Ask the Pastor with J.D. Greear

This week on Ask the Pastor, Pastor J.D. answers a question submitted by Andrew who asked, “Could you attempt to provide some clarity on whether an earthly marriage between Christians means that husband/wife relationship carries into eternity?” Thank you Andrew for your question! A glimpse inside this episode: Jesus teaches that there is no marriage in heaven. Marriage was created to address loneliness on earth. In heaven, companionship will be fulfilled in a better way. Our joys in heaven will be heightened and transformed. C.S. Lewis compares earthly pleasures to heavenly joys. Marriage is a temporary picture of our relationship with Christ. Single people are full-fledged family members in Christ. The episode encourages listeners to submit their questions.

This week on Ask the Pastor features a conversation between Pastor J.D. Greear and Joseph Backholm. Joseph is a Senior Fellow for Biblical Worldview and Strategic Engagement at Family Research Council. He combines extensive legal, political, and policy experience with a love for the way biblical truth cultivates human flourishing. A glimpse inside this episode: Politics is the process through which we make decisions. Christians should engage in politics as a blessing. Avoiding difficult conversations can hinder important discussions. Evaluate political choices based on biblical principles. Political parties should not overshadow our allegiance to Christ. Parents should teach children about the complexities of human nature. Election seasons provide unique opportunities for disciple-making. Sober-mindedness is crucial in political discourse. Confirmation bias can lead to being misled in politics. Good politics reflects a love for our neighbors.

This week on Ask the Pastor features a conversation between Pastor J.D. Greear and Neil Shenvi where they discuss the complexities of critical theory, its implications for society, and how it intersects with Christian beliefs. Neil is another member of the Summit Church with a Ph.D. from Berkeley in Theoretical Chemistry.  A glimpse inside this episode: Race is a social construct, which aligns with a Christian worldview. Privilege is context-dependent and cannot be viewed in absolutes. Intersectionality complicates discussions of race and gender for Christians. Critical theory can lead to false assumptions about disparities in society. Christians should advocate for justice based on biblical principles. The church’s mission should focus on the gospel above all. Addressing systemic injustice requires evidence and context. Equity should not be equated with equality of outcome. The family unit is crucial for addressing social issues like poverty.

This week on Ask the Pastor features a conversation between Pastor J.D. Greear and Brooke Medina. Brooke is a member of the Summit Church and serves as Vice President of Communications for the John Locke Foundation. She’s been published in numerous outlets including The Hill, Entrepreneur, Washington Examiner, WORLD, Daily Signal, FEE, and others. A glimpse inside this episode: Economics is fundamentally about human action and dignity. Understanding economics through a Christian lens is crucial. Private property ownership is essential for a well-ordered society. Disagreement among Christians on economic issues is natural and necessary. Welfare programs need to be structured to encourage economic mobility. Ideas have consequences; bad ideas can harm individuals. Christians should engage in political discourse with charity. Free speech in the digital age presents new challenges for Christians. The church should encourage members to enter all spheres of influence. We must be witnesses of truth and grace in the public square.

This week on Ask the Pastor features a conversation between Pastor J.D. Greear and Katie McCoy. Dr. McCoy serves as the director of Women’s Ministry for the Baptist General Convention of Texas. She holds a Ph.D. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. She is the author of To Be A Woman: The Confusion Over Female Identity and How Christians Can Respond. A glimpse inside this episode: The cultural moment we are in is a result of decades of ideological shifts. Teen girls are particularly vulnerable to social contagion regarding gender identity. Gender identity is both a biological and a theological reality. The rise of identity politics has led to a reorientation of moral systems. Language is viewed as creating reality rather than reflecting it in today’s society. Christians are called to navigate these issues with grace and conviction. The indoctrination of children through media is a significant concern. There is a strong correlation between gender confusion and past trauma or abuse. Resources are available for Christians to better understand and respond to gender issues.

This week on Ask the Pastor features a conversation between Pastor J.D. Greear and Dr. Jason Thacker. Dr. Thacker serves as an assistant professor of philosophy and ethics at Boyce College and Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He also is a senior fellow in bioethics and director of the research institute at The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. He is the author of several books including Following Jesus in the Digital Age and The Age of AI: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity. A glimpse inside this episode: AI is transforming every aspect of society, including faith and identity. The concept of human dignity is central to understanding our value in the age of AI. AI should not be viewed as a neutral tool; it shapes and forms us. The image of God is crucial in discussions about technology and ethics. We must slow down and ask the right questions about technology’s impact. Humanity’s uniqueness lies in being created in the image of God. AI raises important questions about what it means to be human. Wisdom in technology use is more important than convenience. Parents should engage with their children in understanding technology. Government regulation of AI should prioritize human dignity.

