Descriptive vs. Prescriptive

Greg highlights the distinction between descriptive and prescriptive passages in the Bible then answers questions about a pro-choice challenge, helping someone in memory care, baptismal regeneration, responding to “Love is my religion,” animal blessings, and Bible translations.   Topics: Commentary: Descriptive vs. prescriptive (00:00) If someone says that if you’re pro-life then you should be against capital punishment, then couldn’t I flip that around and say that if a pro-choicer says a woman has the authority over her body to kill her unborn child, then he should be fine with her killing herself? (10:00) What can I give a person in memory care to help them? (22:00) Is it a dealbreaker if a church you’re going to believes in baptismal regeneration, and is this salvation by works? (28:00) How would you respond to someone who said, “Love is my religion”? (36:00) What is up with animal blessings? (44:00) Is the New World Translation not called the “Holy Bible” because they changed too much in the text? (49:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Submit a question on the Open Mic Line Related Links: Further Reading on Bible Translations by Daniel Wallace

Greg answers questions about beauty being “in the eye of the beholder,” what it looks like to follow the greatest commandment and how to teach it to students, and how to explain to a skeptic what we mean by “faith.”   Topics: How could biblical writers talk about certain women being beautiful if beauty is in the eye of the beholder? (03:00) What does following the greatest commandment—loving the Lord your God with all your heart—look like, what does it mean, and how should I teach it to students? (19:00) Can you help me explain to a skeptic what we mean by “faith”? (41:00) Related Links: You Don’t Have to Choose between the Head and the Heart – Greg Koukl discusses living “coram Deo.” Faith Is Not Wishing by Greg Koukl Faith Isn’t a Way of Knowing; It’s a Way of Trusting by Tim Barnett

Greg talks about fundamental differences between Latter-day Saint and Christian theology, explaining that we can’t both be Christian, then he talks to callers about whether being a winsome ambassador is irrelevant if God draws people, and attending a megachurch.   Topics: Commentary: We can’t both be Christian. (00:00) If the Father draws people, then is being a winsome ambassador irrelevant? (32:00) What are your thoughts on attending a megachurch? (49:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Donate to Stand to Reason Is Mormonism Just Another Christian Denomination? by Greg Koukl LDS Beliefs: A Doctrinal Reference by Robert Millet Jesus, the Only Way: 100 Verses Related Links: 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 “Mormons Aren’t Christians” Is Not an Epithet by Amy Hall

Greg talks to a caller about whether Colossians 1:15 implies that Jesus is part of creation since it says he is the “firstborn,” then he reflects on the first Christmas and the birth of Jesus.   Topics: Does the statement in Colossians 1:15 that Jesus is the firstborn of creation imply he’s part of creation? (13:00) Commentary: The first Christmas and the birth of Jesus (36:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Reality Student Apologetics Conference – February 20–21 in Dallas, TX; March 13–14 in Philadelphia, PA; April 24–25 in Los Angeles, CA Donate to Stand to Reason Delighting in the Trinity by Michael Reeves The Nativity Story – Film Related Links: Was Jesus the First Created Being? by Tim Barnett Deity of Christ: Case Closed by Greg Koukl Six Reasons to Believe Jesus Is God – Red Pen Logic (Tim Barnett)

Greg talks to callers about whether all values and duties are inherently subjective, whether Paul is making the same point in Ephesians 2:7 and Romans 9:23, biblical justification for Christian Zionism, and how God can be good if he doesn’t save everyone he created.   Topics: How would you respond to the claim that values and duties are inherently subjective since concepts exist only in minds? (04:00) Is Paul making the same point in Ephesians 2:7 and Romans 9:23? (16:00) What is the biblical justification for Christian Zionism? (25:00) How can I make a compelling case for the character of God in answer to the question of why he doesn’t save everyone he’s created even though he’s capable of doing so? (50:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Reality Student Apologetics Conference – February 20–21 in Dallas, TX; March 13–14 in Philadelphia, PA; April 24–25 in Los Angeles, CA Donate to Stand to Reason “Morality based on God is just another form of relativism.” – Part of November’s Solid Ground Conversations with an Atheist The Bible: Fast Forward – DVD (Also available as a digital download or audio) Related Links: Why Did God Create People if He Knew So Many Would Go to Hell? by Amy Hall

Greg comments on the current conversation on annihilationism and calls for charity when disagreeing with others on this issue, then he answers a question about how to deal with doubts when Christianity seems unlikely to you.   Topics: Commentary: Thoughts on annihilationism (00:00) How do you deal with doubts when Christianity seems unlikely? (36:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Hell Interrupted – Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 Donate to Stand to Reason

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