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Summary In Episode 129 of Tearing Down High Places, Average Joe leads Pastors Tim Robinson and Jeff Kliewer through three interlocking topics—theonomy (God’s law), slavery, and evangelism— while discussing a by a recent incident at a Collingswood, NJ community pool. A man identifying as a woman appeared in a bikini; parents confronted him, and he appealed to an “inclusivity policy” while accusing them of transphobia.
The hosts use the event to press the central question: “By what standard?” They define theonomy as the application of God’s law (theos + nomos), affirm its goodness (Romans 7:12; Psalm 19), and distinguish biblical servitude from man-stealing/chattel slavery (which the law condemns with the death penalty).
Average Joe contrasts Mosaic justice—restitution, corporal punishment, banishment, and capital sanctions for murder, certain sexual sins, and other grave crimes—with the modern American prison system (1.5 million incarcerated). God’s approach is victim-centered and deterrent; contemporary incarceration is costly, ineffective at rehabilitation, and often arbitrary.
They address personal responsibility versus claims of mental illness, reject psychology’s shifting standards, and urge nouthetic (admonishing) counseling rooted in Scripture. The practical evangelistic payoff is clear: many people already feel the injustice of the courts and prisons. Christians can start on that common ground, demonstrate the goodness and consistency of God’s law, and point to Christ who fulfilled the law and offers mercy to sinners. Heart change must precede cultural and legal change. The episode closes with a call to study the whole counsel of God and to bring light into dark places such as Collingswood.
Digestible Show-Notes Sections (for skimming)
- The Spark – Collingswood Pool Incident Man in bikini at Roberts Community Pool; parents confront; “inclusivity policy” and transphobia claim. Why this matters for gospel work in the same town.
- By What Standard? Theonomy defined. Psalm 19 and the sweetness of the law. Grace already present in the sacrificial system pointing to Christ.
- Biblical Slavery vs. Man-Stealing God condemns kidnapping/enslavers (death penalty). Regulation of servitude in a fallen world is not endorsement of chattel slavery. America’s own history of opposing it at the founding.
- Victim-Centered Justice vs. the Prison System Mosaic law never authorizes long-term imprisonment. Instead: restitution (Exodus 22), limited flogging (Deuteronomy 25), exclusion, and capital punishment for specific crimes. Modern prisons fail at rehabilitation and burden taxpayers while protecting criminals more than victims.
- Death Penalties and Sexual Sins Premeditated murder, striking/cursing parents, adultery, incest, homosexuality, bestiality, rape. Connection back to the pool incident and protecting the vulnerable.
- Nouthetic Counseling, Psychology & Responsibility Romans 1 and the “given over” mind. Sinner/sufferer distinction. Psychology’s lack of a fixed standard vs. Scripture’s clarity. Personal accountability remains.
- Evangelism Strategy Use shared frustration with injustice in courts and prisons as common ground. Show the goodness of God’s law, then the gospel of the One who fulfilled it. Change hearts first; culture and laws follow.
- Closing Challenge Study the whole Word. Reject both legalism and antinomianism. Bring the standard of God’s law and the mercy of Christ into dark places.