Capitalizing On Common Ground

Another area of common ground governing our understanding about religion is that we share the expectation that all our beliefs are true. No one in their right mind or stable psyche would purposefully hold a false belief. Whether or not our beliefs are in fact true, we think they’re true; otherwise we would not hold them. If I held a belief that was false, I would want to know it. The nonbeliever may not be willing to admit this, but they intuitively embrace the idea that their beliefs are true. This shared expectation is important capital we must cash in when encountering nonbelievers.

From my essay “Why Apologetics is Important to Your Church”.

What’s Good for the Goose Is Good for the Gander

Though this expression specifically applies to male and female roles (the “gander” being a male goose), it’s come to mean whatever is fair for one must be fair for all. This said:

Peter’s mandate undoubtedly applies to every believer: “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). Yet most churches fail to realize: If 1 Peter 3:15 applies to every believer, then it equally applies to every church, since church by definition is made up of believers! In today’s cultural climate, failing to integrate apologetics in church ministry makes all our evangelistic efforts anemic at best. Is there an intentional, consistent practice to think and speak apologetically in your church?

From my essay “Why Apologetics is Important to Your Church”.

Imagine a church that demands (rightfully) honesty, justice, and compassion from its members yet fails to deal truthfully, fairly, or mercifully to the community in which it exists?

2012 Smart Faith Conference

The 2012 Smart Faith Conference begins June 8, 2012 at 4:30 PM.

Featured speakers include:

• Frank Turek of CrossExamined.org
• Michael Licona of RisenJesus.com
• Mary Jo Sharp of ConfidentChristianity.com
• Brett Kunkle of STR.org (Stand to Reason)
• Doug Geivett of Biola University (Professor of Philosophy of Religion and Ethics)
• Doug Powell of SelflessDefense.com
• J Warner Wallace of PleaseConvinceMe.com
• Jeff Zweerink of Reasons.org (Reasons to Believe)
• Neil Mammen of NoBlindFaith.com
• Sanjay Merchant of the Moody Bible Institute (Professor of Philosophy)

Register Now!

Exploring the Relationship between Truth and Authority

Just four thoughts:

1. Because the Scriptures are God-breathed, they are necessarily true and, therefore, authoritative (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20-21). Because God is the author of the Gospel, it carries the weight of its author.
2. The authority of the Gospel is acknowledged, not created, by the Church. The Church gains its authority from the Scriptures, not vice versa. Authority is intrinsic to God and His Word. All other authority, including the Church and its leaders, is derived (Rom. 13:1-12, Matt. 28-18-20).
3. Jesus’ entire life here on earth was testifying to absolute truth and he claimed that “everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” Pilate responds, like most today, with a sneer of skepticism “What is truth?” (Jn. 18:37-38).
4. “Jesus’ absolute claim that he is the way, the truth, and the life means categorically that anything that contradicts what he says is by definition false” (Ravi Zacharias).

If these things be true…