Stand to Reason Weekly Podcast – Episode Summary Episode: Are These My Thoughts, or Is God Speaking to Me?
Host: Greg Koukl
Date: October 8, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, host Greg Koukl addresses listener questions submitted via open mic calls, focusing especially on discerning whether thoughts are from God, oneself, or elsewhere—a topic connected to the idea of “hearing God’s voice.” Later calls touch on near-death experiences (NDEs), Christian views on cremation, and pastoral burnout, each explored with Koukl’s signature clarity and scriptural engagement.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Are These My Thoughts, or Is God Speaking to Me? (00:04–19:32)

• Silas from Arkansas asks how Christians can discern between their own thoughts and God speaking to them, referencing Greg's “Does God Whisper?” series.

• Greg Koukl’s Response:

  • Scripture’s Position: Greg asserts that “the Bible doesn’t teach that there is a voice of God the way many people are characterizing it.” (04:09)
  • He notes that Scripture presents God’s word as the authoritative voice—mainly in the written form—rather than subtle impressions or internal nudges.
  • Cites biblical examples where God’s communication is always unmistakably clear (e.g., Balaam’s donkey, Saul on the road to Damascus).
  • Rebuts the popular evangelical idea that one must learn to discern God’s “whispers,” branding it “a doctrine looking for a proof text.” (06:37)
  • Challenges the advice that if a thought feels uncharacteristic, it’s probably God: “With respect, Silas, I don’t think your pastor gave you good advice... It could be Satan’s mind… why presume if it doesn’t seem like something I would think of, it must be God?” (12:08)
  • Suggests instead, Christians should simply assess impulses or thoughts according to their merit and biblical wisdom. “If it’s a good thing to do, you don’t need God’s permission anyway. You don’t need to discern whether it’s kind of a command from God or not.” (14:56)

• Key Quote:

  “When God speaks, you can’t miss it, so you’re not going to be scratching your head.”
  —Greg Koukl [05:07]

• Guiding Principle:

  “Judge the impulse on its merits... If it’s a good thing, you can do it. If it’s not a good thing, don’t do it. And if it’s neutral, decide for yourself.”
  —Greg Koukl [16:20]

• On Assigning Divine Authority:

  “Whatever it is that you think must be God, you’re assigning divine authority to that impulse. And in my view, you do not have the justification to assign divine authority to some impulse…”
  —Greg Koukl [17:23]

2. Near Death Experiences and “Second Chances” (19:32–35:51)

• Silas’ Second Question: Wonders about stories of NDEs, especially claims of Jesus giving people (including nonbelievers) “second chances” during such experiences.

• Greg Koukl’s Response:

  • On God’s Grace: Greg establishes that “God can do whatever he wants with his salvation… That’s the nature of grace. Grace is undeserved.” (20:54)
  • Uses the parable of the landowner (Matthew 20) to illustrate God’s sovereign right to show grace as He chooses (21:23).
  • On NDEs: Points to Gary Habermas and J.P. Moreland’s book Beyond Death for scholarly work.
    • Materialism is refuted, as NDEs demonstrate the existence of the soul (e.g., verified remote viewing cases).
    • Distinction made between “not fully dead” NDEs (flat EEG/EKG) and biblical ultimate death (“appointed for man to die once” – Hebrews 9:27).
  • Conflicting Accounts: Notes many NDEs result in conflicting or theologically unorthodox reports, underscoring the need for caution.
  • Interpreting Experiences: Suggests people often interpret NDE figures based on prior religious background (e.g., Christians see Jesus; Hindus see Kali).
  • On “Second Chances”:

    “I have no problem with somebody on their way out and Jesus intercepts them... Because that’s certainly within his purview, within his rights. It’s his grace, after all.” (30:40)

  • Caveat: Real caution about building doctrine from NDE stories: “Heaven tourism books” should not be a substitute for scriptural teaching about the afterlife.
  • Final Authority:

    “The conclusions that we can draw about the afterlife that we can be confident in come from books already written—they’re called Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts...” (34:41)

3. Cremation or Burial—A Christian View (37:01–47:27)

• Tom from Montana asks if cremation is an acceptable Christian practice or not.

