Issues, Etc.

Pr. Mark Loest of Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran-Frankentrost, MI The post Christmas Traditions in the History of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod – Pr. Mark Loest, 12/11/25 (3452) first appeared on Issues, Etc..

In this engaging discussion, Dr. Alfonso Espinosa, a senior pastor and Christian apologist, tackles the claim that Christianity is misogynistic. He delves into cultural sin and the misuse of scripture that fuels this perception. Alfonso highlights the powerful roles of biblical figures like Deborah and Esther, emphasizing women’s honor in the faith. He also addresses the implications of such claims, noting they hinder the gospel's message. By framing patriarchy as stewardship, he defends the dignity and purpose of women's roles within Christianity.

Pr. Will Weedon, an assistant pastor and renowned author on Lutheran worship, explores the intricacies of the church calendar. He reveals how Jewish festivals influence Christian celebrations like Easter and Christmas. The discussion includes the significance of Advent as a time of penitence, branching into the joyous extensive feasts of the Christmas season. He elaborates on Lent's 40-day fast and the celebratory nature of Easter. Concluding, he explains how maintaining the church year helps Christians stay anchored in their faith amid worldly distractions.

Audio Open Lines The post Responding to Listener Email and the Issues, Etc. Comment Line, 12/10/25 (3442) first appeared on Issues, Etc..

Terry Mattingly of Rational Sheep Rational Sheep Pop Goes Religion: Faith in Popular Culture GetReligion.orgThe post Media Coverage of Two Pew Research Center Surveys on Religious Attendance – Terry Mattingly, 12/10/25 (3441) first appeared on Issues, Etc..

Dr. John Bombaro of St. James Lutheran-Lafayette, IN The post Looking Forward to Sunday Morning (One Year Lectionary): Third Sunday of Advent – Dr. John Bombaro, 12/9/25 (3433) first appeared on Issues, Etc..

Dr. Reed Lessing of Concordia University – St. Paul, MN Hope in the Wilderness The Concordia Commentary on Lamentations The Concordia Commentary on Zechariah The Concordia Commentary on Isaiah 40-55 The Concordia Commentary on Isaiah 56-66 The Concordia Commentary on JonahThe post Covenants in the Bible, Part 1 – Dr. Reed Lessing, 12/9/25 (3432) first appeared on Issues, Etc..

Dr. Angus Menuge of Concordia University-Wisconsin Agents Under Fire: Materialism and the Rationality of ScienceThe post Answering Arguments Against Christianity: The Meaning of Life Is Found in Technology – Dr. Angus Menuge, 12/9/25 (3431) first appeared on Issues, Etc..

Dr. Adam Francisco, Director of Academics and an expert on Christian theology, dives deep into morality's roots. He critiques Sam Harris's view that the Bible can't ground moral law and argues that natural law suggests moral behavior even among nonbelievers. Exploring how objective moral standards require a divine basis, Dr. Francisco illustrates why secular perspectives fall short. He emphasizes that everyone behaves as if morality is real, all while clarifying the limits of reason and empathy alone in grounding ethics.

Dr. Michael New, a visiting assistant professor at the Catholic University of America and a senior associate scholar at the Charlotte Lozier Institute, dives into the recent delays in the CDC's annual abortion report. He highlights the limitations of CDC statistics and discusses the impact of personnel changes at HHS leading to halted data collection. New also addresses gaps in state reporting and the challenges posed by chemical abortions, urging pro-life advocates to push for better data practices to understand the effects of pro-life laws.