Answering Difficult Theological Questions and an Interview with Greg Koukl

Some major breaking news from the president regarding the military and your tough questions about the faith stage for the line of fire with your host activist and author, international speaker and theologian Dr. Michael Brown your voice of moral cultural and spiritual revolution Michael Brown is the director of the coalition of conscience and resident of fire school of ministry get into the line of fire now by calling 866-34-TRUTH. That's 866-34-TRUTH your again is Dr. Michael Brown, one of the beauties of life talk radio is that can change your subject matter on time.

I plan to focus almost entirely today on difficult faith questions that believers have challenges to our faith things that come up that we have a hard time dealing with the second hour. I'm scheduled to speak with Christian apologist Greg Koegel about some of these very issues, but but something happened that is major and we will get to those questions and we will talk about some of those issues and you're welcome to call in with major faith questions that you have personally or that you get confronted with 866-34-TRUTH 866-348-7884 but right now I want to focus on the major breaking news today and here's what's interesting, I wrote an article last night was I wrong about Pres. Trump one I write this article while I happen to spot an article from last April. This was during the primary campaign.

If you remember, I had endorsed Sen. Ted Cruz, I had many grave concerns about candidate Trump and it was a warning that I wrote in April, two Christian conservative St. don't look to Donald Trump to be your protector or defender of conservative values. You'll be disappointed. Barring some type of major divine intervention in his life. The moment he became the candidate, then I may clear I was rooting for him and hoping that I would be wrong.

So this was already in June I was writing that and that's been my stance ever since I voted for him, but with trepidation and concern because Welford for many obvious reasons. The reasons that many of you couldn't vote for him, or chose not to vote for him but there's been positive. Along the way some things very positive and there's been negative.

On the way some things very negative and I sit at the end of the article that that maybe there has been divine intervention that he does seem to have a genuine fear of God that he does seem to greatly esteemed the conservative Christian leaders who become close to him that he realizes he was elected with the help of conservative evangelicals he wants to defend our liberties is become a strong pro-life ally just name the Al Gore such a loan tells you that.

Could it be, I asked that he has a growing fear of the Lord yesterday on the broadcast Dr. Richard land presents an evangelical seminary said that on several occasions before making major decisions.

He is prayed with VP Mike pence again. This is very different than the New York businessman of old and the way he would have operated of course I'd like to see some things changed dramatically as of today, yes I share those concerns with many of you at the same time, you have to admit things are happening that are positive and that or good as well and landed the article by saying I for one, am ready for more surprises.

No sooner does the article get posted different sites.

Then I see a flood of emails coming my way from friends and colleagues wanted to talk about the fact that Pres. Trump issued this announcement today via Twitter after constant take consultation with my generals and military experts. Please be advised that the United States government will not accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the US military or military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical cost disruption.

The transgender in the military would entail. Thank you friends this is positive. This is right. This is good this is saying is a Christian for us to be pleased with this or is this a slap in the face of those who identify as transgender will talk about that we come back here on the line of fire with your host Dr. Michael Brown your voice of moral cultural and spiritual revolution of your again is Dr. Michael Brown transfer joining us 866 serve in the military currently serving in a very curious to know what you have to say about presidents decision that those who identify as transgender will not be able to serve in the military regardless of what you think about redefining marriage since exclude marriage, regardless of what you think about a child it's four years old, but believes his tractor she's trapped in the wrong body and this should be allowed to change their name or go to school in a dress the way they feel they should be use the bathroom of the church knows how you feel about any of that. We talk about the military were talking about something very simple.

The military and you might be a great great person, but you might have a certain physical handicap, or require certain ongoing medical expenses on your behalf treatments because of that.

You can't serve in the military right. Many people want to serve in the military, but can't when it comes to someone who identifies as transgender. They are saying this is part of who I am. This is an essential part of who I am and there are certain things that I therefore require or expect and those things will impact the military it's it's a simple decision. It's even different than the decision about those are openly gay or lesbian serving in the military us have a problem with that for a number of reasons that we discussed in the past I command all those who want to serve in the military for the good of the country.

I commend those who say hey I'm willing to put my life on the line to defend my country and to defend freedom and liberty. I applaud that. And I also say that the military has to be thinking about what is best for the military, not about an individual. The military is about winning battles. The military is about protecting our liberties. It's not about being concerned about hurting people's feelings. That's not the issue now. Let's unpack this a little bit but let's think about what's actually involved. One of my colleagues sent this note. It's the burden of those on the left to prove that Uncle Sam our tax dollars pay for the increased costs that comes with mutilation surgery roughly $50-$100,000 for someone 116 surgeon because the military would have been paying for these things permanent hair removal roughly 50,000 or more and hormone blockers. About 10,000 per year and not to mention more visits to some quack therapist that will probably encourage them to more gender confusion is not costly or distraction in the most military that you may not like the way some of that was phrased and just coordinate the way someone sent it to me. But why should the military dealing with why should that be the expense of the military and it's also been pointed out that you have issues like like this went when you're talking about someone who's transgender 11 woman posted this. This is more of a medical decision than anything. It's not about discrimination of transgender people. Simply put, everyone undergoes a medical evaluation would apply to the military and there met their medical history is taken.

People have who have health conditions that require medication to prevent them from being a 100% can't serve transgender people require daily hormone injections or screws everything up slows to make them fail their medical prohibition in combat troops may not have access to medication and it's the right time or in the right location.

This just common sense stuff. What about the fact that if this had gone through, if openly transgender people could serve in the military. Then, then you have issues like this a man who identifies as a woman, but is not had sex change surgery, which share women's facilities right so here you have a biological male who would be showering next to a woman. You think every woman is at home with that you have a biological female will be with the man getting her. And say that she's a man dealing with that at another man have to do it that's that's that is insane in terms of the military where this is not about hurting people's feelings. This is about safety.

This is about Harmony.

This is about combat readiness. You also have questions like this. If a man identifies as a woman.

What does he then do the women's training or for example you have to show certain fitness and certain test.

You go through and as you're being trained say a man has to do certain number of push-ups versus what a woman does what about a woman who identifies as a man did she have to do what a man doesn't training you have all these questions for no good reason.

There is no good reason.

Plenty of people are found not to be fit to serve in the military. It's one thing Sir if you want to serve in the military and you secretly believe you're a woman but you don't act it out. You don't leave it out you bunk with the menu live with the man you exercise as a man you meet the male requirements, you're not on hormone treatments that that the government has to pay for. You don't need medication to to be at your feeling of of best whole lesson and look the way you want to look your docket to be asked in the military to pay for expensive cosmetic surgery right voluntary surgery, not about saving you from cancer okay or removing a limb where we been blown up in a in a and by a bomb writ which about elective surgery can be asking for any of that but just internally struggle hey, my heart goes out to Mme. and and let's do our best to get you over that hurdle's that you can be at home in the body that God gave you in the identity that God gave you but if you want to serve no one knows what's going on will that's that's your business. But if you want to stay as a male that you are actually a woman and you want to bunk with the women and train with the women and and and and work out with the women shower with the women and it or, conversely, if your biological female and you will be with them at will and that is going to prove present a problem.

