PODCAST · religion
the Proclaim & Defend Podcast
by the Proclaim & Defend Podcast
The Proclaim & Defend podcast is the podcast of the Foundations Baptist Fellowship International. We established this podcast to give a voice to our publication, FrontLine Magazine. We hope you enjoy the additional content we provide here. You can subscribe to our magazine via Substack or go to http://fbfi.org/subscribe/ to subscribe to the magazine. proclaimdefend.substack.com
Episodes
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Christianity Today’s Sin Against Elizabeth Elliot
On October 16, 2026, Christianity Today published an article on its site entitled What We Know—and Cannot Know—About Elisabeth Elliot’s Sexuality, by Lucy Austen. This article publicly questions whether Elizabeth Elliot was bisexual. Most often I completely ignore what Christianity Today says…
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Interview 123: What’s Included in Pro-Life?
We continue to discuss our September/October edition of FrontLine, on the topic “Getting Ready to Vote.” Today’s guest is Brett Williams. Brett is the provost of Central Baptist Theological Seminary. He has extensive experience and involvement with the pro-life movement. His article is called,...
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The Biblical Answer to the Worldwide Marriage Crisis
The National Catholic Register ran an article this week entitled The Marriage Crisis is No Longer Just a Western Problem. The article articulates the trends worldwide away from traditional (and biblical) marriage. This quote seems to sum it up. Julie Hanlon Rubio, a Santa Clara University...
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Fundamentalists in Fellowship
I’m basking in the “afterglow” of our Annual National Meeting held last week at Faith Baptist Church in Taylors, SC. The FBFI got its start in 1920 as a pre-convention meeting as a subset of the old National Baptist Convention. ((See here to find the last message of that meeting along with an…
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Interview 122: Can We Vote for the Lesser Evil?
We continue to discuss our September/October edition of FrontLine, on the topic “Getting Ready to Vote.” Today’s guest is Michael Riley, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Wakefield, Michigan. He is a regular in FrontLine and on our podcast. His article this time is called, “Can We Vote for the...
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Fighting Depression and Discouragement in the Ministry
This seems like such a 21st century topic. It sounds like I am joining the modern legions who are preoccupied with and find comfort in discussions about their mental health. But the springboard for this discussion comes from a text written 150 years ago. It was a recognized problem them, and it...
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Interview 121: Welfare, Collectivism, and the Christian Vote
We are discussing the September/October edition of FrontLine called, “Getting Ready to Vote.” Of course, we are writing in light of the upcoming elections in the USA and, as it happens, we are having elections here in the province where I live as well, so our topics seem very timely to me.…
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The Problem is Muslim Nationalism, Not Christian Nationalism
The Problem is Muslim Nationalism, Not Christian Nationalism Christians are debating Christian nationalism constantly these days, and the political and theological left are fueling that debate. The contours of the argument are difficult to understand because the definitions of Christian…
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Interview 120: Immigration: A Biblical Perspective
Today we begin our look at the September/October edition of FrontLine which is on the topic, “Getting Ready to Vote.” We are thinking about current political issues and how we as Christians should approach them as we decide which candidates to support. The issues aren’t always clear cut, but we...
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Seven Reasons Why Churches Eventually Fail
All ministries seem to have a shelf life. It doesn’t have to be that way, but it most often is. The failure that comes at the end does not discount the great accomplishments for Christ over a long history of faithful ministry. However, our desire is to see Christian ministries—especially churches...
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Considering 1 Corinthians 6 Before Posting Online
1 Corinthians 6:1-7 says the following. Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do…
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Interview 119: Shaping the Church from the Ground Up
We are finishing up our conversations on our July/August edition of FrontLine, which was on the subject of building the church: “Built to Grow: Understanding and Advancing the Mission of the Church.” Our guest today is pastor Will Cover, from Houston, TX. His article was called “Shaping the…
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Plagiarism and the Preacher
This seems to be a hot topic these days. After all, it is easy to read someone else’s message on Sunday morning. And AI can write sermons. Also, AI tools now can examine every word every preacher speaks for unattributed quotes or content. It’s daunting to think that members of congregation can be...
