Christianity Is About an Objective Reality Outside of Us

Greg answers questions about whether praying for miracles should be an integral part of evangelism, what to ask someone who thinks humans are born good, why Eve would listen to a talking snake, and whether all Reformed people must believe Jesus only died for the elect.   Topics: Commentary: Should praying for miracles be an integral part of evangelism? (00:00) What can I ask someone who thinks humans are born good to show him that he’s wrong? (25:00) Why would Eve listen to a talking snake? (36:00) The Bible seems to say Jesus died for all, and Romans 11 seems to indicate that “all” doesn’t just refer to the elect. Must Reformed people believe “all” refers to the elect? (44:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Our Pain Has Meaning by Amy Hall (quoting Joni Eareckson Tada on not being willing to trade her wheelchair for anything) Submit a question on the Open Mic Line Reality Student Apologetics Conference – November 13–14 in Minneapolis, MN; February 19–20, 2027 in Dallas, TX; March 12–13, 2027 in Philadelphia, PA; April 23–24, 2027 in Los Angeles, CA Related Links: Making Sense of Unanswered Prayer by Amy Hall We’re Not Good at Estimating Our Goodness by Amy Hall Why You Shouldn’t Trust the Feeling That You Don’t Deserve Hell by Amy Hall

Greg encourages us to explain to others that Christianity is about an objective reality outside of us, then he talks to callers about how to remain hopeful even though we could potentially live through the tribulation, and what the Bible says about healing and our health problems.   Topics: Commentary: Christianity is about an objective reality outside of us. (00:00) How can I remain hopeful if I think I could potentially live through the tribulation? (23:00) What does the Bible say about healing, and what should I be doing about my health problems? (47:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Iron Curtain Diary by Greg Koukl Live Not by Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents by Rod Dreher Interview: Rod Dreher – Live Not by Lies Our Pain Has Meaning by Amy Hall (quoting Joni Eareckson Tada on not being willing to trade her wheelchair for anything) Related Links: The Rap on the Rapture by Greg Koukl Christians, You Will Suffer by Amy Hall The Rightful Place of Suffering in the Life of the Christian by Amy Hall Meaningful Suffering by Amy Hall (quoting John Newton) Decide Here and Now by Amy Hall (advice from a Christian who survived Communism) A Place of Healing: Wrestling with the Mysteries of Suffering, Pain, and God’s Sovereignty by Joni Eareckson Tada Why It Isn’t Naïve to Trust God in Your Suffering by Amy Hall Making Sense of Unanswered Prayer by Amy Hall

Greg talks about God’s wills and praying for his will to be done, then he answers questions about  citing the story of the rich man and Lazarus to someone who rejects Christianity because of unsaved loved ones who passed away, and whether Moses changes God’s mind in Numbers 14.   Topics: Commentary: Thy will be done? (00:00) Do you think it would be a good idea to cite the story about the rich man and Lazarus to someone who doesn’t want to become a Christian because their loved ones died without Jesus? (38:00) Did Moses change Gods mind in Numbers 14, and if so, could we do the same? (47:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Fearless Prayer: Why We Don’t Ask and Why We Should by Craig Hazen Reality Student Apologetics Conference – November 13–14 in Minneapolis, MN; February 19–20, 2027 in Dallas, TX; March 12–13, 2027 in Philadelphia, PA; April 23–24, 2027 in Los Angeles, CA Previous episode referenced by the caller: “How do I share the gospel with people who say they can’t accept Christianity because they had loved ones who died outside of Christ?” (starting at 49:00)

Greg reflects on the objective nature of beauty and morality, then he answers questions about how providence and the decrees of God play out in life and how to manage a denominational split in a way that shows respect to all but still makes clear the danger of staying in the denomination.   Topics: Commentary: Beauty and morality are objective. (00:00) How does providence and the decrees of God play out in life? (20:00) As part of a team managing a denominational split, could I have taken a better approach that showed respect to all but still made clear the danger of staying within the denomination? (50:00) Mentioned on the Show:  STR Outposts A Response to the Rising Antisemitism – Previous episode How Should Christians View and Treat the Jews? – Previous episode Dogmatic Theology by William G.T. Shedd, edited by Alan Gomes Related Links: Providence by John Piper How Can We Condemn Evil If God Is Sovereign? by Amy Hall God Can Work Through Anyone and Everything—Even You and Your Sin by Amy Hall “Forced Love” Is the Wrong Way to Look at It by Amy Hall Excusing Sinners and Blaming God: A Calvinist Assessment of Determinism, Moral Responsibility, and Divine Involvement in Evil by Guillaume Bignon God Reforms Hearts: Rethinking Free Will and the Problem of Evil by Thaddeus Williams

