Hank Unplugged: Essential Christian Conversations

Her father Billy Graham called her the best preacher in the family, and the New York Times labeled her as one of the five most influential evangelists of her generation. Hank is joined by Anne Graham Lotz, author of The Daniel Key: 20 Choices That Make All the Difference, to discuss what we can learn from Daniel, and an exploration of the timeless biblical truths that we can learn from the living Word of God. Topics discussed include: the Charles Blondin story as an illustration for faith in God (3:30); the late years of Billy Graham’s life and his love of prayer (6:05); the difficulty of growing up with her father away from the home preaching on the road and the influence of Anne’s mother as a woman of prayer (7:45); experiences that Graham Lotz had during her youth that inspired a love of God and lifetime of service to Him (11:00); the power of transparent vulnerability and the importance of living our lives for an audience of one (14:00); centering our lives around the Lord rather than our problems (17:40); the need for Christians to transform the way we live our lives to have a greater cultural impact (20:25); the purpose of prayer as communion with God (23:10); why morning prayer is so important to Graham Lotz (26:25); discipline is required to become a disciple (29:45); allowing time in the wilderness to prepare us (31:50); understanding that the Bible is living and active (35:00); Daniel’s habit of praying three times a day to give thanks and the importance of having an attitude of gratitude (37:55); the reality of spiritual warfare and the power of putting on the full armor of God (43:50); falling in love with the Lord and understanding that love isn’t a feeling but a commitment (49:00); the importance of Christians being people of truth in a post-truth world (50:20); experiencing the fullness of life in Christ here on Earth as a glimpse of what’s to come in heaven (53:25); Graham Lotz recalls finding her husband unresponsive in the swimming pool, and the need for all of us to live life with death in mind (55:35); the story of Dori, a woman caught up in the turmoil of the Syrian civil war (1:01:30); putting God first and the significance of an earnest examination of our priorities in life (1:04:25); the rise and fall of empires as a reminder of the temporary nature of our lives (1:08:40); the criticality of confessing our sins as a daily practice (1:11:00); the power of prayer and fasting (1:14:45); the power of forgiveness (1:07:05).

Hank is joined by Dr. Corey Miller, the president of Ratio Christi, a campus apologetics alliance encouraging and strengthening the faith of Christian students at universities around the world through the use of intellectual investigation and apologetics. Miller grew up in Utah as a sixth generation Mormon, but came to Christ in 1988 and has since authored several books, written for the Christian Research Journal and worked in a variety of ministerial roles, giving him a truly unique perspective. Topics discussed include: what is Ratio Christi? (3:30); understanding the difference between science and scientism, and why it matters (6:00); the positive and negative power of testimony and differences between Christian and Mormon views on testimony (11:30); the distinction between knowing God and showing God (17:40); Miller's background growing up amidst the pervasive culture of Mormonism in Utah, and how it shaped his life and love for learning (19:40); the role that dreams played in Miller's personal faith and transformation (25:35); does God use dreams to reveal Himself? (30:35); how the goal of life is knowledge of God (34:25); Miller's forthcoming book Moses, Maimonides, and Thomas Aquinas on the Good Life: From the Fall to Human Perfectibility (34:25); why Mormonism isn't a branch of Christianity, and why Miller thinks Mormonism is closer to Hinduism than Christianity (43:15); who is the angel Moroni? (49:45); how DNA evidence contradicts claims made in the Book of Mormon (51:45); comparing the archeological evidence confirming the Bible as opposed to the Book of Mormon (56:00); the Jesus of Mormonism and the differences that make a difference (58:00); Miller models the virtue of answering questions with "I don't know" and explains that the reason most Christians don't do evangelism is because they don't do apologetics (1:03:00); the huge number of contradictory splinter groups in Mormonism (1:07:40); why apologetics is essential to evangelism (1:10:00); the overwhelming amount of young Christians that lose their faith upon arriving at university because they aren't equipped to answer tough questions (1:14:15); and that the key to gaining a culture is by training the youth (1:18:00).

