“We live in a time of polarization, deconstruction and rapid de-Christianization. Many people, especially in the younger generations, are searching for ultimate answers.”
That’s how Gavin Ortlund describes his ministry, Truth Unites, and it’s also the focus for Ortlund’s eponymous YouTube channel.
To those seeking truth, Ortlund offers concise explanations of the gospel and grace-filled responses to those with objections about Christian beliefs. And to those who identify as Christians, Ortlund dives deeply into church history, providing theological explanations and defenses from a historic Protestant perspective.
Ortlund’s videos remind Protestant viewers in particular that their faith has a rich history that shouldn’t be ignored. And this Reformed Baptist teacher’s videos may may be a helpful starting place to dive into theological and historical research.
Ortlund is exceedingly humble. When others rebut his arguments in videos of their own, he provides grace-filled responses, no matter if the accuser is an atheist, pagan or Christian. And on a similar note, Ortlund often doesn’t disregard an opponent’s argument, instead taking pieces of truth from what they’re saying and expounding upon those ideas. He acknowledges the more compelling points in someone’s position without compromising on his own convictions, and he frequently mentions that he’s open to correction.
Furthermore, Ortlund reminds us that there is a distinct difference between political and religious affiliation. Though it is true that some political topics can overlap with traditional Christian values, Ortlund carefully differentiates political passion from theological truth.
Ortlund reminds his fellow believers that studying church history is important, and it can provide a lot of context to a variety of theological topics. Christians, and Protestants in particular, shouldn’t shun or fear the study of church history and doctrine. To help with this often-daunting charge, Ortlund helpfully summarizes many topics that can give scholastic-minded believers a place to start.
And if you don’t have time for Ortlund’s longer videos, he occasionally uploads short summaries of important topics, including clear explanations of the gospel.
None.
It’s sometimes said that Protestants are widely unseasoned in their study of church history. And in my own experience, I also admit that those critiques aren’t entirely without merit.
But, as I discovered when I began to delve more deeply into church history myself, in part that’s because with 2,000 years between us and the Resurrection, there’s simply a lot of history to sift through. Starting out can feel something like being dunked in the deep end for your first swimming lesson—and all the swimming instructors can’t help but speak in complicated run-on sentences filled with thous and thines.
I’m not saying that Ortlund is going to explain everything you need to know about, say, sacramental theology or the history around the Filioque. But regardless of if you agree with his personal conclusions, Ortlund’s videos provide a helpful introduction to some of these issues for Protestants. And it’s hard to deny that the way he speaks about them is filled with grace and kindness.
Kennedy Unthank studied journalism at the University of Missouri. He knew he wanted to write for a living when he won a contest for “best fantasy story” while in the 4th grade. What he didn’t know at the time, however, was that he was the only person to submit a story. Regardless, the seed was planted. Kennedy collects and plays board games in his free time, and he loves to talk about biblical apologetics. He thinks the ending of Lost “wasn’t that bad.”
