The Briefing with Albert Mohler, Jr.

Episode Date: Friday, December 5, 2025
Theme: Cultural Commentary from a Biblical Perspective

Episode Overview

In this episode, Albert Mohler addresses pressing cultural events and listener questions, analyzing each through a lens of biblical worldview. The main focus is a controversy involving academic freedom and religious conviction at the University of Oklahoma. Mohler then moves on to address listener queries on homosexuality and salvation, the morality of gambling among friends, academic vocation in secular environments, theological aspects of the virgin birth, and dating a future minister.

Segment 1: Academic Freedom and the Bible at University of Oklahoma

[00:04 – 15:19]

Key Discussion Points

• Case Introduction:
  Mohler details an incident at the University of Oklahoma involving student Samantha Fulnacki, who received a zero on an assignment for citing the Bible and calling the concept of multiple genders “demonic.”

• Instructor’s Identity and Response:
  The instructor, who identifies as transgender, justified the zero grade by labeling Fulnacki’s language as “highly offensive, especially [to] a minoritized population,” and emphasized scientific consensus on gender diversity.

• Review and Analysis:
  Mohler reads Fulnacki's assignment and the original article, finding that the work cannot be fairly considered a zero. An independent professor agreed:

  “Even this teacher came back and said, there’s no way that’s a zero.”
  (09:30)

• Issues of Viewpoint Discrimination:
  Mohler highlights Turning Point USA’s involvement and the central argument that, while nobody is constitutionally entitled to an A, students must not be penalized for their viewpoints:

  “There is a right to not be academically penalized due to discrimination against your viewpoint. Academic freedom belongs to every student...”
  (08:35)

• Broader Implications:
  Mohler sees this as emblematic of widespread bias in higher education, especially around sex, gender, and LGBTQ+ issues:

  “The difference now is not that it’s happening, but that it’s being exposed.”
  (12:20)

• Role of Administration and Government:
  He notes university and government responses:

  “If not for organizations like Turning Point USA, if not for the Trump administration putting a lot of pressure on universities right now, there would be a very different reality.”
  (13:30)

• Importance of Viewpoint Diversity:
  Mohler discusses how “viewpoint diversity” is being used by conservatives, echoing liberal values:

  “Viewpoint diversity means viewpoint diversity, and that’s a good thing for us all to recognize.”
  (14:40)

Notable Quotes

• “She submitted a response to the assignment. The professor came back and gave her again, zero out of a possible 25. And the professor made very clear statements that he was rejecting the student’s work.” (05:20)
• “This is clearly a case of prejudice against this student, and, you know, it’s not going to stand, and that’s good.” (12:55)
• “This is going to become a case that snowballs into other cases. I think the publicity given to this means that we’re likely to hear from a lot of students in other schools.” (15:00)

Timestamps

• [00:04] – Episode opening and case summary
• [05:20] – Details on grading and instructor reaction
• [08:35] – Turning Point USA statement
• [12:20] – Larger pattern in higher ed
• [14:40] – Viewpoint diversity discussion
• [15:19] – Conclusion of main story

Segment 2: Listener Q&A

1. Homosexuality, Salvation, and Friendship

[15:20 – 18:50]

Key Points

• Question: How to maintain a friendship with a fellow Christian who no longer believes homosexuality is a sin?
• Mohler’s Response:
  • Rejects the idea that the Bible is unclear on this issue, citing Romans 1 and other texts.
  • Warns against “suppressing the truth in unrighteousness.”

  “I think your friend is suppressing the truth in unrighteousness. And I think he’s deceiving himself. And one of the things we know is that sin is very deceitful. His sin is lying to him and he is believing the lie.” (17:10)

  • Affirms importance of gospel-centered, truthful friendship, suggest gentle but clear biblical confrontation, and encourages prayer for spiritual conviction.
• Advice:

  “Where you go to church while you are in college is often more important than where you go to college.” (19:46)

Timestamp

• [15:20] – Listener question read
• [17:10] – Mohler’s main theological response

2. Gambling Among Friends and Moral Boundaries

[18:51 – 21:50]

Key Points

• Question: Is participating in a high-stakes fantasy football league with friends morally objectionable?
• Mohler’s Thoughts:
  • Differentiates friendly, minimal-stake contests and “high-stakes” gambling.
  • Warns about addictive and relationally destructive nature of gambling.

