Beards & Bible Podcast

In the Ring pt. 1: Responding to the KJV Only Movement via Textual Criticism (w/ Seth Knorr)

Textual criticism is basically the process of comparing all the oldest and best ancient copies of the Bible we’ve discovered, so we can get as close as possible to the original words the biblical authors wrote.
Properly understood- it’s not scary, it’s not anti-faith, and it doesn’t deny the inspiration of Scripture — it’s simply good scholarship. And modern Bible translations use this approach to draw from a much larger, older, and more diverse set of manuscripts than translators had access to in the 1600s. The goal is clarity, accuracy, and faithfulness to the earliest text we can reconstruct.
But the KJV-Only movement takes a very different path. It leans solely on the Textus Receptus, a smaller collection of later manuscripts that the King James translators used. While those manuscripts are valuable, they represent only a sliver of the evidence we have today— which means the KJV-Only position often struggles to account for the full reality of how Bible translation actually works and how language naturally develops over time.
In the first part of a two-part series, we’re going to hear from Seth Knorr from BibleTheologyBlog.com as he explains and defends the textual-criticism approach to Bible translation—unpacking how it works, why it uses a broader and earlier set of manuscripts, and how it differs from the KJV-Only reliance on the Textus Receptus.

Does God Still Speak Through Dreams and Visions?

Are dreams and visions a genuine way the Holy Spirit still speaks today—or are we in danger of fooling ourselves when we put too much weight on them? What do you do with a dream that feels significant?
How do you discern between God’s prompting, your own subconscious, and something that could actually mislead you? And why do some Christians seem to hear from God in the night while others never do?
In today’s episode, we’ll dive deep into the mystery, the beauty, and the potential pitfalls of supernatural experiences. We explore what Scripture actually teaches, why discernment matters more than ever, and how to stay open to the Spirit without drifting into confusion or spiritual presumption. If you’ve ever wrestled with strange dreams, stirring impressions, or questions about how God guides us—hopefully we can talk through navigating it with wisdom, humility, and faith.

Critical Conversations, Confrontation and Holding other Believers Accountable

We’ve all heard it — “Judge not, lest you be judged.” But what did Jesus really mean by that? Is it ever right to confront another believer about sin or unhealthy behavior? And if so, how do we do that without becoming hypocritical, self-righteous, or unloving?
In this episode, we’re diving into one of the hardest parts of Christian community — holding one another accountable in a way that actually honors God. How do you approach a friend who’s drifting spiritually? What do you do when someone “calls you out” in a way that hurts more than it helps? And what does it look like to stand for truth among non-believers without being judgmental or defensive? At what point does something like Church Discipline get involved in the process? 
These are the kinds of critical conversations we can’t afford to avoid — and today, we’re talking about how to have them with grace, truth, and courage.

Consumer Christianity and How to Spot it in Ourselves

The New Testament is full of commands for Christians to gather together regularly for encouragement, discipleship and community. Not only that, we’re told as Christians 59 separate times to honor, care, love and serve one another within the context of the Church. According to the Bible, being involved in a local church and pouring our lives out for other believers in service and love is really a big deal.
But in our context, we seem to be missing something. The average American churchgoer only attends church 1.6 times per month, or roughly two out of every five weekends. Only about 21% of regular churchgoers consistently tithe to the work of their local church, and only about 34% of them regularly serve or volunteer. Sticking with just one church seems to be a challenge for us as well, as nearly 2 in 5 churchgoers report regularly attending multiple churches, while never committing to any of them. Not only that, criticizing churches and church leaders has become a favorite pastime and trending topic on most social media platforms. Churches get critiqued in online spaces a lot like restaurants, shops, or theaters and almost anything that doesn’t meet a person’s particular preference gets noticed and called out.
Could it that we’re seeing church as a product to consume instead of a family to belong to? How might we notice that mindset in ourselves and change the way we think and interact with the local church?

