What a Straw Man Argument is and What is Not.

Apologetics, Calvinism, Christianity, determinism, free will, FreeThinkingMinistries.com, Gospel, logic, Molinism, Phil Kallberg, Straw Man Fallacy, Theology and Christian Apologetics
[Editor’s Note: in November 2025, at the Evangelical Philosophical Society meeting in Boston Massachusetts, Tim Stratton and Phil Kallberg presented a coauthored essay, “Is Divine Determinism a Different Gospel?”. You can see it here or listen to here. The provocative essay – critiquing a major brand of historic Christian thought: Calvinism – evoked some controversy. Phil responds here to one of the critiques.] I’m inspired to write this both for the accusations of “straw manning” that came from Tim’s and my essay at the 2025 EPS, and due to examples that I have seen. While no one accused me of this directly (all the interactions I had with people in relation to the essay were positive, even when they were pushing back), I heard through the grapevine that some people…
Read More

My God, My God, Why Do Pastor’s Misinterpret Me?

Theology and Christian Apologetics
You may have heard it said that when Jesus cried out in a loud voice from the cross saying “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:33-34; Matthew 27:45-46) this was when God the Father turned his back on Jesus or turned his face away from Him because as He bore the sins of the world and God could not face Him. For example, the modern hymn “How Deep The Father’s Love For Us” declares this in the first verse of the song: “How great the pain of searing loss. The Father turns His face away.” Theologian Wayne Grudem states in his magisterial systematic theology that the atonement of Jesus not only caused physical pain and death, but that scripture teaches that God abandoned Jesus on the…
Read More

Top 10 Podcast Episodes of 2025

Apologetics, Christianity, CrossExamined, Gospel, I don't have enough faith to be an atheist, Podcasts, Theology and Christian Apologetics
In 2025, we had unforgettable conversations with some of today’s leading apologists, archaeologists, pastors, theologians, philosophers, and Christian influencers who joined Frank to unpack today’s most compelling arguments and evidence for the Christian faith. From digs in the Middle East to Bible studies and political commentary, we covered a lot of ground and hopefully were able to help you answer some of the questions you’ve asked and encountered surrounding faith, freedom, and philosophy. We’ve kept up with the biggest news headlines and impact events, keeping you informed and engaged amidst the ongoing culture war from a Christian perspective. And then out of nowhere, we were hit with the most devastating tragedy, the martyrdom of our great friend Charlie Kirk–an event that not only shocked the nation, but by God’s grace,…
Read More

A Case for an Eternal Hell (Part 1): A Biblical Defense

annihilationism, Apologetics, bellatorchristi.com, Brian Chilton, Christianity, ECT, end times, eschatology, eternal conscious torment, Gospel, Hell, Theology and Christian Apologetics
Recently, the Christian world was abuzz with the news that popular Christian star Kirk Cameron had considered switching his view of hell from the traditional view to annihilationism.[1] While I will not engage the specific comments made by Kirk Cameron on his podcast, I do think that it is important to discuss the topic of hell’s duration, annihilationism, and the traditional view known as eternal conscious torment (ECT). Also, we should note that Kirk is working through his beliefs about hell. Therefore, this article and series are not a response to Kirk Cameron or his beliefs. Rather, the series serves as a necessary engagement on a hotly contested issue. This article is the first of a three-part series defending the traditional view of hell, otherwise known as ECT. The series will…
Read More

Do the Crusades Prove that Christianity is Evil?

Anthony Williams, Apologetics, Christianity, Crusades, Gospel, historical apologetics, Islam, Theology and Christian Apologetics
There have been many reasons people have refused to take on the Christian faith since the time Christ was on earth. Some couldn’t believe in miracles. Some rejected Jesus’ claim to be the only way to God. Others didn’t want to abide by God’s rules for living and chose to risk the threat of an eternity separated from their Creator. Today, those reasons seem to be less cited by those who reject or leave the faith. When you read or hear the stories of many who “deconstruct” their faith or deny Christianity, the reason often comes down to one central idea: Christianity is “evil”. The Crusades are pointed to as evidence that Christianity is used for conquest and subjugating people. Is this true? How should a Christian respond to this?…
Read More

