Are We Able to Get an Objective Meaning from the Text?

Greg answers a question about the “hermeneutical spiral” and getting an objective meaning from the text, then he chats with a caller who doesn’t believe in God about his objection to Greg’s definition of atheism and why he is currently deconstructing.   Topics: Are you familiar with the “hermeneutical spiral,” and do you think we’re able to get an objective meaning from the text? (05:00) Can we have a conversation about what atheism is? (22:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Donate to Stand to Reason Related Links: Atheism: More Than Just a Non-Belief by Amy Hall Atheism Isn’t Simply a Lack of Belief by Tim Barnett The Deconstruction of Christianity: What It Is, Why It’s Destructive, and How to Respond by Tim Barnett and Alisa Childers

Greg clarifies some comments he made about altar calls and the gospel last week, then he answers questions about whether we’re skipping Christ’s intercession if we pray to the Father, and what he thinks about certain tactics being used by a pro-life organization.   Topics: Commentary: Greg clarifies his view on altar calls and the gospel. (00:00) If we pray directly to the Father, are we skipping Christ’s intercession? (29:00) Do you have any thoughts on these tactics being used by a pro-life organization? (50:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Greg’s suggestions for a first-time pastor in the previous episode Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions by Greg Koukl New Testament Prayer by Greg Koukl Donate to Stand to Reason

Greg answers questions about suggestions for a first-time pastor, responding to someone who says people always report the same thing about their near-death experiences, and how much interaction to have with LDS neighbors in light of 2 John 10.   Topics: What are some suggestions you have for a first-time pastor when it comes to tithing, altar calls, Sunday school, and music, and what things should I be focused on in addition to preaching the gospel? (05:00) How would you respond to someone who says that people always report the same thing about their near-death experiences? (36:00) In light of 2 John 10, how much interaction should I have with my LDS neighbors? I don’t want to give the impression that we’re all Christians and agree with their teachings. (46:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Donate to Stand to Reason Sean McDowell’s episodes on near-death experiences Is Mormonism Just Another Christian Denomination? by Greg Koukl Related Links: Three Telltale Signs of “Christianity” Gone South by Greg Koukl Verses for Your Conversations with Mormons by Amy Hall Who Is the God of Mormonism? by Amy Hall LDS View of Atonement Clarified by Amy Hall Is It Possible Some Mormons Are Saved? by Amy Hall

Greg responds to the claim that “Jesus taught that we were supposed to love and accept one another,” then he answers questions about numbers being evidence for the existence of God, using a person’s suffering as an apologetic, and the salvation of Word of Faith people.   Topics: Commentary: Didn’t Jesus teach that we were supposed to love and accept one another? (00:00) Could numbers be used as evidence for the existence of God? (30:00) What do you think about using a person’s suffering as an apologetic? (40:00) Do you think people in the Word of Faith movement are saved? (51:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Donate to Stand to Reason God, Greed, and the (Prosperity) Gospel: How Truth Overwhelms a Life Built on Lies by Costi Hinn Related Links: Interview: Natasha Crain on the “He Gets Us” Campaign The Rightful Place of Suffering in the Life of the Christian by Amy Hall Christians, You Will Suffer by Amy Hall Why Does God Let Us Suffer? by Amy Hall How Our Suffering Glorifies God by Amy Hall If God Is Good: Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil by Randy Alcorn

Greg talks about whether or not we’re obliged to pray only to the Father, then he answers a question about how he determined he was being stirred by God to start Stand to Reason.   Topics: Commentary: Are we obliged to pray only to the Father? (00:00) How did you determine that you were being stirred by God to start Stand to Reason? (18:00) Mentioned on the Show:  The Incarnate Christ and His Critics: A Biblical Defense by Robert M. Bowman and J. Ed Komoszewski Related Links: You Don’t Have to Choose between the Head and the Heart by Greg Koukl Why Tim Keller Started to Pray by Amy Hall Does God Whisper? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 by Greg Koukl When God Speaks by Greg Koukl

