Acts & Apologetics: 12. Apologetic Strategies

Although Apologetics may be a powerful argument, it is not the end of our discourse with the unbeliever. 

Our apologetics must be the groundwork or the foundation for evangelism  In Chapters 25 and 26 of the Book of Acts, we see Paul before two powerful leaders who, on the surface, hold Paul's life in their hands. Paul knew, however, as do we Christians, that it was God who held and controlled Paul's life. And Paul knew he had a mission: to spread the Gospel Truth of Jesus Christ to the known world.

For about 30 years, God gave Paul the opportunity not only to preach His  Gospel but more importantly, to get to know Him well. God personally taught Paul all that he needed to know with the instruction to "write it  all down." That command may not be in the Bible, but Paul knew what he had to do. He used his intellect. He used his knowledge of the Law and the Prophets (the Old Testament) to be the foundation of what he learned from the Lord Jesus as well as the eyewitness accounts of Peter, John, James, and others to "fill out," as it were, the information he needed to make his apologetic real, thoughtful, cogent and articulate. 

But more than anything else, God gave Paul a heart to follow the command of Christ to reach the world with this special revelation. Before his death, Paul would write the bulk of the New Testament. Today we benefit not only from Paul's labors, but we benefit from his love for us. 

But on to the discussion at hand.

In Acts Chapters 25 and 26,  we see the apostle Paul under arrest by the Roman authorities. The Jewish leaders want Paul "extradited" to Jerusalem to face charges.  Festus, being the good politician, figures that there's something more and senses a certain deceitfulness of the Jewish leaders. In fact, Festus can't find any of the so-called charges to be true. Not having a Jewish worldview, Festus needs another set of eyes and ears to understand what is going on. Fortunately for him, the Jewish King  Agrippa and his wife Bernice are visiting. Festus wants to understand what all the hubbub is about and convenes a hearing in their presence.

When Paul is brought in to defend himself, he is poised and calm and, most of all, prepared. We can be sure that he was fervently praying for this time; for the right words and right attitude - on all sides. Speaking directly to Agrippa, Paul goes through everything that the King should know about Jewish history, teaching, and tradition. Paul directly engaged  Agrippa. Paul, knowing his audience, presents the historical facts of  Jesus' Life, Passion, and Resurrection and how those facts directly affected, influenced and changed his own life.

Paul, better than any other person at the time, understood the noetic effects of sin. He understood that sin directly affects our mind and therefore our thinking when it comes to God and His revelation. Paul spoke effectively yet truthfully and forcefully. He didn't belittle or talk down to anyone. Paul also spoke lovingly. He wanted all who heard him that day to, at some time, come to a saving knowledge of God through Jesus Christ.

Paul, thanks to his being brought up under the teaching of the great Jewish scholar and teacher (rabbi) Gamaliel, also understood the succinct strategy of  Proverbs 26:4 - 5, which states, 

"Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes." 

At first glance, the two verses seem almost contradictory, but they're not. They are a tremendous strategy for presenting a good apologetic.

Let's look at those verses and I know you will understand. "Do  not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just  like him." In other words, when a "fool" (unbeliever) is speaking with you and is speaking foolishly, you are not to join in with his or her foolish ideas or speculations. Don't even entertain those notions. You know what you have learned by personally studying the Bible and attending church, Sunday school, Bible studies, and simple conversations with other mature and maturing believers (this is iron sharpening iron). You know God's truth. 

If you choose to enter this foolish conversation, you will become like him. That is what not to do. It is better to not speak at all rather than engage in foolish conversation. You are better off waiting for a more opportune time and place. Unless you have been in God's Word daily and are prepared. Onto the second part of this passage. 

Verse 5 may seem a bit twisted, but it isn't. "Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes." In other words, when conversing or arguing with a "fool," answer him according to his or her own argument; use their words against them. We  want to deconstruct - or lovingly destroy - their thought process,  exposing it for the folly it is; otherwise, they will believe they are "wise." 

Use their ungodly ideas and beliefs and turn them around on them. As we look at four simple tests to answer the unbeliever, I think you'll gain some clarity.

The first test is the test of Folly. The two verses from Proverbs that we just looked at speak to the unbeliever's folly or foolishness. The mind that is blinded by sin will expose itself through foolish thought and speech. Do not be afraid to question the unbeliever where he or she has derived their information from. Test them. Make them prove the sense or logic of their line of thinking. 