Scott Adams and Death Bed Conversions

Apologetics, Christianity, Deathbed Conversions, Dilbert, eternity, Gospel, salvation, Scott Adams, Theological Apologetics, Theology and Christian Apologetics
Scott Adams, the creator of the Dilbert comic strip died recently, and reports are saying that he had a death bed conversion. Lord willing, he meant it. I enjoyed his cartoons. He had some clever commentary. But of course, no amount of good works, humor, or wit can get anyone to heaven. I hope for his sake that his last rites were sincere, and that I’ll be able to meet him in heaven one day. Death bed conversions however pose a real problem. The problem isn’t about the fact that they happen. That’s not a problem for Christian theology. We teach that salvation isn’t earned as a reward, it’s a received gift. So, death-bed conversions are possible even for people who’ve lived a long and rebellious life. Just ask the…
Read More

Can Christians Lose Their Salvation?

Adam Lloyd Johnson, Apologetics, Assurance, Christianity, ConvincingProof.org, Eternal Security, Gospel, Grace, salvation, theology, Theology and Christian Apologetics
Most Christians will struggle, at least once, with the issue of losing their salvation. For some people this struggle becomes a lifelong trial of frustration and anxiety. Some protestant denominations, including Methodists and Lutherans, teach that it is possible to lose your salvation. But other denominations, such as Presbyterians and Baptists, teach that once you become a Christian, you can never lose your salvation. So, who has the final say in such matters? We should always look to God and His Word as our first and final authority. He has given us His instructions in the Bible, and we’re responsible to study it diligently so we know the truth. In this article I will make the case that the Bible teaches that a Christian cannot lose their salvation. What Does…
Read More

If Life Ends at Death, Then Eat, Drink, and Be Merry, for Tomorrow We Die

Theology and Christian Apologetics
The book of Ecclesiastes is notoriously difficult to interpret. In this article I share my best attempt at understanding and explaining what this book is about. Many have argued that the main message of Ecclesiastes is that we shouldn’t look for meaning and purpose in this world or in this mortal life. While that might be a valid application of the truths found in Ecclesiastes, I don’t think that is its primary message. It seems to me that the main purpose of Ecclesiastes is to teach the following conditional: If life ends at death, then life, and the toil of this life, is vanity because it’s fleeting, futile, meaningless, and absurd. Yes, one of the applications we can learn from Ecclesiastes is not to look for ultimate meaning in this…
Read More

What is the Gospel?

Apologetics, Christianity, Evangelism, FreeThinkingsMinistries, Gospel, Mere Christianity, Revival, soteriology, Theology and Christian Apologetics, Thomas Moller
Recent events have shaken the world. The various murders, and specifically the assassination of Charlie Kirk, have left many Americans with questions of justice, the future, and truth. Our world has never seemed so dark, and the divide in America has never seemed so wide. Yet despite the horror and darkness of the past few weeks, hope is on the horizon. Revival. Never, in recent years, has the Church had such a potential harvest laid at our feet. God is truly turning evil to good with millions of Americans returning to church for the first time (Gen 50:20). If revival is coming, we must be ready. We need to be prepared for the harvest (Luke 10:2). But how do we prepare? What is our greatest tool? The Gospel. Why is…
Read More

Was the Messiah Predicted in the Old Testament?

Adam Lloyd Johnson, Apologetics, biblical apologetics, Christianity, christology, ConvincingProof.org, Gospel, Jesus, messianic prophecy, Old Testament, Theology and Christian Apologetics
In Galatians Paul wrote that the Law served as a “tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith” (Gal. 3:24). Even though Paul was specifically referring to the Mosaic Law, the same could be said concerning the Old Testament as a whole. The Messiah, His person, His work, and His ministry were anticipated through allusion and imagery, not the least of which was the establishment of a theology concerning substitutionary atonement. This laid the groundwork for understanding our need for a Messiah because it explained how we came to be the wretched beings that we are, why God’s moral righteousness means our situation is so dire, and what must be done to reconcile us back to the loving relationship with God we were created…
Read More