S1: Coming to you from the Morning Star Mission sponsored studio.
S1: This is Carl and crew on Moody Radio.
S2: Carl and crew. And we are helping you on this
S2: beautiful Monday morning, taking your next step with Jesus. A
S2: lot of tragedy in the world are our. Our eyes
S2: and hearts are drawn toward Texas. Horrific flooding. Uh, some
S2: of the statistics on this horrific event are they're almost
S2: mind boggling. Guadalupe River actually surged 20 plus feet in
S2: a matter of two hours or less. And in some
S2: regions around camp mystic, they believe that it probably had
S2: a 20 foot rise in less than 90 minutes. It's
S2: almost hard to get your mind around, isn't it, guys?
S3: It really is. You know, if you don't live near
S3: a river, that can change that dramatically like that. I
S3: think it is. It's it's when you see some of
S3: the images and the pictures and the before and after
S3: and you just so much devastation and heartbreak.
S2: It's. It's overwhelming. Uh, I was in a flood one time.
S2: That was very dangerous in Fairbanks, Alaska. The Chena River
S2: actually overflowed. It was the one summer my dad went to.
S2: Took our family to Alaska, to Fairbanks, Alaska. He was
S2: getting his master's degree at that time. I was a
S2: little guy. And all I remember is the panic of
S2: adults trying to get us into. What I got into
S2: was a canoe, and we got into the canoe when
S2: there was about two inches of water underneath us, and
S2: they said, hold tight. And within a matter of 30 minutes,
S2: the canoe was floating and we were paddling toward some rescue,
S2: some rescue vehicles that were up on some higher ground
S2: that would haul us to safety. But, I mean, I
S2: remember this like it was yesterday because of the panic
S2: that ensued from adults and people that were trying to
S2: evacuate vast swaths of Fairbanks, Alaska. And all I, all
S2: I remember was being was being comforted by some rescuers
S2: in a big military vehicle that loaded us up into
S2: basically what was a dump truck. And standing in the
S2: dump truck is a little guy watching my mom try
S2: to stay calm. And, uh, it was it was crazy.
S2: I can only imagine then what it would be like
S2: for these precious lives to see this wall of water
S2: coming their way, or to feel like there's nothing we
S2: can do. And the stories of heroes that are coming
S2: out of this are just mind boggling. Over 160 were
S2: rescued by a water rescue. One person water rescue guy. Wow.
S2: And his statement a quick interview that I saw. He
S2: says I'm just a dude doing what I'm, you know,
S2: called to do. This is my service. so don't call
S2: me a hero, which makes him more of a hero
S2: in my mind's eye.
S4: Sure. Absolutely.
S2: You know what I mean?
S4: Of course.
S2: It's like, wow, what an amazing thing. Camp mystic. Horrible
S2: things have transpired there. A whole cabin, my understanding is.
S2: And we'll get more clarity in days to come. But
S2: a whole cabin that was near to the river of
S2: 6 to 8 year old girls camping at a Christian
S2: camp were swept away. There are crazy stories. Miraculous stories.
S2: One little girl actually wrote a mattress for it. Sounds
S2: like three hours, possibly 12 miles downstream. And she was rescued.
S2: And then I did see some video footage of campers
S2: that were rescued from camp mystic in a bus getting
S2: out of that area after going going for a couple
S2: of miles, it appears. Um, while they were traveling to
S2: get out of this area, they're singing incredible worship songs,
S2: and they were absolutely beautiful. Did you hear that to somebody?
S5: Yeah, I saw that clip. It might. I just broke
S5: down in tears. You're hearing these little voices and these girls,
S5: and they're just singing. And like you said, you see
S5: the devastation out the window, and they are just praising
S5: and praising and clutching each other and singing. It was like, wow.
S2: You see that one shot where they're going across that
S2: little riverbed that was still flooded a bit?
S5: Yes.
S2: And they the one girl that was filming this worship
S2: time on this bus said, oh God, oh God. As
S2: the as the bus is making its way across a
S2: flooded stream and, uh, but it was it brought tears
S2: to my eyes because here are these girls that have
S2: gone through so much in just a short amount of time,
S2: and they're given praise and glory to God. Some might
S2: scoff at that, I certainly don't. I think that's one
S2: of the great graces of God to give us voice
S2: to tragedy and to say, all hail King Jesus. Even
S2: in the midst of a lot of pain. A lot
S2: of a lot of pain, a lot of painful stories,
S2: I witnessed one daddy who was right after the flooding occurred.
S2: He came into that area and I forget what network
S2: was interviewing him, asked him how what we can do.
S2: And he said, I want you to pray. And when
S2: he said pray, he just he broke down a bit
S2: and said, I want you to pray. Our hope is
S2: that we find some of these girls alive. And maybe
S2: my girl. It's just tough stuff, man. It's really hard
S2: coming up here. In a moment we're going to pray. Why?
S2: Because God has got a providence. You know what that means?
S2: Means that he adjusts what we see as everyday life.
S2: And he works beyond human timetable. And he moves Indeed.
S2: God of power, God that transcends any kind of power
S2: we have. And a God whose sovereign, a God that
S2: orders the affairs of this world. There's a lot of
S2: questions we have, but at the same time we pray. Ali,
S2: would you pray?
S4: Yeah.
S2: Today.
S3: Lord Jesus, we just thank you for the promise of
S3: your nearness. When we're crushed in spirit, when we're heartbroken, Lord.
S3: So we just first pray for for the rescue mission
S3: that continues, Lord, for those who are working tirelessly for
S3: families who are waiting for news. Lord, we just pray
S3: God that somehow Lord your presence because it's promised your
S3: presence would be near to them, Lord, that you would
S3: uphold them with your strong right hand. Oh God, that
S3: you would not let the grief and the despair overtake them.
S3: But Lord, somehow, even through this God, your might and
S3: your power would be seen. God. So much heartbreak, so
S3: much loss. But God, we we trust you, Lord, we
S3: trust you. On days like this, Lord, where so many
S3: are facing the unthinkable. God, we pray for the strength
S3: for those who are still out. Lord, who are rescuing. Lord,
S3: we pray just for miracles. Lord, you know it seems
S3: implausible right now, but God, you are a God of miracles.
S3: So Lord, if there are those still clinging to life, Lord,
S3: we pray that they would be found and rescued quickly. Lord, uh,
S3: that you would put an end to their suffering. Lord.
S3: And we just pray God that out of this Lord,
S3: out of this tragedy, Lord, you, you would be seen. God,
S3: that those who've never turned to you before would turn
S3: to you, would turn their hearts, would bow a knee
S3: to you. God, that through this storm, Lord, literal storm Lord,
S3: that your face would be seen, your hand would be seen. God,
S3: we just thank you. And we pray for comfort and
S3: for peace. The peace that surpasses all understanding to guard
S3: hearts and minds in you, Lord. In Jesus name. Amen.
S2: Amen. And let it be. The Lord is near to
S2: the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. It's a
S2: hard thing when you see tragedy like this, especially when
S2: these are young, innocent children. So many of them were
S2: little ones that were away on a camp at camp
S2: mystic in particular. They were between sessions at a couple
S2: camps downriver that some of them wiped out. And yet
S2: camp mystic was filled. The director of that camp, the
S2: owner of the camp director of the camp, was lost
S2: trying to save some of those lives. He was swept
S2: away as well. A lot of pain and a lot
S2: of opportunity for us to pray. And the question is,
S2: why do we pray? Because God moves. God moves even
S2: now in the lives of those who are still living,
S2: those that are grieving. It's a lot of pain. Maybe
S2: God has you crushed in spirit. Today, we want to
S2: point you to the one who can care for your
S2: soul in ways like you can't imagine. Hang on.
S1: Your spiritual pit stop to keep you going in the race.
S1: You're listening to Carl and crew.
S2: And my heart is drawn this morning. To the broken
S2: hearted and the crushed in spirit. It can feel terrifying
S2: when you come to the end of yourself. And yet
S2: the Lord is near to you, and you know you
S2: want to ask and and really wrestle with, well, how
S2: near is God? Fair enough.
S4: Yeah.
S2: How near.
S4: Is God?
S3: Fair question.
S2: And theologically and practically, the best thing I can offer
S2: you this morning. If you're coming to us here today
S2: and you feel brokenhearted and crushed in spirit. The Lord
S2: is near to you and he is right behind you.
S2: What do I mean by that? The reality of the
S2: lostness of humankind is almost overwhelmingly staggering to me. One
S2: of the myths that we're going to be debunking this
S2: week is this this myth that somehow we are all
S2: Christian when we say, I've been a Christian my whole life.
