Tag Archive for: Shanda Fulbright

Expedition to Reality: 3 Key Steps to Teach Kids a Biblical Worldview with Shanda Fulbright

 

Does TikTok have more influence over your child than you do as a Christian parent? God has placed the responsibility on parents to disciple their children, yet studies show that many professing Christians don’t even have a biblical worldview themselves. So, what do Christians actually believe, and how can parents be intentional about leading their kids in truth before the culture does?

In this episode, former California public school teacher and Biola-certified Christian apologist, Shanda Fulbright, joins Frank to unpack how schools and social media are subtly indoctrinating kids with secular ideas and how parents can steer their kids in the right direction before it’s too late! Tune in as they tackle questions like:

  • What are the eight key questions that form a robust biblical worldview?
  • What did Shanda experience as a public school teacher in California?
  • What is the main goal of the public education system when it comes to teaching kids?
  • Why aren’t logic and critical thinking skills taught in public schools anymore?
  • How does DEI find its way into any school (public or private) even though it might not be required teaching?
  • How do you teach a biblical worldview, and what are the “3 I’s” to help instill it in kids?
  • What do you do when your kids ask questions about Christianity and other religions that you don’t know how to answer?

Your children are growing up fast, and time is of the essence to train them up in the Lord! If this all feels overwhelming—we can help! Shanda and Frank have created a fun and engaging online course just for teens and pre-teens to address these critical issues. ‘Expedition to Reality‘ is an 8-week online course beginning on FEB. 24 that is designed to help 7th-9th graders build confidence in their faith. The course includes 8 LIVE Zoom sessions with Shanda and 1 special Q&A session with Shanda and Frank. The class is already half-full so secure your child’s spot TODAY! There is also a SELF-PACED version of the course available for adults too!

If you enjoyed this podcast episode PLEASE HELP US SPREAD THE TRUTH OF CHRISTIANITY BY SUPPORTING OUR MINISTRY HERE. 100% of your donation goes to ministry, 0% to buildings!

Resources mentioned during the episode:

SHANDA’S NEW OCC COURSE: Expedition to Reality
SHANDA’S WEBSITE: ShandaFulbright.com
OCC COURSE: Train Your Brain
OCC COURSE: Let’s Get Real
BOOK: ‘Faithfully Different‘ by Natasha Crain
BRAVE BOOKS: Elephants Are Not Birds

 

Download Transcript

 

/by

Should Christianity Be Taught In Public Schools?

My sixth grader ran through the front door sounding slightly short of breath. “My teacher is teaching a unit on world religions,” he huffed. “He’s going to teach us about Islam, Christianity, Egyptian gods and who knows what else!” As a fifth grade teacher I was aware of the California standards for fifth grade but this surprised me. World religions was part of the sixth grade standards? Low and behold, written into the California content standards for sixth grade social studies is the requirement for students to learn “ancient civilizations, religion, slavery, and delving into Hammurabi’s laws, sections of the Torah (first five books of the Bible), and Confucius.”[1]

 

My surprise wasn’t because I was worried about him learning opposing worldviews. I was surprised the curriculum took the students deep into these world religions. I wondered how the teacher would present the information to the students. Will he be unbiased? Biased?  My son went forward with the unit, even taking a field trip to an Egyptian museum in Sacramento. It was an eye-opening experience that led us to deeper conversations about the Christian worldview in comparison to opposing worldviews.

Curriculum Change?

A few months ago, Texas became the latest state to integrate religion into their elementary school curriculum, joining states like Oklahoma and Louisiana.[2] As expected, the reaction to the news has caused a split of, let’s say, cheers and boos. But what I’ve seen is the revelation of false assumptions about worldviews in public education that I’ll address in this article.

  1. Assumption #1: Many people assume that religion and worldview hasn’t been taught prior to this decision.
  2. Assumption #2: Many people assume the public education system has always been neutral and must remain that way. I’ll explain why that’s not possible.

Worldview Integration

What Texas did was add an optional curriculum that infuses biblical stories and concepts into their lessons. It’s hardly teaching worldview, but I won’t split hairs. Schools do not have to adopt this curriculum but the Texas State Board of Education sweetened the deal by offering $60 per student if they do. For a teacher on a budget equivalent to that of a college student, that’s tempting. Consequently, this brought cheers from those who desire to see Christianity brought back into the public education system and boos from those who want to keep it out. It’s rare that anyone is neutral on whether or not religion should be taught in public education.

I want to pose something to think about for the cheerleaders and the boo hoo-ers of this decision. First, everyone needs to calm down because I don’t think it’s as simple as threading some Bible verses into a social studies unit and expecting you’ll get a student who thinks biblically. When it comes to biblical integration, we need to consider the three I’s of worldview formation:

  1. The instructor
  2. The instruction
  3. The integration

 

  1. Have you considered the instructor?

When it comes to education, and in this case, worldview development, it’s not only about what is being taught, it’s also about who teaches it. Every teacher has a worldview and just because she teaches some Bible verses from a teacher’s guide does not mean it will result in a student with a biblical worldview. As Martha MacCollough states in her book Undivided: Developing A Biblical Approach To Worldview Integration,

“Teacher and student must integrate their worldviews together, cooperatively measuring truth and reality by the standard of God’s word. If the teacher’s worldview does not align to the worldview behind the production of the curriculum, the program is fragmented, not cohesive. In other words, it lacks integrity or wholeness.”[3]

  1. Have you considered the instruction?

Teaching bible lessons is one thing; teaching students how to apply them is the necessary connection to worldview development. Therefore, MacCullough goes on to say that,

“Biblical worldview integration in an academic setting must be understood as a function of the curriculum.”[4]

In a public education environment this isn’t possible because the worldview behind the public education system is scientific naturalism. Again, a unit sprinkled with some Bible verses in elementary school is competing with Darwinian evolution in tenth grade science. And although according to The Texas Tribune the Texas Board of Education did add language that allowed students to pushback on evolutionary science, it’s still not a cohesive framework that provides integrity in worldview formation.

