This episode of Out of the Question explores how Christians often misunderstand or mishandle the Fourth Commandment concerning the Sabbath, reducing it to a list of rules rather than seeing it as a divine gift of rest and dependence on God. Andrea Schwartz and Pastor Charles Roberts discuss how profaning God’s name or His Sabbath stems from treating what is sacred with irreverence, and how both the Old and New Testaments emphasize the Sabbath’s deeper purpose—resting in God’s provision rather than human self-sufficiency. They draw from Scripture, the catechisms, and R. J. Rushdoony’s Institutes of Biblical Law to explain that the Sabbath was not originally a day of worship but of rest, later expanded in meaning through Christ. Violating the Sabbath was a serious offense because it symbolized rebellion against God’s created order, while obedience brought blessing and life.

The hosts reflect on how earlier generations, guided by “blue laws” and a communal sense of sacred time, recognized the Sabbath’s importance in ways largely lost today. They contrast that historical reverence with modern society’s busyness and self-determination, which have eroded any sense of true rest. The conversation connects Sabbath principles to stewardship, economics, and even ecology—extending rest to families, servants, animals, and the land itself. Ultimately, they argue that rediscovering the Sabbath’s meaning is crucial for Christians today: not as legalistic restraint, but as a joyful acknowledgment of God’s sovereignty and care. Profaning the Sabbath, they conclude, is not just breaking a rule—it is severing oneself from the rhythm of creation and the blessings God intends for His people.

In this episode of Out of the Question, Andrea Schwartz and Pastor Charles Roberts tackle the increasingly common practice of tattooing—particularly among professing Christians—and explore its cultural, theological, and spiritual implications. Drawing from Leviticus 19:28 and other scriptural texts, they argue that the normalization of tattoos in Christian communities reflects a broader infiltration of pagan, secular, and humanistic ideologies into the Church. They challenge the idea that tattooing is merely a personal or aesthetic choice, instead urging believers to consider whether such practices align with God's commands or stem from a desire for autonomy over submission to His Word.

The hosts discuss the physical consequences of tattoos, including immune system stress and potential long-term health risks, while also pointing to the spiritual dimension—asking whether a deeper force may be influencing the trend. They share anecdotes, medical insights, and biblical parallels to highlight how tattoos may symbolically and literally mark a departure from a theonomic worldview. Ultimately, the episode calls Christians to reflect on their motivations, reexamine God's law in both Old and New Testaments, and consider how their choices reflect or distort the image of God in themselves.

This episode of Out of the Question revisits R.J. Rushdoony’s 1966 essay Social Unrest and highlights its continued relevance in today’s climate of violence and societal upheaval. Rushdoony argued that prayer alone is not sufficient; it must be coupled with active Christian responsibility to restrain evil and uphold justice. Simply retreating into sentimentality or saying “I’ll pray about it” while avoiding action is, he maintained, a form of disobedience. The discussion stresses that prayer should not be a substitute for action but must be informed by God’s Word and applied through faithful obedience to His law in everyday life, whether in personal responsibility, family, or civil society.

The hosts connect these principles to current events, showing how permissiveness, shallow theology, and reliance on humanistic systems have led to chaos, from violent crime to collapsing communities. They emphasize that true mercy cannot exist without justice, and that God has ordained civil government to restrain evil and enforce righteous order. Christians are called not to retreat but to advance the kingdom by applying God’s standards in practical, concrete ways—beginning with their own lives and families. Faithful obedience, not passive religiosity or sentimental “niceness,” is what God requires to confront evil and preserve a godly society.