{"id":5340,"date":"2021-03-17T17:45:28","date_gmt":"2021-03-17T17:45:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/londonchurch.org.uk\/?p=5340"},"modified":"2022-02-18T03:17:03","modified_gmt":"2022-02-18T03:17:03","slug":"clever-ways-to-argue-truth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/londonchurch.org.uk\/clever-ways-to-argue-truth\/","title":{"rendered":"Clever Ways To Argue Truth"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cSanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.\u201d\u00a0 John 17:17<\/p>\n

I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 There\u2019s a great book by Gregory Koukl called Tactics<\/strong>
\na.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It details how disciples can discuss the Bible with others, especially those who might be hostile to the ideas of Christianity.\u00a0 It has an incredible way of presenting points.\u00a0 It also helps the other person to think about what they are saying.
\nb.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mr. Koukl labels one class of arguments people make as \u201cSuicidal.\u201d
\ni.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 These are arguments or statements that, when applied to the overall argument, contradict it.
\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A simple example is: \u201cAll English statements are false.\u201d
\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Since the statement is in English, by its own rules it must be false.
\nii.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Suicidal arguments are always false.
\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 For example, a t-shirt might say: \u201cThe statement on the back of this shirt is false\u201d on the front and \u201cThe statement on the front of this shirt is true\u201d on the back.\u00a0 Both of these statements can\u2019t be true.
\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We don\u2019t have to get caught up in trying to figure out which part is true or false.\u00a0 The contradiction falsifies the whole statement and that\u2019s all we need to know.
\niii.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Suicidal arguments lead to a contradiction
\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAuthentic Mexican food cooked in the traditional Chinese way.\u201d You cannot have \u201cauthentic Mexican\u201d and \u201ctraditional Chinese\u201d applied to the same items of food.
\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cCan God make a rock too heavy for him to lift?\u201d\u00a0 Making anything greater than himself is a suicidal argument since God would never make anything greater than himself!<\/p>\n

II.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Absolute Truth<\/strong>
\na.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Pilate once asked Jesus \u2013 \u201cWhat is truth?\u201d John 18:38
\ni.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t looking for an answer because he left.\u00a0 He had more than a question.\u00a0 He had doubts.
\nii.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 There is a difference between doubts and questions.
\niii.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Questions are a powerful inquiry on route to the truth.
\niv.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A doubt is a stumbling block to your journey to an answer.
\nv.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Truth should be the ultimate goal of all questions.
\nb.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We live in a time where people claim, \u201cThere is no truth!\u201d
\ni.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 People say, \u201cAha!\u00a0 So is that the truth of the matter?\u201d\u00a0 Or better yet \u2026 \u201cIs that a true statement?\u201d
\nii.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 They also say, \u201cThere is no absolute truth\u201d and \u201cAre you absolutely sure about that?\u201d
\niii.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 By the statement\u2019s claim, the statement is false.
\nc.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 There is truth \u2013 John 17:17
\ni.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Psalm 119:151-152, Psalm 12:6
\nii.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 But people don\u2019t like set rules, especially rules that point out their errors.\u00a0 They say, \u201cThere are no absolutes!\u201d<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 You can\u2019t make an absolute assertion to rule out absolutes.
\niii.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 People also say, \u201cYou can\u2019t know anything for sure!\u201d
\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Are you sure about that statement?
\niv.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 People want to deny that there is a source to truth outside of themselves.
\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou can only know truth through experience!\u201d
\na.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What experience did you have that led you to that conclusions?
\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cOnly science can determine truth!\u201d
\na.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Can you scientifically measure this statement?
\nb.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 No?\u00a0 Then how can it be determined to be true?
\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Truth is something taught \u2013 John 8:31-32<\/p>\n

v.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Statements dealing in absolutes: \u201conly,\u201d \u201cnever,\u201d \u201calways,\u201d etc\u2026 are the hardest to prove and defend.\u00a0 When you hear an absolute, ask yourself if that absolute applies to the statement itself.<\/p>\n

III.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Faulty Comparisons \u2013 these are more subtle.<\/strong>
\na.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 People say, \u201cPeople make mistakes.\u00a0 People wrote the Bible.\u00a0 Therefore, the Bible is flawed.\u201d
\ni.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Could the person be mistaken about this claim?
\nii.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 After all, you are only human.
\nb.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 There are flaws in this argument.\u00a0 People do make mistakes, but people do not make mistakes constantly.
\ni.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 To claim there is a potential for mistakes is not the same as proving a mistake was made.
\nc.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 There is an assumption that God cannot inspire a book to be written.
\ni.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2 Timothy 3:16-17 \u2013 the Scriptures come from the mouth of God.
\nii.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Galatians 1:11-12 \u2013 the Bible is not from man.
\niii.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1 Corinthians 2:13 \u2013 words were given to the writers<\/p>\n

