The Reason Rally

On March 24, Richard Dawkins and a number of outspoken atheists plan to gather in Washington D.C. for what is being called “the largest gathering of the secular movement in world history.” One of the goals of the Reason Rally  is to celebrate atheism and advance secularism in society.

Here’s what stands out to me: Underlying this movement seems to be the idea that science and reason ultimately support naturalism—that truly reasonable people reject a belief in God. But something about this seems kind of odd…

Atheism and Reason

It’s interesting that the new atheism has often caricatured Christian belief as “blind faith,” while using reason as a theme for their entire movement. Here’s what’s odd to me: If atheism is true, why should we trust our reason at all? Naturalistic evolution is all about survival-enhancing behaviors—not true beliefs. For example:

Imagine you were lost in a jungle and came upon a hungry lion. But for some odd reason, you thought the hungry lion was actually cute little bunny. Then, you said to yourself, “I’m gonna go pet that cute little bunny.” But for another odd reason, you had the false belief that the best way to pet the animal was to run into a cave and hide. So, every time you saw a hungry lion, you ran into a cave to hide. If false beliefs could promote a survival-enhancing behavior, it seems that using reason may not be a reliable way to arrive at truth within the naturalistic framework.

Here’s my point: If human reasoning was just the product of natural selection, why should we trust our reasoning? When it comes to celebrating reason, it seems to me that naturalism—as a worldview—isn’t the best fit.

Still, many atheists have been emotionally hurt by Christians. And I believe positive things can happen when reasonable people get together, honestly see each other as real people, and respectfully dialogue about worldview issues. I hope some of this can happen in Washington D.C.

The Christian Response in D.C.

Something you might not know is that I used to live in Maryland and spent a good amount of time playing tourist in Washington D.C. (Although I haven’t been back east since 2003). I just learned that some of my brothers and sisters from around the world—people who believe that Christianity is a reasonable worldview—also plan to gather in D.C. on March 24 to “demonstrate a humble, loving and thoughtful response to the Reason Rally.” They’re mobilizing people via a Web site called TrueReason.org

They plan to hang out in small groups, giving out  bottled water and talking with anyone who’s interested in discussing religion, faith, and reason. A special resource on atheism and Christianity is also in the works–a collaboration among professional apologists and members of the Christian Apologetics Alliance. More on this later.

But the Christian response isn’t limited to our nation’s capital. We’re presenting reasons to believe from coast to coast. And on March 24, I’ll be equipping believers to give a rational defense of our reasonable faith in my local area.

You Can Join Us in California

Here on the West Coast, we’ve got a very cool apologetics training event happening the same weekend as the Reason Rally. To organize this, I’ve once again partnered with Biola University and Bridgeway Christian Church for Reasonable Faith in an Uncertain World (2012).

We got such a great response last year, that I’ll once again be speaking alongside top defenders of the faith like J.P. Moreland, Craig Hazen, John Mark Reynolds, and Sean McDowell.

If you live within a couple of hours from the Greater Sacramento area, I’d like to invite you to join us for accessible apologetics training in Rocklin, California. This all happens on March 23 and 24.

Want to join us for this event? Check out the event details here.

Help Wanted

Want to help me spread the word about this conference? Join the street team!

I’ll send you printable fliers, event updates and a FREE recording of my presentation from last year’s event, “Using Stories, Objects and Illustrations to Defend the Faith” (MP3 Audio).

I Want to Help. Sign Me Up!

Pop Quiz: Did Jesus Say He Was God?

What would you say if someone asked you, “Did Jesus say He was God?” In this post, I’ll give you a few talking points that you can use to give a thoughtful response to a question like this. But first, let me tell you a little story.

I was looking for more chips.

One day, I was at this family reunion at my in-laws’ place when a relative decided to engage me in a religious conversation. Now you have to understand that I usually don’t go looking for these kinds of discussions at parties. What I was looking for was more potato chips. Why? So I could try some of this homemade blue cheese dip–a secret family recipe!

So anyway, this woman cornered me and started talking about how Jesus never claimed to be God. In fact, she grabbed my Bible off the table, held it up as a visual aid, and said, “According to this, Jesus never claimed to be God.”

As a World Religions professor at a couple of universities, I hear this challenge a lot. The popular concept is that Jesus of Nazareth never said He was divine or never claimed to be the Son of God. But what about this? Did Jesus really say He was God? What does the historical evidence actually show?

Did Jesus really say He was God?

That’s exactly how Jesus’ original audience seemed to take it when He said, “I and the Father are one.” In fact, the Jews were ready to kill Him right there! Why? “Because you,” they said, “a mere man, claim to be God” (John 10:33).

Exodus 3:14 "Say to the Israelites, 'I AM' has sent me..."

On another occasion, He used the personal name of Israel’s God–the name revealed to Moses (Exodus 3:14)–to refer to Himself. And He even used the Torah for context, so no one would misunderstand Him: “Before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58). This would be about wild as telling a Muslim, “I am your God, Allah.” Don’t try that in Saudi Arabia! It’s no wonder the Jews tried to stone Him to death. That was the exact penalty for blasphemy under the Jewish legal system. It was pretty clear to everyone there  that He was saying, “I am Israel’s God.”

So did Jesus say He was God? Yeah. Did He use the exact words “I am God?” We don’t read a direct quote like that in Scripture, but here’s the thing: Jesus didn’t have to say the exact words “I am God,” in order to claim to be divine. But why is this a problem?

