Stand to Reason Weekly Podcast

Greg talks to Jeff Myers of Summit Ministries, author of Truth Changes Everything: How People of Faith Can Transform the World in Times of Crisis, about the shifting definition of truth in the culture, how truth can be known, the difference truth has made in the world, and more.

 

Topics:

1. Interview: Jeff Myers, author of Truth Changes Everything: How People of Faith Can Transform the World in Times of Crisis (00:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Dr. Jeff Myers
• Truth Changes Everything: How People of Faith Can Transform the World in Times of Crisis by Dr. Jeff Myers
• Summit Ministries
• How the Irish Saved Civilization: The Untold Story of Ireland’s Heroic Role From the Fall of Rome to the Rise of Medieval Europe by Thomas Cahill
• The Soul of Science by Nancy Pearcey and Charles Thaxton
• Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity’s Toughest Challenges by Greg Koukl

Related Links:

• The True Story of Christian Missionaries by Amy Hall (on how truth changed entire cultures)
• Values Fight Poverty by Amy Hall
• A Daily Prayer for This Cultural Moment by Amy Hall (about valuing truth)

Greg explains that we can’t assess the church’s legitimacy by the way the world reacts to it, then he answers questions about who, according to 1 John 2, is an antichrist, our relationship to time after death, why people use the term “Calvinism” but not “Arminianism” in a derogatory fashion, and more.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: How to assess Christianity (00:00)
2. Is John calling everyone who rejects Jesus a liar and an antichrist in 1 John 2:22–23 (even Dennis Prager), or is he referring to specific people? (08:00)
3. Is it a sin to work at a supermarket where cigarettes and alcohol are among the goods that are sold? (19:00)
4. Are people who have died waiting in time for the resurrection, or are they in the presence of God outside of time? (29:00)
5. Why is it that people use the term “Calvinism” in a derogatory fashion, but I’ve never heard anyone speak of Arminianism that way? (44:00)
6. What does the reference to Jeremiah in Hebrews 8:11 mean when it says there will be no need to teach a neighbor or brother to “know the Lord” in the New Covenant? (51:00)

Related Links:

• The Truth of Christianity Isn’t Measured by People’s Hatred of It by Amy Hall
• God Cares More about Behavior Than Most People Think by Amy Hall
• What We Believe About the Five Points of Calvinism – Desiring God explains the biblical reasoning behind Calvinism

Greg critiques the “He Gets Us” campaign, then he answers a question about whether it’s okay to join a church you have some theological disagreements with and interacts with a caller who says people have good reasons to have bad impressions of Christians.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Does “He Gets Us” get him? (00:00)
2. Is it okay to become a member of a church you have some theological disagreements with? (34:00)
3. People have good reasons to have bad impressions of Christians. (50:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• He Gets Us website
• The Legend of the Social Justice Jesus by Greg Koukl
• 7 Problems with the He Gets Us Campaign by Natasha Crain
• “Alone with Just a Story” by Negativland

Related Links:

• What We Believe About the Five Points of Calvinism – Desiring God explains the biblical reasoning behind Calvinism

Jon and Robby talk about habits and values they’re trying to develop in their kids and give general tips for raising kids to love Jesus and have a Christian worldview.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Tips for discipling your children (00:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Blue’s Clues Pride Parade Song

Robby, Tim, Jon, and Amy discuss the mistakes we can make as apologists and give advice for how we can stay balanced in our study, treat people with dignity, exhibit the kind of character that reflects Christ when interacting with others, improve our skills, and more.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Advice for apologists (00:00)

Related Links:

• For the Student Who Wants to Be a Christian Apologist by Amy Hall
• How Should We Interact with the Uncivil? by Amy Hall
• Eight Lessons on Being an A-Paul-ogist by Tim Barnett
• Proverbs for Apologists by Amy Hall
• You Want to Be a Good Apologist? by Amy Hall
• Apologetics Aren’t Enough to Connect You with a Person by Amy Hall
• Do You Convey a Sense of the Reality, Centrality, and Desirability of Jesus with Your Apologetics? by Amy Hall
• A Daily Prayer for This Cultural Moment by Amy Hall

Greg reads a note from a student whose grad school program is requiring that he join an association that explicitly promotes values he disagrees with, then he answers questions about leaving a church if they won’t let you serve, trusting God to bring another “gardener” into a person’s life, and what people will know in Hell.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: A grad student taking a stand (00:00)
2. Should I leave a church that won’t let me serve because of sin in my past? (27:00)
3. Do you have any advice about trusting God to bring another “gardener” into a person’s life when my opportunity is gone? (37:00)
4. Do people in Hell want to get out, do they know God exists, and do they remember their lives on earth? (47:00)

Related Links:

• Harvester or Gardener? by Greg Koukl

Greg tells a story about what happened when a pastor he was dining with asked the waiter a question, then he takes two calls about reparations for slavery and answers a question about translating some Christian terms into everyday language when talking to non-believers.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Just ask the question. (00:00)
2. How should I respond to someone who says they’re owed reparations because of slavery? (12:00)
3. A response to Greg’s comments on reparations (35:00)
4. How would I translate “miracles” and “God's glory” into everyday language when talking to non-believers? (48:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Reparations: A Critical Theological Review by Kevin DeYoung
• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – February 24–25, 2023 in Dallas, TX; March 24–25, 2023 in Philadelphia, PA; April 21–22, 2023 in Augusta, GA

Greg answers questions about slavery in the Bible, whether men wrote the Bible to control people, the biblical definitions of love and judgment, and whether Jesus is still both fully man and fully God now that he’s been resurrected.

 

Topics:

1. Can you help me understand the verses in the Bible that talk about slavery? (05:00)
2. Did men write the Bible to control other people? (17:00)
3. Another note on slavery (25:00)
4. What is the biblical definition of love and the biblical definition of judgment? (29:00)
5. Is Jesus still fully human now that he’s been resurrected, or was his humanity temporary? (47:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Is God a Moral Monster? by Paul Copan
• Interview: Paul Copan on Slavery in the Bible
• Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity’s Toughest Challenges by Greg Koukl
• Amazing Grace film
• Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions by Greg Koukl
• The Chalcedonian Creed

Related Links:

• Did God Condone Slavery? by Amy Hall

Greg talks about a crisis pregnancy center that’s having trouble getting help from churches because the pastors don’t want to be “political,” then he answers questions about the Passion Translation and Jesus’ human nature and sinlessness.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Abortion is not merely a political issue. (00:00)
2. Do you have any advice for explaining the problems with the Passion Translation of the Bible to someone who’s promoting it? (27:00)
3. Was Jesus a real human being if he didn’t have a human father, and how could he have been sinless if he was human? (51:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Information about the Passion Translation

Greg answers questions from callers about visions of Mary, the biblical view of yoga, how we can know Hosea 11:1 is really a prophecy about Jesus, and whether people are misusing prophecies about earlier events to make a case for Jesus. 

 

Topics:

1. Do you have any insight on why Mary reveals herself to people through visions rather than Jesus? (03:00)
2. What is the biblical view of yoga? (28:00)
3. How do we know Hosea 11:1 is really a prophecy about Jesus as Matthew says? (42:00)
4. Are the verses people claim are prophecies about Jesus really just examples of people misusing prophecies about earlier events to make a case for Jesus? (50:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – February 24–25, 2023 in Dallas, TX; March 24–25, 2023 in Philadelphia, PA; April 21–22, 2023 in Augusta, GA
• Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers
• Interview: Melissa Dougherty – Christians and New Age Beliefs