Tag: faith

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Can I Trust the New Testament? Know About Jesus

Interview With Robby Lashua (Part 1)

In the kick-off to our Know About Jesus series, apologist Robby Lashua tackles two tough questions. First, how do we know the New Testament we have today is the same as what was originally written down? Second, how do we know what was written down is true? In this episode, you’ll learn about the tests historians use when determining the reliability of ancient documents—and whether the New Testament accounts of Jesus pass those tests.

Can We Trust What We Have?

How do we know that the stories we have about Jesus in the Bible today are what was originally written down? Robby points to the high number of Greek manuscripts that exist of the New Testament—over 5,000, to be exact. Moreover, many of those manuscripts date within a few decades of the original. By contrast, there are only 1,800 known manuscripts of Homer’s The Iliad.


“We know with 99.9% accuracy what the original New Testament documents said.”

robby Lashua

Can We Trust That It’s True?

Critics of the Bible claim it is full of contradictions. Robby says that on closer examination, the contradictions turn out not to be contradictions at all. “When we look internally, we don’t find contradictions,” he told Know Why. “What we do find are embarrassing details.”

Why does this matter? “Historians of all different kinds of ancient literature believe that if you find embarrassing details in the text about the people who are writing the text, they’re probably telling you the truth,” he explained.

Listen next week for Part 2 of Know Why’s interview with Robby Lashua, in which Robby delves into historical evidence for Jesus’ resurrection.

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Is the New Testament Text Reliable?

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What Questions Are Teens Asking?

Interview With Joe and Tiffany Williamson

What are the most pressing issues facing teens and young adults today? What questions are they asking about life, purpose, and religion? Joe and Tiffany Williamson work in youth ministry at Thousand Hills Church in Hickory Creek, Texas. They joined the Know Why Podcast with firsthand insight into the questions young adults ask, what support they need, and why.

A Lonely Generation

Joe said mental health is a top problem for today’s teens and young adults—particularly loneliness. “There’s a loneliness with this generation right now, and it doesn’t matter who the kid is,” he said, noting that even students who are popular and seem to be doing well on the outside could be struggling with depression and thoughts of suicide.

Despite being “connected” over social media, many of today’s youth lack real connection with other people. Tiffany attributed part of the problem to the changing landscape of social media. Today’s teens and young adults are constantly
“on” with no reprieve.

Alone in Their Faith

That’s why in-person connection, including through local church bodies, is so critical to teens. But it can also be difficult for teens to attain, since many of those who come to church are the only Christians in their families. Without spiritual community and guidance at home, many teens and young adults are left with no where to turn for advice, answers to tough questions, or to express doubts.


“This generation has the heart of Jesus, they just don’t necessarily know him yet.”

Joe Williamson

Joe encourages members of his church to mentor youth and young adults in their lives. He told the story of an 80-year-old church member who volunteered to serve in youth ministry. The result has been “life-changing” for the girls she mentors, he said.

An Unstoppable Generation

Tiffany is hopeful about the next generation, saying that when they “get it” and are committed to God, they are unstoppable. Joe said that many of the concerns and causes of young adults today are aligned with Jesus, but they don’t know much about him. That’s why they’re eager to learn.

“This generation has the heart of Jesus, they just don’t necessarily know him yet,” he said.

Make a Difference

If you would like to help support more conversations on issues relevant to young adults that point them to truth, you can make a donation here.

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Best of 2023

What do Know Why listeners want to know about?

We looked at our most-downloaded episodes of 2023 and compiled the highlights here. Listen for excerpts from five of listeners’ favorite episodes of the year, with selections from every Know Why Series series of 2023!

In this episode, you’ll hear snippets of the following interviews (click to listen to the full interviews or read more):

1. Is Social Media Robbing Me of a Richer Life? Know About Healthy Tech Habits: Interview with Dr. Brad East

2. Are All Pro-Lifers Religious? Know About Pro-Lifers Series: Interview with Monica Snyder (Part 1)

3. What Does the Bible Have to do with the Israel-Hamas War? Interview with Dr. Gary Frazier

4. Why is the Black Community Overrepresented in Abortions? Know About Pro-Lifers Series: Interview with Cherilyn Holloway

5. Can I Avoid Burnout at Work? Know About Thriving at Work: Interview with Dr. Eddy Brewer

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Why is Jesus’ Birth Significant?

Interview With Joshua Barnes: Part 2

Joshua Barnes of the popular YouTube channel The Bible Explained is back! He demonstrates why Jesus’ birth is unique compared to the origin stories of ancient mythical gods. Josh also highlights intriguing prophesies that predicted the details of Jesus’ birth hundreds of years before it happened. 

Is Jesus’ Birth Story Unique?

You may have heard claims that stories about Jesus’ birth and life are remarkably similar to other stories about ancient mythical gods, including Mithra, Horace, and Dionysus. Joshua explains key differences in these myths compared to the historical accounts of Jesus’ life in the New Testament Gospels. “If you look at any of those myths, you can’t find any evidence that any of these things were believed about these mythical gods before Jesus came on the scene,” Josh told Know Why.

“The intricate fulfillment of prophecy in the Christmas story is mind-blowing, and it should excite every Christian, because it shows that we’re not just closing our eyes and believing the things in the Bible—we actually have evidence.”

Joshua Barnes

Odd Details and Prophecy

“The cool thing that we often just forget is that the Gospel accounts are historical documentation,” Josh said. But why do many of the details recorded in the Gospels—from the Roman census that led Jesus’ mother to Bethlehem, to the fact that she was a virgin—really matter? Listen to the episode for a discussion of the religious and historical significance of these details, which were foretold by prophecy hundreds of years prior to the events.

