Think Truth

In this latest instalment in the series, Drew and Elijah discuss C. S. Lewis and his objections with pacifism. How do pacifists respond to the charge that their beliefs could lead to a disrupted world, with no one to resist evil invaders? Support the show

How should we approach Scriptures talking about government involvement and not resisting evil? Is there more to non-resistance than merely getting off the hook when there’s a draft? How can we have a consistent, well-defined worldview on these issues? Join Drew and Elijah as they continue their discussion on non-resistance and pacifism.  Support the show

Why, if Anabaptists identify as nonresistant, do they often go out of their way to make it clear that they are not pacifist? In this first episode of a series on nonresistance, Elijah and Drew bring their thoughts together on this question. Support the show

How should we as Anabaptists respond to the brokenness and weaknesses within our churches and communities? Is it possible to be critical without being cynical and deconstructive? In this episode Drew and Elijah search for a balanced perspective, including ways to approach the problems surrounding us with loving critique and committed effort to bring about healthy change.   Support the show

Drew and Elijah talk about how the team works at Think Truth and how content is chosen and edited. They also talk about how they relate to controversial topics, as well as their vision for content moving forward. (Recorded July 2022.) Support the show

Drew and Elijah talk about their personal lives, their friendship, and how it intersects with their work on Think Truth. (Recorded in July 2022.) Support the show

When we look at the way "worldliness" is used in Scripture, a very different set of practical issues come to the forefront. Rather than just thinking that avoiding worldliness means acting and dressing differently from the world arbitrarily, we realize that worldliness is simply sin--that issues such as anger, lust, and church strife are the biggest and most dangerous areas of worldly si...

Yes, we talk a lot about avoiding being tainted by the world. We talk a lot about the dangers of worldliness. But what if we're misusing the term? What if, in our zeal to stay away from "the world," we've actually just been staying away from unbelievers? Join us in thinking through this topic as we discuss the scriptures on worldliness. Support the show

Novels are fiction, and by definition "not true," right? Since Philippians 4:8 tells us to read things that are "true," should we avoid novels? Drew, Elijah, and Kayla are back to discuss fiction, delving into the concerns some have about fiction and talking about how novels have positively affected their lives.  Support the show

For some, the question is obvious: novels are a waste of time, often include unrealistic romance, and are not true. For others, novels are a richer, different way of describing and enjoying the human experience, and prepare the Christian to better understand Scripture. Drew, Kayla, and I talk about our journeys with reading and how we've come to the conclusions we have on the world of fiction...

In this final episode of our Galatians series, Paul and Drew tackle some fascinating and confusing portions of the letter: What does Paul mean by the "elements of the world"? How is Paul employing the story of Hagar and Sarah "allegorically"? And are Paul's metaphors merely rhetorical flourishes, or are they central to his moral exhortations?  Support the show

What was Paul's point in bringing Abraham into his argument about law-keeping vs. living by the promise? How should we change the way we read the NT in light of Paul's perspective on the Scriptures? Have we been too focused on finding commands to obey that we're missing the promise? Support the show

How did Paul view the urge to use rules to guide moral behavior? Why did he react so strongly to the Judaizers and their appeal to using the law to guide the new gentile disciples? Where do we have similar impulses to return to our own set of laws to guide our disciples? Support the show

In this episode, Paul and Drew discuss the reasons for the Apostle Paul writing this book. Why did Paul emphasize his apostleship in the first chapter? What is behind Paul's phrase, "this present evil age," in the beginning of the book? What is the "different gospel" that Paul was so worried about? Join us in this adventure through an intriguing and challenging New Testame...

We have a trust problem. Too many people trust what they read too much, reading some authors uncritically simply because they are perceived as coming from the same "side." At the same time, many people refuse to read things written by authors coming from other perspectives than their own. How shall we learn to think better about our sources? Support the show

What do we do when we as believers disagree on something as controversial as the COVID-19 vaccine? What is the path to be able to work through our disagreements? What if we never agree on the facts? Elijah and Drew pick up this spiny topic together in this episode. Support the show

Paul Lamicela joins us to talk about our political conversations...yes, it's possible to really enjoy a chat with someone you disagree with on politics. And it's also possible that you can learn something new and become more nuanced in your position—if you start asking questions. Support the show

In a follow-up to their podcast on Suffering and Healing, Drew and Paul discuss some of their life experiences. They also ask how we can help those who are suffering in ways that are loving and helpful.  Support the show

Drew, Paul, and Elijah  join for the first time to discuss politics and how it relates to the church.  Support the show

We should expect suffering in this life.  But we are told to pray for healing. How do we reconcile this seeming paradox? Paul Lamicela joins the podcast for the first time to discuss how healing and suffering converge in the biblical perspective.  Support the show

Many are concerned about young people reading non-Anabaptist authors, afraid that they will lose their way. Others try to discredit non-Anabaptists on their interpretation of a scriptural passage on the basis of an unrelated belief or lack thereof.  How should we make our reading decisions, and how can we learn to appreciate the contributions of authors outside of our own communities? Support the...

Drew and Elijah reflect on their debate series and discuss their points of agreement. What if being different is actually our key to success in reaching out—so long as we're different in the right areas and for the right reasons? They discuss relationships, music, devices, and Christian love...here's where "different" will count. Support the show

What does it mean to be modern and is that a positive thing for Christians to desire to be? Does the fact that a specific tradition is old-fashioned make it less likely for others to adopt? Drew and Elijah come back to discuss the museum effect in more detail, focusing on the definition of modern and asking whether the process of modernization is positive for the church. Support the show

Should we care if others think we conservative Anabaptists are old-fashioned? Is it a positive effect? Drew and Elijah debate these controversial questions together, finding mutual agreement and sharpening the disagreements, in this discussion on culture and the church. Support the show

Does tradition keep outsiders from joining our churches? Or does our tradition—informed by our beliefs—actually serve to draw people to join us? This episode contains an answer to the anti-traditionalists that does not ignore Anabaptists' evangelism problem or fuel the mindless tradition-dumping that many engage in. Support the show