My wife Chelsea and I close our series about marriage. In this episode we finish tackling the taboo subject of divorce.We discuss Jesus’ answer to the question of divorce from the Pharisees. We talk about the houses of Hillel and Shammai as background for this question.Jesus directed his audience to the beginning with God’s design for marriage. He also explained that adultery was the grounds for divorce. Does mean other heinous problems like violence are not grounds for divorce? We give our understanding of this context as well as other passages in the law that show other technical grounds for divorce.Bottom line: Divorce harms even when it is necessary. God’s design for marriage is a man and woman for life.
Overview of Galatians part 2
As I drive to work I give an overview of Galatians chapters 4-6 from studying the epistle the previous night.Paul explains how Jesus came to fulfill the law. He makes an analogy of two very different covenants with Sarah and Hagar to contrast promise with bondage.Paul shows how liberty via the fruit of the Spirit is better than bondage to circumcision and law-keeping for righteousness.Those who are spiritual restore those who have faltered.
A Biblical Definition of Divorce
My wife Chelsea and I continue our series about marriage. In this episode we begin to tackle the taboo subject of divorce.We open with some divorce statistics:About 44% of marriages in the United States end in divorce.The top three reasons for divorce roughly include “lack of commitment,” “incompatibility and growing apart,” and “communication problems.”We then look at how divorce is defined and prescribed in the law of Moses and how things shifted a bit by the New Testament. We observe two interesting facts:The Old Testament only discusses how a husband can “put away” his wife. We talk about why the land promise to the tribes of Israel possibly explains the apparent patriarchal system of marriage, but also how the sphere
Overview of Galatians part 1
As I drive to work I give an overview of Galatians chapters 1-3 from studying the epistle the previous night.The Judaizers were wreaking havoc of the faith of the Galatian churches.Paul recounts his conversion and how he dealt with the error personally.He then explains why Abraham, the father of the faithful, was not given the law as a promise. The purpose of the law was never to save but to point us to the Savior.
The Scientific Credibility of Faith with Dr. Hugh Ross
Do the heavens declare the glory of God or do they show indifferent chance?Special guest Dr. Hugh Ross from Reasons To Believe joins me to talk about science and the Bible.Dr. Ross gives his testimony for how he became a Christian after searching for answers in other religions.We discuss various reasons the universe is no accident:Evidence for fine tuning is exploding in recent years.The moon is but one of many evidences that the universe is fine-tuned.The “zero energy” hypothesis doesn’t prove the universe came from nothing.A multiverse is a poor argument against fine tuning.Humans are a special creation of God, not a product of macroevolution.Some fun questions toward the end include the following:What are black holes and what happens to
Texas Hold’em: Birthing People Edition
On my drive to work I talked about the recent developments in the Texas Heartbeat Law status as Texas and federal justices battle over whether abortion is a “constitutional right.”At the end I look at a strange article claiming that Texas abortion controversy overlooks and especially hurts “non-cisgendered” “birthing people.”Sources Consulted:Dan Berman, “CNN: Texas abortion law to remain in force, federal appeals court says,” CNN, October 14, 2021.Mabinty Quarshie, “Getting an abortion while trans was always hard. In Texas, a new law puts outsized burdens on them,” USA Today, October 12, 2021.
How to Talk to Jehovah’s Witnesses
This is the second of my two guest appearances on the Basic Bible Podcast with Kevin Thompson.We talked about my 2021 book When the Watchtower Knocks: Discussing an Encounter with Jehovah’s Witnesses that I coauthored with my brother John.Our book narrates John’s encounter with Jehovah’s Witnesses as we give our commentary. I share with Kevin how I got into apologetics and my thoughts on how to control a conversation with Jehovah’s Witnesses. We talk about how the Jesus that Jehovah’s Witnesses serve cannot save them.Check out the Basic Bible Podcast with Kevin ThompsonOriginal interview: Basic Bible Podcast Episode 188 – When the Watchtower KnocksAlso, snag a copy of our book When the Watchtower Knocks: Discussing an Encounter with Jehovah’s Witnesses:
Just a Pinch of Incense
On my drive to work on this episode of Truthspresso Express I offer a challenge to fellow Christians to resist the temptation to bow to tyranny.Jesus told Pilate the only authority he had came from God.Jesus told His disciples that all authority is given to Him in heaven and earth.Early Christians were persecuted because they would not offer a pinch of incense to Caesar.What are some “pinch of incense” pressures we face today?
Do Christians Need to Tithe?
This is the first of my two guest appearances on the Basic Bible Podcast with Kevin Thompson.We talked about my 2011 book Freedom To Give: The Biblical Truth About Tithing.My book explains that, although Christians are not obligated to tithe according to the Bible, we should still give to meet needs and compensate ministers.Listen to this episode to find out what this is all about!Check out the Basic Bible Podcast with Kevin ThompsonOriginal interview: Basic Bible Podcast Episode 187 – Freedom To GiveAlso, snag a copy of my book Freedom To Give: The Biblical Truth About Tithing: Paperback or Kindle.
The Vax Vex Vortex 2
As I drive to work on Thursday I briefly hit on five articles related to our favorite politicized virus.Recent studies show the Pfizer vaccine’s effectiveness wanes faster and greater than before (down to 20% after four months). Pfizer admits that natural immunity is much better than two dozes of their vaccine. And…New studies from Israel and Qatar show statistically high adverse myocarditis in teenage boys getting the Pfizer vaccine. Yet…A New York federal court enforced vaccine mandates for school teachers, but mayor Bill de Blasio isn’t cracking down on government departments. And…A New York school teacher tells his story of being laid off for a year without pay until he gets vaccinated, but he already has natural immunity. And…A Colorado