The Westside Podcast—featuring Randy Frazee

During the Q&A series, we asked for your questions, and you didn't hold back from submitting them! There are so many questions that Randy and Troy have recorded a weekly podcast to hit more of them than we can on Sunday.    WFC Podcast episode 122 tackles questions on confidence in Christianity. 

Listen to Pastor Randy and Pastor Troy have a chat about the Value Them Both amendment that Kansans can vote for or against on August 2. In this podcast we explore the facts and important implications of the upcoming Kansas 'Value Them Both' referendum, which will impact both right-to-life issues, and determine whether Kansans have the ability to shape these policies through their elected representatives. Learn more about the amendment at valuethemboth.com.   Send us your questions and topic suggestions for upcoming seasons at westsidefamily.church/wp-feedback!

Pastor Troy Kennedy speaks with Pastor Pete Kirwan (New City Church) about prayer & fasting on today's episode of the Westside Podcast! Westside, as a church family, stepped into a 40 day prayer and fasting experience on January 17. Learn more and find resources at westsidefamily.church/40days!   Send us your questions and topic suggestions for upcoming seasons at westsidefamily.church/wp-feedback! Find the Westside Podcast on YouTube too!

Pastor Troy Kennedy speaks with Pastor Jason Morris about prayer & fasting on today's episode of the Westside Podcast! Westside, as a church family, stepped into a 40 day prayer and fasting experience on January 17. Learn more and find resources at westsidefamily.church/40days!   Send us your questions and topic suggestions for upcoming seasons at westsidefamily.church/wp-feedback! Find the Westside Podcast on YouTube too!

Pastor Troy Kennedy speaks with Pastor Dan Chaverin about prayer & fasting on today's episode of the Westside Podcast! Westside, as a church family, is stepping into a 40 day prayer and fasting experience starting January 17. Learn more and find resources at westsidefamily.church/40days!   Send us your questions and topic suggestions for upcoming seasons at westsidefamily.church/wp-feedback!

Topics Discussed:   Should I date an unbeliever? Cain and Abel - What really happened there? I think most people have a hard time understanding is why didn't God look on Cain's offering with favor?  Is tithing a New Testament command? Is Anxiety a Sin? What the Bible Says about Anxiety Is suicide an unforgivable sin? What is the Christian view of suicide? Questions or feedback? Submit here!  

Father, Son AND Holy Spirit? How do we understand the trinity?   Consensus of belief: The undivided early Christian church set forth a unifying creed that was meant to serve as a definitive but not exhaustive statement. This is known as the Nicene Creed, more technically correctly called the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed. It was formulated in two universal councils of the Christian churches' leaders in the Roman Empire: the Council of Nicaea (325) and the Council of Constantinople (381). If one wants to know what the Christian consensus—the Great Tradition—says about who God is, that creed is the convenient and right place to look. All three major branches of Christianity—Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant—affirm the faith of Nicaea, which is another way of saying they affirm the Trinity.   NICENE CREED: We believe in one God, the Father All Governing, creator of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten from the Father before all time, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten not created, of the same essence as the Father [homoousion tō patri], through Whom all things came into being, Who for us men and because of our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became human. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried, and rose on the third day, according to the Scriptures, and ascended to heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father, and will come again with glory to judge the living and dead. His Kingdom shall have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and life-giver, Who proceeds from the Father, Who is worshiped and glorified together with the Father and the Son, Who spoke through the prophets; and in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. We confess one baptism for the remission of sins. We look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.   Another way of summing up the trinitarian belief about God is by way of an acrostic that contains the acrostic TRIUNE:   Three recognized as God;  Regarded as three distinct persons;  Immanent and eternal, not merely economical or temporal;  United in essence;  No inequality;  Explains all other doctrines yet itself inscrutable.   “How a single being can be faithfully and somewhat accurately described as both a single mind with multiple dimensions and a community of persons knitted together inseparably in a bond of love is beyond complete understanding. Nevertheless, divine revelation requires that God be described in both ways.”   Olson, Roger E.; The Mosaic of Christian Belief (p. 156); InterVarsity Press, Kindle Edition.  Recommended Reading: The Mosaic of Christian Belief by Roger E Olson   Have questions or feedback? Submit here!

