Talking About Truth At Charleston Southern University

Recently I had the privilege of speaking to the students and faculty at Charleston Southern University. It was a great trip and I was impressed with the students I was able to interact with. I spoke on How to Think Christianly in a Post-Christian Culture, How Can Jesus Be The Only Way To God?, and 5 Things Every Student Needs To Live Well. I also really enjoyed an informal round table with the thoughtful faculty at Charleston Southern. There was a lot I took away from this time speaking with students, but I will just make a few observations.

morrow-chapelFirst, students want to engage the tough questions. They don’t just want pat answers. Next, this generation is passionate and wants to follow God and do big things for him. Lastly, there is increasing confusion about moral and spiritual truth in our culture and Christians are unconsciously absorbing it. The remedy for this is equipping and training. Students are fully capable of having mature conversations about topics that matter.

Here is a short video conversation I had with the campus pastor, Jon Davis, about truth, integration, and my book Think Christianly.

Here is the audio to the chapel message.

Invite me to speak to your group.

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Questioning the Bible by Jonathan Morrow [Podcast]

The Bible is the most influential book in human history. But what are we supposed to do with it in the 21st century? And even more importantly, can it still be trusted as the Word of God? There are an unprecedented number of sophisticated attacks on the origin, credibility, and reliability of the Bible today. It can be difficult to know what to say when skepticism and secularism take over so many conversations. The questions are coming from all sides:

Has the biblical text been corrupted over the centuries? Who really chose the books of the Bible and why? Is the Bible unscientific? Which interpretation of the Bile is correct? Are there contradictions in the BIble?

These are just a few of the questions that Jonathan Morrow deals with in his new book Questioning the Bible and that we will discuss in this episode of the Think Christianly podcast.

***Exclusive code for 35 % off of Questioning the Bible from Moody Publishers for the Think Christianly audience by following this link ( QTB35 ).***

What People Are Saying About Questioning the Bible:

“Questioning the Bible is simply a fabulous book. It asks the skeptical questions people are asking about the Bible and then gives solid answers that are aware of where the real discussion is and what the good options are. In a world that is becoming more skeptical and in a church where many have no idea how to answer such questions, here is a resource that can give real aid and comfort.” – Darrell Bock, Senior Research Professor of New Testament and Executive Director of Cultural Engagement at Dallas Theological Seminary

“Jonathan Morrow deftly addresses eleven major challenges to the Bible’s authority… It needs to be read and studied in groups or individually. And it must be given to friends and relatives, especially college students, who need to consider the wisdom in its pages.” – J.P. Moreland, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at the Talbot School of Theology (from the Forward)

Questioningthebible-JonathanMorrow“The Bible is under more scrutiny than ever before. Yet Jonathan Morrow is up to the task! Questioning the Bible offers insightful and well-researched responses to the top objections. It is ideal for the person who genuinely wants to know whether the Bible can be trusted. I highly recommend it for individuals and group study.” – Sean McDowell, PhD is an assistant professor at Biola university, popular speaker, and the author of Apologetics for a New Generation

“Anyone who thinks apologetics is no longer important doesn’t know the world students live in and the questions they ask (and are being asked). But Jonathan Morrow knows students. He knows what they need to know, and that’s why this book is so helpful. In it, you will find clear, concise answers that Christians, especially students, need when (not if) the truthfulness of their faith is challenged.” – John Stonestreet, Senior Fellow of Worldview and Culture for the Colson Center for Christian Worldview and co-host of BreakPoint radio

“For the skeptic, the Bible is a big target. He raises serious questions about alleged errors, apparent contradictions, canonicity, authorship, textual corruption, morality and much more. At the end of this intellectual onslaught, the Bible’s authority is seemingly wiped out and the skeptic feels justified in dismissing it altogether. Tragically, most believers have no adequate response and when the challenges come, most retreat into an anti-intellectual privatized “faith” or worse, lose all confidence in the Bible’s authority as well. Church leaders have largely failed to equip their people. That’s why Jonathan’s book is so important. He answers the most pressing objections to the Bible in a way that is intelligent, relevant and accessible. You don’t have to be a scholar to defend the Bible, you just need this book.” – Brett Kunkle, Student Impact Director at Stand to Reason – str.org

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How to Become An Everyday Ambassador

