Mailbag Friday: Do Jews Still Need The Gospel?

Summary

Wretched Radio – Mailbag Friday: Do Jews Still Need The Gospel?

Podcast: Wretched Radio with Todd Friel
Host: Todd Friel (with Jimmy Hicks)
Date: May 8, 2026
Main Theme: Listener Questions on Salvation, the Church, and Christian Living

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Episode Overview

This episode of Wretched Radio with Todd Friel is a classic "Mailbag Friday" installment, during which Todd and co-host Jimmy Hicks answer listener questions covering a range of theological, practical, and pastoral topics. The show focuses on deep scriptural reasoning regarding Israel’s salvation, evangelism to Jews, the increasing number of Christian podcasts (and the dangers thereof), church engagement, children’s salvation, marriage, and more. Todd’s responses blend thorough biblical insight, practical advice, and the show’s characteristically lighthearted banter.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Do Jews Still Need the Gospel?

(timestamps 03:24–06:46)

• Main Question: Is there still a need to share the gospel with Jews, given God's promises to Israel?
• Todd’s Response: An emphatic yes. God's promises to Israel include the future salvation of many Jews—but not via any path besides the gospel.
• Insight: The gospel is for everyone without exception, including Jews. Paul discusses these mysteries in Romans 9–11.
• Quote: “God has a good will towards everybody, believers and non believers. But there is another love reserved only for those who embrace the gospel and put their trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior.”
  — Todd Friel (00:36)
• Memorable Moment: Todd recounts a real-life conversation with a Jewish man about Isaiah 53, illustrating the need for Jewish evangelism.
• Quote: “That should keep you up tonight.”
  — Todd Friel to the Jewish guest after discussing Isaiah 53 (06:28)

2. Is There Another Means of Salvation (e.g., Judaism)?

(timestamps 03:47–06:46)

• Todd’s Clarification: “No, they’re two separate categories...” Jews are not saved by heritage or conversion to Judaism; salvation is in Christ alone.
• Scripture-Based: Salvation for Israel comes through Christ, as prophesied in their own scriptures.

3. Explosion of Christian Podcasts: Dangerous Trends?

(timestamps 06:46–09:52)

• Listener Concern: Many new “Christian” podcasts are untrained, divisive, or focus on “heresy hunting” rather than Christ.
• Todd’s Take: He agrees—most shouldn’t be podcasting, especially “young phenoms” who lack maturity and theological grounding.
• Warning: Focusing mainly on discernment and controversy instead of Christ is off the mark.
• Quotes:
  “There’s a lot of podcasters that shouldn’t be podcasting…” (07:19)
  “Any ministry that is just focusing on one thing besides Jesus Christ, at the very least, is a ministry or a podcast that simply...is off the mark.” (08:20)
• Jimmy’s Pastoral Wisdom:
  “Those warnings should sound like a shepherd guarding his flock, not a man looking for controversy.” (08:50)

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4. Pastoral Sermons Too Academic?

(timestamps 09:52–18:03)

• Question: What should a husband do if his wife isn’t being spiritually nourished by their pastor’s scholarly sermons?
• Todd’s Pastoral Guide:
  • Speak with the pastor kindly, with encouragement, not accusation.
  • Gather gentle evidence (people leaving), but approach as an ally.
  • Seek understanding of the pastor’s intent before critique.
  • If it becomes clear the pastor can’t or won’t adjust, and your wife isn’t being fed, “then your responsibility is to your wife.”
• Husband’s Role: In the interim, help the wife understand sermons to the best of his ability.
• Encouragement Culture:
  “One of the kindest things that you can do for your pastor is to meet with him, cheer him on, encourage him...” (16:18)
• Memorable Advice:
  “If you’re a regular encourager of your pastor, he’s gonna receive the criticism a whole lot easier.” — Jimmy Hicks (18:32)

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5. Are We Called To a Specific Local Church?

(timestamps 20:00–21:25)

• Todd’s Philosophy: The church you’re presently in is the one to which God has called you, though you must exercise biblical discernment (healthy teaching, mature elders, regulated worship).

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6. Do Aborted Babies Go To Heaven?

(timestamps 21:36–26:01)

• Listener’s Concern: Do only some babies go to heaven? What about children dying in the womb or young?
• Todd’s Scriptural Survey:
  • The Bible is clear (he cites 23 verses supporting), all children dying before conscious, willful sin are received by God’s grace.
  • This grace extends to all, regardless of circumstance of death—including abortion and miscarriage.
  • Reason: Until one willfully sins, they have not incurred guilt deserving condemnation.
• Encouragement:
  “If you have lost a child through whatever means you can know that one day you will be seeing your child in heaven.” (25:12)

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7. Marriage & Singleness: The Idol of Marriage

(timestamps 29:55–38:29)

• Question: How can a young man desire marriage without idolizing the idea?
• Todd’s Evaluation:
  • Desiring marriage is good—don’t crush that desire, just watch that it doesn’t displace God.
  • Idol checks: Is it robbing you of joy, consuming your thoughts more than Christ, making you miserable if denied?
• Sanctification Through Marriage: Marriage exposes selfishness and forces Christlike maturity: “Marriage is a school of character. It’ll either scrape you or polish you up.” (38:41)
• Practical Advice: Find godly people in church settings, avoid the pitfalls of online dating/hookup culture.

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8. Praying for a Dating Partner — Too Much?

(timestamps 44:09–49:32)

• Question: Should you avoid praying for your boyfriend/girlfriend to prevent thinking about them “too much”?
• Todd’s Reasoning:
  • Pray for one another, but guard your heart.
  • Balanced approach: Don’t avoid prayer, but don’t let your emotions or desires run away.
  • In a dating-to-marry relationship, pray with and for each other intentionally.

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9. Eastern Orthodox Church – Salvation and the Gospel

(timestamps 49:32–52:24)

• Q: Is the Orthodox Church biblical?
• Todd’s Struggle:
  • Admits he finds their views on salvation (“justification”) confusing, almost impossible to clarify.
  • Skeptical that their system communicates “grace alone, faith alone, Christ alone.”
  • Nonetheless, acknowledges there are saved individuals within the church, by God’s grace.

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10. Why Am I Always Wrestling Idols Off My Heart?

