Luke Abendroth 2025 Update

Welcome to No Compromise Radio Ministry, Michael Lee Ebendroth in the studio today with Luke Michael Ebendroth, and just moments ago, we were holding Eleazar.

Family Names, Radio Banter, and Seminary Update

Knox Luke Ebendroth. What in the world is going on Luke? How are you? Good. I carried on the family tradition. I passed down the my first name as his middle name. I have one of his middle names. Yeah, but I'm offended that it's not Eleazar Luke.

Knox Ebendroth, what's going on with that? I wanted it to sound like it was my name at the end. You got to turn the dubstep off man. His background. That's how we do this in radio.

We are not in Carlsbad, California. This is uptown Worcester downtown. Wow. Yeah. Yeah. Like a nightclub or.

Hillsong. Well, I went to a Hillsong in Los Angeles and that was the. It was like they had dubstep. Really yeah. They had like the big, you know, the beat and it has the big drop and stuff. So. Yeah, I needed some kind of euro red sunglasses on.

I have all kinds of presets like this.

See it's just like house music. I don't even remember what I was saying. Oh something about oh Eleazar. Yeah, so I wanted his last name to have. I wanted the last part of his name to be my name. So if it was Eleazar Luke Knox Ebendroth, then it's all broken up.

I want it to be Eleazar Knox.

Luke Ebendroth. Oh, so there's a pause in there. Yeah, it's almost like a space. Yeah in hebrew. What's a little this? I don't know. It's not.

Huh?

Ottnock.

Is that it? I don't know the halfway marker of the verse. Oh, I didn't know that. I don't think i've ever heard that before.

So how can I be better at greek than hebrew. And you're better at hebrew than greek? How's that work out?

I don't know maybe because i've done more hebrew. So the israel stuff helped and that's true now last time we talked.

I don't know if it was official that you're preaching every week and I don't know your Title, I guess a pastor or something at redemption church north county. Tell me a little bit about the church.

Yeah, so we are a new church as of six months ago. I am a pastoral candidate there. So we have a little bit of a.

Uh.

Time of I guess testing or something for the congregation to get to know myself and the other. The other guy andrew. Um, so but I am preaching pretty regularly. So, uh, that's been great. I just finished preaching through ruth.

But the church is yeah, it's new. We are we're in carlsbad, california, which is like north county san diego and uh, yeah small but it's been it's been fun really really great great people and.

I I saw the website and I thought it was excellent and it talked about being confessional and I don't know christ-centered and other things, but I don't know what you said on there, but I really liked it.

Well, how did you know I wrote it? It's chat gpt. It's not I said I said.

Write a.

Church doctrinal statement based on mike abendroth and no compromise radio. And that's what I came up with. It's better than i've seen creed.

My scene creed. Okay, you're a student at west cal westminster seminary escondido. What's the difference between escondido westminster and philadelphia westminster.

Well, they're both sort of sister schools. Westminster philly was started by machen and I know westminster escondido at least is. Sort of carrying that on on the on the west coast. So there's some different small theological things and stuff like that.

But.

Traditionally, they've been somewhat sister schools both serving the confessional reform traditions, you know, opc pca and then out in the west coast, especially the urcna the united reformed churches of north america, so.

Yeah, there's differences different different professors or different flavors and and you're being pretty nice to westminster philly good for you.

You're you. You know, you know how to do things. I know how to do things. Yeah. He taught me. Well, i'm glad you're at westminster escondido. I prefer that westminster to the other westminster, how about that?

Sounds good. Sounds good. Okay, although. Uh who let's see years ago where they had westminster escondido had fesco Godfrey maybe ball was still there. Dennis johnson. Dennis johnson. Uh, who are some of your professors now?

My professors now this last semester. I have uh, dr. Bittner. Dr. Brad bittner for greek. He's uh, he's a great professor. I have a Dr. Vanni teaching hebrew and penituk. He's a hebrew hebrew guy and he's uh, He's a great professor as well.

And then I also have i've had it's dr. Estelle. Um, dr. Troxell who wrote that with all your heart book popular little book on the heart and then uh, who else dr Clark, uh was was a big influence in me.

