Clearly with Jimmy & Kelly Needham

Is lying always a sin, or are there moments when protecting life, loving our neighbor, and remaining faithful to God change how we think about truth-telling? We explore the Bible’s surprisingly complex treatment of deception, from Rahab hiding the spies and the Hebrew midwives deceiving Pharaoh to David’s deception, Elisha’s shrewdness, and even God instructing Samuel to frame his visit to Jesse as a sacrifice. We wrestle with the tension between telling the truth and protecting others, considering how figures like Augustine, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Corrie ten Boom have approached the question. Ultimately, we look at truth not as an abstract principle but as something grounded in the person of God himself. As we seek to become people of truth, we consider what it means to live in fidelity to the God who is truth and to develop the biblical wisdom needed to navigate difficult situations.
What We Learned
God clearly condemns lying, including the commandment against bearing false witness and repeated warnings about the lying tongue.
Several biblical figures use deception without receiving condemnation in the text, including David, Jonathan, Michal, Joseph, and Elisha.
Rahab’s deception to protect the spies is presented positively in the New Testament and connected with her faith.
The Hebrew midwives deceived Pharaoh to protect Hebrew children, and the text says God dealt well with them.
Jehu used deception to gather the prophets of Baal, and God commended him for carrying out what was right in His eyes.
Samuel was instructed by God to tell Jesse he had come to sacrifice, even though God’s larger purpose was for Samuel to anoint David as king.
Truth and deception ultimately need to be understood in relation to God himself, because Jesus identifies himself as “the way, the truth, and the life.”
Knowing God and knowing Scripture are essential for developing the discernment to navigate difficult situations involving truth, deception, and protecting others.
Resources Mentioned
Daniel Heimbach article: https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/is-it-ever-right-to-lie 
The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
See for Yourself: How to Study Your Bible with Confidence and Joy 

Scripture Referenced
God condemns lying: Exodus 20:16, Proverbs 6:16-19, Revelation 21:8, John 8:44
Deception not condemned: 
Michal & David: 1 Samuel 19:11-17
Jonathan & David: 1 Samuel 20
David before Abimelech: 1 Samuel 21:10-15, Psalm 34
Joseph & his brothers: Genesis 42-45
Elisha & the Arameans: 2 Kings 6:8-23
Jesus on the road to Emmaus: Luke 24:28
Deception praised: 
Rahab and the spies: Joshua 2, Hebrews 11:31, James 2:25
The Hebrew midwives: Exodus 1:15-22
Jehu & Ahab’s family: 2 Kings 10:30
God instructs deception: 
Lying spirit commissioned: 1 Kings 22:21-23
Samuel & David: 1 Samuel 16:1-3
Truth condemned: Judas’ betrayal: Luke 22
More on Truth: 
God is Truth: John 14:6
Speech is to build up: Ephesians 4:29
The temptation of Jesus: Matthew 4:5-7

Join our team! patreon.com/jimmykellyneedham 
Submit your questions or episode ideas question@clearlypodcast.com 
Produced by Sound of a Rose — https://soundofarose.com

How should we respond when the Bible gives us stories of people who loved God yet did terrible things? And how do we navigate questions about baptism, communion, cultural influence, and even sin in our dreams? Jimmy and Kelly Needham tackle listener questions about some of the Bible’s most difficult and practical subjects. We explore why Scripture doesn’t present flawed people as perfect heroes, how parents can thoughtfully approach baptism and the Lord’s Supper with their kids, and why our biblical worldview must remain grounded in Scripture rather than shaped by the culture around us. We also unpack what our dreams might reveal about our hearts, when to bring those questions into community, and how prayer, Scripture, and trusted relationships can help us pursue holiness with humility.
What We Learned
The Bible presents its people honestly, including their failures, so we should not treat every action of a biblical character as something to imitate.
Biblical characters are prescriptive for us only when their actions align with God’s character, righteousness, and holiness; otherwise, their stories can be descriptive or serve as warnings.
Jimmy and Kelly believe faith should precede baptism and that baptism should generally precede communion, while acknowledging that families and churches may differ in how they apply these principles.
When deciding when a child should be baptized, parents can consider the child’s understanding of the gospel, evidence of faith, desire to take the step themselves, and the counsel of trusted Christian community.
Cultural norms can shape our assumptions without us realizing it, which is why Scripture—not the values of our particular cultural moment—should ultimately determine our worldview.
When dealing with troubling dreams, it can be helpful to ask whether the dream connects to something we actually desire or struggle with in waking life, while also recognizing that not every dream necessarily reflects our desires.
Psalm 139 provides a model for asking God to search our hearts and reveal things we may not see in ourselves.
Bringing troubling thoughts, dreams, and questions into trusted community can help protect us from isolation, accusation, and spiritual confusion.
Resources Mentioned
Flawed Bible characters: 
Lot & his daughers: Genesis 19
David & Bathsheba: 2 Samuel 11
The Levite & his concubine: Judges 19
Moses: Numbers 12:3 & Numbers 20:7-12
Peter: Matthew 16:13-23
Job’s friends: Job 42:7
Baptism: 
Matthew 28:18–20
Acts 2:38-41
Acts 8:12
Acts 16:33
Cultural Moments
Tim Keller’s A Reason for God
Dreams
David’s Prayer: Psalm 139:23-24

