Update: Dr. Brown Debates Israel–with Steve Gregg!

As originally explained here, Dr. Brown was going to debate Travis Finley on my show on the status of Israel. However, for personal reasons Travis had to cancel. Fortunately, Steve Gregg of The Narrow Path ministries has agreed to take Travis’ place! Read on for debate details…

Dr. Michael L. Brown is the host of the daily, nationally, syndicated talk radio show, “The Line of Fire,” as well as the host of the Jewish-outreach, documentary TV series, “Think It Thru,” which airs internationally on the INSP network. He’s the author of twenty books, including, Our Hands Are Stained with Blood: The Tragic Story of the “Church” and the Jewish People, which has been translated into more than twelve languages, the highly-acclaimed five-volume series, Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus, a commentary on Jeremiah (part of the revised edition of the Expositor’s Bible Commentary), and several books on revival and Jesus revolution. His newest book is A Queer Thing Happened to America: And What a Long, Strange Trip It’s Been.

The Narrow Path is the radio and internet ministry of Steve Gregg, a servant and teacher to the body of Christ. In addition to his syndicated daily radio broadcast, Steve has hundreds of recorded lectures on verse-by-verse teachings of the Scriptures and on a variety of topics. Steve also runs the new Great Commission School, a non-accredited Bible-and-discipleship school, stressing an honest and intelligent approach to the Word of God, along with the development of an authentic relationship with God and increased spiritual maturity. He is also the editor of the book, Revelation: Four Views: A Paralllel Commentary.

Dr. Brown and Steve will be debating the status of the people and nation of Israel in a largely informal hour-long debate. I will have a little bit of time to pose questions to each of them, so please send your questions to theopologetics@hotmail.com, including the participant to whom you want your question directed. I will pose what I think are the best and most important questions to Steve and Dr. Brown in the time allotted. Here are the details:

Resolution: Israel—whether the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, or as a body politic—is no longer uniquely chosen by God, and no longer holds a special status in God’s economy.

Participants: Steve Gregg affirms, Dr. Brown denies. Moderated by Chris Date.

Format:

7.5-minute opening affirmative
7.5-minute opening negative
20-minute informal, conversational debate with moderation where necessary
10-minute Q&A
5-minute closing negative
5-minute closing affirmative

15 thoughts on “Update: Dr. Brown Debates Israel–with Steve Gregg!”

Chris,

Thanks for doing this! I can’t wait to listen to it. BTW, I was curious about which side of this debate you lean towards (if you could say)?

Though I am neither Dispensationalist nor do I share Dr. Brown’s historic premillennialism, I agree with Dr. Brown in denying the debate thesis.

I actually thought about volunteering to do this one – but I had a prior commitment, obviously. Debating Brown is tough stuff. But Gregg? Ouch. This is going to be a slaughter. Anyone who has listened to Gregg’s debate with Dr. White vs. Brown’s debate with same knows what’s going to happen.

Generally I agree with you, that Dr. Brown fared better versus Dr. White than Gregg did–although I think Dr. White won in both cases (if I’m thinking of the same debates as you are). That having been said, I don’t think it’s necessarily true that therefore Gregg will get slaughtered if his position is the biblical one; God can do great things through weak vessels. (Of course, I don’t think Gregg’s position is the biblical one.)

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James White in no way “slaughtered” Dr. Brown or Steve Gregg. “Dr” James came off as rude and annoying in the Steve Gregg debate IMHO.

White did in fact slaughter Gregg, and at the time, I was on the same side as Gregg. He did a terrible job IMHO, but then again, I think Gregg did better than Dr. Brown… Brown never answered a question forthrightly, at least Gregg did. I am an admirer of Brown and was sorely disappointing at the waste of air time his debate with White was.

I think that Dr Brown did a great job, but it all depends on what your view is to begin with. If you are a calvinist, then you will likely side with the calvinist or vice versa.

I was an Arminian at the time.

Did those debates change your mind on the issue?

No, but my chronology is right around that time frame (of the Brown one, not the Gregg one which was a lot longer time ago). Listening to Dr. White over the period of years as an Arminian changed my mind.

That’s interesting. I have never been a calvinist, although I once held views similar to that which calvinist teach. I have never found James White to be very persuasive. I have listened to most of his debates and used to tune in to every “dividing line” broadcast. But I totally respect many calvinist and do not think this is an issue to divide over, as there are many godly men on both sides of the issue.

I was browsing your website the other day and listening to some of the debates. You have a great website! Lots of good resources there.

Thank you very much!