RZIM: Ask Away Broadcasts

If God values human life so much that He made us in his image, how could He permit the death of so many unborn children? In this week's episode of Ask Away, Jo and Vince look at this question from a deeply personal perspective, sharing their story of loss and how God showed them His loving kindness in the midst of grief. It is their hope and prayer that this episode helps those who are walking through sorrow sense the presence of God even in times of immense sadness. Have a question you want Ask Away to cover? Email us at askaway@rzim.org or use the hashtag #askrzim on Twitter. You can also talk about this episode with fellow podcast listeners and the RZIM team on our online community. Follow Ask Away on Twitter: Vince Vitale - @VinceRVitale Jo Vitale - @Joanna_Vitale Michael Davis - @mdav1979

Does prayer really make a difference if God already knows what is going to happen? In this classic episode of Ask Away, Jo and Vince consider the role of prayer in the life of a Christian. They suggest that prayer is much broader than simply asking God to do things for us, and they use scripture and their personal experiences to build a case that prayer changes both ourselves and the world around us. Have a question you want Ask Away to cover? Email us at askaway@rzim.org or use the hashtag #askrzim on Twitter. You can also talk about this episode with fellow podcast listeners and the RZIM team on our online community. Follow Ask Away on Twitter: Vince Vitale - @VinceRVitale Jo Vitale - @Joanna_Vitale Michael Davis - @mdav1979

What exactly is a human being? Are we primates, machines, souls confined in a body, or something more? In this episode of Ask Away that originally aired last fall, RZIM Itinerant Speaker Sharon Dirckx joins Vince and Jo to talk about her faith journey and how God and science work together to give us a complete picture of our identity. Question Asked in This Episode: "If we are just our brains and nothing more, what are the implications?" Have a question you want Ask Away to cover? Email us at askaway@rzim.org or use the hashtag #askrzim on Twitter. You can also talk about this episode with fellow podcast listeners and the RZIM team on our online community. Follow Ask Away on Twitter: Vince Vitale - @VinceRVitale Jo Vitale - @Joanna_Vitale Sharon Dirckx- @SharonDirckx Michael Davis - @mdav1979

What is the meaning of life? Can we have meaningful lives without God? In this episode of Ask Away that originally aired in the fall of 2018, Drs. Jo and Vince Vitale draw on philosophy and their personal experiences to consider how different worldviews respond to these questions. They suggest that Christianity has a unique perspective and one that makes a practical difference, especially when life seems meaningless.

What is the proper role of physical attraction in a dating relationship? In this episode of Ask Away, Jo and Vince consider how we can approach dating relationships carefully and wisely. They suggest that we should be attracted to things of lasting beauty in another person as well as have a healthy perspective on both our physical appearances and those of whom we date or marry. Have a question you want Ask Away to cover? Submit a question using our form here or use the hashtag #askrzim on Twitter. You can also talk about this episode with fellow podcast listeners and the RZIM team on our online community. Follow Ask Away on Twitter: Vince Vitale - @VinceRVitale Jo Vitale - @Joanna_Vitale Michael Davis - @mdav1979

Ravi Zacharias often said that "Behind every question is a questioner." What exactly does that mean, and how do we put this encouragement into practice? In this episode of Ask Away, Jo and Vince explain how to identify and lovingly respond to the fundamental concerns and desires that underlie objections to Christianity in a way that provides opportunities for meaningful conversations that can introduce people to Jesus. Have a question you want Ask Away to cover? Submit a question using our form here or use the hashtag #askrzim on Twitter. You can also talk about this episode with fellow podcast listeners and the RZIM team on our online community. Follow Ask Away on Twitter: Vince Vitale - @VinceRVitale Jo Vitale - @Joanna_Vitale Michael Davis - @mdav1979

