Writing about Session: 3 Categories of Theology, Craig Sparks shares his thoughts on one of the discussion questions.
Discussion question #2: Some Christian apologists (often called Classical apologists) believe that using the Bible to convince an unbeliever of a Christian worldview is impossible because the unbeliever does not believe the Bible. Do you believe that this is true?
No, not all unbelievers reject or oppose the bible. Some unbelievers have just not been exposed to the truth in the Bible. They have not had someone in their life or a believing church cross their path to encourage them to read and understand the truth that the Bible holds. Additionally, many religions and churches do not encourage individuals to open a Bible and read what it has to say and understand it, let alone apply it directly to their lives. Many churches hold fast to traditions and fail to adequately teach and encourage each member/attendee to see what the Word of God has to provide for their life.
I am an example of this. Where I grew up there were predominantly Catholic and Lutheran churches. These religions and churches were, and still are, all about tradition. I did not understand what the traditions meant; I just knew how to follow them. I definitely did not understand the Biblical truth that Jesus died on the cross for my sins. All I needed was for God to show me the path he had for me and to put someone like Tony and Theresa O’Tool in my life to lead me to a church like Lakeside that was different. A church that believes and teaches solely what God’s Word has to say.
This is a great reminder for me and should be to all of us to be comfortable and relaxed about approaching others and sharing our testimony about how God provided a way through Jesus Christ for our sins to be washed away and forgiven completely. Many people are just waiting to see that there is a different option in church than what their “normal” has taught them. God maybe have put me or you in someone’s path recently. Don’t ignore the Holy Spirit guiding you to talk to someone.
Romans 3:23-24 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”