Theology Mom || All The Things

Forgiveness can be a very confusing idea. And bad teaching about it can inflict undue pain and trauma. If you've ever wondered about how to interpret Matthew 18 and the issue of "church discipline," then you won't want to miss this teaching. Part 1 of a 3-part teaching series.

The world feels like an unstable place. It seems like we are constantly standing on the brink of military conflict. Some conservatives are raising questions about these on-going conflicts and that we seem to be constantly involving ourselves in other countries’ business. We've asked our friend, Kevin Briggins, to come on the show and share his perspective on these global conflicts. He's long time military vet and has a Bachelor's degree in Middle Eastern studies.

The next time you hear someone say, "I think we should have a more diverse staff" or "What are our company's diversity goals?" here are the questions you need to ask. Tune in for this practical teaching. Watch part 1 of this teaching: https://www.youtube.com/live/HCD0dDXpEVI?si=H0ytOY9aj6LoB7Ac Watch the full interview with Dr. Erec Smith: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZSusqfJeD4

I got to the end of the day and had some time for a livestream. Let's talk about all the controversy surrounding the op-ed on the Fox News website by Pastor Jeremiah J Johnston. Is IVF part of the pro-life movement? In the second half, I consider the work of Katy Faust (Them Before Us) and her response to Johnston published by The Federalist this morning. I did my best to break it down as fairly as I could. This is a rebroadcast of a livestream that I did for the Center for Biblical Unity. Articles mentioned: • https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/im-pro-life-pastor-who-very-thankful-miracle-ivf-allowed-me-become-dad •https://thefederalist.com/2024/08/28/pastor-twists-himself-in-knots-to-claim-being-pro-ivf-is-pro-life/ Read John Stonestreet's analysis here: https://breakpoint.org/ivf-and-infertility-good-ends-do-not-justify-all-means Our discussion with Katy Faust on Big Fertility would be a great follow up to this teaching: https://youtu.be/ifXzvnuPUwc

Politics is complicated and emotional. We have asked Kevin to come on and help us break down critical parts of the party platforms in light of the Christian worldview.

I attended the 2 1/2 hour "Evangelicals for Harris" Zoom call on Wednesday evening. Here is the full report on who EFH is and what they are about.

A key theme on the podcast this year is justice for the pre-born. We are exploring the issue from a variety of different angles. This week, our friend Erin Kunkle, is coming on the show to discuss her experience as a teenage mother and her journey to the faith.

Oh boy! There is so much drama surrounding Megan Basham's book. It's a real soap opera on X. Even so, I wanted to share a few of my personal thoughts. In the second half, I want to help "Never Trumpers" and Progressives understand why I think so many people keep voting for Trump even though he's a deeply flawed man. Let's see how this goes.

We have been sounding the alarm for several years about the creep of progressive ideology coming into evangelical institutions since the beginning of the ministry. We have been especially vocal about issues related to indiscriminate hiring. Our friend, Megan Basham, has noticed many of the same problems but investigated things through a different means: following the money. Her reporting is raising important questions about historically trusted institutions. You will NOT want to miss this LIVE show!

We hear lots of messages today about Social Justice. But, what does that term mean, exactly? In this special edition of the podcast, Krista talks with Kathy Gibbens from the, "Filter It Through a Brain Cell" podcast about this important topic.

More and more people are looking for alternatives to public education. We invited our friend, Jerry Nelson, Chief Ministry Officer at ACSI to share about the pros and cons of Christian schools. What are some important things to look for to see if it's a good fit for your family? Plus, we ask Jerry about ACSI's vision to put discipleship and biblical unity before diversity.

Even though the teachings are on hiatus right now due to my dissertation writing and research, I wanted to squeeze in an AMA podcast. I asked followers to submit their questions last week on social media. Here is what YOU asked.

In this special edition of All The Things, Monique, Krista and Kevin went live to offer some biblical wisdom about the apparent attempted assassination on President Trump.

Krista shares some thoughts in response to a recent question we received: How do you obey the fifth commandment (see Eph. 6:1-3; Col. 3:20) when you are an adult, especially if your parents are difficult people or were abusive to you as a child?

