I am teaching a new class on apologetics. Here is the first lesson:
PURPOSE
Someone recently said that the church spends a great deal of time and resources teaching our members what to believe, but we do a terrible job of explaining why we believe. Understanding why we believe is more important now than ever. There is a pervasive sense in the world today that the Bible is an outdated book of fairy tales. Not only that, but institutes of higher learning teach that there is a conflict between the Bible and science, and many go as far as to say that science has disproven the Bible. Anyone attending a secular college or university that openly professes belief in the Bible as the word of God is likely to be laughed at, or worse.
• Have you experienced this kind of thinking? How did you respond or feel?
To top it off, we have more access and more rapid access to information, thought, and opinion than ever could have been previously imagined. We are inundated with ideas right and left that contradict each other. How are we supposed to know the truth? There is even a prevailing idea that there is no such thing as truth; that everything is relative; that what's true for you is not necessarily true for me.
The Christian community is no different. While there is no shortage of data to support our Christian worldview, that God is real and that the Bible is true, and that our lives matter to God and to each other, many of our attempts to get the message across seem weak at best. For example, the movie “God's Not Dead,” was a great hit with Christians worldwide, but the great “evidence” for our faith was not presented in the movie. Instead, it was based on a personal conversion experience and a life-change based on these beliefs. Belief in God does change lives, but is it proof that God is real?
Recently there was a well-publicized debate between Ken Ham (founder of the Creation Museum and Answers in Genesis) and TV science guru, Bill Nye “the Science Guy.” Ken Ham has amazing books and videos and a whole team of scholars working for him that could present the best evidence we have available to explain why Christians believe what we believe. But the debate was a joke. Bill Nye presented his side with “You have the Bible, and I have science.” Ken Ham did nothing to dispute this statement, but went on to debate the scientist with “the Bible says.” If the science camp rules out the Bible as a valid source, then Christians shouldn't use the Bible as their only source in the debate. We need to first establish the validity of the Bible before presenting it as evidence.
• Have you been led to question your beliefs based on some “evidence” presented to you that seemed to go against the Bible?
What we would like to do in this course is to use the same evidence that the science camp uses to defend their arguments against God and the Bible to show that the Bible can be true in light of all of the scientific evidence that is available to all of us. You see, the science is not the problem; it is the beliefs associated with the science that causes the difference. We can use the same evidence (science) and show that the differences between our beliefs do not lie in the evidences or data, but in the interpretation. We can show how the same evidence, when seen through an evolutionary bias can have a different outcome than if seen through a creationist bias, for example. This is the only valid way to open people's minds to the possibility of an alternative but possible view.
QUESTIONING
For a long time in many churches, it has been almost taboo to question the teachings of the church. But that was not so in the beginning. I have heard it said, “God said it, I believe it, and that settles it.” That kind of thinking will not convince anyone of truth or bring conviction to beliefs. It is great to have that kind of faith, but you have to start with being able to trust that what God says is trustworthy, and that the Bible is actually the word of God before you can expect to have any faith at all. This is like when your mother says, “Because I said so, that's why.” How many of us really learned anything from that kind of answer?
• Have you ever felt unsafe to question beliefs in church?
Believing something just because you are supposed to is called “blind faith.” In many circles, this is encouraged. But, it may surprise you that blind faith is not the attitude that the Bible itself teaches: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” 1 Peter 3:15. And Acts 17:11 tells us, “Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”
It is important to be able to understand not just what we believe, but why we believe, so we can show the world who God really is. Scientific data actually supports a Biblical worldview. We are not somehow less than intelligent if we profess belief in the Bible or the God of the Bible. It is not “the Bible versus science.” It is good science versus bad science.
It is also truth versus opinion. A lot of opinion is sold out there as truth. More than that, a lot of truth is passed off as opinion, and there is a real push in some circles to try to convince people that truth doesn't even exist at all. But no matter how you try to get around it, truth is truth, whether you believe it or not. You can't make something true simply by believing it, nor can you make it not true by refusing to believe it. Truth must be true for all people, at all times, in all situations, independent of our knowledge of it, or it is not truth at all. That's what makes it true. So, either the Bible is true or it is not. God is either real, or he is not. That's what we would like to discuss in this class.
APOLOGETICS
So, let's start with the definition of what we are doing here. The study of why we believe what we believe is called “apologetics”. While this may sound like we are saying we are sorry, it is really Greek for “speaking in defense.” That's where we get our word “apology”. When we apologize, we are giving our reasons, our defense, for our actions. And as Christians, we should be able to defend our beliefs, if they are true. Over the next several lessons, we will be looking at some of the bad science out there and discussing ways to examine the data rationally, to call into question the assumptions that are being made that don't follow the scientific method, that lead people to incorrect conclusions. At the end of this class, you will be better able to answer the hard questions you may face or may be presented with. You should have a deeper assurance that faith in God is based on real, rational explanations, not blind faith, and you will be able to assist others in understanding why we rely on the Bible as a guide for our lives.
We will encourage you along the way to ask questions. Don't just take our word for it. Be like the Bereans. Make your faith your own by finding out the answers to your own questions. Seek, search, and find. Believe what is true, then be prepared to share with others.
Discussion: Do you think the churches should be doing more of this kind of teaching? Why or why not? What would you like to learn more about in this class?
