Hank Unplugged: Essential Christian Conversations

The Christian Research Institute
undefined
Nov 12, 2020 • 1h 3min

You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit with James K.A. Smith

You are what you love. But you might not love what you think. Christians desire to shape culture, yet are often unaware of how culture shapes us—unaware of the ways our hearts are being taught to love rival gods instead of the One for whom we were made. James K.A. Smith joins Hank Hanegraaff to discuss the major themes of his book, You Are What You Love, detailing the formative power of culture and the transformative possibilities of traditional Christian practices. Who and what we worship fundamentally shapes our hearts and James K.A. Smith wants Christians to recognize the critical role of the church in lives of Christians—that church should always be the hub and heart of Christian formation and discipleship. https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-cri2011hup/Topics discussed include: How historic examples of the Christian faith were lost as Christianity remade itself in the image of the Enlightenment (2:00); the spiritual power of habit (6:10); regaining a perspective of the heart according to biblical language (12:05); the significance of liturgy in the Christian life and the way that disordered or rival liturgies negatively impact our lives (14:55); why James K.A. Smith believes worship is at the heart of discipleship (18:25); the importance of the church in the Christian life and as a means of sanctification to experience union with Christ (20:40); why knowing Church history is so important to our growth as Christians (23:40); James K.A. Smith draws a powerful connection between addiction recovery programs like AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) and effective church discipleship in order to point out the spiritual power of habit as well as the spiritual power of bad habit (27:00); what does it mean to have a proper understanding of worship? (30:10); the disenchantment of the Church and the power of spiritual formation through repetition (34:45); the transcendent strangeness of historic Christian worship as a key element to discipleship and evangelism (41:15); Christians cannot hope to recreate the world if we are constantly trying to recreate the church (50:45); the transformative power of practice and habituation in sanctification (55:00); one of the most powerful passages in all of theology—what does a faithful Christian life look like? (58:15).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.
undefined
Oct 29, 2020 • 32min

Planned Parenthood to Pro-Life with Abby Johnson (A Former Director of Planned Parenthood)

Abortion is one of the most divisive issues in the United States and the most powerful advocate for abortion is Planned Parenthood. Abby Johnson went from being a clinic director for Planned Parenthood to an outspoken leader of the Pro-Life movement after her life was changed while witnessing the horror of abortion take place on an ultrasound as she watched the unborn child fight—and lose—the battle for life. Her life’s mission is now to fight—and win—the battle for life. Topics discussed include: Abby Johnson discusses her organization And Then There Were None—a nonprofit organization that exists to help abortion clinic workers leave the abortion industry (3:45); how powerful is Planned Parenthood? (4:50); how did Abby Johnson begin her career with Planned Parenthood? (6:30); what caused Abby Johnson to leave Planned Parenthood even after winning the employee of the year award? (8:15); how watching an abortion procedure on an ultrasound exposed the evil of abortion to Abby Johnson (11:05); Margaret Sanger, Planned Parenthood and the connection between abortion and racism (14:15); Hank Hanegraaff discusses being brought to tears while watching Abby Johnson’s movie Unplanned—especially the scene depicting The Pieces of Children Room in a Planned Parenthood clinic (18:40); And Then There Where None and the work they are doing to guide workers out of the abortion industry (22:30); Abby Johnson discusses her own two abortions, the thousands of abortions that she assisted in and the redeeming grace and forgiveness found in Jesus Christ (23:15); is Roe v. Wade reversible? (24:50); why ultrasounds are so important to exposing the truth about abortion (27:20); the fallacy of a woman’s right to choose (28:20). For further engagement, see the articles, “Five Questions for Pro-Life Advocates”, https://www.equip.org/article/the-2012-elections-five-questions-for-pro-life-advocates/“Practical Apologetics: Annihilating Abortion Arguments” https://www.equip.org/article/practical-apologetics-annihilating-abortion-arguments/and “Dead Silence: Must the Bible Say Abortion Is Wrong before We Can Know It’s Wrong?“ https://www.equip.org/article/dead-silence-must-the-bible-say-abortion-is-wrong-before-we-can-know-its-wrong/Many more articles, https://www.equip.org/?s=Abortiondiscussions from the Bible Answer Man https://www.equip.org/?s=Abortionand equipping tools. https://www.equip.org/equipping-national-sanctity-human-life-day/For more information as it pertains to the US election, please see: Politics for Christians: Statecraft as Soulcraft by Francis J. Beckwith. https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-cri2010wa/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.
undefined
Oct 26, 2020 • 1h 30min

