Conversations with Matt DeLockery: Recent Episodes
Matt DeLockery
There are a lot of really important topics that we need to talk about - things like whether or not a god exists, if science and religion are compatible, and how to understand Christianity apart from all of our American additions. In this podcast, we’re going to discuss difficult, controversial, and deep questions in order to hopefully find some answers.
So we believe Christianity is true. Cool. Now what? Do we just import our current version of Christianity?
Buy Revelation and Renewal on Amazon
Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash
After you have gotten yourself together (at least somewhat), you can now begin to interact wisely with others.
For more details, buy my book on Amazon.
To explain what’s going on here, we have to start with Aristotle.
For more details, buy my book on Amazon.
We’ve looked at what you shouldn’t do. But, what about the positive stuff?
For more details, buy my book on Amazon.
Why does Christian morality look the way it does? Why is it these things we’re supposed to do or not do? Why not other things?
Well, it all has to do with something called an “image.”
For more details, buy my book on Amazon.
The NT has several lists of things we’re not supposed to do. Well, why those things?
For more details, buy my book on Amazon.
Why are Christians supposed to act a certain way? Why does God care what we do? The end of our series on Colossians will answer these questions and a whole lot more.
For more details, you can buy my book on Amazon.
If Paul had written Mere Christianity, what would be in it?
Buy on Amazon
Most church people know that when you pray for patience, God will teach us patience by making our lives difficult. So, why don’t we pray for patience?
Thinking through faith rationally is really important if we don’t want to have blind faith. That’s what apologetics is all about.
Theology is great, but you’ll never truly understand it if you don’t live it out in real life.
We’re going to make a lot better progress if we stop shutting down conversations and think through where we’re headed. We need to stop reacting and start thinking.
Christianese needs to stop being a thing. But, we should also think about dropping a lot of our other big theological words.
This Is Who I Am
American Christianity Is Broken
What is it about Crossfit that makes people pay a lot of money to get pushed to their absolute limits? And why can't church be like that?
If we're going to make progress, that means we're going to have to deal with some obstacles in our way. Ignoring problems doesn't make them go away.
Apologetics books to get started:
The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel
The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel
How to have better conversations with people:
Tactics by Grek Koukl
Sometimes in life, you run face-first into a brick wall. Wouldn't it be great if you didn't do that so much?
-
Looking for a God - The Moral Argument
-
New Testament Origins
-
Science and Christianity
-
Is There a God - The Kalam Cosmological Argument
-
This Is Who I Am
"You have to keep yourself pure!" This is a hot topic in a lot of Christian circles. But, what's REALLY going on here?
Apologetics books to get started:
The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel
The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel
How to have better conversations with people:
Tactics by Grek Koukl
More and more people are walking away from organized religion. Is this really a problem?
Apologetics books to get started:
The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel
The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel
How to have better conversations with people:
Tactics by Grek Koukl
It can really rock your boat to look at the world from someone else's perspective. So, how can we do that effectively?
Apologetics books to get started:
The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel
The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel
How to have better conversations with people:
Tactics by Grek Koukl
Ben's bio: "I'm a complete mystery even to myself. How the hell could I write a bio?"
Ben's Instagram: @thewathening
Exodus 90
*I apologize for my poor audio quality. I had a problem with my video and had to log out and back in just before we started. When I did, the program turned off my mic and decided to use my laptop’s internal mic instead.
Bio
Dale Stephens has a B.A. in Pastoral Ministry, M.A. in Leadership & Administration, and currently a PhD student at AGTS.
Dale and his wife, Andrea, have 3 girls, Saria, Jade, & Vera, and one grandchild, Niko. Dale began his vocational ministry as a student pastor in 2000. In 2004, he shifted to US missions with Chi Alpha at UGA. Later, planted Chi Alpha at Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia State University, & what is now Kennesaw State - Marietta campus. Since 2015, he has been serving as the Lead Pastor for Riverside Church (now Pure Hope Church).
