March 11, 2008

• THINKING ABOUT: DEFENDING THE FAITH

  This message is taken from a message by Greg Koukl of the apologetics ministry Stand to Reason (www.str.org).  Stand to Reason does an excellent job of making apologetics practical.  This particular message on Tactics for Defending the Faith has been particularly helpful to me.

  Tactics in Defending the Faith

  INTRO
  o  Col 2:8  “Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elemental forces of the world, and not based on Christ” HCSB

  o  not forcing an idea, but using their terminology
  o  should be ENJOYABLE… the other person does all the works
  o  remember, you have a HUGE advantage… Christianity is TRUE!
  o  to be effective you need…
      >  knowledge - an accurately informed mind
      >  wisdom - an artful method
      >  character - an attractive manner
  o  why are tactics important!
      >  we have an enemy… we are in a battle…
      >  we are trying to gain ground for the kingdom…
  o  some of the critical issues we face…
      >  The problem of evil
      >  The identity of Jesus
      >  Other Religions, or the exclusivity of Christianity
      >  religious pluralism, or all religions are the same
      >  the trustworthiness of the Scriptures
      >  ethical issues (abortion, doctor assisted suicide, homosexuality)
      >  The ethical straitjacket
      >  The record of Christians
  o  TACTICS ARE NOT TRICKS… the goal is not to make people look foolish or verbally beat up people.  We want to be direct and truthful but not rude and abrasive.  We seek to clear away foolish beliefs so that the other person may see the gospel more clearly. THE GOAL IS TO PUT A “STONE” IN THEIR SHOE!
  o  Now, lets consider 4 HELPFUL TACTICS IN DEFENDING THE FAITH…

  1.  QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS
    o  Ask intelligent, penetrating questions
        >  Good questions focus attention, & naturally move a conversation along
        >  Good questions BUY time & SELL rope…
        >  Good questions helps you get in, and stay in the drivers seat
        >  Good questions gain information and keep you out of the hot seat (this is not a trick, REALLY listen)
        >  Good questions reverse the burden of proof
        >  Good questions expose & exploit a weakness or flaw in someone’s view
    o  the one who makes the CLAIM bears the BURDEN of proof…
        >  too often someone makes a claim and we feel we have to refute an argument… instead they have to defend their claim.
        >  don’t take on the burden if its not ours to take
        >  if someone just spins a story they have to articulate an argument, not just make a claim
    o  helps you go on the offensive in a disarming way with carefully selected questions to productively advance the conversation.
    o  Some SAMPLE Questions…
        >  What do you MEAN by that?… make them define their terms
        >  How did you come to that CONCLUSION?… or How do you kow that is true?, many merely repeat what they are told
        >  Why should I believe what you BELIEVE?…
        >  Have you ever CONSIDERED…? give an alternative (EX: have you ever considered that the “problem of evil” is actually an evidence FOR the existence of God?)
        >  What if you are WRONG about what you believe? (AND YOU DIE?)
    o  SOME EXAMPLES…
        >  have you ever considered how difficult it would be to remove something from the bible seeing as how there were thousands of manuscripts floating around?
        >  have you ever considered that the “problem of evil” is actually an evidence for the existence of God?
        >  have you ever considered that there is a total lack of evidence for the concept of life coming from inanimate matter?
        >  have you ever considered that if the Bible were merely written by men that it becomes very difficult to explain the hundreds of fulfilled prophesies?
        >  have you ever considered that if homosexuality is truly “natural” then nature gave them a sexual apparatus that can never work for its intended purpose?
        >  have you ever considered that if partial birth abortion is acceptable then it will become difficult to condemn infantacide?
        >  have you ever considered that if Jesus is wrong about His claim to be God it then becomes difficult to classify Him as a “good man”?

  2.  EXPOSING SELF-DEFEATING Ideas
    o  some ideas are “self-refuting”… they commit suicide on their own if you merely point it out…
    o  “I cannot speak a word of english” is self refuting if spoken in english
    o  “there are no absolute truths”… are you sure?… “absolutely!”
    o  “you can’t know anything for sure”… really, are you sure about that?…
    o  “there is no truth”… really, is that true?
    o  “all religions are true”… then Christianity is true, but Christianity says all other religions are false.
    o  “I don’t believe anything unless I can prove it scientifically”… really, what scientific experiment taught you that only science can teach you the truth
    o  “you can only know the truth by experience”… really, what experience taught you that you can only know truth by experience

  3.  EXPOSING ILLOGICAL CONCLUSIONS
    o  adopt the others viewpoint for the sake of argument… take their view seriously… then take their view to its natural & logical conclusion
    o  if your point of view leads to a RIDICULOUS conclusion then there is something wrong with your point of view
    o  take their view seriously and then reflect it back to them in a straightforward way… can they live in the world that they are promoting?… can they live with the CONSEQUENCES of their beliefs?
    o  SOME EXAMPLES
        >  “there are no moral absolutes”… then steal their TV!… if they claim that is wrong then they have admitted the illogical nature of their claim

  4.  Avoiding the STEAMROLLER
    o  not a tactic you use, but one you defend against
    o  A “steamroller” asks constant questions, challenges, and claims that are unrelenting… they overpower you with words and attitude… their goal is NOT to engage you in dialogue but simply to roll over you
    o  its alot easier to ask the hard questions than to listen to the hard answers…
    o  3 step defense against a steamroller
        >  “STOP, and NEGOTIATE an agreement”… The rule is one question at a time.
        >  “SHAME them”… oh, I thought you wanted to have a conversation, apparently you want to do all the talking, thats OK, I’m a good listener, just tell me when your finsihed.
        >  “LEAVE them”…
    o  “give me your best question”… and then negotiate how they will respond if you give them a satisfying answer!
    o  when they are nasty, you be gracious!… remember, your Christlike attitude may not win over the “steamroller”, BUT it may win over those around you who are listening in.

  CONCLUSION
  *  practice, practice, practice
  *  know your bible
  *  push yourself beyond your comfort zone
  *  questions, self-defeating ideas, logical conclusions, dealing with steamrollers
  *  you now have some training… use it!… be a force to be reckoned with for the kingdom of God!
  *  be a good ambassador!

  • 11:09 am
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