Politics for Christians with Francis J. Beckwith

Should Christians be involved in politics? Christians in America have the historically unique power to enact laws that advance the common good and must take this special obligation seriously by using good judgement while voting and supporting legislation and political candidates. We might not always agree on the policies and candidates that are the best option to advance the common good, but there is no doubt that Christians have a biblical mandate to advance it. Frank Beckwith joins Hank Hanegraaff to discuss the way systems of government work and how public policies become the social and legal fabric of our country—shaping the quality of our national character. If “statecraft is soulcraft,” then Christians cannot remain silent at the ballot box. The soul of our nation is at stake. For more information please see Politics for Christians: Statecraft as Soulcraft by Francis J. Beckwith. https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-cri2010wa/Topics discussed include: Statecraft as Soulcraft—is politics essentially about making people good citizens? (5:00); The etymology of politics—what does politics really mean? (7:25); are lobbyists bad? (9:30); what is a liberal democracy? (11:10); the power of administrative agencies and the significance of separation of powers (16:30); Amy Coney Barrett, Originalism and Constitutional interpretation (20:00); what makes the Constitution special? (25:20); what is worse—tyranny or injustice? (31:40); why isn’t church viewed as an essential service? (36:25); can we be good without God? (38:30); should we be worried about losing our freedom of speech? (42:55); the commodification of church and the view of religion as a sort of hobby (45:00); the tyranny of the majority, why we don’t have a pure democracy and whether we should we get rid of the electoral college? (52:00); natural rights and natural law (1:00:40); economics, social justice and Christianity (1:06:30); unintended economic outcomes of political policies (1:10:25); Marxism and the identity politics of Cultural Marxism (1:12:45); holding Divine providence and free will in tension (1:18:20); the irony of Dianne Feinstein telling Amy Coney Barrett that “the dogma lives loudly within you” (1:21:20); is there a problem with corruption in the news media? (1:23:35). 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.
undefined
Oct 14, 2020 • 58min

Heretics! What Divides Christians? with Francis Chan, Hank Hanegraaff and Metropolitan Yohan

Heretic! Hank Hanegraaff, Francis Chan and Metropolitan Yohan have all been accused of being heretics. The backlash that Francis Chan received after making comments about the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist was the inspiration to have this conversation dealing with the epidemic of division within the body of Christ. The Eucharist was supposed to bring Christians together and yet it has become so divisive. What issues are essential doctrine and what should Christians divide over? Topics discussed include: The Eucharist was supposed to bring Christians together and yet it has become so divisive—what issues are essential doctrine and what should Christians divide over? (0:20); going back to the early church to discover what is essential Christian doctrine (9:10); are we saved into the church or is being saved primarily personal? (11:15); why is there so much denominational division in Christianity? (16:30); it is not the absence of truth that damns but the despising of truth that damns (19:30); should different perspectives on the Eucharist divide the body of Christ? (23:25); the value of holy tradition (26:15); the arrogance of many Christian leaders relying on their personal interpretation as opposed to relying on the collective wisdom of the early church (35:20); deep spiritual growth begins with humility (38:35); how Hank Hanegraaff’s experiences with the local church in China changed his perspectives on many things, especially understanding deification (43:50); a lack of humility in people that are creating division within the body of Christ (48:20); searching for humility because God gives grace to the humble and resists the proud (54:35). Hank writes more in-depth on these subjects in his latest book, Truth Matters, Life Matters More: The Unexpected Beauty of an Authentic Christian Life available for your partnering gift by clicking here. https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-truth-matters-life-matters-more/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.
undefined
Sep 29, 2020 • 1h 38min