“If there is really a God, then why does he let all of these bad things happen in the world?”   Why didn't God stop the holocaust?   Evil and suffering. Christianity teaches the existence of an all-powerful, all-good and loving God. But how can that belief be reconciled with the horrors that occur daily? If there is a God, he must be either all-powerful but not good enough to want an end to evil and suffering, or he's all-good but not powerful enough to bring an end to evil and suffering. Either way, the God of the Bible couldn't exist. For many people, this is not only an intellectual conundrum but also an intensely personal problem. Their own lives are marred by tragedy, abuse and injustice.   Much has been written on this over the centuries…   We all face it. What is our response in the moment when we're with someone who is suffering? As pastors we have dealt with tragedies in people's lives big and small.    Ministry of Presence.  Don't trivialize it by offering pat answers.   Why is there evil in the first place? God created mankind in order to love them. Love is the highest good in the universe. Love must be freely chosen for it to be love. For mankind to experience true love it must have free will. Free will must allow for the possibility of good and evil choices or it is not free will. For love to be chosen there has to be the opposite possibility of “not love.”   If you have a God great and transcendent enough to be mad because he hasn't stopped evil and suffering in the world, then you have to (at the same moment) have a God great and transcendent enough to have good reasons for allowing it to continue that you can't know (you can't have it both ways).   Common fallacy: If I can't think of a reason God allows evil and suffering, then there can't be one.    Though we don't know the reasons why he allows it to continue, he can't be indifferent or un-caring, because the Christian God (unlike the gods of all the other religions) takes our misery and suffering so seriously that he is willing to get involved with it himself. On the cross, Jesus suffered with us.   What about natural evil? Earthquakes, tsunamis, famine, etc.   Why should we expect that nature should go our way? If there is no god, and nature is red in tooth and claw, the strong eat the weak every day. There's nothing more natural than that. And yet when we experience these things in our we lives think there's more to it than that. We think that it is more than just evolutionarily beneficial. We think these things are more than inconvenient, uncomfortable, or non-preferable. We actually think they are wrong and unjust. But where would we get the idea that they are unjust and not just the natural consequences of natural forces in an unguided universe?   C.S. Lewis writes: “My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. But how had I got this idea of just and unjust? A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line. What was I comparing this universe with when I called it unjust?…   Of course I could have given up my idea of justice by saying it was nothing but a private idea of my own. But if I did that, then my argument against God collapsed too – for the argument depended on saying that the world was really unjust, not simply that it did not happen to please my private fancies. Thus in the very act of trying to prove that God did not exist – in other words, that the whole of reality was senseless – I found I was forced to assume that one part of reality – namely my idea of justice – was full of sense…. Consequently atheism turns out to be too simple.” Jesus provides resources for suffering that are unique to Christianity.   God himself suffers. He becomes fully human and enters into the brokenness of humanity. He submits himself to his own creation and suffers alongside. God is truly Emmanuel, God with us, even in our worst sufferings.   Purpose. God doesn't cause our suffering, but he can redeem it. Christianity provides an identity and meaning to life that suffering can't take away. It is a transcendent and eternal as its source.   Resurrection Hope. The Biblical view of things is resurrection—not a future that is just a consolation for the life we never had but a restoration of the life you always wanted. This means that every horrible thing that ever happened will not only be undone and repaired but will in some way make the eventual glory and joy even greater.   S. Lewis wrote: “They say of some temporal suffering, “No future bliss can make up for it,” not knowing that Heaven, once attained, will work backwards and turn even that agony into a glory.”   Why didn't God stop the holocaust? I don't know what all the reasons are. But I know what they are not. It's not because he's in different. It's not because he was unwilling to enter into our pain and humble himself to his own creation. It's not because he doesn't love us. And because he suffered absolute injustice and evil proving himself victorious over them by an empty tomb, we know that evil does not have the last word. It didn't have the last word over him. And evil doesn't have the last word over us who are “in Christ.”   Recommended Books: A Grace Disguised by Jerry Sittser The Problem of Pain, and A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis Walking with God through Pain and Suffering by Tim Keller Have feedback or questions? Submit them here!

Kenosis and the Christology Debate: what would Jesus do? How do I follow Jesus' example if He is God and I am just a human? How do we reconcile the fact that Jesus was fully God with the fact that Jesus was fully human? How can we honestly follow Jesus' example when he had infinite resources of deity at his disposal? Can we really say he was tempted just like us and was without sin? It's an issue that has been discussed in Christian circles throughout the church's history. All Christians believe that Jesus was both fully God and fully man. This doctrinal belief was formalized with the Council of Chalcedon in AD 451 and became one of the central beliefs of Christianity. It contrasts with the belief of a variety of heretical groups who hold that Jesus was the first and greatest creation of God. This view is called Arianism and is espoused today by the Jehovah's Witnesses as well as other unorthodox groups. The Christian view also contrasts strongly with that of Muslims and other groups who believe that Jesus was simply a prophet of God. It contrasts as well with various New Age views that see Jesus merely as a man who fully actualized his inner divinity. And it sharply contrasts with views of liberal scholars today (e.g., the Jesus Seminar) who try to argue that the historical Jesus—the Jesus “behind” the mythologized New Testament documents—was merely a Cynic philosopher or a religious and social revolutionary. The Bible, however, clearly teaches that Jesus was fully God as well as fully human (John 1:1; 20:28; Romans 9:5; Colossians 2:9; Titus 2:11–13). Within evangelical circles, the debate can be broken down into two broad camps: The Classical View: Many defend the more traditional view that Jesus exercised both his divine and human attributes at the same time. For example, this view maintains that Jesus could be omniscient as God and non-omniscient as human at the same time. Kenotic Christology: Others, however, hold to what is called kenotic Christology. This group maintains that God had to “empty himself” (kenosis in Greek) to become a full human being. They argue that the Second Person of the Trinity laid aside his omniscience in order to become fully human, for a person cannot be fully human and omniscient at the same time. The Big Question Most of the objections and fears I've heard expressed of this view amount to this question. Does this view mean Jesus was not divine while on earth? Colossians 2:9 – For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form. Hebrews 1:3-4 – The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. Hebrews 2:9 – But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. Books Referenced: His Mighty Strength - Randy Frazee The Mosaic of Christian Belief - Roger E Olson Submit Q&A Questions and episode suggestions at westsidefamily.church/wp-feedback!

Topics addressed: How do I make important decisions? How do you know if you are hearing from God? Are Catholics Christians? What about tattoos? How should a Christian handle relationships with non-believers? How do you talk with someone who is dug-in in their misconceptions of God? How would you summarize the Gospel in the simplest way? Cain and Abel: Why was Cain's sacrifice unacceptable? Submit Q&A Questions and episode suggestions here! Watch the YouTube video here!

