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Greg talks about five areas—salvation, abortion, gender, marriage, and sex—where Christians are drifting into falsehood because of pressure in the culture and not because of ambiguity in the text. Despite the confusion of many Christians on these topics, faithfulness is not theologically complicated.   Topics: Commentary: No need for confusion—faithfulness is not theologically complicated. (00:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Faithfulness Is Not Theologically Complicated by Greg Koukl The Story of Reality: How the World Began, How It Ends, and Everything Important that Happens in Between by Greg Koukl Another Gospel? A Lifelong Christian Seeks Truth in Response to Progressive Christianity by Alisa Childers Jesus, the Only Way: 100 Verses Related Links: The Legend of the Social Justice Jesus by Greg Koukl

Greg talks about the relatively new idea that we can be oppressed through others’ ideology, then he answers questions about whether Christian fellowship is simply brainwashing, the need for epistemological certainty, whether the Bible requires 100% certainty, and why God isn’t as self-evident as 2+2=4.   Topics: Commentary: Disagreement is not oppression. (00:00) Does the fact that we derive encouragement and psychological benefit from gathering with other believers show we are simply brainwashing ourselves? (23:00) Should I feel so obligated to truth that if I can’t have epistemological certainty, I should abandon my faith? (29:00) When studying apologetics and philosophy, it seems as though 100% certainty is unachievable, but does the Bible require 100% certainty that God exists? (42:00) Why isn’t the truth of God’s existence as self-evident as the mathematical equation 2+2=4? (37:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Submit a question on the Open Mic Line Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity’s Toughest Challenges by Greg Koukl

Guest Host: J. Warner Wallace   J. Warner Wallace gives four reasons we can be confident the Gospel accounts are eyewitness accounts, answers a question about family planning, discusses how Christian principles cause people to thrive, then talks to callers about the Old Testament prophets and why God created Satan.   Topics: Commentary: Four reasons we can be confident the Gospel accounts are eyewitness accounts (00:00) Is family planning okay, or should we put our family size in the hands of God? (24:00) Commentary: The data shows that the principles that cause people to thrive point to the truth of Christianity. (32:00) How did the Old Testament prophets know that what they were hearing was really from God? (38:00) If God wanted us to be with him, why did he create Satan? (51:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Cold-Case Christianity: A Homicide Detective Investigates the Claims of the Gospels (Updated and Expanded 10th Anniversary Edition) by J. Warner Wallace Women in Apologetics Conference – June 9–10, Anaheim, CA Person of Interest by J. Warner Wallace

Guest Host: J. Warner Wallace   J. Warner Wallace talks about a training model for equipping young people, then he talks to callers about a argument for the certainty of coming judgment that doesn’t refer to the Bible and how to share the gospel with family members who think they’re already Christians.   Topics: Commentary: A training model for equipping young people (00:00) Do you have an “outside-the-room” argument for the certainty of coming judgment? (22:00) How can I share the gospel with family members who think they’re already Christians? (42:00) Mentioned on the Show:  J. Warner Wallace Reality Student Apologetics Conference – September 22–23 in Los Angeles, CA; October 13–14 in Seattle, WA; November 10–11 in Minneapolis, MN; February 23–24, 2023 in Dallas, TX; March 22–23, 2023 in Philadelphia, PA; April 19–20, 2023 in Augusta, GA STR U Online Training Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions by Greg Koukl

Greg responds to objections to the moral argument in this interview from the Reasoned Hope podcast with Parks Edwards. They discuss cultural relativism and its inability to explain moral progress, the Euthyphro dilemma, moral Platonism, the evolutionary explanation for morality, and more.   Topics: Commentary: Objections to the moral argument for the existence of God (00:00) Download the mp3...   Mentioned on the Show:  Reasoned Hope podcast with Parks Edwards Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity’s Toughest Challenges by Greg Koukl Related Links: Euthyphro’s Dilemma by Greg Koukl

