A Conversation with Kirby Anderson Part 2

CNG radio for today's culture and timeless truths come together is reason relevant content apologetics worldview and answers to the questions that you need to know need to know from Alex McFarlane ministries. This is true for a new generation radio and now the man who preached in 50 states and 50 days beaker writer, and advocate for Christian apologetics Dr. Alex McFarlane. One of my favorite verses in Psalm 119 verse nine. Since I will never forget words for through them. I found life by Alex McFarlane. You're welcome to another edition of truth for a new generation, and you know, I wrote a book on someone 19 which is one of my favorite chapters of the Bible because those hundred and 76 verses 22 eight verse stanzas or trophies there actually call S euro P HES those trophies. All of them. Who knows what they are.

I bet you know it's a tribute to the word of God and someone 19 uses words like statutes precepts testimonies. It also says the law of the Lord, not a law is something that is is really unbreakable not know people can violate a law, but they don't really break the law and in no sense really has anyone ever broken the law of gravity. Now people have been able to create airplanes that fly and create way of airfoil that creates lift and people have in some ways temporarily circumvented a law, but the laws of God like the laws of nature are for all times and all people in all places and today will get to do on the show were going to talk with two men who were helping people find the gospel and new life in Jesus. I do want to talk about the word of God which so many people, even the church today seem to be either unaware of or maybe in defiance of and so talking about those wonderful words of life through which we find Jesus the Savior got with me to very special guest Kirby Anderson who you've heard me mention him many times Stephen cable. They are both of probe ministries in Texas, but guys, thanks for your time and welcome back to truth for new generation was certainly good to be with you and I'm certainly looking forward to this conversation because after all, the foundation of our faith is in God's word.

Amen.

It is no Kirby and I were talking last night and you came to the Lord.

Were you a college student. When you become a believer. No high school student better.

Growing up in Berkeley, California, which were little different than Tupelo, Mississippi, for example, or single North Carolina wherever he and I and you found Christ in Berkeley, California, and because of some of the apologetics I think are the reasons why men apologetics is because I had heard somebody mention some books and I was in a bookstore on telegraph Avenue and I found one of those books.

It was a book I CS Lewis called mere Christianity okay and then later in a Christian bookstore found the other book. It was by John Stott on basic Christianity, and as I read through those books. I realize that I was not a Christian and became a Christian. And so, in some respects this whole idea of apologetics. Something you do every day was instrumental in my salvation. And certainly it fit so well that when later as you met yesterday my wife began to tell me about this organization. She heard that he just started called probe ministries says shortly after it was formed after I finished graduate school at Yale. I joined Pro ministries and I'm glad you're bringing up names like Francis Schaeffer and folks, we are talking about apologetics in biblical worldview, but there are some names with which you need to be familiar and some luminaries Francis Schaeffer among them. You mentioned CS Lewis and of course you know Norm Geisler, who was a friend and professor and mentor Doug Geiser once said to me he said Alex from 1970 to 1980. Josh McDowell spoke in a thousand locations and that was a game changer for raising awareness about apologetics and and that's true and we all know, Josh, and what an incredible friend and mentor and role model.

He is that and said here's a question, did you guys realize you're coming out of the late 60s the sexual revolution. The drug revolution is the early 70s did you guys realize hey what were sort of at a time of cultural change and the restatements of biblical worldview. Even the defense of it apologetics very necessary in those early 70s did you realize that the winds of change were upon you. One of the things that I noticed is Francis Schaeffer. Often times in his books would talk about true truth and alas adopts the reason for that because I thought it was wise he doing that and I realize what he was really trying to explain his truth with a T didn't exist anymore. You had your view, truth, and I have my view truth in a different view truth in our survey.

One of the things that Steve cable found even 10 years ago was you have a very significant number of individuals who say they are Christians, but they don't believe in the idea of absolute truths we were seeing that in the 70s and now watch has played itself out in more recent jive years. Stephen let let me ask you this, when things happen like Roe versus Wade did did you were there many Christian leaders at that moment, who said hey wait a minute. The declaration guarantees the right to life, and removing legal protection for the unborn. Not only is that un-biblical. It's unconstitutional with anybody saying that back then, or certainly, they were in a course that was where all young man with when that happened, but they will certainly a realization that the parent schools and the issue of of the sanctity of life was a clear indicator that the culture was shifting not with that being said, I think as we move into the let light 70s. Some of us were feeling well. They were coming back more normal after going to the tumultuous 60s. I not realizing that as we move into the 90s and into this century with CM seismic shift that is at least as great as the 60s and early 70s. To what do we attribute that seismic shift is there any one thing or are there several causes.

