Podcast Summary: Apologia Radio – "Think Christianly w/ Dr. Joe Boot"

Date: November 12, 2025
Host(s): Luke “the Bear” Pierson (subbing for Jeff Durbin), with guests Dr. Joe Boot and Pastor Michael Tson
Episode Theme: Gospel-Driven, Hard-Hitting, Culturally Relevant Christian Philosophy
Main Topic: Dr. Joe Boot’s new book, "Think Christianly," and the urgent need for Christians to develop and apply a comprehensive, biblically rooted mindset to every area of life.

Overview

This episode features a lively and sometimes humorous conversation centered on Joe Boot’s new book, Think Christianly. The discussion spans issues of apologetics, worldview, the cultural crisis in the West (with frank commentary on the UK’s immigration struggles and Islamization), Christian philosophy, generational shifts in Western churches, and the crucial difference between revival and reformation. Michael Tson, a pastor and Ezra Institute executive, joins to give context, and the episode is peppered with anecdotes, cultural commentary, and practical reflections on discipleship and engaging culture for Christ.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Culture Shock: Immigration, Firearms, and the West (01:19–14:10)

• American vs. British/Canadian Perspective on Guns
  • Michael and Joe compare immigrating to the US and UK’s restrictive gun laws.
  • Quote (Joe, 07:42): “I just rely on the firepower of the Holy Spirit, usually, but, you know, it’s 1776.”
• Britain’s Ongoing Crisis with Islam and Secularism
  • Joe examines how Muslim population growth in UK cities poses cultural, political, and legal challenges.
  • Sharia courts, unintegrated communities, and political unrest are discussed.
  • Quote (Joe, 13:01): “There is increasing recognition of the threat of Islamic ideology, but it’s late in the day... we are on an irreversible path to civil conflict.”

2. Governance & National Identity in Britain (14:11–23:40)

• UK Politics & the Rise of the Reform Party
  • Commentary on PM Keir Starmer’s weakness, rising taxes, crisis of law and order, and Reform Party’s popularity.
• Monarchy & Spiritual Decline
  • Reflection on Queen Elizabeth II’s death as a pivotal moment for British identity.
  • The spiritual legacy of the Queen vs. King Charles’ climate activism.
  • Quote (Joe, 22:15): “It felt like a tipping point, a turning point really when she passed... the end of an era, the passing of the old world, the world of Christianity, of Christendom.”

3. Introducing 'Think Christianly' (25:27–29:59)

• Book’s Background and Aim
  • Michael emphasizes the book’s role in equipping believers with the philosophical building blocks to engage every cultural issue through a biblical lens.
  • Mission of God dealt with practical theology; Think Christianly roots that application in Christian philosophical foundations.
  • Quote (Michael, 25:36): “This book is the Christian philosophical underpinnings that would even lead to the Mission of God’s application.”

4. Revival vs. Reformation; Generational Challenges in the Church (30:15–37:42)

• Revival Is Not Enough—Reformation Is Needed
  • Church problems discussed: inability to retain young men, the failure of “gimmick” churches, loss of a “kingdom vision.”
  • The Z generation is turning to the Bible for answers amid chaos—yet finds a shallow, compartmentalized church.
  • Quote (Joe, 32:54): “Because they haven’t been, this is why we’ve had this dualistic, schizophrenic church—part humanist, part secular, part Christian.”
• No Quick Fixes for Cultural Crisis
  • Joe urges patient, multi-pronged engagement; warns against gimmicks (including both leftist and far-right responses).
  • Quote (Joe, 36:08): “Is there a quick fix to the cultural crisis we’re in? ...Because we didn’t get here overnight, we’re not going to get out of this overnight.”

5. Judgment, Hope, and the Need for Christian Thinking (38:25–41:07)

• Cultural Markers of Judgment
  • Societal embrace of immorality is a sign that we are under God’s judgment, not merely approaching it.
  • The church must not see these as only political problems, but as deeply theological.
  • Quote (Joe, 39:10): “LGBTQ... that is the mark of God’s judgment. It’s not a harbinger of judgment. It is judgment.”
• Eschatological Hope & Christian Responsibility
  • While Christ’s kingdom will triumph, there is an immediate call for bold, clear Christian witness.

