Beards & Bible Podcast: Recent Episodes

JoshBrooker/GabeRutledge

A podcast about life, theology, friendships, current events, and the journey of authentic discipleship with two pastors who also happen to be lifelong friends, former college roommates, bandmates, and groomsmen in each other‘s weddings.

Beards and Bible listeners, last time we thought we could cover Leviticus in one episode… we were wrong.

On our last episode, we did a flyover of Leviticus and looked at the big picture, but we left two hot topics on the table: tattoos and tithing. So we’re going back into Leviticus and asking what these commands mean for us as Christians.

Specifically: are tattoos a sin that the Bible clearly prohibits? Do Christians have to give 10% in their local church? These are two questions that often bring up strong opinions. So we’re opening up Leviticus and asking: how should Christians understand these Old Testament laws today?

In the Old Testament book of Leviticus, God’s glory fills the tabernacle… but suddenly, no one can go in.

The exodus brought Israel out of Egypt, but it didn’t take Egypt out of Israel. God wants to dwell with His people—raising the ultimate question: How can a holy God live alongside a broken humanity without consuming them?

Why all the bloody sacrifices, skin parameters, and dietary codes? Is Leviticus just a bizarre ancient rulebook, or the structural roadmap of God restoring Eden? What actually happens on the Day of Atonement when a scapegoat carries a nation's rebellion into the wilderness?

On today's episode, we take a flyover of Leviticus with a low-altitude look into its center. We’ll unpack how ancient priests, scapegoats, and holy calendars point directly to Jesus—and why holiness isn't about isolating yourself, but living set apart to radically love others.

If ancient rituals couldn't permanently fix the human heart… what can?

And we’re back! After taking the last 2 months off, Beards and Bible listeners, we’re back with a brand new episode. We’re talking about all the stuff that’s happened in our world in the last 60 days- the US/Iran War, the World Cup, the economy, AI, midterm elections, and… ...some of our favorite weird and bizarre news stories as we do our best to navigate the world we’re living in as followers of Jesus.

Few books of the Bible have generated more questions, confusion, and debate than the book of Revelation. In this special teaching episode, we explore how to understand and interpret this fascinating book, uncover its original message, and discover why its central focus is not fear, speculation, or conspiracy—but Jesus.

On today's episode, Gabe discusses the importance of riddling our tongue and using our speech to bring life as opposed to death, blessing as opposed to cursing.

We talk through the consequences of slander and its effects on a community and the parallels between it and Biblical tzara'at.

For more information on Dothan Messianic Fellowship, visit www.dothanmessianicfellowship.com

In a culture that constantly bombards us with unrealistic ideals—perfect marriages, flawless friendships, effortless success, and picture-perfect lifestyles—many Christians find themselves exhausted by unattainable expectations.

Misplaced expectations can steal our joy, but biblical contentment and gratitude can restore it.

Join Josh as he gives a talk from his upcoming book, Elusive Expectations: Living Free from the Tyranny of Unattainable Ideals.

Join Gabe and the rest of DMF as we look at the Hebrews 12 race and examine how traumatic life experiences can effect us and our interactions with those around us.

For more information on Dothan Messianic Fellowship, visit www.dothanmessianicfellowship.com

Ecclesiastes 1, written by "the Preacher" (traditionally Solomon) argues that human existence is a monotonous, repetitive cycle, where nothing is truly new, and all earthly pursuits and wisdom ultimately fail to bring lasting satisfaction.

Ultimately, Ecclesiastes 1 suggests that life without a proper focus on God is frustrating and futile.

Where are we looking to find meaning and fulfillment in life?

Beards and Bible listeners,

Real quick before we jump into today’s episode: we just wanted to give you a little heads-up on what the next couple months are going to look like for us. May and June are honestly just stacked. Between travel, ministry responsibilities, and everything happening in our local churches, Gabe and I are going to be pulled in a lot of different directions.

So instead of trying to force something rushed or half-baked, we thought it’d actually be a lot more meaningful to share some of the teaching that’s already coming out of our local congregations—stuff we’ve been pouring time, study, and prayer into anyway.

So over the next several episodes, you’re going to hear some of that. Think of it less like a break, and more like we’re just inviting you into what God’s already doing in our churches.

And today’s episode is exactly that.

This is a teaching Gabe gave at his church on the Angel of the Lord. This a topic that’s a lot deeper than it might sound at first. It touches on how God reveals Himself, how He draws near, and honestly, how the Old Testament starts to point forward in some really compelling ways.

So whether this is a new concept for you or something you’ve wrestled with before, I think you’ll find this one really helpful.

Alright, here’s Gabe!

In Genesis 9 we read that flood resets the world—but it doesn’t reset the human heart.

Genesis 9 opens with blessing, mandate, and covenant… but it doesn’t take long before something feels off. Why does creation now fear humanity? Why does God permit meat, but forbid blood? Why introduce justice systems right out of the gate? And why, after wiping the slate clean, do we find Noah—Noah, the preacher of righteousness—drunk, exposed, and at the center of one of the most unsettling stories in Genesis?

So what actually happened in that tent? Was Ham just seeing something… or doing something? Why does the text use that loaded phrase, “uncovering nakedness”?

Why do Shem and Japheth respond the way they do—walking backward, almost ceremonially covering their father?

And maybe most confusing of all—why is Canaan cursed instead of Ham?
Is this a personal outburst… or a prophetic moment shaping the future of nations?

Is this just a strange footnote… or is it the Bible quietly telling you that even after judgment, sin is still alive and well?

In this episode, we trace what actually changed after the flood—and what didn’t. We’ll look at the shift from Eden-like harmony to a world marked by tension, survival, and shorter lives. We’ll unpack the covenant with all creation—and ask why God promises stability in a world He knows is still broken. And we’ll wrestle with Noah’s failure as a kind of “new Adam”—and what it reveals about the limits of starting over.

Along the way, we’ll connect the dots to the rise of nations, the roots of human conflict, and a sobering truth running underneath it all: a new world doesn’t create new people.

If the flood wasn’t the final answer… what is?

What really happened during Noah’s flood? If you read Genesis 6-9 carefully, it’s clearly NOT a kids’ story filled with cute cartoon animals on a floating playground.

In Genesis 6, we’re told the human heart had become so bent, so violent, that God was grieved to His core. The flood isn’t just about water, arks, and animals. It’s about God’s judgment, mercy, and the unsettling truth about what the human race is capable of.

But buried in the story are questions we rarely slow down to ask:

Was Noah extraordinary—or just faithful in a corrupt world?

Why does the Bible say God “regretted” creating humanity? Could the ark actually hold all those animals? Why did the flood last a full year, not just 40 days?

What does the olive branch really prove?

Has anyone actually found the ark on Mount Ararat?

And why does Jesus Christ point back to Noah when talking about the end?

Even more, what does this story say about us as human beings?

On today’s episode, we’ll dig into the difficult questions: the justice of God, the depth of human brokenness, and the surprising thread of grace running through it all.

What if the "ancient world" wasn't a primitive era of cavemen, but a sophisticated, global civilization that rivaled—or maybe even exceeded—our own?

In today’s episode, we dive into the 1,656-year gap between Adam and the Great Flood—a span of time equal to the distance between the Fall of Rome and the invention of the internet. We’re asking the heavy questions the text leaves behind:

Such as the mystery of the Nephilim. Who were the "Sons of God," and how did their union with human women create a race of legendary "men of renown"?

The Gift of Time: How would society change if you lived for 900 years? Would you become a master of dozens of trades, or would a few "ancients" simply hoard all the world’s wealth and power?

The Greenhouse Earth: Imagine a world with no seasons, no polar ice caps, and no rain—where a single supercontinent allowed you to walk to any corner of the globe.

The Dark Side of Progress: How did a world with a single language and advanced industry descend into a state of "total war" and absolute spiritual depravity?

The Bible says that as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Are we seeing the shadows of that pre-Flood world in our headlines today?

Join us as we explore the "world that was" and the warning it holds for the world that is.

The pro-life movement changed dramatically after the fall of Roe v. Wade. But new debates are emerging inside the movement itself. In this week’s episode, we sit down with pro-life speaker and writer Andrew Wood to talk about the current state of the pro-life cause, the rise of the abortion abolitionist movement, and why he believes wisdom—not just urgency—must guide how Christians seek to end abortion. We discuss strategy, moral clarity, and what faithful engagement looks like in this cultural moment.

Last night, February 24, 2026, U.S. President Donald J. Trump, addressed the nation. This morning, we’re breaking it down — the substance, the spin, and what it could mean for the year ahead.

This is our State of the Union reaction.

Christianity in America is on the decline. Or is it? Even as fewer American adults claim to practice the Christian faith, Bible sales are up by 41% in the last 3 years, and downloads of spiritual apps are up by 79%.

So is Christianity in America growing? Or shrinking?

One thing’s for sure— the landscape of the church in America certainly is changing.

So on today’s episode, we’re talking about the church—where it’s clearly changing, where the data is surprising, and where it’s honestly a little unsettling. Some of these trends feel encouraging, some raise real questions, and none of them let us stay on autopilot.

So while we can’t predict the future or we don’t want to chase fads, it is helpful to pay attention, ask better questions, and think faithfully about what it means to lead and follow Jesus in this moment.

It’s not secret to anyone paying attention: America is more divided politically and ideologically than we’ve been in a very long time. And conversations about important cultural moments often quickly devolve into name-calling, shouting, and shaming those who don’t see things the way that we do. Regardless of what side you’re on of whatever issue is in the forefront of the news cycle, there’s talking points we repeat that we’ve been given from whatever news source we’ve consumed while we simultaneously shout down the “other side” as loudly as possible.

But none of this is working. Something is deeply broken. And for all our rage, it’s not getting fixed anytime soon.

But why? Why is it that we’ve found ourselves at such a deeply divided ideological impasse?

Perhaps the problem isn’t just about politics. Maybe it’s not really political at all.

Perhaps we are living in the same country, using the same words, but operating with two very different visions of reality itself. Two competing answers to deeper questions we rarely stop to name:

Like, what is America, really? What is justice? What does it mean to be free? What is the purpose of law, and who gets to define it?

And for those who call themselves Christians, the divide cuts even deeper.

What is Christianity at its core? Is it a gospel that calls us to repentance, faith, and obedience to Jesus as Lord? Is it a message that calls us to submit to the commands of God and speaks of God’s judgment towards the wicked and unrepentant? Or, is it following a Jesus who was a social activist who lived primarily to extend compassion towards the weak, poor, and disenfranchised?

If we’re commanded to love our neighbor, what is the wisest and most faithful way to do that in a fractured culture? When love and truth appear to collide, which do we choose? Or is just a false dilemma altogether?

OK, real talk. Our intent with this episode is not to yell louder or score points with a certain side. We just want to ask better questions, and hopefully name the rival stories shaping our moment.

Because until we understand the visions competing for our allegiance, we’ll keep fighting the wrong battles and wondering why nothing ever changes.

And maybe…just maybe…if we’ll listen long enough and seek truth, maybe the fractures among us just might to start to slowly heal.

You asked, we listened. And now dear listener, here is an episode devoted entirely to your listener questions. On today’s episode, we field questions about self-defense, miraculous healing, why the younger generation is gravitating towards more liturgical traditions, and what Jesus meant by the phrase, “lead not into temptation” in the Lord’s prayer.

So sit back, grab your popcorn or bonbons, and let’s open up the mailbag together.

Send us your questions for our "From the Mailbag" episode to beardsandbiblepodcast@gmail.com.

Thanks for listening!

On today's episode, Gabe is joined by special guest Nick Sayers as they step into the ring to discuss the King James Version Only movement.

Textual criticism is basically the process of comparing all the oldest and best ancient copies of the Bible we’ve discovered, so we can get as close as possible to the original words the biblical authors wrote.

Properly understood- it’s not scary, it’s not anti-faith, and it doesn’t deny the inspiration of Scripture — it’s simply good scholarship. And modern Bible translations use this approach to draw from a much larger, older, and more diverse set of manuscripts than translators had access to in the 1600s. The goal is clarity, accuracy, and faithfulness to the earliest text we can reconstruct.

But the KJV-Only movement takes a very different path. It leans solely on the Textus Receptus, a smaller collection of later manuscripts that the King James translators used. While those manuscripts are valuable, they represent only a sliver of the evidence we have today— which means the KJV-Only position often struggles to account for the full reality of how Bible translation actually works and how language naturally develops over time.

In the first part of a two-part series, we’re going to hear from Seth Knorr from BibleTheologyBlog.com as he explains and defends the textual-criticism approach to Bible translation—unpacking how it works, why it uses a broader and earlier set of manuscripts, and how it differs from the KJV-Only reliance on the Textus Receptus.

Are dreams and visions a genuine way the Holy Spirit still speaks today—or are we in danger of fooling ourselves when we put too much weight on them? What do you do with a dream that feels significant?

How do you discern between God’s prompting, your own subconscious, and something that could actually mislead you? And why do some Christians seem to hear from God in the night while others never do?

In today’s episode, we’ll dive deep into the mystery, the beauty, and the potential pitfalls of supernatural experiences. We explore what Scripture actually teaches, why discernment matters more than ever, and how to stay open to the Spirit without drifting into confusion or spiritual presumption. If you’ve ever wrestled with strange dreams, stirring impressions, or questions about how God guides us—hopefully we can talk through navigating it with wisdom, humility, and faith.

We’ve all heard it — “Judge not, lest you be judged.” But what did Jesus really mean by that? Is it ever right to confront another believer about sin or unhealthy behavior? And if so, how do we do that without becoming hypocritical, self-righteous, or unloving?

In this episode, we’re diving into one of the hardest parts of Christian community — holding one another accountable in a way that actually honors God. How do you approach a friend who’s drifting spiritually? What do you do when someone “calls you out” in a way that hurts more than it helps? And what does it look like to stand for truth among non-believers without being judgmental or defensive? At what point does something like Church Discipline get involved in the process?

These are the kinds of critical conversations we can’t afford to avoid — and today, we’re talking about how to have them with grace, truth, and courage.

The New Testament is full of commands for Christians to gather together regularly for encouragement, discipleship and community. Not only that, we’re told as Christians 59 separate times to honor, care, love and serve one another within the context of the Church. According to the Bible, being involved in a local church and pouring our lives out for other believers in service and love is really a big deal.

But in our context, we seem to be missing something. The average American churchgoer only attends church 1.6 times per month, or roughly two out of every five weekends. Only about 21% of regular churchgoers consistently tithe to the work of their local church, and only about 34% of them regularly serve or volunteer. Sticking with just one church seems to be a challenge for us as well, as nearly 2 in 5 churchgoers report regularly attending multiple churches, while never committing to any of them. Not only that, criticizing churches and church leaders has become a favorite pastime and trending topic on most social media platforms. Churches get critiqued in online spaces a lot like restaurants, shops, or theaters and almost anything that doesn’t meet a person’s particular preference gets noticed and called out.

Could it that we’re seeing church as a product to consume instead of a family to belong to? How might we notice that mindset in ourselves and change the way we think and interact with the local church?

As of October 8th, 2025, the U.S. government is shut down. Lawmakers in Washington are deadlocked over federal spending — House Republicans pushing for deeper cuts and stronger border security, while Democrats are pushing back, warning that essential services and federal paychecks could be delayed if an agreement isn’t reached soon. It’s another reminder of how divided and fragile things can feel politically in our country.

Meanwhile, in the Middle East, this week marks two years since the October 7th attacks- when Hamas terrorists murdered around 1,200 people in Israel and took over 250 hostages. Since then, Israel’s war in Gaza has devastated the region- with tens of thousands killed, millions displaced, and deep global tension about how peace can ever return to that part of the world.