I'm sure there are several causes, but certainly one of them is the benefit and the bane of the availability of communication and the Internet. The media explosion so that our young adults were are constantly being bombarded with different ideas and a lot of narcissistic ideas about what about me. What about me and how do people receive me and what's it's all it's about me and I think that whole change and that in the world that you live in from a communication standpoint is one critical factor that's causing this and that the Internet really feeds that doesn't narcissistic house trying to explain my mom what the Internet was. This is probably 25 years ago my mother was teacher for almost 3 years. Brilliant lady she really was and I said, mom, it's like having the Library of Congress right in your house and it and it is by while there are good things online. There's plenty of objectionable material to this. Let's hit the pause button folks you you listen for new generation with the Kirby Anderson and Steve cable as our guest.

Talking about worldview of our culture on my landline for the first time since the covert shutdowns it's the 2021 truth for new generation national apologetics conference worldviews the battles you must win featuring Dr. Alex McFarlane Dr. Frank during Sandy Rios and EW Jackson talking about raising children to come to Christ and staying with Christ in the midst of the critical race theory and Marxism in America October 15-17 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina conference and concert by the Birdsong PAG 2021 October 17 register Alex, but.com Christians don't necessarily agree with one another when it comes to questions of religious pluralism, homosexuality, the role of government portion of the war.

Too often, we manage these disagreements by ignoring them, yet were called to engage the world for the sake of Christ. How can we be effective if we avoid society's most pressing questions in 10 issues that divide Christians Alex McFarlane challenges us to drill down to the biblical core of 10 current issues such as social justice evil and suffering, photography, and environmentalism as he echoes the biblical invitation come let us reason together only by engaging the Scriptures deeply thinking clearly and speaking truthfully can we, in God's family address our differences and discover the peace that comes with unity of purpose. 10 issues that divide Christians buying this book and many others@alexmcfarlane.com timeless truth in a soundbite culture for a new generation radio that country for a new generation. By the way, I would encourage you to check out our website. Alex McFarlane.com the conference coming up October 15-17, but also on YouTube the truth for new generation channel we are putting off content all the time.

You can find some television on a number of networks around the country that NRB television network and more and so licit when you watch the Facebook videos rev. Alex, but for our EV. I don't think I just saw that we got like 571,000 Facebook followers and I thank you and listen like share all of those things not listen. I don't care that anybody knows my name but I care that everybody knows the name of Jesus Christ and so thank you for participating in the things the Lord is called us to do that time I have such respect. Kirby I want to thank you for what you do and I want to resume our conversation but you have for all the time of none you personified not only gracious communication but impeccable scholarship and I've never seen you waiver everything you do you do with excellence you do with truth and I think that's why God is blessing you so much.

Thank you so very much and again one of the reasons we try to provide that information. As we have the same kind of philosophy we just want to give this information to individuals. You go to probe.org probe.org and you're going to see all sorts of articles and commentaries, some very good analysis by Steve cable of some of these surveys as well as a transcript of the radio programs and all that's free for the books which of course the publishers charges. That's all they would charge for so everything else is free. We have the same kind of philosophy we want people to exalted Jesus and really understand the Bible and live out a godly life because, listen John eight says the truth will set you free. If the truth will set you free. Conversely, that which is false will leave you in bondage bondage and I would say that's where culture is rapidly going. I want to talk for the remainder of our time about sexual and moral beliefs. Our culture seems just doggedly inconsistent that there should not be sexual boundaries and yet everywhere we look we see the incredibly high price that is that is exacted on us from sexual deviancy.

So Stephen in the research you've done and I note €18-€55 very representative sample. Where are we morally and sexually as a country right now. Well as a country as a whole.

We are totally anything is okay and anything you can think of. That's not okay will be okay in the next decade we look at the statistics across other beliefs. Besides, born-again Christians, the belief that fornication is wrong or that set a living with someone for marriage or homosexuality are any of those. This is down less than 10% of the population that are concerning thing for me is that among born-again Protestants, we see a similar trend. There much less likely to do so than the population as a whole. But we look at for example at living together before marriage in 2020. Born-again posits under the age of 40, only 40% of them say that's not God's best plan for you. That means that two thirds of them say sure is a good idea. It's why it's you try before you buy.

We see similar things on on other things. Pornography is of summer statistic about 40% of them say now stay with pornography. Other systems in the born-again Protestants not thought if if you that's what you want, that's fine. Do you think part of it is I'm talking among born-again Christians in my Christian life and I came to the Lord and I was 21.

