Millions of Christians around the world use the sign of the Cross—and have done so for centuries—as a gesture of blessing. It is practiced when alone, during worship, before sleep, upon waking, before eating, before travel, and many other times throughout the day. But, what does it mean? Where did it originate? What did the sign of the Cross mean to the first Christians, and how has this simple movement of the hand evolved over the centuries?The sign of the Cross is literally a tracing of the Cross of Christ onto the body. By so doing, Christians invite the mystery of the Cross into their everyday lives. Andreas Andreopoulos joins Hank Hanegraaff to discuss the symbolism, the history and the mystery behind the sign of the cross—an interesting, informative and inspirational conversation that truly fulfills the mission statement of Hank Unplugged.

For more information on receiving Andreas Andreopoulos book, The Sign of the Cross The Gesture, the Mystery, the History for your partnering gift, please click here.

Topics discussed include: Metamorphosis and the theology of the transfiguration (3:30); art and theology (10:00); the depth and symbolism of icons (13:30); biblical authority and whether all Christians should practice making the sign of the cross? (20:30); making the sign of the cross as a form of prayer that centers us in Christ (31:30); the many ways that the symbol of the cross is used throughout Christian practice (34:40); the connection between the Eucharist and the cross (41:30); what does the cross have to do with our own suffering? (45:10); the cross as a weapon against spiritual warfare (48:15); the sign of the cross as a declaration of faith and Christian identity (52:00); the symbolic nature behind the gesture of the sign of the cross and the use of it as a way to bless oneself and/or others (55:15); theology as experience and experience of—recovering from an overly rationalistic form of faith and rediscovering our shared Christian tradition (1:00:15); Dionysius and the threefold process of ascent (1:02:05); what is prayer? what is contemplative prayer? (1:09:10); different expressions of the sign of the cross and the different occasions they are used (1:13:10); learning to become imitators of Christ and the cross—WWJD (1:16:00); what the sign of the cross has to offer Christians from all traditions—despite differences in tradition (1:19:45); the significance of personally connecting with Christological events such as the incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection and the second coming (1:23:25); what is the cosmic cross? (1:28:30); different understandings of original/ancestral sin (1:34:00); a summary of the significance of the sign of the cross (1:41:40).

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Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, comments on an article in The Economist, “Christianity Is a Minority Religion in England and Wales,” which notes the precipitous decline of Christianity in Britain. Less than one half of the population now consider themselves to be Christian and the number of people who have “no religion” has rocketed up 57 percent. In the meantime, Islam has risen 42 percent, partly due to immigration. Millions of Muslims have come to a place like England (and the US) to fill a void created by death and abortion. Perhaps as troubling is that what is left of the Church in England has become increasingly irrelevant. Instead of being a change agent in the culture, the church has become a microcosm of the culture. More often than not the notion that marriage is between a man and a woman or that biological sex is real has become anathema. In other words, the church has become increasingly politically correct. We can curse the darkness or be part of the solution. We can refocus our attention on the great and glorious reality that Christ became Man so that we might be adopted into the family of God—as sons and daughters of God called to enter into the very life of the Trinity. United to God and to one another, the church is empowered by an unlimited flow of divine energy by which to provide light and life to the world.See “Christianity Is a Minority Religion in England and Wales,” The Economist, November 30, 2022, https://www.economist.com/britain/2022/11/30/christianity-is-a-minority-religion-in-england-and-walesFor further study, see Hank Hanegraaff, Truth Matters, Life Matters More: The Unexpected Beauty of an Authentic Christian Life.

Hank Hanegraaff, the host of the 𝘉𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘈𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘯 broadcast and the 𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘜𝘯𝘱𝘭𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘥 podcast, reflects on Pilate’s question to Jesus, “Are you a king, then?” and its relevance to the powerful message of Christmas.Also see The Heart of Christmas: A Devotional for the Season.

Hank Hanegraaff, the host of the 𝘉𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘈𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘯 broadcast and the 𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘜𝘯𝘱𝘭𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘥 podcast, offers a candid meditation on trusting the Lord in the midst of suffering. Please keep the Hanegraaff family in your prayers at this difficult time.

