Live Free with Josh Howerton

Episode: Top 5 Objections to Christianity DEBUNKED!
Date: July 21, 2025
Host: Josh Howerton with Carlos Araso, Janet Howerton, Pamela Baltazar
Produced by: Lakepointe Church

Overview

This episode centers on addressing the five most common objections to the Christian faith, blending robust theological discussion, personal anecdotes, and practical answers. The panel mixes scriptural teaching with contemporary cultural observations—aiming to equip believers for conversations around doubt, faith, and living as followers of Jesus in today's world.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Intro and "At the Movies" Themes (00:40–10:30)

• The team shares movie favorites, childhood memories, and fun stories, segueing into their theme—drawing parallels from "Chronicles of Narnia" to childlike faith in Christianity.
• Memorable Moment: Josh’s story of receiving a WWII 101st Airborne patch (04:21).

2. Narnia, C.S. Lewis, and Childlike Faith (10:32–21:39)

• Noteworthy facts about C.S. Lewis, the Narnia series, and Lewis’s correspondence.
• Discussion of Lewis’s belief that animals might talk in the new creation, referencing Genesis and Isaiah as possible scriptural support.
• Notable Quote (Josh, 16:19):
  “C.S. Lewis, and I think I agree with him, almost certainly believed that when Jesus restores the new heavens and the earth, animals will be able to talk.”

3. What is Faith? Theology Deep Dive (21:12–33:09)

• The panel explores Matthew 18:3 ("unless you change and become like little children…") and discusses the theological nuances of faith:

  • Notitia: Knowledge of the facts
  • Assensus: Agreement or ascent to those facts
  • Fiducia: Relational trust/heartfelt commitment

• Notable Quote (Josh, 25:22):
  “You have saving faith when you have knowledge, assent, and trust—or fiducia—which means trust or heartfelt agreement."

• Analogy of a child trusting a father—moving from just knowing something is true to acting on it by jumping.

4. Childish vs. Childlike Faith (30:05–36:47)

• The panel clarifies that childlike faith means inquisitive trust, not gullibility.

• Notable Quote (Pamela, 29:24):
  “There’s no prejudice, there’s no malice…they really, because they trust you, they believe what you’re saying to them.”

• Francis Schaeffer Quote (Josh, 33:20):
  “People who use this argument must never have listened to a little child or been one. My four children gave me a harder time with their endless flow of questions than university people ever have.”

5. Faith and Reason: Are they Opposites? (37:02–44:32)

• Addressing the myth that faith is anti-intellectual.
• Reference to Young Hoon Kim (highest recorded IQ) publicly affirming faith in Jesus.
  “As the world’s highest IQ record holder, I believe that Jesus Christ is God, the way and the truth and the life.” (39:34)
• Trends: Decline in “nones,” increasing public affirmation of Christian faith, and cultural “vibe shift” toward belief.
• Tim Keller Quote (Carlos, 43:17):
  “Christianity, like its founder, does not go from strength to strength to strength. It goes from death to resurrection.”

Rapid Fire: Top 5 Objections to Christianity

1. “God seems angry and just wants to punish people.” (44:49–49:33)

• Panel addresses God’s justice and mercy.
• Janet (46:19):
  “God’s justice means that he has to deal with evil—otherwise, he wouldn’t be good.”
• God’s anger is always paired with patience and opportunity for repentance (Psalm 103:8; 2 Peter 3:9; John 3:16).

2. “The Bible is outdated and anti-science.” (49:47–56:46)

• Josh asserts the Bible is a timeless book, not just an ancient book.
• Evolution of scientific consensus over time has actually pointed more toward, not away from, the plausibility of a Creator (Big Bang, DNA language, fine-tuning of the universe).
• Notable Quote (Josh, 53:02):
  “There’s a language underneath who you are…well, where’d that come from? Who wrote that language?”

3. “All religions are just equally valid paths to God.” (56:48–58:38)

• Josh uses examples of harmful religious practices to demonstrate not all “paths” are equally good or true.
• Josh (57:57):
  “Everyone believes they have some standard by which they judge spiritual truths…look for the one where the guy rose from the dead.”

4. “I’m okay with spirituality, but not institutional religion.” (58:42–62:47)

• The church as Christ’s design for believers. No institution is perfect—in any setting.
• Pamela (59:11):
  “…if you come to the faith, you have to belong to the body of Christ. You cannot be on your own.”
• The failures of individual Christians do not negate the truth of Christ or the church (Josh, 62:05).

5. “Christianity is oppressive to women.” (62:47–71:24)

• Biblical teaching valued women far beyond the cultural norms of its time.
• Jesus elevated women in ministry and witness.
• Studies show women who lean into biblical teachings on sex, marriage, and family are statistically happiest.
• Janet (62:55):
  “He [Jesus] elevated women where no one prior had ever done that.”
• Pamela (63:39):
  “He vindicated women, he empowered women, he put them in the right place…equal value, equal love for men and women.”

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On faith:
  “There’s a difference between childish faith and childlike faith. Childish faith shuts the brain down…childlike faith ramps the brain up.” (Josh, 31:10)
• On community:
  “Discipleship happens in relationships…You are one relationship away to experience freedom in Christ in community.” (Carlos, 37:02)
• On doubt:
  “You are not going to understand everything about God…If God is the size of the Pacific Ocean and our minds the size of a Coke can, we ought to expect there to be things that don’t fit.” (Josh, 34:07)

Practical Application and Takeaways

• Faith is not anti-intellectual; ask honest questions and seek understanding.
• Doubt is not the enemy of faith. Honest wrestling can lead to deeper belief.
• Christianity withstands intellectual scrutiny—science, history, and reason can reinforce faith.
• True, saving faith consists of knowledge, agreement, and personal trust in Jesus.
• The most fulfilling Christian life is lived in a community—a church or discipleship group is vital for growth.
• Cultural objections to Christianity often need reframing, empathy, and careful response grounded in truth and real-life data.

Important Timestamps

• Narnia and Lewis facts: 10:32–19:00
• Definition and explanation of faith: 21:12–29:02
• Childish vs. childlike faith: 30:05–33:09
• Young Hoon Kim/higher IQ & faith: 39:21–44:32
• Objections to Christianity (rapid fire): 44:49–71:24

Episode Closing

• Encouragement to join a group or “Rooted” discipleship experience: (73:18–74:56)
• Prayer for faith and a closing blessing led by Janet (75:08)

Shareworthy Quote:
"You are not one podcast, one book, or one sermon away—you are one relationship away to experience freedom in Christ in community." (Carlos, 37:02)

This episode blends deep, honest, and practical conversations about faith’s role in life, addressing skeptics’ concerns without shying away from hard questions or referencing modern culture. Both newcomers to Christianity and seasoned believers will find wisdom and insight for handling objections—both their own and those of others.