Hank Unplugged: Essential Christian Conversations

Hank Hanegraaff, the host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast and the Hank Unplugged podcast, starts a new series called "Hank Unplugged Shorts" where he regularly delves into today's headlines, issues, personal stories, and current events to equip Christians to think and live Christianly. Simply put, Christians must consume information and news today with the proper filter of a biblical worldview. Christians must rely on the factual foundations of the historic Christian faith to become beacons of truth in our culture. These Hank Unplugged Shorts episodes will provide you with a compass to point you towards truth to help you navigate the whirlwinds of content in our information age.In this episode, Hank talks about in today's culture how good is evil and evil is good.

Jesus Christ, God incarnate, had a fully human mother and her name was Mary. For most of his Christian life, Hank Hanegraaff lacked a proper appreciation for the grandeur and glory of the Mother of our Savior. As Christians, does the Mother of God matter to us? Brandi Willis Schreiber joins Hank Hanegraaff to discuss her own quest to know and love the Virgin Mary and to incorporate Mary into her own spiritual life—and we hope that this conversation will encourage you to do the same. For more information on A Long Walk with Mary: A Personal Search for the Mother of God, please click here. https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-a-long-walk-with-mary-a-personal-search-for-the-mother-of-godTopics discussed include: How can Mary help us to better understand the nature of Christ? (8:30); why representations of Mary always point us to Christ (12:10); differing views of Mary and why many struggle to understand the role of Mary in the Christian life (17:00); the reality that Jesus Christ, God incarnate, had a fully human mother (23:50); the importance of Holy Tradition in relation to Mary (27:55); should we ask for the prayers of Mary and the Saints? (32:00); looking to Mary as the ultimate example of union with Christ—deification (36:20); the role of Mary in the incarnation of Christ and our Salvation (40:15); saying yes to God—Mary’s yes and free-will (42:05); the relationship between Mary and Angels (45:20); the portrayal of Mary in the Gospel of Luke (48:05); Jesus’ first miracle at the wedding at Cana and the association between Mary and the miraculous (52:00); the perpetual virginity of Mary (59:45); the difference between betrothal in biblical times and our modern conception of engagement and marriage (1:02:05); the significance of Holy Tradition and Church history (1:08:50); the physical reality of Mary carrying Jesus Christ in her womb and her role in our Salvation as the mother of God (1:16:45); the art of writing (1:21:50); the discipline of reading and why it is so important (1:27:45). 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.

In this Hank Unplugged Short, a new series, Hank Hanegraaff, the host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, shares a powerful word of encouragement that he received from his sister Jobe who is fighting cancer and it touched him deeply. Her blood counts are at their lowest points and yet she is still grateful for her chemo treatments. She talks about "planning with a pencil" and the new schedule planned for her by her loving heavenly father. Jobe is being pried from earthly things to look towards heavenly ones. These Hank Unplugged Shorts episodes will provide you with a compass to point you towards truth to help you navigate the whirlwinds of content in our information age.

