Hank Unplugged: Essential Christian Conversations

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, exhorts us to pause for a moment in the midst of our busy-ness and ponder the majesty of the word Immanuel. It is simply incredible to consider that when Isaiah, the holiest man in ancient Israel, prophesied, “the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14), he was literally predicting that in the future the One who spoke and the limitless galaxies leapt into existence would tabernacle in flesh among us. Indeed, that is precisely what the word Immanuel means—“God with us.” O Come let us adore Him—Christ the Lord! Merry Christmas to all!

​There is no such thing as religious neutrality. Dr. Scott Hahn joins Hank Hanegraaff to discuss why Christians simply cannot compartmentalize our beliefs as if reality and religion are not intrinsically and existentially related. The privatization of faith has been perilous for the public square and as the world continues to become increasingly anti-Christian, it is imperative that Christians snap out of our “Spiritual Stockholm Syndrome” and claim the culture for Christ. The future of civilization depends on it. For more information on receiving the book, It Is Right and Just: Why the Future of Civilization Depends on True Religion, for your partnering gift, please click here. https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-it-is-right-and-just-why-the-future-of-civilization-depends-on-true-religion/Topics discussed include: Salvation and deification—too often we focus on what we are saved FROM and overlook what we are saved FOR (5:20); the context of the famous quote by Karl Marx that “religion is the opium of the people” and why religion is the roadblock to revolution (9:20); contrasting Marxism and materialism with true religion—Christianity and what the social duty of Christians is (18:30); the cross is a mystery and metaphor that defines our reality (27:50); how should we keep the Sabbath? (38:00); the importance of liturgy and recognizing forms of secular liturgy in our lives (44:10); the two wings of faith and reason (49:25); is there any such thing are religious neutrality? (56:20); the Eucharistic encounter of St. Thomas Aquinas that changed his life—and how the Eucharist can empower us to change the world (1:03:00); the real presence of Christ should be a uniting reality for all Christians (1:12:45); the relationship between justice and love (1:18:50); where have we gotten marriage wrong? (1:26:05); why the future of civilization depends on true religion (1:33:10). Listen to Hank’s podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, reflects on another precious note from his older sister Jobje, who is battling pancreatic cancer. The suffering she endures is almost beyond imagination, yet in the midst of her pain, she again and again extols God’s mercy and grace—and says how unworthy she feels in the midst of His abundant blessings. Jobje writes, “Even this morning’s travel to the cancer center was breathtakingly beautiful. Once again God’s mighty breath dusted His grace on this sinful world, with the beauty of the adorning snow reflecting His majestic power.” Later in this post she says, “While I was in the hospital, I needed a blood transfusion. And in the midst of that I was thinking on a spiritual level of how all of us desperately need the blood of Jesus Christ. All of us need His spiritual transfusion. It’s a matter of life and death.” Then she writes, “One of my dear friends called me this week saying those sweet words: ‘He giveth more grace as the burdens grow deeper.’ Yes, that’s precisely where it’s at, isn’t it. His saving grace dusting my life, transfusing through my veins and covering my many inadequacies. Oh, how I long for that Day when my salvation is complete. By His overflowing grace I will enter my eternal home—His home for His redeemed. I look forward to that Day.”

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, reflects on a recent note from his sister Jobje, who is battling pancreatic cancer. Jobje exemplifies gratitude—in the midst of suffering and exhaustion. Picture Jobje laying in a hospital bed, looking out the window. As she does, a hymn is going through her mind—“Beneath the Cross of Jesus”—capturing both her heart and rational mind. Looking out her window, she sees, partially blocked by other medical buildings, His golden cross on one of the spires of St. Andrews Cathedral. She writes, “Beneath the view of that cross that shimmered in the eastern sky, and later in the day glowed in the setting of the western sun, I lay on my sick bed being covered by His Almighty hand—and comforted in His precious sight. Simultaneously, I was truly being consoled and thrilled in the intensifying awareness and significance of His cross. ‘Upon that cross of Jesus,mine eye at times can see, the very dying form of One, who suffered there for me; and from my stricken heart with tears, these wonders I confess: the wonders of His glorious love and my unworthiness.’ Oh, yes, and let me add, ‘I take, O cross, thy shadow for my abiding place; I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of his face; content to let the world go by, to know no gain nor loss, my sinful self my only shame, my glory all the cross.’ In His time, I’ll be able to kneel before His holy throne and give grateful thanks to Him in person. What a Thanksgiving Day that will be. I look forward to that Day.”

