Apologetics Can’t Save People
By Jennifer Pinch
Apologetics is the discipline of providing justification for our conclusions. Let us begin with a brutally honest confession. There are some really bad apologetics out there. There are sincere, gospel motivated Christians who fail to recognize basic rules of logical argumentation and are ill-equipped to identify unbiased, evidence-based research. This kind of defense of the faith raises red flags in the minds of seekers and skeptics, and rightfully so. We need to begin by holding our Christian defense to the exact same standard we would require of any other religious apologetic. This transparency is essential to sharing the reasons for the hope that we have with integrity.
What does this have to do with apologetics “saving people”? Paradoxically, both everything and not much. Allow me to explain. Dubious apologetics have the very real potential of becoming a barrier for some to trust Christian truth claims. Careful apologetics can help to resolve questions and provoke doubt in the intellectual and emotional objections to faith. At the very same time, we must always recognize that God is sovereign. He can and does use our failures for His glory. In fact, one of my Christian mentors is a man who was led toward Christianity through a false prophesy. I also know several former Mormons who came to a genuine saving faith in Christ while members of a false church.
!["[Christians] need to master the facts and evidences that support the claims of Christianity and anticipate the tactics of those who oppose us. This kind of preparation is a form of worship." —J. Warner Wallace](http://i2.wp.com/www.faithbeyondbelief.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/j-warner-wallace.jpg)
The reasons for becoming a Christian are complex. It may be that the testimony of a changed life through Christ was utterly undeniable and persuasive. It may be the hearing of God’s testimony about Himself through the reading of Scripture that is recognized as truth and is embraced. For some, God intervenes in a supernatural way to bring people to belief in Christ. There are many reports of these occurrences happening, particularly amongst Muslim people in the Middle East in the last few years. I would also argue that many who claim to be Christians have simply inherited the faith of their parents and when push comes to shove, their faith is extremely fragile. I had the privilege of attending a friend’s baptism just yesterday, who realized this painful truth a few years ago. Her crisis of faith was an intense journey. In her baptismal testimony she explained how apologetics rescued her faith. Her studies and God’s faithfulness provided her with confidence that it is reasonable to believe and there is good evidence for Christianity.
What is important to recognize is that if the depth of our Christianity is only as deep as being impressed by another person’s testimony or a desire for community, and is not also anchored by good reasons to believe, we are at risk of being like those who fell away described in the parable of the sower and the seeds. Jesus describes a sower accidentally scattering seeds along a path (Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23). Some of the seeds were immediately eaten by birds. (The birds might be representative of quick-witted Internet rhetoric against God’s word.) Some of the seeds sprang up immediately but because they were on rocky ground and had no root, they withered away. (These seeds are representative of people who are persuaded to believe on a subjective, emotional appeal alone, and lack intellectual reasons for their faith.) Some seeds were sown amongst thorns and thistles and were choked out eventually. (Proverbs speaks to this when it says, “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm” [Proverbs 13:20 ESV].) Lastly, Jesus tells of the seeds that fall on good soil and produced grain. Not only did those seeds grow into plants, but they multiplied. (They fulfilled the great commission, to go out and make disciples.)
Bart Campolo, son of influential evangelical leader Tony Campolo, is an unfortunate example of a seed sown on rocky ground. In an interview for WORLD News Group, he said, “The truth of the matter is that, for me, all the supernatural dogma, the eternal life, the heaven and hell, Jesus rising from the dead—all the fantastic things that you have to believe to be a Christian—that wasn’t the attraction for me… I wanted to be part of this wonderful community, and so, for me, the dogma was the price of admission, not the attraction.”[1] His faith was only as deep as his emotional and social desires. When he was given reason to think his faith might negatively influence his friendships—as Jesus promised it would—rather than standing firm, his shallow rooted, pragmatic faith was revealed.
When the assertion is made that “apologetics can’t save people,” it reveals a dismissive attitude, often by those who are actually very passionate about sharing the gospel through evangelism. However, if one wants to argue that apologetics can’t save people, it stands to reason that neither can evangelism. Salvation is from the Lord (Jonah 2:9). When sharing the gospel, the disputes over methodology are primarily a matter of Christian unity. We all ought to agree that it is the saving work of the Holy Spirit that brings the lost to repentance and faith. The question of how that saving miracle occurs, is unique to the individual. There are Christian believers who bear witness of the fact that they were convinced primarily by evidence. These include brothers and sisters like C. S. Lewis, Holly Ordway, and J. Warner Wallace. On the other hand, there are many examples of Christians who came to faith by hearing the Word of God preached and simply recognizing the truth being spoken, like Charles Spurgeon and the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 6. At the same time, salvation is a spiritual rebirth, a transformation that goes far beyond what we can reduce to a sequence of events.
Our desire ought to be faithfulness to the task we have been called to as followers of Jesus Christ. We are to set apart Christ as Lord, always be prepared to give a rational defense for the hope we have (1 Peter 3:15), and go out into all the nations making disciples (Matthew 28:19). Evangelism and apologetics are necessarily interconnected. We are the body—one body. Let us not become divided as we seek to boldly share the good news of our risen Saviour!
[1] Warren Cole Smith, “Bart Campolo on Life After Faith,” WORLD, October 17, 2015, accessed October 19, 2015,http://www.worldmag.com/2015/10/bart_campolo_on_life_after_faith.
Two More Things Apologetics Can’t Do
By Jojo Ruba
Last week, I started looking atsome limitations of apologetics, which still show why apologetics is important. I continue my thoughts this week with two more things apologetics “can’t do,” but still shouldn’t stop us from using them anyway.
3. Apologetics isn’t the Bible.
Now, some believers argue that apologetics isn’t the Bible; therefore, we shouldn’t do anything other than share the Bible with others. Again, as apologists, we should admit that we must always share the truths we learn in Scripture. It’s obvious that the Bible shapes the Christian worldview, and apologetics can’t replace Scripture.
However, any missionary will tell you that when you go to a foreign country, you also need to teach the skills to read the Bible along with the Bible, especially if the people you speak to don’t have a written language. You have to teach them everything from learning how to read the Bible in their own language to understanding basic cultural practices in the Bible.
In our culture, there is so much biblical illiteracy that we often have to do the same thing in explaining the Bible to others. One Christian told me she can’t even share her faith with two co-workers because they think she is “homophobic.” If she isn’t equipped to explain the biblical view of sexuality in a way her non-Christian friends can understand, then they would never go to her to explain her views about the Bible. That’s what good apologetics can do.
Now, I understand there are differences in apologetic approaches and our goal at FBB is not to debate them here. But regardless of our approach, it is important to point out that apologetics isn’t the Bible and that we must always share the truth of Scripture. But in doing so, we also have to teach important skills that help others understand Scripture, and apologetics can help them gain those skills.