(timestamps 52:24–53:20)

• Todd’s Short Answer:
  • “Because your heart is an idol factory, that’s why.” (52:29)
  • The solution: make King Jesus the largest “idol” in your heart, crowding out the others.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “God has a good will towards everybody…but there is another love reserved only for those who embrace the gospel and put their trust in Jesus.” (00:36)
• “There’s a lot of podcasters that shouldn’t be podcasting … they really haven’t thought through issues very deeply.” (07:19)
• “We should be exalting Christ. We should be proclaiming His Excellencies.” (09:08)
• “If a pastor … becomes belligerent about it, that’s suddenly a much bigger problem.” (16:18)
• “Your job is to go out and find (a healthy church). Once you do, you settle in and that is your church.” (21:10)
• “I believe (all babies who die) go to heaven because it’s so biblical … There’s at least 23 [supporting] verses.” (21:36)
• “Marriage is like sandpaper. It’ll either scrape you or polish you up.” (38:41)
• “The more you think about the Savior, the less your heart is going to be creating idols.” (52:24)

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Important Timestamps

| Segment Topic | Timestamp | |-------------------------------------------------------------|----------------| | Main question: Jews and the Gospel | 03:24–06:46 | | Explosion of Christian podcasts, heresy hunting | 06:46–09:52 | | Sermons too scholarly for some church members | 09:52–18:03 | | Local church calling | 20:00–21:25 | | Aborted/young children and salvation | 21:36–26:01 | | Marriage: desire vs. idolatry | 29:55–38:29 | | Praying for a dating partner | 44:09–49:32 | | Eastern Orthodox view of salvation | 49:32–52:24 | | Wrestling with idols in the heart | 52:24–53:20 |

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Tone & Style

• Blends serious biblical teaching with trademark Wretched Radio humor and warmth.
• Direct, honest, often lighthearted but always grounded in scriptural authority.

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Summary Conclusion

This “Mailbag Friday” episode of Wretched Radio provides biblically faithful answers with both clarity and compassion. Todd and Jimmy balance doctrinal seriousness with engaging banter, covering important questions about Jewish evangelism, spiritual maturity, local church life, children’s salvation, marriage, dating, and how to relate to traditions like Eastern Orthodoxy. The principle throughout: exalting Christ and encouraging both discernment and grace in every aspect of Christian life.

Transcript

[Todd Friel]

Yes, I will make this snappy. Before we begin the program, would you Kindly consider visiting fortisinstitute.org Donate our matching gift campaign. It is rocking. So many big plans. So many opportunities to proclaim good news to lost people. Would you please help us do just that? It's our no Retreat matching gift campaign. To learn more and potentially participate fortisinstitute.org

[Jimmy Hicks]

donate wretched radio begins in 3, 2, 1.

[Todd Friel]

Live in the freedom that God loves you unconditionally and he loves you unconditionally. God's love for you is unconditional. Preaching that God loves you unconditionally is the wrong message. God has a good will towards everybody, believers and non believers. But there is another love reserved only for those who embrace the gospel and put their trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior.

[Jimmy Hicks]

It's time for Wretched Radio with Todd Friel headed Hal. It's the Wretched Radio mail call delivery bag Q and A infotainment nationwide extravaganza featuring your voicemails, correspondences, communiques, dispatches, memorandums and missives.

[Todd Friel]

Any special message for all the kids watching at home. What we need right now is a clear message to the people of this country. You have 1200 messages.

[Jimmy]

That is a bit above average.

[Jimmy Hicks]

Now, here's your host, Todd Freak Tall Friel is here.

[Todd Friel]

This is Wretched Radio. You have no idea what I'm talking about. D.M. you don't know.

[Jimmy]

I do. I do. I know exactly who you're talking about.

[Todd Friel]

All right.

[Jimmy]

No.

[Todd Friel]

Who's hitting hell?

[Jimmy]

I want to make sure you know, so you tell me.

[Todd Friel]

I see. Oh, okay, then I'll tell you. It's the Fig Newton guy from the Fig Newton song.

[Jimmy]

That's exactly right.

[Todd Friel]

Chewy, gooey, rich and chewy inside. Tender, cakey, golden, flaky outside. Yep. Wrap the inside in the outside is a good darn. Don't. It's a big Fig Newton and does the tricky part where he does a little dippity do dance. Here's my Fig Newton question. This is. This is the type of thing that keeps me up at night. Does anybody make Fig Newtons besides Nabisco or whoever the Fig Newton Company is like, do you? No, they don't.

[Jimmy]

Yes, they do.

[Todd Friel]

You've ever been to somebody's house for dessert? Tonight I made some homemade figures.

[Jimmy]

No, no, no, no. I don't know about homemade. I'm sure they do. I'm sure they do.

[Todd Friel]

But I know there's maybe a knockoff.

[Jimmy]

Yeah, there's knockoff generic brands because I grew up poor so I know all the knockoff brands.

[Todd Friel]

Well, there's a knockoff brand but it's. It's not like apple pie. Everybody makes apple pie. Well, nobody makes Fig Newtons at home.

[Jimmy]

I'm sure they do. My grandmother had a fig tree when I grew up, as I grew up.

[Todd Friel]

You'd remember, believe me, because you eat too many Fig Newtons you will not forget it.

[Jimmy]

She made figs like she would can jar. It was like jelly or something.

[Todd Friel]

Fig jam.

[Jimmy]

Yeah, that's what she would make.

[Todd Friel]

Oh that's delicious.

[Jimmy]

But she never made Fig Newtons.

[Todd Friel]

That is my point precisely. If you would just agree with me in the beginning 877-282-2337 or send other wretched things to [e-mail] all right, this

[Jimmy]

is a two part question or two questions rather. This is from he said Todd. I appreciated the recent episodes examining God's promises toward Israel. However, uh oh, the discussions have left some unanswered questions no doubt. Number one, if God promise to Israel remains an active hope today, is there a need to share the gospel with them?

[Todd Friel]

Oh yeah.

[Jimmy]

And number two, if people they can convert to Judaism and be made a partaker of God's promise to Israel, is there therefore another means of salvation available for unbelievers?