I don’t have to say the exact words, “I am married” to indicate that I’m married. I can say “I’m her husband,” or “this is my wife,” or “It’s our 12th wedding anniversary.” The question is, what did the people who were actually a part of conversation think about what Jesus said?

So Why Don’t People Get It?

Honestly, some never look into it. They believe whatever they hear about Christianity in pop culture. Others never look into it honestly. But some will actually be open-minded and give the Bible a fair hearing. Why don’t some of these people get it right away?

Jesus claimed to be God in ways that were pretty clear to the people He was talking to. Our problem as 21st century readers, is that we might not easily get what some of Jesus’ sayings actually meant to the people who were part of the conversation. For example, Jesus also claimed to be divine when He said He was the ”Son of Man.” I’ll admit that the first time I heard this title, I thought it was kind of like Muhammad saying, “I am but a man like you” (Qur’an 41:6)—Now there’s a religious figure who never claimed to be God! But this isn’t what Jesus meant at all. Let’s take a look at the term, “Son of Man.”

Jesus claimed to be the Son of Man

“Son of Man” seems to be Jesus’ favorite thing to call Himself–He uses it 80 times in the New Testament Gospels. Interestingly, it’s only used 1 time outside the gospels (Acts 7:56). So this probably wasn’t something the church made up. How many modern worship songs can you think of that use the term, “Son of Man?” We know this title didn’t emerge later on in history and it wasn’t written back into the earlier traditions about Jesus. But why is this title important? Because it’s referring to a figure that Jews recognized as divine. Here’s what the Jewish prophet Daniel wrote (7:13-14):

In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Here’s the point: The “Son of Man” in Daniel’s vision is rightful heir to the divine throne. According to the prophecy, He’ll rule forever. Nations will worship Him and His kingdom will be unstoppable.

Jesus claimed to be the Divine Messiah

Back to my family get-together. I asked the lady where she heard that Jesus never claimed to be God. I let her talk and explain her ideas. Then, I gently took my Bible back from her and asked, “Could you read this for me?” I turned to Jesus’ trial, as recorded by Mark (14:60-64). She read the record of Jesus’ cross-examination:

Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” They all condemned him as worthy of death. (63-64).

Jesus publicly claimed to be the Messiah. He claimed to be the Son of God. He even used the divine name in His answer: “I AM.” Now, at the very least, Jesus answered, “Yeah, I’m the Messiah. I’m the Son of God.” At that point, the High Priest probably thought something like, “Gotcha!”

Did Jesus Say He Was God?

But then, Jesus follows up with, “I’m also the Son of Man. And you’ll see me seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” That’s when people freaked. Why? Because Jesus basically said, ”You know that guy in Daniel’s vision? That’s Me.”

The high priest didn’t misunderstand Him for a second. His response was essentially, “Yikes! You just said you’re God and everyone should worship you!” No ambiguity there. But this just expressed what Jesus already seemed to assume by walking around and doing the things He did. Things like claiming to forgive sins (Mark 2:5-11, Luke 5:20-24).  He certainly didn’t object when people worshiped Him or called Him God (John 20:28-29).

Jesus said He was God

If you’re willing to look at the historical record, you’ll find that there’s a reasonable explanation for the early Christian belief that Jesus was divine: Jesus Himself said He was God. Even people who hated Jesus attest to the fact that this is what He said about Himself.

So if anyone ever asks you, “Did Jesus Say He Was God?” You can confidently say, “Yes.” Just be ready to mention at least a couple of these talking points. It doesn’t hurt to memorize at least a couple of the Scripture references, too. Try it!

But what happened at my little family get-together? The woman decided to change the topic and drop it. I don’t think she’d ever seen these reports in the Bible before. I almost felt bad for her and just let it go. After all, this was a casual family reunion and I think she got the point.

I went back to look for more chips. And I finally got to that blue cheese dip, too.

Your Turn

Has anyone ever surprised you with a challenge to the truth of an essential Christian belief when you least expected it? How easy was it to respond? Would you respond differently if you could re-live that encounter?

Header Painting: Christ Before Caiaphas by Duccio di Buoninsegna (1308-1311). Available: http://www.lib-art.com/artgallery/9373-christ-before-caiaphas-duccio-di-buoninsegna.html.
Square Painting: Christ Before the High Priest by Gerrit Van Honthorst (About 1617). Available: http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/gerrit-van-honthorst-christ-before-the-high-priest 

Leaders: Want to Help Your Group Defend the Faith with Confidence?

Download the accessible 5 to 10-week series for youth and adults. You’ll be ready to lead 5 engaging lessons–complete with teaching notes, handouts, PowerPoint presentations and more. Simplify your ministry, save time, and train your group to defend the faith!

Get the FREE sample lesson now.

Here’s another exclusive guest post from one of my undergraduate Apologetics students. Cameron Thorn is a junior at William Jessup University in Rocklin, CA who says that understanding apologetics was turning point in his life. Like fellow classmate, Corrine Hudson, Cameron was excited by the things we discussed last semester. See why this former skeptic now sees Christian apologetics playing a key role in his future goals.

