1 peter 3:15

[chang50]

Why would they want to?

Why not?

It's not exactly a hospitable environment you've set up to trap them in.

Honest debate was more what I had in mind.

[Symmetry]

Why would they want to?

Why not?

It's not exactly a hospitable environment you've set up to trap them in.

Honest debate was more what I had in mind.

Really? You came across as trying to set up a trap so that you could use a set of arguments you'd already prepared.

[chang50]

Why would they want to?

Why not?

It's not exactly a hospitable environment you've set up to trap them in.

Honest debate was more what I had in mind.

Really? You came across as trying to set up a trap so that you could use a set of arguments you'd already prepared.

I'm sorry you have such a low opinion of me but its moot anyway as it appears hardly anyone is prepared to pick up the gauntlet contrary to what seems a clear obligation to do so..btw did I respond inhospitably to swimmerdude or 2dimes or attempt to trap them?

[Symmetry]

Why would they want to?

Why not?

It's not exactly a hospitable environment you've set up to trap them in.

Honest debate was more what I had in mind.

Really? You came across as trying to set up a trap so that you could use a set of arguments you'd already prepared.

I'm sorry you have such a low opinion of me but its moot anyway as it appears hardly anyone is prepared to pick up the gauntlet contrary to what seems a clear obligation to do so..btw did I respond inhospitably to swimmerdude or 2dimes or attempt to trap them?

I don't think you're all that sorry.

Perhaps more people will reply if you're more sincere about what you want.

[BigBallinStalin]

chang50, I wouldn't recommend getting bogged with Symmetry because of the diminishing returns (i.e. posts with Sym quickly become too costly with each additional post).

[BigBallinStalin]

To turn this around, let's examine the passage:

1 Peter 3:15

New International Version (NIV)

15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

here

1. Worship Christ
2. Prepare to answer questions about your Christian 'hope'

(A) 'Hope' as in hope of eternal salvation?

3. But be nice about it.


Is that about it?

[Symmetry]

chang50, I wouldn't recommend getting bogged with Symmetry because of the diminishing returns (i.e. posts with Sym quickly become too costly with each additional post).

Chang50, we're not talking to BigBallinStalin anymore, come and hang out on my side of the schoolyard.

[swimmerdude99]

I responded... care to reply to that?

[BigBallinStalin]

I responded... care to reply to that?

I'd be interested in chang50's reply too!

The idea of getting one's strength from God (but not one's self) stems all the way from St. Augustine in the 4th century AD or so (recall his writings on the City of God and the City of Earth). The impact and durability of his ideas are truly amazing!

[Ray Rider]

I'm curious,how seriously do the Christians on this forum,or in general, take the obligation as expressed in their holy book, ie 1 peter 3;15?As I read it,it is a call to explain to all who ask,the reason for the hope in their hearts.

Well if you look back over the history of this forum, Christians have showed up in debates and discussions almost unfailingly when people express a sincere desire to learn about Jesus and the Bible. Some have even become Christians partially as a result of the witness here (such as CoffeCream here couple years back). You do, however, need to read that verse in context with the rest of the New Testament, especially the parable of casting pearls before swine (wasting a precious message on scorners and mockers); Jesus' message of the sower and the rocky ground and fertile ground (Mark 4:1-10); and Jesus' example throughout his ministry which primarily focused on the fertile ground of the laypeople around Him. For me personally, that fertile ground is the people who I interact with around me every day at college, at the places where I volunteer, or on the workplace throughout the summer. For example, when I was working at the lab this summer, some of my coworkers were joking around about some dirty sexual act and asking each other if they had done it. I ignored it until eventually my Chinese friend asked me, I said no, at which the rest of my coworkers snickered and reminded him that I was a Christian. He asked if I went to church, where I went, and if he could come with me. It turned out he had come from China a couple years back where he had been force-fed atheism his whole life, and he wanted to know more about this God of the Bible so he could maybe become a Christian. There is a hunger there and yearning to know more; Christians are happy to hear this and share when the door is open!