  1. Have you considered biblical integration?

To integrate means you “combine one thing with another so they become a whole.” In order to effectively teach from a biblical worldview so the result is a student with a biblical worldview, you must have a teacher with a biblical worldview, teaching a curriculum produced from a biblical worldview, across a school wide program with a unified philosophy of education. If that sounds a lot like the children’s book If You Give A Mouse A Cookie, it should.[5] An effective and cohesive program is going to set off a chain of events that puts everyone on the same page for worldview development. Otherwise, it’s not truly biblical integration. It’s just, as I said above, some Bible verses added into social studies content.

Addressing The Assumptions

From a biblical standpoint, the Bible is clear about whose responsibility it is to teach children about God and it’s not the school. But let’s not be so naive as to assume religion and worldview isn’t taught in school already. Darwinian evolution is taught to tenth grade science students every year and there isn’t one state in the United States where it isn’t. Where are the boo-hooers? Oh, they’re only upset if it’s content they disagree with.

Let’s get this straight: no one is neutral. Everyone is passionate about their passionately held beliefs and that’s to be expected. One side will always boo and the other side will always cheer; it’s just dependent on who gets their way.

So, for all of the Christian parents and educators out there where a biblical worldview is not only the correct framework for Christian education but is also expected, this is what I suggest: teach all of it. Teach Islam. Teach New Age. Teach Mormonism, Progressive Christianity, and competing worldviews. But do it on the foundation of biblical truth and teach kids why we shouldn’t be afraid to test the claims of all religions, including their own. After all, isn’t that what we want if we’re confident that what we believe is true? So no, the public educations system shouldn’t teach Christianity in school because they don’t have the framework for it to be effective. The reason my son’s 6th grade unit was enjoyable is because he was testing the claims of other worldviews in comparison with Christianity because we made sure it turned out that way. The school did not. Outside of that, we didn’t expect much else from the public education system by way of a Christian education. And neither should you.

New Course For 7th-9th Graders!

Are you looking for curriculum to help your 7th-9h grader test the claims of major worldviews and religions? Check out our brand new course Expedition To Reality beginning on February 24th at OnlineChrstianCourses.com. This is an 8 week course that builds on the foundation of the core tenets of Christianity while learning about Islam, New Age, Marxism, Progressive Christianity and more. Join the expedition before it’s too late!

Sign-Up Now for the New Course:
Expedition to Reality
Starting February 24th

References: 

[1] https://www.scoe.net/media/ykyfx3ri/parent_overview_hss_6-8.pdf

[2] https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/education/states-push-incorporate-religion-school-curriculums/; https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/19/texas-sboe-bible-christianity-curriculum/

[3] Martha MacCullough, Undivided: Developing A Biblical Approach To Worldview Integration (Colorado Springs, CO: Purposeful Design Publications, 2016), ch. 1

[4] Ibid.

[5] Laura Numeroff and Alicia Bond, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (New York: Harper Collins, 2015).

Recommended Resources:

Counter Culture Christian: Is the Bible True? by Frank Turek (Mp3), (Mp4), and (DVD)        

How to Interpret Your Bible by Dr. Frank Turek DVD Complete Series, INSTRUCTOR Study Guide, and STUDENT Study Guide

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

Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions by Greg Koukl (Book)

 

Shanda Fulbright is a credentialed teacher and has a certificate in Christian Apologetics from Biola University, a certificate from the CrossExamined Instructor’s Academy as well as several certificates from Online Christian Courses. She hosts Her Faith Inspires podcast where she takes cultural issues and aligns them to biblical truth. You can read her blogs and find out more about her at shandafulbright.com.

/by

Who Is Living Inside Your Kid’s Head? | with Shanda Fulbright

Why do your kids believe what they believe about the world and the purpose of life? Are you equipping them to make good decisions now and in the future when you’re no longer there to protect them? Will their knowledge of truth, logic, and God’s Word ultimately prevail against the conflicting (and sometimes hidden) messages they might hear from friends, teachers, and TikTok?

If you’re a Christian parent, these are the questions that keep you up at night, but have no fear–the great Shanda Fulbright is here! As a mom, former California public school teacher, and certified apologist, Shanda is no stranger to the challenges Christian parents face during these crazy cultural times. In this week’s podcast episode, Shanda and Frank discuss the subtle ways that secular society is indoctrinating or “discipling” today’s youth with destructive and even anti-Christian ideologies. During their discussion, Frank and Shanda will answer questions like:

  • What made Shanda question her faith as a 17-year old raised in the Church and what helped her overcome her doubts?
  • What are the 3 key characteristics of “discipleship” and how is it more than just a religious term?
  • What are 3 ways that the public school system is strategically discipling K-12 students?
  • How did Shanda react when a teacher shared a book about transgender ideology with her son’s class?
  • What do the statistics show about faith in God among America’s youth and their parents and what does that mean for the Church?
  • What are Shanda’s top 3 tips for parents who want to be more intentional about discipling their kids?

Parents and other caregivers–consider this your wake-up call! The reality is that your kids are being discipled by someone or some thing. If you don’t disciple them with THE truth, who will? We know you’ll benefit from this week’s podcast episode, and as a follow-up, consider enrolling your middle-school student in one of Shanda’s self-paced courses this summer, or join Shanda LIVE in her ‘Train Your Brain: An Introduction to Logic‘ PREMIUM course this fall!

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.

Shanda’s courses:

Is Hell Real? Understanding a Place Nobody Likes to Talk About – Self-Paced Course
Let’s Get Real: Examining the Evidence for God – Self-Paced Course
Train Your Brain: An Introduction to Logic – Self-Paced Course
Train Your Brain: An Introduction to Logic – PREMIUM Course Starts 9/9/2024

Other resources mentioned during the episode:

Apologetics Curriculum for All Ages – 2nd Grade to Adult!
Jonathan Haidt – Research and articles on effects of social media on adolescents

 

Download Transcript

 

/by

A Student is Not Greater Than His Teacher

, ,

I still have nightmares about being in college. It usually has something to do with a math final and being unable to graduate without passing it. Why does it always have to be math? I wake up vowing I will never go back to college. One thing that was sure to make or break my semester in university was something some students might not consider before enrolling. It wasn’t the subject. It wasn’t even the course requirements listed on the syllabus. It was something much more important: the teacher.

