Experience Apologetics #1 (Intro)

 

In 1 Kings 18 we read of Elijah confronting the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel.  God answered in a miraculous way witnessed by many thousands (v. 38).  And the people responded, "The Lord - he is God!"

1 Peter 3:15 (ESV) >>

But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

A Syrophoenician woman came to Jesus, 

 

... And she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter.

And He was saying to her, “Let the children be satisfied first, for it

is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 

But she answered and said to Him, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs

under the table feed on the children’s crumbs.”  And He said to her,

“Because of this answer go; the demon has gone out of your

daughter.”  And going back to her home, she found the child lying

on the bed, the demon having left. (Mk. 7:26-30, NASB)

 

Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics - Geisler:

https://arcapologetics.org/product/baker-encyclopedia-of-christian-apologetics-baker-reference-library/

 

The Big Book of Christian Apologetics: An A to Z Guide by Norman Geisler.

This book clarifies difficult biblical passages, clearly explains various philosophical systems as well as classic apologetic arguments. Do you desire to intelligently and persuasively engage with skeptics?  This is an abridged version of the Baker Encyclopedia on Christian Apologetics:

https://www.amazon.com/Big-Book-Christian-Apologetics-Guides/dp/0801014174

 

Geisler bio, very powerful, tragedy and #HOPE ↑ #Grace ...   

https://youtu.be/fH_rbNUQKwU

 

Andy Stanley, son of Charles Stanley (d. 2023, 90 yo), is featured in this profound documentary on Geisler.  Sadly, Andy's gone off the rails regarding the Old Testament:

https://answersingenesis.org/christianity/andy-stanley-says-we-need-to-unhitch-the-old-testament-from-our-faith/

CARL GUSTAV JUNG = SUGAR JUG TV CLAN

What about Carl Jung (d. 6-6-61)?

 

... as a student of new religious movements, I have repeatedly found Carl Jung to be a fountainhead of all manner of spiritual aberrations, whether in non-Christian movements or in Christianity itself.  More recently,  psychologist and best-selling author, Jordan Peterson, has drawn attention to Jung’s philosophy, which he draws on and uses as a lens to interpret the Bible. -- Douglas Groothuis

 

LYCOS search: A Christian critique of Carl Jung >>

https://search14.lycos.com/web/?q=A+Christian+critique+of+Carl+Jung

 

C.G. Jung’s War on the Christian Faith by J. Budziszewski (2010):

https://www.equip.org/articles/c-g-jungs-war-on-the-christian-faith/

 

The Hidden Dangers of Carl Jung by Douglas Groothuis (2023)

https://www.douglasgroothuis.com/post/the-hidden-dangers-of-carl-jung

 

    Jung was heavily involved in the occult. Deuteronomy 18 warns us about those practices such as consulting with the dead.  

    He denied the Trinity, but proposed a “Quaternity” with Lucifer as an additional Person of the Godhead!

    He said that Good and Evil could be reconciled, contradicting Romans 12:21.

    The collective unconscious is not a Biblical idea.

    Clinical psychologist Richard Noll wrote The Jung Cult which documents Jung's pagan and occultic tendencies.

Our Christian Worldview must be based on Scripture!

Is it okay to use our mind or be a scientist?  Go ask King Solomon! #Sol_the_Scientist

 

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. (Jn. 17:17)

 

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

    and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Pr. 9:10)

 

God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore.  Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. ... He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish.  From all nations people came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom. (1 Kings 4:29-34)

 

Even a child knows that #Evolution is wrong (Apes Ain't Grapes) and that there is a God!  A number of "atheists" dealt with early tragedy in a negative manner and lost their father at a young age.  A kid knows it's wrong to steal.  Consider Romans 1:20 and 2:15 along with Hebrews 3:4,

 

Rom 1:20 >>

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

 

Regarding the Gentiles, Paul says (Rom. 2:15):

They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.

 

Heb. 3:4 >>

For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.

Faith of the Fatherless: The Psychology of Atheism by Dr. Paul Vitz hits the mark!  Disappointment in one's earthly father can progress towards a denial of God (e.g. death, absence, mistreatment):

https://www.amazon.com/Faith-Fatherless-Psychology-Paul-Vitz/dp/1586176870

 

Even Kant (d. 1804) had the witness of Creation & Conscience figured out: “Two things fill the mind with ever new and increasing admiration and reverence, the more often and more steadily one reflects on them: the starry heavens above me and the moral law within me.”

