How Does God’s Promise To “Bless Those Who Bless Abram” Apply Today?

Podcast: Download (Duration: 50:47 — 8.7MB)

Dr. Will Varner, Professor of Bible and Greek at The Master’s College

“Now the LORD said to Abram … I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse.  And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed” (Genesis 12:3).

The above passage from Genesis has been a topic of debate for time immemorial?  (It came up last week in our discussion about Ron Paul’s views on Israel.)  So what exactly does it mean God will “bless those who bless Abram”?

Was that blessing for those who lived just during the time of Abram or did it extend to his descendants as well?  And if to his descendants, does that mean both Jews, from his son Isaac, and also Arabs from his son Ishmael?

And how are we to “bless Abram”?  Does “we” refer to individuals or nations or both?  What does “blessing Abram” mean for the United States and our relationship with the secular state of Israel?  And what about the common Christian belief that the Jews and the nation of Israel have been replaced in the “favored” or “chosen” category by the church?

As you can see, there are lots of questions to ponder when it comes to understanding what God’s call for Christians is when it comes to the Jews and Israel.  Fortunately, our guest on Saturday, Dr. Will Varner, has insight and experience with this issue.  Dr. Varner is professor of Bible and Greek at The Master’s College and is the director of their Israel Bible Extension program.

We will also hear from Dr. Wess Stafford, the president of Compassion International, one of the world’s most respected, gospel-centered child development organizations.  If you haven’t had the chance yet to find a child to sponsor as part of The Christian Worldview FaithWorks Initiative with Compassion International, click here or call toll free 1-855-549-7535.

A Discussion on the Eternal Reality of Heaven and Hell (part 2 of 2)

Podcast: Download (Duration: 50:43 — 8.7MB)

Guest: Randy Alcorn, author, “Heaven”

Last Saturday, we talked with author Randy Alcorn about the horrible reality of hell for those who reject Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice.  This Saturday, Randy will join us for part 2 of our discussion to talk about a place where everyone should desire to spend eternity: heaven.  What is heaven really like?  Where is it located?  How does one go there?  And how should the reality of heaven change the way we live on earth?

Randy Alcorn, founder of Eternal Perspective Ministries and the author of “Heaven”, one of the most significant and comprehensive books on the subject, will answer all these questions and more this Saturday on The Christian Worldview Radio Program.

Our thank you to you for your support!  We have selected “Heaven” for our Book Club from December through March and would like to send you this beautiful hardcover book that covers every possible angle of the Christian’s greatest hope as a thank you for your tax-deductible donation of $25 or more to The Christian Worldview.  Or, for a donation of any amount, we will send “Heaven Touchpoints” by Randy Alcorn, a shorter and smaller paperback book full of questions and answers on heaven.

Click here to receive “Heaven” or “Heaven Touchpoints” or call us toll-free at 1-888-646-2233.  You can also mail your donation to The Christian Worldview PO Box 401 Tonka Bay, MN 55331.

A Discussion on the Eternal Reality of Heaven and Hell (part 1 of 2)

Podcast: Download (Duration: 50:48 — 8.7MB)

Guest: Randy Alcorn, author, “Heaven”

“What happens to me after I die?”  “Is there really a heaven and hell, and if so, what are they like?”  These questions have been among the most asked, pondered, and discussed for as long as man has walked the earth.  We know what life is like here, but what about the hereafter?

This year as a result of Rob Bell’s best-selling book, “Love Wins”, the traditional, biblical notion of hell as conscious, eternal torment in the lake of fire has come under direct attack.  As for heaven, many Christians picture a place where saints with wings float on clouds and play harps for eternity.  But what does the Bible really say about heaven and hell?  A lot, it turns out, and it may change the way you think about each.

Popular author Randy Alcorn joins us for the next two Saturdays (Dec. 3 and 10) on The Christian Worldview to talk about heaven and hell.  He is the director of Eternal Perspective Ministries and the author of “Heaven”, one of the most significant and comprehensive books on the subject.

