- This topic is empty.
- Posts
I have recently been made aware of this. Geez, where have I been huh? Apparently, it's been around for quite a while, but only really starting to emerge with great force, in the age that we currently live in.
I've been listening to a lot of Ravi Zacharias lately. He, and his ministry team bring up a lot of good points.
What do you all have to offer in this subject matter?
Quote (Samuel @ June 09 2012,10:55) I have recently been made aware of this. Geez, where have I been huh? Apparently, it's been around for quite a while, but only really starting to emerge with great force, in the age that we currently live in. I've been listening to a lot of Ravi Zacharias lately. He, and his ministry team bring up a lot of good points.
What do you all have to offer in this subject matter?
Hi Samuel,Welcome back!
I never heard of Ravi Zacharias?
And what do you mean by “Apologetics”?God bless
Ed J (Joshua 22:34)
http://www.holycitybiblecode.orgWell, I've come to enjoy a lot of Ravi Zacharias, and his ministry team.
But, He and his ministry team is into a lot of Apologetics.
Here is a Link from Wikipedia that sort of gives a basic rundown of Apologetics:
I know that most people don't like to use Wikipedia for researching things, and what not, but I like it for a quick reference personally. I'm sure you can find more on the internet about Apologetics if you search for it.
Also, here is a link to Ravi Zacharias International Ministries:
RVIMAnd, you can listen to him, and a lot of other stuff, form others from this link for free:
One Place Christian RadioI've gained a lot of humbleness just listening to Ravi, and some of his team. Humbleness, is something that a lot of us struggle with, I know that at least if no one else, I do.
Ministry
Zacharias was invited to spend the summer of 1971 in Vietnam, where he evangelized to the American soldiers, as well as to POWs and Viet Cong.[7] After graduating from Ontario Bible College, he began an itinerant ministry with the Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada.[7] In 1974 the C&MA sent him to Cambodia, where he preached only a short time before its fall to the Khmer Rouge.[7] In 1977, after graduating from Trinity, Zacharias was commissioned to preach worldwide.[7]
In 1983, Zacharias was invited to speak in Amsterdam at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association's annual evangelists' conference. It was here that he first noticed a lack of ministry in the area of Christian apologetics.[7] After Amsterdam, Zacharias spent the summer evangelizing in India, where he continued to see the need for apologetics ministry, both to lead people to Christ and to train Christian leaders. In August 1984 Ravi Zacharias International Ministries was founded in Toronto, Canada. Today its headquarters is located in Atlanta, Georgia, and has offices in Canada, England, India, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.[7]
In 1989, shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Zacharias was invited to speak in Moscow. While there he spoke to students at the Lenin Military Academy as well as political leaders at the Center for Geopolitical Strategy.[7] This was the first of many evangelism opportunities towards the political world. Future events included an invitation to Bogota, Colombia in 1993, where he spoke to the judiciary committee on the importance of having a solid moral foundation.[7]
Zacharias took a sabbatical in 1990 and spent part of that year as a visiting scholar at Cambridge University. There he heard lectures by men such as Stephen Hawking and studied under professors such as John Polkinghorne and Don Cupitt. He also wrote his first book, A Shattered Visage: The Real Face of Atheism.[7] In 1993 Zacharias was invited to speak at his first Veritas Forum at Harvard University,[7] and later that year was one of the keynote speakers at Urbana.[10] Zacharias continues to be a frequent guest at these forums,[11] both giving lectures and answering students in question and answer sessions at academic institutions such as the University of Georgia,[12] the University of Michigan,[13] and Penn State.[14]
Zacharias attracted media attention when in 2004 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) opened its signature pulpit at the Salt Lake Tabernacle to him for a series of messages. Zacharias delivered a sermon on “Who Is the Truth? Defending Jesus Christ as The Way, The Truth and The Life” to some 7,000 lay-persons and scholars from both LDS and Protestant camps in an initiatory move towards open dialog between the camps.[15]
Some evangelicals criticized Zacharias' decision not to use this opportunity to directly address the “deep and foundational” differences between the historic Christian faith and that of the LDS church. He responded by asserting that Christians should not immediately condemn Mormonism's theological differences but “graciously build one step at a time in communicating our faith with clarity and conviction”. He said this is just as effective as showing someone the faults of their faith.[16] The speaking engagement was nearly sabotaged by a claim by event organizer Greg Johnson, president of Standing Together, that Zacharias had nothing to do with editing the book The Kingdom of the Cults and had only loaned his name to the latest edition. Johnson later apologized for his comment.[17]