Was Jesus just a good man, or truly divine? A recent poll indicates that 30 percent of evangelicals see Jesus as a good and wise moral teacher, but not as God Himself. But, what's the difference, and why does it matter? In today's episode of Ask Away, Jo and Vince consider what Jesus taught about himself, what it means to believe that he is God, and how the answer to this question affects how we live today. Have a question you want Ask Away to cover? Submit a question using our form here or use the hashtag #askrzim on Twitter. You can also talk about this episode with fellow podcast listeners and the RZIM team on our online community. Follow Ask Away on Twitter: Vince Vitale - @VinceRVitale Jo Vitale - @Joanna_Vitale Michael Davis - @mdav1979

It's a tragic reality that no matter where you live in the world, so many people—both historically and to the present day—have been treated differently, and often appallingly, simply on account of the color of their skin. What does the Christian faith have to say in response to the human problem of racial injustice, a problem that is both global in scope and deeply personal? And how does the central teaching of Christianity compare to other worldviews—such as atheism, relativism, pluralism, and hedonism—when it comes to questions of equality and inequality? Join us this week on Ask Away as Jo and Vince consider how Jesus Christ responds to the cry of protestors the world over, "No Justice, No Peace!" Have a question you want Ask Away to cover? Submit a question using our form here or use the hashtag #askrzim on Twitter. You can also talk about this episode with fellow podcast listeners and the RZIM team on our online community. Follow Ask Away on Twitter: Vince Vitale - @VinceRVitale Jo Vitale - @Joanna_Vitale Michael Davis - @mdav1979

In John 11:33, it says that Jesus was "deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled" when he saw Mary weeping over the death of her brother, Lazarus, and that even though Jesus knew he would soon raise Lazarus from the dead, he still entered into Mary's grief so deeply that the Jews around him remarked, "See how he loved him!" In western culture, where women and their emotions have often been labeled as irrational and hysterical, this seems completely revolutionary. But how would Jesus' reaction have been viewed in first century Jewish society? What was their perspective on emotions—and more particularly, on women's emotions—and did it differ at all from other ancient cultures? What does this tell us about how God sees women and what He thinks about human emotion in general? This week on Ask Away, Drs. Jo and Vince Vitale respond to the listener-submitted question, "Is the fact that Jesus was able to join Mary so deeply in her grief—to the point that others were talking about it—as revolutionary to society back then as I imagine it?" Have a question you want Ask Away to cover? Submit a question using our form here or use the hashtag #askrzim on Twitter. You can also talk about this episode with fellow podcast listeners and the RZIM team on our online community. Follow Ask Away on Twitter: Vince Vitale - @VinceRVitale Jo Vitale - @Joanna_Vitale Michael Davis - @mdav1979

COVID-19 has drastically increased the church's use of technology. Is this a good thing? From the invention of the printing press to virtual church, was this really what Jesus had in mind when he commanded his followers to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations? Is technology truly bringing us closer together, or is it tearing us apart? This week on the Ask Away podcast, Drs. Jo and Vince Vitale answer the listener-submitted question, "What would Jesus' opinion be on using technology to witness to others today?" Have a question you want Ask Away to cover? Submit a question using our form here or use the hashtag #askrzim on Twitter. You can also talk about this episode with fellow podcast listeners and the RZIM team on our online community. Follow Ask Away on Twitter: Vince Vitale - @VinceRVitale Jo Vitale - @Joanna_Vitale Michael Davis - @mdav1979

Christians often talk about human salvation not as God's "plan B" but as a rescue operation that God initiated even before the foundation of the world. But if that is the case, then how can we trust that God's motives were good? Did He deliberately create a situation in which we would need saving just so He could get to swoop in to the rescue and take the credit for it? Even if He saved us from a fall, is He responsible for leaving us so close to a cliff? This week on the Ask Away podcast, join Drs. Vince and Jo Vitale as they dig into whether God truly is the hero of the story. Have a question you want Ask Away to cover? Submit a question using our form here or use the hashtag #askrzim on Twitter. You can also talk about this episode with fellow podcast listeners and the RZIM team on our online community. Follow Ask Away on Twitter: Vince Vitale - @VinceRVitale Jo Vitale - @Joanna_Vitale Michael Davis - @mdav1979

