A TIME TO SPEAK with Brian Powell Brian Powell

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s story offers an excellent example of a life fully surrendered to Jesus. Their willingness to face the furnace is the embodiment of devotion to God. What looked like the end of their lives turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to them. Facing death over worshipping a false idol led to a divine encounter that forever marked their lives. Today’s episode reminds listeners to stand strong in challenging times because God is still meeting people in the furnace.

For the past few decades, American culture has shifted in ways few saw coming. At the forefront of this movement is the sacrifice and sexualization of our children. From the government to public education, healthcare to big tech, politics to entertainment—our culture is playing along. This neo-pagan sexual revolution brands itself as liberating yet leaves a trail of brokenness in its wake. What is the responsibility of Christians living in a culture that sacrifices their own on the altars of sexual gratification?

An idol is any unauthorized source that people look to for a sense of identity, purpose, and fulfillment in life. An idol could be a belief, ideology, person, object, place, or anything else that a person turns to as a source of life. It is something besides God that people attach to their identity. This episode explores the allure of idolatry, its impact on society, and how Scripture teaches us to respond.

For everything God creates, the devil counterfeits. Discernment is essential in effectively navigating the false narratives of our post-Christian culture. Scripture remains our go-to guide for identifying the counterfeit spirits wreaking havoc today. The Bible doesn’t only tell us what happened in times past; it reveals what always happens in every generation. 

Scripture describes those who introduce false doctrine and strange teachings as divisive and quarrelsome, not those who correct it. Yet today, when pastors and church leaders confront unbiblical ideas, they are the ones considered controversial. The collective conviction of the early church wouldn't allow them to stand by silently in the face of false teachers. They took the call to "contend for the faith" seriously, and so should we. 

The western church is biblically and doctrinally adrift. In our wandering, we’ve grown indifferent toward false teaching and silent in the face of evil. Thus, we find ourselves at the crossroads of scriptural faithfulness, orthodox teaching, and cultural pressure. At the forefront of these issues is a movement known as “Progressive Christianity." This episode helps answer the question: What is Progressive Christianity?