Apologetics 101: Start Here - The Alisa Childers podcast #30
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- Опубликовано: 4 окт 2024
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Just started my journey through apologetics. I believe we live in a time where knowing apologetics is more important than ever.
Thank you for teaching fellow learners like me.
How do we start? I’m a new Christian ... where do I start? Tactics?
@@jamimccormack9220 I would suggest, if you not already done so, to Googling "apologetics Christian definition". Bible.org has a page about Faith has its Reasons.
I would also suggest searching "Where to Start Reading the Bible". The Gospel of Mark seems to pop up as a good place to start.
Study Bibles, with lots of references to other books in the Bible are also helpful.
Some folks are more comfortable with actual Bible in their hands.
As Alisa pointed out this can be a big topic.
May our Father in Heaven bless you on your journey.
@Richard Rice thank you!
@@jamimccormack9220 No problem. We are all on the same team!
@@jamimccormack9220
I have also found "Rose Publishing Pamphlets" to be helpful. Far too many to list here. Before the COVID-19 Pandemic I would drive to a local well stocked Christian Bookstore. Looks like many if not all can be obtained on-line.
See also my "Public Speaking" comments.
1. Know or "analyze" your audience.
2. Know your "know your topic".
Neither one of these is easy is or straightforward for anyone. Be patient and look for learning opportunities! If you are as enthusiastic as I think you are, "wait on the Lord", your day will come.
Around 28:45 you spoke about the real pitfalls of reading verses "out of context". As a former Pastor of mine would say "spot on"!
You went on to give an example of Dale Carnegie's Public Speaking "Golden Rule" : Know your audience! The Apostle Paul and the other Bible Books' authors definitely "knew their audience".
Certainly worth our time in the 21st century the learn who the original audience was.
Thank you this is something I can sink my teeth into! These logical steps to defend our faith & to see you & other Christian apologists defending the faith ‘in real time’ on RUclips etc helps us novice but Jesus lovers, not wanting none to perish!
Great explanation. Thank you.
Superb and practical. Really helps us to avoid legalism and the dreaded heated arguments!
Where can I find the rest of your Apologetics 101 videos?
This is awesome!
Thank you so much for this Alisa Childers! 🙏🏾
Atheist and former Christian here. When I became an open atheist, an alarm sounded among friends and family. Yet, nobody within my church could mount a proper defense. The reconversion conversations were mostly carried by my friends since I wasn’t combative. These defenses of faith were not robust.
I do want to offer a warning. If a Christian uses methods which are not respectful and honest, great damage is done to the Christian cause.
Larry Cloyes. I am going through a rough time with my Christian faith. Can you tell me more??
@@samueldanner1787 I can only rely my experience. I was afraid that I would lose a sense of awe, warmth, or a spark. I thought I would change, maybe lose my happy go luck or optimistic outlook.
But I lost nothing. My passion was simply redirected. Yes, the change is scary at first, the first few steps. But, you will remain you if this makes sense.
Think of it like this. You are at a fork on your path. One path is Christian and other other is a new path. You take the new path. For a while you can still see the old Christian path meandering away. You have moments of doubt and reconsiderations. As time passes the Christian path diverts further away. You see less of it in the distance. Then the Christian path fades to never be seen again.
You realize your new path has spectacular views. There isn’t a fear of hell. You can embrace true equality. A weight is lifted. You are good…people are good. Life is good.
@@AWalkOnDirt That was very well said Larry. Did you ever read "Farewell to God" by Charles Templeton? He was Billy Graham,s best friend in the ministry. He just did not believe anymore and he became an atheist. I bought the book and read it. I am going through a change indeed but I don't want to throw the baby out with the bath water.
@@AWalkOnDirtI pray God heals your heart. What you said at the end is that you decided in yourself that you're good and people are good. My heart hurts for those who have so much church baggage and have seen things that have damaged or consumed their faith. Jesus still loves you brother.
@@soundsource6908 umm I think you should watch a free documentary on youtube humorously called "satan's guide to the bible" which goes over the numerous historically false claims, contradictions, and prophecies that never occurred from the bible by interviewing biblical experts who studied at Christian seminaries, thus definitively proving that the bible is filled with errors and generally untrustworthy, not to mention all of the verses that support slavery and mass-murder including innocent children from an all-loving God which is logically nonsensical. Ultimately its far better to turn away from ancient religious bronze-age superstitions and embrace rational atheism :). But that's just my opinion :). What's yours???
