Giving an Answer: Defense

Name: Giving an Answer: Defense
Uploaded: 2017-09-06T18:20:04+00:00
Duration: PTM24S17
Channel: Linda Atkins
Description: Giving an Answer: Defense

Giving an Answer: Defense
The Problem of Evil People who have never heard Christianity was derived from pagan religions The Bible has been changed so many times OT Genocide Atrocities in the name of Christianity Christianity is all about blind faith Religion impedes science Christians are all hypocrites The Bible says Not to judge Original sin is not fair! I believe in one less God than you Giving an Answer: Defense

1 The Problem of Evil Claim If the Christian God is all powerful, and all good, then he would not allow evil to exist. But evil does exist. Therefore the Christian God does not exist. Responses What do you mean by “evil”? What is the basis for “evil” in a naturalistic worldview? Outside of the Christian worldview, how can you have objective standards like good and evil? The COLUMBO Tactic Giving an Answer: Defense 5

People Who Have Never Heard Claim It’s not fair that God would condemn forever the people who have never had a chance to hear about Jesus. Responses What do you mean by “fair”? How can you have fairness and justice outside of presupposing a Christian worldview? Where does Christianity teach that people are condemned just because they don’t believe in Jesus? (No one is condemned for not believing in Jesus. They are condemned because they have sinned against God.) 2 Giving an Answer: Defense

3 Christianity was Derived from Pagan Religions Claim Christianity was derived from various pagan religions. Response Which pagan religions? In what ways is Christianity derived? What evidence do you have of that? Giving an Answer: Defense

4 The Bible has been Changed so Many Times Claim How do we even know what the Bible originally said? It has been changed so many times over history. History is written by the winners. Response What are the changes? When did these changes occur? What evidence do you have of that? Which manuscripts reflect these changes? Have you ever studied the historical transmission of the Bible? Simon Greenleaf and the rules of evidence Giving an Answer: Defense

The Bible has been Changed so Many Times Simon Greenleaf - formulator of the “Rules of Evidence” still in use in the U.S. - “Do not come to a final conclusion until evaluating ALL evidence” - challenge from one of his law students “Every document, apparently ancient, coming from the proper repository or custody, and bearing on its face no evident marks of forgery, the law presumes to be genuine, and evolves on the opposing party the burden of proving it to be otherwise.” Giving an Answer: Defense

5 OT Genocide Claim The God of the Old Testament is detestable with his ethnic genocide of the Canaanites and native peoples of the promised land. Especially women and children?!?! Response What makes you think the people didn’t deserve it? Why do you assume a Creator doesn’t have authority over His creation? What makes you think the women and children were not also guilty? Giving an Answer: Defense

Christian Convictions
Unleashing Your Faith Let the TACTICS Continue Discussing Truth and Christian Convictions 6

Giving an Answer: Proof
Transcendental Arguments Science Morals Logic Science – without the God of the Bible, I can’t explain why there is a uniformity of nature (e.g. laws of nature). Genesis 8:22 - While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease Christ Himself upholds the universe through the physical laws He ordained Colossians 1:16–17 Hebrews 1:3 Morals – without the God of the Bible, I have no basis to assume morality exists Logic – without the God of the Bible, I have no basis to ground abstract principles such as laws of logic and mathematics. Why the God of the Bible? The Bible specifically provides the foundation for each of these, and grounds them in the triune God Yahweh No other religion with a personal God provides the foundation for these. Any that seem to come close are merely Christian deviations, and will be found to be inconsistent with the Bible, to which they are linked If you know of a competing system that provides an explanation for these 3 areas, bring it forth! Giving an Answer: Proof

Classical Arguments Cosmological Teleological Moral Cosmological 1. Whatever begins to exist has a cause. 2. The Universe began to exist. 3. Therefore, the Universe had a cause. Teleological If something looks designed, the most plausible explanation is that it is designed Paley (watch on the beach) Moral 1. Premise: If God does not exist, then objective moral values do not exist. 2. Premise: Objective values do exist. 3. Conclusion: Therefore, God exists. 1. Some aspect of Morality (e.g., its objective force) is observed. (Moral realism) 2. Existence of God provides a better explanation of this feature than various alternatives. 3. Therefore, to the extent that (1) is accepted, belief in God is preferable to these alternatives Giving an Answer: Proof

