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Is the Trinity a math problem?

"1+1+1 = 1 is not going to get you a pass in mathematics." This comment, made by a Muslim apologist and spoken word artist, is an intriguing critique! When Christians claim that there is one God in three persons, are they making a contradictory statement? When it comes to the nature of God, how much can we really know about him, anyway? And what difference—if any—does it make to us if God is in fact Trinitarian?

Can becoming a winner lead to losing at life?

Could it be, paradoxically, that the very things that lead to success in youth can set us up for struggles and hurt later in life? If so, what can we do about this in our own lives and the lives of our children? And how are the notions of success, winning, and competition reconceived and redeemed within the Christian faith?

Holy Communion: Are Christians cannibals?

From the early days of the Christian faith, Christians were mocked for their unusual practice of connecting the eating of bread and wine with the body and blood of Jesus. At times they were even accused of cannibalism! And yet, two thousand years later nearly every Christian church continues this remarkable practice in some form. Why did Jesus institute this sacrament and what should it mean to us today?

How can I make a compelling case for the resurrection?

The Bible makes a very strong claim that God has provided “confirmation for all by raising Jesus from the dead” (Acts 17:31), and the case for the resurrection was right at the center of Vince’s journey to Christ. On this episode, Jo interviews him about the core reasons for the resurrection that can be shared simply and straightforwardly with anyone who is seeking truth this Easter.

Why worship a (Holy) ghost?

If you could choose to live at any time in history, when would you live? I am tempted to answer, “When Jesus walked the earth.” How awesome it would be to be present for the Sermon on the Mount, to talk with Jesus, to laugh with him, to recline against his chest in friendship as John did. But here’s the thing: None of the apostles would have given that answer. Not in a million years! Can you think of why not? This episode about the Holy Spirit encourages all of us not to live a pre-Pentecost faith but to live in the transformative power of a Spirit-filled life.

Is life valuable before birth?

We live in a world that is deeply conflicted over when human life begins. Even our language surrounding the unborn is contested—are we talking about a “baby” or a “product of conception”? Are we talking about a potential life or an actual human person? How many bodies and whose rights are relevant to “my body, my rights”? And is it anti-woman to be pro-life, or could it be that to love the unborn is to recognize the absolute value of the most vulnerable female humans of all? This week on Ask Away, Vince and Jo give a presentation and respond to live questions on a subject that has significant implications for us all: “Is life valuable before birth?"

How can we hear the voice of God?

In the previous episode “Is God giving us the silent treatment?”, Jo and Vince shared that God is desiring to speak with us consistently and clearly. That is really exciting news, but only if we are able to hear what He is saying. So how can we learn to hear the voice of God?

If God, why suffering?

Whatever the differences between us as human beings, one thing that we all have in common is our familiarity with pain. Whether you’ve experienced a season of intense suffering in the past, you’re living through it in the present, or it is yet to come, none of us get through life unscathed. No wonder, then, that at some point or another we have all found ourselves with this question on our lips or resounding in our hearts: “Why?! God, if you’re real, how could you let this happen? And what are you going to do about it?” This week on the Ask Away podcast, Vince engages with a deeply personal age-old question that never gets old: “If God, why suffering?”

Why do I still believe in Santa?

Merry Christmas, everyone! On this week's special Christmas episode of Ask Away, Vince engages with the following questions: Does Santa exist? Can I really believe in a virgin birth? Do Christmas and Christianity worship the same God? What do you want for Christmas this year? We hope this message is a blessing for you personally, and one you can share with seeking friends and family in your life.

What about people, like my grandparents, who never heard the gospel?

While there are a lot of questions about Christianity that stretch our thinking, this is a question that many of us deeply feel. At heart, it is a question about God’s fairness. Does God actually desire every person to come to know him, or does he prefer some people over others? And if he truly loves everyone, then what is he doing to make himself known to them? In the end, perhaps it all boils down to this: Does God really love our loved ones as much, or more, than we do?

Is God giving us the silent treatment?

Good communication is essential for any healthy relationship. What, then, does it say about our relationship with God that so often we experience prayer as completely one-sided, as if we're just yelling into the void? Is God truly a loving father, or more like a disinterested parent who won’t take the time to listen to and clearly engage with His children? And are we doomed to disappoint in this area, or could it be that we've actually settled for far less when God is offering us infinitely more? This week on Ask Away, Vince and Jo discuss the question, “Is God giving us the silent treatment?”

Could God reconcile a relationship in your life?

Many of us will be seeing someone over the holidays with whom there is tension, or maybe even full blown conflict. What is God’s heart for that relationship in your life, and practically what does He want you to do? Is the ball in your court or in theirs? What wisdom can the Bible offer us about resolving conflict, and could it be that God desires to reconcile a relationship in your life this Christmas?