S2: In fact, we're going to be debunking that myth tomorrow.
S2: All week long, we're going to be debunking myths. We're
S2: just taking some time aside here, just with our hearts
S2: drawn to Texas in this flooding. We're just camping on
S2: this idea here for a few minutes that the Lord
S2: is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
S2: But I, I almost want to give a precursor to
S2: what we're going to be debunking tomorrow. And that is
S2: I've been a Christian my whole life. We hear that
S2: a lot, right, Ali?
S4: Oh, yeah, we.
S2: We hear that a lot. But that's not true. You
S2: can't be a Christian your whole life. And the question is,
S2: for those that have this delusion of thinking they've been
S2: a Christian their whole life, I, we know that those
S2: are well-intended words, probably raised in a Christian culture, raised
S2: in a Christian home. But we are born with our
S2: backs to God. We're born with our backs to God.
S2: This is why Jesus, when asked by one of his
S2: disciples who was really troubled in spirit, probably not crushed,
S2: but brokenhearted for sure, he said, well, we don't know
S2: where you're going. And Jesus said, let not your hearts
S2: be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me. It's
S2: found in John 14. And then he goes on to say,
S2: I am the way and the truth and the life.
S2: And he said, you can come with me to this
S2: place that I've prepared for you. When you realize that
S2: your way no longer works, your truth will not get
S2: you there. And the life you've pursued and wanted your
S2: whole life can only be found in Jesus Christ. That's powerful.
S2: So I want you to know from the bottom of
S2: my heart that the Lord is near to the brokenhearted
S2: and saves the crushed in spirit. And there's so many
S2: tuned in today who feel like I'm coming here for
S2: some hope. And here's the hope. The Lord is near
S2: to you. And if you've never given your life to
S2: Jesus Christ. He's right behind you. So an obvious question is, well,
S2: how do I reach him? You turn around and he's
S2: right there. How do I get a hug from God?
S2: How do I feel? The embrace of a relationship with
S2: Jesus Christ. Turn around. He's right there. Turn around. Is
S2: this very solid biblical idea of repentance. It means turning
S2: away from the path and the way that you've been
S2: walking into the arms of God. It means embracing the
S2: truth that I'm a sinner who needs a Savior, and
S2: his name is Jesus. And I just want to humbly
S2: ask you today, today, do you find yourself brokenhearted, crushed
S2: in spirit, and you know in your heart that you've
S2: never been in a real, living, breathing relationship with the
S2: Son of God? Today you can have that by turning around,
S2: repenting of sin, embracing the truth that Jesus died for
S2: your sins, and surrendering all that you are to Jesus
S2: for the very first time. I say it here often,
S2: but often when we are at the end of ourselves,
S2: we are at the very best place we can be.
S2: And my friend God providentially allowed you to be here
S2: today so that you could hear the hope of the gospel.
S2: Jesus does not invite you into a religious system. He
S2: invites you into a relationship with God. Spirit empowered spirit regenerated.
S2: Change from the inside out. No more worried about. No
S2: longer worried about your circumstances on the outside, even the
S2: behaviors that got you where you are today. But knowing
S2: that God can change you from the inner man and
S2: the inner woman to be great men and great women
S2: of God, because he is doing the work inside you today.
S2: If you have never before fully surrendered your life, all
S2: that you are to Jesus Christ, and you've been walking
S2: your own way, living by your own truth, today is
S2: the day of salvation for you friend. Today is the day.
S2: And I just want you to pull to the side
S2: of the road if you're driving or get to a
S2: quiet place. And I want to pray for you right now,
S2: and I want you to pray along with me. Simply
S2: the words of Jesus repeated back to him from John
S2: 14 he said, I am the way. And I've got
S2: a question for you. Are you ready to go the
S2: way of Jesus today for the first time in your life?
S2: Turn around. God is right there. Turn around and turn
S2: everything over to Jesus. Is that you? Just say yes.
S2: That is me. God, are you willing today to embrace
S2: the truth that you're a sinner and you need a savior?
S2: You're missing the mark. You've not been able to make
S2: life work on your terms, and you are giving over
S2: your life to Jesus, embracing the truth that you need
S2: him to save your life. So you're losing your life
S2: for the sake of taking hold of the life that
S2: is found in Christ Jesus. Just say that's me. That's
S2: me God. And now, father, for all these that are
S2: surrendering to Jesus Christ today, your name be praised. Flood
S2: them with streams of living water. Hope eternal. Give them
S2: a life like you promised in John 14. You are
S2: the life. Fill them up, Lord. And I give you
S2: praise today. If the cry of your soul is total
S2: surrender to God through the blood of Jesus Christ, who
S2: paid the ultimate sacrifice for your sin. I want to
S2: welcome you to the family. This prayer of faith is
S2: a cry of the soul. It says, I give, you've
S2: got me. Take over every bit of my life. I
S2: surrender all to you today and a miracle happens. The
S2: life of Jesus is now given to you. The great
S2: exchange has happened and we want to help you in
S2: your first steps with Jesus. How are we doing this today, Alex?
S3: Well, we have a link for you. If you text
S3: the word new to 800 555 7898, we're going to
S3: send you a response that gives you some next steps.
S3: What to look for in a church, everything that you're
S3: going to need to get a good start. Just text
S3: the word new to 800 555 7898 N-e-w new to (800) 555-7898.
S2: Yeah. And we want to welcome you to the family.
S2: God is proving to you right now that the Lord
S2: is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
S2: Text new to 800 555 7898. Welcome to the family.
S1: This is Carl and crew on Moody Radio.
S2: It's Carl and crew helping you take your next step
S2: with Jesus. We may have something for you to step
S2: into here. Got Edward Graham from Samaritan's Purse going to
S2: give us an update here in just a moment. I
S2: want to give credit where credit's due. I've been talking
S2: about this kid all morning. Now I have a name.
S2: Scott Ruskin, rescue swimmer with the US Coast Guard who
S2: saved 165 lives in the Texas floods. He's 26 years old.
S2: And you know what he said when they asked him
S2: about it? He says, I'm just a dude doing my job.
S4: Wow.
S2: That makes you love him all the more. Uh, when
S2: we find tragedies like this, the question is, what do
S2: we do? Boy, have we got someone for you right now.
S2: Edward Graham. What do we do? You've got a you
S2: got a great mission here, don't you, my man?
S6: Uh, thanks, Carl. I appreciate you having us on. It's.
S6: You know, it's an honor to work in the Lord's ministry,
S6: but it's also during hard and difficult times. And you
S6: see brokenness and hurt so often in times like this
S6: in Texas. So we, uh, my whole office this morning,
S6: we start our morning off in prayer. And so we
S6: lifted Texas up in prayer this morning. Have been praying
S6: all over the holiday weekend.
S4: Yeah.
S3: Edward Graham, our our guest right now, chief operating officer
S3: of Samaritan's Purse. He oversees the international and domestic operations
S3: of Samaritan's Purse. Tell us a little bit about the reports.
S3: I know you're going to be leaving for Texas here
S3: in the next couple of hours. Tell us the reports
S3: you're getting from your team that's already there.
S6: Yeah. Thank you. You know, we keep equipment also down
S6: in Coppell, Texas, right outside of Dallas. And so they've
S6: already deployed equipment. We had assessors go out the following day.
S6: And so we're getting reports about 150 to 200 homes
S6: destroyed And severely damaged. And so after getting the all
S6: clear from the emergency responders there, and when they're done
S6: with an area and clearing out, unfortunately looking for human
S6: remains will go in with church partners and volunteers, and
S6: we'll muck out and clean out these homes that have
S6: been flooded, cut back the drywall and get them dried in. Um,
S6: but there's so much loss and hurt during a time
S6: like this. And many of these homeowners want to know
S6: if God forsaken them or forgotten about them. And this
S6: is where we also partner with the Billy Graham Association.
S6: They send their down there rapid response chaplains that are
S6: trained on how to share hope in crisis, to let
S6: them know their love and not forgotten. And so we
S6: go there to serve in the name of Jesus. After
S6: so much brokenness and loss and the pain right now.
S6: You were talking. I heard the updates this morning, the
S6: news you talked there about the mystic camp, that camp director, uh,
S6: who lost his life trying to save these little girls.
S6: I looked over photos over the weekend of him and
S6: the ministries had there. He clearly had a heart and
S6: a burden for these girls. And I think about the
S6: families that have lost so much. There's nothing you can
S6: tell them right now that eases the pain or the brokenness.
S6: So let's just pray the love of the church lift
S6: up their feet. How many churches were involved in this camp?
S6: That's an you know, you think of that. There's so
S6: many churches that are hurting right now, and we've got
S6: a lot of prayer to do. And I believe in
S6: the power of prayer. It works.
