Street-level Apologetics: Apologetics 101 by Jeff Durbin

Jeff Durbin of Apologia Church teaches for a session at the "Sound & Pound" conference at Roosevelt Community Church in Phoenix, AZ. Jeff teaches us some very important biblical starting points on Christian apologetics as well as demonstrating the intellectually tough-mindedness of Christianity. Jeff also taught "how to" and "how not to" do apologetics with some helpful examples using a debate between a Christian and an Atheist. Jeff also discusses the Apostle Paul's encounter on Mars Hill.
This is a very helpful resource! Share it with friends and family!

[@CH-kr2df]

I prayed this morning for guidance on how to approach a loved one. This popped up in my feed. God is good.

[@RacistTortoise]

Is it possible that this popped into your feed because you watch other religious related videos?

[@CH-kr2df]

@@RacistTortoise The fact that it popped up in my feed is coincidence. I'm grateful for Mr. Durbin's perspective. God is good and He answers my prayers. Peace.

[@RacistTortoise]

@@CH-kr2df A coincidence maybe, but it seems a bit much to say that God is manipulating KZbin recommendations

[@CH-kr2df]

@@RacistTortoise I didn't say that. But, I wouldn't limit God's capabilities either. I credit coincidence or (more likely) Google's algorithms. I DO credit God for Durbin's sermon on the topic I most wanted to hear and appreciated that it showed up in the suggestions. I think, rather than nitpicking other people's comments, you should consider why it bothers you so much that someone is grateful to God for even the small things. Try being thankful and more forgiving in your life. Life will reduce you, take your youth, take the things you took for granted, the people you love leave or they die, you get sick, and so on. You can rail at God, deny His existence and in the same breath, challenge Him for being cruel. Or you can accept reality by looking at the world and realizing your circumstances could be worse. Be thankful that your circumstances are not worse. Quit relying on your own understanding and ask God for forgiveness and wisdom. Encourage and help others. Love God and love your neighbor. You can choose to be grateful or you can be bitter. God bless.

[@RacistTortoise]

@@CH-kr2df There is a lot I could say, but for the sake of KZbin comments, I'll limit myself. I want to communicate with as many religious people as I can, to help drive a better tomorrow. When I was a religious person myself, I failed to see the shortcomings of religion. After being set free from the dogma of religion, Christianity specifically, I realized all the problems that I used to be blinded from. I've been on both sides. I want to instill values of skepticism, critical thinking, and scientific inquiry in as many people as I can

[@JonathanGrandt]

So glad God sovereignly decreed that Jeff would grow his beard longer.

[@jesuschristiskingofkingslo2023]

lol yea

[@childofthelivinggod.]

🤣🤣🤣

[@thebannings6176]

🤣🤣💯

[@PilgrimNinja]

Heretical 😵‍💫

[@phaxad]

Jeff & James want to start a ZZ Top cover band soon. 🤣

[@tristansmith6474]

"I know what other people are thinking better than they do and I can't be wrong because this book says so." Wow. I'm convinced.

[@jrfree88]

ive watched a couple of his videos. Thats all it ever is.

[@tristansmith6474]

@@jrfree88 I've had to deal with people with similar views in my personal life. This "you don't ACTUALLY believe this. Let me tell you what you actually believe." It's one of, if not the most, infuriating things to come up in a conversation. Like I'm doing the common curtsey of tusting that they believe what they say they do and the least they could do is extend that same courtesy to me.

[@SteveTheWizard]

You act as though the goal of Christian apologetics is to convince people.

[@ashari7545]

@@tristansmith6474 Firstly that is an incorrect strawman, us Christians know only our own hearts, but we do know God who made our hearts knows them even better. When you were a child, your parents knew you better than even yourself. They knew things you couldn't even begin to understand. So, God, who sees and knows all will know you far better than you can begin to understand.

[@ajhieb]

@@ashari7545 _"Firstly that is an incorrect strawman, us Christians know only our own hearts"_ Really? Here's a quote from another comment just bellow this one... _"they (atheists) know he is lord, they live, everyone of them as though God exist because they know God exist, its unbeatable"_ Similar language is peppered throughout Durbin's sermon. It's not a strawman in the least. If you think it is a strawman, you weren't listening.

[@johnbrenton6972]

I am grateful for spending my time watching this. thanks Jeff. mostly, thank You Jesus Christ.

[@bernardjackson4974]

this is such a great video . saving it because there is mich to unpack and take note on!

[@Wizards_Of_Gem_City]

What is there to take notes on? He is wrong on so many lvls. And fyi no athiest goes to Christianity if they have the proper questions. Like show me some proof and not a make believe story. Cus thats his job to make u believe cus his god provides to his pockets from these make believe stories

[@XmarkedMySpot]

@@Wizards_Of_Gem_City replying to a 2yr comment. Wow you must be desperate to get ur atheistic message across. I’ll never understand why you ppl watch these videos, it’s truly the baffling.

[@John119119]

Jeff: this is a mistake was making in my debates. I thank God that he led you to film this sermon and put it on KZbin.

[@gracesaves949]

Love this guy.🤗 Thanks be to God for him in this generation! We can all learn from him to step out boldly for the glory of God n His Kingdom. Let's make sure Jesus Is LORD n master of our lives n be consistent with the message we bring.

[@seleniity]

Im a 10 year old and I teach in sunday school this is gonna help me this Sunday Thank you :) 👏🙏👏🙏

[@michaelpeele7918]

Uniformity of nature......that is some fucked up reasoning Jeff. Jeff believes that Genesis 8:22 proves that the Bible owns the uniformity of nature.

[@michaelpeele7918]

Ba Baaa Doook Doook Doooook

[@roso2son]

Do u believe in absolute truth?

[@narcissistinjurygiver2932]

well this is what the messiah said to do. funny how no christians does this. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. preach the exact words that the messiah himself said about keeping the 10 commandments. Learn everything the messiah said on the 10 commandments and just preach what he said. watch as people will respond by telling you to not believe what he said. they follow Paul, not the messiah.

[@haroldcrenshaw5630]

Self attesting authority is narcicism

[@tattooed976]

Great teaching, thank you and God bless

[@VegaChastain]

How do you know the message is blessed? Look how they pray!! Knew I was in the right place as soon as the video started with prayer. On YT that is rare, thank you so much brother!!

[@thebiblestudio7]

Thank you for the teaching!

[@moniquemoon8444]

wow I want to be like you mr. durbin I greatly appreciate what your doing. I want to learn and do what you do..

[@johnnycha-rach1112]

I thinks it hilarious that my ad that showed up was Bernie Sanders. Anyway great material Pastor Jeff!

