Part one of a new series by GoodLion Ministries called “Resisting Apathy”. Aaron and Brian speak into the problem of apathy in the Christian life, noting how it is a problem that is born out of complacency and a disconnect from Christ.

Christian apathy is defined as a lack of interest or concern for the things of God. It is a problem that plagues the church and keeps people from truly following Jesus. As two former youth pastors, Aaron and Brian have seen so many young Christians ride the roller coaster of faith, swinging from “on fire for Christ” to “burned out on religion” and “disconnected from God.”

When people are complacent, they are content with where they are in their relationship with God. They are not interested in growing or changing. This can lead to a disconnect from the Christian community and from Jesus. Apathy is also a problem because it leads to a complacency about sin. When people are not interested in the things of God, they are also not interested in repenting of their sin. This can lead to a life marked by sin and a lack of fruitfulness. If you are struggling with apathy, it is important to understand that you are not alone. Many Christians struggle with this issue. However, there is hope!

Aaron and Brian discuss how vital it is to start your journey of resisting apathy with reconnecting with the story of Christianity itself. The story of God. Once you recapture this story, and find your place within it, your journey away from apathy and towards a revitalized faith truly begins.

Some people insist the Bible is the word of God. Still others insist, no Jesus is the Word of God. Where does the truth lie?

In this episode of the GoodLion Podcast, Aaron Salvato sits down with pastor Evan Wickham to discuss this important theological topic.

Aaron writes:

“Years ago I heard one of my mentors, Evan Wickham, use a phrase I found compelling. He said: “Jesus is what God has to say.” It was powerful and it stuck with me. Over the years I’ve been mulling over this phrase and thinking about how it intersects with one of the debates that’s being had within Christianity about the concept of “the word of God.”

In this episode, that’s the topic we are going to dive into. I’m joined by that same mentor I learned the phrase “Jesus Is what God has to say” from: my former youth pastor and good friend, Evan Wickham.

We get deep. We get Biblical. I know that I learned a lot, and I hope you do too.”

More Helpful Insights of this topic from GotQuestions.org:

The phrase “word of God” appears often in the Bible and can have a slightly different meaning depending on context and the Hebrew or Greek word used. John 1:1-2 says, “In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” Here, Word is a title of the Lord Jesus. The term translated “Word” is logos, which basically means “the expression of a thought.” Logos can be thought of as the total message of God to man (Acts 11:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:13). Jesus embodied that total message, and that is why He is called the “Logos,” or “Word,” of God (Colossians 1:19; 2:9).

Logos is also used many times when referring to the written message of God (John 17:17; 1 Timothy 4:5; Revelation 1:2; Colossians 1:25). Hebrews 4:12 says, “The word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Jesus showed a link between the written Word of God and Himself, in that He is the subject of the written Word: “You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me” (John 5:39).

Another Greek word used for “word” is rhema. Rhema refers to the actual spoken/written words of God (Hebrews 6:5). When Jesus was being tempted by Satan, He answered, “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word [rhema] that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). We are told in Ephesians 6:17 to “take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word [rhema] of God.” Jesus demonstrated we need the actual recorded words of God to overcome Satan’s attacks.

The phrase “word of God” means more than the printed words on a page. God is a communicator and has been speaking into the human realm since the beginning. He speaks through His creation (Psalm 19:1), through ancient prophets (Hosea 12:10; Hebrews 1:1), through the Holy Spirit (John 16:13; Acts 16:6), through Scripture (Hebrews 4:12), and through the Person of His Son, Jesus Christ (John 14:9). We can learn to know God better by seeking to hear Him in every way that He speaks.

To listen to the podcast, click below.

In a cultural moment that is growing hostile towards the Church, it’s becoming easier than ever for Christians to slip into mission drift.

“Without careful attention, faith-based organizations will inevitably drift from their founding mission. It’s that simple. It will happen.” – Peter Greer

Out of defensiveness and self preservation, it can become easy for us to turn our mission field into a battle field, where the focus and goal shifts from reaching the lost to defeating them in political and social battles.

This isn’t to say Christians should not have an influence on the culture, far from it. It is an admonishment to walk cautiously in these times and keep the main thing the main thing. It is encouragement to avoid the extremes of both the far-left and far-right, and ensure the main thing we are radical about is the preaching Gospel and making disciples.

In this final episode of the negative World Series, Aaron Salvato, Brian Higgins, and Mike Doyle discuss how we can have wisdom while living in the negative world.

To listen to the podcast episode, click the player below.

Aaron Salvato writes:
“Many Christians now sense the world has shifted. While culture was once positive towards Christianity, we now see a world that has shifted from openness to indifference and now hostility.

A negative world.

Which begs the question… how do we respond to this idea of the negative world? How do we adapt? How do we avoid negative responses that hold us back from our mission and focus on the kind of response that makes a difference in this broken world?

Today on the GoodLion Podcast, I once again sit down with Mike Doyle, founder and lead pastor of Movement Church in NYC, to chat about this complex issue.

We discuss the need for deep faith. A renewed sense of Christian vision, identity, and formation, and how reclaiming the monastic principles of early Christians, even in small ways, can make a big difference.

Later in the episode, I’ll be joined by Brian Higgins to look at the debate surrounding Tim Keller’s strategy of winsomeness and how properly understanding what we mean when we say winsome makes a massive difference in how to understand this conflict.

Then Mike will join me again to close out the episode as we discuss the problems of both-sidesism and the need for a resurgence of theological orthodoxy.

I really enjoyed these convos, and as This episode is the 2nd of a 3-part series on the Negative World, there will be more good convos to come.
We hope it helps you think and consider how to walk wisely as a Jesus follower and to consider the ways the world is changing, but also how our mission as Christians never changes.

You’re listening to the GoodLion Podcast!”

Abortion is a hot button topic that is often debated by both Christians and non Christians. Ryan Lynn (Founder of the Speak Life Collective) is here to challenge us on how we can think through this divisive topic as followers of Christ.

In this discussion, Aaron and Brian dialogue with Ryan about the value of an unborn life, how to respond to those who hold pro-choice views, what it means to be pro-life, the ethics of abortion, how to get involved with this ideological battle as a peacemaker, how to show grace and compassion to women who’ve struggled through this issue, and how to hold boldly to your convictions while carrying those convictions with compassion.

It’s a great talk and we really hope it encourages and equips you to walk closely with Jesus as you engage the culture around you for the Kingdom of God.

For great apologetical resources on this topic, visit the Q&A page on the Speak Life Collective website – https://www.speaklifecollective.com/answers.html