Hank Unplugged: Essential Christian Conversations

This Hank Unplugged podcast features a wide-ranging conversation with Fr. Themi Adamopoulo. Fr. Themi is a former atheist, rock star turned missionary priest serving in one of the poorest countries in the world, Sierra Leon. As Fr. Themi puts it in his conversation with Hank, “Fame is empty, but Christianity has no expiration date.” Listen to find out why these two former atheists now share a passion to serve Christ that is unshakeable in this energetic and inspiring conversation. Topics discussed include: the contemporary Saint Nektarios and the pain of Christians being persecuted by fellow Christians (2:30); why Hank has experienced persecution by becoming Orthodox, and do Orthodox Christians need to do a better job of evangelism? (7:00); the false dichotomy between faith and works that the West finds itself stuck with (10:00); Themi’s work against the biggest scandal the world faces today: poverty (15:50); the history of belief regarding the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist/Communion (22:30); the importance of perpetuating Christian traditions, while also adapting for cultural differences (29:10); Themi’s past as a Marxist, atheist rock star in the Australian rock band The Flies and how he eventually converted to Christianity (34:50); the dangers of ego in academia (44:00); the Western tendency to embrace reason at the cost of mystery (46:45); mystical experiences of Christ (50:30); Themi explains from his own experience how fame is empty, but Christianity has no expiration date (54:10); every day thousands of children die in Africa. How do we shift our global priorities to stop this and show that we value human life? (1:04:30); Themi explains the popularity of the prosperity gospel preached in many Pentecostal churches in Africa (1:09:00); why Christians helping the poor is a nonnegotiable (1:12:20); their shared belief that true Christian faith is a transformational journey rather than a mere transactional moment (1:16:30).

This week we are bringing you a special edition of the Hank Unplugged podcast featuring some of our favorite conversations that took place on the podcast in 2017. Whether you’ve heard them all or are just getting started, we assure you that this special edition of the Hank Unplugged podcast will be edifying for everyone. Topics discussed include: Mary Eberstadt discussing a new secularist religion of our time and issues we’re facing due to the sexual revolution (1:00); Joe Dallas discussing the rising acceptance of gender fluidity today (14:50); Frank Beckwith discussing the watershed issue of our time: abortion (29:00); Clay Jones discussing the question of “Why does God allow evil?” (40:25); a conversation with Nathan Jacobs, director of the film Becoming Truly Human (56:10); Chris Wilde discussing the crucial conversation between Hank and their mutual friend Elijah that eventually led to CRI adapting the moniker of the ministry from Because Truth Matters to Because Life and Truth Matter (1:14:00); Donald Fairbairn discussing his book Life in the Trinity and how we as Christians can find true union with God (1:21:00).

This week, Hank is joined on the Hank Unplugged podcast by one of his absolute best friends, Jack Countryman, and his wife, Marsha Countryman. Jack is a bestselling author that has had an enormous impact in the world of publishing. The two joined Hank on the podcast to discuss the importance of practicing disciplines and the lost art of marriage. If you’ve ever wondered what the key is to living a successful marriage in Christ, you won’t want to miss this conversation. Topics discussed include: the concept of retirement from Jack’s perspective and how it drives his desire to bring God’s Word to the world (4:30); both men discuss their work in the publishing industry (10:00); the importance of routines and disciplines in life (13:00); the lost art of marriage and building intimacy through investment (16:30); the importance of looking forward as the key to longevity in life (24:30); seeing differences as strengths to build on in a relationship (27:30); Jack’s famous bear story (31:00); discussing Jack’s ministry “In His Grip” and some parallels between principles of golf and Christianity (35:00); prayer as an essential part in finding God’s purpose in our lives (38:30); how Jack’s relationship with his wife has impacted his life and helped him to influence others (45:00); Marsha explains how the Lord brought the two of them together (48:00); the value of handwritten notes in a technological age (54:30); and sharing some of their secrets to a successful marriage (56:30).

This week, Hank is joined on Hank Unplugged by Dr. Bradley Nassif. Dr. Nassif is one of the preeminent academic experts on Orthodox-Evangelical dialogue and a strong advocate of a “unity in diversity” approach to the Christian faith. This conversation aims to clarify many misconceptions between branches of Christianity and how we might better apply our call from Christ to the Father in His high priestly prayer that we may all be as one. Topics discussed include: is there any hope for better engagement between evangelicals and Orthodox Christians? (5:30); the orthodox beliefs shared between Eastern Orthodox Christians and evangelical Christians (8:00); the increasing dialogue between evangelicals and Eastern Orthodox Christians (14:30); exploring different perspectives on the Atonement and Incarnation (20:30); underdeveloped theology regarding icons and the connection between Christ’s incarnation and the basis for icons (24:30); the challenges for people who are unfamiliar with aspects of the Eastern Orthodox worship experience (29:00); the symbolic architectural significance of various church buildings and their arrangements (33:00); what do candles and incense in Orthodox churches represent? (40:00); why do so many insist on pitting Holy Tradition against Sola Scriptura? (45:00); the baptismal process and the importance of keeping the gospel clear and compelling for every generation (53:00); the opportunity for internal renewal within Orthodoxy as well as to explain to the world what Orthodox beliefs truly are (58:00); the transcendent importance of the seven Ecumenical Councils (1:09:00); remembering John 17 as we strive for unity in diversity amongst Christians (1:13:00); Sola Fide and the false dichotomy of faith and works (1:15:00).