[@sipuman9337]

I once had a friend who a friend who had a leather braclet like Jeffs…My older brother said “you waiting for a falcon to land on your arm?” I almost died 😂😂.Anyways,Love your work Ps Jeff and all youre doing!

[@annscott6146]

I would like to know where I can get the books for your classes and any notes or extra info?

[@stevesoko3395]

Get a Bible. Start with John

[@danielturcotte9146]

Awesome message

[@dailyaaron1]

Also they preached with demonstration of power

[@chasetheoutdoors7469]

What version of the Bible do you use? It’s not lining up to the KJV

[@stevethorne2316]

Does it really take 8 years to grow a beard like present day Jeff ?

[@joseduardomusic]

Awesome message... thank you.. I needed to analyze what you just said. 🙏🏼

[@bencorley8687]

Great resource.

[@marybarratt9321]

This channel is spot on, very good theology.

[@jesusfuckingchrist7274]

Oh yeah, this guy bullshits with the best of em lmao

[@someperson9536]

How would you respond to those who say that Paul's sermon on Mars Hill was man-centered because he did not quote Scripture?

[@brianprengerdrewdavis6984]

I would reject that. His words were corroborated by scripture found elsewhere in the Bible....nothing he taught on Mars Hill was contrary to what prior scripture or Jesus said. You don't have to quote scripture to be aligned with it. Hence, when your words align with scripture, it is God-centered...not man-centered.

[@madmax2976]

In other words, assume you are correct and that everyone else is wrong - a tactic that anyone of any belief system could use to "justify" their own belief system. That is, if "justifying" a belief system you already hold is your goal. It seems more reasonable to me to seek whatever is true, regardless of what belief system I currently hold or like, but opinions vary I suppose.

[@no.7711]

Presuppositionalism is used by Christians who have been talked into a corner, and they need to give themselves a handicap.

[@howardmanley3388]

I read in scripture that no one can come to God unless the father draws them ,the reason they can’t hear us is because they are spiritually dead people.And what can dead people do? The answer is nothing, we are asking them to do something they are not capable of doing.However we are commanded to preach the gospel to them anyway,So as I’m witnessing to people Iam aware there will be resistance to hearing what I’m trying to communicate to the Un saved person , I myself was unaware that there was a God that cared for and loved me ,untill He revealedHimself to me I wasn’t looking for God He found me I didn’t find him .So I was 38 yrs old and a drunk when He found me ,so when He revealed Himself to me it was a irresistible grace that I felt,I had no choice ,He called I heard and had to come ,I’ve been sober 34 yrs now ,I’m in my 70’s now I never had to go to any programs no AA nothing I realize this is not the norm so I consider myself blessed and am so thankful To god for His love and mercy on me .So I tell myself when witnessing that it’s all up to God who comes and who doesn’t come and that lifts a heavy burden off of me that I may ,or may not, be communicating the Gospel message correctly or not .I do realize that maybe some of you may not agree with what I saying however at this point and time in my life this is how I feel about sharing the Gospel Be Blessed Brother & sisters Howie 🎚

[@joeallen4700]

If i was Jeff, im not but if i was i would say that you got the jist of my message

[@imaginarycanary9956]

Thank God for your delivery.

[@loism7391]

Thank you for this

[@JonathanLaRiviere]

40:51 the climax and best part of this talk.

[@Guitarman2k104life]

Awesome video on apologetics! Loved the zeal Jeff had; however, Once you get someone to realize the error in their ways, they must repent, and believe in Christ as Lord and Savior, and be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts:2-38) Baptism is a very necessary piece to salvation that a lot of people miss! There are countless scriptures on this, but if you want to learn more on this, then please look up the International Christian Church! We’ve successfully planted our 100th church in Lima Peru, and have churches in every populated continent in the world. Truly preaching the Gospel to all nations. I do pray that one day, all believers can be united as the word declares "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." - ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:4-6‬‬

[@IcyJuggernog]

I love you brother but what you just preached is a false gospel, and I with gentleness and love would encourage you to take an honest look at the scriptures and reconsider what you just said. Please don't misunderstand that I am trying to make void the words of Jesus when he commanded us to be baptized, he surely did! We DO need to be obedient to that commandment, like every other commandment! But you just said baptism is a necessary piece to salvation, and you are making the exact same mistake that the early Jewish Christians made when they were making converts in accordance with the great commission but they wanted them to be circumcised. Perform an ordinance of the law, that is exactly what circumcision was. Paul said to them if you want to bring ONE bit of the law into the context of your own salvation, you come under the weight of ALL OF IT. If a single act we do (faith & repentance are gifts from God, not exercised by our own 'free will choice') is necessary for salvation, then we make Christ of NO EFFECT (Gal 5:2-4). Do we need to be baptized! Yes, because Jesus commanded it. Is it a "piece" of the process of which we become saved? BY NO MEANS. I'm going to say it again - BY NO MEANS. My brother I would just invite you to study the book of Romans and see that justification comes by FAITH ALONE. Paul is very adamant that is NOT a license to sin or be disobedient to any commandment, including Baptism, but we CANNOT do anything to save ourselves. It is through faith, by grace, in Christ. You seem to have a WONDERFUL and AWESOME zeal for ministry and truth and I would invite you to reconsider the International Christian Church if they are teaching you that your baptism helped you obtain salvation. It is a beautiful, commanded ordinance in SYMBOLISM of what actually saved us - The death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God bless and keep you my friend!

[@dlparnell1144]

Beautiful

[@sotiriosnovatsis4529]

Can you imagine playing a drinking game where you had a sip every time he said “Lord” or “God” during his initial prayer? Seriously though, I’m getting more into apologetics and this video was good to watch.

[@AimForNaN]

Well said!

[@philipbuckley759]

does one repent, and believe, or believe and repent....and by the way what does repent mean....

[@bretmuldner]

No apologies needed when the Bible is present!

[@michaelpeele7918]

You owe young minds an apology when adults spread this delusional garbage to them.

[@brianprengerdrewdavis6984]

Of course not...but that's not what apologetics are

[@brianprengerdrewdavis6984]

Michael, you must be referring to the nonsense of an atheistic worldview.

[@AsixA6]

+BPDD *There is no 'atheistic worldview'. Thanks for demonstrating your ignorance.*

[@LK-cv3hr]

@@michaelpeele7918 right -much better to tell them they should cut their genitals off.

[@SacredMusicTribe]

Fire, thanks

[@alliesmallwood8968]

Awesome video! Can you please link to the debate you keep referencing in the video? Thanks and God bless this amazing ministry!

[@saltyolbroad2962]

If women are not allowed to teach how is it that women can evangelize without teaching? Please advise. Thank you.

