Relentless Truth with John Warren

Subscribe ▼ Show Notes Today’s episode focuses on John’s description of Jesus in Revelation 5. God the Father and God the Son are the same in substance, in essence and nature, according to Scripture. God the Creator  Chapters 4 and 5 of Revelation are among the most beautiful in all of Scripture. To grasp the fact that God created everything by his will is difficult to process. To first think creatively, and then to make it happen by virtue of will, is something we should ponder when we think about God. The power of God is something we can observe and describe in part, but not fully comprehend or explain. David describes the attributes of God in Psalm 51. We see God’s attributes in Genesis in the creation account. We see God’s attributes in Romans from Paul’s perspective. And we see God’s attributes in the person and work of Jesus Christ our Lord. The Lamb of God Jesus is referred to throughout the Revelation as the Lamb of God. His value or worthiness is discussed in Revelation 5. He is worshipped in heaven. He is worthy. A.W. Tozer said, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” Jesus, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, being of the same substance, are one God in three persons. The phrasing in which John explains the worship of Jesus is derived from various Old Testament passages. The unity of Scripture, the centrality of Christ, and the immense worth of Christ are explained in this important episode.   “The power of God is something we can observe and describe in part, but not fully comprehend or explain.” John Warren

Subscribe ▼ Show Notes Paul’s ministry involved regularly battling false teaching. He did this in various settings throughout the world, and he did so with ideologies that were harmful to the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel Stories are valuable sources of instruction for us. The Apostle Paul tells the story of his life in his epistles. Luke tells much of the story of Paul’s life in Acts. In this episode, we discuss Paul’s perspective in Galatians on the story of his preaching the Gospel. Paul’s Conversion Paul’s conversion informs us on the significance of his conversion to Christ. Our conversion is as dramatic and valuable. This episode focuses on the sufficiency of God’s grace for us. Paul blends the divine and the human as he tells his story. God uses people in our lives to impact us for His Kingdom. Be encouraged by Paul’s story and his example for us. Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at [email protected], and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview “This episode focuses on the sufficiency of God’s grace for us.  The apostle Paul blends the divine and the human as he tells his story.” John Warren

Subscribe ▼ Show Notes Is there a reliable version of the Bible? Are there some translations and paraphrases of the Bible that are inaccurate and even heretical? Biblical Accuracy In this episode, I discuss the translation process and theory, and the authenticity and reliability of Scripture. The Bible is foundational to the Christian faith; thus, it is important that we understand it and rely on it as our source of truth. Please share this important information with your friends and your Pastor. And please don’t hesitate to contact me with questions on this important topic. Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at [email protected], and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview “The Bible is foundational to the Christian faith; thus, it is important that we understand it and rely on it as our source of truth.” John Warren

Subscribe ▼ Show Notes How do we see God? Do we actually trust God? What we think of when we think about God’s nature or essence is important, as it informs our objective view of God. Our conversation today is about how we are to live in Christian community. How do we relate to the way God works in the world today? The Story of the Prodigal The story of the prodigal is helpful as it informs us about who God is and who man is. We sometimes ignore the older brother, but he provides a powerful look into our depravity as it surfaces in our relationships. The way we feel and express empathy is telling. The older brother in the parable of the prodigal lacked empathy. Jesus gives us informative examples and models the empathy we are to emulate. Our lack of empathy is emblematic of a problem in our hearts. Empathy Our view of the world, our view of ourselves, and our view of God inform our sense of empathy. We deny God’s work in other people’s lives when we don’t value them. The older brother denies God’s work in the prodigal. We often conclude that the other person doesn’t deserve God’s grace, but we see ourselves as entitled to His grace. As we become informed by Scripture, we understand that God works in the lives of His people. We come to the end of ourselves and recognize God’s amazing grace in our lives when we see the world clearly according to Scripture. Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at [email protected], and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview “How we view God’s nature or essence is important, as it informs our objective view of God.  Today, we will discuss how we are to live in Christian community, and how do we relate to the way God works in the world.” John Warren