So for the good of all involved, for the good of all involved. Pres. Trump talking to his generals. Military experts has done something that is right and common sense.

Now here's the question. Was it right for Christians to celebrate this decision is an article on Eldon GBTQ nation.com Christians" are celebrating Trump's decision to attack trans servicemembers.

Three of America's most notorious supposed Christian leaders are celebrating Pres. Trump's decision to ban transgender people from the military while their supposed Savior was best known for his radical inclusivity and teaches the level of the charlatans are celebrating discrimination and they really got this has nothing to do with discrimination and he quotes Tony Perkins, Michael Clark and Brian Fisher.

This has nothing to do with discrimination.

This has to do with what's best for the military to see how one group is saying you're hurting my feelings.

This is all about me. The other group is saying what's best for the military for national security for combat readiness for troop Harmony etc. two completely different questions listed.

If if you said I want to work at the local fire departments, volunteer, and I'm willing to risk my life to save people and you go through certain test and its founder not fit all. You hurt my feeling. No, it's not about your feelings.

It's about saving lives and and if you are not can be the best person for the fire department to go save lives.

This man if we hurt your feelings.

You're not fit or acquit for this years ago. I will want to give blood at a blood drive and they asked any questions.

Have you ever used intravenous drugs, a subject I did from from 60 924-7071 is intravenous drugs is that "will this possibly got some issue with that. You can't get blood are opposite to help my feelings hurt by fear, that wasn't the issue. The issue was in their view there, there could be some problems related to it. Some something in my blood, because with some type of disease or or whatever from you from using intravenous drugs before I knew the Lord, 70, 71, and I said yeah okay I want to help, but if I was refused decline because of that fine so because it's not about me it's about helping other people is about trans individuals is about helping other people use it yet, but Christians should be celebrating.

Yes, we should because this is part of an overly aggressive LGBT agenda.

This is where we need to push back and say no you are not going to impose your agenda on the military and I want us to push back in the schools and I was to push back in 100 other areas of society. I will reach out to every trans identified person I can I will sit with them.

I will ask them from the heart with sincerity.

Please tell me your story. Please share your background. Let me know the struggles you deal with. I will pray for them. I'll cry with that. I'll do my best to help them find homes from the inside out, but I am not going to say amen to a destructive LGBT activist agenda so I'm thankful for Pres. Trump of the military, doing what they did.

It is a military decision. They did the right thing over and gives the line of fire with your host Dr. Michael Brown, the line of fire now by calling 866-34-TRUTH here again is Dr. Michael Brown as friends for joining us today and on for 866-34-TRUTH. This tweeting is now the military is concerned with winning wars. It is not worried about hurting people's feelings. If they're not qualified to serve. I am joined now by Lori Higgins of the Illinois family Institute.

She has an article. Pres. Trump restores sanity for military personnel on the Illinois family.org website Lori it's been a while since we talked.

Welcome back to the broadcast hi Michael, thank you for having me yes so so talk to me about this. Your response as a Christian leader to the Prince, the president's decision there.

Some of the LGBT community who are calling this discrimination and saying it's unchristian to applaud this what you differ with them while I don't like elective thing, or the trans community with left allies in that objective. Internal experiences or feelings about one back are more important than objective, immutable biological back and you know they're entitled to that belief, but no one else is required to hold that belief, but believe that objective, immutable biological fact is profoundly meaningful and actually in the north of our feelings of modesty and desire for privately when engaged in private activities. Alright so when it when it comes to the military's decision.

Why is this a return to sanity and and what have you seen since the changes of, or you can serve being openly gay openly lesbian in the military.

They were pushing for openly transgender. What wife you be going in the wrong direction. Why is this a decision in the right direction for the good of the military while it reflects reality. Went with frustrating mom of a much larger picture and and and I called the most African revolution in the country of mankind's were getting to the place where we are where the left. The currently segment of the left to eradicate all public recognition of sexual differentiation in every contract for everyone. They don't believe that this is just comparative.

The been duped into thinking LOL it's jumping to be a small handful of people at the going to affect but if not, because what they believe in that first of all, you don't need to cropped her. You don't need to cross affect hormone go.

You don't need to have surgery in order to have full unrestricted access to the private papers opposite affect a person all you need to proclaim that you identify in the opposite back. So what is that mean it means that in the private papers they are going to be people who have all their opposite effect of anatomy walking around naked. They also don't believe that you should be able to discriminate based on either back or gender identity which mean in private, we would not be allowed to take into account one back or when gender identity if you get to death and there is no way to prevent anyone from accepting any private basis. A young 18-year-old trans identified man with you male called me and we spoke about our a week ago and without even acting questions about the effect everything I'm saying right now his dream is to have what I call coed restroom with locker room everywhere, for everyone if not valid in California.

They have a lot pending that requote would work if it passed, would require nursing home to find people based on their gender identity, it would affect my private hospital room no.

In addition to thing that we could have coed restroom with locker room everywhere, for everyone young man that and no you don't need to cropped up. You don't need to have surgery.

You don't need to take hormone. So what this policy of Trump does to door vanity about the importance and value and existence sexual differentiation. Yes, there is an actual binary that the way humans were created that client if not conservative them about that. Yeah, and then again when all someone has to do is say I identify a certain way, then you could have a full biological mail who is sharing facilities with the females with the women simply because he says he identifies his woman and many who identifies trans will tell you that there are not same-sex attracted so that would mean the man who identifies as the woman could will still be attracted to women and there was just a case of of a man who is in jail, identified as transgender identified as a woman was sent over to a woman's prison allegedly was having sex with the women and thou got sent back to the men's prison. Why in the world with the military want to open the door to insanity like this actually having an calming and interesting them in the LGBT alliance. There are many Latvian eminent authors were not lesbian who don't want people who are objectively male in their private faith and in addition now the trans community is coming out and playing if you care about the genitalia of your sexual partners your tramp phobic well most of us realize that, for example, male homosexual care deeply about the genitalia of their sexual partners so the point is that objective immutable biological back in meaningful and we should respect that. I was called by the journalist at Northwestern today. Medill school of journalism, and he asked how I would respond if someone said with a transgender person the military at that his or her rights were being trampled by by the new policy of Trump and NY want me to respond in an what right with person be talking about no human has a right to act that opposite next private faith that there is no such right and all of you trans identified people they haven't back.

It never changes and they know what it is. Yeah.

And again, the question is what right do we talk about in terms of serving in the in the military freak. For example, assigned death if I'm blind if I'm crippled or if I have some type of heart condition or if if I get paranoid in small spaces or have that then what I'm evaluated.

