I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist

How can Christians effectively share the Gospel's good news with the LGBTQ+ community? Or should we just mind our own business? This week, Christian apologist and founding lead pastor of Image Church, Dr. Bobby Conway, sits down with Frank at the 2024 CrossExamined Instructor's Academy to share the DO's and DONT's of evangelizing the LGBTQ+ community along with some of the BIG LIES you've been fed over the years that often cause Christians to suppress the truth in the name of "tolerance" or prevent them from building friendships with people who identity as gay or transgender.Thankfully, you don't have to be a world-renowned apologist to have fruitful faith conversations, and in this podcast episode, you'll learn how to do it in a non-confrontational and natural way! During their conversation, Frank and Bobby will answer questions like:What #1 goal should Christians have in mind when dialoguing with LGBTQ+ people?Why is it problematic to place our identity on sexual preferences?What are the flaws in the "I was born this way" argument?In what way is the LGBTQ+ community "evangelizing" the Church?How is the media driving the tension between Christians and the LGBTQ+ community?This episode is about helping YOU learn how to break the ice and connect with people who don't share your beliefs. As Bobby shares some incredible stories from daily interactions during his "Starbucks ministry", you'll see that evangelism can be smooth and conversations can stay friendly. And don’t miss out—more exclusive CIA podcast episodes with our favorite Christian apologists are on the way!To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into great discussions with like-minded Christians while providing financial support for our ministry.You can also SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE.Travel with Frank to Egypt and Mount Sinai: LivingPassages.comBobby's website: ChristianityStillMakesSense.comBobby's YouTube channel: @ChristianityStillMakesSenseBobby's church: IMAGE Church

Why are Christians facing so much hostility when we speak up on political issues? Simply advocating for life in the womb or opposing far-left agendas like Marxism and "gender-affirming care" often gets us labeled as "Christian Nationalists." Should we let this backlash silence us or propel us to become even more outspoken?This week, our good friend and fellow Christian apologist, Natasha Crain, joins Frank at the annual CIA apologetics workshop to discuss some of the key ideas in her signature book, 'Faithfully Different', as well as give us a sneak peek into her upcoming book, 'When Culture Hates You: Persevering for the Common Good as Christians in a Hostile Public Square', scheduled to be released in March 2025. Natasha will share her insights on why people make certain decisions and uncover the hypocrisy of claiming that Christians should avoid hot-button cultural issues in the public square. During their discussion, Frank and Natasha will answer questions like:Is it appropriate to label all Christians as "Christian Nationalists"?How does the Bible define the concept of the "common good" differently from society?How has CRT impacted the political climate in America and the embrace of Islam?Are atheists more qualified to run the country than Christians?How do you respond when people make statements like "there is no Christian party"?This podcast episode reminds us that Christians are called to fulfill both the Great Commission and the Cultural Commission—even if it means facing scrutiny. Don't allow today's cancel culture and religious intolerance to convince you that "staying in your lane" equates to avoiding political topics. Being faithful Christians (and apologists) gives us grounds to make a difference in the culture, so let this special CIA episode encourage you to keep standing for truth!To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into great discussions with like-minded Christians while providing financial support for our ministry.You can also SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE.Natasha's website: NatashaCrain.comBook: Faithfully DifferentBook: When Culture Hates You (available for pre-order)

Is the so-called "gentle parenting" movement producing a generation of narcissists? Many Christian parents are ditching the Bible's model for childrearing and instead opting for modern-day secular parenting techniques. What are some of the issues that are arising from this shift, and what worldview underpins these new secular methods? Listen up if you're a parent, a grandparent, or even a child! For this midweek podcast, our good friend, MAVEN founder, and CIA Instructor, Brett Kunkle, sits down with Frank at the 2024 CrossExamined Instructor's Academy to discuss this new gentle parenting trend, its flaws, future outcomes, and its devastating impact on today’s youth. What exactly is gentle parenting, and how does it work? Should parents revolve their lives around their kids? What wisdom can we glean from the Bible on parenting, structure, and corporal punishment? And should parents always seek to reason with disobedient children? All these questions and more will be addressed in this special CIA edition of "I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist"!To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into great discussions with like-minded Christians while providing financial support for our ministry.You can also SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE.BRETT'S MINISTRY: MAVENBRETT'S PODCAST: The MAVEN Parent PodcastARTICLE: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness

CIA 2024 is here, ladies and gentlemen! This year, we're kicking off our annual apologetics workshop with a much-needed conversation surrounding church leadership, accountability, and the doctrine of the Trinity. In this podcast episode, Frank sits down with our good friend, author, and Christian YouTuber, Allen Parr, about what's going on with pastors in Dallas and which analogies for the Trinity just don't work. During their conversation, Frank and Allen will answer questions like:Can fallen pastors be restored? And if so, under what circumstances?What role should elders play in holding pastors accountable?How have pastors often been able to escape church discipline and accountability?Does hypocrisy and poor behavior shown by church leadership prove that Christianity isn't true?Where can we find the Trinity in the Bible, and what analogies (if any) can be used to explain it?Allen will also share some of the details of his recent conversation with Cindy Clemishire, the woman who was victimized by former Gateway Pastor Robert Morris when she was just an adolescent. We'll tackle some pretty touchy subjects and explore what the Bible says about these unfortunate instances of church scandals. We know you'll enjoy this exclusive CIA podcast episode, so be on the lookout for more conversations from more great apologists!To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into great discussions with like-minded Christians while providing financial support for our ministry.You can also SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE.Allen's website: AllenParr.comAllen's YouTube channel: The B.E.A.T.VIDEO: Robert Morris Accuser Reveals DISTURBING Childhood Abuse Story (EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW)VIDEO: These 5 Common Mistakes DISQUALIFY Preachers from MinistryVIDEO: 5 TRINITY Analogies That Teach Straight Up HERESY!

