What Is Concessional Apologetics?

Bobby explains how at times we must concede certain points a skeptic may bring to a conversation.

Is It Ok to Have a Beer With My Friends So I Can "Evangelize" to Them?

MP3: http://illbehonest.com/To-Have-a-Beer-With-My-Friends-So-I-Can-Evangelize-Bob...

Greg Koukl - Gracefully Ending the Conversation

Greg Koukl of Stand to Reason talks about how to gracefully end conversations without engaging in bickering. For more information, visit http://www.str.org/.

Greg Koukl - Apologetic Methods

Greg Koukl of Stand to Reason looks at the question, "What is your view of pre-suppositional apologetic techniques?"

ETS 2008: The Practice of Balanced Apologetics in Paul's Address in Acts 17 by H. Wayne House

by Roger @ http://ateam.blogware.com

This paper was essentially a summary of Dr. House’s chapter in the recently released Reasons for Faith ed. Norman Geisler and Chad Meister. The following is my summary of his paper and reflects my understanding of the points Dr. House made.

The apologetic debate is over whether God intends to use general revelation to bring about salvific belief. The central question is: Do we share any common ground with the unbeliever?

Classical and Evidential apologetics acknowledge that unbelievers can understand some truth. The difference between them is the Classical begins at first principles and Evidential begins anywhere. Presuppostional apologetics deny unbelievers can understand any truth until after regeneration by the Holy Spirit.

A crucial distinction is needed between “believing in” and “believing that.” Evidential apologetics can be used to bring someone to the point of “believing that.” “Believing in” requires regeneration. For example, there have been Jewish scholars who have affirmed that the resurrection of Jesus is a historically verifiable event. But there differ regarding the meaning of the resurrection- whether or not Jesus is the messiah. They believe “that” but not “in.”

Evidence can assist a person to belief in Christ by removing factual obstacles.

The task of apologetics is to show the truth of objective reality. The move to embrace belief in (from belief that) requires the subjective work of the Spirit. The Spirit makes meaning of the historically objective reality.

In Acts, the audience has no familiarity with the Hebrew scriptures- much like where our culture is going today. Paul started with creation: God’s existence and nature, and moved on to what God has done. His framework was provided by his theology found in Romans 1: that “they knew God.” Many people understand with their mind but do not receive in their hearts.

Paul sought common ground with his audience. Instead of wasting time with pointless rabbit trail debates, he pointed out that they both believed in God and kerygma. He moved from what they accepted to what they did not know. Paul also assumed that he was being understood- that those in his audience could follow the logic of his argument (another aspect of common ground).

Acts 17 and Apologetic Methodology

From Wayne Shih @http://acts18910.blogspot.com

In Part 3 of John Whitcomb's Contemporary Apologetics and the Christian Faith, he examines Paul's apologetic methodology in Acts 17.

Not only did Paul avoid giving any direct reference to Holy Scripture, he even quoted two Greek poets approvingly (Epimenides of Crete in 28a, and Aratus of Cilicia in 28b). Does this mean that he stepped outside of the realm of revealed truth to argue on the basis of human reasoning toward the God of Christianity? Many seem to think so, but the Biblical facts point in a different direction.

It is very important to recognize that before the Mars Hill confrontation began, Paul had already been "preaching Jesus and the resurrection" day after day in the market place of Athens (Acts 17:18). Thus, his Mars Hill address was not presented in a total vacuum. These Greek thinkers wanted to know more about "this new doctrine" (vv. 19-20).

Furthermore, so far from proving the existence of the God of Christianity, Paul simply and authoritatively declared Him to these men (v. 23). He declared this God to be the Creator and the Lord of the world and of mankind (vv. 24-26). He declared the nearness and thus the accessibility of God to mankind (vv. 27-28), and the utter ignorance of idolatry (vv. 29-30). And, finally, he announced that this great God will some day judge all men through that resurrected man whom Paul had previously named as Jesus (vv. 18, 31); and, therefore, He "is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent" (v. 30).

