Jesus’ fiercest rebukes were not aimed at pagans — they were aimed at religious leaders who replaced God’s Word with their own traditions. But was that problem confined to the first century… or is Pharisaism still alive today?

In this episode of Out of the Question, Andrea Schwartz and Pastor Charles Roberts examine how the Pharisees and Sadducees elevated tradition over Scripture — and why Jesus condemned them for “making void the Word of God” through human rules and religious systems.

The discussion traces how exile-era “stopgap” practices became entrenched traditions, eventually replacing biblical authority. From the rise of the Talmud to modern denominationalism, the hosts explore how religious systems can drift from sola scriptura into man-made righteousness.

You’ll hear why Jesus called out religious leaders for producing outward conformity while opposing Christ’s kingship, how tradition can quietly become an idol, and why regeneration — not rule-keeping — is the foundation of true obedience.

This episode challenges listeners to examine whether their faith is shaped by Scripture alone, or by traditions that subtly replace God’s Word — and asks a sobering question: Are modern churches in danger of repeating the same errors Jesus condemned?

In this episode of Out of the Question, Andrea Schwartz and Pastor Charles Roberts challenge modern views of sin, forgiveness, and confession. Is repentance a heartfelt turning toward God, or has it been reduced to a public apology meant to clear one’s conscience?

This conversation explores:

• The biblical meaning of confession

• Why fear of consequences isn’t the same as fear of God

• How antinomian thinking has weakened accountability in the church

• Why real repentance restores order, not just feelings

If you’ve ever wondered whether modern Christianity has lost its moral compass, this episode is for you.

#FearOfTheLord #Repentance #ConfessionOfFaith #BiblicalChristianity #ChristianWorldview #ChurchDiscipline #GodsLaw #OutOfTheQuestion

Celebrating nine years of Out of the Question, Andrea Schwartz and Pastor Charles Roberts tackle one of the most challenging and misunderstood doctrines in Christianity: effectual calling. Is God’s call a polite invitation or a sovereign summons that brings dead hearts to life? Drawing from Scripture and Rushdoony’s Systematic Theology, this episode shows how God’s authoritative word creates obedience, exposes false ideas of human sovereignty, and brings true freedom through Christ, reminding us that those appointed to eternal life will believe and follow. #OutOfTheQuestion #ReformedTheology #EffectualCalling #GodsSovereignty #ChristianPodcast #BiblicalWorldview #Salvation #OrdoSalutis

Why do so many “Christian” films feel preachy, cheesy, and weirdly unreal? In OOTQ 370, Andrea Schwartz talks with filmmaker and composer Ryder Harnett about the real reasons Christian movies often fall flat, and it is not budget. They unpack “jellyfish theology,” tidy conversion scenes that do not match real life, sermon-in-the-middle dialogue, and why audiences can tell when they’re being hit over the head instead of drawn into a story. Ryder argues that Christians are called to excellence, not propaganda, and that Scripture itself is not sanitized or “safe,” so Christian storytelling should not be either. They even dig into horror and spiritual warfare, and why confronting darkness can be one of the most biblical ways to tell the truth. If you’ve ever cringed through a “faith film,” this episode will put words to what you’ve felt and challenge what Christian art could become.

#OutOfTheQuestion #ChristianFilms #FaithAndCulture #ChristianWorldview #Storytelling #BiblicalWorldview #FilmCritique #RyderHarnett #Chalcedon #Theology #ChristianArt #Reformed #Theonomy #Reconstruction

In this episode of Out of the Question, Andrea Schwartz sits down with Isaac Rushdoony—grandson of R.J. Rushdoony and son of Chalcedon president Mark Rushdoony—for a down-to-earth conversation about family legacy, ordinary faithfulness, and extraordinary vocation. Isaac shares childhood memories of life on the Chalcedon property, what “Rush” was like as a grandfather (more smiles than people might expect), and how a lifetime in fire service—from helitack and Black Hawks to battalion chief—has shaped his view of calling, community, and crisis. Along the way, they draw compelling parallels between fighting wildfires and equipping Christians: you don’t wait for the flames to pull out the manual—you train, stock tools, and get ahead of the fire. The result is a hopeful, practical look at Chalcedon’s mission “for all of life,” the challenge of reaching the next generation, and why victory belongs to faithful men who show up, serve locally, and build for the future. #OutOfTheQuestion #Chalcedon #Rushdoony #RJRushdoony #ChristianReconstruction #BiblicalWorldview #FaithForAllOfLife #Vocation #Calling #ChristianLeadership #SelfGovernment #KingdomWork #Localism #FamilyLegacy #CALFIRE #FireService #Dominion #ToolsNotToys #NextGeneration #Reconstruction

