APOLOGETICS
We need God. All wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Him. He leads, teaches, and corrects all who follow Him.
You are likely to have conversations with atheists and skeptics who love to argue. Christians have developed complex ways to argue using logic, science, and philosophy. It’s called apologetics. Apologetics today focuses on these four areas:
The historical evidence for Jesus’ resurrection
The logical necessity of a Creator
The moral argument for God
The reliability of Scripture without giving an absolute reason to believe in the reliability of Scripture.
Some even say the merely presuppose that the Bible is the Word of God without error. That’s about as weak as any argument could be.
WHAT THEY ARE MISSING
Most apologists don’t talk about personal revelation because they’re trying to be credible to unbelievers using shared, “objective” reasoning. They fail to point out that the human mind isn’t capable of “objective reasoning.” There’s no such thing as “objective reasoning” for humans. The human mind can’t reason to truth, and it can’t be objective.
This is the difference between knowing ABOUT God and knowing God.
As a result, these apologists are trying to fight against the secular world by fitting into the secular world. While intellectual defense has its place, knowing Christ personally is the only thing that truly transforms lives. Most apologists are trying to fit into the world to compel the worldly people to come out of the world. However, the message of Christianity becomes incomplete and internally inconsistent when personal revelation is left out. The true defense of the Gospel — the one that reaches the heart — is the life of Christ revealed in us, which no argument can replace.
Much of the problems Christian apologists are having has come out of the idolatry surrounding the human intellect. Intellectualism is the exaltation of the human mind. It’s makes the human mind into a sort of a false god. The Bible makes it clear that the human mind can’t be trusted. It’s deceitful and desperately wicked. Even secularists know the human mind can’t reason to truth, and rational thought is impossible without truth. Of course, secularists refuse to deal with that problem because it destroys the basis of secularism and intellectualism. But intellectualism has crept into Christian education. Theologians depend on their intellects rather than seeking revelation from Christ. Rather than following Christ, they follow their carnal mind’s interpretation of the Bible. This leads to dry Christianity that has no life or power along with terrible errors in thinking.
The skeptic loves to argue with those who leave God out, but they react when you tell them that you know Jesus Christ exists because you know Jesus. They might even stoop to ridicule, which is childish. They use silly arguments because they have no answer to your experience. You can tell them they can have their own experience and “check it out for themselves.” You can tell your friends about your experiences with Christ. Be led by the Holy Spirit. Only say what the Holy Spirit gives you to say.
God says everyone already knows He exists, and no one has any excuse. God says ungodly people don’t want Him ruling over them. Some aren’t totally hardened against God. Those who are hardened will fight the fact that nothing can be known without divine revelation. Once they realize they are limited to bare claims or logical fallacies like circular reasoning or an infinite regression of unproved proofs, they will try to say Christians are in the same boat. They will imply that you can’t know for certain God is speaking to you. Then, they will say that they are somehow immune to the weakness of the human mind. In other words, they reverse reality with no rational explanation except for strong emotion. Keep in mind that many skeptics are under the control of demonic forces. Don’t be discouraged. When you face opposition or persecution, look to Jesus. He will guide your words and actions.
Ask God to answer these questions.
Why do you need God?
What is wisdom?
Why do some people fight the fact that God is real?
Why shouldn’t you tell others about God unless you know God?
How do you tell someone about how Christ leads you?
Bonus questions:
How can Jesus help you when you meet people who don’t believe in Him?
Why is it important for you to know that all wisdom and knowledge are hidden in God?
Why do skeptics get upset when you tell them about how Jesus Christ speaks to you?