the Proclaim & Defend Podcast

Our July/August 2023 edition of  FrontLine  focused on “The Gender Controversy.” The article we focus on with today’s podcast is by Matt Recker, called “Reaching Those in the LGBTQ Movement.” As you know, the gender issues are front and center in our media today. It can seem overwhelming to us as we confront it in every area of life. One thing we are called to do, however, is to evangelize all peo...

Yes, we are still publishing audio from our summer Annual Meeting at Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny, Iowa. This is the penultimate post, one more to come in due course. Our theme for the conference was “Reclaiming the Great Commission.” Besides the preaching sessions, our speakers and other leaders conducted several outstanding Workshop sessions, most of which we recorded. We offer them alo...

It’s not about 483 years as much as it is about 69 sabbatical year cycles. Why were the Magi watching for the birth of Christ, when His own countrymen were not? The story of the wise men from the east is recorded in Matthew 2:1-12. The answer to that question requires some speculation, but not outlandish speculation. “The East” from Israel—the far east to them—was Babylon and Persia.  One of the g...

Our July/August 2023 edition of FrontLine focused on “The Gender Controversy.” We interviewed one of our authors, Ben Hicks, about his article, “A Little Compromise Is a Big Deal” and offer the interview to you today in our podcast. You will find the conversation very thought provoking, it will point you to Scripture as the authority for your views. Ben points out that compromising on Biblical tea...

There is a growing movement within evangelical Christianity and fundamentalism that treats the revival era, especially the century between 1850 and 1950 with disdain. I am concerned that we do this to our own hurt. While there were excesses within that era—especially the formulaic manipulation of Finney-ism--God also did wonderful works of grace, not only in the lives of individuals but in Bible-b...

During our Annual Meeting held last summer at Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny, Iowa, our theme was “Reclaiming the Great Commission.” Besides the preaching sessions, our speakers and other leaders conducted several outstanding Workshop sessions, most of which we recorded. We offer them along with the audio of the main messages. Dave Saxon conducted a workshop session called: The Lone Star Re...

You want to win the nones? Treat ‘em rough. That is word for word the final conclusion of H.W. Crocker, a Catholic historian and novelist, in an article published in Crisis Magazine on November 28, 2028 . And he means it. Consider his statement. Too often I hear: “Thank you, sir, but I’ll cast my lot with the satanic forces of darkness—they’re not so bad.” To which I reply, “Then God go with you—y...

Our September/October issue of FrontLine, “Gambling, What’s the Big Deal?” included an article by Kristopher Endean, Dean of Students at International Baptist College and Seminary, “Put God to the Test”. His article challenges Christians to put God to the test rather than the foolish and random chances of the myriad methods of gambling. In the article, Dr. Endean debunks some of the justifications...

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7  “Oh, be quiet. Go away!” Those were the words I heard recently when I was trying to help someone--someone I love very dearly. I try not to...

John Blake wrote an article published by CNN on Monday, November 13, 2023, regarding the Social Gospel as a rising movement in the US.  This is a theology most biblical fundamentalists learn about in seminary as part of the history of the modernist movement in the early part of the 20th Century. They do not usually think of it as a present influential political movement and it is rarely discussed...

Our September/October issue of FrontLine, “Gambling, What’s the Big Deal?” included an article by Larry Ball, the director of International Baptist Missions. His article focused on the question of investing. Some people justify gambling as being “just the same as playing the stock market.” Larry discusses wise investing and notes differences between gambling and investing. I think you will find hi...

2 Samuel 11-12 Christians are often shocked when spiritual leaders fail morally. It should not happen, but it does. It should not be shocking when it happens. We are all sinners capable of any sin known to mankind because we still retain the vestiges of the sinful nature within us. The Bible gives examples of such failure in King David, Abraham, Judah, and others. There are also examples of near f...

When we heard the news of a new president at Maranatha Baptist University, we immediately reached out to secure an interview with him. We thought our audience would like to know more about Dr. David Anderson, get a sense of what is going on at Maranatha, and catch a bit of Dr. Anderson’s vision for the future of the school. Joining Don Johnson as a co-host was Andy Montgomery who serves on the pas...