Greg explains why we should think objective morality exists and why God is the best explanation for its existence in this interview from the the Reasoned Hope podcast with Parks Edwards.   Topics: Commentary: Why God is the best explanation for the existence of objective morality (00:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Reasoned Hope podcast with Parks Edwards   Related Links: Relativism: Feet Firmly Planted in Mid-Air by Greg Koukl and Francis Beckwith Hitchens’s Challenge Solved by Amy Hall

Greg talks to a caller about how to deal with doubts, then he talks about Hollywood’s depiction of women and answers a question about churches that do more “seeker-friendly” sermons and focus on presenting the gospel rather than doing expository preaching.   Topics: How can I deal with my doubts? (00:00) Commentary: Hollywood is changing women into men. (27:00) What are your thoughts on churches that do more “seeker-friendly” sermons and focus on presenting the gospel rather than doing expository preaching? (48:00) Mentioned on the Show:  The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes by Nancy Pearcey Related Links: The Thomas Factor: Using Your Doubts to Draw Closer to God by Gary Habermas Why God? Part 1 and Part 2 by Greg Koukl (about God being the best explanation for the way things are) When (and Why) Feminism Is Anti-Feminine by Amy Hall (quoting Alastair Roberts)

Greg talks about putting faithfulness to God above appeasing friends who disagree with you, then he answers questions about whether God is evil if he created a world where he knew so many people would suffer and what a teacher should do when he’s told to use preferred pronouns.   Topics: Commentary: Do the right thing before God. (00:00) Since God knew how many people would suffer when he created the world, does that make him an evil God who caused the suffering? (32:00) What should a teacher do when he’s asked to use preferred pronouns? (48:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Amy Grant will host a same-sex wedding by Rick Pidcock Should You Accommodate an LGBT Person’s Requests? by Alan Shlemon Why I No Longer Use Transgender Pronouns—and Why You Shouldn’t, Either by Rosaria Butterfield A Response to an Employer’s Request for Pronouns by Amy Hall Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers STR Outposts Related Links: How Can We Condemn Evil if God Is Sovereign? by Amy Hall Evil and the Cross by Amy Hall Why Did God Create People if He Knew So Many Would Go to Hell? by Amy Hall Why Pronouns Matter…a Lot by Greg Koukl #STRask: How Can I Lovingly Explain to Someone That I Will Not Be Using Their Pronouns? Why Agree to Use Preferred Names but Not Preferred Pronouns? by Amy Hall

Greg talks to callers about whether Christianity is a mind-control cult because it says you’re fallen and need someone to save you, the view that the Jews of today are not the real descendants of Abraham, reason vs. the Bible, Jesus’ view of social justice, and when to apply 1 Corinthians 5:11.   Topics: How should I respond to someone who says Christianity is a mind-control cult because it says you’re fallen and need someone to save you? (00:00) Is it possible to be a Christian and believe that the Jews of today are not the real descendants of Abraham, and is this a dangerous belief to have in your church? (17:00) If the Bible were to contradict the laws of reason, which should take precedence for the Christian? (31:00) How would you respond to someone who says that since the way we understand social justice now wasn’t around during the time of Jesus, we can’t know what Jesus would have thought of it? (38:00) How should 1 Corinthians 5:11 be applied to someone’s daughter who claims to be Christian but isn’t living a godly life? (49:00) Mentioned on the Show:  The Legend of the Social Justice Jesus by Greg Koukl Christopher Yuan’s books Rosaria Butterfield’s books

Greg talks about the first 30 years of Stand to Reason, then he answers questions about universalism, the Roman Catholic view of the authority of tradition, and the difference between tradition and the objective truth of Scripture.   Topics: Commentary: A 30-year ride (00:00) Can you help me respond to people in my church who have been influenced by a theologian’s YouTube videos to accept the idea that all people will eventually accept Jesus, whether now on earth or later in Hell (universalism)? (37:00) Why do Roman Catholics view tradition as authoritative, and how can I show them the difference between tradition and the objective truth of Scripture? (52:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers Hell Interrupted Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3

