AUTHENTIC with Shawn Boonstra

Join Shawn Boonstra on Authentic as he begins tackling some truly tough questions posed by skeptics about faith, God, and the Bible. First up: why does God stay silent and hidden? The answer may be closer than you think...

In the devil’s final temptation to Jesus, he offers to give Jesus the kingdoms of the world in return for worshipping him. Host Shawn Boonstra highlights the vital message that there are no shortcuts to glory—that is, to a meaningful relationship with God.

Doubt can be useful—healthy, even!—but it can also be poisonous. Saints and skeptics alike have wrestled with suspicions about God, His character, and His words and promises. In "The Temptation of Christ, Part 2," Shawn Boonstra looks at the sharp impulse to doubt that confronted Jesus and entraps us today.

Times of desperation can often tempt us to shift our values—make us consider things we’d never consider under any other circumstances. Shawn Boonstra talks about why you can trust Jesus to help you overcome Satan's temptation just like He did. 

Have you ever heard someone say that the stories in the Bible are just a rip-off of older pagan documents? On this week’s Authentic episode, host Shawn Boonstra explores some of those claims comparing the Jesus we find in the Bible to the heroes and gods of the pagans.

What makes us think that life should be fair? Why do we feel that someone owes us something when they do something wrong to us? We all seem to have a profound sense of justice. Shawn Boonstra says it's because we are the work of a profoundly just Creator.

It's a fact you'll find all throughout history: people who unwittingly become leaders by accident or in times of sudden crisis quite often make better leaders than people who spend their lives trying to gain power. On this week’s episode of AUTHENTIC host Shawn Boonstra takes a look at Cincinnatus, an ancient Roman statesman who was quickly made dictator in wartime—and just as quickly resigned after victory. His unusual story points us to the true nature of human rule, power, and corruption.

What do you imagine when you think of the devil? A lot of people think he's a red-skinned monster with horns, sharp teeth, and a pitchfork. But it turns out that image is rooted in pagan mythology—not the Bible. In this episode, AUTHENTIC host Shawn Boonstra talks about what the devil really looks like and why you should care.

Losing someone to death can be heartbreaking, especially if that person was young. And it's far from rare: studies show young Americans are TWICE as likely to die as their counterparts in other developed nations, like Germany, France, and Japan. The mortality rate for U.S. babies is scarily high, too. How do we cope? AUTHENTIC host Shawn Boonstra says there is something we can do to help make these painful moments less difficult.

If you didn't see it, hear it, or feel it yourself—did it REALLY happen? Learn how your experiences and the way you rely on them can trick you when it comes to miracles. Join Shawn Boonstra as he takes a closer look at famous philosopher David Hume, who didn't believe in miracles. This week's episode of AUTHENTIC will make you think a little differently about the world around you!