Theology Mom || All The Things

***NOTE: Since I've been researching the film, Sound of Freedom, I have also been working to assemble some quality content related to human trafficking. I want to help people move beyond the Hollywood sensationalism into being more accurately informed. Tonight is the kick-off for that special content. This is part 1 of 3.*** During the month of October, we are facilitating a series of discussions about the issue of human trafficking. In this episode, we go behind the scenes of the Orange County Rescue Mission, a ministry that does full wrap-around service to help those coming out human trafficking to heal and hopefully find ultimate freedom in the Gospel.

Recently, I’ve been doing some content related to the film Sound of Freedom, as well as the man behind the film, Tim Ballard. I wrote a blog post in July and then dropped a podcast summarizing some of my research last week. I will likely drop another podcast later in the week, as the story is quickly escalating. But it made me think about how this story with Tim Ballard is a microcosm of a larger issue: we live in the age of fake news and reliable information is becoming increasingly difficult to find. Pretty much every conservative news outlet, including a lot of Christian news outlets, were pumping Sound of Freedom as being mostly factual and Ballard as being a real life hero. I took a LOT of heat for saying, "Slow down. Some of these so-called facts don’t add up." I can't count how many times I've said to my husband in the last three years, "I simply don't know what to believe anymore." Maybe you can relate. In this week’s teaching, talk about 3 ways to help you find the truth in the age of fake news. My hope is that this will help guide you through the crazy.

We hadn't even heard the term "Christian Nationalism" until about two years ago. Now, there is a growing division among Christians about how to think about the relationship between faith and government. Last December, we had a discussion over dinner with our friend Sam Sey about the issue. Now we are going to have a public conversation to share our thoughts so far.

It's not always easy to determine what's real on the internet. But Christians have a responsibility to do their due diligence before pressing the SHARE button. In this special mid-week edition of the podcast, I'm sharing my journey to research the alleged "true" story behind the film, Sound of Freedom. Programming note: I recorded this on August 14, 2023. I delayed releasing it while I continued to research things and with the hope I was wrong. But the evidence continues to mount against Mr. Ballard. So I've decided to go ahead and release it because I think more Christians need to consider the data.

***A Closer Look at the Orange Curriculum's Position on Race*** I continue to receive a lot of inquiries related to the Orange Curriculum. Over the last year, I have been collecting resources focusing on their position on race and racism. This is important data for those churches who are trying to decide whether to use Orange. Toward the end, I will also discuss RightNow Media.

We are excited to finally have our friend, Christopher Yuan, on the show. He will share a little about his journey out of homosexuality, as well as his perspectives on the "Side B" approach to helping those who struggle with same sex attraction. This is a very important discussion, especially for parents and pastors.

This is the second of a 2-part teaching series on church leadership.My friend, Pastor Jeremy Bannister, and I have a discussion about the job description of elders and deacons and how these offices are the key to healthy churches. And what some of the consequences can be when churches don't follow God's plan.

A couple months ago, I did a teaching about what to look for in a church, especially if you’re transitioning churches or wondering whether you should transition to a different situation. At the end of that teaching, I said that the most important thing to look for in a church is Godly elders. In this 2-part teaching series, In this teaching, I unpack that discussion in more detail and why I think that Godly elders are the key to healthy churches. Previous teachings in this series: • "What to Look for in a Church" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jq2cof193HU • "What is This Thing Called Church?" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAV5G81-b74

In our effort to push back against critical social justice, Christians can't forget to clearly articulate the biblical case for justice. Monique and Krista have each chosen three issues to highlight that they think are a current injustice, according to God's standards.

What happens when you wake up one day and realize you know more about the canon of Star Wars than the canon of the Bible? There are a lot of Millennials parenting young children. And I've noticed that many of them have grown up in mega-church culture and they're struggling to know how to pass along the faith to their children. In this very practical teaching, I will outline some very basic strategies to help equip young Christian parents to grow in their own faith, as they are balancing the discipleship of their own children.

Congress is continuing to have more hearings about UFOs. We'll be taking a closer look at the religious component to alien encounters. It is important for Christians to give some thought to this issue, as it is going to continue to be in the news and many of our friends and family are trying to make sense of their experiences. Guest: Kenneth Samples, co-author, Lights in the Sky and the Little Green Men

Humans cannot flourish if we don't live according to God's design. And a major component of that design involves WORK. Yet, there are many messages these days that program our children not to work. In my own parenting journey, I have found that discipling my children about work and money have had a substantial impact on their lives as young adults. In this episode, I will share some Scriptures and practical ideas to help you disciple your kids on these issues.

