Educate For Life with Kevin Conover

As Christians, we believe that God created us.  Does it really matter how he did it?  This week Kevin talks to Mike Riddle, founder and president of the Creation Training Initiative, who has been involved in creation ministry for over 30 years.  As someone who grew up in a non-Christian home and accepted the theory of evolution from a young age, Mike brings a unique perspective to creationism.  In this episode he explains why both the Bible and logic tell us that evolution is not an adequate view of origins.  He talks about why a Christian’s view of Genesis matters, and addresses some common objections to creation science.

In his early education Mike was taught that evolution was the only theory around, and didn’t think to question it.  It wasn’t until his adulthood, while he was serving in the marines, that a stranger planted the seed that would transform his life.  One day while Mike was at the gym, another marine approached him out of the blue and shared the gospel.  Mike didn’t listen to a word of what the man was trying to tell him… or so he thought.  Seven years later, alone in a hotel room, the gospel message hit Mike in a powerful way (even though no one else had shared it with him since that day).  He got saved the same night, and instantly wanted to know what God teaches about our origins in the Bible.

That night started Mike down a long road of studying Biblical origins and questioning evolution, which eventually led him to found the Creation Training Initiative.  This ministry exists to train believers in creation apologetics, so that they can affectively share the truth with others and refute evolutionary misinformation.  In addition to the dozens of free resources on their website, CreationTraining.org, CTI is hosting the week-long intensive Creation Apologetics Teachers College in Ridgecrest, NC, from August 1-6 (click here for more info).  This training event is no walk in the park, but it can turn a lay person into an expert on creation.  Space is limited, so sign up soon!

This episode first aired on March 12th, 2016.

We make video lessons to raise up confident Christians: https://educateforlife.org/

This week Kevin examines one of the oldest objections to theism, dating to even before Jesus walked the earth: the problem of suffering (aka. the problem of evil, the problem of pain, etc.).  The ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus argued, if there were a righteous and all-powerful God, he would not allow evil to exist.  Yet evil does exist.  Therefore a righteous, all-powerful God does not.  Case closed, right?

But perhaps Epicurus’ argument raises more questions than it answers.  What is evil?  Is it an absolute quality, and if so, what defines it?  Can we really know for sure what a righteous and all-powerful God would or wouldn’t allow?  Kevin takes a look at the questions raised by Epicurus’ challenge, as well as the basis for morality and reasons to believe God exists.  As Josh McDowell stated, “Don’t allow the unexplainable to keep you from the undeniable.”

Though the reality of suffering can be hard to deal with, the Christian worldview can explain why both good and evil exist.  Can atheism?

This episode first aired on February 27th, 2016.

We make video lessons to raise up confident Christians: https://educateforlife.org/

Have you ever wished you could introduce a friend or relative to the basic concepts of Christianity in a welcoming environment that’s less intimidating than a church service?  The Alpha program was created to provide just such an opportunity.  In this episode, Kevin talks to Dana Kloo and Chris Gaudi, two people who have seen countless lives (including their own) benefit from the program.

So many people are unbelievers not because they have thoughtfully rejected the gospel, but because they never understood it to begin with.  Inviting people to church is a great way to introduce them to the faith, but some may not be comfortable accepting the invitation, whether due to bad past experiences or a general aversion to church.  That’s where Alpha comes in.

Alpha is an engaging, low-pressure Bible study program that is geared towards people who are totally new to faith.  It is totally free and open to anyone who wants to know more about Christianity, from open-minded spiritual seekers to members of other faiths.  Alpha is all about creating a welcoming environment in which participants can be comfortable learning about God.  The program meets one night a week for ten weeks.  Each meeting starts with a free dinner and time of fellowship, then transitions into an informational talk, followed by small group discussions.  This system fosters the building of relationships and allows for every voice to be heard as friends learn alongside each other.

There are already thousands of churches running Alpha!  You can find a group near you at AlphaUSA.org.  Or you can learn about what it takes to start your own Alpha group!

This episode first aired on February 20th, 2016.

We make video lessons to raise up confident Christians: https://educateforlife.org/

If all Christians share a biblically-based worldview, how can they disagree so strongly on every major political issue?  Kevin discusses this question with his guest Dran Reese, founder of the Salt and Light Council.  Being a faithful Christian may not require that you belong to a certain political party, but it should lead you to vote in a way consistent with Christian values.  Sadly, many Christians are unable to do so because they don’t even have a good idea of what a biblical worldview is!  Because of this, the church is failing to fulfill its duty as the salt of the earth.  We are losing our unique flavor as the people of God and assimilating into a bland, worldly culture that’s turning further and further away from Him.

That is why Dran Reese created the Salt and Light Council, a ministry that trains Christians all across the country to apply a biblical worldview to culture and politics.  The Salt and Light Council provides programming that can be used in any church, with minimal burden on already overworked head pastors and senior leadership.  All it takes is a few individuals who are willing to lead a group of fellow Christians in following the clear plan that SLC lays out.

