The Mission to Give a Defense

Section 1 The Mission to Give a Defense

A. Are you asking the right questions?

In his article, “How can I be Ready to Defend my Faith,” Scott Oliphint states the following:

“The Christian perspective on suffering is in diametrical opposition to the world's view, which is unsurprising. There is an antithesis between Christian and non-Christian; as we said, one is either in Christ or Adam. That antithesis is not merely theoretical. It applies to the way we think, the way we act, and the way we view the world. Amid his readers’ suffering, Peter gives this command: “Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence” (1 Pet. 3:15, NASB).

The process of apologetics requires us to determine what the person believes, why they believe what they believe, and, based on the information we have been given, how one should respond.

1. What does the person believe?

The art of discovering the starting point in apologetics.

One starting point deployed in apologetics is built on a person's assumptions. What does a person assume to be true about God and the Bible? This is called presuppositional apologetics.

Another apologetic method used to determine what a person believes begins with discovering where one shows evidence for God’s existence and then shows evidence for the Bible’s reliability. This is called classicalism or classical apologetics.

Finally, where does one show evidence for God’s existence by showing evidence for the Bible's reliability, known as evidential apologetics? A defense that is based on the evidence.

Each of these avenues to discovering a starting point for what one believes has some validity. I think the assumption of what a person believes about God and the Bible must be ascertained before one engages with the evidence of their belief.

For example, Paul began his defense in the Areopagus by stating that he “perceived that they were a very religious people.”

Alvin Plantinga’s model of establishing a starting point in apologetics works better than the traditional models.

Plantinga’s apologetic model states the following:

The development of this argument took several significant turns. One central element is the so-called “evidential objection to belief in God,” arguing that belief in God is irrational or somehow rationally substandard unless accompanied by acceptable evidence and cannot support its claims. Thus, instead of meeting the evidential objection with more—and hopefully more convincing—evidence, Plantinga argues that belief in God, like other beliefs we hold, does not necessarily need such evidence to be rationally held.

The importance of identifying a shared starting point.

Paul’s engagement with the Greek philosophers at Mars Hill began with a speech to the Athenians, a shared starting point of their worship of the unknown God and building a bridge from their accepted beliefs to Jesus and the gospel.

2. Why do they believe what they believe?

The main weakness in apologetics today is the misuse of apologetics arguments as a defense mechanism or a weapon. If a person is an argumentative person by nature, they may use apologetics. It is then used as a weapon of attack to make a person look bad.

There is a difference between making an argument and being argumentative. There is a clear difference between contending for the faith (Jude 1:3) and engaging in foolish, ignorant controversies that result in quarrels. (2 Timothy 2:22-23)

The strength of apologetics is growing maturity in one's faith, leading to discovering how to serve the needs of others over our own.

The key to practical apologetics is the ability to listen to the person right in front of you.

I have found that people are all at different stages in their beliefs. Sometimes, a person has studied extensively about their beliefs and other times; they barely know what they believe.

Listening helps us guard against making stereotypes about one's beliefs.

We might assume something a person does not know or does not believe. We must ask questions about an individual’s beliefs to understand them as they do.

Listening is also vital in avoiding creating straw men of other views.

A strawman is a weaker version of a person’s argument. When we do this, we are not holding ourselves accountable to the truth. We should always delight in the truth, even the truthful representation of others' beliefs.

Our job as apologists is to help others discover the truth about why they believe in a particular worldview.

As a part of loving people well, we should embrace the job of helping them uncover why they see the world the way they do. In my experience, very few people have ever engaged in this kind of thinking.

In asking people questions, we help them determine whether their view of the world could be more coherent or consistent.

3. How should we respond?

Everyone has a gospel story. Everyone has their version of salvation. They are gospel stories that offer a version of the good news. In other words, there are secular gospels as well as religious gospels.

In their book Everyday Church, Tim Chester and Steve Timmis conclude that we can use creation, fall, redemption, and consummation as points of intersection with people’s stories and the gospel stories.

Creation: My identity

Fall: My problem.

Redemption: My solution

Consummation: My hope

In Genesis 3, God’s word gets reinterpreted by the Serpent in the following way.

Creation: You are meant to be gods.

Fall: You are held back by God and his insecurities.