In 2020, the global video game industry is predicted to generate over $150 billion dollars, more than the movie and the music industry combined! With over two billion gamers in the world today, video games are and will increasingly play a major role in society generally and the nature of human relationships in particular. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? On this week's Ask Away, Vince and Jo respond to a teenager's question, "What is your opinion on violent video games and video games in general? Is it unholy to play them?" Have a question you want Ask Away to cover? Submit a question using our form here or use the hashtag #askrzim on Twitter. You can also talk about this episode with fellow podcast listeners and the RZIM team on our online community. Follow Ask Away on Twitter: Vince Vitale - @VinceRVitale Jo Vitale - @Joanna_Vitale Michael Davis - @mdav1979

Would Jesus Social Distance?

This week on the Ask Away podcast, Jo and Vince Vitale share reflections on the life of Ravi Zacharias with RZIM president Michael Ramsden. Join us to hear Michael talk about his first impressions of Ravi, their decades of friendship and partnership in the gospel, and Ravi's vision for the future of RZIM. Have a question you want Ask Away to cover? Submit a question using our form here or use the hashtag #askrzim on Twitter. You can also talk about this episode with fellow podcast listeners and the RZIM team on our online community Follow Ask Away on Twitter: Vince Vitale - @VinceRVitale Jo Vitale - @Joanna_Vitale Michael Davis - @mdav1979

This week, as we prepare for the memorial service for Ravi Zacharias, Jo and Vince continue to reflect on the life and legacy of RZIM's founder. At the request of many of our listeners, join us to hear more about Ravi Zacharias as our friend and colleague. In this episode, we share stories and behind-the-scenes reminiscences with Sanj Kalra, Ravi's close friend and travel companion. A memorial service honoring Ravi's life and legacy will be livestreamed on May 29 at 11:00 a.m. ET. Click here for more information. Have a question you want Ask Away to cover? Submit a question using our form here or use the hashtag #askrzim on Twitter. You can also talk about this episode with fellow podcast listeners and the RZIM team on our online community Follow Ask Away on Twitter: Vince Vitale - @VinceRVitale Jo Vitale - @Joanna_Vitale Michael Davis - @mdav1979

This week, Vince, Jo, and Michael, along with the entire RZIM team and so many of you, are grieving the passing of our founder, mentor, and beloved friend, Ravi Zacharias. Join us on this week's episode of Ask Away as we share personal reflections about the man who meant and continues to mean so much to us, and celebrate the legacy of one who, having spent his life running towards Jesus Christ, has at last arrived in his arms. To read the announcement of Ravi's passing from RZIM CEO Sarah Davis, click here. If you want to read Ravi's obituary, you can find it here. Have a question you want Ask Away to cover? Submit a question using our form here or use the hashtag #askrzim on Twitter. You can also talk about this episode with fellow podcast listeners and the RZIM team on our online community Follow Ask Away on Twitter: Vince Vitale - @VinceRVitale Jo Vitale - @Joanna_Vitale Michael Davis - @mdav1979

One of the popular criticisms of Christianity is that the Bible treats women as "less than" men. The Scriptures, so the argument goes, seem to privilege men and "maleness," asking women to cover their hair, calling Eve a "helper," and even going so far as to identify the God of the universe as male—"Father." How can we make sense of this seeming sexism? In this rebroadcast of an episode from October 2017, Jo and Vince help unpack some of the misperceptions surrounding how women are viewed and valued in Scripture. Particularly relevant as we honor mothers this weekend in the US, Jo and Vince discuss pictures of God in the Bible, and the fact that God reveals himself in maternal ways we might not always realize. Questions Asked in This Episode: "Did God make sexism on purpose? For example, Jesus and God are male, Eve is the bad guy in our story, etc." "If we followed everything in the Bible, should I be wearing a headscarf?" "In Heaven, are there genders?" Have a question you want Ask Away to cover? Email us at askaway@rzim.org or use the hashtag #askrzim on Twitter. You can also talk about this episode with fellow podcast listeners and the RZIM team on our online community Follow Ask Away on Twitter: Vince Vitale - @VinceRVitale Jo Vitale - @Joanna_Vitale Michael Davis - @mdav1979

