I Don't Have Enough FAITH to Be an ATHEIST

Latest Episodes:

Why Are Christians Supporting Unbiblical Positions? with Megan Basham, Alisa Childers, & Natasha Crain Aug 05, 2025

Show notes

Why are so many popular figures who claim to be Christians supporting anti-Christian positions and is there anything we can do about it? In this special midweek podcast episode recorded LIVE from CrossExamined Instructor Academy 2025 in Charlotte, NC, Frank sits down with Megan Basham, Alisa Childers, and Natasha Crain to discuss some of the popular secular ideas that plague the modern Church and answer questions like:

Does calling out sin and false teachers cause division in the Church?
What are four secular beliefs that promote the authority of self vs. the authority of God?
What are some incentives for going along with the flow instead of standing up for biblical truth?
Why are truth claims seen as power grabs for those who push back against biblical Christianity?
What does sourdough baking have to do with deceptive ideas?
Why is it important to get uncomfortably specific when it comes to calling out false teachers and their ideas?
What are some good resources for both adults and kids who want to embolden their Christian faith?
Are we on the verge of another great awakening or revival in the Church?

Be sure to check out some of the valuable resources for both kids and adults that were mentioned during the episode in the list below, and stay tuned for more podcast episodes recorded from CIA 2025!

Resources mentioned during the episode:

Fearless Faith Self-Paced Online Course - https://bit.ly/4kmld3g

Train Your Brain (online logic course for kids & adults) - https://bit.ly/4lMq6ni

Shepherds for Sale by Megan Basham - https://www.amazon.com/dp/0063413442

World Watch News - https://worldwatch.news/

Natasha's books - https://natashacrain.com/books/

Alisa's books -https://alisachilders.com/

The Top 5 Principles of Proper Biblical Interpretation with Mike Winger Aug 01, 2025

Show notes

Does your church teach you how to interpret the Bible? Sadly, many Christians never learn the tools to read Scripture well, and that leads to all kinds of confusion about theology. But how can we know if we’re handling God’s Word the right way?

This week, Frank sits down with the one and only Mike Winger, a former pastor turned popular YouTuber, who's dedicated his channel to helping Christians understand the Scriptures. In this episode, Mike shares what led him to take his ministry online and explains the five core principles he uses when studying the Bible—principles many churches don’t talk about, but every believer should know! During their conversation, Frank and Mike will dive into questions like:

Why do some churches seem to avoid the topic of how to interpret the Bible?
What are some commonly misinterpreted verses in the Bible?
What does it mean to "turn the other cheek"?
How can you avoid reading your presuppositions into the Bible?
Were Jesus' brothers really his cousins?
What’s the real context of Matthew 7 (“Don’t judge”) and Matthew 5 (“Eye for an eye”)?
Why is understanding proper word usage so important?
How has Bart Ehrman misled people about the Gospel of Mark?
What's one thing that makes the Gospel of Mark so unique?
Why does Mike feel compelled to call out false teachers?

Be sure to subscribe to Mike’s channel, visit his website BibleThinker.org, and learn how to study your Bible like never before!

Mike's website: https://biblethinker.org/

Mike's YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@MikeWinger 'How to Interpret Your Bible' Self-Paced Course: https://bit.ly/4asZCD6

Is Judging the Ultimate Sin? Unpacking the Chip & Joanna Gaines Controversy PLUS Q&A Jul 29, 2025

Show notes

HGTV's favorite home-renovating duo, Chip & Joanna Gaines, recently found themselves at the center of controversy after featuring a same sex couple on their new show. While they're known for flipping houses, some Christians are now asking, have they flipped their theology too?

In this solo midweek podcast episode, Frank addresses the cultural pressure Christians face when it comes to affirming homosexuality, and whether it’s ever wrong for believers to judge the sinful behavior of others. Tune in as Frank reacts to the backlash coming from both sides and answers questions like:

Did Jesus tell us never to judge?
Is it wrong to address sinful behavior that can hurt other people?
What's the difference between judging and being judgmental?
What are the 4 most popular secular and cultural beliefs that have made their way into Christianity?
Are our feelings a trustworthy guide for moral decisions?
How did Chip Gaines miss the mark during his recent tweet directed towards "modern American Christians"?
What’s the best way to correct someone without being obnoxious?

Later in the show, Frank also answers more of your listener questions including:

Is there a New Testament version of Jeremiah 29:11 that can be applied to modern-day Christians?
Can people be saved if they believe baptism is essential for salvation?
What are biblical chiasms, and how do they affect biblical interpretation?
What evidence shows the disputed long ending of Mark WAS in the original?