S2: Yeah it does. Edward Graham, our guest right now. What
S2: have you learned when. I don't think anyone comes in
S2: equipped for how to respond to people that have gone
S2: through tragic loss. What have you learned, Edward? What was
S2: an aha moment for you when you were even working
S2: with chaplains? Much your senior had been there, done that.
S2: What did you learn?
S6: Yeah, you know, I learned in combat even too. There's
S6: no there's no really right thing to say other than
S6: to be present. And then the power of the gospel,
S6: you know, when you speak, you speak with the Word
S6: of God and use his words and what Scripture says
S6: and rely on that power, and people are going to
S6: be in such pain when you show up to a
S6: location like that and they're not really interested in your
S6: in your opinion. They want you to be present. They
S6: want you to listen. Um, but they also expect, you know, action.
S6: They need help. They need to be lifted up out
S6: of where they are right now. And that's where the
S6: love of the church comes in. And that's where volunteers,
S6: people listening to your program wondering, well, what can I
S6: do and how can I get involved? Well, Samaritan's Purse,
S6: we need volunteers that aren't afraid to go get dirty.
S6: You know, anyone can do this. We have the right equipment.
S6: We have the tools, we have the chaplains. We just
S6: need people willing to put on the work gloves and
S6: go love their neighbor that is suffering right now. And, uh,
S6: and when asked, has God forsaken me? Answer with what
S6: the Scripture says. Think of Proverbs chapter three, verses five
S6: through six. I think that all the time trust in
S6: the Lord with all your heart and lean not on
S6: your own understanding. And I had I remember in combat
S6: and all my ways acknowledge him and he's going to
S6: direct our paths during times like this. And that's my
S6: prayer for this community down there.
S3: Edward Graham with Samaritan's Purse. If you want more ways
S3: to help, ways to get involved, just text purse to
S3: 800 555 7898. Text purse to (800) 555-7898.
S2: Yeah, I think what's interesting, Edward, I thank you for
S2: taking some time. I know you got a lot on
S2: your plate. We're going to be praying for you. As
S2: a matter of fact, we're going to do that right now.
S2: I'm with you, Edward. You know what I am praying now, guys?
S2: Like I've never prayed before in my life. I was
S2: telling the church this weekend, I don't know why, but
S2: I have a level of expectancy. Let's take a level
S2: of expectancy and God's providence in his sovereignty and his omnipotence.
S2: And we're going to pray. We're going to pray over you, Edward, father,
S2: over Edward Graham and his team with Samaritan's Purse. I
S2: pray in the name of Jesus that you would protect them,
S2: that you would give them supernatural teleprompting by your spirit.
S2: Words to say, where to go, what to pick up,
S2: what boards to move, what to look for. In all
S2: these things we just rely on you and we've seen
S2: you move. You can do it again. And Lord, I'm
S2: thankful for Edward. I'm thankful for his team. And I'm
S2: I'm grateful for people listening right now who are feeling
S2: prompted by your spirit. I have time, I'm not afraid
S2: to get dirty. And I pray in Jesus name that
S2: you'd raise up an army of men and women who
S2: are ready to step up and say, we're putting our
S2: faith on display. We're going to shine so brightly that
S2: you will see our deeds in the middle of agony
S2: and glorify our father who is in heaven. We pray
S2: this believing and confident that as we pray, you go
S2: to work God. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
S4: Amen.
S2: Edward. Thank you. I love your heart, man.
S6: I appreciate it and we love your radio ministry. Thank
S6: you for preaching the Word of God and the power
S6: that comes with it. Thank you so much.
S4: Hey.
S2: Godspeed my man. Again, that keyword is purse. Text purse
S2: to 800 555 7898. Purse to 800 555 7898. And
S2: I'll tell you how bold I'm going to be on
S2: this one right now. If you're a member of 180
S2: Chicago listening right now, I'm going to put out an
S2: alert today. If we've got a couple a few of
S2: you that are ready, you got time. You're not willing to.
S2: You're not afraid to get dirty. I love how he
S2: put that right, Ali.
S4: I mean.
S2: You're not afraid to get dirty. Uh, we're going to
S2: be reaching out today, and. And let's deploy a team.
S2: Let's deploy them from all over the nation. What if
S2: God just moved upon hearts right now and said, I'm
S2: within striking distance. I can get on a plane. I
S2: can get down there. And the link for all of
S2: this is purse to 800 555, 78, 98. This gives
S2: me in the middle of tragedy, pain, anguish, hope rising
S2: up in the name of Jesus. It's got to put
S2: fire in your belly. Ali, this is Hope.
S4: Yeah.
S3: If you want to be a part of it, just
S3: text purse to 800 555 7898. Purse to (800) 555-7898.
S1: You're listening to Curl and crew on Moody Radio.
S2: We're going to be debunking myths all week long. In fact,
S2: let me forecast for you where we're going this week.
S2: I've been a Christian my whole life is tomorrow. That's
S2: a myth. But a lot of people believe it. Or
S2: maybe they don't believe it, but they say it. I
S2: need to change my life now. At face value. You'd go. Yeah,
S2: I do need to change my life.
S4: I'm.
S2: I'm down for that. Right?
S4: Oh, yeah.
S2: But the biblical reality is that's not true. Or it's
S2: at least partially true. Only partially. I can choose my identity. Whoa.
S2: There's a hot button issue for the day in which
S2: we live. We're going to debunk that myth a little
S2: bit this week. And I can't break the cycle that
S2: I've been in my whole life. Some of you feel
S2: that deeply. We're going to be tackling that on Friday.
S2: Today there is no absolute truth. It's a tough one,
S2: especially when you look up a definition of truth. Absolute truth,
S2: absolute truth. There's a definition is a statement or proposition
S2: that is universally and objectively true, independent of context, perception
S2: or belief. It remains constant across all circumstances and is
S2: not subject to change or interpretation. Ooh. That's heavy. And
S2: so when I asked grok way early this morning, is
S2: gravity an absolute truth? No, they said, because it's subject
S2: to another person's interpretation. And I'm like, well, jump off
S2: a garage.
S4: Oh, boy.
S2: You know, grok, jump off a garage. Let's find out
S2: what's going on here. So what is truth? Pilate said that.
S2: What is truth? Jesus made a claim. I am the
S2: way and the truth and the life. That's a big claim.
S2: I am the truth. I worked with a guy in
S2: the oil fields who was a very intellectual guy, and
S2: one day we were working on building some cabinets. We're
S2: 300 miles north of the Arctic Circle and is a
S2: brilliant guy. And then I'm realizing, whoa, he has some
S2: thoughts that not only had I never thought of, I
S2: thought were kind of crazy. He said, you know, there
S2: are parallel dimensions right here where we are. There are
S2: other things going on around us. There could be people
S2: passing us right now in other dimensions, and we just
S2: cannot see them. Well, how do you argue with that?
S2: You just say, no, there aren't. That doesn't work.
S4: So what?
S3: What? Where did you land with that?
S2: Oh, I'll tell you where I landed. I listened and
S2: I listened, and we were building it together. And I
S2: kept listening. And then I was so pumped when it
S2: was time to go to the chow hall for lunch.
S2: Because that conversation ended. Because. What do you do with
S2: that alley? Yeah. What do you do with that?
S3: And I mean, and I think sometimes when we get
S3: into conversation, if people feel like if people have really
S3: studied up on something, whatever it is that they believe
S3: to be true, and they can present it with a
S3: level of conviction and what seems to be like some research,
S3: it can be hard to know how to how to
S3: approach those conversations when people have what they claim to be.
S3: This is the truth that I've discovered. These are the
S3: fact claims that I'm making, and this is how I
S3: back it up. Sometimes that can get dicey because in
S3: your mind, in your heart, you go, that sounds really off,
S3: but how do I prove it?
S2: How do you prove it? How do I prove there's
S2: no one, you know, dancing a jig in another dimension
S2: right here in front of me in the wood shop,
S2: 300 miles north of the Arctic Circle. How do I
S2: prove that? Do I try to bump into another dimension?
S2: Hard to prove. So is there absolute truth? Or is
S2: all truth relative? We live in a world today that's
S2: shaky in the knees when it comes to what is
S2: absolute truth.
S3: Yes, because it seems arrogant to suggest that what you
S3: believe is actually the truth for everyone.
S2: Coming up, Andy Bannister from the other side of the pond.
S2: Let's get an apologist in here and let's drill down
S2: on it. Is there absolute truth? And how do we
S2: know that to be true?
S1: Walking closer to Jesus every day. You're listening to Carl
S1: and crew.
