On Not Starting with Evidence, Neglecting Holiness, and One Thing You’ve Learned

AN IDEA FROM ME

“Was the New Testament written centuries after the events it records? This challenge deals with evidence. The skeptic has to bank on the assumption that the historical evidence points to late authorship (say, 200–300 years after Christ). If it turns out the evidence does not show this, then he has no case. 

“Because of this fact, you may be tempted to dive right into the evidence, first thing.  Let me advise you not to do this right away. It is not the best way. Remember, you are defending God’s truth, and you need to defend it God’s way. 

“If you jump in and immediately start giving evidence, you will validate your friend’s way of thinking—even if you do not realize it. By beginning with the evidence, it is as if you are saying, “My skeptical friend, you and I are both neutral, and we both have a worldview that can support the idea of evidence. Therefore, I will present the evidence, and you, using your neutral, fair-minded thinking, will be able to come to the correct conclusion on your own.” This is totally wrong! No one is neutral toward God. By rejecting God, the skeptic is being arbitrary. His non-Christian worldview cannot even explain why historical evidence is a “thing!” You need to show him all this before you get into the evidence. If you do not do so, you will actually be affirming his attempts to think “autonomously” (self-ruled) apart from God. 

“Your response should be Scripture-first.”

—Source: the textbook for my upcoming Advanced Apologetics course. Learn more here: https://thethink.institute/advanced-apologetics-course-promo. 

A QUOTE FROM SOMEBODY ELSE

“Is it possible you look at personal holiness like I look at camping? It’s fine for other people. You sort of respect those who make their lives harder than they have to be. But it’s not really your thing. You didn’t grow up with a concern for holiness. It wasn’t something you talked about. It wasn’t what your family prayed about or your church emphasized. So, to thisday, it’s not your passion. The pursuit of holiness feels like one more thing to worry about in your already impossible life. Sure, it would be great to be a better person, and you do hope to avoid the really big sins. But you figure, since we’re saved by grace, holiness is not required of you, and frankly, your life seems fine without it.

“…I’m talking about the failure of Christians, especially younger generations, and especially those most disdainful of ‘religion’ and ‘legalism,’ to take seriously one of the great aims of our redemption and one of the required evidences for eternal life—our holiness.”

—Kevin DeYoung, The Hole In Our Holiness: Filling the Gap between Gospel Passion and the Pursuit of Godliness (Wheaton: Crossway, 2012), 10–11. 

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

What is one thing you have learned, since becoming a Christian, that has strengthened your belief that Christianity is true?

Respond to this email in the next seven days, and I will write you back.

In Christ, 

Joel Settecase

President

The Think Institute
P. S. If you are a Christian man who is interested in understanding theology, leading your family in the Christian worldview, and defending your faith within your spheres of influence, check out the Hammer & Anvil Society. Our next class, Advanced Apologetics, is starting on June 24. Learn more by going here here now: https://thethink.institute/advanced-apologetics-course-promo.