A Secular Jew Comes to Faith in Christ (Andrew Klavan's Story)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 18 ก.ย. 2024
- Why would a secular Jew choose to follow Jesus? What barriers did he overcome and how did it transform his life? In this video, I interview commentator and author Andrew Klavan about his journey to faith. We also discuss his latest book The Truth and Beauty, which explores how England's greatest poets help us better understand Jesus.
READ: The Truth and Beauty, by Andrew Klavan (amzn.to/3eK0XfO)
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Sooo many of us are coming to faith in Yeshua, our Messiah! As a Jew & former atheist who thought all gods fictional, who's last choice would've been Jesus had I even wanted a god, the miracle of this type of conversion is a very powerful testimony! Yeshua saved me while I was a dying Jewish atheist in 2017 at the age of 54. Praise God!
Wow, interesting, thanks for sharing!
One for Israel!
This fills my heart with such joy! Bless you 🕊
@@SeanMcDowell you're not born again you fell for the original sin again.
@@dansaber4427 what are you talking about?
Been a lifelong agnostic/atheist, but somehow I stumbled onto Klavan's podcast back in 2016. Now I'm thinking of becoming a Christian. 😎
Same thing happened to me in 2018. The Great Good Thing is one of the most important books in my life
If you don't understand it first, I doubt you can become a Christian. Klavan first read, understood, than was converted. Jesus said it in many ways in his parables, but you kind of have to renounce all other things, pay the whole price, buy the precious pearl. It's an all in option. That's what Klavan did.
Converting just to be in a trend doesn't really work. Just saying.
@@marcusdumitru 'trend'?!?! What the f you talking about? If I convert I will lose standing. I'm an Australian - becoming Christian will make me weird.
@@chernobylcoleslaw6698 praying that you take the plunge! Best decision you will ever make!
@@liljade53 Thanks! 🙂
Hallelujah! I am a Jewish believer in Christ also!
You should do youself and google Rabbi Tovia Singer
Mormon to Christian here!
Awesome to hear!
We have 2 mormon girls trying to convert us (born again) christians.
What made you change ?
@@fightclub1164 it's a worldview issue, I decided to value truth above social comfort, in an lds community your place in the heirarchy has a lot to do with your compliance to their teachings, questioning isn't bad but conclusions that deviate from theirs has consequences socially.
@@danvan2683 but how did you come to the conclusion ? What was your turning point ?
Like some having a vision of Jesus , on a personal encounter of Jesus , or hear voice of God
@@fightclub1164 it started with the history of polygamy and Joseph smith's wife's I'd never been told about, then a deep dive into Mormon church history and then general history about the new testament and Christianity, was Jesus and the dogmas as easily shown to be based on corruption.
I'm convinced while Christianity has its own issues today, it's primary sources and historicity put me on my knees so to speak.
I love Klavan as a thinker. I think he is very generous in the way that he deals with those who may disagree with him. He stands out to me in that way-not all conservative Christian commentators manage to walk that line so well. Speaking the truth in love is a difficult thing to do consistently without tending towards either the "truth" pole or the "love" pole. I very much admire that about him, he reminds me of CS Lewis in that regard.
Agreed!
@@SeanMcDowell If you ever want someone to have on who comes at the Bible from a different angle, I would love to see a conversation between you and Jonathan Pageau. He recently had an interview with Michael Knowles that was great, and he also has a lot of content on TH-cam. He's a very careful and deep thinker, I'm sure the two of you would go to some really interesting places. Thanks for the work you do!
I'd like to see klavan explain why he mocked another man in a discussion of noahide laws.
@@jupiterjones64 What is noahide?
Mesmerizing conversation. Salvation is the most profound miracle.
Klavan is HANDS-DOWN one of the most kind, thoughtful, and charming podcasters on the market today. This interview proves that, and is a reminder of why I absolutely love and respect him as a Brother in Christ like no other. Thank you both for this AMAZING interview. 👍👍
i have listened to Andrew long before Sean, and having recently found Sean on line ( had heard of both him and his dad ) the combination of both in this video is a real treat.
