Ravi Zacharias: 'Beyond Opinion,' Part 2

davidlimbaugh.com ^ | 06/19/08 | david limbaugh

[lancer256]

In my most recent column, I introduced you to "Beyond Opinion," a Christian apologetics book, edited by Ravi Zacharias, that offers suggestions on how to approach the skeptic, depending on the skeptic's background or reasons for doubt or non-belief. Before leaving the subject, let me give you a stronger flavor of this interesting apologetics method and this fascinating book.

Ravi tells us an effective apologetic "pays very close attention not just to the question but to the questioner. That, in turn, leads to the relevance of the answer." He cites Jesus' walk on the Emmaus road as an instructive example.

The disciples find themselves walking with the risen Lord, wholly oblivious to his identity and telling him -- with unmatched irony -- that he must be the only one in the world unaware of what had happened in the past few days (Jesus' death and resurrection), when, in fact, he was the only one who fully comprehended it and its significance.

Instead of just dramatically proclaiming, "It is I," Jesus "explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself." Why did he take that approach? It's not that he hadn't proclaimed his identity at other times, e.g., John 4:26. Rather, "Jesus did what was needed in this moment: he pointed out to these two disciples a vast context of fifteen hundred years to show why the event on Calvary had to take place."

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

Thanks for the review of Ravi’s book by David Limbaugh....Looks like some good summer reading ahead!

Ravi Rocks!

[chicagolady]

I second the motion!!

[porter_knorr]

Alister McGrath, a former atheist writing on the challenges from atheism, relates that his "own journey to the Christian faith has had a major impact on how (he) approach(es) apologetics." A light went on for him about the intellectual foundations of atheism when he came to realize that atheism is "actually a belief system," not "a factual statement about reality.

indeed! you see that frequently here on the creation/evolution threads.

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

He is one of the BEST ever = at reaching through the haze/maze/masks of Atheism and all the world’s religions to get the TRUTH about Jesus Christ ..... out there in such contrast to the deceptions of either the world’s religions or the new age religions or the atheistic “faith”.....thank God for you, Ravi!

[Hebrewbrother]

But eventually Jesus said "if they don't want to hear your salvation message, shake the dust off your sandles and head for the next town because the fields are white for the harvest, and there are lots of souls to win."

In other words don't waste your precious time with naysayers and skeptics.

shalom

[time4good]

This is great! Ravi is going to have a School of Apologetics at my church here in Calvary Chapel, Fort Lauderdale, starting Sept 9th. I can't afford the cost of the course but when he spoke here over a year ago, I thoroughly enjoyed him.