Supporting apologetics

Some comments I left at Wintery Knight's blog  


stephennhays says: 12/07/2011 at 8:58 PM 


Ironically, Mike Singer has to do apologetics in the very process of demoting apologetics. When he tries to defend charity as the Christian priority, when he tries to make a case for his position, he’s doing apologetics. It’s just that he’s trying to prove something different.  


In addition, telling Christians that charity ought to be their priority, even if that were true, takes for granted that you have Christians in the first place. But without apologetics, you don’t win as many converts to the faith, and you don’t retain as many.  


Finally, reducing the true faith to charity is a classically leftward move that eventually empties the church. At that point, charity is co-opted by secular charities like the United Way.  


stephennhays says: 12/08/2011 at 1:37 PM 


Asking us to prooftext apologetics is like asking us to prooftext evangelism or discipleship. Apologetics is a type of evangelism, a type of discipleship. When, in Acts, the Apostles reason from Messianic prophecy, that’s both apologetics and evangelism. When the author of Hebrews argues with congregants about not abandoning the faith, that’s apologetics and discipleship. Quite a few NT epistles defend the true faith against false teachers. That’s apologetics. 


stephennhays says: 12/08/2011 at 4:36 PM 


Mike Singer says: “Again – I am not against critical thinking or apologetics using a secular argument secular apologetics is your gift then do it by all means. To place apologist at the same level as a apostle is again not scriptural.”  


Now you’re moving the goalpost. This wasn’t a question of putting an uninspired apologist on “the same level” as an apostle, but documenting the practice of apologetics among apostles and NT writers. That supplies NT precedent.  


Moreover, your argument either proves too much or too little. By your logic, we shouldn’t pay pastors or evangelists, for that would be putting an uninspired preacher on “the same level” as an apostle.  


stephennhays says: 12/09/2011 at 8:39 AM 


Mike Singer says: “I dont see ANY scriptures presenting to a case to atheists – sorry to say.”  


I don’t see ANY scriptures in which 21st century Canadians or Americans or Australians present the gospel to 21st century atheists living in the New World. I only see commands given to 1st century residents of the Roman Empire. So I guess that you and I can skip evangelism.  


“Where does it say to pay pastors / evanglelists ? If you have scripture – it would be great to see it.”  


I see you can’t follow your own argument. You indicated that paying apologists put them on the same level as apostles. By parity of argument, paying pastors/evangelists puts them on the same level as apostles. My argument isn’t predicated on a duty to pay pastors/evangelists. Rather, it’s an argument from analogy, based on your own premise. In future, try to keep track of your own argument.  


(Mind you, I could mount an exegetical argument for paid clergy, but that’s a side issue at the moment.)  


“To be a “Christian” there means something and has a cost to the tune of your life as well as your families. History shows – the Body of Christ is most effective under persecution.”  


Well, that sounds very brave behind the safety of your computer keyboard. Why don’t you put that into practice by purchasing a ticket to Mecca or N. Korea or Iran and then begin evangelizing the locals. See how far you get.  


BTW, when are you going to stop talking about our duty to provide for the poor, and lead by example? Why don’t you sell your computer and give the proceeds to the poor?