Government Shutdown, 2-year Anniversary of Israel Attacks, and Mark 13- Holding onto Hope Despite Instability and Uncertainty

As of October 8th, 2025, the U.S. government is shut down. Lawmakers in Washington are deadlocked over federal spending — House Republicans pushing for deeper cuts and stronger border security, while Democrats are pushing back, warning that essential services and federal paychecks could be delayed if an agreement isn’t reached soon. It’s another reminder of how divided and fragile things can feel politically in our country.
Meanwhile, in the Middle East, this week marks two years since the October 7th attacks- when Hamas terrorists murdered around 1,200 people in Israel and took over 250 hostages. Since then, Israel’s war in Gaza has devastated the region- with tens of thousands killed, millions displaced, and deep global tension about how peace can ever return to that part of the world.
So in this episode, we’re talking about the instability of our times — in politics, in war, in culture — and how Jesus’ words in Mark 13 remind us that none of this takes God by surprise. Nations will rise and fall, wars will come and go, but His kingdom remains unshaken.

Charlie Kirk, Free Speech, and Political Violence

On Wednesday, September 10, right as we were recording and releasing our last episode, political activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated on the campus of Utah Valley University. This was a shocking, horrifying tragedy that absolutely rocked our nation. For Gabe and I personally as pastors, this was a really big deal. The same rights that gave Charlie the freedom to share his beliefs openly on college campuses are the same ones that give Gabe and I the freedom to open the Bible every weekend and to openly share our views about what we believe it means for our congregations. To have that kind of freedom threatened in such a violent way reminds us just how fragile it is.
In the hours and days that followed, the noise was deafening: headlines everywhere, political leaders weighing in, social media flooded with grief, outrage, and, disturbingly, even celebration. The sheer volume of conversation showed just how deeply divided and volatile the climate in our country has become.
So today we’re stepping into one of the most urgent conversations in America right now: the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the future of free speech, and the rise of political violence. What does this moment reveal about our nation—and what does it mean for us as followers of Christ? How do we hold fast to truth, defend freedom, and live as peacemakers in a culture increasingly marked by anger and division?

Spiritual, but Not Religious: What It Really Means- and Why it Matters

More and more people today say, “I’m spiritual, but not religious.” But what does that actually mean, and why is it so common in our generation?
 
In this episode, we explore why one in three Americans now identify as SBNR, six defining aspects of this mindset and why they matter, and why practices like crystals, energy healing, and horoscopes have become so attractive. We’ll also look at the surprising ways this trend could be good for the Church and the major challenges it presents.
 
If spirituality has become a curated experience, what happens when God doesn’t fit our custom order?

Veneration of Mary: Honor, Tradition, or Idolatry?

Catholics call her the Queen of Heaven. The Orthodox call her Theotokos, the God-bearer. Both traditions pray to her, sing hymns to her, and ask for her intercession.
But here’s the question: Is Mary truly meant to be our mediator—or have centuries of devotion blurred the line between honoring the mother of Jesus and worshiping her?
Where did these beliefs come from, when did they start, and how do they stack up against Scripture?
On our next episode, we’re asking: does Marian devotion deepen faith in Christ—or distract from Him?

The King James Only Debate- Why Dost Thou Rejecteth Everything Else?

For over 400 years, the King James Version of the Bible has shaped the English-speaking world—one could argue that it’s been the single most influential and important book in the English-speaking world. But for some Christians today, it’s more than just a trusted translation—it’s the only legitimate translation.
The King James Only movement insists that all other English translations are flawed, dangerous, or even deceptive. But where did this idea come from? Why do some believers cling so tightly to this one version?
And what does the actual history—of manuscripts, translations, and church tradition—really say? In this episode, we’ll explore the roots of the KJV-only position, the arguments that fuel it, and why a faithful reading of Scripture doesn’t have to mean speaking 17th-century English.

The Quiet Revival: Is Gen Z Rediscovering Faith?

For years, the narrative has been the same: Christianity is dying in the West. Churches are empty. Faith is fading. Some even predicted that Christianity would be extinct in the UK by 2067. At the same time, people have looked at the younger generations—especially Gen Z—and dismissed them as spiritually disengaged, screen-addicted, and uninterested in anything deeper than memes and dopamine.
But the latest data tells a very different story. Something’s happening. Across the UK and the US, young people—especially young men—are showing up in churches, praying, exploring faith, reading the Bible, and defying the expectations everyone had for them.
On today's episode, we’re unpacking the quiet revival that no one saw coming—and why it just might reshape the future of the church.