shout

Newsletter Articles

"Up for Debate"

Volume 2 Issue 3    May-June, 2005

As distasteful as it might sound, much of what I do in ministry involves trying to get into arguments with people. For example, I work hard to book guests on the radio show that disagree with me and we strongly encourage listeners who think we are idiots to be the first to call in. The open forum nights are designed not just for believers or even spiritual seekers. Rather, they work best when they are attended by people who are adamantly opposed to Christianity and are willing to tell me why. When I am able to draw people into a debate, the power of truth is able to shine through even more clearly. I have seen this work recently on two major levels.

   First, argument works to break down the intellectual barriers that the actual debater has erected against the truth of the gospel. Many people hold unexamined and highly suspect beliefs regarding Christianity and other competing worldviews. In a debate those beliefs are brought into the light and exposed as a sham. Without someone arguing with them, these people might go through their whole life thinking they were being “smart” by rejecting Christ. In a debate I show them that they may have reasons for rejecting Christ, but those reasons aren’t rational. (Most often it is simply pride—“ I don’t want to believe in God because I would have to change my ways” or “I refuse to worship a God who sends people to Hell.”)

   Second, argument works to clarify the real issues for all those listening to the debate. I book New-Agers on the radio show not because I think that there will be many actual New-Agers listening, but because everyone else listening will hear those beliefs articulated and defended and shown to be irrational. The culture tells us that all spiritual beliefs are equally valid, but that lie can only be disseminated well to people who are ignorant of those beliefs and the (terrible) reasons supporting them. After hearing someone’s worldview get destroyed in a debate, it is much harder to accept that it has equal standing.

   These principles has been on display recently at our open forums, as we have seen two young men become followers of Christ (including the fellow who I mentioned in my last letter) in large part because they watched their friend’s arguments against Christianity get demolished. Praise God! His truth marches on!