Uh going to that seminary dr. R scott clark and then michael horton teaches a few classes, too.

Does anything good come out of nebraska. And just like a hayseedville, I think it's you.

Pat.

Dr. R. Scott clark. Dr. Troxell, there we go a bunch of people. Nebraska.

Something went through my mind and I didn't say it. You'll be very happy. I'm finally learning what's something about runs us. Oh, yeah, there's that's true. We go to the packham conference probably within no time.

You'll take my place speaking at the packham conference, so there'll still be two abendroth's preaching. But it'll just be luke and.

Pat that's how we'll know that nepotism has won the day.

Reading for Finals and Schleiermacher’s Influence

All right. Today on no compromise radio, we are free flowing mike and luke just sitting down talking. It's like you're just listening in on a father-son conversation. Luke. You got in last night at what 5 a .m or something like that.

Yeah, our flight got delayed so I think it was five. I think I got home at 5 a .m and I had a coffee on the way home and I drove for for your daughter my sister maddie and I was wide awake. So I was trying to fall asleep and then I had my little kindle out just trying to read or something to fall asleep.

Speaking of reading tell our listeners a little bit of what you've had to read like in the last month as you got ready for finals.

Well all of the semester reading.

Right, so you did all this semester reading in the last two weeks. Yeah, and what was that reading?

Who'd you have to who did I have to read? Well, I had a lot of reading for uh, the church in the modern age class, uh, which is. Sort of the final church history class that you're required at westminster.

So it covers from the french reformation up until the present day.

So.

I had to read a lot of uh, beza turretin.

Uh.

And then I wide range schleiermacher.

All kinds of things if somebody in the listening audience. Here's the word schleiermacher. What would you say? Let's say they're a lay person. They don't know anything about him. What do they need to watch out for?

Everything.

Yeah.

As we say around here.

Whoa.

See that's where schleiermacher belongs and that's right next to the dog face boy.

It's true, but seriously, what what was his big big push? What was he known for?

Well, hopefully my professor doesn't listen to this, but I think If I had to summarize I didn't really I I thought he was known for being on drugs reading his article that I had to read. It was such so trippy, but I think fear and loathing you had to read.

Uh, I don't remember the name of it, but just basically that religion. We need to stop thinking about particular religions and consider religion Uh singular and that all religions are getting after this one feeling of absolute dependence and we really need to recognize the universe outside of us and basically pantheism and and he tries to in a liberal way take jesus and the atonement and Change the meaning and make it into some kind of progressive scheme for.

For a new age of humanity. All right, and you have been reading who else bloom?

Oh, well, that's just for fun. I had to read a bunch of uh stuff for for the final about uh, Evangelicalism and how it's related to the reform tradition. So Dr. Horton's uh recent works like shaman and sage and little small booklet called what is secularization? but he's referenced harold bloom who Mom actually likes harold bloom because he compiles Poetry english poetry.

He's uh, he's a literature critic and uh literary critic.

And.

There's a I got home and there's a harold bloom book sitting in the room on the counter. But yeah, he wrote a book called the american religion. So I was just interested in the class. I was reading out.

I was stuck on the plane in chicago for two hours on the tarmac. So I I was reading out on my kindle.

Harold Bloom, American Religion, and Gnosticism

What you said earlier to me today luke I thought was insightful. Tell our listeners a little bit about Bloom is against christianity and he was hoping uh for something to happen in christianity and it is happening.

And he was against something else. What were you describing?

Yeah, basically, uh this book the american religion this this literary critic harold bloom he Highlights, uh the american nature of of the american christ he calls. He calls the christ of of evangelicalism and he talks about how?

There is an american religion, even though we don't have a state religion. The american religion is all about the inward turn. And he highlights how that is actually opposed to historic. What he uses often is historic creedal christianity that there's this creedal orthodoxy.

Whether it's in roman catholicism or in the reformed tradition or or just in in the story of the church. And that the american version of christianity is totally opposed to that even if they they don't admit that and so he highlights the similarities between.