I am not apologetic type person. I could never win an argument. However our personal testimony might be just as important. What has Christ done in your life today. I guess it's what the person is looking for. Thanks for your talk.
Have you upload more of this videos? I would love to see more.
I can't seem to find the next episode in this series or any other episodes in this series was there only one made for apologetics 101?
Can you speak on the Church of the Master Angels (CMA) when you can? Thank you. I appreciate your videos.
Fantastic! Thank you!
Good stuff
Thank you for sharing
Is that logo in the background based on a Klingon Bird of Prey?
QUESTIONS:
1. Were the books of the NEW Testament already established before the Council of Nicea? If you think so, then why were any other Councils held? Such as the Council of Carthage and the Council of Constantinople.
2. WHO wrote "the DIDACHE" ? When? Where?
3. Why don't we know who wrote Genesis? The Hindu VEDAS are said to possibly be the oldest religion/scriptures on earth. Why don't we know who wrote them, either? Think of it. The 2 oldest religions and no one knows. Do they?
4. Abraham left the town of UR. He went "to a land that I shall show you" apparently according to God. But-- what was wrong with UR in the first place? Why leave? and what do know about UR?
5. Many people have left strict churches. Jesus said: "for my Yoke is easy and my burden is light". HOW? and what does that mean? The members who quit often felt it was very hard, not easy. But to encourage anyone to go to a hyper-grace church so they can feel less guilt seems like a very BAD answer. Can you clarify any of this?
6. Near-Death experiences. Be suspect of these. The stories, and what people say happened to them, appears to get more varied and wilder by he decade. But there's more. For all the hundreds of testimonies we have, it's odd that when one goes through the "dark "tunnel" and then meets up with a "being of Light" that we have NO ONE who bothered to ASK:
1. Who are YOU? Are you Jesus? (no one asks. The "light" could lie, but still)...
2. Is Jesus "above" you? Who do YOU serve? Do YOU love Jesus? (No one asks). What is your Name? (no one asks).
3. Where are we, in this otherwise dark "tunnel"? Why can't I see any of my Relatives here?
4. If I decide to stay here and not "go back", what happens then? Where will I go from being with you now in this otherwise dark place?
If people are judged by the same True God with consistent standards, why do the testimonies keep getting more varied?
5. Why won't Christians more directly engage and confront and disprove the skeptics who write books against the Christian Faith? The Bible wants you to "be ready always" to give an answer for your Faith. It also mentions "able to convince the gain-sayer". But Christian apologists AVOID, instead of disprove. This is embaressing for them and they may say to me: How do you know they haven't?
Have you read every apologetics book?
No, I haven't. BUT--- tell me then, --WHERE ARE the books that counter-argue, REFUTE or DISPROVE:
1. Bertrand Russel's "Why I Am Not a Christian" ? or--
2. Dan Barker's book "Losing Faith in Faith"? (i think this book has now been re-named "Godless")..??
3. Robert M. Price's book: "the Case AGAINST the Case for Christ" . Tell me. Name the books.
Instead, what happens is, that is all avoided. The Christians are silent. Then, we are introduced to a "new" apologist. He/she doesn't doesn't show how the skeptic was wrong, either. It's as if they're hoping nobody will notice. Want more proof? Keep reading below--
Years ago, JOSH McDowell wrote: "Evidence That Demands a Verdict". Then, Jeffrey Jay Lowder writes against it, and tries to pick it apart. But McDowell didn't (as far as I know) write any book to disprove Lowder. Why Not?? The Audience and public will likely think that Lowder "won" due to avoidance and silence! And more people leave the Church. (Later, it is said McDowell UPDATED his book and dealt with some of this. But it took a long time and I feel "the damage had already been done".) AND THEN....some years later....Lee Strobel arrives on the scene. His books are popular. But Robert M. Price writes: "the Case AGAINST the Case for Christ". Does Strobel write any book showing how Price is wrong? Again, No. And again more folks leave the Church. The whole cycle has now repeated itself. So THEN what happens? Along comes some "new" Apologist J Wallace, writing a new book saying how Christianity is all true, all over again. But does HE disprove Robert M. Price, either? No. Its more avoidance and - again - the whole cycle keeps repeating itself. We still need answers, to those skeptics. If it can be honestly done. Can it be done? Why isn't it?
