Theology Mom || All The Things

In the good old days….the main thing we wanted in a product was that it worked. Buying a shirt didn't automatically mean I was also promoting a political philosophy. What's happening? Why are so many companies qu**ring themselves? This is a rebroadcast of a teaching that I did last week over at the Center for Biblical Unity.

I am not going to lie: it has been very hard for us as a family to navigate the waters of feeling church homeless for the last 3 years since we left our church of two decades. We have visited all kinds of churches in search of a better situation. It can be tough out there. Really. This has led me to thinking a LOT about what to look for in a church. I receive a fair number of letters asking for advice on this issue, including what to look for in a biblically faithful church and how to know it's time to transition to a better situation. I'm going to offer some VERY practical and specific ideas.

I have worked professionally in the fields of theology and apologetics for 30 years. I want to share some thoughts about the current state of women's apologetics and encourage up-and-coming female apologists. This is a special edition in honor of the 2023 Women in Apologetics conference.

JUNETEENTH EPISODE The frequent narrative is that Africans were introduced to Christianity as a result of slavery. But we have heard rumors that this might not actually be true. It's quite possible that Christianity had spread from northeast Africa to Central Africa long before the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. We will do a deep dive on this situation and try to uncover the truth. Guest: Dr. H C Felder

This is part 2 of my short teaching series on Roman Catholicism. In this episode, I am talking to my friend, theologian and former Catholic, Kenneth Samples about key doctrines that still divide us as Protestants and Catholics. I hope you are edified by our attempt at gracious conversation about an emotional and complex topic. Ken's debate with Fr. Mitch Pacwa on the authority of church and tradition: https://youtu.be/vG7JwkRihoM

When I was posting about The Chosen earlier this year, I received a LOT of comments expressing concern about some of cast members being Roman Catholic and participating on the Hallow app (a Roman Catholic prayer app). I thought that this would be a good opportunity to discuss the complex relationship between Protestants and Roman Catholics. This will be a 2-part discussion. Part 1 will provide an overview of the subject focusing on beliefs that we have in common. Part 2 will include an interview with theologian, Kenneth Samples, about the distinctives between Protestants and Roman Catholics.

The content I've been doing over the last year and a half related to the supernatural continues to be popular. I am trying to provide helpful, biblically-based content related to spiritual warfare. I think this is an important issue because aspects of our public culture are becoming increasingly overtly demonic. This teaching will build on the previous conversation I did back in January about common forms of demonic harassment. I will discuss 8 symptoms that can alert you when demonic harassment is taking place.

The culture is telling us that the path to unity includes "doing the work" of antiracism. How does this compare with the Bible? Monique and Krista answer one of the most common questions they get when we are on the road.

Krista shares her approach to theological unity and denominational differences. This interview is a rebroadcast courtesy of the Faithfully Liven podcast. Connect with Faithfully Liven youtube.com/@faithfullyliven Blog: lyfe102.com Instagram: @dwanfai

One of the consequences of the events in 2020 was a great reshuffling of churches. Many people left their church, looking for a more biblically faithful alternative. We know that some of our followers have had a hard time finding a new church or have wondered whether to start a house church. Our friend, Uncle Kunkle (aka Brett Kunkle from MAVEN), is coming on to talk about his family's effort to start a house church in his backyard. Let's talk about the pros and cons of house churches. Special guest: Brett Kunkle, Founder & CEO of Maven Guest's website: https://www.maventruth.com

When I was posting about The Chosen earlier this year, I received a LOT of comments that the TV series violates the doctrine of sola scriptura. I thought it would be a good opportunity to clarify what sola scriptura actually means...and what it doesn't mean. Let's talk about it.

I am continuing to investigate and report on the creep of the Critical Social Theories into Christian higher ed. In this episode, I'll be sharing the results of my last 3 years of research. Also, a faculty member at a prominent Christian university recently sent me some training materials that were distributed to all the faculty. This material was designed to help faculty learn how to address "gender disparities" in the classroom. After watching the videos, I asked my friend who is a veteran of higher education to come on the show and pull back the curtain on how the Critical Social Theories sound when they're brought into the classroom.

A few weeks ago, Elon Musk and 1000s of other tech leaders started circulating a petition calling for a PAUSE on all major AI developments. This included calling for a moratorium on ChatGPT upgrades. We want to help equip you to think about the rise of Artificial Intelligence technology and how it is already changing our lives. Guests: Dr. Joe Miller and Dr. Jeff Zweerink

Last night I went with friends to see the 90-minute documentary/infomerical on deliverance, "Come Out In Jesus" name. It was crazytown.