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What Is Jesus Like, Right Now?
If you are a pastor, please read all of this. If you are not, please forward it to your pastor. He needs to hear it. And of course, read it yourself. Discouraging times need an encouraging message. The end of the first century was coming to a close. John, the last remaining Apostle was in exile…
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What’s the Big Deal about the Chaplains?
A pastor outside the FBFI once asked me that question. He could not understand why the chaplaincy is such an important part of the FBFI. For many who are hunkered down in the day-to-day battle of local church ministry, the military chaplaincy seems light years away. Community chaplains sometimes...
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Interview 118: Four Features of Church Growth in Acts
Today I’m joined by my friend, Dave Huffstutler. Dave wrote an article for the July/August edition of FrontLine which was about growing churches: “Built to Grow: Understanding and Advancing the Mission of the Church.” Dave’s article is about “Four Features of Church Growth in Acts.” Dave isn’t...
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Is it Mental Health or a Spiritual Problem?
“Sin is at the root of most psychological problems.” -- Gilbert Fremont As I rode to a Diamondbacks baseball game with some men from our church last night, we began discussed about all the billboards advertising accident lawyers. You know the bunch. They are nationwide. Sweet James out of...
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Interview 117: Edwards and Brainerd on Church Growth
Today I’m joined by my friend, Ryan Martin. He’s writing in the July/August edition of FrontLine which was about growing churches: “Built to Grow: Understanding and Advancing the Mission of the Church.” Ryan’s article is on Jonathan Edwards and David Brainerd and what we can learn from their...
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Covetousness: The Different Commandment
In an article published this week in Torah.com, Jack Sasson asked an interesting question. “Why is ‘Do not covet’ in the decalogue?’” The Decalogue forbids patently reprehensible acts, but the prohibition against coveting is a potentially victimless offense and is the only one that exclusively...
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End of Life Decisions and the Christian Family
My father entered heaven in January of 2021. For our family, it was a traumatic experience. The Covid-19 virus spread through our church rapidly in December of 2020. We had to cancel services because there were no pastoral staff members healthy enough to lead. My father contracted the disease in...
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Interview 116: Built to Grow: Understanding and Advancing the Mission of the Church
With this podcast we introduce the July/August edition of FrontLine magazine. The associate editor for this edition was Mark Herbster. The theme was Built to Grow: Understanding and Advancing the Mission of the Church — the point of this podcast is to explain what Mark and the authors were after…
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Thank God for Liberty
Romans 13:7 The powers that be are ordained of God. Every person in this room who names Christ experientially is part of two Kingdoms. We are all part of the Kingdom of God and we will enjoy together the blessings of that future Kingdom when Jesus Christ reigns. But we also have been placed by…
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The Jewish Curse
The Jewish Curse “His blood be upon us and upon our children.” In the past week, the ousted President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, blamed his election loss on cheating and interference by Israel. At the same time, he had repeatedly called his opponents fascists. And no, it doesn’t make sense. It...
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Interview 115: Multiplication Through Division
Today we are going to begin discussing the July/August edition of FrontLine, it is coming out in a few days, but I feel the need to keep the podcast going so we will get started a little ahead of publication. The early summer is challenging for the podcast as summer travel schedules get in the…
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The Lies of Theological Liberalism in American Politics
Beware the lies of theological liberalism — or, as they like to call themselves today, progressive Christianity. While most theologically conservative pastors would prefer to focus on teaching the Word faithfully and avoid directly addressing political controversies from the pulpit, there are…
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Interview 114: “No Kings”? A Christian Perspective on Government “Rulers”
Today I’m joined by my friend, pastor Mike Ascher, who serves as pastor of Good News Baptist Church in Chesapeake, Virginia. Mike is also an FBFI-endorsed police chaplain. His article appeared in the May/June edition of FrontLine and was called: “No Kings”? A Christian Perspective on Government...