Are We Living in the Last Days? with Gary DeMar

Are we living in the last days? Many people point to the deluge of disorder and division in the world today as evidence that we are living in the last days. However, this is often the result of sacred scripture being taken out of context. Misunderstandings about the end times (eschatology) have been widely propagated by a seemingly endless stream of end times prophecies and popular books such as the Left Behind series by Tim LaHaye. Hank Hanegraaff is joined by end times expert Gary DeMar to clear up the confusion regarding the last days by discussing what the Bible really says about the end times and why it matters today. Topics discussed include: The geopolitical consequences of eschatological beliefs and the Middle East deals being made by President Trump (4:20); what is dispensational eschatology? (6:10); discussing Israel and the Church–are there two distinct people of God? (8:00); another holocaust of Jews and the terror of rapture theories (10:35); the influence of Tim LaHaye and the Left Behind series on rapture beliefs (13:30); where do rapture beliefs come from? (16:25); the Russian invasion of Israel in dispensational ideology (20:10); dispensationalism and the idea of replacement theologians (26:00); apocalyptic language–should we interpret the Bible literally? (30:20); what was Jesus telling His disciples in the Olivet discourse? (32:55); why do some sceptics call Jesus a false apocalyptic prophet? (38:35); translation issues in the Olivet discourse such as mistaking the end of a period of time for the end of the world (42:00); how can so many dispensationalists misread the Bible? (54:50); many people and churches distanced themselves from Hank Hanegraaff when he wrote his book The Apocalypse Code (1:06:30); reading and understanding the Bible in the light that the Bible was not written to us, but it was written for us (1:07:40); using the Bible to interpret the Bible (1:14:10); do we find the ideas from Left Behind and the rapture in the Olivet discourse? (1:16:20); misunderstanding the Book of Revelation (1:14:20); what is the key to understanding the Book of Revelation? (1:24:45); Hanegraaff discusses the phrase Exegetical Eschatology as written about in his book The Apocalypse Code: Find Out What the Bible REALLY Says About the End Times… and Why It Matters Today (1:33:10). https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-the-apocalypse-code-det/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.
undefined
Sep 9, 2020 • 1h 31min

Why You Shouldn't Fear Death—Immortal: How the Fear of Death Drives Us with Clay Jones

Is there life after death? Yes! For many death is terrifying, leading us to try to live as long as possible while hoping that science will find a way for us to live longer—if not forever. However, most people are in denial about death. What if the solution is not denying death’s reality, but recognizing it and relishing the reality that we will live fantastically forever? Clay Jones joins Hank to discuss his book Immortal: How the Fear of Death Drives Us and What We Can Do About It, https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-cri2009wa/ which explores the ways people face death and how you can conquer the fear of death by realizing the joyous reality of immortality. Topics discussed include: Different ways that people avoid the fear of death (2:45); is the average person afraid of death?(6:45); why Clay Jones wasn’t afraid to die when he received a terminal cancer diagnosis (10:00); what would happen if we found a cure to cancer? (15:20); what happens when you die? (20:05); will heaven be boring? (21:25); immortality projects-different ways that people try to live forever (23:25); why do celebrities die earlier on average? (25:45); what is a mortality mitigation project? (29:15); why the Buddhist idea of detachment actually deadens life (32:25); is carpe diem a good maxim? (37:15); why should we focus more on our eternal lives than our lives on earth? (39:35); ways that atheists attempt to answer questions about death (42:05); was the Buddha a dead-beat dad? (45:30); the correlation between a decrease in belief in eternal life and an increase in suicide (46:30); anarchy in America (48:30); thinking of death as an upgrade from life (51:20); the Christians who do the most for this world are those who are thinking most of the world to come (56:25); why most atheists actually wish that they believed that Christianity was true (58:30); will science make immortality a reality? (1:01:35); what does it mean that less Americans believe in God or religion, while more people believe in an afterlife? (1:11:40); artificial intelligence and immortality—the rising popularity of the singularity (1:14:20); do all dogs go to heaven? (1:19:25); your soul will not experience death (1:23:00); why do so many Christians fear death? (1:25:30). To receive Immortal: How the Fear of Death Drives Us and What We Can Do About It, for your partnering gift please click here. https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-cri2009wa/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.
undefined
Aug 27, 2020 • 37min