The teacher is a major contributor to whether you succeed or fail a class. Several of my teachers started the first day’s introductions by giving the most un-motivational speech that was sure to make more students drop the class before the ink on the syllabus was dry. It went something like this: “No one will ever get an A in this class so don’t expect one.” Who wants a teacher like that? Shouldn’t teachers want their students to excel in their class? Shouldn’t teachers encourage students to become as knowledgeable in the subject matter as them? If this is the attitude of your teacher, you won’t get a good education.

A Good Education Begins With a Good Teacher

As an educator, I am burdened with the responsibility to teach my students well. I often reminded my 5th graders that my job was to teach them. Their job was to let me know when they didn’t understand. As a teacher, I knew something my students never questioned or considered. My knowledge of the material had to be at mastery level so I could take them to the next level. And if I didn’t? They would never succeed.

When we think of education, we often don’t think of Christian education. Education is the transfer of knowledge systematically. Sure, that happens in the public education system all the time. It happens on college campuses every semester. But it should happen in the church. The problem is, it doesn’t. Why? Because the teachers don’t know the material as they should.

Let me explain.

George Barna’s American Worldview Inventory from 2022-2023 shows that only 36% of senior pastors in the United States have a biblical worldview. If that shocks you, it only gets worse when you look into the stats of children and youth pastors. A staggering 17% of them have a biblical worldview. It’s no wonder that the worldview of those in the church is only 6%, while 64% of Americans claim to be Christian. Why the disparity in the stats? It all comes down to the teacher.

A Student Is Not Greater Than His Teacher

 Jesus told His disciples that a student is not greater than his teacher. In Luke 6:40, Jesus said, “The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.”[1] Every teacher should strive to teach their students all they know; to take them to a depth of learning that makes the student like his teacher, with the result of the student becoming a teacher himself. Because, according to Jesus, that is as far as a teacher can take his student – to the depths of learning they’ve experienced and nothing more.

This means one of two things can happen:

  1. A student can eventually graduate their teacher’s program and become equipped to teach.

Or

2. A teacher can stunt the student’s growth because they’re not an equipped teacher.

Which one should be the goal of the teacher? For the student to outgrow you, meaning the student no longer needs the teacher but becomes the teacher himself. How does that happen? Once again, we need to focus on the qualifications of a teacher in Christian education.

Choose Your Teachers Wiseley

In the first century, disciples chose their teachers (rabbis). But in Jesus’ case, He often reminded His disciples that He chose them. Nevertheless, Jesus made an example of teachers and warned His followers that they ought to be careful whom they chose as their teachers.

Let’s look at some examples where Jesus encountered or commented on teachers.

Nicodemus Skipped the Basics

Nicodemus was a teacher of the Law. He was a Pharisee and part of the Sanhedrin. With all of these titles, it appeared he was qualified. In John 3, Nicodemus came to Jesus at night to ask Him some questions. But the conversation took a turn that made Nicodemus scratch his head in confusion. Jesus shifted the conversation to a phrase not well known in the first century. He mentioned that all who would see the kingdom of God would be born again. This concept was lost on Nicodemus. He thought Jesus was talking about physical matters when Jesus was clearly speaking of spiritual matters. What Jesus said next exposed the kind of teacher Nicodemus was. Jesus asked a rhetorical question, “You are Israel’s teacher and you don’t understand these things? (10) …  I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?” (12)

Nicodemus, a teacher of the Law, did not understand the basics. And Jesus called him out. Teachers in Christian Education must have mastered the basics. If they haven’t, they will never effectively teach the truths of Christianity.

Going back to Barna’s American Worldview Inventory, the questions that determine whether or not an educator has a biblical worldview comes down to the fundamentals of the faith. Education, whether it’s Christian or secular, must lay the foundation in the fundamentals. The problem is that Christians are skipping the basics and that’s usually because the teachers themselves don’t even know them.

Hypocritical Pharisees

If there is one group of teachers in the Bible Jesus consistently conflicted with, it’s the Pharisees. But there is one passage that stands out above all passages when Jesus explained what the students of the Pharisees should take note of and emulate. Remember, the hope a student has is not that he will become greater than his teacher but that he will become like him. Jesus often called them hypocrites, whitewashed tombs full of dead men’s bones, and blind guides. Jesus then turned to their followers and said, “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’s seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach” (Matthew 23:2-3).

A Christian educator’s life should be consistent with what he preaches. “Do as I say, not as I do” is not a teaching strategy. In fact, more kids these days are turning to other influences rather than their parents because they are witnessing inconsistencies in what is communicated versus what is lived. Jesus did not allow the Pharisees to get away with hypocrisy. The church shouldn’t either.

A Teacher Worth Following

Students don’t often think about what to look for in a good teacher. But as a teacher, I can give you some tips on what to look for when it comes to choosing who you follow and who you put in front of your kids when it comes to Christian education. Here are three things to look for in a teacher worth following:

  1. Knowledge.
  2. Character.
  3. Service.

As George Barna says, you can’t give what you don’t have. I say it this way, you can’t teach what you don’t know. A teacher must know more than the student and be capable of taking the student on a journey to deeper knowledge that leads to spiritual growth. That happens systematically and it begins with the basics. So, a Christian teacher has to know at least two things: first, he must know the Bible. Second, he must know how to transfer that knowledge systematically.

A teacher must have good character and live what he preaches. That means a Christian educator must have a biblical worldview where what he believes, what he speaks, and what he lives are all aligned to the Bible. Without this, forget number one because he doesn’t have real knowledge and therefore he cannot live it.

