In this powerful and necessary episode of Kingdom Polemics, Pastor Aldo Leon sits down with guest Drew Poplin, Associate Pastor at the First Reformed Presbyterian Church of Durham (https://www.firstrpcdurham.org/), to confront a rising theological distortion in Reformed circles — Kinism and race realism. The conversation centers on Poplin's new book -The Canvas of Creation- and explores why claims of racial superiority are not merely theological errors but heresies that undermine the gospel, the nature of the church, and the law of God itself.

• Drew Poplin explains how the resurgence of Kinism in conservative Reformed communities has emerged under the guise of defending heritage, culture, and order. He details how his pastoral encounters and sermons led to the writing of -The Canvas of Creation-, published by Crown and Covenant (https://tinyurl.com/mrbcmd68).
• The discussion begins by addressing the false dichotomy Kinists create between "civil" and "ecclesial" concerns. Poplin clarifies that this ideology isn't simply wrong—it is heretical, directly condemned by the church through its confessions and acts.
• Aldo and Drew trace how Kinism distorts anthropology, twisting the doctrines of creation and the fall to elevate certain ethnicities above others, thereby corrupting the gospel of grace. Aldo points out how this perverted anthropology bleeds into an equally false soteriology and ecclesiology.
• The conversation exposes the Darwinian and eugenic roots of modern race realism. Despite its appeal to natural law and Reformed heritage, Poplin demonstrates that its underlying assumptions mirror evolutionism and deny the imago Dei in all humanity.
• Poplin provides a theological framework for understanding human nature through the classical causes (formal, material, efficient, final) and argues that race is circumstantial, not essential, to humanity. Every person, regardless of ethnicity, shares equally in the image of God.
• The two address Scripture misused by Kinists — from Genesis 9 to Deuteronomy 7 to Titus 1 — showing that these texts concern covenantal faithfulness, not racial purity. Intermarriage prohibitions were religious, not ethnic; the gospel now gathers the nations into one people under Christ.
• The conversation also uncovers how Kinism corrupts the law and gospel by reviving ceremonial separations abolished in Christ and how its teaching forbidding interracial marriage aligns with the "doctrines of demons" Paul warned of in 1 Timothy 4.
• Finally, Poplin argues that Kinism is contrary to the very nature and government of the church. The body of Christ is one, ruled in parity by elders and ministers from all backgrounds. Any system that reintroduces racial hierarchy defies the gospel unity expressed in Christ's mediatorial kingdom.

This episode pulls no punches—it's a theological and pastoral response to a growing cancer within parts of Christendom. Aldo and Drew call believers to reject both woke distortion and racialist heresy, clinging instead to the biblical gospel that unites all peoples in Christ.

Support Kingdom Polemics by visiting https://www.buymeacoffee.com/kingdompolemics, and join the conversation on YouTube at https://youtube.com/@kingdompolemics — leave your reflections and questions in the comments.

In this episode of Kingdom Polemics, Pastor Aldo Leon tackles a highly charged and often misunderstood question: should Christians forgive those who remain unrepentant? The conversation, sparked by recent public discourse around forgiveness in tragic circumstances, goes well beyond the headlines and dives deep into Scripture, theology, and the nature of divine justice and mercy. Aldo challenges sentimental, one-dimensional notions of forgiveness that have become common in the modern church and instead builds a robust biblical argument grounded in God's character, the necessity of repentance, and the proper understanding of Christ's atonement.

Highlights:

• Forgiveness is a divine act that originates with God, not a horizontal gesture independent of Him. Only God can forgive sin, and believers may only extend forgiveness insofar as it reflects His forgiveness.
• True forgiveness is never separated from repentance. The Bible consistently ties remission of sins to repentance; to declare someone forgiven without repentance is to proclaim what God has not declared.
• Forgiveness among believers is relational and covenantal. Even within the church, Jesus commands rebuke and repentance before forgiveness, highlighting that grace is not license for unrepentant sin.
• Aldo explores the parables of Jesus, church discipline, and the necessity of maintaining doctrinal integrity regarding God's justice. He explains that hell exists precisely because forgiveness is withheld from those who refuse repentance.
• The episode examines Christ's words on the cross — "Father, forgive them" — not as a universal declaration but as a priestly intercession for the elect that assumes repentance granted by God's sovereign grace.
• Finally, Aldo addresses the tension between love and justice. Drawing from Psalms and the broader witness of Scripture, he argues that Christians may, at times, rightly pray for God's judgment on the unrepentant wicked, just as they may pray for the repentance and salvation of others. Christian love, he contends, is not sentimental permissiveness but alignment with God's multifaceted purposes — both redemptive and judicial.

