Think Truth

Following up on Paul's recent post summarizing Kruger's book on spiritual abuse, Drew and Paul sit down to discuss the topic drawing from their experiences. They discuss how spiritual abuse has been a problem in our community, ways that we can prevent it and care for those damaged by it, and how to be vigilant while at the same time trusting and supportive of godly leaders.Support the show

With a new face on the podcast, Katie Heffner, Elijah discusses the history of Christians and science and talks about the complicated relationship that Anabaptists have had with higher education and science. Why aren't more Anabaptist young people becoming researchers, engineers and mathematicians?You can read Katie's recent blog post here.Watch the video version of this podcast on YouTube.Support the show

If we aren't careful, we fall prey to seeing the gospel as the start of our Christian journey, but not realize that to the New Testament authors, the gospel is also the ongoing way that we learn how to live like Jesus. It is the story of what Jesus did, and the means by which, through the Spirit, we learn what we can and should do. Elijah and Drew talk about how Anabaptists can fall prey to minimizing the gospel, and what we should do to keep it central.Support the show

What about the pagan origins of Christmas? Or Santa Claus and heavy commercialization? Drew and Elijah discuss some of these common objections, talk about their past experience with the holiday, and give some pointers on how to make Christmas a meaningful, spiritually rich holiday. Find the YouTube version here. Support the show

In this first live-audience podcast episode, Paul and Elijah consider the church's relationship to Israel. In light of the current conflict, it is crucial to understand how we are to think about the modern Jewish state. They argue that we should not be looking to the modern geopolitical nation of Israel for prophetic fulfillment, whether or not there is a future wave of Jewish people who come to faith. We are to view the people of God as composed of people with the faith of Abraham in the Messiah, not unbelieving ethnic Israel.Find the video version of this podcast here.Support the show

Heaven is what modern Christians tend to think about, but resurrection is what the apostles thought about. If creation was good, created by God, then the necessity of re-creation follows! Paul and Elijah do a dive into Scripture and early Christian thought to understand what the orthodox Christian hope is for the future. What happens after death? And as N.T. Wright says so often, what happens in the "life after life after death"?Find the video version of this episode here.Support the show

Our modern Christian concept of our ultimate hope is of floating up to a disembodied sky heaven. The Christian Hope is of Jesus reigning as king on earth, and heaven reunited to earth. How did we get off-track? Paul and Elijah argue that dualism, gnostic thought, and misguided interpretation of Scripture has informed our hymns, theology, and understanding of our future. Watch the video version of this episode here.Support the show

Ever gotten stuck on a Proverb that you didn't understand? Or heard questionable advice on wealth-making from an obscure proverb? Or perhaps puzzled (or felt guilty) over why life doesn't always turn out the way Proverbs seems to indicate it should? Paul and Elijah talk genre, interpretation, and application of this important wisdom book.https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/proverbs/https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/wisdom-proverbs/Support the show

Drew and Elijah continue their discussion on some of the fallout with teachings from Gothard and IBLP. In this podcast, they talk about the tendency in some settings to view submission to authority as a formula for success. Godly authorities are a necessary part of every Christian's life, but what about when authorities seem to be acting in unloving, unbiblical ways?Find the video version of this podcast here.See Drew's most recent post on the umbrella of authority here.Support the show

Have you ever felt guilty about enjoying an innocent activity? On the heels of Drew's recent post on Jinger's recent book, Becoming Free Indeed, Drew and Elijah discuss a specific example from the book about her oversensitivity as a child. Jinger often felt guilty playing broom ball with her family, because she felt she should be doing something more spiritual. Read Drew's article on the book hereWatch this episode on YouTubeSupport the show

Should we avoid people who are bitter? What does bitterness even mean? Drew and Elijah discuss how bitterness has been misunderstood and weaponized against people who get hurt. Unforgiveness is something to overcome at all costs, but it is not the same as biblical bitterness.Watch this episode on YouTubeSupport the show