Kevin and Dran talk about why she started SLC and how their program works.  They also discuss why it is so important for Christian citizens to be salt and light by actively engaging in real world issues, rather than sitting idly by while the world becomes dim and flavorless.

Visit SaltAndLightCouncil.org to see how you can get involved!

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” –Matthew 5:13-14

This episode first aired on February 14th, 2016.

We make video lessons to raise up confident Christians: https://educateforlife.org/

What do a conservative Christian Republican and a religiously-unaffiliated Democrat have in common when it comes to divisive political issues?  More than you might think.  This week Kevin talks with Steve Fink, who for the past 15 years has been a “None”—someone who answers “none” to the survey question “what is your religious affiliation?”.  Steve is certainly not alone in America, where Nones have been on the rise for quite some time. According to the Pew Research Center, Nones were the single category in religious affiliation surveys with the most growth between 2007 and 2014, going from 12.1% to 15.8% (+3.7).  In the same period, those identifying as any type of Christian decreased from 78.4% to 70.6% (-7.8).

Steve grew up in a conservative Christian home, and even worked as a youth pastor for a time as a young man.  He then spent years living abroad in Mexico and Japan, and as he met more and more good people of different faiths, he ceased to identify with Christian exclusivism.  Though he has not returned to the faith since, he still has a positive view of the church and feels that he and his Christian friends have much in common.  For this reason, Steve reached out to Skyline Church in El Cajon (where Kevin attends) seeking to form some sort of cooperative effort to find what people of different religious affiliations can have in common.

Kevin and Steve compare perspectives on a wide variety of political issues, from same-sex marriage, to gun ownership and regulation, to the refugee crisis.  Though they disagree on some of the details, you may be surprised by just how easy it is for them to find common ground.  This episode offers a pattern for bridging the gap between people of different religious or political affiliations!

This episode first aired on February 7th, 2016.

We make video lessons to raise up confident Christians: https://educateforlife.org/

Knowing what you believe is a good start, but having good reasons why you believe it is the real challenge.  A great way to give your faith the acid test is to converse with a knowledgable person from an opposing worldview.  This week Kevin facilitates just such a dialogue between Christian apologist Jay Seegert (author of Creation & Evolution: Compatible or In Conflict?), and returning guest Sean Taylor (of the Humanist Fellowship of San Diego).

Throughout the episode Jay explains different reasons why he believes in God, and Sean offers his own counter-perspective.  The two discuss many fascinating questions of faith and reason, such as: does evidence speak for itself, or do our presuppositions determine our beliefs?  Could using DNA as evidence for God be just as misguided as when ancient people used thunder and lightning?  Must a rational person withhold judgment on the God question, or is there justification for choosing a side?  And perhaps most interestingly, if skeptics base their views on the evidence, what sort of evidence would persuade them to change their minds about God?

To see more of Jay Seegert’s apologetics resources, check out his book Creation & Evolution or visit his website at CECWISC.org.

This episode first aired on January 31st, 2016.

We make video lessons to raise up confident Christians: https://educateforlife.org/

Are the stories of the Bible history, or mythology?  The science of archaeology can help to provide the answer.  This week Kevin speaks with Dr. Scott Stripling (a returning guest) and Dr. Bryant Wood, archeologists with the Associates for Biblical Research (ABR).  They discuss some exciting new archeological finds, including the signet ring of King Hezekiah (the same Hezekiah who had a 533-meter-long tunnel constructed under Jerusalem).

The three of them also discuss a compelling new documentary that Dr. Wood was involved in: Patterns of Evidence: Exodus.  This film, created by Tim Mahoney, explores the evidence for Israel’s arrival, prosperity, enslavement, and exodus from Egypt as described in the Bible.  Although there is abundant archaeological data supporting the biblical account, secular historians write it off as appearing far to early to match up with the rest of ancient history.  But could it be that the archaeological establishment has erred in its chronology of ancient Egyptian history?

To learn more about the Associates for Biblical Research and the archeological evidence for the Bible, visit their website at BibleArchaeology.org.  You can even get involved in their current dig in Khirbet el-Maqatir in Israel!  Visit Maqatir.org for more information.

This episode first aired on January 24th, 2016.

We make video lessons to raise up confident Christians: https://educateforlife.org/

How does a lifelong Muslim named Muhammad, who comes from a Muslim family and lives in a Muslim country, wind up in prison for preaching Christianity?  In this episode Kevin’s guest, Pastor Daniel Massieh (author of the autobiographical work Traitor), provides the answer.

