Shows
Truth Be ToldDo You ACTUALLY Love Mercy?Certain verses in the Bible act as summary verses for some of the complex and nuanced commands of God. They aren't meant to oversimplify or ignore the depth in the rest of Scripture but, in my view, to reorient the reader to the broader principles that we're being directed to.
One such passage is Micah 6:8 where God is talking to wayward Israel and tells them the 3 basic things He called them to - to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Him. In this episode we survey these 3 things, focusing primarily on the "love...2024-11-0816 minTruth Be ToldLessons In Transformation From the Staff of MosesIn Exodus 4, the staff of Moses is, in one way, transformed into something wholly unique and different from what it had ever been before. This change doesn't come with grandiose celebration or any sort of fanfare. In fact, most readers would probably gloss right over the change that takes place without paying it much attention.
However, when the staff of Moses becomes the staff of God, amazing symbolism takes place that correlates to Moses' own life which, in turn, should give us many things to think about in our own lives as well.
E...2024-05-1712 minTruth Be ToldDoubt: Faithfully Navigating Uncertainty - Discussion With Clint PorterI thoroughly enjoyed talking with my good friend Clint Porter about doubt (and faith and certainty and trust and knowledge and church cultures and the Dunning-Kruger effect and and and and and..).
Every Christian has moments of doubting and we can start to feel guilty for that, but it's highly likely that we're thinking of those moments all wrong.
In this episode we'll shed light on questions like - What do we mean when we say the word: doubt? What is faith? Can doubt ever be a good thing? How should we think about various...2024-05-101h 10Truth Be ToldWhat The What's A Wave Sheaf?Compared to Old Testament and First Century Israel, celebration of God's Holy Days have diminished significantly. Even those who keep the Holy Days often have a hard time genuinely celebrating them. With this decrease in outward festivity and joy has come a complete dissolving of some of the lesser biblical observances and traditions that occurred during the Holy Days themselves in antiquity.
One of these observances that probably wasn't taken too much notice of even in biblical times that has almost become devoid of meaning to the average biblical Christian is the Wave Sheaf Offering that took...2024-05-0334 minTruth Be ToldBridging the Gap: Overcoming Generational "Divides" in the ChurchThe things that run rampant in the culture of the world inevitably filter into the Church though, hopefully, to a lesser degree. One of these unfortunate things is the seeming desire to make division out of differences. Even in local church congregations where people, generally, have a lot in common, we find ways to divide ourselves contrary to Christ's prayer for us at the end of His physical life.
One of the biggest differences turned division in the Christian church is that of age. Younger people who have grown up seeing the mistakes of older people lose r...2024-04-2612 minTruth Be ToldScience vs. God: Finally Ending This Stupid DebateThe argument between science and God is finally put to rest here!
The idea that we need to take an either or approach to these two topics is a false dichotomy often leveled at Christians, so that antagonistic skeptics, atheists, and extreme naturalists can pretend like God isn't real just because He isn't hemmed in by their isolated field of study. A biblical approach to things allows for God, science, philosophy, history, morality, etc. to be unified under the banner of reality.
Christians - refuse to be made to feel as if taking the biblical...2024-04-1911 minTruth Be ToldThe Cautionary Tale of Moses*NOTE: throughout this episode I refer to Moses as a "murderer." I'd like it to be clear that I, personally, view Moses' action of killing the Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave as a justified act not worthy of the title of murder. Modern Torah readers, and even first century Christians (see Stephen's statement on this event) seem to view Moses' actions as appropriate, heroic social justice, and I agree that this is an appropriate interpretation. This being said, my use of the term "murderer" is meant to reflect the attitudes that, clearly, both the Egyptians and Hebrews...2024-04-1245 minTruth Be Told6 Tips To Help You Share Your Faith Without FearDiscussing our faith opens us up for criticism, critique, and antagonism from some and might alienate us from others. Talking about our beliefs is fine in some circles but uncomfortable in most others. This can put a Christian who believes they're supposed to be unashamed about their relationship with God at odds with themselves and create a lot of unease. Don't worry - you're not the only one!
How do we balance the understanding that Christians should be ready, willing, and able to share their faith with the paralyzing fear that inevitably crops up when w...2024-04-0524 minTruth Be ToldWhat's That Foot-Washing Thing All About Anyways?With the topic of foot-washing entering the public eye with the "He Gets Us" campaign Super Bowl commercial, it felt appropriate to look into the topic to clear away some of the wrong ideas surrounding the practice.
Who did it? To who? For What?
Often, the people that actively perform foot-washing as a Christian practice either think that it's a generic act to be done for anyone in order to show yourself a servant to all OR see it as some sort of rededication or recommitment to God.
This second mentality is closer t...2024-03-2924 minTruth Be ToldWhen They Call You NamesThose who worship Jesus Christ have been called all kinds of derogatory things since biblical times. We're told this is expected to continue as we get closer and closer to the time of Jesus' return.
In this episode we look at 4 names leveled against people of the faith during the time of the New Testament and the responses of the ones facing the criticism. Modern aggression towards Christianity hasn't changed all that much and some of the names are still in use today! By looking at what early believers did when they were called names, we can b...2024-03-2238 minTruth Be ToldRuss Ramsey Interview: Why Does Beauty Matter?Russ Ramsey is a pastor and author from Tennessee with a vested interest in art and how it communicates to us on a fundamental level. In this interview we use his fantastic book, "Rembrandt Is In The Wind," as a jumping off point to discussing the broad topic of beauty.
In a world that is obsessed with image, are we overvaluing beauty or are we just using an improper definition? What is the balance a Christian might want to aim for when considering beauty versus aesthetic obsession?
We also discuss a few specific paintings and...2024-03-1552 minTruth Be ToldGod Works In Mysterious Ways - Or Does He?The phrase, "God works in mysterious ways," is so commonplace in Christian circles that it often gets mistaken for a Bible verse. Any time we perceive that God has worked in a way we don't expect, we might shrug our shoulders and say this. However, should His workings be mysterious to us?
Of course, God is all-powerful, all-knowing, omnipresent, etc. His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. We're SUPPOSED to look at the work that God does and marvel at it, but this doesn't mean we should be surprised at it. 2024-03-0851 minTruth Be ToldIs the Bible TOO Perfect, or Too IMPERFECT? Textual Analysis of Eyewitness AccountsThe Bible is a complex series of books. It bears the marks of God in its cohesiveness across time, cultures, and personalities foretelling the end from the beginning and it bears the marks of humanity in its reflection of circumstances, periods in history, and perspectives. It wasn't perfectly understood at the times it was written and it isn't perfectly understood now because it is a book meant to gain clarity as times and seasons come into fulfillment.
