I sent the following email to a creationist mail list I am on:
Hovind as an Anti-Evangelist
It seems to me that while most of us try to use creation evangelism as an outreach tool, others like Hovind use it to preach to the choir while turning everyone else off (anti-evangelism).
When Hovind came to the largest church in my area a good friend of mine, a staunch YEC who is an elder there, was opposed to hosting the visit. He explained it was because of the disrespectful attitude Hovind shows towards non-creationists. This article really makes me wince, because we can see that his point not only was accurate but prescient in terms of the impact Hovind is having. You convert a person by loving them and respecting them (as distinct from their ideas), not by engaging in emotional abuse.
A lot of people working within the evolutionary paradigm are anything but stupid, and we need to be ready to candidly acknowledge that if we are going to have any chance at reaching them.
"A lot of people working within the evolutionary paradigm are anything but stupid, and we need to be ready to candidly acknowledge that if we are going to have any chance at reaching them."
No argument, and I agree with the assessment regarding how Horvind is not doing it the way he should be...
A long time ago, however, it dawned on me that the YEC side of this whole conflict was one that both sides see for what it is. I could spend alot of time defending YECs or attacking them, and either way I'd have good reasons for both.
But in terms of political impact, I don't think they are the biggest factor in the end, and I don't think they have much pull in driving away 'fence sitters' to the wrong side. If that happens and they want to blame YECS for the reason they were 'pushed', they weren't really fence sitters to start out with.
But anyway, I have seen his stuff; if I had my way, Frank Turek would be the first choice for voicing how one should think and speak about the subject. I don't buy Horvind's stuff, and when folks ask me about him, I'm simply noncomittal.
You're not going to be able to reach them because they're not stupid.
You seem to have some fairly distinct ideas about how evangelism works - let me ask you, can you support your position from scripture? It always seems to me that there are groups (of which you would appear to fall into) who think that one can mollycoddle and cajole a nonbeliever into becoming a Christian. What did Jesus say about this? Did He try to first convince them that he was respectful of them, cater to their 'self-esteem building' perhaps, first let them know that they were loved ....and so on? Remember, Jesus was the greatest preacher of hell that every existed. Count the references - He mentioned hell far mores times than He mentions heaven.
Did Jesus take a laisez-faire attitude when He saw the money changer in the temple? Does the word 'respectful' come to mind when He picked up a rope scourge and drove them all out of the temple overturning the tables of money? John 2:13 And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: 15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;
The message of Jesus was actually quite blunt - repent or you will go to hell (or to use slightly softer language) Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
And how about the passages in Matthew when Jesus got into rip roaring disputes with the Pharisees? Would you say that Jesus was being particularly 'respectful' when he called them a 'generation of vipers'? In case there is any doubt, he called them this on three separate occasions! Matthew 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Matthew 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. Matthew 23:33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?And in Matthew 12:39, didn't he call his questioners an 'evil and adulterous generation'? Matthew 12:38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. 39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
By the way, I have seen Hovind in person several times. It is certainly true that he provokes some serious and rowdy discussion to put it mildly.... but I can truthfully say that I have never heard him say anything to an individual that would be regarded as being disrespectful. There are other grounds on which I have some difficulties with the message of Mr Hovind but this certainly isn't one of them.