Mailbag Thursday: Angels, Getting Baptized Again & Freemasonry

Summary

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Wretched Radio with Todd Friel

Episode: Mailbag Thursday: Angels, Getting Baptized Again & Freemasonry

Date: July 30, 2026
Host: Todd Friel
Co-host(s): Jimmy Hicks (with occasional producer/interjector)

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Overview

This episode of Wretched Radio is dedicated to Mailbag Thursday, where Todd Friel and Jimmy Hicks tackle a wide array of listener questions and theological conundrums sent via email, text, and voicemail. The main focus is on down-to-earth Christian living and discernment questions—including the presence of angels, the legitimacy of "getting baptized again," the error of Christian Science, engagement with liberal family members, the dangers of Freemasonry, and more. Todd brings clarity, scriptural wisdom, and his signature humor to each topic, making the show both informative and engaging.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Do Angels Still Live Among Us? (02:13)

• Question from Hannah: Based on Hebrews 13:2, do angels still exist on Earth today, and do we ever meet them unknowingly?
• Todd’s Insight:
  • Angels don’t “live” on earth—their domicile is in heaven, shown by their depiction in Scripture as surrounding God’s throne, awaiting His command.
  • Angels can and do come to earth to minister or intervene (referencing Hebrews 13:2, “entertaining angels unaware”).
  • Their exact arrival or activity remains mysterious by design, but they are indeed active and serve God’s people.
  • Memorable Quote:

    “Hannah, you serve a very nice God. You think about all He does for us—including sending angels. I’d say that’s pretty nice of Him.” (03:47, Todd Friel)

• Timestamp: 02:22–04:57

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2. Should I Get Baptized Again? (07:27)

• Question from Nancy: Saved at age five, baptized young, but lived “not like a Christian” for most of her life. Now in her fifties, wondering whether to be re-baptized since she wants to live for Christ.
• Todd’s Insight:
  • Cannot provide a direct answer without more information; urges seeking counsel from a local, Bible-teaching pastor.
  • Key points to consider: What did “not lived like a Christian” mean? What is your understanding of salvation and the gospel now? Are you seeing fruit in your life?
  • Points to Milton Vincent’s sermon on justification as an important resource for those who struggle with repeated cycles of “getting saved and baptized” (“Milton Vincent, justification, YouTube”).
  • Notable Quote:

    “Go listen to that sermon. It will bless your socks off. If you are caught in a cycle of I got saved, I lost it, got saved, got lost, baptisms tossed in—Milton Vincent, justification.” (09:27, Todd Friel)

• Timestamp: 07:27–10:09

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3. What is Christian Science? (10:09, with follow-up at 19:57)

• Question from Carrie: What’s Christian Science?
• Todd’s Insight:
  • Not Christian nor scientific; founded by Mary Baker Eddy.
  • Classified as a cult because it rejects essential Christian doctrines: the Trinity, deity of Christ, inspiration of Scripture, the atonement, resurrection, etc. (Cites “Kingdom of the Cults” by Walter Martin).
  • Beliefs include denial of physical reality and that “material thinking” brings about sickness—more akin to Buddhism in some aspects.
  • Christians should “run for your life” from Christian Science.
  • Memorable Quote:

    “Christian Science is not a Christian religion. Those people need to get saved.” (22:25, Todd Friel)

• Timestamps: 10:09–11:32; 19:57–22:25

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4. Is Playing Chess Sinful? (23:11)

• Question from Andrew: Chess sharpens intelligence and strategy—is it sinful since it doesn’t specifically foster Christian virtue like humility?
• Todd’s Insight:
  • Chess is morally neutral, like learning algebra. Not a sin unless it becomes an idol or distracts from Christian duties.
  • Sinfulness depends on your heart attitude toward it and neglecting responsibilities, not the activity itself.
  • Quote:

    “What brings morality to so many things is the human mindset toward it... It is our heart that can make them sinful.” (25:15, Todd Friel)

• Timestamp: 23:11–26:01

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5. Liberal Family Members, Lifestyle, and Church Discipline (31:32)

• Question from Anonymous: Family claims Christianity but is pro-abortion, pro-CRT, includes a niece in a homosexual relationship, and rejects traditional teaching. Should I treat them as tax collectors (i.e., disfellowship) as in church discipline?
• Todd’s Insight:
  • Treating “as a tax collector” pertains to church, not inherently to family. Family relationships (siblings, marriage) persist.
  • If the gospel has been made clear and has been rejected, you're not obligated to persistently re-engage in hostile spiritual conversation. Maintain love and relationship, unless their influence draws you away.
  • Do not feel the burden of ongoing confrontation or conversion—that is the Holy Spirit’s work.
  • Memorable Quotes:

    “If you’ve done that and they’re hostile in return, I think you’re free from having to speak about spiritual things... just love your sister, love her family... enjoy as many good times as you can with them.” (33:32, Todd Friel)

• Timestamp: 31:32–37:05

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6. Romantic Interest Becoming an Idol (37:56)

• Question from Boaz: Interested in a godly woman, now finds himself distracted during prayer. How to love someone without making them an idol?
• Todd’s Insight:
  • All love for people must flow from love for God. Never at the expense of one’s devotion to God.
  • Discipline yourself—if interest in a person diminishes your Bible reading or prayer, regain focus.
  • Test for idolatry: If the object of your affection disappeared, would you still stand firm in your love for God?
  • Quote:

    “Love her. Just make sure you’re loving the Lord more.” (40:26, Todd Friel)

• Timestamp: 37:56–40:35

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7. Is Official Membership Necessary for Church Discipline? (44:46)

• Question from Anonymous: Church has no official membership, but says they practice discipline. How can that work?
• Todd’s Insight:
  • Ideally, church membership includes mutual covenant and identification, which clarifies church discipline.
  • Not a reason to leave alone if the church is otherwise sound, but worth discussing with leaders.
  • Encourages the idea of regular recitation of the church covenant for clarity among members and elders.
  • Quote:

    “Unless there’s something where the two parties are covenanting together, how can you say the covenant is over if there isn’t a covenant?” (45:27, Todd Friel)

• Timestamp: 44:46–48:32

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8. Does Sin Separate Us from God? (48:32)

