How believers talk about the faith to unbelievers, those of faith who have differing interpretations of the faith, or those estranged from the faith has always been a challenge for the Christians. Does one pursue persuasion and reason or attack and ridicule? Unfortunately, the aggressive approach seems to win out more often in contemporary society. Apologetics (defense of the faith) very easily becomes polemics (disputation about the faith) in the marketplace of ideas. Much of this is motivated by fear. We fear that which is different from ourselves. We fear that which calls into question our established habits and norms. We also may be afraid that we will be proven wrong or made to look foolish. We see this when a “prayer breakfast” becomes an occasion to attack those who are different from ourselves. A speaker finds it is much easier to stand on a platform and pontificate than to acknowledge the “other” as a real person who ...
Comments from a Christ-follower on things that matter to him