Recalling My Shortcomings in Defending My Faith
I thought about the discussions I had with some Roman Catholic apologists and I ended up making the fallacy of division. I ended up assuming that all of them are like that after one bad experience after the other ignoring that some of them are actually willing to have a healthy conversation.
Dr. James R. White himself addresses the issue of this Calvinist Club. It's stupid for any Christian to keep pointing out the mistakes of some most likely self-proclaimed Roman Catholic apologists while they end up engaging in the same behavior. If there's a sad state in Catholic apologetics then there's a sad state in Christian apologetics. It's a problem that many Christians have a very incomplete application of this verse:
1 Peter 3:15-17
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
It's good to acquire knowledge for apologetics. No apologetics is complete without any proper research of the subject. It's good to study the Scripture in context but it's stupid to study Scriptures in context if you can't apply them in context. It's very easy to point out how the other party is taking Scripture out of context. It's very easy for someone to point out how often I use the Bible to start an argument or how argumentative I am with the Bible. I end up forgetting that it's supposed to be a ministry of love.
1 Corinthians 13:2
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
It doesn't matter how much I've gathered the Greek, the Hebrew, historical facts based from unbiased sources or in short any knowledge that could disprove the other party if I don't share what I learned in love. I remembered a very embarrassing experience I had discussing with an unbeliever. It wasn't the unbeliever who was getting abrasive. It was me who supposedly represented biblical Christianity ended up throwing a tantrum and shouting at the opponent. It wasn't an action done out of love but personal pride. Worse, I've experienced a number of times I decided not to turn the other cheek when it comes to insults. I forget that I'm correcting the person's mistakes to call them to repentance not to harden them.
But it's much easier for anyone to throw a tantrum whenever they're insulted than to say, "Lord help me have my patience with his mockery. It hurts but I must handle it with grace!" The command is not only to be always ready to give an answer but to also show meekness and fear. As said, it's necessary to gather knowledge but to have a lot of knowledge without love is useless. Jesus didn't only show His knowledge but also His love for the lost. If Jesus received a lot of unfair criticisms and insults why should I even expect to avoid them? If He dealt with them with mercy and compassion for those who did it what excuse do I have not to show it? I have no excuse not to exercise mercy and compassion while defending the faith.
I even ask myself how often have I ignored these verses when it comes to discussing the truth with people who consider me their enemy:
Matthew 5:43-45
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Luke 6:27-36
But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also. Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
Romans 12:19-21
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the LORD. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
The only thing that keeps me obedient to the call of loving my enemies and witnessing in love is the grace of God. 1 Corinthians 15:10, Ephesians 2:8-10 and Titus 2:11-14 says that it's only by grace that I could do what's required of me. I have nothing to boast. I got out of a life of sin it's only because of God. I hate sin now not because I have it in me but it's because of the grace of God. There's nothing good abut me so why should I become arrogant with what I know about theology? I have no reason to boast because it's all about God's mercy and grace that saved me from a life of sin and not my own doing. Again, it's God's grace so I have no right to trumpet anything but His life-changing mercy and grace for repentant sinners.
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