So in this episode, we’re talking about the instability of our times — in politics, in war, in culture — and how Jesus’ words in Mark 13 remind us that none of this takes God by surprise. Nations will rise and fall, wars will come and go, but His kingdom remains unshaken.

On Wednesday, September 10, right as we were recording and releasing our last episode, political activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated on the campus of Utah Valley University. This was a shocking, horrifying tragedy that absolutely rocked our nation. For Gabe and I personally as pastors, this was a really big deal. The same rights that gave Charlie the freedom to share his beliefs openly on college campuses are the same ones that give Gabe and I the freedom to open the Bible every weekend and to openly share our views about what we believe it means for our congregations. To have that kind of freedom threatened in such a violent way reminds us just how fragile it is.

In the hours and days that followed, the noise was deafening: headlines everywhere, political leaders weighing in, social media flooded with grief, outrage, and, disturbingly, even celebration. The sheer volume of conversation showed just how deeply divided and volatile the climate in our country has become.

So today we’re stepping into one of the most urgent conversations in America right now: the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the future of free speech, and the rise of political violence. What does this moment reveal about our nation—and what does it mean for us as followers of Christ? How do we hold fast to truth, defend freedom, and live as peacemakers in a culture increasingly marked by anger and division?

More and more people today say, “I’m spiritual, but not religious.” But what does that actually mean, and why is it so common in our generation?

In this episode, we explore why one in three Americans now identify as SBNR, six defining aspects of this mindset and why they matter, and why practices like crystals, energy healing, and horoscopes have become so attractive. We’ll also look at the surprising ways this trend could be good for the Church and the major challenges it presents.

If spirituality has become a curated experience, what happens when God doesn’t fit our custom order?

Catholics call her the Queen of Heaven. The Orthodox call her Theotokos, the God-bearer. Both traditions pray to her, sing hymns to her, and ask for her intercession.

But here’s the question: Is Mary truly meant to be our mediator—or have centuries of devotion blurred the line between honoring the mother of Jesus and worshiping her?

Where did these beliefs come from, when did they start, and how do they stack up against Scripture?

On our next episode, we’re asking: does Marian devotion deepen faith in Christ—or distract from Him?

For over 400 years, the King James Version of the Bible has shaped the English-speaking world—one could argue that it’s been the single most influential and important book in the English-speaking world. But for some Christians today, it’s more than just a trusted translation—it’s the only legitimate translation.

The King James Only movement insists that all other English translations are flawed, dangerous, or even deceptive. But where did this idea come from? Why do some believers cling so tightly to this one version?

And what does the actual history—of manuscripts, translations, and church tradition—really say? In this episode, we’ll explore the roots of the KJV-only position, the arguments that fuel it, and why a faithful reading of Scripture doesn’t have to mean speaking 17th-century English.

For years, the narrative has been the same: Christianity is dying in the West. Churches are empty. Faith is fading. Some even predicted that Christianity would be extinct in the UK by 2067. At the same time, people have looked at the younger generations—especially Gen Z—and dismissed them as spiritually disengaged, screen-addicted, and uninterested in anything deeper than memes and dopamine.

But the latest data tells a very different story. Something’s happening. Across the UK and the US, young people—especially young men—are showing up in churches, praying, exploring faith, reading the Bible, and defying the expectations everyone had for them.

On today's episode, we’re unpacking the quiet revival that no one saw coming—and why it just might reshape the future of the church.

Artificial intelligence, in a broad sense, is any task performed by a program or a machine that, if a human carried out the same activity, we would say the human had to apply intelligence to accomplish the task. Things like planning, learning, reasoning, problem solving, knowledge representation, perception, motion, and manipulation and even, to a lesser extent, social intelligence and creativity can now all be performed, to a certain extent at least, by artificial intelligence systems.

But if we’re able to develop a technology that empowers machines to do anything a human can do, does this mean that the day is coming when humans will become expendable and replaceable?

Will the lines between humanity and machine become blurred in the years to come with the development of more advanced artificial intelligence?

Should Christians use AI at all? If so, how? What are the ethics of AI in our day and age?

And how far will we go in the next ten years?

On June 12, 2025, Israel launched a series of aerial strikes (codenamed Operation Rising Lion) into Iran, targeting nuclear facilities, Revolutionary Guard command centers, missile production sites, and officials — including nuclear scientists and senior IRGC leaders — citing an imminent nuclear threat. While Israel says the goal is to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program and degrade its missile capabilities, Prime Minister Netanyahu has also hinted at destabilizing President Khamenei’s regime and possibly provoking a broader regime change.

Iran has responded with missile barrages toward Israel, and the conflict has displaced many civilians in Tehran amid fears of escalation . Israel’s broader strategy appears to combine military strikes, intelligence-driven sabotage, and political messaging aimed at weakening Iran’s nuclear and military posture — and potentially its government.

And then there’s, the involvement of the United States…

The U.S. has been involved diplomatically, urging de-escalation and expressing support for Israel's right to defend itself while also seeking to revive the nuclear deal with Iran, aiming to limit Iran's nuclear capabilities through negotiations. However, differing approaches and concerns from various political factions within the U.S. have complicated these efforts, with debates ongoing about the best course of action moving forward.

So how is this all going to shake out? Will it be over in a matter of days? Weeks? Years? Or will this further escalate into World War III?

Also, why are some Christians saying that the recent events are of prophetic significance, citing passages from Jeremiah 49?

The Bible never directly mentions tobacco or caffeine. There's no verse that says, "Thou shalt not smoke" or "Thou shalt not be addicted to caffeine." Instead, we're left to discern principles from Scripture that guide us in making wise choices about our health and habits.

What does it means to honor God with our bodies and not be mastered by anything? What’s the difference between sinful actions and unwise decisions? And how does moderation and consideration for others play into our daily choices?

Let’s unpack these biblical principles and consider how they apply to our modern lifestyles.

It’s fair to say we’re in the midst of what some might call a “cannabis craze.” With legalization spreading rapidly across the U.S. and other countries, cannabis (or marijuana) and other THC derivatives are becoming more mainstream—not just for medical use, but recreationally, and even in wellness products like oils, gummies, and skincare.

In the U.S., cannabis/marijuana use among adults has nearly doubled in the past 20 years. Over the same course of time, daily use of cannabis has grown more than fivefold and support for legalization rose from 34% to 70%. The legal cannabis industry has exploded in size, employment, and tax revenue. Although many view cannabis as a practical savior because it’s seen as a natural, multi-use remedy that addresses chronic pain, anxiety, insomnia, and other conditions without the addictive risks of opioids or the harsh side effects of some pharmaceuticals, the rise of regular cannabis use has raised significant concerns. Concerns that are often swept under the rug and not talked about.

Even though the mantra, “cannabis is non-addictive” has been repeated often, the DSM-5, a reference book on mental health and brain-related conditions and disorders, has something listed called, “cannabis use disorder”. This condition has been growing rapidly, especially among young adults. Even as cannabis use and the support for its legalization are on the rise, at the same time there are growing concerns surrounding potential cognitive, mental health, and motivational impairments. Additionally, some data even suggests links between heavy use and higher rates of traffic accidents, workplace impairment, and emergency room visits.

And that’s the dilemma for us as Christians—just because cannabis is becoming legal in more places, should we use it? Can it be used responsibly or in moderation, especially for medical reasons? Scripture calls us to stay sober, care for our bodies and minds, and avoid things that could harm us or others—even if the law says they’re allowed. So how does that work when it comes to marijuana and cannabis?

Should we puff…or pass?

In today’s culture, intoxication and the reliance on substances like alcohol, marijuana, and other substances have become increasingly normalized, often portrayed as means of self-medicating, escape, coping, or recreation. For Christians, this presents a real challenge—how do we navigate a world where these substances are so accessible and even celebrated?

In the first installment of a three-part series, we’ll be exploring this topic and how it relates to alcohol and what the Bible has to say about it.

The Bible mentions drinking alcohol almost 300 times. It repeatedly warns against drunkenness, lack of self-control, and the spiritual dangers of dependence on anything other than God (Ephesians 5:18, Proverbs 20:1). Christians must ask: Am I using this to escape something God wants me to face? Is this substance mastering me in any way (1 Corinthians 6:12)? Does it hinder my witness, my clarity, or my ability to love others well? These aren’t just moral questions, but deeply spiritual ones that call us to reflect on what rules our hearts and minds.

So…who’s up for a little candid discussion about a mildly controversial topic?

Why don’t churches sing the Psalms anymore? Are they too clunky? Too ancient? Or are churches being directly disobedient to the explicit commands of Scripture to do so?

And while we’re asking bold questions... let’s talk about the brand-new Trump tariffs of 2025—what exactly does this mean for the economy, and how will it affect trade across the globe?

And finally... Pope Francis has died. What legacy does he leave behind, and where does the Catholic Church go from here? And also, should you be so inclined as to place a bet on who the next pope will be, what are the betting odds?

Is there a direct, unbroken line from the apostles to today's church leaders?

In this episode, we’re diving deep into the doctrine of Apostolic Succession—what it is, where it came from, and why it matters. We’ll explore how the Catholic and Orthodox traditions view this unbroken chain of spiritual authority, what role the pope and bishops play, and how this idea developed throughout church history.

But we’ll also ask: Why don’t Protestants hold to this view? Is it biblical? Is it essential?

Whether you're Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant—or just curious—hopefully this conversation will challenge you to think critically and historically about church leadership, unity, and authority.

What’s up Beards and Bible listeners. A while back, we did a series of episode in which we explored the topic of deconstruction and how it has become a trending in some of the younger generations. Since then, I’ve had several really amazing conversations with folks from all over the place about the topic. Some of whom have friends or family members who are in the process of deconstructing, some who were deconstructing but have since returned to their faith, and others who are currently deconstructing or have maybe even de-converted. I’ve learned a ton and have benefitted a lot from listening to people’s faith journeys and sharing with them my thoughts on the person of Jesus and why I believe we must hold firm to the key doctrines of the Christian faith.

Recently, I got a chance to sit down with a friend of mine from college who has had a very interesting faith journey, to say the least. I got a chance to share with him my thoughts on the Christian faith and hear where he’s at, and hopefully our conversation was helpful and life-giving to him. I hope and pray that this conversation is beneficial and helpful to you. Here’s my conversation with my friend Forrest.

It seems like everywhere you turn today-whether it's business, sports, self-improvement, or social media-there’s a resurgence of an ancient philosophy: Stoicism. From bestselling books like The Obstacle Is the Way to CEOs and Navy SEALs quoting Marcus Aurelius, this 2,000-year-old way of thinking is making a major comeback.

But what exactly is Stoicism? At its core, it teaches that we should control what we can, accept what we can't, and cultivate an unshakable inner peace. Sounds practical, right? But here’s the question: How does this align-or clash-with Christianity?

In this episode, we’re diving into:

Why Stoicism is experiencing a massive revival in modern culture.

The powerful Stoic concept of the Dichotomy of Control-and how it compares to trusting in God.

The idea of Anti-Fragility-growing stronger through hardship-and whether that lines up with a biblical view of suffering.

And ultimately… Can Christians learn something from Stoicism, or is it a competing worldview?

In today’s episode, we take a deep dive into one of the most mysterious figures in the Bible: Melchizedek. Mentioned only briefly in Genesis 14, Psalm 110, and Hebrews 7, Melchizedek is described as both a king and a priest, with no recorded genealogy. Who was he, and why does the book of Hebrews compare him to Jesus?

We'll explore key biblical passages that reference Melchizedek, breaking down their significance and tracing his role from Abraham’s encounter in Genesis to the theological implications found in Hebrews. We’ll also summarize the major interpretations of Melchizedek’s identity: was he a historical high priest, a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ (Christophany), or a symbolic figure pointing to Jesus as our eternal High Priest?

The world is changing, and so is the church. What challenges are we facing in 2025? What opportunities lie ahead? From the shifting faith landscape of Gen Z to the decline of evangelism, church closures, and the mental health crisis among pastors, we’re diving into the biggest disruptive trends shaping the future of the church.

How should we respond? What does it mean to stay faithful in a rapidly changing culture? In this episode, we’ll break down an article by Carey Nieuwhof on 5 Disruptive Church Trends That Will Rule 2025 and explore what it means to lead, serve, and share the gospel in this new era.

A topic that’s at the heart of the Christian life but is often misunderstood is the idea of forgiveness.

Jesus teaches us to forgive seventy times seven and to love our enemies, but does that mean we have to put up with abuse, mistreatment, or harm? Is forgiveness the same as enabling someone to continually hurt us? And what does it look like to set healthy, Christ-honoring boundaries while still walking in grace and mercy?

In this episode, we’ll explore what the Bible says about forgiveness and how it intersects with wisdom, justice, and self-respect. We’ll talk about what forgiveness really means—and what it doesn’t—and how we can honor God by forgiving others without sacrificing the boundaries that protect our hearts, minds, and well-being.

Happy new year Beards and Bible listeners! We are so excited to open up our inbox and do our best to answer some super interesting questions that were all sent in by you as the listener. We've got questions about Numbers 5 and “the bitter drink” (the jealousy offering), the apocrypha, tips to establish a daily devotional routine, and whether Mark 16:9-20 belongs in the Bible.

“How can an all-powerful, all-good God exist in a world filled with suffering?"

It's one of the toughest questions Christians face. In this episode, we dive into the problem of evil and the powerful apologetic responses of something called, theodicy. Let’s get equipped to address our doubts, engage in meaningful conversations, and deepen your own faith as we tackle one of philosophy's biggest challenges—head-on. Let’s explore how our God is still good, even when suffering is still a reality.

Right now, there are roughly five generations alive today have been labeled here in the U.S.- the Silent Generation (those born around 1945 or before, 78-96 years old), the Baby Boomers (1946-1964, 59-77 years old), Generation X (1965-1976, 44-59 years old) Millennials (1977-1995, between 28-43 years old), and Gen Z- 1996-2015 (between 9-27 years old).

It’s no secret that often the younger generations are misunderstood, mischaracterized, and subjected to negative stereotypes within the church. It’s no different now with the youngest active generation, Gen Z.

In spite of the often bad and unfair characterizations Gen Z receives, we as Church leaders are called not just to love this generation, but to reach them, guide them, and disciple them into the next wave of leaders within the body of Christ.

How do we do that? How can we engage them if we don’t understand how they think, what they value, and what makes them tick?

Well, Beards and Bible listeners, we made it. Well, kind of. The ballots are counted (or are being counted), but questions still linger. Will the results be accepted? And as the dust settles, how do we, as a nation, move forward together despite the deep divides that remain? Join us as we unpack the uncertainty, the challenges, and the hope for unity after Election Day, 2024.

The Protestant Reformation was a major religious movement that began in the early 16th century, fundamentally altering the landscape of Christianity in Europe and laying the groundwork for the modern church and Western civilization. The reformation was essentially a movement against perceived corruptions and excesses in the Roman Catholic Church. It sought to reform church practices and doctrines and ultimately led to the establishment of various Protestant denominations.

So why was the church in the 16th century in such need of reformation? Who were the key figures of this reformation? What were the major events of this pivotal movement and what was its legacy?

Join us as we unpack Martin Luther’s revolutionary Ninety-Five Theses, discover the profound changes in worship and governance, and examine the lasting impact on modern Christianity. We’ll discuss key figures like John Calvin and Ulrich Zwingli, explore the rise of various denominations, and see how this movement laid the groundwork for some of the ideas we still cherish today.

“What is truth?” This is the question Pontius Pilate famously asked Jesus in the gospel of John. In our day and age, truth is defined as relative and open to subjective opinions, perspectives, and interpretations that vary based on someone’s experiences, contexts, or social class.

