Wretched Radio with Todd Friel

It’s Mailbag Friday! You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers! Segment 1 • My son cut off all contact with our family over a year ago—what do I do when he won’t speak to us? Segment 2 • Do prayers have to be spoken aloud—or does writing them count? • Horoscopes are vague—so how is the DSM-5 any more legitimate? • Is “once saved, always saved” biblical—or can you actually lose salvation? • Do all elders have to teach or preach—especially if they’re unpaid? Segment 3 • Can a confessional Lutheran and a Reformed Baptist actually be friends? • Is it wrong to keep your eyes open during prayer? Asking for a friend. Segment 4 • Can I confront my dad’s harsh treatment of my mom—or is that dishonoring him? • My “Christian” family excuses open sin—should I still attend gatherings? – Preorder the new book, Lies My Therapist Told Me, by Fortis Institute Fellow Dr. Greg Gifford now! https://www.harpercollins.com/pages/liesmytherapisttoldme – Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!

Segment 1: • Critique from Disntr: Effeminate pastors are pushing men out of church. • Trinity Evangelical Divinity School is relocating—what’s happening to once-solid institutions? • Churches may be losing men by embracing soft, culturally conformed leadership. Segment 2: • Disntr (formerly Reformation Charlotte) slams “middle-road” churches for lacking clarity. • There’s no third way between truth and cultural appeasement. • Men need strong leadership—effeminacy won’t fill the pews. Segment 3: • A church performs ballet to “The Blessing”—is this God-glorifying? • Performance replaces preaching in churches with no confidence in Scripture. • Reformed in name only: many churches are evangelical on the outside, worldly at the core. Segment 4: • Billboard says Christian music is rising—but what are we actually singing? • Songs like “Hard Fought Hallelujah” and “Your Way’s Better” may stir emotions—but do they stir truth? • The showbiz church is booming—but is it still the church? – Preorder the new book, Lies My Therapist Told Me, by Fortis Institute Fellow Dr. Greg Gifford now! https://www.harpercollins.com/pages/liesmytherapisttoldme – Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!

It’s Witness Wednesday! Todd Friel is at Georgia Tech where he talks with students about their religious beliefs. These discussions highlight the key differences and similarities between Islam, Judaism, Catholicism, and Christianity, emphasizing concepts such as righteousness, forgiveness, and the afterlife. Segment 1: • Muslim student believes Islam is a fair and righteous path but admits she’s not currently fit for heaven. • Student says righteousness comes by trying your best—not perfection—and hopes God will judge mercifully. • Student learns Christianity offers assurance of heaven not by works but through Jesus’ righteousness. Segment 2: • Student explains Islamic modesty as empowering but admits she can’t know if she’ll go to heaven. • Students husband, Amil, describes a works-based salvation—good deeds must outweigh bad, but no one is certain. • Both contrast with Christianity, which offers forgiveness based on Jesus paying the penalty in full. Segment 3: • Jewish student says he’s “not bad enough” for hell but admits to breaking several commandments. • Student learns how the Old Testament sacrificial system points to Jesus as the ultimate Lamb of God. • Student is encouraged to repent and trust Christ alone for complete forgiveness—not by works. Segment 4: • Catholic student admits he’s broken God’s laws but trusts confession and penance to make up for sins. • Student struggles with the idea that Jesus paid the full penalty, insisting on earning forgiveness. • Student learns true salvation comes not by effort or priests, but by grace through faith in Christ alone. – Preorder the new book, Lies My Therapist Told Me, by Fortis Institute Fellow Dr. Greg Gifford now! https://www.harpercollins.com/pages/liesmytherapisttoldme – Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!

