Live Free with Josh Howerton

Lakepointe Church | Episode: ICE Shooting in Minneapolis: How Should Christians Respond!?
Air Date: January 12, 2026

Overview

This episode of Live Free with Josh Howerton dives into two major topics:

1. Frequently "Shouted" Questions about Baptism—A deep theological discussion on the meaning, methods, and necessity of water and Spirit baptism, including an extended critique of Catholic and Protestant paedobaptist (infant baptism) perspectives.
2. Christian Response to the Minneapolis ICE Shooting—Analysis of the Minneapolis incident where an ICE agent fatally shot a woman, the ensuing cultural reactions, and a call for Christians to seek reflective, justice-minded responses rather than reactive activism.

Throughout, the tone is lively, engaging, and intentionally practical, aiming to empower Christians to live thoughtfully and biblically in a chaotic world.

Key Participants

• Pastor Josh Howerton (Host, Lead Pastor at Lakepointe Church)
• Carlos Arazan (Co-host)
• Pastor Paul Cunningham (Guest/Pastor)
• Occasional references to other public figures, e.g., Father Mike Schmitz

1. Frequently Shouted Questions About Baptism

Main Questions Discussed

• If I was baptized as a baby, do I need to be re-baptized?
• Does baptism save you, or is it symbolic?
• What's the difference between water baptism and the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
• Is there a biblical case for infant baptism? What are the main positions in Christianity?

[07:26] The Three Main Theological Positions on Baptism

Paul Cunningham:

• Roman Catholic Position: Baptism (usually as infants) initiates salvation, removes original sin, confers regeneration, and is necessary for entry into the Church.
• Protestant Paedobaptist Position: Baptism is for infants of believers, not to save but to signify entry into the congregation, expecting future faith. (E.g., Presbyterians, Methodists.)
• Credo-Baptist (Team Lakepointe): Only professing believers are baptized, by immersion, as a public declaration after personal faith.

Josh Howerton:

"If baptism is a symbol and sign that I am beginning the Christian life, it should be for those who have begun the Christian life." ([30:02])

[17:28] Shared Beliefs and Key Differences

Shared:

• Baptism is a step of obedience.
• In NT church, “there is no such thing as a Christian who intentionally refuses baptism.” ([17:53])

Differences:

• Who is baptized (infant vs. believer)
• How (pouring/sprinkling/immersion)
• Essential meaning (salvation, expectation, or sign of faith)

[25:24] Why Credo-Baptism? (Lakepointe’s Position)

Paul Cunningham:

• Best Scriptural Case: Always a sequence—faith and repentance, then baptism. No example or command to baptize infants in the NT.
• Preserves the Meaning: Baptism symbolizes union with Christ; infants cannot express this faith.
• Protects the Gospel:

  "Now, we'll be careful here because... it's hard not to slip into [‘works’ salvation] if you add anything, like baptism, to faith alone." ([30:08])

[31:23] Major Scriptural Passages Discussed

• John 3 (“Born again by water and Spirit”)—Context in Ezekiel 36: not a command for baptism, but a promise of spiritual cleansing and rebirth.
• Acts 2:38 (“Repent and be baptized...”): Emphasizes immediate response, but faith is what saves; baptism is not the means of salvation.
• 1 Peter 3:21 (“Baptism now saves you...”): This is a complex, debated verse; interpreted as baptism being an outward pledge of a good conscience, not the literal water saving.
• Romans 10; John 3:16—Overwhelming clarity: Salvation is "by grace alone, through faith alone, apart from works" ([42:14]).

Notable Quote:

"The number of verses that make it clear that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, apart from works is stacked a mile high."
—Josh Howerton ([42:15])

[47:26] FAQs and Pastoral Wisdom

• Should I get baptized if I was only baptized as a baby?

  "Yes, you should... Baptism is an outward expression of an inward reality of grace... That was not true of you when you were an infant." ([47:38])

• Should young children be baptized immediately after a profession of faith?

  "Be discerning about the why... Don’t rush them to avoid false assurance—look for signs of genuine conversion." ([50:04])

• Do you need to be baptized to be saved?

  "No, you don't.... We're saved by grace apart from works. Yet, it's real dang important." ([52:11])

• Should I be baptized again if I’m ‘rededicating’ my life?

  "No—baptism is one and done... Just repent and start following Jesus anew." ([54:59])

[55:48] Baptism of the Holy Spirit: Is It a Thing?

Josh Howerton:

• Avoids denominational fights about terms; what's important is the biblical concept:
  • All believers have the Holy Spirit at salvation.
  • The NT pattern shows subsequent fillings for power, assurance, and deeper encounter.
  • Cites Jesus, the disciples (John 20, Acts 2, Acts 4), and Pauline teaching (Ephesians 5:18: "Be filled with the Spirit," present continuous).
• Key Purpose: Power for witness, assurance of salvation, deep experience of God’s love.

Historical Testimonies:
Examples from D.L. Moody, Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley, Blaise Pascal, Thomas Aquinas—each encountering dramatic post-conversion "fillings" or assurances of the Spirit.

