Tag: Jesus

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Know About Creating: Why Should Christians Value Art?

Interview With John Hendrix

Bestselling author and illustrator John Hendrix joins the Know Why Podcast to talk about the intersection of art and faith. A critically acclaimed artist and lifelong Christian, John shares why beauty has inherent value, argues why Christians should support artists, and explains why pursuing art as a profession matters in today’s world. A professor of art at Washington University in St. Louis, John offers advice and encouragement to aspiring artists. We also discuss some of John’s published (and forthcoming) graphic novels, so don’t miss this episode!

Art and Faith

John told Know Why he has been a Christian and an artist for as long as he can remember. As a child, he was often artistically inspired by the beauty in his home church. He sees art and creation as intrinsic expressions of his belief system.

“You cannot decouple creativity from expression of Christian faith,” he said, noting that “everyone is a creator,” even if they don’t consider themselves artists.


“We are made in the image of a Maker, and that is why we love making stuff.”

John Hendrix

John also shared how throughout his life, he’s wrestled with seasons of doubt regarding Christianity. “I think if you do not have doubts in your faith, you’re probably not really wrestling with it,” he told Know Why. “The doubts are a sign that it means something to you.”

The Value of Beauty

Christians can sometimes have a complicated relationship with the arts, and Johns sees a few reasons for this. For instance, Christians are often focused on practical ways to advance the gospel, and focusing on art can feel like an “indulgence.”

John understands the concern, but thinks the focus on practicality is misguided. “The sunset is not doing a particular work in spreading the gospel, unless you believe that beauty is fundamentally connected to some of God’s intrinsic values, which—news flash—it is,” he said. “So supporting the arts, in some ways, means succumbing to a mystery.”

He believes that churches should welcome artists and even implement programs to support them.

Encouragement for Aspiring Artists

The decision to pursue art professionally can result in both judgment and concern regarding everything from finances to the legitimacy of the pursuit. John encourages young artists, insisting that devoting one’s life to art is not selfish, but sacrificial—and meaningful for the world.

“Artists do not have the same earning power in general as Wall Street brokers, and that’s ok,” he said. “The goal of life on this planet is not to maximize your earning potential.” He says following one’s calling and living rightly are what matter most.


“The calling into the arts is a very broad one and it is totally worthy of your life.” 

John Hendrix

Regarding illustration specifically, John says that “there is no better time to be an illustrator than right now.” There are so many devices and books that need illustration today, he continues, and illustration brings “clarity.”

“What does God value in the world?” John asked. “He values clarity. Clarity is a value. And it’s a value that is very difficult to do and to bring to the world.”

Listen to the entire conversation for more insight, encouragement, and information about John’s forthcoming graphic novel, The Mythmakers: The Remarkable Fellowship of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien.

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What Did Jesus Say About Overcoming Anxiety? Know About Jesus

Interview With Lauren McAfee

Lauren McAfee and her husband, Michael, know firsthand what it’s like to face back-to-back tragedies and unforeseen trauma. How can we handle the anxiety and grief that results from life spinning out of control? Jesus’ teachings and life offer helpful examples, which Lauren and Michael write about in their book Beyond Our Control: Let Go of Unmet Expectations, Overcome Anxiety, and Discover Intimacy With God. Lauren, an author, founder of Stand for Life, and Ministry Director at Hobby Lobby, joins the Know Why Podcast to share their story.

Control and Anxiety

Rates of anxiety are increasing in our society. Lauren believes part of that is due to the growing illusion of control we have over our lives, from being able to buy what we want and have it delivered within days or even hours, to being able to contact people across the world within seconds.


“We’re not having to control all things, we’re not having to fix everything. That’s not our responsibility. Our responsibility is to trust in God.”

Lauren McAfee

“All of these things that make us have this facade that we have so much control over our lives are actually making us more anxious,” she told Know Why. “Deep down we know we actually don’t have as much control as we wish we had over the things that really matter in life.”

According to Dr. John Townsend, author, psychologist, and friend of Lauren, “the negative emotion most closely associated with the lack of control is anxiety,” she told Know Why.

How do we survive the anxiety and even grief that comes when our tragic things happen beyond our control?

Let Go and Lament

Lauren and Michael have had to find the answer to this due to events in their own marriage and parenting journey, from obstacles having children, to facing a child’s cancer diagnosis, and heartbreak amidst adoption. They found peace and direction in the words and examples of Jesus.

“Go to the Lord, and the practice of drawing near to Him allows us to more fully feel his presence, and his presence is what fully brings peace,” Lauren said. She said that Jesus’ promise that his “burden is light” is true, even if it sounds impossible. “Even in the midst of hard things we can have a lighter burden because we’re not carrying it on our own.”