Resources mentioned during the episode:

Would Jesus Attend a Gay Wedding? - https://youtu.be/Ulbi94VvxSY Faithfully Different by Natasha Crain - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09PPY2CWQ

Hollywood Heroes by Frank & Zach Turek - https://bit.ly/3Or82Ax

The Longer Ending of Mark is Authentic! - https://youtu.be/r1Shh2m6w5A

Standing for Christ on the NBA Court with Jonathan Isaac Jul 25, 2025

Show notes

Would you compromise your Christian faith to save your job, your relationships, and your reputation? Or would you have the courage to stand up for what you believe, no matter the consequences?

On July 31, 2020, the Orlando Magic starting forward, Jonathan Isaac, was the lone NBA player not to kneel for the national anthem amid a league-wide demonstration in support of Black Lives Matter. This week, Frank sits down with Jonathan to talk through his inspirational story of faith, conviction, and courage in the face of overwhelming pressure. In this episode, you’ll learn:

How did Jonathan first become a Christian?
What apologetics arguments solidified his quest for seeking out the truth?
How did Jonathan overcome panic attacks and find his true identity beyond basketball?
What was it like being the only player on his team not to kneel during the national anthem and how did his teammates react?
What kind of backlash (and unexpected blessings) followed his decision?
What are some of the unique psychological struggles associated with being a professional basketball player?
Why did Denzel Washington say "fame is a monster" and how does Jonathan stay grounded in Christ amid the fame, money, and pressure of the NBA?
What surprising thing happened after Jonathan was dropped by Nike?

We hope this episode encourages you to boldly live out your Christian faith, even when it’s unpopular. To learn more about Jonathan’s powerful story, grab a copy of his book, 'Why I Stand', and check out his sneaker and Christian apparel line at WeAreUnitus.com.

Resources mentioned during the episode:

'Why I Stand' by Jonathan Isaac - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1956007067

Unitus Faith-Forward Footwear & Apparel - https://weareunitus.com/

Why the Foundations of Islam Are Now Crumbling with Dr. Jay Smith - Part 2 Jul 22, 2025

Show notes

How much do you really know about Islam? Is it possible that we've never been told the full story about the historic origins of Muhammad, Mecca, and the Qur'an? In this midweek episode, Frank continues his fascinating conversation with Islam expert, Dr. Jay Smith, who has dedicated his life to evangelizing Muslims. Together, they expose the shocking lack of historical and manuscript evidence for the Qur’an, the prophet Muhammad, and even the city of Mecca itself. Together, Frank and Dr. Smith address questions like:

What is the earliest manuscript evidence for the Qur’an, and why do over 2,000 variants raise serious concerns?
Are parts of the Qur’an based on Christian hymns?
Is Islam a Christian heresy?
Who is John of Damascus and why did he call parts of the Qur’an despicable, terrible, and evil?
Why did a top a Muslim scholar recently admit that we don’t have good historical evidence for anything written about what Muhammad said or did?
Why are most Muslim scholars so hesitant to talk about the Qur'an’s apparent problems?
What's the problem with the Black Stone of Mecca located in Saudi Arabia?
Could Islam have originated somewhere other than Mecca?
Is it possible that the Muhammad of Islam never existed?
What are the four major claims Muslims make about the Qur’an and how do they compare to Jesus and the Bible?
What is Dr. Smith's advice for Muslims and Christians when it comes to responding to this material?

This riveting conversation will not only expose the inconsistencies in Islam’s origin story, but also highlight the unmatched reliability of the Christian faith in contrast. We should encourage our Muslim friends to consider a better Man and a better Book--Jesus and His Word!

Resources mentioned during the episode:

Why the Foundations of Islam Are Now Crumbling (Part 1) - https://youtu.be/FS5fiBg5FOI Dr. Smith's website - https://www.pfandercenter.org/

Dr. Smith's YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@pfanderfilms Muslim Scholar Throws the Historicity of Muhammad UNDER THE BUS! - https://youtu.be/I7QdOw8RVJ4 Two New Findings That Muhammad Didn't Exist - https://youtu.be/wy_iD6Lf6MY Investigating Islam - https://youtu.be/40DclW84HkM Dismantling Islam PowerPoint Slides - https://bit.ly/dismantlingislam

Why the Foundations of Islam Are Now Crumbling with Dr. Jay Smith Jul 18, 2025

Show notes

Did the prophet Muhammad actually exist? How did the Qur’an come into existence? And did Islam really begin in Mecca? If you think you know a lot about the historic origins of Islam--think again!

