Tactics a Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions Book Review
Tactics, by Greg Koukl, is a rare apologetics book in that it is not about what knowledge Christians need to defend their faith, but rather how to approach the discussion itself, a topic that has been disregarded past far too many. Greg Koukl describes tactics equally "the art of arranging" and describes the importance of using tactics past showing how, "They guide yous in arranging your own resources in an artful mode. They suggest approaches that anyone tin can apply to be
more than persuasive, in part because they assist you exist more than reasonable and thoughtful-instead of just emotional-about your convictions every bit a follower of Christ."
From the very beginning Koukl helps his readers understand the big moving picture of apologetics, stating that, "Representing Christ in the new millennium requires 3 basic skills. First, Christ's ambassadors need the basic knowledge necessary for the task." Secondly, "Our noesis must be tempered with the kind of wisdom that makes our message clear and persuasive." Finally, "our character can brand or break our mission." Knowing how language tin can be used and abused Koukl clarifies that,
"Tactics are not manipulative tricks or slick ruses. They are not clever ploys to embarrass other people and force them to submit to your point of view. They are not meant to scoff or humiliate those who disagree so you can gain notches in your spiritual belt."
He introduces a general rule related to graphic symbol that if anyone in the word gets angry, you lose. His thinking is if you go aroused you undermine the validity of your ideas by reverting to emotions and give the impression you don't take confidence I what yous are saying. If the other person gets aroused they are not in a good position to procedure and weigh your ideas. Whether you agree with this principle it does demonstrate how seriously Koukl is most representing Christ well and that the use of these tactics are to persuade people to take Jesus seriously not equally a verbal weapon.
The master tactics Koukl is referring to is to the fine art of asking proficient questions and challenging others to show their claims with reason and show. He points out how people claim Christianity is not scientific or even reasonable and the brunt is placed on u.s. to prove otherwise but rarely do others end up having to defend their assertions or opinions with any evidence. In other words, as we share our faith in Christ and defend the claims of Christianity nosotros should hold critics to the aforementioned standard of proof and evidence to which they concur us. It is expert and helpful to be held to a standard of evidence when debating whatsoever effect and we should be able to reply to these challenges in an informed and respectful manner. As someone who has looked into the historical, archaeological, textual, and philosophical bear witness for Christianity I welcome these opportunities to help others see the mountains of testify that support the claims of Christ. But yous do not accept to exist an expert in these areas to read or effectively use these questions to challenge the opinions of others.
Koukle uses Lieutenant Columbo as an case to be a non-threatening and kind conversationalist. If y'all are under a certain age and don't know who Columbo is remember, Netflix or Hulu is only a few clicks away, he as well played the narrator/grandpa in The Princess Bride. So what are the questions? Beginning, "What do you hateful by that?" to appoint the other person and analyze the issues. Second, "How did you come to that determination?" If the first question reveals what the other person thinks this question helps you know why they remember the way they do. This is also where we concur them to a strict standard of testify and require them to support what they say with facts and evidence the style we every bit Christians have been and to which a reasonable person should exist held to back up a claim. The tertiary question is very situational and is used to pb the conversation in a direction to challenge them to look into the claims of Christ. One of the things that makes this book so helpful are the examples and way he applies them to unlike types of situations for different readers.
Over again, you do not accept to be an expert in whatsoever of those fields to employ these tactics or benefit from this volume. My xiii yr old son and I were discussing this and he said those questions sound a lot like what he was reading in a dissimilar book where the questions were phrased, what do y'all believe? Why do y'all believe it? What if you are wrong? What if you are right? The last two questions are intended to do what Koukl spends the 2d half of the volume doing, helping people find both the consequences and the flaws in people'due south assertions. I say assertions because as the writer states,
"An assertion just states a indicate. An statement gives supporting reasons why the p
oint should be taken seriously. The reasons, and then, become the topic of mutual discussion or assay. But if there are no reasons, there's fiddling to talk over. Opinions by themselves are non proof. Intelligent belief requires reasons."
He compares an statement to a house where a roof is the assertion and the walls are the evidence that back up the roof. A roof is useless without the walls and an exclamation without evidence is only an opinion.
For the new Christian or those who practise not have experience with the arguments and evidence for Christianity this book helps the reader know how to engage in respectful, intelligent, engaging conversation about their organized religion. It besides reminds united states of america how to listen well, identify why people believe what they practice, why they dismiss Christianity, and motivates to learn more about the facts, evidence, and knowledge to deal with the specific arguments surrounding Christianity. Issues like the arguments for God's existence, reliability of the New Testament, archaeological evidence for biblical cities, events, and people, the uniqueness of Jesus Christ, and a whole host of other topics. For those of us who have experience in apologetics and enjoy investigating the evidence and philosophical arguments it motivates u.s.a. to appoint and share that learning by reminding us how to do it in a respectful and engaging way. Regardless of how experienced yous are in sharing or defending your faith this is a great resources to brainstorm your journey well or remind yourself of these important strategies.
You can buy Tactics as impress, ebook, or Aural audiobook at Amazon and larn more than about Greg Koukl at his Stand to Reason Blog.
Source: https://eagleandrose.wordpress.com/2016/06/13/tactics-a-game-plan-for-discussing-your-christian-convictions/
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