A Turning Point

When I heard about defending the Christian faith using apologetics, my initial concern was I never wanted to be pushy or make people believe what I believe; I just desire for them to know the truth. However, after beginning a course in apologetics with Professor Del Rosario, I found that my original ideas of apologetics were false. Understanding apologetics has actually become a turning point in my life and I’m thankful for the scholars who so passionately and effectively defend the truth of Christianity.

The Truth is Out There

One of the major obstacles to a relationship with God that skeptics face is if God exists, why He doesn’t make himself evident. That was one of the major barriers I previously faced. I wondered, if God existed, why His presence never seemed apparent. Why would He allow certain circumstances to take place? Why would He allow evil and suffering to exist? Those are just a few of the questions I pondered. But I never considered searching for the answers myself.

I’m not sure exactly when, but I realized that without searching for the answers myself, I was left to believe what others told me about truth of God. This began my journey for certainty, and what I found was that the Truth is out there if you are willing to put in the time to search. Through taking a course in apologetics with Mikel Del Rosario, God has allowed me to understand the answers to my questions.

Apologetics is Necessary

I now believe that apologetics is a necessity for not only believers, but also a person who is wavering in a firm belief in an ultimate Creator. After assessing the undeniable proof for the existence of God, I was completely surprised by the depth and breadth of the case for Christianity. Taking a course in apologetics will dissolve any uncertainty or doubt that a person might have. Understanding logical reasoning and philosophy will better equip all believers in their daily interactions.

Although some of the philosophical aspects of apologetics can be complex, Mikel made understanding the basic arguments easy to utilize and understand. It has been a blessing to learn under Mikel, and I’m looking forward to any course available with him in the future.

My Life’s Goal

Today, my life’s goal is to do my part in helping others get answers to the questions that are blocking them in their spiritual journey toward Christ, and I plan on furthering my apologetics education at seminary.

About Cameron

Cameron is a junior at William Jessup University majoring in Business Administration with a minor in Bible and Theology.

Required Reading

William Lane Craig’s On Guard is the main text for my Apologetics class at William Jessup University. It’s logical, clear, has argument charts, and even pictures! Craig builds a positive case for God that’s strong enough to refute objections, too. It’s a great introduction to arguments for the existence of God, the problem of evil, the person of Jesus, the resurrection and a Christian response to religious pluralism. College students love this!

Look inside this book on Amazon.com

This year, I’ve been blessed to see God using my teaching, speaking and training ministry to develop future defenders of the faith in new ways. In this post, I’ll share just 7 apologetics ministry highlights from 2011. Remember, we’re in this thing together. If God can use me, He can use you! Let me start out with a couple of “firsts.”

7 Ministry Highlights

1. I spoke at the 1st apologetics conference in British Columbia, Canada

In March, I took a flight to Vancouver for the very first apologetics conference in British Columbia–The Apologetics Canada Conference, organized by my friend and fellow Apologetics.com staff member, Andy Steiger.

What an honor to hang in the green room as a speaker with the likes of Greg Koukl, Craig Hazen, John Mark Reynolds, and others. We had nearly 600 people travel to Coquitlam Alliance Church for this event!

Students loved this. Play this video clip to see why students say apologetics is so important (48 sec).

2. I spoke at the 1st apologetics conference at Bridgeway Christian Church

In April, I was featured as a plenary speaker alongside Biola University professors, J.P. Moreland, Craig Hazen, and Clay Jones, at Reasonable Faith in an Uncertain World, hosted by Bridgeway Christian Church in Rocklin, CA. It was exciting to organize this event with Biola University. Over 600 people participated!

Watch a clip of my plenary talk on using stories, objects and illustrations to explain the fatih in this video clip (2:39). Missed this event? Download the complete plenary sessions here (MP3s).

3. I taught an apologetics course at William Jessup University

In August, I began teaching my first Christian Apologetics course as an adjunct professor at William Jessup University in Rocklin, CA. The class got a great response and you can read one student’s description of her experience here: College Student: My Life-Changing Apologetics Class.

4. I taught an apologetics course at Western Seminary

In September, I began teaching my first Christian Apologetics course as an adjunct professor at Western Seminary (Sacramento, CA campus). What was so amazing about this opportunity is that it wasn’t even on my radar. The seminary just called me up and began the discussion after seeing me at Reasonable Faith in an Uncertain World. What an honor it was to train local pastors and future Christian leaders to be more effective in evangelism and training their church family to defend the faith.

5. I spoke at the 16th Annual Reasons to Believe conference

That same month, I closed out the 16th Annual Reasons to Believe Conference at South Valley Community Church in Gilroy, CA. This series included presentations by Greg Koukl and Sean McDowell.

I also got to meet fellow Christian Apologetics Alliance (CAA) member Neil Mammen of No Blind Faith at the event. University of Phoenix recognized me for this presentation in Faculty Matters magazine.

Play this short video clip to see Pastor Mark Turner’s review of my presentation (42 sec).

6. I taught an apologetics course at Athanatos Online Apologetics Academy

In October, I taught my first apologetics course online. Earlier this year, Anthony Horvath invited me to teach for Athanatos Online Apologetics Academy as part of the site’s re-launch. Another new class (Logic) was taught by my friend, Brian Auten of Apologetics 315. Know a homeschooling family that might be interested in studying apologetics online? Invite them to check out the academy.

