Stand to Reason Weekly Podcast

Atheist Michael Ruse’s Confused Argument for Morality

Greg talks about an argument atheist Michael Ruse made for people to be “moral” even though there are no grounds for being good, then he answers questions about Frank Turek’s claim that the Calvinist God is like Allah, and whether the continued existence of the Jews is evidence for God.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Atheist Michael Ruse’s confused argument for morality (00:00)
2. How would you respond to Frank Turek’s claim that if God regenerates people so that they can believe, but he doesn’t do that for everyone, then God is finite in his love and infinite in his justice, and that’s not the God of the Bible; it’s Allah. (26:00)
3. Frank Turek’s comment about Calvinism seems philosophically wrong, but I need help with it. (29:00)
4. Is there any merit to using the fact that the Jews are still around today as an apologetic? (45:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• God Is Dead. Long Live Morality by Michael Ruse
• C.S. Lewis: The Most Reluctant Convert – Film
• The Bible: Fast Forward – DVD (Also available as a digital download or audio)

Is God a Bad Father?

Greg responds to the charge that God is a bad father, then he answers a question from a caller about why we have to go through sanctification when people who die shortly after salvation are immediately glorified.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Is God a bad father? (00:00)
2. Why do some people have to go through sanctification when others will die right after salvation and be immediately glorified? (28:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – March 13–14 in Philadelphia, PA; April 24–25 in Los Angeles, CA
• Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers

Related Links:

• Does God Love Everyone? by Jon Noyes

Arguments for the A-Theory of Time

Greg argues for the A-theory of time, then he answers questions about whether God did something in the absence of time, how God can know what will happen in an A-theory of time, Greg’s take on church membership, and pastors using other people’s sermons.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Arguments for the A-theory of time (00:00)
2. Regarding your argument for the A-theory of time, didn’t God do something in the absence of time if he made the universe, and how can God know what will happen in an A-theory of time? (13:00)
3. What is your take on church membership? (29:00)
4. How do you view the practice of pastors using sermon series created by someone else? (44:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Submit a question on the Open Mic Line

A Three-Point Response to the Problem of Evil

Greg explains a three-point response to the problem of evil, then he talks to callers about a strategic question to ask someone who doesn’t trust the Bible because he thinks anything touched by man has been tainted, and whether Acts 17:26–27 is a good proof text for Molinism.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: A three-point response to the problem of evil (00:00)
2. What’s a strategic question to ask someone who doesn’t trust the Bible because he thinks anything touched by man has been tainted? (36:00)
3. Is Acts 17:26–27 a good proof text for Molinism? (47:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – March 13–14 in Philadelphia, PA; April 24–25 in Los Angeles, CA
• Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers

Related Links:

• How Can We Condemn Evil if God Is Sovereign? by Amy Hall
• No “Lost” Books of the Bible by Greg Koukl

How Do We Dive into Controversial Conversations in a Sensible Way?

Greg answers questions about how to dive into controversial conversations in a sensible way, the proper way of doing missions, whether boxing can be enjoyed to the glory of God, the line between temptation and sin, and whether Luke 20:37–38 points to the B-theory of time.

 

Topics:

1. When we hear friends discussing topics that touch on our faith, such as abortion, gender issues, or suffering, how do we dive into the conversation in a sensible way? (03:00)
2. What is the proper way of doing missions? Is this something God intended for married couples with children to be doing? (11:00)
3. Can boxing be enjoyed to the glory of God? (26:00)
4. Where is the line between temptation and sin? (40:00)
5. Isn’t Luke 20:37–38 a better justification for the B-theory of time rather than the A-theory? (49:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity’s Toughest Challenges by Greg Koukl
• Submit a question on the Open Mic Line

The Continental Divide in Worldviews

Greg talks about the “continental divide” in worldviews, then he answers questions about a possible interpretation of Matthew 18:7–9, how to explain the sovereignty of God when a surgeon’s choice leads to someone’s death, and how a surgeon can find peace with that kind of responsibility.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: The continental divide in worldviews (00:00)
2. What do you think about the idea that Matthew 18:7–9 is directed towards a community of believers rather than individuals, possibly even referring to wrong doctrine? (30:00)
3. How do you explain the sovereignty of God in relation to the choices we make that have life-and-death consequences, such as when a girl dies on an operating table due to the actions of a surgeon, and how does a surgeon find hope and peace with that kind of responsibility? (41:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – February 20–21 in Dallas, TX; March 13–14 in Philadelphia, PA; April 24–25 in Los Angeles, CA
• Greg on The Diary of a CEO