Finally, a good teacher serves his students. In the first century, it was the lowly servant who washed the feet of his master. The disciple not only learned from his teacher, but he served him too. Not with Jesus. Jesus showed His disciples that He was there to serve because the servant is the greatest. It was a model of discipleship not witnessed during this time in history and is still countercultural today. Nevertheless, it is the model of a teacher and the model a disciple is to emulate as he becomes like his teacher.

In conclusion, a good education begins and ends with a solid teacher. A teacher can only take their students to the depths of knowledge in which they have chosen to venture. James warns those in the church that “not many should become teachers because they will be judged more strictly” (James 3:1). The warning is to those in Christian education, whether it be Sunday school, Bible study, or the classroom. An effective teacher will both teach with their words and their actions. Since a student is to become like his teacher, we ought to proceed with caution when choosing who we sit in front of or who we put in front of our kids. The spiritual growth of our families and the church depends on it.

 

References:

[1] Editor’s Note: Jesus was probably talking about Rabbis here. Rabbis were known for teaching students to read, write, study the Bible, know the law, theology, etc. But Rabbis were also personal mentors to their students, imparting not just religious knowledge but a whole lifestyle including etiquette, customs, eating habits, traditions, relationships, worldview, and more.

Recommended resources related to the topic:

Intellectual Predators: How Professors Prey on Christian Students by Frank Turek (mp4 Download) (mp3) (DVD)

Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions by Greg Koukl (Book)

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

Your Most Important Thinking Skill by Dr. Frank Turek DVD, (mp4) download

Woman to Woman: Preparing Yourself to Mentor (Book) by Edna Ellison & Tricia Scribner

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Shanda Fulbright is a credentialed teacher and has a certificate in Christian Apologetics from Biola University, a certificate from the CrossExamined Instructor’s Academy as well as several certificates from Online Christian Courses. She hosts Her Faith Inspires podcast where she takes cultural issues and aligns them to biblical truth. You can read her blogs and find out more about her at shandafulbright.com.

 

/by

Are Today’s Christians Confused About the Gospel?

A few weeks ago, I created a post that said, “I love apologetics but apologetics is not the gospel.” It wasn’t controversial at all. Just kidding. Come on! We’re talking about social media; the breeding ground of controversy.

As a teacher, I often look for the underlying cause of a misunderstanding. I ask myself, “What is the foundational aspect of this message and why didn’t the reader ‘get it’”? With the so-called controversial post about apologetics and the gospel, it became more and more clear that the reader didn’t understand the word “gospel.”

A Simple Question

So, I created a survey that asked, “What is the gospel?” I got a varying degree of answers that included:

  • Sharing the gospel is praying for someone.
  • Sharing the gospel is sharing my testimony.
  • Sharing the gospel is a kind gesture, a hug, or visiting a sick friend.

And just like a quiz tells the teacher what her students know and don’t know, I immediately understood why my post about apologetics not being the gospel became controversial. The reader doesn’t know what the gospel is. The reader is missing this foundational piece of knowledge in order to understand the entirety of the message. Unfortunately, many of the readers call themselves Christians and they cannot define the gospel.

“Preach the gospel at all times, use words if necessary” – Is that true?

There’s a popular quote attributed to St. Frances of Assisi that many Christians like to mic drop in the social media comment section. It is, “Preach the gospel at all times, use words if necessary.” This famous quote has woven its way into sermons from the Church of Christ all the way to the Baptist pulpit, and even the Instagram post of an unsuspecting Christian apologist.

My objective here is to answer “What is the gospel?”  and then contemplate whether it’s good advice to, “Preach the gospel at all times, and use words if necessary.” Let’s do that by answering:

  1. Who said it?
  2. What is the gospel?
  3. Is the quote valid?

Who said it?

St. Francis of Assisi never said, “Preach the gospel at all times, and use words if necessary.” It’s not clear who first said it either but we know St. Francis never did. We also know he was a prolific preacher, who used lots of words in his preaching. He did however emphasize the importance of our deeds matching our words. I agree with him there. I’d say that many who love this quote believe it is necessary to live what you preach. After all, don’t we often hear how people won’t go to church because it’s full of hypocrites? Trust me. People care that we practice what we preach.

But are we as the church really preaching the gospel with our lives rather than with our words?

Per George Barna’s American Worldview Inventory (2023), he warns that 64% of Americans claim to be Christians while only 4% have a biblical worldview. In other words, most self-identified Christians are living the popular quote in reverse – claiming the gospel but not living in light of it. Wait. So, what do most Christians think the gospel is? Because per Barna, they’re not living it.

Is the gospel a good deed or kind gesture?

Think about it. If the gospel is a prayer, then Judaism and Islam share the gospel. If the gospel is visiting the sick, then atheists and New Agers share the gospel. If the gospel is a virtue, then anytime someone from any religion displays that virtue, they are sharing the gospel. If that’s the case, we’re starting to sound like Oprah Winfrey when she said all religions and beliefs lead back to God.

But then you have to ask: Does every religion include the gospel? If they do, then the gospel is not exclusive to Christianity, and Christianity is not unique to any other religion. However, if Christianity is the only religion that shares the gospel, it cannot be a virtue because everyone is virtuous to some degree – Christian or not. Moreover, if the gospel is unique to Christianity, it cannot be prayer. It cannot be encouragement or kindness or love because you can find all of those things embedded in other people’s actions in all sorts of religions and belief systems.

No, the gospel cannot be merely a good deed. The gospel must be something more.

What is the gospel?

Do you want the good news or the bad news? How about both! The gospel literally means good news. And if there is good news that means there must be bad news. In Greek, the word gospel is euaggelion (yoo-ang-EL-eeon). This is how we get the English word evangel, evangelist, evangelism. That means the gospel is meant to be proclaimed.

The bad news is that man sinned, severing his relationship with God (see Genesis 2-3). The good news is the son of God took on flesh (becoming a human being) and paid the penalty for our sin. John 3:16 puts it simply: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

There was nothing man could do to save himself. There was no virtue, no kind gesture, no “good” thing that could pay the penalty of death and atone for his sin. It is this gospel message alone, this good news, that tells the story. It is the gospel that sets Christianity apart from every other religion and makes Christ the only way to the Father.

