Podcast Summary:

I Don't Have Enough FAITH to Be an ATHEIST
Episode: What Happened to Our Respect for Authority?
Host: Dr. Frank Turek
Guests: Brett & Erin Kunkle (maventruth.com, Maven Parent Podcast)
Date: August 19, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Dr. Frank Turek sits down with Brett and Erin Kunkle to examine the cultural crisis of authority, particularly as it relates to parenting and the Christian worldview. The discussion explores why respect for authority has eroded in Western society, its effects on families and child development, and how Christians should respond to this shifting landscape. The Kunkles draw from their experience as parents of five (and grandparents), as well as their podcast and ministry work.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Authority Crisis in Culture

• Definition of the Problem:
  Dr. Turek introduces a widespread "authority crisis” — the cultural rejection or suspicion of legitimate authority across institutions like education, media, politics, and law enforcement.

  • "You look at law enforcement, and there's a crisis of authority there." (Brett Kunkle, 04:24)
  • "Our kids are soaking in a culture where there's a lack of authority, there's a lack of trust in authority. And so they...import it right into their Christian life." (Brett Kunkle, 05:07)

• Expressive Individualism:
  Erin Kunkle explains how the ethos of expressive individualism—that “I am the authority of myself”—has replaced traditional authority structures in both secular and Christian households.

  • "When you have all these institutions that crumble, who becomes the authority? Well, I do." (Erin Kunkle, 07:35)

2. Impact on Parenting and Family Life

• Authority Vacuum at Home:
  The Kunkles highlight how social media, rather than wisdom from older relatives or the church, now shapes parental philosophies, leading to confusion and chaos.

  • "It's as if we've thrown out...God's good design in establishing authorities and not letting sin taint the whole structure of it." (Erin Kunkle, 19:03)

• Changing Definitions of Obedience:
  The biblical command that children obey their parents is now out of vogue, seen as “a bad word.” Parents often defer to a child's feelings and desires rather than assertively guiding or disciplining.

• Gentle Parenting Critique:
  Modern “gentle parenting” models, heavily influenced by figures like Dr. Becky (“Good Inside”), assume that children are inherently good. Erin and Brett argue this contradicts both reality and Christian doctrine of original sin.

  • "If kids are good inside, why do we need to parent them at all?" (Dr. Frank Turek, 20:50)
  • "It really is an attack on the whole structure of the family." (Erin Kunkle, 21:36)

3. Theological Roots and the Biblical View

• Authority as God’s Design:
  Brett notes that parental authority reflects God’s authority, and undermining parents can subtly undermine children’s future receptivity to God’s authority.

  • "Parents...are to model the proper relationship between an authority and someone under that authority. A healthy relationship with mom and dad lays the foundation for a healthy relationship with God." (Brett Kunkle, 09:53)

• Sin and Human Nature:
  Erin points to the biblical narrative—Genesis 1 (image of God) and Genesis 3 (rebellion)—as foundational to understanding that both the parent and child are influenced by sin.

  • "We have to go all the way back and start at the beginning of what is the Christian view of the human being?" (Erin Kunkle, 23:31)

4. Building Genuine Authority: Relationship and Knowledge

• Necessity of Trust and Relationship:
  Brett analogizes authority to the context behind commands—a stranger’s orders don’t hold weight, but those from a loved and trusted person or a legitimate expert do.

  • "Authority needs two primary things. For us to build that, we need relationship and we need knowledge." (Brett Kunkle, 13:43)

• Scriptural Illiteracy:
  They observe that most Christian youth lack relationship with and knowledge of the Bible and God, making it hard to respect scriptural authority.

5. Consequences for the Next Generation

• Practical Outcomes:
  Children raised as their own authorities struggle with submission to teachers, bosses, or God. The focus on validating all feelings fosters confusion, instability, and even depression.

  • "We're seeing a generation of kids who think they are the authority. And then reality's starting to bump into them, and they don't like it." (Erin Kunkle, 27:10)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Time | Speaker | Quote | |---------|---------|-------| | 04:24 | Brett | “You look at law enforcement, and there's a crisis of authority there.” | | 05:07 | Brett | "Our kids are soaking in a culture where there's a lack of authority, there's a lack of trust in authority." | | 07:35 | Erin | “When you have all these institutions that crumble, who becomes the authority? Well, I do.” | | 09:53 | Brett | “A healthy relationship with mom and dad lays the foundation for a healthy relationship with God.” | | 13:43 | Brett | “Authority needs two primary things. For us to build that, we need relationship and we need knowledge.” | | 19:03 | Erin | "It's as if we've thrown out...God's good design in establishing authorities and not letting sin taint the whole structure of it."| | 20:50 | Frank | “If kids are good inside, why do we need to parent them at all?” | | 21:36 | Erin | "It really is an attack on the whole structure of the family." | | 23:31 | Erin | "We have to go all the way back and start at the beginning of what is the Christian view of the human being?"| | 27:10 | Erin | “We're seeing a generation of kids who think they are the authority. And then reality's starting to bump into them, and they don't like it.” |

Actionable Advice for Christian Parents

1. Root Discipline and Instruction in God’s Character

• “When we correct our kids...I think we wanna root all of our training and teaching and righteousness to God and who he is.” (Erin, 30:15)
• Use age-appropriate explanations: e.g., "Mommy said no, you need to obey Mommy" at age two; by age five, help them understand "we don't treat others this way because God tells us to love others."

2. Maintain Clear Moral Language and Standards

• Don’t shy away from the language of right/wrong, good/bad—these are moral realities anchored in God’s character, not just parental preferences. Children need to hear and understand this as their moral framework is developed.

3. Emphasize the Bible as Real Knowledge

• “The Bible gives us knowledge of reality...compare and contrast everything that the culture says to the truth of scripture.” (Brett, 32:02)

4. Address Misdiagnosis of Human Nature

• Beware of worldviews suggesting children are innately good and only corrupted by external factors. The Christian doctrine sees both image-of-God dignity and sin, leading to a balanced and realistic approach to discipline and nurture.

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:03 – Introduction and episode framing (crisis of authority)
• 03:34 – The Christian worldview on authority; the erosion in culture
• 06:06 – Social media's impact on modern parenting and loss of generational wisdom
• 09:05 – Impact of expressive individualism and its undermining of parental/God’s authority
• 12:00 – Illustration: Why commands only work with real authority behind them
• 18:58 – Comparison with “gentle parenting”; consequences of child-centered authority
• 23:31 – Biblical anthropology: image of God and sin in parenting
• 27:10 – Consequences in child development and culture
• 30:15 – Practical tips for Christian discipline and parenting
• 32:02 – The Bible as a source of knowledge and how to evaluate culture’s claims

Final Thoughts

Brett and Erin Kunkle urge Christian parents not to abdicate their God-given authority, but to nurture it wisely—with love, relationship, and robust teaching rooted in God’s reality. Understanding and teaching the true purpose and nature of authority is portrayed as essential to raising children prepared for both earthly and spiritual maturity.

For in-depth discussions, listeners are encouraged to check out the Kunkles’ Maven Parent Podcast.

“The first lie ever told—‘Has God said?’—is repeated again and again...when they're really lies but they're sugar coated and whitewashed in order to get you to swallow them.”
— Dr. Frank Turek (32:34)