It’s no wonder that in a context like ours, many Christians have begun to question if the Bible is trustworthy. After all, it was written by human authors. How can we be certain that it’s actually been inspired by God? Surely it must be imperfect, full of error, and open to interpretation.

But what happens to the Christian faith when we begin to undermine and question the Bible’s authority? How does it affect our faith, our churches, and our witness? Today on the podcast, we’ll talk about just what’s at stake when we let go of the foundation of God’s Word, and how that changes everything about we define the Christian faith.

Proverbs 18:21 tells us, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

Words carry the power to divide, distort, and destroy, and in our divided and polarized society, the stakes have never been higher. Political rhetoric today inflames tensions, breaks down relationships, and spreads anger and fear. But as followers of Christ, we are called to something different—something higher.

As Christians, how do we speak truth and engage with the issues of our time without getting swept up in dangerous and hateful language that divides? How can we be peacemakers, even when we passionately disagree? In today’s episode, we’ll explore how we, as people of faith, can become critical thinkers, careful speakers, and living examples of Christ in a polarized world.

In today’s world, it seems like politicians have mastered the art of distorting the truth. They often use clever language and manipulative tactics to present themselves in the best possible light, while casting their opponents as completely unworthy of trust. The media, often driven by its own agenda, only adds to the confusion, making it difficult to know who’s really telling the truth.

But as Christians—and people of faith—we’re called to a higher standard. We’re not meant to just accept what’s said at face value. Scripture tells us to use discernment, to search for truth, and to seek justice in the midst of corruption and deceit. So how do we navigate this mess? How do we sift through the noise to find what’s real, and align our understanding with God’s truth?

In this week’s episode, we’re going to fact check tonight’s debate between U.S. presidential candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris and explore these questions in order to discuss how we can better engage with politics and the media without losing our moral compass.

Scripture calls us as believers to go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. We’re supposed to be ready at any time to give an answer to everyone who asks us about the reason we have hope, and we’re supposed to do it with gentleness and respect. We’re told that we’re Christ’s ambassadors, imploring people to be reconciled with God.

But if we’re being honest…some of us aren’t doing too much preaching or sharing the gospel with those who aren’t Christians. We often struggle with fear of rejection or judgment, we lack of confidence because we often don’t know what to say, but more than anything, a lot of us have seen evangelism done wrong. And we don’t want to misrepresent the Christian faith.

What’s the most effective strategy to share Christ with those in our life that don’t know Him? And in what ways can we be ineffective?

On today's episode, we answer listener/viewer questions related to predestination and election, prayer labyrinths and their role within the church, and the 400 years of prophetic silence between the book of Malachi and Matthew's gospel. If you have any other questions, send us an email at beardsandbiblepodcast@gmail.com!

It's been an interesting July, to say the least. On July 13, former president Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt while addressing a crowd at a campaign rally near Butler, Pennsylvania. The aftermath of this event is still being talked about, as ripples have been felt throughout the political landscape here in the U.S. Then on July 26, the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games took place in Paris, France. And let's just say, the reviews were varied...The most noteworthy segment, in case you missed it, involved drag queens that was variously claimed to depict a feast with Dionysus—the ancient Greek god of wine—or what seemed to some people as a parody of The Last Supper. However it was meant by the ceremony producers, it was widely criticized as being a mockery of Christianity. As Christians, how do we make sense of it all? What does the Christian worldview tell us about living for Christ in the midst of the uncertain times in which we live?

A common experience for many Christians is to encounter another believer who seems to think that their church is the only true church, and outside of that particular church (or ones like theirs who have similar names, traditions, or practices) there is no other true church. Some might go far as to say that others who belong to different churches may not even be saved.

So what is the one, true Church of Jesus Christ? Out of the roughly 45,000 Christian denominations, tribes, and traditions- which is one is the “true Church”? And how do we have conversations and dialogue with Christians who happen to think that their tribe is the only one doing things right?

There are now 17.8 million children in the U.S. without a biological father, step father, or adoptive father in the home. That’s nearly 1 in 4 kids. Research shows that when a child is raised in a father-absent home, they’re more likely to have behavioral problems, commit a crime, go to prison, become pregnant as a teen, get addicted to drugs and alcohol, and drop out of school.

Even though U.S. Census data and other research clearly shows the benefits of fathers playing active roles in the lives of their kids, our culture is sending a clear message that fathers are not needed, wanted, or even necessary. But nothing could be further from the truth.

So what are the challenges unique to being a Christian dad in today's culture, and how do we navigate them?

On May 30, former president Donald Trump became the first U.S. president to be convicted of a crime when a New York jury found him guilty of falsifying documents to cover up a payment to silence a porn star ahead of the 2016 election. After two days of deliberation, the 12-member jury pronounced Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts he faced.

This high-profile case has sparked conversations nationwide about the trial’s legitimacy, its implications, weaponization of the justice department for political causes, and the overall impact it will all have on the 2024 Presidential elections.

And if you’re a Christian…you’ve probably seen a lot of…interesting reactions from folks around. Like those crazy memes floating around that compare Trump to Jesus.

So what do we do with all of this? How can we keep a level head and a sober mind as we explore the moral, political, and spiritual implications of this high-profile case?

On this week's episode, Gabe and Josh talk of Gabe's upcoming baby, Josh's 13 year wedding anniversary, Josh's AIM screen name, and the gang answers some great questions sent in by listeners related to women in pastoral leadership and infant baptism.

We’re commanded in Scripture to be anxious for nothing, to not worry about our lives, and to cast all our cares upon the Lord.

So…if we feel anxious or battle an anxiety disorder, are we in sin?

What about depression? Does being a Christian mean that we’ll never get depressed or battle intense seasons of despair or discouragement?

*DISCLAIMER***

We’re not therapists, psychologists, or mental health professionals. We’re pastors. Everything we talk about on today’s episode is from our point of view as people who give spiritual guidance to those in our congregation. So please be discerning as you listen and take it in with a grain of salt. If you’re dealing with mental health issues, please seek help from a licensed mental health professional. Alright, back to the show.

Philippians 3:20 tells us that as believers, “our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ”. 1 Peter 2:11-12 calls us as believers, “sojourners and exiles”. All throughout the Bible, it’s clear that the people of God have a primary allegiance to a different kind of Kingdom and a preeminent, sovereign King who rules and reigns over and above the kings and kingdoms of this earth.

However, all of us as believers will find ourselves living within the boundaries of a certain nation. And if that nation has a form of government where our participation is invited and encouraged, how should our faith inform that participation? Is it wrong for us to love our country and work to see it improved and our viewpoints as Christians represented?

When does love for country become something more than love, and turn into something that looks more like, idolatry? What is patriotism, and what is nationalism? How can I know when my love for country has superseded my love for God?

Beards and Bible podcast listeners, we have now reached 100 episodes!!! We are so incredibly grateful for all of our amazing listeners and fans who have made our podcast the thing that it has become over the past four years.To celebrate our 100th episode, we're dedicating the entire episode to our listeners by answering some of your awesome questions. We will be tackling questions on boundaries, the messianic significance of passover/communion, divorce and remarriage, the difference between healthy and sinful pride, and as many more as we can squeeze into an episode. Looking forward to a great time talking through some awesome topics!

Different terms translated as dragon appear more than 20 times in the OT and four times in the NT. Not only that, nearly every major ancient culture has myths and legends about giant reptiles. How would these civilizations, continents and millennia apart, all come up with legends of giant reptilian creatures?

In an epic crossover episode with our friend from Nerds and Jesus podcast, we're diving deep into the fiery mysteries of dragons in the Bible. Join us as we open our Bibles, separate fact from fiction, and explore the symbolic significance of these mythical beasts. Whether you're a devout believer, a curious skeptic, or just a flat-out dragon enthusiast, this episode is for you.

Check out Nerds & Jesus podcast's website!https://www.nerdsandjesus.com https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nerds-jesus-podcast/id1677259182

What’s up Beards and Bible listeners, on today’s episode, both of us will respond to four separate questions (related to life, theology, ministry, or anything else) that we haven’t seen or heard about beforehand- so every answer we give will completely unscripted- for better or for worse. So this oughta be fun…what could go wrong?

The relationship between churches, pastors, missionaries, ministries and money can be tricky. Ministries rely on the financial contributions of donors to sustain everything they’re trying to do. All throughout the Bible, both in the Old and New Testament, the people of God are told to be generous and give to the work of God through the church.

So, churches and ministries need money to do good things, like help people, take care of their buildings, and pay their staff. But sometimes, things can get messy. Especially when money gets involved.

Many people worry that ministries, churches, and pastors are using the money for things they shouldn't. Almost on a daily basis, there are reports of some pastor or ministry somewhere accumulating wealth and property through donations from the faithful in an excessive, inappropriate, and decadent way. In some ways, it seems like ministries and pastors are more about exploitation and greed than they are actually helping anybody but themselves.

But does that mean that Christians aren’t supposed to give to support the work of a church or ministry? And what about tithing? Are Christians supposed to tithe, or that an Old Testament thing?

You may have had an encounter with someone from a group called the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Maybe they left some of their literature in your mailbox, maybe they knocked on your door, or maybe you had an extended conversation with one of them at a park or public place. At first, it would seem that they’re a Christian group with an intense dedication to evangelism, but as you interact with their doctrine and teachings, things can get confusing fast. So, what exactly do the Jehovah’s Witness believe and teach?

What about their translation of the Bible? And their belief that Jesus wasn’t God and the 144,000 faithful Jehovah’s Witnesses (citing Revelation 7:4) who will go to heaven?

Let’s take a deep dive into the fascinating and sometimes complex world of the Jehovah's Witnesses. But more than that, let’s talk effective strategies for engaging with their members in a Christ-like way, using the power of scriptural reasoning, respectful dialogue, and meaningful discussions.

So…knock, knock? Who’s there? The Jehovah’s Witnesses.

The Ark of the Covenant has been a fascinating topic of study for Bible scholars, historians, archeologists, and lovers of Indiana Jones for a long time.

This sacred artifact has captured imaginations for centuries- but what was this mysterious chest, and why did it hold such profound significance for the people of ancient Israel? How was it built, what was it made of, and what was inside of it? Why was it so powerful and how do we understand its enigmatic disappearance?

Then there’s the age-old question: will we ever lay eyes on the Ark again? If so, what will that mean?

Happy new year Beards and Bible listeners! We are so excited to open up our inbox and do our best to answer some super interesting questions that were all sent in by you as the listener. We've got questions about being a Christian in the military, disagreements between Calvinists and Arminians, the differences between Catholics/Protestants and the Orthodox Church, a question about singing worship songs connected with NAR churches, and if the Bible actually talks about unicorns. We will do a deep dive into these questions with you on our next episode- "From the Mailbag, Vol. 4 (Unicorns, Christians in the military, differences between Calvinists/Arminians and Protestants and Catholics, etc.)

Happy holidays Beards and Bible listeners! I hope you all are having a fantastic and blessed holiday season, however you’re celebrating with your family and loved ones. Just wanted to hop on and say a huge THANK YOU to all of who have listened, subscribed, shared, and interacted with our podcast this past year. 2023 has been an incredible year for us- we’ve hit just shy of 72,000 downloads with listeners from not just here in the US, but from over 70 countries all around the world.

This podcast would not be what it is without all of you- so from the bottom of our hearts, thank you, God bless you, and we hope and pray that this podcast has enriched you spiritually in every way and help draw you closer the Lord as a disciple of Jesus.

Gabe and I are taking the next few weeks off to rest and spend time with family, but we will be back on January 10 for our annual “From the Mailbag” series- where we answer questions sent in by listeners just like you. So if you’ve got a question about scripture, theology, church, or culture- send us an email at beardsandbiblepodcast@gmail.com, leave us a comment on YouTube, or send a message via the Facebook page.

Remember- our next episode is only possible if you send us your questions, so if you’ve got one, stop what you’re doing right now and send away.

Thanks again for listening, God bless you, hope and pray you and your family have a wonderful holiday season and a very happy new year!

A new documentary was recently released called, “The Mission” tells the story of John Chau. In 2018, Chau, a young American missionary, was killed by arrows while attempting to contact one of the world’s most isolated Indigenous peoples on remote North Sentinel Island off the coast of India.

The Sentinelese tribe are one of the six native and often reclusive peoples of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (just off the coast of India). Unlike the others, the Sentinelese appear to have consistently refused any interaction with the outside world. They are hostile to outsiders and have killed people who approached or landed on the island. In 1956, the Government of India declared North Sentinel Island a tribal reserve and prohibited travel within 3 nautical miles of it. It further maintains a constant armed patrol in the surrounding waters to prevent intrusions by outsiders.

In spite of all this, John Chau expressed a clear desire to convert the tribe and was aware of the legal and mortal risks he was taking by his efforts, writing in his diary, "Lord, is this island Satan's last stronghold, where none have heard or even had the chance to hear your name?", "The eternal lives of this tribe is at hand", and "I think it's worthwhile to declare Jesus to these people. Please do not be angry at them or at God if I get killed ... Don't retrieve my body."

Chau’s death was a tragedy, but it raised some very important ethical, spiritual, and theological questions. Why did John Chau go to the Sentinelese, even though he knew that they didn’t wish to be contacted and it could cost him his life? Was what John Chau did ethical? Was there a wiser approach maybe he could’ve taken? What happens to people who have never heard the gospel? Should we as Christians be attempting to convert those from unreached tribes and indigenous people groups?

The church in the United States is at an interesting crossroads. Surveys suggest that there are good things happening in churches across America- such as an increase in volunteerism, optimism among members and ministers, and a significant drop in church conflicts and intense dissensions.

However, there are also still serious challenges for most churches in the U.S. Churches in America are at a very unique intersection between rising secularism amongst the culture, a decreasing interest in Christianity as a whole, and the falling away from church life of those who are nominal, disengaged Christians by name only.

What do the statistics and data tell us about some of the concerning trends we’re facing in the American church over the next few years? What can we do as followers of Christ and members of Christ’s body to rise to the occasion?

What’s up Beards and Bible listeners! We don’t have a new episode for you this week (or next week because it’ll be Thanksgiving), but we do have a little something to hold you over until then.

Our good buddy Jonathan Ciecka, who is the discipleship pastor at the Experience Community Church in Murfreesboro, is releasing a new video series on YouTube with a corresponding podcast on common questions related to Christianity, apologetics, and issues of faith.

It just so happens that Josh was privileged to be a guest on the first episode of the Common Questions audio podcast that goes along with the YouTube videos talking about the Christian Worldview and how we can know and discover truth. So we thought we’d share it with you guys.

If you like what you hear today, find the link to his show in this description and head over to YouTube to see the video, then subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. It’s a fantastic project that he and his team have been working hard on and I know you’ll enjoy it immensely.

So, without further ado, enjoy this week’s bonus episode from the Common Questions podcast, and make sure you check it out and subscribe.

Common Questions podcast: https://experiencecc.com/common-questions/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSlQXg7KrELzHHMIuf01Tu2tUv6Rg9jWB

Common Questions on Spotify : https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/experiencecommunitychurch

In recent years, the practices, traditions, and liturgy of the American Church has drastically changed. Things like stained glass windows, pews, and altars have been replaced by TV’s, lights, padded seats, and stages. Ministers who used to wear vestal robes now deliver messages in skinny jeans using IPads.

It’s not that churches that embrace nontraditional, modern methodology have moved away from orthodoxy or the authority of the Scriptures- to make matters all the more complex, it’s actually more historic mainline, traditional denominations who have done that in an embrace of progressive theology, all while holding onto the liturgy and traditions of the past.

Many American Christians have reported feeling a bit, stuck. Some modern, nontraditional churches feel more like entertainment for teenagers in their presentation, yet they’re sticking to the orthodox doctrines of scripture. Some historic, traditional liturgical churches present a worship experience full of reverence and beauty, rich with tradition and history, yet they’ve moved away from Christian orthodoxy into something else.

