Marks of a Worthy Mentor

Marks of a Worthy Mentor

by George Garner

Larry E. Clements

Editor in Chief

© 2009 Bogard Press

4605 N. State Line

Texarkana, TX 75503-2928

ISBN 0892114223

eISBN: 617401797974

105092

PREFACE

My father, Dr. Albert Garner, often said, Simple things left unsimplified become complex. The study of apologetics (how to give a reasoned defense of the faith) can become extremely complex and entail far more than any man can master in one lifetime. The good news is that each of us can learn the basic principles and truths that equip a surrendered servant to confront the contemporary challenges to the Christian faith. We all can help the willing neighbor, co-worker, classmate, or family member answer the growing attacks of secular humanism, religious pluralism, and postmodernism.

This book answers key questions that confront our culture: Why is the Christian worldview superior to those embraced by the secular humanist, religious pluralist, and postmodernist? Does objective, absolute truth really exist? If so, is it knowable? If so, How? What or who caused this universe and all that is in it? What keeps it going? Is there a power that transcends matter, energy, space, and time (MEST)? If there really is an all-loving, all-knowing, all-powerful God, then why is there so much suffering in the world?

You may choose to go through this book chapter-by-chapter privately or you may in a group address the thirteen lessons and their given learning objectives. Either way, I pray that you will endure unto the end and find the blessing in reading that I found in my research and writing.

This book is a by-product of 3 ½ years of study that led to a Doctor of Ministry in Apologetics degree from Southern Evangelical Seminary. I am grateful to Drs. Norman Geisler, Barry Leventhal, Douglas Potter, and Thomas Howe who guided me through the program and provided wise counsel and feedback for my dissertation.

In addition to the encouragement of my God and His revealed Scripture, I have been blessed with a host of family, friends, and mentors. I thank God for faithful parents, Albert and Janice Garner, who raised me to know and believe God’s Word; a faithful, godly wife, Carolyn Sever Garner, who assisted in proofing the text and who has poured into my heart the love instilled in her by saintly parents, Jack and Louise Sever; the church family and College and Career group at Lone Oak Baptist Church; the administration, faculty, and students at Emmaus Baptist College; Dr. David Butimore, Sr., who proofed and gave wise suggestions for the book; and finally, for Dr. Larry Clements and the staff of the Bogard Press and the Baptist Sunday School Committee.

CONTENTS

Introduction

Purpose of the Study

How Do I Use This Book?

Key Terms

Conclusion

Chapter 1 Paul’s Goals: A Look at Philippians 3:10

LESSON ONE: Why should I Let Paul Influence My Worldview?

What Makes Me Unique?

Where Do I Look?

What Makes The Apostle Paul Such a Great Mentor?

LESSON TWO: How Can I Start Becoming a Paul?

Where Do I Start?

Goal’s Stated or Implied in Phil 3:10

A Brief Exegetical and Hermeneutical Look at Phil. 3:10

The Challenge of This Book

Chapter 2 Paul’s Goal: That I May Know Him (The Way)

LESSON THREE: What Does Scripture Mean by The Way?

Why Paul Could Say, Follow Me

The Way Claim Supported by Special Revelation

The Way Runs from Conception to Heaven

LESSON FOUR: Defense of The Way Against Modernism and Postmodernism

The Way Claim Supported by General Revelation

The Way Claim Supported by Reason

The Way of Modernism

The Way of Postmodernism

What Are The Implications?

Summary

Chapter 3 Paul’s Goal: That I Might Know Him (The Truth)

LESSON FIVE: Truth Known by Special and General Revelation

The Truth Claim Supported by Special Revelation

The Truth Claim Supported by General Revelation

LESSON SIX: Truth Known by Reason

The Truth Claim Supported by Reason

LESSON SEVEN: The Response of Modernism and Postmodernism to The Truth

Modernism’s Response to The Truth

Postmodernism’s Response to The Truth

Summary

Chapter 4 Paul’s Goal: That I Might Know Him (The Life)