4. Apologetics can’t replace the Holy Spirit.
One other Christian objection to apologetics is that Christians don’t need to study apologetics because the Holy Spirit will provide the words when we need them.
Unlike the other objections, this idea actually sounds biblical. In Matthew 10:19 (and the parallel passage in Luke 12:8-12), Jesus says, “But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say.”[1]
Now, of course, God can have us speak whatever He wants. In fact, there are several examples in Scripture where this happens. In Luke 1, Elizabeth and the preborn John the Baptist are both filled with the Holy Spirit and Elizabeth declares God’s blessing on Mary and the preborn Messiah (vv. 42-45). In Acts 7, Stephen is filled with the Holy Spirit as He confronts the people about to kill him (vv. 56-60).
But this passage is used against apologetics because some argue that since the Holy Spirit will just put words in our mouths like magic, we don’t need to prepare for any kind of interaction with others. Of course, this would be a good excuse not to read your Bible or even evangelize too. But that would make no sense since Jesus specifically taught the disciples so that they can share their experiences with others.
The passage can’t be used against apologetics in general, because Jesus is talking about a specific time and place when He said the Holy Spirit will give us words. He never says we shouldn’t prepare for conversations with others. He says for us “not to worry” about what to say, “when they hand you over” to authorities to attack your faith. In fact, if you read the entire context, this has verse has nothing to do with preparing for everyday interactions but with special interactions when we are treated unjustly by the authorities. This was the exact situation Peter found himself in Acts 4. Being dragged unjustly in front of the ruling council of priests and elders, the Holy Spirit gave Peter the exact words he needed. Yet even in that situation, Peter never once indicates that it is a waste of time using apologetics! In fact, the Holy Spirit, through Peter, declares that the curing of a disabled man was evidence of Christ’s divinity. He was using a miracle that everyone in the city observed as good reason for others to trust in Jesus!
In Acts 5, Peter and the apostles once again were brought before the council. This time, Peter declared, “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross…And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him” (vv. 30-32). If God intended for the apostles to rely solely on the Holy Spirit to give the apostles “words” to say, why did the apostles have to be “witnesses”? It’s clear even in the exact situation that Jesus talked about in Matthew, that the Holy Spirit doesn’t just give us words but also uses His witnesses’ experiences and training. He lets us experience events and learn things so that we can be useful to Him. Many examples in the Bible (Moses and Aaron in Exodus, Esther in front of her king, Nehemiah asking to bring His people back to Israel, etc.) have God’s people giving reasons to authorities without specific words from the Holy Spirit.
In other words, apologetics can never replace the role of the Holy Spirit. But the Holy Spirit uses apologetics and experiences we have to help convince others to obey God. He doesn’t just give us “magic” words to say at the moment, but many times speaks through our experiences and arguments.
Conclusion
In high school, I learned that there is nothing wrong with admitting that you have limits and as Christian apologists, we should be willing to admit the same. But apologists shouldn’t be embarrassed by these limits. Rather, they should show how these limitations actually show the need for apologetics in many aspects of our Christian life, from relationship building to Bible reading and sharing. It allows us to be effective in living out our faith as God’s representatives on earth.
Next week, we’ll examine the most common argument based on “what apologetics can’t do”: “Apologetics can’t save people”. If you want a hard copy of this series, Faith Beyond Belief will be publishing this series as a booklet that you will be able to order on-line.
[1] Scripture citations are taken from the New American Standard Bible (NASB).
What Apologetics Can’t Do
By Jojo Ruba
When I was in grade 12, I was part of as many student clubs as I could be. I was elected to be on student council, joined the yearbook club, was part of the choir’s musical, and even showed up at a few juggling club meetings. I did all of this while I was taking a full course load. Eventually, the long days and lack of sleep took their toll and the quality of my work suffered. I had to cut back, dropping a few classes and clubs.
When Christians argue against using apologetics, it’s important to accept that apologetics also has limitations. Those of us defending the use of apologetics shouldn’t exaggerate what a reasoned defense of the faith can do. But even by acknowledging what apologetics can’t do, it becomes clear why apologetics is such a necessary part of the Christian life. Here are two of the top things apologetics “can’t do” that actually show why apologetics is essential.
1. Apologetics can’t replace relationships with people.
I was at a huge Christian youth event when I talked to a young woman who was sitting in an information booth for the conference. As I chatted with her, I mentioned the idea of learning good reasons to share our faith. Her response was that she didn’t really spend a lot of time doing that. Instead, she said, she just built relationships with people and that’s how people became Christians.
This popular argument against apologetics is attractive, especially for those of us who don’t like to “argue” or make others feel uncomfortable. And as apologists, we should be willing to agree that apologetics can’t replace relationships. But here’s a question that those who hold this view should be asked: “What do you talk about in those relationships to get people to become Christians?”
If you were to adopt the model this young woman advocates for, you would still have to learn how to explain the faith to someone you are in a relationship with. When the atheist you have befriended begins to ask why you believe in the Christian God or why you trust the Bible, would you simply say, “I don’t know but you should believe in that God because I’m your friend”? How much of a friend would you be with that attitude?
In contrast, no one I’ve heard teaching apologetics has ever come out against relationship building. In fact, in our training, we encourage Christians to learn how to begin a conversation so as to be in relationship with others around us.
The other point to remember is that the Bible never says we have to be in relationship with someone before we share our faith with that person. In fact, there are several examples where the opposite happened. For instance, Jesus tells the rich young ruler to sell everything he has and then follow Him, prompting that man to leave and not have a relationship with Him (Matthew 19). He also tells a mocking thief that he was going to Paradise based on just a few words and no prior relationship (Luke 23). Philip also showed the Ethiopian eunuch who the Messiah was and then promptly disappeared (Acts 8). This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t build relationships when we can, but it does mean relationship-building and apologetics aren’t mutually exclusive. In fact, relationship-building requires apologetics, though apologetics can be used outside of relationship.
2. Apologetics doesn’t appeal to a world that embraces relativism.
I was teaching an apologetics class when Ambrose interrupted the class to argue against what I was teaching on truth. He said that “apologetics” doesn’t work because our culture doesn’t embrace propositional truths.
This argument is popular among those who embrace the emergent church or the teachings of Christian existentialist Søren Kierkegaard (though it is debated whether they properly interpret him). The argument basically goes like this: Our culture has rejected modernity and all the hard claims about “truth” because we recognize that truth is subjective—it is always seen through the subjective understanding of flawed people. Therefore, the only way to reach a postmodern culture is to tell them stories instead of “facts.” People who embrace the Christian faith do so not because it is more rational, but because it meets their subjective “needs.”