The good news is the message that distinguishes Christianity from every other religion in the world because it tells of Christ and His sacrifice. That is why the gospel must be given a voice – because it is a message that requires a messenger.

Are Christians confused about the gospel?

George Barna from Arizona Christian University has done extensive research on worldview in the American church. He says many self-identified Christians believe they can earn their way to heaven by their good deeds (52%). That aligns with the answers I received in my small poll asking Christians what the gospel is. Since most believe good deeds get them to heaven, no wonder they believe the gospel is a hug or kind gesture.

In fact, per Barna’s American Worldview Inventory from just 2021 and 2022, many Christians don’t believe they are born into sin (91%). If you don’t sin, you’re not a sinner. And if you’re not a sinner, you don’t need a savior. So, who needs the gospel?

And one final point when it comes to why Christians are confused about the gospel – many don’t believe God is the basis of all truth (75%). It would seem Oprah Winfrey’s message, that all beliefs lead back to God, has made its way into the church and taken over the message of the gospel. Maybe one of the reasons is because we stopped speaking it and thought our good deeds would be enough.

Preach the gospel at all times and almost always use words.

When it comes down to it, the Christian should be chomping at the bit to open his or her mouth to share the gospel. There’s nothing wrong with good works, like feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, and lending a helping hand. But cults and world religions can do that too, without the Gospel. We still need words to clarify and distinguish the gospel message from it’s competitors. The same message that changed our hearts, transformed our lives, and inspires us to do good works, that same gospel should be the very message we want to share with a lost and dying world. But we must first remember that there is both good news and bad news – we are sinners in need of a savior. And although we couldn’t do anything about it, Christ did.

There are many verses in the Bible I could use to make these points, but I’ll leave you with 1 Peter 3:15. Peter writes, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect …” A transformed life is an open door to share the Gospel, but if the Gospel is not shared, the Gospel is not heard.

1 Peter 3:15 is a call to be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks for the hope that is within you. We are ready to give the answer because our transformed life of hope in a fallen world has opened the door of opportunity to share the gospel. It is only then that the blood of the Lamb is shared in the word of our testimony. The evidence is that we walk in newness of life.

So yes, share the gospel at all times and use words.

 

Recommended resources related to the topic:

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

Another Gospel? by Alisa Childers (book)

How Can Jesus Be the Only Way? (mp4 Download) by Frank Turek

Hell? The Truth about Eternity (MP3 Set), (DVD Set), and (Mp4 Download Set) by Dr. Frank Turek

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Shanda Fulbright is a credentialed teacher and has a certificate in Christian Apologetics from Biola University, a certificate from the CrossExamined Instructor’s Academy as well as several certificates from Online Christian Courses. She hosts Her Faith Inspires podcast where she takes cultural issues and aligns them to biblical truth. You can read her blogs and find out more about her at shandafulbright.com.

 

/by

What Babylon Teaches The Church About Discipleship | with Shanda Fulbright

Who (or WHAT) is discipling you and your family? We often talk about discipleship in Christian circles, with most of us instinctively associating it with some form of ministry training. While this is certainly an aspect of discipleship, it doesn’t quite encapsulate the concept as a whole. Is it safe to assume that the Church has been exclusive in its pursuit of producing disciples? Or has the culture managed to make a few disciples of its own?

In this midweek podcast, Phoenix Hayes sits down with former public school teacher, OCC instructor, and Biola certified Christian apologist, Shanda Fulbright, to talk about some practical ways to make faithful disciples. With help from Daniel and his Jewish friends, Shanda will explain what Christians can learn about discipleship from their experience in Babylon. During the episode, Phoenix and Shanda will answer questions like:

  • What are three key ingredients to effective discipleship?
  • Is Christian discipleship just another form of “indoctrination”?
  • Why were Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego targeted by Babylon?
  • How many professing Christians in the U.S. actually hold a biblical worldview?
  • What can parents (and the Church) do to curtail culture’s influence on their kids?

As you’ll hear during this episode, the unwavering faith of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn’t happen by accident. What was it that gave them the courage and the confidence to stand against the culture of their day? Listen and learn!

Do you need help discipling your 6-8th grader? Then don’t miss the opportunity to enroll your child in Shanda’s upcoming PREMIUM COURSE, ‘Let’s Get Real: Examining the Evidence for God‘, which kicks off on January 8th! During this 12-week course, each student will participate in 11 LIVE Zoom discussions with Shanda, and the 12th week will feature a LIVE Q&A session with Frank! Class starts soon so don’t delay, enroll your child HERE today!

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 Shanda online: https://www.shandafulbright.com/

Take one of Shanda’s online courses:

Train Your Brain: An Introduction to Logic – Self-Paced version for KIDS or ADULTS

Let’s Get Real: Examining the Evidence for God – PREMIUM course for 6-8th graders starts on 1/8!

Grab a copy of our new comic book just in time for Christmas!

HARDCOVER – $11.99

SOFTCOVER – $3.99

 

Download Transcript

 

/by

What Babylon Teaches The Church About Discipleship

, ,

When you hear the word “disciple” does your mind go back to the first century where a group of twelve men followed Jesus and helped him pass out baskets full of loaves and fish? The word “disciple” is often associated with Christianity, and for good reason. The Great Commission in Matthew 28:19 commands every Christian to “go out and make disciples of all nations.” It’s no wonder that people’s idea of discipleship is linked only to religious groups.

My goal isn’t to change your mind that discipleship is a must when it comes to Christianity. My goal is to get you to think more deeply when it comes to what it means to disciple and be discipled. I’ll start with the claim that discipleship is not isolated to Christianity. And I’ll prove this by using an unconventional source – Babylon. In fact, I am going to make the case that Christian or not, you are somebody’s disciple. Your neighbor is somebody’s disciple. That person going through the Starbucks drive-thru? Yep, they’re somebody’s disciple too.

We can learn a lot about discipleship from Babylon.