A key theme on the podcast this year is justice for the pre-born. We are exploring the issue from a variety of different angles. This week, our friend Katy Faust (from Them Before Us), is coming back on the show to discuss recent developments in the public conversations about IVF and surrogacy. We are going to consider these technologies in light of the Christian worldview.

Last month, we did a show about the "woke right." And then our friend, Alisa Childers, re-released it on her podcast platform. Since then, we've received a lot of feedback about the show and continued to research the issues. Some people say the "woke right" isn't a thing. Others say, it's "absolutely a thing." It's a lot to process. We don't claim to have all the answers, but we are trying to have the public conversations to help the "regular people" make sense of what's emerging among Christian socio-political influencers. We have asked our friend, Neil Shenvi, to come on and help us continue the discussion. Link to Neil's article: https://shenviapologetics.com/what-is-the-woke-right/

Impromptu livestream: I shared my thoughts about Biola dissolving its DEI department. Do I think it’s good news? Maaaaaaaaybe?? At the end, I share some informal thoughts on Christian Nationalism and my attempt to understand it. Biola's Institutional Diversity Strategic Plan: https://www.biola.edu/diversity-inclusion/diversity-strategic-plan Biola's announcement about the Diversity Strategic Plan: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/biola-magazine/2021/biola-introduces-new-diversity-strategic-plan Viral clip of Biola's current Provost saying "I am a racist" in 2018: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IiKCYSevDU Full video of Hall's interview (source of the viral clip): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwI82hKUTgI Hall's article from 2019 affirming "racial reconciliation" but rejecting Critical Race Theory: https://equip.sbts.edu/article/peace-centrality-gospel-christ-racial-reconciliation/ Biola's principles of academic freedom and diversity of perspectives: https://www.biola.edu/about/mission/principles-free-expression News report about Biola's public "lament" in 2020: https://chimesnewspaper.com/47803/news/president-corey-and-chief-diversity-officer-tamra-malone-begin-diversity-talks-in-lament-session/

There is so much confusion among Christians about the issue of counseling and mental illness. Some think that it undermines the authority of Scripture to even see a therapist. Others seem to lack discernment about how to prevent therapy becoming a gateway to unbiblical life choices. We've asked our friend, Dr. David King, professor in social work at Indiana Wesleyan University, to come on the show and share his perspectives about the intersection of therapy and the Christian worldview. FREE E-BOOK "The Essential Guide to Finding the Right Christian Counselor" by Dr. David King https://www.allthethingsshow.com/king

How "pro-life" do you want to be? A key theme on the podcast this year is justice for the pre-born. We are exploring the issue from a variety of different angles. The overturning of Roe hasn't automatically increased safety for the pre-born. Chemical abortions are on the rise. We've asked our friend, OB-GYN Dr. Chris Cirucci to come back on the show and explain the dangers of chemical abortion, as well as the science behind birth control. How do various birth control methods actually work and which ones are compatible with the Christian worldview? Join us for this live discussion.

I've been sharing a little about my 3-decade journey of wrestling through my place in ministry. I asked my friend, Fr. Hayden Butler, to come on and lead us about the ancient faith approach to local church leadership, and where women fit into that picture. I have found the ancient faith dialogue to be an important piece of my personal journey, providing helpful boundaries.

A couple months ago, I shared a bit about my journey wrestling through my place in ministry. I've asked my friend, Dr. Joe Miller, to come on and lead us through a survey of the New Testament's teaching about local church leadership, and where women fit into that picture. Browse Dr. MIller's book on amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Elders-Lead-Healthy-Family-Leadership/dp/1532618018 For more about the Everyday Evangelism class: https://www.theologymom.com/classes Pre-order Walking in Unity: https://www.amazon.com/Walking-Unity-Biblical-Answers-Questions/dp/0736990895

Whenever we hear pastors talk about the "marginalized" or the "oppressed," we usually cringe a little inside. A deeply biblical idea has been co-opted by the culture and morphed to mean something completely different. We want to have a public conversation about this confusion and see if we help straighten out what has become a very crooked line by bringing the issues back to God's standards.

