Stand to Reason Weekly Podcast

Greg talks to a caller about whether a church should formulate a specific position on Israel, reviews an AI article on reasons for and against converting to Christianity, and answers a question on whether people are confusing the idea of hearing the voice of God with being led by the Spirit.   Topics: Should a church formulate a specific position on Israel? (00:00) Commentary: Reasons for and agai...

Greg talks about a clip from Wes Huff’s interview on Diary of a CEO and responds to objections to Hell, then he answers a question about whether ancient Greeks viewed their mythology the way we view Christianity now and people in the future will view Christianity the way we view Greek mythology now.   Topics: Commentary: Just tell them the truth. (00:00) What makes Christianity different from the...

Greg talks about an argument atheist Michael Ruse made for people to be “moral” even though there are no grounds for being good, then he answers questions about Frank Turek’s claim that the Calvinist God is like Allah, and whether the continued existence of the Jews is evidence for God.   Topics: Commentary: Atheist Michael Ruse’s confused argument for morality (00:00) How would you respond to Fra...

Greg responds to the charge that God is a bad father, then he answers a question from a caller about why we have to go through sanctification when people who die shortly after salvation are immediately glorified.   Topics: Commentary: Is God a bad father? (00:00) Why do some people have to go through sanctification when others will die right after salvation and be immediately glorified? (28:00) Me...

Greg argues for the A-theory of time, then he answers questions about whether God did something in the absence of time, how God can know what will happen in an A-theory of time, Greg’s take on church membership, and pastors using other people’s sermons.   Topics: Commentary: Arguments for the A-theory of time (00:00) Regarding your argument for the A-theory of time, didn’t God do something in the...

Greg explains a three-point response to the problem of evil, then he talks to callers about a strategic question to ask someone who doesn’t trust the Bible because he thinks anything touched by man has been tainted, and whether Acts 17:26–27 is a good proof text for Molinism.   Topics: Commentary: A three-point response to the problem of evil (00:00) What’s a strategic question to ask someone who...

Greg answers questions about how to dive into controversial conversations in a sensible way, the proper way of doing missions, whether boxing can be enjoyed to the glory of God, the line between temptation and sin, and whether Luke 20:37–38 points to the B-theory of time.   Topics: When we hear friends discussing topics that touch on our faith, such as abortion, gender issues, or suffering, how do...

Greg talks about the “continental divide” in worldviews, then he answers questions about a possible interpretation of Matthew 18:7–9, how to explain the sovereignty of God when a surgeon’s choice leads to someone’s death, and how a surgeon can find peace with that kind of responsibility.   Topics: Commentary: The continental divide in worldviews (00:00) What do you think about the idea that Matthe...

Greg explains that waiting is a normal part of the Christian life, then he answers questions about prophetic words, having a peace about prodigal family members, what makes marriage legitimate, attending baptisms at liberal churches, training for door-to-door evangelism, and a Trinity analogy.   Topics: Commentary: Waiting is a normal part of the Christian life. (00:00) Is it a biblical practice f...

Greg talks about how House of David  and The Most Reluctant Convert bring elements of those historical accounts to light, then he answers questions about the consequences of not attending a same-sex wedding and applying passages with first-person pronouns to ourselves.   Topics: Commentary: Two historical films worth watching (00:00) If you don’t attend a couple’s same-sex wedding, why would they...

Greg answers questions about how different our resurrected bodies will be, whether something is good so long as someone thinks it brings them closer to God, justification by allegiance alone, and the rationale for saying the human spirit doesn’t have a spatial location.   Topics: If we’re not going to marry in Heaven, doesn’t that suggest that our resurrected bodies will be very different than the...

Greg answers questions about an analogy to learning to hear God’s voice, taking communion after arguing with a Christian, the point of praying when God’s will is already set, apologetics curriculum for teens, and why one should pray in front of an abortion clinic instead of at home.   Topics: How would you respond to someone who says that a baby hears a bird but doesn’t know it’s a bird until he g...

Greg discusses IVF’s slippery slope, then he talks to callers about a strategy he could have used on Diary of a CEO, and how to know when to stay in a church to try to change what’s happening and when to leave.   Topics: Commentary: A legitimate slippery slope (00:00) How fruitful would the DOAC conversation have been if Greg had just said, “I’ve got the answer.” (26:00) When do you stay in a chur...

Greg answers questions about responding to someone in ministry who’s avoiding controversial truths with the students, suggestions for witnessing to a brother after his stroke, whether God sees salvation as a single moment in time, a possible problem with the moral argument, and the flood.   Topics: What should I say to someone in ministry who is avoiding controversial truths with the students so t...

Greg describes two types of legalism, then he answers questions from callers about overcoming anxiety about addressing controversial topics in the church, and how to tell the difference between claiming a legitimate promise of God and the prosperity gospel.   Topics: Commentary: Two types of legalism (00:00) How can I overcome my anxiety about saying something controversial in the church? (31:00)...

Greg reflects on why our culture has difficulty with the idea that there can only be one true religion, then he answers questions about apologetics in the church, stories that make it sound like God does whisper to us, and the line between spiritual correction and spiritual abuse.   Topics: Commentary: One true reality (00:00) How can I introduce apologetics and biblical ethics into my church? (10...

Greg talks about the “Intersectionality Wheel of Privilege” his daughter had to place herself on as part of a school assignment, then he answers a question about how we can be sure there’s only one true religion.   Topics: Commentary: The Intersectionality Wheel of Privilege (00:00) How can we be sure there’s only one true religion? (42:00) Mentioned on the Show:  The Intersectionality Wheel of Pr...

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 aga...

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 L...

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:...

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 Sh...

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...

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...

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 ha...

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...