Answering Skeptics

Sharing Your Faith with Critics, Doubters, and Seekers

Douglas Jacoby

• Publisher: Morgan James Faith
• Year: 2017
• ISBN:
  9781683500308
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Atheism

Practical responses to common challenges from skeptics, atheists, and other critics of faith from the author of Compelling Evidence for God and the Bible. These days, when many atheists and agnostics believe their criticisms of Christianity are unanswerable, it's easy to feel intimidated. Perhaps you have been told:

• "Christians are hypocrites, and Christianity is corrupt."
• "The Bible has been changed."
• "There's no proof for God."
• "It's either science or faith, and I choose science."
• "A good God would never allow the pain and suffering we see in the world."
• "There's no historical evidence for Jesus. He's nothing but a legend."
• "All religions are basically the same."

Answering Skeptics will equip you to make intelligent replies to dozens of charges like these. You don't need to have a PhD to make a convincing reply. Giving a simple answer to a skeptic's questions is easier than you may think. Whether you are a student or teacher, veteran Christian or new believer, wrestling with others' doubts or your own, Answering Skeptics is a volume you will return to again and again. Learn how to defend the Christian faith, demonstrate that it is both true and reasonable, and nudge the nonbeliever towards faith. Just how prepared are you to answer the skeptic? Find out. Soon after opening Answering the Skeptics, you will know. And once you've digested it, you'll be better equipped than ever! "We regard Douglas Jacoby as one of the bright lights in the field of apologetics in the twenty-first century." —John Clayton, Christian apologist, Does God Exist?

Part 1:

Roadblocks to Faith

1. 1.Hypocrisy in Christianity
2. 2.Don’t Judge Me!
3. 3.Intolerance

Sometimes a conversation stops before it even gets started—and this is especially true when discussing matters of faith. If you want to engage a skeptical friend in a meaningful discussion about faith, God, or the Bible, you may first have to get past some roadblocks.

Some people have been so turned off by hypocrisy in Christianity that they won’t even consider it. Chapter 1, Hypocrisy in Christianity, offers responses that may help people to work through their concerns and give faith an honest look.

Others have a different issue: defensiveness. The minute a conversation about religion becomes too personal, they put up the defense, “Don’t judge me!” This keeps our conversations at a shallow level. If we are ever to introduce people to the real principles of following Christ, we have to find a way past this shield.

And lastly, there is the thorny issue of intolerance. Our modern world places great value on inclusiveness and acceptance, and has redefined tolerance in a way that sometimes makes it difficult to share our faith. How do we explain Christianity to a modern thinker, and help them understand the difference between respectful disagreement and unkind intolerance?

Chapter 1

Hypocrisy in Christianity

Many people who count themselves skeptics have been turned off to God and the Bible not by intellectual objections, but by personal ones. We’ve heard the charge so many times: “Christianity has so many hypocrites!”

When we take a close look at the church, sadly, the statement rings true. Recent polls suggest that even in the religious United States only seventeen percent of Christians are serious enough about their faith to attend church every Sunday, and other polls turn up a deplorable level of Bible knowledge.¹ Christian families are not immune to divorce,² while surveys reveal the majority of Christian men indulge in pornography.³

The critics’ point may be valid, yet it’s hardly original. Unbelievers are usually unaware of this, but the Scriptures challenge hypocrisy with white-hot intensity. Jesus lambastes the hypocrites (Matt 7:1, 23:1–36). Paul echoes the accusation, reminding his readers, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you” (Rom 2:1–24; Isa 52:5). This is a point the Bible takes with devastating seriousness.

Here we must make an important logical point. Critics routinely confuse the messenger with the message. A salesman might be a poor representative for an otherwise great product. Perhaps he’s selling memberships to a health club, but he is lethargic or obese. There’s no direct connection between his physical condition and the health club—though no one doubts he could be turning off prospective members. He may simply be in the wrong line of work. Or a physician might abuse his authority, or prescribe the wrong medication. Would we be rational to reject all of medicine just because of a bad experience or two? Of course not. A messenger may discredit the message, but that’s not the same as disproving it.