Subscribe ▼ Show Notes Why does the Apostle Paul caution us that there is no other Gospel than the one he preaches and teaches? Why does a false Gospel invade the church? What is it about humans that makes us vulnerable to false teaching? Why do otherwise intelligent, strong critical thinkers embrace false teaching that isn’t consistent with Scripture? We discuss these issues in this crucial episode of Relentless Truth. No Other Gospel I often wonder where teachers who embrace a distorted gospel go wrong – what is it about their motivation or thought process that gets them off track? Counterfeiting truth seems to be a thriving business in America today. How do we guard ourselves, protect ourselves, from this heresy? How do we avoid the failures experienced in the first-century Church? Biblical Truth My hope is that this episode prompts us to contemplate these questions and strengthen our hold on biblical truth. The Gospel is central to Christian life, and it is important that we understand, cling to, and see our lives from the perspective of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at [email protected], and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview “I often wonder where teachers who embrace a distorted gospel go wrong-what is it about their motivation or thought process that gets them off track?” John Warren

Subscribe ▼ Show Notes Why do we embrace ideas that are bad – that are not going to end well? This week we explore the world of bad ideas. Mark 11:15 begins a section of Scripture familiar to most Christians. Jesus purges the Temple. Animals are sold, money changes hands, and the demand for this activity is the animal sacrifice system. In a sense, the Temple was profaned by those who practiced a false religion. Greed and bad ideas that begin with greed cause the leveraging of religion for personal gain. The World of Bad Ideas Bad ideas often begin with an impulse that is followed – an impulse that is not based on truth or righteousness. These bad ideas usually seem rational when we don’t pause or when we don’t see the world from the perspective of Scripture. In fact, most bad ideas begin with a sinful desire that comes from a weak or even heretical view of God and His power. The “Inoculation Theory” Most of our challenges with respect to bad ideas come from not knowing the Bible. The study of Scripture equips us to function well in the world of bad ideas. This episode includes a discussion of the “inoculation theory” of ideas. Enjoy these powerful truths, and please send an email with your thoughts about these important truths this week. Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at [email protected], and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview “Bad ideas often begin with an impulse that is followed-an impulse that is not based on truth or righteousness.” John Warren

Subscribe ▼ Show Notes Today’s episode is about concepts that aren’t often considered together. Faith, fear, and intuitive human thinking are our topics today. Is being “woke” intuitive to us? What does it mean to be “woke?” Should we guard against this or embrace it? How Do We Deal with Fear? How do we deal with our fear? What do you and I do when we are afraid? Do we trust God immediately, or are we more likely to panic or fret? Do we become self-reliant under the stress of life events? Fear is a normal human response, and yet it can be crippling if not accompanied by the firm foundation of faith. As our faith grows, our fear reduces. Faith overcomes fear. In this week’s helpful episode, we explore these truths by looking at several New Testament events. Intuitive human thinking has led to woke ideology. The false teachers referenced in Paul’s writing help us understand the challenges with intuitive human thinking. It is counterintuitive to understand the peace we gain as our faith grows. What Does it Mean to be “Woke”? Justification by faith is lost in our dialogue today. Our intuitive discourse obscures the Gospel. We have redefined what it means to be loving. This episode provides important clarity based on Scripture. Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at [email protected], and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview “Today’s episode is about concepts that aren’t often considered together.  Faith, fear, and intuitive human thinking are our topics today.” John Warren 

Subscribe ▼ Show Notes Understanding the way forgiveness really works is a key to life that we often fail to focus on. In today’s episode, I explain the importance of forgiveness, the process of forgiveness, the need for forgiveness, and the biblical mandate for forgiveness. Matthew 18 I discuss the principles of Matthew 18 and the tools for relationship reconciliation in this important episode. The world would be a changed place if we all embraced the principle of forgiveness well. Initiating forgiveness, real forgiveness that is genuine, is a life-changing process. Learning to do this well is liberating in ways that aren’t intuitive. Employing Forgiveness Forgiveness is a healthy way to let go of ourselves and focus on others. This is a biblical truth that should be clear from a study of Jesus Christ’s life on earth. Walking by faith involves generously employing forgiveness. May God richly bless these truths from His Word. Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at [email protected], and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldvie “Understanding the way forgiveness really works is a key to life that we often fail to focus on.” John Warren

