Greg answers questions from an atheist about why Jesus couldn’t write his own book, what God has been doing all of this time, why Christians don’t read the Bible if it’s the Word of God, God existing “before” time, and whether pastors use fear tactics to get people to tithe.
Topics:
Tell us why Jesus, the God of the universe, couldn’t write his own book. (07:00)
Would you care to explain what the all-knowing, all-powerful God of the universe has been doing all of this time? (13:00)
If the Bible is the Word of God, then why do 99% of Christians spend less than 15 minutes a week reading it? Maybe they’re delusional, egotistical hypocrites who fear a man-made, invisible God. Do you even know what epistemology and logical argumentation are? (24:00)
It’s illogical to say that God could exist before time. (35:00)
Do you think Christians pay a 10% tithe because they want to, or is it because the leaders of the church know they can’t survive unless they use fear tactics to convince their congregations they’re sinning if they don’t give 10%? (44:00)
Related Links:
Should Christians Tithe? by Greg Koukl
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58:00
Is It Okay for Pastors to Ask the Holy Spirit to Come Down?
Greg answers questions about pastors asking the Holy Spirit to come down, the treatment of slaves in Israel versus in other cultures, whether there should be women pastors, and how Christians can claim they have a relationship with Jesus if they’ve never seen him.
Topics:
What are your thoughts on pastors saying, “Holy Spirit, come down and move through your people”? (04:00)
Do you know who made the point that we should compare the way the Israelites treated their slaves to the way other cultures treated theirs in order to understand the protections God was giving them? (26:00)
Should there be women pastors? (41:00)
Jesus hasn’t been seen in 2,000 years, so how could you, as a Christian, have a relationship with him since you’ve never met the man? (51:00)
Mentioned on the Show:
Submit a question on the Open Mic Line
Is God a Moral Monster?: Making Sense of the Old Testament God by Paul Copan
The Invisible Man by Greg Koukl
Related Links:
Did God Condone Slavery? by Amy Hall
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58:00
Greg Reflects on the Passage of Time on His 75th Birthday
Greg reflects on the passage of time on his 75th birthday, then he answers questions about the SRY gene making someone male, his opinion on music in the church today, and whether the Old Testament stories are allegory or history.
Topics:
Commentary: Greg reflects on the passage of time on his 75th birthday. (00:00)
Could the presence of an SRY gene make someone with XX chromosomes male? (14:00)
What’s your opinion on the music that’s creeping into the church? (30:00)
Is it the case that many stories in the Old Testament are allegory or parables rather than history, that it doesn’t matter if they’re true or not, and that this was just the way Israel learned God’s character and his ways? (41:00)
Mentioned on the Show:
Reality Student Apologetics Conference – September 12–13 in Atlanta, GA; October 17–18 in Seattle, WA; November 7–8 in Minneapolis, MN; February 20–21, 2026 in Dallas, TX; March 13–14, 2026 in Philadelphia, PA; April 24–25, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA
What Is a Man? What Is a Woman? by Alan Shlemon
Related Links:
The Art of Leading Congregational Worship by Amy Hall
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58:00
Jesus’ Yoke Is Easy and His Burden Is Light
Greg reflects on the destruction from the Malibu fire, then he answers questions about the sense in which Jesus’ yoke is easy and his burden light, how to respond to someone who uses Romans 7 to defend his homosexuality, and how to let God lead when making big decisions.
Topics:
Commentary: Greg reflects on the destruction from the Malibu fires. (00:00)
In what sense is Jesus’ yoke easy and his burden light? (11:00)
What do you think of someone who uses Romans 7 to defend living a homosexual lifestyle? (31:00)
How do I let God lead my life when making big decisions? (45:00)
Mentioned on the Show:
When God Speaks by Greg Koukl
The Ambassador’s Guide to the Voice of God by Greg Koukl
Related Links:
Be Willing to Submit to Our Good God on the Issue of Homosexuality by Amy Hall
Does God Whisper? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 by Greg Koukl
#STRask: How Should I Pray About Big Decisions If I Can’t Expect a Confirmation from God?
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58:00
Tripp and Megan Almon Are Joining Stand to Reason
Greg chats with Tripp and Megan Almon, who are joining the Stand to Reason team as the head of STR Outposts (Tripp) and a speaker (Megan), about their backgrounds, spiritual and intellectual journeys, and new roles at STR.
Topics:
Interview: Tripp and Megan Almon are joining Stand to Reason. (00:00)
Mentioned on the Show:
Tripp and Megan Almon
STR Outposts
Summit Ministries
Life Training Institute
Biola’s apologetics program
Reality Student Apologetics Conference – September 12–13 in Atlanta, GA; October 17–18 in Seattle, WA; November 7–8 in Minneapolis, MN; February 20–21, 2026 in Dallas, TX; March 13–14, 2026 in Philadelphia, PA; April 24–25, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA
Related Links:
Clarifying the Abortion Issue – A previous interview with Megan Almon
Embryos Are Not Just a Clump of Cells by Megan Almon
How to Deal with Some Common Responses to Your Pro-Life Argument – Video of Megan Almon
Our purpose is to help Christians think more clearly about their faith and to help them make an even-handed, incisive, yet gracious defense for classical Christianity. Released every Wednesday and Friday.
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