However throughout my time here on this forum, I have found that generally the regulars here on the forum already heard the gospel message, have checked out the arguments for Christianity, but for various reasons have chosen to reject them. I have no need to waste my time repeating what is already open and available to any earnest seeker; especially when there are resources readily available which can explain the reasons to believe much more clearly than I can. This isn't like Saudi Arabia or some other repressive country where most people have never heard the good news of Jesus. Many here actually have come from a Christian background and turned to atheism/agnosticism as a as a reaction to their strict upbringing or hypocritical parents/family/others around them claiming to be Christians but not living the life. To people like that, the best witness is usually to just live a normal Christian life next to them, be there for them when they're in need, and be ready to share when the opportunity arises. Otherwise I might end up chasing them even farther from the Truth by sharing my faith when it's not wanted or by feeding one of the many trolls who is quite happy to ridicule and mock any religious person. Also there's the aspect of people who try to respond to anything that has the possibility of being contrary to their beliefs and end up talking about things which they know nothing about; take a look at some of the evolution/evidence for God threads if you're wondering what I'm talking about. I personally try to avoid that kinda thing because it doesn't help anyone either.

In addition, if you're wondering why a Christian like myself doesn't post around here more frequently, I'm taking engineering in college right now and it's busy enough as it is. Real life should always takes precedence over an an online forum. I tend to spend an extraordinary amount of time trying to perfect every post I make here, so unfortunately this site ends up being one of the biggest time-wasters of my life. It's hard to stay away, though...as you may have noticed, I usually post a few times, realize how much time I've spent on the forum, and then leave for a period of time until I get lured back in again by some interesting discussion.

I responded... care to reply to that?

I'd be interested in chang50's reply too!

The idea of getting one's strength from God (but not one's self) stems all the way from St. Augustine in the 4th century AD or so (recall his writings on the City of God and the City of Earth). The impact and durability of his ideas are truly amazing!

I started reading the City of God online a few years back, but had a hard time seeing the application or carry-over to the present day and didn't end up finishing it. I keep hearing about how much theology developed as a result of his writings...I should look more at it again sometime soon.

[Army of GOD]

Austin 3:16

[BigBallinStalin]

I responded... care to reply to that?

I'd be interested in chang50's reply too!

The idea of getting one's strength from God (but not one's self) stems all the way from St. Augustine in the 4th century AD or so (recall his writings on the City of God and the City of Earth). The impact and durability of his ideas are truly amazing!

I started reading the City of God online a few years back, but had a hard time seeing the application or carry-over to the present day and didn't end up finishing it. I keep hearing about how much theology developed as a result of his writings...I should look more at it again sometime soon.

I'd recommend Great Political Thinkers. It gives you the main points, and you get to read the more important excerpts.

[Funkyterrance]

Very honest posts, swimmerdude99 and Ray Rider. Thanks, guys.
I myself have my own opinions on the subject but I am entirely too abrasive for it to be beneficial to inject myself too heavily into this thread. I'm happy to let the experts handle this one.

[chang50]

I responded... care to reply to that?

You fulfilled your obligation and without prejudice,that is you did not prejudge my motives,so kudos to you.Obviously we have reached different conclusions about the nature of reality but that's ok,we are only discussing ideas after all.If only more adherents of theism were as straight..

[2dimes]

Well part of the issue I'm having here is I don't read it as,

Always be prepared to write an answer to everyone who asks you ambiguous leading questions on random internet gaming forums in threads where some will troll and others will bump the thread years later, when they're ready to quote you out of context, for the purpose of attacking you, or trying to make your statment look foolish, to give the reason for the hope that you have.

The other part is over the years, I've watched even the strongest Christians here, that went on well beyond what was reasonable and managed to continually give honest answers to people that tended to just respond with. "That's nice that you beleive in something that can't be proven but it just means you're not as smart as us." until they finally had to give up and leave.

Looks like we've run out of them for now. Maybe there will be some new ones sometime, unless they were all raptured.