Wretched Radio with Todd Friel
Episode: Mailbag Friday: Did God Command Killing in the OT? Magic Tricks + Righteous Anger
Date: March 20, 2026
Host: Todd Friel
Producer/Co-host: Jimmy Hicks
Platform: Fortis Institute
Overview
This episode of Wretched Radio is a classic “Mailbag Friday”—a format featuring listener questions on topics ranging from biblical ethics to personal Christian living. Todd Friel and Jimmy Hicks tackle challenging theological questions, offer practical advice, and share biblical insight with characteristic candor and humor. In this episode, major discussions include God’s command for killing in the Old Testament, whether magic tricks are sinful, righteous anger, finding rest, and the Christian approach to insurance and workplace language. The tone is direct, often witty, but always aiming to ground advice in Scriptural principles with an emphasis on heart motivation.
Main Discussion Points & Insights
1. God’s Command for Killing in the Old Testament vs. the Quran
[02:35] Listener Q: “How should a Christian respond to objections about God commanding the Israelites to kill in the OT compared to the Quran?”
- Todd’s Response:
- The answer doesn't change for believers vs. unbelievers. God, as the author of life, can take life as He desires, and this is never sin.
- Quote: “God can command the taking of a life anytime he wants to because he's the one who's responsible for life and death. And he never sins. If he takes a life, whatever the mechanism or tool that he uses.” (03:00)
- Contrasts this with Allah, stating “Allah can’t [command life and death] because he doesn’t exist.”
- Encourages explaining God’s sovereignty and justice, noting the weightiness of God’s ability to bear the sorrow of every death throughout history—a burden humans are not meant to carry.
2. Christian Headship and Income in Marriage
[05:29] Listener Q: “Is a Christian husband in sin if his wife earns significantly more?”
- Todd’s Response:
- No sin if both are working and supporting the family; the income disparity is not a biblical problem.
- Quote: “I wouldn’t put you in any sort of time out box or imply that you’re not being manly... I would see it as a blessing and carry on.” (05:58)
3. Are Magic Tricks Sinful for Christians?
[06:33] Listener Q (from Mike, age 10): “I want to do magic tricks—is that sorcery or lying?”
- Todd’s Response:
- Differentiates sleight of hand/illusions (okay) from true divination (sinful).
- Advises to describe such acts as “illusions” and “sleight of hand”—never as supernatural powers.
- Quote: “If you’re presenting it as if you actually have the power to do things that suspend the laws of n[ature]. Well, that’s getting into the side of witchcraft, divination and sorcery…” (06:41)
- Connects confusion over words like “tongues” to misunderstandings in the church, advocating for precise language: “The gift of languages—that is so different...much better word choice than tongues.” (07:42)
4. Righteous Anger vs. Anger Toward Sinners
[08:24] Listener Q: “Should Christians ever be angry at sinners, or just at sin?”
- Todd’s Response:
- Distinguishes righteous anger from personal offense.
- Righteous anger is appropriate when God is defamed or attacked, but this can easily slip into sinful anger if driven by personal annoyance.
- Quote: “When God is assaulted… we should get angry. And furthermore, it can be at the individual. God isn’t angry at sin every day. He’s angry with the wicked every day.” (09:06)
- Warns against both ditches: never being angry and using “righteous anger” as an excuse for constant irritation.
5. Encouraging Grieving Parents Estranged from Adult Children
[18:24] Listener Q: “How can I encourage my mom since my siblings resent her and are estranged, even though she was a faithful Christian parent?”
- Todd’s Response:
- This situation is extremely common and not a unique parental failure.
- Remind her she did her part; her children are responsible for their choices.
- Normalize the trend of children “ghosting” parents, and emphasize the biblical value of honoring parents and family.
- Quote: “It’s almost the norm rather than the exception…a plague.” (18:59)
- Encourages teaching youth to rightly value family, marriage, and generational unity as “the big things.” (21:34)
6. Practical Rest in God—What Does This Look Like?
[23:39/30:23] Listener Q (from Hope): “How do I find rest in God and His Word amid busyness?”