Notable Quote:

"If Jesus needed [the Spirit’s filling], heads up, bro—you need it desperately."
—Josh Howerton ([59:53])

2. ICE Shooting in Minneapolis: How Should Christians Respond?

(Discussion begins ~[74:31])

[75:45] The Playbook: Manufactured Outrage and Christian Discernment

Josh:

• Describes the incident: ICE agents executing a lawful warrant, fatal shooting of a woman (blocking, then ramming an officer with her car).
• Immediate social media outrage—often based on unclear, selectively-edited footage.
• Political and media figures seize the narrative before investigation or full information.
• When full footage/evidence emerges, it often tells a more complex story, but anger has already been weaponized.

Notable Quote:

"If you have already decided who the good guy is and who the bad guy is before you hear anything, you are not interested in justice. You're just an activist for a cause." ([13:00] referenced later at [92:37])

[81:35, 94:00] The Christian Call: Slow Down, Reflect, and Seek Justice

• Proverbs 18:17 cited:

  "Whoever states his case first seems right until another comes and examines him."

• Cautions against intersectional/critical theory lens that pre-determines innocence/guilt by identity or social status.
• Biblical justice: investigate and weigh evidence; wait for all the facts.
• Empathy for All: tragedy for all involved (mother killed, officer traumatized, children left motherless).
• Slow to React: In the age of viral outrage, Christians must intentionally be “ten times slower,” letting due process unfold.
• Pray for All Parties: Officer, woman’s family, the city.

[98:29] The Underlying Spiritual Reality: Lawlessness

Carlos:

• Sees a “spirit behind all this that rejects authority, wants to tear down systems, and rebels in nihilistic outrage. The Bible calls that a spirit of lawlessness.”
• Jesus warns in Matthew 24—in the last days, lawlessness will abound, and love will grow cold.

[99:31, 102:24] Lawlessness vs. God-Ordained Authority

• The enemy (Satan) is “the spirit of lawlessness.”
• God instituted three authorities: Family, Church, State, and secular progressivism often targets all three for deconstruction.
• Christians are called to submit, honor, and reform—not destructively rebel.

Notable Quote:

“If you watch in secular progressivism, what does it teach? Instead of ‘honor your father and mother,’ the whole vibe is ‘blame your father and mother.’... When it comes to the state, that’s what it does. The spirit underneath the situation is a spirit of lawlessness.”
—Josh Howerton ([99:31]–[102:24])

[102:27] Prayer and Final Thoughts

A closing prayer for wisdom, peacemaking, Spirit-filling, the city of Minneapolis, the woman’s family, and the ICE agent.

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• “Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, apart from works, is stacked a mile high.” —Josh ([00:00], [42:15])
• “If baptism is a symbol and sign that I am beginning the Christian life, it should be for those who have begun the Christian life.” —Paul ([30:02])
• “If you have already decided who the good guy is and who the bad guy is before you hear anything, you are not interested in justice. You're just an activist for a cause.” —Josh ([13:00], [92:37])
• “We want reformation, not lawlessness.” —Carlos ([99:07])
• “Lawlessness is the undergirding spirit underneath critical theory and everything it embodies.” —Josh ([99:31])
• “Ask, seek, and knock—your heavenly Father wants to give you [the Spirit’s fullness].” —Josh ([73:03])

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [07:26] Start of Baptism Theological Divide
• [17:28] Common Ground and Key Distinctions
• [25:24] Why Lakepointe Holds to Credo-Baptism
• [31:23] Major Passages (John 3, Acts 2, 1 Peter 3, Romans 10)
• [47:26] FAQs (Baby Baptism, Young Kids, Re-baptism)
• [55:48] Baptism of the Holy Spirit Discussion
• [74:31] Cultural Analysis—ICE Shooting Reactions
• [81:35] Manufactured Outrage Patterns
• [94:37] Call to Reflect Before Reacting; Justice, Not Intersectionality
• [98:29] Spiritual Drivers: Lawlessness and Authority
• [102:27] Closing Prayer

Tone and Style

The episode's tone is a mix of theological rigor, pastoral wisdom, and energetic real-talk. Humor and practical analogies (football, famous theologians’ mystical experiences, social criticism) abound. The hosts aim for biblical clarity and layman accessibility and urge listeners to “live free” by thinking and responding, not just reacting, to intensely emotional events.

For Listeners Who Missed the Show

• You’ll gain a robust, practical understanding of the baptism debate, its impact on faith, and nuanced answers to tough questions about faith, obedience, and children.
• You’ll hear a passionate defense of “salvation by grace alone,” and warnings against conflating tradition, ritual, or activism with biblical faithfulness.
• Regarding cultural events like the ICE shooting, the podcast challenges the listener: don’t get swept up in weaponized outrage or partisan reaction. Be “people of thoughtful reflection, not just emotional reaction.”
• Throughout, you’ll be invited to experience more of God’s presence through the Spirit and be empowered to bring wisdom and peace into turbulent times.