In this special Q&A episode, Elijah and Paul discuss a few of your questions related to the book of Revelation. Questions include: Could other apocalyptic works be borrowing from Revelation instead of vice versa? If Revelation is an example of “apocalyptic” literature, then did John really see the things he said he saw? What's your take on postmillennialism? What about specific-sounding land promises given to Israel in the Bible? Be sure to check out the 3-episode series on Revelation and “end times” matters!E1 How Should We Read the Symbolism in Revelation?E2 What Is the Mark of the Beast?E3 How Can We Apply Revelation Today?Find this episode on YouTubeSupport the show

Revelation was written to a group of late first-century churches. It was meant to encourage and exhort them to be “conquerors.” But we're far removed from them. On the other side, Revelation envisages events still in our future. How do we read and practically apply Revelation today, as believers far removed from the first century and still awaiting the final vision to unfold? Join Elijah and Paul as they discuss practically reading and applying the book in our lives and churches today.Be sure to check out episodes 1 and 2 of this 3-part series here and here.Find the video version of this podcast here.Support the show

Serious Christians are often on the lookout for the “mark of the beast.” And for good reason—it's spiritually fatal! But should we be looking suspiciously at new technologies, vaccines, or payment methods? In fact, is this “mark” a specific, one-time “thing” for the final generation only, or is it an image that warns all believers? What should we be on the lookout for? Join Elijah and Paul as they dig into the “mark of the beast” in Revelation and reveal how important it is for us today (but not perhaps how you might think). Hint: It's related to the “seal of God.”It's important that you check out the first episode of this series, which lays a foundation for this episode. Find it here.Support the show

How do you read Revelation? Or do you read it at all? Maybe you find it fascinating, but don't know how to find any meaning in it. Or maybe you feel a bit jaded by controversies over strange symbolism in the book. Join Elijah and Paul in this first episode of a series on Revelation where they sweep away some common misconceptions about the book of Revelation and "end-times" theology.  Hint: John wrote Revelation in a very specific genre of literature... and we should read it accordingly.Video episode link:https://youtu.be/1cYR_tki-DUFor more on this topic, read this article from The Gospel Coalition:https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/recapitulation-revelation/Support the show

Drew and Elijah talk about how to use technology without it keeping us from things that matter. Realistically, for most of us, the quality of our lives will suffer if we don't make intentional choices about how we use--and don't use--our phones.We are on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@thinktruth7992Support the show

Drew and Elijah acknowledge that we all use some arbitrary lines in fleshing out principles, at least individually. But how do we keep this separate from strong positions we take, especially publicly?  The podcast is launched with a discussion on a comment Drew received on a recent post:  https://think-truth.org/2023/02/28/pcc-the-kings-singers-and-the-culture-wars/Think Truth is on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@thinktruth7992 Support the show

Drew and Elijah discuss their initial thought on the Asbury revivals. They also discuss their broader view of revivalism, in light of some of their past experiences. https://think-truth.orgSupport the show

Drew and Elijah continue their discussion on modesty. Here they talk about the process of overcoming lust and lay out practical specifics for determining modesty standards.Support the show

Drew and Elijah have a lively discussion about Elijah's popular article on the Think Truth blog: https://think-truth.org/2022/10/20/how-modesty-is-weaponized/Are modesty and beauty fundamentally at odds? Do we need to accept a tradeoff between the two? Can we be fully modest and fully beautiful? Link for Followers of the Way modesty panel discussion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaZijOAGwS0We're on YouTube! You can continue to enjoy our podcast in audio form with your favourite podcast app, or you can see the same podcasts in video format on YouTube. Thanks to our generous donors who made this upgrade possible! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbCNzgrK3YA&t=2389sSupport the show

In this last episode in their Holy Spirit series, Drew and Elijah talk about how easy it is to set up a dichotomy between serious thinking and experiences of the Spirit. Why does there often seem to be two camps and how can they learn to work together?Support the show

