Stand to Reason Weekly Podcast

Why Give Thanks This Year?

Greg explains why we should give thanks in all circumstances, then he answers a question about how churches should think about the government restrictions being placed on them.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Why give thanks this year? (00:00)
2. What are your thoughts on the government weighing in on what churches can or can't do right now? (28:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Should We Cancel Thanksgiving This Year? by Alan Shlemon
• STR U Courses
• The Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrates by Matthew J. Trewhella

Related Links:

• Should Your Church Comply With New COVID-19 Orders? Perhaps This Memo Will Help.

Divine Foreknowledge Is Not the Same Thing as Omniscience

Greg talks about divine foreknowledge then answers questions about tactics used with LDS (Mormon) missionaries and whether there’s anything God promises to give Christians in this life.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Divine foreknowledge is not the same thing as omniscience. (00:00)
2. What do you think about this tactic I used with LDS (Mormon) missionaries? (25:00)
3. Is there anything God promises to give Christians in this life? (47:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Moroni 10:4–5 – LDS test for the truth of the Book of Mormon
• Deity of Christ: Case Closed by Greg Koukl

Related Links:

• Verses for Your Conversations with Mormons by Amy Hall
• Who Is the God of Mormonism? by Amy Hall
• LDS View of Atonement Clarified by Amy Hall
• Is It Possible Some Mormons Are Saved? by Amy Hall

The Explanatory Power of Christianity vs. Naturalism

Greg talks about the explanatory power of Christianity vs. that of naturalism, then he responds to questions about balancing spiritual development with professional development and God placing people in situations where he knows they will choose him.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: The explanatory power of Christianity vs. naturalism (00:00)
2. How do I balance working on my relationship with God with working on my professional skills? (28:00)
3. Does God put everyone in the place where they are most likely to choose him? (48:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Money, Greed, and God: The Christian Case for Free Enterprise by Jay Richards
• My Son, My Dear Son, Has Gone To Be With the Lord by Tim Challies

Has God’s Morality Changed?

Greg answers questions about whether or not the Reformation has been good for Christendom, how to respond to the charge that God’s morality has changed, and hearing the voice of God.

 

Topics:

1. Has the Reformation truly been good for Christendom? (04:00)
2. How can I respond to someone who says he can’t believe in a God whose morality changes from the Old Testament to the New Testament? (26:00)
3. If we hear God’s voice calling us to salvation, is that the only time we hear it? (50:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Red Pen Logic YouTube channel
• Does God Whisper? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

The Role of Science for Christians

Greg and Tim respond to an article that says Christians either rest their faith on science and risk having science disprove Christianity, or they “just believe” and don’t ground their worldview in evidence.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: The role of science for Christians (00:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – November 13–14 in Minneapolis, MN
• Christianity’s Immovable Rock vs. Its Irresistible Force by Bob Seidensticker (article critiqued by Greg and Tim)

If There’s No Judgment, There’s No Justice

Greg discusses how to explain God’s final judgment and Hell to others, then he answers questions about how one can be a therapist and not enable sin in clients who have different values and an objection to fine-tuning.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: If there’s no judgment, there’s no justice. (00:00)
2. How can one be a therapist as a Christian and not end up in a position where one is enabling sin in clients who have different values? (27:00)
3. How would you respond to the objection to fine-tuning that says it’s not surprising we’re here because we could only observe everything if we were here? (50:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• #STRask podcast with Greg and Amy (archives here)
• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – November 13–14 in Minneapolis, MN
• Hell Interrupted Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3
• Live Not by Lies – Essay by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
• Live Not by Lies – Book by Rod Dreher

Greg’s Experience Voting

Greg talks about his experience voting then answers a question about free will vs. predestination.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Greg’s experience voting (00:00)
2. Which is correct: free will or predestination? (26:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – November 13–14 in Minneapolis, MN

Related Links:

• Explaining Free Will and Calvinism by Greg Koukl
• “Forced Love” Is the Wrong Way to Look at It by Amy Hall
• What are your definitions of free will and choice? – Greg Koukl and Amy Hall on #STRask podcast

Would a Purely Physical Being Come up with the Idea of a Spiritual Being?

Greg touches on the confirmation of Amy Coney Barett, then he answers a question about whether a purely physical being could come up with the idea of a spiritual being and whether we might sin in Heaven.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: The confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett (00:00)
2. Is it fair to say it’s unlikely that a purely physical being that came about through evolution would come up with the idea of a spiritual being? (24:00)
3. If angels could be disobedient to God in Heaven, does that mean we might do the same? (41:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – November 13–14 in Minneapolis, MN
• Francis A. Schaeffer Trilogy

Interview: William Lane Craig – Atonement and the Death of Christ

Greg talks to philosopher William Lane Craig about his newest book, Atonement and the Death of Christ: An Exegetical, Historical, and Philosophical Exploration.

 

Topics:

1. Interview: William Lane Craig – Atonement and the Death of Christ (00:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• William Lane Craig
• Reasonable Faith – William Lane Craig’s organization
• Atonement and the Death of Christ: An Exegetical, Historical, and Philosophical Exploration by William Lane Craig
• The Story of Reality by Greg Koukl

The Truth Hasn’t Changed

Greg responds to a quote promoting Progressive Christianity, then he answers questions about basing morality on empathy, sexual temptation and the decision to marry, attending the wedding of a divorced person, whether breaking any law is a sin, and why God allows evil.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: The truth hasn’t changed. (00:00)
2. How should I respond to someone who says morality can be built on empathy without any reference to a divine moral lawgiver? (21:00)
3. To what degree should sexual temptation affect one’s decision about whether to get married? (33:00)
4. If Christians shouldn’t attend a same-sex wedding, should Christians not attend the wedding of a divorced person? (39:00)
5. Is it a sin to break any law? (43:00)
6. If God is a loving God, why does he allow evil? (49:00)

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Mentioned on the Show: 

• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – November 13–14 in Minneapolis, MN; February 26–27 in Dallas, TX
• Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers
• Progressive Christianity—is Christianity by Jon Pavlovitz (critiqued by Greg in the commentary)

Related Links:

• If God Is Good, Why Is There Evil and Suffering? by Amy Hall