What does an ancient story about a father, two sons, and a promise have to do with the Israel-Hamas war?
In this episode, Know Why Podcast interrupts its series on Healthy Tech Habits to discuss a current and important world event—the war between Israel and Hamas that began with Hamas’s terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Specifically, this episode addresses the history of conflicts surrounding Israel, which stretch back thousands of years.
“This conflict is ancient. It’s 6,000 years old. And unfortunately and regrettably, it’s still going on.”
Dr. Gary frazier
Dr. Gary Frazier joins Know Why sharing his insight as a frequently-sought after speaker and author on Israel, current events, and biblical prophecy. The founder of Discovery Missions International, Dr. Frazier has visited Israel 187 times throughout his life.
While 82 percent of Americans describe themselves as religious, spiritual or both, fewer and fewer Americans are aware of everything the Bible contains. Listen to hear how ancient stories from Scripture illuminate the events unfolding around the world today.
Additional Resources
Discovery Missions — Learn more about Dr. Frazier’s work, including the books he has authored.
Are you in control of your screen time… or is it the other way around? Listen as Doug Smith helps kick off Know Why’s series Know about Healthy Tech Habits. In the episode Liberty and Doug discuss his recent book, [Un]Intentional: How Screens Secretly Shape Your Desires and How You Can Break Free, written from his perspective as a former software developer. Doug offers insights that are both sobering and hopeful—you don’t want to miss them!
Identity
Identity is a big question many people wrestle with. Who am I? What do I like? What do I want? What do I believe? We’d like to think that we are fairly autonomous in determining our identity. But Doug argues that isn’t the case.
“We end up thinking we’re constructing a unique identity when we’re just constructing an identity that’s been formed for us and tends to lead us to a bad end,” he told Know Why.
“They’re exploiting weaknesses in our behavioral psychology and neurology to teach us to make decisions that are most profitable for them, but often harmful to us and certainly against our God-given purpose.”
Doug Smith
What’s forming our identity for us? Our screens—or more precisely, the companies, algorithms, and technology behind them.
Reclaiming Our Habits
There is hope for reclaiming our identity and decision-making willpower, but it involves developing new habits that aren’t centered on screen time. In his book, Doug points to the Bible as helpful in this journey.
“We are learning a lot in terms of the details about how the brain works,” he said. “But what we continue to find is that these truths are just confirming what we’ve already learned in ancient wisdom, especially in the Bible.”
In Part 2 of Know Why’s interview with Peyton Luke, also the final episode of our Thriving at Work series, Peyton talks about a public “fail” she experienced in college and what it taught her about life and career. Peyton also pinpoints the root of much of America’s workism and offers pointers for developing a healthier work-life balance. Listen to Part 1 here.
Ancient Wisdom for Working Today
At the end of the previous episode, Peyton mentioned the importance of one’s mental state in overcoming imposter syndrome—specifically in viewing pressure as an opportunity.
In this episode, Liberty and Peyton discuss passages from the Bible relevant to work life, including those that highlight the importance of positive thinking. Philippians 4:8 says, “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Peyton referenced the preceding verses, Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
“That was a verse that I would return to so much in those times,” Peyton said of difficult seasons in college, in addition to other favorite wisdom from the Bible that helped her through seasons of work:
“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)
What if I Fail?
There are times when life doesn’t go as planned. What happens when you don’t get the job you wanted? When a work project doesn’t go well, or when you make a mistake? Peyton shares about an experience of hers in college that many considered a fail, but resulted in life lessons and even better outcomes than she had anticipated. “Just because you fail doesn’t mean you stop,” Peyton said.
Overcoming Workism
Workism, previously covered on the Know Why Podcast, is a pervasive and growing issue in the United States that doesn’t lead to personal happiness or, ironically, even the most productive outcomes at work. Peyton theorizes that workism stems, in many cases, from a hardworking immigrant mentality of appreciating new opportunities, desiring to prove oneself, and striving to survive. Peyton shares the story of her own family’s immigrant heritage and how that still influences her work ethic today.
But you have to develop a healthy balance, she realized. If you neglect other aspects of life including relationships, community, and sleep itself, you’ll suffer.
Over 80% of people experience imposter syndrome. Has that ever been you? In this episode of the Know Why Podcast, Liberty’s longtime friend Peyton Luke, Media Specialist at First Liberty Institute, shares how she overcame imposter syndrome and learned to handle the hurt of being misunderstood in a professional position. Peyton and Liberty also discuss the importance of strong faith and solid friendships, specifically in helping one thrive at work. Are you ready to gain confidence in where you’ve been placed? Listen now, or keep reading.
Letting Go
Peyton is the Media Specialist at First Liberty Institute, as well as the producer and a host of First Liberty Live. Previously Peyton worked as a church media director, in the presidential office at Oral Roberts University, and interned with Fox News in New York City. She majored in Convergence Journalism at ORU where she also served as student body president her junior year, and is now working on her Master of Jurisprudence degree from A&M School of Law.