Segment 1 • A man claims to be a fig tree—seriously. • New identities like “plantkin” and “botanakin” are gaining traction. • Don’t mock the confused—show compassion and call out the doctors enabling delusion. Segment 2 • A UMC “pastor” dressed as a fig tree but butchers Luke 13. • Twisting Scripture to affirm fruitless living is spiritual malpractice. • Her “sermon” includes anti-capitalist rants and vague “giving to the earth” theology. Segment 3 • Dr. Greg Gifford’s new book Lies My Therapist Told Me tackles the mental health crisis. • The use of SSRIs has skyrocketed—45 million Americans are on them. • School shootings spiked post-Columbine—what changed? Segment 4 • PBS gets defunded—could Planned Parenthood be next? • Shocking: minors are being fast-tracked to hormone treatments through virtual clinics. • Planned Parenthood still receives $700 million in taxpayer funding—why? – Preorder the new book, Lies My Therapist Told Me, by Fortis Institute Fellow Dr. Greg Gifford now! https://www.harpercollins.com/pages/liesmytherapisttoldme – Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!

Segment 1: • A major story is unfolding in evangelical circles—but Todd isn’t covering it yet. • Sharing speculation without facts equals gossip or slander. • Sometimes silence is the most biblical response if you can’t be helpful. Segment 2: • Jim Bakker’s back—asking for $1,000 to avoid homelessness. • 2 Peter 2 exposes these greedy false teachers who exploit vulnerable people. • While Judas scorned Mary’s generosity, Jesus praised it—true worship always costs something. Segment 3: • Self-diagnosed “neurodivergence” is exploding—especially in the UK. • Autism diagnoses have jumped 780% in recent years. • Are we pathologizing normal behavior—or missing real issues? Segment 4: • New Pope Leo XIV: conservative on doctrine, progressive on climate. • Joy Behar and The View are confused (and worried) about the mix. • False leaders who mislead others? Scripture says they are anathema—cursed. – Preorder the new book, Lies My Therapist Told Me, by Fortis Institute Fellow Dr. Greg Gifford now! https://www.harpercollins.com/pages/liesmytherapisttoldme – Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!

It’s Mailbag Friday! You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers! Segment 1 • How do I honor God by not allowing my mom’s same-sex partner at our wedding? • Where does Scripture claim to be the sole authority in the Christian life? • Are there any red flags I should watch for when reading Puritan writings? Segment 2 • Can you spend too much time with Jesus—or is more always better? • If a pastor has no seminary training but meets biblical qualifications, is he truly fit to lead? Segment 3 • Did Lazarus go to heaven during the four days he was dead? • As a young woman, how do I biblically prepare for marriage and motherhood? • Is bringing coffee into church irreverent—or are we being too rigid? Segment 4 • Is the “secret rapture” a biblical idea—or a misunderstanding of Scripture? • What did Jesus really write in the sand—and does it matter? • Why does John’s Gospel leave out the Transfiguration? • How do I lovingly correct a friend who thinks God audibly speaks to him regularly? – Preorder the new book, Lies My Therapist Told Me, by Fortis Institute Fellow Dr. Greg Gifford now! https://www.harpercollins.com/pages/liesmytherapisttoldme – Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!

Segment 1: • 300+ furries are headed to Atlanta for a convention. • This is more than cosplay—it’s rooted in identity confusion. • Another tragic expression of Romans 1’s “authentic self” crisis. Segment 2: • Furries know they’re not animals—but they still want affirmation. • Canada funded a list of churches that won’t affirm LGBT beliefs. • This is less about identity and more about demanding celebration. Segment 3: • Elon Musk says memory loss won’t matter soon—tech will fix it. • SSRIs, shootings, and identity collapse—what are we doing to kids? • People now value their pets over human life—our anthropology is broken. Segment 4: • Jesse Duplantis claims to share God’s DNA and control death. • Michael Todd mocked for cross-dressing on stage. • False teachers like these confuse a hurting world and mock God’s truth. – Preorder the new book, Lies My Therapist Told Me, by Fortis Institute Fellow Dr. Greg Gifford now! https://www.harpercollins.com/pages/liesmytherapisttoldme – Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!