I will be able to serve. So again, what this points to out glory though is with all respect to those who struggle with gender identity and and we understand that people just wake up one day and say nothing than to be gay or thing to be transferred, for the most part these days is going crazy with all respect to struggles people go through. The fact is, there is much in LGBT activism that boils down to. It's all about me and how I feel you got one kid in elementary school who identifies as transgender and the whole school has to now accommodate that in flip addicted to make that okay you you have a 15-year-old boy who identifies as trans will now all the girls on the sports teams are going to have to suffer because of that, because this boy may be more athletic than them and not only so if if he wants to share locker room and shower space with them. They're just going to have to get over it. Hate Lori stay with me through the break. I have a few more questions for you to read Lori Higgins common sense clear article go to Illinois family.Lord.

The article is called Pres. Trump restore sanity for military personnel.

It's the line of fire with your host activist and author, international and theologian Dr. Michael Brown voice of more cultural and spiritual revolution get into the line of fire now by calling 6643 here again is Dr. Michael Brown thanks friends on the line of today 866-34-TRUTH if you liked we had him speak with Lori Higgins from the Illinois family Institute.

Lori you are an educator in the greater Chicago school system for years.

There's a case of the alliance defending freedom is taken up on behalf of dozens of students who were traumatized were inconvenienced by trans activism in the schools but does any of this surprise you based on your years in education. What you saw firsthand. No, not at all at the right me a beer at me but one of the problems there but conservative Art Deco afraid of experiencing any persecution or negative blowback that they pay nothing and echo through school personnel to.

I'm frustrated right now because many, many schools are now requiring staff and faculty use opposite next pronoun when referring to know gender to support student and I haven't heard of a single teacher who has refused to do that and we have a lot of Christians working in school, so this is going to increase 11 conservative start notetaking you know taking action speaking out. One problem is that they don't realize the policy in the restroom, locker room policies. These pronoun policies what they implicitly if not explicitly teach that in order to be loving and inclusive and you know on the right side of three student have to be willing to lie, use opposite next pronoun inappropriately or to relinquish their privately because every time the school board member says that opposition to coed locker room competition ignorance and bigotry there telling every student an ethical who doesn't want to relinquish their privately that they are ignorant, bigoted, hateful and exclusive action. People yeah and in this the fact that you see it often not bothering people means that that we've really been put to sleep on him more of a corporate level. Lori you been involved with this take on these issues. Probably even longer than I have in on the one hand, there's a lot of negative there a lot of setbacks, there is almost a corporate drinking of Kool-Aid in our nation where you go you celebrate Bruce Jenner's woman of the year and things like that yet. I've always felt the gay activists would overplay their hand that those who were bullied will become the bullies with those who come out of the closet will try to put us in the closet that the activism will go too far and it seems that were were witnessing a pushback when it comes to transgender activism and now Pres. Trump's decision regarding the military is at the latest of this you have, aside from faith in God the things can change any any encouraging signs that there is a pushback or people are waking up well you know I think more about that I'm I'm always helpful, which I why they couldn't do the work that I do and I do think well you know I think 20 back from the from feminine and lesbian you have probably been the term. A lot of our letters probably haven't her foot caught which is a negative term that trans identified person used for lesbian who make that call. That means trans exclusive or exclusionary radical feminist and at the negative term clear thing pushback in that community in Exeter than interesting. I should play in Washington state. There was an interesting campaign. I'm not sure, but the patent right now they were trying they were getting bigotry interpretation to protect women privately in restroom and with an interesting coalition of a young mother, Kaylee Traylor Haver and in a lesbian. I forgotten her name joined hands campaign to protect women privately felt that the good pushback you occasionally will be pushback about the pro-homosexual agenda is very reasonably offensive couple more questions for Lori Higgins, Lori, I appreciate you joining at short notice today check on her writings and the work of the Illinois family.org file the line of fire with your host Dr. Michael Brown get into the minor fire now by calling 866-34-TRUTH here again is Dr. Michael Brown joining us fire today Michael Brown or from the force of moral code and spiritual revolution last minute change some of the focus of today show because of the president's announcement that trans identified individuals will not be allowed to serve in the military. It's a good military decision question is not with us hurt someone's feelings. I applaud everyone who with right motivation wants to serve in our military. I remind them that it's not their goal to change the military or transform the military but do what's best for the military and if them not serving is what's best than they should be glad with that of Lori. We among many others had concerns about gays and lesbians serving openly in the military.

Would it hurt enrollment of those who differ with this when it create maybe more rapes taking place. No more men raping men. For example, is that happening and going unreported would it bring an aggressive activism into the military that would restrict Christian rights and freedoms for the rights and freedoms of chaplains present a chaplain could be punished for not affirming someone sexual orientation. Obviously the military's I completely fallen apart over night and none of us were predicting that that would happen. But as a few years of going on now with the policy change. Lord you think that that our concerns were completely overblown and just another example of us thinking. The sky is falling.

Would you feel are there valid reasons for those concerns are valid reasons for the concern left on it and you just alluded to it. If the changes are the destructive effect don't show up immediately. They allow nothing happened, and actually things incrementally change and we don't noted that because were the proverbial frogman boiling water so the fact that we got to the point where we were going to play because you know in my article today which actually came from an article in life.

They knew the talked about IA PowerPoint Creek guideline that was presented to the Army, which led that women should well that women people should be prepared for those with opposite effect anatomy being in their showers and out. I mean, the fact that you have that indignity suffered by those people who have to experience that and and you know I mention my article on macro, fight the military personnel make for unfair willing to sacrifice their time, their labor, their blood, their family that supported well enough we forget about the injuries they suffered and then we go and we and most Americans pay nothing when the military says, oh and by the way, you can have to shower and toilet with persons of the opposite back about ranges. You know I wanted to mention one thing because you talked about becoming the bully the bully to becoming the bullies there are the new guidelines adopted Minnesota for the both of them and in the guidelines they made it. If the student have objections to hearing their private faith of the restrooms or locker rooms with students of the opposite back you can allow them you can segregate the student to complain, but unlike that action results in stigmatizing the transgender or gender nonconforming student by the pond. That means I can read that is if students don't want to shower with them and they complain, you can offer them private ability inlet. The transgender student. The opposite sex student feel thing that I've witnessed what your greatest forest. The other student to shower with them or change next to them beat the oppression and bullying to which you refer you and endear there was actually a notorious editorial in the Charlotte Observer which is the major publication. There were I live and they said that that students kids are just gonna have to get used, to the presence of of say girls have to get used to the presence of male genitalia in her bathroom or locker room rightly so. This was greeted with complete outrage. So it seems that in every other area of life or common sense prevails were what's good for the masses is is how things are determine. I know that some drivers can drive way past the speed limit without a problem but you have the speed limit for for the general public and for general safety.

It seems that that is the way that we make our decisions. But when it comes down to LGBT activists.

The whole question is how does this make me feel and that's why he said that there's a certain narcissism at at the heart of this right. After all, you don't follow you know nothing out by developing only my feeling that objectivism relativism.

