When discussing the Gospel or your Christian worldview, there are 4 basic questions you can ask that will help the person you are talking to really think about their own view and it allows you to challenge their view without attacking them... you are merely asking questions.
- "What do you mean by that?" (This makes them define the terms in their argument)
- "How do you know that to be true?" (This makes them explain the logic of their argument)
- "What difference does it make?" (This makes them defend the value for their argument)
- "What if you're wrong?" (This makes them think the unthinkable about their argument)
References: I first came across the value of simply asking questions when discussing opposing world views by listening to a series of messages by Greg Koukl called "Tactics in Defending the Faith". I came across these 4 particular questions on an apologetics video called "Simple Tools for Brain Surgery". And I was recently reminded of the questions by seeing them at "Dare2Share.org".
Comments (3)
That's good stuff!
In principle a good thing, but the way he uses it it's just an attempt to decronstruct something to the point where it's hard to think about and then do some verbal hocus pocus and declare his views proven (when he hasn't actually talked about them).
Sometimes critical thinking is hard. But thats the point, too often people question & dismiss another's worldview without every questioning their own. I have known a few people who quickly dismissed a biblical world view because they didn't understand that view but then when pressed on their own world view realized they couldn't answer their own questions.
The great thing about these questions is that they can also be turned around and used on the Christian as well. But thats OK, I think God makes sense out of the universe as we see it so asking good questions helps to expose many philosophies that are bankrupt and shows the cohesiveness of a biblical worldview.
//eek