Frank Turek on Charlie Kirk’s Legacy & Why Christianity Is Still True!
Why are so many young people questioning their faith—and what does it take to confront the toughest questions about God, truth, and culture? For today’s conversation, Pastor Greg Laurie talks with Christian apologist—and mentor to the late Charlie Kirk—Frank Turek for an honest, timely conversation about faith, evidence, and the future of the church.
Together, Pastor Greg and Frank dig deep into what’s fueling today’s “deconstruction” trend among Christian youth, why so many leave the church after high school, and how technology, college campuses, and cultural pressures challenge the foundations of belief. No question is off-limits: from “Does science contradict the Bible?” to “Why does God allow suffering?” and “How do we respond to the transgender movement?”—every topic is handled with compassion and real-world insight.
Frank also talks about his friend and mentee, Charlie Kirk, reflecting on his legacy and the explosive spiritual awakening our country has experienced following his tragic death. This conversation isn’t just for pastors or intellectuals—instead it’s for anyone seeking to grow in faith, love for their neighbor, and meaningfully engage as believers unafraid to compromise in a changing world.
Learn more about CrossExamined and Frank’s work here: https://crossexamined.org/.
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TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Trans Issue: Why Did It Emerge & Wane?
01:13 Cross Examine Ministry: Apologetics on Campus
02:09 Christian Colleges & The Drift from Evangelicalism
03:04 The Sinai Example: What Makes a True Christian
07:02 Why Do Christian Youth Leave Church?
09:25 Discipleship Defined: Beyond Fire Insurance
10:28 Science vs. Christianity: Asking the Right Questions
13:39 Theology by Slogan: Making People Think
15:26 Atheism’s Origin: Head vs. Heart Problem
17:00 Christopher Hitchens: “There Is No God, and I Hate Him”
20:01 Spiritual Awakening Among Young People
22:34 Charlie Kirk’s Impact & Medal of Freedom Story
29:44 Politics vs. Gospel: Charlie Kirk’s Perspective
31:41 Pastoral Silence: Why Avoid Addressing Controversy?
34:36 Churchianity vs. Christianity: Focus on Kingdom
40:15 Why Does God Allow Suffering?
43:40 Hell & God's Justice: Grace, Not Just Goodness
45:51 Forgiveness: Erica Kirk’s Powerful Memorial Moment
48:49 Are All Religions the Same?
55:03 Transgender Trend: Roots & Pastoral Response
58:33 What Drives Children to Transition?
61:53 Frank Turek’s Motivation for Campus Apologetics
63:17 Winning Souls, Not Arguments
64:07 Predestination vs. Free Will: Salvation Debate
66:27 Knowledge on Fire: Why Effective Preaching Matters
71:07 Passing the Baton: Mentoring the Next Generation
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
In 1990, Laurie founded the Harvest Crusades, a series of large-scale evangelistic events designed to present the gospel to broad audiences. These events have since drawn more than 11.5 million participants in person and online. In 2012, he launched Harvest America, a nationwide outreach event that utilized HD livestreaming to broadcast to thousands of venues across the United States. Collectively, these efforts have resulted in over 700,000 documented professions of faith.
A prolific author, Laurie has written over 70 books, including House of David, Billy Graham: The Man I Knew, Steve McQueen: The Salvation of an American Icon, Revelation: A Book of Promises, and Jesus Revolution.
His filmography includes Lost Boy: The Next Chapter, Hope for Hurting Hearts, Steve McQueen: American Icon, and Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon. In 2023, Greg and Cathe Laurie’s life and conversion during the Jesus Movement of the 1960s and ‘70s were depicted in the Lionsgate film Jesus Revolution, starring Kelsey Grammer and Jonathan Roumie.
Greg Laurie has been married to Cathe Laurie for over 51 years. They have two sons and five grandchildren.
Want more from Greg Laurie? Visit harvest.org
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