Filter: Biblical Clarity in a Confusing World

In this episode of Filter, we delve into fascinating topics with Joshua Rasmussen, a renowned philosophy professor at Azusa Pacific University and author of Who Are You, Really? We'll explore the deep implications of the philosophy of mind, consciousness, and their relevance to Christian apologetics and worldview. We discussed the debates surrounding foundational reality and philosophy of mind, as well as explored the intriguing realms of consciousness and artificial intelligence. In this episode, you will gain new insights into what it means to be human and how these concepts intersect with matters of faith and reason.

Today, I have the pleasure of welcoming back historian and professor Glenn Sunshine, who specializes in the Reformation era and has authored several books on Christianity and culture. He's here to talk to us about his latest book, 32 Christians Who Changed Their World, which highlights the lives of lesser-known individuals who made a significant impact for the kingdom of God. From Vikings to queens to founding fathers, Glenn shares with us why he chose to focus on these individuals and what we can learn from their stories. This conversation was a blast and I am sure you will enjoy it.

Glenn Sunshine (Ph.D., Renaissance, and Reformation History) is a former professor of history at Central Connecticut State University, a ministry associate at Reflections Ministries, and a senior faculty member of the Colson Fellows. An award-winning author, Glenn has published books, articles, and book chapters on history, theology, and culture, online, and on both sides of the Atlantic. His book Why You Think the Way You Do: The Story of Western Worldviews from Rome to Home (Zondervan, 2009) received the 2006 Acton Institute Book Grant. Glenn has also taught courses on four continents.

In this episode, I’m glad to welcome Bill Myers, an award-winning author, filmmaker, and creator of the hit TV series McGee & Me. Bill shares his journey as a writer, from his early days of submitting scripts to television networks to his current book series, The Magnificent Mulligans.

We explore the genesis of McGee & Me, the beloved show that blended live-action with animation to teach kids about faith and morals. We also delve into Bill's thoughts on the state of modern media, from the lack of creativity to the need for discernment with what our children watch. He shares his views on the importance of creating meaningful content that engages audiences and inspires them to think deeply about the world around them. Whether you're a fan of Bill's work or simply interested in the art of storytelling, this episode is sure to provide plenty of insights and inspiration.

As author/producer Myers’ work has sold over 8 million books and videos and has won 80 national and international awards, including the C.S. Lewis Honor Award. His latest adult novels include Eli and the Rendezvous with God series. His children's projects include the McGee and Me book/video series (aired on ABC and BBC), The Incredible Worlds of Wally McDoogle (2.2 million copies and going strong), writer/director of episodes for Adventures in Odyssey, and author of his current book series, The Magnificent Mulligans. When he is not writing and running his film production company, he teaches a class on discipleship at a local High School.

I’m thrilled to have Melissa Cain Travis as our guest on today’s episode. Melissa's work explores how science and faith can intersect, and how this intersection can lead to a deeper understanding of both. In today's episode, we will be discussing the life and work of Johannes Kepler, and how his faith influenced his scientific discoveries. We'll also be exploring the ways in which science and faith can converge, and how this convergence can deepen our understanding of the world around us.

The real story of Saint Patrick is a fascinating tale of the gospel’s power and a missionary’s faithfulness. Sadly, many people today don’t know anything more about St. Patrick than shamrocks and green beer. I’m glad to welcome Ned Bustard to the podcast to discuss his new book Saint Patrick the Forgiver and what we can learn from the real story.  

Ned Bustard is a graphic designer, a children's book illustrator, an author, and a printmaker. As the creative director for Square Halo Books, Inc. and curator of the Square Halo Gallery, Ned has lectured at colleges, schools, churches, and conferences. His work is found in numerous titles including Saint Nicholas the Giftgiver, The O in Hope, Revealed: A Storybook Bible for Grown-Ups, and Every Moment Holy. He lives with his family in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  

Os Guinness returns to the show to share about his newest book Signals of Transcendence. We discussed the idea of a signal of transcendence and look at the lives of several notable figures to see how the signals played a role in their conversion. Os tells us about the stories of C. S. Lewis, G. K. Chesterton, W. H. Auden, and others. We also talked about what the signals mean and how to recognize them in your life.