• Question from Stephanie: Struggling to understand how sin separates us from God, especially Christ’s separation on the cross.
• Todd’s Insight:
  • Two categories: The unbeliever is cut off from God’s goodness, not His presence (which is everywhere, even in hell).
  • For the believer: Salvation (union) is secure, but sin can disturb relational fellowship—not the fundamental standing with God.
  • Remedy: Confess and forsake sin to maintain relational closeness.
  • Illustration: Like hurting a friend—relationship is intact, but needs tending through repentance.
  • Quote:

    “If you are in Christ, nothing can separate you from the love of God.” (51:49, Todd Friel)

• Timestamp: 48:32–51:57

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9. Freemasonry & Christianity (51:57)

• Question from Tom: Address Freemasonry’s compatibility with Christianity.
• Todd’s Insight:
  • Freemasonry is not Christian; accepts anyone who affirms any deity.
  • Oaths and secrecy are marks of cultic behavior, fundamentally incompatible with Christianity.
  • Christians should leave Freemasonry; their commitments and allegiance belong to Christ and the local church.
  • Notable Quotes:

    “If a Christian is a Freemason, then to whom is he giving his oaths to? It is not the God of the Bible... It would be idolatry.” (52:30, Todd Friel)
    “Join a different club. It's called your local church.” (53:10, Todd Friel) “If I share any of these secrets, you can pull my tongue out of my mouth, chop it into a hundred bits, bury it in the sands.” (54:04, Todd Friel, on Freemason oaths)

• Timestamp: 51:57–54:30

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Angels: “That God would do something like that for us, that he has messengers he will send... I’d say that’s pretty nice of God.” (03:47, Todd Friel)
• On Church Discipline & Family: “Church discipline doesn’t override the family covenant...” (32:48, Todd Friel)
• On Idolatry in Relationships: “Love them. Just make sure you’re loving the Lord more.” (40:26, Todd Friel)
• On Christian Science: “Christian Science is not a Christian religion. Those people need to get saved.” (22:25, Todd Friel)
• On Freemasonry: “It’s fundamentally not Christian... That would be idolatry. It would be blasphemous. And I think a born-again Christian should hightail it out of there.” (52:45, Todd Friel)

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Timestamps of Major Segments

• Do angels walk among us? 02:22–04:57
• Getting re-baptized after a period of unfaithfulness 07:27–10:09
• What is Christian Science? 10:09–11:32; (expanded) 19:57–22:25
• Is chess sinful or a gray area? 23:11–26:01
• Dealing with liberal/progressive family 31:32–37:05
• Maintaining love for God in romantic pursuits 37:56–40:35
• Church discipline without formal membership 44:46–48:32
• Does sin separate us from God? 48:32–51:57
• Freemasonry and Christianity 51:57–54:30

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Tone and Style

• Conversational, lighthearted, and humorous while still being biblically serious (“Don’t be a Jimmy!”)
• Frequent pop culture and church culture jokes (naming kids “NIV” or “King James Version”)
• Encouraging deep thinking and scriptural grounding for all decisions
• Emphasis on pastoral discretion, local church involvement, and relational wisdom
• Practical, accessible illustrations for spiritual concepts

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Final Thoughts

This episode of Wretched Radio is a rich resource for believers wrestling with practical, often confusing questions about faith and daily living. The thoughtful blend of biblical fidelity, wisdom, and humor provides much-needed clarity on issues both profound and practical—making it a can’t-miss for anyone wanting to grow in discernment and assurance.

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To submit your own questions or comments for future mailbag episodes, visit ideaetched.org or text/call 877-282-2337.

Transcript

[Todd Friel]

Wretched radio begins in 3, 2, 1.

[Caller or Listener Sharing Testimony]

In issues of racism, there are going to be some who will say, why don't you stick to preaching gospel? The social, political and economic concerns have increasingly encroached upon the minds of those

[Jimmy Hicks]

who should know better. The real transformative work in a nation is the transformative work of the gospel.

[Todd Friel]

It's time for Wretched Radio with Todd Friel.

[Jimmy Hicks]

Deja vu.

[Todd Friel]

It's the Wretched Radio Mail call delivery Bag Q and A infotainment nationwide extravaganza featuring your voicemails, correspondences, communiques, dispatches, memorandums and misses.

[Jimmy Hicks]

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.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

That is a bit above average.

[Todd Friel]

Now here's your host, Todd Freakishly Tall Friel the mail.

[Jimmy Hicks]

If an ooh can have a key, I'm pretty certain I wasn't in one. This is Wretched Radio spending the day going through the mail. That's right, your mail. Send to ideaetched.org? what do you see on the Internet that is wretched? There's plenty out there, isn't there? When you discover it, would you kindly Forward it to ideaetched.org along with your questions? Comments, Conundrum Snarks if you feel like using your thumbs. 877-282-2337.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

All right, this is from Amy and Hannah. Todd, you answered my daughter Hannah's question on Mailbag Friday in February of 2020 about whether we will know everything when we're in heaven.

[Jimmy Hicks]

Oh, wow.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

Hannah's now 13. I found the program and I showed it to her recently.

[Jimmy Hicks]

Wait, hold on a second. Let me just do some math here. She's 18 now.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

13.

[Jimmy Hicks]

13.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

She's 13 now.

[Jimmy Hicks]

This was eight. Six years old.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

Six years. So she was a five.

[Jimmy Hicks]

Woof dog.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

Is that right? I didn't do math right.

[Jimmy Hicks]

No, you didn't.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

She's 8 now. Or she was 8.

[Jimmy Hicks]

Hey, hey. Do not panic. You can still get a job somehow without any math skills whatsoever.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

All right, so she said, I found the program recently and showed it to her. She couldn't believe it when you said her name and answered her question. Oh, she's putting the email when she was just six years old. She was wondering if you would be so kind to answer another question. Do angels still live on Earth today and we don't know about it based on Hebrews 13:2?