7. I released the Accessible Apologetics Workbook on Amazon.com

In November, the Accessible Apologetics Workbook used by participants in my live workshops became available on Amazon.com. Participants in my live workshops really appreciated having a high-quality, professionally printed workbook to keep as a resource after completing the 5-week sessions. Look inside the workbook here.

Now Hear This

Listen to how I described my ministry highlights from 2011 on the Apologetics.com radio show (New Year Edition) live on KKLA 99.5 FM. . Just push play! (5 min clip)

Make a Difference

Want to support accessible apologetics training? You can make a difference! Please help me equip more everyday defenders of the faith by providing an item on my Amazon WishList. Update: 50% of the items have already been donated!

Please contact me after making an in-kind donation so I can thank you with a copy of Reasonable Faith in an Uncertain World: The Complete Plenary Sessions (MP3 Download). Remember, if God can use me, He can use you. We’re in this together. Thank you for your support!

Note: Apologetics Guy also accepts financial gifts. You can send a special gift to mikel@apologeticsguy.com via your PayPal account.

As the Fall semester comes to a close, I’m pleased to feature an exclusive guest post from one of my undergraduate students, Corinne Hudson—a senior at William Jessup University in Rocklin, CA who says that an apologetics class should be required for all Christian college students. See how this semester gave Corinne the confidence she needed to be an everyday defender of the faith.

Excited About Apologetics

When I heard that William Jessup University was offering an apologetics class for the first time this year, I was extremely excited. This class not only furthered my understanding of Christianity but I am also now able to confidently defend my faith and use vital techniques to graciously witness to the non-believers around me. I am also now able to share clear and logical reasons for why I believe what I believe.

An apologetics class should be required for Christian college students because many people have a fear of sharing the Christian faith and by fulfilling this class, students will be more confident and excited about sharing their faith with others. Even at a Christian college, there are non-believers, so this class would be helpful in witnessing to them and showing them why Christianity is so credible.

A Life-Changing Class

The apologetics class has been a life-changing class for me as I have already used some of the tactics in witnessing to some of my family and friends. I personally found the Moral Argument, The Absurdity of Life without God, and The Problem with Evil and Suffering (in William Lane Craig’s On Guard) the most helpful and applicable concepts in every day life and conversation.

For instance, the Moral Argument has helped me to explain to people that if God does not exist, then objective moral values and duties do not exist. We all know, though, that objective moral values and duties do exist because there is an objective standard of right and wrong in the world. It all goes back to who created these objective moral values and duties and the best explanation is God. These issues are constantly brought up by non-believers so I feel prepared and confident in conversing about these matters with them.

An Everyday Ambassador

I now have a better understanding of how to find out where the non-believers are coming from. I can help them to understand God’s truth and to get them thinking by “putting a stone in their shoe” (See Greg Koukl’s Tactics for details). Now that I am well-equipped with the knowledge to defend Christianity, I am excited about witnessing or answering any questions that non-believers may have.

Ever since I have taken this class, I have felt a calling from God to make more of an effort to witness to those around me. I long for everyone to have the same joy that I have from following Jesus Christ and being in relationship with Him daily.

About Corinne

Corinne is a senior at William Jessup University. She is graduating this May with her degree in liberal studies and a concentration in child development. She has recently worked as a behavior therapist for children with autism and is currently providing respite care for two boys with special needs. After she graduates, she is getting married and plans to move to Hawaii to continue working with young children with special needs.

Required Reading

Greg Koukl’s Tactics is a companion text for my Apologetics class at William Jessup University. It’s accessible, practical advice that pretty much anyone can get.  This will revolutionize your casual conversations with your skeptical friends. Koukl’s tactics give believers the confidence to get out there are start talking to their friends and family members about the faith. Check it out today.

Look inside this book on Amazon.com

Gift Books for Christians

Wondering what to give that Christian friend or family member who shares your passion for loving God with your mind as well as your emotions? Last year, I featured gift books for both skeptics and believers. This year, I’m focusing in on gifts for your Christian brothers and sisters that will help them grow as ambassadors and disciples of Jesus.

You might consider putting one of these on your wish list if it isn’t already on your shelf. Pick one up for your church library, pastor, Christian family member or friend. Here are 8 great books that rocked my world.

8 Great Books that Rocked my World

1. Moreland, Love Your God with All Your Mind: The Role of Reason in the Life of the Soul 

Why this rocks: It’s awesome devotional reading that brings spiritual formation and apologetics together. I first discovered this gem while working for J.P. Moreland during my undergrad days at Biola. Josh McDowell said, “This is more than just another Christian book. It is the wake-up call that the church needs today.” I agree. This even helps Christians get why we do what we do as defenders of the faith. I gave this to my dad one year and he was positively challenged by it.

Who will love this: Pretty much any Christian who wants to deepen their relationship with God and is willing to think hard about spiritual things. No apologetics training or experience necessary!

2. Koukl, Tactics: A Gameplan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions

Why this rocks: It’s accessible, super-practical advice that anyone can get—from the high school kid on your list to the working adult.  This revolutionized my casual conversations with skeptics. Koukl’s tactics give believers the confidence to get out there are start talking to their friends about the faith. It’s one of the books I personally give as gifts to my Christian friends. I even made this required reading for my apologetics students at Western Seminary and William Jessup University!

Who will love this: Any Christian (high school and older) who talks about the faith on a regular basis. Or any believer who’s tired of not knowing what to say when religion or morality come up in a conversation. It’s an easy read that even new Christians will find extremely useful.