“We have to create the space for lament.”

Lauren Mcafee

Leaning on Jesus doesn’t mean always feeling positive, however. In fact, Lauren says that Jesus set an example of lament, and that lamenting is an important part of anyone’s healing journey.

“God created us with emotions,” she told Know Why. “We honor the Lord whenever we acknowledge however we are feeling about things.”

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Why is Anger Unhealthy? Know About Jesus

Interview With Brant Hansen (Part 2)

Brant Hansen is back! The radio personality and author discusses research from an atheist that points to the genius of Jesus’ teachings on anger, forgiveness, and anxiety. Listen and learn why Brant says Jesus is the “smartest man who ever lived.”

Refuse to be Scandalized

Letting go of offense, anger, and anxiety can lead to more opportunities for friendship and even evangelism, Brant said, sharing more stories from his family’s own experiences.

“People are suddenly drawn to you when you’re the one who’s the least judgmental person on the block,” he told Know Why. That doesn’t mean you must abandon your values or morals, Brant explained. But you can refuse to be scandalized by others’ sin, and enjoy a less stressful life as a result.

“Everything we discover about this subject just points again to the genius of Jesus.”

Brant Hansen

Jesus himself refused to be scandalized by others’ behavior, Brant notes. In fact, some have even used the word “relaxed” to describe Jesus.

Don’t Live in Fight or Flight Mode

Scientific research has reinforced the wisdom of Jesus’ teachings. For instance, both animals and humans were created with fight or flight responses, but those responses are supposed to be fleeting, helping us survive and escape threats. Existing in fight or flight mode long-term is bad for our health, research shows. But when we allow ourselves to stay angry and anxious, that’s what we’re doing.

Brant points to Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount,” where he specifically tells listeners not to be angry or anxious.

“He knows how we’re made, how we flourish, and how we thrive,” Brant told Know Why. “Everything we discover about this subject just points again to the genius of Jesus.”

Listen to Part 1 of this interview here.

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Is My Anger Righteous? Know About Jesus

Interview With Brant Hansen (Part 1)

Talking about anger has never been more fun! Radio personality and author Brant Hansen joins the Know Why Podcast to discuss his book Unoffendable: How Just One Change Can Make All of Life Better. In Part 1 of his interview, Brant explains Jesus’ teachings on anger and forgiveness, sharing personal testimonies revealing that “the way to freedom is the way of Jesus.” 

The Way of Jesus

In Unoffendable, Brant makes an argument many find startling: we are not entitled to hold on to anger. But many of us have been taught that “righteous anger” is justified, and that anger can even be helpful in getting things done.

Brant points to Jesus’ teachings to show this is the wrong way to think about anger. “We are never entitled to harbor anger because we have to do something that Jesus is very big on—it’s called forgiveness,” he told Know Why.


“The way to freedom is the way of Jesus.”

Brant Hansen

That doesn’t mean that we have to ignore injustice, though. Brant says we should be motivated to help others and correct the wrongs in our world because it’s the right thing to do—not because we’re angry.

“I can do the right thing and do it better without anger,” Brant said. As an example, he tells the story of how he once confronted his mayor about a criminal act against his wife that had been ignored by city officials. Approaching the problem with resolution but without anger, he got his result.

Listen to the episode for the full story, and don’t miss Part 2 next week!

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How Did Jesus Treat Women? Know About Jesus

Interview With Dr. Sandra Glahn (Part 1)

In Part 1 of this interview, Dallas Theological Seminary professor Dr. Sandra Glahn offers insight into Jesus’ interactions with women and what it means for Christians today. She explains cultural context surrounding several Bible stories and passages, answering hard questions (such as why Jesus’ 12 apostles were male). Dr. Glahn also exposes certain blindspots that can impede our understanding of—or even hide—women’s presence in the Bible. 

Jesus’ Radical Inclusion of Women

In the agrarian societies to which Jesus preached, women were low in the pecking order—lower than animals, Dr. Glahn explained. Typically, if women had means and influence, it was because they were in proximity to positions of power, not because they held positions of power themselves. Knowing context clues like these is essential in understanding certain stories of the Bible and can illuminate Jesus’ interactions with women—particularly how he bucked the norms of his time by including women in spaces previously reserved for men.

“It’s a sign of the Spirit, not a sign of male failure, that everybody is proclaiming the Good News.”