[Jimmy Hicks]

Yeah, that's a great question, Hannah. Do they live on Earth? Well, I don't think they live on Earth. I think their domicile, if you will, is in heaven. We see a picture in the Bible of the angels surrounding the throne. We see a picture in the Bible of the angels just staring at God. It's like, give me the command and we are on it and off they go to do his bidding on our behalf. So I would have to say that their zip code is in heaven. But if you're asking more specifically, do they come to this planet and do stuff, yeah, they do. Some of us have entertained angels unaware they are to do the Lord's bidding on our behalf. And so they do manifest on earth. In what way, shape or form? Don't know. I think that's the whole point. We don't know. But they most certainly are still active. Which is really a staggering thought, isn't it, that God would do something like that for us, that he has messengers that he will send for us. Honestly, I just. I think that I shared this a couple of weeks ago. I think when I was talking to Paul Washer and he was describing how the works that we do on this earth are all done by the power of the Lord Jesus Christ. We know that the power of the spirit working in us. But then when we get to heaven, we get credit for all of the things that he did through us. And Paul said something and it stuck with me. He said, I'd say that's pretty nice of God. Let that linger. I'd say, that's pretty nice of God. And I would add to that very long list of nice things that he does for us angels. He sends angels on our behalf. I would say that is pretty nice of him. Hannah, you serve a very nice God. 8, 7, 7, 2, 8, 2, 2, 3, 3, 7.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

And this is from Nancy.

[Jimmy Hicks]

Tom, that was a little radio ish.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

Jimmy, this is from Nancy. I'm getting my radio voice back. I don't know.

[Jimmy Hicks]

Are you quitting?

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

Am I quitting?

[Jimmy Hicks]

What, this?

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

No.

[Jimmy Hicks]

To go back to country.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

Oh, no, no, Absolutely not. What I'm saying is, while I was off for so long, I didn't feel like when I came back, I talked very, very radio ish.

[Jimmy Hicks]

Did it just kind of kick in?

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

I had a strain in my voice for so long. Yeah, I felt like I did. Maybe you couldn't tell it or anyone else could tell it.

[Jimmy Hicks]

Give me an example.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

I just felt like my voice was getting weak quicker because I wasn't using it.

[Jimmy Hicks]

Oh, there's that. Oh, yeah, that can happen.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

Yeah.

[Jimmy Hicks]

It's a muscle. Don't you know it is. It's two flaps that kind of bang against each. Your throat, your vocal cords. Have you ever had yours checked before?

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

I have not, dude.

[Jimmy Hicks]

Ain't fun.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

You know, this neck surgery really scared me because they went through the back of my neck, but the other potential thing was to go through the front of my neck, through my vocal cords for a fusion. And I was like, man, do you not realize that's how I make my living?

[Jimmy Hicks]

That you hear that does not sound pleasant at all. I had to have the thing shoved up my nose. It goes down the back.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Jimmy Hicks]

And into your throat. And then this is the worst part. This is the worst part. So you've got this thing, I don't know, whatever they call it, the tube nosy thing that goes down there.

[Caller or Listener Sharing Testimony]

Oh, yeah.

[Jimmy Hicks]

And then they want you to use your throat. Say ah. Okay. Sing a note. Oh, no, don't. It's bad enough when I don't have a tube down my nose. Up my nose, down my throat. Oh, use your falsetto. Ain't got one. It's awful. And then when they pull the thing out. Oh, the relief. Oh, man. And they discovered that I had the gerd. The minor. The reflux business.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

That's right. Yeah.

[Jimmy Hicks]

All it is. Two Prilosec a day.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

Wow.

[Jimmy Hicks]

And all gone. All better.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

Amazing, isn't it?

[Jimmy Hicks]

Well, you know, better. Living through pharmacology, it's just, you know, anytime that you have to take something out to your dead always makes me a little nervous. It's over the counter stuff. It ain't no big thing. But still you just twice a day. But I'm girdless. I don't know what the implications of that statement were. All right. 8, 7, 7, 282-2-33, 7.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

All right. This is from Nancy Todd. I received Christ as my savior at the tender age of five and I was baptized in a Baptist church at. I'm now in my 50s and looking back at my life, I've not lived like a Christian a large majority of the time. But want to live for him going forward. Should I get baptized again?

[Jimmy Hicks]

Can't answer that for you. Don't have nearly enough detail. So as soon as, for instance, I heard you say didn't live like a Christian for what was the phrase used a great deal at that time?

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

Yeah, large majority.

[Jimmy Hicks]

Large majority. Okay, what does that mean exactly? What did those seasons look like? Was it like seven years? And you never prayed, you never went to church? You never thought of God? Want to know a lot of details? About that. Furthermore, would want to know exactly what your current understanding of salvation is, your understanding of what the gospel is, how you've responded to that good news, why you believe that you're saved now, but potentially weren't then are you seeing new fruits exhibited in your life? All that to say there's just too much information needed for me to render any sort of opinion on it would be very unwise of me, very unhelpful for you. And it would also be undermining of your local shepherd, who would be more than happy to discuss that with you. If you've got a Bible teaching shepherd and you bring that to him, he will set aside the time and he will ask you questions and you can make that decision with him. Now, just for yux, only because it's one of my favorite sermons ever. It's Milton Vincent's sermon on justification. Go to the YouTube machine and find it. Because he talks about that very issue of being saved, getting baptized, oops, getting saved, getting baptized, oops, getting saved, getting baptized. And finally his pastor just put a kibosh on it, went, no, we're done with that. We got to get this thing sorted here. Go listen to that sermon. It will bless your socks off. Just go to the YouTube machine. Milton Vincent comma, justification. You'll find it. It's only been seen like 32,000 times. It's one of those sermons. It should be seen millions of times. It's that impactful. And it'll be that helpful for you if you are one especially that is caught in a cycle of I got saved, I lost it, I got saved, I got lost. Baptisms tossed in there. Milton Vincent comma, justification. 877-282-2337.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

Carrie wonders, Todd, what is Christian science?

[Jimmy Hicks]

Oh, yikes. It's neither Christian nor science. Is Mary Baker Eddie?

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

I think so, yeah.