[@me9860]

Excellent approach! Thank you and may Christ fill your life with His abundant joy and mercy. It’s in the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

[@commando30]

How many times does one have to say "lord" or "god" in a sentence to be a good Christian?

[@nsmith473]

7

[@noeldoebke9910]

Very good brother! I listened to this randomly while working and was better equipped to share with my co workers. Thank you Much

[@TheDizzbozz]

17:30 Do we wann reason with the person assuming what they say about themselves is true or what God says about them is true. Was the mostimportant sentence for me in this lecture

[@richardventus1875]

You can be a person of deep personal Faith but not what anyone would call 'religious'. I have followed the Guidelines of Problacism for many years and consequently I have been given everything I could possibly ever need or want. I also don't suffer from any anxieties, fears or depression. Problacism does not require any prayer, churches, iconoclasm or worship. All it requires is that you lose all your ego and indiscriminately help everyone who is 'sent' to you without any expectation of recognition or reward. Trust in the Universe and be Relentless.

[@coreyfriend1]

This was beautiful! Thanks Jeff!

[@bryanvega9011]

Hey guys :) I understand if you don’t believe me, but atheists for the most part, actually do not believe and/or are not convinced of gods existence. Consider everyone telling you something like: “Everyone knows there isn’t a god, nothing around us points to some creator. Proclaimed theists just lie to themselves because it’s too much for many to acknowledge that nothing happens after we die. It’s all wishful thinking to not consider the real but sometimes unsettling reality.”

[@crayon4412]

Then why get mad when something like Hitler happens in the world? Survival of the fittest at work in your belief.

[@bryanvega9011]

Yeshua Saves Well, I do not believe in a phrase. Though I believe you are referring to eugenics. You can still have the strong belief/desire of aiming to improve humanity by favoring specific groups or traits and still “get mad when something like Hilter happens” because: You still may not approve of the extermination of the unwanted groups, and ones idea of a superior trait and/or group may(more often than not) differ. my comment was only to promote the idea that we actually do not believe in god and are not deep down believers. Not sure why you brought this up.

[@nycgalant]

@@bryanvega9011 according to what Standard?

[@boglerun8444]

@@crayon4412 Hitler killed millions, that's why people get 'mad'.......but don't forget god (non-existent) destroyed the entire world in a flood saving a few animals & a dysfunctional family to interbreed.......wow, what a stroke of genius!

[@boglerun8444]

@@crayon4412 Because he is a genocidal psychopath! Are you asking me if I agree with you that what Hitler did was good?.....you are sick! Hitler was a genocidal psychopath! much like your god.

[@athenasmith5866]

Anyone down for personal bible studies?📖✨🙏😇🤗

[@HegelsOwl]

Great video, bro! Love your stuff! Wow! But I couldn't find a video in your library on the miracle that there's no fact validating any biblical claim of deity. How come? It's the only validated miracle in the Bible. Nobody else has made a video about this miracle, either. Wide-open opportunity for you here, to publicize this miracle, don't you think?

[@ericday4505]

This guy is OUTSTANDING in one on one street evangelizing and opologetics, the guy is quick on his feet and he always brings the conversation back to Jesus. Which is a must, when you are street evangelizing, or doing apologetics.

[@2tonetony319]

So you start with your conclusion and then say that that is proper reasoning. Sorry but that is the very definition of irrationality, and therefore cannot be a "reasoned defense."

[@jeffreylonigro1382]

It’s a logical fallacy called a circular argument. In a circular argument you state your conclusion as your premise. Circular reasoning is a logical fallacy in which the reasoner begins with what they are trying to end with.

[@mrsclevermoniker]

Exactly like many geologists, biologists and paleontologists do. They have already thrown out the possibility of ID and squeeze every finding into their worldview. Bias runs both ways. Anyone who says otherwise is being disingenuous.

[@thecodewarrior7925]

L.A.R.P. No, they deny intelligent design because people in the past have already proved it to be false beyond a reasonable doubt. As for squeezing evidence into their worldview, no they do not. They follow something called “the scientific method” which basically says if you demonstrate something and it can’t be disproven you can be reasonably certain it is correct. If someone could come up with enough evidence for intelligent design to even close to compare to the amount for evolution we would of course look into it, and if it was shown to be correct we would accept it. Something so many Christians seem to think is that because science adjusts to new evidence and admits when it was wrong then it is weak. For example, if we extrapolate the two reasoning methods, these would the strategies used by the two groups to find the tallest tree in a forest: Christians read in the Bible that the small sapling with its base painted blue is the tallest and so they choose that one. Scientists guess by eye which one is tallest and choose that one, which we’ll call tree A. However those who disagree and use sunlight, shadows, and trigonometry to measure their trees. At some point one person (who we’ll call joe) suddenly yells out “Guys! Tree B is five inches taller!” Several people from the group camped around tree A decide to go check, and they all independently try to disprove joe, however, after several people try and all fail almost everyone from tree A moves to tree B. Later, someone (who we’ll call bob) tells everyone tree C is actually a couple inches taller. Again several people go and try to disprove him, and most of them measure it as a couple inches shorter (though one records it being five feet taller. It’s found that they recorded the shadow on a slope but didn’t account for that, which caused their error). Because most of those who attempted to verify it showed it to be shorter, nobody moves to tree C. Another person checks tree B again and shows that it is shorter than tree A, and says that the earlier results were because of a leaf sticking out the top. Thus, after another round of verification, everyone moves back to tree A. The Christians see everyone move from tree A to tree B and conclude that they must not really know what they’re talking about if they’re so sure about that. They see the people incorrectly showing tree C to be taller and conclude that the methods must not be sound. They then see people moving *back* to tree A and decide that these fools really don’t know what they’re talking about. At the same time, some of the people around the Christian group’s sapling are following around the scientists, insisting that they’re wrong about their measurements and that their tree is taller because it has a wormhole that causes its uppermost atoms to coexist on the top of the tree and high up in the stratosphere. This however is unverifiable and a complete misrepresentation of what wormholes are and how they work, so the scientists don’t take them seriously. Some of the Christians also don lab coats and proceed to measure the height of their sapling, however they realize that it leans and so if they measure it one way it shows it’s “true” height, as well as if they measure it when the sun is at noontime they get a more correct answer (when actually what happens is the margin of error rises so high that it encompasses what they think it should be) At the same time the Christians refute the claims of the height of the scientific majority’s tree because it doesn’t look tall. Simultaneously Christians believe they understand trigonometry because they know what `sin` means, and thus argue that because the measurements by the scientists depend on trig functions the scientific consensus is dependent on God existing. Christians then try to sway the scientists by saying that they’ll be sorry for not accepting the One True Tree™ when they are being tortured for eternity. Whenever a formal debate between the two is started the Christian side points out the fact that we don’t know how old tree A is and how we haven’t measured the exact height of the ground around tree A to take into account the errors from that, while the scientist spends all his time explaining why the age isn’t relevant to measuring the height of the tree, and how they have measured the slope of the ground accurately enough to be reasonably certain it is the tallest among those they have measured. If the scientist is lucky they might get enough time to point out that the Christian is being hypocritical because their data deliberately takes advantage of ignoring the slope of the ground and the inaccuracies of their instruments. The scientist also may have time to show how they have over twenty independent measurements of the height of the Christian tree that show it to be 1/8 the size of the tallest verified tree. At the end of the debate the Christians all say “see! They admitted that their tree might not be the tallest in the forest when they said ‘... reasonably certain [tree A] is the tallest among those they have measured’! See how they aren’t even sure it’s the tallest tree in the forest? They aren’t even sure it’s the tallest among those they measured, which by the way includes The One True Tree™” The volatility (the fact that it is constantly changing) of the generally accepted body of scientific knowledge is not a weakness. It may seem scary and unstable, but it changes because it corrects itself and we realize when we have made a mistake.