Polling has shown that over a third of millennials approve of communism while socialism increasingly appeals to many young people in Western countries. This is a shocking development for those who have lived through the horrors of communism in places like China—people like Bob Fu. Dr. Bob Fu is the president of ChinaAid and one of the leading voices in the world for persecuted faith communities in China. Fu was born and raised in China and was a leader during the Tiananmen Square demonstrations for freedom and democracy in 1989. Bob Fu joins Hank Hanegraaff to discuss his escape from communist China and his continued fight against religious persecution and defense of religious liberty.Topics discussed include: Bob Fu recalls the poverty his early life in Communist China (3:00); Bob Fu recalls his time as a leader during the Tiananmen Square demonstrations for freedom and democracy in 1989 and how the massacre has actually led many Chinese people to Christ (10:00); how Bob Fu became known as God’s Double Agent (17:00); the biggest political crime of the 20th century according to Bob Fu (19:00); the connection between the forced abortions in China and Chinese women having the highest rate of suicide in the world (22:45); Bob Fu’s experience in a Chinese prison and how it impacted his theology (27:15); how Bob Fu miraculously escaped China (38:30); how Bob Fu founded ChinaAid to help the persecuted church in China (40:10); the increased persecution of Christians in China in the name of Sinicization—the process by which non-Chinese societies come under the influence of Chinese culture by the government (46:30); facial recognition technology, the social credit system and the growing police state in China that Bob Fu calls digital authoritarianism (55:25); the difference between the house church movement in China and the Communist Chinese government controlled Three-Self Patriotic Movement (1:01:10); how China is trying to silence Bob Fu and why many Western countries and corporations, such as the NBA and Hollywood, are turning a blind eye to China and religious persecution due to the economic implications (1:07:30); as Christianity continues to grow in China despite intense persecution, should we be more concerned about growing apathy of many Christians in the West? (1:16:20); the growing support for communism and socialism among young people in the West (1:21:45). Please be sure to see the documentary “The Power of Persecuted Church” featuring Bob Fu below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eb0OqliYwUQFor more information on receiving Bob Fu’s book God’s Double Agent for your partnering gift please click here. https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-gods-double-agent/

Beginning in the late 19th century, many intellectuals began to insist that scientific knowledge conflicts with traditional theistic belief—that science and belief in God are “at war.” In Return of the God Hypothesis, Stephen Meyer argues that theism—with its affirmation of a transcendent, intelligent and active creator—best explains the evidence we have concerning biological and cosmological origins. Previously Meyer refrained from attempting to answer questions about “who” might have designed life. Now he provides an evidence-based answer to perhaps the ultimate mystery of the universe. The results? Meyer reveals a stunning conclusion: the data support not just the existence of an intelligent designer of some kind—but the existence of a personal God.You don’t want to miss this episode of Hank Unplugged, as Stephen Meyer joins Hank Hanegraaff to discuss Return of the God Hypothesis and the breakthrough evidence that will change the way you view the world around you—and the God that created it—forever.For more information on receiving Return of the God Hypothesis for your partnering gift please click here. https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-return-of-the-god-hypothesis-three-scientific-discoveries-that-reveal-the-mind-behind-the-universe-hup/Topics discussed include: The debate with Lawrence Krauss that inspired Stephen Meyer to write Return of the God Hypothesis (3:00); the implications of Darwinian evolution, scientific materialism and a universe without God (8:25); the inability of scientific materialism to explain origins (16:00); what ideas have led people away from belief in God? (21:00); the implications of the scientific discovery providing evidence that the universe had a beginning (24:45); the hidden theistic implications of Quantum cosmology (30:00); the rise of the multiverse and how the fine tuning of the universe supports evidence for God (35:30); biological evidence for the existence of God (40:40); the history of the God hypothesis dating back to Isaac Newton and the Scientific Revolution and why Stephen Meyer believes it is time for a return of the God hypothesis (45:10); debunking the myth that science and religion are in conflict (54:30); three metaphors used to describe nature (59:30); examining the intellectual shift away from a belief in God in philosophy and science (1:03:05); how a lack of Christian unity impacted the shift in prevalence to a materialist worldview (1:07:10); the problem with Hume’s argument against miracles (1:08:45); why is the issue of origins so important? (1:11:30); scientific materialism, fine-tuning and the multiverse (1:16:40); why Stephen Meyer thinks that Stephen Hawking was a brilliant scientist, but a weak philosopher (1:22:15); the rising popularity of Panspermia and UFO’s (1:25:45); why do critics of Intelligent Design consistently, and incorrectly, critique it as a “God of the gaps” argument (1:31:10); with whom would theistic evolution be popular? (1:34:40); addressing claims of pseudoscience and the problem with appeals to settled or consensus science (1:41:00).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.