What is Spiritual Warfare?   For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)   Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:10-12)   Spiritual Warfare is understanding that there is conflict in the spiritual realm all around us that has influence in our physical world. The already defeated enemy and his minions seek to destroy all that is good and render the children of God weak and defeated though they are already victorious through Christ.   Jesus wants to give you abundant life and the enemy wants to steal it from you.   Jesus says it like this in the book of John speaking of believers as sheep with Jesus himself being their shepherd. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” (John 10:10) How does the enemy attack us? Deception   You (pharisees) belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:44)   The enemy primarily deals in deception (temptation). There is an element of deception/falsehood in every ploy he uses. He is subtle and smart. He can speak lies into your mind, but he cannot know your mind. These lies nearly always have a seed of truth that is distorted, misdiagnosed and covered in layers of deception resulting in delusion and sin.   You will know the lies by their fruit. Resentment, envy, jealousy, anger, entitlement, accusation, bitterness, rage and anger, brawling, slander, malice, sexual impurity, etc.   Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world….   You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. (1 John 4:1-6) Division   Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.   Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” (Matthew 12:25-30)   The enemy always wants to place a wedge between people. Divorce, parents and children, racial prejudice, class divisions, church divisions, etc. He will always oppose reconciliation.   Discouragement   Discouragement by definition is the lack of courage. It is giving up or losing the will to continue. Much of the time this comes through accusation. The lie is: you're not good enough, you screw everything up, you're not smart enough, you're too broken, you're a hopeless failure, no one likes you, no one cares what happens to you…The lies go deeper and deeper leading to depression and sometimes destruction.   “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)   Destruction   He (Satan) was a murderer from the beginning… (John 8:44)   Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)   Ultimately, the enemy wants you dead. He wants to take you out. If Jesus is trying to give you life, the ultimate goal of the enemy is to take away your life. If deception, divisiveness, discouragement have their way, the outcome is destruction. You can come in the form of self-harm. And I can come in the form of murderousness.   For the believer, if the enemy can't ultimately destroy you, he will seek to make you useless, selfish and numb. (Screwtape letters) How are we to respond as Christ Followers? Community   You're not meant to do this alone. The enemy would like you to isolate. And we all get in trouble and isolation. You need biblical community to surround you, pray for you, encourage you, and reinforce the truth of God's love for you in overcoming the enemy.   You may also need help from someone equipped to deal with more complex issues. At one time or another we all need to seek out counseling. Find a great Christian counselor who will point you to your healing in Christ as well as therapeutic strategies for your growth. Identity The enemy seeks to accuse and condemn you. Possibly the most powerful thing you can do is declare the truth of who you are in Christ.   I am accepted and grateful…   John 1:12 - I am God's child. John 15:15 - As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1 - I have been justified. 1 Corinthians 6:17 - I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 - I have been bought with a price and I belong to God. 1 Corinthians 12:27 - I am a member of Christ's body. Ephesians 1:3-8 - I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child. Colossians 1:13-14 - I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins. Colossians 2:9-10 - I am complete in Christ. Hebrews 4:14-16 - I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ.   I am secure…   Romans 8:1-2 - I am free from condemnation. Romans 8:28 - I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances. Romans 8:31-39 - I am free from any condemnation brought against me and I cannot be separated from the love of God. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 - I have been established, anointed and sealed by God. Colossians 3:1-4 - I am hidden with Christ in God. Philippians 1:6 - I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me. Philippians 3:20 - I am a citizen of heaven. 2 Timothy 1:7 - I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind. 1 John 5:18 - I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me.   I am significant…   John 15:5 - I am a branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life. John 15:16 - I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit. 1 Corinthians 3:16 - I am God's temple. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 - I am a minister of reconciliation for God. Ephesians 2:6 - I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm. Ephesians 2:10 - I am God's workmanship. Ephesians 3:12 - I may approach God with freedom and confidence. Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. Armor   The apostle Paul tells us exactly what posture to take to face the enemy's deceptions and schemes.   Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.   In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:10-17) Repentance and Renewal   Repentance means to turn 180° from godlessness to God; dark to light; sin to holiness; your goodness to Jesus' goodness. It is renouncing the old in the world and announcing the new in Christ.   Throughout Scripture we are encouraged to repent of sin. Jesus said, “repent for the kingdom of God is near.” We are turning away from the kingdom of this world towards the kingdom of God. Replacing the old values and ways of doing things with the new fruit of the spirit and imitation of Christ.   Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God—what is good and well-pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:2)   Be careful of what you invite into your world - ouiji boards, astrology, tarot cards, palm-reading, fortune-telling, spirit guides…fascination with witchcraft, death….musical influences, movies dealing with paranormal, etc.   Replace the lies and destructive thoughts –   Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9)   …let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. (Hebrews 12:1-2)   Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Colossians 3:1-2)   Worship and Prayer   There may be no better way to put on the armor of God then through worship. In worship you declare your faith, the gospel, and the truth through faith in the goodness of God. It transforms your mind and your heart as you replace the old toxic thoughts with the beauty of God's truth. In adoration you push out the ugliness of the world for the majesty of your creator!   For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord's will is. And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:17-20)   Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth. (John 4:23-24)   All of these things are done in the context of prayer. That is, your divine connection with the creator by the Holy Spirit who is alive within you. It is the transcendent miracle of “Christ in you the hope of glory” that gives us power to live in victory and rise above the lies of the enemy. Jesus is our deliverer and our strength.   And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people. (Ephesians 6:18)   Jesus said, “Pray then like this” (Matthew 6:9-13):   “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”     Books – The Non-Prophets Guide to Spiritual Warfare by Todd Hampson Victory Over the Darkness and The Bondage Breaker – Neil T Anderson   YouTube channel – Freedom in Christ (Neil T Anderson Ministry)   Submit feedback, Q & A questions, or episode suggestions here! Watch the YouTube video here.