Hank is joined for the first time on Hank Unplugged by one of his favorite guests from the Bible Answer Man broadcast, Dr. Jonathan Witt. Witt is a prolific author and a Senior Fellow with the Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture. Witt was the lead writer of the hit documentary Poverty Inc., in addition to being the author of books such as The Hobbit Party: The Vision of Freedom That Tolkien Got, and the West Forgot, A Meaningful World: How the Arts and Sciences Reveal the Genius of Nature and his latest book Heretic: One Scientist’s Journey from Darwin to Design written with Finnish bioengineer Matti Leisola. Witt has studied and written on a number of subjects, and this wide-ranging conversation is evidence of just that. Topics discussed include: how the study of aesthetics got Witt involved in the Intelligent Design movement (4:10); why the Intelligent Design movement is the premier movement today due to a willingness to follow the evidence wherever it leads (5:40); why Witt wrote the documentary Poverty Inc., investigating the problems with the industry of foreign aid (7:10); TOMS shoes as a hipster poverty machine (10:45); the problem of donor dependency (13:05); the present war on poverty as another permutation of colonialism (15:30); how has Poverty Inc. made a difference on how people view humanitarian aid? (18:00); the deficits of the Marshall Plan (21:30); skepticism about how evolution explains everything without explaining anything (24:00); the difference between science and scientism (27:50); conflating microevolution and evolution (29:30); constrained optimization and why so many engineers are proponents of Intelligent Design (35:00); a recent article Witt wrote on conflating understanding and acceptance of evolution (39:55); “all of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone” (43:10); A Meaningful World: How the Arts and Sciences Reveal the Genius of Nature (44:10); Darwin vs. Beauty: Explaining Away the Butterfly (47:35); Witt’s new book, The Hobbit Party: The Vision of Freedom That Tolkien Got, and the West Forgo, and what Christians can learn from Tolkien (53:00); exploring the many reasons why it is critical to learn to read the Bible in the sense in which it is intended to be read (1:00:05); the problem with trying to read scientific paradigms into scriptural passages (1:18:40); becoming so familiar with the truth that when a counterfeit looms on the horizon, you know it immediately (1:00:50); the functional value of secular feminism, abortion on demand, and sexual freedom (1:02:30); Christian involvement in the culture wars and examples of hope (1:04:15); and raising Christian children (1:08:05).

Hank has long maintained that how you view your origins will ultimately determine how you live your life. Likewise, the prevailing cultural acceptance of the Darwinian paradigm has led to a culture in decline. But for those skeptical of the worldviews and arguments of scientific materialists, there is good news. The Darwinian paradigm finds itself in a desperate condition thanks in large part to the Intelligent Design movement leaders such as Dr. Stephen C. Meyer. Dr. Meyer is currently the director of the Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture, in addition to authoring the New York Times best seller Darwin’s Doubt: The Explosive Origin of Animal Life and the Case for Intelligent Design as well as Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence for Intelligent Design, which was named a Book of the Year by The Times (of London) Literary Supplement in 2009. Topics discussed include: why the Intelligent Design (ID) movement isn’t a “science stopper” but a science generator (6:00); the exciting state of the Intelligent Design movement today as many scientists, such as distinguished paleontologist Günter Bechly who is now a Senior Fellow at the Discovery Institute, are growing increasingly skeptical of Darwinism (8:35); the overwhelming impact that Darwin’s On the Origin of Species and evolution have had in shaping worldviews such as scientific materialism and how new discoveries are pointing back to a theistic explanation of origins in what Meyer calls “the return of the God hypothesis” (12:10); how secular assumptions limit academic freedom in the sciences and the effect that limits on discourse has on scientists and scientific discovery (15:35); the deep prejudice of Wikipedia toward Intelligent Design with stigmatizing labels such as “pseudoscience” in reference to the ID movement (22:25); how the broad persecution of Christians in secular academics leads Christians of different denominations to unite around the essentials of the Christian faith and their common cause (24:25); Darwin’s Doubt, the Cambrian explosion, and the importance of information to life (27:45); exploring how Young Earth Creationists practice science (31:15); arguably the most exciting discovery in the history of science is that the foundation of life is digital information stored in DNA, and the implications this discovery has on the evidence for Intelligent Design (36:15); the importance of reducing intellectual insecurity in the Christian world (39:20); critiquing theistic evolution, and why Christians shouldn’t feel the need to synthesize their beliefs with a Neo-Darwinian paradigm increasingly in doubt (43:45); the cultural consequences of our worldviews (47:15); discussing the book Why People Stop Believing, and the need for an intellectual defense of the Christian faith (51:50); the racist implications of the evolutionary paradigm (54:30); the elimination of unfit genes as a form of positive eugenics growing in popularity today (56:25); Meyer offers critical responses to several quotes Hank reads from popular evolutionists (59:20); the myth of Darwin’s tree of life (1:05:05); “the waiting time problem” and the Darwinian math of population genetics (1:07:30); looking to computer programmers and coding to poke holes in the link between humans and chimps (1:10:40); why noted atheist philosopher Thomas Nagel believes that defenders of Intelligent Design, such as Stephen C. Meyer, deserve our gratitude (1:14:15); and educating the culture about advances in the Intelligent Design movement (1:18:30).

