Brett Kunkle

More Than a Feeling

Brett Kunkle — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 15:50:51 -0800

It was eighty against one. Not good odds but when I role-play an atheist with the typical Christian students, I like my chances. But these weren’t students. They were adults. And not just any adults, but Christian leaders on the East Coast. Pastors, youth pastors, parachurch leaders, school teachers, and administrators.

I launched into my “Why I’m Not a Christian” arguments. Debate quickly followed. From the start, a number of adults appealed to their experience of the Holy Spirit—“I know God is real because I’ve experienced His Spirit.” I quickly shot back, “How do you know that’s really God? Mormons say the same thing. Do you think they’re experiencing God as well?”

One man in particular was emphatic. “I just know it’s the Holy Spirit speaking to me.” He tried to bolster the argument, declaring God had spoken to him through the Bible as well. I responded with a typical atheist challenge. “The Bible tells us that God spoke to Abraham, asking him to sacrifice his son.” Then I looked him in the eye and questioned him, “If God asked you to kill your son, would you do it?” He joked about his son sitting there next to him, but he could not answer the challenge.

In fact, there were only two leaders out of those 80 who gave me real trouble during the exchange. Neither appealed to feelings or experience. The first, a youth pastor, launched into the moral argument for God’s existence. I tried to take the “morals are determined by society” route, but he calmly pinned me down. The second, a deacon and Sunday school teacher, offered a design argument, articulating Michael Behe’s argument from irreducible complexity. I quickly changed topics. Not only were their answers rational and intelligent, the men themselves were gracious and non-defensive.

Afterward, I spoke with these men who argued well for God’s existence. Do you know what they had in common? Both were careful students of apologetics. And both were huge Stand to Reason fans. The youth pastor revealed he has listened to every single STR podcast. The deacon was currently taking his daughter through our Tactics material. STR’s impact was unmistakable (Yeah, that’s a shameless plug for our work at STR but I don’t mind plugging the effectiveness of something we need a lot more of in the church).

Later, the man who claimed he just knew it was the Holy Spirit speaking to him approached me. He wanted my help. “My son, sitting next to me, is doubting everything.” Then he burst into tears. Embarrassed, he grabbed my arm and pulled me around the corner. As he wept bitterly, his son’s story emerged. A bright kid, grew up in a Christian home, led friends to the Lord, on fire for Christ, even preached in their church. But now, he questioned it all. He begged me, “Will you talk to him? Please, will you talk to him today?”

After my final teaching session, the son approached me, quickly launching into a laundry list of objections to Christianity. A lengthy conversation ensued, covering topics like objective moral truths, utilitarian ethical theory, Kant's categorical imperative, retributive justice, divine hiddenness, intelligent design, and the experience of the Holy Spirit. From the conversation, I guessed he was a graduate student in philosophy. Wrong. He was a high school senior.

His objections boiled down to this: “I’ve been taught that Christianity’s truthfulness is confirmed by my experience. I am no longer having powerful Christian experiences. In addition, I’m reading arguments against Christianity. I now wonder if it’s rational for me to remain a Christian.” He had just rehearsed his father’s argument for Christianity...and its shortcomings.

I listened, offered thoughts to reframe his view of Christianity’s truthfulness, put personal experience in its proper place, and introduced him to apologetics. He thanked me and we parted ways.

Through the entire experience, two things were clear. First, God is using the apologetic movement in powerful ways. The first two men confirmed this. Second, the defense of the faith is needed even more. The second two men confirmed this.

Apologetics is not optional to discipleship under Jesus. It's necessary:

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who ask you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..." (I Peter 3:15)

Can We Make the Pro-Life Movement "Cool?"

Brett Kunkle — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:55:06 -0800

Can We Make the Pro-Life Movement "Cool?"

Brett Kunkle — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:04:45 -0800

It depends. What do we mean by "cool" and what will we do to achieve it? But I think abortion is the greatest social justice issue of our time (despite a growing Evangelical aversion to the issue) and therefore, we've got to think carefully about how we communicate the pro-life message.