So What's the Big Deal About Baptism?    All Christians throughout history have agreed, on the basis of Scripture, that baptism is important. Historically, baptism has not been understood to be an optional practice. It is commanded by God. But there has often been disagreement about whom baptism is for, how it should be done, and why it is significant.   The issue most debated is whether baptism should be performed on children of believing parents or only on people who have made their own decision to believe in and follow Jesus.    Infant Baptism: Covenanting with the Community of God   Biblical Argument Scripture's support for infant baptism falls under three motifs:  1. children and the covenant,  2. household baptisms  3. baptism as New Testament circumcision.   Children were included in the old testament covenant. Abraham, “I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you” Gen. 17:7   “There was not a word of all that Moses commanded that Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, and the women, and the little ones, and the aliens who resided among them” Josh. 8:35   New Testament Jesus says - ‘Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.' And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them” (Mark 10:14–16).   Peter -  “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him” Acts 2:38–39 (Children are participants of the covenant of God and thus may receive the Holy Spirit when their parents enter into the covenant with God. The way this covenant is sealed in the New Testament is through baptism.)   Household baptisms: Cornelius - The angel said, he will “give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved” (Acts 11:13–14).   Lydia - “She and her household were baptized” (Acts 16:14)   Paul's jailer -  “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” “and his entire family were baptized without delay” (Acts 16:31, 33).   Paul - “For the unbelieving husband is made holy through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy through her husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy” (1 Cor. 7:14). Stresses familial identity. Children are made holy by the faith of their parents, though the notion runs counter to the Western individualistic worldview. It is also why children are consistently included in their parents' covenant and why the church should baptize children of believing parents. Entering the covenant of God is not simply an individual affair. Indeed, as in the Old Testament, children are included within their parents' covenant.   Paul draws in analogy between circumcision and baptism.    “In him [Christ] also you were circumcised with a spiritual circumcision, by putting off the body of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ; when you were buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead” (Col. 2:11–12).   (The idea here being since physical circumcision was offered to infants and adults alike, baptism is the new circumcision for infants and adults alike.)   SUMMARY 1. Church tradition. From at least the second century, infant baptism has been practiced by the majority of Christians throughout history.   Objection: Bible contains no explicit reference to infant baptism. If we believe that scripture is more authoritative than tradition this must be a major consideration.    2. God's initiative in salvation. When people restrict baptism to adults, they give the impression that salvation is a matter of God responding to human choice.   Objection: Scripture gives faith as a prerequisite to baptism. “Repent, and be baptized” Acts 2:38. Jesus says, “Repent for the Kingdom of God is near.” Matthew 3:2.  Can an infant repent? Also, see the great commission.     Believers Baptism   Biblical Argument Throughout the New Testament, salvation is offered to and baptism is commanded of only people who can meet the conditions of repenting, repenting, believing, and obeying Jesus Christ.   John the Baptist -  “People from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him [John] and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins” Mark 1:5. The ones who were baptized were the ones who confessed their sins. Infants, of course, cannot do this. Hence, there is no reason to suppose that infants were among those whom John baptized.   Jesus - Jesus himself was baptized as an adult says, “Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:19–20). Baptism was intended to be part of the process of making someone a disciple and makes sense only in the context of disciple-making. It was not intended for people too young to be taught and to decide whether they wanted to obey all that Jesus commanded.   The Samaritans “believed Philip” as he preached the good news that “they were baptized, both men and women” (Acts 8:12).   It was only after the Ethiopian eunuch embraced the good news about Jesus that he was baptized (Acts 8:35–38).   Romans 6:3 “Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.   "5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.”    Can an infant have its old self crucified so it is no longer a slave to sin?   1. Baptism is an act of discipleship that can be entered into only by people old enough to be disciples. This is why every example of baptism in the New Testament involves a person old enough to decide to follow Christ. Never do we read about infants being baptized.   2. The importance of discipleship - If someone is considered a Christian by virtue of being born to Christian parents (or in a Christian state), then the urgency of stepping out on one's own and making the radical decision to follow Jesus is compromised. This is not to suggest that all Christians baptized as infants are passionless or that the practice of infant baptism causes one to be passionless. But this practice invariably tends in that direction, and for obvious reasons. By contrast, the practice of adult baptism forces each individual to make his or her own decision to follow Christ.   Summary: While it is true that the infant baptism view has been the primary perspective throughout church history, it is also true that there is no explicit evidence of infant baptism until the second century and no evidence that it was dominant until much later. This is plenty of time for an aberration of Christian practice and theology to take place. Indeed, most evangelicals would agree that the dominant theology of baptism was becoming aberrant by the mid-second century, because Christians at this time were increasingly holding that baptism literally washed away sin and was necessary for salvation, a view almost all evangelicals reject.   Submit episode suggestions, feedback, and Q&A questions here!   Watch the YouTube video here.

Are the Charismatic Gifts of the Spirit for today?    What are the Charismatic Gifts?   All evangelicals believe the Holy Spirit is at work in the world. All believe the Holy Spirit supernaturally works in human hearts to bring people to the point of faith in Christ. All believe the Holy Spirit gives certain gifts to people to carry out ministry, such as teaching, preaching, administration and hospitality. And all agree that God can and does at times miraculously intervene in the affairs of people. But evangelical Christians are divided on the issue of whether the charismatic gifts are for today and should be practiced today.   The charismatic gifts are a distinct class of gifts mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:8–10. Paul writes, “To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.”   Were these gifts intended by God to be used throughout the entire church age until the Lord returns?   Evangelical Christians can be roughly divided into three distinct groups:   Cessationists- Those who believe that the charismatic gifts ceased as soon as the New Testament was completed and disseminated to all the churches. They conclude that everything that passes as a charismatic experience today is in fact misguided emotionalism, at best, or demonic deception at worst.   Continuationists- The Pentecostal, charismatic and third wave Christians who believe that the charismatic gifts are for today and thus should be pursued and practiced.   The Cautious- Christians who are not theologically opposed to the exercise of charismatic gifts, but they are cautious. These people are often concerned with the extreme emphasis placed on the gifts in some Pentecostal, charismatic or third wave circles as well as some of the unusual practices that at times accompany these gifts (e.g., being slain in the Spirit, laughing in the Spirit, etc.). This latter group is continuationist in theology but does not emphasize or pursue the charismatic gifts the way charismatic Christians do.   And the main passage used is 1 Corinthians 13:8-12. “Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”   The cessationist argues that this phrase refers to the completion and distribution of the New Testament.   The continualist argues that the “complete” is referring to the second coming of Christ.    Our response:    By appealing to the Word of God. The Bible itself teaches that if an experience is not consistent with God's Word, we must reject it, regardless of how impressive the experience may seem. “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God's curse!” (Galatians 1:8)   Demons are capable of mimicking authentic spiritual experiences and masquerading as angels of light.    At the same time 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 says, “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.”   What is the fruit? Is Jesus glorified or is the experience glorified?    The Gospel of Grace is the great diffuser of abuses. Manifestations, behavior modification, church attendance, tongues, traditions, biblical education etc. is not salvific. We are saved by grace.    Watch the YouTube video of this episode here.   Submit episode suggestions and feedback here.