[Todd Friel]

No, they're two separate categories how God view Furthermore the promises of Israel. I don't think it's just the land and the nation that's clearly in the future, but it's salvation for the Jewish people. So I think that's the new promise for the Jewish people. Paul describes that in Romans 9:11 the plan for future Israel. God will be saving an awful lot of Jews soul. We keep witnessing to them today and we hope for the future that so many will be getting saved from the proclamation of the gospel. So there's still a future for Israel. We keep sharing our faith with Israel. By the way, Jimmy had kind of a bust with a Jewish guy, super, super nice guy. Our garage door went ker snap. You know you got those two cables up there that pull it up on the side. One of them went off the rails so the other side had to pull it a lot. The spring broke on both sides and the wire snapped and we couldn't get the garage door open. Called up these guys super nice. They happened to be Jewish. And so talking to him and I asked him if he's proud practicing Jew and it's like well not really. When do you read your Bible? I don't. So I thought I'm going to do the Isaiah 53 test with him and have him read Isaiah 53, because it is a perfect description of the suffering servant Jesus Christ. I had him read it, and the translation, I think it was New King James Version, which made it a little harder for him to read. Nevertheless, he read it. And I said, who's that talking about? And he goes, moses. Nope. Moses wasn't led as a lamb to the slaughter. Moses didn't pay for anybody's sins. And he kind of sheepishly. No, like pun intended, but sheepishly said, jesus. Yes, that is about Jesus. And I said, do you know who wrote that? He goes, well, it's in the Bible. And I said, that was Isaiah. And he didn't know that that was the Old Testament. I said, that's your side of the book, written 700 years before Jesus. That was a prophecy that specifically describes that there will be one who suffers for the sins of his people. And he was, like, kind of nonplussed. And I said, my friend, that should keep you up tonight. That will not keep me up tonight. There are many other things to keep me up. And I thought, the Lord has to convert people. The Lord has to convince people, and he will do that en masse with the Jewish people. 877-282-2337.

[Jimmy]

So here's a question from Kyla Todd. I noticed an explosion of Christian podcasts during the pandemic, and at first I thought it was great, but now in 2026, I see a bunch of heresy hunters and Christian gossip. In fact, as I listen to these Christian podcasters, I'm beginning to believe they aren't even being discipled. They're content creators who have been saved for a short amount of time, it seems, and all of a sudden want a platform. I've been praying for God to shut down 95% of Christian podcasters and send them back to the church. Is that wrong?

[Todd Friel]

It depends on if we're in the 5% or the 95% that'll help determine. I agree with you that there's a lot of podcasters that shouldn't be podcasting. There's a lot of young phenoms that really shouldn't have that large of a platform because they're just too new to the faith and there's nothing but danger for them. They can get puffed up, they can take a tumble. They really haven't thought through issues very deeply. They can ultimately end up hurting people. They should be discipled, at least for a season, a long season. They should also, I think, get some training before you. That doesn't even have to be formal training, but there has to be some sort of theological education before you just turn on the microphone and start flying away. And as far as a lot of them being heresy hunters, yep, there's a lot of that going on. Unfortunately, it sells. That's the tragedy of it. That stuff sells like nobody's business. The sensational stuff, if it bleeds, it leads in Christendom, too. People love that type of thing. We see that all the time here in wretched Land. Any ministry that is just focusing on one thing besides Jesus Christ, at the very least, is a ministry or a podcast that simply, it's off the mark. Jesus should be the focus of everybody's ministry.

[Jimmy]

Absolutely. I mean, I think we've talked about it before. There's times when, you know, faithfulness requires you to warn people about things, but those warnings should sound like a shepherd guarding his flock, not a man looking for controversy.

[Todd Friel]

And look, the reality is that gets clicks, that gets views. It works. But I think my formula is, if that is all somebody is doing, I think that they would do well to sit on the sidelines a bit and refocus their ministry. And it can include heresy hunting, if you will. It can include discernment. But when that's all it is, I just think it could use a little bit of redirection. We should be exalting Christ. We should be proclaiming His Excellencies. We should be shouting about the things which we have seen and heard and. Yeah, warning, too. 8, 7, 7, 2, 8, 2, 2, 3, 3, 7.

[Jimmy]

All right, this is a text from Nate Todd. What should I do if my wife isn't getting a lot out of our pastor's sermons? Our pastor is biblically sound, and I think he gives very good sermons, but sometimes they're a little bit too scholarly for even me. But people have left the church over this, and they're complaining that the sermons feel too much like a seminary lecture.

[Todd Friel]

Yeah, that can happen. Have you spoken yet? That's. That's what really should happen. I. I would gather the list of the people that you know who have left specifically because of that, because you just want to be able to show them, hey, we're. We're losing. I'm on your team, Pastor. I'm on your team. Don't bring it. Like, see this list? There's going to be two more names on here if you don't knock it off and dumb it down, which you probably wouldn't want to say anyway. The point is you want to be able to say, I, I, I'm concerned that more people will be leaving and just speaking personally, brother, there are some times where it's like really cool stuff, but it's flying a little bit high. Is there a reason that you're aiming that high with your sermons and let him explain himself? That can always bring a lot of clarity. Before you accuse, ask him why he does what he does. Is my observation correct? Do you think that you're of speaking on a seminary level? Because he might be feeling like he's already bringing it way down. He thinks he's taking it off of the top shelf and he's serving the cookies to everybody. He might not know. So begin by telling him, I'm on your side. I don't want to see more people leaving. Do you think that you're preaching at too high of a level? Why do you choose the level? Were you aware that these people were leaving because of it? Because I don't want to see any more people leave. That approach. Oh, so much better than sitting down with an accusation and just telling the kind of almost giving him an ultimatum, you got to get it to this level or not. In the meantime, I would be making sure that I'm communicating with the Mrs. That that's my intention, to sit down with the pastor and talk to him. She could even join him. She has everybody right to join that conversation, to do it lovingly and respectfully. And in the meantime, then make sure too, she's getting fed with food that she can actually chew and digest if things work out, praise God. If it gets to the point where it's like, oh, we got an impasse and my wife isn't getting fed, then your responsibility is to your wife. This is wretched radio.

