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

tim beougher
about where he got his wife?” The student told me he
had heard someone say if a Christian ever talks to you
to ask them that question, since Christians can’t answer
it. While I did answer his question, it was abundantly
clear this student was just playing games. He didn’t have
a serious intellectual objection to Christianity. He understood
following Christ would involve him forsaking
his sin, something he was unwilling to do.
2. An honest expression of doubt and confusion.
Not all persons who raise questions are playing games.
Some ask legitimate questions because they are genuinely
seeking answers. Francis Schaeffer argues, “It is
not more spiritual to believe without asking questions.
It is not more biblical. It is less biblical and eventually
will be less spiritual because the whole man will not
be involved.” Schaeffer goes on to say, “Christianity demands
that we have enough compassion to learn the
questions of our generation.”
We need to remember that faith in Jesus Christ is
not a “leap in the dark” as it is sometimes described
by skeptics. Faith in Jesus Christ is instead a “step into
the light.” We have good reasons for believing what we
believe. When people ask genuine questions, we need
to seek to answer them. Paul Little quotes John Stott as
offering a wonderful balance: “We cannot pander to a
man’s intellectual arrogance, but we must cater to his
intellectual integrity.”
General Principles in Responding to Questions
First, don’t get defensive. Don’t be intimidated. After
2,000 years, no one is going to come up with a question
that will undermine the Christian faith—and it’s not
because people haven’t tried! God’s Word has stood the
test of time. Just because you do not have an answer to a
question does not mean there is no answer.
Second, avoid an argument. Bringing people to faith
in Christ is much more than merely giving an answer
to their questions. You can “win” the debate but “lose”
that person if your demeanor and tone are sarcastic
and argumentative.
Third, answer questions in the right spirit—a spirit of
humility. First Peter 3:15 exhorts us to give answers to
unbelievers “with gentleness and reverence.” One of the
classic definitions of evangelism (from D. T. Niles) says:
“Evangelism is witness. It is one beggar telling another
beggar where to get food.” This definition reminds us of
the importance of humility in our witness.
Fourth, don’t be afraid to respond, “I don’t know the
answer to that question.” We see that even the apostle Paul
could not unravel all mysteries. He testified in 2 Corinthians
12:2 (about whether being caught up in the third
heaven was “in the body” or “out of the body”), “I do
not know, God knows.” In my evangelism classes I have
students practice saying that three-word phrase “I don’t
know,” since many of them have mistakenly thought it is
an admission of failure to utter those words.
Fifth, study to find answers. Not every question has an
easy answer, and some questions cannot be answered with
our limited knowledge. We don’t have full answers to every
question because God hasn’t fully revealed his mind to us
on everything. Deuteronomy 29:29 reminds us, “The secret
things belong to the Lord our God; but the things that are revealed
belong to us …” Not every question has an easy answer
but seek to learn answers to common questions people ask.
Seventh, if possible, present the entire gospel message.
People aren’t converted merely through receiving answers
to their questions, but through hearing and responding
to the gospel message. Paul reminds us in Romans 1:16
that “the gospel is the power of God for salvation.”
Eighth, deal with people as people, not as projects (1
Thess. 2:8). No one wants to feel like they are someone’s
project. Lost people are lost but they are not stupid—
they can sense whether you genuinely care for them
as an individual.
Finally, trust in the work of the Holy Spirit. Remember
your role and God’s role. As Paul testifies in 1 Cor 3:6, “I
planted, Apollos watered, but God gives the growth.”
You don’t need to cringe in fear as you share the gospel.
You can be free from the burden of thinking you
have to have all knowledge and understand all mysteries
to communicate the good news of who Christ is
and what he has done for sinners. You can be free to respond
“I don’t know” to complex questions, even as you
study to find answers.
Tim Beougher is Associate Dean of the Billy Graham
School of Missions, Evangelism and Ministry, and Billy
Graham Professor of Evangelism and Church Growth.
Editors’ note: This article is adapted from Invitation to Evangelism: Sharing the
Gospel with Compassion and Conviction (Kregel, 2021).
—
1
Francis A. Schaeffer, “Form and Freedom in the Church,” in Let the Earth
Hear His Voice, ed. J. D. Douglas (Minneapolis, MN: World Wide Publications,
1975), 368.
2
Ibid., 373.
3
Cited in Paul E. Little, Know Why You Believe (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity
Press, 2009), 25.
42 the southern baptist theological seminary