The Christian Optimist

Nov 22 2024 94 ep. 47 mins 8
The Christian Optimist Podcast artwork

Pastor Raef Chenery tackles the real world issues and questions you face every day head on from an eschatologically optimistic perspective. Rooted in the Word of God, we’ll look at worldview, apologetics, politics, news, theology, evangelism encounters, and so much more. The aim is to allow God’s Word to inform and guide you through each and every moment.

  Religion & Spirituality
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All Your Abortion Questions Answered

Nov 22 2024 100 mins  
In this episode, Pastor Raef goes through a lengthy list of common questions surrounding abortion in America. Use the Table of Contents below to navigate to the questions you're most interested in.Table of ContentsWhen does life begin (Christianity & Science)? 5:10Isn’t the pro life movement just men’s efforts to control women? 20:44Was Margaret Sanger, the founder of Plann

American or French Revolution: Which Way Forward?

Nov 08 2024 49 mins  
In this episode Pastor Raef compares and contrasts the American and the French Revolution, and explains why he believes much of secular America is in danger of preferring the French revolutionary ideals to the American revolutionary ideals.Sourceshttps://www.heritage.org/american-history/commentary/two-revolutions-freedomhttps://youtu.be/6w-lQjygygs?si=kxUy7wscsXEdLQ9z

The Dangers of Godless Conservatism

Oct 18 2024 58 mins  
In this episode Pastor Raef looks at a trend occurring in American politics, that of godless conservatism. We consider the roots of political conservatism and how it has historically been rooted in God's revelation, and why the sudden removal of that cornerstone truly puts Christians in a precarious situation politically as we look into the future.Resourceshttps://www.ligonier.org/

Interview with Aaron Renn - Life in the Negative World

Sep 26 2024 33 mins  
In this episode Pastor Raef sits down with Aaron Renn, author of Life in the Negative World, and co-founder of https://americanreformer.org/. We got a chance to discuss his new book which considers what Christians need to do to think wisely and live rightly in our new "negative world", a world which is not only post-Christian, but in many ways anti-Christian.

Taste & See that the Lord is Good

Sep 12 2024 41 mins  
In this episode Pastor Raef shares a message he prepared recently on Psalm 34:8 "Oh taste and see that the Lord is good."

Becoming a Man with Godly Zeal

Aug 30 2024 52 mins  
In this episode we consider the zeal of Phinehas from Numbers 25, and we discuss the need for godly men in the Church to once again become bold and zealous men for God, who are willing to stand for God and against all that dares defy him.

Nephilim, Giants, and the Book of Enoch

Aug 07 2024 57 mins  
In this episode Pastor Raef digs into the fascinating passage of Genesis 6:1-4 and the story of the Nephilim, half angelic, half human giants that roamed the Earth before the flood of Noah, and even after the flood. We'll consider the fuller story of this account in Genesis that is found in the extra-biblical book of Enoch as well. Enjoy!

2024 State of the Bible: Looking at the Facts

Jul 19 2024 32 mins  
In this episode we look at the American Bible Society's newest 'State of the Bible 2024' which came out just last week. There are both encouraging and discouraging points of data to consider as we look at Americans and their Bibles.See the full report here. https://1s712.americanbible.org/state-of-the-bible/stateofthebible/State_of_the_bible-2024.pdf

Engaging Politics Christianly

Jul 11 2024 74 mins  
In this episode Pastor Raef digs into politics by considering what the Bible has to say about politics. We look at five different approaches that Christians throughout the ages have taken to politics and consider them in light of history and in light of the Word of God. We'll also dabble in some relevant political commentary, all to the glory of God!https://raefchenery.com/2023/05/

David Brainerd - A Man Mightily Used of God

Jun 17 2024 40 mins  
In this episode Pastor Raef looks at the life of David Brainerd, an early American missionary to the Native Americans. By studying his life together, not only will we get a wonderful picture of a life lived for the glory of God, but we'll pull out three principles for living godly lives in our own day and age.https://banneroftruth.org/us/store/history-biography/five-pioneer-mission