The Risk of Relativism: How Denying Truth will Leave you Ruled by Brute Force, with Greg Koukl
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- Опубликовано: 27 апр 2024
- In his book, Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity’s Toughest Challenges, Greg Koukl writes, "History is testimony to a basic fact. Human lives will be ruled by one of two fundamental forces: either truth or power. Humanity will be governed either by the physical facts of God’s world and the moral facts of his character, or by the forces that oppose those moral and physical facts.” In today’s episode, Greg discusses the chaos we see in our culture that is a direct result of a denial of absolute truth. He also shares some “Street Smart” tactics Christians can use to challenge the assumptions of other worldviews while keeping our conversations friendly and helpful.
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"The Primal Heresy" is a great title. Postmodernism is the ultimate self-defeating argument. If "nothing is true" . . then the statement "nothing is true" cannot be true-
Good fucking thing that's not what postmodernism is
I am not an evangelist, aplogetic or educated but through the years(I.m 79 yrs old) when the opportunity presents itself the Holy Spirit just fills up my mouth and reveals what He wants revealed not what I want to tell. God is so merciful and faithful to His word.
A friend gave me a copy of Tactics. Hands down, it's one of the best resources for apologetics and even policy discussions. I used the approach recently when talking to some Jehovah's witnesses I encountered in the street. Normally I would have passed them by but felt equipped to talk with them. It was a very sweet conversation!
I remember that interaction about polygamy. It was going nowhere, and Greg handled it well. Also the abortion accusation.
Coming to the end of Post-Modern progressive christian identities is something many of us here in scotland have been talking about - and thankfully returning afresh to trust in a more literal interpretation of the whole bible... from Genesis to Rev has been the cure for many of us... thanks for this!
I have thoroughly enjoyed this conversation and love the answers to common questions tossed at Christian’s, thank you.
Excellent, so pray thousands were watching and sharing.
Thank you so much for this!❤🎉 great conversation 👌.
Thank you for the encouragement!
Great interview Alisa. Thanks for your work.
Loved this one. Always enjoy Greg Koukl!
Love this conversation! It is so important to get people to define what people mean when they are telling us what they think and why they think like they do.
Satan has taken the plain definition of words and is twisting them all.
It takes longer to have a conversation when having the person give definitions, however it is what is needed on both sides. For example, ask the person you are talking with to give definitions to God, Jesus and Christians.
" I am NOT ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ for it is the Power of God unto salvation to everyone who Believes; the Jew first and also to the Gentile." Romans 1:16
Romans 1:17:
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
I so appreciate and respect Greg Koukl! I always enjoy listening to his insights. Excellent interview choice, Alisa!
Beautiful!! 💜😻
Excellent! I need to get these books!
I agree with the point that our culture now sees Christianity as negative. In fact, I don't think Relativism is dominant now, it now seems to be "required" to hold a leftist worldview. Of course relativism arguments are still used when it seems useful to secular folks, but leftism has now gained hegenomy, at least in popular culture. The good news is, I think this has triggered revulsion in a lot of many atheists and agnostics, who are now discovering the Christian world view as a counter to the cultural moment. JP Sears, Ayan Hirsi Ali, and Russell Brand are all examples of this. The cultural Marxist worldview doesn't have redemption. This will make Christianity attractive to many who have been cast out by the culture! We just have to speak the full Gospel!
Love this for my season of life. Thx to you both. Additionally: 🇨🇦s are especially susceptible to deconstructionism ect. as we don't have the 1st Ammendment for example. When speaking here, please consider this. We have also been inundated with $$ from outside that has overwhelmed most our institutions.
Desert Apologetics shout out! Whoop whoop!! 😊
It would be good if you would let the guest talk a bit more. Considering there are several commercial breaks, I wonder what the net talk time of Greg was in the end. Probably not a lot.
I started reading “Tactics” and got frustrated. The book provided the tactics, but without all his knowledge of philosophy, theology, science, etc., the tactics seemed empty. Any comment out there?
What do you mean by that?
........
LOL
@@LindeeLove not sure how else to say it. He has a ton of apologetics knowledge that is key to answering people’s objections to our faith. The mere “tactics” - how you interface with people and get them to consider your points - only helps if you have the knowledge of science, history, philosophy, theology, etc.
@@fbcpraise I thought his books was basically about avoiding the burden of proof. Am I wrong about that. That's why I asked what do you mean by that. I thought that was one of his tactics.