S2: Jesus said it. I am the way and the truth
S2: and the life. No man comes to the father, but
S2: through me. He was very clear. I'm going somewhere. I'm
S2: preparing a place for you, and I will come again.
S2: If those aren't true. And if we can't take them
S2: to the bank. We're like the Apostle Paul says, we're
S2: to be pitied more than any man. But didn't Pilate
S2: asks the right question, guys? Check this out. This is
S2: from John 1838. I'll set it up with this. You
S2: got Jesus making claims of his kingship, and you've got
S2: Jewish leaders saying he's seditious. He's undermining everything that we
S2: are as a culture. And Pilate says, what is truth?
S2: I think he actually wanted to know what the truth was.
S2: What do you say, Andy Bannister? Pilate asked a good question,
S2: didn't he?
S7: Hey, Carl, how you doing? Yes, I think it's an
S7: excellent question. Yeah, arguably, it's one of the most important
S7: questions we can ask. Right? What? What is truth? Um.
S7: I mean, to go, boy. Where do you go from there?
S7: What a great starting point. So Pilate asked the right question. Shame.
S7: I don't think he hung around long enough to wait
S7: for the answer, though. I would say.
S4: Yeah.
S3: Doctor Andy Bannister, our guest right now, he's the director
S3: of Solace. He speaks and teaches regularly throughout the UK, Europe,
S3: Canada and the US, addressing both Christians and those of
S3: all faiths on issues relating to faith, culture, politics and society.
S3: You know, when it comes to the claim of the
S3: Christian that Jesus is the way, we are also saying
S3: that every other way is false, which to many people,
S3: and this is the pushback that I'm sure you hear often.
S3: Isn't Christianity arrogant? Isn't it arrogant of us to claim
S3: that not just that we believe it, that, but that
S3: it's true and that everything else is false?
S7: Well, I'd say a couple of things there. Ali, kind
S7: of straight away. The first thing is that with respect
S7: and we need to be careful not to try and
S7: score cheap points with this one. But the point is,
S7: truth claims are by their very nature, exclusive. So if
S7: I say two plus two is four, you could turn
S7: around and go, dude, you're so arrogant. I think it's nine, man.
S7: How dare you tell me you're crazy Brits with your
S7: exclusive mathematics. If I say hey, you know, the current
S7: president of the USA is Donald Trump. That rules out,
S7: you know, 300 million other Americans who are not the
S7: current president of the USA. And the list goes on.
S7: And to anyone who gets nervous about exclusive truth claims,
S7: I can guarantee that no matter how relative you want
S7: to be, if you're sitting on an airplane about to
S7: take off from an airport, and the pilot comes over
S7: the tannoy and she announces and says, do you know what?
S7: I don't believe in exclusive truth. So once we're at
S7: cruising altitude, anyone you like can come and press buttons
S7: up here, because I don't think I've got all the answers.
S7: I don't think you'd hang around and go, what an
S7: amazingly progressive pilot. You'd be running for the emergency exits
S7: because we know instinctively, actually, deep down, the truth, by
S7: its nature, is exclusive and truth matters. Often life depends
S7: on on truth. It's not just a game.
S2: How do you land on absolute truth? When I ask
S2: Grock about three hours ago, is gravity.
S7: Big mistake. Right away. Yeah.
S2: No, but I'm playing with this one because I said,
S2: is gravity? Is gravity an absolute truth? And this is
S2: what it came back to. It came back to the
S2: definition of absolute truth. It said, well, if it's independent
S2: of context, perception or belief, it would not be truth
S2: to some. How do you even argue with that, Andy?
S2: I'm being real here.
S7: Well, I'd say it's it just shows the danger of
S7: an I because of course, an I doesn't have any
S7: understanding of truth in the first place. I is just
S7: following its programming and it was programmed by flawed human beings. Yeah,
S7: I think so. I think if you go right back
S7: to the ancients, I mean, Plato, you know, that classic
S7: Greek philosopher is quite interesting. He gave to me one
S7: of the greatest definitions of truth that stood for, you know,
S7: 4000 years, more or less, he said, you know, among
S7: the things that make truth true and universal and true
S7: and real truth is external to us. So it doesn't
S7: matter what you call personally feel about it. Uh, to go,
S7: it's external to you. So you may not like the fact, uh,
S7: that there's a, there's a, there's a traffic jam on
S7: the highway in front of you, but closing your eyes
S7: and wishing isn't going to make it go away. Um.
S7: Truth is universal. So you know something is true here
S7: in the UK. It's true in the USA. It's true globally. Um,
S7: so that truth, by its very nature is is true everywhere.
S7: Two plus two is four, wherever you go. And then
S7: true truth is also true. Throughout time. It's always been
S7: the case that two plus two is four. It will
S7: always be the case that two plus two is four.
S7: And it's interesting you ask that question about gravity. If
S7: grok was a human being, I would say so. You
S7: do think it's possible that you'll wake up tomorrow morning, grok,
S7: and be floating up near the ceiling somewhere, because gravity
S7: is just, uh, someone's perception. Um, you know, gravity, by
S7: its very nature, is external to us. We can't do
S7: anything about it. We're kind of stuck with it. And
S7: if you if you don't believe that, then perhaps don't
S7: take up skydiving as a hobby doctor.
S3: Andy Bannister, our guest right now. Now, you've written this,
S3: that I think is fascinating, that sometimes we can slip
S3: from the true claim that all people have equal value
S3: to the false claim that all ideas have equal merit.
S3: And I think that this is a good one to
S3: kind of dive into a little bit more, because sometimes
S3: it feels dishonoring to people to suggest that all ideas
S3: are not equal, even though all people have equal merit.
S3: Speak to that a little bit.
S7: That's the crucial thing, Ali, in our age right now,
S7: we've merged those two things. So when you say you
S7: disagree with someone that can be taken as as you
S7: hate them in some way, but that's such a dangerous
S7: slope to go on. First thing, it doesn't respect the person.
S7: You know. If you and I were sitting down over a,
S7: you know, for a coffee somewhere and I happened to say, uh,
S7: you know, come out with something that's not true. Perhaps
S7: as a Brit, I make some comment about American politics
S7: that you look at me and you go, classic, a classic, Brit.
S7: You got it wrong. If you just pat me on
S7: the head and go, no, that's okay. That's true for you.
S7: I won't offend you. Actually, that's treating me like an infant. Actually.
S7: It's going. Andy is so immature and so unsophisticated and
S7: so hopeless. I don't I don't challenge his wrong idea
S7: because he might get upset. That's actually infantilized me. It
S7: hasn't respected me. Respected me is going, hey, Andy, let
S7: me just stop you for a moment. What you've said there.
S7: I appreciate why you might think it, but it's not
S7: actually correct. Can I can I show you why now? Sure.
S7: You can do it in a hateful way. You can
S7: ding me round the head and go. You're crazy, nutter.
S7: You're just mad. That's not helpful. Um, but you can
S7: correct me in a way that's that's loving and engaging
S7: and treats me as an adult. So that's the first
S7: thing we actually infantilize people if we don't separate those
S7: two things. And then the other problem I think you
S7: run into there as well is we're back to the
S7: to the universal nature of truth. We do all kinds
S7: of damage to society. If we don't have a way
S7: of figuring out what's right and wrong and what's true
S7: and what isn't true, I mean, just take some of
S7: the big battles historically of our age. I was in America, um,
S7: kind of recently had spent three months over there, and
S7: one of my highlights was being in Washington and standing
S7: on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial where, uh, you know,
S7: Martin Luther King gave that. gave that amazing I have
S7: a dream speech. And, you know, you look back to
S7: those great moments in American history where where justice has
S7: rolled forward. What does it mean if it turns around
S7: and going, well, you can't challenge someone in injustice because
S7: we might offend them. Maybe it's not the case that
S7: all people are born equal. You know, if you believe
S7: in slavery and racism, that's okay. We'll just pat you
S7: on the head and let you be. I think that's
S7: a devastating place to end up. I think actually, things
S7: like justice and human rights, as well as the bigger
S7: questions of faith and God and spirituality and Jesus and
S7: so forth, all those things collapse utterly if we forget
S7: how to talk about truth, even if some of those
S7: conversations aren't always easy ones.
S4: Yeah.
S2: Andy Bannister, that's a good bump of the cup, because
S2: oftentimes angry evangelicals, uh, dominate the landscape. And their their
S2: willingness to embrace what is real for someone else is
S2: oftentimes wanting. And that's a great challenge, Andy, I love that.
S2: Love your heart. They're coming up here in a moment.