Subscribe ▼ Show Notes Iran seems to have caused myriad issues that impact the security interests of the U.S. and our allies. Iran is an Islamic state. In this episode, I discuss their particular type of Islam and its nuances. Islam’s History After an overview of Islam’s history, I explain Sunni and Shia Islam. Iran is a theocracy, which means that the religious leader runs the government. Allah and the government are united in Iran. Iranian Culture Iranians are generally smart, industrious people who value Western culture. I explain some of the confusion over Israel and our appropriate view of this country. There is much confusion about Israel in Scripture and much strife between Israel and Iran (and other Islamic governments). In this episode, we look at these critical matters. It is important for us to be biblically informed on Islam, Israel, and eschatology and to be able to relate this information to recent events. Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at [email protected], and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview “It is important for us to be biblically informed on Islam, Israel and eschatology and to be able to relate this information to recent events.” John Warren

Subscribe ▼ Show Notes I am sometimes frustrated by outcomes that seem natural but are less than optimal. When good people, and by that I mean Christ followers, do battle over issues, it hurts me deeply to see an outcome that could have been avoided. Recovery and Reconciliation Sometimes, we treat these matters like recovery and reconciliation are impossible. That isn’t consistent with Scripture’s teaching, but it is sadly a function of human nature. The Central Florida Presbytery In this episode, I am asking the PCA, particularly the Central Florida Presbytery, to restore and reconcile Dr. Burk Parsons to his ministry as Senior Pastor at Saint Andrew’s Chapel. Too often, I believe, we treat reconciliation as if it is impossible because an aggrieved party just won’t have it. Wise and discerning voices should seek a path that is restorative for all, and I believe that is possible in this case. Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at [email protected], and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview “When good people, and by that I mean Christ followers, do battle over issues, it hurts me deeply to see an outcome that could have been avoided.” John Warren

Subscribe ▼ Show Notes I am often amazed at how life provides valuable lessons. A couple of weeks ago, a “Pastor” told me that he doesn’t believe in apologetics. He went on to explain that apologists are too negative. He went on to explain that he doesn’t believe the Bible is inerrant or inspired. In fact, he said that if a person understands historical context, they know they must be gay affirming. He was harsh and cruel in style. My interaction with this man gave me pause and made me think about the importance of being grounded in biblical truth. Biblical Truth I have never been a particularly solid sleeper. But there was a period about twenty years ago wherein I would awaken at about 4 AM every day. I went into my home office and read my Bible, books written by theologians, and websites with devotionals. I even engaged with Christian counselling sites that provided some helpful truths. This went on for several years. We became increasingly involved in our church, and I was introduced to various ministry leaders. Even through our church, I learned so much theology during this period. This background is the reason I advocate strongly for knowing and defending the truth. Several men have poured into me through their ministries. I gained a solid foundation and became able to deal with nuanced issues. I was better able to deal with life decisions and all that we encounter in this sinful world. I went deeper and deeper into Scripture and gained a better understanding of various truths that had troubled me throughout my life. Self-Reliance So, I can relate to the challenges Paul is dealing with in Galatia. His preparation and ability to see beneath the surface is a beautiful testimony of God’s faithfulness and Paul’s hard work. Paul understood the reasons behind the false teaching in Galatia that attempted to add to the Gospel. A theme throughout Paul’s epistles is man adding self-reliance to the Gospel. This episode addresses the earth-shattering, counterintuitive Gospel. We must know and hold tightly to biblical truth. Paul provides a wonderful example of this sort of spiritual troubleshooting throughout much of his writing. God’s faithfulness and our obedience work together in beautiful harmony as we know and defend truth. Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at [email protected], and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview “This episode addresses the earth-shattering, counter intuitive Gospel.” John Warren

