Christianity Clarified: Recent Episodes
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This program is a short, conversational examination of the central tenets of the Christian faith with Pastor Marv Wiseman, a man with over 55 years of ministry teaching to young and old alike. "Christianity Clarified" is presented by The Rock Radio Network, a bilingual Bible teaching network centered in San Juan, Puerto Rico. We can be heard on our two live online streams and on WBMJ (AM-1190) San Juan Metro, WIVV (AM-1370) Vieques/VI, and WCGB (AM-1060) Juana Díaz/Ponce.
Reverend Marv Wiseman sets out the principle that unless otherwise noted, we should seek the literal meaning of any biblical passage.
Reverend Marv Wiseman continues discussing the difference between literal truth and literal fact.
Pastor Marv Wiseman acknowledges that while all truth in the Bible is literally true, not everything in the Bible is to be taken literally.
Why does the Bible use so much figurative language? What is the point of it at all? Reverend Marv Wiseman explains.
The Bible is full of euphemisms that God uses to spare our feelings, if possible, while giving us truth.
The many ironic statements in the Bible will remain a puzzle unless we understand why they were written that way.
We cannot hear the tone in which the Bible was spoken, but we should be able to understand the irony of certain statements by the way they are written.
The Bible is full of zoomorphic imagery, which uses animal shapes to portray or illustrate important truths.
Pastor Marv Wiseman admonishes us to study the Word intensely so that we can use it properly in our prayers, not the other way around.
As used in the Bible, a simile takes something literal and concrete and applies it to the spiritual.
Pastor Marv Wiseman explains the concept of a simile and shows us why the Bible uses so many of them.
Pastor Marv Wiseman shows us how we can understand when the Bible is using figures of speech.
Pastor Marv Wiseman begins examining some of the uses of figurative language in the Bible and explains why the writers choose to employ it.
Reverend Marv Wiseman makes the case that unless otherwise noted, the Bible should be taken literally.
Reverend Marv Wiseman continues his examination of the word "yom," which means "day" in Hebrew and its many different meanings in the Bible.
If the same word for "day" in Hebrew is used both literally and figuratively, how can we be sure which context to believe when we see it in the Bible?
Pastor Marv Wiseman examines the law of literality, which is to say that if the Bible does not explicitly say that a text is to be taken figuratively, then it is in fact meant to be taken literally.
Pastor Marv explains the careful process of scientific work that goes into biblical hermaneutics.
Taken from the name of the Greek god Hermes, the messenger of the pagan gods, hermeneutics is the study of how God's message in the Bible is transmitted to us through His Word.
Pastor Marv Wiseman discusses the importance of understanding the meaning of communication, and how the very words of the Bible must be understood for them to have any worth or power.
Did Christ contradict Himself when He told His disciples that they would live to see the coming of His kingdom?
Pastor Marv Wiseman begins looking at some of the supposed contradictions about the life of Christ in the Bible and offers a system for studying them in context.
Since the very beginning of time, people have rejected the Bible because they dislike its claims of authority.
In every field of creative endeavor, from art and literature to architecture and deeds of mercy, the Bible is the world's greatest source of inspiration.
The sheer number of languages and translations of the Bible proves that mankind finds it useful and desirable.
The Bible does not need archaeology or science to defend it, because it has inherent value. However, both do.
There are three basic presuppositions we can take when we approach the Bible: That it is true, That it is not true, and Neutrality.
Since the beginning of time, mankind's rejection of duly appointed authority has been central to the problems we face.
We can no longer assume that people automatically accept the authority of the Bible. We must learn to defend it.
Before engaging in the study of hermaneutics, the first question we must answer is simple: Is this really worth our time?
What if the biggest question facing humanity could be boiled down to one word: authority? Pastor Mar shows us how.
When people criticize the Bible, they often say it is outdated and outmoded. Are they right?
The Bible urges us to let go of the past and move forward into the freedom that God has for us.
Do you know how to trace the story of Jesus all the way from Genesis to the New Testament?
If we are in Christ, we receive a package of benefits. One of those benefits, which may be hard to receive at first, is the benefit of knowing that if we stray from the path of righteousness, God will use pain, if necessary, to bring us back.
Pastor Marv continues examining this contentious topic by showing us how the consequences of our sin will drive us to the Lord.
Romans 8:28 assures us that God uses all things, even our sin, for our ultimate good. That just doesn't even sound right!
Why do the lost reject the Gospel? The answer is not that they cannot believe, but that they will not.
Pastor Marv reminds us that the promise of Romans 8:28 is limited to those who love God.
Why do we find it so hard to believe the promise that God will work out everything for our ultimate good?
Except for Hinduism, all the major world faiths claim exclusivity - so how can we choose which one to believe?
Pastor Marv examines how Christianity started inside the Jewish faith and expanded to embrace Gentiles.
Pastor Marv Wiseman examines who Christ is, and where He can be found all over the Bible, Old and New Testaments.
Pastor Marv explains the story of Mohammed, the Prophet of Islam, and the history of the Qu'ran.
Pastor Marv examines some of the bitter fruits of the depersonalization of the individual inherent in both Hinduism and Buddhism.
The man who would come to be known as the Buddha was born a Hindu and opposed the concept of a personal God.
Strange as it may seem, one may be an atheist and fully subscribe to the tenets of Buddhism.
Thanks to Paul McCartney and the Beatles, interest in the mystical tenets of Hinduism came to the West.
Pastor Marv Wiseman explains the concepts of pain and suffering in Hinduism, along with Nirvana and Enlightenment.
Pastor Marv begins his examination of Hinduism by exploring one of the central tenets of the faith: The lack of absolute truth.
Pastor Marv shows us how pretty much all the religions in our world today have their roots in one of the five major religions: Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Christianity.
Pastor Marv Wiseman explains why it is impossible to be completely objective in discussing other peoples' religions. And this is intellectually honest, so it is a positive thing.
Pastor Marv Wiseman opens a new series on the main religions of the Bible with a logical look at the demands of truth.
The sunshine and rainfall that God sends for all humanity, regardless of their relationship to Him, are only two examples of what we call the "common graces."
Pastor Marv examines the example of pain and suffering, and the dignity that he learned through it, of the patriarch Joseph.
Pastor Marv shows us how Job is a "poster boy" for the Christian doctrine of suffering.
Pastor Marv starts a series on dealing with pain in the present by looking for where it started in the past.
Pastor Marv gently asks us to question ourselves as to how our own choices may contribute to our pain, and how we can make better choices.