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Unchristian Thinking about Christian Weddings
If you are truly Christians—both bride and groom—then you should plan a Christian wedding. And both bride and groom should be Christians, but that is another article. The idea that wedding magazines, Pinterest, and bridal websites set the standards and practices for Christian weddings is an...
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Interview 113: Is Missions Work ‘Kingdom Building’?
We are picking up again with an interview from the May/June edition of FrontLIne, which is on the theme, “The Future of Missions.” Our conversation today is with Keith Kobelia, one of the professors at Faith Baptist Bible College and Seminary in Ankeny, Iowa. His article is called “Is Missions…
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You Could Ruin Your Life with Sin Today—Are You Being Careful?
“In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem. One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From…
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The Dangers of Doing Business with “Christians”
“Pastor, pastor—I just met my surgeon, and guess what? He is a CHRISTIAN!” I must bite my tongue in the moment, but I’m thinking to myself,“But is he a good surgeon?” I have heard similar comments about mechanics, real estate agents, dentists, financial managers, and more. Don’t get me wrong…
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Interview 112: Missions: Are We Doing It Right?
With this episode we begin a look at the May/June edition of FrontLIne, which is on the theme, “The Future of Missions.” We are getting a few interviews together but will be posting on two week intervals at the moment. Some of our writers are traveling and our conversations with them will be...
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Who Can Believe Anything Anymore?
The idea is nothing new. The French mathematician and philosopher Rene DeCartes questioned everything because he surmised that insane people cannot distinguish between reality and fantasy—and maybe we are all insane. The only thing he knew for sure was that he had the ability to doubt. That meant...
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Problems with the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 24:14-29
Growing up in church, I heard this parable preached often. There were good applications made from the text such as the fact that there will be accountability one day for what God has entrusted to us, and that God only expects us to work with what He has given us. All of these are applications…
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Interview 111: Israel, Palestinian Arabs, and Christian Attitudes
I had planned to publish this episode last week but we received the conversation between Mike Riley and Ryan Martin promoting the upcoming Conference on the Church for God’s Glory. We wanted to get that out to promote the conference. If you missed it, check back to last week and listen. If you…
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Is the Gathering of the Elect from the Four Winds (Matthew 24:31) Describing the Rapture of the Church?
Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect...
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The Conference on the Church for God’s Glory — Register Now
Our podcast today is another special edition. This time I invited Mike Riley and Ryan Martin to come on to promote the upcoming Conference on the Church for God’s Glory to be held in Rockford, Illinois, on Monday, May 18, 2026 from 10 AM to 7 PM. This year’s theme is Dispensationalism, Israel…
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Three Ways to Build Your Child’s Biblical World View
How Shall We Then Live? Francis Schaeffer addressed transformed thinking in his classic film series and book. He traced changing patterns of thought through time and the impact Christianity has had on Western culture. It’s clear that God expects His people to think differently than the unredeemed...
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[Podcast] Interview 110: Five Principles to Exercise Your Mind as You Read Your Bible
Our podcast today is another special presentation, which is to say it is not connected to a FrontLine article. Our guest is a regular contributor, Gordon Dickson. In recent weeks, Gordon has written several articles on a concept he calls the “G.R.A.C.E. framework.” The acronym first represented…
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Why Believer’s Baptism is So Important
I saw the following story engraved on a plaque on a wall at a Christian University I toured last week. It reminded me that treating believer’s baptism as an optional step for a new Christian is a grave mistake. This is the summary of the story. Visitors have come to the Arizona desert in the...
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The Resurrection of Jesus Should Not Have Been a Surprise
The accounts of Resurrection Sunday morning in scripture seem to indicate that the resurrection of Jesus bodily from the tomb was a surprise—to the women who went there, to the disciples, and to Jerusalem. Mary supposed Jesus was the gardener and asked him where they had taken Jesus’ body. It’s...
