In the modern world, what threats must Christians defend their faith against?
Dr. Renton Rathbun, the Biblical Worldview Consultant at BJU Press and the former director of the Center for Biblical Worldview, studies this question. He says that the threat doesn’t always come from outside the church. They often come from within.
“The thing that bothers me so much is that half the problems we have in our society are because the church failed,” Rathbun said. “If we fail at church, we’re going to fail at home. If we fail at home, we’re going to fail at church. There’s just no way around those two things.”
Dr. Rathbun is burdened to teach Christians about the worldviews and secular beliefs that they will encounter. Launched this year, the Renton Rathbun Show addresses many of the unbiblical compromises between the church and secular culture. He presents biblical answers to the problems that secular worldviews have introduced.
As an educator, Dr. Rathbun created the show first and foremost for parents.
“The reason why I left teaching is because I thought, how do we get the kids younger, to help them develop a worldview before they’ve gotten to college and are already convinced of their worldview and are no longer listening to people?” Rathbun said. He believes that the best solution is to train parents first.
Twice a week, on Mondays and Wednesdays, new episodes of the show release on YouTube, Spotify and other podcasting platforms. Each week, Rathbun interviews a new guest on a different topic. Guests range from BJU faculty like Dr. Greg Mazak and Mr. Christopher Zydowicz, to special guests from other podcasts and ministries. Topics range from hot-button issues like addiction, entertainment, the LGBTQ movement, Christian Nationalism, Israel, biblical masculinity and racism.
Though he covers varied and potentially controversial topics, Rathbun ensures that the podcast answers questions from a biblical worldview, rather than through a political lens.
While the podcast is primarily intended for parents, a Christian worldview is universal to all ages. Students will benefit from the show as well, Rathbun said.
“They’re future parents,” he said. “And they, if I can put it this way, are the future. And so I think listening would be helpful to them to understand the kind of battle they’re about to get into.”
Some episodes would be especially helpful to specific majors. Those studying medicine could watch, “Where is God When We Suffer?” (Season 3, Episode 3).
Students studying social sciences may want to watch, “Race, Racism, and the Christian Life” (Season 3, Episode 1).
Other episodes may appeal to various majors, like ministry, political science, or information technology majors.
No matter your major or your convictions, Dr. Rathbun recommended that students listen to the debates between him and his guests as they defend the Christian worldview.
“It takes a lot of strength to listen to someone that you don’t agree with,” Rathbun said.
By challenging our own worldview and recognizing the areas where the secular world influenced us, we learn to conform all areas of our thinking with the Bible.
And that, truly, is the best thing that we can ever learn to do.
The Renton Rathbun Show is available on Spotify, YouTube, other streaming sites, and select live TV channels.