LESSON EIGHT: The Life Source and Sustainment Debate

The Life Claim Supported by Special Revelation

The Life Claim Supported by General Revelation

The Life Claim Supported by Reason

Modernism’s Response to The Life Claim

Postmodernism’s Response to The Life Claim

Summary

Chapter 5 Paul’s Goal: That I Might Know the Power of His Resurrection

LESSON NINE: The Power of His Resurrection

The Power Claim Supported by Special Revelation

The Power Claim Supported by General Revelation

The Power Claim Supported by Reason

Modernism’s Response to The Power Claim

Postmodernism’s Response to The Power Claim

Summary

Chapter 6 Paul’s Goal: That I Might Know the Fellowship of His Sufferings

LESSON TEN: The Fellowship of His Sufferings (A Christian Perspective)

Why So Much Concern with the Question of Suffering?

The Call for a Personal Pride Check

The Call to Affirm God’s Ultimate Goodness

The Call to See Different Causes of Suffering

The Call to Identify Reasons or Purposes for Suffering

The Fellowship of His Sufferings Supported by Reason

Rational and Evidential Tests for The Fellowship of His Sufferings

Summary

LESSON ELEVEN: Non-Christian Responses to Sufferings

The Challenge of the Holocaust

Secular Humanism’s Response to The Fellowship of His Sufferings

Religious Pluralism’s Response to The Fellowship of His Sufferings

Postmodernism’s Response to The Fellowship of His Sufferings

Summary

Chapter 7 Applying the Five Key Concepts to Apologetics

LESSON TWELVE: A Bag of Basic Apologetic Helps

Introduction to The Toulmin Model

Quick Reference Apologetic Responses

Apologetics through Life-style Evangelism

Summary

Exercises for Lesson 12

LESSON THIRTEEN: Introduction to Geisler’s Twelve-step Model of Apologetics

A Brief Look at Geisler’s Twelve Propositions

Exercise for Lesson 13: Responding to Geisler’s Twelve Propositions

Conclusion

Endnotes

Appendix A: An Instructor’s Guide

Appendix B: Learning Objectives/Review by Lesson

LESSON ONE: Why should I Let Paul Influence My Worldview?

LESSON TWO: How Can I Start Becoming a Paul?

LESSON THREE: What Does Scripture Mean by The Way?

LESSON FOUR: Defense of The Way Against Modernism and Postmodernism

LESSON FIVE: Truth Known by Special and General Revelation

LESSON SIX: Truth Known by Reason

LESSON SEVEN: The Response of Modernism and Postmodernism to The Truth

LESSON EIGHT: The Life Source and Sustainment Debate

LESSON NINE: The Power of His Resurrection

LESSON TEN: The Fellowship of His Sufferings (Christian Perspective)

LESSON ELEVEN: Non-Christian Responses to Sufferings

LESSON TWELVE: A Bag of Basic Apologetic Helps

LESSON THIRTEEN: Introduction to Geisler’s Twelve-step Model of Apologetics

Appendix C: Vignettes to Accompany the Lessons

Introduction Vignette Freddy Freshman meets Dr. Pop-off

Chapter One Vignette Freddie Freshman Interviews Apostle Paul.

Chapter Two Vignette Freddie Freshman and Dr. Pop-off Go Canoeing

Chapter Three Vignette Freddie Freshman and Dr. Pop-off Talk Truth

Chapter Four Vignette Freddie Freshman and Dr. Pop-off Talk Life Source & Sustainment

Chapter Five Vignette Freddie Freshman and Dr. Pop-off Talk Power

Chapter Six Vignette Freddie Freshman and Dr. Pop-off Talk Suffering

Chapter Seven Vignette The Author Reviews the Course

Sources Consulted

ILLUSTRATIONS

Figures

Figure 2.1. Seven Major Worldviews

Figure 2.2. Comparing Competing Worldviews

Figure 2.3. Evolution of Western Thought

Figure 3.1. Table Truth Claim

Figure 4.1. Infinity and Time

Figure 4.2. Behe’s Mousetrap

Figure 4.3. The Bacterial Flagellum

Figure 7.1. The Toulmin Model

Figure 7.2. Apologetic Use of the Toulmin Model

Figure 7.3. Turn the Tables

Figure 7.4. Toulmin Model Worksheet

Tables

Table 3.1. Comparing Number of Ancient Manuscripts Exhibited

Table 3.2. New Testament Quoted by Early Christian Leaders .