S2: We live in a world, Andy, that each man is
S2: doing what seems right in their own eyes. It's the
S2: absence of truth. It's very subjective. Relative. How do we
S2: witness in a world without absolute truth? More with Andy Bannister.
S2: Straight ahead.
S1: Romans eight brought her to Jesus while broadcasting traffic overnight.
S1: Super die is in the crew. It's curl and crew
S1: on Moody Radio.
S2: All week debunking myths today. There is no absolute truth.
S2: Andy Bannister, our guest from the other side of the pond.
S2: Good to have you, Andy. The last words in the
S2: book of Judges are unnerving. Everyone did what was right
S2: in his own eyes. My question revolves around moral relativism.
S2: If all morality is relative to the person at hand,
S2: doesn't this lead to sexual relativism, even, uh, Of raising children. Relativism. Uh,
S2: death relativism. Doesn't it lead to each man does what
S2: is right in almost any and everything?
S7: Andi it does, Carl. But with one just minor thing,
S7: I would I would add that I found interesting over
S7: the years, most people I've met who are moral relativists,
S7: we live in a very relativistic culture. You've summed it
S7: up well, but no one is a moral relativist in
S7: the sense that they're willing for people to be relativistic.
S7: To them. Most people are moral relativists. They want the
S7: freedom to do what they want, but they want other
S7: people to respect them. I remember once talking to a
S7: to a student years ago who was a moral relativist,
S7: and we're having quite a sort of frustrating conversation. And
S7: then this light bulb moment occurred to me and she
S7: was banging on about, there's no moral values, everything is
S7: personal and so forth. So I leant across mid-conversation and
S7: just picked up her phone and put it in my pocket,
S7: and she said, what are you doing? I said, oh,
S7: I've stolen your phone. Carry on. You were saying, she's like, well,
S7: I want my phone back. I went, no, no, no,
S7: you've just told me that morals are relative and you've
S7: convinced me. So I think stealing phones is okay. It's
S7: okay for me. Might not be okay for you, but
S7: it's okay for me. It's my phone now. So you
S7: were saying? Finally she starts banging the table, saying, give
S7: me my phone back. I went, I'll give you your
S7: phone back. When you concede that some morals may be
S7: more than relativistic. And she grinned and went, yeah. Okay.
S7: Fair point. Can I have my phone?
S8: Give me my phone.
S7: So yeah, moral relativism works if people abide by your rules.
S7: And I always think that inconsistency is is interesting. So
S7: if you're listening to this and you've got friends, family members,
S7: you know who are in this position, just turn the
S7: tables gently and go, are you genuinely willing to let
S7: other people behave to you entirely as they like? I
S7: don't think you are. So there's a hypocrisy issue going
S7: on here. So it's not quite. Society is perhaps not
S7: quite as relativistic as we might first think at times.
S3: Doctor Andy Bannister, our guest right now. I love that question.
S3: I know you're big on asking questions in terms of
S3: engaging in these conversations. Give us some more suggestions for
S3: how to nudge someone lovingly toward at least an openness
S3: to the idea that there is an absolute truth, that
S3: there is moral absolute.
S7: Yeah, I think one of the first things I would
S7: say when you're talking to someone about this, the word morality,
S7: I think, sometimes causes a problem because if you're dealing
S7: with somebody, as there are many in our culture who
S7: are suspicious about religion, sometimes in their mind morality can
S7: sort of mean this very dry, desiccated, almost, almost pharisaism.
S7: You know, they've got this idea that religious people like
S7: to sit up there looking down at others and intoning
S7: these other things you should do, and these are things
S7: you shouldn't do, and they react. And I'm sympathetic in
S7: that because Jesus had a few words to say for
S7: the Pharisees. So a great question to ask somebody might be, hey,
S7: what do you think morality is? What do you mean
S7: by morality? What is it we're talking about? Because that's
S7: I think, sets up, you know, if they give you
S7: that kind of sort of language back to say, well,
S7: you know what? Jesus talks a lot about the good life,
S7: but I don't think he used those. That language. I
S7: think what I find attractive about Jesus, you know, his
S7: whole message was God wants the very best for us.
S7: He wants us to be in relationship with him. He
S7: wants us to love him and love each other. That
S7: was the two commands Jesus reduced the law to, and
S7: everything flows out of that. And so certainly for Christian ethics,
S7: Christian ethics, and Christian morality, I think when you read
S7: the New Testament really should be an attitude of gratitude.
S7: It flows out of, because what God has done for
S7: us in Christ therefore live differently. You could argue that's
S7: a summary of all Paul's teaching on ethics, frankly. And
S7: if that's what ethics is, it looks great when it
S7: gets disconnected from Jesus, and that the life that God
S7: intends for us to have and becomes just dry, desiccated commandments,
S7: no wonder it looks problematic and no longer no wonder
S7: why people then react against it as people react to
S7: the Pharisees. But I think the way into that conversation
S7: is to say to your friend, hey, when you say morality,
S7: what do you mean by that? What does that word
S7: mean to you? Because I think most people would see
S7: it negatively, not positively. And so you've got to start
S7: a few steps back. Does that kind of make sense?
S4: Yes. That's excellent.
S2: That's really good. Andy Bannister our guest right now okay.
S2: So I'm going with this idea. And I think you're
S2: right on. Everybody seeks the good life, whatever that may
S2: look like if that's the case. Andy, I've been so intrigued.
S2: I'm most intrigued with Paul before. Agrippa. Here's a man
S2: that's being called down on his mission, and what he
S2: does is he shares his story. And it must have
S2: been it was three minutes and 10s at reading pace
S2: to tell his story. Yeah. And it's so rattled, Agrippa,
S2: he says, do you think you're going to convert me
S2: in such a short time? It isn't our story, that
S2: truth of the good life in us. Isn't that maybe
S2: one of the best points of argumentation from an apologetic
S2: that's effective?
S7: Totally. I would say there are two components to it,
S7: to a really powerful presentation of the gospel and apologetic
S7: if you want to use the technical language. Carl, I
S7: think the first is our story, and I'll say briefly
S7: why in a second. But then coupled with that is
S7: why people should take our story seriously. Because if you
S7: just tell your story, everyone's got a story. Our Buddhist
S7: friends have a story. Our Muslim friends have a story.
S7: If you just have a story, people need to know
S7: why I should take it seriously so that that is important.
S7: But the story piece is crucial because I think we're
S7: in a time increasingly where more and more, especially younger people,
S7: are not asking the question so much is Christianity true?
S7: That comes later. They're asking the question, does it matter?
S7: Does it make a difference? And your story can answer
S7: that question. And by the way, on the morality piece,
S7: I think it's a very powerful approach. If rather than
S7: sort of bang on about this is right and this
S7: is wrong and starting there. What about backing up and saying, look,
S7: the reason I follow Jesus is, look, I'm not a
S7: good person. I know the kind of person I am. Yes.
S7: And I'm hugely grateful for what God did for me
S7: in coming the person of Jesus while I was still
S7: a scumbag, while I was still a rotter, while I
S7: was still God's enemies. You're paraphrasing Romans five verse eight,
S7: by the way, here. And to go, I'm so grateful
S7: that God welcomed me into his family and forgave me
S7: in Christ while I was not a good person. And
S7: you know what? I'm still not a good person. I'm,
S7: praise God, a better person because of God's work transforming me.
S7: But there are days when you know I'm still a
S7: bit of a mess. But actually what I'm what I
S7: love about being a Christian is God doesn't say, be
S7: a better person, sort your life out, but forgives you
S7: and takes the initiative and then through the spirit in you,
S7: gives you the power to begin changing and living differently.
S7: And that's a very different story, a story of morality.
S7: I think people think the church is sitting there, do
S7: this and don't do the other thing. That's a I
S7: think that's a caricature of the gospel. Rather, the gospel says, no,
S7: here is the power to change and the power to
S7: live differently, beginning with becoming a new creation in and
S7: through Jesus.
S3: Doctor Andy Bannister, our guest right now, I want to
S3: point you to a resource. He's edited and contributed a
S3: chapter to a book called Have You Ever Wondered Finding
S3: the everyday clues to meaning, purpose, and spirituality? Just text
S3: wonder to 855 five 7898. Text wonder to 800 555 7898.
S2: I don't want to let him go, Andy. Hold on
S2: here a second. I think there's a lot of people,
S2: many tens of thousands listening across North America right now,
S2: maybe many more. They have an incredible heart to see.
S2: And this is an epidemic across America, as I'm sure
S2: it is in Europe. A lot of kids were raised
S2: in church, but they were never in Christ.
S4: Yeah.
S2: How in the world do we break through that relativism
S2: that those kids have embraced in a word, in a phrase,
S2: in a paragraph? What do you say, Andy?
