Differing Things

Grief is a part of life, but why do we experience it? "Why?" is the question so often on our lips amid tragedy. But this question raises another: whom are you addressing? Grief does not need to be suppressed, nor does it need to bury us. 

Are men born sinners? Did we come out of the womb with a sin nature, making us only capable of sinning? What is Gnosticism, and how is it taught in churches throughout the world today? Many Christians today are inadvertently teaching Gnosticism by failing to understand some of its core tenents. How did Gnosticism creep into the church? Today's Differing Things Podcast looks at these questions. Please do not forget to give us a like, and please follow us so you never miss an episode of Differing Things!

The idea Christians should be paying attention to the natural world has been around for centuries. Augustine of Hippo, born in 354 AD, for example, wrote of two ways to learn about God: (1) through Scripture and (2) through nature. This focus on nature is not often emphasized in modern American Christianity. Christians should still care about the natural world we live in. What do the Scriptures teach about our ecological systems?

Our Host Bill Petri interviews Biblical Scholar Dan Sheridan about salvation.  How does religion line up to what God says about this topic?

Are men born sinners? Our answer to this question will affect our attitude toward sin and will ultimately affect our conduct as well. If an individual believes he is born with a sinful nature and sins unavoidably because of that nature, he is not likely to view his sins the same way a woman who denies a sinful nature would. Christianity has taught for centuries our flesh is sinful -- but what if they are wrong? 

Many falsely believe human trafficking is a modern-day problem. However, this issue has been around since Biblical times. The narrative of human trafficking began with the story of Joseph in the Old Testament book of Genesis. The expansion of the world's population allowed the trafficking of people to impact every country on this planet negatively. What do the Scriptures have to say about this very current problem?

Today's Differing Things will look at a critical conversation taking place throughout the entire western world. Education systems throughout the west are trying to cast significant doubt about the validity of the Bible. Our youth are being brainwashed to believe the Bible is a patriarchal, sexist, and homophobic book that is full of errors, and does not understand science. How do we answer these accusations?

Wealth is created through the medium of work. The institution of productive labor was established by one of the first commands given by the Creator God immediately after the creative act and before man sinned. Gen.2:15 shows that through man's productive industry, God shared responsibility for the earth with man. Thus, economics was born! How did it work? What changed after Adam's sin?

Since the advent of the internet, we have been constantly flooded with information. How are we suppose to process it all? Believe it or not this has happened once before in human history. The answer then was common placing. What is common placing? Is it a good idea to use common placing to form our own personal belief system? 

The Apostle Paul writes to the church in Rome; "For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end you may be established; That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me." What gift is this that Paul wished to impart? How was this gift given? Is it still in effect?