Dr. Sandra Glahn

In the New Testament, we see Jesus taking the time to talk with women, which surprised his male disciples. He even talks to women about matters of theology, which would have offended many at that time. He has female followers, including those who travel with him and financially support his ministry. He also appears first to a woman after his resurrection from the dead, instructing her to tell his male disciples of the greatest miracle in history. In this way, Dr. Glahn notes, a woman becomes the “apostle to the apostles,” to quote Thomas Aquinas.


“What’s happening here that women are showing their agency as they follow Christ.” 

Dr. Sandra Glahn

Recognizing Our Blindspots

But our worldview is shaped by our own cultural norms and biases, Dr. Glahn told Know Why. This is why important stories about women in the Bible and Church history have been often overlooked, misread, or forgotten. While today’s Christians often debate about the “biblical” role of women in the church, the New Testament and Church history are rich with diverse examples of women’s involvement in both Jesus’ earthly ministry and in the early church.

Be sure to catch Part 2 of Know Why’s interview with Dr. Glahn next week, where she discusses what Christians get wrong about gender stereotypes, and how we can misunderstand what “biblical” manhood and womanhood actually mean.

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What Did Jesus Say About Justice? Know About Jesus

Interview With Jon Noyes (Part 2)

Do Jesus’ teachings on justice conflict with Old Testament teachings on justice? In Part 2 of Know Why’s interview with apologist Jon Noyes, we examine the continuity of biblical justice throughout the Old and New Testaments. Jon even argues that a proper understanding of justice can help us answer this question: Why do bad things happen to good people? Jon shares free resources at the end of the episode for those wishing to read further on this topic. Find the links at the bottom of this article.

A Better Society for Everyone

In Part 1, Jon said that in order to define justice, we have to determine what standard we are basing are concept of justice on. Jon argues that God’s standard justice “actually provides a better and more just society for everybody, believer or non-believer.” Why? Because “true justice is impartial,” and “God’s law doesn’t contort to whether you’re rich or poor.”

Jon says the world often favors those with money or other forms of status, but “God’s standard puts a highlight on the poor.”

The Same Definition?

Did Jesus preach thee same definition of justice as God did in the Old Testament? Jon says the answer is yes.

“God is unchanging and the standards of God are unchanging,” Jon told Know Why. ‘Jesus didn’t shy away from those standards or back off those standards…he actually built on that.”


“True justice is impartial.”

Jon Noyes

Jon says Jesus exemplified this when he said the two greatest commandments are to love God and love one’s neighbor. “This is the foundation of biblical justice,” Jon told Know Why.

What About Suffering?

If God is just, why do bad things happen to people who don’t deserve it? While that’s a heavy question that demands more time to address in full, Jon offered a few thoughts toward the end of the episode.

It’s important, he argues, to remember our sins affect other people. “We live in a world that we corrupted, and corrupted people produce corrupted situations,” he said.

While we don’t like suffering, it can lead us to a deeper understanding of our need for a savior, Jon argues. “We’ve all realized that life is difficult by now,” he told Know Why. “Suffering cries out the need for a savior, for a rescuer. We all need to be rescued, and we just need to come to realize that.”

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How Do I Love My Enemies? Know About Jesus

Interview with Ps. Lafe and Hope Angell (Part 2)

In Part 2 of Know Why’s interview with Pastors Lafe and Hope Angell of Grace Point Family Church, we tackle tough questions, including… Does loving my enemies mean I have to put up with toxic people? How can I follow Jesus when I’ve known Christians who are so unloving? This episode may challenge you to examine your own beliefs and behaviors in light of Jesus’ teachings on love!

Jesus said anyone can love their friends. He taught his followers to go a step further by loving their enemies. Pastors Lafe and Hope gave examples on what that looks like practically.

“Loving others well means giving grace wherever we can,” Pastor Lafe said. Often, that means depersonalizing things others do that are offensive, realizing that their actions toward you may stem from hurt in their own past. It’s important “not to allow someone else’s toxicity to become my toxicity,” he added. “That means I have to be really good at forgiving.”


“If we’re not walking in love, are we really his disciples? Can we really call ourselves Christians?”

Pastor Hope Angell

Pastor Hope added, “Pray that God would give you the eyes to really see other people, and to love them the way they need to be loved. And it can start in your own home.”

The Angells reminded listeners that love is how people will know whether someone is a Christian. “If we’re not walking in love, are we really his disciples? Can we really call ourselves Christians?” Hope asked. They also encouraged listeners to love others well by getting out of their comfort zones. “You can’t reach the lost, the hurting, and broken from your couch,” Pastor Lafe said.

Listen above for the full interview, and don’t forget to listen to Part 1 if you missed it.