In short, Peyton understands the pressures of being thrown into high-visibility roles with lots of responsibility. In this episode (the first in a two-part interview), Peyton talks about the hurt of being misunderstood by others and how she learned to let go of worrying about other people’s perceptions while maintaining professional decorum.
“You cannot control what other people’s perception is of you, especially in a public position,” she told Know Why.
“If someone else was meant to be there, they would be there.”
Peyton Luke
These types of work stressors aren’t unique. Research continuously shows that younger generations, including younger millennial and Gen Z, are the most stressed out at work, are struggling with imposter syndrome, and feel pressure to perform perfectly.
For Peyton, the key to overcoming these kinds of pressures at a young age was staying grounded in her Christian faith. That included staying focused on her calling and surrounding herself with strong friends who would encourage her during difficult times.
You’re Not a Fraud
Eighty-two percent of people experience imposter syndrome, according to research. In the episode, Peyton defines imposter syndrome and gives some tips for overcoming it. One tip learning to see work pressure differently. “When you start to feel the pressure, take it as an opportunity,” she said.
Is burnout unavoidable? With workplace stress at an all-time high, it may seem that way. But according Dr. Eddy Brewer, Senior Pastor at Capitol Hill Assembly of God in Oklahoma City, the answer is no! His studies prove it is possible to prevent burnout and cultivate a healthy work-life balance. He shares the “how”—backed by extensive research and ancient wisdom—in this episode of the Know Why Podcast, the first in our series on Thriving at Work.
A Common Problem
New research from Future Forum found in 2023 that over 40 percent of workers (of 10,000 full-time, desk-based employees in six countries) reported being burned out. Those under 30 experienced burnout at even higher rates, and were the most at risk for burning out.
This aligns with Dr. Brewer’s findings. After writing his doctoral dissertation on burnout among clergy, Dr. Brewer discovered that “the majority of burnout among ministers happens within the first five years, and the majority of that happens within the first three years.”
It’s your responsibility to give attention to your spiritual condition.”
Dr. Eddy Brewer, Capitol hill Assembly of God
In short, work-place stress is hitting young adults hard. Dr. Brewer found other information in his research that may surprise listeners. Those most likely to experience burnout are unmarried singles. Among married people, those without children are more likely to experience burnout than parents. In general, women experience more burnout than men.
Think you might be experiencing symptoms of burnout? It’s typically marked by three signs, Dr. Brewer explained: emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and a lack of personal accomplishment.
Several factors can lead to burnout, Dr. Brewer said, including “unrealistic expectations” both of your job and your own performance. Lacking identity outside of work is also a big factor. “Try to separate your identity from your work,” he said. “Get your identity from who God made you to be, not just your career.”
Preventative Measures
How can you avoid burnout? Dr. Brewer suggests five steps:
Take care of your spiritual health.
Be thankful.
Rest.
Get a hobby.
Maintain meaningful and healthy relationships.
He also recommends reading the biblical book of Psalms, even if you’re not a frequent reader of Scripture. Many of the Psalms were written by David, a figure in the Bible who experienced burnout and frequent stress. The range of emotions expressed in the Psalms will resonate with anyone experiencing burnout. David wasn’t the only biblical figure to experience burnout. On the podcast, Dr. Brewer shares stories of others in the Bible who are burned out and learn to cope through things like delegation of leadership, naps, food, and more.
More Resources
Dr. Eddy Brewer has offered to email his dissertation on burnout to anyone who requests a copy. Readers will find a detailed list of resources on the topic in the dissertation. To request a copy, email [email protected].
From the time we are little kids we’re asked what we want to be when we grow up. We’re encouraged to try all the extracurriculars and pick our favorite, or otherwise identify our “passion.” “Find out what you’re passionate about and find a way to make money doing it,” we’re told. In short, in the modern age, work has gone from a job, to a career, to a calling.
But what if that isn’t the best way to think about work?
“Maybe the logic here isn’t economic at all. It’s emotional—even spiritual. The best-educated and highest-earning Americans, who can have whatever they want, have chosen the office for the same reason that devout Christians attend church on Sundays: It’s where they feel most themselves.”
But it’s not just rich men anymore. Workism is spreading. Thompson writes, “In a 2018 paper on elite universities, researchers found that for women, the most important benefit of attending a selective college isn’t higher wages, but more hours at the office.”
He continues:
“What’s more, in a recent Pew Research report on the epidemic of youth anxiety, 95 percent of teens said ‘having a job or career they enjoy’ would be ‘extremely or very important’ to them as an adult. This ranked higher than any other priority, including ‘helping other people who are in need’ (81 percent) or getting married (47 percent). Finding meaning at work beats family and kindness as the top ambition of today’s young people.”
