Dealing with Doubt While Making Disciples Dr. Rich Knopp Professor of Philosophy & Christian Apologetics Project Coordinator, Room For Doubt www.roomfordoubt.com Lincoln Christian University
Top 10 Differences If the Bible Had Been Written by “Senior Saints” 10. The Lord’s supper would have served Ensure. 9. The 10 Commandments would have had a LARGE print edition. 8. Walking that “extra mile” would be described as a “three days’ journey.” 7. God knowing the number of hairs on your head would not be such a big deal. 6. The Passover would have included more fruits and vegetables.
Top 10 Differences If the Bible Had Been Written by “Senior Saints” 5. The widow’s mite would be the equivalent of a Social Security check. 4. Jesus would have healed more deaf people. 3. BEFORE his healing, the lame man would have at least been provided a wheelchair. 2. The fifth commandment would have read, “Honor your GRANDfather and your GRANDmother.” 1. The reason why Moses and the Israelites walked in the desert for 40 years: So their children and grandchildren could live in style.
Dealing with Doubt While Making Disciples Dr. Rich Knopp Professor of Philosophy & Christian Apologetics Project Coordinator, Room For Doubt www.roomfordoubt.com Lincoln Christian University
Lawrence Krausse Atheist and Physicist/Cosmologist, Arizona State University “Change is always one generation away. So if we can plant the seeds of doubt in our children, religion will go away in a generation, or at least largely go away. And that’s what I think we have an obligation to do” (Solon [Nov. 4, 2014])
Richard Dawkins, Oxford University, The God Delusion (2006) “When one person suffers from a delusion, it is called insanity. When many people suffer from a delusion it is called Religion.”
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Belief Conflicts TODAY Deism Secular Islam Humanism Animism Nihilism Cults Atheistic Existentialism Neo-Paganism Postmodernism New Age Eastern Pantheism
David Barrett: 10,000 distinct religions 33,830 Christian denominations Christian “Traditions”: Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Protestant
I. C HARACTERISTICS OF O UR C ULTURE ( A ND O UR C HURCHES )
The Rise of the Nones
The “Nones” (The Religiously Unaffiliated) 50 Pew Research Center, 2012 and 2014 All Americans 40 19 Million INCREASE (56 Million) 30 22.8% 19.3% 15.3% 20 8.1% 10 0 1990 2007 2012 2014
“Nones” Among Millennials Pew Research Center, 2012 and 2014 50 36% 40 34% 32% 30 22% 20 11% 10 0 1990 2007 2012 2014 (25-33) 2014 (18-24)
The “Nones” Drew Dyke, “The Leavers,” Christianity T oday 100 73% 80 66% 60 40 20 0 From Religious Homes “De-Converted”
Most Frequently Mentioned Factor by “De-Converts” “... sharing their burgeoning doubts with a Christian friend or family member only to receive trite, unhelpful answers.” Drew Dyck, “The Leavers: Young Doubters Exit the Church,” Christianity Today , posted 11/18/2010.
“Churched Teens”: Experience vs. Biblical Worldview 95% Barna Research 92% 100 89% 75 50 25 9% 0 Bible Stories Bible Persons Fun / Positive Biblical Worldview
Churched Y outh “Disengaged” in Their Twenties? 59% 70% David Kinnaman, You Lost Me
II. R ESPONSE S TRATEGIES
R ESPONSE S TRATEGY 1: R EFOCUS THE WHAT
Compare the Questions Matthew 16 “WHO Am I?” John 21 “Do you LOVE Me?”
Mark 12:30 “and you shall love the Lord your God with all your HEART, and with all your SOUL, and with all your MIND, and with all your STRENGTH.”
R ESPONSE S TRATEGY 2: S TRESS THE WHY
1 Peter 3:15 Mark 12:30 Why?
1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer [apologia] to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. [NIV]
R ESPONSE S TRATEGY 3: C HANGE THE HOW
Worldview
WHO Are You? MIND Basic Beliefs WILL ATTITUDE Desires; Emotion; Motives Conscience A H C BEHAVIOR C T E I E O Language Habits P N S S
MIND Basic Beliefs WILL ATTITUDE Core Desires; Emotion; Motives Conscience A H C BEHAVIOR C T E I E O Language Habits P N S S
A “Worldview” is ... MIND Basic Beliefs WILL ATTITUDE World Worldview Desires; Emotion; view Motives Conscience ACTIONS SPEECH BEHAVIOR Language Habits “... a way of life guided by basic beliefs and priority values that are expressed in preferred behavior.”