Join our team! patreon.com/jimmykellyneedham 
Submit your questions or episode ideas question@clearlypodcast.com 
Produced by Sound of a Rose — https://soundofarose.com

Read Kelly's story and more in this helpful resource: Trying: Reflections on Faith through Infertility, Miscarriage, and Loss
What happens to babies who die through miscarriage, stillbirth, or abortion—and how can we grieve these losses in a way that honors both the child and God? We continue our conversation about miscarriage by exploring the realities of grief, how husbands, friends, family, and churches can support those who are suffering, and why trying to explain or quickly fix someone's pain can often make it harder. We also wrestle with one of the most difficult theological questions surrounding pregnancy loss: Do miscarried babies go to heaven? As we look at Scripture, original sin, human guilt, God's mercy, the work of Jesus, and God's heart for children, we share why we believe babies who die before birth are with Jesus—not because they are innocent, but because salvation is ultimately through the mercy and finished work of Christ. We also share how God used our own story of repeated miscarriage to uncover a medical condition, eventually allowing us to have three biological children, and how that experience has shaped the way we trust God's purposes even when we cannot see them.
What We Learned
People experiencing miscarriage often need to tell others exactly how they need to be supported, whether that means prayer, companionship, a distraction, or simply someone willing to listen.
Grief after miscarriage is real even without the traditional markers of loss, such as a funeral or gravestone, and finding meaningful ways to remember a lost child can help honor that life.
We should resist trying to explain why a miscarriage happened, including suggesting unrepentant sin, health or wellness practices, or other potential causes as though we can identify God's purposes.
One of the most compassionate ways to support someone grieving is to enter their sadness without immediately trying to fix it, minimize it, or move them toward optimism.
Husbands can experience their own grief, shame, expectations, and confusion after miscarriage and need friends who will ask how they are doing rather than assuming they are unaffected.
We believe miscarried and stillborn babies are with Jesus, but not because babies are inherently innocent; our understanding of Scripture teaches that humanity bears the effects and guilt of Adam's fall.
We believe the hope of heaven for these children is ultimately grounded in God's mercy and the finished work of Jesus, not in their ability to consciously express faith.
Our own experience showed us that God can bring life through loss: a third miscarriage led to discovering a serious but treatable condition that otherwise may never have been identified.

Recommended Resources

Other articles and resources on where babies go when they die:
Why Do You Believe That Infants Who Die Go to Heaven? | Desiring God  
Are My Septuplets in Heaven? | Desiring God

Check out these articles written by Kelly through seasons of miscarriage:
How to Handle the Grief of Miscarriage 
No Good Thing Does He Withhold: Having Faith in Difficult Times Part 1 and Part 2 
When Feelings and Faith Disagree 
Draw Near to God with Your Questions 
Miscarriage is a Peculiar Kind of Grief 

Scripture Referenced: John 9:1-3, Genesis 3, Romans 5:12, Psalm 51:5, Romans 1:18-21, Romans 5:9, Matthew 18:3
Join our team! patreon.com/jimmykellyneedham 
Submit your questions or episode ideas question@clearlypodcast.com 
Produced by Sound of a Rose — https://soundofarose.com

