Beards & Bible Podcast

Forgiveness, Boundaries, and Loving our Enemies.

A topic that’s at the heart of the Christian life but is often misunderstood is the idea of forgiveness.
 
Jesus teaches us to forgive seventy times seven and to love our enemies, but does that mean we have to put up with abuse, mistreatment, or harm? Is forgiveness the same as enabling someone to continually hurt us? And what does it look like to set healthy, Christ-honoring boundaries while still walking in grace and mercy?
 
In this episode, we’ll explore what the Bible says about forgiveness and how it intersects with wisdom, justice, and self-respect. We’ll talk about what forgiveness really means—and what it doesn’t—and how we can honor God by forgiving others without sacrificing the boundaries that protect our hearts, minds, and well-being.

From the Mailbag, Vol. 5 (Does the ending of Mark’s gospel belong in the Bible?, the bitter drink of Numbers 5, tips for daily devotions, the apocrypha, etc.)

Happy new year Beards and Bible listeners! We are so excited to open up our inbox and do our best to answer some super interesting questions that were all sent in by you as the listener. We've got questions about Numbers 5 and “the bitter drink” (the jealousy offering), the apocrypha, tips to establish a daily devotional routine, and whether Mark 16:9-20 belongs in the Bible.

The Problem of Evil and the Theodicy Apologetic

“How can an all-powerful, all-good God exist in a world filled with suffering?"
 
It's one of the toughest questions Christians face. In this episode, we dive into the problem of evil and the powerful apologetic responses of something called, theodicy. Let’s get equipped to address our doubts, engage in meaningful conversations, and deepen your own faith as we tackle one of philosophy's biggest challenges—head-on. Let’s explore how our God is still good, even when suffering is still a reality.

Generation Rising: Bridging the Gap to Reach the Next Generation within the Church

Right now, there are roughly five generations alive today have been labeled here in the U.S.- the Silent Generation (those born around 1945 or before, 78-96 years old), the Baby Boomers (1946-1964, 59-77 years old), Generation X (1965-1976, 44-59 years old) Millennials (1977-1995, between 28-43 years old), and Gen Z- 1996-2015 (between 9-27 years old).
It’s no secret that often the younger generations are misunderstood, mischaracterized, and subjected to negative stereotypes within the church. It’s no different now with the youngest active generation, Gen Z.  
In spite of the often bad and unfair characterizations Gen Z receives, we as Church leaders are called not just to love this generation, but to reach them, guide them, and disciple them into the next wave of leaders within the body of Christ. 
How do we do that? How can we engage them if we don’t understand how they think, what they value, and what makes them tick?

Post-Election Day Hangover and America’s Road Ahead

Well, Beards and Bible listeners, we made it. Well, kind of. The ballots are counted (or are being counted), but questions still linger. Will the results be accepted? And as the dust settles, how do we, as a nation, move forward together despite the deep divides that remain? Join us as we unpack the uncertainty, the challenges, and the hope for unity after Election Day, 2024.

The Protestant Reformation and Its Impact on the Church Today

The Protestant Reformation was a major religious movement that began in the early 16th century, fundamentally altering the landscape of Christianity in Europe and laying the groundwork for the modern church and Western civilization. The reformation was essentially a movement against perceived corruptions and excesses in the Roman Catholic Church. It sought to reform church practices and doctrines and ultimately led to the establishment of various Protestant denominations.
So why was the church in the 16th century in such need of reformation? Who were the key figures of this reformation? What were the major events of this pivotal movement and what was its legacy? 
Join us as we unpack Martin Luther’s revolutionary Ninety-Five Theses, discover the profound changes in worship and governance, and examine the lasting impact on modern Christianity. We’ll discuss key figures like John Calvin and Ulrich Zwingli, explore the rise of various denominations, and see how this movement laid the groundwork for some of the ideas we still cherish today.

Six Reasons to Believe in Biblical Inerrancy, and what Christianity becomes when we Deny the Bible’s Authority

“What is truth?” This is the question Pontius Pilate famously asked Jesus in the gospel of John. In our day and age, truth is defined as relative and open to subjective opinions, perspectives, and interpretations that vary based on someone’s experiences, contexts, or social class.
 
It’s no wonder that in a context like ours, many Christians have begun to question if the Bible is trustworthy. After all, it was written by human authors. How can we be certain that it’s actually been inspired by God? Surely it must be imperfect, full of error, and open to interpretation.
 
But what happens to the Christian faith when we begin to undermine and question the Bible’s authority? How does it affect our faith, our churches, and our witness? Today on the podcast, we’ll talk about just what’s at stake when we let go of the foundation of God’s Word, and how that changes everything about we define the Christian faith.

Dangerous Political Rhetoric and Being Peacemakers in the age of Division and Polarization

Proverbs 18:21 tells us, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
Words carry the power to divide, distort, and destroy, and in our divided and polarized society, the stakes have never been higher. Political rhetoric today inflames tensions, breaks down relationships, and spreads anger and fear. But as followers of Christ, we are called to something different—something higher.
As Christians, how do we speak truth and engage with the issues of our time without getting swept up in dangerous and hateful language that divides? How can we be peacemakers, even when we passionately disagree? In today’s episode, we’ll explore how we, as people of faith, can become critical thinkers, careful speakers, and living examples of Christ in a polarized world.
 

That's Debatable- Fact-Checking Last Night's Debate and Discerning the Truth

In today’s world, it seems like politicians have mastered the art of distorting the truth. They often use clever language and manipulative tactics to present themselves in the best possible light, while casting their opponents as completely unworthy of trust. The media, often driven by its own agenda, only adds to the confusion, making it difficult to know who’s really telling the truth.
But as Christians—and people of faith—we’re called to a higher standard. We’re not meant to just accept what’s said at face value. Scripture tells us to use discernment, to search for truth, and to seek justice in the midst of corruption and deceit. So how do we navigate this mess? How do we sift through the noise to find what’s real, and align our understanding with God’s truth?
 
In this week’s episode, we’re going to fact check tonight’s debate between U.S. presidential candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris and explore these questions in order to discuss how we can better engage with politics and the media without losing our moral compass.

Effective and Ineffective Evangelism in the Modern Age: How Can we Boldly and Tactfully Share the Gospel?

Scripture calls us as believers to go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. We’re supposed to be ready at any time to give an answer to everyone who asks us about the reason we have hope, and we’re supposed to do it with gentleness and respect. We’re told that we’re Christ’s ambassadors, imploring people to be reconciled with God.
 
But if we’re being honest…some of us aren’t doing too much preaching or sharing the gospel with those who aren’t Christians. We often struggle with fear of rejection or judgment, we lack of confidence because we often don’t know what to say, but more than anything, a lot of us have seen evangelism done wrong. And we don’t want to misrepresent the Christian faith.
 
What’s the most effective strategy to share Christ with those in our life that don’t know Him? And in what ways can we be ineffective?