If you are intimidated to share the Gospel, contradict lies, or address controversy, Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions by Gregory Koukl is the book for you! Not only does it give the tools needed to have a respectful conversation, but also it gives ideas and examples to hone the skills it teaches.
I remember reading Tactics while I was struggling through another book that was full of logical fallacies (errors in reasoning). Koukl’s explanations and examples helped me identify those errors and gave me the tools to clarify my position. But the purpose of his book is to help us engage in real-time dialog.
As a general rule, probably because political correctness has so permeated our interactions, we think that arguing is wrong, sinful even. There is a difference between an argument and a fight. The truth is we should, especially as Christians, be able to argue our positions with knowledge, wisdom, and respect. Scripture tells us that we should always be ready with an answer to defend our faith (1 Peter 3:15).
In his book, Koukl provides the reader with tools to implement when having controversial conversations. This could be witnessing to an unbeliever, having a conversation about a culturally-relevant topic with someone on the other side of the issue, or debating the finer points of theology with a brother or sister in Christ. Koukl gives the reader specific examples and “tactics” to have a successful and respectful exchange.
One of my favorite principles discussed in the book is what I affectionately call “the pebble principle.” Our job as Christians is not to convince others they are wrong and we are right. Our job is to put a pebble in their shoe—you know, a thought they can’t get out of their heads that keeps rolling around until they have to do some research and find out the answer.
Koukl reminds us that “it’s not [our] job to defeat their claim. It’s their job to defend it.” As Christians, we often get caught up in trying to prove them wrong when they haven’t given any evidence that they are right. He reinforces this idea by demonstrating that questions are more effective than statements.
In fact, most of his book is dedicated to teaching the reader how to ask the right questions in different situations. The goal is not to “trap them” but to gain insight into their worldview and lead them to recognize its failure. This opens the door to share Christ and the consistent biblical worldview.
Another important lesson from the book is the difference between opinions and facts. Koukl reminds us there is a difference between giving an explanation and giving evidence. Our society often forgets that Christians are not the only ones who need to answer for their beliefs. Whoever makes the claim must be able to defend it, and his opinion is not proof. Critics of Christianity rarely are prepared to defend their own “faith,” but instead focus on attacking.
Not only does Koukl give us tactics to use in dialog like asking leading questions, identifying self-defeating arguments, and getting down to the facts of the claim, but also he teaches us what the other side will do to distract from their claim like attacking our character, deferring to an “expert,” or using disproven data. And he gives all of these tactics clever names to help us remember them!
He ends the book with practical steps and ideas to prepare ahead of time so when we have the opportunity to dialog, we are equipped. But he makes an important point when he says, “Know your Bible well enough to give an accurate answer. Tactics are not a substitute for knowledge. Cleverness without truth is manipulation.”
This book is an excellent addition to an apologetics, worldview, or logic curriculum.
If you’ve kept up with my posts, you know that I recently read Eric Metaxas’s biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and I couldn’t help but see the similarities to Bondarenko’s account. As Christians in a quickly shifting culture, it behooves us to read these books and prepare ourselves to stand for our faith in the face of true persecution.
Bondarenko grew up under the shadow of prejudice against his family’s faith. He was prepared to answer the questions, face the interrogations, and go underground when necessary. Every time the prison guards nearly broke him, God gave him strength whether it was through an interaction with another inmate, a communication from a loved one, or even a vision in the privacy of his solitary cell.
In the midst of his suffering, we get the privilege of witnessing a love story as Bondarenko met and married Maria. As his family grew, the danger did not diminish, and Maria was forced to raise their children alone for many years as Bondarenko evaded the authorities and was was ultimately captured for a third prison term. One of the most moving scenes in the book is when his family visited him in prison.
In the aftermath of the Soviet Union’s collapse, Bondarenko has returned to the prison and the KGB office where he faced down the enemy. He has used his experience to encourage others to stand for their faith. I imagine one day he will hear those precious words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”
Greci takes what can be a complicated topic, the attributes of God, and puts it into language that is easy to understand, giving relatable and vulnerable examples from her own life and experience. While she doesn’t sugarcoat the topics in each chapter, she provides hope for each difficult discussion. The attributes of God discussed in the book include His love, righteousness, faithfulness, and holiness, to name a few.
My favorite chapter is the second one. In it, Greci points out something I try to communicate every chance I get: “This life here on earth is just the beginning, yet we tend to live like it is the be-all, end-all.” When we keep our eyes on eternity rather than on this temporal world, it changes the things we think, say, and do. It allows us to understand what true love is as we interact with this confused world.