3. Habermas and Licona, The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus

Why this rocks: It’s an excellent training guide to presenting historical evidence for the resurrection. It has helpful evidence charts and even comes with a video game to help you master the material (no joke)! The beauty of the minimal facts approach is that even people who don’t think the Bible is the Word of God still have to makes sense of the historical data. After I finished this book, I was inspired to read it again and master the material!

Who will love this: Ministry leaders. History buffs or college students. Christians who wonder if there’s any historical evidence for the resurrection. Anyone who regularly shares the gospel or wants to be more confident in talking about the resurrection with skeptics and seekers alike.

4. Russell, Playing with Fire: How the Bible Ignites Change in Your Soul 

Why this rocks: Because reading the Bible doesn’t have to be dry and boring! Russell shows you how to get the most out of each kind of book in the Bible and how to unlock the meaning of Scripture. These practical skills helped me connect with the Lord on a more emotional level, too. It opened my eyes to how an academic, informational reading is just the means to being spiritually formed by the living Word of God.

Who will love this: Bible study leaders, college students and any Christian that’s struggling with their Bible reading or spirituality going, “Is this all there is? Really?” This book is for anyone who isn’t afraid to dig deep into the Scriptures and discover truths that will transform their souls. Which should be all of us! Get it.

5. Craig, Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics

Why this rocks: 3 words: William. Lane. Craig. When I first read the 2nd edition, I didn’t understand half of it (especially the section on quantum physics) but I knew I had stumbled upon something huge. I was honored to study under Craig at Biola and see how well the faith can be defended—at the same level of scholarship as the most sophisticated arguments from skeptical philosophers, scientists or historians. This is a graduate-level text that defends the faith in the classical apologetic method.

Who will love this: Philosophically and scientifically-minded adults who are looking for a well-argued defense of Christian theism and real answers to the tough questions popularized by the so-called new atheists and other skeptics. Graduate students will also appreciate Craig’s depth and precision.

6. Craig, On Guard: Defending Your Faith with Reason and Precision 

Why this rocks: It’s logical, clear, has argument charts, and even pictures! You can easily use this for a class or study group. This material builds a positive case for God that’s strong enough to refute objections, too. It’s a great introduction to arguments for the existence of God, the problem of evil, the person of Jesus, the resurrection and a Christian response to religious pluralism. I made this required reading for my apologetics students at Western Seminary and William Jessup University!

Who will love this: College students, small group leaders, student ministries pastors, and most people who aren’t looking for the depth of Craig’s graduate-level presentation in Reasonable Faith.

7. Dyck, Generation Ex-Christian: Why Young Adults Are Leaving the Faith. . .and How to Bring Them Back

Why this rocks: Dyck’s research gives you intel on 6 kinds of people who leave the church and the kinds of things that can help draw them closer to Jesus. You’ll know when to use apologetic arguments, when to just listen or even invite someone to join your church in a community service outreach. Many of my grad students found this extremely useful for their pastoral staff, elder boards, and churches. This is required reading for my apologetics students at Western Seminary!

Who will love this: Pastors, seminary students, elders and other church leaders will especially benefit from this. But any believer who knows people who left the church will find this helpful as well. It’s an easy read. No academic degrees required!

8. Habermas and Moreland, Beyond Death: Exploring the Evidence for Immortality

Why this rocks: It explores evidence for the afterlife via two of my favorite topics: The Resurrection of Jesus and Near Death Experiences (NDEs)! This inspired me to do a major paper on NDEs during my graduate studies in the Christian Apologetics program at Biola. It’s a fascinating field of study that brings hope even amidst personal loss and tragedy.

Who will love this: Intermediate readers who are philosophically or scientifically-minded; especially those who dialogue with skeptics or comfort grieving families. Some of the material can get technical, but the payoff is huge. This book rocked my world.

Your Turn

Think of one apologetics book, spiritual formation text or other Christian title that totally rocked your world. I’d love to know what it is and why. Drop me a comment below. I just might put it on my wish list, too!

Note: Purchasing resources via the links on this page will help support my accessible apologetics ministry to the local church. You can also support my work by purchasing anything from Amazon.com through this link: http://apologeticsguy.com/amazon. Thank you for your support!

Here’s Your Chance

Want to talk to your Mormon friend about the real Jesus? What about the Jehovah’s Witness who knocks on your door? When an opportunity arises, it might be God saying, “Here’s your chance. Take it.” In this series, I’m sharing 10 surprisingly simple tips for talking to cult members.

For this, I’m using Gomes’ theological definition of a cult from Unmasking the Cults: A cult of Christianity is a group of people who say they’re Christians, but actually reject one or more essential doctrines taught in the Bible.

In part one, I introduced the series with my first two tips: Ask, “How much time do you have” and Pray, pray, pray. In part two, I talked about finding common ground and asking 3 strategic questions:

1. “What do you mean by that?”
2. “Can you read this out loud?”
3. “Can you explain that to me?”

Much of this comes from material I learned directly from Kevin Lewis in the M.A. Christian Apologetics Progam at Biola University. Today, I’m finishing up this series of posts with the final four:

Tip #7. Be Honest

Don’t pretend to be an expert on their religious beliefs. And don’t pretend to know things about the Bible that you don’t really know. It’ll be a dead giveaway if your start making stuff up. Kevin Lewis says:

I have been with too many Christians who do theology ex nihilo when faced with a difficult question. This practice indicates a lack sincere reflection on the part of the believer and is a turn off to the one who hears these ad hoc answers.