Millennials and Gen Z want to make a difference through their work. Why is that a problem? It’s not. To quote Thompson again:
“The problem with this gospel—Your dream job is out there, so never stop hustling—is that it’s a blueprint for spiritual and physical exhaustion. Long hours don’t make anybody more productive or creative; they make people stressed, tired and bitter.”
Finding Happiness at Work
To really find the key to happiness at work, we must rethink our preconceived notions about our interest and “passions.”
Combatting Fixed Theory
The first thing to consider is fixed theory—the idea that our passions are ingrained in us from the beginning of our lives and can’t be changed. But this has been disproved by neuroscience…and common sense.
“If passions are things found fully formed, and your job is to look around the world for your passion—it’s a crazy thought,” Greg Walton, a Stanford professor and co-author of a study on interests and passions, told The Atlantic in 2018. “It doesn’t reflect the way I or my students experience school, where you go to a class and have a lecture or a conversation, and you think, That’s interesting. It’s through a process of investment and development that you develop an abiding passion in a field.”
So what’s the opposite of fixed theory? It’s the notion that interests can develop overtime…and in fact, this is something proven by neuroscience.
“To be happy at work, you don’t have to hold a fascinating job that represents the pinnacle of your educational achievement or the most prestigious use of your ‘potential,’ and you don’t have to make a lot of money. What matters is not so much the ‘what’ of a job, but more the ‘who’ and the ‘why’: Job satisfaction comes from people, values, and a sense of accomplishment.”
He goes on:
“For real satisfaction, you should pursue intrinsic goals—two in particular. … The first is earned success. … Earned success instead gives you a sense of accomplishment. … The second goal worth pursuing at work is service to others—the sense that your job is making the world a better place. … you can find service in almost any job.”
Takeaways
To put it one way, relationships (service to others) are at the heart of what makes people happy atwork. This is true regardless of your religious beliefs. However, these fundamental truths about relationships and even work are found in the Bible.
For instance, the most important biblical commands are not about changing the world, being successful, being smart, being morally perfect, or making more money, but simply this: Love God above all else, and love others as yourself.
The Bible also tells workers that whatever they are doing, to work for the Lord and not for man, giving immediate and intrinsic value to their work no matter what it is.
This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t hope for a dream job, or pursue jobs that interest you. But don’t be discouraged if you end up working a different job than you imagined, whether for a short season or a long time. You can still find happiness at work.
Ben Bennett is the Director of the Resolution Movement, a speaker, and the co-author of Free to Thrive: How Your Hurt, Struggles, and Deepest Longings Can Lead to a Fulfilling Life. In this episode of the Know Why Podcast, Ben talks with Liberty about his personal journey from struggling to thriving—and how both brain science and biblical truth offered breakthroughs.
Millennials and Gen Z: Hurting Like Never Before
In 2019, 70% of teens said anxiety and depression are major problems amongst their peers according to Pew Research Center.
In the last five years, some research has shown that young adults are 63 times more lonely than those over 75 years old.
Only 4% of Gen Z hold to a biblical worldview, and is historically the least religious generation in American history.
Suicide is a leading leading cause of death among young people.
Ben also noted that few pastors report feeling very well equipped to help people with their mental and emotional struggles. As someone raised in the Christian church, Ben felt this personally. As he began dealing with multiple mental health issues and addictions, he felt alone and thought he would struggle forever.
“I had this cocktail of compulsions trying to survive, trying to deal with life.”
Ben Bennett Resolution Movement
“I had this cocktail of compulsions trying to survive, trying to deal with life,” Ben told Know Why Podcast. “I was trying everything I was hearing from Christians at the time but it just didn’t seem to work.”
Neuroplasticity: Renewing Your Mind
What Ben details in his book Free to Thrive with co-author Josh McDowell is that often, addictions, “unwanted behaviors,” and mental health struggles are humans’ attempted solutions to fill unmet longings. Everyone has ingrained longings such as acceptance. Not getting those longings fulfilled can trigger unwanted responses.
But those responses can be overcome by creating new pathways in your brain.
“Brain scans show that through repeated thoughts and actions, changes happen in the brain. The things you used to struggle with you no longer struggle with. New pathways are grown and developed.”
Ben Bennett Resolution Movement
“I just saw anxiety in my life go down by about 90 percent,” Ben said, “And what I realized was happening was, I was being transformed by the renewing of my mind (Romans 12:2), and neuroplasticity—brain scans show that through repeated thoughts and actions, changes happen in the brain. The things you used to struggle with you no longer struggle with. New pathways are grown and developed.”
Listen to the full episode to hear Ben explain neuroplasticity more and how it helped him overcome food addiction, pornography addiction, and anxiety when the well-meaning advice of others couldn’t. Ben also challenges listeners to think differently about Christianity, even if they have experienced legitimate hurts from Christians.
