As the one-year anniversary of Charlie Kirk's assassination approaches, the case against the man accused of killing him is moving toward trial, and prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. That brings an important question back into the conversation: Should Christians support capital punishment?

In this episode, Pastor Trent looks beyond the headlines to examine what Scripture actually teaches about the government's authority to punish evil. We explore how Christians should think about capital punishment, due process, justice, mercy, and the value of human life.

In This Episode

• What Scripture teaches about the government's authority to punish evil
• The difference between personal forgiveness and public justice
• Common biblical objections to capital punishment
• Why due process and the protection of human life must remain central to the conversation
• How we can pursue both justice and mercy without compromising either

Key Takeaway: Personal forgiveness and governmental justice are not the same thing. Christians are called to surrender personal vengeance and extend forgiveness, while Scripture gives civil government a different responsibility: to establish guilt, protect innocent people, and justly punish wrongdoing.

Why it Matters
Human Life Is Sacred: The biblical argument begins with the value of human life. Genesis 9 grounds the seriousness of murder in the fact that every human being is created in the image of God.
Forgiveness and Justice Have Different Roles: Romans 12 commands Christians not to seek personal vengeance, while Romans 13 gives civil government responsibility to punish wrongdoing. Forgiving someone does not require pretending a crime never happened or eliminating its legal consequences.
Justice Must Include Due Process: Supporting the government's biblical authority to impose capital punishment does not mean supporting every execution. Christians should care deeply about establishing guilt, fair trials, and a justice system free from prejudice, political pressure, and personal vengeance.

Final Thought
Christians do not have to choose between justice and mercy.
We can believe murder should be taken seriously, demand a fair legal process, care deeply about victims, and still pray for the repentance and salvation of the guilty. The clearest picture of these truths coming together is the cross, where God demonstrates both perfect justice toward sin and extraordinary mercy toward sinners.

Understand the times. Know what to do.

Can the WNBA Define a Woman? Sophie Cunningham and the Battle Over Women's Sports

What happens when something as basic as the difference between men and women becomes controversial?

In this episode, Pastor Trent looks at the recent controversy surrounding WNBA player Sophie Cunningham and the debate over men competing in women's sports. But this conversation is about much more than basketball. At the heart of the issue is a deeper question: Is reality something we discover, or something we create?

In This Episode:

• Why Sophie Cunningham's comments have sparked a larger debate
• Why biological differences and clearly defined categories matter in athletics
• How our culture's understanding of sex, identity, and tolerance has changed
• Why these issues ultimately come down to whether reality is discovered or created
• How Christians can defend truth with courage while treating people with love

Key Takeaway: The debate over women's sports is ultimately a debate about reality. Christianity teaches that we do not create ourselves, God created us. Our bodies matter, truth matters, and our deepest identity is not something we invent but something we ultimately find in Christ.

What Should We Do?

1. Don't be afraid to say what is true.
2. Don't confuse courage with cruelty.
3. Teach your children a biblical view of the body.
4. Protect women's sports.

Notable Quotes:
"Things that once qualified as common sense now require courage to say out loud."
"Equal value does not mean physical sameness."
"Truth without love can become cruel. Love without truth becomes evil."

If this episode helped you better understand the times and know what to do, be sure to subscribe, share it with a friend, and follow The Trent Stewart Podcast for future episodes.

Christ Killers: How His Death Becomes Your New Life is available at Christkillers.com and on Amazon.

"Understand the times and know what to do."

England is considering a ban on social media for children under 16, joining a growing list of countries taking action to address the impact of social media on young people. But before debating whether these laws are right or wrong, Pastor Trent Stewart asks a deeper question: What happened that caused entire governments to consider doing what many parents still aren't willing to do?

In this episode, Trent examines the rise of social media, the growing mental health crisis among children and teenagers, and the biblical responsibility parents have to shape and disciple the next generation. Drawing from research, Scripture, and practical experience, he challenges families to think carefully about who is really influencing their children, and what they can do about it.

In This Episode

• Why England, Australia, and other nations are restricting social media access for minors
• The connection between smartphones, social media, and rising mental health challenges
• How childhood shifted from play-based to phone-based
• Why social media is ultimately a discipleship issue
• The role algorithms play in shaping beliefs, values, and identity
• Practical steps parents can take to protect and disciple their children
• Why Christians must prioritize intentional relationships and spiritual formation

Key Takeaway

The most important question isn't whether social media is harmful. The most important question is: Who is discipling your children?

What Should We Do?

1. Don't wait for the government to solve the problem.
2. Seriously evaluate smartphone and social media access.
3. Prioritize real-world relationships.
4. Evaluate your own habits.
5. Commit to intentional discipleship.

Resources Mentioned

The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt

Connect

If this episodehelped you better understand the times and know what to do, be sure to subscribe, share it with a friend, and follow The Trent Stewart Podcast for future episodes.

“Understand the times and know what to do.”