Stand to Reason Weekly Podcast

When Should You Interpret a Passage of Scripture Symbolically?

Greg answers questions about interpreting Scripture symbolically, distinguishing between the Lord’s discipline and suffering, how to get over a fear of talking about your faith, and whether Jesus was separated from the other persons of the Trinity on the cross.

 

Topics:

1. When should I interpret a passage of Scripture symbolically? (01:00)
2. What are your thoughts on the discipline of the Lord (Hebrews 12:4–11) vs. suffering we should push back on? (18:00)
3. How can people get over their irrational fear of talking to others about their faith? (31:00)
4. Is there any indication in the Bible that Jesus was separated from the other two persons of the Trinity as a result of the sin of humanity being placed on him? (46:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – April 19–20, 2024 in Augusta, GA
• A Simple Survey to Help Initiate Spiritual Conversations by Greg Koukl

Related Links:

• #STRask: In light of Hebrews 12:5–11, how can a Christian know when they’re being disciplined vs. experiencing a consequence of a sinful act?
• #STRask: Can you give any examples of what Christians are to expect in terms of God’s discipline?

Do We Have a Right to End Our Own Lives?

Greg talks about a case in the Netherlands where a 28-year-old woman who doesn’t want to live is planning to be euthanized, then he answers a question about how you can “trust in the Lord with all your heart” when our hearts are wicked.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Do we have a right to end our own lives? (00:00)
2. How do you “trust in the Lord with all your heart” when our hearts are wicked? (42:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• ‘I’m 28. And I’m Scheduled to Die in May.’ by Rupa Subramanya
• The age limit for euthanasia requests in the Netherlands: a Delphi study among paediatric experts – Journal of Medical Ethics
• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – April 19–20, 2024 in Augusta, GA

 

They Are Waking up to Reality

Greg talks about the current trend of people realizing their values can’t be sustained by an atheist worldview, then he answers questions about a common ancestor and transitional forms, prayer and God’s predestined plan, and advice for praying with OCD.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: They are waking up to reality. (00:00)
2. Do you agree with William Lane Craig that there’s evidence for a common ancestor and transitional forms? (10:00)
3. How effective are our prayers and petitions if God’s plan is predestined? Does God ever alter his plan because of our prayers, or are our prayers only answered when they’re already in line with God’s plan? (34:00)
4. Do you have any advice for me as I try to pray with OCD and feel like I have to get my words exactly right? (49:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – April 19–20, 2024 in Augusta, GA
• The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God: Why New Atheism Grew Old and Secular Thinkers Are Considering Christianity Again by Justin Brierley

The Unique Nature of a Total Eclipse of the Sun

Greg reflects on the unique nature of a total eclipse and his experience seeing one yesterday, then he describes conversations he had with people about Christianity while he was traveling and answers a question about the slippery slope fallacy.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: The unique nature of a total eclipse of the sun. (10:00)
2. Commentary: Two conversations (28:00)
3. If someone says he was born gay and we must just accept it, would it be a slippery slope fallacy to respond by saying that by that logic we would have to accept the idea that a murderer must be accepted because it’s who he is? (48:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – April 19–20, 2024 in Augusta, GA
• STR U Online Training
• Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers
• STR Outposts
• The Privileged Planet: How Our Place in the Cosmos Is Designed for Discovery by Jay W. Richards and Guillermo Gonzales

When It Comes to the Atonement, People Do Not Take the Blood Seriously

Greg discusses what the Bible says about penal substitutionary atonement, then he answers questions about what to do if your pastor secretly holds to pro-LGBTQ theology and why God no longer gives direct messages to people like he did in the Old Testament.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: When it comes to the atonement, people do not take the blood seriously. (05:00)
2. If you find out your pastor secretly holds to pro-LGBTQ theology, should you expose him to the church or leave quietly? (23:00)
3. Do you think people in the Old Testament got direct messages from God (through the prophets, etc.), and if so, why has this changed now? Has the Bible replaced the old means of communication? (47:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• STR U Online Training
• The Story of Reality: How the World Began, How It Ends, and Everything Important that Happens in Between by Greg Koukl
• The Fellowship: The Literary Lives of the Inklings: J.R.R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, Owen Barfield, Charles Williams by Philip and Carol Zaleski

