Title: Guarding the Gospel
1Guarding the Gospel Apologetics for
Evangelism By Cky J. Carrigan,
Ph.D. Interfaith Evangelism, NAMB ccarrigan_at_namb.n
et www.ontruth.com
2What does apologetics have to do with evangelism?
3What does apologetics have to do with evangelism?
The Bible says... Sanctify the Lord God in your
hearts, and always be ready to give a DEFENSE
(apologia) to everyone who asks you a REASON for
the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.
(1 Pet. 315)
4What is Apologetics?
- Apologetics is a strategic discipline
5What is Apologetics?
- Apologetics is a strategic discipline
- Undertaken in the power of the Holy Spirit
6What is Apologetics?
- Apologetics is a strategic discipline
- Undertaken in the power of the Holy Spirit
- That systematically, rationally practically
defends Christian presuppositions...
7What is Apologetics?
- against non-theistic world views
8What is Apologetics?
- against non-theistic world views
- non-Christian theism...
9What is Apologetics?
- against non-theistic world views
- non-Christian theism...
- and atheism
10What is Apologetics?
- against non-theistic world views
- non-Christian theism...
- and atheism
- Apologetics primarily defends the assertions
that...
11What is Apologetics?
- against non-theistic world views
- non-Christian theism...
- and atheism
- Apologetics primarily defends the assertions
that... - there is a God who can have a Son
12What is Apologetics?
- against non-theistic world views
- non-Christian theism...
- and atheism
- Apologetics primarily defends the assertions
that... - there is a God who can have a Son
- and who can speak a Word
13What is Apologetics?
- Apologetics also defends the truths that
14What is Apologetics?
- Apologetics also defends the truths that
- Jesus is the Son of God
15What is Apologetics?
- Apologetics also defends the truths that
- Jesus is the Son of God
- and the Bible is the Word of God
16What is the Purpose of Apologetics?
17What is the Purpose of Apologetics?
- Apologetics seeks to glorify God and...
18What is the Purpose of Apologetics?
- Apologetics seeks to glorify God and...
- Bring mankind unto repentance faith
19What is the Purpose of Apologetics?
- Apologetics seeks to glorify God and...
- Bring mankind unto repentance faith
- Apologetics helps to remove erroneous stumbling
blocks to faith and
20What is the Purpose of Apologetics?
- Apologetics seeks to glorify God and...
- Bring mankind unto repentance faith
- Apologetics helps to remove erroneous stumbling
blocks to faith and - Apologetics helps to create a thirst for
confidence in the proposition that ...
21Truth is True
22Truth is True BUT...
23There is a Crisis of Truth in N. America
24- There is a Crisis of Truth in N. America
- This Crisis of Truth has Three Faces
25- There is a Crisis of Truth in N. America
- This Crisis of Truth has Three Faces
- Liars
26- There is a Crisis of Truth in N. America
- This Crisis of Truth has Three Faces
- Liars
- Quibblers
27- There is a Crisis of Truth in N. America
- This Crisis of Truth has Three Faces
- Liars
- Quibblers
- Other-Worlders (Postmodernity)
28- There is a Crisis of Truth in N. America
- This Crisis of Truth has Three Faces
- Liars
- Quibblers
- Other-Worlders (Postmodernity)
- Other-Worlders Occupy a Fantasy World
- Where Everything Nothing Is True
29- Evidences of the Crisis of Truth
30- Evidences of the Crisis of Truth
- Recent Polling of the Bridger Generation
- (72 Million Young People, Ages 8-25)
31- Evidences of the Crisis of Truth
- Recent Polling of the Bridger Generation
- (72 Million Young People, Ages 8-25)
- 86 Claim to be Christian
32- Evidences of the Crisis of Truth
- Recent Polling of the Bridger Generation
- (72 Million Young People, Ages 8-25)
- 86 Claim to be Christian
- 90 Affirm Situation Ethics
33- Evidences of the Crisis of Truth
- Recent Polling of the Bridger Generation
- (72 Million Young People, Ages 8-25)
- 86 Claim to be Christian
- 90 Affirm Situation Ethics
- 80 No Certainty About Morality
34- Evidences of the Crisis of Truth
- Recent Polling of the Bridger Generation
- (72 Million Young People, Ages 8-25)
- 86 Claim to be Christian
- 90 Affirm Situation Ethics
- 80 No Certainty About Morality
- 72 Truth Can Never Be Clearly Defined
35 36- 60 Lying is Necessary
- 66 Affirm Salvation By Works
37- 60 Lying is Necessary
- 66 Affirm Salvation By Works
- 50 Jesus Sinned
38- 60 Lying is Necessary
- 66 Affirm Salvation By Works
- 50 Jesus Sinned
- 50 All Religions Teach Similar Lessons
39- 60 Lying is Necessary
- 66 Affirm Salvation By Works
- 50 Jesus Sinned
- 50 All Religions Teach Similar Lessons
- 50 All Good People Go To Heaven
- (With or Without Jesus)
40- 60 Lying is Necessary
- 66 Affirm Salvation By Works
- 50 Jesus Sinned
- 50 All Religions Teach Similar Lessons
- 50 All Good People Go To Heaven
- (With or Without Jesus)
- 4 Affirm Exclusivity of Christ for Salvation
41- Additional Polling of Adult Americans Reveals...