As we continue to search the Scriptures to gain clarity, we can be faced with the predicament of not understanding...2024-03-0137 minTruth Be ToldShould Christians Be Team Life or Team Death?The Stoic philosopher, Seneca, offered a lot of wisdom on the topic of death - how to die well, how not to fear death, and how to live more fully in light of the knowledge that death is inevitable. Some, however, accused Seneca of being "obsessed with death," to which he might say, "No! You are obsessed with life!"
Which team should the Christian be on? Though so many want to paint the Old Testament as a collection of harsh, judgement books with no mercy in view and the New Testament as one of compassion, when considering...2024-02-2325 minTruth Be ToldThe Uncomplicated Connection Between Doom and HopeThere is a constant debate going on regarding the Church's messaging to the world. Should we "cry aloud and spare not" reflecting the sins of the world back at them, hoping to convict the world of its evil, and drawing hard lines in the sand about moral rightness? Or, should we recognize the broken state of the world and try to share the hope that surrounds what Jesus Christ has done, is doing, and will do in the future in an effort to toss a life raft to those who appear to be drowning?
Doom or hope...2024-02-1621 minTruth Be ToldTrip to Israel: Days 15a and b, 16a, 17a, b, and c, and 18: Leaving Israel, Border Crossing, Petra, Mt. Nebo, Tel Al Hammam (Sodom), and Amman, Traveling HomeTHE FINAL EPISODE!
This episode clips along at a pretty good pace - a lot to see and hear about, but this recounting of events matches the feeling of trekking across Israel, barely making it into the country of Jordan, and seeing all there is to see before getting out of the country. It all blurred together and happened so quickly that, despite having 3 days in Jordan, it felt more like wandering in the wilderness trying to make our way home, just like the Israelites did thousands of years before.
The border crossing was a...2024-02-091h 23Truth Be ToldTrip to Israel: Days 13 a, b, c, d, and 14: Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Shopping in the Muslim Quarter, The Garden Tomb, October 7th Attack on IsraelOUR FINAL DAYS IN ISRAEL!
I am feeling almost as sad about this as I was at the time of actually leaving Israel. However, all good things must come to an end and this is no exception.
Of course, this series won't be over with this episode because we still traveled into Jordan and there's a lot to talk about there that I'd be remiss not to mention.
On Day 13 in Israel we visited the two primary proposed sites of Jesus' crucifixion, burial, and resurrection: the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the...2024-02-021h 16Truth Be ToldTrip to Israel: Day 12a, b, c, and d: Temple Mount, Pool of Bethesda, Shiloh, and City of David Light ShowThe temple mount was a surreal experience. To have stood closer to the proposed spot of the Holy of Holies than most of my biblical heroes could have in their time was humbling. Being there while it was almost deserted was ethereal. Picturing the layout of the first century scenery was enlightening. Standing at the Dome of the Rock, facing the Mt. of Olives, and looking up at the sky where Jesus says He'll return from was amazing.
We continued this slower-paced, contemplative day by walking to the pool of Bethesda where Jesus healed a lame man...2024-01-261h 00Truth Be ToldTrip to Israel: Day 11a, b, and c: Masada, Qumran, and the Dead SeaMasada is one of the most sobering stories in Jewish history. The final stand of the first Jewish Revolt following the destruction of the temple by Rome saw 960 inhabitants kill themselves rather than be captured or defeated by their enemies. To this day, the swearing in ceremony of the Israeli military swears that what happened at Masada will never be repeated.
Qumran isn't much to look at, though the rock formations are beautiful, but what this location means for the trust we can have in the accuracy of the Hebrew Bible is monumental. Despite only being a...2024-01-191h 09Truth Be ToldTrip to Israel: Day 10a, b, c, d, and e: Gethsemane, Western Wall, Temple Institute, City of David and Jerusalem Tour, Hezekiah’s Tunnel and Pool of Siloam**LINK TO PICTURES DOWN BELOW**
Day 10 was, by far, our busiest day in Israel. For one, the buses couldn't follow us into the narrow streets of Old Jerusalem so, basically, we were a walking tour for most of the day. Looking back, I'm surprised by how familiarized I was with the layout of the city by the end of this day. Even though it just felt like endless stairs and turns down outdoor corridors opening up into various sites and quarters, and a lot of the sides of the retaining walls to the Temple Mount look the...2024-01-111h 05Truth Be ToldTrip to Israel: Day 9a, b, and c: Beit She’an, First Look at Jerusalem, Israel MuseumPrior to leaving the region of Galilee we stopped at Beit She'an, the historical location where Saul and his son's bodies were hung by the Philistines after they died at Mt. Gilboa. I took a bit of detour from the main group to climb to the top which made me feel anxious but turned out alright.
We, then, drove south to Jerusalem, passing Jericho on the way. Finally seeing the city itself was definitely worth having its own section in the episode, and our first stop in the city itself was the Israel Museum.
This...2024-01-051h 03Truth Be ToldTrip to Israel: Day 8a, b, and c: Caesarea Philippi, Tel Dan, and the Syrian BorderDay 8 was our last full day in the region of Galilee before heading down/up to Jerusalem for the remainder of the Feast of Tabernacles.
In this episode we'll walk through the proclamation by Peter when he stated at Caesarea Philippi that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God. We'll also talk about how the landscape of this area plays a big part in interpreting this conversation between Jesus and His disciples.
At Tel Dan, we walk through an ancient city viewing the ruins of an altar set up by Jeroboam at the time of...2023-12-2956 minTruth Be ToldTrip to Israel: Day 7: The Sabbath and MagdalaOn this day in Israel we balanced resting on the Sabbath day (seeing what that looked like on a national scale) and still seeing some incredible sites. Specifically, we visited the town of Magdala, home of Mary Magdalene, where we strolled through the ruins and learned about the first century synagogue uncovered there. It's likely that Jesus Himself would have taught at this synagogue at some point.
The most important biblical/historical/archeological find here is known as the Magdala Stone which depicts temple instruments as they would have looked prior to its destruction in 70AD. This...2023-12-2143 minTruth Be ToldTrip to Israel: Day 6a, b, c, d, and e: Hazor, Mt. of Beatitudes, Capernaum, Jesus Boat, Boat Ride on the GalileeFriday, just prior to the Sabbath, we had a full day of touring in Israel. The biblical site of Hazor was first on the agenda. This is one of the largest archeological sites in all of Israel and is also one of the earliest, in-tact sites.
