BECOMING A MORE CONFIDENT CHRISTIAN AND A MORE CONVINCING WITNESS SESSION 1 CHRISTIANITY OR SOMETHING ELSE?

BECOMING A MORE CONFIDENT CHRISTIAN AND A MORE CONVINCING WITNESS SESSION 1 CHRISTIANITY OR SOMETHING ELSE? Rich Knopp, Ph.D. Prof. of Philosophy & Christian Apologetics Director, WorldViewEyes Lincoln Christian University

INTRODUCTION A. Series overview 1. Christianity or something else? 2. Questions about God 3. Questions about miracles and Jesus 4. Questions about the Bible 5. Common questions and criticisms

Different Beliefs Satan True Disciples? Confused Unsure Complex

INTRODUCTION 20% B. Questions and doubts - Barna Research Group - The growth of the Nones 80% Churched Teens Disengaged by 29 2007 2009 2012 20 15 10 5 0 8% > 15% > 19.3% 73% of nones from religious homes 66% are de-converts De-Converts most frequent factor:... sharing their burgeoning doubts with a Christian friend or family member only to receive trite, unhelpful answers (D. Dyck, The Leavers, Christianity Today [Nov. 19, 2010])

JOHN THE BAPTIZER Jn 1:19-34 Behold, the Lamb of God... VS. Matt 11:1-6 Are you the one...?

THOMAS John 20:24-25 Unless I see..., I will not believe. Jude 1:22 Be merciful to those who doubt.

BASIC OBJECTIVES 1. To EXHILARATE the faith of Christians. 2. To INSTIGATE reflection. 3. To FACILITATE witness.

CLARIFICATIONS 1. Not for BRAINIACS. 2. Not absolute PROOF, but POINTERS. 3. Not just INFORMATION. (Jm 2:19; Matt 4:1-3) 4. Real goal (Mark 12:30) LOVE the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength I believe that... vs. Do you love me?

II. BACKGROUND FOR APOLOGETICS: DIRECTIVES A. DEFEND the faith 1 Peter 3: 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened. 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer [apologia] to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. [NIV] Phil 1:7b whether I [Paul] am in chains or defending [apologia] and confirming the gospel, all of you share the affection of Christ Jesus.

II. BACKGROUND FOR APOLOGETICS: DIRECTIVES 1. 1 Pet 3:15 DEFEND the faith always being ready to make a defense [apologia]... 2. Col 2:8 Don t be taken CAPTIVE by deceptive philosophies 3. 2 Cor 10:5 We DEMOLISH arguments and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God 4. 2 Tim 2:24-25... CORRECTING those in opposition... 5. Titus 1:9... hold firmly to the trustworthy message and... REFUTE those who oppose. 6. Jude 3 Contend earnestly for the faith.

II. BACKGROUND FOR APOLOGETICS: PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS 1. Be PERSONAL. 2. Be INQUISITIVE. - Jesus: 173 questions - Mk 11:27-33 By what authority...? - [Jesus]: I will ask you one question, and you answer me... 3. Be SENSITIVE. - 1 Pet 3:15 with gentleness and reverence - 2 Tim 2:24-25 not quarrelsome but kind... with gentleness - Jude 1:22 Have mercy on some who are doubting

The BIG Questions

The BIG Questions Ultimate Reality? WV BELIEFS History? Nature? (Cosmology) Ethics? Human Beings? (anthropology) Death? Knowledge? (Epistemology)

Competing Answers in Scripture Paul vs. Epicureans & Stoics John vs. Gnosticism Adam/Eve & the Serpent Daniel vs. Babylonians & Persians Creation Myths vs. Genesis Elijah vs. Baal Moses vs. Egyptians

Competing Answers in Contemporary Culture

Christian Theism God Creator God Jesus Saving God Universe Incarnate God God so loved the world that He gave His... Son

Deism God Creator God Absent God Universe Natural revelation only only Transcendent only God s gone. Let s reason it out ourselves

God New Age Pantheism Yin Yang Techniques Universe Everything is god Altered consciousness Reincarnation Connect to the Oneness of the Universe.

Secular Humanism (Modernism) God Science Nature only Optimistic Reason Evolution Universe We can do it ourselves.

Secular Humanism (Modernism) We can do it ourselves.

Nihilism (Pessimistic Atheism) God Nothing matters Absurd life Pessimistic Universe We got nothin and we re going nowhere.

Existentialism Freedom/Feelings Absurdity Define yourself Life is absurd, but be free and have fun.

Postmodernism Fragmentation Uncertainty Relativism Different strokes for different folks

1 Deism A 2 Nihilism B 3 Christianity C 4 5 Secular Humanism Existentialism E D F 6 7 Postmodernism New Age Pantheism G

VI. STRATEGIC TYPES OF A. NEGATIVE apologetics APOLOGETICS Showing that Christianity is NOT FALSE. Responding to specific objections or criticisms e.g. Disciples stole Jesus body (Matt 28:11-15) e.g. Paul is insane (Acts 26:22-32) e.g. Christians act against Caesar (Acts 17:5-8) e.g. Apostles follow cleverly devised tales (2 Pet 1:20-21) TODAY: The problem of evil. EVIL <> All-good, All-powerful, All-knowing God?

VI. STRATEGIC TYPES OF B. POSITIVE apologetics APOLOGETICS Showing that Christianity is TRUE. 1. Evidences in nature 2. Miracles 3. Fulfilled prophecy 4. Reliability of scripture 5. Personal experience 6. Social benefits of the Christian worldview

VI. STRATEGIC TYPES OF APOLOGETICS C. NEUTRALIZING apologetics Showing that other WVs are FALSE or PROBLEMATIC. - 2 Cor 10:5 destroying speculations... - Rom 1:21... futile in their speculations... - Titus 1:9-11... refute those who contradict.

VI. STRATEGIC TYPES OF APOLOGETICS C. NEUTRALIZING apologetics Showing that other WVs are FALSE or PROBLEMATIC. Other Worldviews Claims & Behavior Logical Implications

NEUTRALIZING APOLOGETICS Competing Worldview Destroy it from within.

E.g. Monistic Perspectives Worldview Position Claims & Behavior Everything is ONE World is illusory Logic/Language are deceptive Follow right path Pursue peace & good Improve human condition How can there be right & good? How can there be evil? How can we avoid logic and language?

E.g. Naturalistic Perspectives Demonic Males: Apes and the Origins of Human Violence (1996) Worldview Position Everything is explainable by matter and impersonal, undirected causes. The Natural History of Rape: Biological Bases of Sexual Coercion The Goat or Who is Sylvia? 2002 Broadway Show

E.g. Naturalistic Perspectives Worldview Position Everything is explainable by matter and impersonal, undirected causes. We are animals Sex across the species barrier ceases to be an offense to our status as human beings. Peter Singer Professor of Bioethics, Princeton Professor at the Center for Applied Philosophy & Public Ethics, Univ. of Melbourne

Claims/Behavior of Naturalists Claims Man has freedom, value, and uniqueness Worldview Position Basis for ethics Reason powerful All explainable by matter and impersonal, undirected causes. Behavior Loving, giving, etc. Makes moral judgments The WV is INCONSISTENT with claims & behavior.

VII. WHAT S REALLY AT STAKE? A. Our options are: - forced - momentus - live B. Every way of life must address the BIG questions. - Which way is best? - I am the way... C. Personal, present, and permanent significance.

VII. WHAT S REALLY AT STAKE?