Reasons of the Heart

Reasons of the Heart

This is the fifth and final part of the Worldviews & Apologetics series.  I wrote this series because living as a Christian in a secular, unbelieving world is hard.  Being proactive to defend and share the Christian faith is even harder!  But Jesus has sent us, so we cannot be passive.  Thankfully Jesus has also given us his Spirit, so we can be confident that he will work through us.  In our series, we have seen the following: 

  1. View of the World – Everyone has a perspective about the world called a worldview.  This worldview is built on five presuppositions, five foundational convictions about God, Man, Truth, Problem, Solution. 
  2. Worldview Pyramid – Christians are not the only ones who attempt to answer the big questions of life – everyone does – whether they are aware of it or not.  And from the foundation of those five core issues, we build out the rest of our convictions about all of life.  This is our Worldview Pyramid. 
  3. Engaging a Secular World – If we are to be faithful to Christ and our Christian worldview, then we must actively engage with the friends, neighbors, and coworkers in the world around us.  This means we embrace our calling, live consistent with our worldview, understand the times, and defend the faith (apologetics). 
  4. Tearing Down Strongholds – This call to Christian apologetics is not just an intellectual endeavor – it is ultimately a spiritual battle.  We are called to fight by the power of the Holy Spirit with spiritual weapons to transform hearts, serve people, and build structures.  

With all this in view, I want to close us out this discussion by returning to a passage we looked at in part three: 

1 Peter 3:14-15 – “Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”

Peter is writing to Christians facing hostile opposition for their Christian faith, and tells them not to be afraid or intimidated.  No matter what, we need to honor Christ as Lord, and be ready to give a defense for the hope in us.  Whether someone asks you about your faith or you initiate a conversation, you are called to give the reason for your faith with gentleness and respect.  

In the book Reasons of the Heart, my old professor William Edgar lays out a solid apologetic method.  He aims to help us make a sound argument to others, not just to persuade their minds, but to capture their hearts. He reminds us of what Blaise Pascal said in the 17th century, “We know the truth not only through our reason but also through our heart” and “The heart has its reasons of which reason knows nothing.”  

Point of Contact (Building a Connection)

Sometimes it may feel like you have nothing in common with your unbelieving friend who holds to a different worldview.  But, if you are going to have a meaningful conversation about Christ and the Gospel, you must have a place to start.  It may seem like your friend is so far from Christ that they would never be interested in hearing your thoughts on the God who created us all.  But according to Romans 1, we have the greatest Point of Contact we could ever hope for:  

Romans 1:18-20 – “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”

While this passage begins with the hard reality that God’s wrath comes against those who reject the truth of God, this is a truth they are actively suppressing.  In fact, God has made himself plain to people – God’s invisible attributes and divine nature have been clearly perceived.  This means that on some level – however deeply suppressed it may be – all people know there is a God.  This is our Point of Contact.  In essence, we begin any gospel conversation attempting to remind people of what they already know.  There is a God.  

There are two ways we can identify where someone’s suppressed knowledge of God reveals itself.  The first is to look for an element of truth in their worldview.  All worldviews have some connection to actual reality – you might have to look really hard!  For instance, a pantheist believes that everything has a divine element.  While we don’t agree that everything is actually god, as we just read, all things are created by God and still have the imprint of his divine nature.  The “divineness” that a pantheist misunderstands can be used as a Point of Contact to introduce the idea of a Creator.  Or look at an atheistic view of humanity.  Atheists typically have a very high view of human beings, seeing us as intelligent, rational, powerful beings.  While we know that all people have fallen into sin, we are still created in the image of God, who gave us all these wonderful qualities.  

The second way to establish a Point of Contact is to look for an element of dissatisfaction in the person’s worldview.  In other words, how do they indicate that whatever is at the center of their worldview may actually be incomplete?  How do they express dissatisfaction with their own worldview?  For instance, someone might claim to be a materialist, believing that only the physical world exists, but they may also make it clear that money and possessions don’t fulfill them.  You can share with them how we are created for more than the material world and how their longing for fullness can only come through an immaterial reality – the love of God!  

Disclosure (Uncovering Faults)

After you have established a solid Point of Contact, you want to help them to see how their own worldview falls short.  To be persuasive, you need to begin by showing respect, asking questions, listening, and trying to understand their worldview.  As you listen, seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance so you can disclose (reveal) to them where their worldview is Inaccurate, Inconsistent, or Ineffective.  

  • Inaccurate – If they believe that people are essentially good beings, you can point out the many examples of human sin. 
  • Inconsistent – If they believe that all truth is relative and also that discrimination is always wrong, you can demonstrate how those two beliefs are actually in conflict with themselves.  
  • Ineffective – If they believe their religious rituals (found in Judaism, Islam, etc.) will bring peace and fulfillment, you help them to see how they will never be good enough even in their own system. 

This is not about trying to get them in a “gotcha!” moment, but gently and persuasively helping them to see the inadequacies of the worldview they have built their life on.  As you ask probing questions and make observations, pray that the gaps will become obvious to them.  

Homecoming (Sharing the Gospel)

Next you want to invite your friend to look into your worldview.  Ask them if you can share your own perspective on life from a Christian perspective.  If you have listened well, most people will take time to listen to you as well.  Now you have the chance to share the Gospel.  You want to tell them what the Bible teaches about God, Man, Truth, Problem, and Solution.  You want to do this in a way that connects with their own worldview and experience –  and because you have taken the time to get to know them, you should be able to identify some of their central concerns.  Then you can show them how the Multifaceted Gospel addresses the needs of their heart:

  • Justification – God is a merciful Judge forgiving the disobedient and lifting our guilt.  
  • Regeneration – God is a gracious Life-Giver causing the empty to be reborn and find hope. 
  • Reconciliation – God is a wise Peacemaker, reconciling the alienated and restoring our broken relationship.  
  • Adoption – God is a loving Father adopting the lost and giving us an identity and purpose.  
  • Redemption – God is a powerful Deliverer setting free those in bondage and victims of oppression. 
  • Sanctification – God is a holy Purifier cleansing those in shame and restoring our worth.  

Plausibility (Making it Believable)

If we truly want the gospel to make sense and be appealing, we need to do more than just try to win an academic argument.  We want to give them reasons of the heart!  Of course, only the Holy Spirit can open their eyes to the truth of Christ, but we want to do all that we can to make the Christian worldview plausible and believable.  As you share with them, seek to make your case Concrete, Credible, and Convincing: 

  • Concrete – Try to avoid an overly abstract discussion.  Use real life examples, poignant analogies, and relevant illustrations of things like God’s goodness, man’s sin, forgiveness, new life, and so on.  
  • Credible – Don’t just make assertions without giving reasons to support what you say.  And, don’t disregard or disrespect their perspective just so it’s easier to dismiss.  In philosophy, this is called knocking down a straw man.  Represent their perspective well so your own argument connects.  And, if you can’t answer their questions, try to find out with them.  
  • Convincing – Christianity is not just true, it is also effective in transforming and guiding our lives.  The most convincing argument you can make is to tell them your own story.  Tell them how Christ has changed your life and then invite them to believe as well. 

The call to share the gospel and defend the faith doesn’t need to be complicated or intimidating.  It begins with trusting God and loving other people.  Keep the eyes of your heart open and take initiative with others.  Let’s pray as the apostle Paul asked others to pray for him:   

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