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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 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)

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