04Jan 2020 by Post

The Problem of Evil

Al Serrato, Apologetics, Christian Apologetics, Skeptics, the problem of evil, theology, Theology and Christian Apologetics
By Al Serrato One of the most common challenges to the Christian worldview is the problem of evil. We see evil all around us; we need to do little more than pick up a newspaper or watch the nightly news to have our sensibilities assaulted with countless acts of senseless violence and suffering. Many are man-made and some a product of an indifferent Mother Nature; whatever the source, at times, it feels as if the world is awash in wickedness. How, the challenger entreats, can your good and loving God create such things? Why did he imbue man with such capacity for wickedness? The Christian responds that God did not create evil. No, they claim, evil is the product of man’s twisted free will. How well does this claim hold…
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04Jan 2020 by Post

The Elephant in the Room isn’t Trump

AFR, Apologetics, app, cross examined, cross examined official podcast, CrossExamined, crossexamined podcast, Frank Turek, google play, iTunes, Podcast, podcasting, Radio, Radio Show, Spotify, stitcher, Trump, Weekly Podcast
Podcast: Play in new window A couple of listeners wrote emails to express their disagreement with some of what Frank said in the show “Why Did Evangelicals Vote for Trump?” In this show Frank responds by investigating Jesus’s rebuke of the Pharisees (the politicians of Israel) in Matthew 23:23 and then by asking three questions: What is the purpose of government? What is your primary reason for choosing a president? Who, of the available candidates, will best fulfill that purpose? As you’ll hear the elephant in the room isn’t Trump and his personality. The primary reason we choose a president has to do with a policy, not personality (although personality is still important). Frank responds to other objections from the emails, and also answers this question from a parent: How…
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02Jan 2020 by Post

What is the Bible all About?

AFR, Apologetics, app, Bible, cross examined, cross examined official podcast, CrossExamined, crossexamined podcast, Frank Turek, google play, iTunes, Podcast, podcasting, Radio, Radio Show, Spotify, stitcher, Weekly Podcast
Podcast: Play in new window What is the Bible all about?  Sometimes we get too close to it and can’t see the big picture. Join Frank as he takes you on a grand overview of the Bible using the acronym CRIME:  Creation, Rebellion, Intervention, Mission, Eternity.  This will help you see how the Bible fits together to tell one overarching story of the Savior, who comes to save the very creatures who rebelled against him.  So, while the Bible starts with a CRIME, it ends with redemption in Eternity for those who want it.  That’s why we all have an important mission right now. To get visual and more in-depth teaching on this topic and many others, get the complete 17 part series on DVD called Jesus, You and the…
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25Dec 2019 by Post

The Christmas Story – Beyond Apologetics

Apologetics, ApologeticsGuy, Christianity, Christmas, Christmas Story, Mikel del Rosario, Theology and Christian Apologetics
By Mikel Del Rosario Experiencing the Christmas Story Every December, I see a couple of approaches to Jesus’ birth on Christian blogs: Articles that approach the Christmas story from the perspective of “How Jesus came to Earth,” looking at it in light of what the Gospels tell about who Jesus turns out to be. Or, you get an apologetics approach that engages naturalistic objections to miracles like the virgin birth. If you’re like me, you’ve often talked about the possibility of miracles or the historicity of the Bible around Christmas time. But what we don’t often realize, is that we can get so distracted by historical or philosophical questions in our 21st-century context, that we can miss out on what the Gospel authors are saying through the infancy narratives. Beyond Apologetics This year, I want…
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24Dec 2019 by Post

Top Ten Ways to Advance the Gospel

AFR, Apologetics, app, cross examined, cross examined official podcast, CrossExamined, crossexamined podcast, Frank Turek, google play, Gospel, iTunes, Merry Christmas, Podcast, podcasting, Radio, Radio Show, Spotify, stitcher, Weekly Podcast
Podcast: Play in new window Are you dreading those awkward family dinners this Christmas season?  Unsure about how to tactfully bring up the real reason for Christmas?  Join Frank as he reveals the Top Ten Ways to Advance the Gospel, not only at Holiday dinners but at any event.   These are some very practical ideas and can be used at any time during the year. Subscribe on iTunes:  rate and review! Thanks!!! Subscribe on Google Play: Subscribe on Spotify: Subscribe on Stitcher: Free CrossExamined.org Resource Get the first chapter of "Stealing From God: Why Atheists Need God to Make Their Case" in PDF.
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23Dec 2019 by Post

Why Do Christians Tend to Align With “Conservative” Economics?