This episode challenges modern assumptions about empathy, forgiveness, and the character of God, reminding listeners that biblical forgiveness is rooted in divine holiness, not human emotion.

Support Kingdom Polemics by visiting: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/kingdompolemics and join the conversation on YouTube at https://youtube.com/@kingdompolemics — share your thoughts, questions, and reflections in the comments.

Also, don't miss Aldo Leon's powerful book -In Christ's Crown, Christianity, & The Civil Realm-. In it, Aldo presents a compelling biblical vision of the civil magistrate's role under Christ's mediatorial reign — a vital read for anyone seeking to understand how Christ's lordship extends to every sphere of life. Available now at Berith Press: https://www.berithpress.com/bookstore/p/christs-crown-christianity-the-civil-realm.

In this solo episode, Aldo Leon offers a sustained critique of Eastern (Greek) Orthodoxy—what he pointedly calls the "Greek Unorthodox Church." Drawing from Eastern sources and long-standing Reformed categories, Aldo evaluates Orthodoxy's teaching on the Trinity, Christ, salvation, Scripture, church, and worship. He also explains why many evangelicals and Reformed believers are drifting toward Orthodoxy today, and how certain trends within Protestantism have unintentionally primed that migration. The aim is pastoral clarity: to contrast a participation-driven, apophatic, sacramental ascent with the biblical gospel of Christ's finished work, justification by faith, and the ordinary means of grace.

Discussion Highlights

• Trinity and Christology: a critique of single procession (Spirit from the Father alone) as subordinating the Son and distorting Trinitarian equality.
• Icons and the Incarnation: why venerating images as "extensions" of the Incarnation misidentifies how we confess Christ's true humanity and risks idolatry.
• Theosis vs. Justification: contrast between an ascent into "uncreated energies" and the biblical, forensic good news—Christ's atonement and imputed righteousness.
• Essence–Energies Divide and Apophaticism: how separating God's essence from His energies and privileging "unknowing" undermines knowing the true God revealed in Scripture and in Christ.
• Fall and Anthropology: pushback on mortality-first diagnoses that recast the gospel as therapy; biblically, guilt and sin stand at the root and death is the consequence.
• Sacramentalism and Worship: baptism and Eucharist treated as salvific steps on a mystical ascent; services center on chant, incense, and spectacle with minimal preaching.
• Scripture and Church: rejection of Sola Scriptura and practical collapsing of church and Bible speech; councils assume de facto infallibility.
• Ecclesiology and Exclusivity: claims that Orthodoxy is the church; salvation bound to institution and succession rather than Word preached and believed.
• Why It's Attracting Protestants: Aldo identifies Protestant patterns—performative services, diminished preaching, image use, weekly communion/intinction, and uneven worship practice—that make Orthodoxy appealing by comparison.
• Pastoral Call: recover robust preaching, confessional clarity, congregational psalm-singing, and rich, experiential piety rooted in the finished work of Christ and the ordinary means of grace.

If this episode sharpened your thinking or encouraged your ministry, please consider supporting Kingdom Polemics so we can continue producing confessional, Bible-saturated content: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/kingdompolemics

Check out Aldo Leon's book In Christ's Crown, Christianity, & The Civil Realm, which makes a compelling biblical case for the Reformed doctrine of the civil magistrate under Christ's mediatorial rule. Available now at Berith Press: https://www.berithpress.com/bookstore/p/christs-crown-christianity-the-civil-realm.