[Jimmy Hicks]

Well, there you go. The founder is Mary, not the mother of Jesus. Mary Baker Eddie. It's a mess. It's barely Christian. It certainly isn't scientific. I think rightly understood. And during the break, I'll go run and grab my copy of Walter Martin's Kingdom of the Cults book and we'll look it up to see. I'm pretty certain it's classified as a cult to be avoided. I'll do that. And then we'll also read a little bit more detail on science. There's one in Greenville. They actually open up storefronts when you walk downtown. Greenville. You ain't never been to Greenville. It's definitely. It's a lovely weekend. They've got a Christian Science store where you can walk in like you're shopping for knickknacks in South Carolina. Paraphernalia, basically religion by retail, which should probably tell you pretty much all you need to know. This is wretched radio.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

A lot of us got handed a choice we never agreed to faith on one side, reason on the other. So when talk turns to fossils or the age of the universe, you kind of feel that knot. You believe God's word, you just can't explain why. But that choice was a setup. The same God who gave us the Bible gave us the universe to study. And truth doesn't argue with itself. The trouble was the assumptions, the one smuggled in next to the evidence and taught as fact. It's why two people can look at the same fossil and walk away telling two different stories. But you sort the assumptions out and the science sits comfortably beside Scripture. That's exactly what in the beginning with Dr. Jason Lyle is. He's a PhD astrophysicist who takes the hardest questions in science and makes them clear and biblical. New episodes of in the Beginning, heard every Wednesday on every single podcast platform in existence or on the Fortis plus app at fortisplus.org Would you like the

[Jimmy Hicks]

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[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

We all love it, right? Not so much. It's usually people screaming at each other over nothing, throwing chairs and making you feel a little better about your own family's dysfunction. By comparison, it's just entertainment, and it's not helping anyone. But you know what is Transform? This is a different kind of reality tv. Real people walking through real struggles like anxiety and depression and addiction and anger and broken trust and grief. You're watching actual counseling. These aren't actors with scripts. These are real people doing the hard work of change. You'll hear from counselors like Dr. Greg Gifford and Dr. Dale Johnson and Dr. Lou Friolo as they guide these conversations and show you what it looks like when God's word meets real life. Four seasons of Transformed available right now. That's 52 episodes and every single one of them is proof that the Bible is sufficient for the stuff we actually struggle with. Transformed available on Fortis plus for free. Download it now on your smartphone, your smart TV, or just simply go to fortisplus.org.

[Todd Friel]

Know your Church Fathers Cyprian was a third century theologian from Carthage, North Africa, where he served as bishop until he was beheaded under Emperor Valerian. Cyprian authored a book called on the Unity of the Church, stressing the unity of the universal church as well as the importance and authority of the local church. This is Wretched Radio with Todd Friel.

[Caller or Listener Sharing Testimony]

A little bit about my story. I, you know, throughout my life I have known how to get saved. Trust me, I knew how to get saved. I've done it many, many times.

[Jimmy Hicks]

This is Wretched Radio. That is Milton Vincent. If you have been one who has been saved many, many times, perhaps this sermon titled Undivided will help you.

[Caller or Listener Sharing Testimony]

Praying the Sinner's Prayer I made my first profession of faith when I was four and a half years of age in Jacksonville, Florida, and shortly thereafter I wanted to get baptized. So I got baptized in the waters of baptism. But as I grew up in a Christian home, there was no evidence of saving fruit in my life. I would lie, I would steal. I had absolutely no conscience whatsoever and so pretty much was convinced growing up that I was not a Christian. During my freshman year of high school, God's spirit began to work in my heart and I just became seized with an awareness of the length of eternity and the fact that I'm going to live somewhere forever. So one day I pulled my Bible teacher aside at the Christian high school I attended and I said, I need to get saved. And so he shared the Gospel with me and then led me through the Sinner's Prayer. Well, after doing that, I went to my pastor and I said, listen, I know I've already been baptized, but I'm really saved this time. It's for reals. So can you baptize me again? And my pastor was happy to baptize me again. I am a true Anabaptist. And things went really great for a few weeks after that. I have to tell you, I mean, I was spending time in the Word, I was praying and practicing the disciplines and so forth and abstaining from sins. And yes, I would sin and I would fail God, but it seemed like he was happy enough to forgive me and keep me in his good favor. But eventually the sheer quantity of times That I failed God and sinned against him, Reached a threshold where I became convinced that God was fed up with me and getting quite tired of forgiving me of the same sins over and over again. So it was not long before I pretty much just gave up the whole effort of trying to stay in God's good favor and having to tend to that all the time. And I just said, forget it. And I went back to the way that I was before. Well, my junior year of high school, I went to summer camp and heard a lot of gospel preaching through that week. And by the end of the week, man, I was like, man, I'm not saved, and I want to get saved. God's spirit's working in my heart. And they had a big campfire at the end of that week of camp, and they had a bucket of sticks, and they said it was very dramatic, man. It was, you know, pick up one of these sticks if you're going to dedicate your life to the Lord. And I picked up one of those sticks, and that represented my life. And I walked to that fire and I threw that stick in the fire and I gave my life to Jesus. And I asked to save me. This time, it seemed like it was really for real. And I got home from summer camp and I approached my pastor

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

and I

[Caller or Listener Sharing Testimony]

said, pastor, I really got saved this time, and could you baptize me again this time? He said, I'm not going to baptize you again. And to his credit, because if he had baptized me on that occasion, I'm convinced he would have baptized me three or four more times after that. You guys have to know, throughout my life, I have prayed the sinner's prayer hundreds of times. I remember As a kid, 7, 8, 9 years old, we'd be on vacation in Amarillo, Texas, where my grandparents lived and hundreds of miles away from our home. And we'd be visiting in Amarillo, Texas. And I would lie in bed at night and the howling Texas wind storms were just beating again, the house and moaning, kind of like a whistling siren kind of sound. And I would lay there in bed and I would think, what if the rapture came? I'm hundreds of miles away from home and in these wind storms. And I'm telling you, I did not want to be left behind in Texas.

[Jimmy Hicks]

You'll have to watch all of it. It's called undivided justification by faith. The preacher is Milton Vincent. Find it on the YouTube machine and dedicate the hour plus to watching it. If that. If that was kind of resonating with you. You would do well to hear the entire sermon. Please keep sending stuff to ideaetched.org Jimmy, as last I recall, somebody was asking about Christian Science.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

Yes.

