Why the Debates? Shouldn’t the Gospel Stand on its Own?

Many of you have noticed that we’ve been having some unusual discussion lately at milestoneworship.   For whatever reason, my video about the Maher film Religulous seemed to strike a bit of a chord over on Youtube, and I realized that a I was not using this site for one integral part of Christian worship: evangelism.  This idea really troubled me, and so put together another video about Christianity.  This second video elicited some skeptical response, as you may have been aware.

To some of us, these debates are unappealing, because-let’s face it-most of the time teen-aged boys overloaded on testosterone are the only ones doing the debating.  Debates between Christianity and Atheism quickly become compensation contests, with each of the participants becoming more concerned with winning the debate than actually being correct.

What is the point, then, in my devoting so much time to arguments for and against Christianity? Those of you that are Christians don’t need more convincing (or do you?), and those of you who are skeptical enough to classify yourselves as atheist will only use my arguments as ammo for further attacks on our dear faith.  Why not just ignore the controversy, preach the Gospel to those who hear, and move on from those who won’t?

The chief reason that I think it is important to engage in rigorous and scholarly contention for the faith is not that I intend to convert those who I am having the discussion with; people so intrenched in their beliefs as most atheists aren’t going to break down in the middle of the discussion, hear the chorus of “Softly and Tenderly” in their heads, and fall on their knees in repentance.  That’s not likely to happen.   Instead, I involve myself in these wearying discussions for those watching in the wings.

Since Greek times people organized themselves socially around argument.  People have always been gravitationally drawn to a fight, and most of us are strangely intrigued by a good debate.  These spectators are often not as decided or dogmatic regarding the issues discussed than the opposing sides of the debate, and often minds are changed through the convincing arguments on one side or the other.  This is one crucial reason I think it important for Christians to publically and rationally present the Gospel to people who would malign it.