Tag Archive for: Frank Turek

Nihilism and Mass Shootings

Dr. Stephen C. Meyer of the Discovery Institute joins Frank to discuss the worldview contributing to the increase in shootings over the last couple of decades. What is nihilism? What do these incidents tell us about the spiritual and moral condition of our nation? All people, from atheist to Christian, are rightfully horrified by these events, but not all worldviews can account for objective evil. Why not? Where do we go from here? If God is the answer, why does He allow these terrible tragedies to occur in the first place?

Our friend Dr. Michael Brown provides a history of school shootings in America since 1999 here: When It Comes to School Shootings, America Really Has a Deeply Tragic Problem – The Stream

If you would like to submit a question to be answered on the show, please email your question to Hello@Crossexamined.org.

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The Top 20 Discoveries About Jesus Outside the Bible

What do we know about Jesus and the story of Jesus from outside the Bible? Much more than you might think! Archaeologist Dr. Titus Kennedy joins Frank to reveal the Top 20 discoveries about Jesus from outside the Bible.

Here they are:

  1. The place and nature of his birth.
  2. The murderous nature of Herod.
  3. The synagogue where Jesus taught in his adopted hometown—Capernaum.
  4. Peter’s house in Capernaum.
  5. The pool of Bethesda.
  6. The pool of Siloam.
  7. The nature of the town of Bethany where Jesus raised Lazarus—Leper colony, “the place of Lazarus”, tomb that matches John 11:38.
  8. The temple place of the trumpeting.
  9. The Caiaphas ossuary (also the Miriam Ossuary—granddaughter of Caiaphus)
  10. The James ossuary.
  11. The gates of Hell.
  12. The miracles of Jesus—he’s admitted as a miracle worker even by non-Christian sources.
  13. The fearful nature of Pilate—Why was Pilate afraid of upsetting the Jews? Archaeological evidence of Pilate includes coins, a ring, an inscription, and ancient writers).
  14. The nature and place of burial and resurrection: Tomb of the Shroud (nature of the burial), Church of the Holy Sepulcher, place of the burial and resurrection
  15. Nazareth inscription.
  16. Crucifixion—archaeology, writings (Acts of Pilate).
  17. Christ the magician cup.
  18. The murderous nature of Herod Agrippa I.
  19. The early spread of Christianity and the belief in the Resurrection.
  20. The graffiti found in Rome.

Due to time constraints, we only were able to discuss the first 15 of these. But Frank and Titus kept recording! To see the remaining five, join our new CrossExamined Community which is a private online forum where believers can interact with us and one another without the fear of being canceled. After the program will be posted there.

To learn much more, get Dr. Kennedy’s excellent new book, Excavating the Evidence for Jesus: The Archaeology and History of Christ and the Gospels.

If you would like to submit a question to be answered on the show, please email your question to Hello@Crossexamined.org.

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When Hollywood gets God and virtue right

When Hollywood gets God and virtue right

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By Frank Turek

Imagine if there were a fun way to raise your kid’s interest in God while imparting some of the most important virtues every Christian parent wants their children to learn. There is. You can use an unlikely source that will help you get your point across without you sounding all “preachy.”

Pollster George Barna found that young people get their theology more from movies than the pulpit.  So why not use the power of Hollywood to give them good theology where you can? Stories inspire and instruct more vividly than commands, which is one reason why Jesus not only gave commands but also told stories.

Yes, I know. Unlike Jesus, Hollywood’s stories often glorify much that is immoral. But Hollywood’s most successful movies often tell inspiring stories of sacrifice that borrow from the greatest story ever told. These movies also provide biblical life lessons, even movies not made by believers.

Here are a few kid-friendly examples.

If you want your kids to have the courage to stand for the truth even when the world is against them, watch any movie with Captain America. Steve Rogers (a.ka. Captain America) is the poster child for what we look for in a hero. He’s the leader of the Avengers despite clearly being outclassed in power by most of the other heroes on the team. His most important trait is that he is morally incorruptible — a trait he had even when he was just a scrawny kid who was too small to enlist in the Army in World War II.  Once his mind is made up about what the right thing to do is, nothing will stop him. The guy is even willing to fight the evil supervillain Thanos and his entire army in Avengers: Endgame BY HIMSELF.

