Truth Be Told

Truth Be Told Meets Reacting to Truth

Watch this episode if you're interested in watching us make fun of each other for 2 hours while sprinkling in a few good thoughts about the Bible, the Church, podcasting, etc.

Ryan and Brad are two of my best friends who I've known for most of my life. Every time we interact it's enjoyable (hopefully for those around us as well). It is a privilege to have been a subject for reaction on their channel and it was awesome to talk with them for a full-length episode.

 

Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthBeToldYouTube

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

#faith #religion #spirituality #podcast #bible #biblestudy #interview #friends #Jesus #Christ #JesusChrist #Christianmedia #christianpodcast #Christian #Christianity #conversation #discussion #God #church #biblestudy #reaction #fyp

God the Good Cop

Our view of God can, sometimes, be shaped by our view of authority. I hate being in trouble. Feelings of guilt and shame are always at my fingertips and it isn't uncommon for me to be debilitated by those feelings at times - unable to grow or learn from experiences, instead just beating myself up.

This has been true for a lot of my life. When I was younger, I had a few unfortunately negative experiences with police officers. I didn't do anything horrendously evil but I found myself in trouble nonetheless.

Now, even HEARING sirens has me immediately considering if I've unintentionally done something wrong. Are they out to get me? If we're not careful, we can have these same views of God as well. He's waiting for me to fail. He is disappointed in me. His rod and staff are hanging over my head to punish, not comfort or guide.

This isn't the way God is presented to us in Scripture. In this episode, we address our fear and shift our mind back to God as a loving Father who corrects our disobedience with love and patience.

 

Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthBeToldYouTube

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

 

#faith #religion #spirituality #bible #biblestudy #Christian #Christianity #Jesus #Christ #JesusChrist #God #biblical #hope #truth #love #Christianmedia #guilt #shame #law #torah #gospel #gospels #fyp #fypyoutube

Galilee of the Gentiles

In Isaiah 9, we come across a really strange name for the Northern region of Israel - Galilee of the Gentiles. In modern English, it doesn't read in quite as foreboding language as it would have been in Isaiah, or even Jesus's time.

I always knew that Jesus was often discredited based on where, and with whom, He decided to associate, but I never realized that Galilee was seen as SUCH a negative place. 

Being in the North of Israel, this region was majority Gentile and the Israelites who lived there were seen as less by their compatriots by virtue of their proximity to unbelievers.

However, there's a lesson we can take from Isaiah's prophecy and Jesus's actions towards a place like Galilee that should inform how we view the world around us. This place "in darkness" should not be feared - it should have light brought to it.

We can choose to live like the rest of Israel - avoiding the dark places for fear of the light shared with us becoming dimmed. We can choose to live like Isaiah - wary, but proclaiming a coming light. Or, better yet, we can choose to live like Jesus - being an active part in bringing the light to those places.

 

Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthBeToldYouTube

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

Am I A Pharisee??

Is it possible that I am more like a Pharisee than I'd care to admit? Unfortunately.. yes.

In Mark 7, we read about something the Pharisees did that Jesus wasn't terribly happy with. While, on the surface, we might think we don't do the same thing, the heart of our actions might be similar.

Through an adopted practice known as "corban," (ceremonially dedicating material wealth and possessions to God's service), people were under the impression that they could leave other parts of God's law undone; namely, honoring your father and mother.

By compartmentalizing certain parts of the commands of God and institutionalizing good works, people felt legally justified in washing their hands of other parts they perceived to be less important. However, if they had analyzed their hearts, it would have become clear that they were out to serve themselves and avoid certain fears over losing wealth or status.

Could we be following the same spirit in compartmentalizing certain parts of the God's commands and institutionalizing OUR good works? If Jesus corrects some of this at His return, will we miss Him like the Pharisees did, trusting in our methodological obedience more than the heart of what He is looking for in His people?

 

Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthBeToldYouTube

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

 

#faith #religion #spirituality #faithful #religious #spiritual #theology #apologetics #Jesus #Christ #JesusChrist #God #pharisee #pharisees #bible #biblestudy #biblical #Mark #gospel #gospels #truth #Christian #Christianity #corban #legalism #law #torah #Jewish #Muslim #Catholic #Protestant #preach #evangelism #commission #greatcommission #Christianmedia #Christianliving

Is John Alive?!

There's a wild theory that the Apostle John is actually alive somewhere on the Earth waiting for Christ's return.

The old fashioned, skeptic in me wants to scoff at this but I actually watched a REALLY interesting video about it and found it to be more reasonable than I expected.

This theory comes from a verse found in the last chapter of the book of John and.. I THOUGHT I had the perfect explanation for it.. but could this theory hold a bit more plausibility than I originally expected?

Does it even matter?? Find out on this episode!

 

Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthBeToldYouTube

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

 

#faith #religion #spirituality #christian #christianity #Jesus #God #Christ #JesusChrist #apostlejohn #John #apostle #conspiracy #conspiracytheory #Christianconspiracytheory #Christianconspiracy #church #bible #biblical #biblestudy #religious #faithful #spiritual #theology #apologetics

How To Do EVERYTHING As Unto The Lord

Sure, I can easily feel like I'm doing good work for God as long as I'm sharing the Gospel, serving people at church, or doing anything we'd label "spiritual." But doing EVERYTHING as unto God just seems like an impossible standard to live up to.

In this episode we examine this verse in Colossians 3, gaining context from the surrounding section, and look at a few examples that, I believe, showcase this verse in action.

Once you see it, you won't be able to UNsee it, and applying it to your life is going to be SO much easier!

