Episodes
7 days ago
7 days ago
The argument between science and God is finally put to rest here!
The idea that we need to take an either or approach to these two topics is a false dichotomy often leveled at Christians, so that antagonistic skeptics, atheists, and extreme naturalists can pretend like God isn't real just because He isn't hemmed in by their isolated field of study. A biblical approach to things allows for God, science, philosophy, history, morality, etc. to be unified under the banner of reality.
Christians - refuse to be made to feel as if taking the biblical approach is the more narrow view because it simply isn't.
Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDUkiQvCEF8Rc4TzjyBMsxg
Logo: Matt Hernandez
Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly
Friday Apr 12, 2024
The Cautionary Tale of Moses
Friday Apr 12, 2024
Friday Apr 12, 2024
*NOTE: throughout this episode I refer to Moses as a "murderer." I'd like it to be clear that I, personally, view Moses' action of killing the Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave as a justified act not worthy of the title of murder. Modern Torah readers, and even first century Christians (see Stephen's statement on this event) seem to view Moses' actions as appropriate, heroic social justice, and I agree that this is an appropriate interpretation. This being said, my use of the term "murderer" is meant to reflect the attitudes that, clearly, both the Egyptians and Hebrews in his time reflected back to him which created extremely unpleasant circumstances for him. Guilt and perceived guilt are not the same but they can both cause issues.*
While most wouldn't think of Moses as a cautionary figure, the events of his life and his life itself is summed up in one event that characterizes all of it, and it is certainly a cautionary story. Though Moses accomplished much in his life, ultimately, it ended in a failure to lead the children of Israel into the promised land on account of the sin he committed the second time God brought water from the rock.
In this episode we walk through the life of Moses to analyze his preexisting conditions that became a part of who he was, and the condition of that particular sin itself realizing that the entirety of Moses' life acted as a primer for that specific sin. Though this read through, initially, seems as if Moses was predisposed to fail in nearly everything he was asked to do, and his story cries out for justice and mercy and hope - it is also this very hole in the story that is perfectly filled by Jesus Christ.
In the cautionary tale of Moses we should gain an appropriate fear of committing the sins that often plague us, but with the hope that it points to in the person of Jesus Christ, we should also be filled with relief and gratitude for what he did that neither Moses, or we, could accomplish on our own.
Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com
Logo: Matt Hernandez
Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDUkiQvCEF8Rc4TzjyBMsxg
Friday Apr 05, 2024
6 Tips To Help You Share Your Faith Without Fear
Friday Apr 05, 2024
Friday Apr 05, 2024
Discussing our faith opens us up for criticism, critique, and antagonism from some and might alienate us from others. Talking about our beliefs is fine in some circles but uncomfortable in most others. This can put a Christian who believes they're supposed to be unashamed about their relationship with God at odds with themselves and create a lot of unease. Don't worry - you're not the only one!
How do we balance the understanding that Christians should be ready, willing, and able to share their faith with the paralyzing fear that inevitably crops up when we're actually faced with the opportunity (or predicament) to do so.
In this episode we cover 3 tips for sharing our faith effectively and 3 tips for mitigating the fear that surrounds it. You might not always be met with encouragement and support when you decide to be open about what you believe, but it does NOT need to be as fearful as thing as we often imagine it is.
Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com
Logo: Matt Hernandez
Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDUkiQvCEF8Rc4TzjyBMsxg
Friday Mar 29, 2024
What's That Foot-Washing Thing All About Anyways?
Friday Mar 29, 2024
Friday Mar 29, 2024
With the topic of foot-washing entering the public eye with the "He Gets Us" campaign Super Bowl commercial, it felt appropriate to look into the topic to clear away some of the wrong ideas surrounding the practice.
Who did it? To who? For What?
Often, the people that actively perform foot-washing as a Christian practice either think that it's a generic act to be done for anyone in order to show yourself a servant to all OR see it as some sort of rededication or recommitment to God.