Through the incarnation of Christ, His kenosis (emptying) makes our theosis (deification) possible. But, what is theosis? While Hanegraaff believes that theosis is the crown jewel of theology, he is aware that for many Christians theosis is a foreign concept and those who are aware of it all too often misunderstand it. Yet, if we ignore—or denounce—theosis than we miss the point of all theological speculation. Said Vladimir Lossky, ‘Christian theology is always in the last resort a means: a unity of knowledge subserving an end which transcends all knowledge. This ultimate end is union with God or deification.” For more information on Hank’s view see Truth Matters, Life Matters More available for your partnering gift here. In short, theosis is best understood as the process of attaining an ever-deepening union with God—a process that begins during our lives on earth and extends into eternity. As we celebrate the incarnation it is critical to remember that Jesus Christ came not only to save us from death, but to give us life. Theosis is what our lives are for and the process through which we become fully human. For more information on receiving Fellow Workers With God: Orthodox Thinking on Theosis for your partnering gift please click here. Topics discussed include: Why do so many Christians denounce deification? (4:30); what is deification? (9:20); the difference between the essence and energies of God and why it matters (11:30); what does it mean to experience theosis? (15:00); the incarnation, theosis and kenosis (17:45); we can’t do it alone—the ecclesial and sacramental nature of theosis (21:55); was the incarnation always intended to happen? (25:00); cooperation with God—some quintessential examples of theosis (32:05); self-transcendence and the communal experience of Christ—we cannot experience theosis on our own (38:25); the power of the Sacraments—chiefly the Eucharist (42:30); the Jesus Prayer and Hesychasm—seeking divine stillness through the contemplation of God in uninterrupted prayer (48:45).

• Listen to Hank’s podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.
• Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.
• You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, comments on the story of the first biological male to win a local Miss America pageant (New Hampshire). Brían Nguyen said, “I am ecstatic to be the first transgender woman to be a Miss America local titleholder, and I hope to make everyone proud and become the first to walk the Miss America stage.” Among Hank’s first thoughts upon seeing the story was the question, Why are the fellow women contestants cheering and going along with the ruse? Here is a clear example of absurdity. The pageant is no longer about authentic feminine beauty. This is a charade. Yet, all too often we are quiet. Perhaps we, too, fear that if we say something, we’ll be called out as out of touch with social trends—as backward or benighted. But we do need to speak up. And we must teach our children principles to live by so they are not swept along by this radical Wokism tide.

See Amanda Harding, “Transgender-Identifying Teen Becomes First Male To Win A Miss America Sponsored Beauty Pageant,” The Daily Wire, November 10, 2022, https://www.dailywire.com/news/transgender-identifying-teen-becomes-first-male-to-win-a-miss-america-sponsored-beauty-pageant.

See also, Douglas R. Groothuis, Fire in the Streets: How You Can Confidently Respond to Incendiary Cultural Topics https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-fire-in-the-streets-how-you-can-confidently-respond-to-incendiary-cultural-topics/ and Noelle Mering, Awake, Not Woke: A Christian Response to the Cult of Progressive Ideology. https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-awake-not-woke-a-christian-response-to-the-cult-of-progressive-ideology-wa2209fl2/

​Why aren’t we wise? One of the greatest paradoxes of the information age—a historic period of unparalleled access to information and knowledge—is that we are woefully unwise. In the face of dizzying distractions we encounter on a daily basis, Christians are called to cultivate wisdom. But, what does wisdom look like?

In an effort to help us consume a more balanced, healthy diet of information, our guest Brett McCracken has created the “Wisdom Pyramid.” Inspired by the food pyramid model, the Wisdom Pyramid challenges us to increase our intake of enduring, trustworthy sources (like the Bible) while moderating our consumption of less reliable sources (like the Internet and social media). At a time when so much of our daily media diet is toxic and making us spiritually sick, The Wisdom Pyramid suggests that we become healthy and wise when we reorient our lives around God―the foundation of truth and the eternal source of wisdom.

For more information on The Wisdom Pyramid: Feeding Your Soul in a Post-Truth World and how to receive for your partnering gift please click here. https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-the-wisdom-pyramid-feeding-your-soul-in-a-post-truth-world/

Topics discussed include: The paradox of lacking wisdom during the information age (2:30); the importance of contemplation (4:30); do you know how to read? (8:15); chronological snobbery—is innovation always better? (10:00); the danger of being a digital wanderer (12:45); the problem of algorithm driven, hyper-partisan echo chambers combined with the sorry state of journalism today (15:55); the democratization of information and the death of expertise (20:00); the tension between feelings, reality and the self (25:15); can wisdom exist apart from God? (32:10); what are the biggest challenges for the church in the digital age? (36:30); the connection between embodiment, the church and wisdom (43:00); approaching the Bible with humility and learning to live with tension and paradox (48:35); the rhythms of the church calendar (55:00); the synergy between Christianity and science (56:05); the importance of being involved in your local community (1:03:45); our innate need for nature (1:07:00); the importance of developing the discipline of reading (1:11:00); the synergy of silence and beauty and their relationship to the Sabbath (1:19:25); 5 habits to cultivate wisdom online (1:21:50); what does wisdom look like? (1:27:15).

