Re: have we forgotten who the enemy is?

On Fri, 18 Feb 2005 10:59:57 -0700, Terry M. Gray
<grayt@lamar.colostate.edu> wrote:
 
> You may infer from this post that there is no value in apologetics.
> For those of you who know about the apologetics debate, I will admit
> that I am an apologetical presuppositionalist and not an
> evidentialist. The work of apologetics is, in large part, our giving
> an answer--but it's always in the context of "our" -- we're coming at
> these questions from a faith perspective. I'm not sure that "our"
> arguments are all that convincing apart from our fundamental faith
> perspective. Thus, back to conversion...and here it is the "gospel
> that is the power of God to the salvation of everyone who believes".
> It's not convincing arguments about bacterial flagella or causing
> people to doubt the legitimacy of radiometric dating, it's the
> proclamation of the cross of Christ and God's mercy to sinners
> thereby displayed. The power of God for salvation accompanies that
> preaching! Yes--supernaturally! It penetrates the stoney hearts of
> unbelievers by the work of the Holy Spirit. And by that means are men
> and women converted. (Talk about something to ridicule! Who could
> believe such a thing?!?)

Terry and I have had this discussion before (my being on the
evidentialist side of the fence). That being said, Terry makes an
excellent point. The damage done by YEC and ID is not because the
arguments are silly. We all make silly arguments from time to time.
Rather, it is the perceived moral qualities of the apologist. We must
not be seen here as being less than truthful. There will always be an
excuse. We should, however, make that excuse difficult to be made. The
fact the Holy Spirit can and does overcome our weaknesses in the
apologetic endeavor does not eliminate our responsibility to do it in
a God-honoring fashion.
Received on Fri Feb 18 16:33:07 2005