“It’s not that the bad’s not bad,” he told Know Why Podcast. “It’s that the good is too good to walk away from.”
Does science conflict with the Bible? In this episode of the Know Why Podcast, Jonathan Witt, Executive Editor of Discovery Institute Press, notes that many scientists throughout history and today profess faith in God, even arguing that scientific study points to his existence.
Famous Scientists Who Were Also Religious
“The Christian worldview actually gave birth to science,” Jonathan told Know Why Podcast. The Judeo-Christian worldview prevalent in renaissance Europe “fired the imaginations and it ordered the reasoning of those that gave birth to the scientific revolution.”
In the 16th Century, Anglican thinker Sir Francis Bacon developed the scientific method, which uses experimentation and inductive reasoning to learn more about the natural world.
In the 17th Century, Galileo, a Christian, advanced groundbreaking discoveries, including that the earth revolved around the sun, and argued that science does not contradict the Bible.
“There are scientists in our age who see nature, see even recent discoveries pointing to God intelligent design, pointing to evidence of a God,” Jonathan said, mentioning Nobel Prize winning physicists Arno Penzias, 90, and Charles Townes (1915-2015) as examples.
Francis Collins, former director of the National Institutes of Health and a leading scientist in DNA research, is a current example of a prominent scientist vocal about his Christian faith.
There are plenty more examples of men and women combining faith and science throughout history and today. Modern scientists aren’t as hostile to religion as people may think. Many scientists around the world acknowledge the possibility of a spiritual realm. And the majority of people working in science-related fields are religious.
Understanding the Bible
Still, sometimes scientific discoveries seem to go against something the Bible says. That’s why it’s important to understand what the Bible is.
The Bible claims to be the true, authoritative word of God, given to human authors to write down throughout multiple centuries and locations. It contains poetry, prophecies, parables, genealogical records and historical accounts. Combined, these writings tell the story of God and his love for humanity.
The Bible never claims to be a comprehensive textbook of science or history. So when reading books within the Bible, it’s important to consider their historical, literary, and cultural context in order to interpret them correctly — something theologians have been doing (and sometimes disagreeing about) for centuries. For instance, the Bible claims that God created the universe, but even Christians often disagree about how he created it.
Where Christians will land in this debate depends on their interpretation of Genesis. Genesis is the first book in the Bible, and its first two chapters focus on creation. According to the biblical creation account, God created the universe in six days, with man being his final creation.
Theistic evolutionists argue the story of creation is meant to be symbolic or allegorical — that the six days of creation actually represent ages of time during which evolution took place under God’s guidance. Others, called creationists, hold that the story of creation is literal. They believe the six days of creation were actually six 24-hour days, and that God created all living things by speaking them into existence.
As Jonathan acknowledged on Know Why, “Whereas God is infallible and his Word is infallible, our understanding of Scripture is not necessarily infallible.”
People of faith are free participate in either political party and advocate their convictions, but Christians often don’t speak out when their party is wrong. That’s what Justin Giboney, attorney, political strategist, and president of the AND Campaign argues in this episode of the Know Why podcast.
The United States has seen dozens of political parties and multiple party systems throughout history. Today, American politics are largely dominated by two major parties, the Democratic and Republican parties.
Unchanging Values
So which party does God belong to? None of them.
According to the Bible, God and his values are eternal and unchanging. By contrast, earthly politics change constantly. Even the platforms of today’s two major parties evolve year by year.
So, people of faith shouldn’t worry when a political party they don’t like prevails, thinking that it interferes with God’s will. The Bible teaches that no purpose of God’s can be thwarted.
‘Be About Righteousness and Justice’
“You got to read the prophets,” Justin told Know Why. “What we know about the government from Genesis on is that it’s God-ordained. However, you got to remember that God is absolutely sovereign, but he also does a lot of his work through us. And so you see Amos, and you see Isaiah, and you see these people [in the Bible] going to government and going to people in power and saying, ‘You’re not doing the right thing.’ So although it’s God-ordained and God is sovereign, he works through us. … He has an expectation that we’ll be about righteousness and justice. In fact, he’s appalled when we’re not doing that work.”
Many Christians will argue that their favorite political party does these things better than the rest. Who is right? The truth is that different parties, politicians, or policies may reflect different parts of God’s value system at different times.
“We live in a broken world and as part of that the parties that we’re in are broken,” Justin said. “And so I would say that both parties fall well short of where the gospel would have us to be.” He mentions both abortion and racial justice as examples of where Democrats and Republicans have fallen short of biblical values.
That’s why Christians’ main allegiance should be to God, and not one party or person. Earthly political parties are sure to change, but God’s values never will.
Find other resources mentioned in this episode below:
