In a world where “Education is King”, there is an ever pressing issue with approaching and reaching the logical and educated masses. We can no longer prove the argument for Christianity through superstition, feelings, tradition etc. It is now more important than ever that the C.S.Lewis’s of this world step forward and present the God of all Knowledge (Omniscience). God is Omnipotent (having all power)and He reaches those who are inspired by His power, Our God is Omnipresent (always present), He reaches those who need an everpresent force in their life and our God who is Omniscient can influence those who value knowledge. If we have a God who encompasses all things, He is also a God for the educated. So, C.S. Lewis steps in as a modern day patriarch of Christianity with his influence in Christian Apologetics. Some Believers argue that God will confound the wise as if nullifying their place in God’s kingdom but just as God was a God of the poor shepherd, he is also the King of all Kings. In that moment that the wise and knowledgeable are confounded does God not prove His deity and that He is God of those that have mastered knowledge and wisdom and in that dominance, do not the confounded have opportunity for a place among God’s servants?

It is with the argument that God can save anyone that people immediately respond “only if they will let him”. Yet, if ever there was a scholar who was himself confounded, it was the Apostle Paul. Being a Phariseeical Lawyer who studied at the the feet of the great teacher and Rabbi Gamaliel, Paul was a Roman citizen, an intellectual of his day and scholar in his own right. It was he who wrote over half of our New Testament and confounded the Christian Jew as he helped evolve the Judaic teachings of the Law into the fulfillment of our modern day Christianity. I propose Paul as a reluctant convert. Only after being humbled, blinded and receiving a special “Calling” was Paul able to convert.

And now I propose that faith is developed through adversity for we are all reluctant converts. So it is with the educated. They cling with arrogance to their education and knowledge like those of us who had no education clinged to the pleasures of sin. There is a necessity and a call for the educated and herein lies my argument for Christian Apologetics. For if ever there was a need for the Christian debater, it is today, in a world of the scholar. Before taking on the educated, a christian must adhere to the “rules of argument or debate”.

To paraphrase Mike Slick in his article “Logical fallacies or fallacies in argumentation” – There are different kinds of logical fallacies that people make in presenting their positions.  Below is a list of some of the major fallacies.  It is a good idea to be familiar with them so that you can point them out in a discussion thereby focusing the issues where they belong. I have discovered numerous times that during a debate on an issue, if you simply point out to your “opponent” a logical fallacy that he/she has just made, that it generally gives you the upper hand.  But then, merely having the upper hand is not the point.  Truth is the point.  Nevertheless, it is logical fallacies that hide the truth.  So, pointing them out can be very useful.

Types of Fallacies

Ad hominem

The ad hominem fallacy occurs when someone attacks the character or personal traits of their opponent instead of engaging with the substance of their argument. This tactic distracts from the actual issue and undermines rational discourse by focusing on irrelevant personal details rather than evaluating the validity of the argument itself.

Examples:

“Why should we believe anything he says? He’s didn’t even go to college.”

“You’re wrong about this because you always have bad ideas.”

• • Example:  You are so stupid your argument couldn’t possibly be true.
  • Example:  I figured that you couldn’t possibly get it right, so I ignored your comment.