Why do we say “No!” when Jesus says “Go”?

"What about those who’ve never heard the gospel?” is an objection made against God’s fairness, but what if we re-directed the question back at Christians? After all, it’s clear that Jesus intended for his followers to be a solution to that problem by commanding them to “go into all the world and make disciples…” So what’s keeping us from obeying his final words? In this episode of Ask Away, Jo looks at a case study of the prophet Jonah (aka the world’s most reluctant missionary) as she considers what is taking place in our own hearts when we respond “no” to Jesus’ call to “go."

Are all religions fundamentally the same?

Today it is considered antiquated—even arrogant—to believe that any one religion or worldview has a monopoly on “The Truth.” Does it really matter what story we chose to believe and live, if all roads ultimately lead to the same destination? This is a perspective that jars with Jesus’ claim that “nobody comes to the father except through him.” So is there anything distinctive about Jesus, or is Christianity just one more pathway heading up the same mountain? We’ll be reflecting on these questions and their implications in this week’s episode of Ask Away.

Is faith necessary for science?

Does evolution undermine belief in God? How about aliens? And what about miracles and the multiverse? In this week’s episode of Ask Away, Jo interviews Vince on whether science points us towards or away from God, and how as Christians we can engage with those who see science as having defeated God.

How can I forgive myself?

In our culture today we talk a lot about the importance of “self-forgiveness”, but what does that actually mean? Is it even coherent to “give” something to yourself? Most importantly, how is this relevant to the Christian life when “only God can forgive sins" (Mark 2:7)? If forgiveness is a topic that you struggle with (and honestly, who doesn't?!) then we hope that this week's episode of Ask Away will be an encouragement to you.

Are Christians evidence against God?

The Bible describes becoming a Christian as so transformative that a new believer is likened to a “new creation”. This week Jordach asks, if that is true then how do we make sense of the fact that we often find unbelievers with a healthier balance of self-regulation, EQ, interpersonal interactions and an overall better lifestyle? Shouldn’t we expect that living with the Spirit of God inside would dramatically improve a person’s behavior? And if that’s not what we’re seeing, then is that evidence against the plausibility of the Christian faith? We'll be wrestling with this topic on today's episode of Ask Away.

What are we to make of the Old Testament?

Stories that shock us. Laws that unsettle us. Behavior that baffles us. Richard Dawkins once referred to the God of the Old Testament as “arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction.” Is Dawkins’ right in his verdict? And if not, how can we read the Old Testament in a way that helps us to make sense not only of the more troubling texts, but of the charatcer of God? In this special episode of Ask Away, we’re featuring a conversation on this topic between Jo and our longtime friend, Dan Paterson, which was originally hosted on his Questioning Christianity podcast.

Does God want committed Christians?

We are committed to all sorts of things in life, whether that be our hometown sports team, a political party, a fitness routine, or our religious faith. There can be many reasons to be committed to Christian practices that have little to do with Jesus Christ (e.g. tradition, culture, community, values, etc.). But is God inviting us into more? This episode of Ask Away features a talk that Vince gave at the Jersey Shore this summer as he asks the question: Could it be that we fail to experience real empowering in the Christian life because we’ve diminished what Jesus means when he asks us to follow him?

Why Kardia? How we conceive of apologetics

Jo and Vince share about how their understanding of apologetics, and ministry more generally, has been challenged and impacted over the last few years.

The Gift of Repentance: Where have we been?

Jo and Vince share about some of the lessons they have been learning over the last three years and in particular about their gratitude for the gifts of repentance and reconciliation.

How can I deal with anxiety?

When it comes to dealing with anxiety, some secular models suggest that we are either underestimating ourselves or overestimating our problems—either we are stronger than we think or our burdens are lighter than we think. But what do we do when our fears are not exaggerated and irrational but actually grounded in the reality of our broken world? What do we do when our burdens are legitimately too heavy for us to carry on our own? This week on Ask Away, Vince discusses some of the secular models for engaging with anxiety, before offering a biblical hope that transcends all other approaches.

How do I build a life that's meaningful?

"I’ve always been more attracted to the idea that we make our own meaning. What do you think about that?” This question, asked by a freshman at UC Berkeley, gives voice to a perspective many hold today. What makes life meaningful? And is that a goal human beings can accomplish by ourselves? If these questions interest you, then check out this week’s Ask Away to hear a response from Jo at a recent event in Las Vegas.

Why believe the whole Bible?

Just because I believe in Jesus, why should I have to believe the whole Bible? Aren’t some passages outdated or even problematic? This week on Ask Away, Vince and Jo respond to a listener who asks if there is any clear and compelling logical rationale for treating the Bible as divinely inspired as opposed to a fallible authority that’s sometimes right and sometimes wrong.

