Worldview and Apologetics Midterm Thompson

Apologetics

Knowing what we believe and WHY we believe it and being able to communicate that to others effictively

Greek word for Apologetics

apologia

To give a reason or defense

2 types of Apologetics

Offensive

Defensive

Offensive Apologetics

Positively stating the case for Christianity

Defensive Apologetics

Answering, defending your faith

Two Goals for Apologetics

To strengthen believers

To reach unbelievers

1 Peter 3:8-16

The identity of the apologist

The attitude of the apologist

The speech of the apologist

The character of the apologist

The requirements of the apologist

The vindication of the apologist

The identity of the apologist

"Finally be ye all.."

instructions are to each believer

Every believer should be able to explain

The attitude of the apologist

We MUST be passionate and compassionate

We are focused on winning people not arguments

If anyone gets angry you automatically lose

The Speech of the Apologist

We will encounter opposition but respond correctly

We need to be realistic about the response our defense will receive

The Character of the Apologist

Our conduct before the world is of the utmost importance

Our conduct is what makes our words meaningful

The requirements of the apologist

Our apologetic requires devotion to God

Our apologetics require giving an answer

The vindication of the apologist

We may suffer for our faith

We will be proven right

Jude 3

We must defend our faith with intensity and passion,

we must be able to defend the contents of the Bible

Colossians 4:5-6

How we act before unbelievers matters

How we talk with unbelievers matters

Titus 4:5-6

The trustworthy Word of God is the foundation of our apologetics

The restoration of those that hold false beliefs is the goal of our apologetics

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Apologetics is ultimately a spiritual battle

Apologetics is a battle to bring a persons worldview into conformity with Gods word

Conclusion of Biblical Apologetics

It is the responsibility of of every believer

It must be donee with passion and compassion

It is for winning people not arguments

Will not always be successful but the battle is worth fighting

The Need for Apologetics

Biblical Iliteration

Post Christian thinking

Open opposition to biblical truth

Opposing religions

Biblical illiteracy

People simply don't know what the Bible says

We cannot assume any Bible knowledge

Post-Christian Thinking

- Relativism is prevalent

- Jesus Claims exclusivity

Open opposition to Biblical Truth

Biblical truth is increasingly seen as a threat

Strong religious belief is seen as extremism

Opposing Religion

There is an increased acceptance and tolerance of all religions except biblical Christianity

Christianity must be distinguished from its false narratives

Aspects of apologetics

What we say- "Speaking the truth"

How we say it - "in Love"

Approaches to apologetics

classical,

evidential,

presuppositional

Balanced Approach

Classical Apologetics

Argues for generic theism

Argues from generic theism to the God of the Bible.

What are the problems of classical Apologetics

Mens problem is spiritual not intellectual

Man will always justify what he doesn't want to believe

Evidential Apologetics

Assumes the truth of theism

Argues using historical evidences

The problems of Evidential Apologetics

It can leave leave major questions unaddressed

Supernatural explanations for historical events are difficult to establish

Presupositional Apologetics (no step Approach)

Presuppose the truth of Scripture

Argues Exclusivity from the Christian World view

The Problems with Presuppositional

Tends to ignore Evidence

Balanced Approach

Evidences do not automatically produce faith

The best argument and defense of the faith is found in knowing and proclaiming the Word of God.

There is a legitimate use for evidences

Worldview

the total perspective by which a person or culture, perceives and interprets the Word.

Biblical Worldview

A way of thinking and behaving based upon Gods Revelation that provides a filter through which every idea is evaluated and every experience is interpreted.

What is the purpose and expectation of a worldview

They answer the "big questions" of life

Worldview credibility requires coherence and correspondence

Big questions of life

Where did we come from

Who are we

What's wrong with the world

What solution can be offered to fix it

Coherence

systematic or logical connection or consistency

Correspondence

Truth claims must correspond to objective reality

What is a formal way of clearly thinking about a subject

Logic

What is the source of logic

God (Col. 1:15-16)

The Laws of logic

Non contradiction (A is not -A)

Law of identity (A=A)

Excluded middle (either A or -A)

Sentimentalism

Anything confrontational is bad

The Hypostatic Union Consistency

Two Natures, one infinite, one finite.

The Trinity Consistency

God is 3 in person , on in essence

Empirical Adequacy

Info comprising a worldview should be verifiable

If a worldview corresponds to facts, elements of that worldview should be verifiable

Experimental Relevance

It relates meaningfully to reality

It meaningfully sneers the big questions

Components of a worldview

Basic beliefs

Big Story

Resulting Behavior

Answers : what Why, so what?

