Imagine a time in the not-too-distant future. Trying to compensate for a declining population, scientists use advanced technology to build a “race” of robots, giving them not only human appearance and abilities, but also increasing amounts of AI. Things work smoothly in the short run, as the robots’ nearly limitless energy for work transforms Earth into a near paradise. But the programmers, seeking to give their creation a chance at true relationship with their human masters, give the robots freedom of will, grafting it on to their ability to think independently. Chaos soon ensues, as the robots rebel and rise up against the human population…
This is standard fare, of course, in science fiction circles. Shows like Battlestar Galactica explored the philosophical issues surrounding this scenario, and play out possible expected, and some unexpected, outcomes. Let’s do the same from a Christian standpoint.
How can a good God send anyone to hell?
A major stumbling block for non-Christians, and for many Christians as well, is the doctrine of Hell. How, they ask, can an “all-good” God consign his creation to a place of torment? Don’t we have a right to unending life, lived as we wish? Talking about rights like this flows readily from the American temperament. As beneficiaries of a system of ordered liberty, resorting to courts to settle our grievances, we seem to easily slip into thinking that man is autonomous, a force onto himself, with the unfettered right to advance his desire for control.
But though we resist thinking about this notion, we are in fact created beings. We did nothing to bring ourselves into existence and the basic equipment with which we experience the world was given to us at birth. However much we wish it were different, our aging bodies and tired souls remind us that that this good Earth is simply a waystation in a much longer journey. However much we assert our independence, exercise intelligence, and demand our “right” to do what we want, if we are honest with ourselves, we must realize that whatever brought us into existence may intend to reckon with us for what we have done while here. This creator may require an accounting.
Are we like robots, pots, and planes?
Most people who think through the implications of our contingent nature eventually realize that whatever did create us retains the right to do what he will with the fruit of his labor. After all, no one condemns the potter when he smashes the pot that does not meet his wishes, or the painter that slashes a painting if she so chooses. In the scenario depicted above, we realize that the programmers would be within their rights to “unplug” or otherwise disable their creation. Having made them, they retain the right to dispose of them, whether that be by putting them to forced labor or by dismantling them for parts. There is no moral outcry when, for example, the Air Force cannibalizes broken planes for parts that keep other planes flying.
But when we move to the arena of man and his Creator, our bias leads us to a totally different conclusion. But we are different, aren’t we? We think, and reason, and have free will that allows us to plan, to dream, to set goals. We form relationships that are meaningful to us. And most importantly, we feel. Pain is a constant threat and everyday companion. Does this not give us the right to do what we want? Especially if we mean well and don’t want to “hurt” anyone? To be “good,” God must simply get out of our way and let us … what, be God?
Actually, He doesn’t. Nothing changes in this analysis when the creatures under consideration are human beings. Having formed us from nothing, God can do what he wants with us. In fact, it appears that in the natural order of things, God has established rules that we violate at our peril, so that what he wants for us can be seen not only in his Revelation, but in the natural law. What changed is our perspective. Our bias in wanting our way is what leads us to cry foul when God’s created order bumps up against our plans and desires. As in the Garden of Eden, modern man insists not on serving God, but on replacing him… or displacing him, at the very least. Insistent on having our way, we see God as a nuisance, or worse yet, the enemy. We shake our fist at him, insisting that he move out of our way, and that he justify himself to us.
We’re supposed to relate to God on His terms
Unlike the robot analogy, God does not fear us or where our freedom may take us. We present no threat to him. But that does not mean that he must accept us into his fellowship, for to do so would be inconsistent with his holy nature. So, he reveals himself to us in a way which, though substantial, is not overwhelming. By adhering to that balance, he provides enough evidence of his reality without overcoming our freedom to choose to ignore him. Most importantly, he provides a way for us to reunite with him, but on his terms. That many people will use this freedom to remain in rebellion is not something for which he must explain.