6. Churches Today -- think of this. There must be at least 75, or more, topics or things that a preacher could preach about, from the Bible! But-- what on earth would churches today possibly do if the book of Romans wasn't in the Bible or Ephesians chapter 2 and harping about: "for by Grace are ye saved".... that may be true, but its nearly all I hear anymore. Does your Church have ANYTHING else to preach on besides yet-another-endless-sermon on:
"love"
"grace" or
"GOD has plan for your Life!" Over and over and over and over and over. Its bad enough that churches are leaving because members have unanswered questions. Now, when they keep hearing the same 2 or 3 messages, they also leave cuz they're bored silly.
7. Where was ADAM buried? and Eve?
8. AFTER the Tower of Babel, people scattered. But earlier, as it was still being built, were there already people in Egypt at that time? If yes, where did they come from?
9. "If all of your questions were answered, would you become a Christian and follow Jesus?" Quite a few people today may say: No. Why ? There could be several reasons:
They may not believe in an endless Hell.
Christian: "but don't you want to go to Heaven?"
Skeptic: "and do what? Sing praises to "the Boss" all day? How boring."
Christian: "You sound kinda rebellious"
Skeptic: "Not really. I don't want any religion to motivate me by fear, i.e. avoiding Hell, and yet, there is nothing "positive" enough that I would bother to want it. Heaven sounds boring. Can you tell me why getting-closer-to-God is a kewl thing?
Again, who will counter-argue the skeptics? Someone will say that you cant write a book for EVERY SINGLE skeptic....but Christians COULD take, say, the THREE Top-selling Skeptic books in the last 5 years, and refute them. But they wont even do that. Have they? Name the books. Why cant they do that much? The public needs answers.
Been a devoted student of Apologetics for 12+ yrs. desperately attempting to find this Truth, these Facts, using this Reasoning u speak of so easily as if it were self-evident. Your mind would b a very pleasant place to reside Alisa. Unfortunately & I do indeed mean unfortunately for myself & many others, most everything said in ur 1st class is as easily countered as any other religious set of beliefs. I don't like it or take pleasure in it but if you ever "honestly" seekTruth I predict u will come to at best the conclusion that Faith is all u can rely on in the end & there r no facts or truth embedded in that.
Start here - there is no God. Then you'll find the answers you seek
@@exoxoe7128 I am forced to plead ignorance as to ur query response. Please can u give me a little better understanding into what u r really trying to say? THK U
These kids who are 1 click away from an Atheistic video are also 1 click away from watching an Alisa Childers video. It happened to me I grew up in a Christian household & was spoon-fed lies about how the Bible was a compilation of pagan myths, then I made a U-turn, a complete 360 mostly because of Christian RUclipsrs & Apologetics
Actually the bible is filled with historical inaccuracies, proven now by archeology, as well as prophecies that never occurred, not to mention contradictions within the bible from the different stories. And this evidence is now freely available in a humorous documentary called the devil's guide to the bible which is a collection of video interviews of biblical scholars who studied at christian seminaries. It is quite interesting, that the church formally accepts and recognizes the contradictions in the bible, it simply does not publicize those findings to the public. This is unsurprising given that the bible is essentially a collection of hearsay from the bronze ages, so its no surprising that it is filled with inaccuracies, not to mention the horrific moral commandments from God to slay children in multiple instances.
In fact the evidence is so damning, it neatly explains why the percentage of Christians in the US and abroad are declining so rapidly. Christianity is rapidly becoming a minority religion :). Which is great news, because we are moving away from superstitious religious beliefs and towards rational atheism :).
I'm working with a Catholic (having come to Christ from the Catholic Church), and this podcast sooo encouraged me.
I was getting frustrated with him, in his re-defining of words and applying historical revisionism to his claims, but...well, it's about the gospel. It isn't about winning an argument, or proving to him that I was indeed raised Catholic, or...whatever. It's about the gospel: I sin, I am made of sin, this sin nature separates me from God and incurs His just wrath against me, and only the cross provides the way for me to glorify and fellowship with God (waaay oversimplified/imperfect, but even this is so foreign to a Catholic). No eucharist, no priests, no sacraments...only the cross of Christ can save me!
Thank you, Alisa...God bless.
A few definitions for new Christians of any background.
1. Eucharist. "the Christian ceremony commemorating the Last Supper, in which bread and wine are consecrated and consumed". "Do this as often as you drink this in Remembrance of Me"
2. Priest. an ordained minister of the Catholic, Orthodox, or Anglican Church having the authority to perform certain rites and administer certain sacraments.
