Not what Rolfe asked.
Supposing someone asked you, "How old is the Earth?"
How would you answer that?
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How would you reach these people?
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Not what Rolfe asked.
Supposing someone asked you, "How old is the Earth?"
How would you answer that?
I think that is good. The Scriptures is the Power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16).
My question was directed more toward a situation when someone legitimately asks a question for which you do not have an immediate answer. I am curious what you do/would do when that happens.
Not trying to play trick question games. I am simply curious.
Edit to add: Just saw ITL's post. His is exactly the type of thing I have in my mind. And I do not mean questions from hecklers but questions from people with a genuine interest.
For detailed apologetics questions I refer people to Answers in Genesis or I ask for their contact info to look it up and get back with them.
I don't know how old the Earth is, and that is what I would tell them.
I think it good that you get contact information and follow up.
Ever consider, rather than referring to a website or (presume on occasion) a book, sitting down and searching the Scriptures together with the individual with the question? I think of Philip and the Ethiopian.
The reason why I asked my question was that I wondered how you addressed a situation like this.
Cheers.
Not me because the Bible teaches a young earth!
Depends on the question. There is a reason why we have hundreds of apologetics books and resources out there. Some questions we must look at science to get the answers.
For example some have asked the question on evidence for the Bible. This type of question one has to turn to good apologetics books to get the answers and for that Josh McDowell is the best. Or evidence that Jesus lived as many skeptics claim he never existed and the Bible is full of fairy tales. Again Josh McDowell.
But since no skeptics are interested in reading a book defending the Bible or Christ they have made up their minds.
I figured as much. How old is it?
Why can't you defend your own positions?
In the thousands of years. I can't say for sure the exact age but it's young.
Because I am not a walking encyclopedia!
I memorize scripture and quote from it often when preaching. But questions on why the Bible is true and why Christ existed go beyond scripture and are best handled by books.
So, when somebody asks you why you believe you tell them to "Go read a book!"?
Wrong. When someone asks me to prove that the Bible is true and cite 10 evidences that question goes beyond scripture.
And you don’t have to be. We are not called to answer all of our questions, much less the questions of the World. We are, however, called to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.
@Reynolds had the best answer for many of those questions that cannot be definitively settled by Scripture – “I do not know”. You, for example, really don’t know the age of the earth. You read books and theories and choose the interpretation you think is correct. But you don’t know because Scripture does not say. In the example - the earth could be billions of years old without one syllable of Scripture nullified. Be careful not to stand on your own understanding, brother.
We are not called to debate theology with the World. We are not called to defend a young earth position, a literal Hell, a Calvinistic soteriology, or a particular music genre for worship to the World. We are called to communicate the gospel – something that is not a set of teachings or a philosophy but something that God has done. It is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I just think you need to be careful. I’ve seen many misled by well meaning “evangelists” who rely on books to provide answers that are not provided in Scripture and end up undermining the authority of Scripture itself.
I focus on the essentials of the faith on the streets. Back in the Bible Belt many wanted to debate with me over secondary issues and I refused. That said I hold to a young earth but no question the Bible does not say. However do not tell Ken Ham this.
I wish I could tell the folks at Bob Jones University this. There they are very dogmatic for their position on music, and abstinence from alcohol. I also wish I could tell others that Hellfire may be metaphorical and not necessarily literal. I have hinted at this at times.
I suspect most challenges you would get from non-Christians about nonessential doctrines are simply distractions best avoided.
Yes and this means my job is far simpler in that I just memorize scripture and proclaim it, rather than having to read and memorize a half dozen apologetics books. Don't get me wrong the books by Ron Rhodes, McDowell, and others can be very helpful with those unbelievers that actually want to get answers, but I have discovered that most skeptics are not interested in answers and will not even read a apologetics tract! They are not interested in the truth, just interested in arguing, and for them I sometimes will tell them that Hell will be very hot!
And you do realize that for most people, this is the point your conversation would for all practical purposes end.
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