Zacharias is a frequent keynote lecturer within the evangelical community at events such as the Future of Truth conference in 2004,[18] the National Religious Broadcasters' Convention and Exposition in 2005,[19] the National Conference on Christian Apologetics in 2006.[20] On successive nights in October 2007, he addressed first the students and faculty of Virginia Tech, then the community of Blacksburg, Virginia, on the topic of evil and suffering in the wake of the Virginia Tech massacre.[21] Zacharias has represented the evangelical community at occasions such as the National Day of Prayer in Washington, DC, the Annual Prayer Breakfast at the United Nations, and the African Union Prayer Breakfast in Maputo, Mozambique, and was named honorary chairman of the 2008 National Day of Prayer task force.[22]
Zacharias was interviewed in Focus on the Family's Truth Project. In November 2009, Zacharias signed an ecumenical statement known as the Manhattan Declaration calling on Evangelicals, Catholics and Orthodox to engage in civil disobedience with regard to laws which the declaration claims would force them to accept abortion, same-sex marriage or other matters that go against their religious consciences.[23]
[edit] Philosophy
Zacharias states that a coherent worldview must be able to satisfactorily answer four questions: that of origin, meaning of life, morality and destiny. He says that while every major religion makes exclusive claims about truth, the Christian faith is unique in its ability to answer all four of these questions.[24] He routinely speaks on the coherency of the Christian worldview,[25] saying that Christianity is capable of withstanding the toughest philosophical attacks.[26] Zacharias believes that the apologist must argue from three levels: the theoretical, to line up the logic of the argument; the arts, to illustrate; and “kitchen table talk”, to conclude and apply.[27]
Zacharias's style of apologetic focuses predominantly on Christianity's answers to life's great existential questions,[28] with logical and scientifically inclined defense of God. In some discussion Zacharias appropriates to scientific matters, he answers the question of human origin. He has voiced skepticism over what he believes to be inadequate empirical evidence in the fossil records for an honest endorsement of the theory of evolution. He believes that evolution is incompatible with the second law of thermodynamics, saying that the two are inconsistent and irreconcilable.[29] This view is rejected by many in the scientific community.[30]
Ravi Zacharias also believes that in Christianity homosexual acts are an “aberration” and “violation” of human sexuality and that though some people may have a homosexual “disposition,” they are not justified in expressing that disposition.[31]
Okay, well, does anyone have any of their “Own” “Opinions” on his ministry? Based, on what we know thus far?
Quote (Samuel @ June 11 2012,23:14) Okay, well, does anyone have any of their “Own” “Opinions” on his ministry? Based, on what we know thus far?
hiwere would you class this man
with Billy Gram or with G Armstrong, or any other leader group
what do you think he has special ,beside the bible
?Hi Samuel,
I think defending our faith and the bible is a good thing.
I have never heard of him before though. Is there
something specific you would like to discuss?God bless
Ed J (Joshua 22:34)
http://www.holycitybiblecode.orgWell, you know when a man has “Labored” in the “Word”. As, the Bible says, when they open their mouth to speak. I feel that this man has Labored in the Word.
Where would I class him?
Christian apologetics is a field of Christian theology that aims to present a rational basis for the Christian faith, to defend the faith against objections and misrepresentation, and to expose error within other religions and world views.[citation needed] Christian apologetics have taken many forms over the centuries, starting with Saul of Tarsus, Justin Martyr and Irenaeus, and continuing today with the efforts of many authors and speakers from various Christian traditions, such as Cornelius Van Til, Gordon Clark, Greg Bahnsen, James White, John F. MacArthur, Hank Hanegraaff, Ravi Zacharias, Lee Strobel, Josh McDowell, C.S. Lewis, Ken Ham, Kent Hovind, William Lane Craig, J. P. Moreland, Ray Comfort, Kirk Cameron, Hugh Ross and Scott Hahn. Apologists base their defense of Christianity on teleological arguments.
While there are various types of arguments including ontological, cosmological, and teleological, it is the opinion of many Christian apologists that the Gospel is the best defense and living a life according to the tenets of Jesus' teachings is the best argument. One Christian apologist believes that “the best argument is one that is made without words.
What do I think he has special? Well, when ever you watch a Man/Woman on T.V., or listen to them on the radio, or online, podcast, whatever. You have to evaluate, and their life by their “Fruits”, or their “Works”. Not “Judge”. But, are they living what they are preaching? An even better question is this, “Is what they are preaching/living working in their life?