S7: Well, since Ali. Ali very kindly mentioned the book, the
S7: approach that we take in that book is to start
S7: with the things that those kids care about. This, by
S7: the way, is what Paul does in acts 17. He
S7: starts with what his audience care about there in Athens.
S7: Start with what they care about. And most young people
S7: I meet are passionate about things like justice. They're passionate
S7: about things like human rights. And that's a great place
S7: to start with those things that they already care about
S7: and then be gently saying, look, all those things that
S7: you matter about, those things that you're animated about, they
S7: only make sense. They only work if human life has value,
S7: if human beings genuinely, genuinely have dignity and value and worth,
S7: if we are nothing more than a collection of atoms,
S7: then justice goes out the window. Human rights is just
S7: a ludicrous idea. It's meaningless. On the other hand, if
S7: the Christian story is true that we were created in
S7: God's image, that God demonstrates our value by dying for
S7: us in Christ, then yeah, there are questions that need answering.
S7: But here's the good news that gives a foundation for
S7: all the things you care about. Justice. Yes, matters. Racism
S7: is wrong. Human rights is really important, but those things
S7: only matter if Christianity is true. So try and find
S7: something in where your friends, your son, your daughter, your grandchild,
S7: whoever it is you care about, try and find something
S7: where they are actually already camped without realizing it. On
S7: part of the Christian story and effectively you're you're saying
S7: to them, come on home, you're kind of halfway there.
S7: I know, yes, you've got frustrations and questions. Bring those.
S7: The church is a place for those things. But come
S7: on back to where those things you already care about
S7: actually best make sense? That's how I often start with
S7: young adults and young people.
S2: That's powerhouse. Andy Bannister, our guest here, guys. And again Ali,
S2: we got a link, don't we? And this is a
S2: great resource.
S3: Just text wonder to (800) 555-7898. Wonder to 800 555 7898.
S1: He's a sports fanatic with a stat for anything you
S1: can think of. Young Thunder is in the crew. It's
S1: curling crew on Moody Radio. Zero.
S2: This whole week we're going to be debunking myths. They happened.
S2: I saw a story here recently where children across the
S2: world are rejoicing because they had been told forever and
S2: a day that you have to wait 20 to 30
S2: minutes after you eat a meal before you get in
S2: the swimming pool.
S3: That's a popular one.
S2: Now they're debunking it. I mean, I saw it on
S2: a network newscast that that has that was a myth.
S2: But boy, did I believe it. I thought, I don't
S2: get in that pool. I'm going to cramp up and
S2: go to the bottom of this.
S9: That's exactly what you think. The worst possible thing. If
S9: I eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and then
S9: get in the pool, I'm going down immediately. Yeah, it's
S9: kind of what they make you think.
S4: No.
S2: And the question is, how many of mom's carrots that
S2: are split open for me on this tray, on this
S2: tray are going to have that effect. I remember as
S2: a little kid thinking in Tempe, Arizona, sixth grade, thinking
S2: how many of these carrots constitute a meal?
S4: Isn't that funny? It's awesome.
S3: Yes.
S4: And I'm.
S2: Telling you, every parent believed that myth.
S4: And.
S3: Passed it down.
S4: Oh, yeah.
S2: Generation after generation, apparently.
S4: Okay.
S2: And now that myth has been blown out of the water.
S3: How about this one? Um, Bulls hate the color red.
S3: It enrages them.
S4: Did you believe myth? It's a myth.
S3: Definitely a.
S4: Myth. Okay.
S2: Myth. Okay. I did not know that until this very moment.
S3: Bats are blind. Also a myth.
S5: That's a blind.
S3: Blind is.
S4: A bat.
S5: Yeah, but they're not. I thought.
S3: They are not.
S5: Gray.
S3: They are not blind.
S5: I thought they just saw, like gray. Okay.
S3: Chewing gum stays in your stomach for 5 to 7 years.
S4: Yeah. It doesn't.
S3: It doesn't. How about this one? We only use 10%
S3: of our brains.
S4: Not true. Well, hold it.
S2: Hold it, hold it. Time out here a second. Some
S2: days it feels like that. Would you go with that one?
S4: I would go.
S3: With that one. But I mean I'm as I'm looking
S3: at some of these commonly believed myths, a lot of
S3: them are being corrected. I thought that you lose most
S3: of the heat through your head.
S9: Yeah.
S3: Myth.
S9: I don't know.
S4: That is.
S10: Not true.
S9: I disagree with that.
S4: What do you mean.
S10: You disagree with that?
S9: I disagree. It feels like most of the heat comes
S9: out of my head.
S4: It's not true.
S5: So you can play in the cold without a hat
S5: and not get not get a cold.
S10: You'll catch a cold if you go out. That also
S10: a myth. See? There you go. Colds are caused by viruses. Not.
S10: Don't tell the kids that.
S4: Yeah.
S2: No, I mean it. Yeah, it they are caused by viruses,
S2: not by going out and catching a cold.
S3: Although my grandma, she would she would argue all day
S3: up and down to.
S9: You're gonna catch a cold.
S10: You're gonna catch a cold out there.
S4: All right.
S2: Well, where are you going with this? Because right now
S2: you've just ruined my childhood.
S4: Ali just.
S2: Totally destroyed.
S4: It.
S3: I want to hear from you. You've got one of
S3: those myths you always believe to be true. And then
S3: you realized, uh oh, that's not true at all. 855
S3: five 7898 you can call or text on this one.
S3: What's that myth that boy you believed was true until
S3: it was debunked? 855 five 7898.
S2: I want to hear voices on this one. So let's
S2: get as many callers.
S4: As we can get calls.
S2: What are those myths that need to be debunked or
S2: that you found out that wasn't true? 855 five 7898
S2: goodness sakes, some of these you just gave me, it's
S2: going to take me a few minutes to recover, right?
S2: I don't know if I'm going to make it.
S1: Get to know the team behind the scenes. Follow Carl
S1: and crew on Facebook and Instagram.
S2: Man, I'm glad this one's a myth. You can get
S2: warts from touching toads.
S9: Oh yeah, I did used to think that one.
S4: Yep. You did. Yeah.
S3: Oh, I definitely thought that one.
S2: Well, I'm glad I didn't, because I touched a lot
S2: of toads.
S3: And you were all good.
S2: Yeah. No warts. Uh, if you swallow watermelon seeds, you'll
S2: grow watermelon in your stomach.
S4: Yep. Come on. I feel like I should have.
S3: Thought more deeply about that one, because. Yes, I believed that, too.
S2: All you got to do is do a little bit
S2: of thinking, going. Hmm. I wonder how often that's happened.
S3: It just keeps getting repeated. And so it you don't
S3: even critically examine it.
S9: It happens. When I was a little kid, my older
S9: brothers told me, you know how when you get, like,
S9: a pizza from, like, I don't know, like a Papa
S9: John's or something like that. And there's those little, like,
S9: air bubbles on them.
S4: Yes.
S9: Yeah. My brothers, when I was like five, my brothers
S9: told me that there were little pizza men inside of
S9: those bubbles that when I ate them, they would swim
S9: around inside and make me healthy. That's so. I don't
S9: think that's a I don't think that's.
S4: A common one. I give your.
S2: Brothers an honorable mention.
S4: For that one. Yeah, that's pretty creative.
S2: That's really.
S4: Creative. Yeah.
S2: Ivy in Ohio. What's that myth that was debunked for you?
S11: Well, all right, so it wasn't exactly debunked for me, but, uh,
S11: I don't I don't, uh, it's the one that says that, uh,
S11: dogs can only see black and white. I don't know,
S11: I feel like I feel like my dog can definitely
S11: see color. That's all. Oh.
S2: So you're still believing it, even though it might be true? Okay,
S2: I get you. Ivy. Actually, I appreciate.
S9: Ivy is correct. Saying he feels like his dog doesn't
S9: see just black and white because that that is a myth.
S9: Dogs can see more color than just black and white.
S4: Oh, yeah.
S9: Okay, so. So he is. He he thinks that it
S9: wasn't debunked, but it's debunked now. Because it is. It
S9: is incorrect.
S2: That's good to know.
S4: Yeah. Did you.
S3: Know did you know that when.
S4: Carl was here I had heard.
S2: You know, one time I had 50 huskies. And I
S2: believe that until this day, I thought that they could
S2: see two shades of black and white. Okay.
S4: I thought my dog.
S9: Was living in the 60s.
S4: Nope. All right.
S2: I thought my dog was living in the 60s. You're
S2: a piece of work. Oh my goodness. Yeah. Swallow your gum.
