Neither Lead nor Pillows can Sharpen Iron

I have been an occasional listener to Iron Sharpens Iron for many years. The show hosted by Chris Arnzen has a sort of quasi-theonomic Calvinistic Baptist flair about it. Arnzen would (I think) deny being a Theonomist but he's strongly influenced by them and his baptistic rendering of theology definitely plays a prominent if unfortunate role in the tone of the show.

He has struggled over the years to keep his radio show going and after leaving the New York metropolitan area he (at some point) relocated to Carlisle, Pennsylvania which has long been associated with Calvinistic Baptists and names like Chantry and Reisinger. It also became the American hub for The Banner of Truth Trust.

To be frank I think the primary problem with Arnzen's show is Arnzen himself. While he is often praised and endorsed by those who appear on his show, he's not particularly gifted in the realm of either radio or the interview. Tedious and even obtuse are the words that come to mind – and yes, I am well aware that I am being unkind. I do not appreciate Arnzen, most of his guests, nor his (generally speaking) FOX channel/pedantic-rationalistic theological ethos. When I listen it's out of morbid curiosity and I often struggle to make it through an entire programme. It can be a real labour. That said, there are the occasional episodes that (despite Arnzen) are interesting and provide some information of value.

Backed by ambulance-chasing extortioners who pose as Christian lawyers as well as some other rather dubious friends and financial supporters, I've always had my doubts about the show.

I must say I was disgusted but not altogether surprised when I saw that Arnzen was having Mike Lindell on the show. We listen (via an outdated Roku) to a free music-streaming service in my house and as such we have to endure the ads, some of which are problematic. But aside from these ads, the ones that I must say grate on me like no other are those for Lindell's 'My Pillow'. Frankly I've reached a point that I can hardly stand the sound of the man's voice.

We do not have regular television but it's my understanding that he often appears on the FOX channel which Arnzen apparently devours with gusto – not realising that in affirming this, he's merely affirming his own ignorance.

Awhile back I looked into Lindell and was confirmed in my disgust for his snake-oil style. He professes to be a Christian and has wed himself closely to the Trump administration even speaking at the recent event held on the National Mall.

The pillow peddler insists that we're in the midst of the greatest revival in history (apparently connected to Trumpism) and additionally Lindell is a prophet as his pillow design was revealed to him by God in a vision.

This theological filth was on full display on Arnzen's show but the star-struck host never bothered to challenge Lindell who further called his Christianity into question by continuously bringing up not only his Charismatic proclivities but a kind of self-esteem gospel. Repentance it would seem is often understood as repenting of thinking the wrong kind of thoughts about yourself – believing the lies that you're worthless and the like. Such Skinnerism is a far cry from Biblical repentance.

Apparently unfamiliar with the teachings of Christ and the apostles, Arnzen might have pointed out to his 'brother' Lindell that we come with nothing, we come to Christ as broken people who in fact realise that we are nothing, have nothing, and deserve nothing. For Lindell these Biblical truths are lies that the 'gospel' seemingly corrects.

Arnzen resonates with the fact that Lindell used to be a drug addict and indeed it's always good to hear about people who have been able to break with that kind of life. But Arnzen is also in awe of Lindell's financial success which he never seemed to question in terms of theology, ethics or even to give Lindell a chance to comment on the numerous controversies that surround him and the many charges of deceitful business practice that he is accused of. For Arnzen the Christian CEO is an ideal that he wants to hold up and this has produced a kind of star-struck awe in him that blinds him to the fact that Lindell is only about one thing – Mike Lindell. It's little wonder that he gravitates toward one such as Trump. They're cut from the same cloth.

Arnzen abdicated his responsibility of being a Christian radio host. This is not to say that I'm pleased with his other interviews because I'm not. His show has often been a venue for false teaching but Lindell was allowed to promote all his heresies without even being challenged or asked to provide further explanation. Apparently we were meant to be inspired but any Christian grounded in the New Testament could only have been offended.

Finally, why would Lindell appear on Arnzen's show? There's every indication that he plans to run for governor of Minnesota in 2022 and what he's doing is early outreach. He's trying to win the Evangelical vote and establish his Christian bona fides. He's already known in these circles. He's made the rounds speaking at places like Liberty University – that's hardly a shock is it? But now it's time to reach the larger audience. Arnzen won't be the first fool to help this charlatan fulfill his quest.

Here's a link to the programme:

http://www.ironsharpensironradio.com/podcast/september-21-2020-show-with-mike-lindell-michael-a-gaydosh-and-william-c-nichols/