Redemption: You can be set free by disobeying God.

Consummation: You will be gods.

Despite the following rejection of God’s word and rule, by God’s grace, the Bible’s story becomes:

Creation: We are made in God’s image to reflect His Glory.

Fall: We have rebelled against god’s rule; our self-rule has led to conflict, slavery, and judgment.

Redemption: God restores his rule by sending His Son and enabling us to live under His authority by paying the price of our judgment on the cross.

Consummation: God will recreate this broken world when Jesus returns.

Tim Keller says, “Jesus is the only Lord who, if you receive Him, will fulfill you completely, and, if you fail him, will forgive you eternally.”

Questions to consider exposing people's gospel stories:

Creation: What do they assume the world should be like? What kind of a person would they like to be? What would have to be in place for them to feel happy?

Fall: How do they describe their struggles and battles? What do they feel is their most pressing problem? What do they feel they lack? Who or what do they think is responsible?

Redemption: What do they think will make life better? What provides a sense of escape and release? Who or what will deliver their hopes?

Consummation: What are their hopes? What is the long-term project to which they are working? What are the dreams for which they make sacrifices? Have they given up to the point of simply seeking to make it through the day?

Our response should embrace the plausibility structure.

Initially coined by sociologist Peter Berger, a plausibility structure is a set of ideas or beliefs that an individual or group of individuals is or is not willing to consider as plausible or true. For many people, the belief in the divinity of Christ is implausible. So, our job is to consider how we can help others see the reasonableness of faith in the divinity of Jesus. One approach is to begin with an idea generally regarded as plausible.

The Power of Asking Questions

A good question is, what do you want at a conversational level?

You can then ask why.Why does it matter so much to you? This pushes beyond the outcome that the person wants to the underlying idolatrous desires of their hearts. The why question helps you move beyond surface idols (such as a new car) to identify “deep idols” such as (respect).

Questions to Ask Yourself

What do they believe or not believe about God?

What do they want? What are their idolatrous desires?

How do these idolatrous desires control their lives?

B. Servant Apologetics

We need to stop trying to win arguments.

We need to work on humility in our apologetics.

Over the years, I have found myself moving away from the competitive model of doing apologetics. Servant apologetics puts the other's good as the primary focus of your apologetics. Remember that Peter put at the end of 1 Peter 3:15 how our apologetics will be deployed “with gentleness and respect.” Unfortunately, too many people see it as winning an argument or ensuring our point is heard the loudest.

Our goal in apologetics is to help people become more convinced that the gospel is true.

The human motivation is our tendency to turn inward, to do what meets our own needs, even in our ministry of apologetics, which contrasts the biblical model of servant apologetics.

3 Key aspects of servant apologetics

1. The aspect of listening in apologetics.

Communication can either be speaker-centered or audience-centered.

Speaker-centered: Starts with the communicator and what he thinks is essential.

Audience-Centered: Communication starts with what the audience is dealing with, what they are concerned with now, and what they need deep inside.

We need to connect our current message with their current situation and concerns. That requires an attitude of servanthood expressed in the act of listening.

2. The aspect of giving in apologetics.

We are not necessarily talking about financial giving. The giving we are speaking of in Servant apologetics involves letting the light shine on others more than on yourself. The servant apologist gives other opportunities. He gives them credit. He gives them honor.

Woven throughout the Bible is looking for ways to bless others. We are blessed for a reason and must pass that on to others.

3. The Aspect of growing in apologetics.

It’s about properly using apologetics.

The art of a good apologist is about looking at virtue, character development, and what it means to fear the Lord as the beginning of wisdom. This is one way of looking at what it looks like to be caring and giving. It all comes out of a heart constantly being molded by the word of God and the work of the Holy Spirit.

We do not measure success in persuasion by conversions alone.

First, the servant model demonstrates a more significant character.

Second, the servant model fosters better communication.

Third, the servant model provides greater spiritual power.

C. Relational Apologetics

Relational apologetics is about your life becoming a defense of the Christian faith. Every relationship you have is an opportunity to connect people to their creator as you display your great hope, both in word and deed.

Who you are.

We are apologists who seek holiness.

Holiness exposes the nature of hypocrisy.