Story tellers drive the culture and Christians must remember that we have the best story to tell. Megan Almon is a speaker with Life Training Institute and a Christian Research Journal contributor who authored the recent cover article Seeing Red: The Handmaid’s Tale, Human Dignity and Hope, addressing the popular, yet controversial, Hulu television series The Handmaid’s Tale, an adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s 1985 dystopian novel by the same name. Almon joins Hank to discuss the importance of cultural apologetics, pro-life apologetics and the consequences of secular feminism, abortion and sexual freedom in both The Handmaid’s Tale and our world today. Topics discussed include: Michelle Wolf’s salute to abortion- “God bless abortion, God bless America” (4:25); Almon’s passion for pro-life apologetics (7:05); is the term “pro-life” propaganda? (8:40); what would make abortion ok? (9:50); how abortion has shifted from being a scientific debate to a philosophical debate (11:10); the importance of Christians being able to communicate the pro-life position articulately and convincingly because story tellers drive the culture (14:05); examining worldviews and the importance of cultural apologetics (16:25); the narrative presented in The Handmaid’s Tale that women will lose all of the progress gained through the suffrage movement if they lose access to abortion and “reproductive freedom” (20:55); a women’s worth being equated to her ability to earn wages (23:45); the rise of infertility and changing views of motherhood (26:05); surrogacy and the commodification of children (29:30); the destructive consequences of the sexual revolution and idolization of sexual freedom (35:50); defining men and women out of existence and the effect on women’s rights (38:30); the criticality of becoming biblically literate to counter the twisting of scripture, or “scriptorture” (40:30); embracing the doctrine of unity through unification around the essentials of the Christian faith in the face of the unnecessary fragmentation within Christianity (42:50); endowed with dignity by virtue of being created in the Imago Dei (46:30); the false narrative that the Bible supports an oppressive patriarchal society versus the reality that the Bible actually elevated the status of women (47:45); contrasting the way that Jesus and Muhammed treated women (53:00); Planned Parenthood’s desire to abolish the terms pro-choice and pro-life (54:30); The Handmaid’s Tale explained (55:45); the need for Christians to practice cultural apologetics and discernment (58:05); becoming so familiar with the truth that when a counterfeit looms on the horizon you know it immediately (1:00:50); the functional value of secular feminism, abortion on demand and sexual freedom (1:02:30); Christian involvement in the culture wars and examples of hope (1:04:15); raising Christian children (1:08:05).

Why Did God Let That Child Die? by Clay Jones is one of the most popular articles ever published in the Christian Research Journal. We have no doubt that it was popular because the topic of theodicy is difficult for many to comprehend. For that precise reason we are bringing you an encore edition of this critical conversation between Hank and Clay Jones, associate professor of Christian Apologetics at Biola University and one of the pre-eminent scholars on the issue of theodicy. If you’ve ever wondered why God allows sin and suffering, this is a can’t miss conversation.Topics discussed include: why does God allow evil? (3:30); why did God let that child die? (5:30); why it’s hard to reconcile determinism and theodicy (9:00); why do people want determinism to be true? (14:30); how God uses suffering (19:30); why do bad things happen to good people? (27:00); transgenderism as child abuse (36:00); the Christian Research Journal article “Killing the Canaanites” (42:00); what difference does belief in original sin make? (48:30); why people who think heaven will be boring are wrong (51:00); the importance of making our lives on Earth count (57:30); what does God want our legacy on Earth to be? (1:01:30); finding ways to be useful to God (1:04:30).