It’s Witness Wednesday! Todd Friel is at Georgia Tech where he talks with students about the fundamental questions of life, ethics, and spirituality. This episode highlights the importance of repentance, faith, and the transformative power of the Christian gospel. Segment 1: • Student attends an Episcopalian church but admits his faith doesn’t impact his daily life. • He defends morality without biblical grounding and even jokes about wanting political opponents harmed. • Todd gently exposes student’s contradictions, showing that ignoring God’s commands doesn’t erase guilt — it confirms it. Segment 2: • Student calls himself lukewarm and challenges Christianity’s uniqueness among world religions. • Todd responds with the gospel’s distinctiveness: only Christianity offers salvation through grace, not works. • Student intellectually engages but admits he’s not living like Jesus is central — leaving his soul in dangerous territory. Segment 3: • An unnamed student confesses to lying, lust, and blasphemy, but insists being “better” should be enough. • Todd presses the reality: if God is just, then sin must be punished — and everyone’s guilty. • Todd meets another student who agrees with much of the message but still thinks “being mostly good” should qualify him for heaven. Segment 4: • Todd explains the full gospel to the student — Jesus lived perfectly and died sacrificially to save sinners like him. • Student is told to go to God directly: repent, trust Christ alone, and be born again — not through religion, but real faith. • With tears in his eyes, student quietly listens, visibly affected, as Todd pleads with him to respond to the gospel. – Preorder the new book, Lies My Therapist Told Me, by Fortis Institute Fellow Dr. Greg Gifford now! https://www.harpercollins.com/pages/liesmytherapisttoldme – Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!

Segment 1 • Paula White led the National Prayer Breakfast, blending multiple religions in the name of unity. • Her claim that “prayer is not a religious act” undermines biblical truth. • 2 John warns against unbiblical ecumenism—true unity must be grounded in sound doctrine. Segment 2 • The White House event featured an ecumenical lineup: Catholic bishops, Jewish rabbis, Muslim imams. • This wasn’t interfaith dialogue—it was spiritual confusion under the banner of inclusivity. • God’s love is not generic; it’s defined by truth—and truth was absent here. Segment 3 • CBS reports a dramatic decline in birthrates across America. • Couples are rejecting marriage and children due to climate fears, online influence, and cultural cynicism. • God’s design for family is being replaced by fear and self-fulfillment. Segment 4 • Gen Z is saying “please” more—why? • People aren’t just avoiding parenting; they don’t even know what it means to be one. • Fortis’ Truth Unhindered and Thrive offer answers the world isn’t giving. – Preorder the new book, Lies My Therapist Told Me, by Fortis Institute Fellow Dr. Greg Gifford now! https://www.harpercollins.com/pages/liesmytherapisttoldme – Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!

Segment 1 • Contemporary worship on YouTube is flooded with emotionally charged, man-centered music that feels more exhausting than edifying. • Much of today’s worship music centers on emotionalism, not exalting Christ. • When you hear biblically rich, Christ-centered lyrics like “The King in All His Beauty,” it’s clear—true worship exalts Jesus, not emotion, experience, or self. Segment 2 • Churches are increasingly turning to recycled pop songs and rebranding them as worship music, blurring the lines between sacred and secular. • The Catholic Church prepares for its next conclave this week which will select the new Pope. • The bizarre tradition of showcasing the literal hearts of former popes—raising questions about relic worship and pagan parallels. Segment 3 • “Side B Christianity,” which affirms same-sex attraction as identity but forbids action, is gaining ground in some corners of the PCA. • The PCUSA has already shifted further, redefining missions as “whatever God is doing” and eliminating its missionary department entirely. • Why our identity must be found in Christ, not our sinful proclivities. Segment 4 • Odd stories from around the world–”Florida ants are the only animals besides humans that perform surgery.” • Alpharetta Bible Church’s gospel-centered mission serves as a touchstone amid cultural confusion. • Despite rising pornography use, the DSM-5 still contains no diagnostic category for it—underscoring how secular frameworks often ignore deep spiritual issues. – Preorder the new book, Lies My Therapist Told Me, by Fortis Institute Fellow Dr. Greg Gifford now! https://www.harpercollins.com/pages/liesmytherapisttoldme – Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!