How do we understand the place of Christian tradition, practices, and spiritual disciplines in corporate worship? Is it possible to find a church that holds corporate worship services that are full of substance, truth, depth, reverence, and intentionality?

What’s up Beards and Bible listeners! A lot has happened since the guys last sat down together, so on today’s episode we’ll talk about running a marathon together, the recent events in Israel and Gaza, and how this might have something to do with end times prophecy. Should be a good one!

What’s up Beards and Bible listeners, on our last episode we talked about gun ownership, self-defense, and the Christian ethics related to those issues. On our today's episode, we’re going to hear a different Christian perspective- one that advocates nonviolence, gun control, and Christian pacifism.

Even though many American evangelicals are unfamiliar with and often oppose those who hold to this view, historically there have always been groups of Christians worldwide who have advocated and consistently practiced nonviolence including the Mennonites, Church of the Brethren, many Anabaptist Christian fellowships, many Adventists, and Moravians, just to name a few. As a matter of fact, the largest Pentecostal denomination, the Assemblies of God, held to this position until the Second World War.

So how do those who hold to this position think about the scriptures that seem to allow believers to practice self-defense? What are the ethical implications of exercising complete pacifism and nonviolence as a Christian, even when you see evil and violence being done to others?

Check out Aaron's podcast- Everyday Theology

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/everyday-theology/id1462586002

There are a number of Christian traditions (Mennonites, Quakers, Adventists, Moravians, etc.) who hold to a position of non-violence/Christian pacifism and say that owning a gun for self-defense isn’t a Biblically supported position. They’ll quote verses like Matthew 26:52, where Jesus says “put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.” Or Matthew 5:39 where Jesus say, “Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”

But there are other Christians who would say that the Bible permits instances of self-defense, as long as it’s done with wisdom, tact, understanding, and to protect the innocent from evil. In Luke 22:36, Jesus tells His remaining disciples, “If you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.” Some say that in this verse Jesus upheld the right of his disciples in certain instances to defend themselves. Exodus 22:2 says, “If a thief is caught breaking in at night and is struck a fatal blow, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed”.

So- which one is it? Are Christians to always put away their swords and turn the other cheek? Or are they permitted to own a sword and use it to defend themselves? Can a Christian own a gun? Is gun ownership a “God-given right”?

Check out Defenders and Disciples-

https://defendersanddisciples.com/

Twitter: twitter.com/DefAndDisc FaceBook: facebook.com/100063472121644 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DefendersAndDisciples/featured

Leaders within the church are called by scripture to live and lead in a way that is above reproach- that doesn’t mean that they must be perfect (or we’d have no leaders), but it does mean that someone who leads must practice personal integrity, character, and godliness. The little things in life reveal character- and character matters in church leadership more than talent, ability, appearance, personality or charisma.

But what if a Christian leader- be it a pastor, worship leader, or volunteer ministry leader- behaves in a way that goes against the Biblical qualifications for church leadership? What should happen if they “disqualify” themselves from a position of leadership?

Can a leader who is guilty of “disqualifying behavior” in their past ever serve in a position of leadership again? If so, what steps should be taken to restore them?

In March of 2023, Tennessee Pastor Greg Locke released a documentary film entitled Come Out in Jesus Name. The film chronicled the ministries of deliverance ministers such as Alexander Pagani, Isaiah Saldivar, and Mike Signorelli. The movie features footage from real life “deliverance” services, where individuals allegedly manifest demonic spirits while screaming, retching, falling, shaking, and writhing on the ground, all while a deliverance minister screams at the demon to, “come out in Jesus name”.

Some parts of the film are, well, disturbing.

Biblically speaking, there is certainly a category for demonic manifestations and deliverance. Throughout 2,000 years of church history, the Christian church has practiced exorcisms and deliverance. But this new breed of deliverance ministry is a bit different.

Many of the individuals at the deliverance services from the documentary are actually professing Christians. And a lot of the techniques espoused in the documentary are a bit unconventional. So…can a Christian have a demon? Where does the ministry of deliverance fit in the lives of Christians? Is this just something we practice on non-believers who want to be set free? Or do Christians ever need deliverance?

And if they do, is it supposed to look exactly like it does on this documentary in order to be effective?

Just an FYI- by no means is our viewing and discussing the film an endorsement of it or even a critique of it- we simply want to talk through the topic of deliverance and examine how we as believers can think through this topic Biblically.

Howdy listeners! This week's episode is a bit different with Gabe traveling to Israel, but with a little bit of international date line maneuvering, we're still able to make things happen.

So join us as Gabe checks in from Israel, Josh answers e-mail questions, and Jason Aldean dares you to try that in a small town...(whatever "that" may happen to be).

In the year 325 at the First Council of Nicea, leaders of the early church adopted a very important statement of belief in response to a false teacher named Arius. Arius was an Egyptian presbyter from Alexandria who introduced a new theology that stated while Jesus was the Son of God, He wasn’t really God- he was a created being who had been given some divine attributes.

The early church responded to this heresy by official denouncing it and issuing the Nicene Creed, which states that Christian orthodoxy affirms a belief in- “one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made.”

It's been a long time since the year 325, but the more things change, the more they stay the same. The Arian heresy has persisted stubbornly throughout the last 1,700 years of church history in various forms and iterations. There are many fringe groups that claim to represent Christian orthodoxy, but in reality are simply peddling this same old heresy.

So was Jesus really God? Or was Jesus a created being with divine attributes that was sent by God? Was Jesus made into a God by the early church? Or was Jesus a god just like you and I are “gods”? …shouldn’t we be checking our Bibles for the answers to this?

In 1990, 26-year-old Terri Schiavo fell into a persistent vegetative state after suffering cardiac arrest. A fierce highly public battle took place between her parents and her husband, who wanted to disconnect her feeding tube. Terri's husband argued that his wife would not have wanted her life artificially prolonged, with no hope of recovery.

Terri Schiavo's case spurred an emotional nationwide and international heated debate over quality of life, right-to-die and end-of-life issues. The case grew so notorious that the Vatican in Rome challenged American law which allowed for discontinuing food and water in certain circumstances, arguing for the sanctity of human life.

Though the courts sided with her husband, Michael Schiavo, the state legislature passed a bill, known as Terri's law, giving Florida Gov. Jeb Bush authority to prevent the removal of the feeding tube. After much back and forth involving state and federal courts, Terri's feeding tube was eventually removed, ending the long legal struggle over her fate when she died on March 31, 2005 at the age of 41.

So should a person’s death be prolonged or should a person’s life be allowed to end through, “mercy killings” or euthanasia? What about a person who is seeking to euthanize themselves with the aid of a physician? Is allowing such practices merciful or merciless?

What does the Bible have the say about these issues? How can we understand the topic of suicide, euthanasia, and the sanctity of life as Christians?

In the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, there stood a statue near a city park of Pierre Gustave Toutant-Beauregard, who himself was a native of St. Bernard Parish and grew up in New Orleans. The statue was placed there in 1915.

Beauregard was an early proponent of equal rights in Louisiana, serving as the outspoken leader of the short-lived and ultimately failed unification movement.

The movement was a coalition made up of prominent white and black New Orleanians that called for integrated schools, public places and transportation and voting rights for black men, two years before Congress passed the Civil Rights Acts of 1875 and nearly a century before the enactment of major civil rights legislation in the 20th century. Beauregard was the group's chairman.

For the city of New Orleans, Beauregard died as a local hero.

But on May 17, 2017, Beauregard’s statue was removed. Why? Because P.G.T. Beauregard (as he’s more commonly known) was a general of the Confederacy during the American Civil war. As a matter of fact, Beauregard commanded the attack at Fort Sumter, the shots of which marked the outbreak of the American Civil War. He fought in the First Manassas and at Shiloh, and he defended Charleston from Union occupation for two years. For many, Beauregard’s statue represented nothing more than slavery and institutional racism.

In the United States, the public display of Confederate monuments, memorials and symbols has been and continues to be controversial. There were 73 Confederate monuments removed or renamed in 2021, and there are now close to 700 left in the U.S.

Some say the statues glorify people who perpetuated slavery, attempted secession from United States, and lost the Civil War and the statues are nothing more than a painful reminder of past and present institutionalized racism in the United States.

Others say that the statues represent the country’s history, no matter how complicated. Taking them down is to censor, whitewash, and potentially forget that history.

So how do we make sense of the controversy? How do we as Christians engage in this controversial conversation with respect, civility, wisdom, and Christ-like love?

Amazon Prime recently released a limited docuseries exposing the truth beneath the wholesome Americana surface of reality tv’s favorite mega-family, The Duggars, and the radical organization behind them: The Institute in Basic Life Principles.

The Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP) is a nondenominational Christian organization that serves as an umbrella organization for several ministries established by American Christian minister Bill Gothard in 1961. The stated purpose of the organizationis to provide instruction on how to find success in life by following biblical principles. This involves programs that include seminars for ministry, community outreach, troubled youth mentoring, and an international ministry. Families are expected to have as many children as possible, children are expected to be home schooled, blind submission to their fathers’ authority is taught, as well as strict adherence to IBLP's interpretations of Scripture. The IBLP has been alleged by some to be a cult.

So this is Josh….real talk- my family was a part of IBLP’s homeschool program, ATI, for 7 years. I watched the Shiny, Happy People mini-series on Prime recently, and it was crazy. Mainly because it showcased experiences I had as an adolescence that I’d been trying to explain to people for years. I’d spent years telling people about how I grew up, but no-one quite knew what I was talking about. And now it’s on film. And folks are all of the sudden, asking me questions about it.

So what was it like to grow up in and around IBLP and ATI? What was it like living under the shadow of Bill Gothard and his teachings?

Art is the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, and it usually communicates some sort of message within that medium. Art can be painting, sculpture, literature, music, dance, drama, and it can be film.

Film (motion pictures, television shows, streaming series, etc.) is a work of visual art that tells a story that simulates experiences and communicates ideas, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere through the use of moving images. Film is a very powerful form of art! Over the years, films have been used to powerfully communicate various ideas in very persuasive ways.

Every film (movie/TV show/streaming series) tells a story: but there’s always a story behind the story. The “story behind the story” is THE STORY of life and humanity- the answers to the questions of origin, identity, meaning, morality, and destiny.

Chances are, that writer/producer/director/artist is using the medium of film to share with you, the viewer, their worldview- what they believe about origin, identity, meaning, morality, and destiny.

How can we recognize the “story behind the story”? How can we as Christians practice discernment as we view the medium of film?

In American Christianity especially, there is much confusion on the doctrine of eternal security (sometimes referred to as “once saved, always saved“).

Some circles of Christianity, for example, might teach that one can lose his/her salvation and fall into the error of trying to keep his salvation by personal effort. According to scripture, this is a serious error (Gal. 3:1-3).

On the other hand, some circles teach that one can never lose his/her salvation, and therefore fall into the error of sinning willfully because he/she believes salvation can't be lost no matter how much an individual sins. This is also a serious doctrinal error (Heb. 10:26).

It would seem that some Scriptures suggests that God preserves those who are truly His (John 10:27-28; Heb. 13:5; Matt. 7:21-23; 1 John 2:19; Rom. 8:38-39), yet there is also an indication in scripture that in the journey of pursuing Christ, many will fall away from the faith (2 Pet. 2:1; Gal. 5:4; Heb. 10:26; 6:4-6; Ps. 69:28).

So which is it? Are we eternally secure? Or is our salvation conditional on our own ability to walk in obedience? How do we understand apostasy, or those who once professed faith in Christ but now don’t?

John 10:34

“Jesus answered them, “Isn’t it written in your law, ‘I said you are gods’? If he called those to whom the word of God came ‘gods’- and the Scripture cannot be broken- do you say, You are blaspheming to the one the Father set apart and sent into the world because I said: I am the Son of God?”

Jesus’ point is this: you charge me with blasphemy based on my use of the title “Son of God”; yet our own Scriptures apply the same term (“gods”, elohim) to others besides God. If others can be considered “gods”, how much more can the One whom God has chosen and sent?

The big question- who were those the that scriptures referred to as “gods”?

Several biblical passages (Psalm 82:1, Job 1:6, 1 Kings 22) speak of what some theologians call a “divine council,” an assembly of heavenly beings or “gods.” For Israel’s neighbors in the ancient Near East, such councils reflected polytheistic worldviews, where rival gods vied for power and supremacy.

For Israel, however, the members of the divine council, though heavenly and supernatural, remained subject to the providence and decrees of the one Creator God. Furthermore, God disarmed all these malevolent spiritual powers at the cross of Christ, and one day he will strip them of all authority entirely.

So wait…does the Bible embrace polytheism? How does this idea of the “divine council” correspond to the Bible’s teaching about God being distinct, omnipotent, and sovereign?

Purity culture was/is a movement that started in the 1990s primarily within Evangelical American Christianity which emphasized individual "purity," generally associated with female chastity. Purity culture places a strong emphasis on abstinence before marriage. In some circles, dating was discouraged entirely to avoid pre-marital sex (the book, “I Kissed Dating Goodbye” by Josh Harris promoted abstinence and popularized the concept of “courtship” as an alternative to dating. This book sold over a million copies).

It’s pretty obvious from the Scriptures that God wants Christians to live lives of sexual purity. But did purity culture promote a Biblical vision of sexuality? Or did it use shame and fear?

Or even worse…did it promote soft prosperity gospel- in that a certain methodology of relationships would deliver a happily-ever-after ending—a great marriage, a great sex life—even though this isn’t necessarily promised by Scripture?

In today's episode, we want to take time to answer some of YOUR QUESTIONS on topics like the age of the earth, the difference between the Christian and Muslim Jesus (or, Isa in Islam), if AI systems that resembled humans could be "saved", and as many more as we have time to get to in one episode!

We’ve examined deconstruction and its current influence in the church at large. We’ve explored some of the possible reasons for why someone would deconstruct. And we’ve heard a few personal stories of folks who have taken that journey.

So what if we actually do need to reexamine the faith we grew up in or have held to for a long time? What if the traditions and teachings of religion have become so interwoven and entangled with the truth of God’s Word that we don’t know one from the other? Is deconstruction the only answer? Or is there another path we can take?

Where do we go from here? What’s the best way to look at this topic and how can we reasonably approach it in a helpful, loving, Christ-like, humble, and God-honoring way?

Deconstruction is trending. And many are simply struggling to make sense of it all.

But what if we deconstructed a person’s reasons for deconstructing? In other words, what if weren’t so quick to assume that someone who is deconstructing Christianity is doing so because they’re genuinely interesting in finding truth? What if perhaps they’re looking for something else?

In psychology, moral licensing is the process of fooling ourselves to justify bad behavior using other good behavior. If we borrowed that term and used it in the context of Christian deconstructionism…is there a way someone could morally justify their behavior by deconstructing, amending, or changing their understanding of that behavior in order to excuse a lifestyle they want to live?

What if there are other people who simply don’t want to be unliked? Many people in our culture see Christians who hold to the teachings of the Bible as narrowminded, uneducated, unintellectual, prejudiced, unread or just flat out ignorant. What if you’re in a particular subculture (like music, theater, or the arts) and you holding to those Christian views makes you the odd man out or gets you shunned or ridiculed?

Well…you can deconstruct, amend, change, or completely throw out your understanding of the Christian faith in order to fit in.

What if beneath the trend of deconstruction there are deeper forces at work? Things like pride. Fear. Rebellion. Or the just the general desire to be liked and seen as cool by the culture at large?

In this episode, Josh sits down with his friend Jesse and talks through Jesse's journey of deconstructing and deconverting from the Christian faith.

Deconstruction is trending. And many are simply struggling to make sense of it all.