The Key to Christian Unity is Humility with Francis Chan and Metropolitan Yohan

We are thrilled to present a series of conversations between our dear brothers in Christ, Francis Chan and Metropolitan Yohan (aka KP Yohannan). These conversations were initiated by criticism that Francis Chan received as a result of publicly discussing the history of the church and the Eucharist and inspired by our desire to promote dialogue on divisive issues within the body of Christ in a spirit of brotherly love to honor the high priestly prayer of our Heavenly Father just before His passion on the cross “that they may all be one…so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (John 17:21) On behalf of Francis Chan and Metropolitan Yohan, we hope that these conversations will inspire you to inspect Church history, encourage you to engage in dialogue with those that you may disagree with and live the answer to our Lord’s High Priestly prayer that we may all be one. “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35) The Key to Christian Unity is Humility…. is the second episode in this four part series of round table conversations and addresses the prayer for unity made by the Lord in His 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.” Many have said that the first step towards unity is humility—so how do we humble ourselves and pursue unity over the essentials of the historic Christian faith despite our differences? Topics discussed include: Francis Chan addresses the issue of tribalism between Christian Churches and how to reconcile that with the Lord’s High Priestly Prayer that we might be one (0:25); can we unite over the essentials of the historic Christian faith by appealing to the maxim “in essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty and in all things charity?” (6:45); what we can learn from the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican as we engage with believers in Christ from different Christian traditions (12:30); a lesson of inclusivity that Metropolitan Yohan learned from George Verwer after writing Revolution in World Missions (14:10); the greatest doctrine is love (18:15); the criticality of working towards unity in the body of Christ in response to the 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” (20:45); responding to Francis Chan moving to Hong Kong (24:35); Francis Chan discusses his love for evangelizing to those who have never heard the name of Christ while also feeling convicted about inviting people into the family of God while there is disunity in the body of Christ (28:15); the answer to the Lord’s High Priestly Prayer starts with humility (33:50). 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.
undefined
Aug 19, 2020 • 56min

History, Mystery and the Eucharist with Francis Chan and Metropolitian Yohan (K.P. Yohannan)

We are thrilled to present a series of conversations between our dear brothers in Christ, Francis Chan and Metropolitan Yohan (aka KP Yohannan). These conversations were initiated by criticism that Francis Chan received as a result of publicly discussing the history of the church and the Eucharist and inspired by our desire to promote dialogue on divisive issues within the body of Christ in a spirit of brotherly love to honor the high priestly prayer of our Heavenly Father just before His passion on the cross “that they may all be one…so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (John 17:21) On behalf of Francis Chan and Metropolitan Yohan, we hope that these conversations will inspire you to inspect Church history, encourage you to engage in dialogue with those that you may disagree with and live the answer to our Lord’s High Priestly prayer that we may all be one. “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35) History, Mystery and the Eucharist is the first episode in this four part series of round table conversations and the discussion is on the importance of understanding the history of the church and the mystery of the Eucharist.Topics discussed include: Hank introduces the first in a series of conversations with Francis Chan and Metropolitan Yohan and the desire of these men to work towards unity in the body of Christ (0:25); Francis Chan responds to the controversy concerning comments he made regarding the history and meaning of the Eucharist (2:50); how an examination of Church history changed Hank’s view on the Eucharist (6:15); for the first 1000 years Christians were undivided at the communion table and the evolution of the different explanations of the Eucharist (15:00); Francis Chan explains his current confusion over the true meaning of the Eucharist because for his entire life he viewed the Eucharist as a mere remembrance and every other view as heresy (24:35); Metropolitan Yohan explains when he realized that he was becoming a lawyer for God, all head knowledge and little experiential life in union with Christ (26:10); Francis Chan questions whether a certain view of the Eucharist is necessary to experience authentic union with Christ and sanctification (43:30); Hank discusses why he felt as though he had become a lawyer for Christ and how that caused him to wonder whether he was even a Christian (46:10); misunderstanding deification (49:00) stay tuned for the rest of the conversation between Francis Chan, Metropolitan Yohan and Hank Hanegraaff coming soon (55:40). 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.
undefined
Aug 10, 2020 • 1h 34min

