tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post111993053666729534..comments2024-03-24T03:21:03.154-04:00Comments on CAMPONTHIS: Biblical Apologetics:...giving a defense of the gospel and the reason for the hope that is within youSJ Camphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15844201288864307481noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-47582335319538953692007-12-13T19:25:00.000-05:002007-12-13T19:25:00.000-05:00Dear s.j.,Thank you for your heartwarming words. ...Dear s.j.,<BR/><BR/>Thank you for your heartwarming words. It means a lot. <BR/><BR/>Coming to know the Lord has meant being alienated from my family for many, many years. But in recent days it seems that maybe we are coming together as a family again.<BR/><BR/>Hopefully it will also mean that more of them will come to believe on the Lord. I would really appreciate your prayers about that.<BR/><BR/>In His Love,<BR/>MicheleMichele Rayburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05815737949587713100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-54192982993187277042007-12-13T12:28:00.000-05:002007-12-13T12:28:00.000-05:00michele,Wow. That is all I can say. "How great the...michele,<BR/><BR/>Wow. That is all I can say. "How great the father's love for us!"S.J. Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15922550763548455625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-25410556929941305472007-12-13T12:27:00.000-05:002007-12-13T12:27:00.000-05:00Confessor,I would not say your are wrong. But you,...Confessor,<BR/><BR/>I would not say your are wrong. But you, I would venture, may not be completely correct.<BR/><BR/>Read Phil. 1. Especially, verse 7.<BR/>Also, I would read through Galatians chapter one. Paul vigoruosly defends the gospel there. <BR/><BR/>No, the Gospel itself needs no defense man can offer, you are right. It will stand or fall upon the character of the One who wrote it of course. But, man needs to proclaim AND defend it at all costs. Proclaiming and defending should be almost synonymous. <BR/><BR/>It's kind of like this:<BR/><BR/>A fortress(our God in His Word) may be impregnable from any foe(satan and so on). It will stand or fall upon the skill of the One(God) Who built(wrote) it. But the fate of the those who claim to be inside it(professing Christians) will be evident in the manner of their defense. The fortress will stand(the Word will not desolve). It is not enough for us to tell everybody there is safety and peace in the Gospel(Good News)if we do not bar the gate from attack(hold fast the truths given to us) <BR/><BR/>Now, there is whole lot more to it than this very primal example, but do you see what I am speaking in reference to?<BR/><BR/>Go ahead and read those passages. Those should get you started.<BR/><BR/>In Christ,<BR/>SamS.J. Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15922550763548455625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-86762873362193009212007-12-13T10:55:00.000-05:002007-12-13T10:55:00.000-05:00Regarding this beautiful story about Whitefield an...Regarding this beautiful story about Whitefield and Thorpe, I remember as a new Christian going home to visit my family and witnessing to my mother and sister.<BR/><BR/>I remember them talking behind my back in the kitchen and hearing my sister say about me, "Who does she think she is?" <BR/><BR/>I later had a talk with my sister about the Lord. At one point I told her that the Bible says "...the carnal mind is enmity [hostile] against God..." (Romans 8:7 NKJV). I mentioned this verse because that was exactly her attitude toward the things of God.<BR/><BR/>But when she heard this particular verse, it actually made her feel bad, and she became a bit defensive, saying something like "I'm not angry at God!".<BR/><BR/>And I explained to her some examples of her actions toward me whenever I would try to talk to her about the Lord. She lowered her head and cowered a bit.<BR/><BR/>I think it was at this point that my sister's eyes were being opened for the very first time. She was humbled to hear the truth about her attitude toward God and her true feelings about Him. <BR/><BR/>After that time, she would call me on the phone and we would talk more about the Lord, and at some point she came to trust in Him. <BR/><BR/>That was many years ago. She is now married to a wonderful Christian man and has two children who love the Lord.<BR/><BR/>My Mom professes to trust in the Lord today also.<BR/><BR/>As Italian New Yorkers, my family and I had some amazing arguments over my witness to them about the Lord. It should have alienated them!<BR/><BR/>I didn't know how to speak with grace to them as a new believer, and the screaming matches we had were sometimes unbelievable.<BR/><BR/>But as the years went by, and they were able to forget my past mistakes, I have lived to see some of them come to the Lord. <BR/><BR/>It certainly wasn't because of my gracious demeanor! It had to be the grace of God!!Michele Rayburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05815737949587713100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-42644924972442788812007-12-13T08:08:00.000-05:002007-12-13T08:08:00.000-05:00Steve:I shared the story of Whitefield and Thorpe ...Steve:<BR/><BR/>I shared the story of Whitefield and Thorpe with my girls (ages 11 and 13) while we were baking cookies yesterday. Our conversation took some turns but it led Emma to wonder "if the old man who sits around by himself all the time near the grocery store will have anyone to spend Christmas with and whether or not he is a Christian ..." -- eyes and hearts wide open.<BR/><BR/>DebbieDebbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07722961380149692278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-89285929262947481952007-04-15T07:33:00.000-04:002007-04-15T07:33:00.000-04:00Steve,It has been a long time since I last posted....Steve,<BR/>It has been a long time since I last posted. All I can say is Amen and Amen! I studied Apologetics under Ligon Duncan, years ago. He was wise enough to present multiple approaches to giving reason for the hope, always couched with the truth of the gospel at the center. I learned that how we present the hope we have will often differ with the person we are sharing it to. It is not the approach that is important it is the message, Jesus Christ is "the way the truth and the life" and no one can come to the Father but through Him!