Check out part one of my "cool" discussion with the Life Training Institute crew, in their most recent podcast.

Thomas Nagel Likes Stephen Meyer's Book

Brett Kunkle — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:48:47 -0800

Nice. Prominent philosopher Thomas Nagel--no friend to Christianity--names Stephen Meyer's Signature in the Cell: DNA and the evidence for Intelligent Design as one of his books of the year:

Stephen C. Meyer’s Signature in the Cell: DNA and the evidence for Intelligent Design (HarperCollins) is a detailed account of the problem of how life came into existence from lifeless matter – something that had to happen before the process of biological evolution could begin. The controversy over Intelligent Design has so far focused mainly on whether the evolution of life since its beginnings can be explained entirely by natural selection and other non-purposive causes. Meyer takes up the prior question of how the immensely complex and exquisitely functional chemical structure of DNA, which cannot be explained by natural selection because it makes natural selection possible, could have originated without an intentional cause. He examines the history and present state of research on non-purposive chemical explanations of the origin of life, and argues that the available evidence offers no prospect of a credible naturalistic alternative to the hypothesis of an intentional cause. Meyer is a Christian, but atheists, and theists who believe God never intervenes in the natural world, will be instructed by his careful presentation of this fiendishly difficult problem.

Fair-minded and reputable observers like Nagel demonstrate that it is unconscionable for critics to simply dismiss ID. Meyer's argument is powerful. The book is an Amazon best seller. Go buy it. Now.

Who's Waiting for Your Kids?

Brett Kunkle — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:29:22 -0700

In a few short years, students will leave our homes and graduate from our churches. They'll head off to college. Who's waiting for them? What kinds of people will they meet? And are they ready?

We Live at the Mercy of Our Ideas

Brett Kunkle — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:00:03 -0700

I recently spoke with a youth worker who told me he was not teaching theology and apologetics to the students in his youth group because he was focusing on “practical Christian living.” Certainly he’s well-intentioned but with this approach, I have no confidence much practical Christian living is going to happen in the lives of those students. This dichotomy between beliefs and behavior represents a profound misunderstanding amongst Christians and not only does it harm our young people but the church-at-large. Here’s why.

We are what we think. Recent discoveries in neuroscience make this clear. Change your thoughts and you can change your brain chemistry. In turn, these brain alterations affect how we deal with things like anger and anxiety. False ways of thinking lead to destructive patterns of living. When young people have false ideas about God, His requirements, the authority of Scripture or the meaning of life, certain behaviors follow. We live at the mercy of our ideas.

Of course, before neuroscience came along God had been telling humanity this from the beginning. His Word is filled with instruction about the relationship between thought and action:

Hosea 4:5 & 6 – You stumble day and night, and the prophets stumble with you...my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.
Romans 1:28 & 29 – Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness...
Romans 12:2 – Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Colossians 1:9 & 10 – For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God...
II Timothy 2:25 – Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth.

We always live up—or down—to our ideas. If we simply target our teaching at people’s behavior, little transformation will follow. The root cause—false thinking—still remains and thus, unwise living and sinful behavior will continue.

As we teach apologetics and theology, God changes people’s pattern of thinking. They discover the truth about God. They discover the truth about themselves. They discover why those things are true. Minds are renewed by the truth and the truth transforms (Romans 12:2).

Here's a really practical step to renewing your mind--attend one of the following November conferences:

The Case for Christianity (California) -- November 6 & 7
National Apologetics Conference (North Carolina) -- November 13 & 14
Apologetics Institute (Rhode Island) -- November 13 & 14
EPS Apologetics Conference (Louisiana) -- November 19-21

Questioning Evangelism

Brett Kunkle — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:57:12 -0700

Christians talk too much. At least, they feel the pressure to.