None of this is easy for us to fully comprehend or to accept. Set in our rebellion, without God taking the initiative, all would be lost. But when we insist that God must bend to our will, that our freedom to choose must be accepted by him despite his contrary view, well, then we are living outside the order which God has created. And in the end, he can – and will – do what he, in his wisdom, deems right.
Better for us to begin to see this clearly than to persist in the notion that we can imagine God out of existence. He may seem largely hidden to us, but he is there.
Recommended Resources Related to this Topic
Hell? The Truth about Eternity (MP3 Set), (DVD Set), and (Mp4 Download Set) by Dr. Frank Turek
Short Answers to Long Questions (DVD) and (mp4 Download) by Dr. Frank Turek
Was Jesus Intolerant? (DVD) and (Mp4 Download) by Dr. Frank Turek
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Al Serrato earned his law degree from the University of California at Berkeley in 1985. He began his career as an FBI special agent before becoming a prosecutor in California, where he worked for 33 years. An introduction to CS Lewis’ works sparked his interest in Apologetics, which he has pursued for the past three decades. He got his start writing Apologetics with J. Warner Wallace and Pleaseconvinceme.com.
5 AMAZING Archaeological Finds from the Old Testament | with Joel P. Kramer
PodcastWhat can recent archaeological discoveries tell us about the historicity of the Bible? The miraculous destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and the equally miraculous fall of Jericho seem far-fetched to modern-day skeptics and Bible critics. But is it reasonable to discount what’s written in the Bible when excavation findings have consistently corroborated events recorded in the Old Testament?
In this fascinating podcast episode, Frank invites best-selling author and archaeologist, Joel P. Kramer, to unpack some of the greatest archaeological evidence for the validity of both history and prophecy recorded in the Bible. On his popular YouTube channel, Expedition Bible, Joel documents many of the sites referenced in Scripture, giving viewers the opportunity to see the Bible come to life! Throughout their talk, Frank and Joel will cover topics like:
As you’ll hear during this episode, archaeology and the Bible work together like a jigsaw puzzle. As experts in the field continue to uncover ancient artifacts, the Bible gives context to many of those unique finds. To learn more about the exciting advances in biblical archaeology, be sure to check out Joel’s YouTube channel and purchase his best-selling book, ‘Where God Came Down.’
To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry.
You can also SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE.
Expedition Bible on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExpeditionBible
Joel’s book: https://a.co/d/77yRIyJ
The Mission and Vision of Core Apologetics | with Dr. Ben Shaw
PodcastHas the idea of biblical inerrancy gone out of style? In today’s modern church we’ve seen far too many professing Christians and even pastors struggle with biblical illiteracy, some choosing to abandon the biblical worldview altogether. As hostility towards the Christian faith continues to grow and commitment to the Gospel continues to decline, how can true followers of Christ equip themselves to learn, live out, and defend the truth of Christianity?
In this midweek podcast episode, Dan Hodges, Executive Director of CrossExamined, sits down with Dr. Ben Shaw, president of Core Apologetics, to talk about Ben’s faith journey and how his love for Jesus, evangelism, (and hockey of all things!) led him to a career and ministry in New Testament scholarship, working alongside the world-renowned resurrection scholar, Gary Habermas. What is the mission of Core Apologetics and how has Gary Habermas’ lifelong research impacted this much needed ministry? How do you live out a biblical worldview if you’re in a career like medicine or law enforcement? All this and more will be discussed in this special follow-up conversation with Dr. Ben Shaw!
To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry.
You can also SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE.
Pre-Order Volume 1 of Gary Habermas’ magnum opus: https://a.co/d/0sl9qhu
Core Apologetics: https://www.coreapologetics.com/
The Surprising Way Tinkerbell Shows the Flaw in the Transgender Identity Crisis
Culture CrossExamined, Legislating Morality, Culture & PoliticsI know what you might be thinking. “Tinkerbell, Melissa? Seriously?” But stay with me here. The pre-woke movie era had some good stuff in it that’s surprisingly relevant and counter-cultural by 2023 standards.