So what do you do if your if your identity is found in Christ. Or if you're at and Ludlum, or if you're an Orthodox Jew. What is your identity tell you about physical privately and why is that I don't identity not valued and respected. When you drown my daughter's that they have to be willing to change their clothes in the present of a boy that violate what is central to their identity and that has no respect or no accommodation in the culture. And that's also the thing that is verifiable and immutable, where is everything else is based on perception and look we understand this is a tiny tiny percentage of people with biological or chromosomal abnormalities, and we look at them as having a difficult handicapper were compassionate on them, but they're not only the ones pushing for everyone to just throw out their sensitivities and what's important to them. Hey Lori, again we care about every individual but when I could turn the world upside down to accommodate the struggles of a tiny few.

So keep up the good work and let's leave that truth will ultimately triumph. Thank you to our God bless you go to Illinois family.org for common sense. Clear headed articles by Lori Higgins and others. 86634 yeah just just looking at this statement here from Bruce Jenner, Bruce/Caitlin Jenner. There are 15,000 patriotic transgender Americans and US military fighting for all of us and Bruce Jenner is challenging.

Pres. Trump and and you know what happened to your promise you were going to protect us, and so on.

And here's the statement, there were 15,000 patriotic transgender Americans.

The US military, fighting for all of us what happened to your promise to fight for them while Pres. Trump promised to do what was best for America promise to do what was best for military and when push comes to shove, this is a no brain or this is a no-brainer.

What's so her doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this one out.

So if someone who identifies as transgender wants to comply with military guidelines that a biological male does not need to be on special hormone treatments does not require sex change surgery and is perfectly happy to function as a male with the other males, even though in his heart he believes his trans goal for serve. People make certain sacrifices for the military. I'm looking at reports just on a different subject, indicating that male on male rape is 15 times more present prevalent then reported by the Pentagon this story.

I'm looking at was November 2015. Why then would you open up a situation, talk about those who are openly gay serving in the military where you are now going to have young man it in in in the.

The physical prime of life serving together, bunking together, showering together and some of them are openly gay. Other they can have access to their gay lover. They can be around each other was you have separate monks and separate boarding facilities for men versus for women you don't think that in an environment like that you're going to have an increase of male on male rape's you put me on record a bit on record on this before but what's today's date July 26, 2017. If a comprehensive study could be done since the military opened its doors to those who identifies openly gay serving in the military.

I am on record as saying that if a comprehensive study could be done.

I would fully expect that male on male rates have increased even more. I would also say that if the full data was available first, then there would be a strong question as to whether this should be allowed in the military at all. Remember before, don't ask don't tell you could be expelled for practicing homosexuality in the military so if you privately had romantic attractions to the to the guy you roaming next to if you privately had lustful thoughts for the guy you're showering next to you That between your own heart and God knows everything. Well hey I commend you for wanting to serve in the military and I know you got an extra struggle added in. But hey show the whole world that this is not what you revolve around show the whole world that you're not just a sexual animal romantic animal that your man in control and serve in the military. Great fine and infer there's a reason men are not showering with women in the military and and and all of that, for obvious reasons.

But once it becomes out and proud to have more sexual activity you're going to have more abusive sexual activity tell me that will happen to me is ridiculous will be right for the Expo line of fire with your host Dr. Michael Brown your voice and more cultural and spiritual revolution. Here again is Dr. Michael Brown friends joining us in one of fire, 866487884. Yeah, I'll probably try to write on this written so much and related issues, but I'll probably try to write on this as well. Be sure to check out my latest articles and videos and asked her to Brown's O'Rourke asked if your brown.org you can still preorder assigned numbered copy of saving a sick America. In this way, when the book comes out September 26 beautiful hardcover will try to get it to you before then signed and numbered so the first hundred or 200 or 500 books that are preordered in this way we number them when they come in so against only with the first edition that we do this, take advantage that it asked Dr. Brown's O'Rourke asked if your brown.org and check out the many relevant articles and videos they are looking for subject. But what you believe about this or Jeff teach on this to search for you, you'll see the search engine right there on the homepage to search on it, or click on digital library and start scrolling through and you could you could be lost there for years watching, reading, taking things and we trust to be edified, built up, strengthen, so let me let me come back to something very very important here right and its essential thesis to my new book, saving a sick America is a central thesis to the book and I want to repeat this and you'll hear this from me a lot, God's ways or ways of life. God's paths or paths of wisdom.

So what is Moses tell the children of Israel in Deuteronomy 30 about following his laws and commandments shoes life choose life, that you and your children may live with, say, Leviticus 18 about the commandments of God, that the man who does them will live by them.

What is Proverbs say in Proverbs 8 divine wisdom speaking, those who hate me love death, the ways of wisdom or ways of life.

So when God gives us commandments. They are for our good. When God tells us don't do this, it's because doing it is harmful when he says do this. It's because doing this is good the way he wired us the way he made us physically if will live by his laws on average right.

If a million people did this on average they would live longer, they would be healthier, they would have more productive lives and more stable marriages and families. If you simply lived by the book of Proverbs. On average the people who live by with live longer, healthier, more productive, happier lives than the people who don't get just like on average, smokers will not live as long as non-smokers those who eat healthy diets will live longer than those who eat unhealthy diets, alcoholics, those who are sexually promiscuous. Those who text while driving goats comes up with 100 different variables. Those who do the things that are not wise that are contrary to the paths of life are contrary to the way God made us all right.

They they will live shorter lives and lies, it will have more difficult in proms, on average than those who live by divine wisdom.

So my book saving a sick America is not a call for theocracy is not a call for Christians to rise up take over the nation by force if needed, and impose the Bible on the nation, with penalties for those that don't comply. No, not at all. I wholeheartedly oppose that as a follower of Jesus and believe in the Scriptures, rather our calling is first to live by these principles to practice what we preach to live these things out on a daily level in our lives is singles his moms his dads his kids is whoever we are to live these principles out and in saving a sick America. Go through every single area major area in our society that needs attention and I say live by the biblical print live by scriptural principles. And if you do will bring forth life then we show that to the society. Hey, look at our lives look at our families.

Look at the decisions we make at and we we provoke them to see. Hey, you're walking in light you're walking in life. You're walking in truth. Boy what you have it appeals to me the way you live. Appeals to me when we we are witnesses for the truth of the gospel and I look we may be killed for faith to be torture for faith may be persecuted for faith, but even that people I don't expect us to be tortured in prison right now America okay but but be that as it may, it happens around the world happen through history if it happens just now so be it. Even that people see what's happening in your life and they say wow your different Christians in persecuted countries often see the greatest revival with more more people coming to the faith because they see the ugliness of the opposition and the beauty of this faith in Jesus, but here in this Democratic Republic in which we live. We can also vote for candidates sure values.

We can also advocate the public square. You can tweet out what you believe is right. You can put out a blog you can put out a video so we want to persuade others that God's ways are best in God's ways are life and and that's part of our holistic argument and that we want to preach the gospel when the lost and pray for revival, that's how America can be changed. Hey, if you have not yet downloaded your free chapter 3 first chapter 2 saving a sick America, by all means to watch the trailer to just take a few minutes. Go to saving a sick America.com no cost, no obligation, saving a sick America.com watch the trailer download the free intro and first chapter right tell you what I am going to be joined by Greg Coco in a few minutes. In the second hour apologist Greg Coco but I'm going to try to grab a couple of calls right at the beginning of the next segment.