The Mt. of Beatitudes, though less certain that Jesus would have actually spoken at exactly this location, is home to a beautiful church overlooking the sea of Galilee. It's a nice place to reflect on Jesus' words and, if it isn't the place Jesus spoke His famous sermon, it's reminiscent of i...2023-12-151h 02Truth Be ToldTrip to Israel: Day 5a, b, and c: Caesarea Maritime, Mt. Carmel, and MegiddoThe rest of our group joined us on this day for our touring and trip up to the Galilee region. First, we stopped at Caesarea Maritime to see another of Herod's constructions. Paul was on trial in this area and was, presumably, sent to Rome from here. This was also the site of Rabbi Akiva's death in the 130s A.D.
On Mt. Carmel we got a panoramic view of the various mountains in Israel and a lesson in the story of Elijah and the prophets of Ba'al.
Our last stop of the day was M...2023-12-081h 03Truth Be ToldTrip to Israel: Day 4a, b, and c: Herodium, Bethlehem, Valley of David and GoliathWe are currently caught up at the rate of 1 episode per day (we'll see how long it lasts)! On Day 4 of touring we ventured into the West Bank for the first time to see one of Herod the Great's most impressive architectural structures: Herodium. This constructed mountain became one of his primary places of rulership within sight of Jerusalem where he would host dignitaries and important people. This also became his Mausoleum after his death until his tomb was raided in later years, most likely by members of Jewish rebellion against Rome.
We also toured the Church...2023-12-011h 09Truth Be ToldTrip to Israel: Day 3b, c, and d: Nazareth, Akko, and HaifaThis episode wraps up day 3 in Israel going through the sites of Nazareth, Akko (Acre), and Haifa.
At this point in the trip we are still in the Northern part of Israel with Nazareth in the land allotted to Zebulun, Akko being in the land allotted to Asher, and Haifa near the border of Asher and Manasseh.
The primary sites here are the Church of Annunciation, the Hospitaller Fortress, and the Baha'i Gardens on Mt. Carmel.
Pictures: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1zlyZDyWOWUf8rumN2_YW2jW3FpVOkXXN?usp=drive_link
...2023-11-241h 07Truth Be ToldSaul, the Good Shepherd?It's widely known that Saul didn't end up being a good king for Israel. However, most people read the stories surrounding his start and miss something pivotal that the biblical author of 1 Samuel is trying to show us. Did you miss it too?
Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com
Logo: Matt Hernandez
Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly
2023-11-1714 minTruth Be ToldTrip to Israel: Day 2 and 3a: Atonement and TzipporiI think I said the word "interesting" in this episode about 500 times, followed closely by the word "beautiful." If you have grace for that minor annoyance, this episode covers my 2nd day in Israel (first full day), and the first stop of our intentional touring: Tzippori.
While not a site expressly mentioned in Scripture, Tzippori or Sepphoris is an important site for archeologists and historians and it gives a great backdrop to a few really important biblical stories and characters including Jesus Himself. This site was a prime example showing that someone (like me) first coming into...2023-11-101h 06Truth Be ToldTrip to Israel: Day 1; Travel, First Impressions, and JoppaSince returning from Israel, I've been struggling to know what to do with the information I picked up while there. It seems a waste to have gained so much from such a transformative trip, only to have that gain be for no purpose or benefit to anyone else.
On the other hand, stories and explanations fall so short of the desired goal and can sometimes end up being boring and self-indulgent.
After a lot of consideration, it seems to me that I have to AT LEAST try to put "pen to paper," as it were, an...2023-10-2743 minTruth Be ToldWomen Angels?On this episode we begin an exploration into the enigmatic spiritual realm of angelic beings. Drawing from a bible class conversation, we delve into their multifaceted roles as guardians, messengers, and more. As we navigate through scriptural references and visions, we ponder the intriguing question: Are there women angels?
This discussion centers around divine communication, metaphoric language in prophecy, and gender's significance in the celestial context. Uncover the profound complexities of the angelic nature as we challenge assumptions and embrace the mysteries that lie beyond our comprehension.
Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com
M...2023-08-2353 min
The Kubik ReportFrom Micah Gunn: Dr. Frank Turek Interview: Apologetics For Apologetics
Micah Gunn has given me permission to repost his his podcast Truth Be Told podcast (https://truthbetoldpodcast.podbean.com) with noted radio host Dr. Frank Turek posted originally on August 12, 2022 at https://truthbetoldpodcast.podbean.com/e/dr-frank-turek-interview-apologetics-for-apologetics/
In this episode of Truth Be Told, Dr. Frank Turek and Micah Gunn offer up a defense for the discipline of Apologetics. The defense of the Christian faith is not only something that is under attack from skeptics, but also Christians who incorrectly believe that an evidential approach to the truth claims of the Bible somehow hinders or infringes on an...2023-08-0635 minTruth Be ToldTheology, Christology, Humanology: A Partnership Between God and ManMost are familiar with Theology, some are familiar with Christology, but in this study we take a look at a term coined specifically for this - humanology. If the Bible is the story of God and man, how do we understand these two major players?
Often we tend to look at humanity (either through ourselves as individuals or through the whole) and gain a very low estimation of ourselves. Sometimes scripture even seems to support this low estimation. Certainly we shouldn't think too highly of ourselves.
However, if we look through the eyes of God...2023-07-1445 minTruth Be ToldWhy Should We Be Honest?Honesty is often thought to be relegated to whether or not we tell the truth. However, whether a person is honest or dishonest has so much more to do with overall character and virtue.
While this is all well and good, it does provoke the question, why are we expected to be good, virtuous, morally upright, and honest people? Is it because being an honest person is the least harmful thing to be? Is it because God said so and that should settle the matter?
In this brief episode we get to the bedrock of...2023-07-0711 minTruth Be ToldGod Moves. We Don’t Move Him. We Move TO Him.Odd title, I know. What kind of study could possible come from the "movement" of God? What does the Bible even have to say about something as obscure as this?
Surprisingly, a lot.
Through this study we'll take a look at Ancient Israel's views on where God is, how He moves, and in what manner He interacts with the physical world to show the slippery slope the human mind can be on when considering the boundlessness of God.
