Apologetics

On April 4, 2009, William Lane Craig and Christopher Hitchens met at Biola University to debate the question of God’s existence. Craig is one of the world’s foremost Christian apologists. The late Hitchens was a leading spokesman for the “new atheism” movement.

I was assigned to watch and critique this debate in my graduate apologetics class at Maranatha Baptist Seminary, long ago. I’ll always remember the pure intellectual joy I had when I watched this outstanding debate between two brilliant men. I’m still grateful to Professor Tim Miller (who now holds two PhDs and teaches at Detroit Seminary!) for tasking us with this assignment. 

This is Hitchens’ opening statement:

Here is the cross-examination between Craig and Hitchens, where dogmatic statements are tested by direct questions:

Reposted from It Is Written.

One of the marks of a Christian is a desire to share the good news of the life-transforming gospel with others. In the words of the apostles, “We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20). But what if a friend, fellow worker, schoolmate, or family member asks us to desist? Does there come a time when we should refrain from speaking to a person about Jesus and Christianity? 

Thanks, But No Thanks

A few years ago, I sent John Piper’s booklet The Passion of Christ: Fifty Reasons Why He Came to Die to several close friends and relatives. To my knowledge, most of them were not Christians. I had already shared the gospel with some. With others I had not–at least not in a more comprehensive way. I wanted to be able to face Jesus on Judgment Day with the knowledge that I had attempted to share the gospel with those who were close to me.

Disappointingly, one couple replied with a letter and some materials that made it clear they rejected Christianity, affirmed materialistic evolution, and wished me to relinquish my attempts at trying to convert them. They were polite. But they were also resolute. They didn’t believe in God, and they preferred that I give up any attempt in persuading them otherwise.