Evidences Reliability of the Bible Resurrection of Jesus Miracles Archaeology Information in DNA Fine-Tuning of the Universe Giving an Answer: Proof

6 We cannot give up the Authority of Scripture WE – you and I as believers – enter the conversation standing on the Authority of Scripture as determinative in our beliefs… AND determinative in the issue of TRUTH WE do not start from a position of ‘neutrality’ opposite the truths taught in the Bible in order to “reason with the unbeliever” to reach a ‘mutually agreeable answer to: ‘what is Truth?’ If we don’t stand on the authority of Scripture then we have no place to stand in defending the Christian faith. Giving an Answer: Defense

The COLUMBO Tactic Giving an Answer: Defense

The Problem of Evil People who have never heard Christianity was derived from pagan religions The Bible has been changed so many times OT Genocide Atrocities in the name of Christianity Christianity is all about blind faith Religion impedes science Christians are all hypocrites The Bible says Not to judge Original sin is not fair! I believe in one less God than you Giving an Answer: Defense

6 Atrocities in the name of Christianity Claim Christianity is downright dangerous! Look at all the people Christians have killed: the Crusades, the Inquisition, and even Hitler was a Christian. Response Where in the Bible does God approve of these activities? What makes you think these people were Christians? Have you ever considered that these people are acting against the teaching of the Bible? How many people were actually killed in all the incidents you cited and were the killers following Christ’s teaching? Giving an Answer: Defense

Historians distinguish four different manifestations
of the Christian Inquisition: Medieval Inquistion (1184–16th century) deaths/executions the Episcopal Inquisition (1184–1230s) the Papal Inquisition (1230s) Spanish Inquisition (1478–1834) deaths / executions Portuguese Inquisiton (1536–1821) executions Roman Inquisition (1542 – c. 1860) executions 1184 – (7 centuries) Total deaths / executions - approx recorded ( 10 deaths per year) 11 1959 – China crushes Tibet 30,000 Tibetan deaths

67 – 162 MILLION 20th Century Deaths
Mao – China – 78 million Soviet Union – 61 million [Soviet Famine – 8 million] The HOLOCAUST – 17 million Nigerian Civil War – 3 million Cambodian Genocide – 3 million Bangladesh Genocide million Rwandan Genocide million The INQUISITIONS – million The Crusades – 3 million

7 Christianity is all about Blind Faith Claim Christians have a blind faith. There’s no hard evidence that God exists. Response What kind of evidences would convince you? What makes you think Christian’s don’t have evidence? Do you have a blind faith in your system? Giving an Answer: Defense

8 Religion Impedes Science Claim Religion shuts down any scientific inquiry. It just sticks “God” in the gaps and tells us not to worry about it. Response What do you mean by ‘Religion.’ How does science even make sense outside of having the God of the Bible uphold the uniformity of nature? Where in the Bible does it teach that Christians should impede science? Are you sticking “Science” in the gaps? (i.e. we don’t know where the universe came from, but “give us enough time and science will answer that”). Giving an Answer: Defense

8 Religion Impedes Science "Astronomers now find they have painted themselves into a corner because they have proven, by their own methods, that the world began abruptly in an act of creation to which you can trace the seeds of every star, every planet, every living thing in this cosmos and on the earth. And they have found that all this happened as a product of forces they cannot hope to discover. That there are what I or anyone would call supernatural forces at work which is now, I think, a scientifically proven fact." Robert Jastrow (September 7, 1925 – February 8, 2008) was an American astronomer, physicist and cosmologist. He was a leading NASA scientist, author and futurist. Giving an Answer: Defense

8 Religion Impedes Science “For the scientist who has lived by his faith in the power of reason, the story ends like a bad dream. He has scaled the mountains of ignorance, he is about to conquer the highest peak; as he pulls himself over the final rock, he is greeted by a band of theologians who have been sitting there for centuries.” ― Robert Jastrow, God and the Astronomers Giving an Answer: Defense

9 Christians are all Hypocrites Claim Christians are a bunch of hypocrites: they say not to do something but then go do it themselves. Response Isn’t God the one who gives commandments, not Christians? What is a hypocrite? If a Christian agrees that he is a sinner, how does that make him a hypocrite? Giving an Answer: Defense