Ambrose later wrote a public comment on our Facebook page that even goes further. He says not only is the “modern” view of truth unreliable, it actually contradicts the Christian message. He wrote:
Reason itself has to be sanctified to be of any use. 2 + 2 = 4 has a kind of rightness. But its rightness is defined in a closed system that is part of a fallen order. What becomes of “reason” and “arguments” once they are sanctified? My point is, the modern apologetic obsession with reason and arguments is already too great an acquiescence to the present age and, by association, its ruler. We are called to get a new mind, not one that thinks more skillfully by the world’s own definition. The entire underlying worldview of fbb, from what I have seen, is unbiblical.
Now to be fair, Ambrose is right that human reason is tainted by sin. He is also right that apologetics simply doesn’t appeal to a postmodern mindset—it doesn’t “work” in changing everyone’s minds. As apologists we should be willing to accept that apologetics can’t make someone rational.
However, we already know this because Jesus promised that when we talk to others about Him, they will say all kinds of evil about us (Matthew 5:11). But this fact doesn’t make Jesus conclude that, “Lack of appeal means you shouldn’t share reasons for your beliefs!” Rather, He makes clear that our success or failure has nothing to do with whether the person accepts the arguments. Rather, we are commanded to bring these reasons to people so that the gospel can be understood (1 Peter 3:15). In fact, that’s exactly why Luke said he wrote the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts so that his friend, Theophilus could know the “exact truth” of what he believed (Luke 1: 1-4).
And surprisingly, Ambrose’s own arguments show that he can’t escape the need for reason. When he argues against reason, he does so using arguments he thinks are reasonable! In fact, postmodern Christians who chastise apologists for defending the Christian faith must use their own rules of logic to come to their conclusions! They make an observation (culture rejects truth) and come up with a conclusion that they think will help rectify the problem (Christians should reject modernism’s obsession with truth). Despite its tainted nature, they can’t escape the tool of reason to help them come to their conclusion. Which is why when I asked Ambrose how he came to that conclusion (that is, how did he reason his way to that view?), he never responded.
As Dallas Willard says:
Today, by contrast, we commonly depend upon the emotional pull of stories and images to “move” people. We fail to understand that, in the very nature of the human mind, emotion does not reliably generate belief or faith, if it generates it at all. Not even “seeing” does, unless you know what you are seeing. It is understanding, insight, that generates belief. In vain do we try to change peoples’ heart or character by “moving” them to do things in ways that bypass their understanding.[1]
In my next article, I’ll discuss two more things apologetics can’t do, but which nonetheless underscore its importance.
[1] Dallas Willard, “Jesus the Logician,” Christian Scholar’s Review, 28 no. 4 (Summer 1999): 605-614. http://www.dwillard.org/articles/artview.asp?artID=39.
Apologetics Harms and Offends People
By Gordon Hawkes
Apologetics is a dirty word in some circles. But not without reason.
I once heard someone, with heartfelt fervour, explain why he was opposed to it. “Apologetics does real harm,” he said. “I know people who have been deeply hurt by apologists. Apologetics makes Christians combative and offensive.” I have heard this objection from people I respect and consider to be sincere Christians. As such, we should take this objection seriously.
Many within the church have an aversion to even the word “apologetics” because of the connotations it carries for them. The thought of becoming a Christian “apologist” would be, for them, comparable to the thought of becoming an obnoxious boor, or an aggressive, argumentative know-it-all.
Theological Rambo
The negative caricature of a Christian apologist comes readily to mind. One pictures a theological Rambo, locked and loaded with a string of rhetorical bullets strapped across his chest, ready to blow away any enemy foolish enough to contradict even the most minor doctrine of the Strudelberg Catechism of 1726. He sneak-attacks you with his sharpened blade of truth, cutting you down before you can finish your thought. He fires a bazooka at your smallest doubt, lobs hand grenades at your hidden logical fallacies, and blasts you with his machine gun delivery until your position is so full of holes it collapses in a bloody heap. This warrior of the faith is covered in the blood of his past foes.
For some Christians, this metaphor is not hyperbole.
Sadly, there is some truth to this objection, but I think the objection against apologetics as a whole arises from a misunderstanding. Admittedly, there are some who go by the name of “apologist” who are jerks. They show little or no respect for their opponents, and their attitude implies they have singlehandedly discovered ultimate Truth, and all who oppose them do so merely out of petty spite. But are these people good representatives of Christian apologetics?
No. Most decidedly not. Scripture condemns such behaviour. Over and over in this series, we have pointed to 1 Peter 3:15, one passage among many that provides the grounding and rationale for Christian apologetics: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”[1] But Peter doesn’t stop there. He goes on to say, “But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander” (emphasis added). Any theological Rambo stands condemned by the very book he seeks to defend.
Attractive and Winsome Ambassadors
Scripture is clear as to how we are to conduct ourselves. We should be “quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (James 1:19). Solomon warns us, “To answer before listening—that is folly and shame” (Proverbs 18:13). Jesus tells us that we are to love our neighbours as we love ourselves, and Paul tells us that “love is patient, love is kind . . . it is not proud. It is not rude” (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). How could one follow these words and be offensive?
Once, when a friend posed this objection to me, I responded, “I completely agree that we shouldn’t be seeking to argue. Our goal can’t be to win arguments, or smash people who disagree. But, for me, apologetics is about being ready and able, when the opportunity presents itself, to explain Christianity in terms that people can understand. It’s about being able to remove obstacles that people have in their minds to believing in Christ. It’s about becoming attractive and winsome ambassadors for Christ. The goal isn’t to convert people every conversation; instead, the goal is to put stones in people’s shoes, to plant seeds in their minds, by gently challenging their beliefs—with questions, with polite responses. Apologetics is a tool we can use to help people think clearly about reality.”
“I have no problem with that,” he said. Once he understood apologetics rightly, his opposition disappeared.
Put in the correct light, Christian apologetics—insofar as it is consistent with the teachings of Christ and Scripture—cannot be done in a pompous, superior, attacking, vicious way. Giving an answer “with gentleness and respect” means speaking with sensitivity toward one’s conversation partner, and with an approach that acknowledges and maintains their dignity as a human being made in God’s image. This means we don’t callously disregard people’s feelings, and we never seek to manipulate them into agreeing with us.
We must acknowledge that apologists—just like every follower of Christ—have failed to live up to the standards set in Scripture. The Rambo mentality is clearly an error, and a mistaken view of Christian apologetics.
We Musn’t Be Tricked Into Silence
If I were to stop this article here, however, I fear some readers would fall into an opposite, and equally pernicious, error. I suspect that some might conclude that we ought never to offer arguments against other religions, or challenge the beliefs of our friends, or write pointed letters to the editor; that we have no obligation to defend Christianity either in the public square or in private. Instead, we ought to merely wait meekly to “give an answer” when asked.
Besides, in our culture, opposing people’s religious beliefs is offensive. Many consider it to be downright rude. Doesn’t Paul tell us that we should never be rude? And doesn’t being gentle and sensitive mean that we shouldn’t ruffle people’s feathers?