1. Appeal to force – The hearer is told that something bad will happen to him if he does not accept the argument.
   • Example:  If you don’t want to get beat up, you will agree with what I say.
   • Example:  Convert or die.
2. Appeal to pity – The hearer is urged to accept the argument based upon an appeal to emotions, sympathy, etc.
   • Example:  You owe me big time because I really stuck my neck out for you.
   • Example:  Oh come on, I’ve been sick.  That’s why I missed the deadline.
3. Appeal to the popular – the hearer is urged to accept a position because a majority of people hold to it.
   • Example:  The majority of people like soda, therefore, soda is good.
   • Example:  Everyone else is doing it.  Why shouldn’t you?
4. Appeal to tradition – trying to get someone to accept something because it has been done or believed for a long time.
   • Example:  This is the way we’ve always done it. Therefore, it is the right way.
   • Example:  The Catholic church’s tradition demonstrates that this doctrine is true.
5. Begging the Question (aka Circular Argument) – Assuming the thing to be true that you are trying to prove.  It is circular.
   • Example:  God exists because the Bible says so.  The Bible is inspired.  Therefore, we know that God exists.
   • Example:  I am a good worker because Frank says so.  How can we trust Frank?  Simple.  I will vouch for him.
6. Cause and Effect – assuming that the effect is related to a cause because the events occur together.
   • Example:  When the rooster crows, the sun rises.  Therefore, the rooster causes the sun to rise.
   • Example:  When the fuel light goes on in my car, I soon run out of gas.  Therefore, the fuel light causes my car to run out of gas.
7. Division – assuming that what is true of the whole is true for the parts.
   •  Example:  That car is blue.  Therefore, its engine is blue.
   • Example:  Your family is weird.  That means that you are weird too.
8. Equivocation – The same term is used in an argument in different places but the word has different meanings.
   • Example:  A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.  Therefore, a bird is worth more than President Bush.
   • Example:  Evolution states that one species can change into another.  We see that cars have evolved into different styles.  Therefore, since evolution is a fact in cars, it is true in species.
9. False Dilemma – Two choices are given when in actuality there could be more choices possible.
   • Example:  You either did knock the glass over or you did not.  Which is it?
   • Example:  Do you still beat your wife?
10. Genetic Fallacy – The attempt to endorse or disqualify a claim because of the origin or irrelevant history of the claim
    • Example:  The Nazi regime developed the Volkswagen Beetle.  Therefore, you should not buy a VW Beetle because of who started it.
    • Example:  Frank’s just got out of jail last year and since it was his idea to start the hardware store, I can’t trust him.
11. Guilt by Association – Rejecting an argument or claim because the person proposing it is disliked.
    • Example:  Hitler liked dogs.  Therefore dogs are bad.
    • Example:  Your friend is a thief.  Therefore, I cannot trust you.
12. Non Sequitur – Comments or information that do not logically follow from a premise to a conclusion.
    • Example:  We know why it rained today, because I washed my car.
    • Example:  I don’t care what you say.  We don’t need any more bookshelves.  As long as the carpet is clean, we are fine.
13. Poisoning the well – Presenting negative information about a person before he/she speaks so as to discredit the person’s argument.
    • Example:  Frank is pompous, arrogant, and thinks he knows everything.  So, let’s hear what Frank has to say about the subject.
    • Example:  Don’t listen to him because he is a loser.
14. Red Herring – The introduction of a topic not related to the subject at hand.
    • Example: I know your car isn’t working right.  But, if you had gone to the store one day earlier, you’d not be having problems.
    • Example:  I know I forgot to deposit the check into the bank yesterday.  But, nothing I do pleases you.
15. Special Pleading (double standard) – Applying a different standard to another that is applied to oneself.
    • Example:  You can’t possibly understand menopause because you are a man.
    • Example:  Those rules don’t apply to me since I am older than you.
16. Straw Man Argument – Producing an argument to attack that is a weaker representation of the truth.
    • Example:  The government doesn’t take care of the poor because it doesn’t have a tax specifically to support the poor.
    • Example:  We know that evolution is false because we did not evolve from monkeys.

Ref: Logical fallacies or fallacies in argumentation by Matt Slick

It is with complete certainty that I state, all churchgoers have wanted to quit church at some point. There are many reasons people choose to continue going but there are also many reasons to walk away. Here is a list of why people decide it’s a good idea to quit and why I agree with them.

1. This church doesn’t have enough ministries to serve my family.

… yep, it’s time you quit simply attending church and start serving the church. If there is a noticeable need for a ministry and you are aware, YOU need to stand in the gap. God might have brought this to your attention so you have an opportunity to grow in ministry. Volunteer and start the ministry!

2. I’ve been called to a particular ministry and my pastor is not supporting me the way I think he should.

… yep, it’s time to quit attending church and start being the church. If you’ve been called to sing, to preach, to serve, to minister in any capacity and you are looking for an audience… you’ve missed it. There are so many ministries that are outside the four walls that can use your talents. I’ve pastored, sat on boards of charities/churches and supported ministry and the biggest issue with people is, they want to “preach to the choir”. All Ministry in the church should be a springboard for ministry outside the church. If you sing in church, that’s great but you are singing to those who already have the song of God in their heart. (Ephesians 5:19) Sing to those who need “the song”. Sing when there is no glory. No big surprise, but many people love singing in church ( and are certain that is their ministry) where there’s an audience but no one wants to sing to the elderly, the disabled and to the needy. That’s where real ministry lies. The same with preaching, everyone wants to preach in front of the congregation but no one wants to preach and teach when there is no glory. if you have a calling to teach, teach children’s ministry or youth ministry, then use that to build confidence and springboard it to teach and preach to the lost. Teach and preach the word in homes, to the lost and to as many who have an ear to hear.