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What You Should Do About Your Christian Son, Daughter, or Friend Who is Not Dating or Engaged “In The Lord”

Podcast: Download (Duration: 50:47 — 8.7MB)

“A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband is dead, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 7:39

You’ve probably heard the old adage that the second most important decision you make in life is who you marry (the first being the decision to repent and place your faith in Christ for salvation).

Since who you marry is this important and since marriage is described as “till death do us part” and “two becoming one” and a picture of Christ being wedded to His church and God’s covenant relationship for humans to bear and raise children, then why do so many professing Christians date and marry unbelievers?  And why aren’t the Christians in their lives — parents, pastors, friends — falling on the tracks to warn them to not go forward and be unequally yoked in dating and marriage?

It seems today that the clear biblical prohibition of an unequal yoke in dating and marriage is being neglected.  This Saturday morning on The Christian Worldview, we’ll discuss why marrying “in the Lord” is not just a nice suggestion but a serious command and what parents and friends who see a person involved in an unequally yoked relationship can and should do about it.

Thriving in Relationship with Your Adult Children

Podcast: Download (Duration: 50:48 — 8.7MB)

Guest: Jim Newheiser, author, You Never Stop Being a Parent

You’ve probably heard the saying, “Little kids, little problems; big kids, BIG problems.”  There are stacks of books written on parenting little ones (i.e. those under 18) but relatively little is said about being a parent to your big kids, those in their 20’s and 30’s.  What should you do about the young adult who is living at home and exhibiting very little motivation and direction in life?  Or how should you handle your adult son or daughter who is headed towards marrying someone you don’t approve of?  And what changes about being a parent when your kids transition from minors to adults?

With the big kids coming home for Thanksgiving and Christmas, it’s a good time to talk about how parents can best interact with them.  Jim Newheiser, author of “You Never Stop Being a Parent” and teaching elder at Grace Bible Church in CA joins us on The Christian Worldview this weekend to discuss how to thrive in relationship with your adult children.

Paterno, Tebow, and a Culture in Confusion

Podcast: Download (Duration: 50:48 — 8.7MB)

Guest:  Gordon Thiessen, Dir. of Training and Resources, Fellowship of Christian Athletes

“A good name is to be more desired than great wealth; favor is better than silver and gold” (Proverbs 22:1).

Every so often a sports story makes front page news and that was the case this week when a grand jury investigation found that Penn State’s football program and its legendary coach, 84-year-old Joe Paterno, had tolerated a serial child rapist in their midst named Jerry Sandusky, a long-time assistant coach.  When the decision was made on Wednesday to fire Paterno, students on campus rioted.

This explosive story at Penn State is the only thing that has been able to overshadow the incredible amount of fan and media attention devoted to Denver Broncos quarterback and committed Christian Tim Tebow.  Although Tebow has only started three games for a team with a losing record, the most hotly debated topic of the NFL season continues to be: “Can Tim Tebow play quarterback in the NFL?”  What do the polarized and irrational responses say about our culture?

Gordon Thiessen, director of training and resources for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, will join us this weekend to discuss these stories and what they represent culturally and spiritually.

Need to Read: Why the Heck Do We Hate Tim Tebow? (Jen Floyd Engel)

Should A Biblical Christian Vote For A Mormon (Or Any Other Unsaved Candidate)?

Podcast: Download (Duration: 49:49 — 8.6MB)

“When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when a wicked man rules, people groan” (Proverbs 29:2).

Many biblical Christians do not like the policies that our professing Christian president, Democrat Barack Obama, has implemented such as government-run health care and the expansion of abortion rights and the homosexual agenda, to name a few.

One year from now, biblical Christians will have the privilege of going to the polls to cast their vote for president.  With his place near the top of the polls, large financial holdings, and lack of scandal, it is quite likely that the Republican nominee will be Mitt Romney.  By most accounts, Romney is a family man and an intelligent and capable business and civic leader.

Mitt Romney is also a committed Mormon.  And that is where the rub comes for many biblical Christians.  The thought of voting for someone immersed in a false religion, that some call a cult, has divided biblical Christians.  Some say they could never vote for a Mormon and will either vote for a 3rd party candidate or not at all.  Others say they’d rather have a more conservative person be president, even if he is a Mormon, than a liberal professing Christian.

