Stand to Reason Weekly Podcast – "Interview: John Stonestreet – Truth Rising" (September 17, 2025)
Host: Greg Koukl
Guest: John Stonestreet (President, Colson Center; Voice of Breakpoint)
Episode Overview
This episode features a thoughtful and urgent conversation between Greg Koukl and John Stonestreet on the state of Western civilization and the Christian call to courage and truth-telling amidst cultural upheaval. The focal point is the new documentary Truth Rising, produced by the Colson Center and Focus on the Family, which explores the foundational truths of Western society, the current civilizational crisis, and the vital role of Christians in this historic moment. Through real-life stories and analysis, the documentary and this conversation call believers to embrace both truth and courage, even at personal cost.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Genesis and Urgency of Truth Rising
- Truth Rising addresses a “civilizational moment” – a critical, perhaps perilous, turning point for Western civilization and the values underpinning it.
- Oz Guinness, featured in the film, describes how civilizations can wither: “Bankruptcy happens very, very slowly and then it happens very fast and then suddenly.” (08:26)
- The documentary is a response to the growing sense that the West is fragmenting over fundamental questions: What is truth? What is good? What does it mean to be human?
Quote:
“It's not like we're agreeing on where we're all trying to go and disagreeing on how to get there. We don't even agree on where we're trying to get to.”
— John Stonestreet [06:23]
2. Loss of Shared Truth & The Consequence of Ideas
- Ideas have power: “Ideas have consequences and false ideas have victims.” (03:36)
- There is deep concern about the “untethering” of Western society from its foundational truths, likened to a cut flower—temporarily vibrant but ultimately doomed to wither.
- The response to crisis events, notably the assassination of Christian leaders like Charlie Kirk, reveals both the polarization and urgency of the hour.
Quote:
“A civilization cannot unmoor from the truth. Oz uses the analogy of a cut flower, which...will stay shiny and pretty for a while, but it'll wither and die.”
— John Stonestreet [17:36]
3. Calling, Courage, and the Christian Response
- The film’s journey goes “from civilization to calling”: recognizing that Christians are providentially placed in this historic moment, and faithfulness demands both truth and courage.
- Suffering for truth is inevitable: “It’s going to cost every single Christian something, and sometimes something very dear to be faithful to Christ.”
— Greg Koukl [11:11]
- The virtue of “truth and courage” is reiterated as essential for the church to be effective today.
Quote:
“Truth and courage. The church, to be the church right now, has to be a church of truth and a church of courage.”
— John Stonestreet [09:36]
4. Five Portraits of Modern Truth-Telling
The film shares five representative stories of individuals who paid a high cost for standing for truth:
- Chloe Cole: A detransitioner whose story illustrates redemption and the power of embracing truth about her body, later leading her to Christ.
“God is so gracious. First...she comes to the truth about herself. And now God is using her mess to turn her into an unbelievable messenger.”
— John Stonestreet [20:19] - Jack Phillips: The Colorado baker fought years of legal battles, remaining joyful throughout, to defend conscience and religious freedom.
“Jack could have just baked the cake and we would have never heard his name...He made a decision...because he knew what truth was.”
— John Stonestreet [23:39] - Ayaan Hirsi Ali: From radical Islam to atheism to Christianity, her journey demonstrates how the quest for truth leads ultimately to true freedom.
“My whole life I've been looking for freedom and I'm finally free. And isn't that what Jesus said himself about truth?”
— John Stonestreet [27:47] - Katie Faust and Seth Dillon: Also featured for their cultural advocacy and willingness to pay personal costs for truth.
5. The "Civilizational Moment" and Potential Futures
- A comparison is drawn between historic Christian figures: could our era be a Wilberforce moment (a renewal) or a Bonhoeffer moment (a collapse and the need for faithful witness)?
- Emphasis on biblical faithfulness regardless of cultural outcome.
Quote:
“I don't want to be a pessimist, I don't want to be an optimist. I want to be a realist. It may be a Wilberforce moment...It could be a Bonhoeffer moment.”
— John Stonestreet [18:03]
6. Cultural Christianity and Secular Despair
- Even secular and atheistic thinkers (Richard Dawkins, Douglas Murray, David Berlinski, Konstantin Kissin) recognize the societal value of Christian tenets, if not their ultimate truth.