<BR/><BR/>Keep up the good work.bamazavhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09415318298602012235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-47703997438200571192007-04-14T23:49:00.000-04:002007-04-14T23:49:00.000-04:00I don't know. Why should I have to defend the Good...I don't know. Why should I have to defend the Good News? <BR/><BR/>this might be splitting hairs...Isn't the Good News the proclamation of God's Victory over sin and death? The battle is won in the work of Christ. IMO, there is no need to defend it. Only the privilege of proclaiming it in word AND action.N.C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12894377682838807253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-53008588679257516682007-04-13T20:15:00.000-04:002007-04-13T20:15:00.000-04:00When this issue is reduced to nothing more than an...<I>When this issue is reduced to nothing more than an intellectual bantering about of its various forms (i.e. evidential, presuppositional, classical, reformed epistemological, cumulative case, etc.) rather than used to equip other believers to explain and proclaim the gospel, then what usually results is an unnecessary fostering of acerbic attitudes, a prideful demeanor (one that puffs up), and in the end is unfortunate wasted energy. </I><BR/><BR/>Amen! I fall into that trap a lot. I get caught up in it and forget that I can give answers to questions, but answers don't ultimately save; grace does.<BR/><BR/>Which doesn't mean that we have to give up apologetics; it just means that we mustn't mistake it for evangelization.Joelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02238001380092215123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-14257009468105226222007-04-13T10:23:00.000-04:002007-04-13T10:23:00.000-04:00Great post!Great post!candyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06088593538648596769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-30185466996365084992007-04-13T05:11:00.000-04:002007-04-13T05:11:00.000-04:00In my present struggle with my attitudes this post...In my present struggle with my attitudes this post comes precisely when I need it most.<BR/><BR/>Thank you!annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15669872553144304889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-81585198495744495862007-04-12T13:17:00.000-04:002007-04-12T13:17:00.000-04:00Awesome post.Awesome post.Marciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09655129514017134176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-1146148575828100512006-04-27T10:36:00.000-04:002006-04-27T10:36:00.000-04:00The secular folks in our lives may be sarcastic wi...The secular folks in our lives may be sarcastic with us at times as they attempt to belittle our faith, however, when we respond we cannot do so in kind. That is where I struggle. My natural inclination is to be 'self-protective.' Jesus told us that suffering for His names sake is something we should rejoice in. Only God can give us the ability to do that. <BR/><BR/>In Christ<BR/><BR/>Mike RatliffMike Ratliffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14067841429011899105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-1146145957491890712006-04-27T09:52:00.000-04:002006-04-27T09:52:00.000-04:00Thank you-very inspiring.(And you even quoted part...Thank you-very inspiring.<BR/><BR/>(And you even quoted part of the very Keith Green song that's dearest to my own heart).<BR/><BR/>My favorite lines from "Asleep in the Light":<BR/><I>"Bless me, Lord, bless me, Lord--you know, it's all I ever hear..."</I><BR/>(how prescient of Keith)<BR/><BR/><I>"Jesus rose from the grave, and you, you can't even get out of bed."</I><BR/>Ouch!<BR/>(And I also love your Campi-ized version, in which you changed the "you" to "we.")littlegal_66https://www.blogger.com/profile/09424599483109788899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-1146142424004799812006-04-27T08:53:00.000-04:002006-04-27T08:53:00.000-04:00I LOVE SHARING THE HOPE THAT IS WITHIN ME!!!! LOVE...I LOVE SHARING THE HOPE THAT IS WITHIN ME!!!! LOVE IT!!!! LOVE IT!!!! LOVE IT!!! But I so don't do it perfectly. Watch out Wal-Mart check-out lady that's grumpy (perfect opportunity to share Christ)... Opportunites at every turn. And there are days I shut my eyes thinking, "Well, I just do not have time to share Christ today..."<BR/><BR/>You know what's fun... praying with my children before we walk out the door to run errands... praying that the Lord will send an opportunity to share Christ, invite someone to our church, to genuinely encourage a stranger with a smile, scripture, etc. and then of course the Lord answering usually right away and more than once and my children getting to see what a joy it is to do this.<BR/><BR/>If you knew what my life was like, so empty, pre-Christ, you would know why I practically <B>BURST</B> at the opportunity to share this precious hope... this ONLY hope!!! (And I am not a "new" believer... just in love with my Lord and Saviour)4givenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16604421713579961024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-1146141533773591852006-04-27T08:38:00.000-04:002006-04-27T08:38:00.000-04:00Always good stuff.. Thanks Steve for the encourage...Always good stuff.. Thanks Steve for the encouragements to stay straight theologically.Groseys messageshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09256060632754175527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-1146139757917868362006-04-27T08:09:00.000-04:002006-04-27T08:09:00.000-04:00Thanks for the words of edification. I shall trust...Thanks for the words of edification. I shall trust the Sovereign Spirit of Christ to continue to apply these truths to my heart and mind, so that I shall be able to speak the truth in love.donsandshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03665794015011057098noreply@blogger.com