This second mentality is closer to the truth but still glosses over the important fact that your commitment to God happened at baptism. Once you've entered into that relationship, you can recall, reflect, and refocus on that commitment, but you can't enter into it again. To quote Jesus, "the one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean."
Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDUkiQvCEF8Rc4TzjyBMsxg
Logo: Matt Hernandez
Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly
Friday Mar 22, 2024
When They Call You Names
Friday Mar 22, 2024
Friday Mar 22, 2024
Those who worship Jesus Christ have been called all kinds of derogatory things since biblical times. We're told this is expected to continue as we get closer and closer to the time of Jesus' return.
In this episode we look at 4 names leveled against people of the faith during the time of the New Testament and the responses of the ones facing the criticism. Modern aggression towards Christianity hasn't changed all that much and some of the names are still in use today! By looking at what early believers did when they were called names, we can be informed about how we can handle some of the same attacks.
The 4 Names included here are: Nazarene, Seedpicker, Disturber of the Peace, and Christian.
Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com
Logo: Matt Hernandez
Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDUkiQvCEF8Rc4TzjyBMsxg
Friday Mar 15, 2024
Russ Ramsey Interview: Why Does Beauty Matter?
Friday Mar 15, 2024
Friday Mar 15, 2024
Russ Ramsey is a pastor and author from Tennessee with a vested interest in art and how it communicates to us on a fundamental level. In this interview we use his fantastic book, "Rembrandt Is In The Wind," as a jumping off point to discussing the broad topic of beauty.
In a world that is obsessed with image, are we overvaluing beauty or are we just using an improper definition? What is the balance a Christian might want to aim for when considering beauty versus aesthetic obsession?
We also discuss a few specific paintings and artists to reflect on a variety of questions. Idolatry and religious images, Catholic and Protestant tendencies, as well as the morality (or lack thereof) of some of the world's most well-known religious painters.
If you love art or discussions on faith - you'll love this episode. If you hate art or hate discussions on faith - you'll love this episode. Russ Ramsey has an incredible way of analyzing some of the most polarizing topics (art and religion) through the universally loved language of story which is sure to increase your love and appreciation for art, artists, history, faith, and beauty itself.
Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com
Logo: Matt Hernandez
Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDUkiQvCEF8Rc4TzjyBMsxg
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn-rlo-ORHtatIPjGmtZm-w
Russ Ramsey Information:
Rembrandt Is In The Wind Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Rembrandt-Wind-Learning-through-Faith/dp/0310129729
Instagram: @russramsey1
Friday Mar 08, 2024
God Works In Mysterious Ways - Or Does He?
Friday Mar 08, 2024
Friday Mar 08, 2024
The phrase, "God works in mysterious ways," is so commonplace in Christian circles that it often gets mistaken for a Bible verse. Any time we perceive that God has worked in a way we don't expect, we might shrug our shoulders and say this. However, should His workings be mysterious to us?
Of course, God is all-powerful, all-knowing, omnipresent, etc. His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. We're SUPPOSED to look at the work that God does and marvel at it, but this doesn't mean we should be surprised at it.
God has given us a deep text FILLED with examples of the myriad of ways He can and has worked. If we study His word, not only will we begin to understand more clearly how God does and can work, but we'll feel much more free to ask for His guidance and blessing in our lives when we see just how unrestricted He is.
Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com
Logo: Matt Hernandez
Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDUkiQvCEF8Rc4TzjyBMsxg
Friday Mar 01, 2024
Friday Mar 01, 2024
The Bible is a complex series of books. It bears the marks of God in its cohesiveness across time, cultures, and personalities foretelling the end from the beginning and it bears the marks of humanity in its reflection of circumstances, periods in history, and perspectives. It wasn't perfectly understood at the times it was written and it isn't perfectly understood now because it is a book meant to gain clarity as times and seasons come into fulfillment.
