To use apologetics or not?????!

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Timofree

Guest
#1
#1
#God doesn't say the world will believe in Jesus because of how well you argue or debate with them (although He can use that.........), but our love, and His goodness which leads people to repent. I had a thought, arguing for God is like arguing for a caged lion, if you let the lion out of the cage, it's very capable to prove it's existence to people. How much MORE is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah...........!

As the Spirit leads you, pray people will experience Him, His presence, love, goodness, joy, healing touch, etc etc.
It's much better and more productive and fun than an argument over evolution. But there's grace, I used to argue a lot myself as a Christian, and even as a non Christian I'd argue that God existed........ Ha ha #happy daze are here again :)

By the way, I don't mind if you agree with me or not, God bless you either way!
 
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kenisyes

Guest
#2
#2
This quote has been attributed to many people:

Preach the gospel at every opportunity. If necessary, use words.

(So I agree with you.)
 
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Powemm

Guest
#3
#3
There is more mercy and forgiveness in Christ , than sin in us
 
homwardbound

homwardbound

Senior Member
#4
Oct 24, 2012
15,062
114
63
#4
Yes where sin abounded grace much more, and by recieving this amazing grace we love because Christ first loved us, We do not take it for granted because if we do how can anyone expect to escape
Hebrews 2:3How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
Galatians 5:13For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

hoping we all can learn this!
 
E

Ephraim

Banned
#5
May 17, 2013
175
1
0
#5
Timofree said:
#God doesn't say the world will believe in Jesus because of how well you argue or debate with them (although He can use that.........), but our love, and His goodness which leads people to repent. I had a thought, arguing for God is like arguing for a caged lion, if you let the lion out of the cage, it's very capable to prove it's existence to people. How much MORE is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah...........!

As the Spirit leads you, pray people will experience Him, His presence, love, goodness, joy, healing touch, etc etc.
It's much better and more productive and fun than an argument over evolution. But there's grace, I used to argue a lot myself as a Christian, and even as a non Christian I'd argue that God existed........ Ha ha #happy daze are here again :)

By the way, I don't mind if you agree with me or not, God bless you either way!
Click to expand...
Fantastic analogy; the Lion in the cage. I might use some form of that myself.
 
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TruthTalk

Guest
#6
#6
Yes we should certainly use Christian apologetic's properly and at every opportunity, I do. And your image of God as a caged lion is a gripping thought - if I were an unbeliever I would either run for cover or look for a way of escape, food for thought, thanks!

1Peter 3:15 -
15 but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: being ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear:
 
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RachelBibleStudent

Guest
#7
#7
kenisyes said:
This quote has been attributed to many people:

Preach the gospel at every opportunity. If necessary, use words.

(So I agree with you.)
Click to expand...
use words...it's necessary...
 
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RachelBibleStudent

Guest
#8
#8
Timofree said:
#God doesn't say the world will believe in Jesus because of how well you argue or debate with them (although He can use that.........), but our love, and His goodness which leads people to repent. I had a thought, arguing for God is like arguing for a caged lion, if you let the lion out of the cage, it's very capable to prove it's existence to people. How much MORE is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah...........!

As the Spirit leads you, pray people will experience Him, His presence, love, goodness, joy, healing touch, etc etc.
It's much better and more productive and fun than an argument over evolution. But there's grace, I used to argue a lot myself as a Christian, and even as a non Christian I'd argue that God existed........ Ha ha #happy daze are here again :)

By the way, I don't mind if you agree with me or not, God bless you either way!
Click to expand...
you may question the effectiveness...but God commands us to do it...

1 peter 3:15..."but 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;"
 
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Abiding

Guest
#9
#9
give them a fresh bagal first.....works for me:cool:
 
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RachelBibleStudent

Guest
#10
#10
i will also add that i think the failure or refusal of christians to make a reasonable defense of their faith is part of the reason society is the way it is nowdays...why would anyone act like there is a God if 'science proves there is no God' and many christians have nothing to say about it?

it is time for the churches to stop being lukewarm and stand up for the truth!
 
