Apologetics

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We only have two episodes left in our series pathways with Maj. Mike Harris throughout the series were discussing our Christian thought life and today were to be talking about apologetics, which is basically vandalism. Having a strong knowledge of our faith in Scripture there's been a number of people in my life who work apologetics, cysts, and so articulate the ability to reclaim Scripture and proclaim Scripture to people that were maybe trying to take out of context and then they would just would not settle for anything other than the absolute truth is God's word. I think it's important that you know if we don't know the Scripture than we might believe things that simply aren't true about God's son Jesus, who was sent of course to redeem the world right if we want to be more like him. Jesus then the Bible is the only biography we have of Jesus life is that a fair statement. I mean if you want to be more like Jesus. You got to know is this really what I'm trying to say.

And Jesus uses his short time on this earth to make sure people understood the Scriptures and we read in Matthew 22 where he corrects the Sadducees because they simply didn't know scriptures which means they couldn't possibly know the power of God and if you want to know the power of God in your own life. I want to encourage you to dig into his word. Taste and see the Lord is good. Hello again this is a major Mike Harris only six of our sessions on pathways that is the. The idea will the importance of full life and ability to check a fool's total philosophies and tokens bit about apologetics's ability for us to explain and to backup and to justify a belief system a few years ago with an Australian salvationist was interviewed on a radio talk show other radio talkshow interviews done the homework they post really really tough questions for the Salvation Army office on the Salvation Army belief system.

The person doing the interview sent to the salvationist, according to the Salvation Army. Sinners deserve death. How do you respond to that doctrine when challenged with this question the role the unprepared salvationist replied well as part of a belief system so we should die respond to the talkshow host which the salvationist retorted well you know we have alignment to the Scriptures. Now that's a belief is something that misrepresentation of Scripture was terrific in this exchange opportunity to talk about grace and love, but instead the talkshow host just got this guy to say to the should be killed this guy from Adam Catelli. One thing for sure, from man defending the salvationist snap some Scripture this man sure did not know his Bible. But increasingly, people defending their beliefs with little knowledge of what Scripture really says on the matter Scriptures wife that problem.

By the way we listen to this from first Peter chapter 3, but in your hearts, reviewed Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who ought you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience so that those who speak maliciously against you good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of this land from Zoe what you believe what you believe is critical. If you could be an ambassador for Christ. In verse 15 first Peter chapter 3, Peter starts by saying reveal Christ as Lord. You see too often we fail to talk about Christ in our beliefs and we see a man will offend people with only causeways real people to think ill of us. We are fearful of people worth the reverse should be true. We should have a greater respect for Golden man. We should have that holy fear that that sense of all when it comes to God to to protect social the wrath of man is foolishness when it comes to the things of God. So want some respect towards God is in place, then we have to be prepared and his where reason and knowledge begin to clash because it is a very good job of creating a belief system based on reason, a casual Facebook user will be given enough one line forced to form some kind of worldview response in such responses in the deconstructing of faith until a belief system is a series of philosophies based on everybody else's opinion now. As with all mainstream Christianity, the salvationist should be ready in season and out of it. We must understand what we believe and why we believe it.

And to this, we must have a relationship with Jesus Christ. We must have a knowledge of the Bible, sprinting back to a subject of mentioned previously in the series immense biblical illiteracy. In my opinion one of the most important parts of learning about God and about his word is to question its question God's word.

Don't be afraid to ask a question but make sure that you look for biblical answer because I found throughout my life. Scripture is always ready to back itself up the onset your question will be found somewhere else in Scripture. Allow your mind to be curious allow it to be inquisitive for the most part that's what the disbelieving world is a simply want to understand what we believe and why we believe it to ask questions, ponder Wanda but also look for the answers because we need to know what we believe. Before we can share it with anybody else very important parts of pieces was always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks to give the reason for the hope that you have is probably have to offer. When defending those words we could offer a very negative view by concentrating on why God doesn't allow certain things, rather than what he has given us so I conversations in defense of our beliefs should always be an opportunity to express the hope that we have also when defending our beliefs. Peter tells us to do with gentleness and respect to apologetics to win an argument, we do it to express why Christ died for us in the hope that we have as a result, only wants is for the listener to accept Christ. But as is often the case, we could often leave simply planting a seed with no indication of change and don't be afraid of that either. See this important. I have two sisters and my youngest sister Susan went to college in the north of England, and Manchester why she was that she very quickly met the young lady by the name of Justine Susan Justine became phone friends. The connection initially with the simply came from the same city of Coventry.

Although they were phone friends.

They had one huge difference. Susan Storch salvationist life of Christian assembly had a testimony and 1/2 to tell Justine Storch atheist number the church in a life raised by an atheist mother and so from that time at college. This difference of opinion when it came to face often showed itself not in an unkind way, though certainly the wood jibes new jobs or jokes, usually at Susan's expense is often the topic of conversation it came up and Susan would always take his opportunities and to share her faith to say to Justine, you might joke about that but this is this is the case with us what it means to me and is wonderful through the years. They were college together that that they remain phone friends. They were in each other's weddings when they both got married to some years later Justine by now was married to a Turkish gentleman, but living in England. One day her daughter came home from school.

Though this has not been invited to it to church once invited me to church. Justine was a bit nervous about this. Let me let me go with you and I hope she again had never been to a church.

She was an atheist tribulation atheist, so Justine went with her daughter church she got back from church. The first thing she did was to call it my sister the Christian she met all those years ago and she said to Susan, I just had the most wonderful experience. I just went to church for the first time I didn't know why did my mother never allow me to experience what I've just experienced. She went on to talk to Susan and tell Susan that all the things she said would true all those years ago.

Sue had planted the seed that seed of something that and germinated it came to fruition through a casual invitation from a daughter school friend, but when the Lord got hold of her. Justine realized that what suicidal alone was true friends don't allow differing views to stand in the way of you relationships and friendships.

Be sure of what you believe.

Never waver.

If we dismiss or do not befriend people who don't believe that there is no hope for them. We are the hope friends be ready in season and out of season. Know what you believe and make sure that you're telling the unsaved. What you belief because at the end of the day that see that you planted could say that person's eternity. Gracious Lord, give us a burden for the world. Put it heavily upon a house that out there. There are people who are dying and quite frankly load in danger of not entering into eternity. We have to believe with all of our hearts that there is a spiritual warfare going on and that warfare is over souls over people's lives and will we live in a world that is becoming increasingly intellectual world where the mind seems to rule over everything else will go this nothing out there that is stopping us from reasoning with these people you give us everything that we need. We need to make sure around with way to make sure that we encounter people who don't know you read that we don't go before them in a judgmental capacity but in a loving capacity to become before people more than express our faith told him I would testily answer the questions and show a genuine concern for them, and the only way little we can do that if it's generally heavy upon our hearts. May we desire. This will for you maybe never doubt your ability to change your heart to change a life to save his soul may we never Lord, diminish our part in all of this always recognizable. That way you will tool that you living inside of his is the most persuasive thing of all that we should never be scared you did not give us a spirit of timidity, Lord, you made a strong you made his brave we've allowed your Holy Spirit to dwell within us take us to the world we might save the world. I pray in Jesus name, the Salvation Army's mission doing the most good means helping people with material and spiritual needs to become a part of this mission every time you give to the Salvation Army visit Salvation Army USA.org to offer your support and love to hear from you. Email us at radio@uss.salvationarmy.org or call 1-800-229-9965 or write us at PO Box 29972, Atlanta, GA 30359 tell us how we can help share prayer requests or share your testimony. Would love to use your story on the air.

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