Is there anywhere in your life that you believe God cannot move to? Are there a...2023-06-2941 minTruth Be ToldAnger With God Is Sin. Take Comfort.Anger is a natural part of being human. Knowing this, seeing how often anger is prevalent in godly people written about in scripture, and experiencing the mercy of God when we show anger to Him can start to make us feel like anger against God is okay.
However, if we look analytically at the topics of sin, root causes of anger, and God's nature, a clear picture begins to emerge showing how unjustified our frustration with God actually is.
If we gain a clearer understanding of God's goodness, the reasons for our anger, and God's r...2023-04-2858 minTruth Be ToldHow Great Is Our God?It is so common to feel lacking and unworthy in the face of our great God. This feeling of uselessness pervades the non-religious world as well, in my view, because they lack belief in God. However, Christians are not immune to situations like this especially when we sin and fall short of the glory of God.
We might begin to ask ourselves- what do I have to offer? What could He possibly want with me?
Maybe we even begin coming up with false scenarios in our heads about how He really doesn't want us but He...2023-04-1525 minTruth Be ToldStudy of Love: Love Is Not Puffed UpIn this continuation of the study of love, we analyze love not being puffed up. This phrase, on the surface, is relatable since the concept of a prideful person being "filled with hot air" has transcended time.
However, by bringing this characteristic out of the verse to understand it as a concept can help us when we place it back into correct context.
Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com
Music: Pop-Rock Beautiful By Twisterium
Logo: Matt Hernandez
2023-03-2526 min
Multiverse MonologuesShazam 2 Review, James Gunn is directing Superman, Ben Affleck on THE FLASH, The Oscars and MORE.Time Codes0:00 - Intro4:22 - The Oscars10:14 - Superman: Legacy will be directed by James Gunn19:04 - Ben Affleck on being Batman27:18 - Zach Snyder Darkseid tease30:33 - Daredevil: Born Again casting33:26 - Lost Documentary37:23 - D&D movie is Good?38:33 - Marvel News42:05 - Hayden Christensen on Clone Wars44:07 - The Last of Us49:17 - Shazam: Fury of the GodsHello there and welcome back to Multiverse Monologues! This week we discuss...2023-03-181h 25Truth Be ToldDemystifying Bible ProphecyThough I believe this topic is way bigger than can be expressed in a 35 minute episode, I felt it was worth it to discuss bible prophecy in an effort to demystify it for those who hesitate to study it.
Though it's a genre that can be difficult to interpret and read, we shouldn't shy away from it but embrace it as God's word praying that He will lead us into greater understanding as time goes on. If biblical prophecy is a mountain, take it one step at a time and keep the end in mind the entire...2023-03-1034 minTruth Be ToldWhy Do The Righteous Suffer?The Bible often asks the question, why do the wicked prosper? We can tend to ask this question too but, many times, what we want to know is: why do the righteous suffer? We can be convinced that it's fine that the wicked prosper as long as it doesn't mean our frustration or misery.
In this message originally given in Columbus, Ohio, we go through the Old and New Testaments to find examples of people who, like us, questioned God's judgement in dealing with both the righteous and the wicked and, hopefully, take away three points.
2023-02-2554 minTruth Be ToldWorthy To Wash His FeetThe Passover is incredibly rich in meaning connecting both the Old and New Testaments in its symbolism.
This episode briefly explores why modern Christians should continue to observe the Passover and highlights on the symbols of the Passover - the bread and the wine - before diving into the less remembered portion of the evening that Christ and His disciples observed prior to His crucifixion - the foot washing.
In this examination of the foot washing, we also examine ourselves in order to realize just how unworthy we are, not only to have our feet w...2023-02-1631 minTruth Be ToldChristian Women Post This?This episode walks through a post that has been circulating on social media dealing with God's interactions with men and women. Within this post, several premises are listed that seem scripturally based but offer more eisegesis than exegesis. The claims center around the idea that men in the Bible ascended up mountains to commune with God while He meets women where they are to accommodate their day to day lives. Through this study we should learn good methods for questioning everything against the backdrop of scripture and find the points where this post sounds good, but falls short of...2023-02-1032 minTruth Be ToldThe Kubik Report Interview: Fundamentals of ApologeticsThis is the first interview I've been a part of where I'm not the one conducting the interview. It was a privilege to be able to speak to the former president of the United Church of God, and my good friend, Victor Kubik on the topic of apologetics. I hope this episode going over some of the fundamentals is beneficial and might inspire you to look into the study yourself. Apologetics is a fantastic tool for any Christian to keep on hand.
Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com
Music: Pop-Rock Beautiful By Twisterium
L...2023-02-0548 minTruth Be Told1 Kings 17:1-16 Elijah and the WidowOften those who study the Bible fall into the habit of researching a biblical topic and spanning the scriptures to find support when speaking on or discussing said topic. While there is nothing wrong with this approach, allowing that one is careful not to force scripture to support an unbiblical belief, it can often limit our ability to engage in verse by verse study.
God inspired scripture and I believe there is a methodology to why He had it written the way He did. It can be incredibly valuable to read through whole books, chapters, or sections a...2023-01-1815 minTruth Be ToldReturn to God’s PresenceBy looking at Ancient Israel's relationship to God's presence, modern Christians can get a glimpse of how we might differ in our estimation of God's Spirit dwelling in us. Do we fear the presence of God appropriately as the glory of the all-powerful, living God? Do we celebrate this incredible reality that the ancients only dreamed of?
Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com
Music: Pop-Rock Beautiful By Twisterium
Logo: Matt Hernandez
2022-12-0212 minTruth Be ToldThe King Has ConqueredI gave this (short) sermon in Columbus, Ohio on September 24, 2022.
This message is about refuting the idea that Jesus Christ did not come as a conquering King at His first coming. This statement has become so commonplace in Christian circles, that very few question it as anything less than gospel truth. However, just because the Jewish people who rejected Jesus as Messiah had a certain view of what a conquering King was supposed to do, does not mean that Christ, in no way, conquered. While He did not come, initially, to overthrow corrupt government or t...2022-10-0634 minTruth Be ToldAll Things to All Men: Context to Paul’s EvangelismWhen the Apostle Paul states that he became as all things to all men so that he might win some to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God, it might tend to sound hypocritical to some who want to understand exactly how to apply this to their own interactions with people outside of the faith. Did Paul just put on a face or an act in order to endear people to him, or is something else going on here?
