believing the Bible to be true and the experience to be more meaningful than experiences offered by other religions.
Those who feel that only the Bible need be used in witnessing rely on the mystical power supposedly resident in the words of Scripture themselves. Charles Haddon Spurgeon's remark to the effect that the Bible is like a lion which can defend itself is often quoted in support of this belief. However, Spurgeon himself was a strong defender of the faith. He said on one occasion: "We must defend the faith; for what would have become of us if our fathers had not maintained it?"
The lassitude of Christians in contending intelligently and earnestly for the faith during the past century especially for the doctrine of special creation, has been one primary cause of the almost universal drift into a modernistic apostasy and a secularized society. This drift has occurred in spite of the widest dissemination of the written Word, as well as the preached and spoken Word, that the nation and the world have ever known.
Another caution to be noted by the Christian apologist is that his presentation may tend to become cold and intellectual; it may convince the mind, but leave the heart and conscience unaffected. One's witness should therefore concentrate, many say, only on his own inner experience telling what Christ has done in his heart, giving peace and joy and consciousness of sins forgiven and a changed life. Converts can more easily be won by making them feel that Christianity will work in their own lives than convincing them Christianity is true, so the argument goes.
By all means, the Christian apologia should be warm and interesting, manifesting a genuine concern for those to whom one is witnessing, as the Christians seeks to persuade others, even as he presents both the fallacies in their own philosophies and the evidences for Christianity. But a mere recital of one's own testimony, with a few gospel Scripture verses, will be adequate for the needs of only a small fraction of those he encounters.
Why should one presume that his or her own experience is the norm for all others? "The wind bloweth where it listeth …so is everyone that is born of the Spirit" (John 3:8). Furthermore, the appeal to an unconverted man strictly on the subjective basis of his own personal needs, rather than on the basis of objective truth, tends to produce converts who are self-centered rather than God-centered. If Christ is, for him, mainly a psychological entrance to an "abundant life," he may "anon with joy receive it," but "when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended" (Matt. 13:20-21). A solid evidential basis for faith in God's Word, accompanied by an intelligent and biblical presentation of the gospel, is far more likely to produce genuine and permanent results.
Another caution, however. No matter how sound the evidence and clear the scriptural exposition, a person who is unwilling to believe cannot be argued into believing. Christian evidences can never replace the convicting and illuminating work of the Holy Spirit. No matter how strong and irrefutable the evidence, it is always possible for the skeptic to find some new reason for not believing. It is a matter of basic attitudes and unrecognized pre-suppositions. The Christian witness and apologist "must not strive." It is possible to allow a presentation of evidence to degenerate into a heated argument, and in such an atmosphere, the Holy Spirit cannot be heard.
It is this type of situation that has led some Christian philosophers to conclude that a Christian witness to the unsaved should never use evidences. The gospel alone should be preached, allowing the Holy Spirit to work as He will in the hearts of those who hear. Evidences may then be of value as encouragement to those who have been saved, but they cannot persuade someone to be saved, so they maintain.
But one need not discard the baby with the bath water! The fact that some people are allergic to antibiotics does not thereby prove that antibiotics do not help most people. Although many people may be stubbornly unwilling to believe in God's truth, a great many more would be willing but have been hindered therefrom by the persuasive pressures of the unbelieving intellectualized society in which they live.
It must not be forgotten that the early Christians almost invariably used an evidential approach in their witnessing, especially the evidences of creation, of the resurrection of Christ, the miracles of Christ, God's provision in nature, and fulfilled prophecy. Indeed, until the New Testament Scriptures were completed, God even on occasion gave special evidences in the form of gifts of healing, prophesying, and other supernatural manifestations. Even when testifying of personal experience, as in the case of Paul before King Agrippa (Acts 26), the appeal to conversion was on the strength of the fact of prophecy fulfilled (Acts 26:22, 27), and of Christ's resurrection (Acts 26:8, 23, 26).
Thus the judicious use of Christian evidences, as well as Scripture and personal testimony, is based on biblical precept and example. In addition, it is known and proved in practice that this approach has been effective in the lives of many people, both before and after conversion.
There is a final caution, however. The effective use of Christian evidences requires diligent study and preparation. A glib, superficial recital of hearsay evidence, without any real factual, documented basis, may very well evoke a sarcastic, ridiculing rejection by those who hear it.
It is probably this factor — unwillingness to study and learn the evidential facts, and consequent fear of ridicule — that is really the reason why many argue against the use of evidences at all. It is so much easier, and less subject to embarrassment, simply to quote Scripture and give one's testimony, and nothing else.
But don't forget that Buddhists and Mormons and Christian Scientists and even Communists can also quote their scriptures and give glowing, happy testimonies of how much their religion has done for them! The question is, which is true? The answer requires a sound knowledge of the evidence.
Laziness and fearfulness are ill-fitting equipment for a Christian witness. "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15). "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Tim. 1:7).
Selected books for further study:
Bible League, ed. 1984. Truth Unchanged, Unchanging. Abingdon, England: Bible League Trust. 503 p.
Chapman, Colin. The Case for Christianity. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Co. 313 p.
Clark, Gordon H. 1987. God's Hammer: The Bible and its Critics. Jefferson, MD: The Trinity Foundation. 200 p.
Frame, John M. 1994. Apologetics to the Glory of God. Philipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed.
Geisler, Norman. 1976. Christian Apologetics. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House. 393 p.
Groothvis, Douglas. 1994. Christianity that Counts. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House. 224 p.
Henry, Carl F.H. 1983. God, Revelation and Authority, vol. I-VI. Waco, TX: Word Books. 500-plus pages, each volume.
Morris, Henry M. 1991. Christian Education for the Real World. Green Forest, AR: Master Books. 295 p.
Morris, Henry M. 1995. The Defender's Study Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: World Publishing Inc. 1,620 p.
Noebel, David A. 1991. Understanding the Times. Manitou Springs, CO. 896 p.
Van Til, Cornelius. 1955. The Defense of the Faith. Philadelphia, PA: Presbyterian and Reformed. 299 p.
Zuck, Roy B., ed. 1995. Vital Apologetic Issues. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publishers. 263 p.
Chapter II