Some might say Babylon is one of the most unconventional sources to teach us about discipleship. I agree, but when it comes to discipleship, Babylon had it down. They knew how to disciple and they did it well. Before we go any further, we first have to define what it means to be a disciple. A disciple is a follower or student of a teacher or philosopher. That means we are all somebody’s disciple because we all follow the ideas and beliefs of someone else. In essence, we have been and are being discipled in order to have arrived at the beliefs we hold.

In order to understand the Babylonian influence and culture during the time of Judah’s exile, let’s visit Daniel, chapter 1.

Babylon was under the rule of King Nebuchadnezzar from around 605-562 BCE. It was a thriving city in Mesopotamia located on the Euphrates. Babylon is one of the most famous cities of antiquity, known for its symbolism of wickedness from Genesis to Revelation. In Genesis, Babylon is known as the location for the Tower of Babel. In Revelation, we see Babylon suffer the final judgment and wrath of God. So if you’re thinking, “What can Babylon possibly teach us about discipleship,” let me remind you – discipleship is not a word isolated to Christianity.

Babylon was intentional.

What does it mean to be intentional? It means you do things with and for a purpose. Babylon was intentional. Take a look at Daniel 1:1-4 and you’ll see that Nebachudnezzer strategically chose the young men of Judah. These weren’t just ordinary teenage boys. They were of royal descent; they were nobility. They were wise, good looking, and teachable. Babylon did not target the older population to serve the king. Babylon knew the minds of the young were moldable, impressionable, and these young men could be trained to learn the ways of Babylon.

Babylon understood the optimal time to make disciples and they pounced on it. The intent of Babylon was to win the minds of the young for greater service to the king.

Babylon was immersive.

Immersive means to be surrounded by. The training Babylon put these young men through was immersive with no room for flexibility. Verses 4-6 of chapter one gives us insight into this immersive discipleship training when it tells us the young men had to learn the language and literature of the Chaldeans. Not only did they learn to read and speak the language, they ate the food and wore the clothes. This immersive experience lasted for three years before they could even step foot into service to the king.

Babylon was not neutral.

Babylon left no room for neutrality. Discipleship is never neutral. Babylon proved this when they changed the names of the young men from their given Hebrew names to a new Babylonian name that gave tribute to the gods of the culture. For Babylon, it was not enough that these young men lived among them. They had to become one of them. Babylon forced the young boys to conform to the culture and forget the ways of their parents. But isn’t that the whole goal of discipleship – the student follows the teacher until the student becomes the teacher? Really, you can’t blame Babylon for their tactics. That’s just the way of discipleship.

What is Christian Discipleship?

I can go on and on about what Christian discipleship is, but I’ll spare you the details and make it short: it’s intentional, immersive, and it is not neutral. Yes, you read that right. Christian discipleship looks like Babylon’s discipleship. In fact, all discipleship does. Yes, Jesus commands us to go out and make disciples, but doesn’t that make you wonder what Christian discipleship actually entails and what makes it different from Babylon? In all four gospels, we see where the discipleship of the twelve was intentional, immersive, and not neutral.

Intentional and Immersive

 Jesus intentionally chose the twelve (John 6:70). The twelve lived with Jesus, followed Jesus, and was part of His ministry for three and a half years. They witnessed storms ceasing at His word, blind men seeing, dead men rising, religious men trying to trap Him in His words, and the correction of their hard hearts and closed minds (Mark 8:21). They were privileged to get the inside scoop because after Jesus spoke in parables to the crowds they received special instruction behind the scenes (Mark 8). The timing of their training was intentional and so was the method of their training.

Jesus was not neutral. He watched many disciples walk away when they could not fathom the thought of eating His flesh and drinking His blood (John 6). He said He was the only way to the Father, calling all other religions and belief systems false (John 14:6). And Jesus told His disciples they could not have more than one master (Matt 24-26). In other words, He wasn’t neutral and neither was their discipleship training.

You are somebody’s disciple.

Since discipleship is not isolated to Christianity, that means discipleship can come from anyone passing on information and knowledge from one mind to the other. All discipleship involves education, and education is indoctrination. We must reconcile that in order to launch into the most important question that comes after it: who is discipling you? Who is discipling your kids? Because you are somebody’s disciple and so are they.

The days of Babylon might be a thing of the past but Babylon is still a representation of the secular culture and its wickedness today. Babylon is anything that sets itself up in the stead of God and no one understands discipleship better than Babylon, not even the twenty-first century church. If we did, we would understand that in discipleship, there is no room for compromise.

Who did it better?

After all of this, I bet you’d expect me to say we should follow Babylon’s lead in making disciples. I’m not. Although the plan of Christian discipleship looks the same as Babylons, the doctrine makes it different. Christians share the one true God, whereas Babylon does not. The goal of Christian discipleship is so that the good news of the gospel may reach the ears of all people in every nation. The goal of Babylon’s discipleship is so you will serve the god of the age and lose yourself in service to the king.

No, don’t follow the lead of Babylon. The answer to discipleship is found in the response of Daniel and his friends when faced with the temptations of the Babylonian culture. The text reads, “Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies.” Daniel remained committed to the one true God. He did not waver in his traditions and customs, although I’m convinced the temptation was overwhelming.

One might wonder why. Why would Daniel and his friends resolve not to compromise? How could they withstand the temptation of Babylon and not crack under the pressure? I can tell you why – they were already somebody’s disciple. Before they left Judah, under the intentional, immersive, and unwavering training of their parents, they learned how to be a disciple of the one true God. How do I know? Because we are all somebody’s disciple. Even Babylon knows this.

Sign your kids up for the next round of Let’s Get Real: Examining The Evidence For God that begins in January, 2024.

Recommended resources related to the topic:

Intellectual Predators: How Professors Prey on Christian Students by Frank Turek (mp4 Download) (mp3) (DVD)

Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions by Greg Koukl (Book)

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

Counter Culture Christian: Is the Bible True? by Frank Turek (Mp3), (Mp4), and (DVD) 

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Shanda Fulbright is a credentialed teacher and has a certificate in Christian Apologetics from Biola University, a certificate from the CrossExamined Instructor’s Academy as well as several certificates from Online Christian Courses. She hosts Her Faith Inspires podcast where she takes cultural issues and aligns them to biblical truth. You can read her blogs and find out more about her at shandafulbright.com.