INTRODUCTION

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death (Phil. 3:10 KJV).¹

Christian teens and young adults entering college and the workplace face a flood of anti-Christian philosophies that challenge their witness and the very survival of their faith. These philosophies mushroomed following the Enlightenment of the 1700’s. First, they appeared as modernism (associated with secular humanism and religious pluralism). A recent rebellion against modernism has led to a vague and difficult-to-define view known as postmodernism (or transmodernism).

For the Christian to survive and provide witness to his culture, he must become equipped to defend his faith. He must identify and expose the flaws of modernism and postmodernism. He must be able to clearly differentiate his worldview from those he encounters in the workplace and on the college campus. He must be able to use the tools of logic and evidence to show the superiority of his view over others. His task is commonly called apologetics, and God is calling every Christian to become an apologist (1 Pet. 3:15).

Purpose of the Study

This work proposes apologetic help by focusing on five key concepts that are stated or implied by the Apostle Paul in Philippians 3:10. Paul states a desire for a deeper knowledge of the person, Jesus. Our study joins Paul’s longing by examining three of Christ’s basic attributes: 1) The Way, 2) The Truth, and 3) The Life. Next, Paul desires to know Christ’s power (a transcendent power, not limited by the matter, energy, space, or time-MEST-of the universe). Finally, in verse ten Paul longs to know the fellowship of Christ’s suffering. Paul acknowledges the reality of suffering and suggests it can have purpose.

How Do I Use This Book?

Each of the five key concepts (Way, Truth, Life, Power, and Suffering) is contrasted with the conflicting views of modernism and postmodernism. Tools for apologetic application are found throughout, with special emphasis in the last chapter.

By the end of this book, your faith will be strengthened. You will have a greater understanding of how special revelation, general revelation, and logic apply to apologetics and evangelism. You will be able to help a willing hearer understand why the Christian worldview is superior to that offered by modernism (including secular humanism and religious pluralism) and postmodernism.

For those wishing to use this book in a classroom setting, the chapters are further divided into thirteen lessons. At Appendices A, B, and C are an Instructor’s Guide, Learning Objectives/Lesson Reviews, and Introductory Vignettes, by chapter.

Key Terms

Before starting a journey through Paul’s five key concepts, one needs to understand some basic terms that will be used throughout the book.

Theism

Theism is a view that a personal, infinite God created the universe and all that is within it and that He, as a transcendent and imminent being, continues to act upon His creation. This view is necessarily exclusive from other worldviews of God or gods including deism, which proposes that God wound up a clock (universe) and left it to run on its on.

Biblical Christianity

For purposes of this work, Biblical Christianity refers to a worldview that is based on several basic propositions: 1) objective truth exists, 2) it is knowable through reason, nature, and special revelation, 3) God gave man special revelation for our age through His verbally inspired and inerrant Word the Bible, and 4) man is accountable for knowing, witnessing, and obeying God’s Word.

This work does not seek to defend any claim for biblical Christianity that is not rooted in the Bible. All Biblical Christianity truth claims, therefore, must be tried by the objective standard of the Bible (Matt. 24:4; Acts 20:30; Gal. 1:8; 1 Tim. 4:1; 1 John 4:1).

Worldview

Norman Geisler notes, "A worldview is how one views or interprets reality. The German word is Weltanschauung, meaning a 'world and life view,' or 'a paradigm.' It is the framework through which or by which one makes sense of the data of life."² Geisler categorizes seven major views: theism, atheism, deism, finite godism, panentheism, pantheism, and polytheism. In addition to Geisler, a number of other writers have given other categories which might more accurately be called lifeviews. For example, David Noebel identifies six major competing views: Christianity, Islam, Secular Humanism, Marxism-Leninism, Cosmic Humanism, and Postmodernism.³

Modernism

Modernism, according to R. Scott Smith, is a more recent term for the basic philosophy of Enlightenment, which ran from about 1550 to 1945.⁴ Modernists claim that one can know universal, objective truths by reason and by experience through the five senses. There is, therefore, no place for any special revelation of truth. To them, to be open even to the possibility that the Bible is an inerrant book of truth given by special revelation from God is illogical, not demonstrable through the five senses, and thus not worthy of consideration.