What what what he says is the the southern baptists? The mormons. And uh, and then he talks about adventism and basically his argument is they are all just repackaging ancient gnosticism. Which is one of the which is the original heresy of the christian church that matter is bad.

It's evil there's a god within us and we need to unite to some kind of eternal world soul and. So he basically just traces this this search for the for the inner man, that's really divine and this kind of pantheistic impulse in a lot of versions of christianity and It's really interesting because he highlights he said, you know.

He reads so much about religion and religious criticism and he highlights one person that he said Stands out as an example of this kind of ancient backwards historic christianity and he says this guy.

He he doesn't like him, even though he knows he's intelligent. He says it's it's uh, jay gresham machen nice so he basically just compares, uh, the religion of machen to and the historic christian church to what we see in the churches today and.

And the the impulse and he does a lot with mormonism as kind of the the chair example of of this american religion.

So it's probably redundant to ask but just to clarify. Or or maybe rephrase with a question why do you think we've gone so far as an american church. So far from creeds and confessions and external and objective.

To the subjective. Is there a reason for that? What what's kind of driving all that besides satan?

Well, I think a lot of this is explained. I think I mean i'll just I don't have an original thought about this. But I think it's probably following Dr. Horton is a lot of this finds its roots in I mean you could go all the way back to the fifth century and orific spirituality, but especially in the christian tradition in medieval mystics like joaquim of fiore and And men like meister eckhart and the men who is steve meister steve meister.

I knew that I should watch out for that guy.

Yeah, so and uh Towler who wrote theological germanica. But basically all these medieval mystics who were they definitely had this pantheistic idea that everything is divine and you need to turn inward you need to to look inside of yourself for a true religion.

This was kind of picked up by this is a long answer to your question. This is kind of picked up by by the anabaptists, uh, so the radical reformation who. They're actually one of the first groups to have a scholar who compiled uh the first Collection of so-called contradictions in the scriptures.

So that's what that's what the anabaptists did because and they were able to look at the scriptures From their inner light within themselves that they had from these medieval mystics and they could determine this dead Written word what what was really important in it?

So they set themselves up over and and against the scriptures and and that's really mediated to German pietism by burma and then in german pietism you get this this Within the lutheran church and within other reformed and confessional churches you get this Opposition to what's seen as this dead orthodoxy.

It's confessionalism that there's this living uh, there's this living religion of the inner man that transcends all uh denominational and confessional boundaries. It doesn't matter what you believe as long as you have this experience and and you know.

That's what what influenced wesley. Wesley was was was a witness to some of those german pietists and then you know wesley passes this down to to whitfield and Edwards and the second great awakening you have charles finney so I think a lot of it is just that that theological heritage this intellectual history of this is the The inward turn this has always been a tradition that's lurking under the the crust of christendom maybe on the fringes but there's always been The this creedal christianity that looks to the The ancient creeds and looks to the scriptures outside of us as an authority and even the spirits work in us.

The spirit is not us. He's outside of us. Even if he's working inside of us and looking.

Out.

For truth and there's always been this other other tradition. And so I think that's part of it. I mean, I think another part of it is probably What united americans what united all americans to come to america?

Well. Even if it's not a dispensational. Uh millennialism, there is a type of millennialism uh that they are that they're advocating that if we get there if we if we get away from These constraints of european society there's going to be a new age.

And there's going to be a city on a hill not the church. But the puritans even some of the puritans and pilgrims we're going to be a city on a hill as a nation now. And so there's there's this uniting together of people like that or these pilgrims who still have this orthodoxy.

But they're looking for a greater age. And then you also have the uh, the quakers you have william penn pennsylvania, you have these men who they are they are the the they are continuing this tradition of of uh of the anabaptists and.

This.

Radical anti Just quote unquote dead orthodoxy movement. So what unites those people. It's this desire for a a millennial kingdom, even if it's not Supernatural and they all agree that we need to get away and we need to get to this new age.

So I think that we've just continued that on and that new age is realized by turning inward turning to the self and Look inside of you and you'll figure it all out. So I don't know that's all.

Very uh.

Confusingly said and i'm just repeating what uh, horton teaches in his classes. So but that's that's a little bit of of how he probably would answer it. That's excellent. Luke.