See also Eric Zeller's treatment (pdf) of the Acts 17 passage. He quotes Robert Reymond:

Only a cursory reading of Acts will disclose that Peter, Stephen, Philip, and Paul, in their missionary sermons to the nations, never urge lost men to do anything other than to repent of sin and bow in faith before the God who revealed Himself in Jesus Christ for men’s salvation. They never imply in their argumentation that their hearers may legitimately question the existence of the Christian God, the truth of Scripture, or the historicity of the death and resurrection of Christ prior to personal commitment. Never do they by their appeal to ‘evidence’… imply that such evidence ‘probably’ vindicates their message… these ‘kerygmatics’ regarded their message as an inconvertible witness, the inherent authority of which renders the believer and skeptic culpable of ‘making God a liar’ (1 John 5:10) when they refuse to believe.

Whitcomb on Apologetic Methodology

From http://acts18910.blogspot.com/

John Whitcomb gave a series of four lectures on "Contemporary Apologetics and the Christian Faith" at Dallas Theological Seminary, February 8-11, 1977. These were subsequently published in Bibliotheca Sacra in four consecutive issues beginning in April, 1977. The four articles are available on-line at the Whitcomb Ministries website.

If the New Testament is our infallible guide in such matters, we must conclude that the Christian who will be most effectively used by God in winning people to Christ is not necessarily the one who knows the most about secular philosophy, psychology, history, archaeology, or natural science (important though these disciplines may be in their proper place in developing a comprehensive Christian world-and-life view), but rather the Christian who knows most about God's Word and who humbly seeks God's daily strength and wisdom in obeying it. The best Christian apologist is the best student of Scripture, who, to use the Bible's own terms to describe him, is "accustomed to the word of righteousness" (Heb. 5:13), "a workman who does not need to be ashamed" because he is "handling accurately the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15), a man who, like Apollos, is "mighty in the Scriptures . . . instructed in the way of the Lord . . . speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus," and thus able by God's Word to "powerfully refute" unbelievers (Acts 18:24-28).

Apologetics Methodology

The Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry offers a helpful summary of three major approaches to Christian apologetics:

Classical Apologetics: "Classical Apologetics is that style of Christian defense that stresses rational arguments for the existence of God and uses evidence to substantiate biblical claims and miracles."

Evidential Apologetics: "Evidential Apologetics is that style of Christian defense that stresses the miracles found in the Bible, particularly Christ's resurrection, as an evidence for the existence of God and the validity of Christ and His words. It also uses historical evidences to support the veracity of the biblical account(s)."

Presuppositional Apologetics: "A Christian presuppositionalist presupposes God's existence and argues from that perspective to show the validity of Christian theism. This position also presupposes the truth of the Christian Scriptures and relies on the validity and power of the gospel to change lives (Rom. 1:16)."

Local Wal-Mart Welcomes On-Camera Witnessing! (Part 2)

By Tony Miano @ http://reformedevangelist.com

Our time doing on-camera interviews inside the local Wal-Mart began with a conversation, with Barbara (which I chronicled in my last article). Barbara was a very nice Mormon lady who, by the end of our conversation, realized that she was not a good person, according to God’s perfect standard. Although not convicted to the point of repentance and faith, she saw herself as guilty of breaking God’s Law.

The last conversation of the evening was with a young lady named Karey. As I made my way down the line of people waiting to have a book signed by Corbin Bleu (star of the Disney movie, “High School Musical”), I would periodically call out, “Would anyone like to be on television?”

When Karey heard the question, her hand shot in the air, a bright smile appeared on her face, and she shouted, “I do! I’m an actress!”

Karey was a 20-year old, full of life and personality. She obviously was not shy as she was drawn to the camera the way a moth is drawn to a bright light that pierces the dark of night.

I began the interview by asking Karey if she had any spiritual beliefs. “Like Corbin, I’m also a Christian. I believe Jesus died on the cross and He’s my personal Lord and Savior. And I’m very, very, very strong about that.” She said.

“So, what must a person do to go to heaven?” I asked.

“Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior; and read the Bible; and follow godly commands and do whatever it says; and try to be like the Lord. But lots of people sin. Everybody sins. But you got to do what you can. But pretty much accept the Lord as your Savior, and you’re at the top.” She answered.

“Do you think you have to be a good person to go to heaven?” I asked.

“You do.” She answered halfheartedly. “But there are bad people and there are good people. But I don’t really think that matters at all, because God knows what your heart is, and that’s pretty much all that matters.”