[@mrsclevermoniker]

TheCodeWarrior All I mean to say is that bias is a two way street, anyone who sees scientists as always being objective is robbing them of humanity. Everyone has a bias, even when we try to be completely objective. Also, evolution still doesn't preclude an intelligent designer. I still have yet to hear a good theory from skeptics that explains origin. That certainly doesn't mean it has to be ID. I simply think it's possible.

[@Alec_Cox]

Lol And, I suppose you consider yourself a genius. You are the irrational one. Trying to defend a philosophical stance while proposing authority on the matter. The logical conclusion is that you are still dead in your sins, what are you going to do about it?

[@ProvokedBoss]

Philippians 3:18-19 Jeff why do you say tree, three trees, three people close enough to talk. How tree, much love Bradley

[@annaryu2842]

Thank you. Amazing message

[@bigsamtheevangelist5122]

He said God/Lord 27 times in one prayer

[@philipbuckley759]

is repent an action, or an attitude......

[@teachingtruthtoday2023]

Very powerful message and genuine delivery.

[@crisofer954]

If he doesn't say Lord or God after each sentence, does he get made to do press ups? It's like being made to say 'SIR YES SIR' all the time.

[@grahamjohnbrougham-nz-2022]

Colossians 1:15 "Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:" The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Colossians. Redemption comes through Christ-He created all things, is in the image of God, and is the Firstborn of the Father.

[@crayon4412]

So you believe Jesus was created? Do you believe this is what this verse is saying?

[@motorTranz]

Thank you Jeff for this instructive talk!

[@SteveTheWizard]

I love and totally agree with his perspective on this, but I disagree with his goal. Our goal can not be to bring people to Jesus, but to testify and witness to the truth of who he is. Only Jesus can bring the people he has called out of the world to him. We are called to witness to everyone, but we are not responsible for the result of the witness. That is one truth that I find so freeing and liberating about apologetics.

[@hectoribanez5954]

Catholic Apologetics is the best. Scott Hahn....Patrick Madrid.

[@silknfeathers]

You can "do apologetics wrong" by indulging in apologetics.

[@DanielWesleyKCK]

This is one of my quibbles with the presuppositional approach - it presumes (ironically?) that passages such as 1 Peter 3:15 are primarily *metaphysical* in nature, as if it shares our Western, scholastic patterns of thought. The problem with that is the general mood and epistemic approach of the 2nd Temple and early Christian periods are primarily *phenomenological*. That should be an impetus to revisit those traditional texts and reconsider them in that much different light.

[@mattverville9227]

I am not sure how you can get to the conclusion that the patterns of thought are different than todays thought or any part of historys thoguht process for that matter. The bible talks about people who want to subsitute the God that they know for their own wisdom. We may use different ways of getting there nowadays but it still boils down to the same problem. People would rather be god of their own lives than worship the true God. You do a lot of assuming like “as if” and “should be”. Its rather arbitrary. You seem to be over thinking a very simple issue, in any other world view your left with absurdity if you dont have a christian world view.

[@sharontreadway1089]

I could really use some help I don't have a church right now I've lost my daughter in a car accident back in February right before her 21st birthday and now I am raising two of her children Atalie is 4 and Gabriel is 15 mouths and I need help knowing about christ Jesus I want my heart changed I want to trust in him and have faith in him not just know he's real I want a relationship with him

[@Radi0actvChickn]

_"Do we want to reason with a person assuming that what they say about themselves is true, or what God says about them is true? ...[This is] the most important thing to grab onto if you don't remember anything else from this whole talk."_ Really? This is your most important point? You are telling these people to deny whatever the other person says if it contradicts God (God's word, aka the Bible). You're presupposing God in order to prove God, not to mention that fact that you're essentially calling the other person a liar in the process. Do you really think they're going to be willing to listen to you if you shut down everything they say and claim they don't actually believe any of it because your favorite book says so? What the fuck? You're approaching the area of solipsism really quickly. Start by denying anything that's within your comfortable little bubble. It just goes to show how close-minded religions make people. I was hoping to hear some good arguments for Christianity, but this is such bullshit. I can't watch any more of this.

[@brianprengerdrewdavis6984]

No need to get all upset about something that doesn't exist and doesn't matter though, right?

[@dylangregory570]

Oh say I'm wrong and God is correct. Your whole babble. Really just said. Your pride is offended. Funny thing is. Your watching these videos. Simple yes your wrong and gods right. Everytime

[@snuzebuster]

Well, if you presuppose that "all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ" and build you epistemology off of that presupposition, then you will always be right in your own worldview. The problem is presuppositional epistemology is so far from proper reasoning that it's ridiculous. Literally anything could be true given a certain presupposition of another, which only goes to show how useless presuppositionalism is as a means of discovering truth. A method that could literally prove anything is obviously a method that can prove nothing.

[@ohnsonposhka9891]

True. I'm a Christian but I know that it is only possible, or probable at most, that God exists. He does not absolutely exist. He will only be objectively true if we can prove that His words can no way be lies or that it is impossible for God to lie. Currently, all that we Christians have is God saying that He cannot lie, but we must ask ourselves: was He lying when He said that?