Pure Hope Church:
Website
YouTube
Books Dale recommends for understanding the Bible better:
The IVP Biblical Background Commentary by Creig Keener
Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes by O'brien & Richards
Reading While Black by Esau McCaulley
Reading the Bible with the Damned by Bob Eckbauld
Reading the Bible for All It's Worth by Fee & Stuart
The Upside Down Kingdom by Donald Kraybill
NT Wright's NT commentary series
Books Dale recommends for thinking politically:
The Hauerwas Reader by Stanley Hauerwas
The Pastor as Public Theologian by Kevin Vanhoozer
Bowling Alone by Robert Putnam
The Fractured Republic by Yuval Levin
Final words from Dale:
Christian Americans note the importance of biblically driven beliefs that shape their personal identity and public politics. As noted in our time together, what we hope for is some common elements in us all, a humility to find the distorted truths in us, a vision/effort towards togetherness (in contrast to us vs them), and a genuine curiosity matched with empathy for the other. This is how we position ourselves- selflessly. For me, I'm also driven towards a transformational hope for a better tomorrow on this earth and in its fullest in Heaven.
Through reflection, education, books, travels etc...I've come to realize I have enculturated the gospel into "American". My aim is to see God more clearly, through my culture, the other cultures, and ultimately supra-culturally. I hope some of the above resources will help you towards that aim.
Adriana was born in Mexico City. She studied communication with a major in live TV production at Universidad Anáhuac del Norte, Mexico. She was married in 2006 and moved to Atlanta where her two girls were born. She has a passion for the arts, especially cinema, photography, singing, and dancing.
Angela Mathis is a Christ follower, extroverted introvert, artist, reformed Republican, Air Force veteran, daughter, sister, aunt, ally, and friend. For more information, Angela recommends:
-
https://www.historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/gilmoreprisonslavery.html
-
https://www.history.com/news/13th-amendment-slavery-loophole-jim-crow-prisons
-
https://www.splcenter.org/20180614/biggest-lie-white-supremacist-propaganda-playbook-unraveling-truth-about-%E2%80%98black-white-crime
-
https://m.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/history-archaeology/slavery-colonial-georgia?amp
But before we finish this series and move on, I have one more topic to cover: Christian nationalism. I’ve saved this one for last - not because I think it is the least important, but because I think it is the natural result of all of the problems we have talked about for the last five weeks.
This is who I am - https://youtu.be/oc5ilm_lYJ0
Support - https://purecharity.com/mattdelockery
We are all broken people who need help. That is one of the foundational points of Christianity. Therefore, it is impossible to live a Christian life and at the same time think one race is better than another.
Blog article on Paul and Slavery - https://mattdelockery.com/blog/paul-and-slavery-part-1
This is who I am - https://youtu.be/oc5ilm_lYJ0
Support - https://purecharity.com/mattdelockery
What is that one thing that will upset church people more than anything else? What is the one thing that if you do it, there will be no forgiveness?
This is who I am - https://youtu.be/oc5ilm_lYJ0
Support - https://purecharity.com/mattdelockery
The only question that really matters when hiring a pastor is: “Does this person know God?” Instead, we’re trying to find rock stars who can bring a bunch of people in the door. With all the Christian leaders who have been falling lately, I think we’re finding out how well that strategy has been working.
This is who I am - https://youtu.be/oc5ilm_lYJ0
Support - https://purecharity.com/mattdelockery
2020 was awful. Now it's 2021, and we're beginning a new year. How about instead of trying to put a bright face on everything we simply acknowledge some realities? In this series, I'm going to talk about some of the major things wrong with American Christianity.
Simple solutions are usually not good solutions. So, if we want a good solution, then we need to address the real problems.