Just because it is a "popular" thought doesn't make it right. Remember when  your mom would question the wisdom of your actions and she would ask a  question like, "If all of your friends were jumping off the Brooklyn  Bridge, would you follow?" Your mom was using the test of folly. Another example: is abortion legal? Yes. Is it right or just? The idea of "transgenderism", etc. There are many similar examples to use which leads us to our next test.

Next is the Behavior test. The behavior test questions the unbeliever's direct behavior as it tries to "mesh" with their worldview. This is one of the best strategies when arguing with an unbeliever. The unbeliever may have a "warped"  idea of right and wrong. You know, "what's right for me may not be right for you. It's all relative." You can test them with the idea of robbing a bank or assaulting a child. If there are no standards, then what makes those wrongful acts right? Furthermore, would the particular unbeliever truly act the way in which they profess? If not, then why? 

When it comes to behavior, people do what they do, and deny God in the process, because they want to do what they want to do. Remember Romans  1:18 - 25. The natural man doesn't want the accountability of God, ever, so that they can sin to their heart's content with little or no recourse or responsibility. 

Keep in mind that even we as regenerated Christians struggle with this. Even great saints like the apostle Paul struggled with sin. Paraphrasing him, "I do what don't want to do and don't do what I want to do." Romans 7: 19 - 20.

The Truth test is similar to the Behavior test. Instead of "right and wrong," the question is now Truth. At Jesus'  trial in front of Pontius Pilate, Pilate asks Jesus what Truth is, then quickly moves on and wishes to dismiss the charges against Him (John  18:37 - 38), without further discussion. When it comes to God, He is  Truth. The "truth of the matter" is that God did create the universe in 6 days. It is true that Jesus was virgin born, lived a sinless life, suffered for our sins, was killed, died, and then rose from the dead three days later. Whether you believe the truth of these facts doesn't matter. God's Truth is God's Truth.  Where does the  unbeliever's "truth" come from? What is their standard? Do they have a  standard?

Here's an example: "I am created in the image of God." Genesis 1:26 - 27. Two examples really. "Created" as opposed to "evolved from" and "in the  image of God." As a believer, I know that my closest relative is NOT an ape or chimpanzee. There is no proof or "truth" to evolution. We stand strong on God's Word and Integrity. I believe without question what He has said. This leads us to...

Finally, there's the Dependency test. As Bible-believing, God-loving Christians, we are 100% dependent upon God - or at least we should be. More importantly, are we acting and living in such a way that demonstrates or expresses that dependence? On the other hand, the unbeliever wants to be 100% independent of God. (See last week's lesson and the discussion on the myths of Neutrality and Autonomy). They reject God in all manner of life and living. Their thinking is independent of God and the Bible. Psalm 10:13, even makes the statement that the wicked assume that God won't call him to account. They probably won't even venture to crack a Bible's binding. And in the next sentence, they'll tell you that the Bible is filled with "inconsistencies" that can't be reconciled. Our response should be: "Show me!"

As believers with a good apologetic, we want to show them that they can trust and be dependent on God. We can tell them of the actual liberty and freedom they can achieve by being dependent upon God and His Word. In this way, we can point them to the loving arms of a Saving and  Personal God.

When all is said and done, we should be asking ourselves, what is the  purpose of constructing a "good apologetic?" If the purpose is to show our "superior" intellect or debating skills, we are being selfish. God will not honor us. If the purpose is to put the other person down or humiliate them, we are not demonstrating true Christian love and concern for their eternal soul. If we aren't regularly praying for not only opportunities but to actually share Christ, we aren't relying on Divine guidance and aid. If we aren't praying for the right words to think and speak, we are acting independently of God and therefore working outside of, maybe not His will, but outside of His directing. If, while presenting our apologetic, we are unable to sympathize with the unbeliever's needs - both physical and emotional as well as spiritual -  we aren't going to be the effective guidepost that God has called us to be.

Dear friends, as all of us develop and construct our apologetic, remember that this is only the first step in being used by God to share Christ and further His kingdom. Our apologetic should be used for the purpose of showing the lost their need for a personal Savior (not just an idea of God). God has called each of us to Evangelism. For that reason, you live and work in different circumstances than I do. God has brought each of us to a saving faith in Him in different ways and through many different means. We are truly called to live out 1  Peter 3:15, "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,".

Let us walk humbly before our God and serve Him daily for His Glory, His Honor, and His Truth.

Once again, my heartfelt thanks to Pastor Brian Borgman of Grace Community  Church of Minden, Nevada for his excellent sermon series on Defending Christian Theism.