Tag Archive for: apologetics

How to Culture-Proof the Next Generation | with Dr. Jeff Myers

This generation of young adults is totally committed to the idea that they are their own authority. Is there a way to help them understand the biblical worldview and also prepare them to defend it against other counterfeit worldviews?

In this midweek podcast episode, Frank interviews his friend and current president of Summit Ministries, Dr. Jeff Myers, to discuss this unique organization that has been active for more than 60 years! Summit Ministries focuses on helping teens and young adults to see the world through a biblical lens, regardless of where they are on their faith journey.

Frank and Jeff also give practical tips to parents and youth leaders on how to engage this next generation in tough discussions about sexual issues and guide them in their search for objective truth without pushing them away. As you listen, you’ll find out why Summit Ministries has been so successful at giving its participants an unshakeable faith that lasts well into their adult years!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Summit Ministries: https://www.summit.org/

The Dr. Jeff Show: https://bit.ly/3OVhn56

 

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Why is God’s Word so Hard to Understand?

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The following question comes from one our Crossexamined Community members.

“Why did God allow the Bible to be written in a way that gives Christians an opportunity to misunderstand it?”

This question intrigues me because it’s a universal problem. Everyone who’s ever tried to dig into the Bible has found it difficult sometimes to understand what God is saying. And some passages are so difficult that theologians across Church history can’t agree on what they mean.

Of course we could all benefit from learning how to interpret the Bible correctly. Sometimes we struggle over a passage and it would be easy to understand if we just knew a few basic principles for interpretation. But even if you had the best education and years of practice, there are still some passages that will baffle you. No amount of schooling will be enough. God’s word can still be difficult.

Moreover, this interpretive problem points to a theological problem. If God’s word is so easy to misinterpret and so hard to understand, then what does that say about God? Is God just playing games with us? Is this some big game of “keep-away” and He’s eluding us, refusing to let us understand what He’s saying? That sounds like a capricious, mischievous God. Not a good look.

1. Much of the Bible is Easy to Understand

First, we should note that a lot of the Bible is straightforward, fairly easy to understand, and there’s no real challenge in figuring out how to rightly apply it. That’s important to remember, so we have a sense of balance between the easy and hard parts of the Bible. Jesus was able to translate the Gospel message so that an uneducated foreign woman – the woman at the well – was able to understand exactly what He meant (John 4). God can, and does, communicate in ways that anyone, with ears to hear, can understand Him.

But one chapter earlier, Jesus was confusing the well-educated Pharisee, Nicodemus (John 3). Pharisees were some of the most educated and biblically literate scholars in their day. To this day, we don’t know if Nicodemus ever grasped what Jesus meant by “born again.” Sometimes, God communicates in ways that challenge and confound the most educated among us. Other times, God speaks clearly, His words cutting like a knife so that everyone understands what He’s saying.

2. Sometimes We’re the Problem

We also should admit that often the problem isn’t in the Bible. A passage can be straightforward and easy-to-understand. But if we don’t like what God is saying to us, we might play dumb, thinking we aren’t responsible to follow directions that we don’t understand. But playing dumb is a dangerous game. If you keep acting dumb, eventually you won’t be acting. I call this phenomenon: “sin-stupid.” When people suppress God’s truth long enough, their conscience is seared (1 Timothy 4:2), their hearts become hard (Romans 2:5), their spiritual discernment gets dull, till they can’t understand things that used to be obvious. Repeated unrepentant sin makes people stupid over time.

Or perhaps we aren’t rebelling against God or suppressing His word. We might just be a little lazy or distracted, and we aren’t paying close attention to see what God is saying to us. If God’s word were on billboard, we at least need to stop speeding, stop multitasking, and slow down enough to read what He’s telling us. God’s word might be easy enough to understand, but if we’re just sprinting past, paying little attention, then we’re liable to misinterpret Him. That’s not God’s fault. That’s ours   .

3. God Has Other Purposes Besides Clarity

At the heart of this question is the assumption that God wants to be understood. And, yes, God relates with mankind in ways that invite us to know Him more, understanding who He is, how He works, and what He wants. But we cannot assume that God’s only purpose in communication is clarity.

Sometimes God speaks in riddles, or indirectly, or in downright incomprehensible ways. If God was aiming primarily at being clear, then He’s failed. But we have no good reason to think that clarity is God’s only aim here. Indeed, we have reason to believe He’s trying to be murky and confusing to some people.

4. God is Sorting Out the Followers from the Fans

Jesus famously explained his use of parables saying they were not just to clarify kingdom principles among believers but also to confound non-believers (Matt 13:10-17).