If they ask you a question you don’t know the answer to, it’s no problem to say, “I don’t know. But that’s a really good question. Now you’ve really got me curious. Let me look into that and get back to you.”

Tip #8. Avoid Rabbit Trails

Imagine you’re talking with a Jehovah’s Witness. You just made a really good point about Jesus’ divinity while talking about how the New World Translation messes up John 1:1. The cult member comes back with, “Yeah, but why do people who believe in the Trinity become soldiers and murder people in wars?” Recognize the distraction technique. Don’t take the bait. Stick to the topic at hand and ask them if you could come back to their second question later.

Avoid spending time on stuff like celebrating birthdays, saluting the flag or getting blood transfusions. Stay on-message about the person of Jesus and salvation by grace through faith. Spend what little time you have on the essentials of the faith.

Tip #9. Imagine You’re Them

Put yourself in their shoes for a sec. Even if you convince the cult member that her church is lying to her, she’s gonna feel stuck: “Do I trust in the real Jesus and destroy my relationships or stick with the cult that’s lying to me about God?” Imagine you’re them. How would you feel? Just another reason to make sure our hearts are in the right place and that we’re speaking the truth in love.

It takes guts to leave a cult and follow the real Jesus. For many who do, the cult represents their whole life: Friends, family, acquaintances, etc… The cult might even own a lot of their stuff. For example, if you leave the Watchtower, Jehovah’s Witnesses will “disfellowship” you for going “apostate.” Bye bye friends, parents, kids, etc…

If your friend’s involved with a cult, let her know you’ll accept her no matter what. She’s got to be sure there’s a safe place to go when the cult leaders figure out she’s not drinking the Kool-Aid anymore.

Tip #10. Show Some Respect

It might sound cliché, but it’s totally true: People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. It’s pretty tough to convince anyone they need to repent and get humble before God if we get all cocky with them.

Talking down to cult members is a great way to turn them off to the true gospel. But this can be tempting for some Christians who are well-prepared for spiritual discussions. If we think we have all the answers, we can easily fall into the sin of pride and start looking down on the “poor, ignorant cult member.” So do a heart-check before each encounter.

We’ve got to make gentleness and respect a natural part of every conversation. It’s not cool to quote 1 Peter 3:15, but treat the last part of the verse like a suggestion. It’s not. It’s an essential part of the command.

And it doesn’t honor God when we act like jerks. We’ve got to study and present the truth—not for the sake of winning arguments or looking smart—but because we love God and love people. As I always say, it’s an obedience thing. It’s a love thing. And when people come to faith in the real Jesus, it’s always a God thing.

Why Join a Cult?

Discover the emotional and spiritual reasons people join cults. Find out how cult leaders attract people and who they identify as a potential member. This book will help you spot the cults of Christianity and learn how these groups actually subvert the search for spiritual truth. Alan Gomes was one of my former professors at Talbot School of Theology and he’s friends with Kevin Lewis, too (both mentioned in this post).

Look inside this book on Amazon.com

Note: The royalty fee photos above were taken from stock.xchng. Rabbit: sxc.hu/photo/1282544. Woman: sxc.hu/photo/1288795

Parenting and Apologetics

How is Christian parenting related to apologetics? In this post, my friend, Sarah Ankenman, talks about raising your kids to be life-long believers in Christ. And she explains why both mom and dad need to be equipped to defend the faith.

Sarah’s the President of the International Society of Women in Apologetics (ISWA). She blogs at http://valleygirlapologist.blogspot.com/

Guest Post from the Valley Girl Apologist

The International Society of Women in Apologetics just released their new curriculum. I know what you are thinking: “So what?” Well, I’ll tell you what. It’s time for women to get equipped—no ifs, ands, or buts.

I’ll be honest. When I first started ISWA, I felt called to youth ministry. I didn’t know what I was doing, starting an apologetics ministry geared towards women when I really wanted a ministry like Brett Kunkle’s or Sean McDowell’s.

But you know what I realized the more I spoke with teens? That by the time they get to high school, we have already lost them. And there are too many of them for the burden to rest solely on men like the ones mentioned above. Youth pastors are not responsible for teaching your kids why they should be Christians. That’s right, you heard me.

The Task of Christian Parenting

It’s your job, Mom and Dad, and nobody else’s. And that means that you both need to be equipped for that job. There are plenty of apologetics materials out there for Dad, but Mom needs something that equips her heart, mind, and soul, as well.

Proverbs 22:66 says to train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is older, he will not depart from it. The NIV says to “start” children off in the way they should go. This implies you are the beginner of the path your child will eventually take and stay on as an adult, so shouldn’t you be giving them everything they will need to be successful in staying on that path?

Just School?

You already know that they are going to get bombarded and attacked by the enemy in school, and yet you send them there with no defenses. It’s like putting your child right in the line of fire with no protection. “I don’t know what you are talking about,” you say, “It’s just school.” Ah, yes. School. Well, let me let you in on what the school system has in store for your child:

Education is thus a most powerful ally of humanism, and every American school is a school of humanism. What can a theistic Sunday school’s meeting for an hour once a week and teaching only a fraction of the children do to stem the tide of the five-day program of humanistic teaching? – Charles F. Potter, Humanism: A New Religion.