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How Can I Love Like Jesus? Know About Jesus

Interview with Ps. Lafe and Hope Angell (Part 1)

What did Jesus’ love look like? How can we emulate it today—especially in a culture that is often so divided? In this episode (part one of a two-part interview), Pastors Lafe and Hope Angell of Grace Point Family Church discuss examples of how Jesus loved with truth and yet without condemnation. They also offer tips on how young people can do the same today, even when it’s difficult. 

A Culture of Condemnation

According to a global study conducted by Barna of 25,000 teens from 26 countries, about half (49 percent) of today’s teens say Jesus is loving. By comparison, only 4 percent of teens today say Jesus is judgmental. But what do those terms—loving and judgmental—actually mean?

Pastor Lafe said when thinking about judgment, it’s important to understand the difference between condemnation and conviction. “Condemnation is, the sentence has been passed. We’re beyond deliberation. It’s over. Conviction says, ‘Ok listen, there’s something in my life that is not letting me be at peace, because the work of the Holy Spirit is trying to alert me that there are some behaviors that aren’t lining up with God’s Word,'” he told Know Why.

“Did Jesus come to condemn? Absolutely not,” Pastor Lafe continued. “It’s clear in John 3:17 that he did not come to condemn, but rather to rescue.”


“We are called absolutely to be loving and gracious.”

Pastor Lafe Angell

In today’s culture, it’s common for groups of people to condemn others who are not like them or who disagree, Pastors Lafe and Hope told Know Why. People often do this by reducing others to one label or another, rather than seeing the whole person. But we treat ourselves better.

“With our own sins in our life, we have so much grace, because we know our intentions. We know our heart,” Pastor Hope told Know Why. “But we don’t have that same grace for other people. And that’s why it’s so important to love others as ourselves.”

When interacting with a wide variety of people, Jesus did not condemn—even the people who were almost universally hated or despised at that time. He loved them while still calling them to a better way.

Known By Love

Followers of Jesus should be known by their love rather than what they are against, Pastor Lafe said. Even in politically divisive or counter-Christian times, Christian believers can be gracious while also standing firm in moral conviction—for instance, standing up for those who are innocent and have no voice.

To emulate Jesus and love others well, Pastor Hope said it’s key for young people to be surrounded by fellow believers who can encourage them. Pastor Lafe said it’s vital to know God’s Word for yourself.

Check back next week for Part 2 of Know Why’s interview with Pastors Lafe and Hope Angell.

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Is There Evidence for Jesus’ Resurrection? Know About Jesus

Interview With Robby Lashua: Part 2

Historical tests affirm that the New Testament we read today accurately reflects the original documents—but were the authors of the New Testament telling the truth? Did Jesus really do the impossible—come back to life? In Part 2 of our interview with Robby Lashua, an apologist with Stand to Reason, we walk through the historical evidence for Jesus’ resurrection, including what non-Christian historians have to say about the event. 

Is Evidence Possible?

Jesus’ original followers claimed he died and rose from the dead three days later. In fact, Jesus’ followers today still claim that. Can there be evidence for something miraculous? Robby’s answer is yes, and he says there is “a ton of evidence for the resurrection.”


“If Christians study any apologetics, they should study the resurrection.”

Robby Lashua

One indicator of the strength of the evidence of the resurrection is what non-Christian believers believe about the disciples’ claim. “When historians, non-Christian historians, study this, they admit to four or five historical facts that happened surrounding the life of Jesus,” Robby told Know Why. Those facts include that Jesus died from Roman crucifixion (a fact established through secular sources as well as Christian sources), and that his disciples were being sincere; they truly believed that Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to them after his crucifixion.

Why Did the Disciples Believe?

So even non-Christian historians believe that the disciples believed in the resurrection. “So the questions for us becomes, what led the disciples to believe that it happened?” Robby said.

Robby explains multiple pieces of evidence in the New Testament and other historical sources to answer “alternative theories”—for instance, the theory that those who claimed to see Jesus after his death hallucinated, or the theory that Jesus never actually died at all.


“These twelve guys turned the world upside down based on the belief that Jesus rose again.” 

Robby Lashua

Many people find early Christians’ lives compelling—the fact that disciples faced torture and martyrdom for the belief that Jesus rose again, and the fact that fierce opponents of Jesus, like Paul, converted to Christianity after his death. What Robby finds especially compelling is that Jesus’ own siblings eventually believed that Jesus was God, even though they didn’t at first. Listen to the episode to learn why this particular point matters.

If you missed Part 1 of Know Why’s interview with Robby Lashua, listen here.

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See the following resources recommended by Robby for more historical scholarship regarding the resurrection:

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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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