Before changing his name, Daniel grew up as Muhammad in the predominately Muslim country of Egypt.  He had a single Christian friend, but in 12 years this friend never once shared the gospel with him or invited him to church.  Daniel consequently had no idea what Christians believed, and assumed that the primary faith of the USA was accurately represented in Hollywood movies.  Curious to witness the zoo that he imagined a Christian worship service to be, Daniel invited himself to his friend’s church.  When he didn’t see any guns, hard drinks or bikini-clad women, he decided to investigate further and find out what the Christians were really up to behind closed doors.  As part of his infiltration effort, Daniel decided to memorize the Lord’s prayer in case another Christian asked him to pray.  But soon after he looked over the first few lines, everything started to change…

Daniel shares much more of his incredible testimony, and how an unexpected encounter with the Living God showed him what was lacking in the false God of Islam.  For decades, Daniel has carried out his mission of sharing this truth with other Muslims.  He continues to do so today through his ministry, Open The Gates.  Daniel’s life should encourage all Christians to share the gospel with Muslims—especially those of us who can do so without being thrown in prison!

For more info visit Daniel’s website at OpenTheGates.org, or read his full testimony in his book Traitor.  You can email him at [email protected] to learn more about how to witness to Muslims.

This episode first aired on January 17th, 2016.

We make video lessons to raise up confident Christians: https://educateforlife.org/

A recent change to New York City’s anti-discrimination laws has added fines of up to $250,000 as a penalty for one particular offense.  This fine isn’t incurred by discriminating based on age, sex, race, religion, or even sexual orientation; it is for failing to treat someone according to their self-determined gender (regardless of their biological sex).

This week Kevin discusses the growing issue of transgenderism and transsexualism.  In the legislation, the New York City Commission on Human Rights states that a person’s gender is about what they feel, not what biology or the law says.1  This relativistic way of thinking is a sign of our culture’s descent into solipsism: the idea that reality is defined by the feelings of the individual, regardless of the facts.  Though God told us long ago that He created humans male and female (Genesis 1:27-28), mankind begs to differ.  But once you remove God from authority, where does solipsistic reasoning lead?  If one’s sex is self-determined, why not other physical characteristics such as race and age as well?  A 52-year-old father of 7 is now living in Toronto, self-identifying and behaving as a 6-year-old girl.  If society must agree with him about his self-determined gender, then on what basis can it deny his self-determined age?

Kevin discusses many implications of this issue, both hypothetical and actual, with insightful callers.  One man shares the story of his own complicated history with transgenderism, and how facing the fact of his biological sex was a much better solution than any attempt to suppress it.  In a culture where recognizing obvious facts is considered a civil rights violation, Christians (and clear thinkers in general) must make a stand for a shared reality based on objective truth.

“For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened… Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.” — Romans 1:21, 24

1. NYC COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS Legal Enforcement Guidance on the Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Expression: Local Law No. 3 (2002); N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 8-102(23)

For more on the negative impact of transgenderism on the individual, view these articles:

This episode first aired on January 10th, 2016.

The Syrian Civil War has created an overwhelming refugee crisis, displacing millions upon millions of people from their homes.  Men, women and children have been forced to leave their jobs, schools, and possessions behind — just to stay alive.  Though a large number of refugees have been accepted into neighboring countries, the majority still face severe hardship and lack basic necessities.  Elsewhere in the Middle East and Africa, civilians are being forced to leave their homes due to the threat of ISIS and other radical Islamic groups.  As the hands and feet of Jesus Christ, what should Christians be doing to reach out to this enormous population of people in need?

A situation as devastating and large in scale as the current refugee crisis can seem utterly hopeless—what can any one person possibly do to address a need so great?  But in this episode, Kevin talks with someone who has resolved to do her part nonetheless.  His guest is a 25-year-old American woman named Liz who works with refugees in the Middle East (this pseudonym, as well as the omission of certain details, are intended to protect the privacy of her and her work).  Years ago, Liz began to attend a Christian church near her home that was made up of refugees and immigrants from Arab nations.  As she formed relationships with members of the congregation, she developed a love for the Arab people and their culture. Liz realized that those who are forced to relocate to a new country need more than food and shelter: they also need love and friendship.  After having the opportunity to visit several Middle Eastern nations herself, Liz felt God calling her to move across the world and work with refugees.  Today she lives in the Middle East full time, helping to provide both physical relief and emotional/spiritual support to those in need.

Even if you aren’t able to relocate like Liz, you can still help refugees.  One way is to do what Liz did at the start: find refugees who live near you already (which likely won’t require going far) and simply befriend them!  This is an incredible way to display the love of Jesus, even to people who don’t believe in Him as their Savior.  Another great way to help is by supporting organizations such as The Hope Collective, which are working to provide sustainable solutions to get families struck by this crisis back on their feet for the long term.  (If you would like to help Liz carry out her mission, contact Kevin at this page for information on how to donate.)

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.” — Matthew 25:35-36

This episode first aired on January 3rd, 2016.

We make video lessons to raise up confident Christians: https://educateforlife.org/