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Abiding

Guest
#11
#11
Rachel i agree...but since apologetics became "cool"
the idiots have done more good for the athiests cause then helped.

So id say stand up but dont be a parrot learn truth and reason
before just starting an arguement your gona lose and give a
victory away by stupid untrue facts and disrespectful babble.
 
Angela53510

Angela53510

Senior Member
#12
Jan 24, 2011
11,783
2,947
113
#12
Apologetics means "Defense of the Faith". For people who are atheists, agnostics, it is the FIRST step in the long process of answering a lot of questions about Christianity, concerning evolution versus intelligent design, the character of God.

It means showing that there are intelligent and scientific reasons for believing in God, such as how the universe began, how did life begin and how the earth is just right for life.

It also addresses concerns such as:
Is God just a human invention?
Is religion dangerous?
Does God intent to keep us slaves?
Can people be good without God?
What God is Christianity?

These are the types of questions and objections a non-believer will make and we need to be prepared to answer these questions. When people do not believe in the Bible, we have to establish a common ground to converse, before we can even begin to talk about Jesus. I know my breaking point was some books on evolution vs creation. When I realized that there was scientific evidence for creation and a Creator, then I was ready for the next step. of finding out who the Creator was - that is when I turned to the Bible, and began to ask questions about who God was.

We are all called to be evangelists, and part of that process in our society is being ready to discuss the hard questions with unbelievers. We do need to be prepared to give a DEFENSE of our faith and that is the meaning of apologetics, not this straw man that the OP and some subsequent posters have put up and knocked down.

I would recommend that people buy a copy of the book: Is God Just a Human Invention: and 17 other questions raised by the New Atheists. It is by Sean McDowell and Jonathan Morrow. There are also many other books from easy to difficult to help prepare us to use apologetics effectively to witness to the lost who do not have an understanding of the Bible or believe it to be true.

If you want a list of good titles, please PM me. I have a huge collection of really good books on Apologetics from easy to beyond difficult! LOL
 
maxwel

maxwel

Senior Member
#13
Apr 18, 2013
9,379
2,454
113
#13
Apologetics is VERY IMPORTANT.

It's also VERY BIBLICAL.
1 Peter 3:15
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear

It IS however often misapplied, or misinterpreted

1. People often BEAT others with answers, instead of answering with love and gentleness.

2. Apologetics, though it can encompass debate, does not always mean debate;
sometimes it should just be a loving, but intelligent answer.
An intelligent answer DOES NOT HAVE TO BE AN ARGUMENT.

3. By NOT learning basic apologetics, Christians often sound like complete idiots when attempting a debate.
Christians who don't study apologetics often give very WRONG answers to questions.
If Christians don't have an intelligent, reasonable answer to something, they should be honest, and admit they haven't studied that particular issue.

4. It's usually much more effective, and biblical, to wait for a person to ask question, than to just inject your opinion upon them. However, every case IS different.

5. Most important thing:
being right, and even proving it, is NEVER ENOUGH to bring someone to Christ.
BEING RIGHT DOES NOT SAVE PEOPLE.
It takes the Holy Spirit working on a receptive heart.
Often the most effective thing is to be gentle, and loving, and prayerful.
There IS a place for debate at times... but much more often people are reached through simple love and kindness.

6. Conclusion: Learn apologetics; be intelligent - but then use those things with gentleness, and with love.
 
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crossnote

crossnote

Senior Member
#14
Nov 24, 2012
30,707
3,650
113
#14
All in all the study of apologetics has helped me to give an answer to the skeptic rather than convince him of the accuracy/validity of God's Word.
 
Nautilus

Nautilus

Senior Member
#15
Jun 29, 2012
6,488
53
48
#15
Apologetics to me are just the christian versions of atheist points like can God make a rock so big he cant lift it?
 
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