Episode Summary:

Everyone loves empathy these days. But beware! Empathy seems to be a virtue perfect for hijacking and using for evil under the banner of good.

In this provocative episode, we sit down with theologian Joe Rigney to expose the dangerous confusion between biblical compassion and what he calls “the sin of empathy.” When compassion is untethered from truth, it can manipulate hearts, distort justice, and harm the very people it claims to help.

From gender identity and immigration to poverty, criminal justice, modern therapy culture, and almost every other social issue, we explore how empathy is often used to silence truth, reward dysfunction, and pressure Christians into moral compromise. This conversation challenges today’s “compassion narratives” and calls believers back to a deeper, stronger, and more truthful love that’s anchored in Scripture.

This is a call to true Christian compassion: the kind that tells the truth, seeks genuine healing, and refuses emotional manipulation.

Who is Disciple Nations Alliance (DNA)? Since 1997, DNA’s mission has been to equip followers of Jesus around the globe with a biblical worldview, empowering them to build flourishing families, communities, and nations. 👉 https://disciplenations.org/

🎙️Featured Speaker:

Dr. Rigney serves as Fellow of Theology at New Saint Andrews College. He is the author of seven books: Live Like a Narnian: Christian Discipleship in Lewis’s Chronicles (Eyes & Pen, 2013); The Things of Earth: Treasuring God by Enjoying His Gifts (Crossway, 2015); Lewis on the Christian Life: Becoming Truly Human in the Presence of God (Crossway, 2018); Strangely Bright: Can You Love God and Enjoy This World? (Crossway, 2020); More Than a Battle: Experiencing Victory, Freedom, and Healing from Lust (B\&H, 2021), Courage: How the Gospel Creates Christian Fortitude (Crossway, 2023), and Leadership and Emotional Sabotage (Canon Press, 2024). Previously, Dr. Rigney served as a professor and president of Bethlehem College & Seminary in Minneapolis, a pastor at Cities Church in St. Paul, and a teacher at Desiring God.

📌 Recommended Links

👉 Joe’s Book: Leadership and the Sin of Empathy: Compassion and Its Counterfeits – Canon Press

👉 Scott’s Book: Why Social Justice is Not Biblical Justice - Disciple Nations Alliance

👉 Recommended by C.S. Lewis: The Humanitarian Theory of Punishment

👉 University: Home | New Saint Andrews College | Classical Christian College in Idaho

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Episode Summary:

Jesus talked about the Kingdom of God continually. In contrast to “church,” which is only mentioned twice, “kingdom” is mentioned over 120 times in the gospels. So why do we treat the Kingdom like it barely matters?

In this episode, we sit down with our former co-host, Dwight Vogt, to discuss his newest book, Made to Live: The Good News of the Kingdom of God. Starting in Genesis 1, Dwight shows how the Kingdom is the unifying thread of Scripture and the key to understanding both the gospel and human purpose.

We explore a simple framework for a kingdom which includes a king, realm, subjects, and the king’s will, and wrestle with big questions: If Jesus has all authority, why does evil still persist? What does “my kingdom is not of this world” really mean? And what does it look like to live under Christ’s reign today?

From work and leadership to family and justice, this conversation shows how God’s Kingdom touches every part of life. If your faith has ever felt disconnected from the real world, this episode will equip you with clarity and a passion for life.

Who is Disciple Nations Alliance (DNA)? Since 1997, DNA’s mission has been to equip followers of Jesus around the globe with a biblical worldview, empowering them to build flourishing families, communities, and nations. 👉 https://disciplenations.org/

🎙️Featured Speaker:

Dwight Vogt is a lifelong student of the Bible and of the biblical worldview. His writing is driven by a desire to make accessible and relevant profound biblical truths about our place and purpose in God's world.

In addition to Made to Live, Dwight has written Made to Flourish: God’s Design for All Individuals, Communities, and Nations, and Footings for Children: Imparting a Biblical Worldview So They Can Thrive.

His writing is characterized by clarity, wisdom, and a passion to see others grow in practical understanding.

Dwight served for 30 years in international relief and development work and 14 years with Disciple Nations Alliance. He and his wife, Deborah, live in Phoenix, Arizona.

📌 Recommended Links

👉 MADETOLIVEBOOK.COM Get your copy of the book TODAY (available in print and audiobook)

👉 Course: Living the Kingdom Life by Arturo Cuba

👉 Video on the two kingdoms: God’s Plan to Transform the World and How You Fit In

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📽️YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DiscipleNationsAlliance/

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📩 Ask us anything: info@disciplenations.org

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Episode Summary:

We’ve entered a world where seeing is no longer believing.

In a culture shaped by deepfakes, viral outrage, and endless information, a deeper question emerges: how do you know what’s real? When feelings become truth, reality doesn’t disappear; it just gets ignored. And increasingly, that confusion isn’t just out there; it’s showing up inside the Church.

In this episode, we sit down with pastor and apologist Juan Valdes, author of How to Think: A Crash Course in Critical Thinking, to confront the rise of post-truth thinking and its impact on apologetics, everyday discipleship, and your personal life. Why do arguments fall flat when emotions become the referee? And how is the authority of Scripture quietly being replaced by modern ideas of authenticity?

Juan helps us chart a better path forward. We explore how to test ideas against reality, ask better questions, and rebuild a biblical worldview that connects every area of life. This is a conversation about recovering clarity, confidence, and compassion in an age of confusion. If you’re tired of the fog and want to think clearly again, this episode is for you.

Who is Disciple Nations Alliance (DNA)? Since 1997, DNA’s mission has been to equip followers of Jesus around the globe with a biblical worldview, empowering them to build flourishing families, communities, and nations. 👉 https://disciplenations.org/

🎙️Featured Speaker:

Juan Valdes is a pastor, apologist, and speaker with a passion for answering life’s hardest questions with biblical truth. He is dedicated to equipping young people, parents, and church leaders to stand firm in an increasingly challenging culture, helping remove intellectual obstacles to faith in Christ.

He serves as pastor of a bilingual congregation in Miami, Florida, and holds advanced degrees from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary and Logos Graduate School, along with a Doctor of Ministry in Apologetics from Southern Evangelical Seminary.

📌 Recommended Links

👉 Book: How to Think–A Crash Course In Critical Thinking

👉 Recommended Videos: Debunked Videos — DeBunked

👉 Website: Reasons for Hope - Home

👉 Recommended Book: Tactics by Gregory Koukl

👉 Recommended Book: Fake ID by Abdu Murray

💻 Follow Us:

📸Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/disciplenations

📽️YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DiscipleNationsAlliance/

📲Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/disciplenations

📩 Ask us anything: info@disciplenations.org

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