Because if it's not, then how can you expect it to work for you?
In other words, there are lots of “Public” figures, in the world, that don't always represent the Christian Faith very well. Which has created the “Need” for Christians to have to “Apologize” for their actions, and then, to therefore “Defend” the Christian Beliefs. Which is the Lord Jesus Christ Died on the cross, for the sins of man, whereby is the only way to be saved is through Jesus, there ain't no other way. You can't ask of GOD, in Mary's name, in John's name, in Peter's name, in Paul's name, in My name, or any other name. The only name given among men whereby you can ask for anything, weather it be forgiveness, salvation, a new car, a new house, a better job, a cute dog…etc, etc, is in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ…John 14:13-14 The Bible tells us this… Acts 4:12
All power is given unto Jesus…Matthew 28:18, John 13:3
Every knee shall bow, and Every Tongue Confess…Philippians 2:9-11 Philippians, Romans 14:11, Isaiah 45Now, I've seen debates on here where people break down the actual translation of the name Jesus, that it is actually Yeshua (Hebrew), or Iesous (Greek).
Well, that's fine if you want to debate that. But we speak English, or at least I do, and in English, it's translated as Jesus, Our Lord Jesus Christ.Okay, soap box off…
Anyway, as I was saying, Most people don't represent the Christian Faith very well. Furthermore there are bickering and mummorings among the Christians on, “Who's Right?”, and so many different denominations out there now, that there is a New Denomination called Non-Denominational. Cause people don't want to be labeled with people that “Made a Bad Impression” of the Christian Faith. So, we have Apologetics, and Non-Denominations.I find that Ravi, has a spirit of Humbleness, Meekness. Which are some good qualities that I liked about him upon being introduced to his ministry. He attempts to respond to, or fight back against the arguments of Christianity, and Secularism, through the systematic use of information.
Which, in essence is much of what I've seen take place on this site. Therefore, that is the reason, I would have thought you all might also be interested in his teachings, and/or writings.
Samuel
Quote I find that Ravi, has a spirit of Humbleness, Meekness. Which are some good qualities that I liked about him upon being introduced to his ministry. He attempts to respond to, or fight back against the arguments of Christianity, and Secularism, through the systematic use of information. Which, in essence is much of what I've seen take place on this site. Therefore, that is the reason, I would have thought you all might also be interested in his teachings, and/or writings.
when people have a problem to listen to the scriptures and meditating on it ,then they rather abandon or seek someone else to listen to ,and so only hope that what the others say is part and true to the scriptures ,
we always become victim of our own heart ,many like to show off their so called knowledge in scriptures but listen to them and you quickly see were they have gone off the truth
Quote (Samuel @ June 14 2012,06:23) So, are you suggesting that you believe Ravi has “Gone off the truth”?
SamuelI did not say such a thing ,but my question would rather be WHY SHOULD WE LOOK FOR THE TRUTH IN MEN OR THROUGH THEM IN STEAD OF GODS WORD
Oh, I see what your getting at now.
If you prefer to not study the works of others, I would not recommend you to.
Some folks do though, those are the people I was trying to bring this up with.
Quote (Samuel @ June 14 2012,21:01) Oh, I see what your getting at now. If you prefer to not study the works of others, I would not recommend you to.
Some folks do though, those are the people I was trying to bring this up with.
Samuelthis is also not what I meant,
what I meant is that studying the scriptures is the best ,because you have first hand of what it can do to you in your heart ,and so yes use your scriptures to seek God ,but look for the answers within the word of God ,
listen to other men views is only good for well established knowledgeable men ,because it would be easy for a good talker to carry the weak away from God ,
but men can do as they wish, I STICK TO SCRIPTURES
AND i HAVE STUDY THEM WELL IN TIME
NOW IF YOU THINK THAT YOU HAVE LEARN SOMETHING WHAT HAS NOT BEEN DISCUSSED ON THIS SITE FORUM ,PLEASE I WILL BE ALL EARS
This is a simple discussion about Apologetics, from the Greek Word “apologia” (Strong's G627), to give a defensive answer, to make clear oneself.
I mentioned Ravi because he is a theological seminary, and thus in this field of study, and someone I've been listening to. I don't excatly agree with everything he says, that don't mean I'm not going to listen to him.
By the way, if you want to acquire a degree in Divinity, or most any theological field of study, your going to have to study a lot of stuff that is “NOT” scripture. I'm not saying that you are, in fact seeking a degree in a theological field of study, that is just my “Apologetic”, the reasoning behind listening to someone else, or studying a “Man's” works as you have so put it…an “Answer”?