Tinkerbell (2008)
So first, here is a brief movie synopsis for those who may not have seen the movie: The first Tinkerbell movie was made in 2008. The story starts with Tinkerbell as a new fairy. She was a fairy who was born a certain way, as what’s called a tinker fairy, where she “tinkers” with things to build them. But she hates it. The main setting is in a magical place in Neverland called Pixie Hollow where there are other “talents” that other fairies have, such as water, animal, light, wind, or flower fairies. She struggles with who she is as a tinker fairy and who she wants to be, especially after finding out that tinker fairies don’t get to go to the Mainland for spring. She wants to be anything but a tinker fairy. She refused to accept the truth that this was actually who she was and instead stubbornly embraced her truth.
The entire movie is about her trying to be every other fairy type, anything other than who she was born to be. Her supportive friends knew she was a tinker and tried to tell her many times that this was who she was. Good for them. At the end of the movie, she finally accepts that she shouldn’t deny her true identity by trying to be something she’s not. She ends up happily embracing being a tinker fairy.
The Truth About Tinkerbell
I’m sure you already know what I’m getting at. The parallel to today’s identity crisis are clear, and quite the opposite message from this movie: you can’t change the truth to your truth.
Let me say this. First, I feel for those who struggle with their identity. There’s a deep and intense struggle to change who we are to be accepted by others or seen how we want to be seen. But there’s freedom in loving how God made you. And I mean how he actually made you. What I mean by that is some people might say, “But God made me with this identity! I didn’t choose to be a man in a woman’s body, or this race, or even this species!” I want to lovingly counter this idea with these questions:
If God has revealed Himself, He did so in the person of Jesus. I didn’t make this claim. Jesus did. If Jesus is who He says He is, then how would we find out information about Him? Here’s the answer: The Bible. People that walked and talked with Jesus and witnessed His life, resurrection, and miracles recorded them, then died horrendous deaths, never denying any of it was false. In other words, if Jesus is everything He says He is, I trust the Book that tells me who He is and what He taught, and what He commanded His disciples to do and teach.
Identity in Christ
And what He says about how you are made matters when it comes to this topic: you were born one way, but He says to be born another way. He says to be born again.
He wants you to find your identity in Him, not yourself. He wants you to love who He is and how He made you, not make a God in your own image that likes what you like and loves what you love. Jesus came for you too and says that He is the bread of life. What He’s saying is that this world will not satisfy, and looking within isn’t sustainable. He’s the standard for what’s good, true, and fulfilling.
A Lesson from American Idol
On a harder-to-accept level, people living “their truth” can sometimes look forced and awkward. Like someone trying to be something we all know they aren’t. It reminds me of one of those American Idol auditions where someone goes in thinking they’re a fantastic singer because everyone around them was telling them they were a great singer. But they open their mouth, and it’s total cringe. What’s stunning is their denying the fact that they are an objectively bad singer. Perhaps the people around them were afraid to tell the truth because the person was too sensitive or emotionally fragile to handle tough feedback. Everyone knew they weren’t a star. But everyone went along with it, perhaps out of fear. I see the same principle when it comes to today’s identity crisis.
Now isn’t it interesting, and rather ironic, that we live in a world that says self-love is the battle cry of the day but then the same instigators want you to deny everything about who you are for a fleeting feeling that changes? There’s wisdom in accepting yourself for who you are, not denying it to fill a void.
Recommended Resources Related to this Topic
Correct, Not Politically Correct: About Same-Sex Marriage and Transgenderism by Frank Turek (Book, MP4, PPT)
Hollywood Heroes: How Your Favorite Movies Reveal God by Frank Turek & Zach Turek (Book)
Another Gospel? by Alisa Childers (book)
Defending Absolutes in a Relativistic World (Mp3) by Frank Turek
Is Morality Absolute or Relative? (Mp3), (Mp4), and (DVD) by Frank Turek
Does Love and Tolerance Equal Affirmation? (DVD) (Mp4) by Dr. Frank Turek
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Melissa Dougherty is a Christian Apologist best known for her YouTube channel as an ex-new ager. She has two associate’s degrees, one in Early Childhood Multicultural Education, and the other in Liberal Arts. She also has a bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies at Southern Evangelical Seminary.
