In this episode, we unpack the breaking news surrounding U.S. strikes inside Venezuela and what this means for America’s role on the world stage. We also break down the recent government shutdown—its political fallout, financial impact, and what it reveals about leadership in crisis. Finally, we step back and ask the deeper question: What is the biblical role of government? Drawing on thinkers like Augustine and Aquinas, we examine how believers should view power, justice, and authority in today’s culture.

➡️ Listen, share, and follow @DefiningTruth for more conversations connecting faith, government, and truth.

In this episode of Defining Truth, we cut through the noise surrounding two major headlines:

1.) The Gaza Ceasefire — We call Hamas what it is: a brutal terrorist organization using civilians as shields in its genocidal war against the Jewish people. While Israel has gone to unprecedented lengths to minimize civilian casualties, Hamas manipulates the world with propaganda and staged narratives. We expose the lies, the media complicity, and the moral clarity Scripture demands.

2.) The U.S. Government Shutdown — Beyond the headlines, this isn’t about “Republicans vs. Democrats.” It’s about a bloated federal system, progressive overreach, and the weaponization of crisis to expand government control. We break down what’s really at stake — and what the Bible says about limited, accountable government.

🔸 Biblical Lens:

• Isaiah 5:20 — “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil.”

• Romans 13 — God-ordained government to punish evil, not control everything.

• Psalm 33:12 — “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.”

👉 Why it matters: This isn’t just politics. It’s a battle over truth, morality, and the future of free nations.

📢 Subscribe for weekly truth-driven commentary rooted in Scripture and courage.

What happened, what’s verified, and how we respond. On Sept 10, 2025, Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk was shot and killed during a campus event at Utah Valley University. On Sept 12, police announced the arrest of a 22-year-old suspect; the investigation is ongoing and motive is still being established. We break down the timeline, confront the climate of political violence, and walk through biblical clarity on speaking truth in love—without hate and without fear.

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If this helped you think clearly in a noisy hour, subscribe, comment, and share. New episodes every week.

Sources we cite in the episode

AP, Guardian, major outlets, and primary videos/transcripts as linked above. We’ll update this description if law-enforcement filings add new facts. AP News+1 (https://apnews.com/article/3354b7ba0d736c198b454f77b3744308?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

In this powerful episode of Defining Truth, we break down the recent tragic shooting at a Catholic school by a trans-identified individual—and expose the deeper cultural and ideological forces at work.

We explore the rising violence within the trans community, the mental health crisis being manufactured and weaponized by the left, and how progressive ideology creates chaos only to blame Christians and conservatives when tragedy strikes.

You’ll hear a biblical worldview on:

The targeting of churches and Christians in America

How identity confusion is being affirmed instead of addressed

The moral collapse stemming from decades of relativism

The left’s effort to exploit tragedy to push anti-American control agendas

Why blaming guns instead of evil hearts is both foolish and dangerous

This is not just news. This is truth—unfiltered, unapologetic, and grounded in Scripture.

🔔 Subscribe to stay grounded in faith, reason, and freedom.

🎧 Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.

📲 Follow us on IG: @DefiningTruth X: @JosiahONeilCA

In this episode of Defining Truth, we unpack two major stories shaking the nation:

President Trump’s new push to ban mail-in ballots ahead of 2024—what it means, who it affects, and why the Left is fighting so hard to keep them.

California’s controversial AB495—a bill that threatens parental rights under the guise of protecting minors, and why Republicans and human trafficking experts are raising red flags.

We go beyond the headlines to expose how radical leftist ideologies—including Marxism and anti-theism—have long sought to erode the parent-child bond in order to empower the state. Drawing from both biblical wisdom and American founding principles, we make the case for why Christians—and even non-believers—must stand for family, truth, and limited government.

🔹 Featuring historical insight on Alexandra Kollontai and socialist efforts to replace the family with the state.

🔹 Biblical foundations for parental authority and human dignity.

🔹 Why defending America’s Christian-Judaic roots is essential to preserving freedom—for everyone.

🕊️ A Christian worldview. A bold conservative voice. This is Defining Truth.

👉 Don’t forget to Subscribe, Like, and Share if you value truth over tyranny.