This week, Hank is joined on Hank Unplugged by Dr. Richard Poupard. Poupard is a board certified surgeon with an MA in apologetics, which gives him a unique perspective in examining the ethics of scientifically related issues. Whether he is questioning the compatibility of marijuana, birth control, or cloning with a Christian worldview, the driving force of Poupard’s work is examining whether or not we value one another as human beings made in the image of God. Per usual, this is a wide-ranging and insightful conversation that you won’t want to miss. Topics discussed include: The ethics of modern board games (2:30); The importance of being an open-minded, life-long learner (5:00); How Rich, a medical doctor, developed a passion for apologetics and discovered the need for mystery to accompany logic (7:00); Avoiding the pitfall of pride and merely winning arguments while practicing good apologetics (12:00); How Christians should view the rising acceptance of marijuana (14:00); The difference between having a glass of wine and smoking weed (19:30); The changing views about fertility and is birth control Biblical? (21:30); The ghastly consequences of experimentation on embryos and the time that Hank held a frozen embryo named Elise (31:00); Christians using In Vitro fertilization (35:00); Is human cloning compatible with Christianity? (36:30); The problem with using the term sexual purity (38:00); Challenging our notions of lust, modesty and objectification of women (44:30); Harvey Weinstein as an opportunity to reexamine the accepted ways that we often view women (47:30); End of life issues and the slippery slope of euthanasia (54:00); The ethics of plastic surgery (58:00); How suffering can bring us closer to Christ (1:01:30); The importance of being equipped to use apologetics as an ambassador of Christ (1:05:00); The question that drives all of Poupard’s work: “Do we value human beings as made in the image of God?” (1:08:00).

This week Hank is joined on Hank Unplugged by Benjamin Wiker, a distinguished professor and author. The last time Hank had Dr. Wiker on the Hank Unplugged podcast he re-discovered an appreciation for the book 10 Books that Screwed Up the World. Today Dr. Wiker came back onto the podcast to discuss some of the dangerous ideas disseminated through these books, how they are influencing our world and what we as Christians can do about it! Topics discussed include: An opening discussion on some of the books that have screwed up the world (1:30); The realities of a reductionist, materialist culture (5:30); Why Wiker wrote 10 Books that Screwed Up the World (10:00); Rousseau as an example of how ideas have consequences (14:00); Do we need a fuller understanding of the Reformation as a whole? (19:00); The need for unity between the branches of Christianity, rather than continued division (24:30); Eugenics advocate and founder of Planned Parenthood, Margaret Sanger, and the impact of her book The Pivot of Civilization (29:00); The racism in Darwin’s ideas that often gets overlooked (39:00); The impact of the materialistic works of Descartes, Hobbes and Nietzsche (46:30); The need for historical literacy and better Christian education (52:00); How the culture wars might lead the branches of Christianity to exercise God’s grace to cooperate despite differences on secondary theological issues (57:00); Addressing the idea of faith and works through the words of the Apostles James and Paul (1:01:00); The need to dissect the awful ideas of atheists like Richard Dawkins and answer them with well-reasoned responses (1:10:30).

This week Hank is joined on Hank Unplugged by his daughter Christina to talk about Christmas traditions and the inspiration for writing The Heart of Christmas. The Hank Unplugged podcast takes you out of the studio and into the study; however, this edition takes you into the Hanegraaff home for an even more personal discussion on the importance of the Incarnation and preparing our hearts for the Christmas season. Topics discussed include: the importance of Christians preparing their hearts to celebrate Christmas (1:00); the unique significance of the Incarnation (3:00); clarifying issues surrounding the Atonement (8:00); how the Incarnation reveals our hope of Resurrection (10:30); how Hank’s parents' practice of daily devotionals inspired him with an appreciation for studying Scripture (19:00); the importance of preparing ourselves to celebrate Christ and how traditions can impact that preparation (23:00); remembering Christmas as a time not to receive but to give with a grateful heart to meet the needs of others (26:30); a shared memory of ministering to the poor and the downtrodden with humility and respect for what they can teach us (32:00); exploring what it really means that we are made in the image of God (38:30); Hank discusses the significance of his favorite hymn, When Peace, Like a River (48:00).