Greg talks about how he managed a spiritual conversation he had on a plane with someone who was challenging him, then he answers questions about where our passions come from and whether Matthew 25:31–46 ties our salvation to how we treat the poor.   Topics: Commentary: A real-life example of the tactical game plan (00:00) Do our passions come from God? (28:00) What’s your take on Matthew 25:31–46, which seems to tie our salvation to how we treat the poor and oppressed? (37:00) Mentioned on the Show:  STR U Online Training Purchase the Reality Livestream Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers

Greg talks to Frank Turek about the upcoming CrossExamined Instructor Academy, then he answers questions about whether Jesus existed and how we should view God’s sovereignty when it comes to tragedies that result from non-moral decisions we’ve made.   Topics: Commentary: The upcoming CrossExamined Instructor Academy (00:00) Did Jesus ever exist? (20:00) How should one view God’s sovereignty when it comes to tragedies that result from non-moral decisions we’ve made? (39:00) Mentioned on the Show:  CrossExamined Instructor Academy Unshaken Conference The Story of Civilization: Caesar and Christ by Will Durant Related Links: Bart Ehrman on the Existence of Jesus by Amy Hall Does God Whisper? Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 by Greg Koukl

Greg answers questions about whether he’s fighting a ghost when it comes to critical race theory, whether the famous Christians who have been deconstructing were ever truly regenerated, the “Divine Council” in Psalm 82, and how to be satisfied where we are.   Topics: Are you sure you’re not fighting a ghost when it comes to critical race theory? (04:00) Were the famous Christian musicians and YouTubers currently going through the deconstruction process ever truly regenerated? (17:00) Is the idea of a “Divine Council” a biblical concept? (36:00) How can I be satisfied where I am and stay focused on the tasks God has for me right now? (45:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Reality Student Apologetics Conference – April 21–22, 2023 in Augusta, GA Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers STR Outposts The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible by Michael Heiser The Hurt Locker – Film Mr. Holland’s Opus – Film Related Links: Intro to Critical Theory by Neil Shenvi What is Critical Race Theory? by Neil Shenvi How to Be Content in Suffering by Amy Hall The Value of Disappointment by Amy Hall

Greg talks about the only two schools he would recommend these days, then he answers a question about the relationship between apologetics and our experience of God.   Topics: Commentary: The only schools Greg recommends (00:00) What is the relationship between apologetics and Christian experience? (10:00) Related Links: Apologetics Aren’t Enough to Connect You with a Person by Amy Hall Do You Convey a Sense of the Reality, Centrality, and Desirability of Jesus with Your Apologetics? by Amy Hall

Greg talks about Alan Shlemon’s excellent article on the definition of a woman, then he answers questions about how parents who just reconnected with a daughter should respond to her claim to be gay, what to say to someone whose child overuses video games, and whether Christianity is militant.   Topics: Commentary: Circular and absurd definitions of a woman (00:00) How should parents in our Tactics small group respond to their daughter’s claim to be gay? (11:00) What should I say to my sister about my nephew’s overuse of video games? (26:00) Why is Christianity so militant? (40:00) Mentioned on the Show:  What Is a Woman? by Alan Shlemon The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert by Rosaria Butterfield The Question that Stops Christians in Their Tracks by Greg Koukl Greg’s debate with Deepak Chopra Bart Ehrman on the Existence of Jesus by Amy Hall

Greg explains how to interpret promises God made in the Old Testament and when to apply them to Christians today, then he answers a question about whether verses in Romans about the Holy Spirit testifying in our hearts indicate Christians should expect to receive an experience of the Holy Spirit.    Topics: Why do you disagree with John Piper’s understanding that some promises to the Jewish people apply to Christians today, and how do you tell which promises apply to us and which don’t? (00:00) When Romans 5:5 and 8:16 talk about the Holy Spirit testifying in our hearts, does that mean Christians should expect to receive an experience of the Holy Spirit? (47:00) Mentioned on the Show:  God Rejoices to Do You Good by John Piper Reality Student Apologetics Conference – April 21–22, 2023 in Augusta, GA Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers Confessions of a French Atheist: How God Hijacked My Quest to Disprove the Christian Faith by Guillaume Bignon Related Links: Promises We Can’t Claim. Promises We Can. by Greg Koukl How Can I Know Which Bible Promises Apply to Me? by Amy Hall

