Live-stream: Can Christians use Apologetics & Polemics?

In this livestream, Al Fadi and Jay discuss whether we can use Apologetics and Polemics with Muslims. Apologetics is not really questioned by Christians, because almost every Bible school and Seminary teaches it. It is Polemics which Christian tend not to like, since the view of "loving the other" here in the West is a very European definition, and not Biblical. For most Christians here in the West, to love someone means to never raise your voice, never say an unkind word, never debate, and certainly never use polemics, which is not only artificial, it is dishonest, especially when you engage with someone, like Muslims, who are more honest in their interactions with Christians, and almost always begin the conversation with Polemics against Christianity. They are the most transparent in their reaction to what we believe. And the reason may have something to do with their definition of Love, which starts from the premise that the best way to show one's love is to be honest with them, and say whenever someone has said or done something which you don't agree with. For that reason both Jay and Al Fadi are both agreed that we can use Polemics, and especially at this time, not only because it is so conducive for public engagement with Muslims, but because in order to do that engagement effectively, you need to first break down the strong-holds of Islam, before you can preach the gospel to them, which is the primary reason for Polemics. They looked for Biblical models of polemics and went to 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 where Paul clearly said that we were to "Use arguments and take captive every thought and make it obedient to Jesus Christ". They also used the example of Jesus in the temple, overturning the tables of the money-changers, and Matthew 23 where the entire chapter show Jesus employing polemics against the Pharisees. Jay went to Acts 17-19 to prove that Paul's ministry in Berea, Capadocia, Laodocia, and Ephesus was very polemical, and that was the reason he was kicked out of sinagogues, thrown into prison, whipped, beaten up, almost stoned to death twice, caused a riot in Ephesus, and finally killed in Rome. All of these very violent reactions would only make sense if he was using Polemics.  © Pfander Centre for Apologetics - US, 2020 (27,880)