We must be clear in our own minds that it is not rude or inappropriate to oppose others’ beliefs with arguments, let alone politely disagree. But we must also be clear that our culture thinks it is indeed both rude and inappropriate to claim openly that other religious beliefs are false. How do we reconcile these two things?
First, we must understand why people think it’s rude to claim other religions are false. There is an all-pervasive notion in our culture that every religious view is equally valid. There is no objective reality when it comes to religion. Rather, religion is subjective. In other words, each person decides for herself what is true for her. If you tell someone that Jesus is the only way to God, he will hear you saying something as absurd as, “You are wrong for not liking country music!” Who are you to tell him what music he should or shouldn’t like?
As a result, to oppose a person’s religious beliefs is to oppose the person himself. Any attack on someone’s religious beliefs is like an attack on his taste in music. It’s an attack on something very personal to him. No wonder people think it’s both rude and inappropriate.
Notice, though, that this sensitivity is only the case for religious (and moral) beliefs. I suspect no math teacher has ever presented the Pythagorean theorem and had the response, “Who are you to judge?” And presumably, you’ve never heard someone say, “Well, everyone has a right to his or her own scientific beliefs!” (Not to mention: “Oh, that’s just science!” or “Give me one non-scientific reason why I should agree!”)
Now, it is absolutely essential that we understand the contradiction inherent in this broad notion, known as religious pluralism. When someone condemns Christians for claiming that other religious views are wrong, what is that person doing? That person is claiming that the Christian religious view is wrong, the very thing he is condemning Christians for doing! Our culture will shame us for being “exclusive,” “intolerant,” and “narrow-minded,” but we need to recognize such shaming for what it is: a bald attempt to get us to convert to their religious view, namely, religious pluralism. Either Christianity is true and pluralism is false, or vice versa. We can have it both ways. So we should never be tricked into silence by this shame game.
In other words, we don’t need to be ashamed for trying to convert people with respectful and polite arguments. The culture is trying to convert us with shame and insults. Which method of engaging people do you think is more respectful, more honest? Shaming and insulting people as if they were a puppy who’s peed on the carpet? Or offering them arguments and reasons as if they were a dignified adult?
There is No Way Around Giving Offense
Every age has its characteristic vices, and, to paraphrase a great writer, the fashionable outcry is always aimed against those vices of which it is in the least danger. In making this objection, our rush to condemn theological Rambos and bellicose blowhards reveals something about us. Think for a moment: Are you in any danger of being too bold in sharing your beliefs with others? Are you too zealous in your efforts to fulfil the Great Commission? Are you too bold, too loud, too rancorous in your opposition of lies and bad arguments against Christianity? I suspect, if you are like me, you shrink at the first sign of opposition. Cowardice, not fanaticism, is most likely your vice. (If you read the previous words and think, “Not me!”—be careful that you are not the obnoxious blowhard already discussed.)
In order to be faithful to Christ, who charged us to “make disciples” of all nations, we cannot avoid sharing the gospel. And we need to remember one simple truth: the gospel is offensive. The gospel says that we are all evil, twisted, corrupt, God-haters. This is the bad news, and it is offensive. (Have you told your mom that she’s a twisted, evil, God-hater anytime lately?) But without the offensive bad news, there’s no good news. If there’s no sin, what did Jesus save us from?
I like to think of apologetics as a means of minimizing the offence we give in sharing the gospel. The better we learn to graciously explain the truth about reality, in a winsome, attractive manner, the less needless offence we will give. By offering reasons for what we believe, we express respect for the intelligence of others. As one apologist puts it, “The gospel is offensive enough. Don’t add any more offence to it.” So, study apologetics to minimize offence in sharing the gospel!
Apologetics is a tool, and tools can be misused. I’m reminded of the childhood board game, Clue. In the game, regular household items are potential murder weapons. (“Colonel Mustard . . . in the library . . . with the wrench!”) Poor Mr. Boddy, the victim, is brutalized by something meant for a good purpose. We should remember, then, that apologetics is a tool—a powerful tool—that must be used properly. We don’t need any more Mr. Boddys being clobbered by would-be-apologists. (“Mrs. White . . . in the church foyer . . . with the Cosmological Argument!”) But we also need to be aware of those who will cry “Murder!” in order to shame us, in the hope that we’ll play dead. The balance we must strike is expressed perfectly by Jesus in His instructions to His disciples: “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16).
[1] Scripture citations are taken from the New International Version (NIV).
Giving Reasons to Believe: Why Studying Apologetics Is an Act of Love
By Nathan Lau
Peter said always be prepared to give an apologetic, for the hope that is within you, and do that with gentleness and respect [1 Peter 3:15]. Apologetics has a broad sweep of two central concepts, giving an answer and giving an explanation. It clarifies truth claims. It does not make your answers confusing and difficult. You have to come to the level of the questioner, because more than answering a question, you are always answering a questioner. Somebody is behind that question, and if you answer the question without answering the questioner, you may come through as being very knowledgeable, but you’ve really not been persuasive to the one who is looking for the answer.
—Ravi Zacharias[1]
The power of the gospel is that it is true. Historically true. Objectively true. Ultimately true. The gospel (what Jesus taught and did) is not true because we want it to be, but is true because it lines up with reality. There should be no surprise that great amounts of evidence, solid arguments, good reasons, and excellent explanations are available to anyone who looks, to justify the hope in Jesus within us. Not thinking that this matters or that it can make a dramatic difference to people inside or outside the church represents a failure in recognizing human nature and how we are designed by God.
God made us to care about the truth. Interwoven throughout Scripture is the principle that seeking the truth is virtuous, good, and ultimately leads to faith in Jesus. God did not make us to be an uncritical, superstitious bunch of fools. He does not look favorably on magicians and mystics or those who fall for their schemes.
Now, some people will take John 20:29 as an example from Jesus that we should believe without needing to see, but there is a very different context here: “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”[2] When Thomas doubted, he already had every reason and evidence to trust in Jesus. He should not have needed to feel the wounds of Jesus to trust him, and neither should we. Thomas was scared, depressed, and disappointed, which in part explains why he could not clearly see the truth of what was right in front of him. As C. S. Lewis wrote inMere Christianity:
It is not reason that is taking away my faith: on the contrary, my faith is based on reason. It is my imagination and emotions [that causes me to lack faith]. The battle is between faith and reason on one side and emotion and imagination on the other.[3]
Questions and doubts are natural and expected, and both Jesus and God are more than capable of responding to them. The issue comes after God has proven himself to be trustworthy, but due to changing moods or fanciful imagination we stop trusting God against good reason. Good reasons, answers. and explanations are also part of how we defend ourselves against the warnings of 2 Peter 2:1-3:
But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
Put another way, we use good teaching to combat false teaching. We expose heresies through explanation and giving evidence. We defend the truth with all these things while being guided by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:12-13). The hearts and minds that God gave us yearn to grasp and understand the truth in all areas. Who of us, except for sinful and corrupt reasons, would actually prefer a lie over the truth?