Waiting Is a Normal Part of the Christian Life

Greg explains that waiting is a normal part of the Christian life, then he answers questions about prophetic words, having a peace about prodigal family members, what makes marriage legitimate, attending baptisms at liberal churches, training for door-to-door evangelism, and a Trinity analogy.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Waiting is a normal part of the Christian life. (00:00)
2. Is it a biblical practice for someone to have a “prophetic word” for others and seem to know things they couldn’t know, or is this fortune-telling? (08:00)
3. Is it wrong to have a peace about the fact that prodigal family members might not come back to the Lord? (24:00)
4. Is marriage legitimate if it’s not done through the government, and what’s the biblical outline for what makes a marriage legitimate? (30:00)
5. If we shouldn’t attend an LDS baptism because they believe in different core doctrines, couldn’t the same apply to some liberal churches? (39:00)
6. Do you have any advice on training a group to do door-to-door evangelism? (45:00)
7. What are your thoughts on using the analogy of Neapolitan ice cream for the Trinity? (52:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• House of David series
• Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions by Greg Koukl
• A Simple Survey to Help Initiate Spiritual Conversations by Greg Koukl

Related Links:

• Privatize Marriage? by Amy Hall (quoting Jennifer Roback Morse)

Two Historical Films Worth Watching

Greg talks about how House of David  and The Most Reluctant Convert bring elements of those historical accounts to light, then he answers questions about the consequences of not attending a same-sex wedding and applying passages with first-person pronouns to ourselves.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Two historical films worth watching (00:00)
2. If you don’t attend a couple’s same-sex wedding, why would they ever consider Christianity after what you did? (35:00)
3. Why do we apply passages with first-person pronouns to ourselves (e.g., in Ephesians 1)? (49:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• House of David series
• C.S. Lewis: The Most Reluctant Convert
• The Mythmakers: The Remarkable Fellowship of C.S. Lewis & J.R.R. Tolkien (A Graphic Novel) by John Hendrix
• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – February 20–21 in Dallas, TX; March 13–14 in Philadelphia, PA; April 24–25 in Los Angeles, CA

Related Links:

• Should You Accommodate an LGBT Person’s Requests? by Alan Shlemon
• Love Doesn’t Trump God’s Moral Commands by Amy Hall

How Different Will Our Resurrected Bodies Be?

Greg answers questions about how different our resurrected bodies will be, whether something is good so long as someone thinks it brings them closer to God, justification by allegiance alone, and the rationale for saying the human spirit doesn’t have a spatial location.

 

Topics:

1. If we’re not going to marry in Heaven, doesn’t that suggest that our resurrected bodies will be very different than they are now? (02:00)
2. Should something be considered good so long as someone perceives it as bringing them closer to God? (12:00)
3. Have you heard of “justification by allegiance alone,” and what do you think of it? (30:00)
4. What’s the biblical and philosophical rationale for saying the human spirit doesn’t have a spatial location? (43:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Submit a question on the Open Mic Line
• Darkest Hour – Film

Is This Similar to Learning to Hear God’s Voice?

Greg answers questions about an analogy to learning to hear God’s voice, taking communion after arguing with a Christian, the point of praying when God’s will is already set, apologetics curriculum for teens, and why one should pray in front of an abortion clinic instead of at home.

 

Topics:

1. How would you respond to someone who says that a baby hears a bird but doesn’t know it’s a bird until he grows and learns that it’s a bird, and this is like learning to hear God’s voice? (01:00)
2. Is it okay to take communion after arguing with a Christian? (22:00)
3. What’s the point of praying for protection if it’s already God’s will whether we will be protected or not? (33:00)
4. Can you recommend a discipleship and apologetics curriculum for teens along with a conference in our area to cap off our school year? (42:00)
5. Why would we have to pray in front of the abortion clinic and not at home? (50:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• When God Speaks by Greg Koukl
• STR U Online Training
• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – February 20–21 in Dallas, TX; March 13–14 in Philadelphia, PA; April 24–25 in Los Angeles, CA
• Red Pen Logic with Mr. B

Related Links:

• Does God Whisper? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 by Greg Koukl