David Shumate is the editor in charge of our most recent issue of FrontLine , with the subject, “Gambling, What’s the Big Deal?” He also serves as the academic dean of International Baptist College and Seminary in Chandler, Arizona. Dave wrote the lead article for this issue of the magazine. In a recent podcast , we talked about the overall thrust of the magazine. This week, Dave sat down with me...

Normally we begin each week with Kevin Schaal’s weekly article. This week we offer a preview of our magazine, FrontLine . The theme this issue is, “Gambling, What’s the Big Deal?” To preview the magazine, I interviewed David Shumate, one of our contributing editors. He was responsible for coordinating the articles for this edition. You can find the opening editorial and contents at our blog, Procl...

During our recent Annual Meeting held at Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny, Iowa, our theme was “Reclaiming the Great Commission.” Besides the preaching sessions, our speakers and other leaders conducted several outstanding Workshop sessions, most of which we recorded. We offer them along with the audio of the main messages. Faith Taylor conducted a workshop session called: Life on Life — Wome...

The first substantive conversation my wife and I had with our children about reproduction was when they were about seven years old. Even before that my wife, the science teacher, refused to use “baby talk” when talking about the issue. Our son, Kristopher was three years old when his baby sister was on the way. One of the ladies in the church thought it would be cute to ask him if he knew where hi...

Roger Olson is an American theologian, serving as a Professor of Christian Theology at Baylor University for many years. Now in retirement, he continues to publish books, one of which is Against Liberal Theology , published in 2022. We recently published a review on Proclaim & Defend. This book is one that resonates with fundamentalists in its overall theme. There are points where fundamentalist B...

We live in dark times. The world is in such a state of insanity, sorrow, and rage, that it makes us wonder at the viability of humanity because of its tendency to self-destruct. War in Ukraine, war in Israel, rumored war with China against Taiwan, Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, nuclear weapons, arrogant politicians, and mentally incompetent human leaders—it is enough to make your hea...

During our recent Annual Meeting held at Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny, Iowa, our theme was “Reclaiming the Great Commission.” In this session of the Proclaim & Defend podcast, we offer the closing message of our meeting, delivered by pastor Josh Crockett: Home Evangelism We still have a few more workshops to get out to you over the coming weeks as well as more interesting interviews with...

There has been a huge reaction against the Prosperity Gospel pedaled by religious charlatans over TV and other media forms. “We do not give to get!” is the response. However, some uncomfortable passages of scripture seem to support Prosperity Gospel thinking, and it is appropriate for us to address them. Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; so your b...

During our recent Annual Meeting held at Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny, Iowa, our theme was “Reclaiming the Great Commission.” Besides the preaching sessions, our speakers and other leaders conducted several outstanding Workshop sessions, most of which we recorded. We offer them along with the audio of the main messages. Jeff Musgrave conducted a workshop session called: Creating Pathways...

I will celebrate my 61st birthday soon. I have been a senior pastor for 37 years. That is right. I planted Northwest Valley Baptist Church when I was 24 years old. I wish I knew the things then that I know now. I would dearly love to start ministry all over again with my present understanding and knowledge. In many ways, it is more difficult to pastor at this age than earlier. Earlier there was an...

Alan and Nancy Cole are members of the faculty at Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny, Iowa. They have been married for thirty- two years and have two grown sons. Earlier this summer, Alan and Nancy and one of their sons sat down with me to talk about the article they co-wrote for our magazine. We had a great conversation about one of life’s transitions as children grow up, become adults, but fo...

The simpleton, the fool, and the scorner are the bad boys of Proverbs, and I mean that in no endearing sort of way. We sometimes use these words that we see in Proverbs interchangeably and understandably so.  These guys are the bad guys in the book of Proverbs.  They are the ones that mothers hope their babies never become.  Let me introduce them to you so that, as you read Proverbs, you will have...