1. Give to an apologetics ministry
2. Get books into the hands of the right people (Love Your God with All Your Mind
)3. Organize apologetics conferences
4. Contribute to online forums
5. Comment on blogs
6. Start your own blog (Blogger, Wordpress)
7. Give people CDs and MP3s to listen to
8. Show a DVD or movie at your church or home
9. Start a Reasonable Faith Group (or something like that)
10. Get a certificate (Biola, Cross Examined Instructor Academy)
11. Get a degree (Biola, SES, and more)
12. Start a Sunday school class
13. Do youth group apologetics mission trips (like Jim Wallace here)
14. Do talks at schools
15. Start a podcast
16. Write letters to the editor
17. Do book reviews on Amazon from a Christian perspective
18. Go through good curriculum (Perhaps the ABC curriculum for home, church, or youth group)
19. Encourage your pastor to preach apologetically
20. Use apologetics bulletin inserts weekly (PCM has some good ones)
Why not sit down and brainstorm your own 20 ideas for doing apologetics. Please add your ideas below and tweet this post.
18 comments :
Great post Brian.
How about using apologetics in conversations with non-Christian friends? This has more of an effect than people realize I think.
Also, simple little things like putting snippets in your facebook status. For example on easter day one of my friends wrote this as his status, "Happy Easter Day! The most controversial day in history! Can a human being really rise from the dead?!? If so what does that mean? If not then why couldn't the Romans/Jews produce a body and stop a subversive new religion in it's earliest days?"
Just little things like that are easy to do, but they get people thinking and it helps to change their perceptions.
Also you could create little apologetics tracts which you can then distribute throughout your neighbourhood.
Also things like leaving apologetics books around when you have people round your house, or have them in your bag when you go to school or work and then take them out to read them at lunch maybe. This often sparks conversations off when people want to know what you're reading.
All of these are really minor things, but they do make a difference. I think you covered all the major ones in your post, Brian.
Thanks for this. I've been doing a lot of apologetics reading lately but struggling with finding ways to use it. I'm also a pretty shy person in general though.
Read your bible and try and justify why the god of the old testament killed or murdered so many innocent children, people, and animals. Please explain to people about talking snakes and donkeys. Explain why jesus who said he was coming in this generation has not yet come and skeptics might begin to understand a god who has sent millions to hell loves us.
Good suggestions. My only comment of warning is that you beware of pushing the issue too much.For instance if you plan to start a sunday school group, you shouldn't make apologetics the sole focus. Not only would this be bizarre to most ppl, there's more to Christianity than that. Don't make ppl your hobby horse to talk about apologetics. Apologetics should be fully included, but not the predominate focus of a study group. Also, make sure ppl dont perceive you as being solely about apologetics, they may get the impression you just like arguing (and maybe thats the case, examine yourself) and intellectual endeavor. Other than that, have at it!!
Very interesting veritaslogos that your blog has no place for comments. Scared to have someone question your beliefs?
Hi Cerbaz,
You said "Read your bible and try and justify why the god of the old testament killed or murdered so many innocent children, people, and animals."
Which specific instances are you referring to? I have read the Bible, and contrary to your statement, I believe God was justified in the actions He took in all of the situations. Lee Strobel has an interview with Norm Geisler on this subject in his book "The Case for Faith".
You also said "Please explain to people about talking snakes and donkeys."
I don't know why any christian should have to answer for this. I believe in a God that created space and time (I also believe there is good evidence for this). A talking donkey is not such a big deal in the grand scheme of things.
You said "Explain why Jesus who said he was coming in this generation has not yet come"
I assume you are referring to Matthew 24:34. This would seem like a problem if you only read this verse. I suggest you read the entire 24th chapter to get a better understanding. If you do, i think you will understand that all that Jesus foretold must happen first. If I am incorrect, I hope one of the much more experienced people following the blog here will correct me.
Finally, you said "skeptics might begin to understand a god who has sent millions to hell loves us."
If we are given life by God, and we choose to ignore him, then what exactly should He do with us? Someone who doesn't want God would surely be unhappy in Heaven. Therefore, the only logical place for them to be is a place absent of God.
If you are truly troubled by some of these issues, I suggest you do some research. There are MANY great resources on these issues on this blog (free to download by the way!). Also, the book i mentioned earlier (The Case for Faith), sheds some light on these questions as well.
A talking donkey is not such a big deal in the grand scheme of things.
A good point. Consider me converted to Shrekianism.
In a more serious vein, if you want to practice apologetics you'll need to approach people with something less obviously flawed than this:
Can a human being really rise from the dead?!? If so what does that mean? If not then why couldn't the Romans/Jews produce a body and stop a subversive new religion in it's earliest days?"
If we are given life by God, and we choose to ignore him, then what exactly should He do with us? Someone who doesn't want God would surely be unhappy in Heaven.
Then let me state right now that if I am mistaken and there actually is a loving God then I will be delighted to find out I'm wrong and more than happy to join you in heaven.
Question: will I be welcomed into heaven? And if not, what does this say about your above comment?