[Jimmy Hicks]

So I went and grabbed Kingdom of the Cults by Walter Martin. It's Mary Baker Eddy. She started this as it's been esteemed. It's in the cult book for a reason. And it is not Christian because they deny virtually everything that makes Christianity Christianity. I mean, everything. Don't have time to go through it. It's so much. Walter Martin simply compiled their writings and their denials of the following doctrines, like the inspiration of scripture, the doctrine of the Trinity, the deity of Jesus Christ, the doctrine of God and the Holy Spirit, the virgin birth of Jesus, the atonement of Jesus Christ, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Okay, that's number seven. There are just goes on for days. There are 16, 16 denials of basic doctrines in the Christian faith. It's basically, it was her experience of what she thought was applying the scriptures for the sake of healing. And so it definitely isn't scientific. It really has nothing to do with science. It has everything to do with her musings about science and Christianity merged together into a cultic religion that doesn't really help people. The government has even had to be involved with some Christian Science cases where they would reject medicinal healings for their children. And so Christian Science, run for your life. And if anybody is in that cult, you can spend all day if you want to. This is my opinion, you can spend all day showing them the different doctrines that they deny. And then you could bring them to the Bible and say, but look here, look here. That's one thing. The other thing you can do, you could avoid all of that and simply get to their conscience, help them understand they need forgiveness.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

Yeah, the denials are bad enough, but what they actually affirm and try to believe, they believe that physical matter is unreal ultimately. Like physical things are ultimately unreal. And that material thinking is what brings about sickness and pain.

[Jimmy Hicks]

Sure.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

Yeah.

[Jimmy Hicks]

You know, that almost in a way, feels a little bit like a cousin to Buddhism. It's your desires that are the source of all of your grief. And so Christian Science is not a Christian religion. Those people, they need to get saved. So, Jimmy, the other day I got a text from Matt, whose office is actually right next to mine. It's a picture down the street of a couple of Mormons. No, you could just. You could almost hear him salivating on a text. They're coming my way.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

I can't wait.

[Jimmy Hicks]

And Then at the last minute, they divert. They. They skipped his house.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

He was on a list.

[Jimmy Hicks]

He's on the list. 8, 7, 7, 2, 8, 2, 2, 3, 3, 7.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

This is from Andrew Todd. I recently watched a video you did on gray areas, and I wanted to ask if it was okay to play chess because it helps improve strategy and intelligence. Does it fail the Christ likeness test, general strategy and puzzle solving rather than something like humility?

[Jimmy Hicks]

Well, let me try to do this in a way that isn't sarcastic. Not easy for me, but I'm going to give it a go. Do you think that it is a sin to learn algebra or math because it's not teaching about humility? I suspect you would say, well, no, I'm just learning stuff. Bingo. Just because chess is a game, if you will, there is strategy to chess. It does require thinking. It can enhance your thinking skills. It can sharpen your mind. Any more than algebra would be a sin, other than the fact that it's entirely not fun. Chess isn't a sin. It can be good for you. The only way that chess, in my estimation, would be sinful, there's no gambling involved. There's nothing sinful. Innately involved in the game of chess would be if chess became your idol. If chess became something that you were so consumed by that you were neglecting your study of humility or your study of the Bible or your service in your local church or your commitments to your family. Yeah, well, then it would be a sin. But it's not chess that is the sin. It's my attitude toward chess that would be the sin, any more than anything else. That is, if you will, neutral. What brings morality to so many things is the human mindset toward it. All right, I'm sitting at a table, A table that I unfortunately now spit all over. Is this table. Is it a sin for me to sit at this table? Well, you'd want to know what I'm doing sitting there, but. Okay, so if I'm just sitting here, like right now, doing this. No. Then the table, it's not sinful. But what if I were at this table and across from me was a drug dealer and we're doing a deal? Well, yeah, then it's a problem. But is the table sinning? No. Is the table innately sinful? No, it's what I'm doing at the table. And the same thing is true with the chess table. If something is not innately sinful, blasphemous, corrupt in some way, we have freedom and liberty to use all of these things. It is our heart that can make them sinful. This is Wretched Radio.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

And it's now time for your daily Fortis news break. The production of Fortis Institute. We start overseas, where the war with Iran got a little bit hotter this week. Earlier this week, Iran's Revolutionary Guard fired a barrage of ballistic missiles at American forces across the Middle east. And all of them were intercepted. President Trump says Tehran was privately asking for us not to respond, which tells you how confident they were in the decision. His answer was that it's our turn. And by Wednesday night, American forces had hit dozens of Revolutionary Guard targets inside Iran, including command centers and missile factories. Iran's version is a little more colorful. The Revolutionary Guard claims It destroyed three American F35 jets and killed US troops in Jordan. Our military confirms none of it. And Tehran has a long history of announcing victories that never even happen at sea. More than 20 Navy warships are enforcing the blockade and have turned back 18 commercial ships. A drone set a U. S. Owned natural gas tanker on fire off Egypt. And China cut its own deal with Iran's allies for safe passage. Prime Minister Netanyahu was at the White House on Tuesday with fresh intelligence and a warning that Iran's rebuilt nuclear sites may have to be hit. Ukraine's president was there that same day, right after his forces struck an Iranian ship carrying drone parts to Russia. Both then attended Senator Lindsey Graham's funeral, where the president said Graham believed in American power and. And inside Iran, the regime reminded everyone exactly what it is. Earlier this week, before dawn, hundreds of Iranians gathered in one particular city to stop the execution of two young men arrested in December's protests over the collapsing currency. Security forces beat the crowd back and executed them anyway. Timed the morning call to prayer. Human rights groups say the confessions were tortured out of them. And back home, Florida's attorney general has opened an investigation into Dr. Fauci. And the reason why? Well, a presidential pardon doesn't cover state crimes. After years of congressional hearings that produce strongly worded letters and nothing else, Fauci may finally have to answer questions. So the answers actually carry some consequences. Accountability landed elsewhere, too. The Trump administration is paying a seven figure settlement to Paul Vaughn, a Tennessee father of 11 whose home was raided by armed FBI agents in 2022. His crime? Praying and singing hymns outside of an abortion clinic. Agents corralled his kids on their way to school. And he was looking at 10 years in prison before Trump pardoned him last year. The Justice Department now admits that it abused its power. And internal emails show a Biden official conceding the FBI staged the raid because it likes making arrests. And that wraps up today's Hoarders news break. Hey, 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 can be [e-mail] 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.

[Todd Friel]

Names of God Is Jesus God One name given to God in scripture is El Gibor, the Mighty God. One occurrence of this name stands out in Isaiah chapter 9. El Gibor is the name given to the Promised Messiah. Jesus is that Promised Messiah. He is God incarnate. This is Wretched Radio with Todd Friel.

[Jimmy Hicks]

You're listening to the sound of self control. This is Wretched Radio.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

You want to listen to that Milton Vincent sermon?