But what if the existing structures and culture of the American Church at large share some of the blame for this rise in deconstruction amongst the younger generation?

Many young people have come up through churches that were swept up in the “seeker sensitive/Church growth” movement in the 90s/early 2000s. For the sake of attracting unbelievers and the unchurched, the teaching in some of these churches was very shallow, pragmatic, unintelligent, and never addressed the hard topics of scripture.

When the young people from these churches went off to college and encountered people who started poking holes in their faith, they had no answers because they’d never been equipped. They were woefully unprepared to deal with the big and difficult issues surrounding their faith. Shallow teaching produces shallow, unequipped, and ill prepared Christians that don’t know how to properly wrestle with their doubts because they don’t know the Bible.

It's not just that the Word of God has not been faithfully taught- poor leadership, sin, abuse, financial embezzlement, misaligned priorities, and sexual scandals have created untold levels of emotional and spiritual harm on an entire generation of Americans. Many are now wondering, “if I can’t trust the church, can I trust any message the church proclaims?”

Could it be that the American church needs to take a long, hard look in the mirror? Is the rampant deconstruction we’re not seeing a symptom of the decades of dysfunction, disobedience, and unfaithfulness of the American Church?

On today's episode, Josh shares his story on deconstructing the Christian faith in his early 20's.

Deconstruction is trending. And many are simply struggling to make sense of it all.

In July 2019, popular Christian writer, speaker, and pastor Joshua Harris announced that he and his wife were separating due to "significant changes that have taken place in both of us". Subsequently, Harris revealed that he no longer considered himself to be a Christian. Harris cited primarily personal and relational factors in his own walk away from the faith. As public pressures and private crises in his life and ministry intensified, he found his Christian identity unravelling in slow motion- until he finally found there was nothing left and walked away.

In 2020, comedic duo Rhett & Link announced on their podcast Ear Biscuits that they both are no longer Christians, describing themselves instead as “hopeful agnostics”. This was a surprising announcement to many, as Rhett & Link were both raised as Christians and previously worked as full-time missionaries while attending college.

That same year, Jon Steingard, the lead singer of the Christian band Hawk Nelson, announced on his instagram that he no longer believes in God. Steingard compared the unraveling of his faith to the unraveling of a sweater. It didn’t happen all at once, but was a process that took years and occurred one thread at a time. Eventually, however, he discovered that the sweater was gone.

These stories are becoming more and more common, not just among well-known Christian artists, writers, speakers, and pastors- but among everyday people who once claimed a vibrant, real, meaningful Christian faith. What in the world is going on?

Deconstruction has been described as a crisis of Christian faith that leads to either a person’s reevaluation of Christianity or sometimes a total abandonment of Christianity. Deconstruction is not necessarily the same thing as deconversion, but most of the people who “deconvert” deconstruct first.

What is happening? Why is it happening? And what might lead a person into this process?

Check out our sponsor Magic Mind! If you're looking for an all natural supplement to improve energy, concentration, attention, and focus, check out what Magic Mind is up to .

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The temple in Jerusalem was the center of worship and national identity in ancient Israel. The people of Israel have built two temples to God in Jerusalem, and both have been destroyed- the first by the Babylonians, and the second by the Romans. But it seems as if the Bible suggests that there will be a third temple in Jerusalem.

The desire for the Third Temple is sacred in Judaism, and particularly in Orthodox Judaism. The Hebrew Bible holds that Jewish prophets called for its construction to be fulfilled prior to, or in tandem with, the Messianic Age. This building of the Third Temple also plays a major role in some interpretations of Christian eschatology.

In other words, some Christians believe that Jesus isn’t coming back until a 3rd temple is built in Jerusalem.

But is that temple…literal? Or symbolic? If the temple is rebuilt, does that mean that the return of Christ is right around the corner?

Check out our sponsor Magic Mind! If you're looking for an all natural supplement to improve energy, concentration, attention, and focus, check out what Magic Mind is up to .

Go to

https://magicmind.co/BeardsandBible

Use discount code BEARDSB20 to get up to 56% off your first subscription or 20% off your first one time purchase. That 56% off code only lasts 10 days from this episode's premiere, so hurry up and grab your Magic Mind subscription!

Happy New Year, Beards & Bible listeners!

On today’s episode we want to take time to answer some of your questions on topics like the Biblical ethic for microdosing psychedelics for PTSD treatment, the show “the Chosen” and its supposed connections to the Mormon Church, Israel’s role in the end times, and if there will be literal 3rd temple rebuilt in Jerusalem, and anymore we can possibly squeeze into one episode.

Thanks so much for sending in your questions, buckle up, cause this one might be a doozie!

We'll be answering listener questions that have been sent in to us throughout the year, so if you have any topics, issues, questions, or ideas that you want us to do our best to answer and comment on, send them over to us- beardsandbiblepodcast@gmail.com or reach out to us via the FB page.

We will narrow it down the ones we think we might be able to do justice to and address and release our From the Mailbag episode on January 11, 2023.

So merry Christmas, hope and pray you and your family are blessed this season, and we look forward to hearing from you all very soon!

Unless you’ve been living under a rock the past five years, you’ve probably heard a thing or two about cryptocurrency. In 2008, Bitcoin became the first established virtual currency, and remained that way in 2011.

But now, more than 12,000 cryptocurrencies are available, and that number more than doubled in the past year (2021-2022). Some economists believe cryptocurrencies are the world’s strongest currencies and a solution to global poverty. Others say they’re a harbor for criminal activity and an environmental disaster. Some investors have reported making millions overnight using cryptocurrency trading. Others say it’s not investing--- the crypto markets are so volatile, it’s actually more like gambling.

But let’s be honest: most of us don’t even understand what cryptocurrencies even are. When did they become a thing? How did they become a thing? What makes them valuable? How do people make (or lose) money from crypto?

And should a Christian invest in cryptocurrency? Is there anything in the Bible about…Bitcoin? Or Dogecoin?

When the origin story of the Word of Faith movement is examined, some very interesting things get uncovered. Such as the influence the New Thought movement and teachers like Phineas Quimby, E.W. Kenyon, and Mary Baker Eddy. Or the father of the word of faith movement Kenneth Hagin’s blatant plagiarism of new thought/mind science practitioners.

One of the ugly secrets most word of faith teachers don’t want you to know is that their movement is influenced FAR MORE by the ideas of new thought/mind science cults than it ever was influenced by Biblical orthodox Christianity.

Ready to take a deep dive into the history of the Word of Faith movement? What you find out may shock you…

What is faith?

The Bible says in Hebrews 11 that without it, we can’t please God and that it’s the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not yet seen. But does that we can “speak our tomorrow” into existence because of this force called, “faith”?

The Word of Faith movement is a mainly Pentecostal movement that came up in the late 20th century. Word of Faith teaching states that because we as human beings are made in the image of God (and whatever God declared through His Words came to be), words can be used to manipulate the force of faith, and thus we can actually create what many claim Scripture promises.

Speaking of what Scripture promises, many Word of Faith teachers declare that God’s will is for us as Christians to always be financially prosperous and never sick. Health and wealth are promised to us as believers. We just have to believe it and declare it. We have that authority.

But wait…what if Christians are poor? And sick? Does that mean they don’t have faith? What about the millions of faithful believers living in abject poverty and religious persecution in developing countries around the world? Are they poor and imprisoned because they just don’t have enough faith?

Or the faithful believer who lost a spouse, a child, or a loved one to an illness, even after they prayed for them? Did they just not have enough faith?

What does the Word of Faith movement actually teach? Is it Biblical? And how do we see its influence in the church today?

The U.S. has seen a rise in antisemitic incidents over the past few years, with 941 incidents in 2015 jumping to 2,717 tracked in 2021 by the Anti-Defamation League. Four years ago, a gunman stormed into a synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and killed 11 people in the deadliest attack on Jewish people on US soil.

On October 29th, there was a strange message seen scrolling on the outside of TIAA Bank Field during the Florida-Georgia college football game. In florescent letters, the words “Kanye is right about the jews” were visible scrolling across the exterior of the stadium structure, referencing recent antisemitic comments from the rapper Kanye West. Kanye West has drawn significant amounts of criticism, media coverage, and also support for his some of his comments espousing a conspiracy against the Jewish people.

It’s unclear how that message was projected onto the stadium wall at the Georgia Florida game. It’s also unclear how long the message was visible outside the stadium.

But what is clear is that there is a growing narrative in the U.S. that states the Jewish people are somehow responsible for a global conspiracy of control over media, politics, and economics. And the Jewish people are now being scapegoated for all manner of societal problems and ills.

For students of history, this narrative is eerily similar to others that were peddled in 1930s Germany, the Jim Crow era American south, and the Pogroms of the Russian Empire.

What does God and His Word have to say about this? As Christians, what are to make of these claims? And is Kanye West for real crazy? Antisemitic? Or just…super confused?

If you’re married, you made a promise to your spouse that you would love and care for them,

“…for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, to love and to cherish, until death do us part.”

And if you’re both normal human beings, it probably didn’t take long for the “worse” part to show up. Real talk: every marriage goes through difficult, challenging, painful, and frustrating seasons. Even godly, Jesus loving, husbands and wives sometimes fight.

Even the healthiest marriages go through seasons of conflict, disappointment, and disunity. Sometimes those seasons are marked by angry, explosive fighting, and sometimes those seasons are marked by quiet, lonely indifference.

So when you find yourself in a rocky season of your marriage, what do you do? How can you get help? How do you reach a resolution?

Committed Masculinity is a limited series podcast that explores the issues and challenges facing Christian men who are serious about Jesus’ invitation to be a disciple. The podcast will review the content of each chapter of the book ”Committed: Biblical Masculinity” by Josh Brooker and then discuss the issues on each episode with special guests.

https://committedmasculinity.podbean.com/

Committed: Biblical Masculinity on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Committed-Biblical-Masculinity-Josh-Brooker/dp/B0B8XZ65WZ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3T3SU9UBUKYWN&keywords=committed+biblical+masculinity&qid=1664568585&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjAwIiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=committed+biblical%2Caps%2C132&sr=8-1

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On January 20, 1994, in a small Vineyard church in Toronto, Canada a supposed outpouring of God’s Spirit occurred in a small meeting of 120 people. Over the course of the next 12 ½ years, meetings would continue 6 nights a week, and Charisma Magazine reported that an estimated 4,000 churches in England and another 7,000 churches in North America had been impacted by this new revival movement.

A little over a year late, on June 18, Father’s Day, 1995, a similar revival broke out at Brownsville Assembly of God in Pensacola, Florida. Over the course of the next five years, the church would open its doors for Tuesday-through-Saturday evening revival services to accommodate the thousands of people who arrived and waited in the church parking lot before dawn for a chance to enter the packed sanctuary, some even camping overnight waiting for the doors to open. Leaders of the revival would later estimate that over 200,000 people from all walks of life received Christ as a result of the revival.

Some 13 years later, in April of 2008, a controversial Canadian faith healer began holding revival services in Lakeland, Florida. The revival attracted up to 10,000 attendees nightly and around 30,000 over the week. By May 29, it was estimated that over 140,000 people from over forty nations had visited, and 1.2 million had watched via the Internet.

But were all of these recent “revivals” truly moves of God? How do we understand their impact? How do they differ from other historic revivals? What do we make of their controversies?

Today, there are more than 500 million Pentecostal and charismatic believers across the globe and it is the fastest-growing form of Christianity today. Most church historians agree that the events that took place at the Azusa Street Revival in 1906 in Los Angeles California are responsible for the beginning of what we know as the modern-day Pentecostal Movement. But what happened at Azuza street?

In the late 1960s/early 1970s, a movement began in California known as the “Jesus people”. Thousands of teenagers and young people came to faith in Christ, many of whom came from drugs, eastern mysticism, and the hippie subcultures of the west coast. The impact of the Jesus people movement is still felt today in mainstream American churches- from the birth of modern praise and worship music to the rise of more informal stylistic worship services. How did it all get started?

What can we learn from these both of these revivals? Can God do it again, and move in such a way in our generation?

The Great Awakening (1730-1755) and the Second Great Awakening (1790-1840) were two religious movements that had a massive impact on the role of Christianity in America. The impact and results of both of these movements is still felt today- not only in our churches and understanding of religious practice, but also in the fabric and makeup of American society in general.

But how much of these movements can be credited to a supernatural move of God? And which things within these movements perhaps can be attributed to other things? What about the controversies that caused denominational splits and the rise of various cult groups? How do we seek to understand these things from an objective, unbiased, and nuanced perspective?

A “revival” is a spiritual reawakening from a state of dormancy or stagnation in the life of a believer. It encompasses the resurfacing of a love for God, an appreciation of God’s holiness, a passion for His Word and His church, a convicting awareness of personal and corporate sin, a spirit of humility, and a desire for repentance and growth in righteousness.

Revival movements throughout church history have been understood as moves of God that result in waves of increased spiritual interest or renewal in the life of a church congregation or society, with a local, national or global effect. Proponents view revivals as the restoration of the church itself to a vital and fervent relationship with God after a period of moral decline.

But are revivals Biblical? If so, what does the Bible say about them? What about some of the more bizarre and controversial activity that seems to accompany modern revival movements? Is that from God too? Or from some place else?

You’ve probably noticed at this point this past summer- your dollar isn’t going as far as it used to. Gas prices are up, grocery prices are up, and just about everything else seems more expensive. It’s not just your imagination- inflation is at a 40 year high. It’s risen 9% in one year’s time, and it rose 7% in 2021. Not only is inflation up, we’re either headed towards a recession or are already in one, depending on which economist you ask. The S&P 500 had its worst first half of a year since 1970, and it is down 19 percent since January. Things are bad. And they just might be getting worse.

But we’re Christians! Why should we even think about money? Shouldn’t we be just trusting God?

What does the Bible say about managing our money during economic uncertainty? And how can continue to be generous and trust God when we don’t know how much it’ll cost to fill up our gas tank this time next week?

Many skeptics claim that Christians are naïve, unintelligent, and gullible people who blindly put their faith in a set of beliefs that aren’t at all supported by rational evidence.

Other skeptics say that there’s just not enough evidence out there to persuade any one to embrace the teachings of Jesus. So why even bother? Just embrace your own understanding of spirituality, pick the path that works for you, or don’t… just don’t worry about it. You do you.

Skeptics commonly bring objections to the Christian faith that are centered around the existence of God, the exclusivity of the Christian gospel, the inspiration of Scripture, the existence of miracles, and seeming the contradictions in the Biblical text and Christian thought.

So are they right? Are Christians naïve, gullible, unintelligent simpletons who blindly place their faith in a set of beliefs for reason at all, besides maybe, wishful thinking? How do we as Christians answer skeptics? How do we have conversations with others who may find our beliefs offensive?

And how we can do that with kindness, love, and grace?

A Post-Christian culture is a society in which Christianity is no longer the dominant civil religion. These societies may have been founded on values informed by Christian principles, but gradually assumed values, culture, and worldview that are not necessarily Christian. In many of these places, secular humanism replaces Christian thought to become the predominant worldview.

Many sociologists are now recognizing the fact that America may moving in this direction—and within a few years, we could also described a “post-Christian” nation. Our post-Christian values are reflected in our media and entertainment, our collective views of human sexuality, our views regarding the sanctity of life, and our pervasive consumerism.

How do we live as Christians in a post-Christian culture? And is it possible to live in a society and still be faithful to the teachings of Christ?

Transgenderism, Gender Identity Disorder, or gender dysphoria is a feeling that a person’s biological sex does not match the gender they identify with and/or perceive themselves to be. Individuals who identify as transgender often describe themselves as feeling “trapped” in a body that does not match who they feel they are in the inside.