Pastoral leadership in America is under attack, and Christians need to be aware of what's going on behind the scenes! That's why Daily Wire journalist Megan Basham returns to talk more about her book 'Shepherds for Sale: How Evangelical Leaders Traded the Truth for a Leftist Agenda', which exposes how prominent leaders in our pulpits have adopted policies that are directly opposed to the Christian faith. Megan also exposes their tactics to push these harmful agendas onto unsuspecting churchgoers. Issues discussed include:Why are some pastors and Christian leaders demanding Christians support debatable positions but are squishy on clear biblical teachings?Are Christians obligated to vote a certain way on climate change, vaccines, and immigration? Who are the wolves in the church, and is it okay to call them out publicly?Which political issues should be debatable, and which ones are the more important matters of the law? Have well-known pastors like Andy Stanley and Rick Warren made compromises on clear biblical teaching about moral issues?What are the 'Embrace the Journey' and 'After Party' curriculums, and why should churches refuse to use them? Frank and Megan will discuss all this and more as they continue this important conversation on corruption in the American Church.To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into great discussions with like-minded Christians while providing financial support for our ministry.You can also SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE.Megan's Book: https://a.co/d/5hvn1DFFollow Megan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/megbashamFollow Megan on The Daily Wire: https://www.dailywire.com/author/megan-basham

Could your favorite celebrity pastor or your church's leadership compromise the truth in exchange for cultural approval (and a BIG paycheck)? Many prominent evangelical leaders have become more and more outspoken in questioning the Bible's clear teachings on political issues like natural marriage and life in the womb, leading to confusion and concern about their underlying motives. Are these pastors and leaders genuinely well-meaning, misled, and misguided, or are they progressively embracing the "woke" agenda for money and power? This week, Frank invites Daily Wire journalist Megan Basham on the podcast to discuss her new book 'Shepherds for Sale: How Evangelical Leaders Traded the Truth for a Leftist Agenda', which investigates how leftist billionaires have convinced some of today's pastors and Christian leaders to stray from the Word of God to sow seeds of discord among the Body of Christ. During their talk, Frank and Megan will answer questions like:When and why did churches begin receiving funds from people like George Soros and the Rockefeller Foundation?Did evangelical leaders like Russell Moore, Beth Moore, and Ed Stetzer trade the truth for a leftist agenda?Is it compassionate for Christians to advocate for open borders?How did Christianity Today react to the overturning of Roe v. Wade?How have well-known evangelicals weakened the political impact of Christian conservatives?Why must Christians be clear about what is and is not sin?This podcast episode will shock you as Megan blows the lid off corruption in our churches and even conservative seminaries, naming names and exposing how some of our modern era's most influential preachers and teachers have drifted off into doctrinal error, sometimes even with good intentions. Be sure to pre-order a copy of 'Shepherds for Sale' and tune in to the midweek podcast episode where Megan and Frank return to discuss how these leftist agendas are impacting the church curriculum and the fight for life.To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into great discussions with like-minded Christians while providing financial support for our ministry.You can also SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE.Megan's Book: https://a.co/d/5hvn1DFFollow Megan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/megbashamFollow Megan on The Daily Wire: https://www.dailywire.com/author/megan-basham

Is faith in God a personal choice, or is it something God forces on people against their will? Misinterpretations of Romans 9 have led many Calvinists to read this narrative into the Scriptures, but what are they missing, and what does the context of Romans 9 reveal about its intended meaning?Frank revisits the discussion surrounding election issues and God's sovereignty for this midweek podcast. Can you have love without free will? Did God only die for some people? Does God allow us to make some choices but not others? Is there anything that God can't do? And what are some of the bad theological and moral implications of five-point Calvinism? All this and more will be discussed in this eye-opening midweek podcast episode.To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into great discussions with like-minded Christians while providing financial support for our ministry.You can also SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE.Resources mentioned during the episode:Podcast episode with Leighton Flowers: Free Will or Calvinism: Which Should You Choose?Leighton Flowers interview: UNMASKING the MYTH of Calvinism in ROMANS 9YouTube channel: Soteriology 101 with Dr. Leighton FlowersDebate: Leighton Flowers VS James White - Does John 6:44 Teach Unconditional Election?