That statement is on his tombstone!

      

Immanuel Kant and Genesis:

https://creation.com/immanuel-kant-and-genesis

>> A Very Helpful Resource >>

Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties by Gleason L. Archer Jr. (1982):

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/458027.Encyclopedia_of_Bible_Difficulties

 

New International Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties - Archer:

https://www.amazon.com/New-International-Encyclopedia-Bible-Difficulties/dp/0310241464

 

We read this from the Forward by Kenneth Kantzer:

 

Miller Burrows, former professor of New Testament at Yale University, accurately summarizes this rather typical modern viewpoint: "The Bible is full of things which to an intelligent educated person of today are either quite incredible or at best highly questionable. ... The protracted struggle of theology to defend the inerrancy of the Bible (i.e. its complete truth) against the findings of astronomy, geology, and biology has been a series of retreats ending in a defeat which has led all wise theologians to move to a better position." (Outline of Biblical Theology, 1946, pp. 9, 44)

Dr. James White discusses the "problem" of the location of the Feeding of the Five Thousand (Mt. 14, Mk. 6, Lk. 9, Jn. 6) at the 29:10 mark, he shows a helpful map of the Sea of Galilee at 44:50 ...

https://www.aomin.org/aoblog/general-apologetics/mark-confused-birth-narratives-original-readings/

 

Note "pros Bethsaida" in Mark 6:45,

Καὶ εὐθὺς ἠνάγκασεν τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ ἐμβῆναι εἰς τὸ πλοῖον καὶ προάγειν εἰς τὸ πέραν πρὸς Βηθσαϊδάν, ἕως αὐτὸς ἀπολύει τὸν ὄχλον.

 

πρὸς can mean "nearby," "alongside," or "towards" >>

https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/pros.html

 

Dr. White has written What Every Christian Needs to Know About the Qur'an:  https://www.christianbook.com/every-christian-needs-know-about-quran/james-white/9780764209765/pd/209765

 

Sea of Galilee map:

https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/questions/105442/was-marie-magdalene-healed-once-or-twice-according-to-luke-82-and-mark-169-as

 

my site: https://totalyouth.us

cool swag: https://totalyouth.us/merch

 

HW: Does the study of Aesthetics prove the existence of God?

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jay-hall-m-s-b64526a_aesthetics-god-apologetics-activity-7364223720556564481-KxTl?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAHbbPwBBTN3-5NHy1Ow3Aqgq-KCW2E14ew

 

Graphic Sources:

https://www.craiyon.com/image/AX1iwBjKRf-i9NqGVSRc3g

https://chatgpt.com/c/68a7fd04-4cd4-8328-9e69-6697f74b936a

https://chatgpt.com/c/68a93734-65a0-8327-a343-3d9575ad575d

https://www.amazon.com/Demolishing-Supposed-Bible-Contradictions-1/dp/0890516006

 

#Experience_Apologetics # Apologetics_Experience #RU_Apologetic ? #Ben2Space ? ✨✳✺ #evo #evolution #JamesWhite #AOMIN #Elijah #Baal #Mt_Carmel #God #Jesus #Bible #BB6640 ╬ #OnePeter315 #Becauseof_thisAnswer ... #Norman_Geisler #Geisler #Geisler300 #CARL_GUSTAV_JUNG #SUGAR_JUG_TV_CLAN

#Richard_Noll #The_Jung_Cult #YouthCult ♫ #Jung_Messless ☺ #Jung_Irth #YES #Young_Earth_Science #Y6K #King_Solomon #wisdom #wise #YY #Sol #Sunday #Faith_ofthe_Fatherless #Atheism #PaulVitz #Rom120 #Rom215 #HEB3_4 ✨✳✺ #Kant #Creation #Conscience ╬ #Genesis #Gen1to11 #GIII

#Bible_Difficulties #Bible_Contradictions ?? A↔A' #Gleason_Archer (d. 2004)

#πρὸς #Sea_of_Galilee #TrueTruth #Schaeffer

The Forgotten Trinity - Nicene ReMyx

 

Many churches recite the Nicene Creed on a regular basis:

 

We believe in one God,

      the Father almighty,

      maker of heaven and earth,

      of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ,

      the only Son of God,

      begotten from the Father before all ages,

           God from God,

           Light from Light,

           true God from true God,

      begotten, not made;

of the same essence as the Father. ...