Read Kelly's story and more in this helpful resource: Trying: Reflections on Faith through Infertility, Miscarriage, and Loss
What happens to our faith when God says no to something we desperately prayed for? We explore the painful reality of miscarriage, the physical and emotional grief it brings, and the unexpected ways pregnancy loss can affect our marriages, our relationships, and our relationship with God. Drawing from our own experience of three miscarriages early in our marriage, we talk honestly about the loneliness, anger, shame, questions, and theological tension that can follow loss. We also unpack what it means to “wrestle well” with God through suffering—bringing humility, honesty, curiosity, and patience into our prayers rather than numbing our pain or quietly distancing ourselves from God.
What We Learned
Miscarriage can create a profound physical and emotional grief, particularly for women who experience the loss in their own bodies.
Pregnancy loss can create unexpected distance between husbands and wives because men and women may experience and process the grief differently.
Miscarriage can lead to a deep faith wrestle, raising difficult questions about God’s goodness, sovereignty, fatherhood, and the promises of Scripture.
Other people's stories can help us put language to our own grief, especially when we don't know how to communicate what we're experiencing.
We can bring honesty to God in our suffering rather than pretending to trust when we are actually angry, confused, or hurt.
Wrestling well with God involves both honesty and humility: we can acknowledge what we don't understand while remaining curious about what we cannot yet see.
Patience matters in spiritual wrestling. We may need to keep coming back to God, waiting for His answer rather than walking away after one prayer.
Psalm 25:3 and the Psalms more broadly can give language and encouragement to those who are learning how to wait on God in the middle of suffering.
Resources Mentioned
Check out these articles written by Kelly through seasons of miscarriage:
How to Handle the Grief of Miscarriage 
No Good Thing Does He Withhold: Having Faith in Difficult Times Part 1  and Part 2 
When Feelings and Faith Disagree 
Draw Near to God with Your Questions 
Miscarriage is a Peculiar Kind of Grief 
Scripture Referenced
Psalm 13:1
Psalm 25:3
Job
Join our team! patreon.com/jimmykellyneedham 
Produced by Sound of a Rose — https://soundofarose.com

What does it look like to faithfully engage with Halloween as a Christian? We talk honestly about the different ways families can approach October 31st, from intentional abstention to using the cultural moment as an opportunity for gospel ministry. Kelly Needham and Phylicia Masonheimer share how their families have landed in different places based on their communities, convictions, and the spiritual context around them. We explore Christian freedom, discernment, discipleship, evangelism, cultural engagement, and the importance of stewarding what God has entrusted to us. Whether Halloween is a major event in your neighborhood or something you’ve never thought much about, we hope this conversation helps us prayerfully consider what faithfulness, humility, and intentionality can look like in our own communities.
What We Learned
Halloween’s name comes from “All Hallows’ Eve,” the evening before All Saints Day on November 1.
Phylicia and her husband chose to abstain from Halloween beyond handing out candy when they lived downtown, partly because of the strong Wiccan and witchcraft presence in their community.
Their family now hosts an All Saints celebration where guests dress as people from church history, share food, sing hymns, and participate in church history trivia.
Kelly and Jimmy chose to “redeem Halloween” after learning that their home had a reputation as the haunted house of Sleepy Hollow, turning it into a place known for generosity, prayer, and gospel conversations.
The conversation identifies three approaches Christians might take: redemption, abstention, or passive participation—and emphasizes the importance of being intentional rather than simply going along with cultural habits.
Christian freedom should be stewarded for the good of others, including believers who may have different convictions or backgrounds.
Romans 14 is highlighted as a helpful passage for thinking through convictional differences without judging other believers.
We are encouraged to assess what we currently do, look carefully at the community God has placed us in, pray, and ask how we can intentionally use what God has entrusted to us for the sake of the gospel.
Recommended Resources
Phylicia's Halloween resources
Needham's halloween resources

Want more Halloween content?
Ghosts ARE real

Phylicia Masonheimer’s Ministry: 
Every Woman a Theologian
Verity Podcast
Scripture Referenced
Romans 6:23
Romans 14
Colossians 2:8
Hebrews 5:12–14
Acts 17:26-27
Join our team! patreon.com/jimmykellyneedham 
Produced by Sound of a Rose — https://soundofarose.com