The transgender movement rises and falls upon the idea that gender and sex are two completely different constructs that might deeply intertwined with one another, but are altogether separate. Sex is a biological construct (unchanging and based on chromosomes). Gender is a social construct or category (a perception, a feeling, or way of identifying, which is subjective and really more of an experience). Gender has now emerged as a continuum or spectrum where one can identify themselves as any gender identity. For millennia, human civilization has understood gender as binary- there are men, and there are women. But now, some say there are as few as 72 genders, while others say there are an infinite number of genders.

But is any of this true? Can a man just decide he’s a woman, and that makes him a woman? Can a woman just decide to be a man, and she’s magically a man? Are gender and sex two completely different things? What does the Bible have to say about these ideas? And how can we actually have coherent conversations about these ideas without resorting to name-calling, mud-slinging, or storming out of the room?

Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith is a nonfiction book by Jon Krakauer that was recently adapted and released as a limited streaming series on Hulu. In the book and TV series, two stories are examined: the origin and evolution of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and a modern double murder committed in the name of God by brothers Ron and Dan Lafferty, who subscribed to a fundamentalist version of Mormonism.

In the years prior to the murder, Ron and Dan Lafferty became increasingly interested in Mormon groups that accepted many beliefs of the original LDS church, including polygamy and direct communication with God.

Ron and Dan were charged for the throat-slashing homicides of their sister-in-law Brenda Wright Lafferty and her 15-month-old daughter, Erica, that occurred on July 24, 1984. Ron, a self-proclaimed prophet, claimed to have received a revelation from God in which he was instructed to "remove" several people, including the two victims.

Every church, every denomination and every religious group has its own broken past, scars and ugliness, but is the LDS church just like any other Christian denomination? Speaking of which, are Mormons just other Christians that happen to have a different form of practice and worship, like Baptists, Methodists, or Presbyterians? Or was the church actually founded on something completely different than Biblical Christianity?

Abuse could be defined as the improper use of something; unjust or corrupt practice; or cruel and violent treatment of another person.

Spiritual abuse is abuse administered under the guise of religion or spirituality, including harassment or humiliation, which may result in psychological trauma. Spiritual abuse may also include misuse of religion for selfish, secular, or ideological ends such as the abuse of a clerical position.

There are extreme examples of this found in sexual abuse coverups and in cult groups like the Branch Davidians and the People's Temple. But also doctrinally sound, Biblically based churches or ministries can sadly delve into the territory of routinely using fear, guilt, or manipulation to produce unquestioning obedience, a sense of elitism, uniformity, or inappropriate loyalty- which could qualify as forms of spiritual abuse.

But does every bad church experience qualify as spiritual abuse? When it spiritual abuse, and when is it just the brokenness or immaturity of church leaders or members?

On May 2, 2022, Politico published a leaked draft opinion authored by Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, appearing to be the majority opinion for the case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. The case deals with the constitutionality of a 2018 Mississippi state law that banned abortion operations after the first 15 weeks of pregnancy.

If the ruling stands, it would overturn Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, which would allow U.S. states to determine the legality of abortions for themselves. Analysts predict that abortion would immediately be banned in 23 states and territories if this happens.

Meanwhile, the debate surrounding abortion seems to have been re-sparked. The issue for many has less to do with the life of unborn children, and has more to do with concepts, “women’s rights”, or “reproductive choice”. In fact, the issue of abortion itself has been so reframed that honest, productive, logical dialogue about the issue itself becomes almost impossible. To oppose abortion is to be anti-woman, or even pro-rape.

But if we just stripped away all the controversy, vitriol, and red herring arguments- logically speaking, what are the ethics of terminating a pregnancy? Is an unborn fetus a human being? Why are so many Christians against abortion? And why are so many other folks for it?

In today’s episode, we’ll be exploring Cryptozoology- a field of study that searches for and researches unknown, legendary, or extinct animals whose present existence is disputed or unsubstantiated. Cryptozoology is interested in creatures like Bigfoot, the Loch Ness monster, the Chupacabra, and other lesser known entities- like the Skunk Ape or the Lizard Man of Scape ore Swamp. Many who are devoted to this discipline are frequently the subject of public ridicule, but nonetheless their commitment to discovering the existence of certain cryptids persists.

For these cryptid creatures, are they unknown physical creatures, mistaken eyewitnesses, enterprising frauds, or something else?

Why are people so fascinating and enthralled by the idea of these types of creatures existing?

This fascination and belief in cryptids/monsters goes back to ancient times in creatures like dragons, trolls, and other mythical beings. What are some reasonable explanations we have for the existence of these kinds of common folklore across various world cultures?

In today’s episode, we’ll be exploring the phenomena behind UFO's, or as they have recently classified, UAP's- unidentified aerial phenomena. In 2020 and 2021, the US Government released a number of videos that raised some eyebrows. The report found that the US Government was unable to identify 143 objects spotted between 2004 and 2021. At least 18 of those US government reported UAP sightings represent breakthrough technology that involves unusual movement patterns or flight characteristics that represent technology or phenomena unknown to man.

So the US Government has now stated that UFO's are real? What about other reports and sightings of UFO's and Extraterrestrial life? Does that mean aliens exist? Wouldn't the existence of aliens discredit and disprove Biblical Christianity? But what if UFO's weren't definitive proof of aliens or extraterrestrials? What are they then?

The word Paranormal implies that the scientific explanation of the world around us is normal and anything that is above, beyond, or contrary to that is para. What sets the paranormal apart from other pseudosciences is a reliance on explanations for alleged phenomena that are well outside the bounds of established science.

Examples include- extrasensory perception (ESP), telekinesis, ghosts, poltergeists, life after death, reincarnation, faith healing, human auras. The three broad topics of paranormal activity (that we will be exploring in subsequent episodes are)- 1) Ghost Hunting, 2) Ufology, 3) Cryptozoology.

In today’s episode, we’ll be exploring the phenomena behind ghosts, physics and spirit mediums. Specifically, why does every culture, people group, and generation share accounts of similar experiences related to the appearance of spirit beings? Are these all results of legend, myth, and humanity’s wild imaginations? Or, is there something to these accounts?

When we hear about “paranormal” incidents or activities as Christians, how should be interpret them? What does the Bible say about ghosts, psychics, and mediums? And by the way, are psychics legit? Or are they fake?

On February 24, Russia began an invasion on the country of Ukraine, in a major escalation of a previous conflict between the two nations that began in 2014. The conflict is the largest conventional military attack in Europe since World War II. Early estimates are of at least 13,000 deaths, 2.1 million displaced, 1700 destroyed buildings, and 10 billion dollars of damage to the country of Ukraine.

But why? What exactly does Russia want with Ukraine? And how does this conflict effect the Ukrainian people? More than anything, what can we do as Christians to help?

Join us as we speak with Ukrainian Pastor Alexei Basarab from Stream of Life Ministries International (solmi.org).

Tolerance is currently the highest value in Western society, and even questioning it is seen as being narrow-minded or discriminatory. But there’s a glaring hypocrisy in our obsession with tolerance…

This new kind of tolerance doesn’t mean simply respecting the rights of those who hold differing beliefs- it means affirming all beliefs as equally valid and correct. Therefore, there must be an intolerance against any teaching that disagrees with this assertation. Christian teaching and theology on human sexuality and the exclusivity of Christ in salvation disagrees with this new tolerance because its ideas stand in stark contrast to these progressive ideals.

Recently there have been incidents and reports of Christian leaders, pastors, and theologians having their teaching videos on Biblical sexuality blocked by YouTube as part of a violation of “content policies”. In the name of tolerance, certain Christian ideas can’t be tolerated. Freedoms of speech, religion, and the press are being revoked in the name of “safety” and censorship is targeting certain ideas that are being deemed as dangerous.

But does that mean that all censorship is wrong? What does the Bible say about censorship and freedom of speech? Should Christians be for freedom of speech? What’s the Christian response to the gospel being censored on online platforms? Speaking of which, what about the “Metaverse”? What will censorship/free speech look like there?

Over the course of the past two years, you might have heard several convincing predictions, theories, or conspiracies about upcoming and ongoing world events. If you’re a person of faith, you may have even heard these things spoken to you in the form of a prophecy- where someone received a direct revelation from God foretelling the future.

You might have gotten an e-mail declaring to you that a friend of a friend who works for the pentagon has insider information that because of COVID, martial law would be declared in the US and food, guns and ammo would be confiscated from American citizens. You might have heard that China would invade mainland USA on inauguration day, that there were shipping containers in ports full of nuclear warheads set to go off on inauguration day, there would be civil war in the US before or on inauguration day, or UN troops would patrol our streets in order to keep the peace.

But all of the things that these so-called “prophets” saw never happened. Not only that, none of these prophets predicted Covid-19 before March of 2020, none of them saw the protests & riots of the summer of 2020, none of them predicted the fall of Afghanistan, and none of them saw Donald Trump losing the presidential election.

So why do we keep getting duped? What motivates a person to falsely speak and spread misinformation? What motivates to do this in the name of the Lord? What motivates someone to buy into misinformation and false prophecies? How do we know what we’re hearing, reading, or seeing may actually be false? How can we practice discernment?

Church hurt is real. In the recent years, increasing scrutiny has been placed on church leaders due to moral failures, abuse scandals, toxic leadership styles, financial indiscretions, and relational strife. The failures of leaders and pastors in many churches have left countless church members wounded, confused, and frustrated.

But what if leaders themselves are also experiencing significant levels of pain, brokenness, and church hurt? Even though some pastors are responsible for causing hurt within church, many of them are being wounded by it too.

One recent study found that 1 in 6 pastors are in distressing levels of isolation, loneliness, fear, anger, and hurt. 45% of pastors report having felt burned out to the degree of having to take a break from ministry. An increasing number of clergy are on antidepressants, and there’s been an alarming number of suicides among high profile pastors in the recent years.

What is it about pastoral ministry that makes it so painful and difficult sometimes? Why do so many stay in ministry, even when it’s hurtful and challenging? And how can we pray for our church leaders, support them, and show them love?

Happy new year, Beards & Bible listeners! We asked, and you delivered.

Now we want to take time to answer some of your questions related to topics like the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit and the unforgivable sin, the sin of anxiety vs. the mental health disorder of anxiety, Saul and the Witch of Endor, our thoughts on the Rise and Fall of Mars Hill podcast, the Shack, and any more we can squeeze into one episode. Hang on tight, this might be a long one!

We wanted to reach out to our listeners about a very special episode we’re releasing in the new year. We’re calling it, “From the Mailbag”, and we will be answering listener questions that have been sent in to us throughout the year. So since we haven’t recorded yet, if you have any topics, issues, questions, or ideas that you want us to do our best to answer and comment on, send them over to us- beardsandbiblepodcast@gmail.com or reach out to us via the FB page. We will narrow it down the ones we think we might be able to do justice to and address and release our From the Mailbag episode on January 12, 2022.

So merry Christmas, hope and pray you and your family are blessed this season, and we look forward to hearing from you all very soon!

One of the more confusing topics in the New Testament is the subject of the charismatic gifts- healing, prophecy, miracles, and tongues. As bizarre of some of these gifts seem to us, it certainly appears from reading the New Testament, that these gifts that were given by Holy Spirit were a normative part of a Christian life and the experience of the early church.

But has that changed at all? Are those gifts for today? If so, how does somebody get them?

What does it mean to be, “baptized in the Holy Spirit” or “Filled with the Holy Spirit”? And if you don’t speak in tongues, does that mean something’s wrong with you?

One of the most hotly debated topics in evangelical Christianity is the topic of the rapture of the Church. Some believers feel strongly that the Bible supports the idea that Christ will come to take believers out of the world before His return with them at the second coming. The secret rapture is “secret” in that no one will see Jesus coming except believers; this is in contrast to the second coming of Christ after the tribulation, when “every eye will see him”.

There is a lot of disagreement among Christians regarding the timing of this thing called the rapture. Some believe in the pre-tribulation rapture, which occurs before the beginning of the seven years of tribulation. Others hold to a mid-tribulation, which happens in the middle, and still others to a post-tribulation rapture, which would happen at the end of the 7 years.

With all of the confusion and debate surrounding this topic, how do we look objectively at what scripture actually says about it? Can Bible-believing, Jesus loving, Christians agree to disagree if they don’t see eye-to-eye on the specifics of these doctrines? Or does getting this wrong lead someone to apostasy?

Men and women are different. And those differences are not just biological. But you already knew that, didn’t you? So why is that simple admission so important, especially for people of faith?

We’re at a critical crossroad as Christians. We have a choice to join our post-modern culture and dismiss gender roles as bygone relics from oppressive societies that have no use in our progressive, enlightened era. For the sake of being accepted and relevant, we can try to label gender roles as simply constructs of the collective imagination of the oppressive patriarchy and nothing more or nothing less than that. But try as we might, they won’t be dismissed and they’re not going away.

Why? Because Genesis 5:2 tells us that, “He [GOD] created them male and female and blessed them. And he named them "Mankind" when they were created.” Jesus would later echo this in Mark 10:6 when He declared that “at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female’”. They’re not going away because they were made and given to us by God.

What does the Bible say about masculinity and what it means to be a man? What does “toxic masculinity” say about being a man? Is it possible for us to celebrate masculinity without it being toxic? Is promoting masculinity among men the same as degrading and oppressing women? How do we raise our sons to be spiritual leaders, selfless, humble, temperate, self-controlled, and responsible men that know how to honor women and please the Lord?

In a recent article from Commentary.org, journalist Bari Weiss recounts an alarming number of incidents that have occurred in numerous academic institutions across the country. She writes of,

“David Peterson, an art professor at Skidmore College in upstate New York. He stood accused in the fevered summer of 2020 of “engaging in hateful conduct that threatens Black Skidmore students.”

What was that hateful conduct? David and his wife, Andrea, went to watch a rally for police officers. “Given the painful events that continue to unfold across this nation, I guess we just felt compelled to see first-hand how all of this was playing out in our own community,” he told the Skidmore student newspaper. David and his wife stayed for 20 minutes on the edge of the event. They held no signs, participated in no chants. They just watched. Then they left for dinner.

For the crime of listening, David Peterson’s class was boycotted. A sign appeared on his classroom door: “STOP. By entering this class you are crossing a campus-wide picket line and breaking the boycott against Professor David Peterson. This is not a safe environment for marginalized students.” Then the university opened an investigation into accusations of bias in the classroom.”

In recent years, disturbing incidents like this one Weiss reported have been happening at an alarming rate. Activism across college campuses and in progressive cities has pushed for radical social, political, and societal revolution. The calls to “dismantle the patriarchy”, “redistribute wealth”, “tax the rich”, “defund the police” are all grounded in the understanding that these institutions are by nature irredeemably discriminatory and must be destroyed. The call to be “woke” is to be conscious of these injustices in society and aware of the need for their dismantling. Critical race theory is an approach to these social changes that also calls for the deconstruction of supposedly “racist” institutions, laws, and establishments.

But are these ideas grounded in truth? Are they working, and will they ever work? What is the Christian response to critical race theory? How is a Christian to view being “woke”? And, what if we get “canceled” or “censored” for simply telling the truth?

The word “sing” appears in the Bible over 400 times, and at least 50 of those are commands for followers of Jesus to sing. In Colossians 3:16, believers are commanded to, “sing to God with gratitude from the heart” and to sing to each other, teaching and admonishing through “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs”. It’s clear from the Bible that God desires for His people to sing- both to Him and to each other. But what happens when that experience of connecting with God and other believers through music gets commodified and turned into a product to be bought and sold?

Total sales from the Christian music industry are more than a half billion US dollars annually. Christian/Gospel music is considered one of the fastest growing areas in recorded music history, with more than 1,400 radio stations and 80 million listeners. Even mainstream brands such as Pepsi MidAmerica, Cracker Barrel, Allstate, NASCAR and McDonald’s, among others, have aligned with Gospel/Christian artists, releases and festivals and events to promote their brands.