Atheists are launching a new wave of attacks against Christianity and faith in God, claiming that they have a more enlightened, scientific, and sophisticated worldview. Despite what these New Atheists might think, this is nothing new, and Dr. Louis Markos confronts these recycled claims in his book Atheism on Trial, showing that they have already been disproven by Christian thinkers of the past and how you can use the same solid logic to silence these claims today. On this edition of Hank Unplugged, Markos joins Dr. Larry Johnston (pinch-hitting for Hank while he is overseas speaking at a conference) to discuss why it is time for Christians to stand up and challenge the atheistic assertions of popular narratives of our day. Are you ready to put atheism on trial? Topics discussed include: the modernist narrative and the problem with "chronological snobbery" (2:30); the distinction between narrative and metanarrative and the significance of metanarratives (5:55); the importance of obtaining objective distance to better understand our behaviors and reactions (10:50); do we live in a clockwork universe? (15:00); looking to the pre-Socratics to show that the so-called "New Atheists" are merely pedaling old ideas (19:50); the theistic implications of the Big Bang and how dedicated materialists such as Carl Sagan and Stephen Hawking avoided them (25:30); "Houdini hermeneutics and the sense in which Darwinism is a myth" (32:00); who was Spinoza, and what did he mean when he said that God and nature are one? (38:00); examining intelligent design and some of the absurd theories people have come up with to avoid it, such as panspermia (41:35); why David Hume was wrong when he said that miracles are impossible (49:25); how God reveals Himself through both creation and the Bible and why it is important for Christians to be conversant in both (1:00:20); examining the problem of pain (1:05:45); comparing the God of Abraham from the god of Aristotle (1:10:05); how Karl Marx changed the metanarrative in an extremely destructive way (1:13:30); how the secular enlightenment stole the idea of human dignity from the Judeo-Christian ethic (1:19:00); and Christianity and Stoicism (1:20:20).

On this special edition of Hank Unplugged, Hank brings you a message that he delivered for the “Lausanne-Orthodox Initiative,” a conference uniting Orthodox and evangelical Christians to support one another with mutual respect and cooperation in the spirit of our Lord’s High Priestly prayer for His church, found in John 17. Hank discusses discipleship, deification, and the doctrine of unity. The doctrine of unity addresses the scandalous tribalism and division amongst Christians and the importance of honoring the earnestness of the Lord’s High Priestly prayer and the criticality of Christians being united around the essentials of the historic Christian faith. Topics discussed include: Hank introduces his message and the importance of the doctrine of unity (1:30); the Great Commission (4:40); discipleship and the power of spiritual multiplication (10:20); understanding deification and union with God (14:20); experiencing uncreated energy (17:00); embracing the doctrine of unity around the essentials of the historic Christian faith (20:20); discussing the effects of schism and division from a personal perspective (23:25); are we willing to give up our tribalism in order to answer the Lord’s High Priestly prayer? (24:45); the consequence of disunity within the church (28:30); the unlimited power of fusion (30:55); and a call to action (34:25).