Recently I wrote about the importance of making sure we are relating to our culture with the right tone. This is because we represent the King of kings and his kingdom agenda to the world that Christ died to redeem. We proclaim his message that reconciliation is now available in Christ. If you name the name of Christ, then you are an Everyday Ambassador. Interestingly, the Bible gives us a front row seat to watch Paul live out this mind-set in an unchristian environment:

“While Paul was . . . in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him … Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship — and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.” – Acts 17:16 – 23

First, did you notice that he is reasoning with people about Christianity, not just appealing to blind faith, emotions, and felt needs? He is “contend[ing] for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people” (Jude 3). The book of Acts repeatedly records Paul doing this (Acts 14:15 – 17; 17:2, 4, 17 – 31; 18:4; 19:8).

Second, Paul is greatly distressed by the idolatry in Athens, but he didn’t preach hellfire and brimstone. Rather, modeling the wise engagement he commands believers to employ (Colossians 4:5–6), he compliments their religiosity. Paul translates the right response of sadness and channels it into connection with his audience. His tone is instructive here.

Finally, notice that Paul finds connecting point after connecting point with his audience. He understands the times (1 Chronicles 12:32). He has studied their works and ideas, quotes their poets, and is familiar with Stoic and Epicurean philosophy. He is a student of their culture, not merely an observer (Acts 17:23). He studies it so he can find connections between the true story of Christianity and their cultural story. And then at the end, he subverts their story by naming the unknown God as the Jesus who was resurrected.

Here is what this means for us at our intersection. We have to know our story well—the kingdom story—and we also need to know the major cultural stories at our intersection. This will take effort, study, and intentionality and is part of what it means to always be prepared to give a defense of the hope within us (cf. 1 Peter 3:15). If you are ready to do that, reading this would be a great next step.

What are some ways that you have been able to successfully build bridges with people? Please share them in the comments section below.

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Limited Time Offer! Think Christianly eBook available for only $3.99

If Christianity is true, then it speaks to all of life. Learn how to live out your faith in the midst of the many cultural opportunities and challenges we face each day with my new book Think Christianly. For a limited time only, the eBook is only $3.99! (available on all devices).

Please help spread the word below by sharing on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and Pinterest!

A Great review from Apologetics 315

WHAT CHRISTIAN LEADERS ARE SAYING:
“As someone who has devoted many years of ministry to teaching Christian worldview. I am thrilled to see dynamic and faithful worldview leaders like Jonathan Morrow stepping to the fore. Think Christianly…equips Christians young and old to engage the culture winsomely, intelligently, and with confidence.”-Chuck Colson, colsoncenter.org

“We Christians love to lob rhetorical grenades at the surrounding culture from the safety of our holy huddle. What’s far more difficult…is to engage the issues of our day with intelligence, moral clarity, and biblical wisdom. That’s exactly what Jonathan Morrow does in Think Christianly.”-Drew Dyck, Managing editor of Leadership Journal

“In a time when truth is distorted and biblical teachings are misunderstood, our commitment to engaging culture must not be compromised…Think Christianly is a much needed resource as we seek to honor God in both what we believe and how we live.”-Jason Hayes, National Young Adult Ministry Specialist, LifeWay Christian Resources

“Think Christianly is a remarkable and important achievement. Written in an…accessible style, it covers an exhaustive range of topics. Indeed, I know of no other book like it in this regard, and it is now the first book to which to turn for learning the specifics of how to think Christianly.”-J. P. Moreland, author of The God Question

(From Back Cover)
In Think Christianly, Jonathan Morrow gives church leaders the biblical framework and practical resources for helping churchgoers boldy engage today’s cultural moments. Addressing issues such as injustice, sexuality, suffering, politics, science, the exclusivity of Jesus and what it means to be human, Morrow refuses to shy away from tough questions and includes interviews with some of today’s most influential Christian leaders, including:

  • Dennis Rainey (Family Life)
  • William Lane Craig (Reasonable Faith)
  • Barrett Ward (The Mocha Club)
  • Sean McDowell (Worldview Ministries)
  • Reggie Joiner (Orange)
  • Jay Richards (Discovery Institute)
  • Kyle Strobel (Metamorpha)
  • Kelly Monroe Kullberg (The Veritas Forum)
  • more…

The Bible doesn’t make us choose between cultivating a thoughtful faith and demonstrating radical love. Why should the church?