To avoid hypocrisy, we should seek holiness daily, asking God to search our hearts, petitioning Him for forgiveness, and embracing the power of repentance. (1 Pet. 1:15)[11]

We are apologists who seek humility.

Realizing that you do not have to know every answer to every question a skeptic might ask should be a huge relief.

Not only is it a relief for you to understand that “I don’t know” is an option, but others will appreciate your honesty in admitting your lack of knowledge.

Admitting that you don’t have to know everything protects your credibility.

Humility disarms. It brings down the other person's defenses. When someone’s guard is down, they are more likely to see through their emotions and consider what you say.

We are apologists who seek to remain ready.

People will be compelled to ask why if you live differently. (Matt. 5:14)

A prepared heart regarding Jesus as holy and Lord will help develop a proper attitude to defend your faith.

A prepared mind helps to provide reasons for what you believe (offensive apologetics) and answer skeptical accusations (defensive apologetics). Most Christians never think about why they believe; they believe.

We are apologists who act with gentleness and respect.

Our primary responsibility is to allow the gospel to be seen; the power to save someone rests in the gospel, not in us or our arguments.

Being gentle and respectful means giving people the truth they need to hear, not merely the truth you want them to hear.

Note: We are often told that one conversation may be the only time someone hears the gospel. That may be true, but when that burden becomes a pressure, it surfaces in frustration and anger and works against the gospel. Often, skeptics need to hear the gospel more than once before they are persuaded.

What you do

We are apologists who learn to listen.

Listening is a complex skill to develop. Few people are excellent listeners. Most people like to talk more than listen because it allows them to sound smart, win arguments, convince people they are correct, and be the center of attention.

Listening shows that we care and are not out to win an argument.

Listening is crucial because you need to understand the position of the person you are speaking with.

THE LISTENING APOLOGIST

1). Focus on their words, not your response: you need to practice not thinking about your response when someone else is talking.

2). Learn to ask questions: you can ask them to summarize what they have just said back to them. I will say, “So let me make sure I understand you. You believe that …”

3). Write down their points: recording people’s points of view of contention will revolutionize your apologetic efforts.

It keeps conversations calm and focused. It gives you time to think before you respond. You will find that many people will not have thought through their beliefs; it isn’t only Christians who have not contemplated their religion.

We are apologists who learn to ask questions.

God asks questions. It is one of the first things we see Him doing in the Bible. When Adam and Eve hid because they sinned, God asked, “Where are you?”

God's questions are intended to help us explain our actions, look inward at our motives, and see our shortcomings. This is why Jesus asked so many questions.

Asking questions is one way to bypass the defenses that quickly arise in the conversation of faith.

First, questions do not appear to be an attack.

Second questions move the burden of proof from you to them.

We are apologists who seek to stay on topic.

When you notice people starting to change the topic, you must bring them back to the original issue. Be careful of chasing every topic that appears in front of you.

Redirecting is an invaluable skill in apologetics.

You cannot let other people frame discussions for you by bringing up unrelated topics to create your position for you, a position that doesn’t even exist.

Reasons people change topics:

1). People may genuinely think two topics are somehow related.

2). people often switch topics because they know they have been defeated. When posed with a question they cannot answer, people often make something up or change the subject.

We are apologists who stick to what they know.

I have heard all kinds of arguments by well-meaning Christians to prove that Christianity is the right religion. In a sincere attempt to defend their faith, everyday Christians suddenly become experts and statisticians. I have never seen someone come to faith because of how many stats I can give them on why they should believe or have a well-crafted argument to show how much I know.

The problem is different from what we know but how we use what we know.

It is good to read books. Learning how the universe and its design indicate that God exists is good. However, these knowledge bits often tend to inflate our sense of expertise.

Christians must only speak from an expertise we possess.

The more you say in an argument, the more you must defend.

Option #1 says, “I don’t know.” I don’t know. It is a far better response than saying something that is wrong or cannot be supported.

Option #2, the better option, is to offer what you think and then commit to studying the topic with the skeptic.

What you know

We are apologists who have truth on our side.

It would be best to have relativism when the truth is not on your side, or you have no power. When you cannot make people do what you think is right, a clever way to justify your own “personal right” is to propagate the idea that everyone is right.

We are apologists who have a God who has made Himself known.

