Kinda Christian

Does God Speak Today? If so, how? Kinda Christian friends sits down and discusses this vital question of the Christian walk.

Ready to laugh and learn? Well you might laugh. Kinda Christian introduces its newest show, KC Friends, where we take everyday Christians and dig into the toughest questions of faith. Were there Dinosaurs on the Ark? What's the most amazing prayer experience you've had? Can Christians believe in evolution? All this and more on our pilot episode of KC Friends. 

Distinguished professor of philosophy, best selling author, and legendary Christian apologist, JP Moreland  joins us to talk about his new book a A Simple Guide to Experiencing Miracles which documents some absolutely incredible stories that are either proof of divine intervention or some of the most convenient coincidences you've ever heard. As much as we'd like this show to just magically appear in our inbox, we do need partners to help make it possible, and we are grateful to our sponsors.  The Dwell App-  Kinda Christian listeners get 30% off the Premium Bible Auditory Experience. Visit dwellapp.io/kindachristian and try it for free. Follow us on IG @kindachristianshowSubscribe to our Youtube ChannelAnd try out our new line of irreverent coffees-  KINDA CHRISTIAN COFFEE

Mosaic Pastor Erwin McManus joins us to talk about some of the tough topics of faith and to discuss his new book The Genius of Jesus. Erwin is a gifted speaker, futurist, artist, designer and a deep thinker on today's cultural issues. He is a remarkably gifted communicator and if you can get past my rambling questions on this one, there are nuggets of gold here. Thank you to our partners. The Dwell App-  Kinda Christian listeners get 30% off the Premium Bible Auditory Experience. Visit dwellapp.io/kindachristian and try it for free. Follow us on IG @kindachristianshowSubscribe to our Youtube ChannelAnd try out our new line of irreverent coffees-  https://kinda-christian-coffee.myshopify.com/Show Notes2:00-7:30- Is God actually about relationship? 12:00- Is God's manifestations the same as intimacy?15:20- What does Prayer look like for Erwin?20:30- John: 14:12  what does that mean? Greater works than these36:40- The genius of Jesus, what if Jesus wasn't god?44:00 Was Jesus Unprecedented? Or was he influenced by other teachings?  

Special shoutout to our first KC Partner and Sponsor, the DWELL APP. If you listen to this show, you probably are a fan of the Bible. Dwell makes Bible engagement a little more fun.  Have the Bible read to you by incredible voices and  relaxing ambient music. Instead of squinting to see those profound yet tiny letters in your 80 year old leather copy, sit back with a cup of coffee and have someone read you the bible with that amazing guitar that makes everything sound that much more profound. Give it a try. dwellapp.io/kinda-christian  for your free trial. 

Warning: some of this content is a bit tough to hear, so listener discretion is advised. Sometimes you have a guest on that simply blows your mind. Will Hart has been on the front line serving people in some of the most difficult and war torn areas in the world. As the president of Iris Global, Will is on a mission to serve, bring God's love to the people of Mozambique and usher in change. Will also has seen a thing or two. A miraculous thing or two. He is the first guest I have had on the program that will look you in the virtual eye and share that he has seen multiplication of food, healing of the blind and deaf and cars that run on empty for an entire day. Things that defy explanation. Take a listen and you decide what is actually going on.

Jon Tyson, our friend and pastor of Church of the City, stops by Kinda Christian to answer some of the tough questions and talk about his new book the Intentional Father which continues to roar up the charts.

He has three names but one mission- to inspire people to embrace the wisdom and calling that is following Christ. John Mark Comer, former pastor at Bridgetown church in Portland, Oregon shares some of his insights and thoughts from his new book Live No Lies

Join us for a fascinating discussion on mental health and thriving. We dig deep into the role of technology, the source of our worst behaviors, and how a spiritual paradigm can influence us to our best selves. We even get into the Enneagram. Matthias is inordinately thoughtful and it is clear why he is growing so rapidly in popularity.

 08:51 – 13:26 The process for the Cause of Saints. 16:45 – 17:35 How the evidence is studied and vetted19:40 – 19:58 "Now it's very important to realize that a miracle has two elements; there's a scientific element and a theological element. The scientific element is that there is no human explanation for what happened, and so therefore you never ask the doctor: "is it a miracle?" you ask the doctor: "what is the diagnosis?"23:08 Why the process has to be so strict "The whole idea is to prove this in the external forum. In other words it has to be measurable, it has to be scientific, it has to be factual." 31:58" everyone is a Devils advocate, because nobody has the right to be canonized." (fr. Sarno)48:45 – 51:09 Why aren't more miracles widespread and well known?53:05 – 53:24  Ryan has his own miracle with Father Sarno58:15 – 01:00:45 Why are we seeing less miracles today?01:02:30 – 01:05:38 The doctrine of communion with Saints in the Catholic Church and explaining it to protestants. 01:13:40 – 01:14:23"Passing implies a passing of one life to another." 