Challenges for our Worldview

We often aren't conscious or thoughtful about our worldview

We are often inconsistent in our worldview

We tend to view our world with "Chronological snobbery"

What is Thompson definition of truth

Comformity to fact or realty; exact accordance with that which is

What is the opposite of observational truth

Lie

What are some implications of truth?

1. Ultimate truth would have to exist outside of time, space, and matter

2. God is the Supreme Being outside of time Spence and matter

3. If God exists, then there is a standard of truth that exists

What corresponds to the reality and nature of God?

Truth

God is truth

God is the standard of what is and is not "really real"

Our focus? To know God so we can know truth

What is any truth that is not consistent with God? And what is our focus?

A lie

Focus? To know God so we can recognize lies

Who is the person of truth?

Jesus Christ

How did man respond to the Person of truth?

Rejected Him

What were the Spiritual problems in rejecting Jesus

Turn away their ears

Hold the truth in unrighteousness

Changed the truth into a lie

Don't obey the truth

What are the practical problems in rejecting Jesus

Skepticism

Evasive agnosticism

Cynicism and naive optimism

Narrow and open mindedness

Emotional argumentation

The view that truth is unobtainable concerning a specific subject

skepticism

The view that avoids examining a matter an claiming ignorance

Evasive agnosticism

Making emphatically negative or positive claims without sufficient evidence

Cynicism and naive optimism

Needlessly limiting ones examination or indiscriminately accepting every position

Narrow+ open mindedness

Allowing emotion to excessively influence arguments

Emotional argumentation

Arguments for the existence of God

Cosmological argument

Teleological argument

Ontological argument

Moral argument

Every effect has a cause

Cosmological argument

Whatever begins to exist has a cause to its existence

The universe began to exist

Therefore the universe has a cause to its existence

Isa 3:10

Kalam cosmological argument

Order and design must have an ordered and a designer

Teleological argument

The ability to conceive that God points to his existence

Ontological argument

Universal sense of morality is present in mankind

Objective moral values and duties do exist

Therefore God exists

Moral argument

Limits for the arguments for the existence of God

They don't specifically point to the God of the Bible

They are evidence of existence not identity

Biblical arguments for God

The Bible presupposed God's existence

The Bible supports Gods existence Psalm 14:1, Rom. 2:14-15

How has God revealed himself to us?

General Revelation

Special Revelation

What is General Rvelation

Info from God or about God that is generally available to men

Aspects of General Revelation

Given to all

Sufficient for condemnation

Declares God's Greatness

What does General revelation include

Creation

Human Conscience

What verse goes with Creation/General Revelation

Psalm 19:1-6

Romans 1:19-20

What verse goes with Conscience/General Revelation

Romans 2:14-15

Implications of General Revelation for Apologetics and Evangelism

We have common ground with others

We have a starting point for evangelism

3 gaps of man v God

What are the 3 gaps of man v God

Ontological gap

Epistemological

Moral

God is self existent, we are not

Ontological Gap

We are limited in our capacity to know + understand

Epistemological gap

Our sin seperated us from God

Moral Gap

What is the primary avenue of special revelation currently available

Bible

Why is the Bible the primary avenue of Special Revelation

It claims to be revelation from God

It claims to be sufficient revelation

What scripture shows that the Bible is the primary avenue of special revelation

Psalm 19:7-11

2 Timothy 3:16

Aspects of Special revelation

Given to few, intended for all

Sufficient for salvation

Declares God's grace

Implications of Special Revelation

Special revelation gives us a higher level of blessing

Special revelation gives us a higher level of accountability

Special revelation is what we share/defend with others

We cannot be made right with God apart from

Special Revelation

Types of Inspiration about the Bible

Verbal

Plenary

Scriptural

Sufficient

God gave every single word

Plenary Inspiration

That that was written is inspired from God

Scriptural

Enough to supply

Sufficient

What does 2 peter 1:20-21

Not from Man

God prepared men

God moved men

Summary and clarification on inspiration

God is ultimately responsible for the words recorded in the scriptures

Inspiration does not negate human research (Luke's gospel) or oral tradition

Inspiration is obvious

Our confidence lies in the inspired, eternal, inerrant, and infallible Word of God

Inspiration without preservation is what

Useless

Verses of promise of Preservation

Psalm 119:89-91

Isaiah 40:8 (flower)

Matthew 5:18 (Jot+tittle)

How was the old testament preserved

Jews required to copy texts

The scribes were very careful

The masoretes

How was the New Testament preserved

The NT was in ready circulation

Quotations from the lectionaries are and church fathers included copies of scripture

When the church recognized the correct canon in the 4th century.

5800 manuscripts

The result of preservation

Confidence that we have God's Word in every generation

The clear and understandable revelation from God is still accessible to us today

The Bible is without error

Inerrancy