So stay right there. If you're on hold. Stay right there and then. Oh, about 307 Eastern standard Time attendance from them will bring Greg Coco on to speak with us about apologetics and some of the deeper challenging questions of the faith.

All that coming your way momentarily. All right, do you live in greater Charlotte do you live in greater Charlotte, North Carolina, and within a few hours.

If so, you don't want to miss the all day conference Saturday, August 5 God's sex and gender. I'll be speaking my colleague Dr. Frank Turk will be speaking other presentations. It'll be noon to about 630 and then it will and with a debate it will and with a debate between two local ministers, and Dr. Turk and myself discussing whether being loving and tolerant means being a firm and will be right back about the talk with apologist Greg Coco about some of the difficult questions of the faith, your questions are welcome to use time for the line of fire with your host activist and author, international speaker and theologian Dr. Michael Brown your voice of moral cultural and spiritual revolution Michael Brown is the director of the coalition of conscience and president of fire school of ministry get into the line of fire now by calling 866-34-TRUTH. That's 866-34-TRUTH here again is Dr. Michael Brown welcome friends to the line of fire Michael Brown your base of sanity clarity. I am delighted to be with all of you today in a few minutes I'm going to be joined by leading Christian apologist Greg Coco want to talk with them about some of the most difficult objections to our faith and I just spent an hour almost an hour talking about the president's important band of transgender serving the military, which is for the good of the military. This is not a slight on individuals or an insult.

Individuals this is for the good of the military.

If you miss that. Make sure you get our act line of fire.a disk of the line of fire with Dr. Michael Brown for your iPhone for your android phone. This way you won't miss a second of the broadcast. You can also listen to archives there or catch the archives@thelineoffire.org all right if you've got a major question of faith issue that's often raised to you. A problem that presents itself in your own life or you don't.

How to respond when people talk to give me a call 8663 freight 7884 to take some calls on the subjects a little bit later in the broadcast, perhaps even raise them from I guess great Coco, first I want to grab a call from Donna in Nebraska hey Donna, welcome to the want to fire thank you very much appreciate you taking my car. I have a couple questions I character thing on your back about about America and what you are writing about and I don't agree to the fact that that anything other than lie create evil back I see. Thanks. Maybe in a little bit different.

Correct me if I'm wrong then I think going back to well like 525 inflation 20 great company that I have been crucified with cry that I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. It seems like a lot of our problems in the fact that when we try our own spell to be considered very far. We in our fight cannot pay for same work Jesus on the cross he all right yes it's a Donna yeah I'm with you, and that houses that differ with anything I've ever said that God's grace away shift like a purse with anything that man Jesus Christ the way they. Yes I are with them. I guess San said everything back. We hope to gain half that can p.m. and you spirit chili yet told it totally grins. It absolutely that's that's that's the cuter whole life. This is to be hidden in Jesus. Absolutely that's what we have to rely in his spirit on his word line is truth. The other two separate issues. One issue is that if the whole world live by the listener. Proverbs to the best of it could without divine intervention just sought to make wise decisions and do things we can do, and parents. Risa could certainly the world would be in better shape, but to live out the gospel that we can't do that on her own to crucify the flesh know we can't do that on her own and that's why her ultimate proclamation is the proclamation of the gospel. So I appreciate you shouting that out for the world to hear. Yes yes yes you are absolutely right. We had ourselves cannot do this we need the grace and power of God to live a transformed life is Jesus in and through us.

So let us make that clear. Amen and amen thank you for weighing in the line of fire with your host Dr. Michael Brown get into the line of fire now by calling 8663 here again is Dr. Michael Brown transfer joining us on the modifier 866. This is Michael Brown. I am delighted the with you okay one thing that I do want to mention to everyone I just a little music in the art, but I think a good one thing want to mention to everyone I've had extensive discussions with a colleague of mine, a friend from Scotland. I mentioned this in passing yesterday. We we've gone back and forth extensively about the healthcare system in the UK about the Charlie Gorrie case and the concerns that we've had here in America that the system stood the way of the parents being able to get treatment for their son and my friend in Scott is actually in Scotland now but he said Mike it's not the system. The NHS that the national health system or healthcare system is not the system. It was the hospital independently is in the hospital, doctors were the ones that said the Charlie could be Russell was a system on some of the whole setup I never mentioned the NHS in my article all right, but I did what so here is someone raised in the UK when he sees and hears healthcare system he's thinking about the official national healthcare system that you pay into with your taxes that treats everybody that he said is a great system and should be bashing. We bash in America it's a great system. I explained to him that I was talking about the large sure issues all right. The larger issues. So for example when I say the system either the courts or the hospital with the doctors or the government or the healthcare system. Somebody somewhere, somehow got in the way of that child's parents being able to take him with all expenses paid, take him to America for alternative treatment that perhaps could have extended his life or helped him or curate him some how. So that's what I want to clarify, I was, not indicting the NHS specifically and say it was their decision. I was taught about the larger system of healthcare in England because somehow affect my principal if if if you went outside of the public pay and and went to private hospital. The results would've been the same.

Which raises the same question for me who gave the hospital with the doctors the right to tell the parents what they can and can't do with their own child.

Again, they were not taken the child out to beat the child. They were not taking the child away from essential life support that without that he be dead in the moment know they were.

They had money for medical transport to get him over to the states where he could have alternative treatment. That is what my issue was and that is where my issue remains. I hope that's clear.

866-348-7884 with your faith related questions.

My guest great Coco was on with me earlier in the year with the release of a book that's getting a lot of very positive attention now seven months later, the story of reality, how the world began, how it ends and everything important that happens in between rave reviews for this book and Greg is going to be one of the speakers at the Southern Evangelical seminary annual apologetics conference with the premier apologetics conference in the world and he'll be there. I'll be there at its October 12 special latest in October 13 and 14th to find out more go to conference.SES.edu hey Greg, welcome back to the line of fire. So great to talk to Michael thank grab me back. Glad to do it. I have a new book coming about out about the same time that your book came out so that got me tracking your book as well. The seal was doing a it's getting rave reviews. It seems it's really hit a sweet spot with people.

Why do you think it's been so helpful, impactful, successful, well, you're right.