IV.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Disagreements<\/strong>
\na.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAll religions are true.\u201d
\ni.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If that statement were true, it would include Christianity.\u00a0 But Christianity says other religions, such as idolatry, are false \u2013 1 Corinthians 8:4.
\nii.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 All religions can\u2019t be true when they teach ideas that conflict.
\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Do people go to heaven or hell after death?
\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Are they reincarnated?
\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Do they just cease to exist?
\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 All of these ideas can\u2019t be true at the same time.<\/p>\n

b.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 People who make this statement are trying to avoid disagreement or coming to a conclusion, especially one that might indicate they are wrong.
\ni.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cGod doesn\u2019t take sides!\u201d
\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Would God agree with that?\u00a0 Then, you are saying God took a side.
\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The false assumption is that all sides can be right.\u00a0 But conflicting ideas are not compatible with a single idea of truth.
\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Many people say that all religions are fundamentally the same and incrementally different.\u00a0 The truth is that all religions are INCREMENTALLY THE SAME AND FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT!<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The reality is that God does not choose the side.\u00a0 He wants us to choose to be on his side.\u00a0 Joshua 5:13, Matthew 11:28-30.
\na.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 There is a yoke (limits) and there are burdens \u2013 comparatively easy limits, but there nonetheless.
\nii.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou can\u2019t judge other people!\u201d
\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Isn\u2019t that a judgement?
\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Usually people have Matthew 7:1-5 in mind.
\na.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Notice that this Scripture doesn\u2019t condemn judgement.\u00a0 It condemns hypocritical judgement.
\nb.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It warns that when a judgement is made, it applies to you as well \u2013 Romans 2:1-3
\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What people want is to make rules, but give exceptions to themselves.
\na.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Proverbs 24:23 \u2013 Judgements can\u2019t be partial, even towards yourself.
\nc.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The truth is that we have to make judgements \u2013 1 John 4:1
\ni.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The knowledge that wrong exists means that I need to determine what is right.
\nii.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Righteous judgement \u2013 John 7:24<\/p>\n

V.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Teaching<\/strong>
\na.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cTalking about God is meaningless!\u201d
\ni.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Are we both now not talking about God?\u00a0 Is your statement then meaningless?
\nb.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 People might concede that they disagree, but they don\u2019t want people attempting to persuade them.
\nc.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou shouldn\u2019t force your morality on others!\u201d
\ni.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Are you forcing your view of my view onto me?\u00a0 Are you forcing me to accept how you view my religion?\u00a0 Are you not doing the same thing?\u00a0 Must I accept the view that passive Christianity is the only Christianity?
\nii.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Moral relativism is the idea that what might be wrong for you isn\u2019t necessarily wrong for me. This returns to the problem of partiality in judgment.\u00a0 Bottom line what is true for you is true for me based on the word of God.
\niii.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Clear statements about what is right or wrong are not forcing anyone to do anything.\u00a0 You do right because you decide to. You do wrong because you decide to.\u00a0 No one can \u201cmake\u201d you do anything.<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Right or wrong is a statement of what is.\u00a0 Whether you accept it is your choice.
\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 But it is amazing how many people get offended if you say \u201cAbortion is wrong.\u201d
\na.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThat is just your belief.\u00a0 You should not be inflictin your views on others.\u201d
\ni.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Are you not inflicting your view on me?
\nb.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1 Timothy 4:1-4 Truth is truth whether people want to hear or not.
\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We need to take our thoughts captive \u2013 2 Corinthians 10:2-6
\nd.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t proselytize!\u00a0 Don\u2019t try changing another person\u2019s religious views!\u201d
\ni.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Yet my religions says \u2013 Matthew 28:18-20.
\nii.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 So are you trying to change my religious views?
\ne.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 People don\u2019t want the boat rocked.\u00a0 They don\u2019t want to consider that they might be wrong \u2013 Matthew 21:23-27
\ni.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWho gave you the right?\u201d\u00a0 This statement admits that authority comes from a higher source.\u00a0 A source, if acknowledged, must then have authority over the questioner.\u00a0 This is something the questioner doesn\u2019t want to admit or face.<\/p>\n

VI.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It is such a simple concept<\/strong>
\na.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Arguments cut two ways, so does an argument being used against you apply to the arguer?
\nb.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Beware of empty philosophy \u2013 Colossians 2:8
\nc.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Keep watch for arguments that wound themselves.<\/p>\n

\u201cNever be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed.\u00a0 If people all over the world \u2026 would do this, it would change the earth.\u201d\u00a0 William Faulkner.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cSanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.\u201d\u00a0 John 17:17 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 There\u2019s a great book by Gregory Koukl called Tactics a.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It details how disciples can discuss the Bible […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":5682,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[37,34,26,33,36,25],"class_list":["post-5340","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bible-study","tag-evangelism","tag-false-doctrine","tag-science","tag-tips","tag-trust-the-bible","tag-truth"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/londonchurch.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/londonchurch-how-to-prove-bible-is-true-what-is-absolute-truth.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/londonchurch.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5340","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/londonchurch.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/londonchurch.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/londonchurch.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/londonchurch.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5340"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/londonchurch.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5340\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7947,"href":"https:\/\/londonchurch.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5340\/revisions\/7947"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/londonchurch.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5682"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/londonchurch.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5340"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/londonchurch.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5340"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/londonchurch.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5340"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}