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the 𝘉𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘈𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘯 broadcast, offers a meditation on thanksgiving—the gateway to righteousness. Thanksgiving is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter. Prayer without thanksgiving is like a bird without wings. Each day we ought to approach God overflowing with thankfulness. Our thankfulness flows from the sure knowledge that our heavenly Father knows precisely what we need, and He will supply it in Christ Jesus. The Psalms are a rich reservoir for daily thanksgiving—for example, Psalm 118.

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and Host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, comments on Benny Hinn’s misuse of Scripture in “7 Reasons for the Rapture.”[ https://www.bennyhinn.org/podcast/7-reasons-for-the-rapture/] Hinn cites Christ’s words in John 14:3 as teaching a secret pretribulational rapture: “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (KJV). In Hinn’s paradigm, the church is raptured into a safe place and then all hell breaks loose on earth—two-thirds of all Jewish people on earth die in an unfathomably brutal tribulation. Hinn also cites Paul’s great and glorious passage on resurrection in 1 Thessalonians 4 as teaching a secret pretribulational rapture. In reality, these passages do not imply, let alone clearly teach, a pretribulational rapture. There just is no biblical basis for the notion that Jesus is coming secretly to rapture the church seven years prior to His second appearing. In fact, our Lord’s own words negate the very notion: “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned” (John 5:28–29 NIV). This event does not happen at the time of an imagined secret rapture but at the time of Christ’s second appearing. Some people are not raptured at one time and others at another time. No, all of humanity will rise in resurrection simultaneously. We ought not to be inventing theology in the 21st century (or 19th century when this whole notion originated)—reading our own odd predilections into the text. Rather, we ought to draw out of the biblical text only that which is in the text. We ought to interpret the Bible in the sense in which it was intended by the original authors (who wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) and understood throughout church history. We ought not to innovate—we ought to perpetuate. For further study, see Hank Hanegraaff, The Apocalypse Code: Find Out What the Bible Really Says about the End Times and Why It Matters Today [https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-the-apocalypse-code-det/]

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, comments on a recent Wall Street Journal opinion article, “Are Internet Services as Good as Church?” by Paul Glader and John Semakula. The authors write about how digital worship has overtaken the Christian church, particularly among Evangelicals. Almost half of people who responded to a survey now believe that online services are as good as in-person services. Many don’t want to return to in-person worship, enjoying the opportunity to multi-task during the service or shop around for other worship experiences—dabbling in Christianity without commitment and accountability. But this constitutes a complete misunderstanding of what the Church actually is. Followers of Christ are baptized into a body—incorporated into the Body of Christ. Church is not just about holding to a corpus of intellectual precepts or listening to good TED Talks with a spiritual slant. Church, by its very nature, is a corporate, embodied experience—a sacramental experience within the Eucharistic assembly wherein we together partake of the “medicine of immortality” that transforms us. Sacraments are dispensed within—not apart from—the Body of Christ, and Christianity knows nothing of Lone Ranger experiences. (https://www.wsj.com/articles/internet-services-as-good-as-church-livestream-in-person-11634848177)