3. Sacraments: (in the Christian Church) a religious ceremony or ritual regarded as imparting divine grace, such as baptism, the Eucharist and (in the Roman Catholic and many Orthodox Churches) penance and the anointing of the sick.
Each has their place but, as you pointed out, can only be understood in the context of the Gospel, which is "the teaching or revelation of Christ", the Good News, John 3:16, and 3:17.
@@richardrice1032 The Catholic distinction for definition 1: they substitute the Eucharist itself for the actual body/blood of Jesus on the cross on Sunday at church. The Sacrifice of the Mass is a constant reenactment of the crucifixion, done every time Mass is "celebrated," and the doctrine of transubstantiation completes this "transformation" of the bread and wine/water into the body/blood of Christ, to be physically consumed by the congregants in attendance. For the details, consult CCC 1322-1419.
Christ stated clearly in Luke 22:19 (full passage for context):
19 Then he took bread, and after giving thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
The word translated to "body" is "soma" (σῶμα) in the Koine Greek, and nowhere in the original Greek reading is it implied in this verse or its context that a physical transformation of bread occurred at the Last Supper. Instead, the word Eucharist "εὐχαριστήσας," translated "giving thanks" in English; it, this "eucharist" is substituted with "body" in a word game of sorts and is, to quote CCC 1413, "... his Body and his Blood, with his soul and his divinity."
There are many other areas where Catholicism contradicts the actual teachings of the Bible, but the Eucharist/Sacrifice of the Mass is a big problem for me. It implies that the work of Christ on the cross was NOT finished and needs to be done over and over again, each Sunday. This contradicts 1Cor 1:23-24, and Jesus Himself on the call..."It is finished!" (John 19:28-30)
@@brianetheredge7323 Thanks for the clarification and Education.
For others reading this conversation please note that Brian provided Education in the form of going back to an earlier language, in this case another form Greek.
Lost in translation is also one of my concerns.
The "Greeks had a word for it." Websites such as "www.biblegateway.com/" can help. Try Googling "Greek words for love". You will find 6 different Greek words, with 6 different meanings, definitions, all the from love for everyone to love of self.
Jesus said: Luke 12:11-12 (NIV) "When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”
If I understand the context, this instruction was never intended to be used as a reason, excuse, not to read and meditate on the Bible. If this was the case, then why would Jesus have spent 3 years with his Followers, repeatedly refer back to what we now label the Old Testament, teach them as his Father in Heaven had taught him, and speak about Future events? Hmmm.
First clue: "do not worry...
2nd clue: "the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what to say".
Food for thought, and most likely a few comments:
Allow the Holy Spirit to gather, select and organize your thoughts, then bring them to your lips at the right time? Seems like Faithful, and Trusting advice to me.
Following the modern day principles of Public Speaking, consider for a moment, who else would truly "know their audience" better than the Holy Spirit?
🙏❤🙏❤🙏
Psalms83:18KJV"18That men may know that thou, whose name ALONE is JEHOVAH, art the MOST HIGH over all the earth." Note please that there is but one named JEHOVAH . Note also that this one is the MOST HIGH. Thus if ones God is associated with multiple co'equals (e.g the Trinitarian Jesus). He is not the Lord JEHOVAH.
Actually the bible is filled with historical inaccuracies, proven now by archeology, as well as prophecies that never occurred, not to mention contradictions within the bible from the different stories. And this evidence is now freely available in a humorous documentary called the devil's guide to the bible on youtube which is a collection of video interviews of biblical scholars who studied at christian seminaries. It is quite interesting, that the church formally accepts and recognizes the contradictions in the bible, it simply does not publicize those findings to the public. This is unsurprising given that the bible is essentially a collection of hearsay from the bronze ages, so its expected that it is filled with inaccuracies, not to mention the horrific moral commandments from God to slay children in multiple instances. Thus the idea that the bible is "inerrant" is proven to be categorically false, which leads to a lack of any good reason to take ANY part of the bible seriously.
It also neatly explains why the percentage of Christians in the US and abroad are declining so rapidly. Christianity is rapidly becoming a minority religion :). Which is great news, because we are moving away from superstitious religious beliefs and towards rational atheism and science :). I welcome all Christians to join rational, modern society and to move away from ancient religious superstitions :). It is really a healthy step for everyone