While Greci quotes a few people who have demonstrated a lack of true biblical wisdom, the quotes she uses in no way undermine the truth of the message she presents.
This book is an introduction to the attributes of God and a good springboard for deeper study. It is great for someone who is trying to find her footing, not sure where she stands with God or how a relationship with Him should affect her. But if you are a seasoned Christian and have a strong relationship with the Lord, this book could serve as a reminder of the first things, getting back to the basics, as they say.
In a society that seems to be disintegrating before our eyes, Lutzer helps us identify the root causes and gives us tips for combating it from a Christian worldview.
Erwin Lutzer’s book, We Will Not Be Silenced: Responding Courageously to Our Culture’s Assault on Christianity, is one of the best explanations of the current situation in America and the direction our country is going that I have read. It is an encouragement to course correct as soon as possible, and it gives specific ways Christians can and should stand against the tide of the culture.
While I struggled through some sections where he and I have a different perspective (I address these at the end of the post), Lutzer made connections I haven’t found in other materials I’ve read on this subject.
Lutzer gives a thorough and clear history of cultural Marxism and how it is gaining ground in the United States. Beginning with the destruction of the nuclear family, Marxism really took root in feminism, encouraging mothers to work outside of the home and allowing others (namely the public education system) to raise their children. The key to Marxism is oppression. Once someone is convinced she is a victim, she is easier to motivate into revolution.
He makes this connection even further when he addresses the link between broken families or single parents and Marxism. He says, “Children without family roots can be more easily directed toward secular values and state benefits. The state can do for them what their parents failed to do” (27).
This victimhood formed the basis for the flourishing of feminism, abortion, the sexual revolution, homosexuality, and transgenderism. These movements have not happened organically but have been planned and executed by those who seek to destroy America as we have known it.
Lutzer dives into the reasons behind the rewriting of American history. He says, “…when revolutionaries want to remake a country, they vilify the past to give legitimacy to their vision of the future” (42). In order to make those in the next generation buy into the “necessary” changes, the Marxist must convince them our country is founded on terrible principles and must be destroyed and rebuilt. There can be nothing positive in our history in order for this revolution to take root.
“Absurdity is no longer an argument against a point of view. If you are progressive, you have to detach from reality and self-righteously embrace the bizarre. This is the world of alternate facts, and the price one has to pay to see evil as good and good as evil.”
Quote by Erwin W. Lutzer
Other connections Lutzer makes include the link between Marxism and fighting climate change as well as opening the American border and defunding the police. But Marxism is never about the issue it claims; it is always about power.
We have redefined words and created new terms to ensure that the conflict between races, classes, and genders will never be resolved. We must remember that, “In CRT [Critical Race Theory a.k.a. social justice],…the goal is not to foster unity or common ground but to assign blame and ensure that people will be put into categories so that tensions between the groups can be enflamed and maintained” (80). Ultimately, “No common ground is allowed because that would diminish the extent to which some groups have been oppressed. And no concessions are ever enough” (81). Lutzer reminds us that, “Only through the cross can we show [the world] what reconciliation looks like” (100).
Throughout the book, Lutzer upholds the biblical definition of man (and woman) as one made in the image of God, as well as the biblical instruction on gender, marriage, family, and the church. He reminds us that we must remain faithful in the face of the blatant lies of the culture. He is especially concerned with the sexualization of children: “Perhaps nowhere do we see the work of Satan in America as clearly as we do in the sexualization of children—destroying their identity, confusing their gender, and creating unresolved guilt and self-hatred” (156).
Lutzer also dives into the world of economics, explaining why capitalism, while flawed, is rooted in principles that align with Scripture. He takes on the proponents of socialism by explaining how it will always inevitably fail.
One connection Lutzer makes that had not been presented to me before is the mind-blowing alignment of the social justice movement with Islam. This is mind-blowing because there is no more “intolerant” religion than Islam, yet we find the very things it condemns have aligned with it. Why? Because the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Islam calls for the destruction of America. Since there is a shared goal, they can work together to that end. However, the partnership cannot last. But when the dust settles, which one will stand victorious?
While I love this book and think every Christian should read it, I did have a few moments of disagreement with the author. Lutzer seems to lean a little heavily in support of the idea of systemic racism in America. He says that “we are not yet where we want to be in race relations; the failures of the past must be acknowledged, and forgiveness and reconciliation are the way forward” (51). He goes on to say that we must “take personal and collective responsibility” (54), yet he doesn’t define or delineate exactly how this should take place. Finally, he says that “Those who are white need to be sensitive to the concerns of their brothers and sisters from other ethnic backgrounds” (63), but he never extends the same courtesy to “white” brothers and sisters.