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Interview 109: The Ultimate Failure of the Moral Majority
Today we continue discussing our latest edition of FrontLine, the March/April issue focused on the topic, “Is Conservativism Enough?” This week, we are talking to Bud Steadman, who is now a “Missions Mentor” with Baptist World Mission, previously serving as the Executive Director of the Mission…
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What Kind of Pharisee are You?
Pharisees were the religious megastars of Jesus’ day. They were generally viewed by the populace as deeply committed, genuinely spiritual, and on fire for the Law of Moses. To us, the word Pharisee is synonymous with hypocrite or religious legalist, but much of that is the result of what the...
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Interview 108: Christ or Conservatism?
Today we introduce our latest edition of FrontLine, the March/April issue focused on the topic, “Is Conservativism Enough?” Last week, we posted an interview with one of the authors, David Saxon. This week, we are talking to the Associate Editor of this edition, Gordon Dickson. He also…
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God Doesn't Take Sides
“Is God for us or for them?” God is not a Republican. He is certainly not a Democrat. He is also not American. He is not Canadian, Russian, Ukrainian, British, French, Egyptian, Iraqi or Iranian. Shockingly, He is also not Israeli. Jesus was Jewish (and from the tribe of Judah) by blood, but that...
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Interview 107: Purpose or Result?
We begin this week to look at our latest edition of FrontLine, the March/April issue focused on the topic, “Is Conservativism Enough?” The topic we are addressing is Christian political philosophy. Should Christians be involved in politics, trying to effect political change, and if yes, how and…
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Did God Tell Abraham to Sin in Genesis 22?
I had some difficulty getting Co-pilot to generate a theme image for this post. It seems that Microsoft considers an image depicting child-sacrifice objectionable. Shocking. One of the intellectual dilemmas about the Genesis 22 story is the issue of human sacrifice and the command of God. On one...
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FBFI Statement on Christian Nationalism
This, Judge Phil Ginn wrote for Realclearreligion.com on the subject of Christians and culture. He was addressing an upcoming (March 8, 2026) feature on CNN entitled The Rise of Christian Nationalism. In the article, he includes CNN’s definition of Christian Nationalism as follows: CNN is...
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Interview 106: Giving a Boost to Your Bible Reading
Today we have something different for you. Normally I’m interviewing one of our authors from our FrontLine magazine. I am in the process of recording interviews for our next edition of the magazine, so we will return to that in due course. However, today I am talking to my friend Ben Hicks. He is...
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Worship without Understanding Isn’t Worship
Entertainment disguised as worship isn’t worship. It’s idolatry. Ignorant worship is not worship at all. The ultimate authority on worship is Jesus, and He explained Himself very clearly in John 4. Let’s consider it. Situation Jesus is in Samaria by choice. The Jews did not have dealings with the...
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Interview 105: Called in Community: The Local Church and the Shaping of Pastoral Ministry
We continue our interviews with authors from our January/February edition of FrontLine on the theme: “It Takes a Church to Grow a Pastor.” Today’s episode is a discussion with Nathan Mestler, president of International Baptist College and Seminary in Chandler, AZ. Nathan offers us the article,...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The Proclaim & Defend podcast is the podcast of the Foundations Baptist Fellowship International. We established this podcast to give a voice to our publication, FrontLine Magazine. We hope you enjoy the additional content we provide here. You can subscribe to our magazine via Substack or go to http://fbfi.org/subscribe/ to subscribe to the magazine.
proclaimdefend.substack.com
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The Proclaim & Defend podcast is the podcast of the Foundations Baptist Fellowship International. We established this podcast to give a voice to our publication, FrontLine Magazine. We hope you enjoy the additional content we provide here. You can subscribe to our magazine via Substack or go to...
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