The ability to reason, answer questions, and explain are all gifts from God. Curiosity and the desire for evidence and explanation are not inherently evil. In fact, they can be a virtuous thing. People’s desire for evidence and explanation may actually be the Holy Spirit awakening a love for the truth in them. Not every skeptic or doubter is necessarily a hater of the truth.
I hope so far you are in agreement that the truth matters, and that humans were made to care about what the truth is. I want to spend some time talking about whether living out 1 Peter 3:15 really works. When Christians are prepared to give good answers and explanations that the questioner can understand, does it work? Put another way, does apologetics help to lead people to a vibrant, strong faith that bears fruit in Heaven? I say yes. The best evidence for me on a personal level, are the changes that studying apologetics have brought into my own heart, mind, and life. I have never been more passionate or amazed by the love of God and what Jesus did on the cross. Another important evidence is the impact that apologetics has had on God-loving people throughout history: C. S. Lewis, Joy Davidman, G. K. Chesterton, Ravi Zacharias, William Lane Craig, Greg Koukl, John Lennox, Josh McDowell, and on and on. These dramatically changed lives for Jesus and their stories bear great witness to the power and importance of God-led apologetics. A comparison could be made to whether prayer or reading the Bible is effective. The best evidence is the changed lives. Why would we accept good evidence in one category, but not in another?
The body of Christ, the church, has many varieties of differing passion. But all of us, out of respect and love for the other parts, ought to be careful not to be dismissive or unappreciative of the parts of the body we are not as naturally passionate about. In addition, all of us should be willing and prepared to be trained up and to serve in the other areas as it best serves God’s purposes. I am not a musician, but if I can serve God at a camp by slapping some spoons together to a rhythm, I will do my best! For those who have not yet learned the valuable role of apologetics in their Christian life, I wonder if it is for the same reason that some have found little value in reading the Old Testament. Perhaps in both cases no one has gently and respectfully offered good answers as to why the time should be invested in it. Or perhaps a convincing explanation has not been given. If apologetics at its most basic is giving good answers and explanations about Christian beliefs and values, it can hardly be avoided by any Christian wanting to help bring others to trusting faith in Christ.
What should be the motivation behind everything a Christian does (including studying apologetics)? Love, of course! Love for God first, and love for others next (Matthew 22:37-40). God has used a desire to study apologetics to change me. I love people more than I ever have before, and I want them to know what God did for them on the cross. There are so many lost and broken people in this world looking for answers to the questions weighing them down. There are many educated, intelligent, loving, and kind atheists, silently desperate for a good explanation for the joy and hope they see in Christians. We must not forget the poor, the hungry, the widows and the orphans. But who has God put into your life to influence? If the poor, out of love give resources. If the hungry, out of love give food. If the skeptics, agnostics, atheists, or doubters, out of love give reasonable answers and good explanations that they can understand. In this way, studying apologetics can be a great act of love.
Nathan Lau lives in Calgary, AB with his wife Joyce. He has been a registered nurse for 10 years, and is currently working as a instructor at a college in Calgary. He has been involved in various church ministries since he was a teen, and currently serves as a Bible study leader. Seven years ago, he stumbled upon C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity and Jesus Among Other Gods by Ravi Zacharias. God used those two books to spark a fire that would lead him for the first time in his life, to truly believing with all his heart, soul, strength, and mind (Luke 10:27), that belief and trust in God and Jesus is the most reasonable position a human being can take.
[1] Ravi Zacharias, “A Fish Out of Water, Part 1 of 2,” podcast, Let My People Thnk, August 29, 2015, accessed September 16, 2015, http://rzim.org/let-my-people-think-broadcasts/a-fish-out-of-water-part-1-of-2.
[2] Scripture citations are taken from the New International Version (NIV).
[3] C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (New York: HarperCollins, 2001), 139.
How Not to Be a Good Ambassador
By Gordon Hawkes
There’s an old writer’s dictum: “Write what you know.” When it comes to representing Christianity—or, as Paul says, being “an ambassador for Christ”—what do I know best?
Well, through many conversations on topics ranging from whether there is a such a thing as truth to whether all religions are basically the same, and based on countless mistakes and missteps, I have learned how not to be a good ambassador for Christ. In what follows, I will explain to you how not to talk with others about your Christian convictions.[1]
Here is how not to be a good ambassador:
1. Don’t listen.
It really is tiresome having to listen to someone else express their false opinions when you have the truth. Avoid the time-wasting habit of listening to others’ views. Instead, wait, ready to pounce whenever they let you get a word in edgewise. Ignore what they’ve said, since remembering would require effort—not to mention showing that you care about them more than the sound of your own voice.
Also, interrupt. This reduces the wait time between your own speeches. Picture yourself as a politician in a televised debate. The more air time you get, the better. Respectful back-and-forth dialogue is for people interested in building healthy relationships and who desire ongoing conversations—it’s not for someone as fascinating as you. That nagging voice in the back of your head that tells you, “Oh! But I’ve got something really good to say!” should always be obeyed in favour of allowing others to finish.
Ultimately, the best way to not have to listen at all is to prevent your interlocutor from ever speaking. Talk over them. You are a steam roller; they are lumpy ground. Flatten them out. Think monologue, not discussion.
James’ advice that you should be “quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry” (James 1:19)[2] is just that—advice. In this case, it’s best not to listen to him either.
2. Don’t let the topic drop . . . ever.
Some people might think that a pleasant conversation has a certain intangible flow to it, being carried along from topic to topic by the input of everyone involved, like a sailboat being blown along by a soft breeze. Dispel this thought.
When talking about God, religion, or ethics, you must never let the conversation change direction. Firmly anchor your conversation to one topic and never let it drift. Signs of success include glazed-over eyes, restless shifting about, yawning, and acute discomfort in your audience. Make them think they’ll never escape. You want them to wish they’d never brought up the subject and never began talking with you.
Ideally, you will chase them out the door still monologuing in their general direction. Since they’ll be unlikely to desire conversation with you again, you must take advantage of every second you have to talk at them.
Letting a conversation die a natural death is for weaker mortals. Display your hardiness of mind through your bulldog grip on the topic of choice.
3. Never admit ignorance
There are certain phrases that should never exit your lips, such as: “I don’t know the answer to your question. Could I get back to you on that?” or “That’s a really good point. I’ll have to think about it for a while.”
Get in the habit of raising the volume of your voice in inverse proportion to how much you know. The less you know, the louder you should talk. If you find yourself talking about something you know nothing about, keep talking. Perhaps you’ll say something intelligent eventually.