I looked at my reviews on occasion it right out the 4.85 of the average which is really really satisfying and I think partly because what I intended to do with this particular book Michael is like I wanted to try to fill, little awkward mentioning that by trying to fill the niche that mere Christianity. Theophilus is there Christianity filled for a much earlier generation. A lot of people now looking for Christianity. It's amazing to me because it was a popular book one is written, but they fail it to our permit as to what I was trying to do it kind of cover similar kind of ground with the story of reality in a voice that was accessible, like Louisville, but for a new generation, and I apparently people then responding really well and so maybe I I hit the mark on that one, but I'm just really glad for the response that I have so far. Yeah, I'm so pleased to see the small Greg living in a different day in which we cannot presuppose certain things that we once presupposed in dealing with quite your average American friend Darrell Bacher Fitzgerald Akamai show when they said, you know, and in years past generations past, you could say. While this is true because it's in the Bible. Now you have to approach things very very differently because people don't have those presuppositions so let's say someone just says jewel. What makes you so sure the Bible is really God's word to say well or a couple ways to approach down in one of the difficulties. By the way, that were. Now with the whole notion of truth is under attack me. That's like pulling the rug out from underneath us so well II think they do different things. I the real question that I have asked about the Bible is if this is this a book by man about God that it was at the gist of the book men wrote giving their opinions about God, not by the way, if that's all it is, which is where a lot of people want to go that automated ball. It still could be accurate in what it says about Jesus and God and salvation. The whole thing. You know, it would not be accurate in its claim to be the book by God to men, but at least you could still assess the value of the information there for yourself so it was only that it wouldn't disqualify it, but I think that of the other option is worth considering.

And that is what it claims to be that it's not a book simply by man about God, but it a book by God in some sense to men came through men and I understand that but one alternative is maybe it the original source is God himself know if that's the case I'm just setting up to alternative here.

If it is by God to man will then we ought to see something in the book itself that be speak it supernatural origin. Okay. And I have a talk I give why go to six elements that suggest there is a supernatural source to the Bible. Ultimately, even though human beings are involved in writing at one of this fulfilled prophecy on one of them is the insight it gives to the to the big issues of the big question.

Another is the incredible unity from Genesis to Revelation. All these different authors are really contributing to the same storyline even though they're not colluding with each other over the 1500 years. The book is written, we have history that accurately recorded especially in the life of Jesus and that that is a supernatural history. We have an ability to change lives that goes beyond just human ability to change lives.

That is a supernatural change lives. And then this is a book that is survived supernaturally through incredible persecution over the centuries, yet it still is the number one bestseller of all time. So these are the kinds of of of things I can point to in effect from an apologetics perspective that give us good reason to believe that this isn't simply a book by men about God, but at the book that ultimately comes from God through man. But it is for us. So that's one side of the equation. You know, I've been teaching that for years. Michael and I realized that these six reasons are not the reason I believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God, and in fact most Christians in churches who believe the Bible the inspired word of God. After that talk I had asked myself what really is going on.

In fact with us and what I realized is the case even though we can make this defense that I just summed up for you briefly at a thumbnail sketch. It turns out that the thing that is the most powerful factor in causing us to have confidence in the Bible is the word of God is God himself. That is we engage the tax we read the work and something happened inside of us.

Think about it. Michael Jesus didn't sermonized and before he started the sermon on the Mount, or any of his other talks. He did start my day. Let me give you six reasons why your believe that my words are God's work know he just talked and people that no man speaks as this man speaks, and so there is a certain sense with direct engagement with God's word itself is a powerful influence in people being persuaded that the gods were both of those things can be leveraged together is responding today and I think this is apologetics on the evangelist. If the person listen get the person you think they get into encounter word itself is God speaks through his word right back with Christian apologist Ray Koegel. The line of fire with your host Dr. Michael Brown voice of more cultural and spiritual revolution.

Here again is Dr. Michael Brown thanks for joining us on one if I am speaking apologist Ray Koegel's latest book, which is a must read the story of reality held world began, how it ends and everything important happens in between Greg what are you planning to speak on. You know, yet your topic at the apologetics conference in October. Now the Queen Mother of all comfort me and I'm so excited to be part of this. I probably got it for five times in the past and it just the fabulous conference. I'm doing a plenary session on the topic, Jesus manner. Beth and get it across the talk is meant to deal with the charge either that Jesus didn't exist. Or if he did, he wasn't the person portrayed in the gospel to submit especially admit that draws from the ancient myth of Mithras that no spirit theorist and all these different Egyptian or Roman deities that are now cobbled together in the life of Jesus of Nazareth and I'm going to show how this is just false on the factual grounds that it wildly implausible on probability grounds it based on the fundamental error logic and also that we have very solid historical documentation on the life of Christ that disproves this claim.

Hands down excited about that. I have the breakout sessions doing one might be the story of reality that the book you just mentioned is about and I may do tactics which have been doing for years and a breakout session as well. Source to wait here on out excellence since I remember being at the apologetics conference a couple years ago walk into rumor. I was about to speak, and that the place was packed and there was a long line of people waiting for this because someone who this guy is, and it was none other than Greg cultivated from the crowd, so some presentation� I remember that yeah and and folks really help on his presentation and the whole thing about like Mithraism and stuff. And, well, you'll see that all the perils with Christianity. It's what most things come after those things are dates and and always allege parallels. They come after it and really when you when you put Jesus against the backdrop of the so-called dying and resurrected gods of other religions of the so-called virgin births you're comparing night with day yeah that's right and Mithras. They do come afterwards and one of the company for them to spare no represent what the life of Christ that the factual problem, but the logical problem is it doesn't matter how many similarities there are about things in the past with Jesus if we have good historical evidence that Jesus did the things that that the gospel the claim that he did that it does. It doesn't matter what the simulators are to anything in the past. An ecological problem and of course the strength of the historical documentation that we have the birth of Christ, and will cover all of that of my talk excellence friends you can still get the early bird registration go to conference.SES.ED you think just a couple more days for that great the larger problems that people just have little religious or not.

If there's a God, the problem of suffering problem of evil. How would you advise believers to respond when people say it's not right it's not fair that we prayed we were good people and their child die children dying of starvation or sickness of the parts the world.

How can God not intervene. How would you counsel believers to respond to those kinds of questions well that there's an array of things that I go into depth in the story of reality on this whole concern, but here is one. One aspect of it, you might consider because the question came up for me last week by a student in Chattanooga Tennessee and I and I said okay if you say that God is it doesn't exist because of the doubt. He's a bad God, where are you getting this standard by which you are judging God the very important question and the point is that if there is no God in us just molecules clashing in the universe.

Okay one thing that's not true. Morality is a true if there is no morality that you can't. You have no standard by which you can judge God as immoral. Okay.

And the way it turns out I developed this idea of the book.

It is not time to develop here but it turns out that one of the best argument in favor of God's existence is the problem of evil.

It's not a good argument against God. It's a good argument for God no there's more to the story, of course, and part of the way we answer it is that God God gives us resources to deal with the evil in the world as long as that laugh but keep in mind that for Christian evil as part of our story.

It starts in chapter 3, and a ghost. It is get and 66 books later and we are still in the middle of our story. The stories not over yet so there will be a resolution to the problem of evil. But right now God's mercy mode. You know he's managing evil to some degree while he's providing an opportunity for evil people to receive mercy. One day when Jesus returns it to be over. Like Lewis says when the author walked to the stage. The play is over, and then mercy will not be offered only judgment right now at the mercy stage there is a time when evil be dealt with.