[Jimmy]

No retreat. That's the name of Fortis Institute's Spring Match campaign. And here's why. The culture we live in right now has made it pretty clear it has very little interest in the true gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. We're being told to keep our faith quiet in public or to soften what we believe so it goes down easier. Fortas Institute has no intention of doing either one. We exist to advance the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, and this spring we're doing it as loudly and as boldly as we know how. Your gift will help launch two new podcasts. It puts Todd Friel's new book, go Serve your King into print through HarperCollins. And it puts the gospel back onto college campuses where it's least welcome and most needed. Our goal is $250,000 and we're asking if you would prayerfully consider helping us get there. You can find out more right [e-mail]

[Todd Friel]

donate would you like the university experience without the, you know, university experience? The Masters University invites you to visit their campus or you can visit them online online at masters. Edu Wretched It's Master's University. The University with the University experience without the University experience. Masters. Edu Wretched.

[Jimmy Hicks]

Important Dates in Christian history 432ad after escaping years of slavery in Ireland, as a young Patrick, a British Christian, returns to Ireland as a missionary. His work results in multitudes of Irish people coming to the Christian faith. This is Wretched Radio with Todd Friel.

[Todd Friel]

And now a message from Jimmy. This is wretched radio 877-282-2337 for text Jimmy Regarding the fellow whose wife isn't getting a lot out of the pastor's sermon, your encouragement to him in the meantime, till they hopefully work it out with the preacher is, well, let's go

[Jimmy]

back to his question real quick because he says sometimes they're too scholarly for me even, but I get the impression that he, he still is able to discern what his pastor is saying. So if that's the case, and even if he talks to his pastor and he does bring it down, I think at some level it is his responsibility to help his wife be able to understand. If he's understanding, if he's understanding what the pastor's saying for the most part, then I think it's his position then to go and help his wife.

[Todd Friel]

It is. There's a number of variables in this. First of all, it is the pastor's job to aim correctly. And it's always, you know that you preach so that you know that sometimes you can go too high, you can go too low, you try to aim in the middle so that everybody can reach something. So it is the pastor's responsibility to get that sorted. I do think that it would be the husband's responsibility to, to help the misses in the meantime. However, do you think that if the pastor, let's say that he responds and says, you know what, I think I'm right on point. And the missus just struggles with it, that that could be a reason to say, then I have a responsibility to my wife, we gotta go find a place where my wife will be fed. Because to sit there for 40 minutes or whatever it is and not get anything out of it until I explain it to her.

[Jimmy]

Yeah, well, I mean, I Think there's.

[Todd Friel]

Yeah, it could happen.

[Jimmy]

I think there's a long discussion.

[Todd Friel]

For sure there is. And this shouldn't be done rashly. One of the kindest things that you can do for your pastor is to meet with him, cheer him on, encourage him, say the good things that you can say about him and help him. That is so much better than just being angry at him. Certainly God gossiping. That's like one of the worst things that you can do. Hey, do you notice the pastor's sermons are aiming a little bit high? Do you get anything out of the pastor's, oh, that's so bad for the church and it's so good for the body. If you meet with him directly to help him, that's. He would. He would. And if a pastor, by the way, if a pastor. If you go to a pastor in that spirit because you've prayed about it, your attitude, you want to make sure that you're not angry, that you go to him respectfully and you lay it out. Any godly man, he might be a little tweaked up front, but in short order, he's going to be. Thank you for that. Thank you know what? I'm glad you. And now, he might not affirm and agree with everything you say, but he should be willing to earnestly consider your concern. What's bugging you should be an issue for him. If a man just, like, blocks it, becomes belligerent about it, that's suddenly a much bigger problem. That's a deeper issue that you would then have to explore. Do your pastor. No, don't do him a favor. Bless your pastor. Whenever you have issues with him, go to him in a spirit of one another. 8, 772-822-3333.

[Jimmy]

And let me add, because I think about this every time you talk about a situation like this, where you need to go to your pastor and it might be a hard conversation. What are you doing in the meantime? Like, when there's not an issue, are you encouraging your pastor? Because we've talked about it before. If you're not encouraging your pastor, if you've never encouraged your pastor, have you earned the right to criticize them?

[Todd Friel]

Well, I wouldn't phrase it that way. Yeah, but I get your point.

[Jimmy]

It makes the conversation easier. If you're a regular encourager of your pastor, he's gonna receive the criticism a whole lot easier.

[Todd Friel]

And honestly, if we were doing that in church all the time, not just with a pastor, but one another, we are called to encourage one another, exhort one another, rebuke one another. Look for ways to say encouraging things about somebody. You see somebody who is registering the children, that's what they do. That's their ministry every Sunday. Say something so grateful. You know what, Every time I come to church and I see you at this station registering the kids, I gotta tell you, it just encourages me so much. Thanks for your faithfulness. Off you go. Wow. Wow, what a culture that would be, wouldn't you? And hey, and hey, people will do that to you too. Wouldn't you love to get an encourage. Oh, I want to repent for this one. An encouraging word. Give an encouraging word. Thank you. I just very much. I just tweeted that that you got to put something on it though. 1. An encouraging word. Give an encouraging word. Unless it's to a prosperity preacher hack. Then you'll get more tweets or memes or views or things. Whatever you get. 877-282-2337.

[Jimmy]

This is from Anonymous. Todd, are we called to a specific local church, local body of believers, or is that a personal preference?

[Todd Friel]

I wish you hadn't tagged on that or part. Here, here's, here's, here's how I can know what church you're called to. Give me the name of your church. That's the church you're called to because you wouldn't be there if God didn't call you there. So your church is where you're at. That is, that's your called church. Now can you. The way that phrasing of that question sounded, I don't know if this was the intention. Does God have the church where he wants you and you got to figure it out or you get to choose and you could choose the wrong one. No, you're not going to choose the wrong one. Now you might not make a good choice, you might make a bad choice. You might even make a sinful choice. But that is the choice that God has ordained and that's the church that you're therefore in. But you're not going on a hunt to figure out where God wants you because he gives you all of the information that you need for deciding what kind of a church you should be in. Be in a Bible teaching church. Be in a church where the elders are mature and they care about your soul. Be in a church where I, God, regulate all of the elements of worship. There you go. That's the kind of church he wants you to be in. Now it's your job to go out and find it. Once you do, you settle in and that is your church 877-282-2337.