What a beautiful testimony. Praise the Lord, indeed! I'm so happy for this man.
Andrew Klavan is great fun. Faith and humor go so well together, plus his being brilliant doesn't hurt. I learn from Sean and Andrew. I first saw Mr. Klavan on Megyn Kelly's utube show where he shows up. She is another one of my favorites in the long form interview. Love Dr McDowell's show, terrific guests with a great interviewer. This show encourages and strengthens me, Dr McDowell is a great human being, he and his show and sermons, as well as his terrific father, are a part of God's hand in helping me in coming back to Lord. "Are you trying to get to know a philosophy or a man" helpful from Mr Klavan. Much love from california.
Thanks Darren. You’re so encouraging!
Andrew Klavan. My favorite political commentator and an excellent fiction writer
Love Andrew Klavan! This is a great interview and great testimony!
It's NEVER too late to come to Christ! I wasn't saved until the age of 45. It was a long journey.
Sean McDowell and Andrew Klavan?!!! This is better than a Marvel crossover!!!!
Haha, this is officially my favorite comment 👊
What an interview! My spirit was really touched by Andrew's insight on women at the end. I am a women who as greatly suffered at the hands of men for my entire adult life. Andrew said that "there is a great hostility to women in the fleshly male heart," and in an instant, a light bulb went off for me. I see this in my life and in the lives of many many women in the church that I've been blessed to walk beside who have also suffered like I have. Putting words to it is so helpful!
Idolization, lust, disgust and hatred
It's also created the feminist cycle of hatred (much of it justified) for men.
Since men are stronger, the onus lies on them to improve themselves & society - to undo the damage that they've caused so that women AND children would be able to trust them again. Once that happens at a societal level, a lot of the feminist hatred will disappear overnight.
The Great Good Thing is a wonderful book. Honestly, everything he writes is well paced and intriguing. He wrote a series for teens that I give to reluctant readers. Thanks for having him on. I think that you are a thoughtful interviewer. You are always respectful to your guests.
Thanks James!
This is a pairing that I didnt know I needed! ❤️
Really enjoyed this interview. It’s one I did not think I’d ever see! I hope you’ll have Andrew on again!!!
I’d love to. Send me some other suggestions you think would be a fit for my channel!
@@SeanMcDowell How about you interview Steve Gregg from The Narrow Path ministries. He is a Bible teacher and has debated people like Dr. James White. He recently wrote a book entitled “Empire of the Risen Son”, which I think is the best book I’ve ever read on the kingdom of God. He has a radio program and would be great to interview on either: (1) The Kingdom of God; (2) Social Justice; (3) Being an Amillenialist.
@@SeanMcDowell That means a lot, thank you Dr. Sean! If I had to share some recommendations, I’d suggest author Mary Danielson, David Fiorazo, and Olivier Melnick. Each one would be such a blessing to see on your show! ❤️
I’ve been listening to Andrew Klavan’s podcasts for several years, and more recently Sean McDowell, so this is a most outstanding discussion. Thank you!
Today, I binged an entire day listening to nothing but your TH-cam interviews! I just found your channel & subscribed.
So far, I enjoyed every interview and topic, but I enjoyed this man’s (Andrew Klavan) story the most. His testimony touched my heart not just my intellect. He, like CS Lewis, was surprised by joy, real joy that he never imagined.
I like the thought provoking-questions you ask. I like that you jump right into the topic and STAY on topic. I think your subject matter is relevant to what every Christian faces today.
I have a family members choosing to live LBGT & transgender lives, while still saying they are trusting Jesus for salvation.Such a contradiction and a travesty!