And we believe in the Holy Spirit,

      the Lord, the giver of life.

      He proceeds from the Father and the Son,

      and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified.

 

James White, who wrote What Every Christian Needs to Know About the Qur'an, has written The Forgotten Trinity which is a powerful defense of this doctrine and confronts cultic distortions.  Before the Corona Crisis there was a debate (11-13-19) where James White faced off with Shabir Ally at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, GA on the topic "Tawhid or Trinity: Is God One or Three Divine Persons?"

 

Another helpful resource is Knowing the Truth About the Trinity by John Ankerberg and John Weldon which answers questions like "Why is the Trinity a mystery?" and "Is belief in the triune God critical?"  Here's the Westminster Confession in modern English (Ch. 2, Sec. 3):

 

In the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, having one substance, power, and eternity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The Father exists. He is not generated and does not come from any source. The Son is eternally generated from the Father, and the Holy Spirit eternally comes from the Father and the Son. (Mt 3:16-17, 28:19, 2 Cor 13:14, Eph 2:18, Jn 1:14,18, 17:24, Heb 1:2-6, Col 1:15-17, Jn 15:26, Gal 4:6)

 

The Trinity: Evidence and Issues by Robert A. Morey (d. 2019) defends the Trinity from the Old and New Testaments. He looks at Jewish writings and the Early Church Fathers.  This massive tome has nearly 600 pages!  You may find Michael Brown's talk on the Old Testament and the Trinity here.  Dr. Brown has recently put out The Silencing of the Lambs: The Ominous Rise of Cancel Culture and How We Can Overcome It.

 

Consider Jesus' baptism:

 

When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Lk. 3:21,22; cf. Jn. 1:29-34)

 

Francis Schaeffer (d. 1984) spoke of the mutual love between the members of the Trinity.  Here's the proof:

 

æ The Father sends the Son. (Galatians 4:4; 1 John 4:14)

æ The Father sends the Holy Spirit. (John 14:26; Galatians 4:6)

æ The Father loves the Son and the Son loves the Father. (John 3:35; 5:20; 14:31)

æ The Father and Son glorify each other. (John 17:1,4,5)

æ The Holy Spirit glorifies the Son. (John 16:14).

 

Isaiah 63 seems to hint at the Trinity:

 

Yet they rebelled

    and grieved his Holy Spirit.

So he turned and became their enemy

    and he himself fought against them.

... Where is he who set

    his Holy Spirit among them,

who sent his glorious arm of power

    to be at Moses’ right hand,

who led them through the depths?

... they were given rest by the Spirit of the Lord.

This is how you guided your people

    to make for yourself a glorious name.

... Where are your zeal and your might?

    Your tenderness and compassion are withheld from us.

But you are our Father,

    though Abraham does not know us

    or Israel acknowledge us;

you, Lord, are our Father,

    our Redeemer from of old is your name.

         (Is. 63:10-16)

 

"The Churches One Foundation" references the Trinity.  Child Evangelism Fellowship has a great tune on the Trinity for kids.  Enjoy this lovely song on the Trinity based on a an Irish tune.  Even Hillsong chimes in as well with "This I Believe (The Creed)."  I wrote a pro-Trinity song, "Theology Matters" (~Metallica).

 

Kudos: the graphic with the long hair and flowers was adapted from the Italian artist Marco Melgrati.

 

#Trinity #MarcoMelgrati #JamesWhite #ForgottenTrinity  #Metallica #TheologyMatters #RobertMorey #Ankerberg #Bible #Theology #Tawhid 

William Tyndale and Socialism

William Tyndale became a Catholic priest in 1521, but learned the true gospel at some later point.  In 1525, he met Martin Luther and completed his translation of the New Testament into English which was illegal at the time.  Tyndale was choked and burned at the stake in 1536 after spending 500 days in a dungeon.  His last words were, "Lord, open the King of England's eyes."  Miles Coverdale continued Tyndale's work and the "Matthew Bible" came out in 1537.  Six copies were put in Old St. Paul's Church where, in front of huge crowds, one after another would publically read until his voice went out!  Tyndale's prayer was answered in short order.