[Jimmy]

Alright. This is a text from Eddie Todd. Some of my friends think that only some aborted babies go to heaven. What does the Bible say about children dying in the womb or at a young age?

[Todd Friel]

Well, I would love some, some, but not all of them. Some of them. That just grieves my heart. It just grieves my heart. We've done this study probably two, maybe three times. We rarely repeat stuff here on wretched radio where we go back and retill the same soil. At least try not to. The issue of babies going to heaven we have done multiple times because it should be a joyous theological position. And I have not adopted that position simply because I think it makes parents who have lost a child feel better. I believe it because it's so biblical. It's so biblical. There's at least 23 verses, about half in the Old and half in the New Testament that I think make it very. Look, if there were one verse that kind of hinted at it, you'd be like, okay, maybe we need something a little more clear before we speak definitively. We could say hopefully, but not definitively. How's about 10 verses? 15, 20, 23. At some point you gotta go, uncle. I give. Yep, the Bible is pointing in that direction definitively. And I don't think, just to be clear on this, I don't think that this violates the necessity of faith in Jesus Christ alone. But I also believe that until an individual consciously sins against God, they have no not accrued a debt to God incurred. Accrued. They don't have a debt with God because they have not sinned consciously, willfully against God. Once they do, then they are accountable. But until then they are not. And obviously a baby in the womb cannot do that. Therefore God in His grace and his mercy receives them unto himself because they are, if you will, innocent. And I think that is also true with people who have diminished mental capacities that if they do not have the ability to willfully sin, God is going to embrace them when they pass from here to eternity. And I say that not because I just want it to be true, but because it is biblically true. So if you've heard somebody say some babies go, others don't, or maybe just babies born into a Christian family, I'm sorry, you've got to point that out to me in the Bible, where that would come from, that somehow somebody gets to go to heaven because of lineage. That's contra everything we believe about the Christian faith. It is an individual's belief in God and you say, well, wait a second, that baby can't believe in Jesus Christ. You're right. But that baby also doesn't have a sin debt that needs to be paid. And so God can receive that child and that should be joyous news. So if you've been told otherwise, I'm very sorry, you can look forward to seeing your baby in heaven and what a joyous day that will be. And by the way, that doesn't just include babies who died in the womb naturally. It includes aborted babies. Doesn't matter the means of the method doesn't matter what caused their death. If you have lost a child through whatever means you can know that one day you will be seeing your child in heaven. How many millions of sweet reunions will we be seeing in heaven? How many babies that miscarried will be in heaven with King Jesus and will be reunited with their parents? And you gotta kind of ask the question, isn't that just like our God? Isn't that just like him that he would be so gracious and kind to create us millions of lovely family reunions? This is Wretched Radio.

[Jimmy]

And it's now time for your daily Fortis Newsbreaker production of Fortis Institute. We start today with a Tennessee lender by the name of advanced financial24.7 who is suing more than 110,000 of their customers they've acquired since 2015 all over its Flex loan program which carries an annual interest rate of 279.5%. Before legislatures started legalizing this type of thing, payday loans were capped at $425. The Bible doesn't explicitly condemn lending, but it does condemn getting rich off desperate people. The Supreme Court ruled unanimously on April 29 that the first choice, women's resource centers, a faith based pregnancy ministry that is operating in New Jersey since 1985, has standing to challenge a sweeping government subpoena demanding 28 categories of documents, including the identities of its private donors. The court was clear that the government demands for donor information burden first amendment rights. 24 hours after that ruling, the New Jersey Attorney general went to a state court and asked for fast track enforcement of that same subpoena. The Alliance Defending Freedom called this exactly what it a hostile campaign to bully a pro life ministry before federal courts can intervene. In New York, a 30 year old male doctor who identifies as non binary is suing the Soho Hotel after a security guard asked him to leave the women's restroom which he had entered while dressed in women's clothing. He's seeking compensatory and punitive damages for, among other things, the human humiliation of being directed to the men's room. Meanwhile, six Idahoans are suing to block the state's new law restricting female facilities to biological females, a law that carries felony penalties for repeat violations and mirrors legislation now on the books in 19 other states. The lawsuits will keep coming. So, apparently, will the common sense required to pass these laws in the first place. And finally, an investigative reporter spent two months digging through dope doges newly released Medicaid payment data in Ohio, and what he found was extraordinary. In Columbus, entire city neighborhoods have effectively replaced their local economy with Medicaid billing companies, many of them submitting government claims for companionship and conversation provided by family members to other family members. One building was home to 94 separate companies that collectively billed taxpayers $66 million. The program has no monetary cap and requires only a single cooperative doctor to keep authorizations flowing indefinitely. The Trump administration has a fraud task force looking at Medicaid abuse, and based on what one reporter found in two months and one Ohio city, they have plenty of material to work with. That wraps up today's Fortis Newsbreak. I'm Jimmy Hicks. If you want more, you can download Fortis or sign up to become a Fortis Insider for exclusive daily content, both of which you can can [e-mail] and don't forget, you can subscribe to Fortis News on your favorite podcast app in order to get these updates daily. And until tomorrow, Go serve your king.

[Jimmy Hicks]

Know your church fathers. Basil of Caesarea was bishop of caesarea in the 4th century. He was a defender of orthodoxy and wrote several important proving the divinity of the Holy Spirit and refuting the Arian heresy. Most importantly, he introduced the Trinitarian formula describing God as one being and three persons. This is Wretched Radio with Todd Friel.

[Todd Friel]

Hello, this is Wretched Radio. What have you found on your Internet machine that's Wretched? Would you please Forward it to ideaetched.org if and you got a question, comment, conundrum, or snark? 877-282-2337 Put them thumbs to work and send whatever is on your mind. 877-282-2337 all right, this segment's going to

[Jimmy]

be dedicated to marriage. Our first question is from Joe Todd. I want to get married one day. It's one of the strongest desires in my heart, but I don't want to idolize the idea of getting married. How do I properly prepare to find a wife and Pursue marriage one day without idolizing the idea of a wife.

