Six mistakes Christians make when defending Christianity | Apologetics | Evangelism

Pastor Ben knows the common mistakes that Christians make when defending their faith. Many people don't know how to defend Christianity. How do we correct our mistakes?

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[foodthort]

When I set out to study the historical context of the early Christian church I was seeking reassurance of faith, and divine guidance in the selection of the New Testament canon. However the journey of knowledge only proved to me that one person's orthodoxy is another persons heresy. In the end I couldn't tell the difference.

[tomfrombrunswick]

Some feedback as an atheist. (I mean if you are selling a message the idea is to see how the message is going down). The emotional appear is your strongest argument. Stuff like I have a personal relationship with Jesus is not very effective. However stuff like "I live in a supportive and loving community which allows me to grow as a person" can be effective. So for instance Muslims have been able to get some converts in jail. They can message to someone in jail that they can be loved. And they can give them skills to allow them to better navigate in the real world. Look at the biography of Malcom X. The standard Christian proofs are based on deductive logic. Deductive logic stopped being mainstream in about 1790. Things like the Kalam are good for the base. They can feel that their ideas are supported by valid arguments. However in America there is oddly a cost of being an atheist. (Doesn't happen in Europe or most other western countries) Thus any atheist in America will have watched Paulogia or Vicedrhino take apart most of the so called proofs. But you are an adult you can do what you want to do. where I live I come across Jehovah's witnesses a lot of the time. I won't say I feel sorry for them. More as I have done political canvassing I can say I empathize with the challenge they face. I try to be friendly and inject a bit of cheer in their day

[nickydaviesnsdpharms]

I'm atheist: What you said here about Christianity not being anti-science, was interesting, because you're saying this from the privileged position of the 2000s post enlightenment, but it wasn't always that way. For example, because Christianity or the bible conflict with scientific findings a lot, which is why Galileo was executed by the church for saying the earth wasn't at the Centre of the universe, like the church claimed.

[cygnusustus]

"We cannot ignore scientific evidence. Ignoring scientific evidence that seems to contradict Christian doctrine is wrong."
Also, "As a Seventh Day Adventist I believe the God created everything in six literal days."

"As a Christian I'm convicted that God did create everything in six literal days."
Also, "Third mistake: Being dogmatic about non-essentials!"

Cognitive dissonance so thick you could walk on it.

[davidpinheiro]

The first mistake Christians do is to defend Christianity.
It's not worth defending something that has no defense. Neither scientifically, as the Bible gets little right in scientific matters, nor morally, as the Bible is full of moral problems, nor historically, as the Bible has historical errors and "adjustments" to the originals (which, by the way, we do not have).
The Christian is called to love. And as the New Testament very well states, it is through love that Christianity defends itself.

[douglasattaway]

I have heard others like you state that the creation account describes seven 24 hour days. I have heard them give arguments supporting this idea. I find them weak when weighed against the Genesis account that says the sun was created on day 4. 24 hour days are solar days based on the earth's rotation relative to the sun.

My favorite discussions on the Genesis account from a science geek standpoint come from John Lennox. There's a lot more to this account than meets the eye. In addition to having a broad understanding of the world of science, Dr. Lennox had the advantage of having Oxford scholars on Jewish texts that he could consult with to understand some of the important details of how the account was written.

[gergelymagyarosi]

Hi. I really like your honest approach.
But what do you do, when science or history is irreconcilable with the dogma?
Also, how do you overcome the improbability of miracles when talking to a skeptic?

[ardbegthequestion]

I think all you really need is one mistake: Thinking that apologetics is supposed to be used to convince unbelievers. It is not. It's predominantly used to prop up the confidence of the believer.
At the end of the day, what would convince people that a god exists?If a god actually showed up to people and communicate in meaningful & demonstrable ways; ways that are not contingent on humans to apologize for divine hiddenness.