I have a talk entitled “Why I Am a Christian,” where I discuss the primary reason we ought to follow Christ: because He’s the Truth. Christianity (in the sense of C.S. Lewis’ “mere Christianity”) is true and we have good reasons to think so. But sometimes, when people hear this they feel pressure to have all the right answers for their non-believing friends. I hear the stress in their voices when they ask, “So what should I say to my non-Christian friends?” I have some advice.

First, start with questions. Oftentimes, Christians think evangelism means we talk and others listen. So, the believer is supposed to have a polished “Gospel presentation” and a finely tuned response to all objections. But this approach is undignifying to non-Christians and it completely ignores the unique questions an individual might have. And it’s why some Christians are really good at answering questions no one is asking. Francis Schaeffer’s words are instructive here: “If I have only an hour with someone, I will spend the first 55 minutes asking questions and finding out what is troubling their heart and mind, and then the last 5 minutes I will share something of the truth.”

I encourage students to start with Stand to Reason’s first two “Columbo” questions:

#1 -- What do you mean by that?

#2 -- How did you come to that conclusion?

The first question gives you the opportunity to really get to know the other person. They are not an evangelistic target. They’re not a means to an end. They’re a valuable human being made in the image of God and deserving of dignity and respect. Plus, this question gives you more information about what they believe, rather than assuming you already know.

The second question takes the pressure off you by putting the burden-of-proof on them. Everyone believes something and you’re simply asking why they believe what they believe. It’s not just Christians who need to give reasons for their beliefs.

Notice something. These two questions require absolutely no knowledge on your part. You can use them in your very next conversation. So, the pressure is off a bit. You don’t have to have all the right answers or a slick presentation. Just start with questions.

Second, have a modest goal for your conversations. When an opportunity for a “God conversation” arises, don’t feel like you have to get that person to the Gospel in the next 10 minutes. Instead, simply attempt to put a stone in their shoe.

Christians feel pressure to get to the cross in every conversation. But that’s an unrealistic goal. The cross is utter foolishness to an atheist in your first conversation. Rather, a more realistic goal is to put a stone in their shoe. It’s the idea that you give some information that bothers them, causes them to think (notice, it's the information that bothers them, not you!). And in the next conversation, they may want to know more. If you put enough stones in, who knows, you may even get them to give up some of their false beliefs, moving them toward God’s truth. Of course, if you get to the cross in the first conversation, great. Go there. But usually the soil of the heart needs time to be tilled before it’s receptive to Christ’s message of reconciliation. Indeed, it may take years of tilling.

This advice is usually followed by an audible sigh of relief. Pressure relieved. Of course, some pressure is good but not when it’s paralyzing. We don’t want Christians sitting on the bench, we want them in the game. We need to be having deep, profound, meaningful conversations with non-believing friends and family. Hopefully, good questions and a realistic goal will move us in that direction.

Wet Blanket Believers

Brett Kunkle — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:02:03 -0700

I wish I could've hung out with Thomas Aquinas. He must've been a riot. The name may conjure stuffy intellectual images but it shouldn't. In his Summa Theologica, he draws our attention to an oft-ignored virtue: wit.

“Jokes and plays are words and gestures that are not instructive but merely seek to give lively pleasure. We should enjoy them. They are governed by the virtue of witty gaiety to which Aristotle refers (Ethics II28aI) and which we call pleasantness. A ready-witted man is quick with repartee and turns speech and action to light relief.”

I could totally see Thomas throwing down some sarcastic barbs at fellow members of the Domincan Order. Later Aquinas says:

“It is against reason to be burdensome to others, showing no amusement and acting as a wet blanket. Those without a sense of fun, who never say anything ridiculous, and are cantankerous with those who do, these are vicious, and are called grumpy and rude.”

Unfortunately, we've got too many "wet blanket" Christians who need to lighten up a bit. Are there serious concerns in today's culture? Of course. But we've gotta make sure we're dying on the right hills, over the right issues. And even amidst our serious work, we should be playful, humorous, and comical.