This is who I am - https://youtu.be/oc5ilm_lYJ0
Support - https://purecharity.com/mattdelockery
This video tells you a little bit about who I am and why I do what I do. For further information, see links below:
Conversations with atheists:
-
Problem of evil/God's actions in the OT - https://youtu.be/qxgUg_hYyew
-
Naturalism vs theism - https://youtu.be/4RY0G3SNG8w
My thoughts on things:
-
Liberal or conservative - https://youtu.be/ldEYxCHTul8
-
Why do bad things happen to good people? - https://youtu.be/5_YOK-C-ujs
-
Christianity is not a sports team - https://youtu.be/pKGc3QD2Rxo
My donation page:
https://purecharity.com/mattdelockery
The Gospel of Mark says Jesus is going to lead God's people into the promised land. But, they were already living in Israel. What's going on?
Why do bad people often seem to get away with things and have everything good while good people often get the leftovers? It would seem like an all-powerful and loving God should fix this.
Why in the world would a good and loving God not only just allow slavery but actually command it. Why would we worship a god who clearly doesn’t even have his own moral compass pointing in the right direction?
Yeah, I know this topic is not super fun, but I’m willing to bet a lot of you have been wondering about this and may not have ever heard a good answer. And that applies whether you’re Christian or not. So, let’s get into it.
Overall, technology is a very good thing. There are, however, some side effects - some unintended consequences that are not positive.
My conversation with an atheist on the problem of evil/OT God
I can think of two main ways that we have to live by faith in our everyday lives. The first one is trusting God that He actually cares about us and will work everything out.
We're not supposed to have blind faith. OK, but what does true faith actually look like?
Faith is sometimes described as “believing something when you know it isn’t true.” That’s actually not faith. The technical term for that is “delusion.”
Really, what we’re asking when we ask this question is: Which translation is closest to the original? And the answer is...
(Note: I apologize for the audio. I was trying something new with my video feed, and it didn’t work that well. Next week, I’ll be back to normal).
From time to time, most of us have had that feeling that something is wrong. Our gut just tells us that something is off and shouldn’t be the way it is. But, the question is: now what? Where do you go from here?
In this episode, I want to ask a question that is going to be a little uncomfortable for any church people who are listening, “Were the new atheists right?”
As I’m looking at where our country is right now and where things might be going in the future, it occurs to me that many of the old distinctions that have divided us may not be so important going forward. The categories of liberal and conservative, I think, are two of those.
The whole idea of a “right path through life” is enormous and complicated. Is there a right path? How would I know if and when I found it? What would a right path even look like anyway? These are really important questions, and they will take a lot of time to unpack. And, we’ll get to them.
But, how about instead of trying to get there in a single magnificent leap, what if we took one small step? What if we do enough to get us started in the right direction, and then we can take other steps after that? I think that might be a little easier for all of us.
Before quarantine, many of us seemed to move from one temporarily fun thing to another. Now that our lives have been disrupted, we have a chance to remake them. What should they look like going forward?
It seems like these days, everyone is pretty much cheering for their own side like they’re watching a sporting event. You know, our side is always best, the refs are always unfair, and no matter what happens, we’re going to cheer for our side. Christianity should not be that way.
Why do you do what you do? Do you do something because it’s right? Or, do you do something because that’s what the people around you are doing? That’s a really important question with the way things have been going lately.
I'm going to start doing weekly live videos in addition to my longer podcast topics. What I'm really hoping to accomplish is to be able to have something like a conversation with the people watching. So, please ask questions, make comments, and tell me when I'm wrong. This is the first live video, and I basically just tell you what I'm planning on doing. If you want to watch the video, you can do it here: https://youtu.be/5uVmNgLPvkc.
Also, I know the audio is bad in this video. The test went better, so idk what happened. I'll try to get it right next time.
Finally, we come to the end of Jesus’ life. In this episode, we look at his crucifixion and burial.
Pontius Pliate book
YouTube Channel
Here, we begin looking at the last week, and climax, of Jesus' life. In this episode, Jesus enters Jerusalem and cleanses the Temple.
Picture From Episode:
Model of the Temple
Wikipedia:
Overview of the Siege of Jerusalem
Josephus and the Destruction of Jerusalem:
Internal Fighting
Bodies in the City and Desolation Outside
Famine - General
Famine - Woman Eats Her Own Baby
False Prophets
Romans Kill So Many People That Their Blood Puts Out Some of the Fires
Those Not Killed Are Sold to the Mines
Jesus acted and taught like he had the authority to do whatever he wanted? Why? Who did he think he was?