- Todd’s Response:
- Resting in God means trusting His character and sovereignty in everyday frustrations and trials, recalling His goodness, faithfulness, and control.
- Quote: “He never does anything to his children. He only does things for his children.” (24:13)
- Addresses semantic range of “rest”—physical relaxation vs. spiritual contentment.
- Suggests practical steps: discipline; seeking help for schedule management; being aware of idolatry of busyness; enlisting accountability from family or church.
- Quote: “Work is a priority over play…We work and rest only to regenerate ourselves so we can get back to working. Why? Because God has assigned us work…” (31:09, 32:35)
- Jimmy adds: “Busyness…can be an idol.” (36:01)
- Both stress heart motives—rest and work must be in biblical balance.
7. Insurance and Trusting God’s Sovereignty
[45:29] Listener Q (from Athul, India): “Is it untrusting for a Christian to buy insurance—health, term, etc.?”
- Todd’s Response:
- Insurance is morally neutral; heart motive determines if it becomes an idol or shows lack of trust in God.
- Quote: “If you’re freaking out, ‘Oh, I’m going to die and I’m going to end up in a gutter and nobody’s going to care for me and God is nowhere to be found…’ then you got an idol problem…” (46:16)
- Wisdom issues: catastrophic insurance makes sense; don’t let anxiety drive decisions.
8. Responding to Irreverent Workplace Language
[50:08] Listener Q: “How should I respond if my boss refers to a report as ‘our Bible’—I find it offensive?”
- Todd’s Response:
- Address it privately and gently if it really bothers you.
- Quote: “I don’t think I’d turn it into a big deal… just [say], ‘Hey, every time you say that this report is our Bible, the Bible is actually really special to me…’” (50:26)
- Don’t embarrass the supervisor or make it public; Christian confrontation is direct and charitable.
- Connects principle to church unity—direct communication is essential for healthy relationships (52:09).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On God’s Sovereignty:
“He has witnessed every single human atrocity, every one, he bears it, every death. He is the one who authored it. And yet he doesn’t crumble because everything he does is just and right. And he can bear that weight. We can’t, can we?” (04:15, Todd Friel) -
On Magic and Deception:
“Instead of calling it magic, call it sleight of hand, call it illusions, because that’s what they are. There’s nothing sinful about that.” (06:41, Todd Friel) -
On Righteous Anger:
“God isn’t angry at sin every day. He’s angry with the wicked every day.” (09:06, Todd Friel) -
On Idolatry of Work:
“Busyness as Hope described it is…good to keep your schedule busy, but…it can be an idol.” (36:01, Jimmy Hicks) -
On Christianity as Heart Religion:
“Christianity is a heart issue… God wants us to make decisions based on our attitude and our affections toward him, distinguishing Christianity from every other religion in the world.” (49:50, Todd Friel)
Timestamps Guide to Key Segments
- 02:35 – Responding to commands for killing in OT vs. Quran
- 05:29 – Husband’s headship when wife earns more
- 06:33 – Magic tricks, sorcery, and spiritual gifts
- 08:24 – Christians, anger, and righteous response
- 18:24 – Encouraging parents estranged from children
- 23:39/30:23 – Finding rest in God and striking life balance
- 36:01 – The idol of busyness and Christian rest
- 45:29 – Insurance: faith vs. wisdom
- 50:08 – Workplace language and addressing offense
Tone & Style
The conversation is lively, conversational, peppered with wry humor, but always circling back to biblical authority and heart motives. Todd is frank and sometimes playful, Jimmy adds supportive and sometimes self-deprecating commentary. Direct answers are provided, but always with a call to examine motives and the condition of the heart as key in Christian life.
For Further Reflection
If you’re wrestling with how theology shapes everyday life—whether it’s ethical dilemmas, family tension, emotional health, or workplace interactions—this episode models both a robust doctrinal anchor and a compassionate, realistic application in modern contexts.