In June of 2022, we saw the momentous Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade. Abortion has been a hotly contested issue ever since the Roe decision, but many people don’t realize that there is a history of abortion that goes beyond 1973. On this episode of Filter I am glad to welcome Leah Savas to discuss this history from her recent book co-authored with Marvin Olasky titled The Story of Abortion in America.   

Leah Savas reports on abortion for WORLD News Group, where she writes the weekly Vitals roundup and newsletter of pro-life news. She is the co-author of The Story of Abortion in America. Leah lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with her husband, Stephen.  

I’m excited to welcome Timothy Pickavance to the show. We discussed his new book Knowledge for the Love of God. We talked about the meaning of faith and why it is not contrary to knowledge. Tim also shows us how knowledge is necessary for the Christian life and growing in our relationship with God.  

Timothy Pickavance is associate professor and chair of philosophy at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, and scholar in residence at Redeemer Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Newport Beach, California, where he is also a ruling elder. He is the coauthor, with Robert C. Koons, of both Metaphysics: The Fundamentals and The Atlas of Reality: A Comprehensive Guide to Metaphysics.  

In Mark 11:22-24 Jesus said, “Have faith in God. Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, everything you pray and ask for—believe that you have received it and it will be yours.” This passage speaks to an uncommon faith that leads to great prayer. I have often wrestled with these verses, as it challenges my own weakness in prayer. What does it mean to have faith in God in prayer as Jesus speaks of here?  

Today’s episode is a recent sermon that I preached that attempts to answer this question. I explain what faith in prayer does not mean and how verses such as these have been misused by false teachers. After we look at the negative examples, I defined what it means to have faith in God in prayer. I also share how you can grow in your faith in prayer. My study and preparation for this message have been incredibly beneficial to my prayer life and I hope it is to yours as well.  

In John 3, Jesus told Nicodemus that in order to enter the Kingdom of God one must be born of water and of the Spirit. Later in the book of Acts, we read about Christians being baptized and receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Baptism in the Spirit is a theological topic many believers are unaware of or unclear on. Depending on your church background, the issue might be accompanied by baggage from bad teaching. My guest on today’s show is here to help us have clarity and understanding on this conversation. His name is Joe Miller and we discussed his latest book One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism: Spirit Baptism and Christian Unity.   

On today’s episode, I’m glad to welcome Paul Gould. Paul and I discussed his latest book A Good and True Story: Eleven Clues to Understanding Our Universe and Your Place In It. He shares with us how we all inhabit a story and that within the story we inhabit there are signs that point us to the meaning of our story. Paul walks us through the implications of the various stories we might believe about our lives and the signs that point us to the good and true story.

Paul M. Gould (PhD, Purdue University) is associate professor of philosophy and director of the philosophy of religion master's program at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Florida. He is the founder and president of the Two Tasks Institute, an apologetics institute and podcast, and is on the faculty of Summit Ministries and the Colson Center Fellows Program. Gould is the author of eleven books, including The Story of the Cosmos and the award-winning Cultural Apologetics. He is also the co-author of Philosophy: A Christion Introduction and Stand Firm: Apologetics and the Brilliance of the Gospel. Gould is a popular guest on national radio programs and podcasts as well as a sought-after speaker on apologetics and philosophy.

Every Christian should endeavor to be the best steward of his life that he can be. We ought to honor God with our souls, worship, possessions, and our body. Stewardship of our body includes not just resisting sinful temptations but also treating it well with healthy habits. I’ve discovered that one of the best ways to learn about caring for our bodies well is by learning it from the people who do it the best. That’s why I’m glad to welcome Brandon Luckett to the show to discuss fitness, health, and how caring for our bodies aids our walk with God.

Brandon Luckett is a medical physicist and CrossFit athlete. He has been a competitive CrossFitter for nearly ten years and has competed in the CrossFit Games three times. He also helps others in their fitness journey through the EMOM Company, a training plan that offers effective workouts for those short on time.