3. I disagree with their doctrine…

… yep, again quit attending church and become the solution to the problem you see. First, you do not have to agree doctrinally with everyone you attend church with. People are on the life-long path. God does not reveal all truth to someone all at once. Their faith is like a mustard seed which must grow and it takes time. So, if everyone all agreed and no one had any differences, we’d be like the “Stepford wives”. Share God’s revelation and inspiration with those around you. Minister to them. However, remember James when he says first feed others and take care of their needs. (James 2:14-25) If you want to influence someone else with God’s Word, first be their friend and serve them. Jesus built a relationship with the 12 apostles for three years before He opened their understanding to the scriptures (Luke 24:45). God has not called you to condemn through doctrine but to edify and uplift through doctrine. if what you have received is worthy of God’s Kingdom, it must be shared through love … and love is patient and kind (I Corinthians 13:4-8). Also, remember, if you teach, also be willing to learn. Always look for what God is trying to teach you through others.

4. No one cares whether I attend or miss

… Do you seek the approval of man or of God? (Galatians 1:10) If you are an attendee and not a servant, you might not be missed for just warming a pew. However, if you are using the church for what it is meant to be used for… a gateway to ministry and serving others, you will be missed. Those who serve will be missed when they are unable to serve. It is quite arrogant of us to think we should be missed because we are so special and deserve notice for just existing.

5. There are too many hypocrites

… Jesus acknowledged the hypocrite as being a normal part of the church. They are called tares (Matthew 13:24-30) . They are planted by the enemy. They look like wheat (Christians) but are really weeds (non Christians) and the main difference, is one bears fruit and the other does not. We are not supposed to go around trying to judge which is which. Jesus instructs his servants to let them grow among the wheat and in the harvest ( the end times), God will separate the two. You cannot extricate yourself from the presence of the tares or you will be removing yourself from God’s field. You are required to live with the tares and God will deliver you from them on the day of judgment. You survive the field and please God when you rise above the tares and bear fruit in spite of them. The main reason YOU should not judge between the tares and the wheat is because they both look alike and the immature wheat also does not bear fruit. Do not remove a tare because you think they bear no fruit as you might be removing an immature wheat.

Christian preachers must always ensure that whatever topic they preach about always comes back to love. This even applies when speaking about very difficult subjects such as sin, where the preacher has an obligation to all that are listening to call out sin as sin. The famous saying “love the sinner, hate the sin” is famous for a reason. A preachers job is to love. However, if a preacher does not correct a sinner and call out sin as sin, is he showing love? Would it be an expression of love to ignore or hide from a subject that may have eternal consequences to those who need to hear his message? Inversely, would it be effective to preach to the sinner with anger, hate and vitriol? Would such preaching reach a sinner and compel them to change their behavior?

The message of love is one of patience, kindness, and long suffering. The message of love is not one of envy or boasting, it is not a message of pride, nor is it self-seeking, angry or resentful. A message of love always rejoices in the truth, it always protects, always trusts, and always is a message of hope. The message of love always perseveres and will never fail. Love is not just a concept that Jesus talked about. It is THE message that Jesus lived and died for us to hear, learn and live. There is no harder endeavor than to truly love your enemy in this way. A preacher must consider that his audience may often be like minded members of his congregation, however, there are others with varying opinions, feelings and thoughts. If he is to persuade those that hear his message, including his enemies, he must always preach love.

The relationship between science and theology has long been a source of tension, often leading to misunderstandings that alienate believers and skeptics alike. On one side, scientific discoveries are viewed by some as undermining the authority of scripture. On the other side, theological traditions can appear rigid, resisting the insights offered by modern knowledge. This article seeks to bridge that gap, not by forcing the Bible to conform to scientific theories or vice versa, but by exploring how these two seemingly disparate realms can harmonize through a shared framework of complexity, order, and design.

At the heart of this work lies the desire to reconcile the ancient wisdom of scripture with the scientific discoveries of the modern world. Through contemplation, deep study, and prayer, I began to realize that the Genesis creation narrative offers more than a simplistic story of origins. It presents an intricate portrait of order emerging from chaos—something that resonates deeply with both religious and scientific worldviews. What emerged from these reflections was a new way of thinking: what if God, as described in the Bible, is not only the Creator but also a Supreme Architect, designing creation with the precision and foresight of a programmer writing complex code?