About 10 years ago I attended the NAR & Word of Faith churches for about 10 years. Because I was an older Christian & already grounded in the fundamental & foundational doctrines of the Faith, I recognized several of their erroneous doctrines, but my heart yearned for a closer connection with Jesus. Consequently, two aspects of their services kept me coming back. 1. The longer time allowed for prayer, both corporate and individual, and 2. the time, allowed to worship God-sensing the movement of the HS in a personal way. It fulfilled the spiritual and emotional intimacy with God my heart had longed for. And indeed God used this worship time to heal many deep hurts in my heart. But as the emotional wounds healed, the doctrinal errors became more & more obnoxious, and I eventually left. I think I was able to leave more easily than a young person because I was 50 years old, had been a Christian 28 years, and as I said was already grounded in the doctrines of Christ.
Now, I am 73 yo. I was diagnosed with cancer last year and have been going through chemo ever since. It’s been physically painful and exhausting, but I have sensed Jesus’ presence every day. “He knows the way that I take, and when he has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” I have no doubt that He loves me, that he forgives my sin, and best of all gives me knowledge and revelation of HIM-his Word which is able to both restore and purify me, his plans for me personally and his creation at large, his just and merciful judgments, his long suffering patience with his beloved ones. No one is worthy of the salvation he gives or the transformation from glory to glory he offers. He is altogether lovely and worthy of our praise. I join with Habakkuk yearning for the day when the whole earth shall be filled with His knowledge and glory.
God bless your endeavors to confront error with loving firmness. Neither God nor his doctrines change. He is ever-faithful and absolutely HOLY.
I'll never get enough of Andrew Klavan! Loved his book The Great Good Thing and he is one of the most profound thinkers of our time.
Mr. Klavan, take heart! There are at least a few of us out here that love the old poets!
I am a 34 yr old Christian, and English Literature was my all-time favorite class, and I was lucky enough to have an excellent teacher that encouraged me in that love of old literature!
Wordsworth and Coleridge are among my favorite writers. One of my prized possessions is a beautiful 1851 printed collection of Wordsworth’s work. I paid about $10 for it from a tiny antique store in my home town years ago! It’s fragile and I don’t read from it but it’s incredible!
I like Andrew's answer on the after life for those who don't believe. I'm a recent convert from atheism, and most of my peers are atheist, but many of them are good people, and there's such an indoctrination against religion in modern society. I have to believe that God will have mercy according to each person's situation. I pray and try to spread the word best I can, but it's harder to evangelize in a culture that has collectively rejected Christianity than a culture that hasn't heard about it. But anyway yeah it's not our place to judge people's fate, just to pray and do what we can to bring them to the truth.
You are correct there. Because we don't know a person's heart. Salvation is between a person and God. Our job is to tell people about the human condition and how God has dealt with it.
I have Klavan’s book and while I have not finished it, he makes connections that are both deep and thought provoking without sacrificing readability or clarity. 10/10!
I have to watch this interview again. It was so pleasant and insightful. Thank you to Sean and Andrew
I have been so overwhelmed with content uploads from several channels on TH-cam that go over apologetics and theology, but I am sure glad I had not overlooked and missed this interview! Thanks a plenty Dr. Sean and Mr. Klavan! Looking forward to the upcoming interviews as well.
Very interesting interview. I have a lot of respect for person coming to Jesus from another faith. They have so much to loose such as family and life in some cases…but so much to gain in the larger scheme of things, spending eternity with Jesus Christ our Lord and savior.
thank you brother Andrew for sharing your story, your experience with the world via YT. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the grace and peace of God multiply in you and through you, may you be filled with all the fulness of Jesus Christ as Paul prayed for his congregations in Ephesus and Colosse, and Philippi.
I think this might be the most meaningful and inspirational video I've seen for a long time. Thank you very much.
So amazing to hear two of my favorite media personalities get together for this really interesting conversation. Thanks so much for this Sean and Drew!
Thanks for watching!
I had started going the other way at 69 years old after deep study and I am now 74. It was not overnight but came to me slowly. I kept God’s holy days for 40 years but believed in the New Testament teachings as well. In the last few years I only Follow the Old Testament teachings and I believe in one God only. I don’t need apologetics. All my questions are now answered and I have a deep relationship with the father without having to go through any human or spirit who became human, died after not fulfilling even one prophecy and is now spirit again. I found that I do have the ability to keep all of gods laws without needing faith in another dying for my sins. I’m glad he feels a connection to his faith in the way that works for him.
hi Lee, I may have misunderstood your comment and if i have please forgive me. however, in case you are referring to Jesus when you say he did not fulfill even one prophesy I'd urge you to read both testaments again with a keen eye. I can assure you you will find Jesus all over the Old Testament and then see His fulfillment in the New New. May the God to confess to believe in open the eyes of your understanding.
