The nature of access to Scripture: Luther and 400 years of personal Bibles
Ben asks whether easy Scripture access has moved the goalposts for faithfulness: the early church took in little written Scripture, and for almost all of history a mediator explained the things — personal copies only existed for the last 300-400 years, and Luther would roll in his grave at this conversation. They revisit the David-and-the-warmth-woman story (1 Kings 1): it was wrong, the verse notes nothing physical happened because he was impotent, and the usurper son later tried to take the woman as a kingship claim. Ben also tells a parallel from Donald Trump — approving wrongdoing just because you like the man.
More on Politics
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Maintaining hope for people who won't choose Jesus
- How do you maintain hope for someone who keeps rejecting Jesus when God won't override their free will?
The episode's centerpiece: Mike's pre-show question about how to maintain hope for people who reject Christ when God won't override their free will.
From No. 579 · Wanted: Paul and Hope | Paul’s Persecution of Christians and Radical Redemption
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Ask the Pastor: Joan of Arc and violence in God's name
- How should we think about Joan of Arc and claims of divine direction toward violence?
A complaint-line listener asks how to think about Joan of Arc, who claimed divine visions directing her to support Charles VII in war.
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Article one: does the Bible teach us to obey authority?
- Does the Bible teach us to obey authority?
- Is it worse for Christians now than it has ever been?
Framed by 2 Timothy 4:3-4 ('people will not put up with sound doctrine'), the hosts push back on nostalgia: persecution is real in some places but not worse than ever (Nero's garden torches; the sack-with-animals martyrdom).
From No. 561 · The Answer is Liverpool
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Dear LFTP: the political sister who won't stop debasing my candidate
- Is there a polite, non-confrontational way to make my sister stop debasing my political choice during her visits?
A host reads a Dear LFTP letter from a quiet listener whose sister visits weekly for cards but constantly debases the listener's political candidate, nearly bringing her to tears.
From No. 490 · QuickTrip Johnson