Frank welcomes Dr. Jay Smith to the program, a legendary defender of the faith and top Christian apologist to Muslims who spent over two decades at the legendary Speaker’s Corner in London. Dr. Smith shares personal experiences from his years evangelizing Muslims, challenging Islamic claims, and navigating the theological and historical issues at the core of Islam. During this eye-opening conversation, Frank and Dr. Smith tackle questions like:

What was it like to evangelize at Speaker's Corner in London for 25 years and why is it a magnet for Muslims?
How did the events of 9/11/2001 change the dynamic between the world's two largest competing religious worldviews--Christianity and Islam?
Why is using the Qur’an helpful when sharing the Gospel with Muslims?
What is the “three-legged stool” that supports Islam and how does it compare to Christianity?
If Mecca is so old, why is there no evidence historically?
What are the four genres of S.I.N. (the Standard Islamic Narrative) and why are they being thrown under the bus by some Muslim scholars?
Why are there currently 30 official versions of the Qur’an even though it claims to be eternal and unchanged by human hands?
Why are the Qur’an's earliest manuscripts shockingly incomplete and why was the biography of Muhammad compiled by a German scholar?

Be sure to tune in next week as Frank and Dr. Smith continue unpacking the historical and theological cracks in the foundation of Islam. And don't miss the helpful resources in the list below!

Resources mentioned during the episode:

Dr. Smith's website - https://www.pfandercenter.org/

Dr. Smith's YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@pfanderfilms HOT OFF THE PRESS! Muslim Scholar Throws the Historicity of Muhammad UNDER THE BUS! - https://youtu.be/I7QdOw8RVJ4 Two New Findings That Muhammad Didn't Exist - https://youtu.be/wy_iD6Lf6MY Investigating Islam - https://youtu.be/40DclW84HkM Dismantling Islam PowerPoint Slides - https://bit.ly/dismantlingislam

Has the Holy Spirit Stopped Working? PLUS Is the Bible All We Need? Jul 15, 2025

Show notes

Why does the Church seem so ineffective (and sometimes corrupt) when it claims to carry the truth? Does this mean the Holy Spirit is no longer at work? And why does Frank recommend so many books on his podcast: Isn't the Bible all we need? Tune in this week as he tackles these pressing listener questions and quickly recaps last week's popular series on the Book of Revelation and the end times while addressing other questions like:

Why would God allow His Church to be so corrupt, chaotic, and unfaithful?
Do we need to sense the Holy Spirit working in our lives in order for Christianity to be true?
Despite its shortcomings, what positive impact has the Church made in the West and all over the world?
What is the contrasting difference between Jesus and Muhammad that many people don't understand?
What is Sola Scriptura? Does it mean everything we need to know is in the Bible?
What are the three tiers of understanding the Bible?
What are the three ways to gain wisdom?
What is prolegomena and why is it essential to a proper understanding of Scripture?
What's the #1 subject kids (and adults) should learn in addition to the Bible?
Why is redemption better than innocence?

Do you have a question for Frank? Send it to hello@crossexamined.org for a chance to be featured on a future episode!

Resources mentioned during the episode:

The Revelation YouTube playlist with Dr. Chip Bennet & Dr. Warren Gage - http://bit.ly/44LbAGL

Person of Interest by J. Warner Wallace - https://a.co/d/2nuyHyi

Train Your Brain Self-Paced Course - https://bit.ly/4lMq6ni

How to Interpret Your Bible Self-Paced Course - https://bit.ly/4asZCD6

Digging Up the Bible PREMIUM Course -https://bit.ly/446eWTr

What Should We Think About Angels & Demons? with Pastor Allen Jackson Jul 11, 2025

Show notes

We see the battle between good and evil throughout the Bible and in the world around us. But do angels and demons influence our lives today and if they do, how do they interact with us?

Joining Frank on the program this week is Pastor Allen Jackson from World Outreach Church in Murfreesboro, TN. Under his humble yet confident leadership, the church has grown from fewer than 30 people to over 15,000 since 1989. His new book, 'Angels, Demons & You: Unseen Spiritual Influences in Our Lives', provides a biblical perspective on the reality of spiritual forces and how they impact our daily lives. Together, Frank and Allen answer questions like:

What happened to Allen's mom that led to his whole family being born again?
How did World Outreach Church go from a small Bible study in Allen's parents' home to a megachurch?
Is leadership just a secular word?
Is Islam compatible with the U.S. Constitution?
Why does our American culture seem to dismiss the existence of angels and demons?
What was it like studying at a secular school like Vanderbilt University?
What roles did angels have in the Bible and what is their role today?
Should pastors be "political"?
Is there a way to detect the presence of angels and demons acting in our lives?

