Focus on the Family: “Redeeming Your Blended Marriage”
Date: September 15, 2025
Episode Theme:
A dynamic discussion with Christian apologist and author Justin Brierley about the resurgence of faith in Western culture, the relationship between science and faith, and how Christians can winsomely and confidently share the gospel amidst cultural skepticism and moral upheaval. Hosted by Jim Daly and John Fuller.
Overview of Main Theme
The episode centers on the observation of a surprising "rebirth" of Christian faith after years of dominance by secularism, atheism, and skepticism in Western culture. Justin Brierley draws from his experiences of dialogue with skeptics and atheists, emphasizing both intellectual and spiritual aspects of coming to faith. The conversation offers encouragement, practical apologetic insights, and strategies for engaging culture compassionately and with confidence.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. The Role of Cultural Understanding in Christian Life
[02:51 - 03:48]
- Brierley underscores the importance for Christians to be “well-rounded” in both faith and knowledge of contemporary culture.
- Quote (Justin Brierley, 03:06):
“If we don't know what we believe and why we believe it, then when those difficult questions come ... we’re going to be left stranded.”
- He points out that information and resources are now vastly accessible, making cultural and scriptural literacy more attainable than ever.
2. Changing Attitudes Toward Faith in Western Culture
[03:48 - 05:54]
- New data reveals a recent uptick in church attendance and openness to faith, especially among young people.
- Brierley attributes this to the failure of atheism and secular humanism to provide a compelling life narrative.
- Quote (Justin Brierley, 04:30):
“The secular, humanist, atheist narrative just hasn’t worked out for people, frankly... Young people especially, they're looking for a story to make sense of life.”
- He references influencers like Jordan Peterson and historian Tom Holland as contributing to renewed interest in Christianity.
3. Confidence in Faith Despite Cultural Turbulence
[05:54 - 07:24]
- Christians are called to display confidence in eternal truths, especially during destabilizing times.
- Brierley notes a societal realization that politicians, scientists, or sociologists cannot solve foundational issues—leading some back to Christian roots.
- Quote (Justin Brierley, 06:37):
“Sometimes those are the kinds of times that God uses to actually draw people back to himself.”
4. Harmonizing Science and Faith
[07:24 - 09:10]
- Brierley shares personal experience of growing up with a scientist father who maintained strong faith.
- Science and faith are not seen as conflicting, but rather, science points to an underlying “logos”—the Word.
- Quote (Justin Brierley, 08:34):
“When I look at the world, at biology, at physics, I actually see this extraordinary amount of coherence that seems to point beyond … towards some kind of creative intelligence.”
5. The Necessity of Faith and the Intellectual-Spiritual Dynamic
[09:10 - 11:02]
- Faith requires “a plunge into something you don’t understand,” involving both intellect and humility.
- Many atheists, Brierley observes, struggle with the need for humility or surrender, rather than purely intellectual objections.
- Quote (Justin Brierley, 10:22):
“We do have to surrender our ego… That’s a spiritual issue at its core.”
6. Atheist Engagement and the “Meaning Crisis”
[11:02 - 13:48]
- The paradox of atheists passionately discussing (and rejecting) God is explored.
- Brierley shares the story of Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s journey from prominent atheism to Christian faith, illustrating the convergence of intellectual and spiritual searching.
- Quote (Justin Brierley, 12:24):
“An intellectual journey… But it was also a personal journey where she kind of encountered a meaning crisis… She started to describe the kind of God she’d be willing to believe in, and realized she was basically describing Jesus Christ.”
7. Christianity’s Distinctive Moral Vision and Cultural Decay
[15:06 - 17:43]
- Brierley discusses the loss of moral boundaries as belief in God wanes, referencing Nietzsche:
“Without God, everything is permissible.”
- Western values (human dignity, equality) arose from Christianity’s narrative and cannot be sustained without it, he argues.
- Quote (Justin Brierley, 16:20):
“It was the Christian church that revolutionized the way we think about how to treat people and morality.”
8. Addressing Exclusivity Claims of Christianity
[18:33 - 21:41]
- Brierley explains how claims about religious truth are exclusive by nature, not unique to Christianity.
- He advocates respectfully acknowledging real core differences between religions.
- Uses “key in a lock” analogy for religious truth:
“If you find the key that opens the door, you found the real thing. And I think for me, that’s expressed in Jesus, especially in His resurrection.”
9. The Importance of Gentleness and Respect in Apologetics
[21:41 - 24:38]
- Christians are urged not to treat apologetics as a competition, but as loving reasoning with others.
- Reference to 1 Peter 3:15—be prepared to give an answer “with gentleness and respect.”
- Quote (Justin Brierley, 22:46):
“People want to feel that they’re actually being heard ... The way you say things matters just as much as what you say.”
- Authentic Christian witness is as much about character as about argument:
“No one’s going to want to become a Christian if the example they have sitting in front of them ... doesn’t look like the kind of person they’d want to become.”
10. Final Encouragement
[24:38 - End]
- Jim Daly reminds listeners not to let negative portrayals of Christians cloud their search for meaning.
- Endorsement for Brierley’s book Why I’m Still a Christian as a resource.
- Expression of hope: sharing the gospel, impacting culture, and supporting fellow seekers.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Justin Brierley [03:06]:
“If we don’t know what we believe and why we believe it, then when those difficult questions come ... we’re going to be left stranded.” - Justin Brierley [04:30]:
“The secular, humanist, atheist narrative just hasn’t worked out for people, frankly... Young people especially, they’re looking for a story to make sense of life.” - Justin Brierley [10:22]:
“We do have to surrender our ego… That’s a spiritual issue at its core.” - Justin Brierley [16:20]:
“It was the Christian church that revolutionized the way we think about how to treat people and morality.” - Justin Brierley [22:46]:
“People want to feel that they’re actually being heard ... The way you say things matters just as much as what you say.” - Justin Brierley [23:48]:
“No one’s going to want to become a Christian if the example they have sitting in front of them ... doesn’t look like the kind of person they’d want to become.”
Timestamps for Important Segments
- [03:05] – The importance of being well-rounded in faith and culture
- [04:30] – Trends of increasing openness to faith in Western culture
- [06:37] – Societal challenges prompting renewed interest in faith
- [08:34] – Uniting scientific inquiry and Christian belief
- [12:24] – Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s intellectual and spiritual journey to faith
- [16:20] – Christianity’s impact on moral and cultural values
- [20:00] – Analogies for religious exclusivity and the “key in a lock”
- [22:46] – Winsome apologetics: “gentleness and respect”
- [24:38] – Daly’s final encouragement about seeking God despite bad examples
Tone and Approach
- The episode maintained a compassionate, invitational, and reasoned tone, mirroring the conversational, respectful approach promoted by Brierley.
- Both hosts and guest emphasized humility, gentle reasoning, and authentic Christian living as more powerful than argumentation alone.
This summary distills the episode's core conversations and practical takeaways, providing clear entry points for listeners seeking to understand today’s faith landscape, the role of apologetics, and how to engage their world with both conviction and grace.