Wretched Radio with Todd Friel

Segment 1 • Is evangelicalism actually at a historic low—or on the brink of revival? • Past “golden ages” of evangelical influence actually collapsed faster than expected. • The real reason that faithful churches often do better without celebrity leaders. Segment 2 • Why social media influence may be incapable of sustaining biblical faithfulness. • The hidden dangers of untethered Christian platforms without institutional accountability. • History shows us a repeating pattern of influence, drift, and collapse. Segment 3 • Is “cultural contextualization” helping the church—or hollowing it out from within? • Replacing biblical language subtly reshapes the gospel itself. • Why trying to sound less Christian may cost the church its power entirely. Segment 4 • Does every church need a “lead pastor”—or is that unbiblical? • How leadership authority actually functions inside a healthy plurality of elders. • Rushing to replace a prominent pastor can damage a church for decades. ___ Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!

They unpack why massive cultural spectacles leave a hollow afterglow and question our appetite for transient thrills. They argue sentimental slogans can short-circuit moral thinking and offer a tactic of careful questioning. They explore suffering as a lens on God’s character and raise alarms about rising Bible sales without literacy, AI-driven depravity, and cultural spiritual decay.

Listeners write in about returning to a marriage after physical abuse and the safety steps to consider. They discuss which AI chatbots the hosts actually use and whether AI-written sermons count as acting. A parent’s role in baptizing a newly converted teen is debated. Concerns about mandatory workplace HR training on gender and sexuality are explored.

A clash over whether Matthew 25 supports individual charity or national policy. A calm, biblical approach to immigration and the argument that borders and walls have scriptural precedent. Satirical and AI-driven sketches expose shifting political rhetoric. A musical interlude and Puritan theology emphasize God’s love as central to worship and hope.

A campus talk on how expressive postmodernism and culture shape worldviews and why feelings often trump facts. A look at how people often attack a distorted version of Christianity rather than the real thing. A humorous dismantling of common illogical objections. A presentation of Jesus as King who serves, and a Q&A about developing a deep, personal relationship with God.

Segment 1 • Why a century-old song about narcissism is more relevant than ever—and what it says about our cultural moment. • Here’s how postmodernism, pop culture, and deconstructionism have normalized self-worship. • We need a specific toolset to engage with a generation raised in a "me-first" world. Segment 2 • Learn the 5 powerful traits formed by 1980s upbringing—and how they’re vanishing in modern culture. • Gen X and Boomers feel “alien” in today’s world—and their strengths differ from Gen Z’s vulnerabilities. • Gen X’s latchkey autonomy and delayed gratification shaped stronger mental frameworks, which impacts how they parent. Segment 3 • The truth behind gentle parenting: does avoiding “no” really help children grow? • A therapist and mother reflects on how saying “yes” too much undermines authority and trust. • These observations are brought back to the Proverbs—and how loving discipline builds resilient adults. Segment 4 • Creationism vs. Traducianism vs. Pre-existence: Which view on the soul lines up with Scripture? • Origen’s false teachings were condemned, but can still show up today. • Your view on the soul’s origin shape your view of sin, salvation, and Jesus Himself. ___ Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!

A critique of political figures misusing the Good Samaritan parable to justify government policy. A breakdown of when biblical commands apply to individuals versus civil authorities. A warning about slick political rhetoric that cloaks liberal policy in Christian language. A defense of Christ's exclusivity against religious pluralism and modern cultural redefinitions of God.

Tough pastoral questions about whether women may lead worship when no qualified men are available. A discussion on parables versus allegories and how Jesus taught. Debates about general revelation and salvation for unreached peoples. Safety, law, and conscience explored around staying in physically abusive marriages. Practical advice for encouraging a pastor toward evangelism.

Segment 1 • Global elites at Davos warn that “by-the-book” religions could be eliminated by AI. • Let’s get real: AI can process data, but it can’t be human. • We can KNOW that AI, machines, and robots can never possess the mind of Christ that believers do. Segment 2 • AI will replace some roles—but not every vocation or calling will be effected. • The real question young people must answer: where am I replaceable? • If we don’t define categories and terms, technology will define them for us. Segment 3 • Todd reads an intro and entire segment written by AI. • If pastors use AI to write sermons, biblical shepherding turns into play-acting. • The real cost isn’t just efficiency—it’s warmth, care, and actual, human, pastoral presence. Segment 4 • AI has real limits—and real potential for human harm, especially in work and ministry. • A chatbot can’t read a room, feel tension, respond in love, or function along lines of emotion. • Final gut check: do you really want a relationship with a computer? ___ Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!

Bishop Tom Brown, an Evangelical Orthodox Christian leader who leads campus Q&A, probes whether deconstruction can ever be positive. Conversation covers deconstruction vs. rebuilding, balancing emotions with belief, reaching relativists and agnostics, leading families in postmodernity, and wrestling with suffering, justice, and what Christian obedience truly means.