How should Christians understand and apply the Old Testament law? Many Christians are bewildered by the law sections of the Old Testament and sadly tend to ignore them. My guest on today’s show wants to help us to understand the law and its applications to us today. His name is Richard E. Averbeck and we discussed his new book The Old Testament Law for the Life of the Church: Reading the Torah in the Light of Christ.  

Richard E. Averbeck (Ph.D., Annenberg Research Institute, Dropsie College) is an Old Testament and Semitic languages professor at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He is the co-editor of "An Excellent Fortress for His Armies, a Refuge for the People" and the author of many journal articles and reference works.  

Get 30% off "The Old Testament Law for the Life of the Church" at IVP with code FILTER. See the link in the show notes.  

In the summer of 2020, we saw chaos, riots, and violence on American streets. The fire in the streets was paired with the message that Western culture is fundamentally divided into “oppressed” and “oppressor.” Ever since, we have been hearing leaders in government, media, medicine, higher education, and even the church tell us how we ought to right these wrongs through radical programs of antiracism, gender theory, and equity.   

Dr. Groothuis’s latest book Fire In The Streets is his response to these ideologies. What can we do amidst all the controversies over race and gender in society today? Do we have anything constructive to offer the world? As Jesus’ followers, we do, and this book shows the way.  

I recently had the opportunity to sit down and do a live interview with Dr. Douglas Groothuis on his latest book Fire In The Streets. We had a great conversation covering a wide range of topics including conservatism, Marxism, critical race theory, Christian political engagement, and more.  

Douglas Groothuis, Ph.D., is Professor of Philosophy at Denver Seminary, where he has served since 1993. He is the author or co-author of fourteen books, including the best-selling, Unmasking the New Age, the much-used apologetics textbook, Christian Apologetics, and introduction to philosophy, Philosophy in Seven Sentences, a memoir, Walking through Twilight, and a children’s book, I Love You to The Stars (with Crystal Bowman).  

For decades, Christians in China have been oppressed the persecuted by a communist state. In spite of this opposition, the underground church there has continued to grow and thrive. We frequently hear the stories of their persecutions and courage, but it is a rare privilege to get to learn from the leaders of the Chinese church. That’s why I am so excited about a new book called Faithful Disobedience and the opportunity to talk with the editor of this new book Hannah Nation. In this conversation, we learn about some of the leaders of the Chinese house church movement and what they believe.

For many people, their job merely feels like a daily grind. But what if our vocations are a primary means of experiencing God’s purpose in our lives? On today’s show, I welcome Bryan Chapell to discuss his new book Grace at Work. We talk about how work is a vital way that we fulfill God’s purpose for us, as well as show his grace to those around us. Bryan shows us how we bear God’s image in our work and express the kingdom.  

Bryan Chapell is a bestselling author of many books, including Christ-Centered Preaching and Holiness by Grace. He is pastor emeritus of the historic Grace Presbyterian Church in Peoria, Illinois; president emeritus of Covenant Theological Seminary; and president of Unlimited Grace Media (unlimitedgrace.com), which broadcasts daily messages of gospel hope in many nations.   

We have recently seen a number of once-prominent Christian leaders—as well as a number of believers online—announce that they are “deconstructing” their faith. Sadly, this deconstruction is often succeeded by a de-conversion. They embrace the position that orthodox, biblical Christianity is outdated, boring, or repressive. My guest on today’s show argues against the deconstructionist position and those who would substitute historic, biblical orthodoxy for modern heresy. His name is Trevin Wax and we discussed his latest book The Thrill of Orthodoxy.

Trevin Wax is vice president of research and resource development at the North American Mission Board and a visiting professor at Cedarville University. A former missionary to Romania, Trevin is a regular columnist at The Gospel Coalition and has contributed to The Washington Post, Religion News Service, World, and Christianity Today, which named him one of 33 millennials shaping the next generation of evangelicals. He has served as general editor of The Gospel Project and has taught courses on mission and ministry at Wheaton College. He is the author of multiple books, including The Thrill of Orthodoxy, Rethink Your Self, This Is Our Time, and Gospel Centered Teaching.

