The Bullpen with J.D. Greear

By J.D. GreearReligion & Spirituality Christianity

Favorites
208
Followers
Typical duration
54 min
per episode

Based on Podcast App listening data

The Bullpen with J.D. Greear episodes

November 19, 2018Do all religions lead to God?
Pastor J.D. discusses three problems with the belief that all religions lead to God and also explains that if God is real, it’s only natural that he sets the terms for where and how we seek him.
A glimpse inside this episode:
The contemporary wisdom of our day says that the more sophisticated we become, the more we’ll realize that God is “bigger than we can describe.” He’s like a mountain, and different religions are really just paths up that mountain. We may prefer our path, but the truly wise person sees that they all lead to the top in the end.
This attitude is epitomized in the parable I heard in college:
Several blind men fall into a pit. An elephant happens to be in that pit, so the blind men begin to argue about what they’ve discovered. Grabbing the tusk, one says, “It’s like a spear.” Grabbing the tail, another says, “No, it’s like a rope.” Feeling the elephant’s side, still another says, “It’s like a wall.” And the last takes hold of an ear, claiming, “It’s like a fan.”
The point is pretty clear. We’re the blind men groping in the dark, and God is the elephant. We’ve got to stop being so narrow-minded and dogmatic and open up our minds a little bit.
Respectfully, as the saying goes, “It’s good to have an open mind, but not so open that your brains fall out.” I worry that many of the well-intentioned “wise” of our day may have loosened the hinges on their mind a little too much.
Here are three problems with the idea that all religions lead to God:
The Arrogance Problem
On the surface, it seems humble to say that “God is like a mountain,” or that “we all only see a part of God’s truth.” That would be well and good, if it weren’t for the total enlightenment that the speaker assumes for herself.
Both of the illustrations above reflect this problem.
With the mountain illustration, the narrator looks at us feeble religious folk, stumbling up our path, and says, “Well, if you could just see what I see, you’d realize these paths are all the same!”
With the elephant parable, this is even clearer. The blind men (again, this is us) don’t know what they’re looking at, but the narrator does. That’s the only way she can confidently conclude that the blind men are interacting with one complex reality: She sees it and can correct their ignorance.
The Logical Problem
It takes some real mental gymnastics to claim that the major religions of the world are really just saying the same thing in different ways. Most people are only able to make statements like this because they haven’t thought too deeply about the supposed contradictions between the religions.
The mountain and elephant metaphors hinge on the notion that religious claims are complementary.
Certainly many of them can be. But all? As just one example, take the issue of what happens to people when they die: Some say you go to heaven or hell; some say you are reincarnated into another life here on earth; some say you disappear into nothingness. Even a child can see that you can’t possibly do all of these things at once.
The Relational Problem
Honestly, where else in our lives do we think like this?
If you are having a heart attack, you need a cardiologist. But what if you decided to head to Walmart to find one? You think, “I just love Walmart. Their prices are great. There aren’t any pesky employees around to bother me by asking if I ‘need anything.’ So I think I’ll take my heart problem there.” You can be as sincere as you want, but you won’t find what you’re looking for at Walmart. You can get a lot at Walmart—a Big Mac, an eye exam, a haircut, a tire rotation, a bathing suit you’ll immediately regret. But heart surgery? Not your best bet.
If you want to find a cardiologist, it matters where you look, and the consequences of looking in the wrong place can be fatal. “Come to my place,” the cardiologist says, “with my name on the door, and my healing instruments inside. I can give you help, but you have to actually come to me.”
The Answer
If God were a fiction we’ve made up or some projection of our imaginations, it wouldn’t matter where we sought him. But if God is real, then as unpopular as it sounds, he gets to set the terms of where we seek him and how we seek him. He’s more like a cardiologist than he is an elephant or a mountain.
The gospel message is a narrow one, and many sophisticated people balk at it, just as they did in the days of the Apostles. But we make the same claim that they did. There really was a man with miraculous healing power, who made the blind see and the dead come to life. And only through him, through Jesus Christ, can we—blind and dead as we are—receive the sight and life we need.
