Today I was listening to the latest “Unbelievable” program on the topic of hell. At one point the observation was made that Christians do not mention the doctrine of hell in evangelism. And the comment was made that if Christians really believed in hell then they surely should be doing this. While I am sympathetic […]
evangelism
Christianity is not built on the rock of hell
The other day I received an email from a reader of my Swedish Atheist book. “Pat” was writing to express concern at the fact that the apologist in the book (an apologist fortuitously named “Randal”) was endorsing the doctrine of annihilationism according to which hell is understood to be the final destruction of the unregenerate rather […]
Would Christianity die out if Christians stopped witnessing? And if it did would that mean Christianity was false?
John Loftus just came up with a new argument against Christianity. He summarized it like this: 1) If Christianity is true then the Christian faith will probably not die out if Christians stop proselytizing. (2) The Christian faith will probably die out if Christians stop proselytizing. (3) Therefore Christianity is false. It is, if nothing else, […]
Does universalism undermine Christian mission?
It is a common objection to the doctrine of universal salvation. And Walter expresses it well: the Christian message loses its urgency–less pews would be filled, less tithes collected, and less need for dangerous missionary trips if everyone makes it to heaven. To put it bluntly: fear of a terrible hell fuels the growth of […]
Doubting your firm foundation
The other day a kindly elderly lady knocked on my door. She said she was from the Urban Missionaries of Canada and wanted to know if I would be interested in taking her survey. I agreed, though I told her I’m a theologian and that might skew the results. She smiled and said that would […]
My Experience with Street Witnessing Part 2: The Painful Execution
As we piled out of the van and on to the sidewalk I was driven on by the shame, guilt and fear that I would end up a goat on Judgment Day if I hesitated for a moment to proclaim the Gospel fearlessly to every passerby. After a quick prayer from the youth pastor for safety and […]
My Experience with Street Witnessing Part 1: The Guilt-ridden Set-Up
The summer of 1988. Mike Dukakis won the democratic nomination to run for president. Stefan Edberg and Steffi Graf had both triumphed at Wimbledon. George Michael and Def Leppard were dominating the charts. And I went on my first (and last) foray into street witnessing. It was an idyllic summer evening. The sun had begun its […]
Sometimes it is okay just to say ‘Merry Christmas’
The White House had a lovely Christmas card this year, though reliably contrarian Sarah Palin was deeply offended at the outrageous inclusion of the family dog: http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2011/12/sarah_palin_white_house_christ.html. My Christmas well wish didn’t get quite as much press as that of the Obamas, but I guess I should have expected that. Perhaps next year I’ll include my Maltese […]
On scaring the hell out of your friends: An All Hallows Eve Meditation
When I was a teenager I had an audio tape of evangelist and alleged exorcist Bob Larson visiting hell (or describing the experiences of somebody else who visited hell; I forget which). I lent the tape to a friend of mine, a headbanger who looked the part with his long hair and worn jean jacket with […]
Apologetics arguments are like a closet full of clothes
Forrest Gump famously said that life is kinda like a box of chocolates. I’m not so sure about that. But I am convinced that apologetics arguments are kinda like a closet full of clothes. I offer this little pearl of wisdom as a response to Mike who asked: “can you state which apologetic arguments or […]
Youth pastors who wear cardigans and other obstacles to the Kingdom
A few months ago I critiqued the Christian Motorcyclists’ Association in “The Problem of Uncool Christianity“. My argument was straightforward: the CMA is ineffective as a missionary outreach to the biker community because of its uncool image. But I didn’t simply curse the darkness, for in my next article, “Cool Christians Riding on The Wildside” […]
Cool Christians riding on The Wildside
Last time I griped about the profound uncoolness of the Christian Motorcyclists’ Association. If they want to achieve the goal of bringing Christ to the Peter Fondas and Dennis Hoppers of the open road (which is at least part of their mandate), then they need to lose their very uncool branding. A friend of mine […]
The problem of uncool Christianity
Apologists are those who want to convert you to a particular view, whether it be Christianity, atheism, capitalism, democracy, or anything else. Very often the assumption is that the apologist should focus on reasoned arguments for one’s view. And of course that is indeed a part of what they should be concerned with. But the […]
How exclusive should Christianity be?
Many Christians are exclusivists by which I don’t mean that they are social snobs or against racial integration. Rather, an “exclusivist” is one who believes that certain things are essential to being saved by Jesus. Catholic Community Exclusivism Historic Catholicism (i.e. prior to Vatican II) tended to be exclusivist about membership in its own institution. That is, […]
