The Riddleblog

The Legacy of John Warwick Montgomery (1931-2024)

Above — Dr. Montgomery as a Guest on the White Horse Inn (2007)

Dr. John Warwick Montgomery died in Christ on Thursday, September 25, from various complications associated with old age. He was 92. Dr. Montgomery had a huge impact on me, and I look back on my time with him as the major turning point in my life and career.

The first time I heard the name John Warwick Montgomery was when a salesman from Bethany Fellowship Publishers told me about Montgomery’s books on apologetics. He suggested that we carry them in our Christian bookstore. I did, I read them, and found them to be far superior to other Christian apologists I had been reading (i.e., Josh McDowell). When Walter Martin announced on his popular Bible Answer Man radio program (broadcast live on Saturday nights in the early 1980s) that he would be teaching at a new law school to be opened in Orange County by Dr. Montgomery, The Simon Greenleaf School of Law (SGSL)[1], I was one of the first to sign up. The school was named for the famed American jurist, who had written a masterful case for Christ’s resurrection marshaling evidence along the lines of a legal argument in a court of law—The Testimony of the Evangelists. Both A. A. Hodge and B. B. Warfield referred to Greenleaf’s work quite favorably. Montgomery used much the same method to defend the faith in the face of rejuvenated critical scholarship.

Montgomery’s massive list of accomplishments is simply amazing, and I won’t recount them here. But please do check out his Wikipedia entry and you’ll see what I mean. Absolutely mind blowing—eleven degrees including three earned doctoral degrees, and more than forty books on a variety of subjects—mostly apologetics. Shane Rosenthal, as well as the folks at 1517, have written eloquent pieces offering their take on Montgomery’s life, influence, and legacy. For a more exhaustive memorial, see Craig Parton’s Full Obituary. I encourage you to read them.

To read the rest, follow the link below

The Mountains Are Calling . . .

And I must heed the call . . .

The R’s are taking our annual trek to the Eastern Sierras. So, little will happen here until mid-August.

Lord willing, upon my return, we’ll get back to our regular programing, including new episodes of the Blessed Hope Podcast (we will pick up at 1 Corinthians 7:1), new installments in my series on Christ’s Spotless Bride (ecclesiology) and the completion of my exposition of the Book of Daniel.

In the meantime, if you haven’t done so, check out some of the resources on the Riddleblog, including sermons, book reviews, recommended readings, my musings, and lots of content under the Amillennialism, Biblical and Theological Studies tabs at the top of the page.

The missus and I will be posting about our time in the Sierras, so feel free to check out my Instagram.

Riddleblog UpdateKim RiddlebargerJuly 31, 2024Vacation Comment

Dad Rod Still Preaches Christ and Him Crucified

Rod’s son Ted recently posted this. Rod is buried adjacent to his beloved father in his beloved Pacific Northwest. I already miss him. We were close to solving the Kennedy assassination, the subject of a great many of our emails.

The White Horse Inn Tribute to "Dad" Rod Rosenbladt

Here’s the link to the White Horse Inn’s Tribute to “Dad” Rod Rosenbladt

Riddleblog UpdateKim RiddlebargerMarch 8, 2024More on Dad Rod Comments

A Father in the Faith, a Mentor, a Colleague, and a Dear Friend (Dr. Rod Rosenbladt, January 2, 1942 -- February 2, 2024)

Dr. Rod Rosenbladt died in Christ today after a brief illness.

There was no one else like him. J. I. Packer once told him, “Rod, you not only possess Luther’s theology, you embody the man.”

No one has influenced my course in life more than Rod. He was my first theology teacher. He encouraged me to do my M.A. thesis on B. B. Warfield. He was the one who urged me to go to Westminster Seminary California, and then when I graduated he and Dr. John Warwick Montgomery invited me back to the Simon Greenleaf School of Law (now Trinity Law School) to teach apologetics (my first professorship).

I introduced Rod to Mike Horton, who then invited Rod, Bob Godfrey, and J. I. Packer, to speak at Biola for a conference on the need and possibility of a new Reformation in American evangelicalism. Out of that conference came the initial funding for the White Horse Inn and Modern Reformation magazine.

To read the rest, follow the link below

Riddleblog UpdateKim RiddlebargerFebruary 2, 2024Rod Rosenbladt 1942-2024 Comments

On the Road

Micki and I will be on the road for a couple of weeks—our first real vacation since retirement. We are going with good friends to Europe. You can follow our journey on our respective Instagram accounts (as if watching other people on vacation take pictures of stuff can possibly be something of interest). Lord willing, I will back at it in a couple of weeks.

In the meantime, enjoy perusing the Riddleblog (lots here to look through, like my “Musings” or various essays and biblical studies) or catch a past episode of the The Blessed Hope Podcast.

Riddleblog UpdateKim RiddlebargerNovember 7, 2023VacationComment

Audio from the Great Lakes Reformed Conference Now Available!

