I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist

When a fellow Christian confides in you that they’re “deconstructing”, what do you say and what kind of advice do you give them? Or even worse, what if YOU aren’t sure what to believe anymore? It can be normal to wrestle with lingering doubts, but this slow and steady process of disillusionment often causes many people in our culture today to completely walk away from the truth of the Christian faith. So when this happens, what’s the best way to help someone tackle those doubts without shipwrecking the saving grace of Jesus Christ? Our friend and Biola apologetics professor, Dr. Sean McDowell, is no stranger to struggling with doubt. In this week’s podcast episode, Sean joins Frank to talk about overcoming his own season of deconstruction and how his new book (co-authored with John Marriott), ‘Set Adrift: Deconstructing What You Believe Without Sinking Your Faith‘ can help others learn how to deconstruct in a safe way. During the episode, Sean and Frank address questions like: How does Sean define the term deconstruction? What are social imaginaries and how do they impact our worldview? What role does social media play in the deconstruction movement? What are the possible risks and benefits that can come along with deconstructing? How should Christians respond when a loved-one decides to deconstruct?   Being the son of one of the most well-known and well-respected Christian apologists, Josh McDowell, didn’t stop Sean from questioning if Christianity is really true. If you’re in the process of deconstruction, what’s your angle? Are you searching for the truth or avoiding it? Listen as Sean will encourage you to approach self-doubt with reconstruction as the end goal, allowing truth to reign supreme. To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry. You can also SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE. Sean’s new book: https://a.co/d/iJeEHRc

What’s the ONE attribute that has the power to change your life, your relationships, and your career? In this midweek episode, homicide detective and best-selling author, J. Warner Wallace returns to talk about the healing power of humility and how he and his wife Susie are helping police officers save their marriages and recover from past trauma with help from the Gospel and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Listen as Jim and Frank tackle questions like: Why do so many police officers face difficulty in marriage? What is the L.E.A.P. program and why are Jim and Susie so passionate about this ministry? What problems do we face when we place our identity outside of Jesus Christ? What is post traumatic growth and how does it compare to PTSD? What does humility REALLY mean and how can it save your life and your marriage?   This unique and fascinating conversation is a great reminder that we can face any trauma or tragedy that comes our way when we place our identity and faith in Jesus Christ. It will also open your eyes to some of the unique challenges that police officers face both in their home life and in the line of duty. We hope it blesses you and you’ll share the episode with friends and loved ones who might benefit from hearing this very important message. To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry. You can also SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE. The L.E.A.P. Program: https://bit.ly/3EhvJGm Order the UPDATED and EXPANDED ‘Cold-Case Christianity’: http://coldcasechristianitybook.com/

“You can’t trust the New Testament writers because they were Christians!” How many times have you heard that objection? Atheists and skeptics often claim that the life of Jesus has been embellished throughout the centuries and that the eyewitness testimonies recorded in the Gospels are biased. But is it reasonable to believe that the New Testament authors were motivated to create or exaggerate the resurrection story for their own benefit? In 2013, homicide detective turned Christian apologist, J. Warner Wallace, released the now modern-day apologetics classic, ‘Cold-Case Christianity’, to address those questions and it changed lives around the world! But how could a book as great as ‘Cold-Case Christianity’ be made even better? This week on the podcast, Jim talks to Frank about why he’s releasing an updated and expanded edition of the book for its 10th anniversary while also answering questions like: Is Jim REALLY a cold-case detective? Why is visual content so important? What is the “chain of custody” and how did Jim use it in his investigation of the New Testament? What can Chihuahuas and Great Danes teach us about apologetics? What problems do we face as a culture living in a personality driven world? Is your biblical definition of “hope” totally wrong?   If you loved the first edition of ‘Cold-Case Christianity’, you’ll DEFINITELY want to get your hands on the newest version with 300 new illustrations, bonus sections (including a cool new section on archaeology), as well as a new afterword responding to 12 of the most commonly asked questions about the reliability of the New Testament. And if you pre-order your special edition copy of ‘Cold-Case Christianity’ TODAY, you’ll also receive a FREE digital copy along with a boatload of bonus resources! To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry. You can also SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE. Pre-order the UPDATED and EXPANDED ‘Cold-Case Christianity’: http://coldcasechristianitybook.com/