RC Sproul offered this conditional statement: "If God is not holy, you don't need Christ. And if God is holy, and you are holy, you still don't need Christ. But if God is holy, and you are not holy, there is nothing you need more than Christ."
@@mlokole254actually, if you read the OT with open eyes, then you will see that the NT is nonsense
@@mchristrmore manmade nonsense. The Jews know what God is providing his Messiah for, which is why they know 'christ' wasn't him...
It's not about what "works" it's about what's "true". There is another besides you who said regarding the law.."all these I have done since my youth" to which Jesus said "go and sell all that you have"...so it is with you, in order to be saved, you must sell all you have.
I’m reading The Truth and Beauty right now and I highly recommend it!!
You should read the one where the talking snake tricks the woman into eating a magical fruit. It's hilarious 😂
I was raised Catholic but then I was saved in my 40s as well. It's never too late.
Many Catholics are saves
Indeed
@@foodforthought8308 I completely agree. My parents are Catholic and have been saved. The CC wasn't right for me, though. Still, it was hard to leave because there is true beauty in many ways. It took me a decade to break away, and I was still steeped in sin most of my life before my conversion. I also never completely embraced the CC, so there's that (my parents divorced right before I should've been ready for confirmation and we quit attending church, though they got an annulment and both went back much later). God bless you!
@@tracykarolGod bless you as well!
Saving repentance is realizing that you are a sinner deserving of God's just punishment in Hell and turn (repent) from whatever you trusted in before, if indeed you trusted in anything; to trusting in the person and finished work of Christ "alone" for salvation.
Love hearing this conversation between two of my favorite people!
I love what the Lord is doing with this man!
This is a wonderful interview and testimony. Thank you so much. I want to read Andrew Klavan’s books after this. He is so interesting.
Thank You for this interview it was so wonderful!
Sean, you are a magician. Your guest is so wise and I would love for Sir Klavanon to be POTUS. I have laughed so heartily at his crazy introductions but you have brought out so much I didn't know about him. Thank you for another brilliant interview.
This is the interview I've been waiting for!!
My husband and I enjoyed it tremendously. Going to buy the book.
If you know how to spell ……. Don’t answer your door. It might be Knowles trying to get you to stop following Klavan.
Sean,Thanks for having Klavan. I follow and listen to you both. May The Lord continue to use you both in your particular fields to further the Gospel.
God bless!
My pleasure. He’s a GREAT guest-so thoughtful and engaging.
@@SeanMcDowell Thank you Sean for responding to my comment. That’s awesome! It Reveals your humility. God bless you!
So you reject any criticism of klavan? What if the concern has nothing to do with knOwles?
@@jupiterjones64 of course not! But given the fact that you know how to spell K.L.A.V.A.N. I take it you got my joke. Me on the other hand, I didn’t get yours. Hahaha
Sorry! 🤦🏻♂️ thank you for commenting though.
God bless!
Great interview!!!✝️💕
I’ll never forget how I became a believer and especially when I figured out who Jesus really is…blew my mind!
How amazingly the Holy Spirit works.
very inspiring! Praise GOD
WOW! What a great interview with a great thinker! That part at then end about women could be a whole interview in itself!
Great interview. Mr. Klavan's journey to faith is interesting, to say the least.
Andrew you are such an encouragement to me because you have pure faith without doubts. Thank you.
This was SOOO good! I love how he says basically not just the Jews, but WE ALL killed Jesus. Amen. New way of seeing it that way. Very insightful and also somewhat relatable as a long time NYC skeptic just turned Christian.. thank you for this spectacular interview!