Greg talks to callers about how to become a better thinker, how to get better at responding to people in conversations, and whether the Israelites stole stories and laws from other cultures to create the Old Testament.   Topics: How can I become a better thinker and get better at responding to people in conversations? (07:00) Did the Israelites steal stories and laws from other cultures to create the Old Testament? (33:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Reality Student Apologetics Conference – February 20–21, 2026 in Dallas, TX; March 13–14, 2026 in Philadelphia, PA; April 24–25, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA STR Outposts Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip Heath and Dan Heath Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions by Greg Koukl Noah’s Flood Revisited: New Depths of Insight from Science and Scripture by Hugh Ross

Greg answers questions about attending an unmarried woman’s baby shower, whether God causes mutations, implications of God being temporal, splitting prayers between Jesus and the Father, anomalies in worldviews, and advice for someone who doesn’t like church.   Topics: Should I attend my unmarried niece’s baby shower? (01:00) Does God cause mutations, or does he allow them to happen? (11:00) Can you explain to me your understanding of the relationship between the beginning of time and God being a temporal being? (18:00) Are we supposed to split our prayers between Jesus and the Father? (32:00) Can you speak to the concept of anomalies in worldviews? (36:00) Do you have any advice for someone who doesn’t like going to church? (46:00)

Greg talks about how even Christians are getting used to radical things in the culture, then he answers questions about annihilationism, people who appeal to emotion in response to arguments, and what to do when someone is telling you about a dialogue they had with God.   Topics: Commentary: Even Christians are becoming culturally velocitized. (00:00) What are your thoughts on annihilationism? (22:00) What’s a good way to respond to people who appeal to emotion in response to my arguments? (39:00) What’s a good response or posture to have when someone is telling me about a dialogue they had with God? (47:00) Mentioned on the Show:  When Culture Hates You: Persevering for the Common Good as Christians in a Hostile Public Square by Natasha Crain Submit a question on the Open Mic Line Hell Interrupted—Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 by Greg Koukl and Tim Barnett Related Links: When God Speaks by Greg Koukl

Greg talks about what Jesus thought about homosexuality, reads a parable written by a listener describing the panel discussion on The Diary of a CEO, then answers a question about whether God had to try a few times to get Samuel’s attention before he was able to.   Topics: Commentary: What did Jesus think about homosexuality? (00:00) A parable a listener wrote about Greg’s The Diary of a CEO panel discussion (30:00) How should I respond to someone who says in response to the idea that “God doesn’t try” that God tried a few times to get Samuel’s attention before he was finally able to? (35:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Reality Student Apologetics Conference – February 20–21, 2026 in Dallas, TX; March 13–14, 2026 in Philadelphia, PA; April 24–25, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA Heritvge – Worship band at Reality conferences STR U Online Training Greg on The Diary of a CEO Submit a question on the Open Mic Line When God Speaks by Greg Koukl Related Links: Jesus Did Condemn Homosexuality by Alan Shlemon Jesus’ “Hidden” Teaching on Homosexuality by Greg Koukl

Greg talks about a discussion he had on a podcast with former Christians, then he answers questions from callers about Christians using an artificial-sounding voice in church, recognizing demonic influence, praying to Jesus, and what “forsaking all others” includes.   Topics: Commentary: Thoughts on a podcast discussion with former Christians (00:00) Why do Christians use an artificial-sounding voice in church? (22:00) What advice would you give parents who think there might be a demonic influence in their child’s life? (28:00) If all authority in Heaven has been given to Jesus, should we pray to him now? (43:00) Is adultery the only grounds for separation, or does the idea of “forsaking all others” apply to things like one partner putting friends, family, or church over his wife’s needs and desires? (47:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Reality Student Apologetics Conference – November 7–8 in Minneapolis, MN; February 20–21, 2026 in Dallas, TX; March 13–14, 2026 in Philadelphia, PA; April 24–25, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA