Apologetics Profile

David Henke, the founder of Watchman Fellowship, has over 45 years experience in witnessing and sharing the gospel with Jehovah's Witnesses. In part two of this podcast, David wraps up his conversation with Daniel Ray about controversial history and theology of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, some of his unusual experiences through the years, and what motivates him to pursue apologetics and evangelism as his life's calling. This podcast was recorded on the campus of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary during the 2022 Defend apologetics conference. 

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Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship
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David Henke, the founder of Watchman Fellowship, has over 45 years experience in witnessing and sharing the gospel with Jehovah's Witnesses. In this two-part podcast, David sits down with Daniel Ray and talks about the controversial history and theology of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, some of his unusual experiences through the years, and what motivates him to pursue apologetics and evangelism as his life's calling. This podcast was recorded on the campus of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary during the 2022 Defend apologetics conference. 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: 

SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.

Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship
For more information visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

Scripture mentions "everlasting," "eternal," and "forever and ever" in regards to the final judgment of the unrepentant unbeliever in hell (see Mark 9:42-48; Rev. 14:11; 20:10; Matt. 25:41-46). Do those words and verses suggest or teach that the unbeliever will eventually be annihilated from conscious existence? 

There is a minority belief within Christianity that claims lost souls will eventually be annihilated called "annihilationism." This idea claims that though the unrepentant will suffer in hell their torment will not last forever.  

But is that what the Bible really says? 

Here in part two of our discussion about annihilationism Daniel Ray and Brady Blevins look at what Scripture says and remind us that hell is not an easy topic to discuss and we must do so with wisdom and compassion. We cannot minimize God's holiness, righteousness, and judgment. The Gospel is indeed good news, but it must first be understood in terms of sin and its consequences. 

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Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship
For more information visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

"We cannot magnify God's love by minimizing his holy wrath against sin," writes John F. MacArthur, Jr. "Some of the most tender pleadings in Scripture are Jesus' warnings to unrepentant unbelievers in danger of being caught up in the eternal wrath of God." 

But there is a minority point-of-view among Christians about the nature of hell called annihilationism which claims that unrepentant souls in hell will not suffer forever but eventually be annihilated from conscious existence. For the annihilationist, the "non-existence" of the unbeliever is what will last forever, not eternal conscious torment. 

Why do people believe the Bible teaches annihilationism? What does the word "eternal" actually mean when used in descriptions about hell? What theologians have promoted this idea? 

On this two-part episode of Apologetics Profile Watchman staff apologist Daniel Ray and Watchman senior apologist Brady Blevins discuss the problems with annihilationism and what the Bible says about eternal separation from God.

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Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship
For more information visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

How silently, how silently,
the wondrous gift is giv’n!
So God imparts to human hearts
the blessings of his heav’n.
No ear may hear his coming,
but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive him, still
the dear Christ enters in.

You have likely heard or sung these very lines over the course of the last few weeks. They are a verse from Philip Brooks' 1868 Christmas hymn O Little Town of Bethlehem. 

Bethlehem. It means "house of bread." It is called the "city of David" and is the birthplace of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, prophesied as Immanuel, God with us, the star of Jacob, the sun of righteousness. 

Bethlehem is a fitting name for the place where the very bread of life Himself would come into the world as an infant, as a man, for man. The One who made the stars with the breath of His mouth drew his first infant breath under the starry skies of a lowly Judean province. As Charles Wesley's famous 1739 Christmas hymn proclaims:

Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King!

On part two of our discussion about the star of Bethlehem, we discuss more of the Scripture, background and history of what the star the Magi saw in the east may have been. 

Though another Christmas has come and gone so quickly, let us never forget that the real star of Bethlehem was not the star itself, but the bright and morning star (Rev. 22:16, the star of Jacob (Num. 24:17), the Creator of the stars and the entire cosmos (Gen. 1:1,14; Col. 1:16-20; John 1:1-14), incarnate as a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger (Luke 2). 

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Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship
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Stars, and the heavens in which they reside, all declare the glory of God. They were created for signs and for seasons and for days and years. They were created through Christ Jesus and for Him. They are numbered and named by God Himself. They are silent messengers of divine glory. The LORD Himself told Abram that his descendants would be as the multitude of the stars in the sky. And in Revelation 22:16 Jesus identifies Himself as the "bright and morning Star." 

So then it is no surprise that we find reference to a star in Matthew's gospel. A single, silent, enigmatic sign that led wise men, the Magi, to Jerusalem to inquire about He who had been born King of the Jews. 

But what was the star? What exactly did the Magi see? Was it an actual astronomical phenomena or a miraculous manifestation of light? 

On this special two-part combined Christmas episode of Apologetics Profile and our sister podcast Good Heavens!, Daniel Ray, Wayne Spencer and Brady Blevins discuss the many ideas that have been proposed for what Matthew's star may have been. But more importantly, we offer a reminder of who the star is really all about. 

So like the Magi and the shepherds did, come and lift your eyes up on high and see what the star and the angels proclaimed long ago. Come and see wonders await you in discovering Immanuel, God with us, the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship
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On part two president of Watchman Fellowship, James Walker, concludes his keynote on the nature of God and the Trinity presented at the Witness Now for Jesus Ex-Jehovah's Witness conference. We examine the history behind some of the classic heretical teachings that confronted the early Christianity, how they reappear in our time and how you can recognize them. We hope these insights will give you practical and edifying truths as you give a defense for the hope that is in you to friends, family, and loved ones who don't know Jesus. 

As we learned last week, the doctrine of God as Three-in-One, the Trinity, is absolutely central to our faith. Any deviation from understanding this teaching inevitably results in false doctrines and heresy. 

Historical councils of the Church throughout history have rigorously addressed the aberrant views of the Trinity, such as the Council of Nicea (325 A.D.) and the Council of Chalcedon (451 A.D.). Yet despite these efforts, heretical doctrines regarding the nature of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit resurface in non-Christian religions and cults. 

How might you address objections to God as Three-in-One? Are you prepared to give a defense of the Trinity? What would you say to a Mormon who might object that the word "Trinity" is not found in the Bible, or a Muslim who says it is blasphemy to refer to God as three distinct Persons? 

What might you say to someone who argues Jesus is not God? Or that only the Father is God? How might you answer someone who would claim God is not really three Persons, but just appears to us in three different modes?

James Walker is a former fourth-generation Mormon who is currently president of Watchman Fellowship, an evangelical apologetics ministry focused on interfaith evangelism. He is author of The Concise Guide to Today's Religions and Spirituality (watchman.org/ConciseGuide), What the Qur'an Really Teaches about Jesus (watchman.org/Quran), and coauthor of The Truth Behind The Secret (bit.ly/TruthSecret). He is the cofounder of the Atheist & Christian Book Club (AtheistChristianBookClub.com) and cohosts Mormons in Transition Meetup in north Texas (ExMoDFW.com).

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Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship
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Was Jesus the creator of all things or was He actually a created being? Creator or creature? God with us or the angel Michael with us? These are foundational questions for Jehovah's Witnesses and other controversial religions. This two-part episode of Apologetics Profile features Watchman Fellowship president, James Walker, sharing a keynote message given at the Witness Now for Jesus Conference of former Jehovah's Witnesses. This message provides helpful reminders and insights about the uniqueness and wonder of seeing God as One God and as three distinct Persons. The doctrine of the Trinity can be difficult to wrap our minds around, but it is absolutely foundational for our faith. 

No matter where you are in your walk with Christ, we hope this presentation will be helpful and edifying to you this Christmas season as you reach out to those who don't know Christ. So come and see! Come and celebrate the incarnate Immanuel, God with us, the Babe lying in a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes who is also Creator and Lord of the heavens and earth. 

James Walker is a former fourth-generation Mormon who is currently president of Watchman Fellowship, an evangelical apologetics ministry focused on interfaith evangelism. He is author of The Concise Guide to Today's Religions and Spirituality (watchman.org/ConciseGuide), What the Qur'an Really Teaches about Jesus (watchman.org/Quran), and coauthor of The Truth Behind The Secret (bit.ly/TruthSecret). He is the cofounder of the Atheist & Christian Book Club (AtheistChristianBookClub.com) and cohosts Mormons in Transition Meetup in north Texas (ExMoDFW.com).

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.

Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship
For more information visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

This podcast is also available in video format on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2gGvCl4Kbbs

What would you say to an atheist who says “I don’t believe your God exists. I just believe in one less God than you do?” 

This is part two of our special two-part episode recorded live at our Atheist & Christian Book Club featuring guest authors Timothy McGrew, a Christian philosopher, and Graham Oppy, an atheist philosopher. McGrew continues the discussion and puts the question of "one less God than you" in context. McGrew shows us that there is much more at stake than just a mere belief in the non-existence of God. What are the implications, philosophically, theologically, historically, for denying the existence of the God of the Bible? 

We also discuss other philosophical theories about knowledge with McGrew and Oppy as we continue our focus on their contributions to the book Four Views on Christianity and Philosophy.

In the book, Oppy admits that his atheistic account of the world is not a “persuasive argument; nonetheless, I think that it is a case that deserves serious consideration.” 

So come and hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Does Christian philosophy or does atheist philosophy best account for the universe and our place within it?

Dr. Graham Oppy is Professor of Philosophy at Monash University. He is author of Ontological Arguments and Belief in God; Philosophical Perspectives on Infinity; Arguing about Gods; Reading Philosophy of Religion (with Michael Scott); The Best Argument Against God; Reinventing Philosophy of Religion: An Opinionated Introduction; and Describing Gods: An Investigation of Divine Attributes. He is editor of The Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Philosophy of Religion and (with Nick Trakakis) The History of Western Philosophy of Religion.

Dr. Timothy McGrew is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Philosophy at Western Michigan University. He specializes in theory of knowledge, logic, probability theory, and the history and philosophy of science. He has published in numerous journals including Mind, The Monist, Analysis, Erkenntnis, British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, and Philosophia Christi. His recent publications include the article on “Evidence” in The Routledge Companion to Epistemology, coauthorship of The Philosophy of Science: An Historical Anthology, coauthorship (with Lydia McGrew) of the article on “The Argument from Miracles” in The Blackwell Companion to Natural Theology, and the article on “Miracles” for The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

Four Views on Christianity and Philosophy, edited by Paul M. Gould and Richard Brian Davis is available here: https://bit.ly/4ViewsBook

The Atheist & Christian Book Club meets both in person (Arlington, Texas) and online via Zoom. Learn more, watch past book clubs or to join the club: www.AtheistChristianBookClub.com

We are also offering a free subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.

SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.

Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship
For more information visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

This podcast is also available in video format on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2gGvCl4Kbbs

This two part special edition of Apologetics Profile was recorded live at our Atheist & Christian Book Club, a monthly gathering of believers and skeptics respectfully discussing important book from both perspectives. Our guest authors were atheist philosopher Graham Oppy and Christian philosopher Timothy McGrew discussing their contributions to the book Four Views On Christianity and Philosophy.

Dr. Oppy who defends the “Conflict view, arguing that philosophy is vastly superior as a way to truth and a way of life, and thus trumps Christianity.” Dr. Timothy McGrew argues for the “Convergence view that philosophy confirms Christianity and Christianity completes philosophy.” 

Come and hear a robust and civil discussion (and disagreement) about what philosophy best informs and explains the existence of the cosmos and our place within it.

Dr. Graham Oppy is Professor of Philosophy at Monash University. He is author of Ontological Arguments and Belief in God; Philosophical Perspectives on Infinity; Arguing about Gods; Reading Philosophy of Religion (with Michael Scott); The Best Argument Against God; Reinventing Philosophy of Religion: An Opinionated Introduction; and Describing Gods: An Investigation of Divine Attributes. He is editor of The Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Philosophy of Religion and (with Nick Trakakis) The History of Western Philosophy of Religion.

Dr. Timothy McGrew is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Philosophy at Western Michigan University. He specializes in theory of knowledge, logic, probability theory, and the history and philosophy of science. He has published in numerous journals including Mind, The Monist, Analysis, Erkenntnis, British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, and Philosophia Christi. His recent publications include the article on “Evidence” in The Routledge Companion to Epistemology, coauthorship of The Philosophy of Science: An Historical Anthology, coauthorship (with Lydia McGrew) of the article on “The Argument from Miracles” in The Blackwell Companion to Natural Theology, and the article on “Miracles” for The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

Four Views on Christianity and Philosophy, edited by Paul M. Gould and Richard Brian Davis is available here: https://bit.ly/4ViewsBook

The Atheist & Christian Book Club meets both in person (Arlington, Texas) and online via Zoom. Learn more, watch past book clubs or to join the club: www.AtheistChristianBookClub.com

We are also offering a free subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.

SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.

Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship
For more information visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.