Being an apologist (1)

inquiry

I'm emailing again to bring to your attention of a website my agnostic
friend has brought up to me and boasted its articles to me, which
totally disproof christianity and all creationist arguments. Its
mainly a website promoting skepticism, and many other arguments which
i feel are threatening to christianity. I am unable to give him
answers to him about the articles here, but I do hope that you could
help by offering me a piece of your mind on this. There are many
articles written in detail here. Please help me, as I want to disproof
him yet again, to show him that what I and you believe in, is not just
something false. Please help me out, if you also know of anyone who
can answer the criticism placed throughout this website, thank you so
much. http://fp.bio.utk.edu/skeptic/essays.htm#Creation/Evolution

response

I am always overloaded with more than enough work. So I try to set my 
priorities. When I am able I help my fellow-Christians grow in the 
knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and become more productive in 
their faith. Secondly, I am eager to help genuine inquirers find 
answers to their questions so that they eventually become believers.

When Jesus travelled and talked to the crowds in ancient Israel He 
looked for those few who wanted to know Him--then He sought them out. 
He gave public answers to the Pharisees by proving they were 
hypocrites and showing everyone did not represent the real God at all.

Becoming a  Christian is a moral issue not an intellectual one. 
Romans 1 teaches us that everyone is without excuse. Everyone has 
more than enough evidence of God's existence and attributes to be 
able to willingly choose to allow Him in their lives. When we shut 
out and repress the knowledge we were given when we were born with, 
God turns us over to error and darkness and we begin to believe the 
lie that we each can be our own god.

Most people hate God and oppose Him because He is a threat to their 
self-made little kingdoms. Jesus did not seek out such people and 
prove them wrong--He let them go their own way--to their own 
destruction. It is almost always a waste of time for us to meet these 
skeptics like Max on their turf. 99% of them have their minds made up 
and are not about to change no matter how convincing are the counter 
arguments.

Jesus was quite blunt about this in the Sermon of the Mount,

"Do not give dogs what is holy; and do not throw your pearls before 
swine, lest they trample them under foot and turn to attack you." 
(Matthew 7:6)

People who have heard the gospel and rejected it (as this man has) 
are blind to further truth. They will not hear truth, and also they 
can not. This is a terrible place to be. It is true that a few of 
these people eventually may come to the Lord if someone prays for 
them, loves them and waits patiently -- possibly for many years. But 
unless God calls you to pursue such people, it is best to leave them 
alone. They are no threat at all to God.

The Apostle Paul dealt with these outspoken enemies of God in much 
the same way:

"Have nothing to do with stupid, senseless controversies; you know 
that they breed quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be 
quarrelsome but kindly to every one, an apt teacher, forbearing, 
correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant that 
they will repent and come to know the truth, and they may escape from 
the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will." 
(2 Timothy 2:24-16)

In our whole world only a few percent of the population enjoys a 
relationship with Jesus. God chooses those whom He will bring to 
Himself (from our point of view anyone is free to come to Him). So 
being obedient to God would suggest that we go to the people God 
sends us to and not set up our own agenda.

Look at how abruptly the Psalmist deals with these tragic people like Max:

Psalm 14: The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are 
corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none that does good. 
The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if 
there are any that act wisely, that seek after God.   They have all 
gone astray, they are all alike corrupt; there is none that does 
good, no, not one.  Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat 
up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon the LORD?  There 
they shall be in great terror, for God is with the generation of the 
righteous.  You would confound the plans of the poor, but the LORD is 
his refuge.   O that deliverance for Israel would come out of Zion! 
When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, Jacob shall 
rejoice, Israel shall be glad."

Suppose I were to spend many hours carefully refuting all of Max's 
essays one by one? Would he be convinced. Would he end of a 
Christian. Not likely.

Did I tell you about my friend Glenn Miller's web site, "The 
Christian Think Tank"? See: http://www.christian-thinktank.com/ See 
if max will visit Glenn's site.

Glenn is a superb apologist for the faith. He takes time to answer 
his email in great detail, though he is often many months behind. 
Glenn considers and answers thoughtful critics--those who ARE seeking.

I would rather point people to the truth that is in Christ Jesus and 
let those who will, come to the table. At the end of his short life, 
Max will find out if God is real, and he will get a fair hearing and 
just treatment by Jesus Himself. Meantime I think that you and I 
should be digging in the Bible to learn more about God, getting to 
know Him better, and seeking to serve Him. We can leave the job of 
running the rest of the universe to our heavenly Father.

Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes him who 
sent me, has eternal life; he does not come into judgment, but has 
passed from death to life.   "Truly, truly, I say to you, the hour is 
coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of 
God, and those who hear will live.  For as the Father has life in 
himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself,  and 
has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of 
man.  Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming when all who are 
in the tombs will hear his voice  and come forth, those who have done 
good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to 
the resurrection of judgment...." (John 5:24-31)

best regards,