 

Sir Thomas More wanted nothing more than to see Tyndale burned for his efforts. Tyndale, who spoke eight languages, produced two editions to the New Testament and translated two thirds of the Old Testament into English.  You can learn the details of the Tyndale/More debate here.  From Tyndale's The Obedience Of A Christian Man (1528) we read his attitude towards his persecutors:

 

Christ is the cause why I love you, why I am ready to do the uttermost of my power for you, and why I pray for you.  And as long as the cause abides, so long lasts the effect: even as it is always day so long as the sun shines.  Do therefore the worst you can to me, take away my goods, take away my good name; yet as long as Christ remains in my heart, so long I love you not a whit less, and so long are you as dear to me as my own soul, and so long am I ready to do you good for your evil, and so long I pray for you with all my heart: for Christ desires it of me, and has deserved it of me.

 

Now, what's the connection to Socialism?  Socialism leads to Communism which lays down the hammer on Christians ==> Soviet Russia and mainland China today.  Here is an excellent video on the dangers of Socialism. [1]  Will our country become Socialist?  Will serious persecution of Christians become a real thing in the USA?  Will you become a political prisoner within your lifetime?

 

Consider this timeline chart for Venezuela's downward trod from Free Markets to Socialism:

In the early 1990's Venezuela was quite prosperous.  Now, some Venezuelans are so desperate that they are eating cats and dogs.  Here is a pic of Cuba today:

Who can command things to happen

without the Lord’s permission?

Does not the Most High

send both calamity and good?

Then why should we, mere humans, complain

when we are punished for our sins?

  (Lam. 3:37-39, NLT)

 

 

Notes:

1) There is a positive reference to an LDS document in one spot of the video.  For another view of the teachings of the Elders of Salt Lake see my prior post:

https://adamslostdream.blogspot.com/2012/01/planet-kolob-chariot-of-gods.html

 

** Special thanks to James White for recently highlighting the life of Tyndale.

Social Justice and the Gospel

Hate begets hate; violence begets violence; toughness begets a greater toughness.  We must meet the forces of hate with the power of love. ...We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools. ...As my sufferings mounted I soon realized that there were two ways in which I could respond to my situation - either to react with bitterness or seek to transform the suffering into a creative force.  I decided to follow the latter course.
  -- Martin LutherKing (d. 1968)

In the light of today's confusion in religious and political matters along with the typhoon of gender blender malapropisms, a number of Christian leaders have put together a fourteen point statement on "Social Justice and the Gospel." Endorsers include John MacArthur, Voddie Baucham, James White, Darrell Harrison, Anthony Mathenia, Vesta Sproul, Douglas Wilson and myself.  Here is the affirmation and denial on Race and Ethnicity (point XII):

WE AFFIRM God made all people from one man. Though people often can be distinguished by different ethnicities and nationalities, they are ontological equals before God in both creation and redemption.  “Race” is not a biblical category, but rather a social construct that often has been used to classify groups of people in terms of inferiority and superiority. All that is good, honest, just, and beautiful in various ethnic backgrounds and experiences can be celebrated as the fruit of God’s grace. All sinful actions and their results (including evils perpetrated between and upon ethnic groups by others) are to be confessed as sinful, repented of, and repudiated.
WE DENY that Christians should segregate themselves into racial groups or regard racial identity above, or even equal to, their identity in Christ.  We deny that any divisions between people groups (from an unstated attitude of superiority to an overt spirit of resentment) have any legitimate place in the fellowship of the redeemed.  We reject any teaching that encourages racial groups to view themselves as privileged oppressors or entitled victims of oppression.  While we are to weep with those who weep, we deny that a person’s feelings of offense or oppression necessarily prove that someone else is guilty of sinful behaviors, oppression, or prejudice.(Gen. 1:26–28; Acts 17:24-26; 1 Cor. 13:4-7; 2 Cor. 12:16-18)

You can read and sign the statement here.  Also, be sure to download and share the pdf of the entire document.  What do you think?  Let us know:

  ned_oa_1657@yahoo.com