Christ First Forum

Most Christians Cannot Explain their Faith, Says Apologist
By Edmond Chua|Christian Post Correspondent

The faith of most Christians, even that of many pastors, will not stand up to intellectual scrutiny, according to renowned apologist Josh McDowell.


'Lost' Christians Greatest Crisis in American Church, says Author
This is a concern because pastors’ inability to present biblical truth comprehensibly and relevantly has led to children from Christian families leaving the church, research has shown.

In the United States, the age at which nearly all such children leave church has decreased to 18 years.

Not even the children of many successful ministers are spared.

McDowell made his comments at a recent networking dinner among various men’s ministries organized recently by Men-in-Covenant. MiC is the men’s ministry of Covenant Evangelical Free Church.

He recalled speaking with the pastor of one of the largest U.S. churches, a man known for his expository preaching. Confiding in him, the pastor said their church was losing its youth right after high school graduation.

In his 50 years of ministry, McDowell has asked several thousand pastors and leaders how they could be certain Jesus Christ said “I am the truth” and not one of many truths or a truth.

“Not one person has ever given me an intelligent, biblically-based answer,” said the author of The New Evidence that Demands A Verdict.

During the past six years, he asked hundreds of Christians and leaders why they see themselves as Christians. Again no one gave him an "intelligent" answer.

In the past 17 years, he has asked over 4,000 pastors, leaders and parents why they believe the Bible is true.

A mere six “came close to giving an intelligent answer,” McDowell noted.

“If anything is based upon truth, it’s the Christian faith,” he said. “Christians who do not know why they have faith or believe have a very difficult time expressing themselves to others.

"The saddest thing is people come to me and say, ‘What’s the answer?’"

“I say, ‘There’s no answer… There are hundreds of answers.’"

Most Christians, even some pastors, don’t even know one. On the other hand, the apologist said he could give 50 reasons for his belief that the Bible is true.

Ninety-five percent of Christians gave disappointing responses when asked why they believe Jesus is the Son of God.

Asked why the Bible is true and historically reliable, Christians replied that it was what they had been taught by their church or parents.

A common response that most Christians gave to both questions was that it is “what I believe.”

McDowell responded: “That’s voodoo thinking. Where did we ever get that crazy idea that something is true just because we believe it?

“If that is true, then there will never be heresy. Everybody would be right.”

On one occasion, 13 youth pastors at a large convention were unable to reasonably answer the apologist’s question.

Finally one young person stood up, walked toward him and told him he knew the answer.

The young man promptly held up his Bible and said, “Because I believe it.”

And to McDowell’s dismay, all the youth pastors applauded him.

McDowell said, “Young man, do you know the difference between you, me and the majority of Christians in the world?

“To you, it is true because you believe it. For me, I believe it because it is true.”

Another response the apologist received was: Because I have faith.

He commented, “Where did we ever get the crazy idea that faith makes something true? That’s idiotic. That’s so unbiblical you can call it heresy.

“God doesn’t use faith to create truth. He uses truth through the Holy Spirit to create faith.”

Christians, the apologist stressed, are called to explain their faith when asked. They are set free by the faith in the truth, he expressed, referring to John 8:32.

Yet others say Christianity is true because Jesus changed their lives.

Even this will not stand up to intellectual scrutiny, McDowell argued.

“Lies change lives; cults change lives,” he said.

To make such an appeal is “not the essence of Christianity,” the author emphasized.

McDowell said: “We owe it to ourselves, we owe it to our children, we owe it to our neighbors, we owe it to the lost, to tell them not just what we believe but why do we believe it.”

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20 ... index.html

No wonder our youth are being led astray in the upper grades. 85% of professors are militant against Christianity, and are passionate about destroying faith, replacing it with "human understanding." My Pastor's son was a very strong believer who went to George Fox University. (a Christian College) One of his subjects was psychology, taught by a liberal professor.
His faith was more than challenged, married a new-age unbeliever, and to this day denies Jesus. Very heart-breaking, especially now that children have been brought into the picture.
We are told to "earnestly contend for the faith" which in these last days will find us under quick persecution. So what else is new? Look what happened to the author of Love !
I always find it refreshing to go back and read the book of Acts where the early Church didn't have to study, study, study... it was the Apostles' Doctrine that brought thousands to belief in the Almighty God, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Acts 13: 16-41 Many came to Christ with the faith of a child. Thank God that we are His children.
AND, now, with so many war-like false teachers at the pulpits who teach that homosexuality is no longer sin, many true believers are run over by their abraisive and abusive perverted nature, and crumble in intellectual debates.... we're in for a ride, Brethren, and Jesus is coming soon. Good is Evil, and Evil is Good, so they say.........

I don't know why this should surprise me.

I think it is true that a Christian needs to be able to explain why we have faith...

BUT THE NATURAL MAN (UNSAVED) DOES NOT RECEIVE THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD, FOR THEY ARE FOOLISHNESS TO HIM; NOR CAN HE KNOW THEM, BECAUSE THEY ARE SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED. 2:14

Since only spiritual people are able to receive spiritual truths, it follows that the man without the Spirit would not and could not receive the message of wisdom regardless of his intellectual abilities or acomplishments.

We have to be 'able' and 'ready' to present the Gospel to them...

SO THEN FAITH COMES BY HEARING, AND HEARING BY THE WORD OF GOD. ROMANS 10:17

NOW FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR, THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN.

BY FAITH WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE WORLDS WERE FRAMED BY THE WORD OF GOD SO THAT THE THINGS WHICH ARE SEEN WERE NOT MADE OF THINGS WHICH ARE VISIBLE.

Just read the many heros of FAITH in Hebrews...

By faith, Abel

By faith, Enoch

By faith, Noah

By faith, Abraham

Nothing proves FAITH, to me, than prophecy being fulfilled..

Yes, I do agree with the article in the fact we need to be able to explain our Faith, and why we believe it...