Subscribe ▼ Show Notes My guest today is Dr. Sarah Gothard. In this crucial episode, Sarah discusses our culture today, the challenges young people face, the weight of sin, education, and worship. Dr. Gothard offers well-reasoned observations and shares insights for students and parents alike. Sarah provides a nurturing, wise, thoughtful approach to issues we often struggle with as parents and students. Dr. Sarah Gothard Dr. Sarah Gothard received her Ph.D. in Computer Science from Clemson University and has been Computer Science professor for 20 years at 5 different universities. She is currently an associate professor at Bob Jones University and teaches courses for all university levels, from introductory technology courses to senior software engineering. She is currently experimenting with the impact of test-driven software design on student success. “Mobile Hymns” In addition to her academic work, Sarah has created “Mobile Hymns,” a sheet music phone app that is used by thousands of Christians around the world, especially in Africa. She is also a wife and a mother to 3 young daughters. She loves discussions about the Bible and big ideas and is passionate about helping people grow in their understanding and love for God.  Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at [email protected], and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview “Dr. Gothard discusses our culture today, the challenges young people face, the weight of sin, education, and worship.” John Warren

Subscribe ▼ Show Notes Today’s episode is about a difficult topic. I have often struggled to engage well in groups. I have enjoyed working with brilliant colleagues over the years. Collaboration and fostering collective inputs is a strength of mine. Borrowing from the strengths of a diverse team can result in incredible synergy. Working in Groups But working in groups can be challenging. It can be challenging to stand for truth in the midst of conflict. We aren’t born with conflict resolution skills. They have to be developed and fine-tuned. What do we do when conflict arises? What is our approach when a group goes off course? Groups don’t deal with conflict well in my experience.  There is peer pressure, lowest common denominator thinking, and a tendency to go with the flow. These are not accretive to discerning, wise decision-making. Standing for Truth Matthew 18 and other sections of Scripture provide instructions for us as we address some of the tensions caused by sin in the church. I believe we often treat this passage and these situations too casually. We allow manmade rules and procedures to have precedence over these important biblical truths. Walking toward tension in an effort to be obedient to Scripture can be uncomfortable. But this is an important principle for us to settle in our minds well in advance of actually having to address these struggles. People pleasing and trouble avoidance can be dilutive to this biblically designed process. I offer some helpful tools for doing this in this weighty, practical episode of Relentless Truth. Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at [email protected], and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview “Working in a group can make standing for truth in the midst of conflict difficult.  Today, we will discuss some Scripture that will provide instruction on conflict resolution.” John Warren

Subscribe ▼ Show Notes In today’s episode we discuss a topic that has morphed in recent years. Church attendance is in decline for a number of reasons in the U.S. among professing Christians. Reasons The messiness of the church is off-putting to many. Pastors have given us reasons to lose respect through scandals that include sexual sin. Some leaders have even fallen away from the faith. Others are extra-biblical in their governance. Answers So, what are we to do? Is there a reason to physically attend church? Are we commanded to be members of a church? Why are churches so weak? Are churches to be run in a democratic manner? What is the purpose of the local church? We answer these questions and more in this very practical episode of Relentless Truth. We benefit from fellowship in Christian community, and the local church provides a beautiful setting for the development of this community. The local church isn’t perfect, but a biblically consistent local church can provide a beautiful hub for our worship and growth in Christ. Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at [email protected], and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview “Church attendance is in decline for a number of reasons in the U.S. among professing Christians.  So, what are we to do?” John Warren

Subscribe ▼ Show Notes Our episode today focuses on biblical truth that is important for our lives. We sometimes assume that truth and mercy need to be balanced. It’s almost as if we think we can only have a certain amount of each and that they must be balanced. We sometimes think similar thoughts about faith and reason. The Assumptions The challenge with the philosophy of this world we live in is that it often doesn’t define the parameters correctly. When the assumptions are incorrect, then our thinking, our doctrine becomes flawed. The False Narratives False narratives that seem to push us toward choosing from two mutually exclusive variables are damning to our Christian walk. We explore these and related thoughts in this important and informative episode. Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at [email protected], and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview “We sometimes assume that truth and mercy need to be balanced.  The challenge with the philosophy of this world we live in is that it often doesn’t define the parameters correctly.” John Warren