We are all theologians. Why? Because everyone has beliefs about God. The question is, do you have sound or unsound theology. How can parents equip themselves to think more accurately about God so they can disciple the kids in their lives more effectively. This is a rebroadcast from the Brave Parenting podcast. braveparenting.net Find FREE resources to help foster daily Bible reading: https://www.thenextgenerationministries.com/resources. Watch my webinar about developing a daily Bible habit: https://youtu.be/8dIs7piGLP0

Memorizing longer passages of Scripture can be invaluable to your knowledge of Christianity, your personal spiritual growth, and your love for God—and you don’t have to be a genius to do it! My friend, Amy Hall (from Stand to Reason) came on to describe the benefits of memorization, give practical tips for memorizing, and help you develop a personalized plan for memorizing your favorite chapter or even an entire book of the Bible. You can do it! Link to a blog post with Amy's tips: https://www.str.org/w/tips-for-memorizing-a-book-of-the-bible.

We often talk about the fact we think there is a place in the Christian life to engage in public advocacy. But something that's even more important than public advocacy is for every Christian to understand that the pathway to solving America’s real problems lies in evangelism. Changing policies or electing better politicians won’t be enough for lasting change. We must preach the Gospel with increased vigor in order that the Holy Spirit will change people’s hearts. But many of us have never even shared the Gospel. We worry that it will damage the relationship. Let's talk about a tough issue, and help encourage each other.

Practical wisdom to diagnose the spiritual health of your favorite Christian institution Do you send your kids to Christian school or donate to a favorite ministry? Or do you work for a ministry or church? Do you ever wonder how well it is maintaining biblical fidelity? I want to share with you the four stages of institutional health when it comes to maintaining biblical fidelity. This is a rubric that I've developed after many difficult discussions with churches and ministries over the years. There is a definite pattern of decay. I will pull the curtain back so you can see where your church or favorite ministry stands. Resources mentioned: • How to Hire Biblically Faithful Leaders https://youtu.be/jMjmVUDqBJU • Avoiding the Danger of Doctrinal Drift https://www.theologymom.com/post/avoiding-the-danger-of-doctrinal-drift • 3 Errors about Politics and the Christian https://www.youtube.com/live/RbR5wiBPfHI?feature=share

My husband and I went to see the surprising summer hit, Sound of Freedom. I discuss the highs and lows of the film in this honest review. Link to my blog post (mentioned in the podcast): https://www.theologymom.com/post/differentiating-between-fact-fiction-isn-t-always-easy

This week I'm sharing more details about my journey as a theologian....the part I don't usually share in public: the sin and struggles of my 20 year wilderness period. It's kinda....rough. And why I think it matters for others who aspire to work in ministry and apologetics.

Ask five people to define the church and you'll get five different definitions. What is the church, exactly? Our inability to biblically define what the church is has led to all kinds of confusion and toxic situations. Toward the end, I discuss the fatal flaw of the seeker sensitive model for "doing" church. Additional resources: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-to-look-for-in-a-church/id1195394811?i=1000616742280 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/att-148-should-i-start-a-house-church-5-13-2023/id1195394811?i=1000612929255 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/are-we-all-gods-children/id1195394811?i=1000601666627

Many of us have heard snippets about the Supreme Court's recent decision about Affirmative Action. We've asked Christian attorney, Hohn Cho, who has carefully researched this case and will report on his findings. Why does this case matter for Christians?

I know there are many people who follow me who would like to homeschool, but they have concerns that they won't be up for the challenge. Is homeschooling right for your family? Let's talk about it. I've asked my friend, Alicia Moss, who is a homeschool coach to come on and talk about how we can move past the obstacles. We even discuss how to make homeschooling happen for students with special needs.

We are honored to be joined tomorrow night by Christian philosopher and social reformer, Vishal Mangalwadi. We will discuss the role the Bible played in shaping India––and America. We will explore the influence of missionaries, India's caste system, power, the impact of the British empire on slavery, widow burning and infanticide, the revolutionary nature of the distribution of the Bible, and more. You won't want to miss this fascinating discussion with a pioneering Christian brother.

The topic of reparations is hard. It's emotional. And polarizing. But it's a question that we get at outreaches...a LOT. So we are finally going to talk in public about where we are with this issue.

If Krista ruled the world, every church in America would make a way so that every family in their congregation who wants to remove their children from government schools can do it. This means local churches will need to provide education solutions that include single parents and low-income families. I’ve asked my friend, Gheorghe Rosca, Jr. (from Protect Our Kids) to come on and help us discuss how a church can start a school as an alternative to government schools and as a refuge for our children.

Back in 2020, the Riesco family had their business burned down in the BLM riots in Chicago. Even though they had been long-time advocates in the community, they were cancelled virtually overnight for saying "all black lives matter." We will talk to brother Juan about his family's experience and how they, by God's grace, "uncancelled" themselves. We will also find out what they learned and how they are ministering today in their community. Sometimes, standing up for the Gospel will cost us. Guest: Juan Riesco, from Nini’s Deli Check out Juan's story here: https://youtu.be/4OJIucA3zsc Connect with Us: Web site: https://www.allthethingsshow.com Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/attlivestream Podcast: search for "all the things show" on your favorite podcast platform Subscribe to the show's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYendNtt3w7d2yzdutQ1UEQ Support our Sponsors: Family 210 Clothing https://www.family210.com Impact 360 https://www.impact360institute.org Support Monique's work for the Center for Biblical Unity: https://www.centerforbiblicalunity.com/donate

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.