“The intricate fulfillment of prophecy in the Christmas story is mind-blowing, and it should excite every Christian, because it shows that we’re not just closing our eyes and believing the things in the Bible—we actually have evidence,” Josh told Know Why.

Read the passages of Scripture Josh mentions in the episode by clicking below, and check out the previous episode recorded with Josh, “Does Christmas Have Pagan Origins?“

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Should Chatbots Scare Me? Know About Healthy Tech Habits

Interview With Kate Lucky (Part 2)

Chatbots can be problematic, but can they also be useful? If artificial intelligence can do everything we can do, what makes humans unique? Back to think through tough questions like these is Kate Lucky from Christianity Today. She shares insight from her recent feature piece, “AI Will Shape Your Soul,” a deep-dive into what theologians and tech experts are saying about AI chatbots. Don’t miss part two of this interview, the final episode of our #KnowAboutHealthyTechHabits series! Listen to part one here.

Embodiment

Kate believes that everyone innately recognizes the importance of embodiment. “We feel that there’s something important to our bodies, to our humanity,” she told Know Why. Kate says this points back to the truth of the Christian tradition, which teaches that God took on a human body in the person of Jesus Christ. “It’s a really exciting place for a lot of these theologians, who are finding that the tech world is asking a lot of these questions about embodiment, for example,” she said.

Another question many are wrestling with considering the rapid advancements of AI: what does it mean to be human? If artificial intelligence can do things like converse and create art, what makes humans unique?

“We are more than any capability that we might have, any gift, any function that we can perform.”

Kate Lucky

Kate also points to Christian faith as providing peace in a time when many people worry about these questions. In short, our humanity doesn’t depend on our performance. “We are more than any capability that we might have, any gift, any function that we can perform,” Kate told Know Why. “We’re made in the image in the God just because we’re made in the image of God, and that’s that.”

Perks of New Technology

While we should think carefully about how our interactions with chatbots affect our habits and even our mental health, there could be helpful perks to the new technology. It’s not something to completely reject or accept without critical thinking, Kate says. “AI, for Christians, is always a starting point … it’s always just one piece of the puzzle.”

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How Will Chatbots Affect My Soul? Know About Healthy Tech Habits

Interview With Kate Lucky (Part 1)

Are you prepared for a world where AI bots have replaced customer service workers, tutors, and even therapists? Do we lose part of our humanity when inconvenient, messy conversations with people are replaced by streamlined, efficient chatbots? Here to think through this with us and provide some answers is Kate Lucky, senior editor of audience engagement at Christianity Today. She shares insight from her recent feature article, “AI Will Shape Your Soul,” a deep-dive into what theologians and tech experts are saying about AI chatbots. Listen to part one of this interview now!

Something Different

Kate points out that Artificial Intelligence has been around for a long time and has many helpful uses. But a more recent development in AI technology are chatbots like ChatGPT, released by OpenAI last year. These systems can generate poetry, replicate art, and carry on convincing conversations. While fascinating, the humanness of such chatbots made many people uncomfortable, Kate says.


“We feel that there’s something important to our bodies, to our humanity. We feel that there’s a difference when we’re on a zoom call and when we’re sitting around a meeting table in person.”

Kate Lucky

Some people are enthusiastic about the potential uses for these kinds of chatbots, but Kate warns that we will miss out on life’s “richness” when authentic human interactions are replaced by AI. “A chatbot won’t pushback on you, won’t challenge your perspective on something,” Kate told Know Why. “You can’t really learn humility from a chatbot.”

To learn more about how our interactions with chatbots have the potential to form our habits and our souls, listen to Part 2 of Kate’s interview next week. You can also see the resources below.

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Is Social Media Robbing Me of a Richer Life? Know About Healthy Tech Habits

Interview With Dr. Brad East

When college students enter Dr. Brad East’s class at Abilene Christian University, they’re often spending six hours or more on social media per day. Then he challenges them to give it up. Listen to this episode as Dr. East shares what young adults gain when they give up their screen addiction—and what you lose when your life is spent staring at your screen. And if you’re brave enough, take Dr. East’s 60-day challenge!

Giving Up Bad Tech Habits For Something Better

In a recent article at Christianity Today, Dr. East argues that certain tech habits are important factors in retaining one’s faith in college. For instance, students should forgo online church services and attend a local house of worship, even if they go to a Christian college or university.

“God is our creator and he knows what we need, and what we need is actual, flesh-and-blood, in-person community,” Dr. East told Know Why, adding, “The community is not a kind of ‘extra’  that might help you in your personal journey of faith—it’s actually essential. It’s actually the thing that God, from the beginning, has been doing and continues to do—calling and forming a people in the world.” 


“God is our creator and he knows what we need, and what we need is actual, flesh-and-blood, in-person community.” 

Dr. Brad East

Dr. East also recommends that college students’ faith will stay stronger if they delete social media in college. As shocking as that seems to many of his students, those who participate in his 60-day challenge are often surprised by the multiple benefits they experience afterward.

What could you gain from developing better tech habits?

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Are Screens Stealing Our Autonomy? Know About Healthy Tech Habits

Interview with Doug Smith

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.”

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How Do I Overcome Failure and Workism? Know About Thriving at Work

Interview With Peyton Luke: Part 2

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.”

“I think a lot of people don’t have an accurate perception of what the Bible contains,” Liberty noted. “There is so much wisdom in it and encouragement.” Science also shows the crucial mental and physical health benefits of a positive thoughts over negative ones.

“Your worth is not just in your work.”

Peyton Luke

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.

“Your worth is not just in your work,” she said.

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How Can I Overcome Imposter Syndrome? Know About Thriving at Work

Interview with Peyton Luke (Part 1)

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.

Click here to listen to Part 2 of Know Why’s interview with Peyton Luke.

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