Subscribe ▼ Show Notes Today we discuss humor in the life of a Christian. What role does humor play in our lives? What is appropriate humor for us as Christians. How do we develop biblically informed senses of humor? Christian Comedy I talk about Christian comedy and Tim Hawkins in this episode. I do so from a biblically informed Christian worldview. Tim is funny. He is popular. But he is irreverent. The Gospel is beautiful and it is central to all of life. Avoiding irreverent babble is commanded in Scripture. I discuss these issues and more in this episode. Valuable Instruction This life can be a struggle. We have valuable instructions for guiding us through this struggle in Scripture. Our focus is to be on certain truths. Guarding our hearts, protecting our focus, and developing our attention spans are challenging concepts that are important for us in the culture we live in. Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at [email protected], and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview “The Gospel is beautiful and it is central to all of life.  Avoiding irreverent babble is commanded in Scripture.  How do we develop biblically informed senses of humor?” John Warren

Subscribe ▼ Show Notes This episode is about Christian relationships. Much has been said and written about relationships among Christians. Christian community is important, but how do we get it right? How do we practice the relationship imperatives in Scripture. Agape defined Many of us just aren’t good at making small talk. So how do we engage in relationships among Christians? In this episode I discuss our need to make our focus all about the other person. Withholding love is easy to do. Withholding forgiveness makes us worse than many non-Christians. Scripture informs us clearly on what “agape” really is. It is truly shameful that we don’t focus on loving each other well in Christian community. In particular, loving people who aren’t like us can be challenging. Forgiveness and Restoration Forgiveness and restoration are among the most difficult of the aspects of living in Christian relationship. We explore these and other important truths in this important episode. Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at [email protected], and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview “This episode is about Christian relationships.  Christian community is important, but how do we get it right?  How do we practice the relationship imperatives in Scripture.” John Warren

Subscribe ▼ Show Notes This episode of Relentless Truth is unlike others. I explain some exciting refocusing that I’m doing in my work. I am leaving my teaching and board roles at Circle Christian School, and this allows me to further develop the ministry of Relentless Truth and CFS Financial. Lasting Relationships I address Circle Christian School families, in particular, in this episode. The sweetness of these relationships will continue beyond my transition. I have truly been blessed by the entirety of this experience. God has been faithful through the lives of His people at Circle Christian School. So many parents and students have been a rich blessing over these many years. I could not have asked for more support from the families at Circle over these many years. The culture at Circle is driven by parents, and those families follow Christ by applying their theology in relationships so well. They have been a blessing and an example of the love of Christ consistently over many years. Transitions God has been faithful. His steadfast love has endured. He alone has blessed in the midst of challenges. I am truly grateful and want to acknowledge His hand in my life and in the lives of others over these years. I share my observations and the lessons I have learned in this episode of Relentless Truth. The experiential truths here will be a blessing to the broader RT audience! Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at [email protected], and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview “I share my observations and the lessons I have learned in this episode.” John Warren

Subscribe ▼ Show Notes We discuss our great Country and the first four months of the Trump administration’s second term in this episode of Relentless Truth. The Trump administration seems to be more adept at governing during this second term, but they still have their challenges. Tariffs We discuss Trump’s tariff “strategy” or lack thereof, and we talk about his negotiating style. Our relationships with nations that have historically been close are now strained. In this episode, we explain some of the nuance and the risks of the Trump negotiating methodology. The Economy We also provide an update on the economy and the impact the Trump administration appears to be having early in their second term. The two risks of this administration’s style seem to relate to making impulsive decisions and failing to consider the finer points of some of the issues. God is faithful. He is on the throne. We can rest in Him. We close this episode with a discussion on the significance of love. Love is imperative as we engage with the world in which we live. Please enjoy these helpful perspectives in today’s episode of Relentless Truth. Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at [email protected], and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview “The Trump administration seems to be more adept at governing during this second term, but they still have their challenges.” John Warren