Eschatology - Study of last things   27% of the Bible is prophetic. 1 out of 30 verses refers to the Second Coming of Jesus or the End Times. 300 verses prophecy Jesus first coming. 600 verse prophecy Jesus second coming. What will happen when Christ returns?   Jesus tells us: “I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also” (John 14:3)   Jesus also says: “the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matt. 24:44)   So, what is the healthy way to view this?  Fear - obsession with end times? Apathy - no urgency for the lost?   Jesus told His disciples: Matt. 24:42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. Most of us are familiar with the “Left Behind” views of End Times:   Signs are fulfilled Believers are raptured Tribulation for 7 years - (Some will persevere, Jewish Witnesses, Israel saved) Christs return (parousia)- battle to defeat Satan- Armageddon, bodily resurrection of believers Millenial Kingdom (in one form or another) believers reign with Christ, non believers separated Great White Throne Judgement New Jerusalem - Heaven Comes to Earth The Rapture Traditional view - pre-trib Secondary view - mid-trib Another view - post trib   Signs -  “The gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations” (Mark 13:10; see also Matt. 24:14)   “This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel” - Ezekiel 37:21-22   Millennialism Rev 20:1-6 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. 2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while. 4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.   View 1 — Amillennial: The millennium is now, and when it ends, Jesus will return The simplest view of the millennium is that Revelation 20:1 – 6 describes not a future time but the present church age. Christians who hold to this view believe that many or all of the previously mentioned signs occurred early on in church history and that Christ could really return at any moment.   View 2—Postmillennial: The millennium will come gradually, and Jesus will return after the millennium Other Christians believe Jesus will return after the thousand years mentioned in Revelation 20:4-5. As the church grows and Christians continue to have a greater and greater influence, society will begin to function more and more in line with God's standards. Gradually, a “millennial age” of great peace and righteousness (not necessarily a literal one thousand years) will come about on the earth. Christ will not physically reign on earth during this period; instead, Christians will have a tremendous influence in society, and Christ's reign will come about through this influence of Christians.   View 3—Premillennial: The millennium will come suddenly, and Jesus will return before the millennium. Finally, there are Christians who believe Jesus will return before the events of Revelation 20:1 – 10. This is called the premillennial view because it holds that Christ will return before the millennium. This view also holds that prior to Jesus' return there will be a time of great suffering suffering on the earth, sometimes called the great tribulation (see Matt. 24:21 – 31). According to the premillennial view, Christ will return and physically reign on earth for the thousand years mentioned in Revelation 20:4 – 5 (not necessarily a literal one thousand years). When Christ returns to begin his millennial reign, all who have believed in him will be raised from the dead to reign with him. This is the meaning of Revelation 20:4, “They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.” In this premillennial view, after the thousand-year reign of Christ on the earth, the final judgment will occur, and those who believe in Jesus will continue to reign with him for eternity; those who rejected him will be condemned for eternity.   Response: We don't obsess over it We don't dismiss it   Blessed are those who read this prophecy - Revelation 1:1-4 Watch - Jesus said to watch for his return The Kingdom of God is now. Things are on motion towards His return. Holy urgency - Go and and make disciples of all nations. Love Your Neighbor. Understand who you are in Christ -  perspective, we are not of this world… Live with the joyful anticipation that Jesus will one day return bringing healing, justice and shalom to His Creation.   Additional reading:   The Non Prophet's Guide to the End Times by Todd Hampson The Book of Signs by Dr. David Jeremiah   Submit Q&A Questions and episode suggestions here.

What Happens After You Die: A Biblical Guide to Paradise, Hell, and Life After Death by Randy Frazee How can you be sure that you go to heaven/ be reconciled with God? “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” Romans 10:9-10   Submit Q&A Questions and episode suggestions here.

