Are you looking for some ideas on how to answer common questions about faith? Or searching for some helpful shorthand to distill your years-long study of apologetics into a brief conversation? In this series, Rick Mattson shares some ideas from his extensive work in apologetics. The series explores the idea of having an apologetics “elevator speech†for several common questions—a short, persuasive message designed to spark interest in Christianity and/or further dialogue. Click here for the rest of the series.Â
[Read more…] about Elevator Apologetics, Part 5
elevator apologetics
Elevator Apologetics, Part 4: Proof and Packages
Are you new to graduate school and looking for ways to respond when people around you ask questions about faith? Or searching for some helpful shorthand to distill your years-long study of apologetics into a brief conversation? In this series, Rick Mattson shares some ideas from his extensive work in apologetics. Click here for the rest of the series.Â
[Read more…] about Elevator Apologetics, Part 4: Proof and Packages
Elevator Apologetics Part 3: Do you need faith to do good?
Are you new to graduate school and looking for ways to respond when people around you ask questions about faith? Or searching for some helpful shorthand to distill your years-long study of apologetics into a brief conversation? In this series, Rick Mattson shares some ideas from his extensive work in apologetics. Click here for the rest of the series.Â
One evening after doing an outreach event at a large campus in the Midwest, I was packing up my gear and a student approached me and said, “I can do good in society without God’s help. I don’t need God in order to be a good person and serve others.†[Read more…] about Elevator Apologetics Part 3: Do you need faith to do good?
Elevator Apologetics, Part 2: Religion equals ignorance?
Are you new to graduate school and looking for ways to respond when people around you ask questions about faith? Or searching for some helpful shorthand to distill your years-long study of apologetics into a brief conversation? Sometimes we only have a moment to share a question or idea that can be a springboard to later conversations. In this new series, Rick Mattson shares some ideas for these moments from his extensive work in apologetics.
In my prior post I noted that in apologetic dialogue (making a case for Christian faith), conversations with skeptics are often brief, leaving us little time to explain our points.
Thus we need a quick “elevator speech†that provokes reflection and curiosity in the other person.
Jesus modeled this approach many times. In Mark 2 (NIV), for example, the Pharisees ask, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?â€
Jesus’ reply is both succinct and provocative: “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.â€
Now that’s cutting to the chase. In just a few words Jesus reveals to the Pharisees how they exclude themselves from God’s blessing.
Ignorance?
So let’s consider a common skeptic’s objection: “Religion is nothing more than superstition and ignorance.â€
How could we respond to this critique with a brief statement that draws the skeptic into deeper reflection and engagement?
First, some theological background (not actually verbalized on our part): In fact, a very good case can be made for Christianity. It’s called a “cumulative case“ or “inference to best explanation.†This method pulls together evidence from a variety of disciplines—such as science, philosophy, history and psychology—to argue for the truth of Christianity.
It’s like a lawyer in a civil lawsuit who collects various pieces of evidence and fits them together to build an argument. Any single element by itself might not be persuasive, but when all the pieces interlock in a coherent pattern (like a completed puzzle), the effect can be very convincing to a judge or jury. That’s what we mean by a cumulative case.
Elevator reply (what we actually say to the skeptic. Remember, he/she said, “Religion is nothing more than superstition and ignorance.â€):
You’re entitled to your opinion, but many Christians think a very good case can be made for Christian faith from science, philosophy and history. It’s like a lawyer who brings together evidence from a variety of sources to make a convincing case to a judge or jury. It’s called a “cumulative case,†and can be very convincing.
Parting question to the skeptic: “You seem like a person who values knowledge. Would you like to learn more about the case for faith?â€
* * *
The question at the end is meant to linger in the mind of the skeptic, offering a gentle challenge to consider the truth claims of Christianity.
To learn more about the cumulative case for faith, see Douglas Groothuis, Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith (InterVarsity Press, 2011), or C. Stephen Evans, Why Christian Faith Still Makes Sense: A Response to Contemporary Challenges (Baker Press, 2015).
For a deeper look at how to use the cumulative case in actual conversation, see chapter three of my Faith is Like Skydiving: And Other Memorable Images for Dialogue with Seekers and Skeptics (InterVarsity Press, 2014).
Elevator Apologetics, Part 1
Are you new to graduate school and looking for ways to respond when people around you ask questions about faith? Or searching for some helpful shorthand to distill your years-long study of apologetics into a brief conversation? Sometimes we only have a moment to share a question or idea that can be a springboard to later conversations. In this new series, Rick Mattson shares some ideas for these moments from his extensive work in apologetics.
Sometimes in apologetic dialogue (making a case for Christian faith) we don’t have the luxury of extended conversation where we can explain our points thoroughly.
Instead, there’s time only for an “elevator speechâ€â€”a short, persuasive message designed to spark interest in Christianity and/or further dialogue.
Here are suggested elevator speeches for two topics:
1. Religious Pluralism
 The Skeptic’s Objection: All religions are pretty much the same.
 Theological background to our reply (not actually verbalized): Religions are similar to each other only in the most general terms, such as the call for adherents to love other people and to serve God or the gods. But in fact religions are actually deeply dissimilar to each other and often contradict. For example, Christians believe in the Trinity, while Jews and Muslims do not.
Elevator reply (what we actually verbalize): Religions are like books with similar covers. When you open the books and read the contents inside, you find that they tell radically different stories about reality. Far from being “pretty much the same,†they’re very distinct from each other. For example, Christianity says that Jesus was God in the flesh. Muslims and practitioners of most other religions find this offensive or just plain false.
Parting Question to the skeptic: How do you handle the contradictions between religions?
2. Science and Faith
The Skeptic’s Objection: Science is based on fact, religion is based on faith. I’ll take fact over faith any day.
Theological background to our reply: Science is actually a gift given by God enabling us to explore and love his creation. Additionally, for Christians there’s no ultimate conflict between science and faith. If they seem to be in conflict, most likely we’re misinterpreting one or the other.
Elevator reply: As a Christian, I believe science and faith are friends, not enemies. Friends show respect to each other, even if they come from different backgrounds. Ultimately, there is no contradiction between the two. God gave science as a gift to help us understand the creation and make the world a better place.
Parting Question to the skeptic: I’d rather have science and faith working together in society, rather than just science, wouldn’t you?
Notice in these two examples that the theological background is what we’re trying to communicate, but we choose a method of delivery—the Elevator Reply—that is short and memorable, which is what Jesus often did.
And notice that we end these short conversations with a question that is meant to linger in the mind of the other person.
For more illustrations and analogies for communicating apologetic issues, see Faith is Like Skydiving: And Other Memorable Images for Dialogue with Seekers and Skeptics.
Image courtesy of Hans at Pixabay.com