A few years ago, a very close friend of mine converted to Coptic Orthodoxy. I was stunned at her announcement. I didn't know at the time what being Coptic even meant. We are sharing a bit of our journey through this major change and the impact that it's had on both of us. Guest: Anastasia Young Sia's Book: My American Flight to Egypt: A Western Evangelical Discovers the Ancient Faith https://www.amazon.com/American-Flight-Egypt-Evangelical-Discovers/dp/1950831426

Krista provides some developments that are on the horizon related to Diversity trainings in the workplace. (This was originally broadcast as a Family Meeting through the Center for Biblical Unity.)

Biblical archaeology reporter, Bryan Windle, will lead us through the latest discoveries about the historical evidence for the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.

We will be talking to Aunty Nancy about her forthcoming book, The Toxic War on Masculinity. She will bring all the receipts concerning the importance of men if a civilization is to long endure. And why men are struggling. Link to Nancy's new book: The Toxic War on Masculinity https://www.amazon.com/dp/0801075734

I am continuing to sound the alarm about two interpretive practices that are permeating many seminaries, churches and sermons: standpoint epistemology and liberation theology. I break them down in lay-man's terms and give current examples to teach you how to recognize them when they come into your church.

We've received a lot of requests for Monique and Krista to comment about the book, Biblical Critical Theory. Monique is on a writing retreat, but Krista has invited Dr. Joe Miller to come on and share his thoughts. Get ready. This book isn't exactly what it seems.

Epistemology is one of those words your college professor wrote on the board while you were trying to stay awake in class. And you wondered, “When am I ever going to need this information?” Well, today is the day. Standpoint epistemology is transforming how we study, interpret and preach Scripture. It’s everywhere. We heard Doug Groothuis give a great summary of the issue last fall at ETS. So we asked him to join us to explain what standpoint epistemology is so regular people can recognize it.

One of the keys to good Bible interpretation is understanding the unique relationship Christianity has with Judaism. How can we engage with our Jewish neighbors about Jesus as the Messiah? And why are there a growing number of Christians becoming Torah observant? I am excited to bring you this important discussion. Resources: One For Israel - https://www.oneforisrael.org Jews for Jesus - https://jewsforjesus.org Dr. Michael Brown - "Answering the Rabbis" playlist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoVH7GN40X4&list=PLOSesbHxQr2TKM79aSxPLfOyOS5f7Q20z Jesus Believing Israelis: Exploring Messianic Fellowships, by David Serner and Alexander Goldberg Torahism: Are Christians Required to Keep the Law of Moses? by R.L. Solberg One Law Two Sticks: A Critical Look at the Hebrew Roots Movement by International Alliance of Messianic Congregations and Synagogues (IAMCS) Steering Committee https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.cloversites.com/8a/8a6bd14a-1a05-4f26-8dc1-b355631ec972/documents/One_Law_Two_Sticks.pdf One New Man, Hebrew Roots, Replacement Theology How to restore the Jewish roots of the Christian faith without getting weird By David Rudolph, PhD https://collective.tku.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/One-New-Man-Hebrew-Roots-Replacement-Theology.pdf One New Man, Hebrew Roots, Replacement Theology How to restore the Jewish roots of the Christian faith without getting weird By David Rudolph, PhD http://www.pma.org.au/uploads/3/4/2/7/3427709/juster_resnik_one_law_movements.pdf Ephraimite Error from IAMCS and MJAA https://mjaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/ephraimite_error.pdf

Are we all God's children? In this audio-only episode of the Theology Mom Podcast, Krista Bontrager dives deep into this critical question, exploring the biblical perspective on our identity as humans and as Christians. Learn the key differences between creation identity (all humans made in God's image) and salvation identity (those adopted into God’s family through faith in Jesus Christ). Krista unpacks scriptures like Genesis 1, Psalm 8, Acts 17, and John 3:16 to clarify what it means to be a child of God and addresses common misconceptions, including the idea of universal salvation. This episode also tackles the popular "belong, believe, behave" paradigm in evangelical churches, offering practical insights on how it impacts church community, evangelism, and discipleship. Discover why distinguishing between Christians and non-Christians is vital for biblical unity and how Jesus’ work on the cross opens the door for everyone to become part of God’s spiritual family. Key Topics Covered: • Biblical foundation for racial and ethnic unity • God as Creator vs. God as Father • The role of faith in becoming a child of God • Critiquing the "belong, believe, behave" model • Practical applications for church ministry and outreach

February is Black History Month. Does participating in BHM unnecessarily divide Christians? Or is it something to be celebrated? Monique and Krista will be joined by Kevin Briggins (Off Code podcast) to discuss this tricky topic.