Questions from some listeners: “Loving the new podcasts. I think it would be super helpful if you gave some ideas on how to discuss these issues with your kids. As a mom of 4 teenagers my kids are co scantly faced with issues related to transgender, sex before marriage, socialism, other religions. I think preparing them to be able to defend their faith while have a rational response to these issues is very important. I have had my older kids listen to the podcasts as well to give us a starting point for conversations. I appreciate your ability to talk about these issues and educate the church.”   · How to navigate gender fluidity in the world with truth and love? · How to live in peace in a world of chaos?   Hope and clarity on the midst of confusion: · The enemy always brings confusion. Jesus brings clarity. · The enemy always brings chaos. Jesus brings order. · The enemy always brings lies. Jesus brings truth. · The enemy brings division. Jesus brings unity. · The enemy brings hostility. Jesus brings peace. · The enemy brings hate. Jesus brings love.   Our hope is always grounded in the character of God as revealed in Jesus.   Jesus is the clearest view of who God is and has always been.   · Hebrews 1:1-3a – In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.   · John 1:1 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made… 14 – The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth…. 18 – No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.   · Colossians 1:15-20 – The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.   So we need to see everything through a Christocentric lens. That is, Jesus is the central lens through which we interpret scripture and the world around us. If that is our starting point, practically, how do we address the issues we face today?   1. An interpretative principle. You don't interpret what is clear by what is unclear. You interpret what is unclear by what is clear. 2. All people are souls made in the image of God, loved by God, and worthy of love, respect and human dignity.   Socialism: There's a difference between socialized programs (public education, social security) and socialism as an economic philosophy.   What is socialism? Summarized as “government owns and operates the means of production.” (Venezuela, previously in Israel, India, Great Britain, etc).   Socialism is the stepping stone to communism. Centralizing power, Vladimir Lenin explained, “The goal of socialism is communism.”   They attack every principle of existing society. Hence, they are full of the most valuable materials for the enlightenment of the working class. The practical measures proposed in them -- such as the abolition of the distinction between town and country, of the family, of the carrying on of industries for the account of private individuals, and of the wage system, the proclamation of social harmony, the conversion of the functions of the State into a mere superintendence of production, all these proposals point solely to the disappearance of class antagonisms which were, at that time, only just cropping up, and which, in these publications, are recognized in their earliest, indistinct and undefined forms only. These proposals, therefore, are of a purely Utopian character. In short, the communists everywhere support every revolutionary movement against the existing social and political order of things. - The Communist Manifesto, Karl Marx   Communism summarized is “the abolition of private property.”   What is its net effect spiritually?   · "Communism begins from the outset with atheism…” -Karl Marx · "A Marxist must be a materialist, i.e., an enemy of religion…” -Vladimir Lenin · "There are, besides, eternal truths, such as freedom, justice, etc. that are common to all states of society. But communism abolishes eternal truths, it abolishes all religion, and all morality, instead of constituting them on a new basis; it therefore acts in contradiction to all past historical experience." -The Communist Manifesto, Karl Marx   Other religions:   · All religions are not just paths to the same destination. They are not all basically saying the same thing. · All other religions are man reaching out to find God. (Legalism) · Christianity is God reaching out to find man. (Grace)   Transgenderism and gender fluidity:   · Regarding gender: Genesis 1:27-28 – So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.” · Genesis 2:24 – That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. · God's design for human flourishing is a biological binary. Male and female.   Trans: · Gender dysphoria is a real psychological condition which some people suffer from. - Gender dysphoria is a diagnosis listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) as the feeling of discomfort or distress that might occur in people whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth or sex-related physical characteristics. · Not all trans people have dysphoria. Some are very comfortable in their bodies. · Some people are born as intersex. That is, they have sexually ambiguous characteristics at birth to varying degrees. Most are assigned a gender based on medical criteria at that time and some undergo some degree of surgery to physically align with that assignment. About 0.018% births have some ambiguity in genitalia. · The number of people, especially adolescent girls, who identity as trans has skyrocketed recently. · Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria (ROGD) is what primarily impacts young girls. Just a short time ago, only .002% to .003% of girls in the U.S. identified as transgender. Now it's up to 2%, so the rate has spiked by thousands of percentage points (in the UK, the number of girls identifying as trans has risen by over 4000%). Most trans-identified youth used to be males—that has reversed. In 2016, for example, girls accounted for 46% of sex reassignment surgeries in the U.S. One year later, that number had spiked to 70%. · In a 2018 study “Parent reports of adolescents and young adults perceived to show signs of a rapid onset of gender dysphoria,” discovered that a full 70% of trans teens belonged to a peer group in which one had already come out as trans, and according to parents, a third of these had shown no sign of being dysphoric previously. Despite the insistence of trans activists that this is simply “transphobia” on the part of the parents, 85% of the parents surveyed were LGBT-supportive. · Much of this phenomenon has resulted in many thousands of teens receiving puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and in many instances radical surgery. · Book - Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze is Seducing Our Daughters by Abigail Shrier   How do Christ followers respond?   1 Corinthians 13:6 – Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.   · Walk in love, truth and common sense (wisdom). · We have to separate disagreement from love. · I can love you and disagree with you. I can respect your dignity as a human without condoning your behavior. Jesus calls us to love people who are different from us. Even as far as to love one's enemies. So our goal is to be full of grace and truth. Clarity and love. · Ephesians 4:14-15 – Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.   1. We can lovingly disagree, pointing to God's plan for human flourishing as his best for everyone when appropriate. 2. We live in a broken world where people are often born with physical circumstances they must navigate. 3. The Christ follower is called to love and serve those God puts in their path, including the trans and gender fluid identifying people. 4. We must constantly ask ourselves, “What does love require of me?” 5. Does this person have ears to hear? In other words, have I earned the right to speak into their life? 6. When confronted with hostility, we respond in the opposite spirit. 7. We are to speak the truth in love with gentleness and respect. Not with condescension, or arrogance from some moral high ground. The posture of one beggar showing another beggar where to find bread. 8. We may not be trans affirming, but we are always people affirming.   · 1 Peter 3:15-16 – But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.   In other words, live in such a way that though the world disagrees with what you believe to be true, they should want it to be true based on the love of Christ they see in you.   Submit Q&A Questions and episode suggestions here. Watch the YouTube video here!