If God is sovereign, as the Bible says, then how can human beings have free will? Those who subscribe to certain sects of Calvinism might say that humans can't possibly have free will because God does all the choosing. But is that what Paul was really getting at when he penned the Book of Romans?This week's podcast episode dives into a listener's burning question about the context of Romans 9 and the doctrine of election. Does the Bible REALLY teach that God chooses some people for salvation and others for Hell? Does God harden hearts against our free will? Tune in as Frank tackles these questions and many more, including:What questions should you ask when reading the Bible?Did God really hate Esau? And does He hate people today?What kind of Election is Romans 9 talking about?If God knows what humans will choose, does that cancel free will?What does a demonic goddess of Egypt have to do with any of this?How does Romans 9 affirm the historicity of Moses?You may be predestined to hear this week's podcast episode because Frank will cover a lot of Scripture in a short amount of time, so grab a pen and your Bible! And if you want to learn even more about how to read Scripture the right way, enroll in our self-paced online course 'How to Interpret Your Bible' where you'll walk step by step through four simple keys to help you grasp the true meaning of Scripture in your personal study. And be sure you don't miss the next midweek podcast episode, where Frank will wrap up his final thoughts on this controversial passage!To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into great discussions with like-minded Christians while providing financial support for our ministry.You can also SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE.Resources mentioned during the episode:Podcast episode with Leighton Flowers: Free Will or Calvinism: Which Should You Choose?Leighton Flowers interview: UNMASKING the MYTH of Calvinism in ROMANS 9YouTube channel: Soteriology 101 with Dr. Leighton FlowersDebate: Leighton Flowers VS James White - Does John 6:44 Teach Unconditional Election?

Where were you on Saturday, July 13, when the shocking news broke that former President Trump had been shot? This weekend, we came terrifyingly close to losing a former U.S. president, facing civil unrest, and even approaching the real possibility of a civil war. With so many unanswered questions about the assailant’s motive and the massive security failure, we’re left wondering: where do we go from here, and how did we reach this tragic point in American history?In this jarring midweek podcast episode, Frank dives into the recent assassination attempt on Donald Trump during a rally in Butler, PA, exploring the questionable response by the Secret Service and highlighting the reaction of former military sniper and Congressman Cory Mills. In a society where many seek to erase theism and Christianity altogether, how does an impact event like this point to the validity of the Christian faith, and what does it reveal about the true nature of humanity? All of this and more will be discussed as Frank also addresses questions like:Why was there a security breach in the first place?Is it a result of divine providence that Trump survived?Did the media and the far left play a role in motivating the shooter?What's the difference between informing and inciting people?Why do Hollywood celebs and other leftists compare Trump to Hitler?How should Christians respond to this event and politics in general?Political violence is NOT the way forward and should never be tolerated! It's our job as Christians to respond in a way that includes treating all people with respect, engaging in respectful dialogue, and disagreeing with people without demonizing them. Let this episode encourage you to vote with a biblical perspective this November and pray for unity and peace in our nation, for our political leaders, for Trump's recovery, and for a wise and unifying message from candidate Trump at his Thursday RNC speech.To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into great discussions with like-minded Christians while providing financial support for our ministry.You can also SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE.Resources mentioned during the episode:VIDEO: Donald Trump's Assassination Attempt in Real Time From Different AnglesARTICLE: Defiant Biden Tells Donors: "We're Done Talking About the Debate"ARTICLE: 16 Times Hollywood Celebs Fantasized About Violence Against Trump, Compared Him to HitlerARTICLE: No, Trump is Not Hitler

When was the last time you had a REAL and MEANINGFUL conversation with someone who disagreed with your Christian worldview? We live in a divisive culture that has led to nearly a third of people reporting they have stopped talking to a friend or family member due to a disagreement. Many Christians no longer feel safe to share their opinions for fear of being bullied or canceled by friends, family, and co-workers. Is staying silent really the answer, or is there a better way to speak the truth in love as God's ambassadors?This week, Frank sits down with our good friend, Dr. Sean McDowell—author, Christian apologist, and one of YouTube’s best at interviewing people from opposite ends of the spectrum. They'll dive into his new book (co-authored with Tim Muehlhoff), 'End the Stalemate: Move Past Cancel Culture to Meaningful Conversations.' It's a must-read guide for Christians looking to revive the art of opinionated dialogue without hostility. During their conversation, Frank and Sean will answer questions like:Why is the world so divided, and what can Christians do about it?How do most people shape their worldview?Is there a connection between atheism and fatherhood?What's an effective way to help people embrace the truth?Why is fraternity often a hindrance to truth and sound theology?How do you approach explosive issues, and why do discussions about religion and politics often become heated?In this podcast episode, discover how Christians can speak up without fear and create safe spaces for open, gracious conversations with people from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and faiths. With evangelism being the ultimate goal, Sean will share some helpful tips on how to disagree without being disagreeable and how to advance the ball toward Christianity when it feels like you've come to a standstill. Be sure to grab a copy of Sean and Tim's book 'End the Stalemate' for more practical tips on cultivating healthy relationships and fostering meaningful conversations surrounding any topic without all the tension and negativity!To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into great discussions with like-minded Christians while providing financial support for our ministry.You can also SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE.Sean's Book: End the Stalemate: Move Past Cancel Culture to Meaningful ConversationsSean's Website: SeanMcDowell.org