Should we be seeing more manifestations of the Spirit today, especially of the kind we see in the book of Acts? And how do the miracles we see in Acts connect to the teaching of the Epistles? Drew and Elijah continue their Holy Spirit series by going back to the very beginning of the outpouring of the Spirit.Are you a fan of the podcast? We're running a fundraiser to upgrade our podcasting equipment. We'd appreciate your help here: https://gofund.me/fa00d7dbSupport the show

Drew and Elijah start a new series on the Holy Spirit. They discuss different beliefs about how the Spirit works in our lives, how we should seek to grow in the Spirit, and how we should view the gifts of the Spirit. Support the show

Yesterday Trump announced his candidacy for the 2024 GOP nomination. Drew and Elijah discuss how the church should respond. Is there a good reason for Christians to support Trump?  And how does widespread evangelical support for Trump affect our Christian witness? Support the show

In the last episode in their pacifism series, Drew and Elijah delve into just war theory. By its own standards, how many wars have been just? And does the theory present a compelling biblical argument for war being necessary? Support the show

In this latest instalment in the series, Drew and Elijah discuss C. S. Lewis and his objections with pacifism. How do pacifists respond to the charge that their beliefs could lead to a disrupted world, with no one to resist evil invaders?Support the show

How should we approach Scriptures talking about government involvement and not resisting evil? Is there more to non-resistance than merely getting off the hook when there's a draft? How can we have a consistent, well-defined worldview on these issues? Join Drew and Elijah as they continue their discussion on non-resistance and pacifism. Support the show

Why, if Anabaptists identify as nonresistant, do they often go out of their way to make it clear that they are not pacifist? In this first episode of a series on nonresistance, Elijah and Drew bring their thoughts together on this question.Support the show

How should we as Anabaptists respond to the brokenness and weaknesses within our churches and communities? Is it possible to be critical without being cynical and deconstructive? In this episode Drew and Elijah search for a balanced perspective, including ways to approach the problems surrounding us with loving critique and committed effort to bring about healthy change.  Support the show

Drew and Elijah talk about how the team works at Think Truth and how content is chosen and edited. They also talk about how they relate to controversial topics, as well as their vision for content moving forward.(Recorded July 2022.)Support the show

Drew and Elijah talk about their personal lives, their friendship, and how it intersects with their work on Think Truth. (Recorded in July 2022.)Support the show

When we look at the way "worldliness" is used in Scripture, a very different set of practical issues come to the forefront. Rather than just thinking that avoiding worldliness means acting and dressing differently from the world arbitrarily, we realize that worldliness is simply sin--that issues such as anger, lust, and church strife are the biggest and most dangerous areas of worldly sin.We will check our hearts closer when we learn to view worldliness through the lens of the scriptures.Support the show

Yes, we talk a lot about avoiding being tainted by the world. We talk a lot about the dangers of worldliness. But what if we're misusing the term? What if, in our zeal to stay away from "the world," we've actually just been staying away from unbelievers? Join us in thinking through this topic as we discuss the scriptures on worldliness.Support the show

Novels are fiction, and by definition "not true," right? Since Philippians 4:8 tells us to read things that are "true," should we avoid novels? Drew, Elijah, and Kayla are back to discuss fiction, delving into the concerns some have about fiction and talking about how novels have positively affected their lives. Support the show (https://paypal.me/thinktruth)

For some, the question is obvious: novels are a waste of time, often include unrealistic romance, and are not true. For others, novels are a richer, different way of describing and enjoying the human experience, and prepare the Christian to better understand Scripture. Drew, Kayla, and I talk about our journeys with reading and how we've come to the conclusions we have on the world of fiction.Support the show (https://paypal.me/thinktruth)

In this final episode of our Galatians series, Paul and Drew tackle some fascinating and confusing portions of the letter: What does Paul mean by the "elements of the world"? How is Paul employing the story of Hagar and Sarah "allegorically"? And are Paul's metaphors merely rhetorical flourishes, or are they central to his moral exhortations? Support the show (https://paypal.me/thinktruth)