Os Guinness returns to the show to discuss his latest book Zero Hour America: History's Ultimatum over Freedom and the Answer We Must Give. We discussed the crisis of freedom in Western society, the nature of freedom, and what freedom requires.

The calling of parenthood is to raise our children in the fear of the Lord. Yet, as all Christian parents know, this calling is easily lost in the chaos of life. We are juggling the various responsibilities of our households and the shifting challenges of raising our kids. In the midst of all this, how are we to teach our children to love God? My guest on today’s show is Sarah Cowan Johnson, the author of Teach Your Children Well, and she helps us to accept the calling of parenthood with wisdom and faith.

Sarah Cowan Johnson is a ministry trainer, consultant, and coach who works with church planters, pastors, and ministry leaders across the United States. She leads seminars for parents on family discipleship to help their children walk in the way of Jesus. She served with the Evangelical Covenant Church as the executive pastor for Sanctuary Church in Providence, Rhode Island, and previously was a staff trainer and an area director for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. She is the cohost of The People of the Way podcast. She and her husband have two sons and live in Providence.

Doubt is an experience in every person’s life—including the life of Christians. Yet, many of us are unwilling to acknowledge our doubts, or we are afraid of seeking help for our doubts because we fear that it reflects poorly on our faith. Therefore, too many believers will suppress their doubts with denial or eventually surrender to them in hopelessness. My guest on today’s show argues that doubt is not necessarily bad. He says that it is a common experience to us all and that if we lean into it, then we might actually find our faith strengthened on the other side of doubt. His name is Travis Dickinson and we discussed his latest book Wandering Towards God: Finding Faith Amid Doubts and Big Questions.   

Travis Dickinson (Ph.D., University of Iowa) is a professor of philosophy at Dallas Baptist University. He has taught philosophy and Christian apologetics courses for over twenty years and has done apologetics and evangelism in more than thirty-five countries. He lives with his family in Fort Worth, Texas.   

In Francis Schaeffer’s classic book Art and the Bible he wrote, “Is the creative part of our life committed to Christ? Christ is the Lord of our whole life and the Christian life should produce not only truth—flaming truth—but also beauty.” He argued that art is important to the Christian life because it is a work of creativity and God is the Creator. Moreover, since man is created in the image of God, he has the capacity to create, and that makes his works of art meaningful. My guest on today’s show argues that we ought to take the works of art in film seriously and view them as opportunities to experience our Creator. His name is Richard Goodwin and we discussed his new book Seeing Is Believing.  

Richard Vance Goodwin (Ph.D., University of Otago) is a film expert and adjunct assistant professor of theology and culture at Fuller Theological Seminary.  

How does God view me in my sins and sufferings? We often ask ourselves this question. We wonder if he pulls away from us because of our sinfulness. Our hearts doubt that he could desire someone who is as spiritually broken as we are.   

In this episode, I share a teaching from one of my favorite passages in Scripture. The story of David and Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 9 shows us how God views the spiritually crippled. We learn how God sees us in our sins and sufferings, as well as his invitation to us.   

Suffering causes us to ask hard questions about life. It also tests our faith as we question God’s goodness, or even existence, in the reality of a deeply broken world. One of the most important factors in how we handle suffering is the story that we believe about the world and ourselves. The story we believe will determine the answers to those hard questions. My guest on today’s show argues for the Christian worldview as the story we need in order to understand the condition of life and to live well in the face of suffering. I’m glad to welcome back Mark Talbot to discuss the second volume in his series Suffering and the Christian Life titled Give Me Understanding that I May Live: Situating Our Suffering within God’s Redemptive Plan.  

Mark Talbot grew up in the Seattle area. When he was seventeen, he fell off a Tarzan-like rope swing and suffered a paralyzing accident that left him partially paraplegic. After graduating from Seattle Pacific College with a B. A. in English Literature, he completed his Ph.D. in Philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania. He began his teaching career as an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Calvin College in 1987 and then moved to Wheaton College in 1992, where he teaches courses on suffering, philosophical theology, philosophical psychology, David Hume, and Jonathan Edwards.   