I've heard endless messages about God's grace I really not heard a lot of sermons about discipleship and stewardship. You know, first Corinthians 619 and 20 says we are not our own will, bought with a price.

Therefore glorify God in your mortal bodies. This is gonna sound so rudimentary and so basic but III believe truth very often. Truth is simple. Don't we need to talk to people about sin, repentance, sanctification, and looked, regardless of any way the world tries to legitimize something if if I belong to the Lord. I don't do those things I am called to a life of sanctification that we need to just tell our people that I think if he believed in you and you that your people that your congregation uniform in their belief that God had a standard for sexual activity.

It was a standard within marriage then you don't need to talk about that much. But guess what, that's not what they believe. That's that's why were collecting this data so we so we can share this with the with the Christian leadership and the pastors say this is something that you need to address. The Bible speaks clearly about it. It's God's best. If we want to minister to art our neighbors around us that have no clue. We don't conform to them.

We conform to Jesus Christ and then we can then we can share him with with our neighbors Alex is think about the situation that is happened over time. Since I'm the old guy around the table. Use me as an example because I first was teaching at Dallas theological seminary. We had issue classes that I would teach and I would notice the pronoun change mood. Talk about divorce in it or back in the early 80s is what we do for those people outside the church soon and by the late 80s is what we do about our people, you know, how can we address the issue of premarital sex. The goods statement like that.

There was a time when you might've heard messages from the pulpit or from youth leaders about weight till marriage in the 70s and 80s and resource of people speaking our mention Josh my gal and some others that were doing that. But over time pastor said in a better not talk about that anymore.

They might've talked about living together but then after a while they realized there were maybe two people, too many people in the congregation that were living together before marriage is to talk about homosexuality, but then when you had friends, neighbors, coworkers may be family members that identified as LGBT Q we stop talking about that and you seen even in your younger life. I think this slide that is taken place, but I've seen it now over a much longer.

It illustrates again why we need to come back to biblical principles because unfortunately too many people are taking their cue from the culture and were not supposed to be conformed to this world are supposed to be transformed by the renewing of her minds in Christ Jesus. Yeah parent said to me, I understand what the Bible says that Alex when it's your son or daughter. You'll change to piggyback on the thought. Folks, this is true for new generation radio states in more of this most recent survey, about the religious views and practice of Americans here in the 21st century states in the back of America today is like a patient struggling to live yet is being forcibly euthanized by her quote. Drs., the life force within the patient fighting for survival is the honest citizens like yourself team of quote caregivers are the local and national leaders actually contributing to the demise of the patient economy is crashing crime is exploding. The Constitution is being abolished the assault on America how to defend our nation before it's too late by Alex Farland has one single purpose to get you prepared the real source of America's current problems that no one else is talking about and what you can do now to face tomorrow. Regardless of what tomorrow brings. The assault on America how to defend our nation before it's too late. Available now at Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and local Christian bookstores are you tired of liberal agendas ruining our country but you don't know what to do about it. That's why truth and liberty coalition was founded. We want to equip you to take back our country and impact the world. Here's how we do it educate broadcasts conferences in our website resources that form equip and motivate unified by collaborating with like-minded organizations like the family research Council, the family policy and my feet mobilized by providing practical tools you can use to impact your local community as Christians we are called to make disciples of together can change the course of our country for good joint truth and liberty connect with believers in organizations not only want to see change in our nation but a community that is actually doing something about it. Join us online for our broadcast describe the relevant updates on our website. Truth and liberty.net in the midst of a culture obsessed with relativism. Alex McFarland is a voice you can trust to speak the timeless truths of Christianity in a timely way. You're listening to the truth or a new generation radio guys before his breakthrough talking about how sometimes biblically held views can be modified when it somebody did love or care about speak to that what you say, the person who is okay when it's your son or daughter your you're gonna change your tune.

Alex, but no would love people would love people would not ostracize people but we dare not budge on what Scripture says how do you guys handle that kind of a mindset and we certainly seen this in some really tragic areas like abortion where people say I'm pro-life, until all of a sudden somebody that I know or have in my family of his pregnant and wants to get an abortion and so this tendency is one that I think wouldn't have to address from churches in the pulpit and in Sunday school classes in small groups and all the rest and say you know if God's word is true, then it's true even if your circumstances change. And yet Alex, you noticed as well as I do. Individuals very prominent oftentimes Christian musicians who begin to change their view because in many cases they meet somebody as LGBT Q or they have a brother changes it or something of that nature and I think this is something Morgan have to address as the body of Christ that either the Bible is true or it's only true until it affects you and help people understand there's going to be a day coming where somewhere there's going to be a pressure on you or me the culture or your family to cause you to change your views and we can maybe learn some lessons from the great saints in history who were willing to in some cases died martyrs death because they believed in the orthodox teaching of Scripture and today there are just too many forces trying to force people to compromise a belief. I think the key in dealing with someone close is remember what how did Jesus deal with adulterous woman that he ostracize her. They'd refuse to talk to her now. He talked to her. He talked to her love, but he didn't say keep on doing what you're doing because that's the best said God has something better for you, go and sin and are in and you know in John 1035 Jesus said the Scripture cannot be broken. That's really true and I want to say very clearly that God is a God of love and whatever you have done. He can forgive whatever has been done to you. He can heal but we don't let our circumstances tromp the written revelation of God doing no and again it back to the some of the key issues that were talk about here.

