Stand to Reason Weekly Podcast

Do All Babies Automatically Go to Heaven?

Greg answers questions about whether Zaccheus’s statement about giving back four times as much as he stole supports the idea of reparations, the biblical evidence that babies go to Heaven, where we go immediately after death, the Christology of George MacDonald, and how to evangelize someone who’s been hurt by Christians.

 

Topics:

1. Does Zaccheus’s statement that he would give back four times as much as he stole support the idea of reparations? (01:00)
2. Is there biblical evidence that all babies automatically go to Heaven? (11:00)
3. Do people go to Heaven immediately when they die, are they in a holding place, or are they simply in the grave? (21:00)
4. Can you elaborate on the Christology of George MacDonald? (33:00)
5. How can I evangelize my brother who thinks, after being mistreated by people in the church, that there’s no redemptive power in Jesus? (46:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Reparations: A Critical Theolgical Review by Kevin DeYoung
• Heaven: A Comprehensive Guide to Everything the Bible Says About Our Eternal Home by Randy Alcorn
• When a Baby Dies by Ronald Nash
• #STRask podcast with Greg and Amy (archives here)

Related Links:

• Why Did God Create People if He Knew So Many Would Go to Hell? by Amy Hall
• Sinners in the Hands of a Good God: Reconciling Divine Judgment and Mercy by David Clotfelter (Clotfelter contrasts the ideas embraced by George MacDonald with those promoted by Jonathan Edwards.)
• The Life and Spirituality of John Newton by John Newton (an incredible story of redemption and change)

Interview: Frank Turek – Hollywood Heroes

Greg talks to Frank Turek about the upcoming CrossExamined Instructor Academy and Frank’s new book, Hollywood Heroes: How Your Favorite Movies Reveal God.

 

Topics:

1. Interview: Frank Turek, author of Hollywood Heroes: How Your Favorite Movies Reveal God (00:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• CrossExamined Instructor Academy
• Hollywood Heroes: How Your Favorite Movies Reveal God by Frank Turek and Zach Turek
• Click here to get the audiobook for free if you buy the book before May 3.
• #STRask podcast with Greg and Amy (archives here)
• Too Good to Be False: How Jesus’ Incomparable Character Reveals His Reality by Tom Gilson

Related Links:

• Harry Potter Is a Danger to Modern Society (In a Good Way) by Amy Hall
• Should Christians Avoid Reading Harry Potter? by Amy Hall (includes two caveats about reading Harry Potter)

The Science and Theology of Adam and Eve

Greg talks to callers about integrating the science and theology of Adam and Eve, the series The Chosen, why we don’t focus more on the fact that Jesus explained his resurrection using the Old Testament, and whether demons have the ability to perform miracles.

 

Topics:

1. What are your thoughts on integrating the science and theology of Adam and Eve? (04:00)
2. What’s your opinion of the series The Chosen? (29:00)
3. Why don’t we focus more on the fact that Jesus explained his resurrection to his followers using the Old Testament? (45:00)
4. Do demons have the ability to perform miracles? (52:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Return of the God Hypothesis: Three Scientific Discoveries That Reveal the Mind Behind the Universe by Stephen C. Meyer
• William Lane Craig’s view on evolution (short video)

You Ask Me How I Know He Lives...

Greg talks about evidence for the resurrection, then he answers a question about how his decision making material impacts his personal relationship with God.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: You ask me how I know he lives... (00:00)
2. People are afraid that your decision making teaching removes the personal nature of our relationship with God. What is your relationship with God like? (34:00)

Download the mp3...

 

Mentioned on the Show: 

• The Story of Reality: How the World Began, How It Ends, and Everything Important that Happens in Between by Greg Koukl
• Decision Making and the Will of God (audio) by Greg Koukl
• The Ambassador’s Guide to the Voice of God (booklet) by Greg Koukl
• Does God Whisper? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 (online articles) by Greg Koukl

Related Links:

• Decision Making and the Will of God (book) by Garry Friesen

Another Conversation with YouTube Atheist PineCreek Doug

In audio from Canadian Catholic’s YouTube show, Greg interacts with YouTube atheist PineCreek Doug and others.