Listen to Hank’s podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.
Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.
You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, is thinking about the recent mid-term elections. We put so much hope in our political system, and certainly political activism plays a necessary role. Yet while the ballot box is necessary, it is insufficient. Consider maladies in Western Civilization such as transgenderism and radical transgender surgery—something you could never have imagined where people are now at young ages having top and bottom surgeries making up maybe a trillion dollar industry for the medical establishment with young people becoming medical patients for life. Radical individualism, wokism, militant egalitarianism, religious pluralism, and so on. All such things are not magically changed or redeemed at the ballot box. Illiberal liberalism is perpetuated and disseminated in so many different ways. Think about educational institutions—so many educators saying the state should have a bigger input into the lives of children than parents. The entertainment industry, which many of us are hooked on. Environmental industries that create, manipulate, and disseminate ideological constructs driving Western civilization in a various dangerous direction. Just a glimpse of the darkness. What are the solutions? The church must awaken from its diabetic coma brought on by a steady diet of fast-food Christianity. Christians must become not only intellectually equipped but equipped internally—by a mysterious Zoetic energy—the energy by which we may yet reclaim the soul of the world against the insistent forces of secularism and paganism.



For further reflection, see Hank Hanegraaff, Truth Matters, Life Matters More: The Unexpected Beauty of an Authentic Christian Life https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-truth-matters-life-matters-more/

“The disintegration of rational society started in the drift from the hearth and the family”, wrote G. K. Chesterton in 1933. “The solution must be a drift back.”

Today’s guest, lauded as “probably the greatest living authority on the life and work of G.K. Chesterton,” joins Hank to discuss his book The Story of the Family: G.K. Chesterton on the Only State that Creates and Loves Its Own Citizens—a compilation of texts and quotes from G. K. Chesterton, edited by Dale Ahlquist, illustrating the glory of the family—the heritage of romance, love, marriage, parenthood, and home.

In a world that has lost touch with normality, it takes a pioneer to rediscover the wonders of the normal and Dale Ahlquist represents Chesterton as a prophet from our past that can help us defend the role of the family as the key to a healthy civilization.

For further information about receiving The Story of the Family: G.K. Chesterton on the Only State that Creates and Loves Its Own Citizens for your partnering gift, please click here. https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-the-story-of-the-family-g-k-chesterton-on-the-only-state-that-creates-and-loves-its-own-citizens/

Topics discussed include: Why does how we define the family matter? (5:30); why is G.K. Chesterton important today? (7:25); on natural law (10:45); the growing influence of the government in our lives—especially in public schools (15:00); the paradox of freedom (17:30); the modern attack on the family (18:40); what were G.K. Chesterton’s critiques of capitalism? (21:00); what is the mystical mirror? (24:15); the sacramental idea of sex as a picture of Christ and the Church (27:20); the problem with free love, birth control and divorce (29:20); the connection between eugenics and birth control (32:20); real birth control is self-control (36:15); communism, capitalism and something worse (40:10); the practice of self-control (41:40); is public education undermining the family more than anything else? (43:40); does it make sense for feminists to attack motherhood? (48:00); the value of homemaking—the original work from home (50:25); why bad philosophy is ultimately self-destructing (52:40); the main point of distributism—also known as localism (54:25); how should we read? (1:00:00).



Listen to Hank’s podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.
Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.
You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, comments on an article from the World Socialist Web Site by scholar Tom Mackaman, “American Historical Association President Issues Groveling Apology after Racialist Social Media Attack.” Here we have “the president of the American Historical Association, Professor James Sweet of the University of Wisconsin,” making a soft criticism of The 1619 Project and ending up having to publish “a groveling apology.” Sweet had criticized “the dominance of ‘presentism’ in historical writing.” According to Sweet, presentism is the “tendency to view history ‘through the prism of contemporary social justice issues—race, gender, sexuality, nationalism, capitalism,’ while minimizing ‘the values and mores of people in their own times.’” Mackaman comments that “the subject is certainly worthy of discussion, not apology and retraction.” Sweet had also suggested that “The 1619 Project’s insinuation that slavery was a uniquely American ‘original sin’” wasn’t quite right. He pointed to “a slaving site he’d recently visited in Ghana, Elmina,” regarding which “‘[l]ess than one percent of the Africans passing through…arrived in North America.’ Most of the other 99 percent, presumably, were bound to destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean.” So, the US was hardly exceptional in this regard. But in the face of social media criticism like, “as a ‘white man’ he has no right to make critical commentary on Black or African History,” Professor Sweet “crumpled in record speed,” as Mackaman put it, tweeting out an apology containing sentiments such as “I take full responsibility;” “I am deeply sorry;” “I sincerely regret;” “I hope to redeem myself.”

See Mary Grabar, Debunking The 1619 Project: Exposing the Plan to Divide America (Regnery History, 2021) https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-awake-not-woke-a-christian-response-to-the-cult-of-progressive-ideology-wa2209fl2/.

See also Tom Mackaman, “American Historical Association President Issues Groveling Apology after Racialist Social Media Attack,” World Socialist Web Site, August 23, 2022, https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2022/08/24/ogzj-a24.html; James H. Sweet, “Is History History? Identity Politics and Teleologies of the Present,” Perspectives on History, August 17, 2022, https://www.historians.org/publications-and-directories/perspectives-on-history/september-2022/is-history-history-identity-politics-and-teleologies-of-the-present.