This July 4th on Defining Truth, hosts Josiah O’Neil and Brandon Jones unpack America’s founding ideals and their gospel foundation. We dive into Jefferson’s Declaration, its Enlightenment and biblical roots, and how 1776 inspired revolutions from Paris to Latin America. Then we explore Scripture’s vision of true freedom—from God’s deliverance in Exodus to Jesus’s promise, “the truth will set you free.” Finally, we reflect on the unfinished work of abolishing slavery, winning women’s suffrage, and securing civil rights through a faith-driven lens. Join us to celebrate our national heritage and learn how to champion both political liberty and spiritual freedom in Christ.

🔔 If you’re passionate about faith, history, and cultural engagement, like, subscribe, and share!

#DefiningTruth #IndependenceDay #BiblicalLiberty

En el Episodio 56 de Defining Truth, recibimos como invitado especial al Pastor Fredy Morocho desde Cuenca, Ecuador. Acompáñanos mientras exploramos:

🌎 La Iglesia en la Sociedad y la Política: ¿Qué principios bíblicos guían el papel público de la iglesia?

✝️ Compromiso Fiel: ¿Cómo pueden los creyentes influir en las políticas con gracia y verdad?

🛂 Realidades de la Inmigración: Una perspectiva sensible y de terreno desde América Latina—lo que a menudo las iglesias occidentales pasan por alto.

El Pastor Fredy comparte sus aprendizajes de décadas de ministerio en Ecuador, donde la migración económica, las tensiones fronterizas y los cambios culturales exigen tanto compasión como convicción. Seas pastor, legislador o ciudadano preocupado, esta conversación te equipará para pensar bíblicamente sobre los temas más complejos de nuestro tiempo.

🔔 Suscríbete para más análisis valiente y con raíz en la fe.

📖 Notas completas y recursos: [definingtruth.org/ep56]

#DefiningTruth #IglesiaYEstado #Inmigración #CompromisoBíblico #FredyMorocho #PolíticaYFe

In Episode 56 of Defining Truth, we welcome special guest Pastor Fredy Morocho from Cuenca, Ecuador. Join us as we explore:

🌎 The Church in Society & Politics: What biblical principles guide the church’s public role?

✝️ Faithful Engagement: How can believers influence policy with grace and truth?

🛂 Immigration Realities: A sensitive, on-the-ground perspective from Latin America—what Western churches often miss.

Pastor Fredy shares insights from decades of ministry in Ecuador—where economic migration, border tensions, and cultural shifts demand both compassion and conviction. Whether you’re a pastor, policymaker, or concerned citizen, this conversation will equip you to think biblically about the toughest issues of our day.

🔔 Subscribe for more bold, faith-rooted analysis.

📖 Full show notes & resources: [definingtruth.org/ep56]

#DefiningTruth #ChurchAndState #Immigration #BiblicalEngagement #FredyMorocho #PoliticsAndFaith

DOGE’s voter-fraud bombshell, an Iraqi national indicted under 18 U.S.C. § 611, hard-line SSN deactivations, CA’s trans-sports “next-qualifier” pilot & SB 94’s early parole push. We tie it all back to the core battle: secularism vs. biblical truth.

In Episode 54 of Defining Truth, we dive into Chapter 10 of my book Defining Truth: Articulating America’s Worldview, unpacking how secular humanism views “sacrifice” as a means of self-advantage, versus the biblical worldview, which calls us to sacrificial love for others and an eternal focus on God’s will.

🔍 In This Episode:

We define “sacrifice” through two lenses—why self-interest is the heart of humanist sacrifice, and why Christ-centered sacrifice is other-focused and rooted in eternity.

Hear direct quotes from Chapter 10 that illustrate how worldview shapes what we’re willing to endure.

Practical takeaways for living out a sacrificial faith in today’s culture wars.

📖 Key Quotes:

“Sacrifice can only be understood when viewed through the lens of one’s worldview…No one willingly dies for something they don’t believe.”

“Good is worth dying for if it furthers defeating evil and standing for truth.”

🙏 Join the Conversation:

How has your understanding of sacrifice changed when you view it through a biblical lens? Drop your thoughts below and let’s keep defining truth together.