Join the conversation and leave your feedback on our YouTube page: https://youtube.com/@kingdompolemics

This episode is a rebroadcast of a sermon preached by Pastor Aldo Leon at Pinelands Continuing Presbyterian Church (https://www.pinelandspca.org/) on September 14, 2025, in response to the assassination of Charlie Kirk. In the wake of widespread public reaction—including troubling responses from within the church—Aldo turns to Psalm 11 to call Christians to courage, faith, and clarity when the foundations of righteousness are under assault.

Highlights

• Reflections on the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the disturbing responses from Christian leaders
• How Psalm 11 speaks to times of chaos, hostility, and persecution
• The call for Christians not to flee or compromise but to stand firm in trust of the Lord
• The reality of wickedness in society and the futility of placating a hostile culture
• God's holy hatred of wickedness and His promise of judgment against the unrepentant
• The assurance that God sees, knows, and upholds His people even in the darkest times
• A challenge for believers to live with courage and uprightness in a hostile world

If this episode encouraged or challenged you, please consider supporting Kingdom Polemics. Your support helps us continue producing content that strengthens the church with biblical truth. You can give at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/kingdompolemics

We'd also love to hear your thoughts—join the discussion by leaving comments on our YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@kingdompolemics

In this special rebroadcast, guest host David Puente sits down with Pastor Aldo Leon to reflect on his journey of reformation in life and ministry. Originally shared with Pinelands Presbyterian Church (https://youtu.be/4ZkI0XagH_o), this candid interview traces Aldo's path from Baptist church planting to becoming a Presbyterian teaching elder, and the theological convictions that reshaped both his personal walk and his pastoral leadership.

Highlights from this episode include:

• Aldo's journey from Baptist church planting to Presbyterian convictions
• The role of covenant theology in shaping worship practices
• Wrestling with exclusive psalmody, acapella singing, head coverings, and one-cup communion
• Reflections on pastoral struggles, humility, and learning through resistance
• The tension between rapid reform and congregational adjustment
• Addressing critiques of legalism and "radical" changes in the church
• Honest admissions of regret, naivety, and lessons learned in shepherding through change

This conversation offers both an inside look at pastoral reformation and a challenge for believers to consider what it means to worship and live faithfully under God's Word.

To support Kingdom Polemics, visit our Buy Me a Coffee page at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/kingdompolemics.

Check out Aldo Leon's book In Christ's Crown, Christianity, & The Civil Realm, which makes a compelling biblical case for the Reformed doctrine of the civil magistrate under Christ's mediatorial rule. Available now at Berith Press: https://www.berithpress.com/bookstore/p/christs-crown-christianity-the-civil-realm.

Join the discussion by leaving your comments on our YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@kingdompolemics

In this provocative episode of Kingdom Polemics, Pastor Aldo Leon takes on a recent public attack by Tullian Tchividjian against John MacArthur. While acknowledging MacArthur's influence and ministry, Aldo critiques both Tullian's accusations and the deeper theological trends behind them. This episode is not just about two public figures but about how grace, truth, and holiness must be understood and upheld in the church. It's a sharp reminder that neither moral laxity nor graceless rigidity is faithful to the gospel.

Referenced video: "Assured by Grace, Not Grit" by Tullian Tchividjian, Byron Yawn (https://youtu.be/QT2P9xWz3_g)

Discussion Highlights

• Overview of Tullian Tchividjian's criticisms of John MacArthur
• How celebrity culture affects theological disputes and fuels unhelpful rhetoric
• The dangers of antinomianism cloaked in "grace alone" language
• Why MacArthur's ministry, while imperfect, represents a serious commitment to biblical holiness
• A call to reject both extremes: harsh legalism on one side and careless permissiveness on the other
• How the Reformed confessions give a balanced, biblical framework for law, gospel, and sanctification
• Pastoral reflections on how these controversies affect ordinary Christians in the pews

If this episode gave you clarity or challenged your thinking, consider supporting Kingdom Polemics. Your support helps us continue to bring bold, confessional, and timely content to the church. You can contribute at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/kingdompolemics

Check out Aldo Leon's book In Christ's Crown, Christianity, & The Civil Realm, which makes a compelling biblical case for the Reformed doctrine of the civil magistrate under Christ's mediatorial rule. Available now at Berith Press: https://www.berithpress.com/bookstore/p/christs-crown-christianity-the-civil-realm

We'd also love for you to join the conversation by leaving your thoughts in the comments section on our YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@kingdompolemics

Your support and engagement help us continue strengthening the church in truth and grace.