Douglas Groothuis, associate professor of philosophy at Denver Seminary, further notes, Modernism, especially in its later stages, is based on the world view of naturalism, which paved the way for postmodernism by denying objective truth outside the natural realm.⁵

Postmodernism

Postmodernism is a vague and difficult concept to define. Why? To define it would require the postmodernist to contradict an essential claim: all is relative and there is no objective referent for anything. Truth is simply a matter of language construct and perception. Recorded history (truth claims about the past) simply reflects power.

To define postmodernism would be to make an objective claim (If this seems confusing, be patient. It will become even more so!).

Although postmodernism seeks to avoid definition (define means to limit), it necessarily posits certain claims. As Groothuis observes: God and all other concepts having to do with values, morality, spirituality and supernatural/immaterial realities became only concepts. They are mere linguistic signifiers (or words, in common parlance) without objective referents. Modernist theology set the ball rolling with the assertion that the Bible is a collection of myths, as are religions in general. Since morality is grounded in religion, the next development was relativizing moral values.⁶

Secular Humanism

Secular Humanism is a concept that values man as the central focus of life. Geisler notes, Its confession is that ’Man is the measure of all things.'⁷ Man determines, rather that just acknowledges, the norm by which morals and truth are measured. Thus, it has no place for any special revelation of truth or morality from God.

Religious Pluralism

Religious Pluralism is the belief that every religion is true or nearly true. Each provides a genuine encounter with the ultimate. One may be better than the others, but all are adequate.⁸ This view finds itself in a dilemma wherein it is forced to affirm Islam’s denial of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection and at the same time affirm Christianity’s gospel claim.

Secular Existentialism

Secular Existentialism, like secular humanism, limits itself to a this world focus. Geisler describes it as emphasizing living over knowing, willing over thinking ... the personal over the propositional ... the subjective over the objective and the non-rational over the rational. . . . Only the subjective really exists. Form, essence, and structure are irrelevant and valueless. Meaning and values are created not discovered.⁹ Since the secular existentialist denies any objective criteria, he has no way to distinguish reality from illusion.

The above given terms will be referenced and explained further throughout the book.

Conclusion

After having ministered with teens and young adults as a United States Army Chaplain for over twenty years, and after having experienced the college culture as an instructor in both state university and Christian college settings, this writer sees the critical need for Christian apologists on campus, in the workplace, and in the neighborhood. Our culture is crying for Christian teens, young adults, pastors, Sunday School teachers, and parents who are equipped and ready to confront modernists' and postmodernists' attacks and provide effective witness and mentoring to those who have ears to hear.

This writer hopes that a serious study of the five key concepts and the logical and evidential resources presented herein will provide you practical help. May it stir a passion for further study and service as an apologist for biblical Christianity.

CHAPTER 1

PAUL’S GOALS: A LOOK AT PHILIPPIANS 3:10

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death (Phil. 3:10).

LESSON ONE: Why Should I Let Paul Influence My Worldview?

Thomas Merton, the famous poet, observes, No man is an island unto himself. The Apostle Paul puts it this way, For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself (Rom. 14:7). Although it seems exciting to be your own man (or woman), in reality each of us is to a great extent the product of influences around us. We all face the same basic, external mentors—most significantly: peers, parents, preachers, politicians, and professors. Each of us is subjected to their influence. But each of us, as a unique and special child of God, has the opportunity by God’s grace and calling to influence (become a mentor of others. This chapter starts the journey of equipping you to identify key characteristics of a worthy mentor. It will help you rescue those who are drowning in the cesspool of modernism and postmodernism.

What Makes Me Unique?

What makes each of us unique is how we choose to respond to those who seek to mentor (counsel or guide) us and how we respond to those who would let us mentor them. Toward the first group we can: 1) become their puppet and simply let them totally dictate our thoughts, actions, values, and goals, or 2) break all ties, consciously reject their influence and do our own thing, or 3) listen to those who would influence us and wisely note their view of life and the principles on which their views are founded and then discover to what extent their views are reasonable and wise.