Here’s the Great Lakes Reformed Conference website with audio from all speakers and the Q & A session: Audio from the Great Lakes Reformed Conference

To see the conference participants, follow the link below

I Was a Guest on Eschatology Matters Discussing the Man of Sin in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

To watch the interview, follow the link below

Time Flies . . .

Every Sunday night the White Inn crew would drive from Mike Horton’s house in Anaheim to the KKLA studio in Glendale. This picture was taken in 1996, shortly after KKLA moved their studio from North Hollywood to their upscale new digs. We’d been on the air for five years by then. Mike and Rod both enjoyed the improved vending machine selection. Rod would eat his Cheetos and Mike his chips. I’d drink some coffee. People often asked how we prepared for a live broadcast. After an hour’s drive (with some very enjoyable and fruitful banter in the car), we’d get to the studio, snack, and converse. We were ready. Once the previous program was over and 9:05 approached, we had time (a few commercial breaks) to settle into the studio and wait for the “live” light to come on, and we were off . . . There’s nothing in my experience which compares with doing live radio with Rod.

To see the update and recent picture, follow the link below

More Musings (5/27/2023)

News and Riddleblog Updates:

Now that the WSC spring semester is over, and I have a bit more time, you will notice a number of updates at the Riddleblog. The Biblical and Theological Studies tab has been re-worked to make it easier to find past entries.
Some of you have suggested that I add the Logos extension which allows biblical citations to appear in a pop-up window. Great idea! But the version of Squarespace which I am currently using does not support that extension. Drat!
I will soon be wrapping up season two of the Blessed Hope Podcast, a study of Paul’s two Thessalonian letters. I’ll devote a season two follow-up episode to explain where we will be going after season two concludes.
One of the benefits of retirement is that the missus and I will be able to do some traveling. So, there may be a week here or there when I drop off the map.

Hummel’s New Book on the Rise and Fall of Dispensationalism:

As of this writing, I am far along in Daniel Hummel’s fascinating and important new book, The Rise and Fall of Dispensationalism. If you have a dispensational background, or if you are interested in the history of evangelicalism, this is a must read. I’ll have a lot more to say about it down the road (some positives and a few cautions). But here’s a brief summary. "Left Behind"

To read the rest, follow the link below

A Funeral for My Friend

My dear friend Ron recently died in Christ. Ron was one of those guys who was rather unassuming but everyone seemed to know him and he had many friends. I first met him way back when Christians United for Reformation (CURE) held their Friday night “Academy” lectures in Orange County, around the time the White Horse Inn first went on the air. He was there every week.

Once the White Horse Inn hit the airwaves in the LA area, Ron probably listened to every episode. He bought cassette tapes of everything CURE did, passed them out to friends, and then bought more.

When Christ Reformed Church was in the planning stages, Ron was there, at every meeting, probably the most excited person in the room to see things get up and going. He was there when Christ Reformed held its trial run services in Mike Horton’s living room. He was there the first Sunday we held “official” worship services.

He seemed to be there every Sunday, for every Bible Study and Academy. He always had insightful questions, appreciated the lessons, and expressed gratitude for what the doctrines of grace, law and gospel, and the Heidelberg Catechism had done to change his life and grant him assurance. He’d often tell me with a glint of excitement, “God is so good!”

Twenty-five plus years later, Ron was still at Christ Reformed Church every Sunday, though he was now past 80 and in failing health. He was still a working veterinarian, ensured his family came to church, still loving the gospel, still expressing the joy of his salvation.

To read the rest, follow the link below

A Happy and Blessed New Year!

A New Year’s Day Prayer (from the URCNA Forms and Prayers)

Eternal and Almighty God, we humble ourselves in your presence to dedicate to you the beginning of this year, by adoration, prayer, and praise.

We come before your Supreme Majesty, and acknowledge, with gratitude, the manifold blessings which you have freely bestowed upon us, through the whole course of our lives. We thank you, that having preserved us to the present time, you have permitted us to enter upon a new year. You have not ceased, O most gracious God, to give to us the abundance of your lovingkindness. But you have especially sustained us with every spiritual blessing by keeping in the midst of us the light of your gospel.

You have granted us repentance, through your mighty help, through your great goodness, and through the warnings of your Word and Spirit; and have mercifully given to us favorable opportunities to grow in grace. Despite our unworthiness, for the love of Jesus Christ, take not away from us your protection and favor.

Moved by your grace, we devote ourselves to you at the beginning of this year, desiring to employ it better than we have done the years that are past. And since this day also warns us that our years pass away like a flood, like a dream, give us grace that we may seriously number our days that we may have a heart of wisdom; that we may discern the vanity of this life; and that we may aspire to that better life, when days, and months, and years, shall be counted no more, forever.