This week, Hank is joined on Hank Unplugged by Dr. Nathan Jacobs, writer and director of Becoming Truly Human, a documentary that looks at the rise of the "nones" (those with no religious affiliation). The film offers seven cinematic portraits of “nones” alongside the story of today’s guest Dr. Jacobs, whose path goes from unbelief to belief in Christianity, in order to reframe the nones as people defined not by unaffiliation but by a search for something deeper than the religion of their youth. As usual on Hank Unplugged, their conversation is wide ranging, full of depth, and one that you will not want to miss. Topics discussed include: examining the rise of “nones," a term in the documentary Becoming Truly Human used for people with no religious affiliation (1:00); the history behind the title of the documentary Becoming Truly Human (3:00); the importance of learning from the early church fathers (6:00); is it necessary to pit scripture and tradition against one another? (10:00); clearing up the confusion surrounding the false dichotomy between faith and works (16:30); the judicial tendencies and terminologies often present in Western theology (33:30); what the Incarnation truly offers to us (42:00); exploring the concept of deification (44:00); what Dr. Jacobs found in studying the concept of resurrection in several religions and how it’s unique in Christianity (51:00); using the texts of the early church fathers and the longstanding church tradition to better understand Scripture and enhance our Christian faith (55:00); what it means to become truly human (1:01:00); what it was that Dr. Jacobs discovered many of the Millennial “nones” were searching for (1:10:00); the story of Dr. Jacobs's adopted son and the parable of the sheep and the goats (1:16:30); how both Hank's and Nathan’s personal battles with cancer have provided them perspective and brought them closer to God (1:23:00); where people can see the documentary Becoming Truly Human (1:32:00).

This week, Hank is joined on Hank Unplugged by Dr. Donald Fairbairn, professor of Early Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, the academic dean of the Charlotte campus and author or translator of seven books. His book Life in the Trinity has had a great impact on Hank, and Hank has no doubt that everyone will take something valuable away from their conversation this week. Topics discussed include: the relationship between the Father and the Son as explained in Fairbairn’s book Life in the Trinity (2:00); how the evangelical Fairbairn’s travels around the world correlate to his interest and study of Eastern Orthodoxy (3:30); deification and Theosis as foreign concepts for many in the West (9:00); the ways Dr. Fairbairn believes his work in ministry has grown directly from his deafness (11:00); the fundamental relationship involved in salvation and how the focus can all too often be on the means to salvation as opposed to the meaning of it (15:00); the role that doctrines play in the Christian faith (18:00); the danger of making the Christian faith transactional in nature as opposed to transformational (24:00); the importance of the early church fathers (26:30); the Trinity, Incarnation, and Eucharist as concepts that we can apprehend, not comprehend (30:30); the problem when academic arrogance creeps into theology (34:00); what happens to society when we place humanity, rather than God, at the top of the order (36:30); the Lord’s high priestly prayer exemplifying the relationship between Father and Son in the Trinity (43:00); how Fairbairn used Star Wars to explain the premise of his book Life in the Trinity for the Christian Research Journal (47:30); is it possible to achieve unity throughout the branches of the “family tree” of the Christian faith? (51:30); ecclesia and the importance of being part of a church body (54:00); unpacking the idea of deification (57:30); and what drives Dr. Fairbairn to make a difference every day (1:02:30).

This week, Hank is joined on Hank Unplugged by veteran journalist Mindy Belz, senior editor of WORLD magazine and the author of the book They Say We Are Infidels. Belz is a journalist who has risked her life to go behind enemy lines, and her unique perspective on global issues from an informed, Christian perspective is invaluable to us all. Topics discussed include: Belz's unique role as a female journalist going behind enemy lines in dangerous Islamic countries (2:30); Belz's perspective on how the Trump administration is handling the inevitable crisis with North Korea (6:00); the courage that the gospel provides us to feel peace in the face of danger (14:00); bias concerning perception of Christian persecution as opposed to Islamic protectionism (18:00); wearing the “noon” symbol used to represent Nazarene as a statement of solidarity with Christians persecuted in the Middle East (25:00); what Belz learned from worshiping with Eastern Christians in Iraq (29:30); when the United States should help police the world and how it would be most effective (34:30); can Sharia law and democracy coexist? (40:00); the vacuum secularism is leaving in the West and how Islam is prepared to fill it (48:00); how increased diversity can revitalize the Christian church (51:30); the gospel as the source of Mindy’s optimism (56:00); the three-pronged fork in the road of apostasy, apathy, and radicalization that Nabeel Qureshi faced as a Muslim and the example he became as he found the power of Christ (59:30).