How True Crime Reveals the Truth of God, with J. Warner Wallace

Feb 4, 2025

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.

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ANECDOTE

Crushed Model

J. Warner Wallace built a foam core model of a triplex crime scene for a trial.
The model was crushed when the detective tripped, but Wallace's testimony made the jury laugh.

INSIGHT

True Crime Apologetics

J. Warner Wallace's book, "The Truth in True Crime," connects true crime with apologetics.
He argues that everything about Christianity is evidential, including how we live our lives.

INSIGHT

Criminals Within

True crime reveals our shared human nature because we are all potential criminals.
We are fascinated by true crime because we see ourselves in the perpetrators, realizing our own capacity for evil.

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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.

Timothy Paul Jones, Ph.D., is C. Edwin Gheens Professor of Christian Family Ministry at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has authored or edited more than a dozen books, including Why Should I Trust the Bible?, The God Who Goes Before You , Perspectives on Family Ministry, In Church as It Is in Heaven, andChristian History Made Easy.

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.

RESOURCES

Cold-Case Christianity

Casemakers Academy

The Thin Blue Life

CLOSING CREDITS

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).