Atheists don’t believe in God. Agnostics don’t know if God exists. Theists believe in God. What do Apatheists believe? In short, they simply do not care to answer the question of God’s existence. How can you share the gospel with someone who doesn’t care?As Western culture becomes increasingly indifferent to questions of faith, diverted by secularism, comfort, and distraction, Christians today encounter many people who don’t so much doubt the existence of a God, but are more or less apathetic about God. For maybe the first time in human history, many apatheistic individuals today are too busy to bother with pondering the existence of God. Kyle Beshears joins Hank Hanegraaff to discuss his book Apatheism: How We Share When They Don’t Care, the origins of apatheism, how it has grown to epidemic levels in society today and most importantly, how Christians might impact the indifference of apatheists and impact them with gospel truth.For more information on how to receive Apatheism: How We Share When They Don’t Care for your partnering gift please click here. https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-apatheism-how-we-share-when-they-dont-care-hup/Topics discussed include: What is apatheism? both a belief and a feeling towards theism (5:45); what are the conditions under which apatheism flourishes in a society? (7:00); how attempts at evangelism made Kyle Beshears aware of apatheism (10:25); Christians increasingly being influenced by the culture and experiencing apathesm as well (14:45); the importance of apologetics (21:15); similarities between apatheism and practical atheism (25:15); how our post-truth culture relates to apatheism (27:40); the continued impact of the enlightenment on the growth of apatheism (32:35); what is “appiness”? (35:35); are we too comfortable to care about God? (39:00); is the Bible still relevant today? (43:20); what is the difference between joy and happiness? (49:25); why the problems with the prosperity Gospel (55:20); how a failure to embrace spiritual disciplines can lead to apatheism in our lives (57:30); Apatheism: How We Share When They Don’t Care—the key to evangelism in our modern apatheistic environment (1:04:30); the impact that scientific materialism has had on our culture and belief in God (1:12:30); truth claims in a pluralistic society (1:16:55); do we need to repent of our sins of distraction? (1:23:05). 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.

Have we as a culture cut our heads from our hearts? Adam Pelser joins Hank to discuss virtue formation in the life of a Christian and the importance of intentionally cultivating proper emotions as opposed to viewing emotions as unreliable indicators of truth. The fact of the matter is that emotions are not the enemy of objective rationality. Emotions, properly understood, can actually provide a greater understanding of truth. Unfortunately, far too many have embraced what Pelser calls the guillotine view of rationality—cutting off our heads from our hearts in an effort to embrace pure rationality. It is critical for Christians to reunite our heads with our hearts and avoid the pitfalls of a purely intellectual pursuit of God by engaging in intentional practices as a Christian community that help us become fully human by cultivating emotions and virtues that bring us closer to Christ—the true purpose of the Christian life.For more information please see two articles written by Adam Pelser linked below. Reasons of the Heart: Emotions in Apologetics https://www.equip.org/article/reasons-heart-emotions-apologetics/Communicating Truth through Humor, Ridicule, and Emotions https://www.equip.org/article/communicating-truth-through-humor-ridicule-and-emotions/Topics discussed include: What is it like to be a Christian philosopher at a military academy? (2:55); what is the relationship between philosophy, theology and science? (6:00); what is the role of emotions in the life of a Christian? (8:25); experiencing God through our emotions (12:40); Thomas Aquinas and the pitfalls of a purely intellectual pursuit of God (19:40); what is virtue formation and why is it important? (27:00); the can we train our emotions? (34:45); the connection between spiritual disciplines and cultivating virtues (39:00); how emotions can help us develop a greater understanding of truth (43:45); the importance of engaging in critical thinking and discussion as families, churches and communities (47:00); why are many people more fearful of physical death than spiritual death? (54:05); love is central virtue of life (59:30); the emotional experiences of religious atheists like Albert Einstein (1:05:20); how can we experience God? (1:09:15); the difference between properly cultivated emotion and raw emotionalism (1:12:45); the role of repetition in the formation of habit and virtues (1:21:30); deification—why has Western theology largely forgotten the larger arch of salvation stretching from creation to deification in favor of the smaller arch stretching from fall to redemption (1:25:15).Other articles by Adam Pelser: Becoming a “Seasoned” ApologistGenuine Temptation and the Character of ChristDeveloping Discernment in Devotional ReadingPhilosophy, Politics, and the End of Liberal Arts EducationThe Shack Movie – Heretical or Healing?The Abolition of Man TodayThomas Reid: Minister, Philosopher and Champion of Common SenseListen 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.