I was just listening to you and learning today. We're talking to luke abendroth. My name is mike abendroth No compromise radio. You can write us mike at no compromise radio dot com. Luke and I were here at the church building for something else and I said hey, come on in let's do a show.

What are we going to talk about. I have no idea and that's just how we roll so good job. Not knowing the questions uh, but Coming up with good answers as you were talking earlier about. The drift toward the inward man.

I was thinking about quakers because we Are close to nantucket martha's vineyard, uh, new bedford new bedford. And the whole whaling thing. And I don't know if you know this luke. But the whalers, you know, they're all they were all quakers down there at nantucket.

And so the women ran the show because the guys were out on the ships and now you've got this kind of uh little feminism, uh ladies, you know inner light.

Um.

You know where. I don't know where george fox was but he's probably somewhere in the middle of all this stuff, but.

I think.

The fall affected our inner light.

Is right. Well and that's the thing is at the end of the day what that doesn't explain is. That what about the spirit and the flesh? No matter how sanctified you are when you're 98 years old. And you've been a missionary for 50 years.

The flesh is still there and the flesh is still not necessarily your body, but the your sinful flesh is still hanging on. There's a continual war of the spirit against the flesh and. Unfortunately, this leads this kind of like well if it's spiritual it's good.

And which is not biblical at all.

Romans 7, the Flesh, and Why Sanctification Is a Struggle

What do you think the reason is. I don't know if we have one, but The lord could have immediately glorified us upon salvation by either taking us to heaven Or glorifying us on earth. Why do you think we're?

I almost said relegated but that would be I don't want to defame the lord's Name, why do we have to struggle like that? What's the reason why god? Thought in his perfect plan. This is the way his sanctification should go In terms of our response to killing sin and living for righteousness and it was it's very difficult.

Well, I don't know if I want to answer of the answer the question which is why in god's perfect plan usually that uh. Yeah, that's the that's the same thing it's the desire to peek in to the Mysteries.

Is luke correcting me on my show. I'm just kidding, but I think probably roman 7 Carries the answer with it of what does paul say? Why does he say with such passion? Thanks be to god. Uh who gives who brings the victory through our lord?

Jesus christ? Why does he say that? Well, it's because right before Immediately prior he says wretched man that I am who will deliver me from this body of death. Without that black velvet background you don't see the diamond of the gift of christ's righteousness and his obedience in our place and.

This.

Salvation totally outside of us. It's external that christ has accomplished. So, I don't know that. That's probably what I would know. I think that's good.

I read someplace that that body of death that paul was wanting to be delivered from. Came. Paul had that idea because sometimes if you would get caught for murder uh first degree murder. They would take the dead body of the person of the of the one that you murdered and like strap it to you.

Right. Do you think that's. Do you think that's. I don't know? I should be asking you if that's legit. I've heard that before, you know, it sure preaches. Yeah, it's great. Uh-huh.

Westminster Seminary, Tradition, and the Perspicuity of Scripture

All right, uh luke a few more questions as we wrap up the show here pretty soon. What what's been kind of like the biggest? Aha moment at westminster seminary. It's not like you were a theological when you went there.

It's not like you weren't exposed to reformation creeds confessions. I know you didn't really know much about the denominations Opc pca urcna that kind of stuff, but what's been kind of your biggest takeaway after now?

What a year and a half two years at westminster?

It's a good question That's what you say when you don't know the answer. Uh, I think for me, uh, the biggest takeaway from westminster Well, it's hard to boil it down to one but give me five. I don't care well, I think one of the biggest takeaways is just the importance of tradition.

I think when I When I really came to know the lord, I was really excited about reading the bible, which was a good thing. But I think I really did think well like a you know, what is the trinity? Okay.

Let me make sure that that's right i'm gonna go get my esv out and i'm gonna Look through it with the help of google and make sure that that two thousand years of christianity is actually correct. I think that was something that even for myself That's sort of the impulse is I can figure this out.

I know I don't really need the church and I just I think even Although I think romans 12 and first corinthians 12 the body with many members is probably It in context it really is talking about a local assembly of believers.

