Sacred Skeptics

Are Adam (and Eve) historical people, or mythical figures meant to convey ideas about humanity? People of faith often puzzle over how to reconcile what Genesis says with what they are hearing from various scientific disciplines, feeling forced to choose one or the other or compartmentalize their faith. Mike talks with Pastor Bryan Hurlbutt about this issue and the nuances of the book of Genesis as ancient near east literature set in a context much different than our own.

Are Adam (and Eve) historical people, or mythical figures meant to convey ideas about humanity? People of faith often puzzle over how to reconcile what Genesis says with what they are hearing from various scientific disciplines, feeling forced to choose one or the other or compartmentalize their faith. Mike talks with Pastor Bryan Hurlbutt about this issue and the nuances of the book of Genesis as ancient near east literature set in a context much different than our own.

Is it just smart to be concerned about Muslims in America and immigration issues, or have Christians bought into a media narrative that distorts reality and causes us to fear those that we should be welcoming to? In this episode, Mike Bell interviews Shane Bennett, a man that has been interacting with Muslims all over the world for many years (and is currently involved in predominantly Muslim refugee engagement in Sicily). Mike and Shane discuss the realities of Muslim belief and practice, and some of the hot potato issues related to Islam from a Biblical point of view.

What does a person of faith do when they face an unimaginable tragedy; the loss of a child? In the case of Pastor Stewart White, the reality of the sudden unexpected death of his adult son confronted him with the most serious of questions: will the Christian faith that he has held his whole life sustain he and his family through the darkest time of their lives? Stewart shares insights and reflections drawn from his four-year journey since the passing of his son.

Jen and Brandon Hatmaker are the latest evangelical thought leaders to catch public condemnation.  They join the unhappy club of formerly loved evangelicals, along with Rachel Held Evans and Rob Bell.  Mike Frost, the professor, author and Christian blogger has called foul on Evangelical culture for being exclusive and unhealthy. Pastor Rick Henderson, along with guest co-host Rob Lambert respond.

Jesus Feminist Sarah Bessey's hashtag, #ThingsOnlyChristianWomenHear created a twitter firestorm. Is there a cultural problem or a doctrinal problem in churches that makes religion inherently sexist? Is it both or something altogether different? Does faith unintentionally encourage abuse? Pastor Rick Henderson admits he was wrong, as he welcomes guest co-hosts Becky Bruce and Rob Lambert to give their perspective.    

After posting comments online in response to Samatha Fields's article in Relevant Magazine, a Christian publication, a storm of shame and general insanity erupted. Added to the spotlight is self-proclaimed Jesus Feminist Sarah Bessey's trending hashtag, #ThingsOnlyChristianWomenHear. Pastors Mike Bell and Rick Henderson engage the fray and take seriously the claims that pastors, like John Piper, promote abuse. Is that fair or far fetched?

Writing for Relevant Magazine, Samantha Field claims that Christian teaching on purity and modesty cultivates objectification of women and a rape culture. She claims that's why there is sparse outrage over the realities of sexual harassment. Is she on to something or is she out of her mind? Pastors Rick Henderson and Mike Bell discuss.

Presumably the secular culture at large expects the marketplace of ideas to be much more civil without those “narrow minded” Christians around, constantly discussing moral black and white, drawing lines in the sand on sexual ethics for instance. If Christian influence is waning in society, progressives might expect there to be a utopia just around the corner, where each person’s ideas and choices are wildly accepted by everyone, and civil discourse is normative…but is that what we’re seeing in the culture at large?  Pastors Mike Bell and Rick Henderson engage this and more.

The most persuasive people are the ones who make us laugh. Louis C.K.'s new Netflix special has erupted in controversy.  His observations spark laughter over "killing babies."  Pro-choice advocates like it less than the Pro-life advocates.  And yet, the routine is decidedly in favor of abortion.  Pastors Rick Henderson and Mike Bell discuss the the power of comedy and persuasion all while taking a serious look at the tiny revolution behind every joke.  

The claim that Jesus rose from the dead is well documented and undeniable.  But is that claim credible?  Scholars of all stripes agree on 5 bedrock facts.  What explanation best accounts for all of those facts?  It's not enough to submit a theory.  You must support it with evidence.  Pastors Mike Bell and Rick Henderson dive in and evaluate each theory against the evidence.  

Richard Dawkins claims that Jesus rotted in a grave, like everyone else.  And, any claim otherwise is no better attested than a children's fable.  But what about all of New Testament scholars who say differently? What about non-Christian historical documents that address Jesus and the resurrection? Even agnostic, New Testament scholar, Bart Ehrman disagrees with Dawkins. Pastors Rick Henderson and Mike Bell discuss.

You can try to control your children or you can try to influence them, but you can't choose both. What do you when you're afraid that your kids are losing their Christian values or their innocence? Your college age kid announces that he has adopted a political ideology that you despise... Your teenage daughter is pregnant.  Pastors Mike Bell and Rick Henderson discuss how to move forward without blowing up.  

Someone once said, "When you become a parent you quickly realize that for the rest of your life you’re only as happy as your unhappiest kid." Kids will do something that goes against our values, experiment with something illegal or go through a phase that feels like a bomb has been dropped on the family. What do you do when you're afraid they're losing something sacred? What if they drop the atheist bomb? Pastors Rick Henderson and Mike Bell discuss steps to keep the Christian family from blowing up when the bombs do drop.  

Disillusionment.  A crisis of faith.  Uncertainty.  These are common, maybe even healthy experiences in every worldview.  Do these feelings and thoughts mean that it's time to abandon beliefs?  Should we repress doubts?  What is the way forward? How are we supposed to be a good friend when talking with someone who is believer in public, but a secret doubter in private?  Join Pastors Mike Bell and Rick Henderson for round two, as they discuss with special guest Aaron Shafovaloff.

What do you do when see yourself playing a shell game?  On the outside you still wear the mask of a believer, but on the inside—you know you’re really a doubter. There are many different approaches to common experience.  The answers can't be, "Just have more faith."  Or, "fake it till you make it."  Is it possible that the way we face our own beliefs is flawed?  Pastors Rick Henderson and Mike Bell discuss with special guest Aaron Shafovaloff.

From Bethel Church in Redding, to Hillsong in Australia, many in the evangelical world have gone full fanboy over modern day prophets.  If someone is legitimately a mouthpiece for God, how could that ever be verified?  Is this just a matter of faith, feelings or intuition?   How can we know if someone is legitimate?  Pastors Mike Bell and Rick Henderson jump head first into the murky depths of the weird and sensational claims made by religious people.

From social interaction to social media, making a political statement or taking a bold stance on a cultural issue feels like stepping into the lion's den.  And yet, we love it when people dare to engage.  In this episode, pastors Rick Henderson and Mike Bell respond to both the friendly and critical members of the Sacred Skeptics community who have written emails and commented online.

Baronnelle Stutzman is the florist who was thrust into the national spotlight for refusing to design flowers for a same-sex wedding. Alliance Defending Freedom is taking her case to the Supreme Court. Is this another instance of grumpy, hypocritical Christians? Is there a difference between what the law should allow and what Christians should do? Does this case expose liberal hypocrisy? Pastors Mike Bell and Rick Henderson disentangle perception from fact and give their take on this messy issue.

William Paul Young's uber popular book, The Shack, has sold millions of copies and is now a feature film.  Some are raving fans.  Others resist and even attack it for being heresy -- chock-full of erroneous information about God, Jesus, the Bible etc. Conservative Christian thought leader Albert Mohler says that the book "reveals a disastrous failure of evangelical discernment." Is he right? Pastors Rick Henderson and Mike Bell discuss.