Hank Unplugged: Essential Christian Conversations

The Resurrection is the quintessence of Christianity, and Dr. Gary Habermas has dedicated his life to the study and defense of the reality of the Resurrection. After all, “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” Human history — and your future — is forever changed by what happened on the third day, so listen in as Hank and Dr. Habermas discuss the seminal event in human history. (This conversation was so good and went so long that we had to break it up into two episodes. This is part one.) Topics discussed include: how studying the Resurrection led Dr. Habermas into apologetics (3:40); with the Resurrection of Jesus we have everything, without the Resurrection of Jesus, we have nothing (7:25); comparing Christianity to other world religions (8:40); perspectives on the supernatural in academic circles (11:35); the Resurrection, Jesus Seminar, and the Pre-Pauline Creed (15:15); the overwhelming factual evidence for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ (19:20); Islamic denial of the crucifixion of Christ (21:45); addressing the evidence for an empty tomb after the resurrection of Christ (27:50); witnesses to the resurrected Christ and the martyrdom that ensued (30:35); the faith and martyrdom of early church fathers such as Polycarp and Irenaeus (36:40); the power of the gospel to change the culture unlike any other religion (39:30); the sorrow Habermas felt when he lost his wife to cancer and the hope he felt knowing that she was in heaven (41:55); the peace that the resurrection of Christ provides Hank in the midst of his battle with cancer (47:30); the hope we can find in the Bible (51:00); and materialism, mystery, and the argument from joy by C. S. Lewis (55:15).

Black Hebrew Israelites is one of the most searched terms on equip.org and something that you’ve probably been exposed to, whether you realize it or not. Vocab Malone joins Hank on this episode of the Hank Unplugged podcast to discuss Black Hebrew Israelites, urban apologetics, and being equipped with essential Christian doctrine. We hope you enjoy the energy, information, and insights from Vocab Malone as much as we did! Topics discussed include: background on urban apologetics (2:00); Israel United in Christ—IUIC (3:20); Kendrick Lamar, DAMN, and the Black Hebrew Israelite movement (4:25); Vocab Malone’s background in Christian hip hop and urban apologetics (5:30); the interest in Black Hebrew Israelism and some variations (10:00); background on the Black Hebrew Israelite movement (14:30); false eschatological interpretations and arguments and the need to be equipped for apologetics (19:25); why Black Hebrew Israelite beliefs might be appealing to some (22:15); how Black Hebrew Israelite beliefs are disseminated through YouTube (26:30); the belief that God is a racist (30:45); Black Hebrew Israelites borrowing from “Satan’s greatest hits” (33:45); Black Hebrew Israelite One West Camp and the belief in polygyny, one man with many women (37:30); Fake Hebrew (39:30); the impact of bad theology on music and culture (41:10); changing attitudes about Black Hebrew Israelites (45:20); Black Hebrew Israelism as a theodicy (46:10); Vocab Malone’s desire to reflect the glory of God through his work and practice (48:05); the importance of knowing your audience when practicing apologetics (49:45); Vocab’s conviction to minister to Muslims (56:00); Barack Obama vs. Black Hebrew Israelites (59:00); violence in urban apologetics (1:04:00); First Arabic Baptist Church (1:07:00); the need to become equipped with essential Christian doctrine (1:09:00); and how seeing Hank speak in Phoenix led to Vocab going to seminary (1:17:45).

Rankin Wilbourne believes that “union with Christ may be the most important doctrine you’ve never heard of.” In fact, he says that “nothing is more basic or more central to the Christian life than union with Christ.” If the latter is true, then the former needs to be addressed. This edition of the Hank Unplugged podcast features a stimulating conversation between Hank and Rankin Wilbourne, author of the Gold Medallion–winning book Union with Christ. We truly believe that this conversation could change your life, and we pray that it leads you closer to union with Christ. Topics discussed include: Wilbourne’s transition from banking to ministry (2:30); Christians uniting around the essentials with the ecumenical spirit called for in John 17 (6:30); the Early Church Fathers and union with Christ (10:15); why isn’t union with Christ a more central part of our lives? (13:30); importance of biblical metaphors (16:00); the fully human life found through life in union with Christ (18:55); reducing the gospel to the mechanics of salvation (23:45); what is the message our culture needs to hear? Both the songs of Extravagant Grace and Radical Discipleship (28:00); the gospel is union with Christ, a double Grace of Justification and Sanctification (32:30); why have so many in the West lost the ability to delight in divine mystery? (36:15); how is union with Christ the doorway to communion with God? (39:25); is communion with God your highest ambition? (44:30); how suffering is integral to knowing Christ (51:20); reclaiming words from our biblical tradition such as deification or theosis and even the word tradition itself (53:50); why do so many Protestants have a view of church ecclesiology and the sacraments so at odds with our Christian tradition? (58:25); sailing as a metaphor for our life with God (1:01:00); the importance of developing spiritual disciplines to truly experience full union with Christ (1:03:25); reading the New Testament with integrity and the “gap” addressed in Union with Christ (1:07:00); false choices we are faced with and the clarity that union with Christ brings (1:10:00); embracing the Lord’s high priestly prayer (1:12:35); 1 Corinthians 3 and the importance of setting the alignment of our ambitions in accordance with Christ (1:15:45); the critical need to know the biblical truth of union with Christ (1:22:30).