What was unique about Jesus’ teaching style, and what were some of the main things he talked about?
Jesus didn't just get a group of disciples around him to party and have a good time. He was trying to do something. So, what was that? If you were in a town that Jesus happened to come through, what would you have seen?00:
This episode will cover some basic facts about Jesus, a little bit about his early life, and a lot more about the beginning of his ministry.
This is Part B of our look into whether Jesus really existed. In this episode, we will look at two arguments in favor of his existence as well as whether or not it is likely we would have the evidence we do if he didn’t exist.
Did Jesus Exist - by Bart Ehrman
NT Origins Series: YouTube, iTunes
In Part A, we're going to look at the 5 best arguments against Jesus' existence.
Did Jesus Exist - by Bart Ehrman
NT Origins Series: YouTube, iTunes
What can we actually know about the Jesus of history? Is is possible to get beyond our own biases and find out who he actually was?
This is the end of Paul's critique of the philosophy and why he thinks Christianity is superior to every other worldview.
For more information, check out my book, The Essence of the Christian Worldview.
What is the alternative philosophy and Colossae, and why is it important today?
For more information, check out my book, The Essence of the Christian Worldview.
So, what does it actually mean to have a relationship with Christ? How does it work, and what actually changes?
For more information, check out my book, The Essence of the Christian Worldview.
So, what does it actually mean to have a relationship with Christ? How does it work, and what actually changes?
For more information, check out my book, The Essence of the Christian Worldview.
Why is the Christian worldview better than alternatives? How are theology and our daily lives connected? Paul begins to explain.
For more information, check out my book, The Essence of the Christian Worldview.
Also, wouldn’t it be better to just focus on “real life” than theology? Check out this video based on C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters - https://youtu.be/D3MWVMKKY3A
What was the "philosophy" at Colossae? Why did Paul object to it?
For more information, check out my book, The Essence of the Christian Worldview.
How is theology applied to us? How does Christianity compare to other worldviews? In this section, Paul lays out how he is going to answer these questions.
For more information, check out my book, The Essence of the Christian Worldview.
We reach the end of the argument and find that the Universe had a cause. So, what is this cause?
*Alexander Vilenkin briefly explaining the Borde-Guth-Vilenkin theorem: https://youtu.be/WOyQFkB1AGM
*You can find Vilenkin’s full lecture on attempts to avoid the beginning of the universe here: https://youtu.be/NXCQelhKJ7A
*Warning: These videos require actual knowledge of physics.
It all started with the Big Bang, right? Well, that’s the question isn’t it. If it did, then the Universe began to exist.
Redshift - https://youtu.be/ikgRZt1BSyk
The first scientific reason to think that the Universe began to exist - the 2nd law of thermodynamics basically says that everything breaks down. So, if the Universe is infinitely old, why hasn’t it broken down yet?
How the Universe is Way Bigger than You Think - https://youtu.be/Iy7NzjCmUf0
There are four reasons to think that the Universe began to exist. In this episode, we will cover the first two, which tackle the question of the absolutely infinite and its relationship to the age of the Universe.
Hilbert’s Hotel - https://youtu.be/lobeX6ft6PA
Traversing an actually infinite number of things - https://youtu.be/wN85nL0g7GY
Book that covers this topic - On Guard
If we’re looking for a god, the origin of the universe might be a good place to start. Did the universe begin to exist? Did it have a cause? What might that cause be?
For further study:
On Guard (a good place to start)
Reasonable Faith (harder, not for beginners)
Here is Paul's goal for the Colossians.
My book, The Essence of the Christian Worldview, will explain in more detail.
What was lacking in Christ's afflictions, and what does it mean for Christ to be "in you?"
My book, The Essence of the Christian Worldview, will explain in more detail.
What is reconciliation through Christ, and can salvation can be lost?