  “‘High stakes’ means there’s serious money in the game. … The higher the financial stakes, the higher the moral stakes, the higher is the opportunity. This becomes far more than a game and becomes a real matter of moral risk.” (21:30)

  • Advises caution and spiritual reflection before participating.

3. Pursuing Astronomy as a Christian in a Liberal Environment

[21:51 – 22:56]

Key Points

• Question: Should a young Christian aspiring astronomer attend a “liberal” college with a strong astronomy program or a conservative college with weaker science?
• Mohler’s Response:
  • Urges respect for parental wisdom.
  • Warns about “different presuppositions than historic biblical Christianity” in secular science departments.

  “I also want to say that you got some time to figure this out. … Where you go to church while you are in college is often more important than where you go to college.” (19:46)

  • Encourages young listeners: “Look to the heavens and study the heavens to the glory of God, because the heavens are telling the glory of God.” (22:51)

4. Theological Question: Virgin Birth and the Humanity of Jesus

[22:57 – 24:00]

Key Points

• Question: Was Jesus’ body derived from Mary (like Eve from Adam) or created ex nihilo (“out of nothing”)?
• Mohler’s Theological Explanation:
  • Jesus’ bodily form was indeed derived from Mary, affirming both full humanity and divinity.

  “She’s bodily a mother. … The flesh of Jesus, his bodily form, was indeed derivative from his mother. There’s more to the story, there’s more to the Incarnation, but there’s not less to it than that.” (23:37)

  • Emphasizes orthodox Christology and the miracle of the Incarnation.

5. Practical: Dating a Seminary Student

[24:01 – 25:35]

Key Points

• Question: What are good first-date questions for a young woman meeting a seminary student?
• Mohler’s Advice:
  • Ask about his testimony—how he came to faith and sensed his call to ministry.

  “It would be very kind of you … to ask about his testimonies to how he came to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and how he perceived the Lord calling him into life, my ministry, and how he thinks the Lord will use that.” (24:15)

  • Reiterates that foundational, gospel-centered questions matter most, and shares an anecdote from W.A. Criswell on ministers seeking wives, encouraging a Christ-centered approach to courtship.

Memorable Quotes

• “If the professor had given stricter instructions about responding in this way in a structured argument, that would be different. But that is not the case here. This is clearly a case of prejudice against this student.”
• “Viewpoint diversity means viewpoint diversity, and that’s a good thing for us all to recognize.”
• “The higher the financial stakes, the higher the moral stakes.”
• “Where you go to church while you are in college is often more important than where you go to college.”
• “The flesh of Jesus, his bodily form, was indeed derivative from his mother.”

Summary Table of Key Segments and Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | Key Points | |-------------------------------------------------------|-----------|------------------------------------------| | University of Oklahoma Free Speech Controversy | 00:04–15:19 | Academic freedom, viewpoint discrimination | | Homosexuality & Friendship | 15:20–18:50 | Scriptural clarity, gospel-centered truth | | Gambling with Friends | 18:51–21:50 | Moral risk of high-stakes games | | Christian Academic Vocation in Sciences | 21:51–22:56 | Faithful calling, church vs. college | | The Incarnation: Virgin Birth | 22:57–24:00 | Theological clarification | | Dating a Seminary Student | 24:01–25:35 | Foundational questions, Christ-centered relationships |

Closing Thoughts

Albert Mohler’s approach underscores the importance of biblical conviction in public discourse, personal relationships, and everyday decisions. Listeners are encouraged to press forward in faith, practice discernment amid cultural controversies, and pursue truth—always grounded in Scripture.