If you have kids who tend to impulsively follow their hearts, look at the moral progression of Iron Man. He starts off as a selfish playboy but is transformed into a hero who eventually sacrifices himself to save the world. Tony’s transformation requires him to stop impulsively following his heart, as the culture promotes, and to start guarding his heart as the Bible commands (Pr. 4:23). This is beautifully illustrated by the device implanted in Tony’s chest that is literally guarding his heart from encroaching shrapnel. When Tony guards his heart from distractions and his own selfish desires, he can focus on what’s really important — the responsibilities he has to others.

If your child isn’t the most popular or strongest kid in school, watch The Lord of the Rings. The heroes of Tolkien’s Fantasy Masterpiece are those who are weakest physically but the strongest morally. Sam and Frodo are three-foot hobbits who are dwarfed by everyone else. But weakness turns out to be a strength for them because it gives them the humility to ask for help. Tolkien is highlighting the biblical truth that when you are weak you are strong because when you are weak you rely on God for help (2 Cor. 12:10). Of course, Tolkien intended for The Lord of the Rings series to present a Christian worldview  — including the fact that there is a God who often works behind the scenes — so watching the series will be rich theologically and morally in many other ways as well.

If you want your kids to see the beauty of grace, watch Wonder Woman. In her first feature-length movie, Wonder Woman spares an evil war criminal who is kneeling in repentance even though she is being egged on to kill this war criminal by her opponent Ares who wants to kill everyone because he thinks human beings do too much evil. Ares screams at Wonder Woman that people “don’t deserve your protection!”

But Wonder Woman responds, “It’s not about deserve; it’s about what you believe. And I believe in love.”

That reflects what God believes and did for us. God loves so much that He sent His only son to take our punishment so when we believe in Jesus we will not get what we deserve — we will not get paid back for the evil we’ve done — we will get grace, love, and eternal life.

It’s not just the movie franchises of Captain America, Iron Man, The Lord of the Rings, and Wonder Womanthat can help parents reinforce Christian truths and virtues. So do other franchises such as Star Wars, Superman,Batman,andothersas we show in our new book Hollywood Heroes: How Your Favorite Movies Reveal God.

Your kids are probably watching those movies anyway (if not, they are hearing about them from their friends or online). So why not use the aspects of these films that convey truth and virtue to reinforce those things in your kids?  Knowing these movies will also give them launch points to direct their friends toward Christ. Knowing them can help you do the same with your friends. And the best thing about all of this is that having movie night is often a lot more fun and effective than getting all “preachy.”

Recommended resources related to the topic:

Forensic Faith for Kids by J. Warner Wallace and Susie Wallace (Book)

So the Next Generation will Know by J. Warner Wallace (Book and Participant’s Guide)

In a world obsessed with superhero movies, is there anything we can learn about God from watching the big screen? Stay tuned for the Hollywood Heroes book trailer–the latest by Dr. Frank Turek and his son Zach–COMING SOON!👉📱https://bit.ly/3LqDsn9

 

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Dr. Frank Turek (D.Min.) is an award-winning author and frequent college speaker who hosts a weekly TV show on DirectTV and a radio program that airs on 186 stations around the nation.  His books include I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist, Stealing from God:  Why atheists need God to make their case, and is co-author of the new book Hollywood Heroes: How Your Favorite Movies Reveal God. 

Original blog: https://bit.ly/3a68xiI 

 

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Does Political Power Contradict the Cross? Plus Q&A

Some Christians are saying that since Christ saved the world through weakness by agreeing to go on the cross, Christians should not use power in politics or culture wars. Christianity Today leader Russell Moore recently wrote a column titled, “THE CROSS CONTRADICTS OUR CULTURE WARS: The victory of Christ was won by crucifixion, not societal conquest.” Is Moore correct? Is it unchristian to seek political power to right wrongs in society through law?