Are you possibly underestimating your ability to go out and make disciples? Imagine if every Christian invested in the spiritual growth of just one other person. How could that affect our local churches, local communities, and ultimately the spreading of the Gospel? In this midweek podcast episode, popular Christian influencer and author of the new book ‘Misled‘, Allen Parr, sits down with Frank at the 2023 CIA conference to share how he went from being a part-time math tutor to growing a massive ministry platform on YouTube. Frank and Allen also talk about the issues of spiritual immaturity and the lack of discipleship within our churches, touching on questions like: What are some practical ways to begin making disciples? How did discipleship save Allen from making a MAJOR mistake in life? Why has discipleship historically been so difficult within the church? What process does Allen go through to choose video topics and create engaging content? How did creating LESS videos content each month impact his channel for the better?   With more than a million subscribers on his YouTube channel, ‘The B.E.A.T.’, Allen has mastered the art of communicating the Gospel online through humor, hot topics, conciseness, and most importantly, sound doctrine. But as you’ll hear throughout the episode, it doesn’t take a huge platform to make a huge difference in someone else’s life. Sometimes it just takes a willingness to fulfill the Great Commission by doing something as simple as making a phone call or meeting someone for coffee. To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry. You can also SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE. Allen’s website: https://www.allenparr.com/ Allen’s YouTube channel: The B.E.A.T. Allen’s online course: The Bible Accelerator Allen’s book: https://a.co/d/eDCEktA

Does the New Age movement offer a “higher level” of Christianity? Often used interchangeably, New Age and New Thought have appealed to the masses, both in secular society as well as within Christian churches. If New Age practices have somehow managed to creep into your church, can you identify them? Who better to ask about the New Age than someone who actually practiced it? This week, Frank sits down with ex New-Ager, CrossExamined Apologist Team (CAT) member and YouTube phenom, Melissa Dougherty, to talk about some of the key aspects of New Age philosophy, how it rose to popularity in America, and how it’s impacting the American Church. As Melissa shares her testimony, she’ll also answer questions like: What is the distinction between New Age and New Thought? What is the overlap between the New Age and Progressive Christianity? Can the New Age or New Thought be redeemed for the Gospel? How did a Jehovah’s Witness bring Melissa closer to the truth of Jesus Christ? What is God’s role and purpose within the New Age movement?   The idea that you can manipulate the circumstances of your life by finding the ‘true’ meaning of the Scriptures has drawn many to embrace New Age teachings. Believing yourself to have more spiritual power than other Christians may be appealing, but it comes with its own set of consequences. During this episode, you’ll find out these teachings compromise the truth of the Gospel and ultimately downplay the sovereignty, holiness, and providence of God. To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry. You can also SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE. Melissa’s website: https://www.melissadougherty.co/ Melissa’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/MelissaDougherty/ Melissa’s blog post on this topic: https://bit.ly/46WTVuT

Why is it that all societies throughout human history have been plagued by and confronted with universal guilt? That is to say that guilt, which can be defined as the result of violating a moral law that God has put in place, is cross-cultural. But many today suppress their guilt. How can Christians effectively preach the Gospel to a generation that refuses to recognize or even acknowledge its own guilt and depravity? In this midweek podcast episode, CrossExamined Apologist Team (CAT) member, author, and pastor, Dr. Bobby Conway, joins Frank to discuss his doctoral thesis–the implications of guilt and how guilt is in itself an apologetic for the existence of the Christian God. During the interview, Bobby talks about his recent shift from the One Minute Apologist to Christianity Still Makes Sense and also shares how his personal experiences with drug use, alcoholism, and promiscuity as a teenager ultimately led him to faith in Christ. He and Frank answer questions like: How do we know that universal guilt exists and what is the best explanation for its existence? What did philosophers like Nietzsche and Freud believe about guilt? What is the solution for those who struggle with false guilt? What is the distinction between guilt and shame? How does the Gospel offer hope for people who are burdened with guilt and shame?   Legalizing sin has made it extremely convenient to try and ignore all of the guilt that normally follows sinful behavior. But what happens when the consequences of those actions begin to manifest and unfold in the future? Will this lead our culture to further immorality, rebellion and self-righteousness, or to repentance and redemption through the cross of Jesus Christ? By the end of the episode, Frank and Bobby will help listeners discover how universal guilt (although inconvenient), is a gift from God when properly embraced through the lens of the Gospel. To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry. You can also SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE. Bobby’s website: https://www.christianitystillmakessense.com/

Do you know how to have meaningful conversations with atheists or how to answer their concerns when it comes to science, morality, and evil in the world? Navigating through faith conversations with non-Christians is hard enough, and you don’t want to make them even more difficult by putting yourself in the hot seat. So what’s the best strategy for Christians to use when defending the faith in a culture that is so hostile towards a biblical worldview? Christian apologist, author, and founder of Stand to Reason, Greg Koukl, has spent the last 50 years finding and exposing the flaws in secular worldviews and showing Christians how to be intentional in leading evangelical discussions. This week, Greg joins Frank to talk about his brand-new book ‘Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity’s Toughest Challenges‘, a follow-up to his best-selling book ‘Tactics‘. During the episode, Frank and Greg answer questions like: Why isn’t the problem of evil a good argument against God? What is the Overton Window and how is it affecting Christians today? Did the Obergefell Decision in 2015 actually legalize “gay marriage”? How should you respond if someone asks you to provide your preferred pronouns? How does Greg approach the “God of the Gaps” fallacy and slavery in the Bible? How can we know that materialism is false?   ‘Tactics’ taught Christians how to regain control of conversations. ‘Street Smarts’ will go a step further, using the same tactical game plan to tackle today’s most complex issues surrounding sex, gender, and atheism by leading skeptics to acknowledge their own misconceptions through asking a series of thought-provoking questions. Be sure to pre-order your copy of ‘Street Smarts’ today! To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry. You can also SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE. Pre-Order Greg’s book: https://a.co/d/cWRtKsS Download Transcript

