Andrew Rappaport and Fred Butler return for the fourth year-end roundtable discussion. The topic starters for this month’s discussion are the topics discussed in the previous episodes of the show from 2021.

Outline of the Discussion

Conspiracy Theories
• Fred appreciates the warnings about the dangers of conspiracy theories while joking that the last year has turned him into a conspiracy theorist.
• Fred agrees with the general principles of the February episode on the Dangers of Conspiracy Theories.
• We’re living in very peculiar times when what was labeled conspiracy theory just a year ago is acknowledged truth now. Questioning COVID vaccines, or the origins of the virus is not the same as questioning the 9/11 attacks or the moon landings.
• The video version of this episode may not be allowed on Youtube.
• Our focus should be on God’s Word, and how He is in control.

The Early English Reformation

• Andrew loved listing to Gene explain the history behind the Reformation in England.
• The information that Gene presented was dense, but very interesting. The three of us all listened multiple times.

Matthew 27:51-53

• Andy asked Andrew & Fred’s take on this passage. What do they think happened to those saints who were raised at the time of Christ’s crucifixion.
• Fred points out that this passage is not in controversy as a variant. It’s clear that something spectacular happened.
• Andrew sees the passage of evidence of divine origin. Any human author would have gone into more detail, but this passage does not. It states a matter of fact and moves on.
• A fanciful/satirical explanation: these saints became a secret society countering the Illuminati.
• Fred points out that everyone assumes that Lazarus died a second time. We don’t know that either. Did Lazarus and these saints who were raised at the time of the crucifixion ascend with Jesus?
• We don’t know how many were raised. The text only says that it was “many.”
• We meander into a conversation about historic population counts.

Church Life

• Fred’s second topic for the discussion was the episode with Jim Rinard on [Small town] church life.
• Fred comes from a very different place, being in a church that is bigger than Jim’s whole town.
• His church may be big, but has a camaraderie that is similar to what Jim describes in his much smaller church.
• Grace Church is split into different fellowship groups, which is further split into home Bible study groups.
• Andrew tells of a pastor candidate who came from Grace Church. His fellowship group was larger than the church he was seeking to pastor.
• Andrew is currently in a church plant in Pennsylvania. He is still getting used to the area he moved to.

My Testimony

• Andrew closes with the October episode: My Testimony
• Because the format of this show is Andy interviewing guests, Andrew appreciated an episode being set aside to get to know the host a little better.
• Fred liked the Chuck Missler connection.

Additional Resources

• The New History of the Human Race – Answers in Genesis video series with Ken Ham & Dr. Nathaniel Jeanson
• Person of Interest with J. Warner Wallace – Rapp Report episode mention during the section on Matthew 27

Related Episodes

• Steve Gretch: The Dangers of Conspiracy Theories
• Gene Clyatt: The Early English Reformation
• Chris Hohnholz: Discussion Cornucopia 2021
• Jim Rinard: Church Life
• My Testimony