PRODUCER'S NOTE: Due to technical problems with recording this episode, we had to utilize the internet backup files. The conversation isn't affected, but the audio and video quality is lower than usual. Apologies!

Can I be a woman born in a man’s body? Is it possible that God could have made a mistake when he made me? Is the idea of gender merely a social construct that I should reject in order to be my authentic self? These questions are the kind of thoughts that many teenagers and young adults in our culture are considering. Many people find it shocking to discover that those who identify as LGBTQ+ are on a sharp increase in Gen Z. Discerning Christian ask why, how can we respond, and what do we do to protect our children from gender confusion. My guest on today’s show is Sarah Zylstra, a writer at The Gospel Coalition, who has done excellent work investigating this topic to answer these questions.   

Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra is a senior writer and faith-and-work editor for The Gospel Coalition. She is also the co-author of Gospelbound: Living with Resolute Hope in an Anxious Age and editor of Social Sanity in an Insta World. Before that, she wrote for Christianity Today, homeschooled her children, freelanced for a local daily paper, and taught at Trinity Christian College. She earned a BA in English and communication from Dordt University and an MSJ from Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. She lives with her husband and two sons in the suburbs of Chicago, where they are active members of Orland Park Christian Reformed Church. 

Do you find yourself distracted lately? We live in a culture that has trained us to expect constant entertainment, endless content, and no effort to achieve contentment. These expectations have been made possible by the dominance of digital media in our lives. Jay Kim returns to this episode to argue that we need the wisdom of the biblical worldview to discern the tech’s promises and break free from our digital slavery, as we discussed his newest book Analog Christian.   

Jay Y. Kim serves as lead pastor for teaching at WestGate Church in the Silicon Valley of CA. He's the author of Analog Church and Analog Christian. His written work has been featured in Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, Missio Alliance, Relevant, and Outreach. He lives in Silicon Valley with his wife and two young kids.   

Masculinity is a hot topic today in our swirling debates about gender and sexuality. Both in the church and the broader culture, people argue over the fundamental differences, roles, and definitions of masculinity and femininity. My guest on today’s show has an approach to considering the nature of masculinity that doesn’t rely on cultural stereotypes but instead looks at the motivating heart of a man. His name is Chase Replogle and we discussed his new book The 5 Masculine Instincts.

Chase Replogle is the pastor of Bent Oak Church in Springfield, Missouri. He holds a degree in Biblical Studies and an M.A. in New Testament from The Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. Chase is the author of The 5 Masculine Instincts. His work has been featured on Good Morning America, Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, Ekstasis, Bible Engagement Project, and Influence Magazine. In addition, he hosts the Pastor Writer Podcast (pastorwriter.com), where he interviews Christian authors on writing and publishing. A native of the Ozark woods, he enjoys being outdoors with his wife and two kids, sailing, playing the guitar (badly), and quail hunting with his bird dog Millie.

The Christian faith will always have opponents, skeptics, and seekers who will attempt to challenge its credibility, which is why apologetics is always a necessity. Moreover, we need apologists because there are a wide diversity of intellectual challenges and personalities which must be engaged when defending the faith. On today’s show, my guest is a Christian apologist with a new book that provides a unique approach to presenting Christianity to the skeptic. His name is Neil Shenvi and we discussed his book Why Believe? A Reasoned Approach to Christianity.

Neil Shenvi (Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley) has worked as a research scientist at Yale University and Duke University and has published over thirty peer-reviewed papers. He is a regular blogger at Shenvi Apologetics writing on current issues and book reviews. He is married to Christina and currently homeschools their four children.

As Christians, we believe that every person in a relationship with God has a calling from God. We read this in passages such as Ephesians 2:8-10 where Paul tells us, “For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift
— not from works, so that no one can boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.” We live out these callings and good works that God has called us to in every day of our lives. Whether you are an employee, entrepreneur, homemaker, or missionary, you must discover how God has called you in your time and place. My guest on today’s show wants to help us discover our calling and follow it faithfully. His name is Gordon T. Smith and we discussed his newest book Your Calling Here and Now.  