 

/by

Is teaching kids about God child abuse?

People always tell me not to look at the comment section of a social media post. I didn’t listen.

We just promoted the new kid’s curriculum Let’s Get Real: Examining the Evidence for God, based on Turek and Geisler’s best seller:  I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist. I anticipated backlash. I know the drill. You post something about God and the evidence that points to His existence and suddenly every atheist saddles up behind their keyboard to tell you why you’re wrong. What I didn’t expect was to be accused of child abuse.

Is teaching kids about God child-abuse?

This isn’t a new accusation against Christians. In Richard Dawkins’s The God Delusion, he asserts that religious indoctrination is child abuse. However, Nicholas Humphrey, a neuropsychologist from Cambridge University, arguably said it first. In his 1997 lecture, “What Shall We Tell The Children,” he said, “In short, children have a right not to have their minds addled by nonsense. And we as a society have a duty to protect them from it. So we should no more allow parents to teach their children to believe, for example, in the literal truth of the Bible, or that the planets rule their lives, than we should allow parents to knock their teeth out or lock them in a dungeon.”

Here, Humphrey equates protecting children from religious indoctrination with protecting them from getting their teeth knocked out by their parents. Both are child abuse. So those who invade the comment sections and accuse parents of child abuse are only repeating what they’ve been indoctrinated with themselves. Although, I’d bet they don’t see it that way.

Christians indoctrinate their kids, but so do atheists.

Whenever I see accusations of child abuse because we are “indoctrinating our kids”, I think to myself, this guy doesn’t understand the meaning of indoctrination. So, let’s define our terms before we move on. “Indoctrination” has a negative connotation, but it didn’t used to. According to Dr. Lawson Murray, the word indoctrination entered the English language in the 17th century. Back then it meant to “teach doctrine.” Doctrines are a set of beliefs and ideas held by a church, political party, and many other groups. According to this definition, we all hold to specific doctrines – including atheists. Not one person is exempt from indoctrination or from indoctrinating others – including Humphrey, Dawkins, and those invading the comment section of a social media post.

It wasn’t until the 19th century that the definition of indoctrination changed to mean pushing an ideological viewpoint. In fact, indoctrination is often equated to brainwashing. You can find a simple definition of indoctrination from the Oxford dictionary which reads, “The process of teaching a person or group to accept a set of beliefs uncritically.” Since that is the definition our current culture uses to define indoctrination, we’re going to roll with it as we examine the claim that indoctrinating kids about God and religion is child abuse.

None of us are neutral.

People who accuse Christians of indoctrination often say we should just let the kids figure out whether or not God exists on their own. That’s a nice thought, but they’re forgetting one thing: the world is not neutral. Everyone has a worldview that is filled with doctrines – things they believe about how the world operates. Everything you watch, read, or listen to comes from the creator’s worldview. Before a belief is adopted, it is first filtered through the mind. Everyone knows this, and they are not neutral about the ideologies they push through these mediums.

A Gen Z’er can’t watch TikTok these days without an elementary school teacher bragging about how her first graders are learning to accept her gay marriage. A teacher cannot open her laptop without getting an email from the teachers’ association on “Pride activities” to do during the month of June (raise your hand if you teach in California). A parent can’t send their kids to school without wondering if their child is going to come back with a new name, new pronouns, or come back at all (see California’s AB957).

If these examples aren’t enough to prove my point, I’ll mention Disney, Netflix, public libraries, and the latest Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie that made sure to drop a trans flag and an LGBT+ flyer in the background. I don’t think they got the message from the “don’t indoctrinate the kids” crowd.

Richard Dawkins had it right, almost.

In an article by the Daily Mail, Dawkins is reported as saying, “What a child should be taught is that religion exists; that some people believe this and some people believe that.” Wait, that almost sounds like unbiased education – educating a child to examine worldview claims and come to an informed conclusion. Do those who advocate against the religious indoctrination of children provide an honest case for conflicting worldviews? Not quite. As the Daily Mail also reports, “Professor Dawkins said at the festival that children should be taught religion but scorn should be poured on its claims.” Dawkins almost wasn’t hypocritical. Almost.

Why is it okay to indoctrinate kids against religion but not to indoctrinate them with religion?

It’s not only about what you teach but how you teach it.

I’m not here to suggest it’s okay for Christians to indoctrinate anyone. In fact, there is a critical piece of information that makes indoctrination brainwashing. Let’s revisit the definition so we’re on the same page. Indoctrination is “The process of teaching a person or group to accept a set of beliefs uncritically.”

That means we have a responsibility to teach our children and students not only what to believe, but why we believe it. If you only tell your students what to believe but do not teach them how to examine the evidence, scrutinize worldviews (including Christianity), and ask questions, then you are, in essence, indoctrinating them.

To educate rather than indoctrinate, these three components must be an essential part of your teaching technique:

Three Essentials for Education over Indoctrination

1. Question: Every teacher knows that asking questions is one of the best ways to learn. In fact, further examination of the New Testament gospels show Jesus used questions to teach His disciples and the crowds. When Jesus was alone with His disciples, they had the opportunity to ask questions about His teachings, and Jesus took them to deeper depths of knowledge. To indoctrinate means the student is to accept the belief and ideology without question. But God does not require us to accept Christianity without question. If He did, why would Jesus ask so many questions to get people to think, inquire, critique, and examine His words and the world around them?

2. Analyze: To analyze means to carefully understand something, often by breaking it down into smaller easier-to-understand pieces. The Bereans were commended for this in Acts 17 by Luke the historian when he wrote, “Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” (Acts 17:10-11). A responsible teacher who passes knowledge to another does not expect them to accept what they believe without question. In fact, if any Christian teacher does not expect to be questioned, they shouldn’t be teaching. That’s my personal rule and I’m sticking to it. When we teach students to analyze the information like the Bereans to see whether or not it’s true, we teach our students how to think, not what to think. In other words, we educate, we don’t indoctrinate.