While we continue in the flesh, may we more and more live not according to its desires, but according to your will. And grant, O God, that when our years shall come to an end, and the day of our death arrives, we may depart in the peace that passes all understanding and in the sure hope of life everlasting. Favorably hear us through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Riddleblog Update, Riddleblog PublicationKim RiddlebargerDecember 31, 2022A blessed and happy new yearComment

I Was Recently a Guest on the Renewalcast

On the Renewalcast Discussing the Apostle’s Creed

Riddleblog Update, Biblical TheologyKim RiddlebargerDecember 21, 2022The Apostles' Creed

Happy Thanksgiving from the Riddleblogger!

A Thanksgiving Prayer (from the URCNA’s Forms and Prayers):

Our Sovereign God, who created all things for your pleasure and who gives to all life, breath, and every good thing, we praise you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life. For rain and sunshine, in abundance and in lack, we acknowledge that our times are in your hands. You supply all of your creatures with your good gifts: the just and the unjust alike. Nevertheless, we especially give you praise for the surpassing greatness of your saving grace that you have shown to us in Christ Jesus our Savior. For our election in him before the foundation of the world; for our redemption by him in his life, death, and resurrection; for our effectual calling, justification, sanctification, and all of the blessings of our union with him, we give you our heartfelt thanks. And we look with great anticipation toward that day when you will raise us to life everlasting, glorified and confirmed in righteousness, so that we may sing your praises without the defilement of our present weaknesses, distractions, and sins. As you have served us with these gifts, we ask that you would give us grateful hearts so that through us you may serve our neighbors. In the name of Jesus Christ our Savior, Amen.

There is so much for which to be thankful! May you and yours have a very blessed Thanksgiving!

Riddleblog UpdateKim RiddlebargerNovember 24, 2022ThanksgivingComment

A Few Changes to the Riddleblog Layout

1). The old “Amillennialism (Audio)” tab is now Amillennialism (Audio, Links, and Charts). I’ve added a section to that tab containing links to all the eschatology related posts in the blog section so they can be easily found in one place. I also relocated the links to all eschatology charts as well as the related eschatology links there as well. Everything related to amillennialism and eschatology is now on a single page.

2). The old Tab, “Charts, Resources, Links,” has been renamed Links to Friends and Co-Laborers, since the links to charts and eschatology resources have been moved to the new tab, Amillennialism (Audio, Links, and Charts).

This should make things much easier to find. Adjust your links and bookmarks accordingly

Riddleblog UpdateKim RiddlebargerDecember 20, 2021Links and tabs rearrangedComment

White Horse Inn Thirtieth Reunion

This past weekend, as part of a larger gathering, the good folks at White Horse Media arranged a thirtieth reunion recording with the original hosts, Michael Horton, Rod Rosenbladt, Ken Jones, and yours truly.

I thought you might enjoy some “then and now” pictures—follow the link below

Watch the White Horse Inn website for broadcast details . .

Riddleblog UpdateKim RiddlebargerNovember 8, 2021White Horse Inn Reunion Comments

As the Summer Winds Down . . .

I thought it time for a few updates . . .

The Fall Semester at WSC begins next week. I’ll be teaching Theology Proper the first half of the semester, as part of a course I’ll split with Dr. Van Drunen (who teaches the anthropology section).

N. T. Wright (AKA “I’m Always Right”) has released his new commentary on Galatians (Wright on Galatians). I’ll read it in detail when I can, but a quick once over reveals that Wright has embraced full curmudgeonhood—his tone is crabby and he’s just flat out dismissive of his critics. Wright ignores Horton’s volumes on justification as well as Charles Lee Iron’s decimating critique of Wright’s misuse of righteousness language—the Bishop glibly refers readers to his previous work on Paul. He smugly dismisses the work of Moo and others on Galatians as though, “if you want to read old perspective stuff, `go for it.’” He continues to make his case that he alone understands Paul properly, repeating his erroneous view of the Table Fellowship debate and “works of law” in Galatians 2. BTW, I embraced full curmudgeonhood long ago, so I know it when I see it.

To read the rest of the updates, follow the link below.

The den Dulk Lectures at Westminster Seminary California

An honor and a privilege . . . For more information and links to live streaming, go here: 2021 den Dulk Lectures

Scenes from My Retirement Celebration at Christ Reformed Church (Updated Video)

Our church family at Christ Reformed threw my wife and me a wonderful retirement celebration. We are truly thankful to all of you for your kindness and great generosity!

Video:

I recorded a “thank you” video for the members of Christ Reformed Church who could not attend the celebration, but it applies to some of the long-time readers of the Riddleblog too.

Riddleblog UpdateKim RiddlebargerDecember 14, 2020Kim's retirementComment

My Office Hours Interview with Scott Clark

I was recently interviewed for Westminster Seminary California's "Office Hours" by my friend and colleague Dr. Scott Clark. We talk about the founding of Christ Reformed Church twenty-five years ago, my time as a student at Westminster Seminary California, and the rise and fall of the evangelical "buzz" in Orange County, California.

Here's the link: Office Hours with Scott Clark -- An Interview with Kim Riddlebarger

Riddleblog UpdateKim RiddlebargerDecember 8, 2020