Christian philosopher Paul Gould joins Hank on this edition of the Hank Unplugged podcast to discuss the role of philosophy for Christians in the world today. This conversation is wide ranging and offers clear answers to complex philosophical questions concerning how Christians should live their lives. Topics discussed include: why should Christians care about philosophy? (5:00); the role philosophy should play in our spiritual formation (9:15); the intellectual brilliance of Jesus that so many often overlook (11:00); the importance of being intentionally countercultural with our kids in the information age (15:40); how can we break down barriers to independent thought? (23:00); the need for intellectual virtue and the potential danger of arrogance in the apologetics community (26:00); anti-intellectualism and The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind (30:00); the need for Christians to recapture a sacramental view of the world in order to argue effectively Christianity as a public truth claim (32:15); a simple way to explain complex words in philosophy (35:45); Gould’s definition of philosophy and how he arrived at his conclusion (38:25); understanding Jesus as He truly is (44:45); dealing with historical and biblical illiteracy today (47:00); making an argument for the existence of God (49:45); intentionally asking ourselves the question, “Where is God’s fingerprint in your life today?” (53:15); the moral argument for the existence of God (57:00); learning from crisis moments in our lives (58:05); the perfect blend of reason and romance in Christianity (1:03:25); practical steps we all can take to grow philosophically (1:07:05); breaking the bonds technology can have on us (1:09:05); re-establishing the Christian voice (1:12:00); how philosophy trains us for death (1:15:25).

From being a classically trained concert pianist, Miss America contestant, and now the Chief Religion Correspondent for the Fox News Channel, Lauren Green seems to have done it all. Yet what she cares about most of all is communicating the gospel through what she’s discovered and encouraging others to foster a deeper relationship with God. Lauren Green joins Hank on the Hank Unplugged podcast to discuss what she’s discovered, her new book Lighthouse Faith, and what’s up next. Topics discussed include: the role music plays in our world (1:30); the power of hymns to glorify God (8:00); links between mathematics and music (11:30); the significance of overtones (17:30); why did Green make music a key aspect of Lighthouse Faith? (23:45); Green’s role as chief religion correspondent for Fox News (29:25); why does the media tend to be hostile toward Christianity? (33:00); the absurdity of atheist clergy Sweden and other European issues (38:00); spiritual brokenness bringing us closer to God (43:00); The Great Commission to spread the gospel (52:30); a moment of renewal in Ethiopia (58:30); how sickness and suffering can bring us closer to God (1:02:30); aesthetic practices such as Lent and the importance of developing disciplines (1:12:00); lessons learned from the vineyard (1:20:00); and finding union with God through worship (1:24:00).

Lee Strobel has been a longtime guest on the Bible Answer Man broadcast, and he now joins Hank for the first time on the Hank Unplugged podcast. Strobel is a former investigative journalist for The Chicago Tribune, and his best-selling books such as The Case for Christ (now a major motion picture) have reached millions of people and had an enormous impact on the body of Christ. Topics discussed include: the lasting impact of Lee Strobel’s book The Case for Christ (2:30); The Case for Christ movie (6:00); Strobel’s transformation from an angry, drunk atheist to a mild-mannered, God-fearing Christian (8:30); how Strobel uses his award-winning journalistic research and writing skills to provide cogent answers for Christianity (11:00); an honest admission from Strobel on facing dark trials in his life and how prayer helped him to empty his ego and bring him closer to God (15:45); remembering that God’s grace is sufficient in all circumstances (20:30); Nabeel Quereshi as an example of how God can use miracles to reach us (21:45); how should we respond when God doesn’t answer our prayers in the midst of suffering? (23:30); making The Case for a Creator (28:30); learning to trust God for provision and purpose in our lives (31:00); Strobel’s existential awakening in the morgue (record room) of The Chicago Tribune (40:00); the state of journalism today (44:30); are universities today censoring the free exchange of ideas? (49:00); the need for discernment in the age of the internet (50:30); the problems with consensus science (53:15); the importance of equipping young people with a solid apologetic for their faith in Christ (55:30); misinformation in the internet age (1:01:15); the importance of apologetics resources like the Christian Research Journal (1:05:20); dealing with unfair criticisms and attacks online (1:06:30); Strobel’s favorite book that he has written (1:13:00); writing The Case for Miracles and a renewed belief in the supernatural (1:15:10); and advice on how to survive a spiritual mismatch in marriage (1:21:15).