[Todd Friel]

The question I think that you'd have to ask first is how do you know if you're idolizing it? Because there's nothing wrong with having a desire. It can be a sinful desire, it can be a sanctified desire. So I don't want to automatically say, well, don't be dreaming about marriage. Don't be thinking, don't be excited about marriage. Well, that would be wrong. God provides so many gracious gifts. And I think having something to look forward to in the future is a wonderful blessing from God. So don't squash every desire to get married. Just make sure it doesn't turn into an idol. Defined as it's supplanting God. Defined as you will be miserable if you can't get married. Defined as I am living for that. Defined as it occupies more of my gray matter than God does. If it's crossing that line, then you need to just pull it back. Repent to the Lord, ask him to keep you on the right side of the line, and then just move forward step by step. Don't squash them. Just don't make it elevated to the point where it is taking the place of your Savior. That would be to cross the line. That's true of a vacation. I mean, it would almost be silly, wouldn't it? Well, I don't want to look forward to my vacation because I don't want it to be an idol. No, you look forward to your vacation. You just need to define what makes something an idol. And I think those aforementioned. I think I offered four or five standards would be the definition of an idol. Keep on the right side of those standards and you can enjoy the thought of getting marriage. And by the way, it's good to hear a young man who wants to get married. No time. The fellas not wanting to get married. Dude. Who's persuaded you that marriage is bad? They're wrong. They're wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong. Is marriage easy? Well, of course it's not. It's a school of character. It will. I hate to think about what I would be like if I weren't for marriage. Oh, I. Oh, man. If the Lord had let me go my own way. Oh, my heart just would be so, so filled with. You'd list all of the. All of the prideful, all of the selfish. Oh, what marriage makes you less selfish, Otherwise it'll make you crazy. There's your option right there. You either become less selfish or you just go bonkers because you just Keep bumping into these other carbon 14 units that have their opinions and preferences. And if you don't get your way on everything, you're just gonna go nuts. So what do you do? By the power of the Holy Spirit, you become increasingly patient. You become increasingly self sacrificing. You end up giving up preferences. Jimmy, you know what I'm not going to do right now? I am not going to tie this into first Peter3.7, which I'm preaching on this weekend at AlphaRettaBibleChurch.org thank you very much.

[Jimmy]

Good job.

[Todd Friel]

Thank you. Because that is what a man is supposed to be. He's supposed to be the one who says your way, dear, as much as you can without sacrificing the position of authority that God has called you to. The idea of being able to, if you will. I'll just use it in air quotes, although not sure we have to. We're supposed to. Ephesians 5, 21. We submit to one another. Well, it can't mean the authority aspect. It just can't. Because that's clarified Then in Ephesians 5, 22 and 23, when it addresses women. So what does it mean for a man to submit to a woman? You first, dear. What would you like to do? What's your favorite color? I like that. Let's do it your way. That's just giving deference to. It includes more than that. But I'm just focusing on how it will grow you and it will put others first and you'll just become better for it. You just will. You won't be as selfish, you won't be as self centered, you won't be so myopic, just always thinking about yourself. And then. Because as soon as. If that's your current state, then anybody who comes into conflict with your tastes and desires, look out, off with their head. Marriage demands you become more patient. Marriage demands that you become more self sacrificing. You want those things, get married. You want to just. You want a slow roll of sanctification, stay single. Now to all of those. And I know that there are plenty who are right now going, yeah, fine, radio boy, I'd love to send me a godly man. That would be great. Where are the godly women? I hear this lament all the time. I'm sorry that you can't find one. I'm sorry it is relatively bleak out there. I would encourage you, as much as you can, participate in the life of your church. Find yourself in places where there's going to be more potentially godly People, I don't think it's a bad idea for somebody who's young and they want to get married, be a committed member of your church. But if they down the street, there's a good church and they got a big youth program, go put yourself in a place where you can actually meet other believers. Because out there on the dating scene and so much of the dating app business, I've seen some of the stuff that's on the dating app business. It's like, is this a dating app or is this just like a hookup app? Because that's just the way it's coming across what I'm looking at here. So find yourself in places. Put yourself in places where you can find like minded godly people. And I'm sorry, I'm sorry, my encouragement to get married is not intended to make you feel bad because you can't. It truly isn't. I just want to encourage those who are reticent. Get married. It's so good for you. And then you make babies, you teach them about Jesus, you become one flesh with somebody. You march to celestial city hand in hand. Oh, what a joyful thing marriage is. 8, 7, 7, 2, 8, 2, 2, 3, 3, 7. Unless of course, they leave the cabinets open. Right, Jim? Oh, see. Huh, huh. You know, you've had to grow through that, haven't you?

[Jimmy]

I have. And, you know, it's not a big deal anymore. It's not. It was first of our marriage and, you know, it's a thing that we talk about.

[Todd Friel]

All right, how long did it take?

[Jimmy]

It took a long time.

[Todd Friel]

Come on, it. Really long time's too vague.

[Jimmy]

10 years. But, you know, it was something that was just baked into me because I got in trouble for it as a child. So I got in trouble for it at home as a child. And so it was just really baked into me that you don't do that.

[Todd Friel]

Right. And that's a family of origin issue. You bring that in. That is a great example of bringing something in. Now, I think somebody should shut the drawers when they're done with them. I think that just makes sense.

[Jimmy]

That's right.

[Todd Friel]

Nevertheless, that still demonstrates when you grow up in a home where it's like you always shut the drawers and then you marry somebody who doesn't, you're bringing that history with you. And it's not just drawers. It's every. I mean, everything. How long you keep the garbage disposal running? Do you even walk away from the garbage disposal after you've pushed the button to go do something else? And Then come back to it. All of those. It's like you bring all of that into marriage, and guess what? You have either got to sort it, put the other person first, or go totally nuts, because you will just go totally crazy. Or you can be sanctified. The choice is yours. Marriage is a school of character. Marriage, it's like a jeweler's. We write. I'm making this up.

[Jimmy]

Writing tweets here.

[Todd Friel]

Well, whatever. What? Whatever? Like the thing that they use to rub on it to make it shiny. What's that called? Like a cloth? Yeah, a jeweler's cloth.

[Jimmy]

Right.

[Todd Friel]

Marriage is like a. Marriage is like sandpaper. It'll either scrape you or it'll polish you up. There. That was pretty close. That was pretty good right there. 8, 7, 7, 2, 8, 2, 2, 3, 3, 7.