In this episode we take a look at one prime example of Paul's efforts at...2022-08-3017 minTruth Be ToldDr. Frank Turek Interview: Apologetics For ApologeticsIn this episode of Truth Be Told, Dr. Frank Turek and Micah Gunn offer up a defense for the discipline of Apologetics. The defense of the Christian faith is not only something that is under attack from skeptics, but also Christians who incorrectly believe that an evidential approach to the truth claims of the Bible somehow hinders or infringes on an individual's faith. Some might believe that an answer to God's calling should be wholly apart from evidence or logic, and others might think that utilizing logical argumentation or extrabiblical sources are misguided attempts to seek God with manmade...2022-08-1235 minTruth Be ToldWhat About Original Sin?In this episode we take a look at the term "original sin," which has long been dominated by a single perspective stretching back to the early 400's A.D. Essentially, what most people understand about this concept upon any base-level study, is that it has its origins in an argument between a man named Augustine and another named Pelagius. Eventually, Augustine won the debate via support from the organized church at the time as well as a few other early church fathers. However, while most have considered this debate to be a closed case and the term "original sin"...2022-07-0856 minTruth Be ToldTruth, Belief, Faith, and Hope - A Biblical Understanding of Terms as They Relate to PentecostThis is a sermon that I gave on the day of Pentecost celebrating the initial outpouring of God's Spirit on His church nearly 2,000 years ago.
In this message I attempt to highlight the intricate difference (though intimately connected) concepts of truth, belief, faith, and hope. Often, modern students of the Bible confuse the terms faith and belief as being interchangeable. This misunderstanding, along with the fact that ancient Greeks and Hebrews only had one term each (used in various contexts to show distinction) to express these two concepts makes it nearly impossible to gain any context on t...2022-06-1047 minTruth Be ToldThe Faith it Takes to ListenListening is one of the hardest things for people to do. We're very good at discussing, informing, and telling - but listening takes a certain humility that can be very difficult.
In this study we look at the importance of listening to God, examples of how people have not listened in the past, as well as good examples of people that listened to very difficult instruction or sayings from God.
By taking a look at this topic we should, hopefully, have a more gracious approach to those in the Bible who didn't listen (by realizing t...2022-05-3133 minTruth Be ToldMoon Knight, Idolatry, and the SupernaturalAfter watching the new Marvel series, Moon Knight, I was struck with how much it seemed to be in line with my spiritual worldview. Particularly one fight scene depicting Khonshu and Ammit in their full, towering forms battling in the backdrop of a physical fight between Moon Knight and Arthur Harrow.
How can we learn about the spiritual world from a TV show about super heroes? Where did I get the idea that the Bible might somehow relate to a fight scene between ancient Egyptian deities? Isn't the spiritual world made up of God, Satan, and the...2022-05-1344 minTruth Be ToldHow Do We Respond to ”New Ideas”?New ideas can almost become taboo within Christianity. The primary elements of our faith have been around for a long time and we believe we can trace our roots back to the beginning of time when our God created all things - what else could there be that is new for us to consider? Also, doesn't much of the New Testament warn us against "new ideas"?
Sometimes new ideas aren't actually all that new, and sometimes, something presented as a new idea is really only a new perspective. However, if we react to some of these things...2022-04-211h 02Truth Be ToldExpectation vs. Reality of Christ’s CallingThough many sayings of Christ have been interpreted different ways over time and some can be a bit confusing if not placed in the right context - His instruction, "follow Me," was always presented in a clear and concise way and remains unchanged throughout the centuries. His call to men and women in the 1st century is applicable to you today but, just like some men and women in the 1st century, sometimes our expectation of Christ's call doesn't always match the reality of it.
Are we ready to follow Christ wherever He leads us? Are we r...2022-04-0813 minTruth Be ToldLearning From Satan’s MistakesChristians are called to love their enemies, pray for their enemies, and treat their enemies with kindness - but this doesn't mean we should be glad when an enemy succeeds against us. If an enemy makes a mistake while trying to cause harm to us, that should be a good thing.
Christians deal with more than just disapproval, or even persecution, from others, but also a continuous persecution from a host of spiritual adversaries, with Satan as their chief. Fortunately for us, even when Satan's plans all seem to work out in his favor, we serve a...2022-03-1809 minTruth Be ToldFinding Yourself In Bible ProphecyOften Christians can get caught up in the idea that the Bible is a historical book that, periodically, "comes alive" whenever a particularly interesting subject is brought up. However, the Bible speaks of itself as "living," not, merely, resurrected when our interest is piqued.
The people of the New Testament lived their lives believing they had the Bible in the Old Testament, unaware that they were to be primary subjects in the Bibles that we have today. Could we be making the same mistake in thinking that the Bible is about people who lived in the past r...2022-03-0430 minTruth Be ToldDr. Peter Gurry Interview: Textual CriticismIn this episode Dr. Peter Gurry and I explore the topic of textual criticism, or textual reliability, which is a practice used across many literary works, including the text of Scripture. While gaining a better understanding on the topic, it should be come clear that textual criticism, while fascinating and valuable as a study for Christians, should never be a study that ones faith hangs on. The Bible has been proven to be textually reliable, though there is still so much to look into and ask questions about, and trust in the text is well founded.
2022-02-1149 minTruth Be ToldWhat is Your Value?So many people struggle with feeling valuable. Fortunately, our value isn't up to us, or even those around us. We were bought with a price and that price is the, immensely valuable, sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
In this episode we study the concept of value and take a look at the analogy used by Peter between "corruptible things like silver and gold" and the blood of Christ to see what deeper meaning we can draw out.
Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com
Music: Pop-Rock Beautiful By Twisterium
Logo: Matt Hernandez
2022-02-0415 minTruth Be ToldLouis Markos Interview: Virtue and MythDr. Louis Markos and I discuss virtue, myth, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and pagan writers. How do we think about pagan writers? How do we think about truth?
Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com
Video: Jamie Schreiber
Logo: Matt Hernandez
Music: Pop-Rock Beautiful, By Twisterium
2022-01-2145 minTruth Be ToldVoice of the Martyrs (Todd Nettleton) Interview: Christian PersecutionAll across the world, and increasingly in western nations, Christianity is facing heavy persecution. Voice of the Martyrs is an organization dedicated to assisting the persecuted in furthering the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God in hostile nations. In this interview I speak with Todd Nettleton, Chief of Media relations for VOM, about some of these persecuted people he's come in contact with, the concept of persecution in general, and what our takeaway should be as Christians who aren't currently facing heavy persecution.