Greg answers questions about whether there are internal inconsistencies in Protestantism when it comes to sola Scriptura, whether Jesus has severed his personal relationship with John now that he’s Lord over all, and reading the Bible with the assumption that it’s a divinely-inspired book.    Topics: Do you have answers for the internal inconsistencies of Protestantism? (01:00) Has Jesus severed his personal relationship with John now that he is Lord over all? (36:00) One of Michael Heiser’s seven rules for reading the Bible is that we should read it as a divine book, but should that really be a starting point when we’re approaching a text? (47:00)

Greg talks about the speech Calvin Robinson gave on same-sex marriage at the Oxford Union, then he answers questions about responding to false teachings and William Lane Craig’s view of God’s relationship to time.   Topics: Commentary: “If the world is against the truth, then I am against the world.” (00:00) How should we respond to false teachers and false teachings today? (28:00) Do you agree with William Lane Craig’s view of God’s relationship to time? (48:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Calvin Robinson’s Oxford Union Debate Speech – Video and transcript Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers Reality Student Apologetics Conference – April 21–22, 2023 in Augusta, GA A Reformation the Church Doesn’t Need – Part 1 by Greg Koukl and Alan Shlemon A Reformation the Church Doesn’t Need – Part 2 by Greg Koukl and Alan Shlemon The Legend of the Social Justice Jesus by Greg Koukl

Greg explains why objective morality doesn’t depend on belief in God but does depend on God, then he answers questions about responding to Mormon missionaries about how they know the Book of Mormon is true and whether it’s ever appropriate for a Christian to give a forceful or rude response.   Topics: Commentary: Morality doesn’t depend on belief in God, but it does depend on God. (00:00) Do you have any verses I can use when responding to Mormon missionaries about how they know the Book of Mormon is true? (24:00) Is it ever appropriate for a Christian to be forceful or rude when responding to someone? (47:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity’s Toughest Challenges by Greg Koukl Mormonism Research Ministry 10 Awesome Book of Mormon Passages to Use with Latter-day Saints! by Eric Johnson Top 10 Teachings of Mormonism Not Supported by the Book of Mormon by Eric Johnson Reality Student Apologetics Conference – April 21–22, 2023 in Augusta, GA STR U Online Training Advice for Apologists – Previous podcast with STR speakers Related Links: Hitchens’s Challenge Solved by Amy Hall Verses for Your Conversations with Mormons by Amy Hall Why You Shouldn’t Ask God if the Book of Mormon Is True by Aaron Brake Is It Possible Some Mormons Are Saved? by Amy Hall Who Is the God of Mormonism? by Amy Hall LDS View of Atonement Clarified by Amy Hall How Should We Handle Outrage? by Amy Hall

Greg talks about the Trans Resistance Network’s statement on Monday’s school shooting, then he answers questions about how to enjoy corporate prayer when you’re aware of how people are misusing Scripture and the moral culpability of an Uber driver transporting people to do sinful things.   Topics: Commentary: The Trans Resistance Network’s statement on Monday’s shooting (00:00) Is there a way to still enjoy corporate prayer even though I now notice when people are misusing Scripture and misunderstanding how God works? (34:00) What’s the moral culpability of an Uber driver transporting people to do sinful things? (48:00) Mentioned on the Show:  The Trans Resistance Network’s statement STR U Online Training Reality Student Apologetics Conference – April 21–22, 2023 in Augusta, GA Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers Related Links: What Is Promised to the Two or Three Who Are Gathered in Jesus’ Name? by Amy Hall Use Your Knowledge to Serve Others, Not Judge Them by Amy Hall