Related Links:

• Gay or Straight, We All Must Decide if We Love Jesus above All Else by Amy Hall
• Be Willing to Submit to Our Good God on the Issue of Homosexuality by Amy Hall

Dawkins Says He’s a Cultural Christian

Greg talks about how Dawkins’s objections to Islam don’t make sense within his own worldview, then he answers a question from a caller about how a person can say something is right or wrong if they don’t believe in God.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Dawkins says he’s a cultural Christian. (00:00)
2. How can a person say something is right or wrong if they don't believe in God? (40:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Famous atheist says he identifies as a ‘cultural Christian’ and is ‘horrified’ by promotion of Islamic holiday by Hannah Grossman
• Stealing from God: Why Atheists Need God to Make Their Case by Frank Turek
• Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity’s Toughest Challenges by Greg Koukl
• Greg’s interview with Justin Brierley
• The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God: Why New Atheism Grew Old and Secular Thinkers Are Considering Christianity Again by Justin Brierley
• Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – April 19–20, 2024 in Augusta, GA

You Can Challenge Mandatory DEI Trainings

Greg talks about how religious accommodations are possible when it comes to DEI trainings, then he answers questions about restoring a friendship that broke up over theology and whether John 3:13 indicates Jesus was in Heaven while he was on earth.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: You can challenge mandatory DEI trainings. (00:00)
2. What can I do to restore a relationship with a friend who ended our friendship because I disagree with his Calvinism? (21:00)
3. Does John 3:13 indicate Jesus was in Heaven during the time he was also on earth? (41:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Can Religious Employees Challenge Mandated DEI Trainings? by Jorge Gomez for First Liberty
• The King James Only Controversy: Can You Trust Modern Translations? by James White

Greg’s Conversation with a Catholic on a Plane

Greg recounts a conversation he had with a Catholic campus ministry director on a plane, then he answers a question about rebaptism.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Greg’s conversation with a Catholic on a plane (00:00)
2. What do you think about rebaptism? (38:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – April 19–20, 2024 in Augusta, GA

Why Is the Question of Significance so Important?

Greg answers questions about whether one must believe in eternal generation to be saved, why the question of significance is so important, reconciling Matthew 7:21–23 with grace, and justifying self-defense in light of Jesus telling us to turn the other cheek.

 

Topics:

1. Is my salvation at stake if I don’t believe in eternal generation, contrary to the Athanasian Creed? (01:00)
2. Why is the question of significance the most important question facing America today? (11:00)
3. How do you reconcile Matthew 7:21–23 (“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of Heaven”) with other verses, like Ephesians 2:8–9, that describe a gospel of grace? (23:00)
4. Taking into consideration Matthew 5:38–39, where Jesus says to turn the other cheek, how do we justify self-defense? (42:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• The Deep Things of God: How the Trinity Changes Everything by Fred Sanders
• Retrieving Eternal Generation – Edited by Fred Sanders and Scott Swain
• Submit a question on the Open Mic Line
• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – March 22–23, 2024 in Philadelphia, PA; April 19–20, 2024 in Augusta, GA

The Sudden Finality of Death

Greg reflects on the sudden finality of death and what that means for how we should live, then he answers questions about whether the Apocrypha was in the Bible for 1,000 years before Protestants removed it and whether Jesus had a soul.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: The sudden finality of death (00:00)
2. Was the Apocrypha in the Bible for 1,000 years before Protestants removed it? (30:00)
3. Why would Jesus need a soul, and did he have one? (47:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – March 22–23, 2024 in Philadelphia, PA; April 19–20, 2024 in Augusta, GA
• Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers
• Scribes and Scripture: The Amazing Story of How We Got the Bible by John Meade and Peter Gurry

Related Links:

• Are Jesus’ Two Natures Compatible? by Melinda Penner