“Karey, would you consider yourself to be a good person?” I asked.

Both her face smile and her eyes brightened. Now less reflective and more self-assured, she said, “Umm, yeah, I would.”

“Could I ask you a few questions to see if that’s true?” I asked.

“Sure!” She exclaimed, with a chuckle.

I asked Karey if she could name any of the Ten Commandments. She was able to name six. I asked her if she was able to keep the Commandments. She said, “Growing up, you tend to want to have more freedom. But I try to keep them, but nobody can be perfect. When you fall you just have to get back up and try again.”

As soon as I asked Karey if she had ever told a lie, she shrugged her shoulders while pulling her chin down to her chest. “Yes.” She answered. When I asked her what that made her, she made eye contact with me and answered, “A sinner.”

Having not uttered the word I was looking for, I asked her what she would call me if told her a lie. With a half-grin, half-snarl on her face she said, “A liar.”

Karey denied ever stealing anything or taking the Lord’s name in vain, but she was quick to admit to not obeying her parents. “You mentioned murder.” I pointed out to her. “I hope I’m not talking to a bona fide axe murderer. But have you ever been really angry with someone?” I asked.

“Yes, I have.” She answered.

“Have you ever said, even inside, ‘You know, I think I hate that person’?” I asked.

“Yes, I have.” She answered.

“Did you know that the Bible says that whoever hates their brother has committed murder in their heart?” I asked.

“Really?” She asked. “I forgot about that one.”

“Have you ever wanted anything that doesn’t belong to you?” I asked.

“Of course.” She answered.

“You mentioned adultery. How would you define adultery?” I asked.

“Well, number one, if you’re married and you end up falling for somebody else and have sex with them; that’s committing adultery. Or kiss them. Basically disobeying your wife or your husband is adultery.” She answered.

“Jesus actually said that whoever looks upon another person to lust after them—to want them in an inappropriate way, has already committed adultery with that person in their heart. Have you ever looked at anybody, ever in your life, with that kind of desire?” I asked. I forgot to remind her of the murder in her heart; but honestly, I was having a hard time keeping track of all the commandments she admitted breaking.

Karey thought for a moment before she answered. “Probably a couple of times. Nobody’s perfect, though. Everybody sins. You just have to learn to control that—the feelings and everything like that.”

“Now, obviously everything you are guilty of, I am guilty of, too. But, Karey, by your own admission, you are a lying, adulterous, coveter who disobeys her parents. Does that sound like the definition of a good person?” I asked.

Karey tilted her head slightly toward the ground. The smile on her face was now one of embarrassment—like the smile of a child who was just caught in a lie. She shook her head and answered in a soft voice, as if she didn’t want anyone else to hear. “No.”

In order to emphasize the point, I asked Karey to consider the following.

“Think about it. Let’s say you and I were friends from school, and you invite me over to have dinner with your family. We walk in the door and you say, ‘Mom, dad; I want you to meet Tony. Tony is a lying, thieving, coveter who disobeys his parents and commits adultery in his heart. But other than that, he’s a pretty good guy.’ What do you think they are really going to think of me?”

Karey grimaced for a moment before she answered. It was as if she realized that the truth she was about to apply to me, applied to her, too. “That you’re a bad person.” She answered.

“So, if God judges based on the Ten Commandments, if you were to die today and He were to judge based on His perfect standard, do you think He would find you innocent or guilty of breaking His Law?” I asked.

“Probably guilty.” She answered. It is not uncommon for people to use the word “probably” when answering this question. I think they use the word to try to minimize the weight of a guilty verdict in their own heart and mind.

“And if He finds you guilty, do you think you would go to heaven or hell?” I asked.

“Probably hell.” She answered. Again she used the word “probably”—probably for the reason previously mentioned.

“Does that concern you at all?” I asked.

She quickly answered, “Yes. Yes.” There was no “probably” attached to this answer.

I took Karey through the courtroom analogy and quickly affirmed that it would be good news if someone entered the courtroom and paid the fine she had no hope of ever paying.

Karey was quick to affirm every aspect of the gospel. She had heard it all before. Based on the conversation thus far, I was confident that Karey had only given intellectual assent to the truths of the gospel.

