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But we need to recognize that our Christian life is more than one of trust. It is also a life of
knowledge and expression. God has called us to think about what we believe and defend it to
those who might challenge us or simply ask questions (more on that HERE). Christian “case
makers” who have accepted this challenge are often called “apologists”. The word “apologist”
comes from the Greek word “apologia” which simply means “speaking a defense”. The term
does have some liability, however, for a couple of reasons. First, the related term, “apology”
leaves many with the impression that Christians think they have something to apologize for
when they engage in “apologetics”. Nothing, of course, could be further from the truth.
Secondly, our present culture has a tendency to view apologists as professional speakers of
one kind or another. Even Christians tend to think of apologetics as something to be done by
professionals, rather than an important responsibility to be embraced by each and every
Christian. It’s time to recognize the fact that all Christians are called to be a Christian “case
makers”; the situation couldn’t be more urgent.
88% leave the faith according to the 2002 SBC Family Life Council Study
70% leave the faith according to the 2007 LifeWay Research Study
66% leave the faith according to a recent Assembly of God Study
61% leave the faith according to the 2006 Barna Group Study
Part of the problem is simply that the Christian Worldview is under attack in universities all
across America. According to a 2006 study conducted by Neil Gross and Solon Simmons:
Many students are walking away from Christianity because they no longer believe it is true. In
a survey conducted by sociologists Christian Smith and Melinda Denton and recorded in their
book, “Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers” (Oxford
University Press, 2005), 32% of former believers said they left because of intellectual
skepticism:
But there’s another growing problem. Many of those who remain in the faith simply have no
idea what the faith affirms or teaches! Smith and Denton made two important observations.
First, they found that young Christians have little idea what it is that Christianity teaches and
they were sadly unable to talk about their spiritual beliefs:
“In our in-depth interviews with U.S. teenagers, we also found the vast majority of
them to be incredibly inarticulate about their faith, their religious beliefs and practices,
and its meaning or place in their lives.”
To make matters worse, many of the young people who COULD articulate what they believe
articulated a distortion of the Christian Worldview. Smith and Denton called this distortion
“Moralistic Therapeutic Deism”. The young Christians who were surveyed said that they
believed in the existence of a God who created and ordered the world and watches over
human life here on earth. They also believe that this God wants people to be good, nice, and
fair to each other, (as they claimed the Bible teaches, and as most other world religions also
teach). They said that the central goal of life is to be happy and to feel good about oneself.
They did not believe that God needed to be involved in one’s life except when He is required
to solve a problem, and they said that good people go to heaven when they die. Not much of
this version of “Christianity” resonates with the classic, orthodox truth of the Christian
Worldview, does it?
The problem is two-fold: many young people are walking away from the truth, and those who
remain are incredibly inarticulate and unable to defend the truth. Don’t think that adults are
much better prepared; recent Barna Group surveys confirm that adults are equally
inarticulate!
After over twenty years handling evidence and investigating the truth related to Cold Case
Homicides, I’ve begun to learn a few things about how we can investigate the Christian
Worldview and present it to those who have questions. There are a number of important
parallels that can be drawn between criminal prosecutions and making a defense for our
faith. Let’s take a look at the nature of criminal investigations and prosecutions and find a
Christian parallel that can help us understand just what it means to be a Christian “Case
Maker”:
As a Christian…
I’ve got to do something very similar if I want to be a “Case Making”
Christian. Before I can hope to ever make a case for the Christian
Worldview, I had better open the “book” (the Bible) and become
intimately familiar with what it teaches. I’m going to need to read the
original eyewitness transcripts (the Gospels) until I know them
thoroughly. I’ve got to do my best to “place myself” at the scene and
understand what the writers are writing from their perspective. This might
require me to study history or geography to better understand the culture
and how the original eyewitnesses thought so I can better understand
their statements.
A “Case Making” Tip:
Read through the Biblical text in large sections over a short period
of time. There are a number of reading plans that take you
through the Bible in a year, with selected readings from the Old
Testament, New Testament and Psalms. If you read through the
Bible in this way, you’ll never understand the flow and context of
the eyewitness statements found in the scripture. Read
sequentially through complete books of the Bible in as few sittings
as possible. I take this same approach when reading the original
case book. I may refer back and forth along the way, but I read
the book ‘cover to cover’ to get the broad scope prior to dissecting
it. Proper Biblical “Hermeneutics” are important, and I’ve written
something that may help HERE. There are also many good books
that can help you understand how to properly read the Bible.
As a Christian…
I’ve got to do something very similar if I want to be a “Case Making”
Christian. I’ve purchased a number of inexpensive “pew Bibles” over the
years with the largest possible margins on each page. I treat these
Bibles like case books; I highlight them and write extensive notes with
colored pens. I’ll even write extensive summaries in the blank pages of
the Bibles (usually the title pages or the pages at the front or rear of the
text). These notes have been incredibly powerful for me. I often
remember theological issues in my ‘mind’s eye’ by recalling which side of
the page I originally scribbled a related note! These Bibles, with their
notes and summaries, are organized on my shelf for future reference.
