Refuting Charismatic Arguments: "The Bible Shouldn't Be Debated"

 Note: My use of the term "debate" in this article is used loosely, and is not used to define a scholarly debate amongst scholars.      

    Growing up in what I consider a Charismatic church, there were many beliefs that were (are) accepted just because. There wasn't (isn't) any biblical support for some of these ideas. It was more of a "well, thats what I was taught" sort or stare that I would receive whenever I dared to question the status quo. One of these beliefs inside Charismatic circles is the idea that the Bible should NOT be debated. Ideally,  I don't want the bible to be debated either. It would be great to live in a world where everyone submits to the teaching of scripture. Realistically, this is NOT the world in which we live. We live in a fallen world. A world in which we are told in scripture would have false teachers (2 Peter 2:1). What are we to do when the word of God is misused? I for one take Calvin's approach: 

A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God's truth is attacked and yet would remain silent 

Not only is the need for debate logical, but it is commanded in scripture. 

1 Peter 3:15

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

Peter tells us that we must be prepared to give an answer. There are many questions that are set before us by various religions/worldviews: "How do you know Jesus is God?", "Explain the Trinity", "Is Christianity consistent with science?", etc. We ought to be ready to answer them (this of course implies that he who is debating has a sufficient amount of knowledge to give a coherent answer). But Peter doesn't stop there, he also tells us in the manner which we are to do this- "with gentleness and respect". "Debating" does not imply loud shouting across a room. It is simply a discussion of ideas amongst two or more individuals. This can be done in a polite manner and does not imply attacking someone personally.

We are also left with the example of the Apostle Paul in Athens:

¹Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. ²And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, ³ explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ." ⁴And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.

16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. ¹⁷So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. ¹⁸Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, "What does this babbler wish to say?" Others said, "He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities"—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. - Acts 17:1-4,16-18

Paul did not refuse to engage. Rather we are told that "he reasoned with them from the scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead". He also "reasoned with the Jews and devout persons in the market place every day", and to add to his resume- he engaged with the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers.

In my early encounter with Christianity, I believed that it was weak. The "gospel" proclamation was weak, and the answers I received (when they felt like answering) was found wanting. I had no idea that there were actual coherent answers to my questions about the Christian faith. I now do my best to give those same answers to those who are in the position I found myself in years ago. The Church's refusal to engage in apologetics has done much harm. As a result, we have Christians who cannot even give scriptural references to that which they claim to believe. I pray that God would keep raising men who are willing to spend their lives to give a reason for the hope that is within them.

In Christ, Awretchsaved