Solomon says, “Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them” (Proverbs 26:12). The correct interpretation is clear: you cannot let others think they are wise. Use bluster to overwhelm them into recognizing how little they actually know compared to you.
4. Always challenge those who oppose your convictions.
Did someone just contradict a belief you hold dearly? Do they sound hostile, belligerent, angry, unreasonable, and unreceptive to correction? Better yet, are they a stranger having a conversation with someone else you don’t know?
Pounce on them! Don’t let their error go uncorrected. Sure, Jesus said, “Don’t throw pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces” (Matthew 7:6). But he probably didn’t mean you should let Mr. High-and-Mighty get away with such crimes against logic. Bludgeon the swine with the truth.
In the likely case that you get torn to pieces, at least you can feel self-righteous for having fought the good fight. You’ll be a martyr for the noble cause of always being right.
5. Never challenge those who oppose your convictions.
Be passive.
If you stand up for your Christian convictions, no matter how polite, respectful, or gentle you are—even if it is a case where you are being pressed by others to share your view—people might call you nasty names.
Never mind that there are gentle, respectful ways to challenge opposition, such as asking questions. For example, if during conversation someone told you that all religions are pretty much the same, you could ask, “What do you mean by that?” Once they’ve explained (assuming they have actually thought it through before, which is unlikely), you might ask the follow up question, “How did you come to that conclusion?” Suddenly, you might have a pleasant, respectful conversation on your hands. Asking questions, however, would require showing interest in other people and listening (see #1), and admitting that you don’t know everything (see #3).
Jesus said, “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven” (Matthew 10:32-33). Ignore this. He probably didn’t realize how much courage that requires in our culture. Instead, recognize that a doormat never has to stand up for itself. Lying flat in the face of opposition is much more comfortable than opening yourself up to being willfully misunderstood or insulted. He also said, “Be shrewd as serpents and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16). Just focus on the harmless part.
6. Be rude.
This just goes without saying. It’s a terrific way to solidify all the negative stereotypes your peers have of Christians as judgmental, arrogant, hateful religious nuts.[3]
7. Be technical.
Avoid language that regular human beings can understand. Jargon and discombobulating balderdash is always preferable to making your point simply and directly.
Footnote your comments whenever possible with the title of the obscure theological or scientific text you got your point from. For example: “As Augustine, the late 4th, early 5th century theologian, wrote in De Trinitate, I think it was the Henry Chadwick edition . . . maybe chapter 2 . . . “
Be sure to keep point #2 in mind when they try to change the subject.
8. Never do any research.
Why bother being informed of the good reasons we have to believe that Christianity is the correct view of reality? Besides, taking the time and effort to be informed makes #1 through #6 much harder to put into practice, especially when you no longer need to be defensive or feel threatened by the challenges you’ll inevitably face.
Solomon says, “The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly” (Proverbs 26:16). Solomon is saying that, if we want to be wiser than seven men, we should be like the sluggard, which means avoiding anything that requires hard work . . . like studying.
9. Bring up spiritual topics at inopportune times.
Are you at a funeral? Is it 2am on a long-haul Greyhound bus trip? Are you seated on a flight next to someone trying to get some shuteye? All of these are appropriate times to talk loudly (at a volume that maximizes the number of people who can hear you) about reasons for why Christianity is true, and how you can’t understand why anyone could possibly disagree.
Also, addressing spiritual topics as they come up naturally in conversation requires too much patience. What if people simply aren’t interested in what you want to tell them? What if they’re not ready to have the conversation you want to have? Bypass their reticence and shoehorn your hobby-horse into the present conversation. If no conversation existed, monologue. (See #1 and #6.)
10. Remember, it’s all about you.
Most of the points covered so far can be summarized in this last one: it’s all about you.
When talking with others, it’s about you, not them. It’s about you sharing your ideas. It’s not about being “prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have,” and doing this “with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15). It’s about you and your ego.
Think of yourself like a doctor who has a powerful medicine that can save the lives of all who receive it. In your imagination, place all the emphasis on the fact that you have the medicine. You have the medicine. You. You!
Disregard that you live in a culture where most people are suspicious and distrustful of doctors like you, and that you’ve done nothing to alleviate their suspicion and distrust, like showing simple hospitality (Romans 12:13). Never mind that most people would laugh to hear that there is a problem for which they need the medicine you offer, and yet that most people are desperate for the medicine but don’t know it. These problems, if you faced them, would force you to think about how best to share the medicine with others. Never mind. Focus on the fact that you have the medicine! You!
Jesus may have laid down his life for you, but that was Jesus. You don’t need to lay your life down in any way for those around you—even if that is in as small a way as listening to others, doing some research, and faithfully representing your Christian convictions with gentleness and respect.
[1] Just in case anyone reading this missed that, and to protect myself from potential lawsuits, the following instructions are things you should not do. They are mistakes to be avoided.
[2] Scripture quotations are taken from the New International Version (NIV).
[3] We know Paul wrote, “Love is never rude” (1 Cor. 13:5). But, I mean, c’mon. Love never had to put up with this person who just won’t agree with you, or see things your way!
The 4 C’s: A Christian Approach to Homosexuality
By Nic Bertsch
The tide of the culture has changed, and there is no denying it. There was a time, not too long ago, when the topic of homosexuality was hardly on anyone’s mind, especially within the church. But today, the ground has shifted so much that it seems like the only time the church is even newsworthy is when this topic is up for debate. Things have changed so fast, and so aggressively, that many Christians have been left with no idea how to even approach the issue, for fear of being labelled a bigot or a homophobe. The reality is, however, that the church has been dealing with the issue of homosexuality for the last two thousand years. In this post I want to lay out some of the necessary tools for approaching this issue from a Christian perspective. I have named it the 4 C’s approach (patent pending).
The first C is Courage. The fact that the issue has become so politically charged means that it requires courage for anyone to involve themselves in the issue if they refuse to adopt the politically-correct view. In many cases, you will be called a bigot or a homophobe, regardless of your motivation or tone, simply for saying that homosexuality is not what God—or evolution for that matter—intended for humanity. Jesus predicted this for those who stood with Him, and we should not be surprised or deterred by it. Courage is also so vital, because that is what our friends, co-workers and family members who identify as LGBT need. They need someone who will have the courage to love them unconditionally, in the true sense of the word. There are enough people in the culture who are going to celebrate their chosen lifestyle, and push them even further into it. To truly love someone requires having the courage to tell them the truth. It means telling them what they need to hear, not what they want to hear, but loving them as a human and not a project.
