Why Apologetics?

The Misconceptions of Apologetics Ministry

From www.ericbarger.com: In a message dated 06/22/2006 8:08:29 AM Mountain Daylight Time, russell@xxxx.com.au writes:

Dear Eric,

First let me say that it is wonderful to see the strength and devotion you show towards our saviour Jesus Christ.

It seems to me however that your energy would be better spent in bringing the gospel of Christ to people in areas that would not otherwise have the opportunity, rather than trying to crush the faith of those who already have a belief in him, regardless of whether it agrees with your personal interpretation of the bible or not.

I strongly recommend you obtain a copy of the DVD "Bullhorn" from Rob Bell of Mars Hill Bible Church's "NOOMA" series and seriously think about how this relates to you and your website. [1]

I am certain your intent is one of love and concern, however in reality your message comes across as one of hatred and intolerance, an image which is hardly positive in bringing people to Christ.

Finally I would like to say that having only read a small amount of your websites content I have already discover that it is poorly researched and misrepresentative of the faiths which you are attempting to attack. This leads me to seriously doubt whether you have even read The Koran, The Book or Mormon or any of the other books of scripture you have attempted to discredit.

Above all Jesus taught us to love others. Your website hardly promotes this view.

Kind Regards
Russell (Australia)

Eric Responds:

Hello Russell,

I would like to say that I appreciate the opening comment but I have received far too many backhanded compliments over the years I've been doing this.

Now, lets see what you said...

It seems to me however that your energy would be better spent in bringing the gospel of Christ to people in areas that would not otherwise have the opportunity, rather than trying to crush the faith of those who already have a belief in him, regardless of whether it agrees with your personal interpretation of the bible or not.

I assume you are supposing that Muslims, Mormons, New Agers and others are somehow saved merely because God indeed does love them too? Who is it that you are referring to who "already have a belief in him?"

You said "personal interpretation"... I am merely following the ideal that the Bible is inerrant and alone is God's final word to mankind. My "brand" of salvation and Christianity in general is the historical model of what the Jesus Christ taught the Apostles to teach. Of course, one has to believe the Bible and hold to it alone as mankind's only accurate and reliable spiritual guidebook to follow implicitly what the Apostles modeled (i.e., the book of Acts and the Epistles). My that sounds so out of date doesn't it? It surely does not match what modern denominational spiritual liberalism espouses today. This is because they involved in the business of religion while merely calling themselves "Christians." Liberals and so many others want to make up their own rules and ignore what they dislike from the Bible. My contention is that we either believe (and follow) all of the Bible or we really don't believe it at all.

I am certain your intent is one of love and concern, however in reality your message comes across as one of hatred and intolerance, an image which is hardly positive in bringing people to Christ.

What you perceive as "hatred and intolerance" is most likely because you somehow think I "hate" people of other religions. The opposite is of course actually the case. If I didn't care about people - genuinely care - than I'd certainly never want to put myself in the position that being in this kind of ministry often places me in.

I do admit, however, that I am very intolerant of any and every religion that destroys people for eternity.

Finally I would like to say that having only read a small amount of your websites content I have already discover that it is poorly researched and misrepresentative of the faiths which you are attempting to attack. This leads me to seriously doubt whether you have even read The Koran, The Book or Mormon or any of the other books of scripture you have attempted to discredit.

OK, I need your input here. It is so easy to make a blanket statement like you have here. So, tell me where it is poorly researched. Give me exact pages and examples. Tell me where I misrepresented other religions. Again, page references and examples. I'm curious if you have done 20+ years of research on the cults and aberrant belief systems? I own, read and research the Koran, The Book of Mormon, etc., regularly. However, I do NOT refer to them as "scripture."

Above all Jesus taught us to love others. Your website hardly promotes this view.

It would appear that you have no concept of the Biblical precedent of apologetics. You refer to "Our saviour Jesus Christ." I am curious what that means to you? Is He indeed the only way to be saved? Only you can say what your belief system actually is for sure but perhaps you are adverse to this kind of ministry because you are an inclusionist or a universalist or have fallen for the fallacy that there is more than one way to be saved. Perhaps you are LDS. In which case I would ask "which Jesus" are we talking about...the one whose teaching is reflected in the New Testament or the one the Apostle Paul warned of in II Cor. 11:3-4?

Whatever belief system you adhere to, it is obviously one that is simply adverse to the complete council of God's Word.

The Apostle Paul makes it clear that one of the qualifications of being a Christian leader is to (by sound doctrine) shut the mouths of those who present adverse and deceive teaching which has the capacity to subvert entire families from the faith. (Titus 1:9-16)

He says: "rebuke them sharply." (v.13) There are many other passages I could site but suffice to say that New Testament Christianity is not about acceptance of all belief systems, in fact, quite the contrary.

Jesus indeed did teach us to love others. Exposing false beliefs has NOTHING to do with how much we may love the people. In fact, pointing out the errors - which send untold numbers of people to an eternity in hell each and every moment - is actually the most loving act I can imagine provided that in doing so we point them to the Lord Jesus and His unique saving grace and mercy.

The Bible calls Christians to "contend for the faith", i.e., exposing false belief systems that are eternally damning to the souls of men. It is simply our task to follow this admonition no matter how disturbing it may be to some.

I'll close with a thought from G. K. Chesterton who wrote:

"There is a notion abroad that to win a man we must agree with him. Actually the exact opposite is true. Each generation has had to be converted by the man who contradicted it most. The man who is going in a wrong direction will never be set right by the affable religionist who falls into step beside him and goes the same way. Someone must place himself across the path and insist that the straying man turn around and go in the right direction."

Thanks for writing.

Eric Barger
www.ericbarger.com

[1] Rob Bell is a key leader in the Emerging Church movement. I believe it is a dangerous and nonbiblical movement. It is a given that he and other "seeker" / "emergers" are not going to agree with the concept of biblical apologetics.