The doctrine of hell as a place of eternal punishment has never been easy for Christians to accept. The temptation to retreat from and reject a traditional teaching of hell for more palatable alternatives such as universalism or annihilationism is particularly strong in our current culture, which has demonstrably lost its sense of sin. Likewise, we live in a death denying culture. But, it is undeniable that you are going to die. This simple fact makes understanding eternity of the utmost importance. Will you enjoy an eternity in Heaven or an eternity suffering in hell? Fr. Lawrence Farley joins Hank Hanegraaff to discuss the traditional teaching on this difficult subject through the lens of Scripture to show that the existence of an eternal hell does not negate that of a loving and forgiving God.To learn more about his article, in the current edition of the Christian Research Journal entitled, “In Defense of the Church’s Traditional Doctrine of Hell” and subscribe and receive this as your first issue (Spring 2021) please click here. https://www.equip.org/product/crj-subscription/ For more information on Fr. Farley’s book, Unquenchable Fire: The Traditional Christian Teaching about Hell please click here. https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-unquenchable-fire-the-traditional-christian-teaching-about-hell/Topics discussed include: An overview of a traditional view of hell as opposed to the rising popularity of universalism (0:25); did Christ teach of an eternal hell? (8:50); does the Bible teach of an eternal heaven and hell? (12:50); how modern culture has lost a sense of sin and sought to domesticate the Divine (14:40); discussing the meaning of the Greek word for eternal, “aionion” (21:30); misunderstanding the Book of Revelation (25:25); discussing Origen and others who believed in universalism as opposed to the majority of Church Fathers that taught a traditional view of an eternal hell (29:15); the importance of tradition in contrast with individualistic interpretations (35:00); is eternal punishment fair? (40:00); what is wrong with annihilationism? (48:10); how universalism invalidates free-will and morality (50:55); what is the difference between universalism and annihilationism (conditionalism)? what do they have in common? (53:30); if someone has never heard of Jesus will they go to hell? (55:20); the danger of a culture that has ceased to think critically (1:07:00); if your church is dramatically conforming to the world you need to reconsider whether it is a true church or a trap door to hell (1:11:45); what is the difference between Hades and Gehenna? (1:13:30); the importance of free-will (1:18:00); is the fire in hell real? (1:20:15); why is it important to adhere to traditional church doctrines on issues such as hell? (1:21:50); how important is the topic of hell? (1:24:25). 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.

Church Unity is Not Optional. Many Christians who want unity don’t value theology or holiness. Yet, God commands all three. There must be a way to end the divisions that grieve the Holy Spirit without sacrificing truth or embracing sin. As the world grows more divided, Christians must unite—in love for the Lord and one another—as a winsome witness to the world through our oneness in Christ. Francis Chan joins Hank Hanegraaff to discuss his new book Until Unity and why Christian unity is not optional. We hope that this conversation will inspire Spirit-filled people from all denominations to fight for unity with humility, gentleness and love in obedience to our Lord’s High Priestly Prayer. “…that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” To receive your copy of Until Unity by Francis Chan for your partnering gift please click here. https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-cri2105hup/Topics discussed include: Is Christian unity possible? (4:00); taking The Lord’s High Priestly Prayer seriously (7:15); praying for Pentecost today (10:30); is Christ divided? (13:30); discussing Church schisms and essentials that Christians from different traditions can unite around (17:00); the path to unity is to love God and love others (24:00); is Christian unity optional? (29:00); can Christians pursue both truth and unity? (33:20); you can’t be proud and be close to God (38:00); God hates those who sow discord among brothers (41:30); when is unity easy? (48:45); Francis Chan used to be a Cessationist, but has now seen miracles with his own hands and eyes (58:15); should Christians be seeker sensitive or talk about tough topics like hell? (1:03:30); ways that Francis Chan has sought to follow the Lord’s will to anywhere on earth (1:08:40); the importance of having a true sense of our own mortality and how the death of Francis Chan’s family early gave him an acute sense of his own mortality (1:14:00); the importance of providing for the poor and the downtrodden (1:22:00); meditating on the message of the Lord’s High Priestly Prayer (1:26:15); how should Christians respond to trolls on the internet? (1:30:30); praying that Spirit-filled people from all denominations will fight for unity with humility, gentleness and love in obedience to our Lord’s High Priestly Prayer (1:35:30). 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.