“Most people are not scholars. They are not academics and researchers who have dedicated their lives to a single idea. Furthermore, most people's objections to God are not intellectual; they are either emotional or volitional. It is not their mind but their heart that rejects God.”

Our job as apologists is to help people uncover the truth they already know. (Romans 1:18-21)

1) Establish the possibility of God’s existence.

Do not try to prove God’s existence; you must open the door. Ask questions like, “Why is there something rather than nothing.” Don’t argue with the person about the validity of evolution. Instead, ask what there was in the beginning. Ask if the universe has always existed or if it came from nothing.

2) Consider the way that God would make Himself known.

Once you have established the existence of God, the next step is to ask if miracles would be possible.

3) Examine the way God has made Himself known.

You could refer to many miracles; however, the most significant miracle we should focus on is the resurrection. It shows that God exists and that Christianity is the right religion. Before I give any evidence for the resurrection, I must not be under any delusion that offering evidence for the resurrection will seal the deal. First, seeing only sometimes equals believing. Remember, some in Jesus’ day saw the miracles and still did not believe.

Many people do not even allow specific evidence into their courtroom because their worldview will discredit it.

We are apologists who follow a religion that has a narrow road.

Loving and respecting people comes with accepting the risk of telling them they are wrong. Imagine the chaos in a world where no one ever pointed out errors.

Why is Religious Pluralism so Popular?

First, religion in our current post-Christian culture is becoming a fantasy. We have an entire generation of Christians growing up who know very little about their faith, much less what makes it accurate.

Second, religious pluralism is growing because people have at least one of the following assumptions about God.

1) He cannot be known.

2) He does not care how you live.

3) He will not hold our ignorance of Him against us.

The Logical Fallacy: if all roads lead to heaven, then Christianity is wrong in its theology and doctrine of salvation. If Christianity is valid in its doctrinal assumptions, how could it be equally valid as a religious structure?

We are apologists who believe in the reliability of scripture.

The question at hand is whether you must be able to prove to the skeptic that the Bible is inspired and is an inherent word of God. Does a person have to believe in the Bible to be saved?

I do not debate the inherency of scripture with a skeptic. This is not because I do not believe it but because such debates should be handled among Christians. They are not necessary for the battle over people's minds, hearts, and souls.

The Bible could be filled with mistakes, and we would still be assured of our salvation.

“What many people fail to understand when they refute the Bible is that they are not merely refuting one book. They are refuting a collection of books written over 1,500 years by more than forty authors in six languages.”

The Big Picture: Most people have never studied the Bible or its reliability. They say that they do not believe the Bible because it helps justify their rejection of God. But you can use what they think about the Bible to expose the deeper issue of their unbelief.

We are apologists who help remove the roadblock of evil and pain.

The problem of evil and pain is a subject that requires excellent gentleness and sincerity.

“It is not good to tell someone that we are all bad people and deserve what we get.” You must discern whether a person’s struggle is “emotional” or “Intellectual.”

1). The best place to start by expressing genuine concern for a person’s pain. Don’t belittle or dismiss a person's pain by thoughtless statements like, “Well, God moves in mysterious ways.”

2). Don’t pretend to know the mind of God. I would not even tell a grieving person, well, God has a plan. God’s plan isn’t essential to someone who is suffering.

3). The best thing you can do is offer comfort. Comfort leads to hope, which eventually leads to an understanding of purpose. You do not know why some bad things happen; it is better not to pretend you do.

We take comfort in knowing that God is a God who allows terrible things to happen to good people. If this were not so, he never would have allowed Jesus, an innocent and good man, to suffer and die on the cross.

Why? I may not understand why God does not prevent more pain on earth, but I know that He has experienced the deepest pain. More importantly, His pain made the way for us to be free from pain forever. (1 Thessalonians 4:13; Hebrews 4:15)

4). Argument against the idea that because God is supposed to be all good and all-powerful, would He not want to be rid of all evil?

Two significant problems with this position

#1 The difference between choice and evil. Much of this world’s evil results from people’s actions. If the world is rid of evil, it must also be rid of morally free creatures.

#2 The Problem with this argument is our ability to identify something as evil if God does not exist.

Even though the problem of evil and pain is a severe issue, it is an issue that helps prove God’s existence.