To those whom we could potentially mentor, we can: a) ignore opportunities to reach the unevangelized and the baby Christians, b) attempt ignorantly to mentor and witness to those who have an ear to hear, or c) provide a biblically based apologetic and evangelism because we have spent the time learning how to defend biblical Christianity against modernism and postmodernism (see Introduction).

Socrates said, The unexamined life is not worth living.¹ If you should choose to follow the path of a) above, then all one could wish for you is, Hey puppet, delight as you dangle, and when the strings break, do not blame me! If you choose to break all ties and do your own thing, guess what: your own thing will mean that you will forfeit all wisdom except what your puny little brain can generate! If, however, you choose to listen to others, evaluate their input, and then make informed life choices, you may build a life that is both satisfying and worthwhile. Notice, May.

Where Do I Look?

Josh Billings (pseudonym for H. W. Shaw, the popular nineteenth-century humorist) once said, The trouble with most folks is not so much their ignorance. It’s know'n so many things that ain’t so.² Living in the information age, most of us come to know a lot. The problem is: Is what we know, so? To take in information without having the ability to evaluate its source, content, and credibility and to rate its applicability to the real world profits very little. The Apostle Paul warned young Timothy of the intellectuals who were, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth (2 Tim. 3:7). Any college student can look around and see people who spend years in an artificial world talking to and listening to professors who never poke their heads outside the gates of academia.

The challenge is not just to get more education. The challenge is to identify those things that are so and learn how to apply them in a way that will build a satisfying and worthy life. This will lead to a life in which you can know not only whom to let be your mentor, but even more importantly, a life by which you can effectively witness to and mentor others. It will enable you to reach the modernists and postmodernists who are willing to give an ear, respond to the truth of God’s Word and yield to the drawing of the Holy Spirit.

What Makes The Apostle Paul Such a Great Mentor?

In choosing a mentor, one must ask several critical questions. First, does he have a clear sense of direction for his life? Second is what he believes and says true? Third what does he know about how we got here? (You see, to know nothing of the past is to understand little of the present and to have no conception of the future!) Fourth, what drives him? Where does he get his strength? Fifth, how does he respond when bad things happen?

A careful examination of the Apostle Paul shows that his life answers these questions most commendably. How so? The answer is found by studying the goals that shaped his life. Summarized in Philippians 3:10, his three goals are, (1) That I may know Him, (2) and the power of His resurrection, and (3) the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death.

LESSON TWO: How Can I Start Becoming a Paul?

Where Do I Start?

Glad you asked! The purpose of this book is to help you spot ideas that will lead to a satisfying life and avoid ideas that can hurt or maybe even kill you! Through this work you will be immersed in five key concepts that will strengthen your faith and put you way down the road toward becoming a powerful witness and a mentor of the true seeker in a desperate world—a Paul.

You are going to sit at the feet of one of history’s giants. You are going to hear his principal professional and personal development goals and see how his goals, when made yours, can help you survive and thrive in a crazy world. The following chapters will show how five goals described or implied by the Apostle Paul in Philippians 3:10 can strengthen your Christian faith and give you the tools to confront attacks that are being made by modernists and postmodernists against biblical Christianity.

Goal’s Stated or Implied in Philippians 3:10

First, you will examine Paul’s goal: That I may know him (Phil. 3:10a). You will see how this broad goal caused Paul to focus on more specific goals and thereby know Christ in a more intimate and experiential way. This study will be limited to three goals that Scripture reveals were basic in Paul’s striving to know Christ: to know Christ as 1) The Way, 2) The Truth, and 3) The Life. You will study three basic claims of Christ related to Paul’s goals and compare them to those given by the modern and postmodern world. The questions will include: Which path should I follow in life and where will it take me? Is there such a thing as absolute truth, and if there is, can it be known, and if so, how can I know it? and What is life and what is its source?

Next, you will look at Paul’s second goal: "[That I might know] . . . the power of his resurrection" (Phil. 3:10b). You will examine several critical questions. Is there a power available to man that transcends that which may be studied and