We have been watching the rise of some very....odd....posts on Twitter that sound an awful lot like BLM sounded a few years ago. Only they are on the right. We have been very confused about what to make of these posts. Kevin is coming back on the show to break it all down for us in a way that we (and you!) can understand.

All Christians are called to share the Gospel. But very few of us are naturally comfortable with doing it. In this teaching, I want to help you discover your unique style of sharing the faith, according to the way God has gifted you and your natural personality. This teaching is based on insights from the book, Contagious Faith, by Mark Mittelberg. See: https://www.amazon.com/Contagious-Faith-Discover-Natural-Sharing/dp/0310113288 Fundraiser link: https://www.customink.com/fundraising/cfbu2024 Register for the Everyday Evangelism class: https://centerforbiblicalunity.breezechms.com/form/1e55a7602712 Pre-order Walking in Unity: https://www.amazon.com/Walking-Unity-Biblical-Answers-Questions/dp/0736990895 Gifts test: https://form.jotform.com/61419055688161

I was interviewed recently on the Wintery Knight and Desert Rose show. We discussed the pros and cons of "diversity" from a Christian point of view. What is diversity? Should Christians try to redeem DEI, or should we just avoid it? We do a deep dive to help you understand the issue better. Also mentioned: • "Why Companies are Getting a Queer Makeover" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCrfCJl3hzw

If God is in control of everything, can Christians sit back and not bother to evangelize? Hardly! I clarify the roles and responsibilities when sharing the faith. What does God do? What should we do? We do a thorough study of Scripture and find out! This teaching is loosely based on the modern classic, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, by J.I. Packer.

What is happening in the Middle East right now? What are the implications of Israel's recent retaliation against Iran? We asked our friend, Kevin Briggins, to come on and help us understand the situation. His background in Middle East Studies helped us differentiate between facts and fear. In the second segment, Krista and Monique discuss recent changes to Title IX and its implications for the Christian worldview.

This week, I want to coach you through some of the tougher situations that can arise when you’re in the middle of a discussion about the faith. (Because let’s be honest, very, very few conversations are a straight line to conversion. Sometimes you have to know when to call a tow truck.) And again, these are strategies that I have used for many years, so there is a fair amount of road testing behind them.

Monique is joined by guest co-host, Elizabeth Urbanowicz, and together they will answer questions we have received from kids and teens about living as a Christian in today's culture.

Monique and Krista spill the tea about their unpopular opinions that they don't really talk about in public....until now.

I'm continuing the Everyday Evangelism teaching series. This week, I share five specific steps to help you navigate even tough discussions about the faith.

The annual meeting for the World Economic Forum was a few weeks ago. We want to catch you up about what the WEF is and what they are trying to accomplish. If you’ve heard the terms “the great reset,” or the “fourth Industrial Revolution” but don’t really know what that means be sure to tune in. It’s a globalist movement that is reshaping our everyday lives and redefining what constitutes as the public good.

This is a rebroadcast of a livestream that I did yesterday over at the Center for Biblical Unity. I explain an emerging position within the prolife movement called abolitionism. Come find out about why some Christians think that abortion should be criminalized. Read Sam Sey’s blog post: https://slowtowrite.com/why-i-am-not-an-abolitionist-on-abortion/ For more about the abolitionist position, see the Abolitionists Rising channel on YouTube.

We are answering the most frequent question we get on the road. For the first time, we are having a public conversation about Monique's backstory and how she came to be a missionary in South Africa, her emergency transition off the mission field in 2018 and why she went back, even though she thought she might die there for the sake of the Gospel.

Krista is filling into today again for Monique on the Family Meeting. She is building on last week's discussion about diversity and looking at another popular idea in the DEI conversation: representation. What does it mean and what is it supposed to accomplish?

I am continuing my extended teaching series on evangelism. We are changing gears a bit away from all the hard core theology to consider a practical strategy for sharing the faith with others.

We are getting more and more people writing into the ministry asking for help to think through where the line in the sand is for them when it comes to their jobs conflicting with their religious convictions. We will talk to our friend John Stonestreet, President of the Colson Center, to get his perspective on what Christians should do to prepare for costly conviction in the workplace.

