"If I am interested in reality, I must know what God is really like" (Plato).
This is apologetics for dummies or made easy for those who admit they don't know all the answers. No one has a monopoly on wisdom or knowledge (per Job 15:8). Even though Sir Francis Bacon said, "Knowledge is power," per Prove. 24:5: A little knowledge is a dangerous thing! Education is actually going from an unconscious to a conscious awareness of your ignorance. Knowledge can be dangerous--some know just enough to lead astray and cause harm or create more heat than light. We don't have to know all the answers, but know the Answerer! All of us became believers apart from knowing all the answers--we simply took the leap of faith going in the way the evidence was leading like in a jury that goes with the preponderance of the evidence and makes an educated, informed decision based on that and goes with it.
God demands faith no matter what level we are. It takes faith to be an atheist too, and God doesn't believe in atheists for certain! It isn't a matter of faith vs. reason, but faith versus faith; it matters about which set of assumptions you accept. It takes more faith to deny the obvious than to accept it by simple faith. God makes no apologies for Himself and the Bible assumes God and never tries to prove Him to the reader: "In the beginning God...." The best apologetic is no apologetic or excuse for God, but to boldly proclaim, not defend the gospel. Apologetics is more about attitude and approach than intellect and learning--don't ever think that you know something apart from God's revelation, for only that which is "revealed belongs to us" according to Deut. 29:29.
Our mission is the Great Commission, not to start arguments or be contentious. As soon as you see the door open to witness, use your testimony and make a beeline for the gospel truth. We must rely on the Word of God and quote Scripture as we are planting seeds and trusting God to make the increase and cause growth. Faith only comes by hearing and by hearing of the Word of God according to Romans 10:17 and the Word never comes back void according to Isaiah 55:11 and it will accomplish God's pleasure and will.
This is apologetics for dummies or made easy for those who admit they don't know all the answers. No one has a monopoly on wisdom or knowledge (per Job 15:8). Even though Sir Francis Bacon said, "Knowledge is power," per Prove. 24:5: A little knowledge is a dangerous thing! Education is actually going from an unconscious to a conscious awareness of your ignorance. Knowledge can be dangerous--some know just enough to lead astray and cause harm or create more heat than light. We don't have to know all the answers, but know the Answerer! All of us became believers apart from knowing all the answers--we simply took the leap of faith going in the way the evidence was leading like in a jury that goes with the preponderance of the evidence and makes an educated, informed decision based on that and goes with it.
God demands faith no matter what level we are. It takes faith to be an atheist too, and God doesn't believe in atheists for certain! It isn't a matter of faith vs. reason, but faith versus faith; it matters about which set of assumptions you accept. It takes more faith to deny the obvious than to accept it by simple faith. God makes no apologies for Himself and the Bible assumes God and never tries to prove Him to the reader: "In the beginning God...." The best apologetic is no apologetic or excuse for God, but to boldly proclaim, not defend the gospel. Apologetics is more about attitude and approach than intellect and learning--don't ever think that you know something apart from God's revelation, for only that which is "revealed belongs to us" according to Deut. 29:29.
Our mission is the Great Commission, not to start arguments or be contentious. As soon as you see the door open to witness, use your testimony and make a beeline for the gospel truth. We must rely on the Word of God and quote Scripture as we are planting seeds and trusting God to make the increase and cause growth. Faith only comes by hearing and by hearing of the Word of God according to Romans 10:17 and the Word never comes back void according to Isaiah 55:11 and it will accomplish God's pleasure and will.
You cannot argue someone into the kingdom. One cannot dispute someone's testimony: "This one thing I know, that I was blind, but now I see!" This may seem subjective like one saying an egg on his head gives him euphoria, but our experience is based on objective, historical fact--the resurrection of Christ, which is arguably the most attested fact in antiquity.
The uneducated, but welll-versed believer can get further with the skeptic than the one who relies on his power of persuasion. We don't want someone's faith to rest on the power of persuasion but on the rock-solid Word of God (per 1 Cor. 2:5). Witnessing in the power of the Holy Spirit is a more powerful testimony and witness than sheer brilliance and scholarly arguments. We must learn to be led by the Spirit and when we know God we can be a better witness for Him. The best defense is a good offense and our only offensive weapon is the Sword of the Spirit or the Word of God; the Bible can defend itself just like a caged lion can defend itself.
The uneducated, but welll-versed believer can get further with the skeptic than the one who relies on his power of persuasion. We don't want someone's faith to rest on the power of persuasion but on the rock-solid Word of God (per 1 Cor. 2:5). Witnessing in the power of the Holy Spirit is a more powerful testimony and witness than sheer brilliance and scholarly arguments. We must learn to be led by the Spirit and when we know God we can be a better witness for Him. The best defense is a good offense and our only offensive weapon is the Sword of the Spirit or the Word of God; the Bible can defend itself just like a caged lion can defend itself.
If they say, "Prove the Bible!" You should reply, "No, you prove it! All you have to do is read it and witness its convicting and illuminating powers." That's why we say Scripture is self-attesting. it authenticates itself by changing lives not educating us. It's not meant to increase our knowledge but to renew our lives. If the Bible appealed to science, for instance, then science would be the final arbiter of truth; the God of truth must have the final say on truth.
Now 1 Peter 3:15 says to have an answer and what this means is that we can defend our faith and show that we haven't kissed our brains goodbye in accepting Christ and have sound and valid reasons to believe. We must do it in a spirit of love speaking the truth in love (cf. Eph. 4:15) and patience. We should have a natural desire to know why we believe as well as what we believe and a thirst for the truth, but witnessing isn't a battle of wits to put Christ on trial and test God. Man is on trial, not God! We answer to God, He doesn't answer to us.
This is a command, and not a suggestion, to be prepared to give a reason for the hope (have your testimony prepared and know what you want to say) so that we may know as many answers to their inquiries as possible--it seems like they all ask the same basic questions, so this turns out to be a cakewalk of answering objections if we are put in this position. No one is going to come up with some evidence that will make Christianity falter after two millennia of success and growth. Soli Deo Gloria!
Now 1 Peter 3:15 says to have an answer and what this means is that we can defend our faith and show that we haven't kissed our brains goodbye in accepting Christ and have sound and valid reasons to believe. We must do it in a spirit of love speaking the truth in love (cf. Eph. 4:15) and patience. We should have a natural desire to know why we believe as well as what we believe and a thirst for the truth, but witnessing isn't a battle of wits to put Christ on trial and test God. Man is on trial, not God! We answer to God, He doesn't answer to us.
This is a command, and not a suggestion, to be prepared to give a reason for the hope (have your testimony prepared and know what you want to say) so that we may know as many answers to their inquiries as possible--it seems like they all ask the same basic questions, so this turns out to be a cakewalk of answering objections if we are put in this position. No one is going to come up with some evidence that will make Christianity falter after two millennia of success and growth. Soli Deo Gloria!
No comments:
Post a Comment