My book, The Essence of the Christian Worldview, will explain in more detail.
Can you be a scientist and a Christian at the same time? Hear from Georgia Tech professor Dr. Dewey Hodges.
Resources:
Always Ready by Greg Bahnsen
Pushing the Antithesis by Greg Bahnsen
Creation Ministries International
Refuting Compromise by Jonathan Sarfati
Do science and Christianity conflict? Hear from Georgia Tech Professor of Chemistry, Dr. David Sherrill.
Resources:
Science and Christianity: Conflict or Coherence?
Reasons to Believe
Isn't science all about facts and Christianity all about faith? How could they possibly overlap? Which one should you trust?
Resource:
Where the Conflict Really Lies: Science Religion and Naturalism by Alvin Plantinga
If everything in this world operates on scientific laws, how can God act in the world? Wouldn't performing a miracle or answering a prayer break the laws of physics?
Video:
Religion and Science by CS Lewis
Can you believe in both science and Christianity at the same time? In this episode, we focus on the Big Bang Theory and Evolution.
Resource:
Where the Conflict Really Lies: Science Religion and Naturalism by Alvin Plantinga
Paul shows how Christ can be the founder of a new humanity and the one who puts the cosmos back in order.
My book, The Essence of the Christian Worldview, will explain in more detail.
These verses represent the transitional section of the hymn and explain the Church's role in the world.
My book, The Essence of the Christian Worldview, will explain in more detail.
What does it mean for Christ to be "the firstborn of all creation?"
My book, The Essence of the Christian Worldview, will explain in more detail.
For an overview of church history, see The First Thousand Years by Robert Louis Wilken.
What does it mean for Christ to be the "image of the invisible God?"
My book, The Essence of the Christian Worldview, will explain in more detail.
The Christological hymn in Colossians is the foundation of the entire letter's theology. And, structure carries meaning. So, what is the structure of the hymn?
View on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/UqBIY7ORMKs
My book, The Essence of the Christian Worldview, will explain in more detail.
What's it like living with Asperger Syndrome? Find out from someone who has it, Nick Peters. You can learn more about Nick's ministry at https://www.deeperwatersapologetics.com/
Why does Jesus say we shouldn't judge others? Does this mean we can never talk about problems we see in the world or help other people with their problems?
Why is resurrection important, and what makes the Christian version of resurrection significant?
The final episode in our series on NT origins covers how we get from the Greek New Testament to the English New Testament.
To understand how to translate the culture and not just the words in the New Testament, listen to my series "Jesus' World: Honor and Shame" on iTunes or YouTube.
And, if you're interested in learning a little bit of Greek (enough to do word studies and read good commentaries), the book Greek for the Rest of Us by William Mounce is where you should start.
How did the New Testament make it from ancient times to today? What about all those copies?
How did those particular books and letters get into the New Testament? Why them and not others?
How and when the NT canon was put together - https://youtu.be/UltMpQyClzs
The lists of who accepted what into the canon - https://youtu.be/tlycH1COZ2Q
How did the Gospels get created? In this episode, we're going to look at the "who?" "what?" "when?" "how?" and "why?" to see if we can't get a better picture of what was going on back then.
Exactly what are the epistles that we find in the NT, and what was their role in the growth of the early church?
For more information on letters, listen to the episode on the Authorship of Colossians.
The leaders of the early church put together official statements of their theology, which were passed on orally. We still have some of these today. What are they?
There were no audio or video recorders in the ancient world, and it was awhile before anyone wrote down stuff about Jesus. So, how did information about what he said and did survive?
In this interview, Jen Willis shares with us what it is like to a adopt a child with special needs and what it means for you, your family, and the child you are adopting.
In this interview, Mike Felker shares with us about Jehovah’s Witnesses - who they are, what they believe, and what the rest of us should know about them.
For more information visit https://michaeljfelker.com, and check out his podcast by searching for JW Review in iTunes or clicking here.
Young people are leaving the church. Have they given up on Christianity? What do we do about it?