“You and I are on the same flight, flying to Hawaii. We’re halfway to Hawaii (obviously over water), and the pilot comes on the air and says, ‘Folks we’ve lost our engines and we’ve lost our electrical power. The plane is going down. There’s nothing we can do about it. We’re sorry. There’s a parachute under your seat.’

“You and I both look under the seat. We both see the parachutes under our seats. We believe the parachutes are there. We’re happy to see them. I put my parachute on. You don’t put yours on. We both jump out of the plane. Which one of us is going to survive?” I asked.

“You.” She answered.

“Because I put on the parachute, right?” I asked.

“Right.” She said.

“And that’s what saving faith is.” I explained. “It’s not simply believing in our head—looking at a parachute and being glad it’s there, but believing to the point that we actually put it on and trust that it is going to open when we jump out of the plane.

“The Bible says that we need to repent of our sin. We actually have to turn away from our sin. Now, that’s more than just saying we’re sorry. We should be sorry for breaking God’s Law. But we actually have to turn away from it; to the point that we are grieved anytime we do anything that would disappoint God—that would be sin against Him. And we have to trust Jesus Christ alone for our salvation

“Have you ever done that?” I asked.

Karey quickly answered, “Yes, I have.”

“When did that happen?” I asked.

“When I was about seven or eight.” She answered.

“Do you think that at that age you understood what it meant to repent and turn away from your sins. Or did you simply pray a prayer and ask Jesus into your heart, and hope for the best?” I asked.

“Well, my parents taught me well. They taught me from the time I was four until the time I was seven, when I actually did it.” She said. “I had an idea, but I was still pretty young, so I was trying to learn about it. But I had a pretty good idea, I would say.”

“What’s your walk with the Lord like today?” I asked.

She thought for a second. “It’s on the rocks right now. Like I said, everybody falls. But I’m learning to trust more in Him and read my Bible, and just try to do better; because I know I’m not perfect. But I want to try to be. And I want to try to keep those commandments. I don’t want to end up down there. I want to end up, up there.”

“I think the Law shows us both that we’re never going to meet up to God’s standard, right?” I asked. “We could never be good enough, right?”

Karey agreed.

“If we could be good enough to earn heaven, then it doesn’t make sense for God to come down and die, if we could get to heaven on our own.” I said.

Again, Karey agreed.

“If I’m hearing you right, I think there might be some question in your heart.” I said.

“Yes, Yes.” She replied.

“Does that concern you?” I asked.

“Yes, it does.” She answered.

“Is there any reason why you wouldn’t get right with God, right now?” I asked.

“No. No. I guess I just have problems. I have big problems. And as those problems got bigger I just fell away. But I know I need to set myself straight and turn to Him again, and get right with Him again.” She said. Her eyes began to water. The once jovial young lady who couldn’t wait to be on camera, was not very serious.

“And the consequences if you don’t?” I asked.

“I will end up like a lost person. I will be lost.” She said. “And I don’t want to be that. I don’t want to be lost.”

“And lost people go, where?” I asked.

“Down to hell.” Karey said without hesitation.

“I could tell by looking at your eyes that you don’t want that.” I remarked.

“No, I don’t. Not at all.” She said.

“What would keep you from getting right with God, today?” I asked.

“Nothing. Absolutely nothing.” She answered.

“Have you ever cried out to Him?” I asked. “Not just, ‘Lord, my life’s a mess.’ And not just, ‘God forgive me and I’m going to try to do better.’ But, ‘Lord, I want to give my entire life to you. I really want to turn from my sin. I know I can’t do it on my own. And I don’t want to face eternity in hell.’ It sounds like you haven’t done that yet.” I said.

“I have. I have. But like I said, I fell away.” She said. “I’m willing to go back to church and get right with Him again. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

“Well, there’s nothing you can do to save yourself.” I said. “Filling a church pew on Sunday morning isn’t going to do it. Trying to be a better person is not going to do it. There are a lot of nice people in hell because they trusted in their own goodness.

“You mentioned that things aren’t going well for you right now, in certain areas of your life. But that doesn’t change who God is; and that doesn’t change your need for Him.

“Karey, I may never see you again; but I care about you. I don’t want to see you go to hell. I want to see you in heaven. And I know that the only way is through turning from your sin and putting your trust in Christ alone. So, please, please do that.” I pleaded.