11 min
November 12, 2018Would you attend a homosexual wedding?
Pastor J.D. shares the importance of building relationships with the grace and truth of the gospel and why these relationships need to be stronger than our words as we befriend our neighbors.
A glimpse inside this episode:
The narrative our culture puts forward regarding homosexuality is that we have only two options—affirmation or alienation. Sadly, the church has far too often simply condemned and alienated those in the LGBT community. What greater lie could we tell about our Savior than to distance ourselves from others, especially at their moments of greatest hurt and vulnerability?
Jesus shows us that a third response—a gospel response—is possible. He shows us how to respond with grace and truth, how to hold out God’s truth and God’s love, not having to choose between the two.
Truth without grace is fundamentalism.
But grace without truth is vapid sentimentality.
Failing in either puts us out of step with Jesus. As believers, we should be known not only for our unflinching commitment to truth, but also for our excessive love toward our neighbors. We must not only speak the truth of Christ, we must do so with the spirit of Christ.
Now, this specific question:
My hope with this is that the invitation would come in the context of a true friendship.
Brad Hambrick has written a book called Do Ask, Do Tell, Let’s Talk, all about how important it is for Christians to develop deep friendships with people in the LGBT community.
If our words about homosexuality are stronger than our actual relationships with the gay and lesbian community, we’ve made a mistake.
As Rosaria Butterfield puts it, it is “violence” to have our words be stronger than our deeds. So if you’re going to say “no” to an invitation to a gay wedding, you should couple that with a “yes” to inviting them into your home.
If me declining the invitation is a surprise to them, then I haven’t been a good friend to them by being honest about what I believe and what the gospel says.
In the end, though, it is never loving to lie to someone—either overtly or indirectly—by telling them we approve of something God does not.
When I attend a wedding, I do so to support what the couple is doing and to pledge to uphold their marriage. I could never do that with a gay couple.
Bonus question: would you bake a cake for a homosexual wedding?
Similar to just before, I couldn’t support in a way that celebrates the union. Giving my art as a cake designer would be celebrating in the marriage – same if I was a photographer or caterer.
11 min
November 05, 2018Should I kiss before marriage?
Pastor J.D. shares his thoughts on dating and courtship, as well as some helpful guidelines for appropriate displays of affection before marriage.
A glimpse inside this episode:
Courting vs. Dating
Why I don’t agree with courting: Courting goes beyond the Bible teaches; it is inconsistent (e.g. giving flowers can be sexual); and it puts unhealthy pressure on dating when you court. But we can learn from the idea of courting.
But I think we should keep dating light
Dating is a road that is leading toward marriage.
Dating is best when it is non-exclusive, non-physical, non-escalating (especially when you’re younger).
Appropriate show of affection vs. foreplay
Lynn’s Laws (from Pastor J.D.’s father):
Nothing in the dark
Nothing should last longer than 5 seconds
Nothing below the neck
Never lie down
10 min
November 05, 2018How do I distinguish God’s calling on my life?
Pastor J.D. explains the reality that all Christians are called to do whatever they’re gifted in for the glory of God, wherever God places them.
A glimpse inside this episode:
I was looking for a mystical call from God like looking for God’s will in my Cheerios.
You don’t need a voice when you have a verse.
Every believer has spiritual gifts and a spiritual calling.
Spiritual gift tests (why I’m skeptical)
A spiritual gift is: (1) an unusual effectiveness in a responsibility given to all believers.
(2) We discover our spiritual gifts as we actively pursue those responsibilities.
(3) Ability / Affinity / Need or Affirmation (where do these things overlap?)
Nehemiah 2:12
Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe gifts to the children
Whatever you’re good at, do it well for the glory of God, and do it somewhere strategic for the mission of God.
The question is no longer if you’re called; it’s only where and how.
9 min
October 29, 2018How Should We Respond When a Pastor Falls to Moral Failure?
Pastor J.D. discusses that moral failures should cause Christians to ask, “Where am I susceptible to the same sin?” and strive for a culture of accountability among church members and leadership.
