How True Crime Reveals the Truth of God, with J. Warner Wallace
Feb 4, 2025
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Join J. Warner Wallace, a Dateline-featured homicide detective and best-selling author, as he uncovers how true crime unveils deeper truths about God. He shares insights from his book, discussing how every element of creation serves as evidence and delves into humanity's darker side. The conversation also touches on C.S. Lewis's quirky affection for cats, humor around church relics, and Wallace's unique journey from arts to detective work. Expect a blend of philosophy, faith, and creative storytelling that challenges perspectives on morality and fulfillment.
The podcast explores the inherent potential for evil within every individual, prompting a deeper self-awareness of our moral complexities.
J. Warner Wallace emphasizes the importance of storytelling and creative communication in effectively sharing Christian apologetics and engaging audiences.
The discussion highlights humanity's yearning for worship, pointing out how misplaced desires can lead to crime and identity issues, necessitating redirection toward authentic devotion.
Deep dives
The Complexity of Human Nature
The episode delves into the paradox of human nature, suggesting that everyone harbors the potential for wrongdoing. The speakers highlight the enigma of likability in people who have committed heinous acts, reflecting on their personal experiences as law enforcement officers. They argue that all individuals possess the capacity for evil, drawing parallels between ordinary lives and those who have committed crimes. This discussion emphasizes the need for self-awareness and understanding of our inner complexities.
C.S. Lewis's Affection for Animals
The conversation shifts to C.S. Lewis and his fondness for cats, revealing his deep care for animals while maintaining a clear distinction of human superiority over them. Notably, Lewis's traumatic childhood experience involving a dog influenced his identity, leading him to adopt the name 'Jack.' The speakers discuss a few of Lewis's pets, including Siamese and Persian cats, uncovering humorous anecdotes about their personalities and interactions with Lewis. This segment further illustrates the intersection of literature, personal history, and the affection for animals.
Holistic Approaches to Apologetics
The episode features J. Warner Wallace, a cold case detective who intertwines his investigative skills with Christian apologetics. Wallace discusses the importance of storytelling and presenting evidence in an engaging manner, emphasizing that effective apologetics extends beyond mere words. He highlights how his professional background aids in explaining complex ideas to broader audiences, making the case for a holistic approach to sharing Christianity. This segment underscores the significance of creativity and visualization in communication.
The Role of Worship in Human Experience
A crucial theme of the episode revolves around humanity's innate desire to worship, which often leads to misplaced devotion. The discussion addresses how crimes can commonly stem from idols, such as sex, money, or power, ultimately determining individuals' identities and actions. The speakers assert that recognizing and redirecting these misplaced desires toward authentic worship is essential for flourishing. This framework illustrates the impact of deep-rooted spiritual elements on everyday behavior.
Identity and Transformation
The dialogue emphasizes the connection between identity, trauma, and spiritual transformation, particularly in relation to understanding personal worth. The speakers advocate for a Christ-centered identity to navigate life's challenges and transitions, highlighting the dangers of placing identity in mutable aspects such as careers or relationships. They underscore the necessity for humility in reconciling past experiences with future aspirations. This focus on identity transformation stresses how deeply personal convictions can lead to profound changes in life perspectives.
Welcome to the true crime episode of The Apologetics Podcast—an episode so good it’s almost criminal!
Cold-case detective J. Warner Wallace joins your intrepid cohosts to teach them how true crime points to the truth of God. Wallace’s latest book The Truth in True Crime: What Investigating Death Teaches Us About the Meaning of Life takes a look at fifteen rules for life that he learned from homicide investigations. While talking about this outstanding book, Wallace makes the case that everything in all of creation is evidence and that every human being is a born killer. He also reveals his recent proclivities for the music of Old Dominion and Zach Williams.
This episode’s edition of Raiders of Church History involves three cats and an ancient sponge. Garrick and Timothy discuss an almost-criminal habit described by professor C.S. Lewis that involved lifting a cat by its tail, and the dynamic duo concludes there should be a C.S. Lewis fan band called “Clïvë änd thë Cäts.”
HOSTS AND GUEST
J. Warner Wallace is a Dateline-featured homicide detective, popular national speaker, and best-selling author. Relying on over two decades of investigative experience, Wallace provides the tools needed to investigate the claims of Christianity and make a convincing case for the truth of the Christian worldview.
Garrick Bailey is lead pastor of Substance Church in Ashland, Ohio. Garrick was born in the frozen lands of Wisconsin but spent most of his life as a Texan. Before coming to Substance, he served as the director of adult discipleship and home groups at The Village Church. He and his wife Bethany have three children.
Theme music for the podcast has been licensed through Artlist.io and performed by Cunningham Manor. Brief excerpts of music played in each program are included solely for the purposes of comment and critique as allowed under the fair-use provision of U.S. copyright law. “The fair use of a copyrighted work … for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, … scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright” (U.S. Code § 107, Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use).
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