This week on Ask the Pastor features a conversation between Pastor J.D. Greear and Ben Watson. Watson is a former NFL tight end as well as a writer, speaker, and activist. He is a college football studio analyst with the SEC Network, and he serves as VP of Strategic Relationships with the Human Coalition, one of the largest pro-life and pro-women’s organizations in the country. A glimpse inside this episode: The pro-life movement is fundamentally about justice. Children have inherent value from the moment of conception. Roe v. Wade’s overturn is a step, but not the end of the fight. Compassion is crucial in discussing pro-life issues. Voting is just one aspect of activism. Both political sides lack a complete solution for human flourishing. Church unity is essential despite political differences. Engagement in the pro-life movement can take many forms. Believers should seek to understand each other’s perspectives. Faith should guide political identity over party affiliation.

Ask the Pastor is continuing our Gospel & Politics series. This week features a conversation between Pastor J.D. Greear and Dr. Ed Stetzer. Stetzer is a leading thinker in his field and has planted, revitalized, and pastored churches; trained pastors and church planters on six continents; earned two master’s degrees and two doctorates. A glimpse inside this episode: The cultural moment feels different than prior cultural moments. Christians must engage politically without compromising their faith. Character in leadership is crucial for effective governance. Clarity in beliefs is essential for kindness in discourse. Diverse perspectives exist within the Christian community regarding political issues. The church’s mission should not pause due to political tensions. Engaging as winsome ambassadors is vital in today’s culture.Christians should be cautious of being influenced by media narratives. Political engagement should be informed by biblical teachings. The importance of unity in essentials and liberty in non-essentials.

This week’s Ask the Pastor episode kicks off our brand new series, Gospel & Politics. This series will feature Pastor J.D. with other respected leaders talking about how we can integrate both the gospel and politics into our lives this election season.  A glimpse inside this episode: Secular beliefs often have Christian foundations, and Christians should recognize the influence of their faith in shaping moral values. The witness of the church is not about being good people, but about recognizing our need for Jesus and sharing the gospel with others. The decline in church attendance presents an evangelistic opportunity, as many people are searching for meaning and purpose. Christians should engage in politics and vote according to their Christian values, while also recognizing the limitations of legislation in enforcing personal beliefs. Christian engagement in politics can have a significant impact, and Christians should strive for a holistic understanding of scripture in shaping political discourse.

In this final edition of Ask the Pastor’s Greatest Hits, Pastor J.D. talks about the pain of unanswered prayer and the realities of prayer for the Christian. A glimpse inside this episode: This is a tricky question. I’ve often heard that behind every question is a questioner. When we’re dealing with unanswered prayer, the Bible has a lot to say. But the heart of the questioner matters a lot here. More often than not, when someone asks me about unanswered prayer, it’s not an academic question for them. It’s a question coming from a place of deep hurt. They asked God for healing in their life—and it didn’t happen. They asked God to reconcile a relationship—but the other person still left. They asked God to work in their kid’s life—but it’s been years and there’s no sign of that child returning.  So first off, I want to say, when it seems like God isn’t answering prayer, that’s legitimately painful. It makes us question God’s goodness. It makes us wonder if he’s real. Those are the kinds of doubts that all of us, at one point or another in our walk of faith, deal with. I’ve wrestled with them. Every great saint has wrestled with them. So if you’re in that spot, don’t despair. Walk through that difficult question with God. And here, I think, is the best road forward: If we’re walking in fellowship with the Spirit, there isn’t technically any such thing as unanswered prayer. (Now, this is different than the way God responds to those outside of Christ: He may hear them, but he hasn’t promised to.) With believers, though, the Apostle John reminds us, “This is the confidence we have before him: If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked of him” (1 John 5:14–15). If we are walking with God, we can be sure we have his ear.  Whatever your situation, whatever your request, if you are God’s child, he’s listening.  Now, does that mean he says “Yes” to everything you ask? Of course not. At times, since God’s wisdom is so much greater than our own, he re-directs our answer. Or he sometimes tells us to wait. Or sometimes he simply says, “No.”  But saying “No” doesn’t mean he’s being cruel. As Jesus taught, a good father gives his children food like eggs and fish, not dangerous animals like scorpions and snakes (cf. Luke 11:12–13). The point is that even earthly parents withhold things from their children—but that withholding is a result of their love, not a lack of it.  Sometimes the exercise of God’s love means he gives us what we would have asked for if we knew what he knew. (I think I first heard that from Tim Keller.) What feels like unanswered prayer is actually God answering according to the wisdom and love of the Father.