Um, no. We all didn't kill Jesus, and the Jews didn't kill Jesus. Read the text.
I’m a huge fan of Klavan!
Enjoyed this very down to earth man who loves Jesus…look forward to see all that He has in store for his future testimony 🇨🇦 ❤
this is a good conversation. listening back from the beginning now.
Awesome!
Fabulous interview. Thanks Sean. Loved “The Great Good Thing”.
❤ it is all true!!..took me 50 years to realize this, his presence came to me and met me where I was and that kind of love is a powerful physical presence 😂❤❤ it changes you so much you suddenly see the world so differently it is profound sermon on the mount is a stunning panorama can see it is from God❤😊😊 God Bless....
Andrew found a way of making sense of Christianity and interpretating it to suit the kinda of life he should live. Great.
How did he confirm it's the truth??
When you accept Jesus, the Holy Spirit testifies with your spirit that you are His child, and confirms the truth. He reveals things to you in His Word that you could not understand before regeneration.
@@karricompton not all people who have accepted christ experience this holy spirit confirmation.. why is that so??
Again, what do you mean by reveal the truth..feelings can be deceptive.
Thank you for this beautiful and inspiring interview... Mr. KLAVAN your conversion and testimony will do so much good to so many other people, who may be struggling with their faith or simply with who they may be.. GOD BLESS YOU, and i cant wait to read you book
What a great interview! That point about destroying femininity at the end blew my mind. That is so insightful!
Been waiting for this one!!
God is so faithful! They call Him the “hound of heaven”. I thank God for you, Andrew, my brother.❤😊
It’s a miracle that only Jesus can perform. Jesus is the only one who can take away our internal need for forgiveness. Even when we are confused about it, we still know that we need it. Thank you for this lovely testimony. God bless.
Great discussion thank you gents
Andrew Klavan is a great intellect and a delight to listen to. I have always loved the Romantic poets and am very interested in his insight revealing the truths of Christianity embedded in the poetry of the Romantic Period.
One of the ways I shape my mind as a pastor who hasn't had any formal training is listening to everything you put here and following the theologians and persons you put here, especially the ones you seem to agree with. Thank you for the work you do here. Got to know you by reading your dad's books and looking online to find more materia from him.
@RejoicingSon Thank you brother
Fascinating interview. Thanks to you both.
I wish this interview went on forever!
Amazing interview Andrew and Sean. Truly enjoyed it.
Thanks Nicole!
Amazing testimony, thanks!
Goodness! I Wish Andrew Klavan had been my English Professor in college...I could listen to him all day. I went to a historically Christian school and majored in English Literature, so was shocked at how much in was implicitly said that Christian thought was less intellectual than others...which was very ironic considering much of what we were reading was alluding to biblical stories. I loved college and personally care for and respect the professors I had, but it did feel like a bit of a swim upstream to show that you could have insightful thoughts and discussion within a Christian worldview.
Wow, what an awesome, awesome man and story. Praise be to God! 😌🌹🙏🏽 And Yeeeeeees, thank for saying that about men, ultimately, wanting to destroy women…I have felt that and seen that and experienced that for decades! Yes! It is so REFRESHING to hear this truth from a man. I was always made to feel crazy, delusional, etc…Thank you so very much!
What a wonderful and insightful interview! Thank you for sharing it with us!
It just shows how 1 life submitted to God can bring such goooood fruit! Thank you Sean and Andrew.
Thoroughly enjoyed this!
29:00 I always get a kick out of an Isrealite saying they wrestled with God on the path to accepting Yeshua as Messiah. 😅
Ok. But klavan was an ignoramus of Judaism with a strong emotional prejudice against Judaism. Educated, grounded Jews such as Klavan's colleague, Ben Shapiro don't do that.
Very good testimony and deep discernment from Andrew. Our good relationship with the Lord is paramount and we have to always keep this as our first priority in everything we do.
Ah yes, God didn't put the answers explicitly in black and white for us in his word. We need 'discernment' and 'relationship' to figure out his will. No...