 

Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthBeToldYouTube

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

 

#faith #religion #spirituality #Christian #Christianity #Jesus #Christ #JesusChrist #hope #love #vocation #job #career #careerplanning #biblical #Colossians #Paul #ApostlePaul #Colossians3 #bible #biblical #bibelstudy #NewTestament #Encouragement #encouraging #God #faithful #spiritual #religious #Catholic #Protestant #truth #fyp #explore #fypyoutube #Christianmedia

God: You Might Like Him When He's Angry

Skeptics and critics of the Bible will often level accusations against Christians stating that they serve an "angry God." They look at verses in the Old Testament outlining God's judgment on people and don't like how it sits with their view of morality. To them, God just seems angry, harsh, and vengeful.

Christians, sensing that God is under attack, are likely to come to His defense. They begin explaining away verses that outline God's anger or try to drown out those verses with a look at the life of Jesus who society has painted to be much more even-keeled. (though, He got angry too..)

In doing this, we forget that anger, in and of itself, is NOT a bad thing!

Used correctly it can actually bring about a lot of good.

In this episode we look at the example of Superhero movies, where an angry hero is something we all root for, and analyze some Scriptural sections outlining God's anger to compare and contrast the two.

You might just find that you actually LIKE God when He's angry..

 

Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthBeToldYouTube

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

 

#faith #religion #spirituality #bible #biblestudy #biblical #theology #apologetics #amos #anger #angry #angryGod #Hulk #IncredibleHulk #superhero #superheroes #Marvel #DC #DCComics #mcu #Jesus #Christ #JesusChrist #God #religion #Christianity #Christian #fyp #scripture #truth #hope #love #spirit #fyp #explorepage #explore #Christianmedia #redhulk #brucebanner #comics #actionfigures #feelings #emotions #emotion

White Jesus??

**This episode utilizes, and refers to, many different historical images and depictions of Jesus. As such, it might be beneficial to view it through the YouTube link in the description below to get the full experience.**

 

Jesus was not white. This shouldn't come as a major shock to anyone.

He was born in Bethlehem in Judea, raised by a typical Israeli family, and was physically indistinguishable from His friends at the end of His life.

Whenever we see images of Jesus, people have a whole host of responses and many of them are angry.

"You should NEVER depict Jesus. That's idolatry!" - is this true?

"Jesus didn't look like that! He looked more like this!" - do we know?

In this episode we take stock of a bunch of images and depictions of Jesus throughout history to show just how varied His portrayals are. Then, we ask the question, why?

Are white people trying to whitewash Jesus? Are other races trying to claim Him ONLY for themselves to the exclusion of others? History doesn't seem to think so. It tells a different story that we'll explore in this week's episode.

 

Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthBeToldYouTube

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

 

#faith #religion #spirituality #faithful #spiritual #religious #Jesus #Christ #JesusChrist #icons #iconography #idols #idolatry #God #Messiah #art #race #culture #ethnicity #whitejesus #blackjesus #jonathanroumie #thechosen #painting #davinci #caravaggio #history #ethiopia #bible #biblestudy #biblical #historicalJesus #OldTestament #NewTestament #hebrewbible #Israel #Israeli #Jewish #Judaism #Christian #Christianity #Muslim #Islam #Catholic #Protestant #hope #love #holybible #fyp #truth

Widow's Mite or Widow's Might?

What can the widow's mite teach me about my own value? This is a biblical lesson that is 2,000 years in the making!

Often when Christians consider how amazing God is, it can actually lead to some really problematic self-esteem issues.

When we observe the perfection of God, it is a natural byproduct that we also observe our own imperfection. Some people look at this state of feeling lowly and consider it a good work. "I SHOULD feel terrible about myself because that shows that I'm esteeming God appropriately!" Now, of course, I don't want to advise IGNORING your own sin or lowliness in light of God's righteousness and loftiness. But there is another step we HAVE TO TAKE!

Often people will take this first step of considering God and considering themselves and realizing that they fall short but they don't take the NEXT step of considering how God views them.

When we do this: "look at your life through Heaven's eyes," as Jethro says in the Prince of Egypt, we begin to realize that our value is more than our own estimation of it.

Sure, you might think, I know that Jesus died for me. I get that that imparts value to me.. but I still don't have anything to offer that ACTUALLY makes me worth that. HERE is where we turn to the lesson of the widow's mite.

 

Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthBeToldYouTube

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

 

#faith #religion #spirituality #Christian #Christianity #value #worth #selfesteem #God #Jesus #Christ #JesusChrist #bible #biblestudy #widowsmite #mite #currency #denarii #biblical #Luke21 #widow #theology #apologetics #bible #fyp #religious #spiritual #faithful #hope #love #Gospel #gospels #goodnews #Christianmedia

How Does God Do Miracles??

Asking this one question might SERIOUSLY help your Bible Study - not because the answer is drastically important, but because it can change how your brain is interacting with the text.

So often, people have a hard time shifting from simply READING Scripture to actually STUDYING it. They believe it must take some monumental effort to do good, effective study because they don't find that it comes naturally.

In reality, a few small, intentional changes can go a long way in preparing your mind to dialogue with the text in a more effective way. And the good news is - it can be about cool stuff that you're already NATURALLY interested in like miracles!

 

Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthBeToldYouTube

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

 

#faith #religion #spirituality #faithful #religious #spiritual #bible #biblestudy #biblical #God #Jesus #Christ #JesusChrist #Christian #Christianity #NewTestament #OldTestament #HebrewBible #miracles #Jonah #miracle #healing #miraculous #theology #apologetics #video #fyp #Judaism #Islam #Israel #Judah #hope #love #supernatural