Apologetics, Christianity, Culture, Economics, Faithful Thinkers, Legislating Morality, Culture & Politics, Luke Nix, Politics, theology, Theology and Christian Apologetics
By Luke Nix Introduction A while back, I saw an intriguing question on social media from a person who is in the middle of a worldview transition. This person is concerned about why so many Christians follow conservative economic theories and not more liberal ones. As I have thought about the question more and more, I have noticed not just a viable answer but also an apologetic opportunity in addressing this concern. Here is the question in the questioner’s own words and how I would respond: The Question: “I am going through a transition… From an atheist to someone who may not be Christian but does believe in a higher power. My background is economics, and I am struggling with the fact that Christianity has aligned its self so heavily…
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23Dec 2019 by Post

The Genuine Saint Nicholas

Apologetics, Bellator Christi, Brian Chilton, Christianity, Saint Nicholas, Theology and Christian Apologetics
By Brian Chilton It may surprise you to discover that there really is a Santa Claus! The Santa Claus figure was taken from a genuine person of history. His name was Saint Nicholas of Myra. Earlier on BellatorChristi.com, I posted an article on this issue. However, I thought it necessary to update the article, especially now that my studies are focused on the Patristic Fathers which would include Nicholas of Myra. Nicholas is one of the more popular saints in the Greek and Roman churches. However, not much is known about him historically. All evidence of him is scant at best. Nicholas is believed to have been born in the ancient Lycian seaport of Patara in Asia Minor around 280. As a young man, Nicholas journeyed to Israel and Egypt to…
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18Dec 2019 by Post

7 Legit Reasons Why So Many Kids are Bored by Church

Apologetics, Apologetics for Parents, Children, Christianity, Church, Kids in the Church, Natasha Crain, Parents, Sunday School, theology
By Natasha Crain  Last Sunday, our church did its annual multilingual service, with three congregations—Mandarin-speaking, Spanish-speaking, and English-speaking—all coming together for worship. We had readings in multiple languages, and a sermon was given in Spanish with an English translator. There was no Sunday school this week, so kids joined their parents in adult church. When we informed our kids Sunday morning of what would be happening, there was a collective and passionate, “NOOOOOOOOOOOO!” (Honestly, I should have typed more o’s to reflect the true level of protest.) “PLEASE, let us stay home! We can do home church! Please, not THAT service! It’s SO BORING!” Apparently, they remembered it well from the prior year. We dragged them into the car in spite of the whining and endured their pleas all the way there. I’d…
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16Dec 2019 by Post

Was the Deity of Christ A Legendary Development?

Apologetics, Christianity, Deity of Christ, Deity of Jesus, Evidence, Gospel, history, Jesus Christ, JesusIsNotAFakeNews, Paul, Ryan Leasure, theology, Theology and Christian Apologetics
By Ryan Leasure Skeptics of all stripes vehemently deny the deity of Christ. Besides their a priori commitment to philosophical naturalism, a major argument they put forth is that the earliest Christians didn’t believe Jesus was divine. Rather, this belief in his deity was a legendary development, as evidenced by the four Gospels. It’s the skeptics’ contention that the earliest Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) don’t teach a divine Jesus at all. Instead, they portray a very human Jesus. It’s not until the Gospel of John, written some sixty years after Jesus’ death, that we find a clear reference to Jesus’ divinity. The argument goes; these Gospels reflect what the earliest communities believed about Jesus. Thus, the earlier Gospels, which don’t portray the deity of Christ, suggest that the earliest communities didn’t believe in…
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14Dec 2019 by Post

Was Jesus Married?

Apologetics, ApologeticsGuy, Christianity, Jesus, Mikel del Rosario, theology, Theology and Christian Apologetics, Was Jesus Married?
By Mikel Del Rosario Every Christmas and Easter, I tend to get into conversations about Jesus with people who see Christianity differently. But I’ve also found that even Christians can ask questions raised by skeptics in the public square like, “Was Jesus married?” Often times, Christians find challenges to the Bible’s portrayal of Jesus in a popular book, movie, YouTube video, or somewhere online and wonder how to respond. Recently, the question of whether or not Jesus had a wife has come up again. So, was Jesus married? There is no ancient evidence that explicitly tells us that Jesus was married. But raising the question makes a good conspiracy theory. For example, think about popular conversations surrounding Dan Brown’s novel, The Da Vinci Code, and the alleged “Gospel of Jesus’ Wife” fragment. Still,…
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