It’s becoming increasingly popular to look at the world we live in and relate it to the dystopian society described in Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World. Nancy Pearcey’s new book, Love Thy Body, tackles issues ranging from transgenderism, homosexuality, abortion, sex, the hookup culture, pornography, and more. Every issue discussed by Hank and Nancy on this edition of Hank Unplugged has an effect on your life, and together they discuss how Christians can turn this Brave New World upside down. Topics discussed include: what are the issues that Pearcey felt compelled to address in her book Love Thy Body (0:30); how does Christianity teach us to feel about our body? (3:30); recognizing Christian heritage (6:30); the dangerous implications of the transgender narrative (9:30); the bioethics of abortion and the scary implications for the identity of personhood (11:30); how did Pearcey transition from being an agnostic to a Christian evangelist? (16:30); the issue of origins being the main difference between Christianity and secularism (21:00); the cognitive dissonance of conflicting social movements such as transgender activists and feminists (28:00); modernism, postmodernism, and morals (33:00); the dire implications of abortion on social perceptions of personhood (38:00); the growing coercive power of the state through postmodern perspectives (41:00); why Western civilization should look to the early church for answers to problems we are facing today (46:00); recovering an appreciation for the radical uniqueness of the Christian worldview (53:00); how Christians can turn the Brave New World we are living in upside down (55:00); the dehumanizing effects and implications of the “loyalty oath of modernity” (1:02:00); how the hookup culture devalues sex, whereas the Christian worldview appreciates the beautiful value of sex (1:04:30); pornography and robot sex (1:08:30); pornography as a public health crisis (1:12:00); the need for Christians to understand worldviews to truly be able to love thy neighbor (1:15:30); the value of women in apologetics (1:20:00).

Graham Veale is passionate about providing Christians with a defense against the “sneer pressure” of popular New Atheists such as scientist Richard Dawkins and comedian Ricky Gervais. On this episode of Hank Unplugged, Hank and Graham discuss confronting New Atheism by being equipped with answers to defend the truth of Christianity. Topics discussed include: the three great apologetic issues (0:30); the hostile environment created by New Atheism, “sneer pressure” and the impact atheists such as Ricky Gervais have on the culture (4:30); teaching people to think critically by demonstrating it consistently in the way we live (8:30); New Atheism compared to Old Atheism (11:30); the positive relationship between Christianity and science (15:00); are many churches more concerned with entertaining rather than educating? (24:30); the need for Christians to live an authentic Christian life (30:30); Veale’s testimony and his passion for defending the truth of Christianity (35:30); the danger of thinking of Christianity as transactional rather than transformational (39:30); the Moral Argument for the existence of God (and how Richard Dawkins gets it wrong) (52:00); do most atheists embrace the logical implications of their worldview? (59:00); falsifying Dawkins (1:03:30); the Intelligent Design movement (1:09:30); drawing a correlation between New Atheism and the rise of social media platforms such as Twitter (1:14:00); and the importance of apologetics (1:24:00).

Christianity is growing rapidly in communist China, and this week Hank invites Victor Hou onto the Hank Unplugged podcast to discuss China’s potential to be the largest Christian country in the world and the subsequent global implications. Hou is a management consultant and leadership coach who has worked with large multinational corporations, entrepreneurs, and business owners in the US and Asia for more than twenty-five years. His experiences, coupled with his faith as a Christian, inform his perspectives on trends and events between Asia and the US, providing him with a unique insight into global affairs. Topics discussed include: increasing nationalism in the West, and China’s embrace of globalization (3:00); could China’s One Belt One Road initiative open evangelistic opportunities for Christians globally? (8:30); how important is it for Christians to be aware of global affairs? (11:15); underreported Christian persecution worldwide (14:00); how Christianity often grows through persecution — the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church (17:30); the correlation between discipleship and mentorship by living out the gospel in our lives (20:30); passing the baton of evangelization to Chinese nationals to raise up the church (27:00); the five religions allowed and regulated by the Chinese government and the difference between the Three-Self Church and the house church movement (32:30); the history of China’s Three-Self Church (39:30); Hou’s testimony and conviction to truly live out the gospel (45:30); the openness to the gospel in the Global South and the importance of being equipped to evangelize (53:30); and grasping the power of prayer (59:20).

We are all familiar with the term fake news. It’s time to become familiar with the term “fake science,” or Zombie Science, as Dr. Jonathan Wells calls it. Zombie Science is an extremely popular postempirical science — motivated by materialism. While zombies are make-believe, Zombie Science is real — and it threatens not just science but our whole culture. This Hank Unplugged podcast features a conversation between Hank Hanegraaff and Dr. Jonathan Wells on how to defeat this Zombie Science. Topics discussed include: what is Zombie Science? (3:30); the price to pay for taking stands against the status quo of materialism and Darwinian evolution in the scientific arena (10:30); examining various icons of evolution like Darwin’s tree of life (17:30); why has the war on Intelligent Design become so ferocious? (31:30); the miracle of metamorphosis (36:20); the strong scientific commitment to materialism (41:00); what is the myth of junk DNA? (45:30); the unnecessary idolization of Charles Darwin (49:30); the problem with making DNA the answer to everything (51:30); examples of zombie science (54:00); the threat to religion presented when materialism is masquerading as empirical science (1:04:00).