In this timely and convicting episode of Kingdom Polemics, Pastor Aldo Leon confronts the subtle yet destructive sin of pride in the pastorate. Speaking from experience, Scripture, and confessional wisdom, Aldo offers a sober warning against the spiritual self-deception that often hides beneath confidence, gifting, and influence in ministry. He challenges pastors and church leaders to honestly evaluate the hidden motives behind their work, pointing to the dangers of building ministries on ego rather than on Christ.

Discussion Highlights

• The marks of pride in pastoral ministry and how they differ from biblical confidence
• Why success, theological precision, or platform growth can quietly inflate self-importance
• How pride disguises itself as concern for the truth, love for the church, or commitment to excellence
• The way pride can drive pastors to dominate, self-protect, or resist correction
• Biblical examples of humble, Christ-centered leadership that resists self-glorification
• Confessional insights on the pastoral call to self-denial, mutual accountability, and servant-leadership
• Why repentance, not rebranding, is the path to true pastoral renewal
• Encouragement for both pastors and congregants to cultivate gospel-centered humility in the church

If this episode helped you reflect more deeply on your walk or your ministry, consider supporting Kingdom Polemics. Your support helps us continue to offer bold, confessional content for the church. You can contribute at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/kingdompolemics

Check out Aldo Leon's book In Christ's Crown, Christianity, & The Civil Realm, which makes a compelling biblical case for the Reformed doctrine of the civil magistrate under Christ's mediatorial rule. Available now at Berith Press: https://www.berithpress.com/bookstore/p/christs-crown-christianity-the-civil-realm.

We'd also love to hear your thoughts and reflections. Join the conversation by leaving a comment on our YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@kingdompolemics

Thank you for helping us strengthen the church by recovering faithful, Christ-centered ministry.

In this episode of Kingdom Polemics, Pastor Aldo Leon takes listeners into the heart of what has long shaped robust Reformed preaching but has recently become neglected: experimental preaching. Drawing from historic Reformed tradition, Aldo and his guest, Gavin Beers, outline how true preaching is not just doctrinal or exegetical—it is experiential, applicatory, and deeply concerned with the spiritual condition of the hearers. This episode is a call to return to preaching that engages both the conscience and the affections, helping God's people not only hear the truth but also live it.

Pastor Gavin Beers is currently the minister of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church, the first North Carolina congregation of the US Presbytery of the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing). https://cornerstone-presbyterian.com/

Discussion Highlights

• The difference between informational preaching and experimental (experiential) preaching
• How Reformed orthodoxy historically emphasized preaching to the whole person—mind, heart, and will
• The preacher's role in pressing the implications of doctrine into the lives of the hearers
• How experimental preaching resists both hyper-intellectualism and shallow emotionalism
• The biblical mandate for preaching that convicts, comforts, warns, and directs
• Insights from 17th-century Presbyterian tradition on distinguishing the true believer from the hypocrite
• Why pastors must be soul physicians, not mere lecturers or motivational speakers
• The dangers of pulpit minimalism and the retreat from serious, pointed application
• Encouragement for ministers to reclaim the depth, force, and pastoral heart of Reformed proclamation

If you found this episode stirring or helpful, please consider supporting Kingdom Polemics by buying us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/kingdompolemics.

Check out Aldo Leon's book In Christ's Crown, Christianity, & The Civil Realm, which makes a compelling biblical case for the Reformed doctrine of the civil magistrate under Christ's mediatorial rule. Available now at Berith Press: https://www.berithpress.com/bookstore/p/christs-crown-christianity-the-civil-realm.

You can also be part of the conversation by commenting on our YouTube page and subscribing to future episodes: https://youtube.com/@kingdompolemics,

Help us continue to sharpen, strengthen, and challenge the church with truth-centered, Christ-exalting content.