[oldensad]

I stumbled upon this video randomly, probably coz I watch a lot of atheistic content, and algorithm confused your video with it :)
You looks like a nice guy, so I sincerely ask you - please, Please, PLEASE, do not encourage people to use "classic" apologetic arguments, like cosmological or moral. They all was debunked loooong time ago. And I'm not talking about is they wrong or right, I'm talking about how every each of them have logical and consistent rebuttal. Therefore every time, any apologist use them it leads to the same conversation, leading to nothing and frustration. It's boring, unbearable and hurts credibility of an apologet even more that being rude or not scientific.
I know it's sound weird, but I really mean. Obviously it's up to you, I just presented to you my perspective :)

[MrGilfred]

The one danger of accepting everything science says is that Christianity started to accept macro evolution (apelike creature to man) as how God created all things. Where all that God done was to directly create a few things then let what he directly created create the rest through evolution which is not what the bible teaches. This means that you shouldn't accept science in all matters, which I don't think you do.

God didn't create the earth in six literal 24 hour days. The reason is if that would be true then why doesn't the seventh day have an evening and a morning in the bible That seventh day is not complete. Even Paul urges Christians to enter into God''s rest. Also there is no way that the earth was created in six literal days. For if it was then the night sky would be a lit dimmer. Due to many stars not being able to be seen. There are many stars that are more than over 10, 000 light years away that would wouldn't know about because their light wouldn't have reached us if the earth is only a little over 6, 000 years old.

Also God lives in heaven a spirit realm where time is different than our physical universe. A thousand years are but ta day to God and a day for a thousand years.

When someone is wrong about an interpretation of the bible I just don't accept that wrong interpretation as gospel because that would make me wishy washy. Meaning I would be like a politician that would flip flop at the drop of a hat on any issue. I will speak out when I know someone has a wrong interpretation of the bible. More so if a person brings it up. Take Atheists that say they don't believe in God because a fiery hell is not consistent with a loving God.. I would agree with them then ask them if they ever looked for a religion that doesn't teach fiery hell. If they say know then I would talk to them more about my religion.

We just need to go deeply enough to accurately counter whatever issue we face in the defense of our faith.

I do my best to speak the truth as I know it in a way that is respectful of the one that I am talking to. When you are talking about issues that are not personal that you need to defend according to your faith like how old do you believe the earth to be. This has nothing to do with your personal experience because you weren't there when God created everything both seen and unseen. So that idea of personal things need to be handled different only applies to personal faith instead of factual faith.

[Must_not_say_that]

The early church spread the Gospel without any of the points you recommend.

Maybe you make the mistake of preaching to and arguing with those who do not want the Gospel?

[workmasgo]

Brother you are missi leading the People. I am a Lutheran and you know how Luther protest against the catholicism & bro we don't get your massage clear here so Let The Watchman Give The trumpet Sound to the world & also to church.

[joemann]

I kinda feel a creepy feeling with your advocacy.. you cite judging while you judge while claiming that we should not judge. Would be good to hear what you believe are the most pressing present truths that SDAs need to hear these days

[jimjuri]

Sounds an oxymoron. True Christians would know what they believe. Else, they wouldn't be going house to house preaching the TRUTH. Matthew 24:14.

[danwhite]

All this seems to come down to is never tell the truth. Any God that actually exists does not need to be proven by arguments or apologetics. Only Gods that need to be proven with word salad nonsense are the ones that do not exist.

[MrZootles]

i'd say the biggest misake christians make when defending christianity is probably defending christianity

[carloslaflauta]

This is only trying to put a gentle face on selling people a brutal ideology that God will torture you forever if you don’t believe what the evangelist believes. That is the evangelist’s “Christian God of love.” We should have outgrown this centuries ago.

[Grayraven]

1st mistake, becoming a Christian 2nd mistake believing its the truth, 3rd mistake telling other people its true, 4th mistake, telling anyone who disagrees that they're going to hell. 5th mistake ignoring the mountain of evidence against it. 6th mistake wearing that faith as a badge of ignorance. 7th mistake, trying to make a list this long before breakfast...