Issues, Etc.

Chris Rosebrough, pastor and critic behind Fighting for the Faith, takes on pop-Christian trends. He dissects claims that words create reality, critiques 'voice-activated' faith and misuse of Proverbs and Romans, and warns about magical thinking and rhetorical tricks in megachurch teaching.

Josh Wood, executive director of Them Before Us and commentator on family and bioethics, shares a personal IVF-related story tied to the NCAA tournament. He outlines embryo selection, questions the fate of unused embryos, and frames selection practices as modern eugenics. He also raises concerns about commodifying children, future artificial wombs, and calls for stronger protections for all unborn children.

Dr. Chad Kendall, theology professor and former pastor with a PhD in protreptics, explores persuasive Christian speech rooted in Greek and early church practice. He highlights logos, pathos, and ethos. He traces historical practitioners, examines narrative techniques like Paul at Mars Hill, and shows practical, relational ways to invite others toward Christian truth.

Dr. Päivi Räsänen, Former Minister of the Interior of Finland The post The Finnish Supreme Court Ruling on a Freedom of Speech and Religion Case Involving Lutheran Leaders in Finland – Dr. Päivi Räsänen, 3/26/26 (0852) first appeared on Issues, Etc..

Dr. Mark Rockenbach of Concordia Seminary-St. Louis The post Responding to Gender Ideology – Dr. Mark Rockenbach, 3/26/26 (0852) first appeared on Issues, Etc..

Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller of St. Paul Lutheran, Austin, TX Rome ExaminedThe post Responding to Roman Catholic Teaching, Part 1: Scripture – Bryan Wolfmueller, 3/26/26 (0851) first appeared on Issues, Etc..

Will Whedon, assistant pastor and liturgy/worship leader who hosts a daily 15-minute Bible study, explores Philippians 4:8. He discusses Philippi’s Roman-colony imagery and Christian virtues. He argues for beauty as objective, connects art and worship, urges surrounding yourself with beauty, and reflects on strength in weakness and practicing these virtues in divine service.

Terry Mattingly, Senior Fellow on Communications and Culture at St. Constantine College and author of the Rational Sheep newsletter, discusses coverage of the Georgian Orthodox patriarch's death. He explores the patriarch's global influence, his role in boosting Georgia's fertility, diplomatic leadership during the 2008 invasion, the 2017 autocephaly, and how U.S. media framed the story.

Lisa Cooper, campus ministry leader and writer who studies religion and culture. She talks about how smartphones and short-form content shape Gen Z women’s attention. She defines influencers, maps different Christian online voices, and explains why many young women overtrust online figures. She outlines questions for evaluating influencers and stresses grounding discernment in Scripture and church accountability.

Kyle Mann, editor-in-chief of The Babylon Bee and commentator on satire and free speech, discusses Christian news satire and its mission. He talks about satire in an absurd age, how satirical headlines sometimes predict reality, and clashes with platform moderation and mainstream media. He also explains making fun of Christian hypocrisy, using humor to encourage believers, and resisting cancel culture.