As a Christian…
I’ve got to do something very similar if I want to be a “Case Making”
Christian. The Bible gives us a number of clues and proofs to support its
claims. As I study the text, I write out and list the evidences as they
present themselves, trying to retain my skepticism in this process; like
my examination of the original cold case book, I want to understand what
the original writers believed while allowing for the possibility they were
wrong. If we hope to present our case someday to a jury of our peers, we
need to account for ALL the evidence, whether it supports the Christian
claim clearly or otherwise.
As a Christian…
I’ve got to do something very similar if I want to be a “Case Making”
Christian. I’ve got to critically examine the eyewitnesses who observed
Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. I need to recognize that there are
three eyewitness accounts in the Bible (Matthew, Mark and John) and
recognize the fact that their accounts differ. Do they contradict one
another? Can the differences be reconciled and can they be explained
on the basis of perspective or literary purpose?
As a Christian…
I’ve got to do something very similar if I want to be a “Case Making”
Christian. The Bible is more than a book containing spiritual truth, it is a
book of recorded History that includes real geographic locations, many of
which still exist today or have been located by archeologists. We can
now “reconstruct” the geography of ancient Palestine to help us
understand the events recorded in the Scripture. In addition, I can
recreate the timeline of events that lead up to the birth of Jesus and I can
also reconstruct the timeline of his ministry leading up to the crucifixion.
The chronological reconstruction can help us to see the role that
successive prophecy played in predicting Jesus’ life and role as Savior,
and the geographical reconstruction can help to confirm (or erode) the
reliability of the eyewitness accounts of the Gospels.
As a Christian…
I’ve got to do something very similar if I want to be a “Case Making”
Christian. I’ve got to step outside the Biblical pages and look for
evidence outside the Scripture. While most Christians are familiar with
the Biblical texts, few look at them evidentially (examining them from the
perspective of fulfilled prophecy, confirmed archeology or scientific
accuracy). Even fewer Christians are familiar with the writings of non-
Christians and Jewish authors of the first century. Many of these authors
provide corroborating texts that can be used to build the case for (or
against) Christianity.
A “Case Making” Tip:
Begin collecting resources that describe the first century non-
biblical sources who write about Jesus or the early Christians.
Become familiar with the writing of Thallus, Pliny the Younger,
Suetonius, Tacitus, Mara Bar-Serapion, Phlegon, Josephus and
others. If you can’t afford to buy these resources and place them
on your shelf, begin to bookmark the websites that contain
information related to these writers. Many of these websites are
printable. When I first started my research (before I was able to
purchase source documents) I printed a number of the sites and
bound the materials in notebooks on my shelf for future reference.
I’ve written an article on some of these non-Biblical sources HERE
, but there are also a number of good books that deal with the
issue.
Given these five criteria, I evaluate all the evidence and come to a conclusion
regarding the identity of the killer. There comes a time when I have to focus in
on one reasonable conclusion about the case, and these five explanatory
criteria help me to determine the truth about the identity of the killer.
As a Christian…
I’ve got to do something very similar if I want to be a “Case Making”
Christian. The three basic evidential principles of reasoning can be
applied to the Biblical evidence. Most scholars, for example, will agree
on several minimal facts related to the claim of the Resurrection (even if
they don’t agree that Jesus was actually resurrected from the dead).
Most scholars will agree that Jesus died on a cross, that a belief in the
resurrection appeared very soon after the time of Jesus’ death, that the
disciples claimed to see Jesus resurrected, that both Paul and James
were transformed and said this was the result of seeing the resurrected
Jesus, and that the apostles all died a martyr’s death rather than recant
their claims related to the resurrection. How are we to explain or account
for these commonly agreed upon pieces of evidence? It may be that a
number of coincidental circumstances aligned to cause these facts to
emerge. For example, Jesus may not have died, or he may have been
stolen from the grave; someone may have pretended to be Jesus or the
disciples may have conspired to create the story; the disciples may have
hallucinated the resurrection or resuscitated the wounded Jesus to fake
the resurrection. These possibilities would require an elaborate web of
conspiracy, trickery and unreasonable self sacrifice to support the lie, but
we would have to admit that one of these complex scenarios is at least
“possible”. On the other hand, a simpler explanation could be offered:
Jesus simply rose from the dead. If the simpler explanation is to be
trusted, we must conclude that the resurrection of Christ is the most
reasonable solution.
As a Christian…
I’ve got to do something very similar if I want to be a “Case Making”
Christian. It’s sometimes hard to grasp deep theological concepts and
raw conclusions about where the evidence leads. It’s always helpful to
write out or journal my observations, creating summaries and shorthand
arguments that I can then use in the future when reviewing the issue
again. The act of concisely summarizing my findings has great value in
critically thinking through the evidence and forming rational conclusions
that can then be expressed to others.
