Tools of Apologetics 1.21.4
How to Use Apologetics
Public Or Private Debate
While private discussion plays a significant role in Christian Apologetics, all Apologists receive plenty of invitations to public debates. Many of them carelessly rush into debates without evaluating the occasion, place, topic, audience and freedom of presenting one’s views. Many Christian Apologists soon discover that in their haste they have painted themselves into a corner. This frequently happens when the programme is organized and totally controlled by the critics. They then make the first presentation, steal the bulk of the time, leave little time for Christian Apologists and conclude the programme before the Christian can even complete an introduction. Once the curtains are down, nobody from the audience will stop to listen to them. Even if a couple of them do stop, they will find the sound-system, lights and ventilation (AC) of the auditorium turned off. The security might also arrive to evict them and lock the hall. Christians expect fair play, but many an Apologist has discovered in the past that the world of the opponents is not controlled by such expectations. For them it is war and they will try to win it by fair means or foul — probably foul.
I know many Christians who fell into this kind of traps. The great eagerness with which people approached them made them believe it would be fair play and an easy battle, only to discover that no combat is possible when the enemy controls the ground, communication, transportation and supplies. Humiliated, many of them returned totally upset. I myself had a similar experience but in a controlled manner. A few years ago I was visiting a town for ministry when a Muslim Apologist happened to have a massive meeting close by. That evening a few local Muslims came in a Coach and urged me to accompany them and listen to that man. I accompanied them as I was free that evening. However, since they knew of my presence and also my location in the auditorium, the organisers came to the stage towards the end of the programme, announced my name, and declared that I was there to ask about my doubts and get an answer from the Muslim apologist. This was an attempt to trap me into opening my mouth without giving me an opportunity to refute his statements. The only other option was to remain silent and be counted incompetent. The Lord gave me wisdom and I stood up, took the wireless mike in my hand and said, "You people brought me on a Coach as a guest to listen to the lecture and not to ask any questions. I would appreciate if you would not play any tricks with me now". Everyone heard my comments because I was on the mike and the organizers hastily came to apologize. The sound system was also promptly turned off lest I make any more comments.
Christian Apologists should be careful not to jump into public debates. They should carefully weigh everything before they accept an invitation. On the other hand, they can more readily get involved in private debates because nobody can invoke mob-mentality to create a difficult situation. Also, in private small-group discussions it is easier to control the situation. One can always insist that the opposite side answers and not evade pointed questions by the Christian apologist. Nobody can cut off the Apologist by turning off sound systems and tactics like that.
The best situation would be for a sceptic or critic to discuss one-to-one with the Apologist. Another good situation would be where one to five inquirers and perplexed people ask about all their doubts and discuss their questions with Apologists. In such an atmosphere they can answer questions one at a time, answer a question under consideration completely and then move on to the next question. That is always the best approach whether it is a one-to-one discussion or a small-group discussion.
The Troublemakers
Every Apologist dreams of discussions and debates where a direct and straightforward discussion takes place, where everyone is courteous and logical in their assessment. However, this never happens, specially when the audience is large. At least a few of them will disturb the meeting by whispering to those on their left and right, by giggling at the most inappropriate moments, and even by disturbing others. Experienced public speakers control such behaviour in many ways and the same needs to be done here also. However, there is one kind of troublemaker who can destroy the most well-crafted presentation. They are the Persistent Interrogators and Cross-examiners.
Persistent Interrogators make their appearance in almost all public meetings. They thrive on asking questions and putting down the speaker. They might be people who keep studying all their lives but who are never able to come to final answers about any topic. Or they might be ones who have the outward form of dedicated Christians, but who are rebels deep inside. There are a great many Christians of this kind whom everyone considers very dedicated due to the outward form of their Christians life, but who resent the Word of God deep inside their hearts. These people become miserable when the reliability of the Scripture is defended and they lash out against the speakers. If anyone points to them that they should not have been so blunt or harsh, they escape using the pretext that they asked in such a manner and put forward such questions because "many others" have these doubts but could not gather the courage to ask these questions. There are also many pseudo-intellectuals who raise a whole bunch of trivial or irrelevant questions.
Persistent Interrogators can disrupt the smooth flow of the Apologetic presentation. They frustrate the speaker, irritate the audience and create the eventual impression that Apologists are incompetent, and that they were no match for the challenge posed. All of this, because of a couple of irrelevant questions. Thus as soon Apologists spot this type of person, they should publicly say something like this, "Your questions require personal attention from me.
They also require more time than is available here. So please meet me in private at the end of this programme and we can discuss your doubts for any length of time. Others can also join us in this in-depth discussion". Once such persons have been silenced, the Apologist can concentrate upon the more genuine inquirers. What’s more, the persistent interrogators (who do not want to be convinced anyway) will not turn up for a private discussion. They thrive upon public attention and once Apologists refuse to give them a chance to show off, they will drop the sham of discussion and will take their business elsewhere. However, there is a rare kind of persistent interrogator who will be delighted at the offer of private discussion and who will come for such a discussion. They are genuine inquirers.
There are always a small number of genuine inquirers who wish to ask a load of questions. Trying to help them in a public meeting will distract others who wait for a chance to air their doubts, but whose opportunity is denied by the incessant questions of the Persistent Interrogators. Thus it is always better to invite them to a private discussion, which they will appreciate. There might be many other kinds of troublemakers and all of them are to be handled almost the same way. Do not give them an opportunity to show off in front of people and their enthusiasm will vanish.
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