Concern for the poor is woven throughout the entirety of the biblical narrative. It is absolutely unavoidable from the Old testament to the New.     OT Lev 19:10 And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.   Deuteronomy 15:7 “If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, 8 but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. … 11 For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.'   Deut 27:19 “Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”   Exodus 22:21 “You shall not wrong a foreigner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. 22 You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child.   Prov 14:31 Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.   Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter . . . ? Isaiah 58:6 -7   What does Jesus have to say?   Luke 11:37 When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. 38 But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal. 39 Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 40 You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you. 42 “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.   Luke 14:12 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, …   Matthew 11:4-5 Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.    In the parable of the persistent widow from Luke 18 :1Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.' 4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don't fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually come and attack me!'” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”   Parable of the Sheep and Goats Matthew 25:34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'   Luke 12:32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Some conclusions:   The great eighteenth-century hymn-writer and ex- slave trader John Newton marveled at the far-reaching implications of these words. “One would almost think that Luke 14:12-14 was not considered part of God's word,” he wrote, “nor has any part of Jesus's teaching been more neglected by his own people. I do not think it is unlawful to entertain our friends; but if these words do not teach us that it is in some respects our duty to give a preference to the poor, I am at a loss to understand them.”   What is Jesus's point, then, in these exhortations?  1. It must be at least this—that his believers should not see any of their money as their own, and they should be profoundly involved with and generous to the poor.   2. Justification and Justice are inextricably connected.   Jesus brother James writes:    James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.   James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.  …26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.   We are saved by faith alone. But not by faith that remains alone.  Justification will lead to justice - fruit of the regenerate soul in Christ. Justice will lead to justification - as the church reflects the heart of Jesus for the poor the world will observe this consistency and integrity and in turn people will turn to Jesus.   So what can I do?   2 pronged approach: Serve in my neighborhood: You surgical ability to see and meet needs that a larger group cannot. Individual, family, small (A2) group…   Serve with my church: There is a power and synergy unmatched when the church unifies with the heart of Jesus. Here are a few things one church is doing.   Westside Service statistics 2020: Provided 4273 Professional Counseling sessions - Up 21% Supported 155 people through 41 Care Groups (Lifelines) Led 6 Food Drives, 350,000 Meals, 800 volunteers & 100 students Gave Covid food relief & ovens in South Africa, Thailand, Laos WFC 8 Blood Drives, 395 donors, potential of 1227 lives saved Supported 650 children, 19 One-Life sites, 4 countries, 814 sponsors Supported 1387 overseas house-churches, 329 new churches! Initiated 44 overseas community development Micro-finance projects Partnerships: Avenue of Life, Hillcrest Housing, Mission House, etc.  Partnered to assist 1500 homeless families to obtain housing Opened AOL Youth House housing 12 teen girls Supported Christ The Victor Church inside & outside Lansing Prison Encouraged 750 Foster/Adoptive parents through our RE:Conference Supplied Christmas gifts to 400 foster-families, 300 workers, 150 GH 44 Foster/Adopted Children now supported by Westside A2 Groups   Additional Resources:   Find out more and get involved here!   Book - Generous Justice by Tim Keller   Book - Progress:10 Reasons to Look Forward to the Future by Johan Norberg   Film and Research on American Poverty - America Lost by Christopher Rufu    Submit Q&A Questions and episode suggestions here. Watch the YouTube video here!

Marriage is woven throughout the entirety of scripture. It's always more than a man and wife. It's a picture of God's covenant love for His people: Christ and the Church. A picture of the gospel.   God's original design for human flourishing: Genesis 1:27-28: "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'"   Genesis 2:24 - That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.   Throughout scripture marriage is a picture of God and His people: Isaiah 54:5 - "For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called."   Jesus begins his public ministry/first miracle at a wedding: John 2:1-2, 10-11 - On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding…and said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.” This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.   Jesus is asked about marriage and he refers to Genesis 2: Matthew 19:3-6 - Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”   “Haven't you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,' and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.”   The culmination of the Biblical narrative is a marriage supper between the groom and bride, Christ and the Church: Revelation 16:6-9 - Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure,” for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.   And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”   Marriage was intended for man and woman in lifelong covenant with one another in submission to God as a reflection of God's covenant with His people and His design for human flourishing.   The unconditional commitment and love of marriage is a picture of the Gospel promise of God.   It is a loving covenant of complete vulnerability; physical, spiritual, emotional, relational, financial, and legal vulnerability.   A husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church by serving her and sacrificially giving his life for her:  Ephesians 5:25-33 - Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.   Wives submit to their husbands in mutual service as the husband loves the way Jesus loves: Ephesians 5:23-24 - For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.   God hates divorce as it is a breaking of the covenant relationship and picture of His love for His people: Malachi 2:16 - “The man who hates and divorces his wife,” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “does violence to the one he should protect,” says the Lord Almighty.   Matthew 19:3-6 - And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause?” He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”   Jesus tells us that divorce is permissible when one breaks the marriage covenant by infidelity. He permitted it under these circumstances. He did not command it: Matthew 19:8-9 - Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”   Mark 10:10-12 - When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”   The goal is always reconciliation. Reconciliation is the goal—a spirit of, "How can we work through this serious breach in our relationship?" not, "How can I get out of it?": Galatians 6:1 - Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer* is overcome by some sin, you who are godly* should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.   Additional Resources: The Meaning of Marriage by Tim Keller Coming Out with Christ: One Lesbian's Journey to Her Resurrected Identity by Karol Adams   Submit Q&A Questions and episode suggestions here.  Watch the YouTube video here!

The problem: Racism is real. People have real experiences with it in 2020.   Two foundational truths: 1. That we are all made in the image of God. 2. That the church should reflect the reality that all nations will be gathered together in heaven.   SOLUTION for the Christ Follower: It's about having the unity of Spirit in the name of Jesus. Unity is God's idea and can only be achieved by the Holy Spirit's transformation of our hearts. A Kingdom perspective on the subject.   Revelation 7:9 - After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.   · The goal of racial reconciliation is not sameness. It is Oneness. Unity under the banner of Jesus. · We embrace and celebrate the differences. · Unity is Oneness of purpose not sameness of being.   Jesus' high priestly prayer: John 17:20-23, “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.   Ephesians 2:13-15 - But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace.   The Church must follow Jesus into healing and unity out of submission to the Father, love for the Savior and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to see the continuing fruition of the here and not yet here Kingdom of God.   Recommended Resources:   Tony Evans' book “OneNess Embraced” Video Teaching on Right Now Media: https://www.rightnowmedia.org/Content/Series/196905   Miles McPherson's book “The Third Way”   Submit Q&A Questions and episode suggestions here.  Watch the YouTube video here!

Sanctity of Life There are four major issues facing the church today. Two of them are owned by the political left, and two of them are typically owned by the political right.  The sanctity of life The sanctity of marriage Justice for the poor Racial justice As Christ followers, we are called to own all of them. It's not about partisanship or any political agenda. It's about following Jesus and allowing him to inform the way we respond to the world we're in today.   What is abortion? The deliberate termination of a human pregnancy most often during the first 28 weeks of pregnancy but not restricted to that (a mother can feel the child moving by 20 weeks).   From Planned Parenthood: “In the first trimester. In clinic. A doctor or nurse uses medical instruments and gentle suction to remove the pregnancy from your uterus.”   Abortion pill: “You take pills that end your pregnancy and make your uterus expel the pregnancy tissue.”   The question is not whether it is a human. The question is whether it is a person or not. And a person, by law, is ascribed basic human rights.   If you are pregnant and wondering where to get help, there are many Christian organizations who are there to help not just children inside the womb but children who are outside of the womb. These organizations are there to support these mothers in crisis and help them through the entirety of the journey. There are also countless people waiting to adopt an infant at any given time.    Help for women in Kansas City - https://adviceandaid.com    For more information and support go to https://www.focusonthefamily.com/pro-life/    Watch “Unplanned” film on Amazon Prime    You can go to optionline.org and they can help you find support for your pregnancy locally. Call 1-800-712-4357 Text “HELPLINE” to 313131   Psalm 139:13-16 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.   Submit Q&A Questions and episode suggestions here. Watch the YouTube video here!