It’s clear that there’s money to be made in Christian music and entertainment. But at what cost to the Christian message? And what about the artists, producers, and writers that help create that music? Are they all, truly “Christian”- or are they simply pandering to a carefully selected demographic through setting clean, positive, nonspecific, and formulaic jargon to modern music?

Is the music promoting an authentic lifestyle of radical surrender to Christ as King, or is it simply giving us a soundtrack to a life of safe, comfortable, consumerism with a little Jesus sprinkled on top?

In modern English, a cult is defined as a social group characterized by unusual religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs, or by its common interest in a particular personality, object, or goal. Throughout church history, many groups have deviated from the basic tenets of the Christian faith while requiring unquestioning devotion from their followers. Often things like guilt, shame, fear, and manipulation are used as ways to control behavior and brainwash followers.

So what’s the difference between a “cult” and a dysfunctional church? Does any group teaching false doctrine qualify as a cult? What about the Mormons? Jehovah’s Witnesses? And how do we watch out and make sure that we ourselves aren’t deceived?

One of the most painful realities of the Christian faith is that some people who once professed an active, vibrant faith in Jesus choose to walk away. Some cite intellectual obstacles for their reasons for leaving the faith- “how can anyone trust the Bible when it seems to contradict science, or how can anyone believe that someone actually came back from the dead?”

Others claim that it’s church hurt, hypocrisy, and abuse from other Christians that’s lead them to walk away. Still others point to a personal tragedy or hurt that’s lead them to a deep disappointment in the idea of a loving, yet all powerful God.

How do make sense of the stories of people leaving Christianity? More than that, how do we respond to friends, family members, and loved ones that just don’t believe anymore?

On August 15, Afghanistan’s capital city of Kabul fell to the Taliban. During the month of August, more than 100,000 people have been evacuated by military airlifts from US and coalition partners or commercial flights, and many thousands more desperately await evacuation. On August 26 there was a suicide bombing outside of the airport in Kabul that killed at least 60 Afghans and 13 US service members, and wounded more than 100 others (ISIS-K, Islamic State group’s Afghan affiliate claimed responsibility).

Afghanistan is now effectively under the rule of the Taliban- the ultra fundamentalist Islamic group that ruled the nation of Afghanistan with an iron fist for 5 years before U.S. led forces removed them from power in 2001.

The situation in Afghanistan is a horrifying nightmare. It’s Madness. Absolute Chaos. And now with the Taliban in power, the small population of Christians in Afghanistan are at risk for even more significant persecution than before.

How did all of this happen? Who are the Taliban and what do they want? And what it’s like to be a Christian in Afghanistan right now? How can we be praying for them, supporting them, and helping in any way? And is there any hope for Afghanistan?

In this episode of the Beards and Bible Podcast, Gabe sits down with Matt and Kelly Erdman of Family First Uganda in an effort to pick their brains about missions and sharing the gospel with refugees in Uganda in a unique and self-sustaining way. You can find their ministry on the web by clicking here: https://www.familyfirstug.com/refugee-crisis/

In the minds of some, when the word, “heaven” is mentioned, images of a white robe, harps, angel wings, halos and sitting on a cloud for all eternity in a never-ending church service come to mind. It no surprise why some people picture Heaven as a place to go to be bored for the rest of eternity.

How does the Bible describe the place believers go when they die? What does it mean to be “absent from the body, and present with the Lord”? What’s that place like? Is that the same as the new heavens and new earth the book of Revelation talks about?

While we’re on the topic, what are we going to be doing for all eternity? Will we see our old pets? Will we recognize loved ones and remember our lives on earth? Will there be sex in heaven? Will we eat? Drink? Watch baseball? And why doesn’t God let everybody go to heaven?

One of the most uncomfortable and controversial teachings in Christianity is the doctrine of hell. Even though we might not like it, the Bible (especially the teachings of Jesus in the Gospels) talks a lot about hell. But it’s a hard pill for many to swallow. The idea that a loving God will righteously judge the wicked for all eternity makes a lot of people squirm- including those who claim to be Bible believing Christians.

What parts of our understanding of hell do we get from Scripture? And what parts do we get from tradition? What will hell be like? How does the Bible describe it? Who goes to hell? And why? How could a God of love send anybody to hell?

And has there been unanimous agreement in the history of the Christian church on all of these things?

Pornography is a multi-billion-dollar industry that enslaves millions of people worldwide. In fact, the most searched for terms on the internet every single day are related to pornography. The porn industry’s annual revenue is more than the NFL, NBA, and MLB combined. It’s also more than the combined revenues of ABC, CBS, and NBC. 11 is the average age that a child is first exposed to porn, and 94% of children will see porn by the age of 14. 47% of families in the United States reported that pornography is a problem in their home. Pornography use increases the marital infidelity rate by more than 300%.

Pornography is insidious not just because of what it does to a person spiritually (both its creator and consumer), but because of how it actually rewires the human brain. Neurologists are now discovering that regular pornography users possess neuropathways in their brains similar to those found in the brains of heroin addicts. A 2014 study found that men who watched more porn had less gray matter volume—they literally had smaller brains. The neurological damage porn creates is responsible for things like social anxiety, brain fog, emotional numbness, lethargy, depression, loss of interest towards an actual partner or spouse, and erectile disfunction in men as young as 22.

Due to its horrible spiritual, emotional, relational, and neurological affects, why would anybody, especially a Bible-believing Christian, still choose to view pornography? What is it a person is after every time they click? Is it really an erotic experience of sexual arousal that they want? Or, are they in search of something deeper? Something, more profound, yet so incredibly elusive?

You may think this is a joke- but there’s an actual conspiracy theory going around claiming that the earth is not a sphere. It’s actually flat. Like a pizza, with a solid dome over top. Seriously.

But what about NASA and satellite photography that plainly shows the shape of the earth? Clearly, they’ve been lying to us for decades. Those pictures have been photoshopped. Faked. Staged. Why? Obviously, for the purpose of world domination.

One would hope that Followers of Jesus wouldn’t be duped into such a far-fetched conspiracy theory, but there are Christians that believe the Bible actually teaches that the world is flat. And if you believe secular science over the Bible, you’re disbelieving God.

But does the Bible actually teach that the earth is flat? Does the Bible contradict science or confirm science? How do we give Biblical and scientific rebuttals for those who claim the earth is flat?

It’s inescapable during the month of June. Websites, organizations, companies, and people all across America are eager to openly celebrate inclusion, equality, and love as they show their support for LGBT people and ideologies. In the month of June there are pride marches, pride rallies, pride events, and pride festivals in major cities all across the U.S. In 1999, the month of officially designated by then president Bill Clinton as “Gay & Lesbian Pride Month”. From there, a new secular holiday was born. How did we get to a point where celebrating homosexuality and transgenderism became a month-long event that rivals Christmas?

The message of tolerance proclaimed by many years ago was that tolerance was, “The practice of recognizing and respecting other beliefs and practices without necessarily agreeing or sympathizing”. Over the years, the definition of tolerance has changed. It now means, “the acceptance of different views and fairness toward the people who hold these different views”. In other words, tolerance now means that anyone with moral opposition towards certain behaviors or mindsets is by definition intolerant, or even a bigot and full of hate. And to express moral opposition towards things like “Pride Month” is classified as “Hate Speech”.

Meanwhile, as Christians who hold the Biblical worldview, we’re conflicted and saddened by the open celebration of something the Bible clearly states is a sinful behavior. We love our LGBT friends, neighbors, and family members- but our source of ultimate authority, the Bible, clearly defines sexuality differently. How do we show love to many who belief that our understanding of the Christian faith makes us, by definition, bigots and hate-mongers? How do we hold to the authority of the Bible in the midst of a culture that demands that we compromise? How do we love our neighbor- the way that God has commanded us- in the midst of pride month?

In John 4:22, Jesus stated that, “salvation is from the Jews”. All that we have has come to us through those who are ethnically Jewish. Our Bible is a Jewish book, and Jesus was a Jewish man. God made in clear to the Jewish people in Deuteronomy 7 that the “Lord your chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.” God also promised Abraham in Genesis 12 that from him a great nation would be born that would be a blessing. And God also said that “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you".

If this is God’s promise to the Jewish people, how do we make sense of the secular nation of Israel? Does that mean that no matter what happens, Christians must support the nation of Israel, no matter what political or military decisions they make?

How we make sense of the ethnic Jews that haven’t received Jesus as their Messiah? Are they still chosen by God? And how should we love them and share Jesus with them?

There is no hurt like church hurt. Moral failures, abuse scandals, doctrinal disputes, financial indiscretions, leadership failures, relational strife- these things threaten (and often succeed) at splitting churches right down the middle and leaving countless Christians wounded, confused, and frustrated. To many, the amount of pain church often delves out makes it seem not worth staying in. Church is messy. It’s broken.

But at the same time, if we love Jesus, we have to continually ask what Jesus loves. In his book, “Broken but Beautiful”, J.P. Conway writes about the “resilient beauty” and powerful, yet often untapped means towards human flourishing the church gives us. Yes the church is broken, but there’s more. She’s beautiful.

How do we show grace in the church towards those who hurt us? How do we pursue unity and love in the midst of brokenness and pain? What do we do when we feel like giving up on church altogether?

The end of the world. As Christians we believe it’s coming. Society as we know it will someday collapse, empires will fall, and the earth itself will dissolve as King Jesus returns in victory to establish His Kingdom and recreate a new earth and new heavens. But what will that collapse- that day of doom- look like? And how can we be ready?

For centuries, people have been predicting the end of the world or some other global catastrophe like a nuclear war, earthquake, or massive societal collapse. Many have tried to prepare for it. Doomsday preppers, as they are called, are known for stockpiling food, weapons, and other supplies as they await the end. Some Christians have gotten swept into the doomsday prepper movement because of the belief that they must physically prepare for Armageddon, the return of Jesus, or World War III. The American Redoubt movement is a migration movement that encourages like-minded people (mostly conservative Christians) to relocate to the Inland Northwest so they can be in a geographically safe area and make that area more conservative. Advocates of this movement encourage Christians to live off the grid, homeschool their children, grow their own food, raise livestock, hunt and fish so they can be self-sustaining in the event of a full-scale societal collapse.

But what about the great commission? Is Jesus’s vision for His people in the last days for them to isolate, or to go into the unbelieving world with the message of the gospel?

We know that Jesus is coming back, and the earth as we know it will someday come to an end, but should Christians be preppers? Does the Bible say anything about doomsday prepping?

In 2016, Ian Cron (an Episcopal priest) and Suzanne Stabile wrote “The Road Back to You”, and Zondervan publishing released the book, “Sacred Enneagram”. The enneagram, a supposed tool of personality analysis, was then unleashed and has become one of the most popular, widespread and celebrated teachings in the evangelical church in recent years. There are Enneagram books, podcasts, blogs, trainings, YouTube videos, Social Media pages- one pastor even preached an entire SERMON SERIES on the 9 types, where he found characters from the Bible, guessed their type, and taught the Enneagram using the Bible.

But where did the Enneagram come from? And why is it true? Is it based in science? Psychology? Personality theory? Or….something else?

The origins of the Enneagram are a bit…complex, to say the least. But we do know is that its roots are based in esoteric thought, mysticism, sacred geometry, new age teaching, and it gets even weirder. Things like automatic writing and strange revelations from an angel, or spirit guide named “Metatron”.

Do you want to know where it comes from? Do you want to know what it really teaches?

In Exodus 23:9, God says “Do not oppress a foreigner; you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners, because you were foreigners in Egypt.” It’s clear from reading scripture that God desires for His people to be compassionate, kind, and understanding towards those who come to another country seeking safety or greater economic opportunity for themselves and their families. But what if an immigrant comes to a country illegally?

Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2 instruct all people to follow the laws of a nation. Therefore, breaking a country’s immigration laws is clearly understood to be sin. But what if a prosperous nation like the U.S. doesn’t have compassionate or reasonable immigration laws? Are we therefore justified in supporting those who break the law because of the Bible’s command for us to show compassion, justice, and mercy to the alien and foreigner?

How are we to respond as Christians to illegal immigrants on an individual level? Is loving, showing compassion, and having mercy on them the same as promoting, enabling, or excusing illegal immigration?

The Bible is an amazing book. It’s actually a collection of 66 books written over a 1600-year period by 40 authors in 3 languages, on 3 continents. Amazingly, these 66 books share a common storyline, a common theme, and a common message. But it was written a long time ago in a world very different from the one we live in now. So how do we know about the world as it was at the time of the Bible?

The biblical text and other written records are the most important pieces of information we have about the history of ancient biblical peoples. But these records alone have left many unanswered questions. That is where archaeology comes in. Excavations of ancient sites across the land of the Bible, Israel, have provided bits and pieces that give us clues to the past and help grasp a better understanding of the world as it was when the Bible was written. We sometimes find that the picture we get in our heads when we read a Biblical passage isn’t entirely as accurate as we thought. And we gain a deeper appreciation and better understanding of the context and background that forms the Biblical text.

Does modern archeological confirm what people find in their Bible? Or does it contradict what we read in the Bible? How can archeology help us become a better student of the Bible?

The headline is far too common- prominent Christian pastor, evangelist, or leader caught in an affair, financial indiscretion, double life, or leadership failure- leaving countless wounded, confused, hurt, angry and almost everyone questioning, “how did this happen? Why did this happen? And Why didn’t we see it coming?” The anger is justified. The confusion merited. The questions fair. That leader is responsible for their sinful, duplicitous decisions and should be held accountable.

And…then there’s the world of the internet, where hot takes regarding any leader’s moral failings abound via tweets, YouTube videos, and all manner of online content. Commentary is offered and blame is cast on everyone and everything. Everything regarding the leader and their ministry is churned up, questioned and called into scrutiny- every sermon ever preached, every book ever written- even their own salvation and relationship with Christ. After they have been thoroughly scrutinized, gutted, examined, blamed, and called out, that figure and all of their contributions to the church at large are decisively and forever cancelled in a terminal act of judgment- never again to be known for anything other than their failures and sin.

But is this how it’s supposed to be when a leader fails us? Are we to decisively and finally “cancel” them and all their work, or is there another response we can give? And if we didn’t cancel them, wouldn’t that just be justifying and excusing their sin? What are we to do with our questions, confusion, hurt, disappointment, and anger? Is there any hope of redemption or any road back for a leader who’s fallen?

The following is the 2nd episode in a 2 part series where we explore the differences between the theologies of Calvinism & Arminianism.

Calvinism and Arminianism are two systems of theology that attempt to explain the relationship between God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility in the matter of salvation. Calvinism is named for John Calvin, a French theologian who lived from 1509-1564. Arminianism is named for Jacobus Arminius, a Dutch theologian who lived from 1560-1609.

For the past 500 years, Christians (mainly protestant evangelicals) have continued to debate these systems of theology related to salvation and how exactly it works. The dispute centers around an understanding of what the Bible means when it talks about concepts such as depravity (or the sinfulness of man), predestination (or the divine foreordaining of all that will happen and all who will be saved), and atonement and who will be included in the atoning work of Christ.

So which one is right? Is it that God is absolutely sovereign and ordains some people to be saved and others to be sent to hell? Or is it that God invites all human beings to place faith in Christ and be saved?

In Matthew 11, Jesus invited all who are weary and heavy laden to come to Him, and He would give them rest. But in John 15, Jesus says, “you did not choose me, but I chose and appointed you.” So does Jesus invite us to choose Him in salvation, or does He choose us in salvation? We know that the Bible teaches that God is sovereign over all things, but does that mean we don’t have free will? How does the sovereignty of God work with humanity’s responsibility to obey God’s commands?

