Wretched Radio with Todd Friel

Episode: Mailbag Friday: Christ’s Return, Spiritual Warfare, & Homeless Help
Date: March 6, 2026

Episode Overview

This Mailbag Friday episode of Wretched Radio features host Todd Friel and co-host Jimmy Hicks fielding listener questions on pressing theological and practical issues in the Christian life. The conversation is lively and honest, alternating between biblical depth, playful banter, and Todd's trademark sarcasm. Topics include what happens when we die and at Christ’s return, the biblical understanding of spiritual warfare, fasting, handling disappointment with material loss, responding to deliverance ministry claims, helping the homeless, and dealing with overthinking and scrupulosity. Listeners are encouraged to think biblically, seek the church’s wisdom, and hold charity and sound doctrine in proper balance.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. What Happens When We Die and at Christ’s Return?

[02:24-07:29]

• Listener question: “What does the Bible say about when we die and when Christ returns? Is there a waiting period before judgment?”
• Todd’s answer: Exploring the "judgment seat of Christ" vs. "Great White Throne Judgment", Todd explains the biblical distinction:
  • "I think that there is going to be one big judgment for Christians and believers, for unbelievers. They will be judged for their sins, [we] will be judged for our works." (04:31)
  • Emphasizes that when Christians die, they are immediately with the Lord ("absent from the body, present with the Lord").
  • Describes a "holding place hell and a holding place heaven" concept—believers immediately with Christ, unbelievers separated—until the final wrap-up judgment at the end.
  • "No matter how you slice it, judgment will be thorough. ... The sins of Christians? Aren’t they going to get judged? Yeah, they were on the cross." (06:53)
  • Invites discussion and points out it’s an in-house debate: “Other people have different opinions, and that’s okay. They can be wrong.” (04:11, signature Friel humor)

2. Demonic and Angelic Influence: Spiritual Warfare

[07:29-11:34]

• Listener question: “Why so much emphasis on demonic influence and not angelic influence? Do they have equal influence?”
• Todd’s response:
  • "I don’t know if it would be right or wrong because we don’t get percentages in the Bible." (07:53)
  • Angels serve at God’s command; their role is to minister, not to independently influence.
  • Holy Spirit holds the primary role in a believer’s life, not angels.
  • “I would say that demons probably have more influence [than angels], but not in the sense that they are the primary agents of our sanctification—that’s the Holy Spirit.” (09:01)
  • Discusses Thomas Brooks’ focus on studying Satan’s wiles (Puritan spiritual warfare), but says studying Christ should be our primary focus: "I think that we want to be studying Jesus. That’s what we want to be studying." (10:44)

3. Fasting: How, Why, and For How Long?

[15:45-22:34]

• Listener question: “How long should a Christian fast? Is there a biblical guideline?”
• Todd’s answer:
  • “The Bible doesn’t tell you. So it’s like, well, how am I supposed to know how do this?” (17:16)
  • Fasting is not highly emphasized in the New Testament; no prescribed length or frequency.
  • The key: "Make sure you’re clear on why you’re doing it. ... There’s a fine line here ... be careful that you don’t think there’s some sort of mystical power in fasting." (18:23)
  • Jimmy shares personal fasting experiences to seek dependence on God and enhance prayer life.
  • "Popcorn ... you could just put a feed bag in front of me and I would just bury my face in it all day like a truck. ... You know what’s going to be the main staple food in heaven? Popcorn." (21:41, lighthearted moment)

4. Processing Loss, Disappointment, and God’s Sovereignty

[22:34-26:01]

• Listener question: “If someone loses their 401k and is sad about it, is that sinful? Shouldn’t we trust God’s sovereignty?”
• Todd’s insights:
  • Mourning loss is human and biblical: "There is a time for weeping. There’s a time for laughing."
  • "If you lose your 401k, are you sinning? The answer is: dunno. Maybe, maybe not." (23:20)
  • Sinning is found in despair or hopelessness ("I might as well put an end to my life because there’s no sense in living ... I was starving because I didn’t have a 401k program.") (23:56) but sadness itself is not sinful.
  • "If your 401k gets totally wiped out ... I know who the culprit is. God. ... It’s his money. He gave it to you. He can take it away anytime that he wants." (24:49)
  • Encouragement: Trust in God’s goodness even in affliction.