Russell having read a case for faith by Lee Strobel I find Kreeft's analogy of when his daughter pricked herself and suffered a small amount of pain, but learned from it (p41) not comparable to the suffering of the African woman or the Indian people Strobel discussed. My friend lost her 6 year old son in a car accident, I could say don't worry he is in heaven, he may have not chosen to accept jesus as his lord and saviour so he is in a better place. If christians believe this than life is not important is it?
Hi David,
Consider me humbled :)
I appreciate your response. I'm still very new to formulating arguments. However, I think this is the best way to learn what makes a good argument and what doesn't. I will try to provide more thought out responses in the future.
One more comment I have read Ex 12: 29-30 where god killed every first born egyptian child and in 2 Kings 3 :23 where god sent two bears to rip apart 42 boys for making fun of a prophet's bald head. Nice eh?
I appreciate your response. I'm still very new to formulating arguments. However, I think this is the best way to learn what makes a good argument and what doesn't. I will try to provide more thought out responses in the future.
Are you then admitting that it's a bad argument? And, if so, why is it that you think a reasonable person wouldn't find this very convincing?
Because I do not feel you read your bible with a skeptical outlook. You read your bible as one who believes that the word of god is the truth. Try for once to read it as an unbeliever and you will find yourself questioning. I once believed in the word of god but have since learnt it is not to be believed. Read Ken Daniels book "Relections of a Missionary" it is free on line and you may begin to see where I am coming from in my disbelief. Yes I once believed that jesus had died for my sins and I prayed the sinners prayer and I was baptized in the name of the father, son and holy spirit. I even led people to the lord. Do not tell me I never believed or god did it because he is all powerful and all knowing that argument no longer works for me.
David B. Ellis quoted the following from Russell:
A talking donkey is not such a big deal in the grand scheme of things.
and responded with:
A good point. Consider me converted to Shrekianism.
This is a good illustration of Russell's point, I think. Men have the intelligence, talent, and capability to produce the appearance of a donkey speaking English -- and sounding like Eddie Murphy!
Yet how much more intelligent and capable is the Creator of the universe.
If folks like David cannot conceive of a being greater than themselves, that is a flaw in their thinking, not a flaw in Christianity.
"Are you then admitting that it's a bad argument? And, if so, why is it that you think a reasonable person wouldn't find this very convincing? "
Hi David,
It was my understanding that the original question was how do Christians explain talking snakes and donkeys. In this case, I believe my point was valid. I, as a Christian, believe in a God that created the universe. Therefore, I see no reason why a God capable of this could not open the mouth of donkey to speak. If Cerbaz was looking for evidence of this happening, then perhaps my argument is not enough. I'm not entirely sure what Cerbaz is looking for.
"Question: will I be welcomed into heaven? And if not, what does this say about your above comment?"
If you are asking my christian opinion, then no. The bible is clear on this (John 3:17-18, Romans 10:9-10).
"Russell having read a case for faith by Lee Strobel I find Kreeft's analogy of when his daughter pricked herself and suffered a small amount of pain, but learned from it (p41) not comparable to the suffering of the African woman or the Indian people Strobel discussed. My friend lost her 6 year old son in a car accident, I could say don't worry he is in heaven, he may have not chosen to accept jesus as his lord and saviour so he is in a better place. If christians believe this than life is not important is it? "
Hi Cerbaz,
If life is a gift from God then i think it is very important. As a Christian I believe i am saved, but it is also my privilege to speak to others about salvation through Jesus Christ. This is a central part of living from my Christian perspective.
I'm sorry for you friend. But, while we do experience much pain throughout life, we also experience love, happiness, friendship, etc. Anyone can experience these emotions, but how do you account for them without God?
"It was my understanding that the original question was how do Christians explain talking snakes and donkeys. In this case, I believe my point was valid. I, as a Christian, believe in a God that created the universe. Therefore, I see no reason why a God capable of this could not open the mouth of donkey to speak."
Actually, the question I was asking was in response to the comment "Can a human being really rise from the dead?!? If so what does that mean? If not then why couldn't the Romans/Jews produce a body and stop a subversive new religion in it's earliest days?". Which I consider pretty obviously a horrible argument.
If folks like David cannot conceive of a being greater than themselves, that is a flaw in their thinking, not a flaw in Christianity.
Sure, I can conceive of a being greater than myself. But so what? That doesn't mean we have good reason to think they exist.
It was my understanding that the original question was how do Christians explain talking snakes and donkeys.
The question I was asking was regarding Michael's comment about producing the body of Jesus. Not the talking donkey business (my comment regarding Shrekianism wasn't meant to be taken seriously---obviously God, if he existed, could make donkeys talk).
In this case, I believe my point was valid. I, as a Christian, believe in a God that created the universe. Therefore, I see no reason why a God capable of this could not open the mouth of donkey to speak.
yes, God, if he exists, could make donkeys talk. It was Cerbaz' objection. Not mine. Take it up with him.
If you are asking my christian opinion, then no. The bible is clear on this (John 3:17-18, Romans 10:9-10).
Exactly my point. And since you know this is what the Bible says it makes your comment that:
"if we are given life by God, and we choose to ignore him, then what exactly should He do with us? Someone who doesn't want God would surely be unhappy in Heaven. Therefore, the only logical place for them to be is a place absent of God"
rather disingenuous.
21. Help get http://www.apologetics-wiki.com going ;-)
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