[Jimmy]

I didn't tell you that. My fix was. Was it wasn't getting over it.

[Todd Friel]

You super glued them.

[Jimmy]

No, it was just taking all the doors off.

[Todd Friel]

Oh, that one. All right, here's. Here's. Here's a quiz for you. A little, little, little, little test. How many. I'm not going to ask you if you ever did. How many times did you threaten the boys? You're taking the door off the bedroom.

[Jimmy]

I've got one right now that I do have the door off. It's downstairs in the basement.

[Todd Friel]

That's it, isn't it?

[Jimmy]

It's not a threat.

[Todd Friel]

It's a reality.

[Jimmy]

Absolutely.

[Todd Friel]

Oh, man. Not to say that that's wrong. I'm just saying.

[Jimmy]

Parenting.

[Todd Friel]

It's parenting. It's one of those cards that sometimes you feel the need to throw down. But honestly, though, if. And I'm not talking about your boys, I have no idea what's going on, why you chose to do that. But if a kid can lock himself in the bedroom with a computer or a cell phone, with unfettered access to everything in the world. We did a YouTube short on that. That commercial where the dad pokes his head in the bedroom with the kid. Hey, son. Getting ready for bed. All right, well, I'm just gonna leave you here with this guy, and it's like a Russian hacker pervert guy. Oh, and then here's all your friends from school. They're gonna just say nasty things about you. And it's like, we'd let these kids have access to all of that. What are we doing? Here's the solution. Take the door up the bedroom. This is Wretched Radio.

[Jimmy]

Hey, thanks for listening to Wretched Radio today. Let me ask you a question. Have you experienced any type of real change in the areas of your life that really need it the most. Or do you find yourself just getting by, just figuring out a way to manage to the next day? Look, a lot of people have gotten really good at making managing their anger, managing their anxiety, managing the habits they've formed. But management is not the same as transformation. That's why one of the world's leading podcasts today is transformed with Dr. Greg Gifford. Greg is a professor at the Masters University and a fellow here at Fortis Institute as well, and his whole focus is helping people experience the kind of change that only comes through the sufficient Word of God. And this kind of content is only only possible because of our Gospel Partners. If you've been blessed by our ministry, I would love to ask you to prayerfully consider joining us as an ongoing monthly Gospel Partner. I know you have questions about that and we have [e-mail] wretched amazing grace amazing Gospel Most men don't make one big decision that takes them off course. No, it happens gradually, and eventually you look up and you realize, I've been coasting for years. Dr. Adam Tyson has created Walk Like a Man. It's available now on Fortis Plus. Dr. Tyson knows that's the story for way too many guys right now, and so he gets into God's word and he lays out what it actually looks like to walk with wisdom and live with real conviction and the way he teaches it. You'll walk away from every episode knowing exactly what to do and why it matters. This is biblical teaching that puts solid ground under your feet and gives you a clear path to path forward. It's streaming right now, with new episodes dropping every Monday on Fortis plus for free. Download the Fortis plus app right now wherever you download apps on your smartphone, your smart TV, or just go to fortisplus.org and walk like a man. Have you ever wanted to take a tour of Europe, but you couldn't swing the airfare? Good news. Todd Friel's already gone for you. Our resource on the Shoulders of Giants takes you across six countries to meet your Christian ancestors, the Reformers, the men who were strangled, quartered, and burned alive so you could hold a Bible in your own language and understand the Gospel of Grace. You'll see the stake where Jan Hus was burned to death. The prison where William Tyndale translated scripture, the very courtroom where John Wycliffe was called monstrously wicked. You'll visit Martin Luther's home, the field where George Whitefield preached to 30,000 people without a microphone and the outdoor pulpit of the thundering Scott himself, John Knox. These people were too good for this world and their lives will challenge you to be bolder than ever before on the shoulders of giants. It is streaming for free right now on Fortis. Download the app where you download apps on your smartphone, on your smart TV, or simply visit fortisplus.org.

[Jimmy Hicks]

Books of the Bible Song of Songs, also known as Song of Solomon, is a song about romantic love. The author uses sensuous romantic language to describe courtship and marriage, desire and intimacy in the context of purity and goodness, which are God's intentions for marriage. A biblical view of marital love is romantic and passionate while being innocent and pure. This is Wretched Radio with Todd Friel.

[Todd Friel]

Welcome back to Parenting tips. This is Wretched Radio. What's on your mind? Would you kindly communicate it via the email machine ideaetched.org or text away to 877-282-2337? Are we still in marriage land?

[Jimmy]

We are still in marriage land. All right, now we got one more question. This is the other end of the spectrum because this is from a lady, Todd. Her name's Anonymous, though she said, I've been dating my boyfriend for a couple of years now. We're working toward I was advised in middle school, early high school to avoid praying often for any boy I was interested in because it would make me think about him more than I should. Would this apply when you're in a serious dating to marry relationship? At what point is it appropriate to pray for the person you're dating?

[Todd Friel]