[@nycgalant]

@@ohnsonposhka9891 that just demonstrates that your doubt presupposes the existence of God. Whenever we doubt, we utilize the laws of logic, and unless you appeal to God and His revelation as the very foundation for these immutable laws, then the biblical God isn't your final authoritative standard...Your finite reasoning is. You will fall into the same dilemma as the person you just responded to

[@ohnsonposhka9891]

@@nycgalant you're right

[@tompaine4044]

Tom Paine?!? You stole my schtick! 😠 Wait, nevermind! Your account is older. I guess I stole yours 🤣 Keep fighting the _ignorant and stupid pretenders to authorship,_ brother.

[@snuzebuster]

@@nycgalant That's absolute horsecrap. Truth is just the correspondence of a proposition to reality. There does not need to be a God in order for there to be truth. There only has to be a reality, and that doesn't even have to be absolute. That's not to say I don't believe in an absolute reality. I don't have to believe in God to belive in absolute reality. That is just a fallacy you've bought into. As for logic that is just algorithms that help us derive novel truths from already know truths. Logical truth is pragmatic truth, but again there is no need for there to be a God. All that is necessary is that there is reality. And there's no reason to think God is necessary for that. That is just YOUR presupposition. But anybody can presuppose anything. That doesn't make it true.

[@Andrew-pz3ee]

I am deeply troubled by the logic in this video. The concept of using gods "self attesting authority" as a foundation for reason, is an incredible deep logical fallacy. The bible makes some pretty amazing claims, and requires more than its own claims to believed. Every positive real claim about our observable world is either extremely vague, or provably inaccurate. I keep hearing these circular arguments like god is real because the bible says so. The bible is true because Jesus rose from the dead. We know Jesus rose from the dead because it says so in the bible. And at no point do I hear any proof or evidence that doesn't require you to already believe. and as for the morality, there's a reason why the vast majority of our society does not think fundamentalist Christians, or fundamentalists from any religion for that matter, are reasonable. In the 21st century we do not get our morality from religious texts. We get them through reasoned discourse, and we use science to measure the effects of our behaviors so we can make informed decisions about the best way to proceed. To be honest Christianity sounds very much like an abusive relationship. You're told to apologize and beg for forgiveness, and accept a certain story. you aren't allowed to use your mind to consider another possibility or perspective. Don't question these claims or ideas. And your'e told this is what love is. it just doesn't add up

[@blablabubles]

In the pray he says lord, God or Jesus 31 times....

[@opuscoakwasi1023]

That show who he gives glory to. Not to left himself but Lord, Jesus who is God.

[@carvellboyce6434]

If you research you will find out Lord means Baal/Baalezubub Jesus is not a Hebrew name and the Messiah was a Hebrew so from a historical reality is that no one called on believe in healed or baptized in that name so what is the church standing on cuz if they have the truth why don't they teach that

[@tjaysteno]

As a skeptic, none of this would reach me. "The atheist worldview" is a non-sensical idea; Buddhists are atheists, but Durbin was probably thinking of someone like Dawkins. Atheists aren't a monolith. "They say we're just matter in motion". No, only apologists use that rhetoric. Ask us what we believe, then respond to the best version of our argument.

[@RonTamares]

What do you believe in?

[@yourfriendlyneighborhoodin1559]

Abortion pills are still for sale in every American state. These pills account for 93% of cases. They are taken almost exclusively between weeks 6 and 8.

[@jaggedcut8603]

Christian = KNOWS Christ is Lord. Atheist = THINKS there MIGHT NOT be a God, but really has no clue what is going on around them and has 0 answers for their militant stance.

[@AsixA6]

X-tian = PRETENDS to know invisible magicians exist. Atheist = Doesn't believe theist's BS

[@imkluu]

This has always been my problem with Atheists who are online arguing, if they do not believe there is a God, then why are they spending so much time arguing against the possibility, or arguing that God does not exist. They like to compare god to fairy tales or unicorns but I don't see them going around making jokes about fairy tales or unicorns or insulting people that talk about them or arguing against their being real. Atheism is unreasonable. Most people are atheists not because they don't believe there is a God but because the far that there is a god and they do not want to face what it would mean if there is a God and how they would have to change their life. It harms no one at all to believe in God, so why spend so much time arguing against this belief.

[@commando30]

imkluu, "it harms no one at all to believe in god"? Someone needs a history class.

[@jonathankotyk3075]

commando30 yeah, those atheistic communists murdered over 100 million people!

[@commando30]

@@jonathankotyk3075, yeah, sure... You're probably one of those doorknobs that thinks that Hitler was an atheist.

[@johnshelton1963]

I have dealt with hostile atheists who would not even listen to why I believe. My advice: Don't waste your time. Pray for him.

[@georgejaquith4732]

We so much need discipleship training and youth to lead. Great minister. God Bless.

[@brianmunoz1718]

...they (Apostle Paul and Silas) were bold, based on The Word of God, non-neutral ANDDDDD..my brothers and sisters, willing to submit to public humiliation, beatings, imprisonment and austere conditions for the sake of the expansion of The Kingdom and without losing the faith! While it is fulfilling to become sufficiently knowledgeable about God's truth, quoting scriptures, expositing verse after verse in a sterile format and reiteratingJesus' positioning as the Lamb who bore our transgressions and how he left behind His Holy Spirit - I believe equally important is for all of his believers to fully contemplate and decide whether or not their lives of belief will be congruent with the sacrificial lifestyle that the Apostles gave us in scripture. The same principle Jesus highlighted in Matthew 16:25: For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. Repentance isn't a singular act, time-stamped for future use in a time of tribulation but rather a chosen lifestyle that complements the value given to the cost of Christianity. The cost of The Cross. Let's be the hands and feet, not just the mouth piece of God and win the broken right where they are at!

[@michaelpeele7918]

I thought the atheist says, "there is insufficient evidence that Yahweh, Allah, Zeus, Ra, The Flying Spaghetti Monster, or universe creating pixies exist.

[@jermeseff]

That IS what the atheist says, but that's not what God says. It's also not what the atheist truly believes. If atheists truly believed that, they would not be willing or able to make appeals to universal laws of truth, logic, or morality. It is impossible to live that way, though. Every action, decision, and opinion we make as humans betrays the fact that we ALL DO have innate knowledge of God, just like He says.

[@jermeseff]

***** Thanks for replying. You're absolutely correct that laws of logic do not "prove there is a god." They *necessitate* THE God (whom we both innately know) as their foundation. You might _say_ that you disagree with universal truths and morals, but the substance of your response betrays that you really don't. If you don't believe in truth, then you would never have rebutted my comment, because the very fact that you disagree with me indicates that you believe in a standard of truth which I am violating. Likewise, if you don't believe in morality, you have no basis for believing that there's anything wrong with the arrogance OR pretending which you accuse me of. Again, your response does more to *affirm* your knowledge of God than deny it on multiple levels. I'm telling you this in love and I hope you give it some consideration. Goodnight.

