Friday 17 April 2009

FOUNDATIONS OF APOLOGETICS, VOLUME ONE: Part 2!

MICHAEL RAMSDEN: Asking Questions

These have come from the DVD which I reviewed yesterday, and is one of the best parts of the DVD.

7 reasons why asking questions is important:

1) ASKING QUESTIONS FORCES PEOPLE TO OPEN UP THEIR GENERAL ASSUMPTIONS:
  • Luke 18:18-19
  • Take the bit of what they do say, and turn it to Jesus
2) ASKING QUESTIONS FORCES PEOPLE TO OPEN UP THEIR CULTURAL ASSUMPTIONS:
  • Matthew 22:15
  • The right answer to the wrong question is still wrong
  • Jesus redefines the question to unravel the cultural assumptions behind it
3) ASKING QUESTIONS HELPS EXPOSE FAULTY LOGIC
  • Matthew 22 again
  • Any answer would have been “wrong” in some way, hence it was a trap
  • Forces them to question their own question
4) ASKING QUESTIONS EXPOSES MOTIVES
  • Matthew 21:23-27 after clearing the temple
  • Exposing motives changes the whole course of the conversation
5) ASKING QUESTIONS EXPOSES CONTRADICTIONS
  • Matthew 22:41-46
  • Show in inconstency in the questions themselves
6) ASKING QUESTIONS INSURES A CONVERSATION
  • Makes people feel “heard” because they are being engaged with beyond set answers
  • People don’t want to be talked at, they want to be talked to
7) ASKING QUESTIONS MAKES PEOPLE THINK
  • The difference between an argument and a discussion
  • Knowing people and making Christ known to them
Overall the point is fairly clear. Next time a non-Christian asks about faith, the real question is not just “what did I say” but “what did I ask”.

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