S2: One came through. I'm still having a hard time with bulls.
S2: Don't charge or irritated by red. Then what in the
S2: world is the guy out there doing the.
S9: It's the movement of the blanket.
S4: Yeah.
S9: Not the color.
S3: The bulls actually don't see the color.
S2: So it's the movement. It's not the color. So the
S2: color is more for the spectators than it is for
S2: the bulls?
S9: Exactly. It's been.
S2: Well, there you go. There you go. I don't know
S2: if this is a good segment or not. It's just
S2: making life sad for me because a lot of these,
S2: I was just enjoying believing. Now it's pretty good, I'll
S2: tell you. Stephanie in Indiana, what myth was debunked for you? Steph?
S12: I love.
S13: The myth. If you tuck your hair behind your ears
S13: and it'll eventually make your ears stick out permanently. My grandma.
S13: My grandma used to say that Grandma's man.
S4: Grandma's are the source.
S14: Of a lot of these myths.
S4: I'm telling you, they do a lot over time.
S14: The repeated tucking is going to cause those ears that
S14: I've not heard that one. But, Stephanie, that is hilarious.
S2: Lest I get a myth out there about cats, could
S2: you please check this one out? Here's what I've heard.
S4: Okay. What if it's.
S2: Right or wrong? I've heard that cats do not see
S2: well at all beyond like 30, 40ft.
S3: Okay, let me see if I can figure it out.
S2: That somebody check that one out, would you please? Uh, yes. 0607.
S2: Thank you. If you swallow your gum, your guts will
S2: stick together. No, I had not heard that one. That is,
S2: there's some things people ought not tell their children at all.
S2: That would be one of them. Your guts are going
S2: to stick together if you swallow your gum. I heard
S2: that it stayed in your belly for 5 to 7 years.
S2: Found out that one's a lie.
S3: Yeah, that one I believed too.
S2: If I drink too much water, says 2857, I'll have
S2: frogs in my stomach. Who tells people this stuff?
S9: Also, Carl, you were correct about cats. They they can
S9: see blurry past 20ft, but but it's blurry.
S3: So they have less. Their vision is less sharp than humans.
S2: I'm going to tell you something funny.
S4: Interesting.
S2: I felt sad for her two rescue cats when I
S2: heard that last week. I felt sad for them because what?
S2: Beyond 20ft is so much awesome stuff and these guys
S2: can't see it.
S4: Well, they just.
S3: Got to get closer.
S2: I know.
S4: But.
S2: It's hard to. They're stuck in a house. They can't
S2: see the beautiful green tree.
S3: Well, there's an opportunity. Maybe they need glasses because I
S3: don't know how well I see beyond 20ft.
S14: Without my glasses.
S9: Just take them to.
S4: The coming up.
S2: Taking more of your calls. It's a little crazy. Debunking myths.
S2: What's the myth? You believe that? Now you go. Someone
S2: was pulling one over on me. The 800 555 7898.
S2: Give us a call. We'd love to hear your voice.
S1: Tune in whenever you like. Check out the Carl and
S1: Crew podcast wherever you like to stream.
S2: Just having a short shot of fun. What myths were
S2: debunked for you? Oh, grandpa, why'd you do this? 6021
S2: says when I was young, my grandpa used to tell
S2: me that dragonflies would seal your eyeballs shut if you
S2: let them get too close.
S4: What?
S9: That's such a weird one.
S4: Goodness. Interesting.
S2: Going back to the phone lines, who do we have here?
S3: We have Roy, first time caller from Ohio. What's that
S3: myth that's been debunked or maybe needs to be?
S15: Okay, here's the deal. I'm a certified personal trainer. And
S15: what used to drive me crazy was when people come
S15: in and they tell you they see some muscle on
S15: a person or me, and they would say, oh, all
S15: that muscle is going to turn to fat if you
S15: quit working out. Well, it can't happen. Apples can't turn
S15: to oranges.
S16: And what happened?
S2: We got the passion of a personal trainer here.
S4: Keep going.
S2: Roy, this is great. No, no. Go ahead.
S15: You know, if you stop working out, your muscles will atrophy.
S15: And then if you keep eating it like you were
S15: when you were working out, well, then you can get
S15: fat on top of that, uh, shrunken non-US muscle.
S4: Well, there you go.
S2: This is this is very good, Roy, because I did
S2: hear that for years now. I think that was debunked
S2: in my brain as I got a little older here.
S2: But atrophy. Yes. Turning to fat. No. What was what
S2: what was the purpose of that myth? To not go
S2: to the gym.
S4: I know, to discourage.
S9: It's all going to turn to fat anyway.
S4: Soon as it's not working out.
S14: Because if you stop working out, it's.
S3: Like, no, no, no, no. There are benefits to working
S3: out to weight training. Let's go for.
S4: It.
S2: Let's go back to the phone lines. Who do we have?
S4: Ali.
S3: Let's go to Evelyn. First time caller from Florida. What's
S3: the myth that you heard? That's been debunked.
S13: Hey. Good morning. Hey, I heard all my life that
S13: if you eat salt, it dries your blood out.
S4: Wow.
S3: Okay, I.
S9: Guess.
S3: I've heard.
S4: That one. Where do these come from?
S2: Where do they come from?
S9: Maybe to get your kids to not eat as many
S9: French fries or something, like, I don't know.
S3: It's a.
S4: Mystery there.
S2: There is. Usually with these myths, there's another motive. Like
S2: the swimming one. We've already tackled it. But miles in Florida.
S2: What do you say, Miles?
S17: Well, you know what? Since you already heard that one.
S17: The other one was when I was in Little League
S17: and I played Little League baseball, and I also played football,
S17: and I always wanted I was always going to the
S17: gym and my mom would say, no, if you lift weights,
S17: it's going to stunt your growth. And I hated.
S4: That.
S17: You know, because I wanted to work worst because all
S17: the other guys were bigger than I was, you know.
S17: And so that was the one. I couldn't stand it.
S17: All my friends got to go and work out, but
S17: I couldn't go work out.
S2: Well, here's the good news. Even if your mom was
S2: right back then, Myles, the growth plates are done growing
S2: so you can go to the gym. I want to
S2: tell you, you can go to the gym Myles. Everything's fine.
S2: Thanks Myles for calling in. It's totally safe. These are hilarious.
S9: They are really cracking knuckles.
S2: Cracking knuckles 4701 cracking knuckles caused arthritis I did hear that.
S3: And I definitely heard I've seen this one come in
S3: a couple times about crossing your eyes and they'll stay
S3: that way. That was a that's that that's a myth.
S3: I think it.
S4: Discouraged.
S3: Eye crossing.
S2: Yeah I mean it hurts, but they don't stick, thankfully. Uh,
S2: there's some funny ones in here, too. Uh, my wife
S2: thought that the North Pole was a myth, Like Santa.
S4: I like to.
S9: Like. Yes. Well, I think when you think of the
S9: North Pole, you think of like, there's a Christmas shop
S9: up there, you know, like a factory. But it's just
S9: like a it's just a place.
S3: I is it in Alaska?
S2: Well there's two. There's two North Pole and that's north
S2: of the city of North Pole. But there is a
S2: North Pole.
S4: Alaska.
S3: I actually just found this out over the weekend. It
S3: came out, came up. Someone said that they had been
S3: to the North Pole. And in my mind, I was going,
S3: that exists. I didn't know that was a real place.
S9: Oh, just this weekend.
S4: Just this weekend.
S3: Someone told me they'd been to the North Pole. And
S3: I was thinking, did you get to see Santa Claus?
S3: But I guess it's a real place.
S4: Oh my goodness.
S2: Someone gave this one. This is sobering, but it's this
S2: is a myth that needs to be debunked. And I
S2: think it already has been. Sticks and stones may break
S2: my bones, but words will never hurt me.
S4: Definite myth. Definite myth.
S2: Maybe. To the flip side, it'd almost be better off
S2: with sticks and stones. Good feedback here. Some crazy myths
S2: out there. We're debunking them all week long. Hang on here.
S1: She was trying to earn her way to God, but
S1: God showed her she didn't have to. Ali is in
S1: the crew. It's Carl and crew on Moody Radio.
S3: We have Rebecca McLaughlin with us this morning. She wrote
S3: the book Confronting Christianity 12 Hard Questions for the World's
S3: Largest Religion.
S2: So let's tackle a big one. How can you say, Rebecca?
S2: There's only one true faith, you narrow minded evangelicals, some
S2: might say.
S18: Um, I absolutely answer to the accusation of being evangelical.
S18: I don't know that I'm. I hope I'm not narrow minded.
S18: And I say that because I actually make it a
S18: priority to read and listen to people who think very
S18: differently than I do.