[@jermeseff]

***** Thank you again for your interest in responding! :) So, you have made several absolute truth claims here. Math is truth. Truth exists. Empathy is the only morality. Etc... So, very simply, what is your basis for these claims? You have zero justification besides your own reasoning and observation. Here's the problem with that: people's reasoning and observation is often skewed and/or flawed. So how do you know yours is not? You use your reasoning and observation to confirm your reasoning and observation? That is circular. A worldview which includes God has a justification for believing in truth. Namely, that God reveals it to us in accordance with His nature. You, however, do not. You affirm truth because you *must*, being an image-bearer of God. It's inescapable. The fact is that the God which you deny has already said that we all have enough evidence to know He exists. So, what evidence could possibly lead you to a God who says that you already have enough evidence? It's logically impossible, because if you were to discover Him with evidence, He wouldn't be the God He says He is. The issue is not a lack of information; the issue is pride and sin. Nobody comes to Jesus because they found enough evidence. People turn to Him because of their brokenness over their own sinful condition and desire to repent. I pray that the same might happen for you. God bless.

[@jermeseff]

***** I'm sorry you're so angry with God, brother. Whatever put you in that state probably really hurt and I'm sorry. He does love you, though, and is sustaining you in patience despite your defiance of Him, in hope that you might come to Him in your time of need. When you say "basis is observation in the real world," you are again making truth claims. How do you know your observation is valid or that the world is real? You still have given zero *basis* for those claims besides your own mind, which you just admitted could be skewed. When you say that "morality does evolve," what you are suggesting is that when people owned slaves, it *was okay* at that time because people believed it was. This is a much bigger problem for your worldview than mine, because I believe slavery is, always was, and always will be wrong no matter who did it and when. That's because you and I both innately know that morality transcends our own opinions and mob mentality. If 100% of people believed that rape was okay, it would STILL be wrong and we both know it. I really wonder if you actually read the "have enough evidence" argument, because your response indicates that you didn't really understand it. The point was NOT that "The evidence is that God says you have evidence," which seems to be how you took it. That would be circular. The question is this: "WHAT evidence could possibly lead you to the God who has already SAID you have enough evidence?" If you reasoned to that God by observation of evidence, He wouldn't be the God He says He is. Finally, your claim that "people turn to mythology based on fear" is also a major claim of truth and knowledge on your part. You are not only claiming to know that God is a myth, but you are also claiming to _know the contents of other people's minds._ This from a guy who was just calling ME arrogant... The difference is that when I tell you that you know God, I'm not claiming to know your mind - I'm saying that GOD does, and I just believe His word. You, on the other hand, believe that you know the mind and motives of all believers, having admitted no basis for it besides your own observation and reasoning, which you've admitted can be flawed. If you made it this far, thanks again for responding. These are important issues and I'm glad you care enough about them to discuss. Even though you've discouraged prayer on my part, I'm still praying for you :)

[@jermeseff]

***** Sorry for the late response. Yesterday was a busy day. I have to say, I am a little disappointed that you have failed to understand or respond to any of the points I gave. Although, your profession of 25 years in the church based on fear does shed some light on why you've come to hate God and I can sympathize. I left my faith after being raised in the church as well. I turned my back on God for many years. I resented my parents for raising me in an environment which caused me to fear eternal punishment for my natural desires, and I came to believe that Jesus was just another dying and rising pagan myth in history like Horus, Krishna, Dionysus, etc. I dove into a very sinful lifestyle and preached AGAINST Jesus to everyone, hating Christians just like you do. It's only by His grace and mercy that I was ever saved, and showed that I probably never understood His character in the first place. He's not some taskmaster or dungeon-keeper. He's our Father and He loves us. Nothing I say can convince you of this. It will take a miracle from God and a decision from you to repent. That's why I pray for you. Please, again, try to understand what the "arrogance" you espouse truly means and looks like. I am trying to humbly believe God's word, in which HE says that we are all sinners who know God. I am not the one claiming to know you better than you know yourself; I am saying that the all-powerful, all-knowing God of the universe does, and I have chosen to trust Him because I know that I'm flawed and sinful on my own. You, on the other hand, believe yourself to be god. You claim to know the contents and motives of other people's minds, as well as the non-existence of God, the source of transcendent truths like truth, logic, morality and even the creation of the universe, based solely on your own reasoning, which you have still failed to account for. This is what arrogance truly looks like. Also, who's hating who here? I have done my best to be polite and cordial to you out of love, and you have repeatedly mocked me throughout this conversation. I'm carrying this on because I care about your soul. You just seem to care about fighting God's message out of resentment and hate for it. In your worldview, what's the problem with believing "mythology" anyway? For that matter, what's wrong with "arrogance" or "hate?" These are all concepts you can make no sense of besides your own empathetic feelings which you believe evolved from lower species and ultimately bacteria. The moral objections you have given to the OT laws are twisted to fit your own agenda and easily refuted, but if you took 10 minutes to look that up on Google, you would, of course, know that. Again, our problem is not lack of information, it's that we don't *want* God, just like He says. Well, tell your basset hound I said hello. :) I would encourage you also to try talking to God, though. If you don't believe in Him, what does it matter anyways? Just say something like, "look, God... I don't believe in you and I think these Christians are insane... but I do care about truth... so IF you are real, please reveal yourself to me." A small step can go a long way. God bless.

[@thomasno-doubt9890]

It's not MacDonald's fast food. How many words a minute you can regurgitate! Zoom the end! Slow your rooolll brrooo you've got all eternity on your side🍔 organic not speed chess, like telling a child a story at bedtime👍 its not ninja challenge, crash and burn. Yahushua was on the father's business, at his pace so Shalom amein.

[@scarfhs1]

43:40 After two weeks of that nonsense I would have told him anything to shut him up.

[@jshir17]

Apologetics means "defense, explanation" but In my experience with ministry Christians utilize a lot of rhetoric/sophistry and are more interested in winning arguments through "Selective 'honesty'" rather than proclaiming the truth or winning the person. "an undue interest in quarrels about words," - 1 Timothy 6; Christians also rely upon Ad Hominem attacks on their opponents, make judgments about the opponent's motives, and try to just out talk people when they do evangelism (or debating other Christians over doctrine) so as not to give the person an equal amount of time/words to respond.

[@xione7696]

Why's he look the same 10 yrs ago as he does now. Love the message though.

[@k2bny]

I randomly asked for help with sharing the gospel and was directed to this video. It was definitely helpful. God bless

[@blusheep2]

I just read a book I thought was very helpful called, "Questioning Evangelism." Its written by a Messianic Jew and approaches sharing the gospel through questions. I recommend it.