The future of these are all particulars that are part of our answer and we have a very robust answer we can get out regarding the problem of evil. In fact, if there is no God, there is no problem of evil anymore than the problem. When a spider eats a flyer line eats zebra, it's just whatever survival of the fittest, and if there is no God, there is no resolution.

There is no redemption there is no Silverlining there is no future hope to try to bring that out when I debated Prof. Bart Ehrman on the problem of suffering some years ago so and in that sense. As difficult as the subject because it may be affecting someone in a painful way right then we we do this, a platform for the gospel right you probably noticed in your debate that when people deny God based on the problem suffering. They are already smuggling in the moral concept on their side that their own worldview does not give any traction to proclaim materialism.

Atheism is just molecules a motion there's no morality of their not the kind that can ground the problem of evil.

You can only have a problem of evil, where you have a standard scoring system so to speak. That is outside of human beings that we can bet that that by you know you and I covered this ground lots of times and we know there is no other alternative for answering that problem than God himself being the ground for goodness that allows evil to even be defined atheist can't get traction and this and this is not a Christian problem with the human problem and the question is with where what worldview does the best job of answering the challenge and even making sense of it. Christianity hands down wins that debate atheism can't even get out of the gates and we we even have a story where our God gets involved in the midst of our suffering and sufferers on our behalf. So the whole idea of a distant God he doesn't care gets demolished by the gospel and is not just a pie-in-the-sky thing because we've seen people go through unspeakable tragedy and can come out stronger in the end because of not just faith in a mythical deity. But the reality of God working in their lives. Absolutely. By the way that the name of that story is the story of reality.

Yes, yes I would like my book, but it is descriptive of the Christian worldview. It is the account of the way the world actually are you friends. Make sure you get to see and hear great cocoa face-to-face if you can't be there.

You can register and watch all of the sessions online. Go to conference.SES.edu distal time for early bird registration.

People come from all over America to greater Charlotte, North Carolina, and if you don't have the book yet get it. Story of reality, how the world began, how it ends. Everything important happens in between Greg look for to seeing you face-to-face a couple months your life.

Douglas, it's the line of fire with your host activist, author, international and theologian Dr. Michael Brown voice of more cultural and spiritual revolution get into the line of fire now by calling 6643 here again is Dr. Michael Brown welcome welcome to broadcast this is Michael Wright, 866-8784 if you'd like to hear my comments on the president's decision based on consultation with his generals military experts that those who identify as transgender might be able to serve in the military school later today to my website. The line of fire.org click on listen to be able to hear the first hour of the broadcast. Earlier today I discussed those things now. I want to focus on challenges to our faith deep difficult challenges that we have. If you have a faith related question you don't know how to answer people who come with a certain challenge to the faith or challenge to the Scriptures you've encountered a struggle hit a wall in your own spiritual life and if you don't have an answer will take some calls 866-34-TRUTH 87884 and I will also answer some questions that had been sent in or posted on Facebook.

What got me thinking about this for today was this post that I noticed on RS Dr. Brown Facebook page is cage your brown we've got for 535,000 followers there so I don't see the vast majority of what is posted when I spotted this one from a woman and not she gave her name there, but I can give it now, but I said I would read this without giving her name publicly.

She wrote this. What's the point of living if we have to die anyway.

What is a God allow us to see our love ones when they die wasn't to send the sign what we have to have so much faith we don't see anything or hear anything. Why doesn't God take me.

The Bible was once gold to me after losing the one person I love most. I find no comfort in Scriptures pray and pray.

But I hear nothing. God is abandoned me. I hear other people's testimony have not experienced that. I was wondering if they're just stories. My faith is been shaken and I don't know what to believe anymore is the really a God deep down I know there is because I still pray caught him.

He just doesn't hear me chooses to ignore me really has abandoned me feeling lost empty and abandoned right now that's painful. Boy said painful.

The agony of losing someone you love, coupled with the agony of questioning God's love for you or even the existence of God.

I just wrote back immediately so this woman could see that I saw her note and said, I'm so sorry to hear this but all hope is not lost. There is a bright future for you if you cling to the Lord. I know everything seems dry and empty and hopeless. Right now, but her laundry. Our Lord brings life out of death, hold onto him tighter than ever and put all your emotions in trust and hope in him, he will not disappoint you. I'm going to read this that username on the year calling others to pray for you so please pray for this woman that she would have a fresh encounter with the reality of God that her face would come alive that she would receive divine comfort in the midst of this valley which you pray for her and you don't need to know her name. God knows who she is and for others who are in the situation say that letter what that woman said that's me. She described by exact situation wanted encourage the God remains faithful with you. Feel him or not the trend not believing in myths and fairytales that the experience you once having God recognize your sins were forgiven come to know God as your father reading the Bible and it was life to those were not figments of your imagination and if you'll determine I don't care what I feel okay what my mind says right now I'm going to St. God that he's good and praise him that his word is true, and live as if he's real.

I assure you, he will make himself. I don't mean necessarily a dream or vision dinners, you will know God's word in your life will not deny himself on the line of fire with your host Dr. Michael Brown voice of more cultural and spiritual revolution. Here again is Dr. Michael Brown welcome friends choose a line of fire voice will cultural and spiritual grace be with you today at 6634 truth, hate, let me remind you again visit saving a sick America.com watch the trailer and download for free. The opening chapter of the book and the intro to the book as well will engage your attention, you'll be stirred as you do.

As you read and once we got your attention throughout the book. We provide the antidote, the prescription for gospel based moral and cultural transformation with man it's impossible with God. It is very very possible. So if you'd like to preorder the signed numbered copy collectors edition of the first printing of this hardcover volume go to 8663. Excuse me, coach of the phone number, gosh cuffed to S. Dr. Brown, a.s. Kate DR Brown.org all right.

Let's let's focus on some difficult faith questions. All right some difficult faith questions you don't want to believe a lie right you don't want to just keep thinking something's true when there's no evidence for what I'm saying is, those of you who've known the Lord but are now going through a season of doubt. When you walked with him that was real when he answered some your prayers. That was real when he changed your life. That was real.

What when you fellowship with him, felt his presence and worshiper in his word that was real.

Now you're going through difficult valley a difficult time. Remember Jesus hanging on the cross is the words, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me, the scissors words for several reasons but one key lesson is, it felt like that you may go through a season where it feels like that but in the end you'll see that God was with you. Just the same, that the trying of your faith will make you stronger.

So let this be a time of even greater desperation, greater leaning on him greater seeking of his face. As you do you be blessed you will find God at work in the midst of things you look back in your eyes while he actually carried me through 866-34-TRUTH.

If you have a faith related question let me just look at some questions that are being asked here old. Let's see okay okay okay all right there.

