I am not ashamed of the Gospel. What about you? ~Phil Robertson
Sept. 29, 2026

Ep 1430 | Can You Pray the Sinner’s Prayer and Still Not Be Saved?

Former country singer Granger Smith opens up about hitting rock bottom alone on a tour bus after the devastating loss of his 3-year-old son, River, and the moment he finally cried out to God. Granger tells Jase, Al, and Zach why Scripture eventually convinced him to walk away from a successful music career. Jase and Granger agree on why emotion-driven altar calls aren't the same as becoming a disciple of Jesus. Granger also gives a stunning answer when asked whether he would go back and prevent his son’s death if he could, leading to an honest conversation about grief, eternity, and trusting God through unimaginable loss. Granger also discusses his new book, Poison in the Well: 11 Toxic Beliefs That Kept Me From the Living Water of Jesus, which grew out of the beliefs and assumptions he had to confront in his own life.


In this episode: John 14:22-23; Matthew 1; John; Hebrews 4:12; Matthew 16:24-26; Psalm 42:1-2; Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 23:43; Philippians 1:23; Psalm 23:4; Psalm 90:12; Hebrews 2:14-15; 2 Corinthians 7:10


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“Unashamed” Episode 1430 is sponsored by:


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https://open.spotify.com/show/3LY8eJ4ZBZHmsImGoDNK2l


Chapters

00:00 Granger Smith Joins Unashamed

04:00 AI Gets Podcast History SO Wrong

07:00 Why Granger Became a Pastor

13:20 The Loss of Granger’s Son River

17:40 When Granger Hit Rock Bottom

21:10 Granger Trades Devotionals for the Bible

24:10 I Refuse to Lead the Sinner’s Prayer

31:20 Leaving My Music Career Behind

35:45 The Problem With Emotional Altar Calls

42:00 A Kid Asks an Unthinkable Question

48:15 Facing Death Without Fear or Regret

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