9.12 - Hot Take: When a Christian Falls

When another Christian falls in a big way on the public stage, what is the responsibility of the broader Christian community? Do we have an obligation to respond right away and offer our perspective? And what is the Christian perspective? Do we do it publicly or privately? How do we handle the unfortunate moral failings of our brothers and sisters in the faith in a way that still offers a Christian witness that ultimately glorifies Christ? Francis Chan has weighed in on a major event, and in today's episode the guys explore a biblical approach to responding to the events of our time. After laying that groundwork, Sam, John, and Ron weigh in on Francis Chan's stance and run it through the broader scriptural witness. Tune in to today's episode of the After Class Podcast and see if your gut reactions align with what Scripture calls us to be as witnesses.

Is the truth in you?  Are you one who loves in deed and truth, obeying what Jesus has commanded? Or do you find yourself often falling into the trap of lip service and well-meaning thoughts instead? Truth is action, and in today's episode the guys follow suit with some of the stronger warnings in Scripture that call us to a way of life grounded in truth. But where is life found? With so many voices proclaiming the best way to live out your journey of life to the fullest, how do we discern what is true? Like the Greek philosophers, do you seek a truth and way of life that can be applied to all people? Join the guys in today's episode as they conclude the series on truth and zero in on how it reveals itself in our lives—or how it doesn't.

Today the guys reach the completion of John's Gospel. Truth is framed through the new revelation brought to us in Christ as we grow beyond the need for a pedagogue under the law and into the living way. But how did Christ, in His conversation with the Jewish people, communicate this—and how did they receive it? Perhaps more importantly, what do we do with it today? Why did Jesus unite the way, the truth, and the life? We are told the Spirit of truth will come, speak, and instruct us. The question is: are you paying attention—or just thinking about Rome?

Today we step into the Gospel of John, where truth is described as coming from above — and where John provides a fresh framing of truth. Grace and truth — why are they paired together? And what shifts in our understanding of truth in light of Jesus that transcends time and place? So who will you listen to — Moses, Jesus, or Ron as he defends his thesis? Tune in to today's episode to explore truth with us as Sam and John carefully test Ron's point of view.

False teaching is real. Some people will intentionally try to rile you up or pick you off when you are away from the body. Others tie their teaching to their own glory and financial gain. They may be proclaiming Christ, but their aim is bereft of truth. Are we serving Christ for status and a wealthy, easy life — or because He is enough? Phew… this episode steps into some uncomfortable truth territory. Are you always studying but never applying? What are the motivations of your heart? Are you living in truth, or wearing it like a mask? 

We have a duty to reflect God's truth to the world. If truth is something worth living — and dying — for, do Christians have a duty to correct error throughout the world, in legislation, governance, and social policy? God calls us to align with truth, yet that sometimes places us at odds with the powers that be. And when Scripture speaks of God sending a "powerful delusion," are we hearing divine action… or Pauline rhetoric? If the empire is delusional and corrupt, are we still called to pray for it? Tune in to today's episode to find out!

Biblically, truth comes from God, and intermingling truth with perversion or distortion—no matter how sincere—removes us from God's truth. Yikes. What is the difference between affirmation and love, and how do they fit within God's kingdom? How do we ensure we are not mixing them inappropriately while still upholding truth and speaking it in love? What does truth have to do with how we treat others and the way we live? Tune in to today's episode of the After Class Podcast to find out!

Truth defined by God stands in contrast to truth claims grounded primarily in experience.
In this episode, Ron rides confidently through his home terrain in the New Testament, while John drifts into theological questions that reveal just how complex "truth" becomes in the biblical writings. As we move through the New Testament, the guys explore the tension: the closer we get to the truth, are we more likely to disagree? And if truth is something we are called to walk in, how do we remain united in faithful action rather than fractured by interpretation?  Bundle up and tune in to today's episode of the After Class Podcast.

Truth and justice. Is there truth apart from justice? What are the implications of knowing the truth without acting justly? This week on After Class, the guys turn to the prophets. Can God's people claim truth while walking unjustly? Do we hide our thoughts and motives in the dark, or do we expose ourselves in the light no matter the consequence? As resident aliens in kingdoms that don't always share the same vision of truth and justice, how are we called to live? What does faithfulness look like when truth costs something?

If you are not committed to the truth, your witness is compromised. If truth has an agenda, how does the Bible weigh in on truth in a world where it may be twisted? We need a revelation from God, lest we spiral into despair as we sift through the conflicting worldviews of subjective truth. So what is God's truth agenda? Definitions, hot takes, and a call to truth all await you in this episode. Unpack biblical truth with us today on the After Class Podcast as we prepare to walk—and stand—firm in truth in our towns, cities, and nations.