There a bunch of random things that have been posted. Dealing with King James only folks and by the way, I'm not necessarily going to be able to convince them. Those were militant, King James only as opposed to those who prefer the King James. I'm not Nestl� can be able to convince them of anything because often there are not rational what they're saying that it was it when you show them that the King James Miss translates some of the Hebrew degree can they tell you what that means is an error in the Hebrew, Greek, are not dealing with some of that's rational, but the great books by Don Carson and James White dealing with that a few random questions here Victoria Kathy to pray to Mary, will he go to heaven to go to hell for adultery will God is there judge certainly is wrong to pray to Mary is unscriptural pray to Mary. Certainly there is an exultation of Mary in Catholicism. That is not helpful. That is unscriptural and in some cases is downright idolatrous. But as to whether this Catholic is truly put their faith in Jesus to save them believes in Jesus is Lord please and forgiveness of sins will be coming through him believes that he died for sins and rose from the dead and they also pray to Mary, God is there judge as to whether they are saved or not. Can I have atheist historian Tim O'Neill on my show to discuss the bad Jesus myth theory. I will look into doing that David mentions the demeaning and or belittling of people of faith and society at large, anti-intellectual attitude in evangelical church yeah I'm on that score, David. We have to recognize where in the world. We have to recognize were in the world but were not of the world. We have to recognize that if the world hated Jesus, it's going to hate us, we have to understand that to follow him means going outside the camp and several reproaches he suffered. So yes, I've done my academic work. Yes I have my earned degrees from secular universities. Yes II can debate with folks and and and use my mind and use my education. Still, the world is going to despise and mock me.

We just have to understand that so we do our best to love God with heart and mind. We do not exalt ignorance. We do not exalt anti-intellectualism but we recognize that with our best intellectual efforts, the world still go to mock the gospel are we going to be smarter than Jesus or smarter than Paul so it's both, and it's being intellectually sound but is having the power to spare the life of the spirit recognizing our message is foolishness to those who perish, but to those who believe it's the power of God, and it's the wisdom of God or Rita is wondering why so many denominations was only one God. They fight with each other and scare many people. We forgot yes or disunity brings reproach. Paul in Corinthians is a ready dealing with divisions is ready talk about it there. Jesus is praying, in John 17 that will be one Paul and Barnabas have a separation and in acts chapter 15 different letters that are being written by Paul was New Testament are dealing with divisions and errors within the body. This is a problem we've always had because of human beings that we don't all have to be part of the same specific church organization because we live in different cultures have different backgrounds and different expressions, and in that sense different denominations can express our diversity, but to the extent that our denominations and differences bring division and confuse the world. They are wrong and we must somehow in God learn to major on the majors. Whatever title that we have major on the majors and in doing so present more of a unified, loving front to the world. Questions of public toughest that is been difficult. Reese's can women serve as pastors is good for Christians to attend a church where women serve as pastors of the public. Let me refer you to the Esther Brown website Esther to Brown.org you can listen to whole broadcasts of that on that subject, or you can watch a short video about women being pastors so just search for women or women in ministry women pastors and you'll find video and audio on that ugly, grab a quick call to Linda in Gastonia. Welcome to the line of fire around loud and clear. I read from the women here having my faith in God and I've had a lot of trouble in my life and I'm going to alter formal decals that there were many many years back I wanted to quit trying to get out. It would've been anything to do and looking back it was like I did. I got it down and say I quit I can go one more I can't get it one more day and I know how I like it because God would bear keeping me going and he still going back and she's still trying. I hope you looking are maybe company else is going. Because when I was in that difficulty, I didn't. But years later, looking back. How did I not give up. I think about my why it was painful. Every physically and emotionally painful and mired in a contract that God never left me be me going. When it was so painful I couldn't do it on my own power.

I couldn't bear Me going until I could get through it is not merely you know what I wanted to let her protect me.

Linda sent thank you for calling because this definitely is ministering to listeners and and hopefully to this woman as well, or it will get to her even when she said she she's questioning God but but she knows is still this because you still praying and crying out to him that your whole point. It's because God is keeping her that she hasn't thrown in the towel and that's like. That's like the old footsteps story that we know what when you thought that wasn't there.

He was actually carrying you in your darkest moment I could barely go to the rearview mirror when you're driving you where you come from, how you got where you are and I can I'll I can bear my own desk. Get Esther's real quick to ever break so 16 seconds have you come out stronger in the Lord. As a result of that difficult season at heart and why go through all that they were conquered and enabled her pink building and not even wanting to interact with what got it all right not be so materialistic.

I was great also.

I did say that based on the spirit of his voice call absolute trying of our faith will strengthen us. Hold on tight. God has not abandoned gives the line of fire with your host Dr. Michael Brown into the line of fire now by calling 866-34-TRUTH here again is Dr. Michael Brown welcome to want to fire 866-348-7884. Repeat if your child of God. You may feel abandoned at certain times, you may genuinely feel abandoned, and the evidence around you may tell you that you are abandoned, but God will not abandon his children, he won't he doesn't and you will see as Linda said, you will see that he has taken you through in the end you will see that the outcome is good if you hold onto him.

If you throw him out in that sense, if you throw him out and walk away. You lose the very fountain of life. Isaac asked why did God allow the Holocaust to happen. I address this at some length in volume 1 of my series on answering Jewish objections to Jesus under historical objections and you can even go to the real Messiah website and watch my video on where is God when it hurts that's in the think it through series, but I want to play clip for you by John Piper and and then I want to let you know what I agree with and what I disagree with. So this is John Piper answering the question. Was it right for God to slaughter women and children in the Old Testament. How can that ever be right. Listen to what he has to say.

If it's right for God to slaughter women and children anytime he pleases God gives life and he takes life. Everybody who dies dies because God wills that they die. So God is taking life every day. He will take 50,000 lives today.

Life is in God's hand God decides when your last heartbeat will be and whether the items through cancer with Hernandez through the bullet wound God governed so God is God.

God rules and governs everything and everything he does is just right and good.

God owes us nothing if if if I would've dropped it right now or pay suicide bomber downstairs were to blow this billing up and I would be blown to smithereens. God would've done me no wrong.

He would done David Nawrocki. He does no wrong to anybody. When he takes their life at age 2 weeks or at age 90, 92, God doesn't is not beholden to us at all even owe us anything you add to that that were all sinners and we deserve to die yesterday and go to hell. The fact that we're even breathing today is sheer common grace from God. All right, I appreciate John Piper starting with God rather than starting with us.

Literacy is God. First, God centric in his approach and therefore whatever God does. He recognizes as good and right and does not take human objections to God's goodness and put them above God himself. Where I struggle with his answer is the question about God slaughtering men women and children. The Old Testament will that was a command as well, not to some of the flood, but a command, say to the Israelites to go in to the land of the Canaanites and the others, and to wipe them out, including babies. Now that to me raises ethical questions that need an answer, not simply the got is the right to do whatever he wants to do and you could say okay what was the sin of that baby that they deserved that it to me that deserves more of an ethical answer so the idea of God slaughtering Scott. I would use that term very speaking because slaughter also sounds like because on a murder God gives life and he takes life and whatever God does is good