Glenn Beck has a segment on his radio show and now a book called Arguing With Idiots. Beck is making an effort to arm his readers/listeners with the facts necessary to defend a conservative position in an increasingly hostile society -- hostile to conservative ideas, anyway. A recent Bible study, an e-mail debate and my personal devotions have simultaneously raised the question of how Christians should deal with (pardon me, Father) idiots.
Right, the Bible doesn't use the term idiots; it calls the people to which I refer fools. The thirteenth Psalm reports that the fool says there is no god. The ancient word translated "fool" in Scripture is the foundation from which we get our word "moron." So while the etymology may be different, our modern use of the word "idiot" corresponds with the Biblical "fool." Basically, all the terms describe someone who is without knowledge, to put it kindly.
So how do you argue with a person who is lacking knowledge? One answer is not to argue at all. The Apostle Paul recommends that Timothy avoid "foolish, ignorant controversies." (2 Timothy 2:23 ESV) Yet the Apostle Peter commands that we always be prepared to give "a reason for the hope" we have. (1 Peter 3:15) The Proverbs likewise caution against foolish arguments, yet suggest wise interaction is acceptable. Allow me to offer a Beck-like solution in abbreviated form. Here are some suggestions for arguing with religious idiots.
1. Remember Whom you represent. Remain calm, cool and gentle (meek, if you like) so that if possible you might lead the person to a saving knowledge. God is not glorified by ranting, raving lunatics.
2. Find out first where your idiot's lack of knowledge lies. Is he a true atheist? These are few and far between. More likely you have landed with an agnostic; these folks don't think there is a supreme being, but are not really sure. The two classes can not be dealt with alike.
a. If your idiot really believes there is not, can not, could not possible be a being whom one would call "god," you are dealing with an irrational person. Really, a true atheist can not exist logically. Here's why: to say with absolute conviction that there is no god implies that one knows everything there is to be known in the universe, and that complete knowledge eliminates the possibility of god. Obviously, no one can know everything that can be known, so this position is totally illogical. If your idiot refuses to buy your argument, smile, say a silent prayer for him and find someone else to talk to.
b. If you get your idiot to admit there might be a god, you have an agnostic to deal with. These folks are at least being reasonable, and reason is a God-given tool we can use. At this point you need to find out what your idiot knows about the Bible. Pure reason can bring a person to an admission that a god exists, but only knowledge of the God of the Bible will get a person into Heaven. It is not likely that your agnostic believes the Bible is the inerrant, inspired Word of God, so you must start with your argument at this point.
3. Defense of the Bible, proof that it is unlike any other book ever written is complicated. Entire books have been written on the subject. Perhaps I am the idiot for trying to summarize such an important topic this briefly, but I must try. Here are five arguments for accepting the Bible as a supernatural revelation from the God who created everything. Do your own study on each if you wish to improve your skill at defense.
a. Historical and archaeological accuracy
The more we learn about the peoples and times of the Bible, the more accurate the Scripture record proves to be. Whole cities and people groups that were once thought to be Bible myth have subsequently been discovered, proving the accuracy of the ancient writings.
b. Internal consistency
I can attest to the difficulty of staying consistent throughout long written passages. I spent several years writing my first novel, and it was a struggle to keep characters and situations consistent from start to finish. The Bible was written not by one, but by over forty authors spanning well over one thousand years. In spite of this, the message proclaimed in the opening chapters is developed and finally completed in the closing words written centuries later without a single inconsistency.
c. Fulfilled prophecy
Archeology and textual criticism have combined to verify that the words written in the Old Testament were penned centuries before the events they foretold. We are not dealing with vague allusions like Nostradamus here, but hard facts that can be corroborated. And this is not one or two, but scores of legitimate prophecies which were fulfilled in provable ways. The mathematical probability of just two or three happening as foretold is astronomical.
d. Logical necessity
If we suggest that a supposedly loving Creator exists, it is only reasonable that He would communicate in some way with His creatures. This is a somewhat circular argument, I know. If a caring god exists, then a revelation proving his existence is inevitable. Just ask your idiot if it doesn't make sense that a Father would want to get in touch with his children, especially if he has some really great news for them.
e. Human experience throughout history
Many serious agnostics have attacked the Bible intending to prove it false only to wind up being converted. (Consider C.S. Lewis.) Most people you will encounter are either being irrational (see 2a. above) or they haven't really examined the claims of the Scripture. An honest, open-minded look is sometimes all that is necessary to win the argument.
4. Ask your idiot if he is a true materialist. Many agnostics think they oppose the idea of anything super-sensory (or supernatural.) In fact, no one can think any thoughts at all without the immaterial: the mind. We know mind is not the same as brain; we suspect the mind needs the brain, and we believe they are related, but we know they are not identical. You may want to cautiously suggest that since our human mind exists in an extra-material plane, it is not unreasonable to hypothesize that a greater being could also exist outside of our five senses.
5. Ultimately, of course, faith is required (believing is seeing.) This should not dissuade you from approaching idiots. Even quasi-scientific matters like evolution and many aspects of quantum physics require a healthy dose of faith to assert that they are true. It all comes down to what or whom you choose to believe in. Science has proven notoriously unreliable: flat earth -- sphere; sun moves around earth -- earth revolves around sun; surrounded by ether -- space is empty; like charges always repel -- positive protons bond in atomic nuclei. God on the other hand has not changed in all of human experience, if the record of His existence in Scripture is to be believed. It all boils down to a choice.
You, Christian, have a choice as well: be ready to take the idiots to task with kind reason or don't. Whatever you choose, always remember your purpose on Earth is to glorify God (see point 1. above.) Remember also that the God whom you choose to "defend" is already the winner of every argument, in the final analysis. He also promised you the supernatural help of His Spirit if you decide to enter the fray. Suit up and good hunting; there are plenty of idiots out there needing your help.
great lesson!
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