As a Christian…
I’ve got to do something very similar if I want to be a “Case Making”
Christian. Before I present my case, it is critical that I consider WHO it is
that I am presenting my case to! Just as an attorney is careful about
selecting the right jury, I have to be careful about selecting the right
audience. Is the person I am sharing with capable of examining the
evidence fairly? Is he or she even interested in hearing what I have to
say? Am I offering an answer to someone who doesn’t even have a
question? If I want to be an effective “Case Making” Christian, I need to
carefully select and prepare those who I am about to address with the
evidence.
As a Christian…
I’ve got to do something very similar if I want to be a “Case Making”
Christian. You only get one chance to make a first impression. When
defending the Christian Worldview to my friends, I need to remember the
power of the first statement. Is it pointed and powerful? Is it relevant and
accurate? Is it based in evidence; am I offering something that can be
supported by the evidence and am I ready to provide that evidence at
some point later in the conversation?
As a Christian…
I’ve got to do something very similar if I want to be a “Case Making”
Christian. While I may be very familiar with the scientific or philosophical
work that has been done on a particular topic, I have to be careful not to
overload the conversation with the opinions of too many “expert
witnesses”. I have to be specific and targeted in the way that I bring
experts into the conversation. I also need to be well versed in the work
that these experts have done so that I can accurately quote them.
As a Christian…
I’ve got to do something very similar if I want to be a “Case Making”
Christian. Many Christians are careless in the way they utilize ‘evidence’
to support their case. Many of us have not done the “heavy lifting” and
examined the original sources for the evidence supporting the Christian
Worldview. Instead we carelessly quote something we read once on a
website or heard some speaker say. Careless presentation of evidence
can be a dangerous thing. Each of us, as “Case Making” Christians,
must familiarize ourselves with the evidence that supports our belief and
be responsible and accurate in citing these evidences. We’ve also got to
be prepared to argue why some evidence should be given more weight
than others.
As a Christian…
I’ve got to do something very similar if I want to be a “Case Making”
Christian. It’s too easy to keep my head buried in the sand and refuse to
read and understand what those who disagree with me believe. While it’s
important to know what I believe and why I believe it, it’s equally
important to understand the view from the other side. Many of us are
unwilling to read the blogs, message boards and websites of those who
attack our position, but this needs to be a part of our “faith experience”. If
our beliefs are true, they will hold up to the scrutiny and challenges of
those who oppose us; if our beliefs are true, every other view of the
world will contain some logical fallacy that we must find and expose,
even as we make the case for our own position.
As a Christian…
I’ve got to do something very similar if I want to be a “Case Making”
Christian. When asked why non-believers object to Christianity, they
repeatedly cite what they describe as hypocritical or intolerant Christians
as a primary obstacle to their accepting Christianity as true. Many are
willing to consider the teaching of Jesus but unwilling to unite with those
who call themselves Christians! I have to make sure that my outward
behavior is an accurate reflection of my inward beliefs. The bar is very
high for me as a Christian; I must be gracious toward those I love
enough to share the truth with, but recognize that many of them know
nothing about grace and may not offer me the same courtesy.
As a Christian…
I’ve got to do something very similar if I want to be a “Case Making”
Christian. The last word is often the word that is most remembered. In
every conversation, it is my goal to leave the person I am talking to with
important questions that must still be answered. I want to help my friends
see the logical inconsistencies of their worldview and leave them with a
few important last thoughts to challenge and provoke them to dig deeper
into the claims we have been discussing.
Jurors are not allowed to take the case into the jury room and do anything they
may with it; there are specific rules of evidence that must be considered by
jurors in every case.
As a Christian…
I’ve got to do something very similar if I want to be a “Case Making”
Christian. I need to help people see that whatever it is that we believe
about the past, whatever it is that we believe about Jesus or the
existence of God, it needs to be grounded in something evidential, not
purely on speculation that cannot be supported by any evidence at all.
Many who oppose us believe that Christianity is itself non-evidential, but
nothing could be further from the truth. The strong cumulative
circumstantial case for the Christian worldview simply has to be made
clear to those around us.
As a Christian…
I’ve got to do something very similar if I want to be a “Case Making”
Christian. Once I’ve done my best to describe and articulate the case for
a particular view, I’ve got to trust that my job is done. As a Christian, I
believe that God is ultimately the author of our faith and it is God who
must first remove the enmity that natural humans have toward Him.
Once God has done this, our friends and family will be able to assess
and appreciate the case that we’ve made. As a Christian “Case Maker” I
have to do what I am called to do and then confidently trust that God will
do what He does every day.
Christian “Case Making” is not simply an approach to Christian apologetics; it’s an approach
to Christian living. Christian “Case Makers” refuse to live unexamined lives; they understand
the value of rationality and good philosophy. As a result, Christian “Case Making” raises the
bar on thoughtful living. God has created us in his image and given us the capacity to live
beyond our natural impulses and desires. He’s given us the ability to dream and reason; the
ability to exceed our own natural limits. Let’s use what God has given us to make the case for
the Christian Worldview.