Are the New Testament Documents Historically Reliable? | with Dr. Ben Shaw
PodcastDo we have good enough reasons to believe that the New Testament documents are really telling the truth? One of the most effective ways to establish that Christianity is actually true is to demonstrate that Jesus rose from the dead. But do the Gospel accounts contain enough evidence to support a literal, historical, and miraculous first century resurrection?
During the recent Steadfast apologetics conference hosted by SES, Frank sat down with Dr. Ben Shaw of Liberty University, who is working alongside the great New Testament scholar, Dr. Gary Habermas, on four volumes of Gary’s magnum opus. Ben holds a PhD in Theology and Apologetics, serves as the president of the brand-new ministry Core Apologetics, and is also the author of the upcoming book entitled ‘Trustworthy: 13 Arguments for the Reliability of the New Testament’, which will be released in 2024. In this week’s podcast episode, Ben and Frank tackle questions like:
Early documents, eyewitnesses, and embarrassing testimonies are just a few pieces of evidence that show that the New Testament is a credible source for the historical Jesus. As you’ll hear in the show, mounting evidence for the resurrection continues to strengthen the claims of the risen Jesus, even causing non-Christians to acknowledge the evidence as valid. There’s no doubt you’ll be encouraged by what you learn in this discussion!
To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry.
You can also SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE.
Pre-Order Volume 1 of Gary Habermas’ magnum opus: https://a.co/d/0sl9qhu
Core Apologetics: https://www.coreapologetics.com/
What No One Ever Told You About “Gender Affirming Care” | with Dr. Jay Richards
PodcastWhat are the ins and outs of so-called “gender affirming care?” Although it’s a well-known FACT that it’s biologically impossible for anyone to change their sex, the process for sex trait modification (which can include hormonal drugs, experimental surgeries, and a long list of life-altering and even deadly complications), continues to be promoted by the left as a solution for gender dysphoria. What steps can Christians, conservatives, and concerned citizens take to stop the practice of mutilating perfectly healthy bodies (children included) from happening in our own communities?
In this special midweek podcast episode, Dr. Jay Richards from The Heritage Foundation returns to talk about the horrors of “gender transitioning” and the gains that have been made to end the practice on minors once and for all. What are the 4 steps of gender-affirming care (which should be more accurately labeled as ‘gender identity affirming treatment’) and who are some of the surprising allies that have joined Christians and conservatives in the fight against this dangerous social trend? Listen as Jay and Frank answer all these questions and more!
To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry.
You can also SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE.
Connect with Dr. Jay Richards
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrJayRichards
The Heritage Foundation: https://www.heritage.org/staff/jay-w-richards-phd
Where Rebellion Against God Leads
Theology and Christian ApologeticsImagine a time in the not-too-distant future. Trying to compensate for a declining population, scientists use advanced technology to build a “race” of robots, giving them not only human appearance and abilities, but also increasing amounts of AI. Things work smoothly in the short run, as the robots’ nearly limitless energy for work transforms Earth into a near paradise. But the programmers, seeking to give their creation a chance at true relationship with their human masters, give the robots freedom of will, grafting it on to their ability to think independently. Chaos soon ensues, as the robots rebel and rise up against the human population…
This is standard fare, of course, in science fiction circles. Shows like Battlestar Galactica explored the philosophical issues surrounding this scenario, and play out possible expected, and some unexpected, outcomes. Let’s do the same from a Christian standpoint.
How can a good God send anyone to hell?
A major stumbling block for non-Christians, and for many Christians as well, is the doctrine of Hell. How, they ask, can an “all-good” God consign his creation to a place of torment? Don’t we have a right to unending life, lived as we wish? Talking about rights like this flows readily from the American temperament. As beneficiaries of a system of ordered liberty, resorting to courts to settle our grievances, we seem to easily slip into thinking that man is autonomous, a force onto himself, with the unfettered right to advance his desire for control.
