December 23, 2013 Podcast

Show open and Christmas-week banter

Ben opens the show from the Pathway studios in Johnston a couple of days before Christmas. The hosts trade jokes about a failed 'double-minded man' catchphrase, a perpetually-encouraging church volunteer who could not tell the hosts whether the siding was straight (a host nicknames him Barnabas), and getting dizzy and nauseous on spinning rides at Adventureland.

Episode preview and sponsor: Bob Eisenlauer's team

Ben previews the night's docket: the Phil Robertson controversy, a question put to John Boova about keeping faith after losing his parents, Secular vs. Solomon, and Dear LFTP letters. Sponsor read for Bob Eisenlauer and the Eisenlauer team (nicknamed 'Bob the hugger' / 'Big Bob' / 'Boston Bob' on-air).

The Phil Robertson controversy and the framing question

• If put in a situation like Phil Robertson's, how should a believer respond when asked what counts as sin?

The hosts discuss Phil Robertson's GQ interview in which he called homosexuality a sin. Ben frames the night's question: when a coworker or family member asks you what you think about it in a potentially volatile situation, how do you respond in a way that moves the needle and represents truth? A host notes it feels heavier when you must face the person the next day, but you should not answer differently.

Ben's workplace conversations; represent scripture accurately

Ben recounts coworkers calling him at work about the controversy. His answer: 'it really doesn't matter what I think... I do, but God feels that way.' He says he feels the responsibility to accurately portray scripture, sometimes adding too much of his own inflection, and that admitting his own struggles with hard passages is legitimate. Nobody takes being told their behavior separates them from God well, he says — 'that's why they have interventions.'

Boova's conversation with his gay friends about sin

Boova tells of two gay friends who came to him asking where God stands on homosexuality, knowing his faith background. He told them he loves them and it would not change, then said plainly: God loves them more than they can imagine, but homosexuality is a sin — 'you are openly in rebellion against the God of the universe... There is no repentance.' They thanked him. A host replies that Christians get a bad rap for failing to mention they are mired in the same sin.

All sin is equal; the finger of open vs. closed rebellion

The hosts argue all sin is the same category — gossip, pornography, homosexuality, alcohol — 'sin is death,' and people who elevate the sins they do not commit are taking a prideful stance. One host contrasts 'open rebellion' against God with 'closed rebellion' inside the arms of Jesus and says Christians waste energy pointing fingers instead of praying for people who do not realize grace surrounds them.

The Corinthians list, idolatry, and sound-bite culture

A host notes Phil Robertson cited 1 Corinthians 6 (the list: sexually immoral, idolaters, etc.) and observes nobody from the 'idolaters union' called for his cancellation — idolatry is the same list. The hosts lament a culture of sound bites and two-sentence outrage that cannot digest the whole scripture, and criticize people who quote the Bible as authority without having read it ('If you don't know it, just don't quote it').

Identity redefinition: you cannot call the shots

Joking about a TV debater who said 'I'm a Catholic' while rejecting Catholic teaching, a host argues: you don't get to redefine what a Catholic or Christian is any more than you can 'identify as a cardinal' when you are not on the roster, or call yourself a Mormon while rejecting the Book of Mormon. The principle: 'Jesus is not your Lord if you're calling the shots'; scripture should do the talking, not your opinion.

'Pansy gods,' persecution, and misplaced indignation

The hosts mock the idea of a god you agree with on everything but a few things ('he's either not a god at all or you're an idiot'), then push back on Christian persecution rhetoric: losing a job is persecution defined, but they cite sixty people slaughtered in Syria for their faith and James on physical persecution — 'gain a little perspective.' They also note indignation over this controversy while staying silent on the sanctity of life, which would actually ruin a dinner.

Secular vs. Solomon: the proverb game show

• Secular or Solomon: 'The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence'?
• Secular or Solomon: 'Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way'?

The hosts play nine rounds of 'Secular vs. Solomon,' billed as 'America's fastest growing Internet game show.' Ben reads a proverb and John Boova, Mike Foust, and Dan Hudson guess whether it is secular (world wisdom) or from Solomon (Proverbs), with secular guesses naming a country of origin. Solomon rounds include Proverbs 10:11, 19:2, 25:21, 27:1, and 13:11; secular answers land on Scottish, French, Russian, and Nigerian. Dan wins; running gags include leg-scratching during round two and 'Don't tase me, bro.'

Dear LFTP: the woman and Vince on dating sites

• How do I understand my boyfriend Vince's obsession with dating sites and get him to stop?

A listener writes that she is in an exclusive committed relationship with Vince, but cannot keep him off dating sites — he denies it or blames a friend using his computer. The hosts' verdict: the communication tools are fine; her ability to recognize when someone is stringing her along needs work ('Vince appears to be less committed than you are'). Jokes include a pipe wrench as the recommended tool and the secular advice that 'if Vince wanted only you... he wouldn't be compulsively looking online.'

Dear LFTP: supporting adult children through their mother's death

• After my ex-wife's death, what is my role in supporting my adult children, and how soon should I go to them?

A listener divorced 25 years ago asks how to support his adult children after his ex-wife's death, given distance, cost, and his feeling that the funeral is the relatives' business. The hosts say: go be with your kids — 'they just need their dad' — offer to watch the grandchildren so the kids can grieve, ask what help they need rather than sending an awkward blank check, and dismiss the 'secular' advice of scheduling a family reunion in May as tone-deaf.

Music interlude

A short music break plays on the show (ASR garbles the title as 'Life in the bath').

The bread-place anecdote: Mike Foust's social skills

Boova recounts taking Mike Foust on errands: at the bread counter Mike declined sliced bread with 'I think I'm gonna avoid that altogether' to a clerk trying to help, then eagerly asked about the rewards program ('secret rewards' at Panera) — which he signed up for despite mocking it. The hosts roast Mike as 'awful in any kind of social situation.'

Boova's testimony: keeping faith after losing both parents

• How can you still have faith when God killed your parents?

John Boova tells how someone angrily asked him, 'How can you still have faith after God killed your parents?' His father died 10/22/2009 when Boova was 18, his mother about a year later. He ran from God for nearly a year, then realized his faith had been built on his dad (Sean) rather than on Christ: 'I had to cling to my heavenly father, not my earthly father.' He now calls his dad's death 'the best day of my life' — the loss that gave him an honest, personal faith — and plans to follow up with the angry man, who he suspects is really angry at God and wants validation.

Show close and station info

Ben closes: the show airs Monday nights 10–11 CT at livefromthepath.org and Saturdays at 7:00 on 99.3 KTIA. Thanks to sponsors Bob Eisenlauer and the Eisenlauer team and Westfield Veterinary Hospital. Merry Christmas sign-off.