I think that's still true for all believers that we should have a a posture of respect and Honor towards our brothers and sisters in christ who have gone before and especially things that they died for and that were they were most that were most important to them we ought to prize highly and That doesn't mean that we accept some kind of roman catholic notion of tradition that tradition You know is over scripture.

We still we still Have to have to say that scripture is our only authority sans scriptura.

But.

At the same time these Ancient landmarks as maybe the author of of proverbs would say They're not moved. They shouldn't be moved flippantly that we should at the very least be aware Of the christian tradition.

And when we are outside of its bounds We should pause and reflect and consider and sometimes that leads to men like martin luther pausing. Reflecting considering looking even at at some of the earlier church fathers and then rejecting.

Rejecting a tradition that many people held. And that's fine. But I I think just the posture I think i've learned. I don't want to reinvent the wheel. I don't want to. I want to. I want to pass down. I want to guard the deposit.

I want to continue to pass to the next generation what's already been handed down to us. And just I think I think the lord has humbled me maybe from the arrogance of thinking I I can figure everything out with my with my uh, My bible gateway app, you know and in the esv out.

I think i've tried to explain this to folks that are just coming into studying creeds and confessions and you know, there's A response by them. Well, you know, they're not above the bible and all that and of course, that's true final authority scripture.

I'm not arguing against that but I would say things like this. Tell me what you think luke. Um. You've got in the 1500s. Uh, you've got people in certain languages. Let's just say in england coming up with certain doctrines 1500s in germany.

The same doctrine 1500s, uh, geneva same doctrine 1600s. Netherlands, uh different language that they speak same doctrines 1700s. Other places in europe. Uh fast forward a little bit to the 1800s in america with princeton and essentially on the effectual call trinity deity of christ Salvation you just go right in down the list that it's almost exactly the same different continents different languages different centuries and we have this catholicity small c where you think you know, what this is.

I I can't say that every one of these people is wrong and i'm the one who's right when I come to this text.

Right, right. Yeah, and I think even I always just think about The what's called by theologians the perspicuity of scripture is scripture perspicuous that is is scripture clear. Can scripture be interpreted?

Can it be understood now? Peter says there's things that are hard to understand especially in paul's writings, which I I agree with but that doesn't mean that the the core of scripture that what we have in the word of god is Insufficient for life and godliness.

And because the scriptures are clear we can interpret them. And we can even have room for a small a authoritative interpretation that if something explains scripture clearly Then it is authoritative not in and of itself.

But it is authoritative as long as it accurately explains scripture, you know in the in the old testament ezra gives the sense of the scriptures. Just like a sermon we would say if you explain a scripture clearly and accurately by the help of the spirit that is authoritative.

Because it comes from the scriptures and it's the same with these with these documents, but we would rather go to our favorite pastor or favorite podcaster or christian writer and read their book then.

Read documents that have stood the test of time for 2 000 years of those To whom the holy spirit is promised that he will guide them into all truth.

Creeds, Confessions, and the Holy Spirit’s Work Across the Centuries

So good luke i've often said to people here even at the church when they were kind of introduced to the idea of Oh, the holy spirit's work over the centuries and I would say to them Wait a second. You just only only read the bible, right?

And that's what you're trying to tell me and no confessions. No creeds. No this no that so it's the bible only. That's all you're going to read. They'd say yes, and i'd say but don't you hear me preach you're listening to me preach.

So now you have somebody else who's telling you Uh, would you rather have? In my study that we're in right now. Would you rather have me have? No books just the bible. Or a lot of books from a lot of authors that pretty much all say the same thing.

What would you rather have? Influencing me because i'm going to teach your children and so then they kind of finally get it, right? All right. Well luke today It's been good to have you in the studio.

I think uh during christmas time since you're around for a while. We'll have you in here. Again, I think you're headed to providence reformed baptist church to preach in new york city on december 29th.

So that should be fun. Uh, what's the website at redemption church north county if they need to get to that?

I think it's redemption. Church. Nc .com.

All right, I think you just type in luke avendroth redemption church. Yeah carlsbad. Yeah, our redemption church carlsbad. All right. Thanks for being on today luke.