Wretched Radio with Todd Friel

It’s Mailbag Friday! You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers.

SEGMENT 1

• How can I grow in my affections and feelings toward God, and not just head-knowledge? - Lauren

SEGMENT 2

• Can true forgiveness only occur when the at-fault person apologizes? - Josh

SEGMENT 3

• If you don’t support the sinner’s prayer, how should we advise non-believers who are seeking like the rich man was in Matthew 19:16? - Anonymous

• What’re your thoughts on the prevalence in some areas of the church of men drinking whiskey and smoking cigars? - Anonymous

SEGMENT 4

• Are we at risk of taking scripture out of context when we see parallels between two different texts? - Anonymous

• What are the biblical grounds for remarriage after divorce? - Anonymous

• Are Christians obligated to undergo medical procedures that, while injurious, could prolong one’s life? - Ryan

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Thanks for listening!

Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners.

If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/

If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!

Segment 1

• You’ve been told the Crusades were greedy Christian land-grabs—but what if the real history completely flips that narrative?

• Discover the uncomfortable facts most textbooks skip—including who actually controlled the Middle East before Islam’s expansion.

• Your ability to defend Christianity today may hinge on the truth about the Crusades.

Segment 2

• Were Crusaders motivated by money—or were they bankrupting themselves for a cause they believed in?

• The shocking financial and casualty realities that dismantle the “get rich quick crusader” stereotype.

• What this historical myth reveals about how modern culture reshapes Christianity’s reputation—and why it matters for your faith.

Segment 3

• Assurance, anxiety, loneliness, and pornography—are these the silent struggles undermining believers today?

• Why even faithful Christians secretly wrestle with doubt—and what makes doubt dangerous if left unaddressed.

• Some pastors and churches may unintentionally deepen isolation—and what that means for your spiritual stability.

Segment 4

• When someone confesses doubt, your response can either strengthen their faith, or push them further away.

• Misunderstanding the difference between doubt and disbelief can seriously mislead believers.

• Practical, biblical strategies you can use immediately to help hurting believers regain confidence and spiritual clarity.

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Thanks for listening!

Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners.

If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/

If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!

It’s Witness Wednesday! Todd heads back to campus at Georgia Tech to discuss faith, morality, and Jesus himself with several real-life students. Whatever the topic, whoever the student, the question stays the same: is Jesus who He says He is - and if so, what does that mean for you?

Segment 1

• Orrin says he’s a Christian—but when pressed on truth, postmodernism, and being “born again,” does his faith rest on feelings or repentance and faith?

• Todd forces the question most avoid: If Hinduism says one thing and Christianity another—can both be right?

• Todd brings Orrin to consider whether or not he has truly been born again.

Segment 2

• An aerospace engineer rejects institutional religion—but admits belief in rules, order, and possibly a “rule-maker.”

• Todd walks him through conscience, justice, and the courtroom of God—are you really “good” by your own standard?

• Christianity’s radical claim: You don’t go to hell for lack of faith—you go because of sin.

Segment 3

• A self-professed Christian says Jesus is the “tipping point”—but can he clearly articulate the gospel when challenged?

• Todd pushes him: Is Islam wrong? Is Hinduism wrong? • The reason for anyone going to heaven is made clear: not our good deeds, not what we’ve done - but what Christ has done for us.

Segment 4

• Our final student of the day is pressed on whether the order around us necessitates a designer.

• Todd drills into conscience: lying, lust, blasphemy—how would a just God and judge treat lawbreaking?

• The offer laid bare: Your fine has been paid. Will you repent—or trust your own goodness instead?

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Thanks for listening!

Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners.

If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/

If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!

Segment 1

• Is evangelicalism actually at a historic low—or on the brink of revival?

• Past “golden ages” of evangelical influence actually collapsed faster than expected.

• The real reason that faithful churches often do better without celebrity leaders.

Segment 2

• Why social media influence may be incapable of sustaining biblical faithfulness.

• The hidden dangers of untethered Christian platforms without institutional accountability.

• History shows us a repeating pattern of influence, drift, and collapse.

Segment 3

• Is “cultural contextualization” helping the church—or hollowing it out from within?

• Replacing biblical language subtly reshapes the gospel itself.

• Why trying to sound less Christian may cost the church its power entirely.

Segment 4

• Does every church need a “lead pastor”—or is that unbiblical?

• How leadership authority actually functions inside a healthy plurality of elders.

• Rushing to replace a prominent pastor can damage a church for decades.

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Thanks for listening!

Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners.

If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/

If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!

Segment 1

• Massive cultural moments, like last night’s Superbowl, promise fulfillment but fade almost instantly.

• The halftime show controversy shows us how our entertainment is driving moral numbness for our nation and world.

• A sharp challenge: if the biggest moments don’t last, why do we keep living for them?

Segment 2

• Here’s what suffering for Christ’s sake in our life tells us about the character and attributes of God.

• God values something more than your comfort - and this changes everything in your life.

• First Peter’s uncomfortable but hope-filled call to lift your eyes above temporary victories.

Segment 3

• How sentimental slogans weaponize empathy and shut down moral clarity.

• Phrases like “love is love” feel compassionate but smuggle in serious worldview assumptions.

• A smarter approach: asking the right questions instead of taking rhetorical bait.

Segment 4

• Bible sales are up—but biblical literacy may not be.

• What church closures, entertainment trends, and AI-driven depravity reveal about spiritual decay.

• A sobering reminder: sin never satisfies, no matter how advanced the technology gets.

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Thanks for listening!

Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners.

If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/

If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!