An intimate and engaging sit down with the co-founder of the Bible Project, Jon Collins. Jon walks us through his story and the vision for the Bible Project going forward. If you haven't checked out the incredible videos featured on their site, the Bible Project is making the Bible accessible and understandable, in proper context, for all the the world to see- it's very cool.

10 Minute Testimonies features vetted stories that are either incredible coincidences, or proof of the divine. We let the listener decide.

03:11 – 05:09  Summing up what the old Testament is, what it entails for the nature of man's relationship with God, and how God is always in pursuit of man despite our constant failures and imperfect nature.09:38 – 11:37 Dr. Heiser explains why some stories of the Old Testament are similar to legends of the civilizations surrounding Israel, and how even though they use similar language... they are not the same, nor were they copied from one another.13:42 – 15:41 A prelude to an amazing conversation about Psalm:82 and the modern dismissal of the spiritual beings that make up the other side of God's creation.20:26 – 22:25 Dr. Heiser gives a scathing condemnation of modern commentary and terminology as it is applied to the concept of theism to the ancient Jews. He provides a both serious and witty argument for why you can't apply modern sensibilities and language when trying to interpret the word of the Old Testament.26:08 – 28:07 Dr. Heiser gives a great summary of the story of Ahab and Jehoshaphat and provides insight as to how the spiritual council of God operates. 31:54 – 33:53A perspective many watching may find to be new is provided by Dr. Heiser as he explains two instances of God instructing figures in the Old Testament to be either deceptive or to withhold the whole truth in order to thwart evildoers. Goes to show that God knows how to get things done.36:41 – 37:52Dr. Heiser explains that God has given us guidelines on how to deal with evil. An interesting notion that by following his commands we ourselves are not thwarting evil, but it is by following his commands that God ultimately thwarts evil.42:48 – 44:38 Dr. Heiser gives an excellent explanation on why God loves us despite our sinful nature. God especially shows mercy to Humanity as we are the object of redemption, a position that not even the Angels or heavenly host holds according to Dr. Heiser. He explains that Christians are the most guilty feeling people he knows, which he explains isn't the point of God's word. That we should rejoice in the fact that ours is a merciful God, and we should give thanks for our special treatment given by him towards us.45:52 – 47:50 Dr. Heiser explains that Job is different than how you might remember it, that the devil in the story is not Satan himself but another entity altogether, a mistake stemming from a mistranslation of Hebrew grammar.48:31 – 50:3 Book of Job discussion. That everything that happens to Job is about God defending his omniscience and integrity in face of a challenge. Yet another level of the story that the average reader may miss without further study and contemplation of the readings.55:28 – 57:22 Dr. Heiser gives an explanation for the intentionally cryptic nature of messianic prophesy, and how God goes about fulfilling all of his covenants and prophesies presented in the Old Testament in ways that in hindsight may seem obvious, but to those living 2,000 years ago wasn't inherently easy to see how it would play out.01:01:50 – 01:03:30 Dr. Heiser wrestles through the truth that God allows nature to operate as designed and that we shouldn't blame God when nature acts according to his laws01:06:04 – 01:08:03Dr. Heiser declares in what he describes as "something many will find blasphemes", God only rested from his act of creation on the 7th day, yet his work never ended. God is still working on the supervision and administration of his creation even today and into the future.

08:29 – 10:34  Introduction to Calling25:35 – 27:10 Not everyone has the same opportunities- then what?30:51 – 33:56  Hunter wrestling through the discrepancy in outcome for so many people in God's kingdom and the potential purpose of that. 40:38 – 43:57  Does Life get tougher if someone is a Christian?50:26 – 51:31 Is Religion just culturally invented?

17:29 – 18:32: Jesus Miracles actually weren't that convincing to everyone else at the time. 30:22 – 31:24 What does it mean to actually use the Lord's name in vain? 40:11 – 41:22 Discussion on Jesus and the school system. Would Christ want parents to send kids to private/religious schools?43:54 – 44:57  What does it mean to honor parents while also forsaking "All else" in the name of Christ? 