The Word Crisis that Threatens to Undo Western Civilization with D.K. Matthews

Hank is joined by D.K. Matthews, author of Seduced? Shameless Spin, Weaponized Words, Polarization, Tribalism, and the Impending Disintegration of Faith and Culture and the cover article of the Christian Research Journal, “Seduced? The Crisis of Word and the Fragmentation of Civilization.” Today Christians are caught in the cross hairs of a virulent linguistic pandemic. It’s a crisis of word—a crisis that has flowered into semantic terrorism. Post-truth critics—including candidates for the highest office in the land—routinely castigate those who stand in opposition to their redefinition of words. They are labeled intolerant, hateful, ignorant, xenophobic, and an imminent and existential threat to the noble quest for a progressive future. This critical conversation conveys the reality of how redefining words and worldviews threatens to undo Western Civilization.Topics discussed include: The redefinition of words today and why it is a threat to Western Civilization (5:00); the legal implications of redefining sex to include sexual orientation and identity (8:05); logocentric reality (15:35); justice as a classic example of alternate semantic universes (19:25); is the modern redefinition of social justice a Trojan horse? (23:00); do Christians need to be more educated on critical theory? (28:40); the role of Marxism in critical theory (33:00); the difference between the concept Black Lives Matter and the organization of Black Lives Matter (35:00); why the redefinition of words could be considered a linguistic pandemic (38:15); is the end of Western Civilization near? (43:05); constructing a lexicon of post-truth terms (56:05); how redefining words can redefine reality (1:01:30); how Jesus and Paul dealt with the counterfeit concepts in Scripture (1:04:55); how Thomas Jefferson and Madonna redefined Jesus and His message to fit their personal worldviews (1:09:50); are we living in an anti-Christian moment? (1:12:25); why the death of truth is a precursor to the death of words (1:19:50); the new pronoun rules and regulations in society today (1:23:25);D.K. Matthews discusses why he wrote his epic book Seduced? Shameless Spin, Weaponized Words, Polarization, Tribalism, and the Impending Disintegration of Faith and Culture (1:27:10).For more information on his cover article of the Christian Research Journal, “Seduced? The Crisis of Word and the Fragmentation of Civilization” please click here. https://www.equip.org/christian-research-journal/the-word-crisis-that-threatens-to-undo-western-civilization/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.
undefined
Jul 8, 2020 • 1h 7min

Gay Girl, Good God with Jackie Hill Perry

Jackie Hill Perry is an incredible writer, poet, artist and a gifted communicator of Christian truth. She is also the author of one of Hank’s favorite books in years, Gay Girl, Good God and joins Hank to discuss her journey out of a homosexual lifestyle, offering a much needed testimony for a time when society has embraced radical changes to traditional views of sexual identity. Jackie Hill Perry didn’t write Gay Girl, Good God to merely point out the mistakes of her past, but to shine light on the power of a relationship with God while helping people understand the realities of same-sex attraction. This is a truly a can’t miss conversation. https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-cri2007hup/Topics discussed include: What made Jackie Hill Perry go against the cultural perspective of sexuality in favor of a biblical perspective (3:00); the power of words and narratives (6:25); how personal autonomy relates to the issues of abortion, sexual freedom and sexual identity (8:50); the impact of abuse and fatherlessness (12:05); the role of conscience in our lives as a reminder of truth (16:00); the error of what Jackie Hill Perry calls the heterosexual gospel, believing that only a fraction of our humanity needs saving (18:55); the different ways we identify ourselves (24:50); God didn’t come into the world to give us joy, but to be our joy (28:15); Jackie Hill Perry reacts to a negative review of her book Gay Girl, Good God on Amazon (30:45); learning to see ourselves through the lens of Scripture rather than through the lens of culture (33:35); how sin can feel natural (36:30); the role of the church to impact society and the importance of discipleship in the church (38:00); the stereotype that pornography is only a male problem (41:30); does Jackie Hill Perry still experience same-sex sexual temptation? (43:05); Jackie Hill Perry’s passion for poetry (44:20); the power and significance of apologetics (46:40); a passion for scripture and the beauty of being able to give biblical answers (48:10); how Jackie Hill Perry came up with the title Gay Girl, Good God and what she hopes people get from the reading the book (51:20); a lightning round of questions on Gay Girl, Good God (53:50); the importance of having an eternal perspective (1:00:25).To learn about receiving the book Gay Girl, Good God for your partnering gift, please click here. https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-cri2007hup/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.

The AI-powered Podcast Player

Save insights by tapping your headphones, chat with episodes, discover the best highlights - and more!
App store bannerPlay store banner
Get the app