Truth Talk
Truth Talk is a bold, dialogue-driven podcast where filters die and truth speaks. Hosted by Caleb Cross and Eliana Rivers, each episode strips away religious fluff, hyper-grace distortions, self-help illusions, and New Age counterfeits to uncover the raw, Edenic truth of Scripture.
Through honest back-and-forth conversation, they expose the hidden layers of sin, the scandal of the Cross, and the shocking hope of resurrection life. From the garden of Eden to the torn veil of the temple, every episode connects ancient wisdom to your daily walk with clarity, conviction, and courage.
This isn’t safe religion. It’s not motivational hype. It’s unfiltered gospel: Adam’s curse overturned, Christ’s blood shed, Eden’s gate reopened.
If you’re hungry for answers no one else dares to ask, Truth Talk will take you there.
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Meet the Voices
Caleb Cross — the prophetic voice of Truth Talk. Bold, uncompromising, and always pointing back to Eden’s blueprint and Christ’s cross, Caleb embodies the fiery watchman who calls out distortions, exposes hidden deceptions, and declares raw truth without filters.
Eliana Rivers — the seeker’s voice. Honest, curious, and sometimes hesitant, she asks the questions many listeners carry: “But doesn’t this sound harsh?” or “Isn’t grace supposed to be effortless?” Her role is to bring the human wrestle to the table so the answers land where real people live.
Together — Caleb and Eliana are narrative voices created for Truth Talk. They aren’t individual preachers but conversation partners who embody two sides we all need: conviction and curiosity. Their dynamic makes weighty biblical truth engaging, relatable, and unforgettable.
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A Note on the Voices
Caleb Cross and Eliana Rivers are not literal people but narrative voices created for Truth Talk. They embody the journey every believer faces: conviction and curiosity. Caleb carries the prophetic, truth-declaring weight; Eliana gives space to the honest questions we all wrestle with. Together, they make room for Scripture to speak with both fire and tenderness.
This podcast does not target people but weighs doctrines. We believe most preachers genuinely desire to point people to God. Our purpose is simply to measure every message against Scripture and, where needed, bring correction — so that Eden’s air can breathe through again.
Truth Talk
The Performance Trap: Why "Just Let Go and Let God" Creates Spiritual Paralysis
The million-dollar question that reveals the deepest confusion in modern Christianity: "Do I do anything or does God do everything?" This raw, unfiltered episode tackles the well-intentioned but problematic teaching of "let go and let God" that has quietly paralyzed countless believers.
We explore the biblical paradox found in Philippians 2:12-13 that Christian growth requires both our work and God's work—but in the right order. You work because He's already working in you. This isn't about trying harder; it's about responding to what He's already doing. From the Garden of Eden to Jesus' vine metaphor, Scripture consistently portrays spiritual life as partnership, not passivity.
The critical difference between performance and response transforms everything. Performance says, "If I do this, then God will love me." Response says, "Because God loves me, I can do this." Same action, completely different root. One leads to burden, the other to freedom. Hyper-grace creates a false binary where any effort equals legalism, any discipline equals works-righteousness. But grace doesn't erase effort—it redeems it. Your spiritual disciplines aren't earning love; they're expressing it.
Ready to move beyond spiritual passivity masquerading as humility? Start each day asking what the Spirit is already doing in your heart, then cooperate with that movement. Check your motives before any spiritual action. The truth is liberating: it's not "let go and let God"—it's "tune in and team up." Join us next time as we discover why the fear of the Lord isn't terror that kills partnership but reverence that perfects it.
Subscribe now and share this episode with someone who's been caught in the confusion between effort and grace. Let's reclaim the dynamic partnership God intended!
💡 Hosted by Caleb Cross & Eliana Rivers
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Disclaimer: The content of this podcast addresses theological ideas and teachings often described as “hyper-grace.” We do not target or attack any individual by name. Our goal is to measure doctrine against the Word of God and encourage listeners to walk in truth, holiness, and grace. Any quotes referenced are from publicly available teachings and are examined for the purpose of biblical analysis.
This podcast critiques doctrines commonly called hyper-grace. Our focus is on teachings, not individuals. All views expressed are biblical reflections intended to help listeners weigh every message against Scripture.
Speaker 2:Caleb, last episode really shifted something for me. Not wanting to grieve the one who loves me, but now I'm confused about effort, like I hear teachers say don't try to be holy, just let Jesus be holy through you, or let go and let God. It sounds spiritual. But then I wonder do I do anything or does he do everything?
Speaker 1:That's the million-dollar question, Eliana, and it reveals the deepest confusion in modern Christianity. Here's the truth. The Christian life is neither passive waiting nor frantic striving. It's active cooperation with divine grace. Philippians 2, 12 through 13 captures it perfectly. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Speaker 2:So it's both I work and he works.
Speaker 1:Exactly. But notice the order you work because he's already working in you. It's not try harder, it's respond to what he's already doing. Here's the hidden layer In Eden. Adam didn't let go and let God tend the garden. He actively cultivated what God had planted Partnership, not passivity. The fall didn't happen because Adam tried too hard. It happened because he stopped responding to God's voice and chose another influence.
Speaker 2:But, Caleb, I've tried that cooperation thing and I just end up feeling like I'm performing for God's approval. How do I know if I'm responding to him or just trying to earn his love?
Speaker 1:Here's the test Are you obeying to get his love or because you already have it? Performance says if I do this, then God will love me. Response says because God loves me, I can do this. The motive changes everything. Same action, completely different route.
Speaker 2:So obedience from performance feels heavy, but obedience from love feels natural.
Speaker 1:Yes. And here's the forbidden insight Hyper-grace creates a false binary. It says either you're performing or you're resting, with no middle ground. But that's exactly how Satan neutered the church. He convinced believers that any effort is legalism, any discipline is works, any cooperation with grace is performance. So now we have pews full of people who think spiritual maturity means spiritual inaction. They've been paralyzed by the fear of trying too hard. But listen carefully. Grace doesn't erase effort, it redeems it. Your sweat is no longer slavery, it's sonship.
Speaker 2:So let go and let God sounds humble, but it actually avoids the partnership he wants.
Speaker 1:Precisely A branch doesn't let go and let the vine. It abides, which means it stays connected and drinks the sap and produces fruit. Active abiding, not passive hanging. Jesus said in John 15, 5, I am the vine, you are the branches. Without me, ye can do nothing. Notice he didn't say don't do anything. He said you can't do anything apart from him.
Speaker 2:I think I've been using let God do it as an excuse to be spiritually lazy.
Speaker 1:Many have. Here's the next step Identify his movement first. Start each day asking Spirit what are you already doing in my heart today? Then respond to what you sense Cooperate, don't initiate. When he prompts you towards scripture, prayer, confession or obedience, say yes immediately. That's partnership, not performance. Check your motive Before any spiritual action. Ask am I doing this to earn his love or because I already have it? Let that answer guide you.
Speaker 2:So it's not let go and let God it's tune in and team up.
Speaker 1:Exactly, that's the raw truth. No filters, just freedom. True spirituality isn't passivity, it's responsive partnership with the one who loves you. And in episode 13, we'll discover why. The fear of the Lord isn't terror that kills partnership, it's reverence that perfects it. This is Truth Talk, where filters die and truth speaks.