“I will.” She said.

I thanked Karey for talking to me. We shook hands and I left her with copies of “How To Live Forever Without Being Religious” and “You Have The Right To Remain Silent.”

Karey said, “I will.” I hope she does. I hope she repents and receives Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. Pray with me to that end. And may our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ glorify Himself by saving Karey’s eternal soul. I do hope I see her in heaven, someday.

Local Wal-Mart Welcomes On-Camera Witnessing!

By Tony Miano @ http://reformedevangelist.com

I was watching the morning news, the other day. After a commercial break, one of the anchors interviewed a young actor by the name of Corbin Bleu. I confess that I had no idea who this young man was prior to watching the interview. And, for those of you who are like me and are unaware of this young man’s fame and popularity, he starred in the Disney made-for-television movie, “High School Musical.” He is the latest heartthrob among the early teen and pre-teen segment of our star-struck populace.

What drew my attention to the interview was the mention of the fact that Corbin Bleu was scheduled to appear at one of my local Wal-Marts, later in the day, to sign his new book. I immediately thought of the potential evangelism opportunity. There would likely be long lines of kids and their parents waiting to make eye contact with a star. As I thought of the potential, I also reminded myself that Wal-Mart has not always been friendly to Christian evangelism endeavors.

Not long ago, Mark Spence, of Way of the Master, gave me one of the ministry’s video cameras to use to document some of my evangelism conversations—on the streets and during my segments on Way of the Master Radio. As the sometimes slow and grinding wheels spun in my head, I thought it might be an interesting afternoon if Wal-Mart would allow me to do some on-camera interviews of people waiting in line for the book signing. My expectations were not very high. I lacked faith.

I made a phone call to Pastor Kevin Molloy, the youth pastor at Lake Hills Community Church. Earlier in the week I met with the elders at Lake Hills to discuss plans for bringing a one-day Way of the Master training class to the church, on February 17. When Pastor Molloy answered the phone, I explained my idea to him and invited him to join me. He said he was already planning to go with his children.

Pastor Molloy told me that one of the members of the church was a manager at the Wal-Mart. He gave me her phone number, and I gave her a call. The manager was familiar with Way of the Master. To my surprise, she gave me permission to bring a video camera into the store and record conversations with people waiting in line.

The team consisted of my daughter, Michelle; my brother-in-law, Ian, my friend, Dru Morgan; and me. There were only a few people in line when we got to the store. That would quickly change.

I purchased a copy of Corbin Bleu’s book, which had a subtitle of “High School Musical Hottie.” The book was more akin to a thicker version of a teen magazine, then your typical biographical book. It was obviously marketed toward a younger audience.

As Ian and I flipped through copies of the book, Ian was first to notice that Corbin’s spiritual beliefs are mentioned in the book. I thought this would serve as a perfect icebreaker when asking people if they would like to be on camera. The approach I would later use was this. “Hi. I’m with a television and radio show called Way of the Master. We heard that Corbin Bleu would be here today signing his book. Corbin mentions his spiritual beliefs in the book. So, we thought it would be interesting to talk to people about their spiritual beliefs—what they think of the afterlife.”

Before I share the details of two of the more interesting conversations I had with people in line, here’s how Corbin Bleu describes his spiritual beliefs in his book.

“Strong family values, true friendships, and all the other amazing gifts that been given to Corbin wouldn’t be possible without a deep spiritual life as well. Corbin’s very passionate about his faith. ‘I pray. I think that’s what has kept me going all these years when it comes to overcoming obstacles. When I get very nervous or self-conscious or stressed, or I’m feeling burned out, what keeps me going is feeling that He has His plan for everybody. I can’t control it, or fight it. Once you learn to accept that He has a plan, it helps you, because even if you’re going through problems, you just know that everything happens for a reason. Kids go through a lot of rough periods, and I wouldn’t think of trying to force my own personal beliefs on others, but if I can lead by example, by being respectful to everybody no matter what…that feels good . . .