A Christian “Worldview” is ... MIND Basic Beliefs WILL ATTITUDE Christian Desires; Emotion; Worldview Motives Conscience ACTIONS SPEECH BEHAVIOR Language Habits “... a way of life with basic beliefs, priority values, and preferred behavior that are consciously directed by a love for God and His Word for humanity.”
Apologetic Interaction Cultural Impact Medical Care Missions Socio-Academic Influence Islam Atheism Anthropology Theology Relational Investment Prisons Poor Paganism Spouse Children Personal Involvement Deism Sociology Law Parents Media Mind Reading Crisis Care Boss Hungry Animism Education Will Attitude Brother(s) Music Leisure Integrity Nihilism Politics Elderly Employees Sister(s) Sexuality Money Philosophy Actions Homeless Cults Speech Co-Workers Language Friends Economics Work Disasters Education Existentialism Biology Grandparents Church Leaders Orphan New Age Art Boy/Girl Friend Child Care Psychology History Social Justice Postmodernism Pantheism Unwanted Pregnancy
Apologetic Interaction Cultural Impact Medical Care Missions Socio-Academic Influence Islam Atheism Anthropology Theology Relational Investment Prisons Poor Paganism Spouse Children Personal Involvement Deism Sociology Law Parents Media Mind Reading Crisis Care Boss Hungry Animism Education Will Attitude Brother(s) Music Leisure Integrity Nihilism Politics Elderly Employees Sister(s) Sexuality Money Philosophy Actions Homeless Cults Speech Co-Workers Language Friends Economics Work Disasters Education Existentialism Biology Grandparents Church Leaders Orphan New Age Art Boy/Girl Friend Child Care Psychology History Social Justice Postmodernism Pantheism Unwanted Pregnancy
Apologetic Interaction Cultural Impact Medical Care Missions Socio-Academic Influence Islam Atheism Anthropology Theology Relational Investment Prisons Poor Paganism Spouse Children Personal Involvement Deism Sociology Law LOVE Parents Media Mind Reading Crisis Care Boss Hungry Animism Education Will Attitude Brother(s) Music Leisure Integrity Nihilism Politics Elderly Employees Sister(s) Sexuality Money Philosophy Actions Homeless Cults Speech Co-Workers Language Friends Economics Work Disasters Education Existentialism Biology Grandparents Church Leaders Orphan New Age Art Boy/Girl Friend Child Care Psychology History Social Justice Postmodernism Pantheism Unwanted Pregnancy
R ESPONSE S TRATEGY 4: M ODIFY THE MOOD
Modify the MOOD It’s Okay
Y outh With Christian Background Felt Like Significantly Can’t Ask Most Rejecting Doubted Pressing Questions Their Their Faith in Church Parents’ Faith 50 38 % 32 % 36 % 40 30 20 10 0 David Kinnaman, You Lost Me
Unexpressed Doubt David Kinnaman “I believe that unexpressed doubt is one of the most powerful destroyers of faith” ( Y ou Lost Me )
Doubt Doubt can be a very GOOD thing! Doubt can be a DANGEROUS thing. Deeper BELIEF Greater DISBELIEF
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Six-Week Message & Curriculum Series Week ¡1: ¡The ¡Upside ¡of ¡Doubt ¡ Week ¡2: ¡How ¡Can ¡We ¡Be ¡Sure ¡God ¡Actually ¡Exists? ¡ Week ¡3: ¡Isn’t ¡the ¡Bible ¡Full ¡of ¡Myths ¡& ¡Mistakes? ¡ Week ¡4: ¡Why ¡Do ¡Christians ¡Say ¡Jesus ¡is ¡God’s ¡Son? ¡ Week ¡5: ¡Why ¡Would ¡God ¡Allow ¡Tragedy ¡& ¡Suffering? ¡ Week ¡6: ¡Tolerance, ¡Truth, ¡and ¡the ¡Exclusive ¡ Claims ¡of ¡Christ
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Response Strategies Refocus the WHAT . Stress the WHY . Change the HOW. Modify the MOOD.
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