3. Evaluate: To evaluate means to assess the value of something: How good is it? Is it useful? Does it reflect beauty? Is it likely true? The apostle Paul wrote that we are to be careful not to be taken captive by “hollow and deceptive philosophy” (Col 2:8). How do we prevent that? By evaluating opposing worldviews and ideas to see which one best answers the worldview questions. Because they all have to. One of my favorite ways to teach my own kids is to watch secular movies with them and identify the worldview behind each one. We evaluate what is being promoted and why. There is always a problem and the problem has a solution, but does it work? Teaching our students to evaluate opposing worldviews keeps us on the side of educating them rather than indoctrinating them.

Secular Neutrality is a Myth

Just like everyone has a worldview, everyone has a belief about God. They either believe He exists or they don’t. They’re either with Jesus or they’re against Him. And everyone is coming from a worldview that is embedded into everything they write, post, sing, or film. And embedded throughout each of these mediums are doctrines – what they believe about how the world operates. They aren’t neutral about it.

So, is teaching your kids about God child abuse?

It’s no more a myth than when an atheist teaches them God doesn’t exist. The real question is, if you believe you have the truth, why not teach your students to question, analyze, and evaluate all worldviews and give them the tools to make an informed decision?

For More on this Important Topic check out: Train Your Brain

If you want your kids to learn how to think, sign them up for our new course Train Your Brain. Class begins October 1st. And if you’re an adult who needs to learn how to think, take the self-paced course to learn more. If you’re a teacher who wants to teach your students how to think, purchase the hard copy curriculum here.

Recommended

 Resources Related to this Topic

Counter Culture Christian: Is the Bible True? by Frank Turek (Mp3), (Mp4), and (DVD)
Your Most Important Thinking Skill by Dr. Frank Turek DVD, (mp4) download
How Philosophy Can Help Your Theology by Richard Howe (DVD Set, Mp3, and Mp4)
When Reason Isn’t the Reason for Unbelief by Dr. Frank Turek DVD and Mp4
Can All Religions Be True? mp3 by Frank Turek
Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions by Greg Koukl (Book)
Stealing From God by Dr. Frank Turek (Book, 10-Part DVD Set, STUDENT Study Guide, TEACHER Study Guide)

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Shanda Fulbright is a credentialed teacher and has a certificate in Christian Apologetics from Biola University, a certificate from the CrossExamined Instructor’s Academy as well as several certificates from Online Christian Courses. She hosts Her Faith Inspires podcast where she takes cultural issues and aligns them to biblical truth. You can read her blogs and find out more about her at shandafulbright.com.

 

/by

How to Train Your Brain: An Introduction to Logic | with Shanda Fulbright

Why have public schools seemingly abandoned the study of logic? Instead of learning how to think, most kids today are learning what to feel. But if critical thinking is a thing of the past, how can we help the next generation protect themselves against the lies of the culture?

Have no fear, Shanda Fulbright is here! A former public-school teacher and certified apologist from Biola University, Shanda joins Frank this week to expose some of the informal fallacies that have become popularized through social media and introduce their brand-new online course called ‘Train Your Brain: An Introduction to Logic‘. While the PREMIUM version of this course— the one with the live Zoom Q&A sessions— will be conducted for 6-8th graders, adults who have never had a course in logic before will benefit from taking the SELF-PACED course.

Frank and Shanda answer questions like:

  • Why is logic more fundamental than Bible interpretation?
  • How has the logic deficit impacted the Gen Z identity crisis?
  • What fallacy is commonly used by Christians?
  • How did Jesus approach logical fallacies in the Bible?
  • How can adults benefit from this course?

Proverbs 4:23 reminds us that we must prepare the next generation to “guard their hearts” by using logic, sound reasoning, and evidence. And that is exactly what ‘Train Your Brain‘ will equip them to do. The PREMIUM CERTIFICATE course begins on 10/2, so be sure to use coupon code: LOGIC2023 to save 20% at checkout when you pre-register your child TODAY!

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.

Shanda’s website: https://shandafulbright.com/

Train Your Brain: An Introduction to Logic: https://bit.ly/3NG09qm

 

 

Download Transcript

 

/by

How to Teach Your Children (and Yourself) WHY Christianity is True | with Shanda Fulbright

Your children may know WHAT they believe about the Christian faith but do they know WHY? What happens when they leave the safe comforts of home and someone challenges their beliefs–will they know how to respond? Or maybe your child is already questioning the validity of Christianity and the Bible and you don’t even know it yet.

Don’t panic! Former public-school teacher and certified apologist Shanda Fulbright is here to help! She says skepticism about God, Jesus, and the Bible usually begins during the middle school years, which is why we need to start teaching kids as early as possible about how God’s Word and God’s world connect. She sits down with Frank to explain the layered process parents should use to create a strong foundation for their child’s faith and also shares some of the challenges she faced as a parent and public-school teacher in California.

Shanda also points out that many parents feel ill-equipped to teach their children the objective truth behind the Christian worldview because they were never taught it themselves. That’s where her online course (co-authored with Frank), Let’s Get Real: Examining the Evidence for God, saves the day! This course was specially designed for 6-8th graders and will take students on a challenging (but FUN!) journey as they dig in and become confident that Christianity is true and not just stories–that Christianity isn’t just an opinion or preference, but a belief based on FACTS.

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.

‘Let’s Get Real’ PREMIUM online course for kids: https://bit.ly/3jX4IS1

Shanda’s website: https://shandafulbright.com/

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

Subscribe on Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/CrossExamined_Podcast Rate and review! Thanks!!!
Subscribe on Google Play: https://cutt.ly/0E2eua9
Subscribe on Spotify: http://bit.ly/CrossExaminedOfficial_Podcast
Subscribe on Stitcher: http://bit.ly/CE_Podcast_Stitcher

 

 

Download Transcript

 

/by