What was Paul's point in bringing Abraham into his argument about law-keeping vs. living by the promise? How should we change the way we read the NT in light of Paul's perspective on the Scriptures? Have we been too focused on finding commands to obey that we're missing the promise?Support the show (https://paypal.me/thinktruth)

How did Paul view the urge to use rules to guide moral behavior? Why did he react so strongly to the Judaizers and their appeal to using the law to guide the new gentile disciples? Where do we have similar impulses to return to our own set of laws to guide our disciples?Support the show (https://paypal.me/thinktruth)

In this episode, Paul and Drew discuss the reasons for the Apostle Paul writing this book. Why did Paul emphasize his apostleship in the first chapter? What is behind Paul's phrase, "this present evil age," in the beginning of the book? What is the "different gospel" that Paul was so worried about? Join us in this adventure through an intriguing and challenging New Testament letter.Support the show (https://paypal.me/thinktruth)

We have a trust problem. Too many people trust what they read too much, reading some authors uncritically simply because they are perceived as coming from the same "side." At the same time, many people refuse to read things written by authors coming from other perspectives than their own. How shall we learn to think better about our sources?Support the show (https://paypal.me/thinktruth)

What do we do when we as believers disagree on something as controversial as the COVID-19 vaccine? What is the path to be able to work through our disagreements? What if we never agree on the facts? Elijah and Drew pick up this spiny topic together in this episode.Support the show (https://paypal.me/thinktruth)

Paul Lamicela joins us to talk about our political conversations...yes, it's possible to really enjoy a chat with someone you disagree with on politics. And it's also possible that you can learn something new and become more nuanced in your position—if you start asking questions.Support the show (https://paypal.me/thinktruth)

In a follow-up to their podcast on Suffering and Healing, Drew and Paul discuss some of their life experiences. They also ask how we can help those who are suffering in ways that are loving and helpful. Support the show (https://paypal.me/thinktruth)

Drew, Paul, and Elijah  join for the first time to discuss politics and how it relates to the church. Support the show (https://paypal.me/thinktruth)

We should expect suffering in this life.  But we are told to pray for healing. How do we reconcile this seeming paradox? Paul Lamicela joins the podcast for the first time to discuss how healing and suffering converge in the biblical perspective. Support the show (https://paypal.me/thinktruth)

Many are concerned about young people reading non-Anabaptist authors, afraid that they will lose their way. Others try to discredit non-Anabaptists on their interpretation of a scriptural passage on the basis of an unrelated belief or lack thereof.  How should we make our reading decisions, and how can we learn to appreciate the contributions of authors outside of our own communities?Support the show (https://paypal.me/thinktruth)

Drew and Elijah reflect on their debate series and discuss their points of agreement. What if being different is actually our key to success in reaching out—so long as we're different in the right areas and for the right reasons? They discuss relationships, music, devices, and Christian love...here's where "different" will count.Support the show (https://paypal.me/thinktruth)

What does it mean to be modern and is that a positive thing for Christians to desire to be? Does the fact that a specific tradition is old-fashioned make it less likely for others to adopt? Drew and Elijah come back to discuss the museum effect in more detail, focusing on the definition of modern and asking whether the process of modernization is positive for the church.Support the show (https://paypal.me/thinktruth)

Should we care if others think we conservative Anabaptists are old-fashioned? Is it a positive effect? Drew and Elijah debate these controversial questions together, finding mutual agreement and sharpening the disagreements, in this discussion on culture and the church.Support the show (https://paypal.me/thinktruth)

Does tradition keep outsiders from joining our churches? Or does our tradition—informed by our beliefs—actually serve to draw people to join us? This episode contains an answer to the anti-traditionalists that does not ignore Anabaptists' evangelism problem or fuel the mindless tradition-dumping that many engage in.Support the show (https://paypal.me/thinktruth)

Have you ever seen people trying to leave as much tradition behind as they can, but still being very traditional in the way they live regardless? Drew and Elijah try to answer this mystery while discussing how to rightly relate to traditions like specific clothing standards that may be overemphasized in some churches. Support the show (https://paypal.me/thinktruth)