- As secularism proves bankrupt for meaning and moral coherence, “cultural Christianity” gains new appreciation even among skeptics.
Quote:
“There is a real sense in which there is a recognition of the bankruptcy of secularism and it's just not going to deliver. You can't build on this stuff.”
— John Stonestreet [30:48]
7. The Generational Challenge and Hope for More Truth-Tellers
- The vision: to inspire thousands more “truth-tellers” in every walk of life.
- Encouragement for Christians to remain winsome yet unyielding, calm yet courageous, as exemplified by Charlie Kirk’s demeanor.
Quote:
“Could you imagine the difference it would make in America, just America, if there were a thousand more truth tellers than there were yesterday?"
— John Stonestreet [33:32]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|---------|-------| | 03:36 | Greg Koukl | “You said it... ideas have consequences and false ideas have victims. And this is a big part of the concern that Truth Rising as a documentary is addressing.” | | 08:26 | John Stonestreet (quoting Oz Guinness) | “How does bankruptcy happen? Well, it happens very, very slowly and then it happens very fast and then suddenly.” | | 09:24 | John Stonestreet | “For Christians, we believe a couple things. Number one, if we're in this crazy civilizational moment... it's because God called us here.” | | 11:11 | Greg Koukl | “It's going to cost every single Christian something, and sometimes something very dear to be faithful to Christ.” | | 13:50 | John Stonestreet | “But the point is, it’s all going to involve, for all of us, truth and courage. Truth and courage.” | | 17:36 | John Stonestreet | “A civilization cannot unmoor from the truth. Oz uses the analogy of a cut flower... it'll wither and die.” | | 20:19 | John Stonestreet | “Chloe Cole was deceived by one of the great lies of our day... but there is (redemption), because that's what's so good about truth.” | | 23:39 | John Stonestreet | “Jack could have just baked the cake and we would have never heard his name. ...he made a decision not because he wanted any of that to happen, but because he knew what truth was.” | | 27:47 | John Stonestreet | "My whole life I've been looking for freedom and I'm finally free. And isn't that what Jesus said himself about truth?" | | 31:47 | John Stonestreet | “We would use these hypotheticals, Greg, we would say, well, if everyone can define reality for themselves... and those were all hypotheticals. And Greg, here we are. At least one of those things is now debated in Congress.” | | 33:32 | John Stonestreet | “Could you imagine the difference it would make in America… if there were a thousand more truth tellers than there were yesterday?” |
Segment Timestamps
- 00:00 – 03:10: Introductions; setting context for John Stonestreet and “Truth Rising”
- 03:11 – 07:18: The state of Western civilization, civilizational moments, Oz Guinness's perspective
- 07:19 – 12:33: The loss of foundational values; discussing the cost of truth and courage, drawing on Charlie Kirk’s example
- 12:34 – 15:04: Faithful Christian witness under pressure, focus on truth and courage
- 15:05 – 19:17: Comparing Wilberforce and Bonhoeffer moments in history
- 20:19 – 24:10: Chloe Cole’s story and its implications
- 24:11 – 26:18: Jack Phillips’ legal battles and joyful perseverance
- 26:19 – 28:09: Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s conversion, her search for truth and freedom
- 28:10 – 34:38: Cultural Christianity, secularism’s bankruptcy, practical implications
- 34:39 – 35:51: How to watch the “Truth Rising” documentary, available free online
- 35:52 – End: Final reflections and transitions into listener Q&A (not covered in the summary)
Takeaways & Calls to Action
- Truth Rising is available for free viewing at TruthRising.com, along with a study guide for deeper engagement.
- Christians are called not to pessimism or naïveté, but to realism, faithfulness, and readiness to speak and live the truth in love.
- The “civilizational moment” is both a challenge and an unprecedented opportunity for redemptive influence—our calling is for such a time as this.
Conclusion
Through recounting individual stories of courage and conviction, Greg Koukl and John Stonestreet model what it means to reason carefully, advocate graciously, and call others to the indispensable virtues of truth and courage. The episode is a heartfelt invitation for all Christians to heed the call of their moment—rooted in history, emboldened by faith, and resolved to serve the audience of One, whatever the cost.
To Watch: TruthRising.com (Documentary and free study guide)