Being as passionate as I am about evangelism – especially on the personal level – I’ve stuggled with this question for quite some time:
I see this as being a very important question to answer – especially in our postmodern world – if we want to be able to get anywhere with a non-believer. Even the best and most elaborate apologies for Christian truth will go nowhere if the person we’re talking to rejects the Bible’s authority and reliability. Christian apologetics is great, but isn’t the purpose of studying it to be able to argue and defend the faith against the unbeliever’s accusations? Believer’s do not need to be convince of the saving act of Christ’s resurrection – it’s the unbelievers who are in need.
The difficulty associated with the above question is this: all of God’s special revelation (that is, the revelation needed for knowledge of how to gain eternal life and which contains the specific statements needed to affirm, without doubt, HIS existence [although the heavens declare his glory and none are held without excuse, Creation in and of itself is an incomplete revelation of God and HIS mercies]) hinges on the above question when it comes to personal evangelism and discipleship; we cannot prove any point of Christian doctrine (which is grounded in the Word) without a recognition of the authority, reliability, and inerrancy of the Scriptures.
If any one has any suggestions, input, or insight into solving this problem, I would greatly appreciate hearing from you.
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Jason, I have no degree and I bailed out of academia, my third university, in 1980 only to have my inner “nerd” rise up with “a vengeance” roughly seven years ago. This was God’s doing. Since then I have immersed myself in languages, archaeology, apologetics, history, sciences, new-age weirdness–you name it and I have been through the door. I have a unique lifestyle (“retired” early) that has allowed me to pursue knowledge and understanding with a focus that some would easily call obsessive. (24/7–365)
I,too, have asked myself and God the same question(s) concerning how to convey to others that the Scriptures are reliable historically and spiritually….that in fact these Truths are Divinely inspired and that the Truth handed to us is inerrant. I had to clearly define Inspiration and Inerrancy as well.
From militant atheists (the ones who actually think) to Bart Ehrman… I have studied the objections against Inspiration and Inerrancy and have found their arguments thoroughly lacking and too often logically irrational. The actual confirmation of the Bible is found in the the prayer…. Jesus, if you truly are who they say you are live in me ,forgive me and show me..and He will. The Scriptures show Him to us through those who truly knew Him on Earth and their witness of the Intimate Love He brings us. No other so-called religion even comes close to this. Apologetics can open the door but The Spirit is the One who makes these Truths real to us.
The question also is: WHY is the Authority of the revelation of God to us being rejected? Is it simply a matter of needing historical or linguistic validation or is there a deeper issue? Like…an issue of the moral? Is there an issue of having seen “christians” in bad behaviour? There certainly has been no lack of this in the public arena but that can be negated in a number of ways. Most of all through true kindness borne of the Love of God through a person who has integrity.
There are some thoughts. Any help to you? Feel free to drop me an email if you’d like. I have, and am , still getting a number of things in order–Tim