At Kinda Christian we recognize that academic questions can only take you so far on the journey- you have to actually experience what you believe to make it real. For millions of people around the world it is their own profound and impactful testimonies that keep them pursuing belief in God- not the commentary in the margins of their study bible. Over the years I have asked people I know and respect, to share with me stories of times they felt like God was real, or answered a crazy prayer. Some of the stories defy logic and odds for sure, but the fact is there are just too many of them, many very similar, to be all fabrication. I don't know how it works or what is going on, but there is something bigger than us happening as you can see with many of these. Since it is 2020 and we all need a little uplifting, here is a ten minute testimony of a girl, a four leaf clover and a prayer.

08:50 – 12:47 Historical dating of the Old Testament. Abraham's story 13:59 – 18:23 Noah and Abraham connection and context22:16 – 26:52 Is Genesis history? How do we read it?35:27 – 39:41r Was the Flood an allegory or did it really happen?43:28 – 48:21 The plagues of Egypt, biological phenomena or divine signs? The Book of Exodus discussed. 

3:19- 6:42 How does Roger know God is speaking to him?08:42 – 09:48  Why God makes us pursue Him. 14:18 – 16:30 We all have darkness in our lives. 39:43 – 43:10 Does God Change or Do We? Differences in the Old Testament and New Testament. .46:40 – 51:08 - Pastors Wisdom for the younger generation. 

04:41 – 14:38 Is there actually any hard evidence for miraculous healings?  14:38-29:35  Faith Healing and the peer reviewed medical research in Africa around blind and deaf people receiving eyesight and hearing back.  29:38-33:07 The issues we run into when we study prayer and why past studies have fallen short. 33:08 – 39:46 Is Christianity growing around the world? If so what is fueling it? 49:51 – 56:05 Is there any study around deliverance? Are demons just figments of the imagination?56:09 – 01:13:44 Is Yoga "religious?", what are the popular misconceptions around it? 

4:34- Can Christian Scholars be objective in their research of the new testament?11:36- Just what exactly is a “Gospel”?22:22-35:20  Discussion on the validity and reliability of the testimonies presented in the gospels. 42:10-49:12 How to reconcile the differences. 50:44-54:17 "If God inspired these people when writing their gospels, then why did he allow for these discrepancies?" 56:38-01:03:56 Are the gospels reliable after being written down so long after Jesus? 01:14:10-01:17:00 .Dr Keener’s personal reasons for believing.

15:00 - An incredible story of timing and agreement25:09 -  Who are Miracles for actually?27:59 - Singles Pastor Reflections!37:52 - A parable of perspective43:00 - Bible Questions57:00 - Is Spiritual Warfare a Real Thing?

Show Highlights5:00  “Doesn’t God Appear to have a major personality shift from Old To New Testament?”6:30 Was there less sexual violence in Israel than in today’s culture?7:35 Discussions of Old Testament Justice13:00 Old Testament is “damage control” for a broken world, not the be all end all29:30 If Naturalism is true, then all of what we are discussing is meaningless48:30 What things keep Scott up at night? What grey areas of theology can he just not seem to figure out?55:00 What ethical issues arise out of new medical technologies?1:00 Does Socialism suffer from Greed?1:04 The Moral Virtues of Capitalism  

Show Highlights:06:02 - Shawn Shares His Testimony of Healing12:57 -  It's not "thus sayeth the lord" that's not the rule, it's the exception46:27 - Can you miss out on God's will for your life?01:07 - Do miracles happen outside of Christianity in Shawn's opinion?

About the guest:  J.P. MorelandI am the Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University in La Mirada, California. I have four earned degrees: a B.S. in chemistry from the University of Missouri, a Th.M. in theology from Dallas Theological Seminary, an M. A. in philosophy from the University of California-Riverside, and a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Southern California.During the course of my life, I have co-planted three churches, spoken and debated on over 175 college campuses around the country, and served with Campus Crusade for Christ for 10 years. For eight years, I served as a bioethicist for PersonaCare Nursing Homes, Inc. headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland.My ideas have been covered by both popular religious and non-religious outlets, including the New Scientist and PBS’s “Closer to Truth,” Christianity Today, and WORLD magazine. I have authored or co-authored 30 books, including Kingdom Triangle, Scaling the Secular City, Consciousness and the Existence of God, The Recalcitrant Imago Dei, Love Your God With All Your Mind, The God Question, and Body and Soul. I have also published over 70 articles in journals, which include Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, American Philosophical Quarterly, Australasian Journal of Philosophy, Metaphilosophy, Philosophia Christi, and Faith and Philosophy.Learn more http://www.jpmoreland.com/

What is Kinda Christian? It's where doubts are welcomed and tough questions asked. Hear some examples of some of the questions we threw at today's top thinkers.