 

Topics:

1. Interview: Greg interacts with YouTube atheist PineCreek Doug and others on Canadian Catholic’s YouTube show (00:00)
2. What is your view on Street Epistemology? (01:00)
3. Do you think it’s okay for atheists to ask Christians questions designed to make them doubt? (06:00)
4. Do Christians take advantage of people in crisis when they evangelize them? (09:00)
5. Is having a warm tingly feeling in your chest a good reason to become a Christian? (22:00)
6. Since it’s God’s fault that I’m not a Christian, doesn’t it follow that I’m going to Hell because of what God didn’t do? (28:00)
7. What does “good” mean? (45:00)
8. What’s your stance on evolution? (49:00)
9. What do you think about Platonic Forms? (51:00)
10. Couldn’t you just respond back to Doug with a similarly emotional argument? (53:00)
11. Do you think you had good reasons at the time of your conversion to Christianity? (56:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Ask Greg Koukl Anything – Canadian Catholic’s YouTube show
• Questions from an atheist about using tactics in conversations with Christians – Greg’s first conversation with Doug
• A Conversation with an Atheist – Greg’s second conversation with Doug
• Is Christianity a Religion of Carrots and Sticks? – Greg’s response to Doug’s “carrots and sticks” claim 

Related Links:

• Christians Don’t View Jesus as a Means to an End by Amy Hall (another response to Doug’s “carrots and sticks” claim

Does Christianity Make Sense? Part 2

Rajat Dhiman of the “Biblical Dhiman” YouTube channel continues interviewing Greg, asking him to explain what the Bible means when it says Jesus is the only way to Heaven and to give advice to young Christians in this internet age who are being influenced by other philosophies.

 

Topics:

1. Interview: Greg is interviewed by YouTuber Rajat Dhiman on the topic “Does Christianity make sense?” (Part 2) (00:00)
2. Greg sums up his thoughts on testing a religion for truth. (01:00)
3. What does it mean when the Bible says Jesus is the only way to Heaven? (08:00)
4. What advice would you give to young Christians who, in this internet age, are being influenced by other philosophies? (17:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Does Christianity Make Sense? with Greg Koukl – Biblical Dhiman YouTube video

Does Christianity Make Sense? Part 1

Greg is interviewed by Rajat Dhiman of the “Biblical Dhiman” YouTube channel, who asks how Greg became a Christian, what’s wrong with worshiping created things rather than the Creator, and how we can test the truthfulness of a religion.

 

Topics:

1. Interview: Greg is interviewed by YouTuber Rajat Dhiman on the topic “Does Christianity make sense?” (Part 1) (00:00)
2. How Greg became a Christian (01:00)
3. What’s wrong with worshiping created things rather than the Creator? (15:00)
4. How can we test a religion for truth? (39:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Does Christianity Make Sense? with Greg Koukl – Biblical Dhiman YouTube video

What Does “Work Out Your Salvation” Mean?

Greg answers a question about the meaning of “work out your salvation” in Philippians 2:12, then he answers questions about how to show love to people when you don’t agree with their life choices and how to stir up interest in spiritual topics in an apathetic, unbelieving spouse.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: What does “work out your salvation” mean? (00:00)
2. How can I show love to people when I don't agree with their life choices? (19:00)
3. How would you stir up interest in spiritual topics in an apathetic, unbelieving spouse? (45:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• #STRask podcast with Greg and Amy (archives here)

A Baby Has a Legitimate Claim to Her Own Mother’s Body

Greg responds to the pro-choice argument that “nobody has the right to use your body against your will,” then he answers a question about how to explain to a non-believer why you’re waiting to have sex until marriage.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: A baby has a legitimate claim to her own mother’s body. (00:00)
2. How would you explain waiting to have sex until marriage to a non-believer? (41:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers
• #STRask podcast with Greg and Amy (archives here)
• Unstringing the Violinist by Greg Koukl
• Try before You Buy? by Greg Koukl

Related Links:

• A New Response to the Violinist Argument by Amy Hall
• What It Means to Be Human: The Case for the Body in Public Bioethics by O. Carter Snead

What to Look for in a Christian School

Greg talks about what to look for in a Christian school, then he answers a question about the nature of Jesus’ resurrection body.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: What to look for in a Christian school (00:00)
2. Does Jesus now have a physical body or an immaterial body? (31:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• The Legend of the Social Justice Jesus by Greg Koukl
• Theistic Evolution: A Scientific, Philosophical, and Theological Critique