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, conveys another eloquent and convicting message from his sister Jobje, who is battling pancreatic cancer. Before her many missionary trips and travels, she would, of course, need to pack—and then unpack afterward. But now she is going on a journey that requires no packing. Jobje writes, “This time, I find myself unpacking for the greatest journey of my life—for my eternal home. In church this Sunday we sang one of the greatest hymns of our faith. ‘A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.’ One verse hit me anew: ‘Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also.’ It was a very sobering thought because that is exactly what I am doing. I’m letting my goods go even as in time I will have to let my kindred go. As I was packing my boxes for a Christian thrift store, I was struck with the thought for the first time that I would not need to pack a suitcase. I would not have to pack boxes ever again for my journey heavenward. Just me. Just me with my soul flying toward heaven at the moment of death, unencumbered by the things of this world—not even encumbered by my body. My body to be placed into the cold ground waiting the resurrection. That body can’t even accompany me on this particular journey. But this I know—that a special white robe of His righteousness will clothe me. Even my earthly name will be changed to a new one. ‘Nothing in my hand I bring’—no suitcase, no boxes—‘simply to Thy cross I cling.’ ‘Naked come to Thee for dress; helpless, I look to thee for grace.’ Yes, Lord, my Savior, the ensured ‘cloak of salvation' is all I need to adorn me in Your home. I look forward to that.”

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, considers the temptation of Eve in light of the literal principle of biblical interpretation. To read Scripture literally is to read it as literature. This means that we are to interpret the Word of God just as we interpret other forms of communication—in the most obvious and natural sense. Thus, when Moses uses the symbolism of a snake, we do violence to his intentions if we interpret him in a woodenly literal fashion. When the prophet Moses describes Satan as an ancient serpent, and the apostle John describes him as an ancient dragon, they do not tell us what Satan looks like. They teach us what Satan is like. In short, Eve was not deceived by a talking snake. Rather Moses used the symbol of a snake to communicate the wiles of the evil one who deceived Eve through mind-to-mind communication—precisely as he seeks to deceive you and me today.

Do you give with a joyful heart? According to today’s guest Dr. Andrew Geleris, “An utterly breathtaking divergence has developed between the joy of giving that God intends his people to experience and the way many Christians view giving as an unpleasant but necessary obligation of church membership.” Simply put, for many of us money has an unhealthy hold on our hearts. This conversation will challenge you to make a change in your life and view your finances from an eternal perspective. The Lord spoke more frequently and forcefully about almsgiving than he did about prayer, yet most Church leaders are reluctant to discuss money simply because it is often uncomfortable. “Dr. Andrew Geleris is passionate about challenging the Church to develop disciples with a biblical “theology of money” that promotes a Godly view on giving with all your heart that will leave Christians “refreshed—indeed, delighted—by recognizing the unfathomably great blessing God hopes to pour out on us through generosity.” “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2.9). To be involved in our Giving Tuesday partnership please click here.https://www.equip.org/product/giving-tuesday-hup/Topics discussed include: The relationship between money and salvation (5:00); how generous giving transforms our souls (8:20); The Parable of the Farmer (12:50); the relationship between repentance and finances (16:10); what almsgiving actually means and why it is so important (21:50); should we tithe? (24:30); the dangers of the prosperity gospel and the commodification of Christ (28:30); what can we learn from Mary washing the feet of Jesus? (34:45); what are whole burnt offerings and what is the equivalent today? (36:25); the “ovarian lottery” and God’s providence (41:20); how the parable of the soils inspired Alan Barnhart to create a financial finish line (44:45); what we can learn from St. Basil the Great about giving (53:05); what is sacrificial giving? (53:30); misconceptions about what tithing is for (57:55); how should we tithe? (1:00:45); we don’t truly own anything, in the grave “kings and beggars dwell together” (1:03:30); is there a problem with receiving public recognition for giving? (1:04:40); the spiritual growth we experience through giving (1:09:25); should we tithe on our gross or net income? (1:11:30); scriptural examples of giving (1:12:30); should we give to panhandlers? (1:14:30); are Christians fundraising the right way? (1:16:10); God’s financial priority is the care of the poor (1:19:15); the powerful lesson of the widow who gave all she had [Mark 12:41-44] (1:21:00); the rewards for almsgiving according to scripture (1:23:50); giving is more beneficial spiritually than financially (1:26:00). Listen to Hank’s podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.