Apologetics
Hold on tight. I had an experience recently that I would to unpack.
I’ve been taking a college class with a bunch of mostly freshmen. So, let’s say 18-year-olds. The professor hasn’t required attentive listening all semester so there has been a lot of chatter behind me (I’m sitting in the front row because I want to hear the professor). Today, near the end of our last class, where we were reviewing material that would be on the test in 4 days, one of these kids asked aloud if people had heard that the CEO of United Healthcare was gunned down in Chicago (it had just happened the day before I wrote this). He went on to report that the killer was still at large, and he didn’t care if he was ever caught.
I snapped! I turned around and asked (using my stern teacher voice) if he was really ok with that man’s killer never being held to account for his crime. This kid implied that he was okay since he was the CEO of United Healthcare, an insurance company. I raised my voice (slightly) and said it was not okay to murder anyone, period. Then I regained my composure and returned my focus to the class work. As I was leaving, I started thinking of how much there was to unpack with that brief exchange.
“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,” - Ephesians 4:1-2 ESV
There is an absolute right and wrong. God gave us the 10 commandments and one of them is that you shouldn’t kill another person (even in your heart, which is much harder to avoid violating). If we start trying to justify that this person is ok to kill because of their actions, then it is a slippery slope to having no moral code.
“You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” - Luke 18:20
But you might argue that, regardless of your position on the subject, we have capital punishment for some crimes. I’d respond (and I have in debates) that capital punishment is the state (government) deciding that the crime the person committed is so atrocious that society is safer with that person permanently removed. It is not one person deciding this for him or herself.
Well, what about killing in war? Again, right or wrong, this is a state sponsored taking of another life. I personally believe, like pastors and elders, rulers will be accountable for their actions on behalf of the people they lead.
Okay, but what about self-defense? The reason we refer to killing in self-defense as self-defense is the distinction of defending yourself. The person decided that their life was in danger from another person’s actions and in the process of defending themselves, the other person dies. This is not an intentional murder.
What about accidental killings? Again, we recognize that in a true accidental killing, the person didn’t intend to kill another person and, while there may or may not be other consequences, it is not murder.
By now, you may be wondering why this devotion is titled “Apologetics”? I think the same thought process can be used in the defense of your faith - hopefully with more gentleness and respect than I used. Listen to what the person is saying and, more importantly, what they are implying. That kid wasn’t really arguing that murder was ok. He was implying that the CEO of an insurance company was evil, and he was ok that the CEO got killed.
Consider what arguments you may get back after you respond to the true issue. In this case, I started considering the possible objectives to my assertion that God determines the morality of right and wrong. My guess is that he might try to find examples where my position may differ from a clear-cut list of commandments.
But your most important and overriding tool is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, when you are defending your faith, will give you thoughts and words to help you respond. And remember, God is sovereign and has a plan. You may just be planting seeds that will bear fruit at some time in the future.
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” - James 1:2-8
God forgive my weakness in responding in a stern way to that young man. Grant me wisdom and patience to respond in gentleness and respect. To be a light in the world for you.