Neil Shenvi (CFBU Academic Advisory Council member) joins Alisa Childers, along with Krista Bontrager, to discuss Christian Nationalism. They specifically address new developments in the conversation, and interact with the new book, “The Case For Christian Nationalism,” by Stephen Wolfe.

I get a lot of requests for more content related to supernatural themes. A year ago, I did a teaching on the normalization of witchcraft. Then, in June, I did an interview with deliverance minister, Dr. Karl Payne. So, I wanted to continue to develop that content with some new teachings. It really is possible to have a biblically faithful discussion about the schemes of the enemy, without falling into strange doctrines.

Over the last couple of years, I’ve done several discussions about issues related to education. The goal in all this has been to help parents understand their options. I’m not here to arbitrate how other people should parent their kids. Parents are responsible for those decisions before the Lord, not me. But I do want to resource Christian parents to make informed decisions. I’ve wanted to do a discussion for a while that is targeted to those parents who still have kids in public schools, in order to empower them to better understand their legal rights. I reached out to the Pacific Justice Institute for help and I’m very excited that we were able to get this discussion set up. We will talk about the question: what legal rights do parents have when the public school teachers, policies or administrators advocate for ideas and practices that go against our worldview? This is the show to share with your Christian friends with kids in public schools. Resources mentioned: Sexxx Ed Documentary https://pacificjustice.org/resources/for-parents/sexxx-ed-let-parents-decide-documentary/ Reclaim Your School https://pacificjustice.org/resources/for-parents/reclaim-your-school/ 12 Steps to Protect Your Children from CPS https://pacificjustice.org/resources/for-parents/12-steps-to-protect-your-children-from-child-protective-services/

SEASON 5 KICK-OFF: The word fascism is being thrown around a lot these days. But what does it actually mean? Uncle Carl Trueman is coming on the show to help us sort it out because we are BIG confused.

We need to have a hard conversation. Andy Stanley seems to be leading his church into being fully gay affirming. And it's partnering with a ministry coming out of Saddleback Church and co-founded by a pastor currently on staff at Saddleback. I really don't want to talk about this. But I have receipts.

Part 3 of 3 | The TV series, The Chosen, is an international phenomenon. And wildly controversial for some. In this episode, I will respond to the claim that Dallas Jenkins believes that LDS members worship the same Jesus as historic Christians.

Part 2 of 3 | The TV series, The Chosen, is an international phenomenon. And wildly controversial for some. In this episode, I will respond to the claim: Dallas Jenkins is smuggling LDS theology into the series. Is this true? Additional videos about the Incarnation: • How Can Jesus be Both God and Human? https://youtu.be/jFpq53B46xY • Does Matt. 24:36 Teach that Jesus Didn't Know the Future? https://youtu.be/-OeY7UugjVc

Part 1 of 2 | People have a LOT of strong feelings and opinions about The Chosen. On both sides. But the majority of my followers simply don't know what to think about the show. I am going to do a 2-part teaching series helping Christians think through this influential cultural phenomenon. Part 1 will focus on what I have found interesting about the show, some important limitations of the show, and my theory about the genre of the show. Even if you've never watched The Chosen, this is for you.

My daughter, Emily, has a hobby of reading feminist authors. We thought it would be fun to react to a recent VICE video and give listeners a crash course on what's happening in the world of feminism and gender critical theory. What's a TERF, exactly? Emily also offers some insight into how girls her age have been raised to think about the world. Source: Anti & Pro Feminists Debate Abortion, Trans Rights, and #Metoo | VICE Debates https://youtu.be/EEIvWNhuL8U First Source Material: Mainstream feminism: Judith Butler Gender-Critical Feminism (https://www.amazon.com/Gender-Critical-Feminism-Holly-Lawford-Smith/dp/0198863888) Book mentioned by Emily (Catholic scholar): The Genesis of Gender (https://www.amazon.com/Genesis-Gender-Christian-Theory/dp/1621644081)

Part 3 of 3 | Mary may be the most famous woman who ever lived. She was a simple Jewish girl, engaged to be married. Mary plays a critical role in God's mission to save the world. Not only is she the one who bore God's son, she is also the one who nursed, mothered and raised Jesus. Let's talk about Jesus' first disciple. Guest: Erin Kunkle, from Maven

The Twitter Files have been coming out over the last few weeks. It's been a lot of data. But one employee's message caught our attention. I share why I think it's a great practical example for others to follow who want to stand for justice. Plus, I watch a CRAZY video outlining one man's dystopian vision for the future of human reproduction. Imagine there are no parents....it's easy if you try....