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One Sunday, I visited a prophet. I was skeptical. He did not seem like he was anything great. I was in my early twenties and my father was pastoring a church in Tucson, Arizona. We were invited by this prophet to his home. He said he had a word from the Lord for our family. I was not impressed by the small living room that had rows of chairs lined up. I was not impressed with the complete lack of music. I was not impressed by the location or the people who met in this bad side of town. I was not impressed that there was no children’s ministry, no Sunday School and I was equally unimpressed by this man who called himself a prophet. It is my instinctive response to scoff with disbelief when people make such proclamations. I was just completely annoyed to be in attendance at all. As the service wore on, and “The prophet” took the microphone, I was wishing I was anywhere but here. I’ve met enough self proclaimed prophets and had heard so many prophesies that I just impatiently shifted in my seat trying to “will” this whole thing over with. Little did I know, that this man’s words would set my destiny in motion in spite of my disbelief. That day, he took my hands and began to prophesy that I would use these hands to grasp the Sword of Truth to decipher the Word for those who would hear. He prophesied that my husband and I would minister together. At the time, I was married to my first husband and I scoffed at the very idea of him doing any kind of ministering at all. I did go home and write this event in my diary. I did not know that before the decade was out, my first husband would leave me and the church. I would eventually remarry and this man and I would pray together, serve together, speak together, start businesses and churches together. It was meant to be, We WOULD minister together. Continue reading →

For as long as I have been a Christian, the debate on the integrity of leadership has been heated and divisive. I have seen both sides. People who demand integrity in leadership and people who set the wrong standards when they take on the mantle of leadership. We admire men/women who step up and show characteristics that are bold, daring, that exude fortitude and strength. The sad part is when we think of leaders we don’t really want to see their humanity. We want the “man/woman” but somehow our acceptance of the message must be negotiated by how perfect they are. We want to see the David who killed Goliath, not the David who slept with Bathsheba. As my Husband, Chris so clearly stated to me “Do we now throw out the book of Psalms because an adulterer wrote it?” We want the Peter who stood up on the day of Pentecost and preached boldly to strangers that were challenging the initiation of the new covenant not the Peter who was rebuked by Paul for playing politics with the Gentile believers ( Galatians 2:11-14).

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This is a story for all those who have been broken and pieced back together. My mother was always a very active woman, and it was a rare occasion that my mother was not busy cleaning, cooking, baking, praying, or doing something in the church. On one occasion, she and I went to someone’s home, and as the adults were busy doing what adults do, I slowly meandered around the home and came across a glass case of cups and saucers. I wasn’t that much into children’s tea parties, but I was intrigued by how many teacups were all in this one case. My imagination was captivated by all the people an adult tea party would have, and I thought of what it would look like with each of these cups full of tea or coffee. I could see the cakes, cookies, small salads, or sandwiches that these cups and saucers would accompany. I am intrigued by taste, and so my imagination went soaring and I enjoyed the thought of all the fun it would be to taste these delightful treats. This beautiful case had captured my childhood imagination and I could see myself sitting at a beautiful table in a garden eating all the goodies and sipping the tea.

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Can there be anything more beautiful than surrender? Like a maiden to her lover, like a knight who pledges his life in loyal submission. It’s a careless abandon that has no self preservation. The plunge into the unknown. To dive into waters to face whatever is beneath because this is truly living. As we walk through the streets of our concrete jungles and hear the constant barrage and buzz of frivolous voices that reveal shallow relationships based on greed and self indulgence, we search to give ourselves to a true cause. It may consume us whole but at least in the end, for a moment, who we are and what we did, mattered.

I want to surrender to an incorruptible hero who will unshackle my heart of it’s dead,  stone casing. I want it raw and broken. I want to feel beyond this life into the universe. I want it to echo beyond a conceivable scope because the passion is so great and so intense that it radiates to the place time is irrelevant. I want Him to free me from the confines and prisons of the physical and material. To be emblazoned like a banner with words of passion that are etched across me like the sky. To have the word of His mouth that can slay all that exists before it, to fill me and bleed out with the force of light bursting from a star. I am besotted and overtaken. My soul breathes and shutters the wind of life because it cannot contain it and I want to surrender even as it consumes every part of me again and again. I don’t want anything in this life more than I want Him. Let it fall, let it all fall because the prince of this world has no hold, nothing of value, nothing irreplaceable, nothing that does not rot and fade away. He plays at love but he will never be a true contender for my complete and total surrender.

My grandmother was not a preacher. She did not like to speak in public and although she was friendly, she was shy around strangers. She was legally blind with only 20% vision in one eye. With all those encumbrances my grandmother was a preacher maker. She gave spiritual birth to four pastors and three teachers. Their ministries have given spiritual birth to countless numbers, supported homeless missions and food banks, prison ministries, counseling to those who are in troubled circumstance, provided healing for the spiritually and physically abused and started children’s centers for the low income with financial aid for the single parent, the families who cannot find employment and even those whose incomes exceed the opportunity for help from government programs but cannot afford it on their own income. If a little old blind lady can have that kind of impact, what excuse will we have when we stand before our maker?

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