Frank points out several problems with Moore’s position, which is becoming more popular among Christian intellectuals (to the delight of secularists and Leftists everywhere). He also answers listener questions including those on how to answer scoffers and how to honor parents who are not Christians.

Links mentioned in the show:

If you would like to submit a question to be answered on the show, please email your question to Hello@Crossexamined.org.

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Why Has the World Gone Mad? C.S. Lewis & Paul Tell Us

What explains the super extreme—even mad—positions we’ve seen people take publicly in recent years? For example, how did we go from abortion being “safe, legal, and rare” to “shout your abortion” and laws even allowing the murder of babies 28 days AFTER they are born? How did we go from “believe every woman” to “what’s a woman?” in just four years? How did we go from considering gender dysphoria a mental condition to affirming 3-5 year-olds in it and shouting down anyone who makes common-sense distinctions about gender?

The answer has to do with the revenge of our own consciences. Drawing on C.S. Lewis, Dr. J. Budziszewski, and the Apostle Paul, Frank reveals that the madness we see is rooted in our rebellion to our own consciences, and how our own psychology amps up our response to promote extreme positions. Lewis, Budziszewski, and, of course, Paul, have very profound insights into this. In the end, the only lasting solution to rebellion is repentance. Don’t miss this one.

And pick up a copy of Frank’s new book out this week, written with his son Zach, called Hollywood Heroes: How Your Favorite Movies Reveal God.

If you would like to submit a question to be answered on the show, please email your question to Hello@Crossexamined.org.

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Hollywood Heroes That Reveal God: Iron Man, Harry Potter, Batman, and the Lord of the Rings (Part 1)

Imagine:

  • if there were a FUN way to get your kids more interested in God and Christianity.
  • if you could relate the Gospel to people by citing stories THEY enjoy.
  • if you could reveal biblical life lessons to people of all ages without getting preachy.

You can!

Frank’s son Zach Turek joins the podcast to show how you can do all this by watching your favorite movies! They do this by drawing on their brand new book, Hollywood Heroes: How your Favorite Movies Reveal God.

It’s amazing how many filmmakers include central elements of the Christian story in their movies (often unknowingly), and how the heroes create a point to the ultimate hero—Jesus of Nazareth. In this episode, Frank and Zach show how Iron Man, Harry Potter, Batman, and the Lord of the Rings do this. In next week’s show, they’ll cover Star Wars, Wonder Woman, and Captain America and reveal the characteristics that make Jesus the ultimate hero.

This book is great for anyone who likes movies and is especially helpful to parents and youth leaders. Also, remember! If you pre-order your copy BEFORE May 3, you’ll get the audiobook for free too! Go here and follow the cues.

If you would like to submit a question to be answered on the show, please email your question to Hello@Crossexamined.org.

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Infantile Rage vs. Human Nature | with Dr. David Berlinski

Dr. David Berlinski has never met a controversy he didn’t want to engage with. In this bonus episode, the provocative Senior Fellow at the Discovery Institute and self-described secular Jew, joins Frank to discuss how human nature intersects with gender issues, truth, and evolution. You’ll enjoy Dr. Berlinski’s eloquence and insights as he addresses the most controversial issues of the day.

If you would like to submit a question to be answered on the show, please email your question to Hello@Crossexamined.org.

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Jack Hibbs vs. Infanticide

Can you believe that California is about to pass a law that would allow people to literally murder their children up to 28 days AFTER birth? We are not making this up! See AB 2223.

Pastor Jack Hibbs, of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, joins Frank to reveal this unbelievably evil bill and to let us know what we can do about it. He also reveals why he takes such a public stand on these issues that have become political, and who resists him the most when he does (you might be surprised just who that is). Frank and Jack also talk about how you can get informed to fight back.

By the way, if you don’t live in California, you should still be concerned and take action. Children are about to be killed, and what starts in California usually spreads to other states.

If you would like to submit a question to be answered on the show, please email your question to Hello@Crossexamined.org.

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¿Es el ateísmo la falta de creencia en Dios?

¿Es el ateísmo la falta de creencia en Dios?