[Jimmy Hicks]

Yes I do. How you know I know you that sermon, I'm telling you, it is so good. It's titled Justification by Milton Vincent on the YouTube machine. If you have been wobbly kneed or you are in a cycle of salvations where you're getting saved and lost and saved and lost and saved and lost, you will be edified by this because it does a magnificent job of not neglecting the holiness of God, but it does focus on the love of God, the goodness of God, the patience of God, the kindness of God. So if you are one perhaps who has been exclusively studying the severe attributes of God, this sermon will be a cool drink of water for you. Because it talks about the goodness of God, the mercy of God, the grace of God. We always wanna keep our balance when we consider God. Luther described the Christian life as a drunken man who gets onto a horse, falls off the left side, gets up and falls off the right side. We just easily fall off the horse. You want to keep your balance when it comes to the severe and the soft attributes of God. Transcendence and imminence, holiness and mercy. You can't just be always staring at one and neglecting the other. You must be looking at both. But if you have only been looking at the holiness of God, the righteousness of God, the justice of God, and you're lacking assurance or you're perhaps feeling colder than you once did, then I encourage you take a drink of cool water of justification. It will do your heart good. And when you're done with that, you can Send stuff to ideaetched.org or text away to 877-282-22 3, 3, 7.

[Todd Friel]

All right.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

This is from Anonymous. A text from Anonymous. Todd. My sister and her family claim to be Christians, but they've gone very liberal, pro abortion, pro crt. One niece is living a homosexual lifestyle and they refuse to take advice from us. They think we're deceived by evil pastors like John MacArthur. It's become hard for me to want a relationship with them. I believe they're not saved and I believe they're bringing shame on the name of our Savior. Is it right to treat them as a tax collector or how should I handle this?

[Jimmy Hicks]

Yeah, it's tricky when, when it's family because treating them like a tax collector, I believe is in the church context versus the family context. And so this, this can be a little tricky and it requires some nuancing. So very specifically and contextually applied, treating them like a tax collector I think is more in alignment with church discipline where with that individual, because of their ongoing sin, are requests that they would repent. They have rejected them. And so the entire church body has determined. We're setting you outside of the camp because you're indicating that you are not a believer. This is done in love and hopes that they will come to their senses and they will return or potentially even repent for the first time. If they do not, then yes, we are to divide from them. But what do you do when it's family? You can't. Okay, so imagine if you will, a husband and wife. They've been married for X number of years. They go to church and pick your gender. That one sins gets brought up on church discipline. Is the husband supposed to ignore the wife? Is the wife supposed to move out because the husband is under church discipline? I don't think that church discipline overrides the family covenant. And I think the same thing could be applied with your siblings. They're still your siblings. They're forever your siblings. And so I think that you can maintain a relationship with them until of course, they're having more influence on you than you're having on them. I don't think it's a sin to stay in a relationship with them. But now the tricky question is how do you get along with them? My first question for you would be, do they know the gospel, the true gospel? If you have shared that with them and you know that they have clarity on it and whether they claim to embrace it or they reject it outright, I think your hands are clean. I don't think that you need to feel bad and I don't think that, that this is Maybe going to strike somebody as like, whoa, whoa, whoa. I don't think you need to persist in sharing the gospel with them. In fact, if you shared the gospel with them and you've shared your concerns with them, the Bible doesn't say that you have to keep doing that. Doesn't say that you have to do it a minimum of seven times. If you've done that and they're hostile in return toward you, I think you're free from having to speak about spiritual things. My encouragement. Now, there may be more details to this, so this would just be from afar. My encouragement would be you can stay in a relationship, and I hope you do stay in a relationship with your sibling. You can just avoid the spiritual conversations and just love your sibling. Just love your sister, love her family, enjoy as many good times as you can with them. And if the Holy Spirit works on that family and they start to be convicted or they come to their senses, there you are and there you've been, and they know that you love them. So I don't think you need to exercise church discipline, separation. I think you can be in a relationship with them. Now, if you can keep talking about these things without it souring the relationship, feel free to do so. Maybe you want to take a month or two off of it and then tiptoe into those waters again. And if it starts to like, whoa, there's sharks in them there waters, then you can back away from it without feeling like you're sinning. Jimmy, you got anything to add to that?

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

No, I think you hit every point that I would have hit.

[Jimmy Hicks]

All right.

[Todd Friel]

Yep.

[Jimmy Hicks]

All right. Because it is tricky because it's family and I don't know the dynamics of every situation like this. So if this describes you, I'm not trying to be critical of your situation, but I've seen so many heartbreaking scenarios where relatives break up because one isn't a Christian or one is. They wobbled away from the family tradition, their particular denomination. I know that there's times when that can be necessary, but, oh, I see it happening too often and it's really heartbreaking because it's family and you just want to love your family. What might release you from feeling any sense of. Well, I'll even say obligation. Assuming, of course, that you've already shared your heart with them about how they're living. You've shared the gospel with them. Remember, it's not your job to convert them. It's the Holy Spirit's job. And if you've shared, they've heard, you don't have to feel obligated to persist in pursuing them in that regard. But you should keep trying if it doesn't cause hostility. 8, 7, 7, 2. 8, 2, 2, 3, 3, 7.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

All right. This is from Boaz. Todd, I have recently.

[Jimmy Hicks]

How many people are called Boaz?

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

I do not know.

[Jimmy Hicks]

That is such a cool name.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

It is a cool name.

[Jimmy Hicks]

That's so Old Testament, obviously.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

Yeah.

[Jimmy Hicks]

You know, you hear Jeremiah's.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

Yeah.

[Jimmy Hicks]

And Isaiah's. Boaz.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

Boaz.

[Jimmy Hicks]

Yeah. You know, I'll tell you, my sister, she's not very bright. Names all of her kids Bible names. Yeah. So I'm playing with my nephew. King James Version. Incomes. Niv. He's a little bit more liberal, his older brother. He's nearly inspired. Oh, yeah. As long as she doesn't give birth to a message, that's all I care about. 8, 7, 7.

[Caller or Listener Sharing Testimony]

Where are we?

[Jimmy Hicks]

Two. Text number.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

Boaz says, Todd, I've recently grown very fond of a godly woman in my life and desire to pursue a courting relationship with her. However.

[Jimmy Hicks]

Oh, if her name isn't Ruth.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

He doesn't say. He doesn't say. However, I now find myself thinking of her in the quiet parts of my day, to the detriment of my prayer life. How do I truly love someone without committing idolatry?