[@charlesmcmillion5118]

I grew up in a Christian home. Then I actually read the Bible. Here's a summary: God who "is love" and "so loves the world"... Creates imperfect beings, evil to tempt them and Hell to eternally torture them in when they inevitably fall for it. The entire first version of the human race is tainted with original sin and condemned because the proto-woman who was made from a rib of a sand-man bit the fruit of a magic tree-of-knowledge after being duped by a talking snake that was actually a manifestation of the evil God created in the first place. God goes on to kill virtually all their descendants in a giant magical flood. To the second version of the human race, he offers forgiveness. But, there's a hitch, because the omnipotent, omniscient creator of the Universe apparently can't just forgive. He has to send part of himself to Earth to impregnate a Jewish girl so she can give birth to another part of himself so that that part of himself can be killed as a blood sacrifice to.... wait for it ... himself. God outlines all this in a holy book, but it's so obscure, inconsistent and self-contradictory that virtually no two groups of humans can agree on what it really means. Apparently, the omnipotent, omniscient creator of the Universe also can't just write a clear instruction manual. In any case, if people don't get the message, the part of himself he sent to Earth to be killed in a blood sacrifice to himself will judge them appropriately and he will send them to Hell for eternity, even though he loves them. And people actually believe this.

[@crayon4412]

Wow. You can tell you never really read it lol

[@crayon4412]

@Kuffar Legion Can you restate that. None of that made any sense. I think you were in a hurry when you typed that.

[@crayon4412]

@Kuffar Legion dude slow down and type. And retype or fix your Last comment

[@boglerun8444]

Yep.....you got it....it's total BS. Why anyone would let this dogma dictate their life (& afterlife) is feckin unbelievable!

[@crayon4412]

@Kuffar Legion please explain the difference if you can.

[@hikari2827]

Presuppositional Apologetics, the weapon God has equipped us with.

[@hikari2827]

***** Only reason people are wandering from the faith is because we are in the last days.

[@hikari2827]

***** Alright.

[@coopertaylor3898]

+Dc Cd the funny thing is that christianity is on the rise and you say its dying 😂

[@TheJhockman]

+Dc Cd but there is evidence for our faith. it's not that there isn't any evidence it's that the truth is being suppressed with lies. evolution for instance, is absolutely bogus. there are no transitional phases that haven't been refuted between ape and primate and if you go back to the beginning there is no transitional phase between the single celled bacterium of the precambrian era and the thousands of animal bodies of the Cambrian era. also note that Charles Darwin himself said, "if irreducible complexity could ever be proven, then my theory would completely fall apart." Well I just wanted to say that irreducible complexity has been proven within the flagellum, as well as many other cells. apart from refuting many scientific claims, one major evidence for the existence of a creator is simply our DNA. if there was no God then DNA would not be as complex as it is. look at natural formations on earth, not a single natural formation shows any kind of evidence for a creator simply because of unrecognizable shapes that only occur in nature, but you look at say mount Rushmore and you see the president's faces. you automatically recognize this as not natural but created. now look at DNA. the double helix with the ladder in the middle is not something you see naturally occurring anywhere else except for in the biology of animals. the shape is consistent throughout all biology and is entirely too complex to be random chance and natural selection. also if you look at the a,t,c,g coding within DNA it is written like a book, or the most advanced computer program ever written. also look at the mere chance that should even exist. if you were to place all variables needed for the universe and life exist way it does and place them on a knifes edge so as it perfectly balanced, even the slightest hairs difference would completely destroy the universe. also to state that all there is is random chance and chaos is like setting off an atomic bomb and expecting it to produce human life perfectly. it just wouldn't happen unless it was specifically designed to do so. as the preacher in this video stated, God has given us evidence that preaches to us through his creation and because of this you are without excuse. you know God exists. everyone does. you just deny his existence.

[@TheJhockman]

+Dc Cd I have presented you with some evidence already. proof no but evidence yes. if you refuse to believe that the unmoved mover and the reason all things came from nothing is God then that is your right. but my God is not imaginary.

[@yourfriendlyneighborhoodin1559]

A painting is proof of its painter. A building is proof of its builder. And the creation is proof of the Creator. God does not owe us more evidence for his power other than the gigantic Planet full of amazing creatures on which He has placed us. He does not owe us more instructions than those that he wrote in the Bible. He does not owe us more warning than that which is provided by everyone's conscience before they take any action. Surrender while you can.

[@yourfriendlyneighborhoodin1559]

How do you get to hell? Very simple: claim that you're innocent. How do you get to heaven? Very simple: Admit that you're not Innocent, you're guilty and ask for mercy. How to know if you're guilty or not? Simply: Compare your life to the Ten Commandments God gave you in the Bible. Everyone agrees that if people followed the ten commandments there would be no need for governments or police. Do not lie. Do not steal. Do not commit adultery. Do not insult God by using his name as a cuss word. There are six more but let's just leave it at that. How many lies have you told in your life? Have you ever taken anything that didn't belong to you? Jesus said, if you look at a women lustfully you've already committed adultery in your heart with that woman. How many times a day do you do that? Do you use God's name as a cuss word? Would you do that with your own mother's name? If you answer these questions honestly you know that you're guilty. God can justly punish you and send you to hell. Ask him for mercy. His name is Jesus. It's as simple as this, The Ten Commandments are called the moral law. You and I broke God's laws. Jesus paid the fine. The fine is death. Ezekiel 18:20 - "The soul who sins shall die." That's why Jesus had to die on the cross for our sins. This is why God is able to give us Mercy. Option A. You die for your own sins. Option B. Ask for mercy and accept that Jesus died on the cross for you. ❤ **Honest questions are welcome.**

[@coppervann9881]

I'm confused. So creation is constantly telling us....ancient Jewish deity....ancient Jewish deity....ancient Jewish deity? Are you sure creation isn't telling us .... ancient Egyptian deity?

[@breambo3835]

The last 5 mins is brilliant

[@steveanton763]

Wow I guess I'm the only Atheist in this comment section. None of this is remotely convincing. It's only seen as convincing to those who all ready believe it. I encourage those who have an interest in apologetics to check out street epistemology. To see what the other side has and what you have to contend with.

[@jrfree88]

"Do we want to reason with a person assuming what they say about themselves is true or what god says about them is true" Oh.....god showed up? Why isnt this news?

[@mcjtls7]

It’s has been haha, some people could just careless to know Him unfortunately 😢

[@martinmagos2422]

What is that beard

[@ThePattersonPod]

He has a baby beard!

[@jesusfuckingchrist7274]

Apologetics 101 !!!! Priceless shit, man.