So what’s a biblical Christian to do when it comes to the possibility of voting for a Mormon?  Tune in this weekend to The Christian Worldview as we discuss this topic and take your phone calls.

Program follow-up: Just to restate, in case you didn’t hear the whole program, neither David Wheaton nor The Christian Worldview are endorsing Mitt Romney for president nor saying he is the best Republican candidate nor even assuming he will be the Republican presidential nominee in 2012.

The point of today’s program is this: while it would be ideal to always have the option to vote for a viable born-again Christian candidate, based on our understanding of Scripture, a true Christian would not be sinning against God in voting for an unsaved candidate (Mormon or otherwise) but that a Christian also shouldn’t vote for any candidate if it causes him/her to violate their conscience (Romans 14).

What Happens When Joel Osteen Makes The Narrow Gate Much Wider?

Podcast: Download (Duration: 50:49 — 8.7MB)

Guest: Jason Carlson, Pastor and Director, Christian Ministries International

“Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints” (Jude 1:3).

Joel Osteen, pastor of America’s largest church, made the following statement this week in an interview with the Washington Times:

“I believe that [Mormons] are Christians.  I don’t know if it’s the purest form of Christianity, like I grew up with.  But you know what, I know Mormons.  I hear Mitt Romney — and I’ve never met him — but I hear him say, ‘I believe Jesus is the son of God,’ ‘I believe he’s my savior,’ and that’s one of the core issues.”

When a prominent, professing Christian leader like Osteen emphasizes some semantic commonalities between biblical Christianity and Mormonism but draws no distinction between the substantive differences, especially as it pertains to what the Bible says about how sinful man can be reconciled to a holy God, what does this bode for the future of the church and country?

Jason Carlson, pastor and director of Christian Ministries International, will join us this weekend on the The Christian Worldview to draw clear, eternity-changing distinctions between biblical Christianity and Mormonism and to discuss a potential dilemma for biblical Christians if Mitt Romney, a Mormon, becomes the Republican nominee for President in 2012.

FURTHER READING:

• Does Joel Osteen Not Know, or Does He Not Care? (Al Mohler)
• Mormonism 101 (Kevin DeYoung)
• Mormonism, Democracy, and the Urgent Need for Evangelical Thinking (Al Mohler)

What Causes People to Make a “180″ on Abortion?

Podcast: Download (Duration: 50:39 — 8.7MB)

Guest: Ray Comfort, evangelist and producer of the “180″ movie

“For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb.  I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalms 139:13-14).

Two generations and 53 million abortions later, it would be natural to assume that Roe v. Wade, the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that made killing one’s unborn child legal, is now “water over the dam”.  In other words, the United States doesn’t appear to be going back to pre-abortion days anytime soon.  Not enough minds could be changed, right?

Wrong, according to respected evangelist and author Ray Comfort.  He says “the cause [against abortion] has to be a hill to die on” and that people’s minds on the issue can be changed in seconds?

In seconds?  How so?  Comfort has just released a powerful 33-minute documentary movie (already with over 1 million views on YouTube) entitled “180” where people who were for abortion change their minds completely after being asked one question.  What is that question and how can Christians help in ending our own “American holocaust”?  Tune in to The Christian Worldview this weekend to find out!

What Will It Profit A Man If He Invents The iPhone But Forfeits His Soul?

Podcast: Download (Duration: 50:44 — 8.7MB)

“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” (Matthew 16:25-26)

Steve Jobs, the co-founder and CEO of Apple, the world’s most valuable company, recently died at age 56 of complications from pancreatic cancer.

Revered as being the Thomas Edison and Henry Ford of our day due to his inventing popular electronic devices that revolutionized the world, like the iPod, iPhone, and iPad, Jobs’ net worth was estimated to be over $8 billion.  With this much success and acclaim, you could say that Steve Jobs had (nearly) gained the whole world.

But what about Steve Jobs’ soul?  Where did he believe his soul would go after he died and on what did he base those beliefs?  And what can we learn from his life and worldview?

Join us this weekend on The Christian Worldview as we discuss living to the utmost in this world yet not forfeiting your soul in the process.

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