Females are breaking barriers in the field of apologetics today like never before, which is why Hank has dubbed today’s guest Melissa Cain Travis and her female colleagues at Houston Baptist University as the five female superheroes of the neo-apologetics movement, a movement more concerned with winning the person rather than winning the argument. In her new book, Science and the Mind of the Maker, Melissa Cain Travis examines what the conversation between faith and science reveals about God, including what she calls "The Maker Thesis," which explains the origin, rationality, and intricacy of nature and the human mind's capacity to comprehend it. Are we in the golden age of apologetics? Listen to find out! Topics discussed include: Hank lauds Melissa Cain Travis and her female colleagues (Nancy Pearcey, Holly Ordway, Mary Jo Sharp, and Kristen Davis) as the five female superheroes of the neo-apologetics movement and some of the most influential ambassadors in the church today (3:00); why mothers should teach their children in apologetics (5:00); is value or significance determined by size? (7:40); addressing the Einstein quote “The most incomprehensible thing about the universe is that it is comprehensible” (10:50); the importance of critically and earnestly examining our paradigms rather than limiting the size of our intellectual toolbox (13:30); the majestic three-part harmony between mathematics, the human mind, and the material world (18:15); the implicit racism of the Darwinian paradigm and the importance of having universal standards to determine intrinsic value and equality (19:45); the idea behind the “Maker Thesis” (27:00); Athanasius Contra Mundum, the great church fathers, and finding God’s fingerprints in the Bible as well as the book of nature (30:50); the relation between Cicero, Scrabble, and ideas of order (35:20); dispelling the myth that a greater understanding of nature diminishes theistic explanations for existence (37:45); reclaiming critical thinking, the virtue of inquisitiveness, and how to process information in an age of information overload (38:45); the irony behind the Stephen Hawking claim that philosophy is dead (44:00); why mothers need to have a basic understanding of apologetics in order to inoculate their children with an understanding of their faith (47:25); how to prioritize and find time to build your knowledge base and learn apologetics (51:10); the barriers that female apologists are breaking today (55:20); the false dichotomy of having to decide between having a career or having children (1:00:00); Are we in the golden age of apologetics? (1:02:05); neo-apologetics is a brand of apologetics that is more concerned with winning the person rather than winning the argument (1:04:45); how Melissa made Science and the Mind of the Maker different from other books on the topic of science and faith (1:08:00); the value of popular apologetics (1:13:20); the issue of the age of the Earth and why it’s important, yet not important enough for Christians to divide over (1:14:45); the importance of Melissa’s Young Defender Series, teaching children arguments for the existence of God (1:20:05).

Why have so many Christians become tippers instead of tithers? In many Christian circles today, stewardship seems to be a dirty word. This is scandalous. Christians desperately need to shift their perspectives on stewardship and begin to unabashedly and joyously give of their time, talents, and treasure as a form of discipleship. On this edition of Hank Unplugged, Larry Johnston joins Hank to discuss the impact listeners like you can make by supporting the many outreaches of the Christian Research Institute impacting the body of Christ 24/7 around the world. Topics discussed include: how the Christian Research Institute is making a difference in our post-truth culture (3:00); examining one of the core values of CRI, “In Essentials Unity, In Non-Essentials Liberty, In All Things Charity,” and the dangers of tribalism within Christianity that divides us and dilutes the gospel (5:00); Gandhi as an example of how one person can make a huge difference (14:00); Hank asks listeners to financially support the many outreaches of CRI that are making a difference in the battle for life and truth (17:15); the rising assaults on the Christian faith and freedom (21:15); what a CRI legacy partner is and how to become one (23:20); the need for Christians to shift our paradigms on the stewardship of our time, talent, and treasure as a form of discipleship (26:40); recounting testimonies of the importance of the outreaches of CRI from significant apologists such as Abdu Murray and Lee Strobel (32:35); showing the symbiotic relationship between CRI and our audience through the proverb “You can always count the seeds in an apple, but you can never count the apples in a seed” (34:50); the benefits of becoming a CRI support team member and why they are the backbone of the ministry (36:40); understanding the importance of giving and the need for Christians to shift their paradigms when it comes to the stewardship of their resources (44:15); the prayer of David and joyous giving (48:40); the impact of CRI outreaches around the world (50:50); will Christianity disappear in the West? (54:35); one of the critical roles of CRI is providing a lighthouse of truth for people facing a rapidly changing reality (57:05); the need for properly modeled Christianity in action (1:01:25); the mentorship role of CRI (1:04:30); the Judeo-Christian ethic of philanthropy throughout history (1:08:10); the need for “apologetics arms dealers” such as CRI in the battle for life and truth today (1:12:00); the major impact that encouraging testimonies have on Hank and the rest of the CRI staff (1:14:10); fatal consequences of tribalism in Christianity and the need for Christians to unite around the essentials of the historic Christian faith (1:16:10); the need for epistemic humility and the importance of being a lifelong learner in our post-truth culture (1:19:05); the Wesleyan Quadrilateral and the autobiographical book Hank is writing entitled Truth Matters, Life Matters More (1:23:05).