I'm skipping the "Theology" chapter, partly because I don't have anything to say about it (it was a short chapter), but also that I need to return the book to the library, and I'm running out of time, and trying to avoid any fines...

First off, a definition of apologetics, since I always forget the definitions of these "fancy" words:

  1. The branch of theology that is concerned with defending or proving the truth of Christian doctrines.
  2. Formal argumentation in defense of something, such as a position or system.

The most interesting thing that I read in this chapter was the concept of relational apologetics.  I don't think I'd ever heard that before, but as you might guess, pretty much everything these guys (and probably me too) think about can be thought of in a communal-center fashion too).

People reject the knowledge of God not because they cannot know God, but becaue they will not know him.  At root it is not an intellectual problem of the head, but a relational problem of the heart.  This has profound implications for apologetics.

We need to persuade people that our story, the story of God, is true.  But they will only explore its truth if we can first persuade them that it might be a better story.  We need to address their hearts before we can begin to address the questions in their heads.  We have a better sotry than any of the alternatives.  We need to awaken a desire for God.  We need to make people want Christianity to be true.  Then we might be able to persuade them that it is true.

 

Posted by Jon Daley on April 10, 2010, 11:33 am | Read 2456 times
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