[Jimmy Hicks]

That's a question for all of us because we are supposed to love people. How are we supposed to love people? Well, we should love our neighbor as ourselves. That's a whole lot of love. That's a lot of love. So how do you do it without it being an idol? It flows from your love of God. So if you are loving people at the exclusion of loving God, you're loving them. Wrong. In fact, you can't love them truly until you are loving God. Rightly. So, rather than saying, okay, well, 70% of the 30%, 20%, your intensity for this should be, make sure that your love of God is preeminent. Make sure that your love of God is preeminent. And then love her. Love your spouse, love your kids. Never at the expense of your love for the Lord. And so if you've seen, for instance, that whatever the process is for your loving this woman that is becoming detrimental to your Bible reading, well, then you need to discipline yourself to get back to doing your Bible reading. Simple as that. That doesn't mean you don't love her. It means that you are doing what you should be doing to be cultivating your love for the Lord. Everything must flow out of our love for Him. Now, there's other ways that you can test that. Imagine, if you will, this scenario. Let's remove it from Boaz, because otherwise it sounds kind of cruel. But whatever the object of your affection is, imagine it disappeared. It's a Hershey's chocolate bar, and it's gone. It's a human being and they die. Will you still love the Lord? Will you still be able to carry on because you love the Lord and the Lord loves you? It's just a heart check. It's an idle test. It doesn't mean that we don't love our kids. Because where I think that I would stray in responding to this question is to say, well, love her less. Love your kids less. Well, that ain't right.

[Todd Friel]

Love them.

[Jimmy Hicks]

Just make sure you're loving the Lord more. This is wretched radio.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

You know, you can love the Lord with absolutely everything in you and still go mute. When somebody asks you, how do you even know the Bible is true? You feel the answer deep down. You just can't put it into words. The reasons go deeper than most of us were ever even shown. Skeptics know that, too. That's why they start in Genesis and then they work backward, because if you crack the foundation, then everything, everything built on top of it will start to wobble. But when you trace the logic and the morality and the science all the way down, you find the very same thing every single time. Reality only makes sense if the Bible is true. And Dr. Jason Lyle has spent his entire career studying the universe. And in his new series, Irrefutable Proof of Creation, he asks the hard questions about God and turns doubt into confidence. Irrefutable Proof of Creation is streaming right now on Fortis, with new episodes dropping every week. Download the Fortis app on your smartphone, your smart TV, or you can go to fortisplus.org hey, thanks for listening to Wretched Radio today. You know, finding Bible teachers you can actually trust, it's not as easy as it used to be. There is a lot of content out there, but not all of it's faithful. That's what Fortis Institute is building. We've brought together a team of fellows, people like Tim Challis, Dr. Jason Lyle, Dr. Andrew Williams Walker, Dr. Greg Gifford, Pastor Brad Big, Todd Friel, Dr. John Kratz, Libby Glosson, Dr. Adam Tyson. And they're all committed to teaching the word without apology. These aren't influencers. They're not chasing trends. These are serious teachers doing serious work. And the reason that we've been able to bring voices like this together in one place is because of our gospel partners, men and women just like you, who find value in what we're doing at Fortis Institute. And if you appreciate what we're doing and you want to be a part of it, would you consider joining us as an ongoing monthly gospel partner? Help us to continue building something that matters? Just go to fortisinstitute.org right now. Wretched Amazing Grace Amazing Gospel Be honest. When's the last time you shared the gospel with a stranger? Not posted something online, not liked a Christian meme, but actually opened your mouth and told someone about Jesus? If your stomach tightens just a little bit, you're not alone. Most Christians would rather do almost anything than evangelize. It's terrifying. What if they get mad? What if I say something wrong? What if they ask me a question I can't answer? Our resource Terrified Too. It exists because Jesus gave us the Great Commission, not the Great suggestion, and he actually gave us the tools to obey it. This resource will walk you through how to share the gospel with strangers, even family members, without needing Pepto Bismol to get through it. You'll still be nervous. That's normal. But you'll also be equipped. And equipped beats terrified every single time. Terrified2 it is streaming right now for free on Fortis. Download the app right now on your smartphone, on your smart TV, or head to fortisplus.org.

[Todd Friel]

Hippolytus was perhaps the most important theologian of the third century. He wrote a ten volume book called Refutation of All Heresies which catalogued and criticized hundreds of pagan philosophies, gnostic teachings and Christian heresies. Hippolytus was exiled and died a martyr under the Roman Empire. This is Wretched Radio with Todd Friel.

[Jimmy Hicks]

Catching up. We're catching up. This is Wretched Radio. Had a stack oh emails which is loverly that you would take some of your time to send wretched stuff, questions, comments, whatever is on your mind to our website, to our text machine. Thank you for that. We had a bunch of them so we thought we'd dedicate an entire week to Mailbag. Jimmy, how are we doing in there?

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

Well, we still got it. I don't think we made a dent yet.

[Jimmy Hicks]

Oh no, no, don't. Don't be a. Don't be a. I don't want to say Debbie Downer because Debbies will get offended by that. Don't be a. Jimmy. Jimmy.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

Yeah, I get what you're saying.

[Jimmy Hicks]

All righty. 877-282-2337.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

All right. This is from anonymous Todd how concerned should I be about joining a church that doesn't have an official membership process? The pastor has assured me that he and the other elders will practice church discipline. But I'm left wondering how that works. Without an official identification of who's who and what other does that open the church up to?