Yes. What can one hour a week do? Not much. But imagine a world where parents took the time to teach their kids why humanism is self-defeating.

Just Imagine…

Imagine if parents sat down with their kids and their homework and textbooks, and explained to them how Christian apologists have already dismantled the theories and arguments proposed in their textbooks, and exposed the reality that atheists are just willingly ignorant.

Imagine if that lasted throughout their junior high and high school years. Who do you think the kid would be calling for answers to questions he has about what his Atheistic professor is teaching at college? Wouldn’t it be awesome if it was Mom and Dad instead of the professor?

Basic Training

However, you must be equipped yourself in order to equip your kids. Otherwise, how will you know how to recognize faulty reasoning and bad science in your kid’s textbook if you don’t know what they are for yourself?

ISWA U is free and available to any woman that has the desire to equip her children to become life-long believers. Don’t lose your kids to the enemy.

Study to show yourself approved, and train up your child in the way he should go, and when he is older, God promises that he will not depart from it. Can you think of anything be better (or more important) than knowing for sure you will spend eternity with your children?

Yeah, I didn’t think so.

Women In Apologetics

Sarah Ankenman and the team at ISWA help Christian women to confidently answer tough questions about the faith. I’m excited about what my sisters are doing to contend for the faith, equip the saints, and advance the cause of Christ in today’s world.

Check out the free resources on ISWA U.

Spiritual Talk at Your Door?

Last week, I shared two surprisingly simple tips for talking with cult members: Ask, “How much time do you have” and Pray, pray, pray. But many of these aren’t just for talking with cult members. A lot of it’s great for everyday spiritual conversations with just about anyone.

Again, I’m using Alan Gomes’ theological definition of a cult from Unmasking the Cults: A cult of Christianity is basically a group of people who say they’re Christians, but reject essential doctrines of the faith taught in the Bible.

Today, I’ll share 4 more surprisingly simple ideas you can use when the cults come-a-knockin’.

Tip #3: Ask, “What Do You Mean By That?”

This one’s my go-to question. I first learned this strategic question from Greg Koukl. Questions like this are engaging, charitable and give the other person a chance to really explain where they’re coming from. They also help you confirm things you think the other person is saying.

For example, I was at a park talking to a couple of Mormon missionaries one day. One of them kept saying, “We believe we were sent down here for a reason.” I asked, “You keep saying you guys were sent down here. What do you mean by sent down here?”

This invited him to clearly explain the unbiblical Mormon teaching that our spirits are the product of God the Father having celestial sex with His wife in heaven and producing spirit babies that get infused into our bodies on earth (Mormon Doctrine p.516).

Ask what they mean by familiar-sounding words like, “God,” “Jesus,” or “salvation.” They might mean something totally different than what you’re thinking! For example, the Mormon church teaches that God the Father has a body of flesh and bones (Doctrine and Covenants, 130.22) and Jesus is the spirit-brother of the Satan (The Gospel Through the Ages, p.15). As Kevin Lewis in the M.A. Christian Apologetics Progam at Biola University often reminded our class:

Failing to define terms will either result in a miscommunication or a lack of communication in your witnessing.

Very true. So I’m a big fan of using questions, especially with cult members. Questions also help you avoid being tagged as an opposer by Jehovah’s Witnesses. Plus, it might actually help them begin to think about these issues for themselves. Throughout my ministry, I’ve found that asking “What do you mean by that?” is a great conversational technique.

Tip #4: Ask, “Can You Read This Out Loud?”

Why is this helpful? Because if you’re reading a passage of Scripture to a cult member, they might not be listening to you. Instead of thinking about what the passage means, they might actually be thinking about what to say next. But here’s the thing: If they’re reading the Scripture out loud, it’s tough for them to think of anything else except what the verse is actually saying.

Another way to make this tip extra-powerful is by borrowing their Bible. Look up the verse you want to talk about and just make sure it says the same thing as your Bible (You should know this ahead of time, but it doesn’t hurt to check). After finding the passage, face the Bible towards the cult member and ask him or her, “Can you read this out loud?” This also helps them honor their time commitment. Why? Because it’s tougher to ditch the conversation and leave when you’re still holding their Bible!

But what kinds of Scripture passages should you have them read? Passages that seem to contradict what their cult has been telling them about God. This leads us into tip number five.

Tip #5. Ask, “Can You Explain That to Me?”

Treat the cult member who knocks on your door like a teacher and ask the tough questions. This is actually the position they assume right from the get-go, so it won’t be weird for them at all. Ask them to explain specific problems with their church’s teachings from Scripture.

For example, ask a Jehovah’s Witness if their church teaches that only 144,000 people are born again and can join God’s family. They do (Reasoning From the Scriptures, p.76). Then ask them to read 1 John 5:1 out loud and explain to you how their church can teach this when the Bible seems to say that everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born again and has in fact already joined God’s family. You can even use their New World Translation of the Bible for this one!

Finally, don’t forget cult members are people, too. Many of them are just like you and me. You might actually have something common!

Tip #6. Find Common Ground

The cult member probably agrees with you on a bunch of ethical, political and theological things: Religious freedom, no new taxes, the existence of God, etc… Find those similarities and and build bridges where you can.