A glimpse inside this episode:
Back in 2007, I sat in a conference filled with ministry leaders, listening to a prominent pastor share some sobering statistics:
In the U.S., 1,500 pastors leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout, or contention in their churches.
50% of pastors’ marriages will end in divorce.
80% of pastors feel unqualified and discouraged in their role.
50% of pastors are so discouraged that they would leave the ministry if they could, but they have no other way of making a living.
70% of pastors constantly fight depression.
Almost 40% of pastors polled said they had an extra-marital affair since beginning their ministry.
80% of pastors’ wives feel that their husband is overworked.
Over half of pastors’ wives surveyed said that the most destructive event that has occurred in their marriage was the day their husband entered the ministry.
Not long ago, that same pastor—the one who had warned us about pastoral burnout and moral failure—was removed from pastoral leadership in 2016. He had abused his pastoral authority, shut out any attempts to hold him accountable, and pursued inappropriate relationships with a couple different women.
I know this man loved Jesus in 2007, and that he loves Jesus today. And I know he sincerely believed what he told us in that conference. But that didn’t prevent him from becoming one of the statistics he dreaded.
Galatians 6:1–2
The first thing we should ask when something like this happens is not, “What was wrong with them?” but “Where am I susceptible to the same sin?”
The seed of every sin is in every human heart.
We should be accountable,
…and hold our pastors accountable
I asked Paul Tripp, pastor to pastors, why this keeps happening. He gave me on two reasons why pastors fall:
Lack of peer community. Exacerbates 2nd problem…
The forget the power of indwelling sin! As Paul said to me these pastors keep believing the first half of 1 Timothy 1:15, but the stop believing the second: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners … of whom I am the worst.”
Things that grow in a secret garden always grow mutant.
The shepherd is still a sheep.
Trend of pastors not being close to anyone:
Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away (Proverbs 27:10)
Your “brother” may be your closest friend, the guy you can share anything with.
He gives incredible counsel and always looks out for you. But if he’s 100 miles away, he’s actually not as valuable as a guy you met six months ago in your small group.
Isolation is the problem.
10 min
October 29, 2018How Do You Structure Your Quiet Time?
Pastor J.D. shares helpful tips to structure quiet time with God and reminds listeners that It’s more important to find a rhythm that works for them than to do it “the right way.”
A glimpse inside this episode:
Pastor J.D.’s Personal Method: 15-15-15
15 minutes of Bible reading
15 minutes of prayer
15 minutes of devotional, Scripture memorization, etc.
ACTS method of praying
Adoration
Confession
Thanksgiving
Supplication
Prayer helps
Paul Miller’s A Praying Life
Notecards, journaling, going for walks, etc.
Gospel Prayer from Gospel
In you, there is nothing I could do to make you love me more; nothing I have done that makes you love me less.
You are all I need today for everlasting joy.
As you have been to me, so I will be to others.
As I pray, I’ll measure your compassion by the cross and your power by the resurrection.
Start where you are!
Don’t get overwhelmed.
If you aren’t doing anything at all, start with 5 or 10 minutes. Don’t let what others are doing intimidate you from just starting.
It’s more important that you find a rhythm that works for you than to do it “the right way.” To paraphrase a friend of mine, “I like my way of meeting with God better than your way of not meeting with him.”
11 min
October 22, 2018How Should Christians Think About Politics Today?
Pastor J.D. discusses four core myths about Christians and politics while encouraging listeners to exercise both empathy and charity in their daily lives, especially when talking about politics.
A glimpse inside this episode:
This is always tough for me.
On one side, I feel guilty for having said too little … on the other, for having said too much.
It’s important to remember that politics is just one way we impact society.
Luke 12
Four myths about Christians and politics:
(1) Secondary political ideals are matters of first importance.
We might be wrong about them.
Politics doesn’t have the same weight as the gospel. (Matthew the tax collector and Simon the zealot)
(2) Christian truth doesn’t apply to politics.
MLK was able to oppose racism because of his Christianity.
(3) There is never a time to take a controversial political stand.
