Page 153 - Apologetics Student Textbook (3 Credits)

Study Section 21: How do we deal with people?

21.1 Connect

As we come to the last study section, we want to remember how Paul taught the believers to
defend their faith. He told them to be ready to defend their faith, yet do it with gentleness
and respect. It’s one thing to know what to say, but it is equally important to know HOW to
say it so that the person hearing you will be receptive. In this lesson, we will learn how to
help a person learn how to set aside their presuppositions and listen to another view. We
also would like to give you several tips in how to deal with people who may disagree with
you. If you pay attention to these suggestions, your work as an apologist will become much more
productive. So let’s dig in……

21.2 Objectives

1. The student will learn how to help a inquirer to deal with their presuppositions so that they
will be open to differing views.

2. The student should be able to take a person through the logical sequence of what the
consequences of belief and unbelief will have in his life.

3. The student should be able to share several tips that would benefit him in his defense of God’s Word.

21.3 How do we deal with such people?

In dealing with people who seems to reject observation data or the Bible, probably the first
thing you must do is challenge their presuppositions. Before we can discuss the Biblical facts,
we need to discuss their world view and seek to change the very foundation of how a person
perceives facts. Have them define their views first and approach them on this basis - then
they are much more ready to follow your argument because you present to them what they
need most. Here is an example of how this works (taken from www.carm.org)

Allen:
I am an atheist and evolutionist. Prove to me there is a God.
Paul:
I do not think I can with your presuppositions.
Allen:
Why not?
Paul:
Because your presuppositions will not allow you to examine without
bias the evidence that I present to you for God's existence.
Allen:
That is because there is no evidence for God's existence.
Paul:
See? You just confirmed what I was stating.
Allen:
How so?

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