![By Enver Rahmanov (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](http://i1.wp.com/www.faithbeyondbelief.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Compassionate_hands.jpg)
Second, Compassion. While traditionally holding a strong stance against homosexuality in the past, the church has many times had zero compassion. It has, in many ways, failed to reach out to the LGBT community, and has damaged many people in the process. Every single human being, regardless of size, ethnicity, capability, identity, or attraction, is created in the image of God. The intrinsic value of human beings is part of what makes the Christian worldview what it is—the best explanation for reality. However, it has been rare, especially in the past, for the church to act like they really believe that. There have been many that have looked down their noses at the LGBT community, self-righteously condemning the entire group without the slightest hint of compassion for the truly horrible struggles each person must have gone through.
There are sadly many members of the LGBT community that are former Christians, utterly rejected by their communities simply because of attractions that they did not choose. We as the body of Christ are called to be better than this, to love better than this. We must be more intentional about creating an environment where people can talk openly about their struggles, without fear of condemnation, and where loving fellowship and accountability are readily available for all who seek to deny themselves and follow Christ—whatever their struggles may be.
Third, Consistency. We as Christians, while affirming the Bible’s clear teaching on the sinfulness of homosexual behaviour, need to be equally consistent in condemning everything else the Bible calls sin as well. Pornography addiction is a massive problem in the church, even though few Christians are willing to speak out against it, admit to their struggles with it, or be held as accountable for it as I am sure we would demand of someone struggling with same-sex attraction. Divorce rates in some churches are virtually the same as amongst non-Christians. Sex before marriage, cohabitation, immodesty, and lust are rampant within Christian circles, and the Bible condemns all of these behaviours. Christians are called to crucify all aspects of the depravity and brokenness that we struggle with, and we need to be as forgiving and patient with those who are battling with unwanted same-sex attraction as we are with everyone else. Homosexual behaviour is not the worst sin, but rather one of many.
Another area where the church has not been consistent is in promoting the value of singleness as much as marriage. There are many within the church, both heterosexual and homosexual, who have chosen, or been forced by circumstance, to remain single. While we preach continually on the virtues of marriage, those who are single are often left behind, convinced more and more that they are missing something or are less than what they should be. It is this dynamic, along with the radical individualism in our culture, that has made the idea of celibacy for same-sex attracted individuals a non-option in their minds. In reality, Christ has the ability to fulfil the needs and desires of all who seek Him, and those who are single can be much more fruitful in their service to Him than most married couples often can.
Fourth, non-Compromise. Jesus demands something from every single person that wishes to follow Him: total devotion.
And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me . . .” (Luke 9:23 NASB, emphasis added).
Self-denial is expected of anyone who wishes to follow Jesus, gay or straight. There is no reason to adopt the pro-gay theology being pushed on the church. The Bible is clear, and it always has been. For thousands of years, it had been understood that openly and unrepentantly practising homosexuality, like many other things, was unacceptable for professing Christians. The Bible gives no exceptions, and there have been no new textual, historical, archeological or any other kind of discoveries that should change that. We must not compromise on this issue, even if we are hated for it at the moment—and let’s face it, we are. We must not begin to call good what God calls sin. As the culture continues to promote sexual anarchy in so many different ways, the body of Christ will end up being the place of refuge for those who have tried to redefine reality and been damaged in the attempt. We are called to be counter-cultural, and to be persecuted for fidelity to Christ is to be expected. He is worth it.
When we approach this issue with the attitude of Jesus, full of grace and truth, we can have a lasting and meaningful impact on the lives of those who identify as LGBT in our midst. We must have the courage to reach out, the compassion to unconditionally love, the consistency to demand of ourselves what we demand of others, and the fortitude to not compromise in the face of cultural pressure. We must not try to convince anyone that heterosexual attraction is necessary to follow Jesus. God requires holiness, not heterosexuality. Changing people is God’s job, not ours. Our job is to be ambassadors for Christ, and show those in every walk of life that He is worth whatever sacrifice they have to make.
Nick Bertsch is a 31 year old husband and father of two from Calgary, Alberta. He is an electrician by trade, but has been an avid student of Christian apologetics for many years. He is in the process of obtaining a Certificate of Apologetics from Biola University, and runs a blog site called Defending Truth Apologetics which can be found at defendingtruth.ca
You, Me, and the LGBT
By Jeff White
You would be hard-pressed to find anyone who isn’t accepting of homosexuality in this day and age. The awareness of homosexuality is something that has been on the rise since the early 20th century and has boomed in the last 20 years. It’s such a societal norm, it seems, that anyone who speaks out against it, be it with good intentions or not, seems to be immediately labelled a “redneck,” “bigot,” or “homophobe.” This isn’t to say that the LGBTQ community doesn’t still face hardships, but are Christians one of those hardships? Should they be?
The Bible is explicit about homosexuality (for example, Lev. 18:22; Lev. 20:13; 1 Cor. 6:9; Rom. 1:26-28; 1 Tim. 1:10) and there’s no doubt that the act is a sin and that we live in a world full of sin, be it homosexuality or anything else. The issue is intrinsically emotional, largely because many people in the LGBTQ community associate it with who they are; it becomes their identity. When you address the issue, you in turn are attacking them as a person, or at least that is how it is perceived. How should Christians respond, then? I’d like to focus the rest of this article on discussing just that.
I wasn’t raised in a Christian home. It was a home where we were taught that simply being a good person was enough. I embraced this ideology and in turn rejected others, like Christianity, because it seemed to me that organized religion brought out the worst in people. Later on I discovered that a close relative was gay, and while at first, admittedly, it was strange, I got used to it and embraced it. Years later, after going through some struggles of my own and after years of rejecting Him, I finally found Christ. It was amazing; I had felt a wholeness I had never felt before and knew I was in the right place. I started reading the Bible every day, and then—bam! It hit me. I started reading these verses which deal with homosexuality, relating it to my relative, and it broke my heart. I was lost and confused and unsure how to proceed with the issue. I decided the best course of action was to pray about it and give it some time. I was blessed that over time a biblical response started to develop.
The first piece that started coming into place was that we are all children of God, His creation, and He loves us all (John 3:16). This should be our identity and the identity we encourage others to have. When we put our identity in Christ instead of what we do, who we know, or what we own, it changes our whole being and how we relate to the world. It’s important to remember that Jesus died for everyone’s sins, not just yours, mine, or some sins but not others. One thing I’ve noticed among some Christian groups is what I will call “Sin Aristocracy.” We need to watch and make sure we aren’t glorifying or putting some sin above others. God hates all sin, and because of His perfect holiness, the sinner as well (Psalm 5:5; Psalm 11:5; Lev. 20:23; Prov. 6:16-19). We need to look deep inside of ourselves and see our own depravity and need for Christ (Matt. 7:1-5) before we can help others with theirs in a truly gracious way.
