If God blesses me with grandchildren and then blesses them with grandchildren, I won’t live long enough to meet them here on earth. If they hear about their “great-great-great-grandmother” they may not believe such a person even existed in the twenty-first century! But I have a plan. I am leaving evidence of my existence.
Language is a wonderful thing! I am leaving written communication for them through journals I’ve kept since I was a teen. I am leaving behind stacks of articles and other published materials that I hope they’ll read. Although they won’t be able to physically see me, they will have written evidence that communicates my thoughts and tells some of my story.
People who argue against the existence of God need to be pointed to the evidence that supports His reality. If you desire to be effective in evangelism, it is helpful to use apologetics as a tool in reaching the lost. Apologetics is simply a reasonable defense of the gospel.
A blog-post article can’t cover all this approach involves, but I’ll attempt to share with you a few pointers and some good resources.
Defending the Faith
1) Careful Listening
While in conversation, be sure to listen for trigger points and open doors to steer the conversation toward spiritual matters. Listening to the real-life struggles and issues of any individual gives multiple opportunities to share and ask good (but not intrusive or offensive) questions which will open and deepen the discussion.
2) Good Questions
Sincere questions laid out in a friendly, non-confrontational manner can widen and deepen a discussion. Never take an argumentative approach with apologetics or you threaten your credibility as a representative of Christ. Some I like to use:
- Do you ever think about the purpose for your existence?
- When you see things like the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, or a star-filled sky, do you ever wonder about the existence of a Creator?
- How do you grapple with personal loss and difficulties?
- What is your view of God?
3) Self Revelation
Romans is the premier book to study effectively presenting and understanding the gospel. In chapter one, we find some tactics to use in defending our faith.
Romans 1:19 tells us that God has revealed Himself to mankind:
“That which is known about God is evident within them [mankind]; for God made it evident to them.”
How?
“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse; For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God . . .” (Romans 1:20-21).
- Divine Longing
God has revealed Himself through placing within man a “sense of divinity;” knowledge (which some repress) that there is “something more” and an inner longing and dissatisfaction which was so beautifully articulated by Augustine: “You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”
- Creation
A painting reveals the artist’s characteristics, genius, style, and definitely his reality. In the same way, God reveals His intelligence, creativity, love of beauty, and intricate design through nature. God is not “in nature”–but He is reflected through nature (Psalm chapters 8 and 19).
- The Inner Moral Compass
God has left an imprint of Himself on man’s conscience –causing us to instinctively recognize standards of morality: justice, truth, right and wrong.
- Communication
God has given us the wonderful gift of language in order to communicate with one another, but more importantly as a way for Him to communicate with us. He has left us with written evidence of His existence! He has given historical evidence of His working in and through people–recorded in Scripture (and often verified through historical accounts and archeology).
And most especially–God has communicated His reality through the life of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:1-4). We have credible historical evidence of His life and resurrection.
There are several excellent resources to develop a reasonable defense of Christianity. These can prepare you for evangelistic opportunities. I also pass these along to skeptics or individuals who are willing to investigate Christianity.
Apologetics Tools:
- More Than a Carpenter by Josh McDowell
- The Case for Christ
- The Case for Faith
- The Case for a Creator (all by Lee Strobel)
- Intellectuals Don’t Need God & Other Modern Myths: Building Bridges to Faith Through Apologetics by Allister E. McGrath
- http://www.reasonablefaith.org/site/PageServer
- http://www.4truth.net/
- http://www.iconsofevolution.com/articles.php3
Whew! I’ve given you a lot to chew on today, but I hope you’ll take advantage of some of the resources I’ve suggested and commit to honing your evangelism skills by learning how to present reasonable evidence for your faith.
What are some approaches or questions you like to use?
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Comments
on Tuesday, September 22, 2009 at 10:05 am
on Tuesday, September 22, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Thank you for your article. I plan on printing it out.
To be honest, evangelism does not come easy to me
because I struggle with "the fear of man." (what will
they think? Am I offending them, etc.") I think of myself more as the "watering can." Some brave soul plants the seed, and then, Lord willing, I can water the seed that was planted. I firmly believe that once I can get beyond "people pleasing," I will be able to be a better witness.
One thing I do know. People may dispute the Bible as the Word of God, or dispute whether there is a God, etc., but they can't dispute what God has done in your life. So even though I am a "chicken" when it comes to evangelism, I do try to give God the glory by sharing what He is doing, or has done, in my life with others. Thanks again for your thoughts.
on Tuesday, September 22, 2009 at 3:14 pm
Arlene, thank you for sharing some of your struggles with evangelism. I have had similar things to overcome! Maybe we sisters in Christ can pray for each other in this area! May the Lord help us and equip us in all He calls us to do for His Kingdom!
In His love,
on Tuesday, September 22, 2009 at 3:40 pm
with others , and wait for the door of opportunity.
The opportunity for them to ask me questions.
But I prepare myself ahead of time by showing kindness and love to others. Since I make it a point to go out of my way to help, assist and encourage others every time I get the opportunity they like me an seem to trust me because I let them know I genuinely care about them, everyone wants to be loved. I do not have any graceful way of saying things or sweetness of speech, but I love to laugh with people and encourage them.
If you speak to people with funloving words and encouragement you will see that they are more
likely and willing to listen to you.
They may not agree but they hang on to what you have told them and they respect you more. And usually I do not even have to say anything at first, people ask me how I feel or think on an issue and my very first words are, "well" I think a little different than most people on this issue or that issue, I have strong convictions because I look at everything through the grid of scripture, or " Gods Word " and I line up my life and my beliefs according to It. Since I believe the Bible is the infalible Truth of God I believe every word of It is true. Everytime I say those words, I have one of two responses either a ton of questions or nothing. But usually it is when there are 2,3 or more people around and they are all asking questions. I Love it!
Like I said some may not agree with me , but I have challanged their thoughts, and stirred up their curiosity. I am always hoping they will come back
with more questions. And some have, usually asking me where it says this or that in the Bible.
on Tuesday, September 22, 2009 at 4:20 pm
on Tuesday, September 22, 2009 at 5:17 pm
Yes, we definitely should uphold one another in prayer
to do and be all that God has called us to do. Yesterday's
blog was on compassion, another area of struggle for me.
It's interesting how compassion and evangelism go together. If I am truly compassionate for the lost, I will
want to witness to them, but the problem comes in when
self gets in the way. (self-absorption, what will they think of ME, etc.)
Thank you for your encouragement. I can tell that being
an encourager is one of your spiritual gifts! God bless you!
on Tuesday, September 22, 2009 at 6:15 pm
I had a wonderful friend who moved away. When she left, the people who worked at the local grocer really missed her. She was such a godly Christian that even though she didn't share the gospel in words, her life was so credible. God made her winsome for Christ, as Nancy mentions winsome<3 They knew she stood for Christ. They also noticed the quality in her children.
on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at 1:53 am
I struggle with evangelism, so thank you for this wonderful post!
on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at 9:17 am
on Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at 8:35 am