By Frank Turek 

It’s become fashionable lately for atheists to claim that atheism is “a lack of belief in God.” So when a theist comes along and says that atheists can’t hold to their worldview, some atheists will say something like, “Oh, we don’t really have a worldview. We just lack a belief in God. Since we make no positive claims about the world, we have no burden of proof to support atheism. We just find the arguments for God lacking.”

What is missing are good reasons to believe in this new definition.

First, if atheism is simply a lack of belief in God, then atheism is just a claim about the atheist’s mental state, not a claim about God’s existence. The “atheist” simply says, “I’m not psychologically convinced that God exists.” So what? That offers no evidence for or against God. Most people lack a belief in unguided evolution, but no atheist would say that proves evolution false.

Secondly, if atheism is simply a lack of belief in God, then rocks, trees, and latrines are all “atheistic” because they also lack a belief in God. It doesn’t take any brains to “disbelieve” in something. A true atheist believes there is no God.

Third, most atheists don’t just “lack a belief in God” because they constantly try to explain the world by offering supposed alternatives to God. Atheists write book after book insisting that God has no job because of quantum theory, multiple universes, and evolution. While none of these atheistic arguments succeed in proving that there is no God, they do show that atheists not only lack a belief in God, but believe in certain theories to explain reality without God.

They believe in such theories because atheism is a worldview with beliefs just as much as theism is a worldview with beliefs. (A “worldview” is a set of beliefs about the big questions of life, such as: What is ultimate reality? Who are we? What is the meaning of life? How should we live? What is our destiny? etc.) To claim that atheism is not a worldview is like saying that anarchy is not really a political position. As Bo Jinn observes, “An anarchist can say that he or she simply ‘rejects politics,’ but he or she is still faced with the inescapable problem of how human society should be organized, whether or not he or she likes the idea of ​​someone being in charge.”

Similarly, atheists may claim to just “reject God,” but they still face the inescapable problem of how to explain ultimate reality. Just as anarchists affirm the positive belief that anarchy is the best way to organize society, atheists affirm the positive belief that atheistic materialism is the best way to explain ultimate reality.

In other words, atheists do not “lack a belief” in materialism. They are not skeptics of materialism – they believe it is true! As Phillip Johnson said, “He who is skeptical in one set of beliefs is a true believer in another set of beliefs.” Lack of belief in God does not automatically establish materialism, any more than lack of belief in atheism automatically establishes Christianity. No atheist would say that a Christian has made a good case because he “lacks a belief” in materialism!

Each has the burden of proof to support his position. Atheists must positively argue that only material things exist. So rather than debate “Does God exist?” I prefer to debate the question “Which explains reality better: atheism or theism?” So it is obvious that both debaters have the burden of proof to support their position. Atheists cannot simply identify what they believe to be shortcomings of theism. They must present a convincing case that everything has been caused by matter and consists only of material things, including:

– The beginning of the universe

– The fine-tuning of the universe

– The laws of nature

– The laws of logic

– The laws of mathematics

– Information (genetic code)

– Life

– Mind and consciousness

– Free will

– Objective morality

– Evil

It is rare to find an atheist who attempts to explain more than one or two of these things materially. How could they do so? How can laws be material? New atheists must provide reasons to support their belief that materialism is true. Simply lacking a belief in God does not prove their worldview.

Finally, the definition of “I simply lack a belief in God” leads to a contradictory result. As Dr. Richard Howe notes, “This definition of atheism carries with it the extravagant conclusion that atheism is logically compatible with theism.” Here’s why: If lacking a belief in God is the definition of “atheism”—and not “there is no God”—then “atheism” is true even if God actually exists. How is that reasonable?

We should not allow atheists to hide behind that definition of lack. A true atheist is someone who believes there is no God. And atheists have the burden of proof to show how materialism is true and reality can be explained without God.

Recommended resources in Spanish: 

Stealing from God ( Paperback ), ( Teacher Study Guide ), and ( Student Study Guide ) by Dr. Frank Turek

Why I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist ( Complete DVD Series ), ( Teacher’s Workbook ), and ( Student’s Handbook ) by Dr. Frank Turek  

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Dr. Frank Turek (D.Min.) is an award-winning author and university speaker who hosts a weekly television show on DirectTV and a radio program that airs on 186 stations nationwide. His books include I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist and Robbing God: Why Atheists Need God.