[Jimmy Hicks]

Yeah, I know that guys do that and churches do that and it doesn't automatically mean that they're terrible. I'm thinking of one right now. Very good church. They don't have church membership and they do church discipline. But to me, I agree with this fellow. Writing in it doesn't make sense to me. It would be like, I don't know, the VFW club kicking me out. Well, you can. I'm not a member. Ditto with the church. Until there is some sort of identification that you are a member of that church. Something, and, and there can be variety. It doesn't need to be a, a cookie cutter sort of process for every single church. You've got to do it this way. But unless there's something where the two parties are covenanting together, how, how can you, how can you say the covenant is over if there isn't a covenant? By the way, I'm really excited about this. I'm really looking forward to this. At church two Sundays ago, a buddy of mine showed up. He goes to a church probably 20, some 30 miles from here, and they've got a church covenant statement. And they share it every. They recite it every month, reminding both the elders and the congregation of their responsibilities to one another and what it looks like to end that covenant with one another and what that process looks like and what they agreed to when they became this covenantal relationship. And I think that's an awesome idea. I can't wait for him to send that to me. He said he was gonna. I need to send him a text. It's been too long now. Where is that thing, James? Because I think it's a good reminder to everybody involved when you join a church, it ain't no little thing. It's a big deal. You're, you're. This is like we're doing spiritual life together. We're responsible to one another. We do the one another's with one another. We have an obligation to one another. We have responsibilities and even authority with one another. Yes, we have authority with one another, even if it's elder led. There's still congregational authority that is involved because their responsibility is to make sure purity of doctrine is taking place, that they participate in church discipline. And so for this particular church, I don't know how they do it without some sort of a formal statement. But if they're doing it, okay. But I believe the question was, should I leave? And I would say not over that, not over that. If everything else is sound and stout, that wouldn't rise to that level for me. And so I think you can stay there. And I think you could continue to have conversations with the leadership to talk about how they see this working. Ask your pastor the same question that was posed in this letter, or at least the statement that was made. How can you be kicked out of a church if you were never a member of the church? Those are good questions. Those are right questions. And as long as the pastors and the elders, they are godly men, they're striving to do their best. And you've got a disagreement on this, I probably would be very, very slow to leave a church like that. 877-28-22337.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

And this one is from Stephanie, who says, todd, I'm struggling with understanding the meaning of the doctrine that sin separates us from God, especially as it relates to Jesus relationship to the Father of while paying for our sins on the cross. Does it mean that when unreconciled, we're separated from the actual presence of the Father or that we are separated only from his grace and kindness?

[Jimmy Hicks]

That's a lot right there. There's two categories that need to be defined to answer that correctly. For the believer and for the unbeliever. Does sin separate the unbeliever from God? And the answer to that is a definitive and hearty yes and no. None of us are ever separated from God. And some people would protest, hey, the people in hell are separated from God. No, they're not. Why? That would compromise the doctrine of omnipresence. He's everywhere, all the time. And that includes the hell that he has prepared for the devil and his angels. And so people in hell are not separated from God. They're separated from the goodness of God. They are experiencing the wrath of God, the justice of God, the anger of God. That's what they're experiencing. So nobody ever escapes the presence of God. They're never fully separated from him as unbelievers. They're separated from his goodness. Now, what about the believer? Are we ever separated from God? And the answer to that is absolutely not. You are forensically declared in Christ. Your position can never be moved. Having said that, your relationship can be, I don't wanna say altered because we wanna remember your position in Christ is forever fixed. But relationally, when we sin, we are out of alignment with our relationship with God. And just like any other relationship that we have here, those things need tending. You can't be separated from God. He can't love you any less, so you have forensic union with Jesus Christ. But the relational aspect should be dealt with on a regular basis when you sin, because sin. I want to put air quotes in this. It affects us relationally with God. So what do we do? We confess our sins. He's faithful and just to forgive us our sins, cleanse us from all unrighteousness and things are right. Perhaps an illustration would be helpful if Jimmy and I covenanted to be together. We're just gonna. Jimmy, you and I are gonna do this till we die. I'll see you Monday through Friday. We're gonna do this no matter what.

[Todd Friel]

Okay?

[Jimmy Hicks]

Agreed?

[Caller or Listener Sharing Testimony]

Agreed.

[Jimmy Hicks]

And then I walk into a studio and I punch him in the nose. I come back here and carry on. Well, he's gonna continue carrying on with me. He'll even continue, I suspect, to be nice to me. But he did. Some dude. Relationally, it needs to be addressed through repentance. So do that as regularly as you can, knowing that your position is fixed in the Lord Jesus Christ. And if you are in Christ, nothing can separate you from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. 8, 7, 7, 2, 8, 2, 2, 3, 3, 7.

[Todd Friel]

All right.

[Co-host or Producer (possibly Jimmy Hicks or another regular contributor)]

This is a text from Tom Todd. Would you be able to address free Freemasonry and how it conflicts with biblically sound fundamental Christian doctrine?

[Jimmy Hicks]

Oh, sure, yeah. It's not Christian. You can be a Christian, but you can be Jewish. You can be anything you want to, and you can be a Freemason because they affirm a deity. I don't know if it's that pyramid eye in the sky, but it's a deity. They've got a name for it, the great power in the sky, but that is not the God of the Bible. And sure, they will even have some Bible quotes maybe inside of their facilities, but that doesn't make them Christian any more than a Bible verse inside of Joel Osteen's church makes it a Christian church. And so it's fundamentally not Christian. And if a Christian is a Freemason, then to whom is he giving his oaths to? Who is he learning from? It is not the God of the Bible. And so that would be idolatry. It would be blasphemous. And I think that a born again Christian should hightail it out of there. I Know that there's, it's like a dude's thing and some guys like that in the club and they like the secrecy, which by the way should be another tell. Anything that is secretive, that typically is a mark of a cult. And so I just don't think that a Christian should be a part of it, no matter what benefits that he gets from it. I've got an alternative for you. Join a different club. It's called your local church. Put all of your energies there. Spend time with people with whom you believe in the true and living God. It will do you much good. Not to mention the hideous oaths that they must take to be a part of Freemasonry. It's a gnostic organization. We've gone through these blood curdling oaths. They're nasty. I mean, like what? So if I share any of these secrets. What's so secretive about Christianity isn't secretive? What's the big secret here? If I share any of these secrets, you can pull my tongue out of my mouth, chop it into a hundred bits, bury it in the sands.

[Todd Friel]

What?

[Jimmy Hicks]

You can cut open my stomach, rip out my guts and dance on my kidneys. What, are you kidding me? And you think I'm exaggerating? There's a worse. I mean, they are really nasty, hideous oaths. And I know that there are Christians. I've heard from them and they say, no, I can be a Christian and I can be a Freemason. Well, perhaps in your mind you can compartmentalize it, but I don't think that they have any compatibility whatsoever. And I would ask this, if you genuinely want to be faithful to your God, you know you can't give up your church, you know that. But you can give up Freemasonry. Do it. Do it. If it's not an idol, no problem. But maybe if you're not willing to, that could be a tell. And until tomorrow, go serve your king.