A little quirk happening made me think of a quote by G.K. Chesterton from The Everlasting Man:
One of my first journalistic adventures, or misadventures, concerned a comment on Grant Allen, who had written a book about the Evolution of the Idea of God. I happened to remark that it would be much more interesting if God wrote a book about the evolution of the idea of Grant Allen. And I remember that the editor objected to my remark on the ground that it was blasphemous; which naturally amused me not a little.
I was watching a debate on YouTube and saw the title of a video which began, “Does God Exist?…Dan Barker Debate” But in my first (very quick) glance, I actually thought it said, “Does Dan Barker Exist?” I think that would be a much more interesting video and topic of debate.
God is not to be discussed or debated. God is not a subject for debate, because He is Who He is. We are told that the unbeliever, of course, does not agree with that; and that is perfectly true; but that makes no difference. We believe it, and it is a part of our very case to assert it. Holding the view that we do, believing what we do about God, we cannot in any circumstances allow Him to become a subject for discussion or debate or investigation…God is always to be approached ‘with reverence and with godly fear: for our God is a consuming fire’…
We believe in the almighty, the glorious, the living God; and whatever may be true of others we must never put ourselves, or allow ourselves to be put, into a position in which we are debating about God as if He were but a philosophical proposition (Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Preaching and Preachers, pp. 46-47).
That is indeed all very humorous. And Lloyd-Jones’ words here are adroit as ever, though they certainly leave us with a question, namely: “If God is not to be discussed as a mere philosophical proposition, how then do we engage with those who think He is?” How do we engage from a standpoint that answers the lost and looking man’s questions, while making clear to him that his questions are not also our questions? How do we engage in a way that honors God as a consuming fire, when talking to someone who currently views Him as merely non-existent? Can these two people even HAVE a conversation about God? (….or anything?…)
It depends on what you mean by conversation…If that conversation entails us entertaining the possibility of the non-existence of God, then no. But if it entails talking about politics, or family, or what have you, then yes. And if it is entails us proclaiming the gospel, then of course yes.
Spurgeon said the Bible is like a lion. You don’t have to defend it; just let it out of the cage. I think that’s pretty much what you see happening in the Book of Acts, for instance. The believers are ‘gospeling’ everywhere they go. Paul proclaims Christ in front of the great political authorities. He says to the philosophers, ‘what you worship in ignorance, that I proclaim to you.’ He’s always proclaiming, even in a setting of debate. Positively stating the truth. And I think that’s all Lloyd-Jones is saying, and I think you can still hold to that position (I do) and have great conversations with non-believers.
BTW, I responded to the article you asked me to on the Levitical law post.