Gordon T. Smith (Ph.D., Loyola School of Theology, Ateneo de Manila University) is the president of Ambrose University and Seminary in Calgary, Alberta, where he also serves as a professor of systematic and spiritual theology. He is an ordained minister with the Christian and Missionary Alliance and a teaching fellow at Regent College, Vancouver, British Columbia. He is the author of many books, including Institutional Intelligence, Courage and Calling, Called to Be Saints, and Evangelical, Sacramental, and Pentecostal.  

When we go through times of difficulty, we often question God’s plans, promises, and disposition towards us. It’s easy to wonder what his purpose is for us when we are experiencing trials and suffering. There’s consolation in that when we read Scripture, we see many examples of God’s people going through such times and asking similar questions. I recently preached a sermon at our church on God’s message to the Jews in exile who were contemplating similar questions. In Jeremiah 29, God speaks directly to his suffering children and tells them what his purpose is for them in their trials. No matter what kind of difficulty you experience in your life, this letter is incredibly relevant to us too.

One of the biblical themes that we read about God’s people is that we are sojourners. This means that we are resident aliens. We reside somewhere that we do not ultimately belong. In other words, where we live now is not our true home. As sojourners in this world, there are many ways that we can experience the otherness and difficulty of not belonging to it. The Christian Worldview helps us to understand how we are different from our surrounding culture and teaches us the truth. I’m excited to have a guest who’s an excellent Christian worldview guide in our confusing culture. His name is Shane Morris and we discussed a wide range of topics.  

Shane and I began our discussion by talking about being fathers of young families and how a Christian value of the family sometimes puts you at odds with the values of our culture. We then discussed how technology influences us and how the church should respond. Finally, we talked about how the driving presuppositions of our culture are opposed to what the Bible teaches us about ourselves and life.  

They say that those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it. What about those who misunderstand or distort the past? It’s not only important that we know history but that we get history right. As Christians, history is another segment of life that we can approach and understand from the biblical worldview to gain a proper view. I’m glad to welcome on the show Vern Poythress to discuss his newest book Redeeming Our Thinking About History: A God-Centered Approach.  

Vern S. Poythress (PhD, Harvard University; ThD, University of Stellenbosch) is Distinguished Professor of New Testament, Biblical Interpretation, and Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he has taught for four decades. In addition to earning six academic degrees, he is the author of numerous books and articles on biblical interpretation, language, and science.  

Being a Christian means more than adopting a set of beliefs. To be a Christian is to be in a relationship with Jesus Christ and to be transformed by the Holy Spirit through that relationship. We call this discipleship. It should be the core part of every believer’s identity. Sadly, we often have murky definitions or misguided ideas about what exactly discipleship means. That’s why I’m glad to welcome Jonathan Dodson back to the show to discuss his book Gospel-Centered Discipleship.  

Jonathan and I discussed what discipleship means and how we tend to get it wrong in the church. He helps us to understand how discipleship involves our minds and our hearts, as well as how we can get down to the heart. Lastly, Jonathan explains what this kind of discipleship looks like in practice.   

Jonathan Dodson (M. DIV, TH. M) is the founding pastor of City Life Church in Austin, TX which he started with his wife, Robie, and a small group of people. They have three wonderful children.  

He is also the founder of Gospel-Centered Discipleship.com, which produces resources to help make, mature, and multiply disciples of Jesus. He is the author of a number of books including Here in Spirit: Knowing the Spirit who Creates, Sustains, and Transforms Everything, The Unbelievable Gospel: Say Something Worth Believing, and Our Good Crisis.  

Lord of the Rings and the Chronicles of Narnia rank as many peoples’ favorite epic tales. These fantasy classics have stirred the imaginations and inspired good action in millions of people around the world. As such powerful stories, they are evident examples of how stories play a role in our virtue formation. I’m glad to welcome Louis Markos back to the show to help us to understand the virtue-forming power of stories and how these books inspire such virtue through discussing his book On the Shoulders of Hobbits: The Road to Virtue in Tolkien and Lewis.  