Let’s steer our friends towards the message, reminding them that instances of failed faith are no excuse for ignoring God. At the same time, we enhance the credibility of the gospel by living it out in our own lives.

It should be noted that in the case of some skeptics, their objection is sincere. They have been deeply wounded by church or religion. For others, the claim is just an excuse. We should aim for sensitivity, so that we may discern which is the case.

Finally, when someone says, “No thanks, I’ll pass on your invitation to church—too many hypocrites,” maybe we can quip, “There’s always room for one more.” After all, hypocrisy isn’t the special province of the religious. It’s everywhere! Hypocrisy may even be lower among believers, given that the Lord took such a strong stand against going through the motions. So let’s not just roll over when the skeptic claims the high ground.

In short, there’s no perfect group, and the church is no exception. And even if there were a perfect church, the day you or I joined, it would cease being perfect.

Points to Remember:

When someone objects to organized religion because of its hypocrisy, here are ways we can respond:

• •“You’re right. Sadly, there are a lot of hypocrites. The Bible agrees with your criticism, and assures us that the Lord will deal severely with them.” This response is affirming and disarming.
• •Let’s not confuse the messenger with the message. Someone may be a poor representative of a good product. We must distinguish between the two. A poor representative of Christianity hardly disproves the teachings of Christ. Insist on this: hypocrisy may discredit, but it does not disprove.
• •No one has cornered the market on hypocrisy. (And the one without sin should cast the first stone.) Encourage your friend to acknowledge that hypocrites are everywhere—not just in Christianity. Everyone has weaknesses to grow in.

Chapter 2

Don’t Judge Me!

It has been said that the most quoted Bible verse is no longer John 3:16. Now it’s Matthew 7:1: “Judge not.” Those two words are often used as a shield, blocking any discussion that might hit too close to home. Quite often, when someone pleads, “Judge not!”, he’s just being defensive. The moment a conversation about faith becomes too personal, requiring honest self-reflection or a willingness to admit error or make a change, the person throws up the shield: “Judge not!”

Biblical definitions of judging

I put this study together when we lived in Sweden, some twenty-five years ago. In any culture—whether liberal Sweden of 1990 or liberal America of 2017—thinking biblically demands that we come to terms with what the Scriptures say about this important subject. Certainly, a judgmental spirit is unbiblical and unbecoming of a believer, but just because some people judge wrongly, not all judging is wrong. In fact, the Bible distinguishes a number of types of judging—some good, some bad. Let’s take a look at all the different types of judgment.

1. Hypocritical judging (Matt 7:1–5; Rom 2:1)

This is the kind of judging most people have in mind when they express the judgment that one shouldn’t judge. Jesus tells us to get the log out of our own eye so that we can see clearly enough to help our brother. Clearly he expects us to do a certain amount of “judging”—but not hypocritically.

2. Discerning those receptive to the gospel (Matt 7:6, 10:11–16)

It is not unkind to judge who is open to the gospel message and who isn’t. It’s what is fairest to all—both to the person at hand as well as to others who may be seeking the Lord (7:7).

3. Superficial judging (John 7:24)

We are called to get the facts and know the Scriptures. That is the only way to make a “right judgment” in basic matters of daily life: What’s right or wrong? What’s best? What pleases God? What’s wise and what’s foolish? The entire book of Proverbs exhorts us to this sort of practical wisdom. The person who fails to make a right judgment will make poor decisions, and may even be duped by others more shrewd.

4. Making an assessment (Acts 4:19)

The act of judgment itself is neutral. The usual Greek verb for judge or discern is krinein. It is not an inherently negative word. It means moving from premises to conclusions; assessing a situation; discerning. As we will urge in the next chapter, we ought to think clearly when assessing the claims of the various world religions; this kind of evaluation is not inherently ungracious. In fact, Paul insists that the spiritual man makes all sorts of judgments (1 Cor 2:15). That kind of judgment is good.