Calvinism and Arminianism are two systems of theology that attempt to explain the relationship between God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility in the matter of salvation. Calvinism is named for John Calvin, a French theologian who lived from 1509-1564. Arminianism is named for Jacobus Arminius, a Dutch theologian who lived from 1560-1609.

For the past 500 years, Christians (mainly protestant evangelicals) have continued to debate these systems of theology related to salvation and how exactly it works. The dispute centers around an understanding of what the Bible means when it talks about concepts such as depravity (or the sinfulness of man), predestination (or the divine foreordaining of all that will happen and all who will be saved), and atonement and who will be included in the atoning work of Christ.

So which one is right? Is it that God is absolutely sovereign and ordains some people to be saved and others to be sent to hell? Or is it that God invites all human beings to place faith in Christ and be saved?

It’s estimated that there are 40,000 Christian denominations and movements in the world today. And chances are, if you’re a Christian listening to this podcast, you’re a part of a church that’s associated with one out of the 40,000.

Jesus prayed to the Father in John 17:41 that his future followers would exhibit a special kind of unity that would be a testimony to the world. So what happened? Why does it seem like Christians can’t agree on anything? Why are there sometimes four different Christian churches on the same street? And why are there so many Christian denominations? For those who aren’t Christians, it must seem confusing. Which church is the right one?

In our increasingly secular, post-modern, post- Christian culture, Christians must become more united on (and more focused on) Gospel issues. But the truth is there are issues of secondary importance that we’re just not all going to agree on. Things like worship styles, church governance, and nuances of non-essential doctrines can often lead to a diversity of perspectives in the body of Christ. How do we talk about these things with other believers in humility, grace, love and understanding? What makes a local church (or even denomination) the right fit for you and your family?

New Year, new you…well, hopefully. The reality is, for most of us not much has changed since this time last week when it was 2020, except for the new page on the calendar. For a lot of us, we’re carrying into the new year the same stubborn old habits, the same old struggles, and the same old sins that we wrestled with last year.

But what if the Bible gave us a regular discipline we could practice to remind ourselves that as followers of Jesus, our God is NOT our bellies, or our food, our TVs, or our screens? Fasting, the practice of voluntarily abstaining from food (or certain activities) for a period of time, has been practiced by Christians for thousands of years. In fasting, a believer abstains from food in order to be available for prayer and communion with God. Fasting isn’t easy, but it’s designed to separate you from your perceived life support so you can focus exclusively on the Lord.

Sadly, many Christians have never fasted. Just mentioning the practice is enough to cause some people panic. Why would anyone want to fast? Much less for longer than a day? What does the Bible say about fasting? Do you have to fast?

In the minds of many American Christians, church isn’t a place to go to connect with the transcendence of God and contemplate the majesty, wonder, and beauty of the mysteries of the Divine- it’s a place we visit to be entertained and catered to. Some of our worship gatherings feel more like a pep rally or a pop concert than they do a worship service, and in many gatherings the teaching of God’s Word has been replaced by a more informal, conversational TED talk style sermonette about the importance of the journey of falling in love with Jesus. Oh, and on your way out of the auditorium, be sure to check out the church’s other offerings such as CD’s, books, and t-shirts for sale. But it’s not just in our churches, as American Christians we’ve created our own unique, heavily commercialized, highly monetized subculture. We’ve got Christian radio, Christian recording artists, Christian movies, Christian TV, Christian themed restaurants, even Christian amusement parks.

We all know it, but most of us are just afraid to say it out loud- it’s big business. And we’re the customers. How did we get here? Is this the vision Jesus had for His Church 2,000 years ago? And what impact is this excessive commercialization having on our understanding of the Church’s mission? Is it wrong for worship services to be engaging or entertaining? Is it wrong to sell Christian books or make Christian music?

1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us to, "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus". 2020 has been a very eventful year full of unexpected and challenging circumstances. So in the middle of a year like 2020, how do we continue to give thanks and practice gratitude?

As American Christians, our relationship to politics and the political process tends to be a bit more complex. If you live here and you’re Christian you know, it’s just different. It’s actually kind of messy.

When you study the history of America, it’s undeniable that the nation was founded on Judeo-Christian beliefs. Many of the values of America, such as charity, altruism, respect, tolerance, mercy, freedom, liberty, and peace are historically rooted in a Christian worldview. Not only that, but the vast majority of religious expression, terminology, and practice in America throughout our history has been Christian or heavily influenced by the Christian worldview. Of course, as a secular nation, the U.S. has also allowed free expression of other faiths,yet the primary religious outlook of the American people has long been that of Judeo-Christianity. Constitutionally, the U.S. government was designed to guide a population operating under a predominantly Judeo-Christian worldview, and it shows clear evidence of influence from that faith tradition.

So historically, America has been most certainly founded and guided by a “Christian” worldview. But culturally, America is absolutely not “Christian” in terms of its current attitudes and behaviors. The modern United States not only tolerates ideas contrary to Christianity, but it openly embraces and celebrates them. Sexual immorality, pornography, homosexuality, and premarital sex are widely accepted as normal in American society. Vulgarity, drunkenness, drug use, promiscuity, and other abuses of freedom are also celebrated as forms of entertainment. Abortion is rampant, as are widespread instances of violence, greed, and corruption. Many of those who participate and celebrate these sins even consider themselves “Christian”.

So here’s the rub- in a nation that was founded by Christian beliefs but is decidedly unchristian in its current culture- is the primary job of the American Church and American Christians to actively fight to influence the outcome of elections and the political process so that America can return to her Christian roots? Or is to stay away from politics all-together and focus only on making disciples and spreading the gospel? Is voting for a certain candidate or political party that supports the Christian worldview our primary Christian duty? What if the results of a crucial election we participated are disputed? How do we know what to do next?

The Christian Faith in North America has reached a critical juncture. Thousands of believers have begun to drift away from the major creeds and confessions of historic Christianity in favor of a more inclusive, societally acceptable ideology that favors tolerance, social activism and public policy over personal repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Skepticism about the Bible abounds, and Scriptures that seems out of step with contemporary values are either explained away or dismissed. In fact, certain scriptural subjects such as the atonement, gender and sexual issues, the lordship (and even divinity) of Jesus, and personal holiness get reframed as either unimportant, misunderstood, or even dangerous.

Is it possible to be a Christian that denies the infallibility of Scripture, the divinity of Jesus, the doctrine of atonement, and the necessity of personal repentance and exclusive faith in Christ? Is it possible to reframe the identity of Jesus as primarily a social activist and the Christian faith as primarily a self-actualizing movement that’s just one path among many, and STILL refer to yourself as a Christian?

The Bible tells men to love their wives, and for women to respect and honor their husbands. Historically, marriage has been valued and celebrated by the Christian church. But the truth is, marriage is hard. The challenges, obstacles, and difficulties of life take a toll on a marriage- even a Christian one. Betrayal, heartbreak, and the pain of neglect can shake a marriage to its core and tempt many of us to give up.

How can we stay proactive and make sure our marriages are healthy? How do we actually put it in practice the teachings from the Bible of love, respect, honor, and understanding within a marriage?

Imagine a reality in which almost every bit of information you consume is handpicked, edited, and abridged for your consumption. Information is given to you not because it’s necessarily true or factual, but because chances are, you’ll click, watch, read, like, or repost because, well, you already agreed with the headline before you even read the story.

Now imagine those who are feeding you this information. With every click, watch, share or engagement you give to the stories they’ve fed you, there’s money to be made. So what do they do? The same thing almost any human being would do. They seek to keep you constantly engaged and addicted to their platforms by catering the content you consume to your preferences, preconceived ideas, political leanings, likes, and dislikes. Can you imagine such a world as this?

The scary thing is- you don’t have to. This is the reality you actually live in. Recently, conscientious defectors from big tech companies have claimed that the manipulation of human behavior for profit is actually coded into these companies with horrifying precision. Infinite scrolling and push notifications keep users constantly engaged; personalized recommendations use data not just to predict but also to influence our actions. As a result, this has turned users of search engines, social media platforms, and online news services into easy prey for advertisers and propagandists.

But at what cost? Experts and clinical researchers tell us that excessive consumption of online media and content can distort our view of ourselves, our relationships, our political and ideological opponents, and our broader reality. They also tell us that human willpower can’t be expected to compete with some of the most sophisticated A.I. systems on the planet that have been designed to keep us addicted and engaged to these platforms, not matter how hard we try to limit our consumption.

As followers of Jesus, we hold to the idea that truth is absolute- it doesn’t change based on our preferences or proclivities. But how do we find truth when it’s constantly being manipulated? Is there a way to develop a healthy relationship with these technologies? How can we make sure we’re actually understanding these issues and not just blindly consuming the information we’re being fed because it tells us what we want to hear?

Election season is upon us, and many Christians have conflicting emotions and deeply concerned about their role and participation in the upcoming election. What Biblical principles and ideals should inform our participation in the political process? How is a Christian supposed to vote? Is it simply along party lines, or one single "make or break" issue? And is it possible to have constructive, honest, and thoughtful dialogue about these issues?

So often there are things we believe about the Bible, that just aren’t in the Bible. The Bible never talks about there being 3 wisemen present at the birth of Jesus, or that Adam and Eve ate an apple in the garden, or that it was a whale that swallowed Jonah. But so many of us, there years of tradition and human interpretation that have instilled in us (sometimes even unknowingly) misconceptions about the Biblical texts. So how do we read the Bible in its original context? How do we do the work of separating tradition from truth and our cultural interpretations from what the text actually says? How was the Bible written? How did it come to us?

Is Genesis just far-fetched, goofy, highly unlikely mythology that should be taken allegorical? Or is it a historical account of literal events? Are Christians rejecting science by choosing to believe it? If someone rejects the book of Genesis, have they rejected the rest of the Bible?

In the 2nd installment of a two part episode, we address these questions and discuss the various interpretations of the creation account in the book of Genesis.

In 1859, Charles Darwin theorized in his book, The Origin of Species, that life forms have evolved over time through the process of natural selection. In 1871, in his book, The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex, he theorized that nature itself determined the development and progress of all living things. The implication was that any God-centered view of the world is merely wishful thinking. Darwin implies that nature, not God, controls human development. Our origin story is explained through the laws of nature and science.

150 years later, Darwin’s theories have been accepted by most rational minds as scientific fact. Meanwhile, the Bible also speaks to the question of origin. The book of Genesis gives us a different set of answers about how we got here. But is Genesis just far-fetched, goofy, highly unlikely mythology that should be taken as allegorical? Or is it a historical account of literal events? If so, are Christians rejecting science by choosing to believe it?

In the first installment of a two-part episode, we'll be diving into the theories of Charles Darwin and exploring their influence on western civilization.

Artificial intelligence, in a broad sense, is any task performed by a program or a machine that, if a human carried out the same activity, we would say the human had to apply intelligence to accomplish the task. Things like planning, learning, reasoning, problem solving, knowledge representation, perception, motion, and manipulation and even, to a lesser extent, social intelligence and creativity can now all be performed, to a certain extent at least, by artificial intelligence systems.

But if we’re able to develop a technology that empowers machines to do anything a human can do, does this mean that the day is coming when humans will become expendable and replaceable?

Will the lines between humanity and machine become blurred in the years to come with the development of more advanced artificial intelligence?

Will AI evolve to eventually surpass humanity by becoming smarter than us? How as Christians should we treat AI systems? Like slaves or with the same kind of respect and dignity as a human being?

And speaking of which, what is that makes us human after all? Are we human because of how “highly evolved” we’ve become- or is there something else God has placed within us that makes us “human”?

There are now 3 billion social media users in the world- that’s roughly 40% of the earth’s population. The amount of social media users is growing too- in 2005, only 5% of American adults reported using social media. Now? 70% of them do.

A technology that enables humanity to communicate and share life together all across the globe seems like a positive, life-giving thing. But is there a dark side to this technology?

Limited research has shown that social media use actually has a significant impact on our stress levels, anxiety, mood, sleep, relationships, and overall happiness and well-being. In fact, some studies seem to indicate that the more we use social media, the more unhappy, lonely, and superficial we become.

But is there a way for us use this technology responsibly? Can we as followers of Jesus harness its power to spread the Gospel and witness to the truth of who Christ is in our lives? Is it all-together an “evil” thing? Or can it be used for good?

We’ve seen the bumper sticker, “Don’t drive faster than your guardian angel can fly”. We’ve watched the cartoons where a robed, winged figure with a halo appears on one shoulder to encourage a character to be good and a red, horned figure with a pitchfork appears on the other shoulder to try to influence the same character to be bad. Some of us have even seen the terrifying depictions from Hollywood’s imagination of demonic possession and activity, and the fantastical depictions of angels and the heavenly realm.

But how much of this is fiction, and how much is fact?

When you read the Bible, what does it describe about these beings and what do the individuals who actually encountered them have to say?

What about demons?

Can you see demons or summon them?

Can you do the same with angels? Does everybody have a "guardian angel", or is that just something we made up?

The Gospel- it’s a word that’s been tossed around and used an adjective and a noun, and for many people there’s not really an understanding of what it actually means. It’s the good news concerning the identity of Jesus Christ as King and how He’s provided a way for us to be forgiven and saved from our sins and brought into the Kingdom of God. But how exactly does that work?

How is someone “converted” to Christ or saved? Is there a magic prayer that someone has to recite in order to become a Christian? Or maybe it’s baptism?

Why do Christians get baptized? If someone doesn’t get baptized, does that mean they’re not saved?

A new religious movement in evangelical Christianity- supposedly led by modern day apostles and prophets- has confused people, divided churches, and strained relationships as believers are forced to make painful choices between those they love and what they believe to be the truth of God’s Word. Most people don’t know the movement by any formal name, but its teachers and organizations- Bill Johnson, Bethel Church, Rick Joyner, International House of Prayer, YWAM- are world famous. Its practices and teachings have also permeated churches all across the world.

But are these teachings in alignment with Scripture? How do we use discernment to understand these teachings through the lens of God’s Word?

What about the worship music that comes from this movement? The extra-biblical teachings on spiritual warfare, signs and wonders, and prayer? Is this a cult?

Is it possible to talk honestly about these things without offending or ticking somebody off?

A recent youtube documentary with over 10 million views, claims to lift the mask on how the mainstream media, Hollywood, and government work together to manipulate & control the masses by spreading propaganda throughout their content. Its makers claim their goal is to wake up the general public by shedding light on how we all have been lied to & brainwashed by a hidden enemy with a sinister agenda. What if there is a “deep state” that works to nefariously control and brainwash the general public? Can we ever really trust the media? How about our government? How are Christians to be “subject to the governing authorities” like Scripture tells us to do if our authorities might be inherently evil?

Recently, there's been a trend of celebrities and high-profile figures endorsing the use of 5-MeO-DMT and other psychedelic drugs. Some describe feeling like they’re traveling at warp speed through a tunnel of bright lights and shapes. Others describe having an out-of-body experience and feeling like they’ve changed into something else.

There are still others who report visiting other worlds and communicating with "elf-like" beings or other strange creatures that attempt to guide them into the mysteries of the universe.

Interestingly, the Book of Enoch (while not a canonical book of the Bible, but quoted in Jude 14-15) describes how fallen angels taught humans how to utilize plants and cut roots to tap into their psychedelic compounds and to elicit metaphysical experiences and cast spells.

Could it be that DMT & psychedelics are doorways into the demonic? What is the book of Enoch and how do we understand it as Bible-believing Christians? What does the Bible tell us about the use of psychedelics like DMT and other drugs in general?

A global pandemic. A collapsing economy. Social distancing. Flattening the curve. Have we ever been here before as a society? What about Passover and Easter this week? How does it all go together? And why should I care what these guys have to say about it?