I am looking for some personal answers....
Random thoughts on apologetics:
Apologetics is to win people mainly, not just to win arguments.
All apologetical arguments are like tools in your workshed. A hammer will work for some people, a screwdriver for others. I am not sure why presups and evidentialists always have infighting. Why diss the other one's tools?
Really, there is no truth that is undeniable - because people will deny even the most basic truths.
However, many folks find a fascination with complicated apologetics and spend much time on it.
Most people come to Christ not for logical reasons alone anyway, but for sentimental reasons and by being loved into the kingdom, or coming to God in a crisis or having close friends and family that have become Christians and have had changed lives.
My experience with some of those who love apologetics is that they read much and actually use their apologetics little and, when they do, they do so by going after the jugular and are after a "win" in their syllogisms and not after helping win the person to Christ.
The most effective witnessing I have seen has always been done by folks who are largely ignorant of apologetics? Why is this so?
Also, I have noticed that most people that read deeply in Reformed apologetics are already Christians. Nonbelievers prefer the layman oriented books like Josh McDowell's stuff? Or C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity approach, rather than Van Til.
What am I missing? Why don't I like Reformed apologetics? Am I wrong for taking Josh McDowell over Van Til any day?
How is apologetics and missions/evangelism related? How do most people put it into action?
Random thoughts on apologetics:
Apologetics is to win people mainly, not just to win arguments.
All apologetical arguments are like tools in your workshed. A hammer will work for some people, a screwdriver for others. I am not sure why presups and evidentialists always have infighting. Why diss the other one's tools?
Really, there is no truth that is undeniable - because people will deny even the most basic truths.
However, many folks find a fascination with complicated apologetics and spend much time on it.
Most people come to Christ not for logical reasons alone anyway, but for sentimental reasons and by being loved into the kingdom, or coming to God in a crisis or having close friends and family that have become Christians and have had changed lives.
My experience with some of those who love apologetics is that they read much and actually use their apologetics little and, when they do, they do so by going after the jugular and are after a "win" in their syllogisms and not after helping win the person to Christ.
The most effective witnessing I have seen has always been done by folks who are largely ignorant of apologetics? Why is this so?
Also, I have noticed that most people that read deeply in Reformed apologetics are already Christians. Nonbelievers prefer the layman oriented books like Josh McDowell's stuff? Or C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity approach, rather than Van Til.
What am I missing? Why don't I like Reformed apologetics? Am I wrong for taking Josh McDowell over Van Til any day?
How is apologetics and missions/evangelism related? How do most people put it into action?