Is it Christian to want to win?

“Climbing the ladder.” “Winning at life.” “Coming out on top.” “Living the high life.” We use phrases like these to describe success all the time, but is this a healthy paradigm for living well? In this episode of Ask Away, Jo interviews Vince about what motivates us to get out of bed in the morning, the pitfalls of power, and whether “winning” is something to be celebrated in the Christian life.

Who made God, and why does he allow so much suffering?

Vince responds to this live Q & A question, followed by two others on the topics of suffering and mental health. Vince wrote his doctoral thesis on the question of why God would allow horrendous evils, and if you want to read more from him on this subject you can download a free copy of his book with Oxford University Press here: https://www.kardiaquestions.com/non-identity-theodicy

Why does God present himself as male? And more live Q&A...

This week’s episode is taken from a live Q&A event that Jo did with a group of female students at Stanford University who had reached out for help with questions about faith that they were wrestling with. The honest and energized discussion spanned questions such as why Adam was created before Eve, were women an afterthought, do women have less value than men in Old Testament law, is the book of Proverbs male-gaze driven, and does the Bible celebrate women?

Is it crazy to believe in a virgin birth and a resurrection from death?

Vince discusses science, miracles, and resurrection—as well as his personal story of coming to faith at college—in this talk delivered to students at Stanford University.

If God already knows, why pray?

On this episode of Ask Away, Vince and Jo respond to the following listener-submitted question: “I do not see the point of praying if the outcome is already determined. Prayer is something that I have always struggled with. If God is all-knowing and He has the future mapped out, what is the purpose of prayer? Does prayer really have any influence on God? In addition, if He already knows all of our thoughts and ways (Psalm 139:1-3), what is the purpose of expressing them to Him verbally?”

Why do I find it so hard to share my faith? Part 2

Do you ever feel frustrated with superficial conversation, but you’re unsure how to go deeper with others or even what questions to ask? Do you find it awkward trying to share your faith with those who see the world differently? In this second episode of a two part Ask Away podcast on “the spiritual discipline of conversation", Jo and Vince continue to offer simple, practical tips for engaging with others in a way that will hopefully lead to more meaningful, life-giving conversations with the people around you.

Why do I find it so hard to share my faith? Part 1

Do you ever feel frustrated with superficial conversation, but you’re unsure how to go deeper with others or even what questions to ask? Do you find it awkward trying to share your faith with those who see the world differently? In this first episode of a two part Ask Away podcast on “the spiritual discipline of conversation", Jo and Vince offer four simple, practical tips for engaging with others in a way that will hopefully lead to more meaningful, life-giving conversations with the people around you.

How could a loving God judge us?

Recently we’ve had a number of questions come in around the topic of what God’s judgment of humanity reveals about his character—specifically, whether there is a contradiction between the claim that God loves us and the fact that he nevertheless judges us. This is a question that Jo personally struggled with in her early 20's when she was working on a Masters in Biblical Interpretation, so I’m grateful that you’ll have the chance to hear some of her reflections on this topic through a talk that she gave last month titled, “How could a loving God judge us?”

Is God playing hide and seek?

If God wants to be known, why isn’t He more obvious? This week Jo and Vince respond to a listener who submitted the following question: “Why isn’t God more clear in revealing Himself, in His motives, in His character, in His morality? If He wants to have a relationship with people and loves them, why doesn’t God reveal Himself more plainly or at least provide fewer barriers that need to be overcome to believe in Him?”

Live Q&A: Why are there terrible stories in the Old Testament?

This week we are sharing with you an ‘Ask Anything’ event that we did last week at Bay Area Community Church in Annapolis, where the audience were asking a whole range of important questions such as "How do I know God’s will?", How can God bring good out of bad?", and "What happens to those who never get to hear about Jesus?" It was a moving time together, especially when a ten-year-old girl strained on her tippy toes to reach the microphone, intent on asking her heartfelt question.

What is a biblical approach to disagreement?

In this episode, you'll be hearing a talk that Vince gave a few months back at the Relational Wisdom Conference in Montana titled 'What is a biblical approach to disagreement?' We hope this episode helps you approach disagreement with less fear and with a far greater expectation for how loving, respectful dialogue can deepen relationships (even when we're engaging on the most culturally contentious of topics).

Is Christianity bad news for women?

In this episode, you'll be hearing a talk that Jo gave recently on the campus of Stanford University entitled 'Is Christianity bad news for women?

Whom should I date and why should I marry?

On this special Valentine’s edition of Ask Away, Jo and Vince discuss singleness, dating, and marriage. They challenge us not to adopt an approach to marriage and relationships in general that—had Jesus adopted it—would have precluded Him from marrying us!

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