• Greg Koukl’s Response:

  • Greg shares that his views have evolved: formerly saw the body as merely a tent to be disposed of efficiently; now sees value in “the tent that had housed this person.”
  • Analogy: Comparing a beloved childhood home: just as one might feel loss at bulldozing a cherished house, so there is honor in the burial of a body that was the temple of a loved one.
  • Christian Burial: Traditionally seen as more honoring; it provides a “familiar abode” for remembrance.
  • On Cremation:

    “I don’t think it’s wrong… but I think there may be more virtue in burial.”

  • On Costs and Practicality: Expresses preference for inexpensive, simple burial (e.g., pine box), acknowledges high funeral costs make this difficult.
  • Finds no scriptural warrant against cremation, but prefers burial for reasons of honoring embodied existence.

4. Burnout in Ministry and Seeking God’s “Calling” (47:27–end)

• Summer asks for advice as she and her husband face burnout in a small church ministry and wonders if it’s okay to seek a new church/employment even without “a clear directive from God.”

• Greg Koukl’s Response:

  • On “Calling”:

    • Asserts that biblically, ministry assignments are distributed by gifting—not subjective “calling.”
    • Extensive New Testament survey offers scant or no support for “calling” as popularly defined; Paul’s apostolic call is unique (49:52).
    • “If you don’t need to be called to ministry, you don’t need to be called out of ministry.”

    • “You don’t need God’s calling for anything… God doesn’t distribute ministry by calling. He distributes ministry by gifting.” (50:17)

  • On Burnout:

    • Warns that service without joy is compromised.
    • Encourages “backing off” from ministry if burned out—take care of spiritual, emotional, and physical health.

    • “If a person is locking themselves out for reasons like ‘well I didn’t get called from God to get out,’… you’re just setting yourself up for disaster because it’s bad theology in my view.” (53:58)

    • Advocates “clocking out” for family and recovery; balancing life’s obligations is wise stewardship.

  • Decision-Making Principle:

    “Do what you can while you can, and when you’re overwhelmed, back off, get a breather, recover...” (55:13)

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps & Speaker)

• [05:07] Greg Koukl: “When God speaks, you can’t miss it, so you’re not going to be scratching your head.”
• [12:08] Greg Koukl: “I don’t know why anyone would think that if it doesn’t seem like my mind produces this. It must be God’s mind. It could be Satan’s mind…”
• [14:56] Greg Koukl: “If it’s a good thing to do, you don’t need God’s permission anyway. You don’t need to discern whether it’s kind of a command from God or not.”
• [17:23] Greg Koukl: “Whatever it is that you think must be God, you’re assigning divine authority to that impulse. And in my view, you do not have the justification to assign divine authority...”
• [30:40] Greg Koukl: “I have no problem with somebody on their way out and Jesus intercepts them... Because that’s certainly within his purview, within his rights. It’s his grace, after all.”
• [34:41] Greg Koukl: “The conclusions that we can draw about the afterlife that we can be confident in come from books already written—they’re called Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts...”
• [50:17] Greg Koukl: “You don’t need God’s calling for anything… God doesn’t distribute ministry by calling. He distributes ministry by gifting.”
• [53:58] Greg Koukl: “If a person is locking themselves out for reasons like ‘well I didn’t get called from God to get out,’… you’re just setting yourself up for disaster because it’s bad theology in my view.”
• [55:13] Greg Koukl: “Do what you can while you can, and when you’re overwhelmed, back off, get a breather, recover...”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:04 – Episode introduction & first open mic call (Silas: Discerning God’s voice)
• 03:42 – Greg’s detailed response to “Does God Whisper?”
• 19:32 – Second open mic call (Silas: Near-death experiences)
• 20:44 – Greg’s response: God’s grace, NDEs, salvation
• 37:01 – Next call (Tom: Cremation vs. burial)
• 38:21 – Greg’s thoughts on Christian burial and cremation
• 47:27 – Summer’s question: Burnout, seeking God’s will
• 49:16 – Greg’s answer: Gifting vs. calling; advice on burnout

Summary of Tone and Approach

Greg Koukl’s tone is congenial, candid, and intellectually rigorous. He encourages scriptural fidelity and healthy skepticism toward common evangelical traditions unsupported by the Bible. Koukl’s approach is both pastoral and practical, regularly urging listeners to use clear biblical thinking, take care of their own well-being, and not over-spiritualize everyday decision making.

This episode is especially valuable for Christians wrestling with how to interpret thoughts and impressions, make everyday decisions, or process extraordinary claims (like NDEs), and for anyone in ministry experiencing exhaustion or uncertainty about God’s direction.