Kevin told me about some great conversations he had that started out with a discussion on crime, the economy, or family values. When one cult member found out that they actually had something in common, they didn’t see him primarily as someone who disagreed with their church. Rather, he seemed to be like them in some ways. The guy even told Kevin that he would vote for him if he ever ran for congress!

After finding that common ground, you might find it a lot easier to start talking about the true Gospel of grace.

Next Time

I’ll finish up this series by sharing 4 more surprisingly simple tips for talking with cult members. In the meantime, I’d love to hear about your experiences in sharing the gospel with cult members. Feel free to add your own helpful tips in the comments section!

Scripture Twister

Discover expert responses to Scriptures used by Mormon missionaries, Jehovah’s Witnesses and other groups to support unbiblical teachings. This accessible book will help you learn the characteristics of cults and reason from the Scriptures. Help cult members find the truth about salvation through faith in the real Jesus!

Look inside this book on Amazon.com

Pop Quiz

Here’s the scenario: A couple of clean-cut guys on bikes show up at your door. White shirts. Black name badges. What do you do?

A. Pretend you're not home
B. Crack open the door and try to get rid of them
C. Stand in the doorway and talk with them
D. Invite them in and talk with them

Spiritual Talk at Your Door?

I still remember feeling kind of uneasy the first time I met a couple of Mormon missionaries. Maybe you can relate. A lot Christians don’t feel confident when spiritual talk comes knocking at the door.

In this series, I’ll share 10 surprisingly simple tips for talking about Biblical Christianity with cult members. This is very practical advice that represents countless conversations with Mormon missionaries, Jehovah’s Witnesses and others who follow cults of Christianity. I learned these lessons directly from one of my mentors, Kevin Lewis, at Biola University.

And these tips aren’t just for for talking with cult members who show up at your door. You can apply a lot of these ideas to just about any spiritual conversation you might have. But first, let’s get something straight.

What is a Cult?

The word “cult” seems like a loaded term. Most people think a cult just means a group of religious wackos who do some truly crazy stuff: Jim Jones, the Heaven’s Gate cult—even Harold Camping’s followers (who really thought the world would end today). That’s not too bad of a definition, if you’re talking about the sociological definition of a cult.  In sociology, the term “cult” just means a religion that’s outside the mainstream religions you see in society.

But there’s actually a more technical definition. For our purposes, I’m gonna go with a theological definition of a cult. One of my former professors at Talbot School of Theology, Alan Gomes, defined it well in his book, Unmasking the Cults:

A cult of Christianity is a group of people claiming to be Christian, who embrace a particular doctrinal system taught by an individual leader, group of leaders, or organization, which (system) denies (either explicitly or implicitly) one or more of the essential doctrines of the Christian faith as taught in the sixty-six books of the Bible (p. 7).

This would describe the views of people who come to your door, saying they follow the Bible’s teachings but think Jesus isn’t God (Jehovah’s Witnesses), or that everyone can become a god (Mormons). These were the two groups Kevin focused on the most while teaching my Cults of America class back in the day. In this class, I learned a  surprisingly simple question that every Christian should ask the cult member at your door. Before you start talking, do this to keep your discussion from getting cut short right when it starts to get interesting:

Tip #1: Ask, “How much time do you have?”

Cult members generally want to discuss spiritual things. After all, that’s why they showed up at your door! But when an informed Christan starts asking tough questions about their teachings, some may be quick to abandon the discussion. This is especially true with Mormon missionaries. For example, one of the missionaries might suddenly say they’re late for another appointment or have to leave abruptly for some reason.  So, before you begin, ask, “How much time do you have?”  Most will probably be OK with about an hour.  Once you get the commitment, you’re ready to begin.

Of course, your preparation should begin way before they show up. Here’s another surprisingly simple thing you can do to prepare for impromptu spiritual conversations at your door—something even experienced defenders of the faith might sometimes overlook.

Tip #2: Pray, Pray, Pray

Before the conversation ever happens, pray. Ask God to give you wisdom and help you think clearly. Pray that the people you talk with would take a step closer to a real relationship with Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your discussion. Prayer is key in these everyday situations.

Tell the missionaries you’d like to pray with them before diving into your conversation. You can lead into the discussion with a prayer that highlights an essential Christian doctrine. Something like this:

Lord Jesus, there is no one like you. We’re so grateful that you would take on a human nature, die for our sins, rise from the dead, and offer salvation as a free gift through faith…

People tend to actually listen to the words of a prayer and this helps the people you’re talking to focus on essential truths of the faith. As Kevin often reminded me, “Nobody will interrupt a prayer!”

After they leave, pray for them. If I remember, I actually write down their names in the back of my Bible and pray for them when I’m in church. Who knows how God might direct their path and lead them to freedom in Christ?

Next Time

In the next part of this series, I’ll share 4 more surprisingly simple tips for talking to cult members about spiritual things. In the meantime, please share any ideas you might have for opening up the lines of communication and having good conversations with people who follow the cults of Christianity. Drop a comment below.

Cult Following

Discover how groups like the Mormon church and Jehovah’s Witnesses emerged in the United States. Learn the important figures, histories, documents, and ideas behind key religious movements and the cults of Christianity. This is an updated version of Walter Martin’s classic work, “The Kingdom of the Cults.” His original book was one of the first books I ever read on cults. Highly recommended.

Look inside this book on Amazon.com