Roadblocks and Smokescreens

Sometimes the practice of apologetics is necessary due to intellectual roadblocks or emotional smokescreens. There are those who are opposed to Christianity because of what they consider to be issues of intellectual integrity. They feel that they cannot accept Christian belief and remain intellectually honest. One of the big ticket items here is the theory of evolution; this is a roadblock for many, and as Matthew said today, it stops them from believing. Others have issues which are more emotional in nature. They just don't want to talk about it, and so they will send up a smokescreen to change the subject or try to stump you with a question that they are really not concerned about at all. These folks may actually be the most difficult to witness to. . .it will take prayer and commitment to the relationship to figure out where the real starting point is for them. But whatever that point might be, you can be certain that it involves wrong thinking. In fact, even as believers, each of us will struggle from time to time with our own wrong thinking patterns. We often drift back into "listening to ourselves instead of preaching to ourselves." This is because sin has affected us in our whole being. It has affected us noetically, in our minds. The end result, the resultant effect is a sin-clouded mind. This is manifested in each of us in different ways, and so our apologetics must be person-sensitive. Vivian noted that this means we can't "use the same formula" for every unbeliever that we come in contact with. Yes, apologetics is sometimes necessary to pave the way the for the gospel, but we do not assume that. . .gospel first, apologetics second, always remembering I Peter 3:15 and to do so "with gentleness and respect."

Until next time when we'll try to tackle one of Harrison's questions. . .Mrs. H.