We need to speak the truth in love, and if you really love an individual and they are engaged in an activity that is going to be harmful to them. Most people would say that's the responsibility that you have.

We're out looking out the window. There is a bridge but if the bridge was out. You'd be the first person to say don't go down that bridge because you'll end up on the water but on the same of kind of philosophy we say it, but we don't want to be judgmental and so even though you're sexually involved. We really don't want to warn you about sexually transmitted diseases, even though you may be involved in a same-sex relationship. We don't want to warn you about the emotional and physical aspects of that as well and so one of the biggest issues again. I think Alex right after address in this 21st century. Is this a doctrine of non-judgmental-ism that says you cannot judge anyone and I've seen Matthew 71 got perverted. You have to train our youth ministry you speak revenue speaker. I can't think of a time I been in a youth rally or having some kid, peppers it did Jesus say judge not that you might not be judged, and always try to point out that I think they've wrenched that out of context, but this idea of not being judgmental, being tolerant, being willing to forgive before you see, repentance is something I think were just going after address in the church because were seen more and more that pain itself out and it's doing great harm to a younger generation. This looking for some kind of mooring for their lives and their morning should be based on God's on the changeable word. I am on the road speaking and people come up after a talk now say well, Alex. My son is an atheist and he's a good person or they'll say, you know, I know we raise our kids in church, but now my my son or daughter is gay and you know I've got a believe God loves them as much as I did, or something with that. Now here's the thought that occurred to me and I get look, I've got family members that I love that are not walking with the Lord. Right now, but here is the thing if we put more stock in the worthiness or deserve fitness of a human being rather than the word of God is that some type of idolatry I mean at ease and safe because we know what the word of God says. And yet we pull out these examples, but here's this exception I would warn people if if you're putting more stock in the truth or fact to city of your exhibit a, rather than the written revelation of God.

Be careful. I suspect that's an idle and I think when you say that you are also saying, oh Jesus did not need to die what he come die because my friend my relative doesn't need input because I decided there good enough and I decided I must be good enough to so why did Jesus do that silly thing of coming in laying down his life as the son of God just doesn't make sense. Amen it were not saying people can't do moral deeds. An atheist can do things that are moral and lawful sure.

But what were saying that according to the word of God were all sinners and we need salvation yes and again you've got probably done some debates. I know I have a moderated debates and then debates as well and yours.

Get these easy essay with an atheist can be good without God. Well, I'm not denying that.

But you're not good enough to achieve salvation by yourself. So I think will will acknowledge that sometimes we meet people that are Christian and are all that nice of people he meets Macy is a very nice people but that's not the issue. The issue is ultimately come down to salvation and the fact is, is if you want to talk about goodness based on God's criterion than they have certainly fallen short because all the following chart and fallen short of the glory of God and men, and unite often as I am a safe center is excited about Jesus and one of the unique things about the Christian faith.

In reality, the righteousness of Christ is imputed to the believer in the eyes of the father where St. that's another subject for another day that focus on talking to Kirby Anderson.

Stephen cabled their research. You need to read and learn and work and they find all of this research in the survey results online W WW.probe.org. So again, and there are going to be all sorts of different articles on theology apologetic science governments all sorts of things, there will be lots of material for you to take and use, especially if you're in church leadership you really want to be reading some of this. Stephen cabled Kirby Anderson in the strongest possible terms, let me emphasize how I respect what you do. I appreciate it appreciate you being untruthful and generation TMG radio is made possible by the friends of Alex Farland ministry, PO Box 10231 is rural NC 27404. That's PO Box 10231, Spiro, NC 27404 call us at 877 yes God one that's 877 yes, God in the number one. Forgive online@alexmcfarland.com while you're there, listen the program archives.

Read Alex's blog invite Alex to speak at your event, contact Alex with a question or comment, Alex McFarland.com. Thanks for listening today and join us again next time is we bring you more true for a new generation TMG radio