42- Additional Polling of Adult Americans Reveals...
- 40 Affirm Pantheism (All is God)
43- Additional Polling of Adult Americans Reveals...
- 40 Affirm Pantheism (All is God)
- 36 Believe Astrology is Scientific
44- Additional Polling of Adult Americans Reveals...
- 40 Affirm Pantheism (All is God)
- 36 Believe Astrology is Scientific
- 25 Affirm Reincarnation
45Objections to Apologetics
- Some evangelists think that reason is not a
useful tool in this postmodern age of
other-worlders - Since other-worlders dont have confidence in
absolute truth, the evangelist should appeal to
feelings alone - They suggest that we should make the Gospel
become true for them through relationships and
personal stories alone
46Rebuttal to Critics of Apologetics
- If the Gospel only becomes true for one, then
it is not universally TRUE for all - Christianity loses its exclusivity if the test of
genuine belief is only a personal test based on
individual feelings alone - How does the evangelist overturn the claims of
the Mormon, Jehovahs Witness, Christian
Scientist, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist or Jew who
affirm different truth claims?
47Rebuttal to Critics of Apologetics
- If my truth claims are true because I believe
them, then every truth claim is true because
someone believes themor - Everything is True, and
- Nothing is True
- Christian evangelists should think very carefully
about the consequences of non-reasonable
evangelistic approaches which re-enforce
other-world-ness (postmodernity)
48What Does the Bible Say About Truth?
49- Buy the Truth and DO NOT Sell It
- (Prov. 2323a)
50- Buy the Truth and DO NOT Sell It
- (Prov. 2323a)
- Truth Exists
51- Buy the Truth and DO NOT Sell It
- (Prov. 2323a)
- Truth Exists
- Truth Can Be Known
52- Buy the Truth and DO NOT Sell It
- (Prov. 2323a)
- Truth Exists
- Truth Can Be Known
- Truth is Priceless
53- The Truth of the LORD Endures Forever
- (Ps. 1172)
54- The Truth of the LORD Endures Forever
- (Ps. 1172)
- Truth Exists
55- The Truth of the LORD Endures Forever
- (Ps. 1172)
- Truth Exists
- The LORD is the Source of the Truth
56- The Truth of the LORD Endures Forever
- (Ps. 1172)
- Truth Exists
- The LORD is the Source of the Truth
- The LORDs Truth is Eternally Durable
57--Defense For Absolute Truth--
58--Defense For Absolute Truth--
- All Truth Exists in the Mind of
- the Supreme God
59--Defense For Absolute Truth--
- All Truth Exists in the Mind of
- the Supreme God
- Supreme God is Unchanging
- by Nature
60--Defense For Absolute Truth--
- All Truth Exists in the Mind of
- the Supreme God
- Supreme God is Unchanging
- by Nature
- All Truth is Therefore Unchanging
- by Nature
61Difficult Questions with Reasonable Answers
- How do you know the Bible is a reliable source of
truth? - What part does reason have with faith?
- How do you know God is really there?
- How can evil and God co-exist?
- How do you know the universe is not an accident?
- How do you know man is not an accident?
62Difficult Questions with Reasonable Answers
- How do you know Christianity is the only true
religion? - How do you know miracles are really miracles?
- How do you know Jesus was raised from the dead?
- How do you know there is life after death?
63Remember When doing apologetics for evangelism,
you must speak the truth in LOVE
64THOUGH I SPEAK THE TRUTH, BUT HAVE NOT LOVE I
AM AN ANNOYING SOUND. 1 Cor. 131
65THOUGH I AM GIFTED WISE, BUT HAVE NOT LOVE I
AM NOTHING. 132
66THOUGH I AM A GIVER A MARTYR, BUT HAVE NOT
LOVE IT IS NOT PROFITABLE. 133
67LOVE
68LOVE LONGSUFFERING,
69LOVE LONGSUFFERING, KIND,
70LOVE LONGSUFFERING, KIND, NOT PARADING,
71LOVE LONGSUFFERING, KIND, NOT PARADING, NOT
PUFFED-UP,
72LOVE LONGSUFFERING, KIND, NOT PARADING, NOT
PUFFED-UP, NOT RUDE,
73LOVE LONGSUFFERING, KIND, NOT PARADING, NOT
PUFFED-UP, NOT RUDE, NOT SELF-SEEKING,
74LOVE LONGSUFFERING, KIND, NOT PARADING, NOT
PUFFED-UP, NOT RUDE, NOT SELF-SEEKING, NOT
PROVOKED,
75LOVE LONGSUFFERING, KIND, NOT PARADING, NOT
PUFFED-UP, NOT RUDE, NOT SELF-SEEKING, NOT
PROVOKED, NOT EVIL-THINKING,
76LOVE LONGSUFFERING, KIND, NOT PARADING, NOT
PUFFED-UP, NOT RUDE, NOT SELF-SEEKING, NOT
PROVOKED, NOT EVIL-THINKING, NOT REJOICER IN
INIQUITY, (134-6)
77BUT, LOVE REJOICES IN TRUTH (136)
78ontruth.com