Topic Why Apologetics: the church needs it

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Six Reasons Young Christians Leave Church

In this video Tim Barnett discusses the need for apologetics and why it is important.

     Written by attorney Matthew T. Martens the book is advertised as answering the question: does the American justice system reflect a Christian love of neighbor? In doing so the book first seeks to offer us a biblical framework for how to think about justice for both the victim and accused. Second, it examines the history of the American justice system. Lastly, attempts to assess the criminal justice system today.
Part 1 of the book first lays out Martens’ basic framework for how to think about the criminal justice system. Martens’ view is fairly simple starting with his definition of justice as what a person is due. What is it that a person is due according to Martens? What a person is due is our love, for the second greatest commandment is to Love your neighbor as yourself. Our example for how to do so is expressed in the story of the good Samaritan who did not pass by the man in need. Starting in chapter 4 then Martens lays out five guideposts in which we can evaluate and think about the criminal justice system. These include accuracy, impartiality, due process, accountability, and proportionality.
       In part 2 he moves to focus on different aspects of the American justice system starting with history.  Some of the issues discussed are crime, plea bargaining, jury selection, exculpatory evidence, and death penalty etc. In each chapter Martens attempts to explain some of the issues we deal with in each of these different parts of the Justice system. He then will address those issues via the five guideposts mentioned in part 1. He then finished the book with a chapter on application and a conclusion.
      Some positive things about the book I would say are the basic guideposts he uses in his evaluation. These guideposts I think establish a very agreeable and simple framework for evaluating how the justice system is functioning. A second point is the idea of moral proximity which is, “The idea is that “distance, both physical and relational, makes a significant difference in our obligations to help others.” Martens, Matthew T.. Reforming Criminal Justice: A Christian Proposal (p. 97). Crossway. Kindle Edition. So the idea is that our duty to those around us is greater the closer they are relationally and physically. For instance I have a greater duty to help my brother than say, a friend of mine who lives in the next town over. A few different points he did make, somewhat changed or sharpened my views on certain issues such as bail and plea bargaining which I will continue to reflect on in the future.
     Now for some of the negatives. First his definition of the Gospel at the beginning I found problematic. For he attempts to incorporate our duty to live righteously and justly as part of the Gospel as opposed to an outflow or result of the Gospel. Honestly it seemed unnecessary to begin with. I almost think the goal was to be able to justify the idea that justice is a gospel issue. The second problem is the book fails to achieve its third goal which is to assess the American criminal justice system today. The book is very heavy on the history, but I found that the majority of the book fails to provide more up to date information with regard to the current state of the criminal justice system. For a book that is supposed to be about reforming the criminal justice system the lack of current data makes it difficult to assess the current state of affairs. This is not to say there is no current data, only that the book lacks a sufficient amount. Ultimately the book really should have been named thinking about the criminal justice system as opposed to reforming the criminal justice system.
Another problem I found is the book was very short on application. The application chapter was a bit lackluster and was one the shortest chapters in the book. He lays out four different ways to apply what we learned. These include think differently, work differently (mainly for those working in criminal justice, vote differently and lastly speak differently. Now it is not that these are bad, it’s just for a book about reforming criminal justice I really expected more.
     So as far as it goes I would probably give the book 6 or 7 out of 10. What I find helpful about the book is how it helped to delve deeper into this topic as someone with little to no study on the issue. It makes me want to read more, but perhaps some with a different perspective on the issue than Martens. So I think this is worth the one time read.

So imagine for a moment that you are a parent and your child comes to and want to have an important talk. He is nervous and shaking your worried what they might say that would make them that nervous. Finally after a long pause he blurts out, “Mom, Dad I’m gay.” There is a long pause your not sure what to say, you love your child, but have always believed in a historically biblical sexual ethic what do you say? For many people this a difficult reality to deal with especially when you don’t expect it. You don’t have to be a parent either it could be a sibling, a relative or just a friend. How do we respond? How do we love the other person?

Understanding

Before we answer those questions I think it would helpful to first gain a little perspective. For someone who struggles with same- sex attraction it can be very alienating. For most they find themselves with these attraction but not sure what to do. So many will deal with it on their while hiding it from those around them. Many will have relationships with people of the opposite sex in order to deny it. So when they finally get to this point of “coming out” it is a very emotional moment and for many a fear of rejection. This makes this moment critical in your relationship with this person. I say this not to put to much pressure on you, but as a way to help you understand what is at stake. for this moment may very well determine the kind of relationship you may have with them going forward. Many who have responded negatively in these moments have in many cases lost relationship with that person.

Response

So how do we respond to this person? The most important thing in this initial conversation is to do what you can to preserve the relationship. How do we do that? Tell them that you will always love and do not go into any buts, such as we still love you, but we don’t agree with homosexuality. Now this may seem counterintuitive to some people, but in this first moment emotions run high and a quick response is simply not appropriate at this time. Now what do you do if they ask you about your views on sexuality? you politely ask them to give you time to think. Now this is not just to buy time, but actually think deeply about what you will say next time you talk and when you do explain your views in the most nuanced way possible. with emotions so high at the initial conversation it is better to discuss specifics when everyone has calmed down. A person close to me once came out to me now for me it was a little easier to respond being that I too struggle with same-sex temptation, but we did discuss our views and had that conversation another time. If you are able to keep contact there will always be another opportunity to talk more.

Now I know there are some are already struggling with a broken relationship with this person I can’t promise it will get better. but we do have hope that God will turn their heart back. No story shows this better than the story of Christopher Yuan and his mother Angela From their book “out of a far country.” So pray and keep the lines of communication open there hope so long as we draw breath.

Remember

It’s important as Christians to remember that there will be hard times and things won’t always work out. Life is messy and sometimes we are called to do the hard things. So its important to pray and keep our eyes on Christ for he is enough. That person may still reject you for what you believe. So I think it is important remember Matthew 10:37-38, “Whoever love father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and who ever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” But now I don’t want to leave you with only with a heavy word, for it is written in Psalm 55:22 “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.”