We should be vocal of people saying, “If you aren’t vocal about this issue, you aren’t being faithful.”
But there does come a time when we need to connect the dots. Bonhoeffer went from “Discrimination is wrong” to “We must oppose the Nazi party.”
(4) We see everything clearly.
Great Christians can be wrong. Support of slavery, of Jim Crow…
For us specifically today, two words—empathy and charity
Empathy – If you voted for Trump, you should be listened to those who are dismayed, and your voice should be the loudest in opposing xenophobia, misogyny, or racial stereotypes. Show that you care for the poor and disenfranchised.
Charity – Assume the best about those who voted differently than you. Not every Trump voter was a villain. Give the benefit of the doubt and choose to believe a better narrative than our society tells about politics.
Additional Resources from Pastor J.D.:
Four Myths Christians Believe About Politics (Video)
Challenges to Racial Integration: Politics
When Should the Church Make Political Statements?
Empathy and Charity: How Christians Can Respond to the 2016 Election
11 min
October 22, 2018Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?
Pastor J.D. explains that neither celebrating nor opposing Halloween is right or wrong. However, the holiday does present a unique opportunity for fellowship among neighbors.
A glimpse inside this episode:
This is a topic that demands we respect each other’s perspective; both sides need to extend charity to the other.
Functionally, Halloween isn’t good or bad.
Paul, similar topic, in Romans 14: Whatever is not of faith is sin.
Some people will choose to refrain because of the historic connections with the occult.
Many, though, will recognize that cultural symbols shift.
“Trick or treating,” for most, has nothing to do with the occult.
For those who do celebrate:
I encourage people to see trick-or-treating as an opportunity for outreach.
As my friend Ed Stetzer says, on what other day of the year are your neighbors out in the neighborhood and willing to engage in conversation? Why would we not use this open door?
Halloween at the Greear household.
Recommended resource: The Gospel Comes with a House Key by Rosaria Butterfield
8 min
October 22, 2018Pastor J.D., Are You a Calvinist?
Pastor J.D. answers one of his most asked questions and talks about the non-negotiables of the Christian faith in contrast to some particulars where it’s okay to disagree.
A glimpse inside this episode:
Theologians have argued about this for 2000 years.
“Calvinism is not an issue to me until it becomes one to you. But when it becomes one to you, it becomes one to me, and I’ll probably take whatever side you are not.” -Pastor J.D.
What someone believes about the finer points of Calvinism is not usually the issue; it’s how they believe it. We may have trouble achieving absolute clarity together on every one of the “five points,” but we can be absolutely clear on the fact that the Bible condemns a divisive and uncharitable spirit over something about which gospel-loving Christians have historically had trouble finding complete agreement.
John Calvin’s favorite verse: Deuteronomy 29:29.
God chose to keep some things hidden from us. Type A people like me hate that. But it’s for our good. We must never go farther in our theology than Scripture allows.
Elevating your doctrinal system too highly makes you a fundamentalist.
You start to believe that God’s graces are only found in your narrow little camp.
Calvinists seem especially prone to this.
Anti-Calvinism can be just as bad. (Remember: Luther, Spurgeon, Whitefield, Judson, and Carey were all Calvinist! Calvinism doesn’t kill evangelism!)
Christians should “cross-pollinate.”
I’m not saying I’m a doctrinal relativist. Some things are non-negotiable (bodily resurrection, salvation in Christ alone, etc.)
Reading broadly takes humility. Isn’t that a good thing?
Eat the fish, spit out the bones.
The gospel—not the 5 points of Calvinism—is the center of our faith. If you believe in the loftiness of God’s glory, that salvation belongs only to God, and that God is sovereign over the world, and that he that has begun a good work in you will see it through, then you and I can stand in alignment, even if we parse some of the particulars differently.
11 min
October 16, 2018 Welcome to the Podcast
Pastor J.D. shares his vision for Ask Me Anything and discusses why it’s important to ask candid, tough questions in pursuit of biblical wisdom.
4 min

About The Bullpen with J.D. Greear

From the publisher's feed

Every sermon starts with more than can fit into a message. For years, Pastor J.D. Greear has filled his sermon notes with extra illustrations, questions, insights, and rabbit trails that never made…