Toughest Questions and Objections
Sent: 2007-11-30 07:47:22 (PST)
To: buzzard@bayardtayloronline.com
Subject: Toughest Questions and Objections
"Before you dive, get the big picture."
Fellow buzzards,
Christians are often accused of "giving answers to questions nobody is asking."
Something I've taken to doing -- that I highly recommend you do as well -- is to pas out 3x5 cards to groups of people and have them write "For Me" on one side and "From Others" on the other.
On the "For Me" side, I ask them to write down the one or two toughest questions or objections to Christian faith for them personally.
On the "From Others" side, I ask them to write down the one or two toughest questions or objections to Christian faith that they get from their friends, teachers, study, media, or whatever other source.
Interestingly, I've found (a) that the toughest questions and objections are pretty much the same from place to place and age group to age group; and that (b) almost all of them derive from unchallenged worldview assumptions.
Which shows again that this worldview stuff is super-important!
What I do with the list:
1. If I've done this exercise at the beginning of a series of talks, I try to tailor my remarks to the questons that are bothering people, showing exactly how the worldview questions relate to the worldview perspective I'm trying to get across.
2. If I do this exercise during a talk, I can use the cards as a jumping-off place for Q&A or group discussions.
3. If I do this exercise toward the end of a talk, I collect the list, type it up and share it with the group leader.
Here's a list of questions compiled from my recent speaking engagement with students from the University of Kentucky who came to a fall retreat on worldviews (September 21-23, 2007).
"FOR ME"
1. “The problem of evil” How can a perfect God create a sinful world while being all-knowing?
2. What make it (Christianity?) so great?
3. How is Biblical Christianity different from modern day interpretation and how we worship?
4. How do you keep the passion for God?
5. Is God ok with my doubt?
6. Will it ever be easier?
7. What does Christ say about Catholicism? How do you show someone that the Bible is all true?
8. Help me understand being baptized by the Holy Ghost
9. How to talk to a non-Christian friend about the Lord without completely blowing them (or perspective) off?
10. Why are some Christians so judgmental?
11. How are all religions related?
12. Does it really matter what denomination of Christianity one belongs to?
13. What is the BEST way to combat those who question our faith?
14. How do you fight your way out of a prayer slump?
15. How is the Trinity possible?
16. Did Jesus always struggle with the fact that He would be sacrificed for humankind?
17. How do I portray a Christian attitude all the time?
18. If it’s so irresistible, why do so many resist?
19. How do you combat the doubts that the Bible is real and from God?
20. Can you re-receive the Holy Spirit?
21. Can you lose your salvation?
22. How do I defend it from others?
23. How does Christianity fit in with other religions?
24. Why do different denom. Debate and argue all the time?
25. How do you hear God speak to you?
26. How do I get closer, more intimate with God?
27. Why election?
28. How exactly does the Trinity work?
"FROM OTHERS"
1. Christians are nothing but a bunch of hypocrites (6X)
2. If I’m happy, why do I need Jesus?
3. How can “good people” who aren’t Christians possibly not go to Heaven?
4. Why does a loving God allow suffering?
5. How do you know Christianity is the right religion?
6. How do we KNOW it’s true? (2X)
7. Christianity is all about rules
8. That most Christians are hypocrites
9. How do you know the Bible is from God?
10. What about the other religions? Where do they fit in?
11. How do you handle being in academia and Christian? Christian’s can’t be both intellectuals and Christians.
12. How can a book that old really apply?
13. Why do I need to believe in a God?
14. Many people believe that Christianity represents a hateful closed group
15. There’s too many things you can’t do if you are a Christian
16. How can there be a God with so much pain?
17. If someone consciously sins, they can’t be a Christian
18. Why should I turn my life to God?
19. Christianity is narrow minded
20. Why is Christianity different that other religions?
21. How can Christianity and science coincide (coexist?)
22. How do you know your God is the right God?
close
To: buzzard@bayardtayloronline.com
Subject: Toughest Questions and Objections
"Before you dive, get the big picture."
Fellow buzzards,
Christians are often accused of "giving answers to questions nobody is asking."
Something I've taken to doing -- that I highly recommend you do as well -- is to pas out 3x5 cards to groups of people and have them write "For Me" on one side and "From Others" on the other.
On the "For Me" side, I ask them to write down the one or two toughest questions or objections to Christian faith for them personally.
On the "From Others" side, I ask them to write down the one or two toughest questions or objections to Christian faith that they get from their friends, teachers, study, media, or whatever other source.
Interestingly, I've found (a) that the toughest questions and objections are pretty much the same from place to place and age group to age group; and that (b) almost all of them derive from unchallenged worldview assumptions.
Which shows again that this worldview stuff is super-important!
What I do with the list:
1. If I've done this exercise at the beginning of a series of talks, I try to tailor my remarks to the questons that are bothering people, showing exactly how the worldview questions relate to the worldview perspective I'm trying to get across.
2. If I do this exercise during a talk, I can use the cards as a jumping-off place for Q&A or group discussions.
3. If I do this exercise toward the end of a talk, I collect the list, type it up and share it with the group leader.
Here's a list of questions compiled from my recent speaking engagement with students from the University of Kentucky who came to a fall retreat on worldviews (September 21-23, 2007).
"FOR ME"
1. “The problem of evil” How can a perfect God create a sinful world while being all-knowing?
2. What make it (Christianity?) so great?
3. How is Biblical Christianity different from modern day interpretation and how we worship?
4. How do you keep the passion for God?
5. Is God ok with my doubt?
6. Will it ever be easier?
7. What does Christ say about Catholicism? How do you show someone that the Bible is all true?
8. Help me understand being baptized by the Holy Ghost
9. How to talk to a non-Christian friend about the Lord without completely blowing them (or perspective) off?
10. Why are some Christians so judgmental?
11. How are all religions related?
12. Does it really matter what denomination of Christianity one belongs to?
13. What is the BEST way to combat those who question our faith?
14. How do you fight your way out of a prayer slump?
15. How is the Trinity possible?
16. Did Jesus always struggle with the fact that He would be sacrificed for humankind?
17. How do I portray a Christian attitude all the time?
18. If it’s so irresistible, why do so many resist?
19. How do you combat the doubts that the Bible is real and from God?
20. Can you re-receive the Holy Spirit?
21. Can you lose your salvation?
22. How do I defend it from others?
23. How does Christianity fit in with other religions?
24. Why do different denom. Debate and argue all the time?
25. How do you hear God speak to you?
26. How do I get closer, more intimate with God?
27. Why election?
28. How exactly does the Trinity work?
"FROM OTHERS"
1. Christians are nothing but a bunch of hypocrites (6X)
2. If I’m happy, why do I need Jesus?
3. How can “good people” who aren’t Christians possibly not go to Heaven?
4. Why does a loving God allow suffering?
5. How do you know Christianity is the right religion?
6. How do we KNOW it’s true? (2X)
7. Christianity is all about rules
8. That most Christians are hypocrites
9. How do you know the Bible is from God?
10. What about the other religions? Where do they fit in?
11. How do you handle being in academia and Christian? Christian’s can’t be both intellectuals and Christians.
12. How can a book that old really apply?
13. Why do I need to believe in a God?
14. Many people believe that Christianity represents a hateful closed group
15. There’s too many things you can’t do if you are a Christian
16. How can there be a God with so much pain?
17. If someone consciously sins, they can’t be a Christian
18. Why should I turn my life to God?
19. Christianity is narrow minded
20. Why is Christianity different that other religions?
21. How can Christianity and science coincide (coexist?)
22. How do you know your God is the right God?
close
