The Biblical Mind

What does it mean to call something “Christian music”? Nick Barré has spent decades in the music industry—from working at EMI with early Switchfoot to managing major names like Casting Crowns, KB, Brandon Heath, and more. In this 200th episode of The Biblical Mind, he joins Dru Johnson to reflect on the Christian music label, the tension between calling and category, and how artists navigate faith and fame. Nick argues that labeling music—or restaurants or plumbers—as “Christian” may do more harm than good. He shares why genre categories are a business necessity but spiritually unhelpful, and why the most important questions artists must answer are about calling, audience, and identity—not chart placement. From spiritual burnout to public affirmation, from the temptations of platform to the dangers of envy, Nick shares pastoral, industry-hardened wisdom on how to guide artists into longevity and spiritual wholeness. He even offers advice for aspiring Christian musicians—and what it really means to “show, not tell” when pursuing a creative calling. Nick Barre's Company "Proper Management" can be found here: https://www.propermanagement.net We are listener supported. Give to the cause here: https://hebraicthought.org/give For more articles: https://thebiblicalmind.org/ Social Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HebraicThought Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hebraicthought Threads: https://www.threads.net/hebraicthought X: https://www.twitter.com/HebraicThought Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hebraicthought.org Chapters: 00:00 Defining Christian Music 03:11 The Evolution of Music Genres 06:10 Navigating the Music Industry 08:57 The Dangers of Labeling 12:09 The Role of Artists in Ministry 15:16 The Impact of Fame on Identity 18:24 Identifying Unique Gifts in Artists 25:41 Exploring Diverse Artist Portfolios 28:29 Navigating Hard Conversations in the Music Industry 31:05 Defining Success in the Arts 33:15 The Challenge of Artistic Compromise 37:06 Understanding Market Dynamics in Music 40:22 Fragmentation of the Music Industry 46:39 Advice for Aspiring Christian Artists

In this episode, Dr. Dru Johnson sits down with Matt Whitman, host of The Ten Minute Bible Hour, to explore why so many Christians—and skeptics—struggle with Scripture. Whitman shares what he’s learned from engaging millions online: people are often afraid to be wrong, shaped by graceless experiences in church and cancel culture in the wider world. The solution? Modeling curiosity, empathy, and intellectual humility. Whitman opens up about his own faith journey, the impact of church hurt, and why he makes space for disagreement and exploration in his content. From deconstructing popular biblical themes to highlighting the beauty of traditions outside his own, Matt argues that deep scriptural engagement thrives in environments where it’s okay not to have all the answers. Together, Dru and Matt delve into themes like biblical coherence, the importance of interpretive grace, and what it means to approach the Bible not as experts, but as learners. Their conversation models the very ethos they preach: thoughtful, generous dialogue rooted in the belief that God’s grace extends to our minds—not just our sins. For More of Matt Whitman and the Ten Minute Bible Hour: https://www.youtube.com/@UC3vIOVJiXigzVDA2TYqaa0Q https://www.facebook.com/thetenminutebiblehour https://www.instagram.com/tenminutebiblehour https://www.twitter.com/MattWhitmanTMBH https://www.threads.com/@mattwhitmantmbh We are listener supported. Give to the cause here: https://hebraicthought.org/give For more articles: https://thebiblicalmind.org/ Social Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HebraicThought Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hebraicthought Threads: https://www.threads.net/hebraicthought X: https://www.twitter.com/HebraicThought Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hebraicthought.org Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 00:54 Resistance to the Bible and Church Experiences 04:57 Cultural Resistance and Historical Context 07:44 Navigating Hurt and Church Experiences 10:56 Empathy and Understanding in Conversations 14:21 Normalizing Being Wrong 17:20 Internal Cohesion in Christianity 25:38 Universal Themes in the Bible 32:44 Navigating Biblical Interpretation and Truth 35:43 The Complexity of Biblical Truth 37:55 The Pressure of Pastoral Performance 42:14 The Challenge of Authenticity in Teaching 45:32 Modeling Intellectual Grace and Humility 49:40 Creating a Gracious Learning Environment 53:16 The Nature of Knowledge and Learning in Faith