‘We’re Christians. We respect everyone; whether we agree with certain lifestyles or not, it’s never something we shut down. Even the Bible says you’re not a judge of others. God’s the judge. Your job is to show people the power of Christ through love and show them what an incredible life you can lead and the happiness you can have when you have the comfort of knowing that there’s somebody there. Anytime you feel alone, God’s always there. He will never abandon you—ever’” (Scott, Dee. Corbin Bleu, Up Close, New York: Pocket Books, 2006, p. 88).

Since I do not know Corbin Bleu, I cannot speak about the genuineness of his faith. But I can express my disappointment in the “life enhancement” gospel presented in his book. It shouldn’t surprise me, however. After all, the young man is a Disney star and a secular publishing house published his book.

Barbara

The first person who agreed to be interviewed on camera was a lady named Barbara. It turns out that Barbara is the stepmother of a sergeant on my department. Having worked with him for a number of years, I believe he professes to be Roman Catholic. I share that because Barbara is Mormon.

Because of her Mormon beliefs, Barbara asserted that when she dies she would go to heaven to await the resurrection. She said that in order for a person to go to heaven they should try to live a good life, do good to others, be honest, and believe in Jesus Christ. I asked Barbara if she considered herself to be a good person. She said, “I try to be a good person.”

I asked her if she was familiar with the Ten Commandments. She said that she was. When I asked her if she could name a few, she said, “Oh, ….. (blasphemy).”

I asked her if she had been able to keep the commandments. She said, “I’ve broken a few; but if you repent you will be forgiven.

I took her through a few of the commandments. She admitted to being a liar and a thief. Then I asked her if she had ever taken God’s name in vain. She said, “I’m sure I have.”

“In fact, you did just a moment ago.” I remarked.

“I did?” She asked. “What did I say?”

“I can’t repeat it.” I told her.

When I asked Barbara if God would find her innocent or guilty of breaking His Law and the Day of Judgment, she said, “Well, only one man was perfect and that was Jesus. All we have to do is ask for forgiveness, and be born again in the afterlife.”

Barbara’s Mormon theology was beginning to show itself. The reference to Jesus Christ as a “man” was one indicator. Yes, Jesus Christ was fully man. Upon that point Christians and Mormons believe. But contrary to the Christian faith and what the Bible teaches, Mormons believe that Jesus was only a man, a created being who was conceived through a literal, physical union between their god and Mary. The Mormon concept of being “born again” is also contrary to what the Bible teaches.

Barbara was insistent that all one must do is repent to avoid God’s judgment. Her idea of repentance seemed to be more akin to confession than turning from sin.

I asked Barbara if she had ever been to court. She said that she had been to court as she went through the divorce process. She also served on the jury of a man on trial for a firearms violation.

“Did you find the man guilty?” I asked.

“Yes.” She said.

“Why?” I asked.

“Well, he was guilty because of the way the judge explained the law.” She answered.

I asked her if after she and the rest of the jury found the man guilty of breaking the law, would the judge be a good judge following the law if he let them man go because the man said he was sorry. While she agreed that the judge would not be a good judge, she argued that man’s standard and God’s standard are not the same. However, I was able to get her to agree that God’ standard is much higher than the standard in a human courtroom.

We continued to talk about God’s righteous judgment. At the first mention of hell, Barbara was quick to tell me that Mormons don’t believe in hell. She affirmed the Mormon false doctrine of three levels of heaven (telestial, terrestrial, and celestial). She told me that to get to the highest level of heaven (celestial), a person has to be “really, really good.”

I asked Barbara if it was possible for a person to be really, really good. She said, “Yes.”

“So, are we good because we ask for forgiveness?” I asked.

There was a long pause. “I don’t think it makes you good or bad.” She said. “It just makes you aware of what you need to repent.”

Then I threw this at her. “Where do you think Hitler went?” I asked. She leaned back and chuckled nervously.

“Well, first of all it does say in the Bible that if you commit murder you will not go to heaven.” She said.

Yes, the Bible affirms that no murderer will enter the kingdom of heaven. But that’s not what Barbara was saying. She was insisting that committing murder is an unpardonable sin. The Bible does not teach that. I could have argued the point, but she had just revealed a chink in her theological armor. She believed that murderers would not go to heaven. So, I would bide my time, hear her out, and then use her own words against her.