I put this topic in Discussions, not Debates.
I never once told you to disregard scripture, where are you getting this from?
Why are you so convinced that I am suggesting you adhere to the works of men over scripture?
How have I given you reason to believe this?
You seem to be in a large state of discontent here for some reason?
Do you think I'm trying to lead people astray?
Please help me understand, what you are feeling. I guess you think I'm trying to get you to study or listen to Ravi?
If you don't like him, or don't wan to listen to him or study anything he has said, by all means, please do not.However “Ravi” is not really the topic of discussion here. The topic of discussion is “Apologetics”, “apologia” (Strong's G627), and that my friend, is in fact “Scriptural”, furthermore it's the reason everyone is a member of this site, to give answers to each other, and discuss, defend, or reproach views, ideals, beliefs. In essence just being a member of this site, in a sense makes you an “Apologist”.
If I get on this site, and ask the question “What must I do to be saved?” Your probably going to “Attempt” to give me an “Answer”, and most likely your going to be using scripture, and backing it with whatever faith it is you adhere to. If you were Apostolic you might, no you will quote me the scripture of Acts 2:38. If you are some other form of Christian belief, most likely your going to refer me to Romans 10:9 at some point, I would. Then, based on what you personally believe from there, your going to tell me to be baptized, and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, backing this all up with scripture. If you are really christian, and really living for GOD, and your life in private matches up with this, you will be very humble, and have a strong spirit of meekness all through this process.
If not, your probably going to become very angry, frustrated, and start wanting to argue with me about it. Then, eventually tell me your not going to talk to me anymore.
Yes, I have come to learn that you need to be a good Apologist, in order to talk with people in today's world. Probably now more then ever.
Quote (Samuel @ June 15 2012,07:41) This is a simple discussion about Apologetics, from the Greek Word “apologia” (Strong's G627), to give a defensive answer, to make clear oneself. I mentioned Ravi because he is a theological seminary, and thus in this field of study, and someone I've been listening to. I don't excatly agree with everything he says, that don't mean I'm not going to listen to him.
By the way, if you want to acquire a degree in Divinity, or most any theological field of study, your going to have to study a lot of stuff that is “NOT” scripture. I'm not saying that you are, in fact seeking a degree in a theological field of study, that is just my “Apologetic”, the reasoning behind listening to someone else, or studying a “Man's” works as you have so put it…an “Answer”?
I put this topic in Discussions, not Debates.
I never once told you to disregard scripture, where are you getting this from?
Why are you so convinced that I am suggesting you adhere to the works of men over scripture?
How have I given you reason to believe this?
You seem to be in a large state of discontent here for some reason?
Do you think I'm trying to lead people astray?
Please help me understand, what you are feeling. I guess you think I'm trying to get you to study or listen to Ravi?
If you don't like him, or don't wan to listen to him or study anything he has said, by all means, please do not.However “Ravi” is not really the topic of discussion here. The topic of discussion is “Apologetics”, “apologia” (Strong's G627), and that my friend, is in fact “Scriptural”, furthermore it's the reason everyone is a member of this site, to give answers to each other, and discuss, defend, or reproach views, ideals, beliefs. In essence just being a member of this site, in a sense makes you an “Apologist”.
If I get on this site, and ask the question “What must I do to be saved?” Your probably going to “Attempt” to give me an “Answer”, and most likely your going to be using scripture, and backing it with whatever faith it is you adhere to. If you were Apostolic you might, no you will quote me the scripture of Acts 2:38. If you are some other form of Christian belief, most likely your going to refer me to Romans 10:9 at some point, I would. Then, based on what you personally believe from there, your going to tell me to be baptized, and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, backing this all up with scripture. If you are really christian, and really living for GOD, and your life in private matches up with this, you will be very humble, and have a strong spirit of meekness all through this process.
If not, your probably going to become very angry, frustrated, and start wanting to argue with me about it. Then, eventually tell me your not going to talk to me anymore.
Yes, I have come to learn that you need to be a good Apologist, in order to talk with people in today's world. Probably now more then ever.
well,I think the bases are now set ,to start our discussion,you have covered a good section of behavior ,I must ad that reading verses is one thing but understanding the scriptures is another ,
Hi Samuel,
I agree Apologetics are good.
What do you want to discuss?God bless
Ed J (Joshua 22:34)
http://www.holycitybiblecode.org
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
