Christian Radio Talk Show: Radical, edgy…and thoroughly conservative

by Laura Adelmann

Provocative, edgy and unabashedly conservative, Way of the Master Radio confronts the post-modern culture to win souls through Christ’s teaching.

Broadcast nationally on Serius Radio, host Todd Friel regularly challenges feel-good theology and witnesses to strangers he meets.

Discussions regarding faith often lead conversations in compelling directions, but the program is far from a dry theological dissertation.

As a former stand-up comic, Friel peppers conversations with a healthy does of humor. Often joining him on the program are Friel’s equally upbeat partners, evangelist Ray Comfort and actor Kirk Cameron.

Friel said training Christians to share their faith, converting souls and exposing false teaching are the radio program’s primary goals.

False converts fill pews, explained Friel, greatly because they are instructed to “accept Christ” merely for promises of a better life, and are not truly, radically converted.

That explains why, he said, so many people who claim to be Christians are not living as believers: Getting divorces, gambling, even having abortions.

In contrast, Way of the Master Radio instructs using the law, not promises of prosperity in this life, to bring people to Christ. Stirring people’s God-given conscious is key, and Friel, Comfort and Cameron typically delve into the topic with this question: “Do you think you’re a good person?” Most often, people do think they have done good things, and deserve to get into heaven.

But using the Ten Commandments exposes the people to how God sees sin, allows them to see they have broken God’s law, and that because God is holy, he must punish sin.

Compassion and genuine concern is evident in the radio hosts’ voices as they prod the person to recognize sin. Unrepentant sinners’ destiny is hell, the person is led to understand.

Sometimes, that is as far as the conversation goes, because before introducing the good news of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for all sin, Friel, Comfort and Cameron wait to see if there is first repentance.

Although only on-air since Jan. 2, Friel rejoices over listeners’ e-mails telling him of the ministry’s life-changing impact on their lives.

One woman said the teaching led her to repent of her sin on a rest room floor. Surrounded by friends, she cried out and put her trust in Christ.

She wrote, “I praise God that he led me to your show. Through your show I’ve caught a glimpse of who God is, how truly merciful and loving he is and how I should discern true and false teachings. You guys have truly been a blessing!”

A Vermont man said through Way of the Master Radio, he used the Ten Commandments to show his young son how, like all, he falls short of God’s standards, and that because God is a just judge, he must punish sin. Through the law, the boy was able to appreciate that Jesus paid the fine. To the father’s joy, his son repented and put his trust in Jesus Christ.

He wrote, “It is a cool thing to lead someone to Christ but leading your own child, it is unexplainable. This really goes to show that even using the law with a child it works very well. Thanks for the show and all you do.”

A pastor led a couple who had come in for counseling to Christ in the same manner. He wrote: “This is not the first time I’ve seen a person trust Christ. But this was probably the greatest example I’ve ever seen of the ‘light coming on in the middle of the conversation.’ I attribute that to the confidence you gave me with your show. Before, I would have left them to say, ‘I am a sinner,’ and just leave it at that. The law smacked them in the face because I’ve been listening to podcasts and have heard you guys be so forward about the law. This gave me the confidence to go straight to the conscience and not fear the person being offended or hurt.”

In a newsletter to listeners, Friel expressed his excitement: “We are barely catching our breath from everything that has been happening. Way of the Master has been unbelievably busy and God has been showing us amazing results. Souls are getting saved, preachers are changing their sermons and more people than ever are hearing about the beautiful Gospel pearl.”

The show airs weekdays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. (EST) on Sirius channel 159 and at www.wayofthemasterradio.com. The Web site also lists radio stations carrying the program.