While Christians persecuted in far away nations might seem distant and...2021-12-2828 minTruth Be ToldDr. Christopher Yuan Interview: Holy SexualityDr. Christopher Yuan joins Truth Be Told in an interview regarding Holy Sexuality. Identity and sexuality often get mixed up in today's society, but that absolutely shouldn't be the case. Whether you are someone struggling with same-sex attraction, someone frustrated by singleness, or someone wrestling with sexuality and faith - this episode is for you. Join us as we unpack some of the hard questions - what do I do if I struggle with same-sex attraction? How can I better minister to my friends with sexuality difficulties? What does the Bible say about being single? What should we be...2021-11-2658 minTruth Be ToldBarna Group (Savannah Kimberlin) Interview: The State of Faith in America and What We Can Do About ItWhat is the state of faith in America? Why are young people leaving the church? Can we, as individuals, make any kind of difference in our churches? How do we help the church in its mission to expand through the preaching of the Gospel, and maintain through the care of the people when we don't influence the organizational level?
These are all questions I discuss with Director of Research Analytics, Savannah Kimberlin of the Barna Group to help equip us to deal with the problems facing followers of Jesus Christ.
Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.c...2021-11-1238 minTruth Be ToldDoes God Hate Animals?Does God's placement of animals below humans in His creation, and His command for animal sacrifice in the Old Testament mean that God doesn't care about animals? In today's episode I respond to an animal rights activist's frustration at these thoughts on Christianity shared by many who believe Christian values don't include animal life.
Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com
Music: Pop-Rock Beautiful By Twisterium
Logo: Matt Hernandez
2021-11-0323 minTruth Be ToldApologetics For the Feast of TabernaclesThe Feast of Tabernacles is a celebration commanded by God in Leviticus 23. Some may have never heard of it, some may know a lot about the historicity of the days but not see them as personally relevant, and some may actively keep the Feast of Tabernacles (along with God's other commanded observances). In this episode I will make the case, from scripture, that the Feast of Tabernacles is not something "done away with," and is an observance that we should still keep today. The points I will use are as follows:
The Feast of Tabernacles is a...2021-10-2250 minTruth Be ToldStudy of Love: Love Is Not ProudPaul follows "love does not boast" with the phrase, "love is not proud." Just like Jesus Christ in His ministry, the Apostle Paul shows us an elevation idea. Not only do we have to be careful in our outward actions, but also in our inward thoughts and feelings as, boasting is the external expression of pride.
Pride leaves no room for love of others, love of God, or appropriate love of self, so Paul leaves no room for the love of pride in his description of the type of love a Christian is called to.
2021-10-0911 minTruth Be ToldThe Current, Former ThingsThe Christian life is full of duality as we struggle to live like we are more and more a part of the life we are looking forward to in God's Kingdom, while still currently living as human beings in this world with all of its pressures and stresses and commitments. How do we reconcile this split reality?
In this episode we look at how Christ dealt with the things listed in Revelation 21:4 that will be "former things" in God's Kingdom. Christ was fully Man and fully God in His walk on Earth and He was able to l...2021-09-1540 minTruth Be ToldThe Enemy‘s PlaybookEvery single person called by God needs to wake up to the fact that we are called into the middle of spiritual warfare. Those who have gone before us realized this truth, understood that they were what was being fought over, and comprehended that they were called to take an active part in fighting against the spiritual forces against them.
Satan the devil and all those who fight with him are a malicious and organized system designed for our destruction and they have perfected their style of warfare over the thousands of years of human history.
...2021-08-3114 minTruth Be ToldFaithful ThomasIn this episode we look into the life of the Apostle Thomas and attempt to go through a process of:
1. Not accepting something just because someone says it or says it often
2. Reading the text for ourselves
3. Applying context (cultural, historical, literary) to the scripture we look at
that can be used to dispel all kinds of presuppositions we have about the Bible so that we can study more effectively and begin to think more critically about the text of scripture. Even if you already know all of the i...2021-08-2633 minTruth Be ToldHapax LegomenaOften, speakers at churches, conferences, or just in conversation will give expositions about certain words found within the Bible. A common tactic, is to do a brief word study and, to add credence to the fact that their topic is important, announce the number of times the word they've chosen as their topic appears in the Bible. The inference, if speakers and listeners are not careful, that can be taken away from this, is that the more often a word appears in the text of scripture, the more important it is to the section of scripture, to the Bible...2021-08-0615 minTruth Be ToldO King, Live ForeverWhen Daniel says the words, "O King, live forever," to king Darius of the Persian empire, it should cause us to ask ourselves some questions. Why would Daniel say this to a national enemy? Was it just a phrase or a nicety meant to pacify a ruler, or did Daniel mean what he said?
With the geopolitical landscape being a hotbed of disagreement and fuming frustration, and the world itself becoming increasingly more divided along various lines that sometimes even overlap, we could look at nearly anyone on Earth as an enemy to us in something if...2021-07-2123 minTruth Be ToldHave You Ever Used This Bible Verse Out of Context?This episode is a verse by verse study of Psalm 46 culminating in an evaluation of Psalm 46:10, which is a so commonly used out of context. Odds are you have heard or seen someone use this verse out of context or you have even used it out of context yourself! Join us as we take a brief look at what this Psalmist is saying throughout this Psalm, what context we SHOULD read verse 10 in, why it's important to not take sections of scripture out of context, and why we might be tempted to.
Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.co...2021-07-1424 minTruth Be ToldChallenge YourselfWhen we think of the word challenge, a number of real life examples probably come to mind, but they are probably all things we want to get through, overcome, or leave behind us. None of us consider challenge to be a place we want to remain in. However, following Christ, who lived a life of challenge and died a challenging death, is guaranteed to come with some amount of suffering, struggle, and/or difficulty. With this in mind, we can redirect our understanding of challenges to not represent things we desperately want to wish away, but rather something we...2021-07-0924 minTruth Be ToldHow Do I Know What My Spiritual Gifts Are?Spiritual gifts are such a hot topic amongst Christian communities. We treat them like superpowers we should be on the lookout for after we receive God's Holy Spirit and we wonder what our unique talents and abilities are or will be. In this message, given in Columbus, Ohio, I discuss the absolute best way to determine what our gifts from God are. Hyper charismatic churches attempt to boast that God is working miraculous things in their churches because their attendees truly believe He can. The implication is that other Christians, that don't subscribe to health and wealth gospels, DON'T...2021-07-0621 minTruth Be ToldStudy of Love: Love Does Not BoastHow can Paul say with confidence, love does not boast, when he admits to boasting in 2nd Corinthians? How can we be called to not ever boast, when we have examples like David boasting in God? Is it ever okay to boast, or were these great men admitting to just being unloving in their boasts of various things?
Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com
Music: Pop-Rock Beautiful By Twisterium
Thumbnail Logo: Matt Hernandez
2021-06-3018 minTruth Be ToldLessons From Mark 9: The Transfiguration and the Boy With the Unclean SpiritMark 9 is such an amazing chapter of the Gospels full of rich narrative, awesome typology, lessons about the crucifixion, resurrection, glory, and deity of Christ, and a cool example of Christ using real-life, real-time events as teachable moments for His disciples. Many know the narrative account but sometimes, when presented with narrative, we read only to know what happened, and stop reading to draw out lessons for ourselves. Join me in this study as I go through the account of the transfiguration and the healing of a boy possessed by an unclean spirit to put these two stories in...2021-06-0457 minTruth Be ToldStudy of Love: Love Does Not EnvyWhen Paul says the simple phrase, love does not envy, we can miss such an important message if we don't stop to look at what exactly this implies. Whenever we study we should be asking ourselves, and God, questions. "If love does not envy, why DOES it do? Why doesn't love envy? Can you ever envy and love at the same time? What exactly does it mean to envy?
Join me as I continue through the study of love from 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 as we learn more about God (as He is described as love incarnate), what is...2021-05-2112 minTruth Be ToldWhere is My Tongue of Fire? Where are the Rushing Winds?In Acts 2, we read of the account of the Holy Spirit being poured out on the Early Church during the Day of Pentecost. This account can be inspiring and encouraging as we study our roots and see the power of God, but it can also be a bit disheartening as we live our day to day lives without always seeing grand visible miracles as proof of the Holy Spirit within us.
We might ask ourselves or God, where are our tongues of fire? Where is the rushing wind as we receive the Holy Spirit at baptism and t...2021-05-1915 minTruth Be ToldDetective J. Warner Wallace Interview: Evidence for ChristianityChristianity, oftentimes amongst skeptics, is made out to be nothing more than a fairytale but, in reality, Christianity is the most well-evidenced belief in existence. No other faith has as much proof of its accuracy than Christianity and the cumulative case becomes impossible to stand up against when faced honestly.
Join us on Truth Be Told as we discuss the rationality and evidence of Christianity with theologian, apologist, and cold-case detective, J. Warner Wallace of Cold Case Christianity.
If you have doubts about your faith or don't have answers to certain skeptic's attacks, don't be s...2021-04-2338 minTruth Be ToldHe First Loved UsJust a few thoughts on the incredible God we serve. God's entire plan is selfless. It is to offer us something we could never deserve, not in demanding things of us, but in showing us the right way to live through the example of Jesus Christ as He humbles Himself, kneels to the Earth to wash away the sins of mankind, and then asks that we kneel, in turn, to worship Him. Christ went first and, although it shows His humility, in our eyes it should elevate God all the more for the amazing love He shows us first.2021-04-1009 minTruth Be ToldStudy of Love: Love Is KindThe word "kind" gets confused with so many other things. If we don't understand kindness, we might be misunderstanding love as well.
Kindness is not niceness. It is not compassion. It is not mercy. It is also not unable to be shown during times of anger. God is love and is, therefore, kind, and when He is angry with us, when He is wrathful, or punishes, His kindness does not cease to exist in the same way that His love does not cease to exist.
Join us in this second part in the study of...2021-04-0819 minTruth Be ToldWalt Heyer Interview: Transgenderism, Identity Issues, and Practical ChristianityIdentity is something that is vastly important to all of us. Most of us, at one time or another, have been frustrated with who we are as we continuously compare ourselves to others or are unsatisfied with various aspects our lives (2 Corinthians 10:12). Add to this a huge increase in mental health difficulties, a rise in traumatic experiences for young people, and a culture that only ever affirms different behavior (even when harmful), and you have a society primed for identity issues.
Join us on Truth Be Told as we interview Mr. Walt Heyer, an author, presenter, father...2021-04-0129 minTruth Be ToldMike Winger Interview: Typology of ChristThis idea, that Old Testament people, events, and things existed with very intricate specifications, guided by God, to show us Christ before He even came to Earth as a Man, is called typology. Typology can be one of the most enriching and interesting studies you can do if you take the time to realize that the Old and New Testaments all revolve around the person of Jesus Christ, and realize that it exists in different facets to amaze us at the Bible's intricacy, show us God's hand in effecting the course of world events, and prove, beyond a shadow...2021-03-0844 minTruth Be ToldStudy of Love: Love is PatientGod can be patient when we mess up. People can patiently wait on something expected. Even dogs can learn to be patient for a treat. How is love patient?
Join us in this first part of the study of love as we discuss patience/long-suffering and how it relates to love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Throughout this study, we strive to make this section of scripture more than just a list of words, and work to understand more and more about God's love for us, what is expected of us in showing love to others, and what we s...2021-03-0415 minTruth Be ToldStudy of Love: IntroductionThis is an introduction episode for, what will be, an ongoing study on the topic of love. Together, we'll walk through 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, one quality at a time, to refrain from making these verses nothing more than a memorable list, and start making them rich, full, applicable words of God.
A study of love is a study of God's nature, His actions, His expectations of what we are supposed to become and exemplify, as well as a study of what we should expect from others in their treatment of us, as we're told to show love to e...2021-02-1714 minTruth Be ToldThomas Fretwell Interview: MiraclesMicah Gunn sits down with notable theologian and apologist, Thomas Fretwell to discuss miracles from an apologetic standpoint. Often, Christians don't include miracles within their apologetic conversations for a variety of reasons. Should we? Join us as we discuss common questions Christians have when it comes to the miraculous, different techniques for discussing the supernatural with atheists and naturalists, and enjoy the conversation along with Micah and Thomas as they discuss miracles from philosophical, historical, and theological frameworks.
Thomas Fretwell Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/2lviMYPsbabGfD4OgCFY08?si=sQ1QAAX7R32N13HK_ChEiA2021-02-0254 minTruth Be ToldStop. Eating. The. Fruit.The beginning of humankind is fascinating to study. The creation account, the fall of man, and the start of the story of human history can offer a lot of good conversation, but we can't forget that these are more than stories. These are texts meant to give us understanding about God, His plan, and ourselves.