5. Passing judgment on opinion matters (Rom 14:1)

We must all take a stand on the crucial issues, but it is wrong to judge others on the basis of peripheral matters or non-salvation issues. (In Rom 14, the disputable matter concerns foods.) Of course the apostles expect us to accept the weaker brother, not necessarily to leave him in a state of ignorance or weak faith. Yet the Lord will hold all of us accountable for how we use our freedom of thought and expression, and there are many passages in the Bible reminding us of this truth.

6. Final judgment (Rom 14:10–12; Acts 10:42)

Final judgment is God’s prerogative, and his alone. Sentencing people to heaven or hell is “final judgment.” Obviously, no human has the authority to send any other human being anywhere after death. Further, do not confuse judging in the sense of warning with judging in the sense of sentencing; they are different things.

7. Judging hearts and motives (1 Cor 4:3–5)

This type of judging is highly problematic, and so the Bible discourages it. Yes, out of the mouth comes the overflow of the heart (Luke 6:45), so we may have some clues to what is going on in someone’s heart or mind, and yet Proverbs says that only a person of understanding can draw out the innermost intent (20:5). Paul adds that he does not even judge himself. Let’s not get tied in knots trying to analyze everybody—including ourselves!

8. Disciplinary judging (1 Cor 5:12–13)

Church discipline requires that action be taken when serious sin is affecting the congregation. This may include expelling the unrepentant.

9. Judging disputes (1 Cor 6:1–6)

Judging disputes requires judgment (discernment). The apostle assumes that Christians have the collective wisdom to settle their own conflicts without going public.

10. Critical judging (Jas 4:11–12)

Grumbling—for example, rich Christians complaining against poor Christians, or vice versa—is wrong. We are not to judge others in a critical, destructive manner (Eph 4:29). Before I correct someone else, I need to examine my heart (as far as that is possible), to know whether I am trying to guide, help, or educate in love, or whether my intention comes from an arrogant desire to defeat, tear down, and humiliate.

11. Interpreting the Scriptures (1 Cor 10:15, 11:13)

We are all encouraged to correctly study and interpret God’s word. This entails exercising judgment.

12. Doctrinal nit-picking (Col 2:16)

The Bible discourages this type of judgment. Some believers insist that others are condemned by God on the basis of inconsequential or outmoded doctrines—in Col 2:16, Paul mentions observance of the Sabbath and rules about kosher foods. The central teachings of Scripture indicate which core doctrines play a role in salvation, and reveal that not all biblical teachings are equally important, or essential for salvation. This is not to say that we should refuse to “draw the line” when it comes to such key doctrines as the one body, spirit, hope, Lord, faith, baptism, and God (Eph 4:3–6). The Bible is too long, the lost are too many, and life is too short, for us to get bogged down in non-issues.

What kind of judgment does the Bible approve?

John 3:16 was too short a snippet to lead most people to repentance, granted. But at least it said something. Matthew 7:1, in the hands of most who wield it nowadays, says nothing at all. It may actually indicate a closed-minded attitude toward religion, a refusal even to consider or discuss. A person may insist, “Accept me! Don’t judge me! I believe in tolerance!” But keep in mind that their “tolerance” may just be apathy in disguise. Or as someone put it, “The fellow who boasts about his open mind may only have a vacant one.”

How should we respond when someone (often a non-believer) corrects us and tells us not to judge? Here are some suggestions: Ask them, “Do you know what Jesus was...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Table of Contents
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• Part 1: Roadblocks to Faith
• Part 2: Scripture
• Part 3: Morality
• Part 4: God
• Part 5: Science
• Part 6: Suffering
• Part 7: Jesus and Miracles
• Part 8: World Religions
• About the Author
• Notes