Christians are the most persecuted religious group in the world. Tragically, anti-Christian animus in the West has largely led to ignorance of the persecution of Christians today and the result has been a human rights travesty of historic proportions. Hank often says that the problem of Christian persecution in the Middle East is squarely in the blind spot of the West. When it comes to addressing the issue of Christian persecution, Hungary is a small country making a big difference. Through various government sponsored initiatives, such as the Hungary Helps program, Hungary is aiding persecuted Christians and other persecuted religious groups around the globe, setting an example that it hopes other countries will be inspired to emulate. Hank is joined by Tristan Azbej, Hungary’s State Secretary for the Aid of Persecuted Christians, to discuss this critical issue and help bring Christian persecution out of the blind spot of the West.Topics discussed include: Growing up in an anti-Christian communist dictatorship has made the issue of Christian persecution so important to Tristan Azbej (5:00); Tristan Azbej on his title as the State Secretary for the Aid of Persecuted Christians (8:40); the history of Hungary as a Christian nation (11:40); how Hungary is able to maintain a Christian identity in an increasingly secular European Union (16:15); why it is critical to protect the roots of our Christian heritage (21:45); the necessity for Christian unity in the face of persecution (27:25); how the Hungary Helps program has provided humanitarian aid to over 100,000 people since 2017 (32:50); how Hungary is setting an example for how to be a modern Christian democracy (39:15); illegal immigration and the Hungarian approach to immigration policies (44:30); countering the narrative that the Hungarian immigration policies are racist (49:20); the rise of Christian persecution in Africa (52:30); the difference between peaceful Muslims and violent Islamic ideology (58:10); extremist liberalism as a form of totalitarianism growing in the West today (1:03:25); Red Wednesday, an initiative of Aid for the Church in Need to commemorate the blood of Christian martyrs (1:09:20); Hungary isn’t focused on merely helping persecuted Christians, but all religious persecution (1:10:45); why are there narratives creating a sense of Christian guilt for some Western Christians when Christian charity is at the forefront of aid around the world? (1:14:30); Tristan Azbej on his recent visit with Pope Francis and persecuted Christians in Iraq (1:19:20); the need for Christians from different traditions to work towards Christian unity in the face of growing oppression (1:24:20); how Tristan Azbej become the State Secretary for the Aid of Persecuted Christians (1:27:00)."For more information on the work of Tristan Azbej and the Hungary Helps program visit https://hungaryhelps.gov.hu/en/."For further resources on persecution we recommend the following:The Global War on Christians: Dispatches from the Front Lines of Anti-Christian Persecution Paperback by John L. Allen Jr.-focuses on worldwide persecution https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-the-global-war-on-christians/They Say We Are Infidels: On the Run from ISIS with Persecuted Christians in the Middle East by Mindy Belz-focuses on persecution in the Middle East https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-they-say-we-are-infidels/Free to Believe: The Battle Over Religious Liberty in America by Luke Goodrich -focuses on persecution in America https://www.equip.org/product/free-to-believe-the-battle-over-religious-liberty-in-america-2/Demon in Democracy: Totalitarian Temptations in Free Societies by Ryszard Legutko, focuses on persecution in America, Europe and the West https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-cri2101hup/It’s Dangerous to Believe: Religious Freedom and Its Enemies by Mary Eberstadt focuses on persecution in America https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-dangerous-believe/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.