“The disciples came to him and asked, ‘Why do you speak to the people in parables?’

He replied, ‘Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’” (Matthew 13:10-13; NIV)

Scripture has some passages for easy-reading and some for difficult-reading. And this is an intentional sifting method to bless those believers who have “ears to hear” without rewarding non-believers with kingdom insights that aren’t fit for them.

5. God is Beautiful, Not Basic

Another reason for these difficult passages is that God isn’t a “bread-and-water” God. He’s not basic. He could have made a world without tastes, and colors, and smells, and experiences. But He included all that stuff because He’s an artist, an aesthete. Likewise, God’s word isn’t reducible simply to information, any more than food is reducible entirely to fuel. It’s designed for an aesthetic interaction. It’s a beauty to be enjoyed. It’s an encounter to be experienced. Just as food is more than calories, so God’s word is more than information. It has flavor, and texture, and ambience so that there’s more to imbibe than just raw information. If Scripture were just about information transfer, then we could hurry through it. Get the info and go. But Scripture is to be experienced, and that means ruminating on it sometimes. Let the flavors simmer a bit.

6. God Promotes Wisdom

Sometimes the difficulty we face in God’s word is a matter of wisdom. By that I mean, there’s supposed to be a wrestling match with the language and ideas in Scripture, a struggle to pry wisdom from those obtuse words. The struggle is part of the path to wisdom. Without the struggle people might gain some head-knowledge, but they’re liable to miss the deeper application of wisdom. Plus, as Jesus explained, not everyone will understand the hard language sometimes. So, the challenging parts of the Bible can be a filtering mechanism that way, separating the wise and foolish, the teachable from the unteachable.

7. God Promotes Personal Growth

Besides wisdom, and aesthetics, there’s also personal growth to be found as we struggle through God’s word. If everything was laid out for us easy-peasy, then we might never face the kind of resistance-training needed to get strong. Then we’d never grow strong enough to live out the tasks God has for us.

In sum, there is more to God’s purposes than just being clearly understood. Sometimes God speaks in ways that keep his Kingdom truths out-of-reach, out of the “wrong hands” so to speak. For disciples, the difficult passages in Scripture slow us down so we can relish experiencing God’s word, chewing and savoring what He’s saying. The same passages can also lend a sense of mystery, so that in searching for the answers we can find wisdom along the way. And they can present obstacles for us to press into, and struggle over it. There we can gain strength and grow through the experience.

Yes, we can still learn what God has said through Scripture. But beyond mere head knowledge, God imparts character, wisdom, and beauty through His written word. Thanks for the great question Crossexamined Community!


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Recommended resources related to the topic:

Counter Culture Christian: Is the Bible True? by Frank Turek (Mp3), (Mp4), and (DVD)
The New Testament: Too Embarrassing to Be False by Frank Turek (DVD, Mp3, and Mp4)
Why We Know the New Testament Writers Told the Truth by Frank Turek (DVD, Mp3 and Mp4)
Oh, Why Didn’t I Say That? Is the Bible Historically Reliable? by Dr. Frank Turek DVD, Mp4, Mp3 Download.
How to Interpret Your Bible by Dr. Frank Turek DVD Complete Series, INSTRUCTOR Study Guide, and STUDENT Study Guide
How Philosophy Can Help Your Theology by Richard Howe (MP3 Set), (mp4 Download Set), and (DVD Set)

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John is a licensed minister with earned degrees from Charleston Southern (BA), Southern Evangelical Seminary (MDiv), and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (ThM, PhD). His doctorate is in philosophy of religion, minoring in ethics. As a new edition to Crossexamined in 2023, John brings a wealth of experience to the team including debating atheists, preaching the Gospel, teaching apologetics in schools and churches, publishing books and articles, and creating websites. John is also a teaching fellow with Equal Rights Institute and president of Pella Pro-Life in his hometown of Pella, Iowa. There he resides with his lovely and brilliant wife Hillary Ferrer, founder of Mama Bear Apologetics. Together they specialize in cultural apologetics with an emphasis on family-based apologetic training.

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Are Miracles Impossible Because They Violate Natural Laws?

Are miracles possible? Many academics have ruled miracles out completely, claiming that miracles are a violation of the laws of nature. But is that conclusion reasonable?

In this week’s podcast episode, Frank provides reasonable arguments to defend the possibility of miracles. There is a popular philosophical assumption among scholars such as Bart Ehrman and David Hume that supernatural intervention is impossible, leading many to only believe in material causes. As Frank reflects on philosophical ideas and specific examples in history and science, you’ll see why miracles are not only possible, but at least likely to have occurred at various points in history. You’ll hear Frank answer questions like:

  • How often do miracles occur in the Bible?
  • Are miracles a violation of natural laws?
  • What is the purpose of miracles in the Bible?
  • What two things must be established in order to prove Christianity is true?
  • What is the greatest miracle in the Bible?

