On the latest episode of Switching Lenses we address the question “Is evangelism offensive?” According to a Barna Group survey there are many who share this sentiment that it is wrong to share your faith with someone in hopes that they will one day share the same faith. So, are personal beliefs so sacred that they are above any kind of dissenting views or objections? Have we reached a point where we are unable to disagree? And what happens if we hold up a particular belief and question its truthfulness? Join Shane and I as we dive into all of these questions and more in the episode entitled “Is Evangelism Offensive?” 

In this episode we address some quotes from democratic presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg. He has called out those across the political aisle, namely those professing a Christian worldview, and accusing them of disregarding what the Bible says in the name of partisan politics. Does Mr. Buttigieg have a case? Is there a legitimate claim of hypocrisy or are the claims unfounded? We will dive into 3 particular quotes on the topics of human sexuality, addressing poverty, and biblical interpretation.

Topic Intro/Disclaimer- 1:44

Quote 1- 7:36

Quote 2- 17:06

Quote 3- 30:33

Email the show at [email protected]

In this episode we address the claims of Hillsong's Marty Sampson. He states that he's "losing his faith" for a variety of reasons and we address these very reasons. Claims of biblical contradictions, problems of a loving God sending people to hell, and a few others. He claims that "nobody talks about (them)" so we will remedy that and discuss them in this episode.

3:31 Claim #1- Many preachers fall but nobody talks about it.

10:08 Claim #2- Not many miracles happen and nobody talks about it.

15:28 Claim #3- Why is the Bible full of contradictions and nobody talks about it?

23:20 Claim #4- How can a God be love and send 4 billion people to a place just because they don't believe, and nobody talks about it.

31:40 Claim #5- Science keeps piercing the truth of every religion. Lots of things help people change their lives, not just one version of God.

Email the show at [email protected] with your comments and questions.

In this episode we try something a little bit different in something we like to call "Quick Takes." We first talk about the recent mass shootings. We discuss the common thread of loneliness and meaninglessness characterized by many mass shooters. Secondly we discuss Hillsong's Mary Sampson and his recent confession of losing his faith. We address not only the importance of asking good questions about our faith and the Bible but also the importance of someone providing a response.

In our highly polarized society we often hear talk about rights and how they are under attack or completely hijacked. But do we ever ask ourselves if we are actually entitled to that right and if so how? In this episode we take a look at the idea of claiming a right as a human right as opposed to simply a right granted by a body of government. We tackle the assumption of self-proclaimed rights and discuss how we use can hold those rights up to a biblical lens and see what is uncovered.

You can always contact the show via email at [email protected]

or on twitter @lensesswitching

In this episode we discuss the idea of individualism versus a community of people and what it means. Does our society encourage or enable a sense of individualism? What role does technology, social networking, and politics play in this idea?

We get into the idea of a community of people functioning together and put it under the microscope. How does a community function and what does the Bible say about community. Are we simply complete individuals functioning independently of others or is there a strength and stability within the union of other individuals?

Email the show with your comments and questions at [email protected]

You can also reach us on Facebook @switchinglenses

In this concluding episode of our Answering The Atheist series, we finish our discussion on the claim of two different Gods in the Old and New Testament. We tackle a couple of related questions like "Can grace and judgement coexist?" and "Can anger and love coexist?" 

Lastly we address our final claim that the Bible is an outdated book that is no longer relevant in our progressive society. We examine the concept of truth and breakdown the term "progressive" and its implications. 

We have reached the conclusion of our Answering The Atheist series with this two part episode. In this first episode we discuss this claim that the God of the Bible is inconsistent throughout history. In the Old Testament God is always angry and vengeful with his enemies and even Israel. Meanwhile, in the New Testament, God as the person of Jesus Christ is loving and merciful to all, even to the destitute and rejected. This is a common claim but is this accurate? Join us as we expose the assumptions people tend to impose  and show that the God of the Bible is consistent throughout the Bible.

In our 4th episode of the "Answering The Atheist" series we dive into the topic of slavery in the Bible. This can be problematic for many Christians and point of contention for skeptics. We explore the Hebrew word "ebed" that gets translated at times as "slave" and provide the context of what "slavery" looked like in ancient Israel. We also address our modern conceptions of slavery and how we impose those on the Bible.

Our second topic we address is on the topic of adultery and the harsh penalty the Mosaic Law pronounced on the act. What do we with that in our modern times? 

Remember you can always reach us on twitter @lensesswitching

We resume our discussion on the Mosaic Law in this episode as a continuation from the previous episode. We answer questions like "What was the ultimate purpose of the Law?" and "What do we do with the law today?" We address these issues for the purpose of understanding the character of God in order to see His love, mercy, and justice interwoven through the tapestry of the Law. Only then can we avoid distortions of the the truth and properly view the Law for what it is and was.

Music provided by Brian Buchanan