Part 2 of 3 | Mary may be the most famous woman who ever lived. She was a simple Jewish girl, engaged to be married. Mary plays a critical role in God's mission to save the world. Not only is she the one who bore God's son, she is also the one who nursed, mothered and raised Jesus. Let's talk about Jesus' first disciple. Guest: Erin Kunkle, from Maven CORRECTION: Around 23 minutes into the discussion, I made a mistake. I said that Mary and Joseph's sacrifice was 8 days after Jesus' birth. That's not correct. I went back later and re-read the passage. Luke 2:21 was 8 days after birth. Luke 2:22-38 was 40 days after birth.

Part 1 of 3 | Mary may be the most famous woman who ever lived. She was a simple Jewish girl, engaged to be married. Mary plays a critical role in God's mission to save the world. Not only is she the one who bore God's son, she is also the one who nursed, mothered and raised Jesus. Let's talk about Jesus' first disciple. Guest: Erin Kunkle, from Maven

There seem to be a never-ending supply of voices on social media and YouTube making the claim that Jesus is little more than an embellished legend. We will investigate this claim by looking at the details of the biblical accounts of Jesus’ birth and then comparing them to the latest archeological research. We will be talking with Bryan Windle, who writes for Associates for Biblical Research and is a frequent expert on their Digging for Truth television series. Link to Bryan's article, The Archaeology of Christmas: https://www.academia.edu/35069978/The_Archaeology_of_Christmas?email_work_card=view-paper

I read Andy Stanley’s book last weekend, Not In It To Win It. His main point seemed to be: Jesus isn't a Republican or a Democrat. I’ve seen Tim Keller and others make a similar point. But here’s my question: “Ok, so then what?” The mid-term elections are coming. I want to share some thoughts about how Christians can, and should, participate in the public square. H/T to Natasha Crain for a few of the examples that I included.

Our family went to see the first 2 episodes of Season 3 of The Chosen last night. I wanted to share some thoughts.

We talk to our friend, Ramin Parsa talks about his journey out of Islam and into Christianity. (Originally broadcast 5/18/19)

I have advocated for school choice and the de-centralization of education from the government for 30 years. I thought that a key way to do this would be through some kind of vouchers program. Now that there are a few states who have either implemented or are in the process of implementing ESAs (education savings accounts), I have actually changed my mind. We will discuss the pros and cons of ESAs, and what they could mean for the freedom of Christian parents. Other topics we cover: • Who is the one really pushing Comprehensive Sexuality Education into our schools? • Why it is becoming increasingly ineffective to opt-out of Comprehensive Sexuality Education • The emergence of the Whole Child model and what it means for the future of public education. Guest: Kelly Ske, parents rights advocate

Between the pandemic and inflation, we have seen a sudden rise in the working poor struggling to meet their basic needs. And the homeless population continues to be on the rise. How can Christians help the homeless and hungry in this crisis? How can churches work to bring long-term hope to those who struggle? We talk to our friend, Bryan Crain, the COO at the Orange County Rescue Mission about their approach to these important questions. (Originally broadcast 4/18/20)

Five critical questions for leadership teams to consider when engaging in “community outreach.” This podcast is also available as a blog post at the centerforbiblicalunity.com.

An alarming number of black Americans are dying before they are born through abortion. Monique and Krista talk to international pro-life advocate, Obianuju Ekeocha, about her work in Africa and around the world. She shares her concerns about the Gates Foundation to aggressively bring abortion into African countries. (Originally broadcast 1/18/20)

The most recent Barna numbers are out about what pastors believe. And it's not encouraging. Join us for a replay of our discussion with Dr. Mike Gurney, former professor of theology and philosophy at Multnomah University. Do Christians actually know what they believe? What are the long-term effects of topical preaching? (Originally broadcast 7/13/19)

There are two major models floating around Christian churches, ministries and schools for how to think about issues of race and racism. Let's talk about these models and some of the practical implications. (And trust me, there ARE implications.)

Let's have some real talk about teens and screens. Join us for a replay of our interview with author, Arlene Pellicane. This is a very practical discussion about the impact of screens on family connections and child development. (Originally ATT#10 broadcast 5/31/19)

Krista shares her journey into co-founding the Center for Biblical Unity, as well as some of the concerns she has about Christians believing in Critical Race Theory. Rebroadcast from the Ambassadors Forum Radio program based in Portland, OR. See: https://truetalk800.com/radioshow/the-ambassadors-forum

Season 4 Finale! Come to our end of the year party where we will reveal 4 areas where we need expert help.