Allie Beth Stuckey interview with Neil Shenvi on Critical Theory.   Neil Shenvi - from a Christian perspective.   James Lindsay - secular academic.   Christopher Rufo - secular cultural researcher whose research prompted the federal ban on teaching critical theory in government institutions and organizations contracted by the government.   Book - secular perspective, “Cynical Theories: How Activist Scholarship Made Everything about Race, Gender, and Identity—and Why This Harms Everybody” by Helen Pluckrose and James A. Lindsay.   Article: How to Talk to Your Employer about Anti-Racism.   Critical Theory reduces all relationships to power. Who has it and who doesn't. Oppressor vs. oppressed. White people vs BIPOC.   Response: Jesus teaches us to love because he first loved us. And you exercise influence through loving service wrapped in grace and truth.   Matthew 20:25 - Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”   Critical Theory reduces all people to their skin color, or identity group, as their primary identity (the most definitive thing to know about you).   Response: Jesus tells us our primary identity is that we are made in the image of God, of infinite value and unconditionally loved by our Creator.   Galatians 3:26 - So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.   Federal ban on teaching critical theory in government institutions and contracted organizations. Summary: You shall not demean, stereotype or scapegoat people based on their race or sex.   This provision then lists “divisive concepts” that cannot be included in workplace training, including DEI training:   one race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex.  the United States is fundamentally racist or sexist.  an individual—by virtue of his or her race or sex—is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously.  an individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly because of his or her race or sex.  members of one race or sex cannot and should not attempt to treat others without respect to race or sex.  an individual's moral character is necessarily determined by his or her race or sex.  an individual—by virtue of his or her race or sex—bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex. any individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of his or her race or sex. meritocracy or traits, such as a hard work ethic, are racist or sexist, or were created by a particular race to oppress another race.   Tenets of Critical Theory: Critical theory emphasizes group identity over individualism. Individual identity is inseparable from group identity as ‘oppressed' or ‘oppressor.'   “My schooling gave me no training in seeing myself as an oppressor… I was taught to see myself as an individual whose moral state depended on her individual moral will.” – Peggy McIntosh, “White Privilege and Male Privilege,” in Andersen and Collins, Race, Class, and Gender: An Anthology, p. 72.   Critical theory defines oppression as the exercise of hegemonic power—the ability of a group to impose its values, norms and expectations of society. Oppressor groups subjugate oppressed groups through the exercise of hegemonic power.   “Concepts of hegemony enable us to appreciate how dominant groups manipulate symbols and images to construct ‘common sense' and thereby maintain their power.” – Jacob P. K. Gross, “Education and Hegemony: The Influence of Antonio Gramsci” in Beyond Critique: Exploring Critical and Social Theories in Education, p. 57, 65.   Smithsonian Infographic—the National Museum of African American history and culture which is a component of the Smithsonian Institute a federally funded organization    Critical theory dismisses ‘reason' and ‘evidence' as self-serving justifications for oppression. Scientific method, evidence, statistics, etc. are tools of the oppressor.   A quote from Delgado's “Critical Race Theory: An Introduction” says, “critical race theory questions the very foundations of the liberal order, including equality theory, legal reasoning, Enlightenment rationalism, and neutral principles of constitutional law.”   Critical theory sees intersectional ‘lived experience' as an epistemic advantage. ‘Lived experience' is more important than objective evidence in understanding oppression— i.e.,the lower one is on the intersectional hierarchy of the higher one's perspective on truth. To question the oppressed persons lived experience is evidence of racism.   “The idea that objectivity is best reached only through rational thought is a specifically Western and masculine way of thinking – one that we will challenge throughout this book.” – Margaret L. Andersen and Patricia Hill Collins, “Reconstructing Knowledge,” in Anderson and Collins, Race, Class, and Gender, p. 4-5.   Our fundamental moral duty is freeing groups from oppression. Cancel culture or call out culture - make oppression visible. Civil discourse, exchange of ideas, freedom of speech, mutual understanding, etc. is not a value. You don't have an individual voice. You are a mouthpiece for your identity group.    The goal is not to “win” the argument through civil discourse. It is to overpower or silence the argument by any means necessary.   A posture for us from scripture: Romans 12:9-21: Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.   Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.   Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary:   If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.   Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.   Submit Q&A Questions and episode suggestions here.   Watch the podcast video here!

  There has been some controversy stirring around the practices of a few highly influential churches in contemporary worship. What are the issues? Are there truly some biblical conflicts with them? And if so, should other churches continue to utilize their music in corporate worship services?   So what are the issues with these churches and how much should we be concerned?   What unites Christians? What are the essentials?   Randy Recommends a Book: The Mosaic of Christian Belief by Roger Olson for information on the differences between Christian groups on secondary matters and schools of thought under the umbrella of orthodox, historic, Christianity.    The historic creed that has been historically fundamental, irreducible, and uniting for Christians: The Apostles Creed I believe in God the Father Almighty; Maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord;  who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary;  suffered under Pontius Pilate,  was crucified, dead and buried; the third day he rose from the dead;  he ascended into heaven;  and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;  from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.    I believe in the Holy Spirit;  the holy catholic (universal) Church;  the communion of saints;  the forgiveness of sins;  the resurrection of the body;  and the life everlasting. Amen.   Submit Q&A Questions and episode suggestions here.    Watch the podcast video here!