Greg responds to questions about how to deal with the fear that your children will reject Christ, and whether atheists who formerly identified as Christians ought to agree with us that they were never really Christians.   Topics: How can I deal with my terrible fear that my children will reject Christ and it will have been better for them if they had never been born? (00:00) Shouldn’t atheists who formerly identified as Christians agree with us that they were never really Christians? (28:00) Mentioned on the Show:  The Story of Reality: How the World Began, How It Ends, and Everything Important that Happens in Between by Greg Koukl

Greg talks about what happens to Demas in the New Testament and warns against following in his steps, then he talks to a caller about whether 1 John 2:19 is referring to false teachers rather than false believers.   Topics: Commentary: Don’t be Demas. (00:00) Based on 1 John 2:18, would you say verse 19 is referring to false teachers rather than false believers? (28:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Reality Student Apologetics Conference – November 13–14 in Minneapolis, MN; February 19–20, 2027 in Dallas, TX; March 12–13, 2027 in Philadelphia, PA; April 23–24, 2027 in Los Angeles, CA Related Links: Losing Your Salvation in Ephesians 1:14–3 by Amy Hall

Greg answers questions from callers about whether abortion is ever necessary to save the life of the mother, how to respond to someone who thinks Genesis 6:5–7 indicates that our Creator makes mistakes, and who the “gods” are that God presides over according to Psalm 82.   Topics: Is abortion ever really necessary to save the life of the mother? (07:00) How would you respond to someone who says that Genesis 6:5–7 means that even our Creator makes mistakes? (18:00) Who are the “gods” that God presides over according to Psalm 82? (43:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Reality Student Apologetics Conference – October 16–17 in Seattle, WA; November 13–14 in Minneapolis, MN; February 19–20, 2027 in Dallas, TX; March 12–13, 2027 in Philadelphia, PA; April 23–24, 2027 in Los Angeles, CA Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers STR Outposts Related Links: #STRask: How Could God Be Perfect If He Regrets Something He Did?

Greg examines a passage that’s often used to support the idea of generational curses, then he talks to a caller about whether the Nicene Creed indicates that we’re saved by baptism and how we can have an expectancy for Christ if there’s no rapture.   Topics: Commentary: Generational curses and the sins of the father (00:00) Does the Nicene Creed indicate that we’re saved by baptism? (27:00) How can we have an expectancy for Christ if there’s no rapture? (47:00) Mentioned on the Show:  The Blessed Hope: A Biblical Study of the Second Advent and the Rapture by George Eldon Ladd The Church and the Tribulation: A Biblical Examination of Posttribulationism by Robert Gundry The Rap on the Rapture by Greg Koukl

Greg answers questions about how to help people understand that if there is no God then there’s no moral standard, a caller’s book idea, what “Christianity” means, Catholicism, the Holy Spirit’s pronoun, and how to respond when people ask how you’re doing after a Christian loved one dies.   Topics: What’s an easy way to tell people who don’t have a belief in God that they have no moral standard? (00:00) What do you think about my “two words” book idea? (11:00) What does “Christianity” mean? (34:00) What’s the difference between Christianity and Catholicism? (40:00) Did you mean to use the pronoun “it” for the Holy Spirit? (50:00) What would be the best way to respond when people ask how I’m doing due to the death of my mom, who loved the Lord and is now with God? (52:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity’s Toughest Challenges by Greg Koukl On Writing Well: The Essential Guide to Mastering Nonfiction Writing and Effective Communication by William Zinsser Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White Reality Student Apologetics Conference – October 16–17 in Seattle, WA; November 13–14 in Minneapolis, MN; February 19–20, 2027 in Dallas, TX; March 12–13, 2027 in Philadelphia, PA; April 23–24, 2027 in Los Angeles, CA Submit a question on the Open Mic Line

Greg talks about how the phrase “word of God” is used in a surprising way in the book of Acts, then he responds to a caller’s questions and challenges regarding Greg’s claim that “God doesn’t try.”   Topics: Commentary: “Word of God” is used in a surprising way in the book of Acts. (00:00) What do you mean when you say that “God doesn’t try”? (27:00) Mentioned on the Show:  When God Speaks by Greg Koukl Related Links: Does God Whisper? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 by Greg Koukl