To reject the possibility of miracles or the existence of God, you must concede that humans are nothing more than molecular machines or moist robots. Are you open to allowing a divine foot in the door?

To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into great discussions with like-minded Christians while providing financial support for our ministry.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Bart Ehrman & Justin Bass – Did Jesus of Nazareth rise from the dead? https://bit.ly/43FK4aA

 

 

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What Does It REALLY Mean to Love Your Neighbor? Plus Q&A

How can you witness to someone who is apathetic about Christianity? Those who are apathetic to Christianity often have an “I don’t know, and I don’t care” attitude. What’s the best approach to engage in conversation with them without being a nuisance?

In this post-Memorial Day midweek podcast episode, Frank interacts with questions from listeners regarding the best Bible translation, gender dysphoria, and witnessing to those who are hostile or uninterested in God.  He also touches on the topic of when war is necessary in order to restore peace and prevent evil people from overrunning the innocent, and how it relates to the famous command that Jesus gave us, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into great discussions with like-minded Christians while providing financial support for our ministry.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

Christian Ethics by Dr. Norman Geisler: https://a.co/d/1N9yuZM

 

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Making Sense of God: An Invitation to the Skeptical (ENCORE) | with Tim Keller

How can you help secular people make sense of God? Cultural, emotional, and volitional obstacles often stand in the way of belief for skeptics, even when they are presented with reasonable arguments. How can we address those obstacles to move the skeptic towards faith in Christ?

In this special edition ENCORE podcast episode, Frank interviews world renowned pastor and best-selling author, Dr. Timothy Keller, who recently passed away from pancreatic cancer. Recorded back in 2016, Dr. Keller discusses his book ‘Making Sense of God: An Invitation to the Skeptical’, which includes essential truths that are still relevant for both Christians and skeptics today. This is not your typical apologetics book, because it does more than provide factual evidence for the truth of Christianity. It aims to awaken the sense of transcendence that most of us have latent in our intuitions and desires—meaning, satisfaction, freedom, hope, justice (or a moral compass), and an identity grounded in something stable, something eternal.

While we mourn the passing of Dr. Keller, we are truly grateful for the legacy he leaves behind. His contributions to the Church at large and Christian apologetics remain relevant and are sure to have a lasting impact on future generations.

Memoriam for Tim Keller: https://bit.ly/3MXMlrS

Buy Tim’s book: https://a.co/d/c7JrbG1

Sermons by Tim Keller: https://bit.ly/3IJojP0

 

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10+ Questions to Ask Your Woke Boss

What happens when your job asks you to do something that conflicts with your religious beliefs? Do you just give in because it’s easier than rocking the boat? The same people who say they are fighting for justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) often punish or intimidate those who commit the thought crime of disagreeing with transgender ideology (or homosexual behavior) even though these beliefs have NOTHING to do with workplace productivity. And really, why are we even talking about sex at work in the first place?!

In this midweek episode, Frank shares what happened when he got fired from his corporate job and gives viewers advice on how they can respectfully engage with a supervisor who is challenging them, including an extensive list of clarifying questions you can present when you are asked to do something that violates your conscience as a Christian.

Questions such as:

  • I noticed that our company values tolerance as I do, but what does the company mean by tolerance?
  • Are all employees required to have the same political, religious, or moral beliefs to work here?
  • Does the company think it’s right to force employees to violate their conscience?

If you’re tired of having to hide your conservative or religious beliefs at work as if you live in a totalitarian state rather than America, then this is the episode for you!

To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while providing financial support for our ministry.

Resources mentioned during the episode:

Sex at Work?: https://bit.ly/3Olx4SP

Alliance Defending Freedom: https://adflegal.org/

Correct, Not Politically Correct (Expanded Third Edition): https://amzn.to/457PyMP

 

 

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The 5 Flaws of Transgender Ideology

How much truth can you tolerate? That may sound like a strange question, but people often have the tendency to suppress the truth when it doesn’t align with our own personal desires. Why? Because as Paul said in Romans Chapter 1, we want to go our own way!

In this week’s podcast, Frank illustrates exactly what this looks like by reflecting on a past exchange he had with a biology student who passionately defended transgenderism during a recent college event but never responded to any of his arguments when he patiently answered her questions. You’ll also learn the 5 MAJOR flaws of transgender ideology, all of which are more heavily detailed in the newly expanded third edition of Frank’s book, ‘Correct, Not Politically Correct: About Same-Sex Marriage and Transgenderism’, which is now available for purchase!