In this episode of Out of the Question, Andrea Schwartz and Pastor Charles Roberts tackle the provocative claim that free will, as commonly taught, is not a biblical doctrine but a revival of the lie first spoken in Genesis. Drawing from R.J. Rushdoony’s theology, they distinguish everyday human choice from salvation, arguing that fallen man never chooses God apart from divine grace. The discussion exposes how modern Christianity often blends biblical language with humanistic assumptions, turning salvation into a matter of personal autonomy rather than God’s sovereign act of regeneration.

The conversation presses the issue beyond theology into culture, law, and society, showing how denying God’s sovereignty inevitably leads to chance, contradiction, and ultimately state tyranny. Predestination is presented not as fatalism but as the necessary foundation for meaning, responsibility, and hope, while the myth of free will exalts man as his own god. The episode calls listeners back to Scripture’s absolute authority, reminding us that salvation is a miracle of God, sanctification is a lifelong process, and the gospel is not self rule but the rule of Christ over every area of life.

#OutOfTheQuestion #FreeWill #Predestination #GodsSovereignty #BiblicalWorldview #Chalcedon #Rushdoony #ChristianTheology #KingdomOfGod

The episode of Out of the Question features host Andrea Swartz interviewing Rebecca Hagen, who shares her deeply personal testimony of two unplanned pregnancies as a teenager and young college student. Raised in a committed church-going family, Rebecca became pregnant in high school and, with her parents’ reluctant but real support, chose to carry her first child to term despite intense shame, fear, and social stigma. While living at home and trying to rebuild her life through college, she became pregnant a second time in the context of an abusive and unstable relationship. Overwhelmed by fear of disappointing her parents again and losing their support, Rebecca became abortion-minded for the first time and sought a chemical abortion in secret, believing it was the only way to preserve her life and future.

Moments after taking the first abortion pill, Rebecca experienced profound conviction and regret, prayed for help, and discovered the abortion pill reversal protocol. Through the guidance of a compassionate nurse and treatment with progesterone, her pregnancy was saved, and her son Zachariah was born healthy. Rebecca reflects on how fear, shame, and a lack of clear biblical teaching about sex and responsibility shaped her decisions, and she emphasizes the importance of grace-filled, honest conversations between parents and children. Now a wife, mother of four, and pro-life speaker, Rebecca shares her story publicly to help others find hope, healing, and redemption, testifying that God’s grace can overcome even grave sin and that His laws are meant for life, protection, and blessing—not condemnation.

This episode explores what it truly means to preach the Gospel, recovering the original biblical meaning of “gospel” (euangelion) and “apostle” (apostolos) as public proclamations announcing a king and his kingdom—not persuasive sales techniques aimed at emotional decisions. Andrea Schwartz and Charles Roberts argue that modern evangelicalism has shifted away from this kingdom-centered proclamation, replacing it with manipulative or overly-psychological evangelistic methods that produce emotional responses without transformed lives. True preaching, they emphasise, is declaring the kingship of Christ, the reality of sin, the necessity of repentance, and the total life-reordering that comes under God’s law-word.

The hosts stress that proclaiming the Gospel is neither coercion nor marketing—it is telling the truth with certainty and living it consistently, just as Noah did for over a century while preparing for judgment. They highlight that cultural compromises, political conservatism, and pietistic “decisionism” have obscured the Gospel’s demand that individuals and societies submit to Christ’s kingship in every sphere of life. Genuine evangelism teaches people to abandon their self-made operating systems and embrace Christ’s rule, producing visible obedience, transformed worldview, and faithful living amid a culture under judgment.