Stand to Reason Weekly Podcast

Do All Things without Grumbling

Greg talks about representing Christ well even when you’re annoyed by current restrictions, then he answers questions about a spouse praying at a same-sex wedding and reading primary sources rather than relying on others’ critiques.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Do all things without grumbling. (00:00)
2. How should I deal with a situation where my wife wants to pray at a same-sex wedding? (24:00)
3. As an ambassador for Christ, is it okay to rely on other people’s critiques of ideas, or should I read primary sources? (44:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• CrossExamined Instructor Academy
• Become a strategic partner: Be One of the 100
• Is God a Moral Monster? by Paul Copan

We Can’t Carry All the Hurts of the World

Greg talks about Alan’s article “How 2020 Is Taking a Toll on Your Soul” then answers a question about how to respond to a naturalist who says free will is just an illusion.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: We can’t carry all the hurts of the world. (00:00)
2. How would you respond to a naturalist who says free will is just an illusion? (24:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – October 16–17 in Seattle, WA; November 13–14 in Minneapolis, MN; February 26–27 in Dallas, TX
• How 2020 Is Taking a Toll on Your Soul by Alan Shlemon
• Alan’s podcast commentary on “Comment of the Year” 
• The original tweet Alan cited
• Mind and Cosmos: Why the Materialist Neo-Darwinian Conception of Nature is Almost Certainly False by Thomas Nagel
• Amazing Grace film

Related Links:

• Plantinga Reviews Mind and Cosmos by Amy Hall (quoting Alvin Plantinga)
• Naturalism: Bumping into Reality by Greg Koukl

Pay It Backward, Then Pay It Forward

Greg talks about the benefits we’re offering new strategic partners, then he answers questions about Muslim claims, Calvinism and determinism, and when a child should take communion.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Pay it backward, then pay it forward. (00:00)
2. How would you respond to these three Muslim claims? (23:00)
3. Is five-point Calvinism deterministic? (38:00)
4. How do I know if my nine-year-old son is ready to take to communion? (52:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Become a strategic partner: Be One of the 100
• The Ambassador’s Guide to Islam by Alan Shlemon

Related Links:

• How Can We Condemn Evil if God Is Sovereign? by Amy Hall

Should Christians Stay out of Politics?

Greg talks about whether Christians ought to stay out of politics, then he answers questions about attending same-sex weddings and concerns about the political terms a church is using.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Should Christians stay out of politics? (00:00)
2. Quick thought on addressing the fear in our society. (19:00)
3. Does the Bible indicate that attending a same-sex wedding enables people to go to Hell or presents a false Christ? (21:00)
4. Should I be concerned about my church using these political terms? (32:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Not a Hint of Politics by Greg Koukl
• Theistic Evolution: Drifting toward Darwin by Greg Koukl

Related Links:

• Social Justice, Critical Theory, and Christianity: Are They Compatible? by Neil Shenvi (video version here)
• Engaging Critical Theory & The Social Justice Movement – Booklet by Neil Shenvi and Pat Sawyer
• Interview: Neil Shenvi on Critical Theory

The Cost for Faithfully Following Christ Is Going Up

Greg talks about the death of Mike Adams and gives advice for enduring the heat we will face as Christians, then he answers questions about making tactics memorable, speaking in tongues, and theistic evolution.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: The cost for faithfully following Christ is going up. (00:00)
2. Comments about how to make tactics memorable. (32:00)
3. Does the Bible say there are two types of speaking in tongues? (39:00)
4. Isn’t it a straw man to say that theistic evolutionists think evolution is accidental? (:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• A Eulogy for a Friend, a Lament for our Nation by David French (on Mike Adams)
• Red Pen Logic with Mr. B
• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – October 16–17 in Seattle, WA; November 13–14 in Minneapolis, MN; February 26–27 in Dallas, TX

Related Links:

• Theistic Evolution: Drifting toward Darwin by Greg Koukl

Greg Responds to a Charge of Moral Relativism

Greg responds to a charge of moral relativism, then he answers a question about whether Psalm 90:10 is a promise and responds to someone who is troubled by seeing the spiritual world.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Greg responds to a charge of moral relativism. (00:00)
2. Does Psalm 90:10 promise that Christians will live to be 70 years old? (31:00)
3. Do you believe God would allow someone to see the spiritual world around us? (40:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Greg’s Bible reading plan
• More Bible reading plans (chronological, etc.)
• The charge of moral relativism
• Greg answers the question “Are children in foster care better off going to same-sex couples or staying in foster care?”
• Red Pen Logic on moral objectivism

Pressure from the Culture Will Separate the Wheat from the Chaff

Greg talks about the pressures Christians are experiencing right now, then he takes calls about wearing masks and responding to someone who holds her positions for emotional reasons.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Pressure from the culture will separate the wheat from the chaff. (00:00)
2. What's your opinion on Christians refusing to wear masks? (34:00)
3. How should I respond to someone who holds her theological positions for emotional reasons? (48:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Red Pen’s response to a progressive Christian’s tweet
• Red Pen Logic with Mr. B
• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – October 16–17 in Seattle, WA; November 13–14 in Minneapolis, MN; February 26–27 in Dallas, TX
• Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers
• Book an STR speaker

Should Christians Avoid Arguing about Political Issues?

Greg responds to questions about the wisdom of challenging others on political issues, the definition of atheism, using “Yeshua” instead of “Jesus,” and talking to unreceptive elderly family members.

 

Topics:

1. When is it worth it to challenge someone on a political issue if it will possibly put your witness at risk? (01:00)
2. Do you believe an atheist is someone who doesn’t believe there’s a God? (22:00)
3. How would you respond to someone who believes we should use “Yeshua” or some name other than “Jesus”? (34:00)
4. Any advice about how I should talk to my grandfather who’s in failing health but doesn’t want to talk about God? (49:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Money, Greed, and God by Jay Richards
• Interview: Jay Richards – Money, Greed, and God – STR Podcast
• In, but Not Of: A Guide to Christian Ambition and the Desire to Influence the World by Hugh Hewitt

Related Links:

• How to Alleviate Poverty by Amy Hall (includes a lecture by Jay Richards)

Are We Approaching the End Times?

Greg answers questions about whether children are better off going to same-sex couples or staying in foster care and whether there’s evidence we’re approaching the end times.

 

Topics:

1. Are children in foster care better off going to same-sex couples or staying in foster care? (08:00)
2. Is there enough evidence to suggest we’re approaching the end times? (19:00)

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

Let the Best Argument Win

Greg talks about the current trend of people responding to challenges with verbal abuse rather than by addressing the arguments, then he answers questions about doubts, signs of progressive Christianity in a church, and praying in the Spirit.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Let the best argument win. (00:00)
2. If I have intense emotional doubts about some aspects of Christianity (like the resurrection), does that put my salvation in jeopardy? (23:00)
3. What are the signs of progressive Christianity to look out for in my church? (37:00)
4. How do I pray in the Spirit? (50:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Red Pen Logic with Mr. B
• Red Pen’s response to a progressive Christian’s tweet
• The Thomas Factor: Using Your Doubts to Draw Closer to God by Gary Habermas (free, online version)
• The Three Kinds of Doubt and How to Address Them – Podcast by Brett Kunkle

Related Links:

• Interview: Alisa Childers on “5 Signs Your Church Might Be Heading Toward Progressive Christianity” – STR podcast
• 5 Signs Your Church Might Be Heading Toward Progressive Christianity by Alisa Childers