Original source of the Blog: https://bit.ly/3r9vZBl

Translated by Daniela Checa Delgado

Edited by Elenita Romero

 

 

 

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Why Good Friday offers 'the best news ever' for Easter and always

Why Good Friday is the Best News Ever

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By Frank Turek

Despite intense personal and political division, we all agree on one thing: something is terribly wrong with this world.  Pain, suffering, injustice, and death affect us all at some point because we live in a broken world.  And we live in a broken world because we are all personally broken.

Who hasn’t committed any moral wrongs? (If you claim you haven’t, you just committed a moral wrong—lying!)  The truth is we are all fallen.  While we hate the evil done by others, we rarely notice the evil we do. We may call our political opponents hypocrites, but we don’t even live up to our own standards much less God’s.  None of us are perfect.  We are all guilty of something.

It’s only when we admit our guilt can we fathom the liberating and eternal implications of Good Friday.  That’s when the innocent and perfect God-man took the punishment you and I deserve on Himself so we could be forgiven of our moral wrongs and reconciled to God.

“Why do we need to be forgiven and reconciled to God?” you ask.  “Can’t God just grade on a curve?”

No, because God is an infinitely just Being.  If He didn’t punish moral wrongs, then He wouldn’t be the infinite standard of justice.  We know this standard of justice exists because without it we couldn’t even recognize any of the injustice we complain about—anything wrong in our society or any evil that has been done to us personally.  Injustice can’t exist unless justice exists, but justice can’t exist unless God exists. Without God as the moral standard every behavior would just be a matter of opinion—even murder, rape and child abuse!

Thankfully, God is also the infinite standard of love which compels Him to find a way to allow unjust people like you and me to go unpunished.   He does that by punishing Jesus of Nazareth—who volunteers for the mission—in our place.

“The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give His live as ransom for many,” Jesus revealed (Mk. 10:45).  Just before he went to the cross, Jesus also declared that there’s no greater love than “to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13).

On the original Good Friday 1,989 years ago, Jesus suffered and died not to turn us into nice people but forgiven people.  Jesus isn’t merely a moral example like other religious leaders; Jesus is our substitute.  Since we’ve already committed moral crimes, we can’t work our way to God by being a “good person”.  Jesus was that perfectly good person in our place.  He’s done all the work for us and offers His life for ours as a gift.  When you accept His gift, you are not only forgiven but given the righteousness of Christ.  You are a new creation adopted into the family of God by grace, apart from works (2 Cor. 5:17-21, Eph. 2:8).

Without grace we will each get justice.  If you think about your life and every hidden thing you’ve ever done, do you really want justice from God?  Justice is getting what you deserve.  Grace is getting what you don’t deserve.  The only way to avoid justice is to accept the grace Jesus provides by putting your trust in Him.

Accepting the sacrifice Jesus made on Good Friday liberates you from your past, present and future wrongs by making forgiveness and eternal life possible (John 3:16).  That’s why Good Friday is truly “Good”.  In fact, it’s the best news ever.

Recommended resources related to the topic:

Jesus, You and the Essentials of Christianity by Frank Turek (INSTRUCTOR Study Guide), (STUDENT Study Guide), and (DVD)     

In a world obsessed with superhero movies, is there anything we can learn about God from watching the big screen? Stay tuned for the Hollywood Heroes book trailer–the latest by Dr. Frank Turek and his son Zach–COMING SOON!👉📱https://bit.ly/3LqDsn9

Heroes Book

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Dr. Frank Turek (D.Min.) is an award-winning author and frequent college speaker who hosts a weekly TV show on DirectTV and a radio program that airs on 186 stations around the nation.  His books include I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist, Stealing from God:  Why atheists need God to make their case, and is co-author of the new book Hollywood Heroes: How Your Favorite Movies Reveal God.

Original blog: https://fxn.ws/37N4qa5 

 

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