6. Developing the Christian Mind—The Book's Core Argument (41:08–54:43)

• Mind as Critical Battleground
  • Michael: The Christian mind has been surrendered to secular academics; time to reclaim it with biblical philosophy.
  • Importance of presuppositional apologetics and grounding intellect in scripture.
• Book Structure
  • First half: Philosophical “prolegomena”—why worldview matters and how the church ended up divided and weak.
  • Second half: Applications to modern issues—Marxism, sexuality, bioethics, critical theory, and more.
  • Quote (Joe, 54:35): “Maybe the first half of the book is that (philosophical foundation), and the second half is dealing with further applications—issues I wasn’t able to devote time to in Mission of God.”

7. Incense, Genius, and Christian Witness (56:32–70:59)

• Aroma of Christ in the World
  • Stunning image drawn from 2 Corinthians 2:14-17. Christians are “Christ’s incense,” spreading the victorious aroma of His Gospel—not confined to the church building but permeating culture.
  • Quote (Joe, 59:10): “We offer ourselves... as the incense of God to the world. We are the fragrance that is to bring life to the totality of the world around us.”
• Authority from Calling, Not Genius
  • The authority of the Christian witness does not rest in human genius or ingenuity, but in being called by God and proclaiming the unadulterated Word.
  • Quote (Joe, 64:45): “The genius is born, but the Christian, whoever they are, is called and has an authority not of the genius of the expert, but an authority that comes from Christ himself.”
  • Apologetics should challenge the unbeliever at the “religious root of their willful rebellion against God,” not just appeal to intellectual dexterity.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On British gun laws:
  Joe (08:04): “We do have a very serious problem with knife crime in the UK... After WWII, they started taking our guns away... So now we’ve got machete-wielding people in the streets.”
• On rapid societal shift:
  Michael (29:59): “Crisis conservatism is over. Removing Christianity from a national vision must be done. We need to have a Christian mind towards all of these issues.”
• On church’s loss of young men:
  Joe (32:37): “Unless you have a kingdom vision, unless you have an undivided mind, unless you have a mission to give them... What kind of Christianity are they encountering?”
• On quick fixes:
  Joe (36:36): “Patience is... one of the key messages of Scripture. We have to engage at every level—political, social, cultural, the academy, sciences, history, sexuality, the life issue... And we need faithfulness on all those fronts.”
• On authority in apologetics:
  Joe (69:57): “It is the critical point: it’s not about the reach of our intellect. It’s not about how smart we are. The authority is Christ’s. And when we don’t adulterate the word, what we communicate, communicates with that authority. And it’s always original.”
• On being Christ’s aroma:
  Joe (63:12): “Paul says we do not, like so many others, adulterate the word of God. We preach it in all its purity as God gave it to us, standing before God’s presence in Christ. So there we are... offering incense. Christ takes hold of us as His people and says they are the incense for the world.”

Key Timestamps

• Guns, Immigration, and Crime in the UK: 01:19–14:10
• Political Turmoil & Monarchy Commentary: 14:11–23:40
• Introduction to Think Christianly / Ezra Institute: 25:27–29:59
• Revival vs. Reformation; Retaining Young Men: 30:15–37:42
• On Judgment, Hope, and Christian Mind: 38:25–41:07
• Book's Purpose and Structure: 41:08–54:43
• Incense & Christians in Culture / Authority vs. Genius: 56:32–70:59

Resources & Next Steps

• Book: "Think Christianly" by Joe Boot
• Website: Ezrapress.com, EzraInstitute.com, EzraMedia.com
• Small Group Curriculum: "A Biblical View for All of Life" – sign up at Ezra sites

Tone and Format

The discussion throughout the episode is honest, incisive, and deeply committed to biblical authority, often blending humor (friendly teasing, cultural gags) with earnest warnings and theological depth. The team speaks in accessible language, balancing academic terms (“prolegomena,” “presuppositionalism”) with relatable real-world analogies about church, culture, and discipleship.

For anyone interested in apologetics, cultural engagement, or the philosophical foundations of reformational Christianity, this episode provides an encouraging (and sometimes sobering) road map for “thinking Christianly” in an age of cultural upheaval.