How do we know God exists? In the past when I was asked this question I used to automatically jump to an argument for God. I would sit down and try to explain it in detail to the individual. I have now decided to take a different approach and back up: I ask the person “How should we approach the existence of God?” or “ What method should we use?” Now, I know … [Read more...]
Speaking the Truth in Love
William Lane Craig was my teacher This was while I was doing my graduate work at Biola University. In this post, I’ll share an important lesson I learned from William Lane Craig about speaking the truth in love. I remember how he began our “Philosophical Issues for Apologists” course by saying he often signs his books with 2 Corinthians 10:5 as a subscript: We demolish … [Read more...]
Why the Hypothesis that God Raised Jesus from the Dead is the Best Explanation
Introduction When it comes to the Christian faith, there is no doctrine more important than the resurrection of Jesus. Biblical faith is not simply centered in ethical and religious teachings. Instead, it is founded on the person and work of Jesus. If Jesus was not raised from the dead, we as His followers are still dead in our sins (1Cor.15:7). Explanations try to show how … [Read more...]
Important Words for Postmodern Apologetics
We are living in a decidedly postmodern age. This does not mean the fundamentals of our faith must change to please culture, but it does mean that unless Christians change the way we communicate the unchanging Gospel, our mission to reach the lost will fail. D. Rodriguez makes this same point in his recent critique of Brian McLaren’s book, "A New Kind of Christian" To … [Read more...]
How I Came to Christ Through Apologetics
I grew up unchurched and was pretty much an agnostic up through my twenties. Even though I got baptized as a teenager into the Presbyterian USA denomination, I did it more for social reasons than anything else. There was no great care taken to make sure I was in the faith. Most of my experience with church up until I was 26 years old was about teachings of being a nice person … [Read more...]
Step One of Using Pop Culture as a Community Apologist: The "Aha!" Moment
I am convinced that one of the easiest things to do as a Community Apologist is to use pop culture to demonstrate that everyone, everywhere (with the exception of the odd sociopath) has a moral intuition. And once people agree that this intuition exists, the conversation can then turn to why it exists and where it comes from. One of the commenters on my last post asked if I … [Read more...]
Frustrated Apologists
It can be frustrating talking about issues of apologetics with someone who does not believe. If not careful, the apologist can feel as if the source of his or her frustration is the person. This can lead to guilt rooted in the sense that the apologist cares more about arguments of apologetics than loving the person. Have you ever felt that way? I know I have. However, I … [Read more...]
A Brief Word on Apologetic Discretion
(This post originally appeared this time last year on Another Ascending Lark. Beach Reach, the trip that I mention in this post, is a trip where 700-ish Christians from colleges all over Texas head down to South Padre Island for spring break to minister and share the Gospel with 40,000+ unbelievers. Our main ministries are via free island transportation and free pancake … [Read more...]
Is Apologetic Posting on Internet Sites a Waste of Time?
I have been posting apologetic type responses and material on the Internet now going on twenty years (on other types of ‘e-communication’ even before the Internet was popular). I don’t usually hang out in atheistic discussion forums, but instead try to inject some reasoned, and/or 'salt & light,' content into secular discussions when relevant. This often leads to discussion … [Read more...]
The Transforming Power of Study
"Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God – what is good and well-pleasing and perfect." Romans 12:2 Anakainosis is the Greek word for renewal. And the Greek equivalent of "transformed" is metamorphoo. Properly understood, it implies a "changing form in keeping with … [Read more...]