How can you increase the chances that your child won’t walk away from the faith when they get older? Most young people who are raised as Christians receive some form of discipleship training within the safety of their home church, rarely having their beliefs challenged by non-Christians. But are the typical youth group pizza parties and “feel good” camp experiences strong enough to sustain their faith once they become adults? In this midweek podcast episode, co-pastor and Maven Christian apologist, Brett Kunkle, joins Frank at CIA 2023 to explain why he developed immersive worldview mission experiences for high school and college students, and how they successfully prepare young Christians to understand and articulate the truth of Christianity to others. During this episode, Frank and Brett answer questions such as: At what age should kids begin learning the basics of Christianity? How are catechisms helpful in discipleship training? What 3 stage process should you consider as you disciple your kids? Why are so many young people apathetic towards Christianity? How do Maven immersive experiences uniquely motivate youth to develop a personal passion for their faith? What activities do kids participate in during a Maven mission trip?   Investing in our children while they are still young is a vital key to increasing the likelihood that they will cling to Christianity into adulthood, and ultimately for life. Maven immersive experiences and mission trips have proven to be life-transforming–equipping students with the tools to engage with others and grow in their faith as they share their faith with secular society. Producing strong Christians is good, but producing strong witnesses and ambassadors is even better! To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry. You can also SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE. Maven: https://maventruth.com/ More info on Maven Immersive Experiences: https://bit.ly/44UXYGJ   Download Transcript  

Why is it more culturally acceptable to have Drag Queen story hour at a public library than it is to read faith-based books that introduce children to Christian values such as kindness, love, and self-control? Libraries have become the new battleground for the culture war with its secular indoctrination of kids and its censorship of the Christian worldview. But if your local library goes woke, how can you push back against it? Actor, filmmaker, and Christian evangelist, Kirk Cameron, joins Frank this week to discuss his partnership with Brave Books and how they are working together to bring the truth of the Gospel to young children while also advocating for free speech and American patriotism. Kirk also talks about his new children’s books, ‘As You Grow’ and ‘Pride Comes Before the Fall’, while addressing topics like: How did Kirk go from an atheist and secular Hollywood actor to faith in Christ? Why is it important for Christians to know the Bible AND the U.S. Constitution? How can Christians use the legal system to our advantage? How has adversity from the woke mob benefited the Brave Books movement?   Later in the episode, Frank addresses questions from listeners about the plausibility of being “born gay”, whether or not to remain in a denomination that drifts into heresy, and what to do if your child contemplates joining the Amish community. To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry. Resources mentioned in the episode: Kirk’s website: https://www.kirkcameron.com/ Brave Books: https://bravebooks.us/ Join the Freedom Island Book Club and get Kirk’s book FREE! https://bit.ly/45n6HRT

What could be worse than being cut off by your adult children (and subsequently grandchildren) because you hold a Christian or conservative worldview? As cancel culture continues to rear its ugly head in all spheres of life, it has sadly breached the walls of social media and corporate America, now managing to creep into the hearts and minds of those who have turned away from a biblical worldview. So, if your child or loved one cancels you because you’re “toxic”, is there anything you can do? In this midweek podcast, Natasha Crain returns for a conversation with Frank about the disturbing “No Contact” trend and its devastating impact on Christian families. This relatively new phenomenon has spread like wildfire, leaving parents and grandparents in turmoil and desperately seeking reconciliation with their children. During this episode, Frank and Natasha touch on questions like: Why are kids more willing to cut off their parents than parents are to cut off their kids? How has the left convinced young people that their conservative parents are toxic? How can parents work to maintain a relationship with their distant kids? What happened to preaching about tolerance? Are there times when it’s necessary to cut people out of your life or even your church?   Being treated as an outcast by your family primarily because of your moral or political views is a situation that seems unthinkable and unbearable, yet is becoming more and more common in our postmodern society. For those who have found (or could find) themselves in this predicament, Frank and Natasha hope to embolden you in this episode to continue to stand for the truth, even as you fight for your family. To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry. Natasha’s website: https://natashacrain.com/ The Unshaken Conference: https://unshakenconference.com/ Download Transcript