But though we resist thinking about this notion, we are in fact created beings. We did nothing to bring ourselves into existence and the basic equipment with which we experience the world was given to us at birth. However much we wish it were different, our aging bodies and tired souls remind us that that this good Earth is simply a waystation in a much longer journey. However much we assert our independence, exercise intelligence, and demand our “right” to do what we want, if we are honest with ourselves, we must realize that whatever brought us into existence may intend to reckon with us for what we have done while here. This creator may require an accounting.
Are we like robots, pots, and planes?
Most people who think through the implications of our contingent nature eventually realize that whatever did create us retains the right to do what he will with the fruit of his labor. After all, no one condemns the potter when he smashes the pot that does not meet his wishes, or the painter that slashes a painting if she so chooses. In the scenario depicted above, we realize that the programmers would be within their rights to “unplug” or otherwise disable their creation. Having made them, they retain the right to dispose of them, whether that be by putting them to forced labor or by dismantling them for parts. There is no moral outcry when, for example, the Air Force cannibalizes broken planes for parts that keep other planes flying.
But when we move to the arena of man and his Creator, our bias leads us to a totally different conclusion. But we are different, aren’t we? We think, and reason, and have free will that allows us to plan, to dream, to set goals. We form relationships that are meaningful to us. And most importantly, we feel. Pain is a constant threat and everyday companion. Does this not give us the right to do what we want? Especially if we mean well and don’t want to “hurt” anyone? To be “good,” God must simply get out of our way and let us … what, be God?
Actually, He doesn’t. Nothing changes in this analysis when the creatures under consideration are human beings. Having formed us from nothing, God can do what he wants with us. In fact, it appears that in the natural order of things, God has established rules that we violate at our peril, so that what he wants for us can be seen not only in his Revelation, but in the natural law. What changed is our perspective. Our bias in wanting our way is what leads us to cry foul when God’s created order bumps up against our plans and desires. As in the Garden of Eden, modern man insists not on serving God, but on replacing him… or displacing him, at the very least. Insistent on having our way, we see God as a nuisance, or worse yet, the enemy. We shake our fist at him, insisting that he move out of our way, and that he justify himself to us.
We’re supposed to relate to God on His terms
Unlike the robot analogy, God does not fear us or where our freedom may take us. We present no threat to him. But that does not mean that he must accept us into his fellowship, for to do so would be inconsistent with his holy nature. So, he reveals himself to us in a way which, though substantial, is not overwhelming. By adhering to that balance, he provides enough evidence of his reality without overcoming our freedom to choose to ignore him. Most importantly, he provides a way for us to reunite with him, but on his terms. That many people will use this freedom to remain in rebellion is not something for which he must explain.
None of this is easy for us to fully comprehend or to accept. Set in our rebellion, without God taking the initiative, all would be lost. But when we insist that God must bend to our will, that our freedom to choose must be accepted by him despite his contrary view, well, then we are living outside the order which God has created. And in the end, he can – and will – do what he, in his wisdom, deems right.
Better for us to begin to see this clearly than to persist in the notion that we can imagine God out of existence. He may seem largely hidden to us, but he is there.
Recommended Resources Related to this Topic
Hell? The Truth about Eternity (MP3 Set), (DVD Set), and (Mp4 Download Set) by Dr. Frank Turek
Short Answers to Long Questions (DVD) and (mp4 Download) by Dr. Frank Turek
Was Jesus Intolerant? (DVD) and (Mp4 Download) by Dr. Frank Turek
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Al Serrato earned his law degree from the University of California at Berkeley in 1985. He began his career as an FBI special agent before becoming a prosecutor in California, where he worked for 33 years. An introduction to CS Lewis’ works sparked his interest in Apologetics, which he has pursued for the past three decades. He got his start writing Apologetics with J. Warner Wallace and Pleaseconvinceme.com.
