chaz_lehmann: "Muslim" Lutherans
In my 36 years as a Lutheran I have often seen (and sometimes practiced) a form of Lutheran apologetics and evangelism that starts in a place that is eerily similar to the place Muslim proselytization efforts also begin. This happens particularly when a Lutheran is trying to convince a Christian of another confession to embrace Lutheranism.
The assumption is that any reasonable human being who is presented with the Lutheran confession of the Christian faith will embrace it. If they don’t, they are in active opposition of the Word of God or mentally deficient in some way, or (if the Lutheran is being charitable) they haven’t had it explained to them well enough. The idea is that there is a magic bullet of reason and persuasion that if applied properly will always lead a person to embrace Lutheranism.
Rev. Lehmann offers essential advice for defenders of the faith. Christians view their faith and conversion in one of two scenarios. Some are presuppositionalists: “If you were a believer and held the same worldview then you would understand the Christian faith.” Others are rationalists: “The faith can be believed once explained and understood by reason.” Ironically, the first view is identical to the Muslim view (as Fr. Lehmann highlights.) The second view is also untrue. Even those of faith, aided by reason cannot understand all the words of Scripture and the acts of God. We continually pray that God would grant us understanding.
I prefer Dr. Rosenblatt’s explanation of Christian apologetics (I paraphrase): “The apologist’s goal is to get them to the front porch of faith.” In other words, Jesus is the door, the way, the truth. Apologetics cannot open the door, bring to faith, teach the truth. This is the work of Christ, the Word incarnate. Yet, apologetics is not without purpose. Many have barriers to even considering hearing the Christian faith. Faith comes by hearing, after all. The apologist’s goal is remove barriers to giving the Word an ear. They yet require conversion and faith, granted only be the Holy Spirit.
For example, many refuse to hear because they believe the Scriptures are the creation of the church and not eyewitness testimony to historic events. We can, through textual or legal evidence, argue that Jesus lived and died, and I dare say, rose from the dead. This does not bring one to believe them to be true nor to be the justification of the sinner. It is not faith in the blood of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins.
Also from Rosenblatt: “the Apologetic task is to make an Arminian. The pastor’s task is to make a full-blown monogerist.” Arminians are those who believe they can come to faith by their own choosing, by their freed will. This is the natural theology of man. He says: “I may have done wrong but I can fix it. I can come to faith and I can stay in the faith.” Yet, ig they are acknowledging God and heaven, they may be willing also to hear the Word. Faith comes by hearing. Here the Spirit must work with the life-giving breath of faith.
(As a side note: I’m not entirely convinced of my own words, written above. I’m still wrestling with what I learned at the Academy this summer. Yet, I am convinced that Paul was doing something when he “was reasoning in the synagogues” against the Jews, Epicurians and Stoics (Acts 17:16-17) or when he spoke before Agrippa (Acts 26).)
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I've heard it said that apologetics attacks some of the tools that Satan uses to get in the way of faith being created….but that it doesn't create faith. However, if the gospel is proclaimed, the Holy Spirit is using it to create faith, sooo….
Augustine came to faith after hearing Ambrose speak.
I leave it simply at God created us with minds and hearts. He can use them to bring us to faith, or they can get in the way. The exact role they play is His to work out.
While some may claim Augustine was converted by Ambrose's rhetoric, you nailed it – the preaching of the Gospel converted Augustine. Apologetics without Gospel preaching only makes deists.