With the world in the midst of a global pandemic that has already claimed more than 150,000 lives, the question of "natural" evil is at the forefront of many people's minds. Why does God allow bad things to happen to innocent people? If God truly exists, why is there evil, and why is there suffering? Isn't He capable of stopping it? In this timely rebroadcast of an episode from November 2017, Vince and Jo discuss the problem of suffering due to "natural" causes, and how we might make sense of this suffering in light of a God who Himself entered into suffering for our sake. You can read Vince's recent article responding to this issue here. Questions Asked in This Episode: 1) "People often explain moral evil to be the result of our free will. But if that is the case, then how do you explain natural evil (ex. Earthquakes, tsunamis, and things like that)?" 2) "If God exists, why would He allow things like cancer in children to occur?" Have a question you want Ask Away to cover? Email us at askaway@rzim.org or use the hashtag #askrzim on Twitter. You can also talk about this episode with fellow podcast listeners and the RZIM team on our online community Follow Ask Away on Twitter: Vince Vitale - @VinceRVitale Jo Vitale - @Joanna_Vitale Michael Davis - @mdav1979

Environmentalism and environmental justice are at the forefront of many of our cultural conversations today. Christians are commanded by God to steward the Earth, but faith communities are frequently charged with environmental neglect. Is there a way to reconcile environmental concern with belief in God? If God is going to take care of it all in the end, why should we worry about it? This week, Jo and Vince discuss the biblical logic behind environmental justice as a form of love for God and love for neighbor. Question Asked in this Episode: "Is there a way to bridge caring for the Earth with a belief in God?" Check out Nathan Rittenhouse at our recent #TrendingQuestions event on environmental justice. Have a question you want Ask Away to cover? Email us at askaway@rzim.org or use the hashtag #askrzim on Twitter. You can also talk about this episode with fellow podcast listeners and the RZIM team on our online community Follow Ask Away on Twitter: Vince Vitale - @VinceRVitale Jo Vitale - @Joanna_Vitale Michael Davis - @mdav1979

Understanding Scripture and its teachings can often be confusing, and even unsettling. Even when we try to interpret certain stories or letters charitably, we can frequently find ourselves bewildered. How do we deal with these difficult passages? This week, Vince and Jo consider a question about Jesus' interaction with the Canaanite or "Syrophoenician," woman (recorded in Matthew 15:21-28 and Mark 7:24-30), where Christ refers to a suffering woman and the Canaanite people she is part of as "dogs." How can we make sense of such seemingly harsh words and treatment? How do we square this with a Christ we say is full of love for the downtrodden? What is going on in this story? Is Jesus racist? Question Asked in This Episode: "For quite some time now, I've been developing a workshop that focuses on improving race relations within the church. As the workshop primarily focuses on Scripture in the Bible that deals with how God wants us to think about and to respond to racism, classism, and sexism, among other things, there is one passage that continues to perplex me as I study these topics: In Matthew chapter 15 verses 21-28—the story of the Syrophoenician woman—even though Jesus compliments her amazing faith, at face value it can appear as if he is also insulting and making racial slurs against her when referring to his own people, Israel, as children, and the woman's people as dogs." Have a question you want Ask Away to cover? Email us at askaway@rzim.org or use the hashtag #askrzim on Twitter. You can also talk about this episode with fellow podcast listeners and the RZIM team on our online community. Follow Ask Away on Twitter: Vince Vitale - @VinceRVitale Jo Vitale - @Joanna_Vitale Michael Davis - @mdav1979