Where Did Gender Ideology Come From? | with Dr. Jay Richards
PodcastIs gender ideology (a form of cultural Marxism) actually about saving “trans” kids, or is there an underlying sinister motive behind it? Somehow this specific brand of critical theory has managed to make its way into public schools, pediatric medicine, and now the White House of all places! But is there anything that Christians, conservatives, and concerned citizens can do about it?
During this week’s podcast episode, Dr. Jay Richards, Senior Research Fellow and Director of the DeVos Center for Life, Religion, and Family at The Heritage Foundation, Senior Research Fellow at the Discovery Institute, and Executive Editor of The Stream, joins Frank at the recent SES Steadfast conference to discuss the history of gender ideology and how it’s contributing to the crippling of Western society as we know it. During this podcast episode, Jay and Frank will answer questions like:
Critical theories like gender ideology and CRT have proved time and time again to be cultural wrecking balls that reject reason. If non-Christians like Bill Maher, Dave Rubin, and Richard Dawkins are emboldened to speak out against this madness, what’s our excuse as Christians? This eye-opening podcast episode will expose the dire need for the Church to SPEAK UP and the inevitable consequences to follow if gender ideology ever takes over.
To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry.
You can also SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE.
Connect with Dr. Jay Richards
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrJayRichards
The Heritage Foundation: https://www.heritage.org/staff/jay-w-richards-phd
Hamas vs. Israel: It is NOT About Land
PodcastWas Hamas most recent barbaric treatment of the Israelis just the result of an age-old land dispute? That’s exactly what radical leftist groups like Black Lives Matter want you to believe, but they couldn’t be more wrong! What if this horrific massacre against innocent civilians by Hamas is giving us a glimpse into the true heart of Islam and the overall worldview of the Middle East?
In this midweek podcast episode, Frank confronts many of the myths being spread about the Israeli/Palestinian war(s) with a little help from Ben Shapiro’s most recent responses on YouTube. If the war isn’t actually about a land grab, then what’s REALLY behind such relentless Muslim aggression towards the people of Israel? Frank will address this issue and also touch on questions like:
The Jews love life, while Hamas boasts in their love for death. Many of us don’t want to believe that people are so barbaric that they will brutally murder babies in their cribs and torture defenseless civilians. We don’t want to believe that this isn’t just a land squabble. As you’ll find out in this podcast episode, this so-called land squabble and “fight for freedom” is nothing more than a form of propaganda being used to incite worldwide antisemitism. As the details continue to unfold, remember to pray for peace in Israel and for the salvation of everyone, including those who want to see Israel’s demise.
To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry.
You can also SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE.
Resources mentioned during the episode:
Ben Shapiro’s video: https://bit.ly/46SWkGd
Palestinian Authority article: https://palwatch.org/page/34650
The Danger of Promising Universal Salvation
4. Is the NT True?, Theology and Christian ApologeticsIf you’re going to contend that universalism is true, i.e., the belief that everyone will eventually end up in heaven, then you best beware of the consequences of doing so.
Evacuating a Dying Planet
To illustrate. Imagine you live on a planet called Elpis (in Greek this means “hope” or “expectation”). You have been tasked with evacuating your entire civilization to another planet because of a life-threatening emergency. Due to an increasing level of CO2 in the atmosphere, ELPIS has limited time before there’s not enough oxygen to sustain life. So, you are developing a plan to transfer your fellow residents, via spaceships, to a safer environment. You’ve chosen a planet called Earth as your destination and have already been in touch with the humans there. The earthlings are happy to accommodate the immigrants from Elpis.
The people of Earth, like the residents of Elpis, cannot exist without air. And experts on both planets have stressed to you that, in transit from Elpis to Earth, there is no air in outer space. So, you have naturally acquired a large supply of pressurized air tanks for use in the passage to Earth. Your preparations seem to be proceeding smoothly, and you think you’re just about able to breathe a sigh of relief.
