Christian Apologetics
Question 6: When is enough enough? When should an apologetics conversation end?
Answer 6: Apologetics conversations can have a satisfying ending which leave the door open for future discussion.
Comment: One of the saddest conversations I have ever heard took place during an apologetics presentation. During the Q & A time of the program, a young man stood at the microphone and gave standard atheist talking points. The apologist stopped the young man and asked him if he could show that young man that Christianity was true, would he consider becoming a Christian. The young man answered “No!” The apologist wisely decided to stop the conversation.
A conversation that devolves into repetition or argument gains nothing. A conversation in which both sides are more concerned with making their talking points gains nothing. A conversation in which either side stops listening gains nothing.
We must avoid this.
Every conversation is different, but the same Holy Spirit is working in both the apologist and the non-believer. The Holy Spirit is working in the apologist to inform him or her as to what to say. The same Holy Spirit is working to convict the non-believer of the truth of the gospel message (John 16:8).
If a conversation ends badly, such as the one cited above, we have the assurance that all is not lost. Paul also writes,
“What then is Apollos? What is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, and each has the role the Lord has given. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So, then, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth” (I Cor. 3:5-7, CSB).
The apologist may not make headway, but he or she is not the only one working. In God’s good timing someone else can come along and approach the non-believer and make a point which will work in that non-believer.
We have this hope. It is, therefore, up to us to enter and leave a conversation that can help another add to it later.
Mark Riser - Apologist 