What happens when science, religion, and education collide? In this episode, Dr. Rachel Pear shares her remarkable journey from growing up in New York’s modern Orthodox Jewish community to researching how evolution is taught and received across Israeli society. A scholar of science education and prehistoric archaeology, Rachel discusses how Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities in Israel grapple differently with the question of human origins. Why do some teachers avoid the topic altogether? Why do secular and religious students draw such hard lines around what’s “acceptable” to believe? And how do family, community, and national identity shape scientific acceptance? Rachel also shares her experience presenting three distinct rabbinic views on evolution in schools, showing students that Jewish thought isn’t monolithic—and that questioning is part of the tradition. She explores the cultural weight of science, the legacy of eugenics, and how educators can create space for real dialogue in science classrooms. Whether you’re an educator, a religious thinker, or just curious about how evolution meets identity, this episode offers a rich, honest look at a complex conversation that’s still evolving. We are listener supported. Give to the cause here: https://hebraicthought.org/give For more articles: https://thebiblicalmind.org/ Social Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HebraicThought/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hebraicthought/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/hebraicthought/ X: https://www.twitter.com/HebraicThought/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hebraicthought.org Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Rachel's Journey 02:49 Exploring Prehistoric Archaeology and Cultural Contexts 05:48 The Intersection of Evolution and Religion 08:48 Cultural Perspectives on Evolution in Israel 11:57 The Role of Education in Science and Religion 14:57 Diverse Views on Evolution in Arab Schools 17:58 The Complexity of Science and Cultural Identity 20:50 Reflections on Science, Culture, and Religion 27:27 Navigating Values in Education 32:20 The Complexity of Teaching Evolution 35:53 Epistemology and the Scientific Method 40:51 Cultural Perspectives on Evolution 45:32 The Intersection of Tradition and Modernity

Is the relationship between Islam and science as well-developed as it is in Christianity? Not even close—but that’s changing. In this episode, Dr. Shoaib Ahmed Malik, Lecturer in Science and Religion at the University of Edinburgh, joins Dru Johnson to share the emerging field of Islam and science, focusing on the hot topic of evolution. Shoaib unpacks the historical development of Islamic engagement with science, tracing it from early encounters with Western scientific frameworks to the present. He explains why the Islamic world lacks infrastructure like textbooks, academic chairs, and journals for the science-religion conversation—and why that’s finally beginning to change. But what about evolution? Shoaib shares why it remains a highly sensitive subject in Muslim-majority countries (including stories of professors losing jobs over it) and how Muslim views differ from Christian ones, especially around original sin, Adam, and human suffering. This is an honest, fascinating look at how Muslims are navigating modern science, why cultural and religious taboos persist, and how Shoaib’s work is shaping new conversations at the intersection of Islamic theology and science. We are listener supported. Give to the cause here: https://hebraicthought.org/give For more articles: https://thebiblicalmind.org/ Social Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HebraicThought/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hebraicthought/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/hebraicthought/ X: https://www.twitter.com/HebraicThought/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hebraicthought.org Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Shoaib Ahmed Malik's Journey 03:11 Transition from Engineering to Humanities 06:00 Teaching Experience in the UAE 09:14 Pursuing Philosophy, Science, and Religion 12:18 Publishing and Academic Recognition 15:11 Navigating Career Changes and New Opportunities 18:29 Exploring Science and Religion Conversations 26:43 Navigating Conversations with Students 27:29 Understanding Islam: Sunni vs Shia 30:19 The Contemporary Muslim World: Sunni and Shia Dynamics 31:34 The Intellectual History of Islam 35:17 Muslim Perspectives on Science and Religion 39:01 Islamization of Science: A Discourse Emerges 42:48 The Development of Islamic Science Education 44:25 Evolution and Its Reception in the Muslim World 48:11 Unique Questions Muslims Ask About Evolution

Gathering 15 scholars from Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, a groundbreaking workshop merged faith and science to discuss creation. They tackled how evolution, genetics, and astrophysics relate to theological concepts. A unique insight on Neanderthals and menopause sparked reflections on intergenerational care and biblical values. The discussions illuminated the potential for a biblical philosophy of science and examined whether Hebraic thought can influence modern scientific methods, fostering rich dialogues across diverse beliefs.

