Identify the following three items:1. Who is your audience? Who are you persuading in your assignment? (This must be a business, government agency, or non-profit entity.) Identify the actual decision
William Franklin
DB-3 Incarnational Apologetics
Collapse
Top of Form
Forum 3 EVAN William Anthony Franklin
The question was asked, “how does Incarnational Apologetics impact the way evangelism is taught and acted out in daily life? For this student-author this is his way of life, meaning that it does not matter who the person is that he meets, he is going to speak to them. In the article, Incarnational Apologetics written by Dr. David Wheeler, “defines Incarnational Apologetics as the representative public and private lifestyle of a Christian that validates to the world the absolute truths of the Bible.”[1] Dr. Wheeler continues, that Incarnational Apologetics “is communicated to the world through both actions and attitudes of Christians as the consistently live out the tenants of their faith in the community with both the redeemed and unredeemed.”[2] As Christians it should not matter who the person is, if they are believers or not, and where we encounter them. The important fact is that we should behave the same with all people and in doing so, we show everyone that we are followers of Jesus.
The second question, which has two parts, was asked, how do you balance "incarnational" and "informational" approaches to evangelism? Is there a connection? As Christians we are called to know the word of God as recorded in II Timothy 3: 16 – 17, All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.[3] Then Paul continues to tell Timothy in chapter 4 and verse 2:“Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” This is the goal of every Christian to be ready and willing to spread the word of God to both the redeemed and the unredeemed.
The final question that was asked was, in addition, do your struggle relating to people on an "incarnational" level; or are you afraid on an "informational" level that people might ask a question that you cannot answer? For this student-author the answer is yes. The student also believes that, if everyone was honest, they too would answer yes. Being able to reference any answer to any question right when the question was asked would only be able to happen with the help of the Holy Spirit. If a person can quote all the Bible, then they might be able to remember where to back up or prove their answer with scripture, otherwise, they would have to be able to research before answering.
After watching the video of the interview with Lindsey and then thinking of the question that was asked, “is she was a neighbor of mine what and how would I witness to her?” I would begin by saying that this young lady has been exposed to many different views of God in her life. For this student, I would begin my showing her my ability to be humble in the presence of her and God. This would include not getting into an argument with her over the way she believed. Rather, I would show her how to be the servant that Jesus was by serving her in acts of kindness. Before we can be a witness to someone like Lindsey, we must be vulnerable in our actions and behaviors. People want to see Christians being what they preach. Actions do speak louder than words and being Lindsey has indicated that the church was more concerned with money and stature, I would have to show her that it was not about any money, nor was it to make her think any higher about me. With the kind acts that I would be doing in her life would show her visibly just how true servant disciples act. I would have to get to know her to figure out exactly what I would do to show her servant acts of kindness. I would then trust God to send the Holy Spirit to draw her close, open her ears and eyes to the truth before I ever mentioned the name of Jesus. I would also trust the Holy Spirit to guide me into the correct time to become verbal with Lindsey about the absolute truth of God’s word. When that moment came, I would tell her the story of how God had designed us to be in perfect harmony with him. Then how sin came into the world to separate us from him and finally how he sent his son to reconcile us to him through the shedding of his blood. After sharing this story, I would share my own so that I could be totally transparent with Lindsey. With this, the seed of truth would be planted and then it would be up to God to make it grow.
[1] David Wheeler, Incarnational Apologetics, Liberty University Library, April 20, 2019.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced are in the New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson, 2002).
Bottom of Form
Matthias Ponce-De-Leon
DB3
Collapse
Top of Form
Incarnational Apologetics is tremendously important in fostering the opportunities to share the information of the gospel. While we need to acknowledge our human tendencies toward ease and comfort that could potentially result in nothing more than “living out” our faith in front of others and never sharing it, the consciousness of the value of a Christ-like example must go with the evangelist. David Wheeler writes, “The simple truth is that the “incarnational” life is merely living as Jesus lived by balancing beliefs with behavior.”[1] This indicates that the connection between informational and incarnational apologetics lies in the perfect example of both found in our Savior.
Yesterday as I walked toward a hospital in an urban area, I was leaving the clergy parking area and witnessed a scene that caused me to consider the great value of incarnational apologetics. There was a young couple sitting on the grass under a tree smoking a cigarette on a small median in front of the hospital. Two ministers who arrived a few moments before I did were in front of me on the path that led through the median. After the ministers had passed by the couple, one of them, as a clear afterthought, turned around and came back a couple steps to where the couple was sitting. He handed the couple a tract and said, “Here, I want you to have this, have a good day,” and continued on. As I passed a few yards behind, I could hear the disgust in the conversation between the couple. “I don’t know why they give us this stuff,” he said to her...
The information was probably good in the tract, but an encounter with the Savior’s love, attention and affection was certainly missing. I thought of all the times I’ve done “fly-by” evangelism. Sometimes it was because I was busy. Other times it was because of my apprehension to articulate the truth of the gospel or fear over “breaking the ice” and finding good conversation transition points. I was, however, very confronted by the kind of impression those ministers made and aware that I had made those types of impressions with others.
The Lindsay video was tough to watch for me. For most of my life, I had a belief system that was as fluid as Lindsay’s. Ultimately, I realized I was passionate about beliefs that I couldn’t clearly articulate and that failed when I employed faith in them. Like Lindsay, I was proud to share what I believed and wanted to use every word I knew and every familiarity I had to share it. My approach to Lindsay as a neighbor would certainly not be a hard-sell. She was obviously friendly and positive so opportunities for interaction would not be difficult to attain. As a neighbor, I would look for a project my family could work on with her together. Servant evangelism of the variety that we were doing good together for our community or for another neighbor—Lindsay seemed interested in being a “good person.” I think in the process and comradery of this setting would it be possible to have a more personal conversation. Sharing my story as an avenue to sharing the gospel is how I am most comfortable in the process of evangelism. Since my story of addiction and subsequent calamities is one that always leaves me vulnerable before others, it is often an invitation for someone to share their “struggles.” “Struggles” are a great conversation piece to lead to the conversation about the problem of sin and the Solution. In this setting the Three Circles would probably be the most appropriate although I am more familiar with The Story approach.
[1] David Wheeler, Incarnational Apologetics, (Liberty University: EVAN525), 6.
Bottom of Form