@@LindeeLove I think that is one of the tactics, and it's a good one. But his knowledge of apologetics is pretty vast, and that is what ends up making people think. But the book seems to assume we know all that science, history, etc.
Regarding "you don't believe in Zeus":
I actually do think that there was a Zeus. I don't think he was (a) God incarnate, but do think that there was a "historical" Zeus, who was an especially (in)famous patriarch of the original tribe which from which sprung the Greek people.
Now, then, the atheist would say: well how can you belive in the miracles of Jesus, and say Jesus was God incarnate, but not of Zeus? And that's where we actually dig into the actual historical/mythological evidence for such.
Regarding Agnosticism: i sometimes like to jokingly say that I am an "Agnostic Catholic". I recognize I don't have "Definitive Proof" for God's existence, but i have found enough evidence to sate my own belief in the Catholic Faith (btw, I converted to the faith, was not a "Cradle Catholic"). I think it helps people if they understand that having doubt and questions is ok.
Relativism: thow shall not kill unless for punishment, in self defense, or in "just war". Killing is relatively immoral.
Would you say the same of murder?
We can all witness now the failure of our cultures. Look at the world and yourself. It's imperative to go beyond it all, and that's possible only wordlessly.
I kindly disagree. Faith comes by HEARING and HEARING by the word of God. Romans 10:17 - so we have to speak, especially when the Holy Spirit is leading us to. Obedience is hard at first, but once you get your thoughts in order as these kind people are sharing, you are then gardening for eternity. The "Well Done!" from the Lord - wow - that is a moment we should all live for. God bless.
The Bible says in Jude 3 to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints."
Also you know that it's Christ's *Great* *Commission* that all saints go out into the world and spread His Gospel. (Matthew 28:20)
@@marshametzger7175 No offense but what you are saying is misleading. Truth is subjective Jesus said a human being has to find the answer not outside, not through an outside agency such as the Bible but in himself. 20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say, [a]‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is [b]within you.”Luke 17:20-21
@@sovereigngodlisaloves9525 Exactly. You are responsible for the failure of our cultures.
@@chardo24 I don't know why you said "exactly," when you've completely missed my point and inserted your unbiblical opinion. We're not responsible *for* a culture gone awry. We're responsible *to* Jesus, who told us to preach the Gospel of salvation to a crooked and wayward generation. You said something about being "wordless," which is why I sent you the Scriptures I chose. Did you attend them? And you know less about the teachings of Christ than I imagine if you think his teaching was to find truth within. The Bible states that the (human) "heart is deceitful above all things." Why learn from it? And Christ repeatedly commands us to "*deny* *yourself* , take up your cross daily, and follow me." It sounds unreasonable that you say Christ wants us to have no parts of the ("outside agency") Bible when His teachings and presence are all throughout the word of God, and He specifically commanded his disciples to go out into the world and "teach all that I have commanded you." The Bible is how His message has lasted. Christ quoted OT Scripture repeatedly during His three year ministry. His will is that the world know both Old and New Testament doctrines. This is Biblical, the God-breathed Holy word. The source of the things you're saying is yourself, and misaligns with Scripture.
Isn't the Kalam Cosmological Argument evidence for Zeus?
No, because Zeus is not cited as having created the universe in Greek mythology. He was the leader of the gods in the Greek Pantheon, and was the son of Rhea and Kronos, who themselves were the offspring of Uranus (God of the Sky) and Gaia (Goddess of Earth), who themselves were born of Chaos, who is considered the originator. Chaos is considered the Goddess of the Universe (or more, the void where things can exist). As per Hesiod's Theogony "at first Chaos came to be".
So really, the question is "Isn't the Kalam Cosmological Argument evidence for the Greek Goddess Chaos"?
Perhaps. At the very least, they did recognize that there was, by necessity, a predecessor who created all things, who themselves was uncreated, which is the real point of the Kalam Cosmological Argument: that there needs to be an uncreated creator deity *of some sort* for everything else to exist.
@@AtrusOranis Could the Kalam be evidence for a god who hasn't YET introduced himself to humanity?
@@LindeeLove
It could, yes.
The point of the KCA is that there exists an Uncreated Creator, from whom all else follows. It does not necessarily account for other aspects of this deity, or if there are other gods/goddesses who account for the rest of creation.
However, if one accepts the argument as true, then one must necessarily be, at the very least, a Deist, believing in the existence of at least one god.