[@r3ggi3000]

Why even talk to a PreSup if they not only ASSUME they are right, but REFUSE to entertain the possibility of being wrong?

[@TheJhockman]

a presup doesn't refuse to entertain the possibility he is wrong. a presup just refuses to entertain the possibility that you are right.

[@jermeseff]

BOTH sides of ANY debate approach a discussion with presuppositions. The purpose of debate and discussion is to expose inconsistencies within an opposing viewpoint. The reason the atheist is so frustrated with any debate they might have with someone who argues presupposing universal laws of truth, logic, and morality is because they must ALSO assume those laws are right in order to even engage in the discussion. Atheism, however, has no fundamental justification for doing so. In other words, BOTH sides of this debate come to the table with many of the *exact same* "assumptions of being right" about the universe. The question is whether their worldview can account for them.

[@John119119]

well put

[@r3ggi3000]

'''JeR*Me*SeFF!!''' That is presup nonsense. Atheism is the lack in a belief in a god. Everything else you said is white noise.

[@jermeseff]

r3ggi3000 That's a convenient way to avoid the issue. Kind of like when atheists accuse Christians of a mindless "God dun it" response. Plugging your ears. Nice job. Jesus loves you, sir. Open your heart and believe.

[@RTKing-tv8eo]

Hmmm. Good intentions, a lot of tangents and thoughts or questions that don't come to closure. A bit narrowed-minded since he assumes the hypothetical atheist who uses as an example holds the same framework in how they view life. much love, praise to Jesus

[@casparuskruger4807]

here folks, are people totally out of touch with reality

[@rungavagairun]

7 minutes in and he's telling people that in order to convince people that their god is real they should toss out reason and assume their conclusion before they begin.

[@brian3134]

run_gavagai_run i do not believe that this man believes what he is saying.

[@rungavagairun]

I have no idea if he believes what he's saying or not, but it's a terrible idea either way.

[@Kman.]

run_run.........You're obviously not u/standing, and that is easy to u/stand and I get it, because you're not a Christian. JEREMIAH 9:23 "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom..." I CORINTHIANS 2:13 "Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth..." Christianity is not a mental ascent to some higher plane. II CORINTHIANS 11:3 " But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ" This is a different realm we're speaking of :)

[@rungavagairun]

Kman couldn't similar reasoning be applied to any belief? If your beliefs about the Christian god were not true, how would you discover it?

[@nikkik5011]

Yes he is, because the conclusion has been revealed to us by God through His word.

[@aybowl1843]

i love apologetics

[@anthonygilbert5162]

The objective is to turn them to God not religion/Christianity

[@snuzebuster]

Reality is foundation of all knowledge and wisdom.

[@janelleflagg7154]

What is this? People always coming up with stuff. Christ doesn't say we need to defend the Word of God, the word stands on it's own! Christ just said to spread the gospel,speak the truth and the Holy Spirit will do the work. When they wouldn't listen to Paul he said my hands are clean, dusted of his jacket and leftover! You can fall into sin if you start defended the word. God doesn't need us we need him!

[@JMUDoc]

"What is this? People always coming up with stuff. Christ doesn't say we need to defend the Word of God, the word stands on it's own!" For Christians, yes. But you're not going to get far with "the Bible says..." with a non-Christian unless you give them a reason to think that it IS, in fact, what it claims to be. "Christ just said to spread the gospel,speak the truth and the Holy Spirit will do the work." Unless it doesn't - how many people has it allowed to die (and go to hell) because the gospel wasn't enough to convince them...? "God doesn't need us we need him! " If he doesn't need you, why doesn't he just give everybody a direct revelation and conviction instead of commanding apologists to use methods that don't always work?

[@yourfriendlyneighborhoodin1559]

There's no such thing as an atheist. No one is actually genuinely unintelligent enough to believe that our beautiful and complex environment was formed through unguided chance. A painting is proof of its painter. A building is proof of its builder. The creation is proof of its Creator. Can you provide us an observable example of unguided chance creating anything in the entire history of recorded science... Keyword: observable. Anything more complex than a pile of rocks?

[@yourfriendlyneighborhoodin1559]

A painting is proof of its painter. A building is proof of its builder. And the creation is proof of the Creator. God does not owe us more evidence for his power other than the gigantic Planet full of amazing creatures on which He has placed us. He does not owe us more instructions than those that he wrote in the Bible. He does not owe us more warning than that which is provided by everyone's conscience before they take any action. Surrender while you can.

[@yourfriendlyneighborhoodin1559]

How do you get to hell? Very simple: claim that you're innocent. How do you get to heaven? Very simple: Admit that you're not Innocent, you're guilty and ask for mercy.

[@blissurzu7216]

I’m confused. If you have absolute certainty that your faith in the Christian god is correct and that you can’t be wrong. Wouldn’t that mean we don’t need apologetics? Why does there need to be a defense for something absolute. I’m gonna watch Matt Dillahunty and his debates and see which one makes more sense because I’m seeing claims being supported by the same premise he is trying to prove which makes it a circular fallacy. This isn’t right so I’m gonna do some investigating.

[@rockycomet4587]

The purpose of apologetics is to bring others to the truth. It's a labor of love.

[@davidplummer2619]

Different things work on different people. I am called to minister to the most strident, bitter, Dawkins-esque atheists. Sometimes in person but usually online. I can say from extensive direct experience that if you don't deal directly with their intellectual objections to even the possibility of something existing beyond matter and energy, they CANNOT and WILL NOT hear anything else you have to say. If you try any other route, you will appear to them to be dodging the question and come across as sincere as a used car salesman. This is not being mamby pamby about Christ set aside as Lord in my heart. If He isn't, why would I be out there on the street or in the even meaner streets of cyberspace talking to some very unpleasant people? I make no attempt to hide my Christianity or soft-pedal it, it is there in plain sight. But I deal with each objection as it comes. Yes, some of them, often all of them are smokescreens, but they still have to be dealt with nonetheless. Online, the nice thing is that the person you are talking to is not the only one involved. Thousands, maybe millions of others will eventually read the back-and-forth and might be led to seek salvation in part because of it

[@davidplummer2619]

It will also build up fellow believers watching who might be a bit weak but will be encouraged when they see there are rational, clear answers to the objections of skeptics.

[@chad969]

Hi David, could I raise an objection to Christianity and get your response?

[@JMUDoc]

"I hereby decide that Jesus is the lord of my reasoning." And whose reasoning is ^this? The buck stops with YOU no matter how hard you try to pass it on.

[@aichakermal1325]

God said: We have, without doubt, sent down the Message; and We will assuredly guard it (from corruption).

[@LogicAndReason2025]

Best arguments in favor of atheism yet.