S4: Including.
S18: Plenty of atheists and agnostics thinkers. And I think when
S18: it comes to the question of how can you say
S18: there's only one true faith it feels to people like
S18: it's respectful to all the different kind of world religions
S18: to say, you know, maybe you guys each have a
S18: different piece of the pie. You know, maybe there are
S18: just multiple ways to look at the question of God.
S18: Maybe there are multiple paths. You know, there are various
S18: kind of metaphors and stories people tell to suggest that
S18: perhaps Christianity and Islam and Hinduism and Judaism and Buddhism
S18: could all be true in their own ways. And one
S18: of the biggest problems with that is Jesus. And why
S18: do I say that? Well, number one, Jesus claims about
S18: himself are wildly exclusive and universal.
S4: You got that right.
S18: You know, Jesus says he's the light of the world.
S18: He says he is the way, the truth and the life.
S18: He says he is the resurrection and the life. And
S18: the kinds of claims that Jesus makes about himself are
S18: ones that are either crazy and ridiculous and untrue, or
S18: mean that he is actually the one true Savior of
S18: the world. And you know, I'm happy to talk to
S18: anybody who thinks that Christianity is wrong. I think that's
S18: a respectable thing to think, and I would love to
S18: sort of talk to them about why they think that
S18: and blame, why I disagree and I believe the claims
S18: of Jesus, but actually to say that Christianity can be
S18: true and Islam can be true and Hinduism can be true, etc.,
S18: is ultimately less respectful to people who hold any of
S18: these religious beliefs. Because what we're saying is, we don't
S18: take you seriously enough to take your claims on truth seriously.
S18: The other problem that we have with this idea that
S18: all religions are sort of basically saying the same thing,
S18: or they can be kind of reconciled to one another,
S18: is the fact that Christianity depends on one specific historical claim. Now,
S18: as a follower of Jesus, I believe that Jesus died
S18: on a cross 2000 years ago and that on the
S18: third day after that, he was physically raised from the dead.
S18: So let's look at what the three great monotheistic religions
S18: say about that Judaism, Christianity, Islam. So Jews, and for
S18: that matter, Hindus and Buddhists and atheists and agnostics would
S18: say that Jesus died on a cross, but he didn't
S18: rise from the dead. Muslims would say that Jesus actually
S18: didn't die on a cross. He just seemed to. And
S18: Christians say that Jesus died on the cross and was
S18: raised physically from the grave on the third day after that.
S18: Now we can say, you can't prove that Jesus rose
S18: from the dead. I agree, I can't prove beyond reasonable
S18: doubt that that happened, but it either happened or it didn't.
S18: So either I'm correct that Jesus rose from the dead,
S18: like walked out of his grave in bodily form on
S18: the third day after he was brutally executed. Or I'm
S18: wrong and he didn't. But there's actually no way for
S18: both me and my Jewish friends and my Muslim friends
S18: to all be correct. Because once we say that if
S18: we say that, yes, well, it can be true for
S18: me that Jesus rose from the dead, but not true
S18: for my Jewish or atheist or agnostic friend, then we've
S18: lost our entire grip on history and everything just becomes perspective.
S18: And so that's just a place that we don't want
S18: to land logically or rationally.
S3: Rebecca, I'm curious because you are clearly someone who engages
S3: in deep conversations with a lot of people who believe
S3: a lot of different things. What fruit have you seen
S3: of this sort of Study and willingness to engage with people.
S3: Answer questions. What's the fruit you've seen of this in
S3: a conversation? Maybe this is you can answer this generally
S3: or specifically of having this conversation where you're obviously well
S3: studied and equipped, but also willing to really listen and
S3: understand where other people are coming from.
S18: Honestly, I don't think any of us want to listen
S18: to somebody who hasn't listened to us. I think it's
S18: just sort of a basic piece of of human nature
S18: that when somebody shows an interest in what I think
S18: and my life story and what I believe and why,
S18: that actually makes me feel respected as a human being,
S18: and it makes me more interested in what they might
S18: have to say about their life and their beliefs and
S18: how they've come to them as well. And so I
S18: think one of the things, if you like me to
S18: follow Jesus, I think one of the the most powerful
S18: things that we can do is actually meaningfully listen to
S18: other people's stories. You know, perhaps you have a friend
S18: who identifies as an atheist rather than sort of going
S18: straight in with like, well, let me tell you why.
S18: I think it doesn't make any sense to be an atheist.
S18: Why not say, oh, that's really interesting. I would love
S18: to hear how you've reached that conclusion. Maybe there'll be
S18: pieces of their life story. Perhaps they were raised in
S18: a religious tradition. They became really disillusioned with that. Perhaps
S18: they they kind of feel wistful. They wish that they
S18: could still believe in God, but they don't. Or maybe
S18: they've become angry because of some particular experience. Like, I
S18: want to know what the individual in front of me
S18: believes and why. And then I want to be able
S18: to say to them, hey, this is why I actually
S18: think that Jesus makes the most sense of the world
S18: around us today. This is why I think that Jesus
S18: fulfills our deepest longings for justice and love and relationship.
S18: This is why I think that Jesus helps us to
S18: bring together what we know about the world from science,
S18: with what we deeply believe about the world ethically. And
S18: this is why I think Christianity kind of makes sense
S18: not just in isolation, but actually makes sense of the
S18: world that we see around us and the lives that
S18: we live. It gives us a hope and a sense
S18: of meaning and identity and purpose that we can't actually have.
S18: If we take atheism to a sort of logical conclusion,
S18: if we look around the world consistently from an atheist perspective.
S18: And you know, I'd love to tell you more about
S18: Jesus if you'd be interested. Yeah, I think there's an
S18: incredible openness, at least. I mean, I'll speak for where
S18: I am. I'm in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the US here, and
S18: I'm seeing more openness and opportunity to share the gospel
S18: now than I have ever seen in the 16 years
S18: that I've lived.
S4: That's that's a big statement and.
S2: That's so encouraging. Rebecca McLaughlin here with us today. You know,
S2: I want to kind of double up on what Ashley
S2: just said and ask you a curious question. You're obviously
S2: a great theologian scholar, apologist, but I look at the
S2: 26th chapter of acts, and I see Paul appealing to
S2: Agrippa telling his story.
S4: He's he's.
S2: Just.
S4: Telling his story.
S2: Personal story. You've heard theirs. How how does that fit
S2: into the mix with you? You must be your own
S2: storyteller at some point, rather than just saying, read my
S2: book on these 12 hot button questions here.
S4: You must pour out your heart, right?
S2: That's rather effective. We find in the scriptures.
S18: Yeah, I think that's absolutely right. I write books which
S18: could be kind of categorized as apologetics, or people sort
S18: of seeking to give reasons for the hope that we have,
S18: as Peter puts it in his first letter. And I
S18: think today especially, we need to be ready to show
S18: up with our whole selves and not only with our
S18: kind of rational arguments or examples. So yeah, I'll share
S18: things in my in my books and in my speaking
S18: and my personal conversations that are like, this is where
S18: the rubber hits the road for me. Or like, this
S18: is an experience that I had where my faith in
S18: Jesus really made a massive difference. Or here's a friend
S18: of mine who has gone from darkness to light just
S18: in the last year, and this is how she would
S18: explain how that happened for her. And I have so
S18: many friends now in Cambridge, Massachusetts, who go back, you know, one, two, three,
S18: five years and they would have checked every box for
S18: like least likely to be interested in Christianity. You know,
S18: they're Gen Z, they identify as LGBT, they don't have
S18: any Christian background. They're interested in pagan spiritual practices or
S18: whatever it is. Like the people who you would not
S18: pick off the list is like, oh, well, this person
S18: would be interested in Jesus. And they've come to faith
S18: in Jesus. And so being able to tell some of
S18: their stories is super helpful to me.
S4: Because.
S18: I have the testimony that every Christian parent wants their
S18: kids to have, which is that I don't remember a
S18: time when I wasn't following Jesus. I have a very
S18: boring testimony, and I love it because, you know, that's
S18: one of the ways that the Lord uses us. But
S18: I have so many friends who have really surprising stories
S18: of faith where Jesus has kind of grabbed them in
S18: an unexpected place and and pulled them into his kingdom.
S18: And so I want to be telling their stories as
S18: well as mine.
S2: Rebecca, we want to thank you. This has been incredibly
S2: compelling and massively encouraging. This is a book you need
S2: to get today.
S3: Just text the word 12. Spell it out. Book's called
S3: 12 Hard Questions for the World's Largest Religion. Text 12
S3: to 800 555 7898. Text 12 to 800 555 7898.