I've been hanging out with some atheists in Berkeley over the last few years. We have them come hang with our groups of young people and basically lay down their arguments against God. Serious stuff. If what they say is true, it's time to abandon the faith. However, as these atheists have become my friends, I just try to be myself, which oftentimes tends toward humor and sarcasm. And my atheist friends appreciate it.

For instance, before they speak to our group, I'll hand them a bottle of water, so they don't suffer from a parched mouth. But as I hand it to them, I'll say something like, "Be careful. The water might burn a bit as it goes down. It's holy water, after all." They laugh. I laugh. It lightens the mood. They see I don't hate them (because you typically don't joke around with people you dislike). And I'm pretty sure they'd never characterize me as "grumpy" or "rude."

So Christian, remember to lighten up a bit more and laugh often. Indeed, you and I ought to experience more joy and laughter than anyone else. And that may speak much louder to our non-believing friends than many of the things we could say with our lips.

A Plurality of Pastors

Brett Kunkle — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Last week I wrote about the liabilities of the "Senior Pastor" model. The biblical text supports a model of church leadership that includes a plurality of pastor-elders, rather than a singular leader. Throughout the New Testament a pattern of plural leadership emerges:

Acts 14:23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. (It is important to note that there were elders—plural form—in every church—singular form.)
Acts 15:2 And when Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate with them, the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue.
Acts 20:17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church.
Acts 20:28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with his own blood.
Philippians 1:1 Paul and Timothy, bond servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons.
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.
1 Timothy 5:17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
Titus 1:5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might set in order what remains, and appoint elders in every city as I directed you.
James 5:14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
1 Peter 5:1-3 Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight no under compulsion, but voluntarily…nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.

The biblical evidence speaks for itself. The normative practice of leadership in the early church included a plurality of pastor-elders.

Liabilities of the Senior Pastor Model

Brett Kunkle — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:21:43 -0700

This is sad. Another pastor taken down by sin. Now, I think these cases are the exception. Our churches are largely filled with good men and women who lead. But the fall of pastors is still too prevalent and it has me thinking about the "Senior Pastor" model. The liabilities are many:

#1 - The senior pastor is looked to primarily for leadership that reflects charisma rather than character. When there’s a single primary pastor, whether consciously or unconsciously, he alone is relied upon to be the “face” of the ministry. And in our culture, it’s charisma not character that makes a lasting first impression on people. Therefore, many churches depend upon his celebrity status to represent their ministry. New attenders, enamored by a personality, choose to join a church primarily on that basis. Indeed, in many cases a senior pastor’s character is an afterthought.

#2 - The body of believers is much more susceptible to the development of an unhealthy co-dependence on the senior pastor. The “Senior Pastor” model, when combined with the widespread dysfunction found in American culture, encourages a co-dependent relationship between pastor and parishoner that is detrimental to the spiritual health of the body. Thus, the typical believer experiences an unhealthy need to connect with the senior pastor on some level before he or she can connect to that particular church.

# 3 - The personality of the senior pastor begins to dominate church life. When there is so much dependence placed upon a single leader, his strengths and weaknesses tend to shape the body life of the church. His strengths become the emphasis of the church, no matter how unbalanced. In addition, his weaknesses, unable to be counter-balanced by other leaders, are likely to become the weaknesses of the church.

#4 - The senior pastor model encourages the body of believers to become spectators. Since the senior pastor is the “professional” minister who is paid to do the work of the ministry, the body is enabled to sit back and watch him and his staff do their job. Thus, the large majority of significant ministry is carried out by the paid staff of a particular church.

#5 - When a senior pastor falls, the damage is immense. When there is so much dependence upon a single leader, the effects of his sin and shortcomings are multiplied exponentially. In contrast to the elevated status of the senior pastor, the lesser roles of associate pastor or support staff do little to mitigate against the damage to the body.

Could it be these liabilities are the result of an unbiblical model of church leadership? A biblical model should provide us with a structure that mitigates against these weaknesses. I'm sure that church in Compton is going to be reeling for some time.