The “Myth” of Airlessness
But then a new emergency arises. Just days before your planetwide launch to remove your fellow citizens from Elpis, a new book comes out entitled Relax, There’s Room to Breathe: Deconstructing the Myth of an Airless Outer Space. The book skyrockets to the top of the planet’s bestsellers lists. By the thousands, Elpis residents toss away their air tanks as they prepare to leave for their new environment.
Lives are on the line. The deception is costly. You must respond. What will you do?
Would it not be unthinkable to say nothing?
Awake yet?
Let’s wake up from our dream. This is not Elpis. This is worse. We face a life-threatening situation. We’re not running out of oxygen on Earth. In fact, the crisis is even more serious. Today we’ve got people inside and outside the church ready to hold out an offer of universal salvation. Not only are the consequences of doing so catastrophic, but there’s not a scintilla of biblical evidence to back this claim up. Any attempts to do so is to reject the broader overall context of Scripture. When it comes to heaven, everyone will not end up there and neither are there many pathways leading to its destination. No, the way is narrow. We need air to breath there. And Jesus is the Air we must all inhale to arrive in heaven someday. To promise any other way, besides the Jesus way is to hold out false hope. In the end, Jesus is our only Elpis.
Recommended Resources Related to this Topic
Counter Culture Christian: Is the Bible True? by Frank Turek (Mp3), (Mp4), and (DVD)
Hell? The Truth about Eternity (MP3 Set), (DVD Set), and (Mp4 Download Set) by Dr. Frank Turek
Short Answers to Long Questions (DVD) and (mp4 Download) by Dr. Frank Turek
Was Jesus Intolerant? (DVD) and (Mp4 Download) by Dr. Frank Turek
Can All Religions Be True? mp3 by Frank Turek
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Bobby serves as lead pastor of Image Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is well known for his YouTube ministry called, One Minute Apologist, which now goes by the name Christianity Still Makes Sense. He also serves as the Co-Host of Pastors’ Perspective, a nationally syndicated call-in radio show on KWVE in Southern California. Bobby earned his Master of Theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary, his Doctor of Ministry in Apologetics from Southern Evangelical Seminary, and his Ph.D. in Philosophy of Religion from the University of Birmingham (England) where he was supervised under David Cheetham and Yujin Nagasawa. Bobby’s also written several books including: The Fifth Gospel, Doubting Toward Faith, Does God Exist, and Fifty-One other Questions About God and the Bible and the forthcoming Christianity Still Makes Sense to be published by Tyndale in April 2024. He’s married to his lovely wife Heather and together they have two grown kids: Haley and Dawson.
Hamas vs. The Canaanites: Same Kind of Evil? | with Dr. Paul Copan
PodcastHow can you negotiate with people who are intent on your destruction and are even willing to commit demonic acts to do so? The world watched in horror as the terrorist organization, Hamas, carried out the brutal attacks against innocent and defenseless Israeli citizens this past weekend, mercilessly slaughtering entire families, raping women, and dismembering young infants and children. Can these heinous crimes that we’ve witnessed offer any insight as to why God ordered the “utter destruction” of the enemies of Old Testament Israel?
In light of the recent terror attacks in Israel, Dr. Paul Copan sits down with Frank to reflect on this centuries old conflict and how it relates to some of the events that took place in the Old Testament. Paul will also talk more about his latest book, ‘Is God a Vindictive Bully: Reconciling Portrayals of God in the Old and New Testaments,’ which was written to help Christians better understand the biblical and historical backdrop of the hostility between Israel and the surrounding nations. During the episode, Paul and Frank answer questions like:
In the words of New Testament scholar, N.T. Wright, “If God is not wrathful, then He is not loving.” As Christians, we should pray for the peace and safety of Israel, pray for the innocent civilians caught in the middle of the war(s), and pray for the salvation of those involved in these attacks. But if God is truly as loving and as just as the Bible describes Him, can He allow such wickedness and evil to go unpunished for those who don’t repent? Absolutely not!
To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry.
You can also SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE.
Dr. Paul Copan’s website: http://www.paulcopan.com/
Dr. Paul Copan’s books: https://amzn.to/3RRjXe0