Frank also addresses questions like:

  • What are some thought provoking questions to ask those who defend transgenderism?
  • What is the best way to respond to loved ones who say they’re trans or support the movement?
  • What’s more important than winning an argument?
  • Has gender reassignment surgery proven itself to be a cure for gender dysphoria?
  • How has gender reassignment surgery affected the people who have had the procedure?

By the end of the episode, you’ll see that while supporters of this movement seem determined to reject the truth, the consequences of denying reality affect all of us!

To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while providing financial support for our ministry.

Resources mentioned during the episode:

Correct, Not Politically Correct (Expanded Third Edition): https://amzn.to/457PyMP

Biologist Confronts Frank on Gender Theory (video): https://youtu.be/cRPjY-YyHSE

Sex Change Regret: https://sexchangeregret.com/

 

 

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Is Telling the Truth Transphobic? + Q&A

You want controversy? We’ve got it! In this midweek podcast episode, Phoenix Hayes joins Frank to discuss the expanded third edition of his book, ‘Correct, Not Politically Correct: About Same-Sex Marriage and Transgenderism’. The transgender movement has seemingly swept the Western world by storm, and the ripple effect has resulted in the ostracizing of conservative values, the crippling of women’s sports, and the mutilation of young children!

Gender reassignment surgery and hormone replacement therapy has been marketed as the solution to those who believe they suffer from gender dysphoria (previously called gender identity disorder), but the data shows the exact opposite! Frank and Phoenix expose many of the shocking and horrific consequences of “transitioning”, show how same-sex marriage and transgenderism are ultimately harmful to our society, and answer some tough questions from our listeners!

Including:

  • Why has the Church been so silent on this issue?
  • Why is transgenderism more common today in girls vs. boys?
  • Should Christians use preferred pronouns?
  • Should certain books be banned in schools?
  • What is the definition of “tolerance” and how should the Church respond?
  • What’s next for the transgender movement and what can we do about it?

To participate in private Q&A sessions with Frank, Phoenix, and other members of the CE team on a variety of cultural issues, 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.

Correct, Not Politically Correct (Expanded Third Edition): https://bit.ly/3o0mTIP

 

 

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Where is the Real Mount Sinai? (The Journey Continues) | with Tim Mahoney

More than a dozen sites have been proposed for the true location of Mount Sinai. But does any one of them show more promise than the others? That’s exactly what award-winning investigative filmmaker Timothy Mahoney has been researching for over 20 years!

This week, Frank catches up with Tim to discuss his exciting new film release, ‘Patterns of Evidence: Journey to Mount Sinai: Part 2′ where Tim continues his investigation of the six most popular locations proposed for Mount Sinai in an effort to pinpoint the mountain’s true location.

Debuting in theaters on Monday (5/15) and Wednesday (5/17), Part 2 of the film brings even more jaw dropping evidence to the surface, pointing to what Tim believes to be a more accurate placement of this well-known mountain. The film will also explore new discoveries, never before seen by most audiences, including a massive split rock and a mysterious graveyard the size of 12-13 football fields! And just like in Part 1, viewers will have the opportunity to complete their own scorecard using the evidence provided in the second installment so you can determine for yourself which location makes the most sense!

To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST along with an exclusive interview with Tim about his experience as an investigative filmmaker, join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while providing financial support for our ministry.

Tim’s website: https://patternsofevidence.com/

Movie + ticket information: https://bit.ly/3LZi9uH

Download scorecard: https://bit.ly/3g9yeSz

 

 

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How to Stand for Christ in a Collapsing Culture | with Dr. Erwin Lutzer

There comes a time when truth must be spoken, and a line must be drawn in the sand. But what happens when speaking the truth costs you your livelihood or your job?

In this midweek podcast episode, Dr. Erwin Lutzer returns to the program to give listeners advice on how Christians can navigate life in a collapsing culture, focusing specifically on the issue of Christian persecution. You may be surprised to learn that there are practical steps you can take if your religious freedoms are taken away by the same people who say they are fighting for tolerance, diversity, and inclusion.

Listeners will be encouraged to view persecution in the same way as the early Church, as a means to make Christ known. If and when persecution comes, we can rejoice in knowing that there will be a reward at the end of it. It is our responsibility as Christians to fight evil and leave the results to God, no longer choosing to remain silent!

To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while providing financial support for our ministry.

Alliance Defending Freedom: https://adflegal.org/

 

 

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