Thank you for explaining the fear that Jews have towards Christians. As an American Christian I have only have had love for the Jewish nation. I needed to look to history and how they were treated through the centuries.
Klavan is a winner!
I was raised to believe that in order to be a Christian, a person had to be ignorant, or stupid, or insane. It took a long time and a lot of struggling, but I eventually became a Christian in spite of that. I was the first Christian in my family.
My goodness!!!! Greatest crossover ever!
I’m so glad Klavan has entered the TH-cam apologist-sphere. I hope he shows up on all of the shows
Very interesting conversation. Amazing how he realized it was true even though he had so many personal reasons to oppose the Gospel!
@Remember Isaiah 40:1 and Isaiah 40:10.
COMFORT YE, COMFORT YE MY PEOPLE!!!
His reward is with Him and His work before Him.
I love this guy Klavan. Great video.
Your argument about the gospels being scriptures at the time of paul fails miserably. Even the gospel of luke mentions that the scriptures have telling of a messiah who was killed and rose again. The problem is that they don’t. Not anywhere.
It is most likely that the author of Luke picked up they information from Paul’s letters. Thus showing that the gospel was likely written after Paul.
You have it backwards. The author of Luke quoted Paul.
Thanks for sharing! Loved this!
I did not hear about a guilty sinner getting saved. I did hear that people who don´t know Christ may belong to Him regardless of them knowing it or not. And at one point Klavan claims that the Bible does not give very much information about the afterlife (both around the 32 mark). I wish the discussion had been more to the point about what coming to faith really is about. Is it about getting saved? Saved from what? Why must we be saved, and how can a guilty sinner be reconciled with a holy God? Why is Jesus the only Saviour?
May I recommend Paul's NT letter to the church in Rome (aptly titled Romans). You may need the assistance of a commentary but it answers most, if not all, of your questions.
@@mchristrhow does one know whether the commentary accurately clears up the very real ambiguity in Paul's writing? In reality, the commentator is making an educated guess, just like the rest of us, and there are plenty who disagree...
And even if Paul was clear in what he said...why should we listen to him?
Incredible and beautiful interview
I use to worry about my Dad not going to Heaven because he didn’t live as a Christian, although I did not know his heart. But my Mom always told me that God always does what is best for us & if he would be happy in Heaven, than he would be there. But, eternity is a long time to spend in a place that you would not be happy & only God knows the heart.
And to address why you spent many years not knowing our Savior, He said that you will find Him when you search for Him with all of your heart. You were apparently searching with all of your heart ❤️
Thank you for vocalizing my thoughts exactly on spending to much time on finishing Gods thoughts about salvation
Brilliant!Loved it!
Great interview Sean!
Thank you Sean, I dont know when I became a Believer either, I just always did! I was ashamed I didnt know!
Praise the Lord! (I hope the hard working garbage man found Klavan’s box of jewelry.) Also, Sean, greetings to your father. When I was a college student in the 70’s, we brought him to our campus (Springfield College in Mass.)
Thank you!
HOPE YOU SEE THIS… my husband and I just found one of your videos this morning on TH-cam and have never heard of you before but we saw that you have been to Pensacola Florida before where can we get a schedule or when will you be coming back!!!!!!
GABRIEL! Thanks for watching. My speaking schedule is on my website seanmcdowell.org. If I’m ever near you, please come say hi!
Of course, he was secular and was deprived of the knowing of G-d and jumped to the idolatry of Christianity. May this man return to the TRUE G-D
The LORD does work in mysterious ways✝❤🇮🇱
Love the Klavan!!! There are no E’s in Klavan!!!
Great show!!!
Eph1:22-23...And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the Church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all..........
Great Testimony Andrew.
Interesting thing your conversion is like mine John 15:16😋
Coram Deo…Living before the presence of God, every day.
Klavan is my favorite D dub personality
4:21 all I have to say in an argument about faith healers and modern "prophets" and "apostles" is Ephesians 2:19-21 and Hebrews 1:1-4. The offices of prophet and apostle with their signs were foundational to show their authority and not fundamental for all time.