Along the same lines, Lutzer’s wording around the topic of George Floyd’s death lays the blame completely on the police officer. He calls it a “horribly unjust incident” (45) and “the tragic murder of George Floyd by a Minnesota police officer” (72). While no one celebrated the death of George Floyd during an altercation with the police, there are still so many questions not only about the cause of death, but also about the trial, and it is not prudent for Lutzer to make such strong statements on one side of the issue.
Our disagreements on these issues may simply be a result of our differing perspectives. I live in a smaller city in rural America. I honestly don’t see many racial difficulties. Lutzer lives and ministers in Chicago. I can imagine his perspective is very different.
Regardless of perspective, the Bible is clear that we repent for our own sins. It is an individual and personal interaction with God. We cannot repent for the sins of another, nor can we repent on behalf of someone else. It doesn’t do us or them any good. Brothers and sisters in Christ should come together as Christians first. The color of our skin does not make us more or less righteous before God, and should not affect how we relate to one another. While Lutzer doesn’t necessarily contradict this biblical position, he doesn’t go far enough in his writing. He doesn’t specifically state it, and therefore, leaves room for the very victimhood this book is meant to combat.
All in all, I agree with Dr. David Jeremiah’s sentiment on the cover of the book: “If I could, I would put this book into the hands of every Christian in America.”
While many do not agree with the culture’s perspective on social justice and all of the baggage that comes with it, we have been mocked into silence. We have been led to believe that we are not allowed to voice our concerns. But we cannot remain silent. There is an intentional attack on our freedom of speech, but we must speak while we still can. Lutzer cautions us that, “Freedom of speech and civility will not be restored until the victimology culture is shown to be the fiction it is” (231). And he reminds us that, “We don’t have to shout louder than others when we stand our ground. We just need to know that we are being faithful to our Commander and King” (243).
Hearing (or reading) what went on during the task force meetings will make your blood boil as there were concerted attempts to conceal important information, pushes to mandate ineffective measures, and even discussions about making the American people MORE afraid. According to Dr. Atlas, the prominent members of the the group never presented scientific evidence to back up their claims and were even offended when their statements were brought into question in light of research and scientific studies. He was amazed that everyone walked on egg shells to keep Dr. Birx happy.
It is also interesting to see Dr. Atlas’s shift as new information and research became available. His position on masks, treatments, and vaccines seemed to evolve throughout the book. He is not afraid to criticize the people in authority and to question the motives of those involved though he does so with tact and respect (at least initially for some).
He clearly did not approve of Vice-President Mike Pence’s lack of assertiveness as leader of the task force. His opinion of the pandemic handling by Drs. Fauci and Birx is very clear. And while he obviously admires President Trump, he even points out his flaws when it comes to covid.
The book contains a lot of repetition as information is retold with different emphasis in different chapters. If you want an overall view of the content of the book, simply read the last chapter.
Because the book is a firsthand account, it is related in the first person (I, me, my, etc.) and might come off as a bit self-promoting in some sections. It is disheartening to hear about the persecution Dr. Atlas encountered once he joined the task force.
In a time when we are repeatedly told to trust “the experts,” those who have extensive credentials in the field, like Dr. Atlas, are being censored. It is appropriate that the Coda of the book is a comparison to George Orwell’s 1984.
Cold-Christianity by J. Warner Wallace goes through the evidence, biblical and extra-biblical, to prove the Bible reliable.
Maybe it is because I love crime novels, but I thoroughly enjoyed J. Warner Wallaces’ book, Cold-Case Christianity, in which he uses his skills as a cold-case detective to demonstrate that the Bible is true and reliable. He set out to prove that it wasn’t, but the deeper he got, the more he realized that it was a credible source.
He compares the four Gospels to eye witness accounts, sharing details of actual cases he’s worked. He demonstrates how we require much less evidence for any other work of ancient writing than we claim to need to prove Scripture. He defines terms and explains courtroom proceedings in a clear manner so anyone can understand them. He shows the reader how to tell the difference between actual evidence and distractions (artifacts). And he even explains what it takes to create a successful conspiracy theory, and why Scripture isn’t one.
Once we’ve collected the evidence, Wallace takes us step-by-step through examining that evidence to determine how it affects our case, exploring the pros and cons of each type of evidence.
Beyond teaching apologetics, Cold-Case Christianity teaches criminology in a fun and interesting way!
**This book makes a great addition to an apologetics or Christian Worldview curriculum.
