A while ago I was sent a preview copy of Tactics by Gregory Koukl from Zondervan. A big thank you to them for giving me the privilege to read such a helpful book.
At the church where I work at the moment we have spent much of the last three months focusing in the youth work on evangelism and apologetics. It’s been great to see young people trying to share their faith, trying to answer the questions and challenges their friends have, so in many ways it could not have been more timely to receive a book on how to better use apologetics.
In the UK at least, the same questions and issues come up: suffering, the arrogance of God, homosexuality, and so on; and yet many Christians let alone young people and students seem incapable of being able to answer the questions. In one sense Koukl’s book won’t help, it doesn’t give you pat down answers for these issues, it simply encourages you to read your Bible and other Christian resources more. But where it is truly brilliant, and something I’ve not seen before, is it shows ways in which you can create scaffolding for your points, or how to take down the other persons, at times, ridiculous claims – regardless of the issue. Unless you’ve learnt how to debate this is a great tool to be given, and one that even following a theology degree full of class debates, I will be coming back to time and time again.
Grammatically it is easy to read, but there is a reasonable amount of philosophical thought in the book, so probably not one to give every teenager in the youth ministry, but certainly one I will be throwing out to some of our 16+ year olds. If you have a big student ministry this could be a book you want small groups or prayer triplets to be sitting and reading.
When February comes, go get yourself a copy of this book – there isn’t anything else like this that I’ve read, and yet it is so needed.
Chris, thanks for the advanced reading and for spreading the word about TACTICS! The giveaway on the Koinonia blog was a lot of fun. I was amazed by how fast the responses came in! Thanks for participating, even from “across the big lake”!
Another reviewer also blogged on TACTICS if you’re interested: http://newwaystheology.blogspot.com/2008/11/apologetics.html
Have a blessed Advent and Christmas!
AR
Chris, One more really interesting conversation about Tactics and apologetics in general: http://taddelay.wordpress.com/2008/12/22/apologetics-suck-and-a-book-called-tactics-by-gregory-koukle/
Blessings on the New Year!
AR
What answer does Koukl give to his alleged god always seeming to pass by on the other side while Christians are being murdered, as happened recently in India?
Steven:
I’m not sure what answer he would give, but there’s a lot of content from Greg available online. Free podcasts on iTunes, a blog on http://www.str.org and the STR group on facebook. I would try and ask him directly on either facebook or the STR blog.
AR
Not much point in getting the book, if you can read the book and still be unable to answer the very first question asked about it.
Hi Steven, I’m away at the moment, but when I get back I’ll flick through my copy and see if I can find my copy of the manuscript and give my thoughts.
In one sense though, I don’t think you can ever directly answer that question. I think what Greg provides is a way to not be trapped into that issue, which some people, especially as teenagers use as an excuse to believe rather than as a genuine debate. I’m not here to defend Greg’s book, I’ve never met the man, nor read any of his other books, but I’m not sure that was his intention.
You mean teenagers use as an excuse not to believe in a god who loves them the fact that this god passes by on the other side while Christians are being murdered?
I thought teenagers were dumb, but that is dumb even by their standards.