Join Paul Sloan and Logan Williams, co-hosts of the Jesus and the Jewish Law podcast, as they unpack the complexities of the Mosaic Law and its implications in understanding Jesus. They tackle seven common misconceptions, clarifying that the Law was never just a burdensome set of rules, but a means to maintain God’s presence. Discover how impurity doesn't equal sin, the uniqueness of legal obligations, and how Jesus actually enriches the Torah's ethical teachings. It's a fresh and insightful guide to viewing Law through a Hebraic lens.

Dr. Jangkholam Haokip, an Indian theologian and author, sheds light on the intersections of indigenous culture and Christianity. He reflects on his own journey from Kuki Primal Religion to Christianity, emphasizing community ties over individualism. Jangkholam discusses God's covenants in Genesis, linking them to ecological concerns today. He advocates for a shift in theological education, urging the inclusion of indigenous voices. Through his work, he aims to enrich Christian understanding by amplifying diverse cultural perspectives.

Is God emotionless and unchanging? Many systematic theologians have long argued that God is completely impassible—meaning He cannot feel, suffer, or be influenced by creation. But is this truly what the Bible teaches? In this episode, Dr. R.T. Mullins joins The Biblical Mind Podcast to challenge traditional ideas about God’s nature, emotions, and engagement with the world. He explains how philosophy has often shaped theology more than scripture, why systematic theologians ignore biblical descriptions of God’s emotions, and what it actually means to call God all-powerful and all-knowing. Dru and R.T. explore the hidden assumptions behind classical theism, why ancient theologians rejected the idea that God could suffer, and whether modern theology needs a reset. Mullins also discusses how our view of God shapes how we pray, worship, and think about suffering. If you’ve ever wondered why theology sometimes feels disconnected from the Bible, or why certain doctrines sound more like philosophy than scripture, this episode will challenge you to rethink how we describe God. For More of RT Mullin's Content, Check Out His Podcast: https://www.rtmullins.com/podcast We are listener supported. Give to the cause here: https://hebraicthought.org/give For more articles: https://thebiblicalmind.org/ Social Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HebraicThought/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hebraicthought/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/hebraicthought/ X: https://www.twitter.com/HebraicThought/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hebraicthought.org Chapters: 00:00 Understanding the Doctrine of God 03:21 Concepts of God: Models and Attributes 06:23 The Role of Scripture in Systematic Theology 09:15 Historical Perspectives on God's Attributes 12:21 Philosophical Underpinnings of Theological Claims 15:12 The Challenge of Defining God's Perfections 18:04 Empathy and Knowledge in God's Nature 21:13 The Intersection of Philosophy and Scripture 24:11 Concluding Thoughts on God's Nature 30:53 The Nature of God's Communication 33:08 Empathy and the Divine: A Theological Dilemma 36:18 Impassibility and the Perfection of God 38:45 The Role of Empathy in Hebrew Moral Philosophy 41:44 The Disconnect Between Systematic Theology and Biblical Texts 45:28 Cultural Perspectives on Biblical Literature 47:16 Upcoming Projects: Debates and Collaborative Works

In this engaging discussion, Alex Goodwin, a former marketer turned Bible publisher and author of "The Bible Reset," shares how modern formatting disrupts our connection to Scripture. He explores the impact of chapter breaks and verse numbers on reading flow, arguing for a return to immersive biblical experiences. Alex contrasts Bible literacy with fluency, highlighting the necessity of community interaction for deeper understanding. His insights challenge listeners to rethink their approach to engaging with the Bible authentically.

Kaitlyn Schiess, an expert on the intersection of faith and politics, joins the discussion to challenge how Christians engage with political issues. She argues that scrolling social media or binge-watching political news is not true engagement. Instead, she advocates for knowing your neighbors and participating in local politics. They explore the overload of information affecting critical thinking and the need for discerning trustworthy voices within Christian media. Kaitlyn emphasizes building relationships over social outrage as a means for genuine advocacy.