@@AtrusOranis Thanks for the explanation. Could the Kalam be evidence for something that we are not aware of that is not a conscious being and can't be discovered through reason, logic, or theology? In other words, could it be something completely unintuitive?
@@LindeeLove
I don't think so.
The original Argument flows as thus:
1) Anything with a created beginning has a Creator
2) The universe has a created beginning
3) Therefore, the universe has a Creator.
One could say that such a "Creator" does not necessarily have to be "conscious", but the Kalam Cosmological Argument is a /logical argument/, as in it stems from logical deduction itself. Any being that it might suppose would be logically arrived at though the argument itself.
Curious, what are your beliefs regarding the universe and how it came to be?
The identity crisis, faith crisis, relativism and materialism are not happening solely in the US. It's happening in all countries in the Western world. Even countries with strong Catholic traditions such as Italy, Ireland, Portugal and Spain are going through a massive exodus from religious practices.
That said, there's hope. People are waking up. This Woke madness is shocking people - we can see that in a lot of countries, not just in Italy, Poland and Hungary.
'' If you eat of that tree you will die.'' And Adam lived for 930 years! Wow that's some prolonged dying.
It's about dying spiritually
@@johnwatt2748 Of course it is! Always metaphorical when convenient, except when it isn't. Always an excuse for gods hateful stupid conduct.
@jackdemars2417 so a parent tells a child not to use street drugs because it will kill them. The child uses anyway & lives years as an addicti until eventually they die as a result. That parent who warned them is hateful?
Let me understand that argument you are presenting is that because death took "a long time" it invalidates the promise of death?
Say a bridge inspector says a bridge will fail if not properly maintained.
The Governor, not wanting to spend the money on the bridge, keeps pushing it off, saying "it's lasted this long without maintenance. The inspector is lying to us."
If the bridge suddenly, after a slightly harsher than normal winter, fails, do you blame the inspector for not being timely in his assessment, or the governor for not heeding the assessment?
@@pammichel8314 God isn't their parent, he is the supposed celestial dictator who lied about them dying and did not want them to think for themselves, only obey. Drugs are not some forbidden fruit.
we have evidence of the harmful effects of hard drugs. Where is your evidence for god?
You must understand that, despite the present "seeming reality" (in your mind) of such a "God" from the readings in the Bible, no one has ever glimpsed such a "superhuman man-god" in any form whatsoever, except, perhaps, Moses who claimed he saw Him in a "burning bush" and described Himself as "I Am that I Am."
All that Christians have known of such a "superhuman god" has been derived from reading the colorful descriptions of God given by Prophets during their sojourn on earth. It is a hallmark of how illusory are Christian beliefs that Christians return only to the ancients for their "truth" since Christians cannot believe that God or Jesus is equally able to speak to people in our day and age.
Christian ministers are terrified of any beliefs which do not meld into the old ones. Christian ministers never consider-or are afraid to consider-that perhaps spiritual knowledge on earth-is helpful!
I want you to "see" that a "fabric of beliefs," a mixture of rationalizations and beliefs, has been concocted to make a web of mental/emotional security with which to enmesh and trap the minds and hearts of people. All that people are taught in the Christian faith is emotionally-based and emanates from "hearsay," derived from early reports of Jesus' life and death. Yet these are believed fanatically.
Therefore, when altogether the TRUTH is presented to a religiously indoctrinated mind, these are perceived as being from "Satan" or sheer lunacy or imagination. But this is just emotions being severely provoked and challenged, as happens when deep beliefs are contradicted-this is when the "things desired" and "things rejected" impulses of human nature immediately come into action.
Therefore, any thesis or proposal which causes the conditioned mind acute mental discomfort, dismay or puzzlement-will be rejected instantly and a whole barrage of "proofs" will be summoned from the beliefs in the conditioned mind to back up such rejection. But the proofs are merely beliefs.
Therefore, if the TRUTH is offered to those whose mindsets are firmly established and conditioned by fear or strengthened by the human will to adhere to such programmed beliefs-it is only natural that the TRUTH will provoke unruly emotions and be quite violently, possibly virulently rejected.
This describes exactly what happens when an religiously indoctrinated mind is challenged by the TRUTH of what was previously held to be so dear, so safe, so right!
So your want to avoid having to back up your claim that a man named Jesus created our universe. Smart move. But isn't it dishonest to play a mind game with someone rather than acknowledge you have the burden of proof?
Are you really interested in delving into this topic?
