I Like Arguments

This is the way that Greg Koukl started a recent letter sent out to those on STR's mailing list. "Not fights; arguments". "Fights-angry quarrels, silly squabbles-are not productive. They generate heat, not light."

He continues to explain the difference. "Arguments--points of view buttressed with reasons--...are one of the principal means we use to separate fact from fiction. Jesus used them. Paul used them. Peter used them. We should use them, too. (Emphasis mine)

It is one of the ways we separate fact from fiction. I like that. "When done well, they honor God (...God did say 'Come let us reason together')

"But arguments have limits; they don't always work." But it is not always because the arguments are useless. People often have other reasons for not accepting your reasons for belief and their need to believe what you may think is the better reason. Here are three reasons folks may not be convinced of your rational argument:

1) Emotional reasons:

Many have had bad experiences with Christians or didn't like the way a pastor treated them. Others "realize that to embrace Christianity would be to admit that" some of the loved ones have "entered eternity without forgiveness and are destined to darkness, despair, and suffering forever." This can be difficult for some. Possible rejection, harm or embarassment could be other emotional reasons for rejecting an unaapealing Gospel.

2) Prejudice:

"Their minds are already made up...They're interested in defending thir own entrenched position, not considering other options." Sometimes, it seems that people don't even want to consider the other side. I know I have been guilty of this in the past. There were things that I learned growing up in church that were challenged when I got older, and I was very closed to hearing reasons for their view. I just knew they were wrong. Turns out, they had good reasons for thinking what they thought.

3) Pig-headed-

"Their real reason for resistance is no more elegant or sophisticated than simple rebellion. They love darkness and want nothing to do with the light (John 3:19)."

When talking with others, keep in mind that "there is no magic bullet" that will answer every objection so that people change their minds and fall down and worship God. This applies to Christians as well as non-Christians.

Senility begins when we stop learning. And we do not learn in a vaccum. We must learn from others. Sometimes it feels good to learn-when it is something we like (cars, movies, evolution, etc..) ; and sometimes it is painful-when God uses someone in our lives (Holy Spirit, pastor, friend, enemy..) to teach us something we may not like. But we rarely learn anything all by ourselves. That seems part of the process.

Does this make sense? Am I way off? Thoughts?
Derrick