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.

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The doctrine of sin, as defined in Scripture and the Westminster Shorter Catechism, is clear: sin is lawlessness, a failure to conform to or a transgression of God’s law. Yet many professing Christians today fail to recognize this reality, with surveys showing that nearly half of respondents don’t even view themselves as sinners. This distorted understanding of sin often stems from a lack of systematic theology, resulting in fragmented, man-centered interpretations of the Bible rather than a whole-counsel view. When sin is minimized or redefined, the Incarnation and atonement lose their meaning, and Christianity itself is hollowed out. Modern trends, from antinomian dismissals of God’s law to legalistic distortions, reflect a failure to teach and uphold the biblical theology of sin, which is foundational for a God-centered worldview.

Instead of condemning sin, many within the church have shifted to condemning the law, aligning themselves with cultural definitions of morality rather than God’s standards. This creates confusion, where obedience is reduced to man-made “do’s and don’ts” rather than conformity to God’s will. The root issue goes back to the fall in Eden, where humanity chose autonomy over submission to God. Without understanding sin’s theological nature—its origin, consequences, and remedy—Christians will continue to substitute humanistic definitions of right and wrong for God’s law. The result is cultural decay and personal compromise. The biblical call is to recover a God-centered theology of sin, grounded in the fear of the Lord, which alone brings wisdom, obedience, and victory in Christ.

This discussion explores the meaning of zeal, its biblical grounding, and the importance of directing it toward God’s purposes. Zeal, defined as passionate ardor or fervent desire, can be good or bad depending on its object. The conversation highlights how misplaced zeal, such as Paul’s former persecution of the Church, can be destructive, whereas zeal aligned with knowledge and God’s will becomes transformative. Biblical examples—from Jesus cleansing the temple to Phineas confronting sin—show that true zeal requires action, not just emotion. It is characterized by passion rooted in knowledge, devotion to God’s honor, and a readiness to act even under opposition.

The speakers stress that zeal must be sustained and rightly ordered. They contrast genuine zeal with fanaticism, pietistic emotionalism, and counterfeit zeal found in false religions or worldly causes. Perseverance, commitment to God’s commandments, and applying zeal to all areas of life—family, work, church, and culture—are emphasized as marks of faithful zeal. Ultimately, they argue that zeal for the Lord is not optional but vital, shaping a believer’s daily life and long-term mission. It is not about sporadic bursts of passion but a lifelong commitment, producing action and perseverance that glorify God and advance His kingdom.

The episode features Andrea Schwartz interviewing Nathan Pierce of Family Protection Ministries (FPM) about California legislation FPM tracks to defend families, especially homeschoolers. Pierce explains that charter schools—originally conceived as locally controlled alternatives—have been steadily constrained; AB-84 is the latest step, tightening oversight of funds and effectively requiring charter-paid instructors to be certified teachers, which he argues serves teachers’ unions by weakening non-union, lower-cost vendors and nudging families back toward traditional public schools. He and Schwartz frame this within broader concerns about the state’s education system, its ideological direction, and the practical trade-offs for Christian families between public funding (with religious restrictions) and private options (with greater autonomy and data privacy).

They then discuss AB-495, which expands who can self-authorize guardianship-like powers over a child via a simple form—potentially including distant relatives or non-relatives in undefined “mentorship” roles—raising fears about enrollment, medical decisions, and parental rights. After a large protest, the bill moved to a “suspense file” pending appropriations decisions; Pierce expects court challenges if it passes, citing likely constitutional issues. He urges parents to stay engaged, contact senators, track bills (via the state site and FPM’s bill tracker), and avoid dependency on public-money “carrots” that constrain Christian education. Pierce also outlines FPM’s youth training, internships, and government class aimed at cultivating long-term advocates.

This episode of the Out of the Question podcast explores the cultural shift in explaining destructive behavior through the lens of psychology and psychiatry rather than Scripture. Andrea Schwartz and Pastor Charles Roberts begin by recounting disturbing local incidents labeled as “mental health crises” by authorities and the media. They question why society defaults to diagnoses and pharmaceuticals instead of confronting sin, responsibility, and spiritual realities, noting that modern psychology begins with humanistic assumptions rather than the truths found in Genesis. This, they argue, leads to superficial solutions that ignore the moral and spiritual dimensions of human problems.

The discussion contrasts biblical categories of sin, illness, and demonic influence with the modern psychiatric framework. Scripture, they point out, distinguishes between physical ailments, spiritual oppression, and demonic possession, each with different attributes and remedies. Yet modern culture collapses these distinctions into psychiatric diagnoses, often excusing sinful behavior. The hosts emphasize that without grounding knowledge in God’s Word, people suppress the truth and seek explanations in chemical imbalances or psychological theories, leaving personal responsibility and obedience to God unaddressed.

Finally, they stress that sanctification, community, and obedience to Scripture are the true remedies for what society calls “mental illness.” While acknowledging that some conditions have physical causes, they insist that most human problems are spiritual at their root. The conversation warns against easy believism and reliance on professionals at the expense of biblical counsel and accountability. Instead, Christians are called to bear one another’s burdens, discern spiritual realities, and apply God’s law faithfully. The episode closes with recommended resources, urging believers to equip themselves to help others through a biblical worldview rather than outsourcing care to secular systems.

In this episode of Out of the Question Podcast, host Andrea Schwartz speaks with attorney and former domestic violence victim, Sally Owen, to uncover the hidden biases in today’s legal system. While domestic abuse is a serious issue, Owen highlights how the court system often presumes men guilty without evidence, issuing life-altering protection orders based solely on accusations. Drawing from her own experiences of abuse and her legal career, Sally explains how these civil proceedings strip men of rights, careers, and reputations—without the due process guaranteed in criminal trials.

The conversation dives into hard but necessary questions: Is the domestic violence court system truly about justice, or is it driven by politics, bias, and fear of public backlash? Together, Andrea and Sally explore how laws intended to protect women have instead created deep injustices for men, why perjury often goes unpunished, and how a biblical worldview of equal justice for all offers a better foundation. This timely episode challenges cultural assumptions, sparks discussion on abuse and fairness, and calls listeners to rethink justice through the lens of truth and accountability.