10 The Bible says not to Judge Claim The Bible says we are not to judge other people, so you need to stop judging. Response Why are you judging me for judging other people? Where in the Bible does it say we shouldn’t judge? Don’t you think God has the right to judge? Hasn’t God already said what He will judge based on… ? Giving an Answer: Defense

11 Original Sin is Not Fair Claim Why should I be held accountable for Adam’s sin? That’s not fair. Response What do you mean by “fair”? What is unjust about Adam acting on our behalf? Have you ever broken one of God’s laws? Do you really think you would have done any better? Giving an Answer: Defense

12 I Believe in One Less God Than You Do Claim Of all the gods out there (e.g. Thor), you Christians don’t believe in any of them, and I don’t either. I just take it one step further: I believe in one less god than you do. Response How do you explain science, logic, and morality without the Christian God? Giving an Answer: Defense

The Problem of Evil People who have never heard Christianity was derived from pagan religions The Bible has been changed so many times OT Genocide Atrocities in the name of Christianity Christianity is all about blind faith Religion impedes science Christians are all hypocrites The Bible says Not to judge Original sin is not fair! I believe in one less God than you Giving an Answer: Defense 8

Offense Defense Proof Giving an Answer: Defense

Giving an Answer: Offense
Defense Proof Giving an Answer: Offense

Claims Consistent with a Biblical Worldview Trinity Diety of Christ Gravity Algebra Inconsistent with a Biblical Worldview Mormonism Oneness Atheism JWs Hinduism Islam Abortion Buddhism Romanism Homosexuality Hold to “Biblical Authority” Appeal to External Authority Giving an Answer: Offense

Inconsistent with a Biblical Worldview Hold to “Biblical Authority” Examples Romanism Oneness Pentecostal Jehovah’s Witnesses Mormonism Islam Abortion? Homosexuality? Approach Take up their “accepted authority” to prove the validity of the Bible Demonstrate inconsistencies. Place the burden on them to resolve the inconsistencies. Giving an Answer: Offense

Inconsistent with a Biblical Worldview Appeal to External Authority Examples Atheism Hinduism Buddhism Approach Take up their worldview and demonstrate the lack of justification for: Science Morals Logic Don’t think this will change their mind Don’t think this will be easy! You just want to point out their inconsistency. Hinduism Our experience is an illusion Contradiction is a beauty All is one, you need to stop making distinctions Buddhism No ultimate God Giving an Answer: Offense

Inconsistent with a Biblical Worldview Appeal to External Authority Examples Abortion Homosexuality Approach Take up their view and show where it leads. Giving an Answer: Offense

Abortion Only One Question: “What is it?” If it’s not a person, then no justification is required to do whatever you want with it. If it is a person, then it deserves the same rights and protections as all other persons. Giving an Answer: Offense

Abortion Two Key Tools S.L.E.D. Test Size Level of development Environment Degree of dependency Trot out the Toddler Giving an Answer: Offense

Abortion Only One Question: “What is it?” “It’s not a person.” Response At what point does it become a person? Demonstrate arbitrariness with S.L.E.D. / Toddler “It’s a person, but not with rights equal to the Mother.” Response At what point does it get equal rights? Demonstrate arbitrariness with S.L.E.D. / Toddler Giving an Answer: Offense

Abortion “Defenses” It's a woman's right to choose. This is a private matter; No government influence. Women are going to have them anyway. Unwanted child Not financially able Too young to have a child Rape and incest (it will remind the mother) The mother's life is in danger? Like what? Giving an Answer: Offense

Homosexuality Objective: “Where does the objective standard come from?” Relative: “Why stop at two men, or two women, why not polygamy, and cross-generational, and cross species?” Does “Marriage” have an objective meaning, or Does it mean whatever we want it to mean? Giving an Answer: Offense

Claims Consistent with a Biblical Worldview Trinity Diety of Christ Gravity Algebra Inconsistent with a Biblical Worldview Mormonism Oneness Atheism JWs Hinduism Islam Abortion Buddhism Romanism Homosexuality Hold to “Biblical Authority” Appeal to External Authority Giving an Answer: Offense

Defense Proof Giving an Answer: Offense

Offense Proof Defense Giving an Answer

Defending Your Faith Set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts
and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess, yet do it with courtesy and respect… 1 Pet 3:15 Presuppositions Tactics Proof, Defense, Offense Know Your Audience Credo Ambassador Model Defending Your Faith

Giving an Answer: Defense

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