As we continue to search the Scriptures to gain clarity, we can be faced with the predicament of not understanding how God's perfect Word was transmitted through His imperfect servants across imperfect media. Skeptics will raise interesting points about various perceived contradictions. Apologists will defend eyewitness discrepancy claiming that, if they were any more perfect they would be exhibiting signs of collusion. On top of this, we have the question of literary license by the authors. Sometimes the Bible seems TOO perfect almost as if it were fabricated by authors rather than recounted by historians.
If the Bible is TOO perfect - we feel we can't trust it. If the Bible is not perfect enough - we feel we can't trust it.
Through this message we'll analyze three stories in the Bible that bear the marks of God's amazing work through imperfect people to bring about historical events in a symmetrical and poetic way and the marks of human perspective writing in such a way to impress a deeper truth behind the historical facts.
Hopefully, by the end, we'll see that while the biblical authors were exercising literary license in how they retold historical accounts, it doesn't negate the factual nature of their writings.
Rather than skepticism, through deeper study, this can become an incredible proof of God's sovereignty to preserve perfect truth through imperfect people.
Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com
Logo: Matt Hernandez
Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly
Friday Feb 23, 2024
Should Christians Be Team Life or Team Death?
Friday Feb 23, 2024
Friday Feb 23, 2024
The Stoic philosopher, Seneca, offered a lot of wisdom on the topic of death - how to die well, how not to fear death, and how to live more fully in light of the knowledge that death is inevitable. Some, however, accused Seneca of being "obsessed with death," to which he might say, "No! You are obsessed with life!"
Which team should the Christian be on? Though so many want to paint the Old Testament as a collection of harsh, judgement books with no mercy in view and the New Testament as one of compassion, when considering the Bible through the lens of the story of life and death, the opposite picture is drawn.
The Old Testament draws clear lines between life and death and strongly exhorts the follower of God to choose life. In the New Testament, however, Christ and His followers are consistently found discussing the topic of death to self, death on behalf of others, and death by persecution as a very probable outcome for Christians. Paul even says, often, that he would PREFER to die rather than continue to live. So which is it?
In this grand story of life and death, where do we fit in and which side should we choose; Team Life or Team Death?
Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com
Logo: Matt Hernandez
Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly
Friday Feb 16, 2024
The Uncomplicated Connection Between Doom and Hope
Friday Feb 16, 2024
Friday Feb 16, 2024
There is a constant debate going on regarding the Church's messaging to the world. Should we "cry aloud and spare not" reflecting the sins of the world back at them, hoping to convict the world of its evil, and drawing hard lines in the sand about moral rightness? Or, should we recognize the broken state of the world and try to share the hope that surrounds what Jesus Christ has done, is doing, and will do in the future in an effort to toss a life raft to those who appear to be drowning?
Doom or hope? This is the question but, are these things as disconnected as we think? How can you refrain from calling out evil for what it is - an affront to God? How can you withhold hope from those desperate for it? Both can be accomplished.
Just like our actual, physical sight, we can only focus on one plane of perspective at a time. If we focus on what's right in front of us, everything else becomes periphery. If we focus on something far away, the things closest to us lose clarity. If we focus on the sin and corruption in the world, we bring clarity to it but lose sight of the Kingdom of God. If, however, we focus on the Kingdom, the sin of the world is seen for what it is - a blurry and uncertain mess.
In this message, given immediately after returning from Israel and experiencing some of the horrible things that happened on October 7th, 2023 first hand, we outline the connection between sin and death to show that Jesus Christ did not just die to forgive us of sin but to walk back what is done in the process of sin. The Way, the Truth, and the Life took on the life of sin, the path of corruption, and the end of death to give us the promise of healing in the future.
This promised healing isn't just one of the removal of physical ailments but a restoration of immortality AND incorruption. Sin brings a lot more than death - it also brings suffering, pain, and decay as a consequence. Even more powerfully, the forgiveness and healing that Christ brings eclipses all of that by bringing restoration, life, and purity from the corruption of sin.
Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com
Logo: Matt Hernandez
Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly