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

More documents

Recommendations

Info

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
y timothy paul jones Christ’s Appearance to Mary Magdalene after the Resurrection, Alexander Andreyevich Ivanov, 1835 3 key truths for better apologetics 1 Apology; it’s a defense that includes evidence. A few years ago, I was reminded of my initial misunderstanding when I found this comment appended to an online review of one of my books: “It says he’s an ‘apologist’! If Christianity is worth believing, why would he need to write a book apologizing for it?” The band R.E.M. was apparently operating with a similar misunderstanding when they produced a song entitled “The Apologist”: “They call me the apologist.../but now I’m facing up/I wanted to apologize for/everything I was—so I’m sorry.” As it turns out, even though “apology,” “apologetics,” and “apologist” can all be traced back to the same root words, being an apologist has little to do with saying we’re sorry and everything to do with whether the facts confessed in the Christian faith correspond with reality and are internally coherent. Apologetics is the reverent, reasonable, and humble defense—through our words and through our lives—of the hope we have in summer 2022 43
Page 1 and 2: 4 The Changing Face of Apologetics
Page 3 and 4: Summer 2022. Vol. 90, No. 1. Copyri
Page 5 and 6: President’s Message r. albert moh
Page 7 and 8: “How do we speak to a culture tha
Page 9 and 10: . albert mohler, jr. de-Christianiz
Page 11 and 12: Tuesday, June 14, 2022 In the midst
Page 13 and 14: y kyle d. claunch The Expulsion of
Page 15 and 16: kyle d. claunch under the administr
Page 17 and 18: kyle d. claunch in Genesis 1-11 tha
Page 19 and 20: kyle d. claunch reading, the interp
Page 21 and 22: What does apologetic method and str
Page 23 and 24: stephen j. wellum Defining Presuppo
Page 25 and 26: BIBLES • AUTHOR EVENTS • CHRIST
Page 27 and 28: Playing Offense HOW CHRISTIAN NATUR
Page 29 and 30: andrew t. walker theology. Instead,
Page 31 and 32: “If God’s world is one of order
Page 33 and 34: Is it ok to be friends with unbelie
Page 35 and 36: “THE LORD HAS PROMISED TO BUILD H
Page 37 and 38: Master of Arts Biblical Counseling
Page 39 and 40: “A FEW YEARS AGO, EVANGELICALS DI
Page 41 and 42: Discover the explosive power of Jes
Page 43: “SURVEYS SHOW THE GREATEST BARRIE
Page 47 and 48: LOUISVILLE KENTUCKY Equipped Today
Page 49 and 50: THIRTY TO SIXTY SECONDS. That’s h
Page 51 and 52: Wes Fowler talks with church member
Page 53 and 54: The Southern Baptist Theological Se
Page 55 and 56: news & features Southern continues
Page 57 and 58: alumni kitchens, sbts alum, promote
Page 63 and 64: interview In 1997, three conservati
Page 65 and 66: interview investigation and the ant
Page 67 and 68: Master of Divinity Learn to defend

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

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?