PURPOSE
Someone recently said that the church spends a great deal of time and resources teaching our members what to believe, but we do a terrible job of explaining why we believe. Understanding why we believe is more important now than ever. There is a pervasive sense in the world today that the Bible is an outdated book of fairy tales. Not only that, but institutes of higher learning teach that there is a conflict between the Bible and science, and many go as far as to say that science has disproven the Bible. Anyone attending a secular college or university that openly professes belief in the Bible as the word of God is likely to be laughed at, or worse.
• Have you experienced this kind of thinking? How did you respond or feel?
To top it off, we have more access and more rapid access to information, thought, and opinion than ever could have been previously imagined. We are inundated with ideas right and left that contradict each other. How are we supposed to know the truth? There is even a prevailing idea that there is no such thing as truth; that everything is relative; that what's true for you is not necessarily true for me.
The Christian community is no different. While there is no shortage of data to support our Christian worldview, that God is real and that the Bible is true, and that our lives matter to God and to each other, many of our attempts to get the message across seem weak at best. For example, the movie “God's Not Dead,” was a great hit with Christians worldwide, but the great “evidence” for our faith was not presented in the movie. Instead, it was based on a personal conversion experience and a life-change based on these beliefs. Belief in God does change lives, but is it proof that God is real?
Recently there was a well-publicized debate between Ken Ham (founder of the Creation Museum and Answers in Genesis) and TV science guru, Bill Nye “the Science Guy.” Ken Ham has amazing books and videos and a whole team of scholars working for him that could present the best evidence we have available to explain why Christians believe what we believe. But the debate was a joke. Bill Nye presented his side with “You have the Bible, and I have science.” Ken Ham did nothing to dispute this statement, but went on to debate the scientist with “the Bible says.” If the science camp rules out the Bible as a valid source, then Christians shouldn't use the Bible as their only source in the debate. We need to first establish the validity of the Bible before presenting it as evidence.
• Have you been led to question your beliefs based on some “evidence” presented to you that seemed to go against the Bible?
What we would like to do in this course is to use the same evidence that the science camp uses to defend their arguments against God and the Bible to show that the Bible can be true in light of all of the scientific evidence that is available to all of us. You see, the science is not the problem; it is the beliefs associated with the science that causes the difference. We can use the same evidence (science) and show that the differences between our beliefs do not lie in the evidences or data, but in the interpretation. We can show how the same evidence, when seen through an evolutionary bias can have a different outcome than if seen through a creationist bias, for example. This is the only valid way to open people's minds to the possibility of an alternative but possible view.
QUESTIONING
For a long time in many churches, it has been almost taboo to question the teachings of the church. But that was not so in the beginning. I have heard it said, “God said it, I believe it, and that settles it.” That kind of thinking will not convince anyone of truth or bring conviction to beliefs. It is great to have that kind of faith, but you have to start with being able to trust that what God says is trustworthy, and that the Bible is actually the word of God before you can expect to have any faith at all. This is like when your mother says, “Because I said so, that's why.” How many of us really learned anything from that kind of answer?
• Have you ever felt unsafe to question beliefs in church?
Believing something just because you are supposed to is called “blind faith.” In many circles, this is encouraged. But, it may surprise you that blind faith is not the attitude that the Bible itself teaches: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” 1 Peter 3:15. And Acts 17:11 tells us, “Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”
It is important to be able to understand not just what we believe, but why we believe, so we can show the world who God really is. Scientific data actually supports a Biblical worldview. We are not somehow less than intelligent if we profess belief in the Bible or the God of the Bible. It is not “the Bible versus science.” It is good science versus bad science.
It is also truth versus opinion. A lot of opinion is sold out there as truth. More than that, a lot of truth is passed off as opinion, and there is a real push in some circles to try to convince people that truth doesn't even exist at all. But no matter how you try to get around it, truth is truth, whether you believe it or not. You can't make something true simply by believing it, nor can you make it not true by refusing to believe it. Truth must be true for all people, at all times, in all situations, independent of our knowledge of it, or it is not truth at all. That's what makes it true. So, either the Bible is true or it is not. God is either real, or he is not. That's what we would like to discuss in this class.
APOLOGETICS
So, let's start with the definition of what we are doing here. The study of why we believe what we believe is called “apologetics”. While this may sound like we are saying we are sorry, it is really Greek for “speaking in defense.” That's where we get our word “apology”. When we apologize, we are giving our reasons, our defense, for our actions. And as Christians, we should be able to defend our beliefs, if they are true. Over the next several lessons, we will be looking at some of the bad science out there and discussing ways to examine the data rationally, to call into question the assumptions that are being made that don't follow the scientific method, that lead people to incorrect conclusions. At the end of this class, you will be better able to answer the hard questions you may face or may be presented with. You should have a deeper assurance that faith in God is based on real, rational explanations, not blind faith, and you will be able to assist others in understanding why we rely on the Bible as a guide for our lives.
We will encourage you along the way to ask questions. Don't just take our word for it. Be like the Bereans. Make your faith your own by finding out the answers to your own questions. Seek, search, and find. Believe what is true, then be prepared to share with others.
Discussion: Do you think the churches should be doing more of this kind of teaching? Why or why not? What would you like to learn more about in this class?
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