actually says—starting with the foundational question Jesus asks His disciples: "Who do you say that I am?"

They explore the historical and theological weight of Peter’s confession, discuss the significance of the title “Son of Man,” and contrast biblical teaching with popular but flawed interpretations of eschatology and ecclesiology. This first episode lays the groundwork by focusing on Christ as the center of the passage—before engaging with the Catholic claims.

Along the way, they reference early Christian commentary and Reformed exegesis, including:

• John Calvin’s Commentary on Matthew 16:
  https://ccel.org/ccel/calvin/calcom32/calcom32.ii.lii.html
• John Chrysostom’s Homily on Matthew 16:
  https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/200154.htm

Responding to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KG9YvkNqg6E&t=1959s

Key Topics:

• What Jesus meant by “Son of Man”
• The significance of Peter’s confession
• Why this passage is Christ-centered, not Peter-centered
• Problems with reading Matthew 16 through a Roman Catholic lens
• The Berean model of testing claims against Scripture

Scripture Explored:

• Matthew 16:13–20
• Daniel 7
• Matthew 28:18–20
• Luke 24 (Road to Emmaus)

Let me know if you'd like a shorter version, or one tailored for podcast platforms like Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

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