Barbara continued. “That’s the ultimate sin, because you can’t ask the person that you killed for forgiveness. To be forgiven you have to ask forgiveness from the person that you committed the act against. It says in the Bible that you cannot be forgiven for an act of murder.”

“If there is no hell, where did Hitler go?” I asked.

Barbara thought for a moment about the question. “There is what’s called an ‘outer darkness.’ It’s not a burning hell, brimstone-kinda-thing. It is where you will live without God, Jesus, or his angels. You will be with Satan and all of his followers.” She said.

Did you notice how Barbara made a distinction between God and Jesus? This was yet another assertion the Mormon theological position that Jesus is not God.

“When the Bible talks about a lake of fire. When the Scriptures say that all liars will have their part in the lake of fire; if it’s not a literal fire in hell, where is it?” I asked.

“It’s a separation from God, Jesus, and everything holy.” Barbara said. “That lake of fire would be that place of outer darkness for people who are really bad—the ones that commit sins against God, like devil worshippers and people of that sort—the murderers.”

“Have you ever been really angry with someone?” I asked.
“Yes, but not to the extent that I wanted to harm the person.” She answered.

“Have you ever experienced a little road rage, or called anyone names like ‘moron’ or idiot’?” I asked.

“Yes.” She said.

“Did you know the Bible says that whoever hates another person is a murderer at heart?” I asked.

“It does?” She asked.

“First John 3:15 says that whoever hates his brother is a murderer.” I said.

“John 3:15?” She asked.

“No.” I said. “First John 3:15.”

Many Christian avoid talking to people of the Mormon or Jehovah’s Witnesses faiths because they assume that the person is well versed in their religion. But Barbara, a very nice lady, dispelled that myth. She had no idea about what the Bible really says about murder.

Barbara began to try to justify herself. She wanted to prove to me (and probably more so to herself) that she was not a murderer at heart. “But I didn’t take the person’s life, and I didn’t say it to their face.” She said.

“Do you think God judges only our actions?” I asked. “Or do you think He also judges our thoughts and intentions?”

“Oh, yes. He sees it all.” She said. “You don’t have to say a thing.”

Barbara and I briefly continued our conversation off-camera. She was never truly humbled by the Law, so I didn’t talk to her about grace.

Some may look at my conversation as an example of a failed attempt at evangelism. It wasn’t. Seeds were sown. Barbara did not come to repentance and faith in the real Jesus Christ. However, whether she wanted to admit it out loud, she realized she wasn’t a good person. She was caught committing blasphemy, and had to look at herself in the mirror of God’s Law. She was shown that her understanding of the relationship between God’s justice and God’s forgiveness was flawed. Barbara also had to face the fact that her assertion that all murderers are punished placed her in the category of the murderer.

Before we moved on to find others to interview, I gave Barbara a copy of “How To Live Forever Without Being Religious” and “You Have The Right To Remain Silent.” Pray with me that she will read the material. Pray that the Lord will use the interview in Wal-Mart and the material she received to draw her to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ—the real Jesus Christ.

The next story will be my conversation with a young lady named Karey—a false convert who was humbled by the Law.

The Role of the Bible in Evangelism

by Roger @ http://ateam.blogware.com

Part One of this series. Audio of the whole sermon.
Part Two of this series.

The Role of the Bible in Evangelism: Foundation for the Tools of Evangelism

When we talk about evangelism, we usually do not simply mean the content of the Gospel. We often have in mind the means of communication for the Gospel as well. Such means include apologetics, community, and right living. But these means are not independent tools for us to use as we wish. Every means for evangelism must be rooted in the foundation of the Bible. The authority of the Bible applies to each of these means and it provides guidelines for how to appropriately use these means. Therefore, the secondary role of the Bible in evangelism is to provide a foundation the means of evangelism.

Apologetics:

Let’s first look at how the Bible provides foundational guidelines for apologetics. Traditionally, to give an apology has meant to give a defense. So when we discuss Christian apologetics, we’re talking about defending the Christian faith. The Bible describes apologetics and one of its core principles in 1 Peter 3:15-16:

1 Peter 3:15-16 “But in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.”

Not only are we to be prepared to give a defense for our beliefs, but we must follow the guideline of being gentle and respectful of those we’re conversing with.