If so, it will likely be a rather lengthy discussion.
@@AtrusOranis Yes, lets have a good back and forth how Greg is trying to avoid the buden of proof. What are your thoughts?
Oh... I was more thinking about having a theological discussion, not on the merits or demerits of the presenters.
I imagine that Greg isn't giving evidence in the video because he isn't trying to convince Alisa about Christianity, because 1) she is already Christian and 2) that isn't what the focus of the video is about.
@@AtrusOranis I see. Then do you believe that a man named Jesus created our universe?
@@LindeeLove
Hesitantly, I say "No", but it's more complicated than that. In order to delve into it, we first need to establish some mutually agreed axioms in regard to the man named Jesus.
What are your beliefs regarding the man named Jesus?
Note: I thought I posted this earlier, so forgive me if this is a repost.
My truth is Nature where no gods exist and life is what it is.
A 75 year old atheist that is going to die and become nothing.
Nothing becomes nothing.
Perhaps you will become smoke and ash or perhaps fertilizer but you will never be nothing.
The Christian knows his fate is joyous and secure and he will find love again ✝️
God bless you 🙏
@@freedominion7369 , Christians are pagans.
@JamesRichardWiley This truly makes me sad. However, there is a bit of truth amidst this. Genesis 3:19b states, “for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” However, that is just the physical body; it says nothing about your soul.
The real question, the important question, has to do with the fate of your soul-even Richard Dawkins (who I am sure you know is a staunch atheist) states that there has to be Intelligent Design, though he believes that intelligent design is an alien (except then he is left having to explain where the aliens came from them, since aliens are not outside time, space and matter).
The world and all of creation has to come from somewhere. What is your answer for that? I have searched for an answer for how everything came to be and the Bible has the best explanation I have found. Moreover, if I am wrong and have wasted my life believing in God and serving Jesus as the Lord of my life, I have not missed out on anything…except for unnecessary heartache, pain, suffering and regret.
However, if you, as an atheist, is incorrect, what sort of a future awaits you? If you are incorrect, and hell does exist, you are in terrible trouble…as we all are apart from the saving power of Jesus’ death and resurrection. When we stand in front of a just, holy God, we ALL stand guilty. We have all lied, stolen, committed blasphemy by misusing God’s holy name as a curse word, committed adultery because we looked at someone with lust, committed murder in our hearts because of having hate towards someone.
Based on God’a holy, righteous, just standard, we have ALL failed of meeting His standard, which means we are deserving of death because death is the consequence of breaking the Holy Law of God. The consequence of that, is eternal separation from God in eternal darkness rehashing every wrong we have done, being in eternal torment forever.
But God sent Jesus, who chose to come and to sacrifice His life for us so we don’t have to suffer the consequence of our sin. All we must do is to confess our sin and accept His free gift of salvation. If we do that, He will pay the price for our sin so that we are free.
If I am right, you can choose to hold onto your wrongdoings and pay the price for it yourself (which is what you are currently set to do), or you can hand it over to Jesus and repent of the wrong you have done so that you can spend eternity in Glory.
I guess I would ask you, are you sure that is what you want for your future? Also, you can say you don’t believe but that doesn’t change reality. It would be no different than if i said, “I don’t believe the President of the United States exists because I believe in a world leader that supersedes any national authority.” That wouldn’t change the fact that we DO have a President of the United States.
So, I must ask you, are you willing to live with the consequences of your decisions, if you are wrong about there being no God? I may not know you personally, but I do care about you and your future. I don’t want to see you go to hell; I would love for you to come to have a relationship with the God of heaven and of earth. I would love to see you understand the goodness of God. I would love for you to understand that we are made to worship and to serve.
We will either serve the God of this world which ultimately means that we are a slave to our own sin, or we will choose to willingly serve and worship God. And the ironic part is that there is great liberation and freedom in that! All you have to do is to picture a time where you struggles to overcome some sort of addiction (pornography, smoking, drugs, alcohol, etc) and how it felt when you were finally free of that addiction. It was so liberating and freeing. Now, multiply that exponentially to begin to understand the freedom we have when we submit to Jesus.
My prayer is that you will come to know that freedom, that wholeness, that love.
@@areuaware6842
How? Paganism worships nature, rather than nature's Creator
It seems a little disingenuous on your part, as a protestant, to be talking about the danger of “Christian relativism”. After all, Protestantism is built upon Christian relativism. Can you say Martin Luther?