![By Nndd (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](http://i1.wp.com/www.faithbeyondbelief.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Anti-LGBT_Protest_at_Ottawa_Parade.jpg)
The second is lifestyle evangelism. We need to strive to emulate Jesus 24/7 and not just for a few hours on Sunday or during certain events. When we emulate Christ we also emulate that special attractiveness that He had. Our goal should always be to bring others the love that Christ has for us, and ultimately an eternity with Him in heaven, and we cannot do that on our own (1 John 4:19). This is important because as Jesus so rightly pointed out in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 7:15-20), a tree will be known by its fruits. If the majority of Christians propagate an untrue, unsavoury idea of what Christianity is, it will have a negative effect and turn others away from Christ and gain all Christians the title of hypocrites and bigots. It is also important because our actions teach others what Christianity is and it is my belief that when people truly know Christ and not just some secularized version of Him, they will hunger for His presence in their lives as well.
Thirdly, and what I think is the most important part, prayer, patience, and trust. It’s important to remember that we can only control our own actions and thoughts. Any attempt to control others or change their hearts will almost always blow up in our faces. We need to continue to love each person, regardless of their sin, for who they are, creations of our Heavenly Father and His children. Love doesn’t mean accepting the sin, though, but it certainly means accepting the person. It is important to pray for those around us that they can and will be delivered from their sin, but it’s also important to include ourselves in that prayer, that we might be like Christ and be the salt and light of this world (Matt. 5:13-16). Finally we must trust in God and have patience that our prayers will be answered and the lives of those around us will be changed to glorify and please God, in His time, not ours (Matt. 6:25-34).
This was not meant as a bash on Christians, but rather a reminder of what we need to do in order to treat our LGBTQ brothers and sisters with grace and respect. After all, we can only control what we do. This also isn’t to say that Christians are the only ones to blame; there are certainly other religions, and the LGBTQ community itself, who are also at fault. There are always two sides to a story. Equality is never equal; it’s a condition that plagues us all. We all want just a little more than someone else, to be treated extra specially, and it’s not until then that we see ourselves as equal to the other. We need to go beyond that plague and follow Christ, humble ourselves, and serve others. I truly believe that this formula is the key to treating our LGBTQ brothers and sisters with godly love and respect.
In closing, pray steadily, always emulate Christ, and trust in our Heavenly Father.
How Not to be Corny or Boring When Discussing Apologetics
by McKenzie Hahn
“You perform the way you practice.”
Ever witnessed someone doing something they’re passionate about – a hobby, a career, a sport, a pet cause, a caring act of service – and been completely enthralled not just bywhat they’re doing but by how they’re doing it?
On the other hand, have you ever witnessed someone who had all the passion and gusto for a certain subject but seemed clueless as to how they were coming across to the people around them? (Arrogant, tunnel-visioned, insensitive, boring?)
In high school I played several instruments in marching, jazz, and concert band and our conductor repeated a frequent mantra in our ears: we perform the way we practice, and vice versa. Our band room sat across the hall from the stage, where we squeezed in as much practice as possible to get used to the acoustics, the smells, the temperature, and the environment before “it counted,” before concert season began. Little things like stage lights, uniforms, and risers gradually found their way into our rehearsal routine when it became clear that we could play our pieces backwards and forwards in our sleep and still maintain our sound quality and tempo as a team.
Such is the way of the church, or should be. Gone are the days when it was enough to put on your Sunday best, sing some songs to Jesus, and visit the neighbours with casseroles once a week. In the downtown cores of Canadian cities, as in that dimly-lit auditorium of my youth, all judging eyes are on us, and the world is waiting to hear what we have to say: a truth that changes lives and redeems people, or so we thought, right? Of course, there’s a good chance that if you’re reading this, you’re already convinced that something needs to happen. But how do you talk to someone and fulfill the Great Commission when it seems that opportunities for such conversations have all but dried up?
Here are a few simple ideas to get you started, assuming you’re already reading and studying your Bible, involved in a small group, and praying for your city regularly:
1.) Practice Hospitality
After seven years of attending and observing various outreach-focused events and programs put on by churches (yes, even the ones waving the “authenticity!” banner), meant to encourage non-Christians to come to faith in Christ, I’ve found that the deepest conversations about God and truth often happen either over a series of several good meals, when both parties have the chance to think without needing to watch the clock. Of course connections can happen at these events, but depending on how traumatic or damaging someone’s story is, it generally feels less contrived when it happens on their own terms.
I realize this comes from someone who invests a lot of time in Christian conferences and courses, however, we as the church still must do the heavy lifting before anyone we know actually comes to them! And mind your manners: learn to ask how people like their coffee or tea, and to pour it without spilling it in their lap. Pick up their plate when they’re finished, or stay later to help with dishes or the garbage. It really is the little things that make people feel cared-for.
2.) Learn Something New
Some favourite pet topics among my circle of friends are preborn rights, post-abortion ministry, politics, evidence for the resurrection of Christ, moral relativism, philosophy, logic, intelligent design, irreducible complexity, and fiscal conservatism. Staying humble gets difficult the more you know, and requires a push or shove out of your comfort zone to remind you that you, in fact, do not have all the answers (!). For example, I’m currently researching storm water management techniques and sediment control for work, and it helps me realize that although I don’t know everything, neither does anyone else.
We’re all beginners at something, we all have to work at it, and this helps us relate to people who have never heard certain terms or concepts, especially those related to Christianity and the Bible. At my job, engineers have shorthand terms for their scope of expertise (usually acronyms), and frankly, it reminds me of the first time I heard the word “propitiation” thrown around in a church service as a freshly laundered Christian. Where possible, break it down. Life is complicated enough already.
3.) Be A Reader
It should go without saying, but in order to learn, you must feast on answers outside of your own head. Leave books lying around that you will actually read. Years ago, before I was a Christian, I brought a copy of the Da Vinci Codewith me on a plane and a possibly-well-intended-but-unfortunately-misguided woman hissed loudly, for everyone around us to hear, “That book is blasphemy!” I had no idea what that word meant, but it conjured up images of witch hunts. “It’s published under fiction?” I squeaked, not sure how she’d react.
In the time since, my memory of how our conversation ended eludes me, but her reaction remains crystal clear, all because I opened up a book. Imagine if I’d simply asked, “Which part of the book are you referring to? Have you read it?”
4.) Stay Curious About People
I’m not sure if there’s a formula for curiosity, but we teach every first-year sociology student to “see the unfamiliar in the familiar.” Why do people do what they do? What do they seem to value above all else? What goes unnoticed or neglected about them? What encourages them? What intrigues you about them?
5.) A Final Word About Respect
Everywhere I go lately, especially for work, someone mentions the buzzword “integrity,” but in an odd sense of the word. I’ve heard it used to mean honesty and hard-working, but it goes much deeper. It also means actively pursuing opportunities to make yourself indispensable to those around you. Find out what they need, and provide it. You won’t believe the conversations that happen when people know they can trust you.
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