Well, I don't know who gave you that advice, but I'm not sure I would have offered that in the first place. At least not position like that. We're supposed to be praying for one another. We should be bringing others before the throne of grace. Now, is there a potential danger that if you're praying for somebody of the opposite gender because you're interested in them and hey Lord, if you'd work this out and if we could be, then someday we could could your heart get knit because of that intense thinking about and praying about? It could, sure. But I don't think that I would use that to say, therefore don't pray. Just guard your heart. To tell somebody not to pray for another person. I'm not sure that I can figure out a context where that might actually be biblical and make sense. So I think it's more a matter of guarding your heart. I don't think that they have to be mutually exclusive. I think that you can do both. And now that you're in the process of doing that, here, I've got one for you. Not only should you be praying for him, you should be praying with one another a lot. Young lady, if you're dating a young man who isn't praying with you regularly, think long and hard about it. Now, it might mean that it just needs to be brought to his attention. And if he gets with the program and starts leading in that way. But if he's not doing that well, it could be a bad sign. It could also just be a sign he needs some discipling, he needs some maturation and he needs some encouragement and some understanding, some modeling of what it looks like to be a godly husband. And if I could add one more thing, I don't know the scenario of the young lady who wrote this particular text or email. They've been dating for two years now. There's no law about this. You can't say it should only be this long. But I would encourage you, if you're in that window where you are looking to get married two year time, that's a long time. I would encourage. I'm not saying that the person who wrote in was sinning. I don't know the details. I don't know their ages. Maybe they were 17 and now they're just not. I get all of that. But in general, as a principle, be intentional about it. This is my take on it. You can take it or leave it, like pretty much anything that comes out of my mouth. But if you're not being intentional about it, there's really no point in dating if it is not to determine is this a person that qualifies for the biblical standards of being a godly spouse, male or female? If you're not really trying to sort that, then you're probably just doing dangerous dating and you're wasting time. If you want to get married, be intentional about it. If there's somebody that you're dating, get to it. I just don't. Look, I'm not making a law. I'm just offering 2 cents, which currently is trading at about 1.2 cents. And let me tell you, buying gas with my pennies. Whoa, that is expensive these days. Be talking about these issues. Be involving other people in these issues. So if you've been dating for six months and you haven't talked about it because you're just kind of waiting to see how it sorts itself out, I think you're probably wasting precious time. Move it forward or end it one or the other. But Try to be as focused on it as you possibly can because you will be shocked. The years will blow by awfully fast and you don't want to find yourself looking back going, why did I date that guy for three years and nothing came of it. And I will say this again without commenting on the individual who wrote in. If a guy is not willing to talk about it or, or to, to actually like, yeah, we really should be talking about this. Can't make this 100% law, but you're probably, you probably want to. You probably don't have a keeper is what I'm trying to say. Because a woman shouldn't have to drag a dude along. He should be the guy leading this stuff. He should be the one who goes. So glad you brought that up, dear. Let's talk about that because, wow, my desire is to be married. And I think maybe you and I could be the couple that spends the rest of our lives together living happily ever after. If a guy doesn't want to have those conversations, there's a website and it endswith.org and it starts with a move on 877-282-2337.

[Jimmy]

This is from Ralph Todd. You talk a lot about the Catholic Church and Protestant churches, but I'm not finding very much concerning the Orthodox Christian Church. What would you say regarding them?

[Todd Friel]

That's what I'd say. I don't talk about him because I don't get it. Really. We have talked about the Orthodox Church. We've spent a fair amount of time. It started when I was at UGA and there was an Orthodox priest inside of the student union. And I approached him, sat down with him and tried to get a definition of justification until I wanted to bang my head against a wall. And then I tried to ask him how you get to heaven. And then I wanted to put myself in a three point stance and just fire off into a brick wall because it was like, what? I don't get it. I can't communicate. I don't speak the Eastern Orthodox language. I don't understand how they understand God. And so we don't talk about them a ton because it's just really, really hard. This is what I know. Are there saved people in the Eastern Orthodox Church? Yes. Is the church's. Here's the problem. The church's definition of justification, it's almost impossible in my estimation to sort it just they can't articulate it. Is it, I think though, at its core a work based system? Yes. Do I think that there are people in it who Simply don't understand it because it's very difficult to understand. Yes, I do. Do I think they're going to go to heaven? Yes, I do. But do I think that the Eastern Orthodox Church is something that you should seek out and join? No, I do not. Because you will not hear a clear Gospel presentation. You will hear works mingled with some grace, but you will never hear grace alone. Faith alone in Christ alone. And there's a number of people who are intrigued by the Eastern Orthodox Church. And I think there's two reasons, and we have talked about this a number of times, because I think these two reasons apply to the Roman Catholic Church. Number one is that they want to go back. They think that they're connected to the true church. That's going all the way back. The claim of the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church is the same. We're the one, we're the true church. We go all the way back. And people dig that. And so they want to be a part of that. I think the other reason that they're so attracted to it is because they're so weary from evangelical triteness, the silliness and the light and the fluffy and the lack of reverence. The Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church, while I believe outside of Orthodoxy, both of them, they at least are more reverent about what they do, at least in worship. And I think people are just. They've had it and off they go. And that should be instructive for us, shouldn't it? 877-2822337.

[Jimmy]

Or this is from Anonymous. Todd, why am I always wrestling idols off my heart?

[Todd Friel]

Because your heart is an idol factory, that's why. That's what? That's where the fall. It's just the fall. Now, I would love to know how old this individual is, because it should be that increasingly the larger the idol of King Jesus is on your heart, there's just not a lot of room left for others for false usurpers. Study Jesus. Think about Jesus. Consider what Jesus has done for you. Consider the love of God expressed in his Son for sinners. And the more you think about the Savior, the less your heart is going to be creating idols. There simply won't be room for them there. 877-282-2337.

[Jimmy]

Do you know why I asked so many questions about idols today?

[Todd Friel]

No, but I fear this could potentially be a dad joke of some sort.

[Jimmy]

No, no, no, no.

[Todd Friel]

It felt like it.

[Jimmy]

It's not a dad joke. That' I know, but I was actually trying to set you up for something else, Todd.

[Todd Friel]

Right, of course you were, Jimmy. Carry on.

[Jimmy]

Because, you know we have a match campaign. I was trying to set you up for that.

[Todd Friel]

What?

[Jimmy]

You don't know how to.

[Todd Friel]

What Segue? You're going to have to explain the segue to me.

[Jimmy]

I don't really know. I was hoping you would.

[Todd Friel]

There was a synapse in your brain someplace. Okay, so in other words, here's what happened.

[Jimmy]

We've got a.

[Todd Friel]

The quarterback had his arm back and then a defender hit it and the ball just comes wobbling out. And I'm supposed to catch it.

[Jimmy]

That's right.

[Todd Friel]

Okay. We have a no retreat matching gift campaign and it'll prove that you don't have idols in your heart if you release money to us. How am I doing with this?

[Jimmy]

Hey, we create a bunch of content that talk about that. There we go.

[Todd Friel]

No, it's a matching gift campaign. We would be very grateful. It's doing really well. Thank you to everybody who has given. If you haven't, we love it. And it'll accomplish three things. One, it'll make sure you don't have any idols in your heart. Two, we can create more content that talk about idols in the heart. And three, best of all, we can proclaim Jesus even more. Fortisinstitute.org donate thanks, QB. Well played. Until tomorrow. Go serve your king.