"An ounce of love outweighs a ton of argument" - Dr. James Spiegel, The Making of An Atheist
The first part of this blog series discussed the basics of a reasoning error known as the Genetic Fallacy. If you missed that one, read it here to catch up on what's going on. Or, if you already know about the Genetic Fallacy, just keep reading. No need to hear again what you already know.
Thinking over the events of the last year, there are two events that highlight when Christians become the definition of hypocrisy. The first is the (ongoing) atrocities of Westboro Baptist Church. If you've not heard about these guys, you must live in the desert or in a cave or something. "God Hates Fags" and "Thank God for Dead Soldiers" have become phrases brought to light by a group that is the definition of hate speech. Protesting at the funerals of soldiers, and a protest attempt at the funeral of the 9 year old victim of the Tuscon shootings (the Arizona legislation banned them from coming), this group has given ammo for many critics of Christianity and has provided an eyesore for those who are actually living the teachings of Christ, much less for Christ Himself. The other would be the attempting Qu'ran burnings on 9/11. Now, the Qu'rans that would've been burnt were English Qu'rans; technically, that is not the Qu'ran. In Muslim theology, the Qu'ran is written in Arabic. However, that is beside the point. The firestorm that was caused over that incident was worldwide. Since I trust the reader is aware of this event, I won't elaborate on it.
Aside from the painful obvious that in both instances the name of Christianity is being slandered and tarred, it pales in comparison from the many actions of Christians that don't make the national headlines. To be sure, there are Christians who are living out their faith and making positive differences in the lives of others. At the same time, there are just as many (if not more, in some places) plenty of Christians who claim one thing yet live antagonistically to it. Christian hypocrisy is one of the most powerful weapons of Satan. It is a very powerful weapon to have someone who calls himself/herself a Christian yet brings about the divisiveness and destruction that Satan desires.
Many people don't believe in Christ because of the attitudes of Christians who have wronged them. I know people who believe this (and I know one who has had her mind changed after the miraculous survival of her son). In this ugly reality, however, pain and suffering often cloud clear thinking. Those who don't believe in Christ because of hypocritical Christians are committing the Genetic Fallacy by finding fault with the believers rather than the belief itself. Even if every single Christian lives the opposite of the Gospel of Christ, it does not mean the Gospel is false. The claims of the Gospel, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and is the only One who can provide forgiveness of sins, are true or false independent of those who hold them. Of course, when encountering this example, diving into an explanation of faulty thinking isn't what the antidote is (unless the Spirit of God explicitly commands you to go that route). Often, the antidote to these kinds of wounds are by living a life that characterizes a devotion to the Gospel. In other words, a public demonstration of a lack of hypocrisy is the best antidote to those who have been wounded by hypocrisy.
Apologetics is powerful in many ways, but it has it's limits. Many people have a very distorted view of apologetics, thinking that it is useless or inferior to service or love. "People just need to see Christians love others and get into action and they will believe" and "You can't argue people into the Kingdom of God", they say. While both views are false (though there is some truth in the former), the best apologetic is always an apologetic of love and compassion. If 1 Peter 3:15-16 commands us to prepare a defense of our faith, sometimes that defense is one characterized in a lifestyle. Some people need a philosophical argument; all need a display of an authentic life.
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