I did an explainer video earlier today on the issue of "diversity" in hiring practices. I explain two major visions for diversity and unravel the confusion for regular people.

This is part 4 of the Everyday Evangelism teaching series. I summarize the big ideas of what we've covered so far and then suggest some practical ways that the kingdom of God ought to shape our Gospel presentations.

Christians generally agree that the Bible commands us to take care of orphans. But there is robust discussion about what qualifies as being in the child's best interest. In recent years, the principles of Critical Adoption Theory have shaped the policies and practices for many adoption agencies. There is a growing sentiment, even among Christian adoption agencies, that interethnic adoptions are often not in a child's best interest. We will hear about one couple's journey through the Christian adoption system and their encounters with Critical Adoption Theory. Guest: Dr. Bill Roach

Mike Winger dropped the final installment in his extended teaching series on women in ministry. Here are my thoughts on his research.

This is part 2 of a short 2-part discussion defining the good news. We need to get the gospel right before we get it out. Part 3 of an extended teaching series that I've entitled Everyday Evangelism.

The phrase “human flourishing” has become a weird buzz word that encompasses the idea of "whatever makes me happy." But true human flourishing can only come when we follow the Creator’s design for how humanity is supposed to work. Monique and Krista do a deep dive on what we call our "Creation Identity," things that are objectively true for all humans in all times in all places.

I am continuing to do a deep dive into evangelism. This week I attempt to lay out Jesus' definition of the "good news" and suggest some says that I think it ought to inform our own evangelistic efforts. We need to get the gospel right before we get it out. Production note: This version of the show has been edited.

Religious institutions are increasingly threatened with lawsuits, smear cam­paigns, hostile media coverage, adversarial legislation, aggressive government administrative action, and more. Our friends at the Religious Freedom Institute will share strategies to help churches, Christians schools and ministries to remain faithful to their core convictions, identity, and mission.

Every Bible-believing Christian has the same duty to share the gospel. We even believe that it should be a high priority in our lives. So, why do so many of us (myself included) put the task of “sharing the gospel” on the back-burner? I tackle this question in part 1 of an extended teaching series focusing on various aspects of evangelism. This will be a major focus on the podcast in 2024. I want to help you share your faith more effectively and consistently.

Should Christians support the existence of Jewish temples or Islamic mosques? What about the rise of displays by the Satanic Temple? How do we make sense of religious freedom in a pluralistic society? Guest: Dr. Mark David Hall, professor of political science at Regent University

The big story over the Christmas break was the announcement from the Vatican about "blessing same sex couples." Some traditionalists have hailed this as pastorally helpful and clarifying, while others call it confusing and potentially troubling. Meanwhile the mainstream news reported the Roman Catholic Church as moving toward gay affirming. I've asked my friend, Anthony Costello, back on the show to help us sort through the confusion and share his perspective as a thoughtful former Catholic about why Protestants ought to care about these developments. Research and Sources: - "Fiducia Supplicans"; https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_ddf_doc_20231218_fiducia-supplicans_en.html - Fr. Raymond de Souza, National Catholic Register article from 1/04/2024 "Fiducia Supplicans 2.0"; https://www.ncregister.com/commentaries/fiducia-supplicans-2-0 - Archbishop Joseph Naumann (Archbishop of Kansas City) "The Leaven" article from 1/12/2024; https://theleaven.org/fiducia-supplicans-does-not-change-perennial-church-teaching/ - Cardinal Sarah (former Prefect for the Congregation on Divine Worship, Archbishop of Guinea), quoted in the "Catholic Herald" from 1/9/2024; https://catholicherald.co.uk/cardinal-sarah-gives-in-depth-interview-on-fiducia-supplicans/ - Michael Sean Winters (liberal Catholic) "How big a deal is the new Vatican document on Same-Sex Blessings" in "The National Catholic Reporter"; https://www.ncronline.org/opinion/ncr-voices/how-big-deal-new-vatican-document-same-sex-blessings - Anthony S. Layne, "Fiducia Supplicans, Infallibility, and a Reflection of Faith" in "The Catholic Stand" 1/15/2024; https://catholicstand.com/fiducia-supplicans-infallibility-reflection-faith/ Ian Paul on "Why No One wants the Prayers of Love and Faith" in the Church of England: https://www.psephizo.com/sexuality-2/why-no-one-wants-the-prayers-of-love-and-faith/ Ed Echeverria's 2019 2nd edition book on Pope Francis: https://www.amazon.com/Pope-Francis-Legacy-Vatican-II/dp/1943901112/