When you read about Eve taking the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, do you read it as a narrative story, or do you study it as a person trying to glean what they can from scripture? D...2021-01-2229 minTruth Be ToldDr. Steven Britt Interview (Part 2): The Ontological and Moral Arguments for GodIn the conclusion of this interview, Dr. Britt and I take a deeper look at the Moral Argument for God's existence. While most people inherently feel that there is objective morality, there are many who would argue against that. Where does that leave individuals who believe this?
Through discussion on what this argument claims, what objectivity is, differing opinions on morality, and several examples and interesting diversions, I hope you get a better understanding of how the truth of objective morality points to the objective truth of a transcendent Law-Giver.
Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.co...2021-01-1152 minTruth Be ToldDr. Steven Britt Interview (Part 1): The Ontological and Moral Arguments for GodIn part 1 of my interview with Dr. Steven Britt, we discuss the Ontological argument for God's existence. This might be one of the most confusing and misunderstood arguments throughout history, but what value can we draw from it?
As we discuss this philosophical, a priori, argument at length, ideally, you will discover that God's existence is a reasonable belief with extensive rationale behind it. While I still have a long way to go in my interview/hosting skills, hopefully you will enjoy the intricacies of the discussion and are able to take away something positive from this...2021-01-1135 minTruth Be ToldDoes Lack of Faith Limit God?Often, people will point to Jesus saying that someone's faith made them well, or the scripture where Jesus went to His hometown and was "unable to perform many mighty works because of the people's unbelief," and conclude that God must rely on our faith. We'd be right in reasoning that our faith is important and that it holds a correlation to God working in our lives, but what exactly IS the relationship there?
Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com
Music: Pop-Rock Beautiful By: Twisterium
Logo Thumbnail: Matt Hernandez
2020-12-3127 minTruth Be ToldGive a Man a FishSo much can be drawn out of scripture if we ask questions about what we read, rather than just read it, expecting the same message every time.
In this episode, we do a half verse-by-verse, half expository study of accounts of the disciples going fishing. Why are these recorded for us? Why were they important to the disciples? Why did they happen the way they did?
Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com
Music: Pop-Rock Beautiful By: Twisterium
Logo Thumbnail: Matt Hernandez
2020-12-2825 minTruth Be ToldWhat's In A Name?You've heard it said in prayer before, maybe you've said it yourself, or maybe you've never said it. "In Jesus Christ's name we pray," is more than an aesthetically pleasing phrase to round out a prayer. It's more than a kind nod at Christ to keep Him in the loop. It is more than just words.
Today we take a look at this phrase for those of us who say it routinely and might have lost the deeper meaning, for those of us who say it and never understood the fullness of the words, and for those...2020-12-1519 minTruth Be ToldIs God Getting In The Way Of The Good Things In Your Life? Good!God's place to a Christian who commits to discipleship of Christ is at the very center. Sometimes that means separating us from the things (yes, even the good things) that we cling tightly to, not so we can be separated from those things forever, but to make room for God to come first, as He should.
When Christ says He comes bearing a sword to separate, know that it is not always to take blessings away from you, but to be able to give you BACK those blessings in more fullness once He assumes His proper role...2020-12-0321 minTruth Be ToldThe Problem of Half-Hearted DiscipleshipGod asks us to love Him and to follow Him with our whole hearts. Discipleship cannot be half-hearted. The very nature of becoming disciples of Jesus Christ requires that we follow behind Him step by step. There is no room for any other answer but an absolute affirmative.
In this episode, given originally in Columbus, Ohio for church services, we explore examples of half-hearted discipleship and see the dangerous outcomes it can have for those who attempt it.
We all have hearts and, while they might be broken at times, while they might be hurting...2020-11-2314 minTruth Be ToldThe Power of Prayer: What Would You Do For A Klondike Bar?For the next few weeks, instead of doing one longer message every other week, I'm going to post a few shorter messages I've given Church services to add more variety in length of episodes.
This message was given in Columbus, Ohio on October 24, 2020 and it covers things we need to remember in order to have effective prayer. Prayer is one of our most powerful tools because it is communication with our most powerful ally. Are we using the power of prayer effectively?
I hope this is an encouraging reminder to take our prayer lives as...2020-11-1517 minTruth Be ToldIs God Spirit, Or Is The Spirit, God?Sometimes it happens that we only study the Bible to reaffirm our beliefs and, in doing so, we read into the Bible, the conclusions that we expect to see there.
Do we do this even with the nature of God?
On this episode we will take an in depth look at the nature of the Holy Spirit to see what people currently believe about it, what early Church Father's taught about it, and what the Bible teaches about it, to see whether or not our conclusions need reevaluated.
Music: Pop-Rock Beautiful By...2020-11-0457 minTruth Be ToldIf Hell Is Real, Should Christ Be There?All Christians believe that Christ paid the penalty for the sin of mankind. Many Christians believe that the penalty experienced by impenitent sinners is an eternally burning hellfire. If THIS is the penalty, and Christ PAID the penalty, shouldn't He be in an eternity of torment in Hell? This doesn't add up.
Christians all over are having trouble reconciling the common understanding of hell with that of a loving God sending people there for eternity who have never so much as HEARD the name of Jesus Christ. What does the Bible say about this doctrine?
...2020-10-2051 minTruth Be ToldCompassion vs. Consequence: Which Way Does God Lean?Is it true that God is all about consequence in the Old Testament, and all about compassion in the New?
We know we are flawed, and we know that God is good, but the second we don't understand something, we immediately question His nature rather than our ability to understand.
Both parts of the Bible are full of examples of compassion and consequence, but we continue to hear the presupposition that the God of the Old and the God of the New Testaments must be different beings.
I hope this episode helps you R...2020-09-2946 minTruth Be ToldSuffering: What Game Are You Playing?When we analyze our success by the metrics our society lives by, we can often feel like we are losing. But should we be playing the same game that society is, for the same outcome? Everyone goes through difficulty, whether it occurs through time and chance, consequences of our own actions, or God's chastening, but our attitude and understanding of suffering can drastically change how we respond to it.
Isn't Christianity supposed to have all of the answers? Why am I suffering when I'm doing my best to follow God?
These are all questions we w...2020-09-141h 05Truth Be ToldShould We Always Allow What God Allows?We shouldn't speak against what God has spoken, think against what God thinks, or act against His actions, but does this mean we should also always allow what God allows? What does the Bible say about what God allows and what we should or shouldn't also allow? God allows sickness, and we go to the doctor. God allows us to be tempted, and expects us to fight it. This episode is not meant to tell you where your line should be, or which battles you should fight, but rather to get you to think critically about what the Bible...2020-08-3137 min