Providence Points: More Evangelism
shawn...@gmail.com
Biblical, Devotional & Informational
October 6, 2007
Vol. 2, No. 14
This summer during bring-out-the-tables-and-grab-more-members drive at
the local colleges, I wandered through the labyrinth of chaos: banks
luring students, clubs attracting members, and fast food restaurants
claiming the dream job. And then as I turned my head to fight off the
beating sun, my eye caught the following:
THE BLASPHEMY CHALLENGE
"Matthew 12:31 states that blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is
unforgivable.
Speak into this video and verbally denounce the Spirit: secure your
place in hell!"
If there was ever a time to preach Christ, this was it! Casually
approaching the bench, I prayed a quick prayer to the Spirit, and
innocently asked the black-clad individual behind the table why he
used this verse.
He stared at me for a few seconds. "We are using this verse to show
the absurdity of Christians who take the Bible literally."
Wanting to avoid a quibble over details-to reach deeper issues-I
responded, "Not all Christians have such a naïve approach to the
Bible. I could point out the larger context or other Bible verses, but
you do not take the Bible as your standard of reality anyway."
I paused and plunged onward: "The bigger question is: What do you
believe? Where are you coming from?"
"I'm an atheist and I'm an empiricist," he cautiously replied.
"Interesting, so truth is only that which is verified by the senses...
how do you find justice or love in a test tube?" I asked.
Thus the debate began-or rather, the one-sided critique of empiricism.
Trying to "answer a fool according to his folly," I focused on the
hopelessness and philosophical suicide incipient in atheism. Near the
end of the conversation, I pointed out how he shuffled between
pragmatism and empiricism in finding truth-claims. The internal
contradiction was becoming clear to the atheist. Before saying a word,
he reached down to grab a notepad and pen.
With a level of comfortable rapport already established, my curiosity
piqued: "Excuse me, what are you doing?"
Scribbling on the notepad, he looked up at me with mild surprise, "Oh,
you were pointing out some inconsistencies in my thinking: I'm taking
notes."
soli deo gloria!