"Community Schools" are continuing to expand in 2024. However, we want to empower parents to know how to decode this movement. Parents deserve to know exactly what these are about. Guest: Kelly Ske

A couple weeks ago, I shared an IG slide sequence from the Raising Apologists account about Taylor Swift not being a role model for Christian girls. I was not prepared for the responses. The string had over 150 comments! Who knew that TS is a high interest topic among Christian mothers?! (Not me!) I’ve asked my friend Amy Davison (from Mama Bear Apologetics) to come on so we could talk the tricky question: Is Taylor Swift a witch and is she promoting witchcraft? You won't want to miss this! Research cited in the interview: https://pro.morningconsult.com/instant-intel/taylor-swift-fandom-demographic Receipts: 1. She’s been laying the “witch aesthetic” since 2017 as seen in her music video "Ready For It": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIft-t-MQuE -Burn all the witches written on the wall min 3:13 -Intro where she’s wearing the cloak and doing the empowered walk is the same in the witch scene of the willow music video and is said to be an Easter egg. https://ew.com/music/easter-eggs-taylor-swift-willow-music-video/ 2. Where Taylor shares that she believes in karma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnbCSboujF4 3. "I did something bad": Snakes and flames 2018 American Music Award https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3QfCeclslM -This is where she says “They’re burning witches even if you aren’t one and they’re doing it for fun,” -The is the video where it looks like it takes place in hell 4. "Look what you made me do": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tmd-ClpJxA - 2017 Loads of snakes in what looks like a Gothic church on a throne 5. Vlad Savchuk video evaluation the symbolism with Taylor Swift videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDmzNDrj2NI -This is also were it’s mentioned about her faith confession tied to political stance is referenced 6. Chants to be said at TS concerts from “Summon the Demons” to “Take me to Church," https://www.elitedaily.com/lifestyle/taylor-swift-fan-chants-eras-tour 7. Video explaining symbolism behind TS and Ice Spice “Karma” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seqPf05HKfE - Link to the actual “Karma” music video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzOvgu3GPwY -Also holds the scene were she’s dressed as satan/a demon 8. TS comment about training her fans to hunt for Easter eggs (symbolism) and how she uses numerology and forces it to work for it when it doesn’t happen organically. https://www.avclub.com/taylor-swift-numerology-swifties-obsession-1850729453 9. TS Christmas song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdX8LafiV3o 10. Moonlit Witch release tweet: https://www.reddit.com/r/TaylorSwift/comments/kdz9yv/taylor_releases_moonlit_witch_version_of_willow/ Lonely Witch release tweet: https://www.reddit.com/r/TaylorSwift/comments/kdftqy/taylor_releases_lonely_witch_remix_of_willow/ Dancing Witch release tweet: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/759541-taylor-swift-releases-two-more-remixes-of-her-latest-single-willow-following-dancing-witch -These have been referenced by some social media accounts as proof she’s dabbling in witchcraft -She’s romancing and promoting an aesthetic of witchcraft 11. TS encourages voting and gets 35k new voters: https://www.npr.org/2023/09/22/1201183160/taylor-swift-instagram-voter-registration 12. TS promotes LGBTQ+ to her fans: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-pride-month-eras-tour-chicago-1234746863/ 13. TS bases Tina Fey and Amy Poehler for their joke: https://www.businessinsider.com/tina-fey-subtly-slammed-taylor-swift-2014-1 14. TS performing in cage build like a giant snake: https://hellogiggles.com/taylor-swift-reputation-tour-review/