You'll also learn the importance of making disciples instead of people who just sit in pews, and why the greatest inheritance we can leave our family isn't fortune or fame--but living a life that honors God. From his humble beginnings as the son of an equine veterinarian, to a ministry that now reaches and encourages 3,000,000+ people per week around the globe, you'll see why Allen says, "The One we serve is great and we serve at His pleasure!"

Resources mentioned during the episode:

World Outreach Church - https://wochurch.org/

Allen Jack Ministries - https://allenjackson.com/

Allen’s podcast - https://cultureandchristianity.org/podcast/

Angels, Demons, and You - https://bit.ly/3TYYC1S

God Bless America Again - https://bit.ly/3IcTlRL

What No One Ever Told You About the Book of Revelation with Dr. Chip Bennett & Dr. Warren Gage - Part 2 Jul 08, 2025

Show notes

What do the surprising connections between Old Testament figures and Revelation reveal about the Bible’s divine authorship? Dr. Chip Bennett and Dr. Warren Gage return to continue their fascinating conversation with Frank about the true context of Revelation. Together, they’ll explore how the Old and New Testaments mirror one another in profound and intentional ways—shedding new light on Jesus, prophecy, and redemption. In this episode, they’ll answer questions like:

Why was Jesus named after Joshua?
How does the battle of Jericho relate to the Book of Revelation?
What's the significance of Jesus meeting the woman at the well?
What evidence suggests that the Book of John & the Book of Revelation were written together by John?
Who is the beast described in the Book of Revelation?
How is Joseph a type of Christ and what's the mind-blowing connection between Judah, Judas, and Jesus?
Why is only focusing on Bible "heroes" a big mistake?
How does spotting chiasms or center-points found in Scripture reveal a deeper meaning of the text?

You’ll discover how the Bible—from Genesis to Revelation—reveals God’s unified plan of redemption through types, themes, and patterns that no human could have orchestrated. This conversation will leave you with greater confidence in Scripture’s divine origin and remind you that no matter who tries to discredit it, the Bible stands as a trustworthy and true revelation from God!

Resources mentioned during the episode:

What No One Ever Told You About the Book of Revelation (Part 1) - https://bit.ly/3GwuEiP

Grace Community Church - https://www.gracesarasota.com/

The Revelation Project with Chip & Warren - http://bit.ly/44LbAGL

Chip on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@drchipbennett

Chip on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@drchipbennett Dr. Warren Gage on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@drwarrengage The Book of Revelation Explained in 5 Minutes! - https://www.watermarkgospel.com/revelation

Dr. Gage’s Essay on Revelation - https://www.drwarrengage.com/revelation

What No One Ever Told You About the Book of Revelation w/ Dr. Chip Bennett & Dr. Warren Gage Jul 04, 2025

Show notes

What’s the true meaning of the Book of Revelation? Is it only about the end times, or have we overlooked its deeper roots in the Old Testament? For centuries, Christians have wrestled with its symbols and prophecies—could it be that we've been missing the bigger picture?

This week, Frank welcomes Dr. Chip Bennett, pastor of Grace Community Church in Sarasota, FL along with his mentor and biblical scholar, Dr. Warren Gage, to reveal the often-ignored historical and theological context behind the Book of Revelation. Tune in as Frank, Chip, and Warren explore how early Christians—and the Church Fathers—understood this mysterious book and what modern readers might be missing. Together, they’ll tackle questions like:

What's the surprising connection between the Book of Joshua, Jesus, and the Book of Revelation?
Is Revelation a book of fear or a book of hope?
What’s the meaning behind the Two Witnesses and Jesus calling Himself “the door”?
How are stories like Rahab and Isaac prophetic pictures of Christ?
How is Scripture one of our greatest apologetic tools?
What did the early church fathers say about the Book of Revelation?
Why didn’t John Calvin write a commentary on Revelation, and is it a completely futuristic book?

Discover how the original recipients of Revelation would have read it, and why modern day readers need to recover a historical hermeneutic to understand it properly. This is a must-hear conversation for any and all Bible readers so don’t keep it to yourself--share it with a friend to help them connect the dots!

Resources mentioned during the episode:

Grace Community Church - https://www.gracesarasota.com/

The Revelation Project with Chip & Warren - http://bit.ly/44LbAGL

Chip on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@drchipbennett

Dr. Warren Gage on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@drwarrengage

Chip on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@drchipbennett

The Book of Revelation Explained in 5 Minutes! - https://www.watermarkgospel.com/revelation

Dr. Gage’s Essay on Revelation - https://www.drwarrengage.com/revelation