Louis and I begin our discussion by talking about the shaping experiences of C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien and why they are so influential today. He then explains why stories play such an important element in our lives. We finish off by examining the archetypes and classical virtues one can learn through the Lord of the Rings and Chronicles of Narnia.  

Louis Markos (Ph.D., University of Michigan) is a professor of English and scholar in residence at Houston Baptist University. He is the author of many books, including Myth Made Fact: Reading Greek and Roman Mythology through Christian Eyes, Ancient Voices: An Insider's Look at Classical Greece, From Achilles to Christ: Why Christians Should Read the Pagan Classics, Atheism on Trial: Refuting the Modern Arguments Against God, and Restoring Beauty: The Good, the True, and the Beautiful in the Writings of C. S. Lewis.  

In the previous episode, I shared part one of a conference talk that I recently gave at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. I attempt to address what is beneath our culture’s sickness and argue that the loss of a sense of purpose is a primary contributor. When we lose an objective basis for truth and purpose, then our world becomes meaningless and valueless.   

This episode will continue in my talk on “The Problem of Purpose” and consider how Christianity can provide a solution to the problem. Remember, if you enjoy this content, I also have a new article out at Boundless on the same topic and you can find the link in the show notes.  

We live in a time of deep irony. On the one hand, we enjoy the healthiest, most affluent, and most secure society that has ever existed. On the other hand, in spite of these blessings, we have some of the highest rates of depression, anxiety, and unhappiness than at any other time. How do we account for our misery in spite of our decadence? While we might point to many factors, I argue that one of the most prominent is that people have lost a sense of purpose and meaning in their lives.

I recently gave a conference talk at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary on this issue and how Christianity provides an answer for our culture’s sickness. In this episode, I’m excited to share part one of that conference session with you. If you enjoy it, I also have a new article out at Boundless on the same topic and you can find the link in the show notes.

Here on Filter we regularly cover topics related to apologetics, philosophy, theology, history, and literature. However, there’s one aspect of life that’s particularly important to me which we’ve never covered—fitness. That’s why I’m excited to welcome today’s guest Jake Lockert. We talked about fitness can play an important role not only in your physical health but also in your spiritual health and character development.   

Jake Lockert is a former CrossFit athlete and the Director of Online Programming for CrossFit Mayhem in Cookeville, TN. He is also a coach and physical therapist providing care for the athletes at CrossFit Mayhem. Jake is married and has two sons.  

When you’re looking for favorite writers online it can often be difficult to find ones that are really worth following. There are many voices that are simplistic, boring, or too reactionary in their thinking. One of my favorite writers to follow the past few years has been Bethel McGrew, who previously wrote under the pen name Esther O’Reilly. I’m excited to have her on today’s episode to talk about her story as a writer, her writing process, and other topics related to current events and culture.  

Dr. Bethel McGrew is a math Ph.D., high school teacher, and widely published freelance writer. Her articles have appeared in many Christian and mainstream outlets, including First Things, The Spectator, National Review, Plough, and more. She has also contributed to two essay anthologies on the work of Jordan Peterson. She currently maintains a Patheos blog, Young Fogey, and a newsletter, Further Up, which is one of the top 20 faith newsletters on Substack.  

Over the last few weeks, the world watched as tensions increased between Russia and Ukraine. These tensions released into an all-out invasion by Russia that has brought about violence and terror in Ukraine. Leaders in the West are debating how to respond, and the media is bringing us rapid updates with varying degrees of veracity.

It’s easy to get caught up in this whirlwind of reporting, politics, and human suffering. Many of us have found it disorienting to navigate this situation both as citizens in a republic and as Christians. That’s why I’m glad to welcome William Wolfe as my guest on today’s show to help us by bringing some clarity to these current events and providing an example of a discerning response.

William had over a decade of experience working in the federal government. He was a legislative assistant for three different members of Congress, the Director of House Affairs for the U. S. Department of State, and finally as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for House Affairs at the Pentagon. He currently lives in Louisville, KY and is pursuing a Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

For a young guy, William has an incredible story and you can read the whole bio in my full show notes.