Southern Seminary Magazine (Vol 90.1) The Light of Truth: Apologetics in the 21st Century

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y tom schreiner we argue that jesus is the only way, but are we living it out? For scholars, pastors, and engaged Christians, belief that Jesus is the only way changes F the way we live and interact with others. It may be helpful to reflect on a few ways that belief in the exclusivity of Christ affects our lives. First, if Jesus is the only way, we must be courageous. We must not flinch from telling others that Jesus is the only way, even if it means we are rejected by others. Consider the blind man Jesus healed in John 9. He boldly testified to what he knew about Jesus, even though it cost him social standing and acceptance. He forfeited his place in the synagogue, and thus lost the approval of those with power and influence in the community. He was faithful to what he experienced, repeating over and over again that Jesus healed him of blindness. And when Jesus revealed himself as the Son of Man, the man who 36 the southern baptist theological seminary
“A FEW YEARS AGO, EVANGELICALS DISCUSSED AND DEBATED THE EXCLUSIVITY OF CHRIST MORE INTENSELY THAN IN RECENT YEARS, INCITED BY BOOKS, PERSONALITIES, AND CONFERENCES. THAT YEAR, THE EVANGELICAL THEOLOGICAL SOCIETY FOCUSED ITS MEETING ON THAT CRUCIAL TOPIC.” was formerly blind worshiped him. But the Pharisees reviled the man as an ignoramus, criticizing him for trying to teach them and characterizing him as one entirely born in sin. And his parents showed they were cowards, for when they were asked about their son, they said: We know this is our son and that he was born blind.… But we don’t know how he now sees, and we don’t know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he’s of age. He will speak for himself. His parents protested ignorance since they didn’t see first-hand what happened. They gave an answer that would preserve their social standing. They put their finger in the wind and concluded it would be too costly socially to stand up for Jesus. How about you? Do you shrink back from saying what you believe to gain the praise of others? Scholars, do you modify your words and even your convictions to ensure your social standing at academic societies like ETS, IBR, or SBL? I am always struck and convicted when I read why many did not believe in Jesus, according to John 5:43-44. Jesus says: I have come in my Father’s name, yet you don’t accept me. If someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe? While accepting glory from one another, you don’t seek the glory that comes from the only God. The fundamental reason for their disbelief, despite their words, was not intellectual or theological. They lusted for praise from others, and therefore they failed to believe. It is right for us to regularly ask ourselves: Am I captivated by fear of what others think? Am I holding these beliefs to get praise from others whom I respect? Or am I living as if Jesus is the only way, so there is nothing sweeter to me than receiving the glory that comes from God? May God help us to stand firm so that we live to bring honor and praise to him. Arrogance and Truth Many today think we are arrogant if we believe Jesus is the only way. How can we, finite and limited, claim to know the truth? Such a view contradicts what we find in Scripture, i.e., we know the truth because the Holy Spirit has revealed Christ to us. Paul makes this plain in 1 Corinthians 2:6-16. But here I quote the prophetic words of G. K. Chesterton: Modesty has moved from the organ of ambition. Modesty has settled upon the organ of conviction— where it was never meant to be. A man was meant to be doubtful about himself, but undoubting about the truth: this has been exactly reversed. Nowadays the part of a man that a man does assert is exactly the part he ought not to assert—himself. The part he doubts is exactly the part he ought not to doubt—the Divine Reason.… The new skeptic is so humble that he doubts if he can even learn. If we live like Jesus is the only way, we will be courageous. We will testify to the truth in Christ. We will not trim our convictions to please others, but in our teaching, preaching, and writing we will be faithful to our Lord. We will remember the words of Paul to Timothy: “So summer 2022 37
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Southern Seminary Magazine (Vol 90.1) The Light of Truth: Apologetics in the 21st Century

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