Some people claim that the Bible provides the foundation for a specific method of apologetics. These people generally divide into two camps: Evidentialists, those who focus on using evidences for Christianity such as the facts surrounding the resurrection of Jesus, and Presuppositionalists, those who focus on dismantling the hidden assumptions non-Christians use to form their beliefs such as the idea that the physical natural world is all that exists. Much ink has been spent debating between these two sides, sometimes to the extent that more care is given to developing the so-called correct methodology than actually doing apologetics and presenting the Gospel to non-believers.

So what might we say about apologetic methodology? Do we focus strictly on evidences or on people’s presuppositions? (In posing this question, I acknowledge that many Presuppositionalists, for example, do include evidences in their apologetic. However, I've been told by several Presuppositionalists that using evidences is some how offensive to God. So I think the question is fair as it relates to those who draw such a drastic dichotomy.) I believe the Bible suggests a coherent balance between the two. Let’s look to Paul’s address in Athens as an example of how this might work:

Acts 17:22-31 “So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’ Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

We should keep in mind that what we have here is likely a summary of Paul’s message. However, speeches in the Areopagus often when on for hours. Our pastor would have fit in well there. Paul went first to the presuppositions of the Athenians. He addressed their belief in an unknown god, and argued that the God of the universe is knowable and described how we might know him. Paul concluded with evidential claims about Jesus’ resurrection, and according to the verses that follow, these claims divided the crowd. Some mocked and some joined him.

The methodological principle we find for apologetics in the Bible is not strict presuppositionalism or strict evidentialism. Rather, we find that different means are used according to different circumstances and the people being evangelized.

Community:

Another means for evangelism is community. Sean did an excellent job of exploring the relationship between Sola Scripture and community a couple of weeks ago, and I wish to expand upon some of his points here. Paul painted a great picture of what community looks like in his letter to the Colossians…

Colossians 3:16-17 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

This is a key expression of what our community should look like when it is founded upon the Bible. Community begins with the word of Christ and we are to let it dwell in us and use it to teach and admonish one another. But our community is not for our benefit only. Our community is to be a demonstration of Christ’s love and as such is a means for communicating the Gospel message. In John 17, a passage we’ll get to in a few years, we find Jesus praying for his disciples.

John 17:20-21 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also might be in us, so that the world may believe that you send me.”

Francis Schaeffer offered an important reflection upon this passage:

“Jesus goes on in this 21^st verse to say something that always causes me to cringe. If as Christians we do not cringe, it seems to me we are not very sensitive or very honest, because Jesus here gives us the final apologetic. What is the final apologetic? ‘That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.’ That is the final apologetic… We cannot expect the world to believe that the Father sent the Son, that Jesus’ claims are true, and the Christianity is true, unless the world sees some reality of the oneness of true Christians.”

In other words, our ability to love one another as a unified body of Christ is a measure of our ability to evangelize. If we cannot love one another as a harmonized community, then God will have little use for us in saving the lost.

Right Living:

Last week, Chris explored the relationship between sanctification and Sola Scriptura, and I wish to expand on this to as it related to right living as a means of evangelism. First, we find in 2 Timothy that the Bible is the appropriate foundation for how we are to live our lives…

2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”

Every good thing we do is rooted in and directed by what we find in God’s Word as He applies it to our lives. Through learning about His Word our minds become transformed as was emphasized last week through Romans 12:1-2. There is, of course, some overlap between our personal actions and how we act as a community. We are responsible to show unity as a community, and we are also personally responsible to show love toward one another.

John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Jesus claimed here that the world will be able to judge whether or not we are Christians by the love we show for each other. If we cannot, as individuals, also reflect the love of Christ in our lives, then we will be no different from the world around us.

Now there are some who say that our primary focus in evangelism should be on apologetics, or on community, or on right living. Many of us have heard that line from St. Francis of Assisi “Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary.” While all of these things are helpful, good, and required of us as Christ’s ambassadors to the world, words are necessary. Apologetics, community, and right living in relation to evangelism are simply means to an end. The ultimate end is the presentation of the Gospel message. To have great arguments for the Christian faith, a loving community, or a moral lifestyle alone for the purpose of evangelism is to miss the point completely. The point of all of this is to get to what the Bible declares to be the good news for those who are dead in sin.