5. Overthinking and Scrupulosity: When Overanalysis Becomes a Spiritual Problem

[30:38-37:04]

• Listener question: “Struggling with overthinking. How do I overcome it?”
• Todd’s biblical counseling:
  • Overthinking often reveals a lack of trust in God or His gifts (“At some point, you are crossing a line into what could be sinful territory.” (30:54)).
  • Overthinking can be pride, a desire to be in control, or fear of looking bad.
  • “Resting and trusting in God, His word, the people He’s put in your life, the faculties He’s provided ... and then you stop thinking about it.” (32:05)
  • Use practical tactics: memorize Bible verses, seek accountability, talk to elders, and, if necessary, seek biblical counseling for issues like scrupulosity/OCD.
  • Encouragement: You are not alone; this is a common struggle.

6. Adultery, Divorce, and Remarriage

[37:04-37:42]

• Listener question: “If a couple divorces due to adultery, can the offending spouse remarry?”
• Todd’s answer:
  • The situation is too nuanced for a general, on-air answer: “I would just simply be doing you a disservice by just firing shots without any information. ... Sit down with your elders.” (37:24)

7. Deliverance Ministries and Demonic Possession in Christians

[37:42-40:29]

• Listener concern: A friend insists she has “demons attached to her,” regularly attends deliverance ministries. “Can a believer have demons attached?”
• Todd’s response:
  • "The Holy Spirit does not have roommates. That’s the end." (38:11)
  • Christians cannot be possessed but can be influenced or tempted.
  • Recommends asking clarifying questions—does your friend mean “influenced” or “possessed”?
  • For those claiming possession: clarify the gospel and the assurance of salvation.
  • Warns against a modern obsession with deliverance or spiritual warfare tactics not found in Scripture: "Your weaponry when it comes to dealing with demons ... is the word of God, period." (39:25)

8. Does the Bible Predict Current Events?

[45:58-48:34]

• Listener question: "Does the Bible or did it predict current cultural events?"
• Todd’s balanced eschatology:
  • We are in the “end times” (church age), but no one can pinpoint fulfillment of prophecy in current headlines.
  • "Every generation could read the signs of their times and say, I think this is it. ... None of us can say until it actually happens because nobody knows the day or the hour." (46:28)
  • Warns against "date setting": “Anybody who says that they know the day or the hour, they don’t know their Bible, because nobody does.” (47:42)

9. Helping the Homeless and Avoiding Enabling

[50:55-52:36]

• Listener question: “I run a charity helping homeless people with clothing. People in my church worry this enables homelessness. How should I respond?”
• Todd’s pastoral advice:
  • The Bible commands personal charity and compassion: “Do all that we can.”
  • There’s a line between helping and enabling, but don’t let that danger paralyze compassion. “But I’m not going to let that danger keep me from doing what the Bible clearly commands. And that is charity. No, personal charity.”
  • The church’s first responsibility is to its own members: “It starts with the family of God. ... Then, as able, help beyond.”
  • Distinguishes between state welfare and personal, voluntary Christian charity.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On spiritual priorities in parenting:
  "They need a transforming encounter with the gospel of Jesus Christ. That is the ultimate priority." (00:20, Todd Friel)
• On judgment for believers:
  "We will be judged and be rewarded. They’ll be judged for their sins, we get judged for our works." (05:05, Todd Friel)
• On the Christian’s relation to demonic influence:
  "The Holy Spirit does not have roommates. That’s the end." (38:11, Todd Friel)
• On sarcasm as spiritual discipline:
  "I’m no longer going to fast from sarcasm to be more sanctified and more biblical. I’m going to increase my sarcasm. That’s being more biblical. See what I did there?" (29:51, Todd Friel, tongue in cheek)
• On overthinking:
  "If you keep going back to revisit it, then you’re not trusting the faculties that God has given you, or you’re not trusting God himself." (31:31, Todd Friel)
• On charity vs. enabling:
  "There is a line between helping and enabling, and I’m going to try to make sure that we don’t cross that line. But I’m not going to let that danger keep me from doing what the Bible clearly commands." (51:48, Todd Friel)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:24] Question on what happens after death/Christ’s return
• [07:29] Spiritual warfare: angels vs. demons
• [15:45] Fasting—duration and purpose
• [22:34] Mourning loss of wealth and God's sovereignty
• [30:38] Overthinking and scrupulosity
• [37:04] Divorce/adultery/remarriage dilemma
• [37:42] Demonic influence and deliverance ministries
• [45:58] Does the Bible predict current events?
• [50:55] Helping the homeless vs. enabling

Final Thoughts

The episode masterfully blends theology, wit, and practical Christian counsel. Todd and Jimmy remind listeners to seek biblical wisdom, avoid easy formulas for life’s hard questions, and trust God’s Word above personal opinion or cultural trends. The show’s tone alternates between playful and serious, always striving for clarity, orthodoxy, and spiritual encouragement.

“Until tomorrow, go serve your king.” (52:36, Todd Friel)