Tackling the Top 5 Objections Young People Have to Christianity | with Cliffe and Stuart Knechtle
Jan 12, 2024
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Cliffe and Stuart Knechtle, experts in dialoguing with young people about Christianity, discuss the top objections they face and how they respond. They address issues regarding faith, morality, and identity, exploring topics like atheism contradicting the Black Lives Matter movement, the right to suicide for depressed teens, and whether Christian parents should send their kids to secular colleges. They also share crazy and frightening encounters with students during their ministry.
Young people's objections to Christianity have evolved over time, with contemporary emphasis on topics such as slavery, racism, and LGBTQ agenda.
Engaging students on difficult issues requires empathy, logical reasoning, and presenting a biblical perspective while considering personal experiences and relationships.
Deep dives
Engaging with Skeptical Views on Christianity
The podcast episode explores the challenges and objections that young people have to Christianity. The guests, Cliff and Stuart Knackley, discuss the changing objections over the past 40 years. They highlight the importance of addressing these objections in a clear and unoffensive manner. They also emphasize the need to navigate emotional responses and engage in intellectually honest dialogue. The episode delves into topics such as truth, faith, the existence of God, and objections related to slavery, hypocrites, televangelists, and the problem of suffering.
Open-Air Evangelism on College Campuses
Cliff Knackley shares his experience of engaging in open-air evangelism on college campuses since 1980. He discusses how he started, the reactions he has encountered, and the value of student groups inviting him to speak openly. He highlights the importance of student engagement and the opportunity for dialogues that challenge beliefs and promote critical thinking. The episode also emphasizes the benefits of being in a secular college environment that challenges one's faith and the role of Christian communities and resources in helping address difficult questions.
The Top Objections to Christianity
Cliff and Stuart Knackley outline the top objections young people have to Christianity, including issues of slavery, hypocrisy, televangelists, and the problem of suffering. They discuss how these objections have evolved over time, with a contemporary emphasis on topics such as slavery, racism, and LGBTQ agenda. The episode highlights the need to address objections with sensitivity, intelligence, and logical reasoning. It also explores the importance of understanding the emotional and personal perspectives that influence objections, while presenting a cohesive biblical perspective.
Engaging with Difficult Issues: Morality and Sexuality
The podcast discusses how Cliff and Stuart Knackley engage students on difficult issues such as morality and sexuality. It addresses objections to Christianity regarding sexual ethics and LGBTQ matters. The guests emphasize the need to empathize with personal experiences while presenting a biblical perspective. They discuss the moral standards necessary for judging right and wrong, challenging the idea that personal preference determines truth. The episode explores the importance of logic, reason, and evidence in discussing sensitive topics and highlights the significance of relationships and love in the Christian faith.
Do young people today reject theism and Christianity for the same reasons as past generations? If you ask the average American college student why they doubt Christianity or God's existence, you're sure to get a range of responses. But are their objections grounded in evidence, reason, and rationality? Or are they allowing their emotions and desires to guide their unbelief?
Evangelizing college students is no easy task, but today's guests have mastered the art of dialoguing with young people who have major questions when it comes to faith, morality, and identity. This week, Frank sits down with the humble father/son duo, Cliffe and Stuart Knechtle of the popular YouTube channel, Give Me an Answer. During the episode, Frank, Cliffe, and Stuart will answer questions like:
What are some of the top objections they get to Christianity and how do they respond?
Why and how did Cliffe and Stuart start doing open-air apologetics on college campuses?
How does atheism contradict the Black Lives Matter movement?
Should depressed teens have the right to commit suicide?
Should Christian parents send their kids to secular colleges and universities?
What are some of the CRAZY (and sometimes frightening) ways that students have responded to their ministry?
As you'll hear throughout this conversation, Cliffe and Stuart take a head, heart, and hands approach when they evangelize on college campuses. This podcast episode is all about showcasing how to present both the love and the truth of Christ without (purposely) offending a potentially hostile audience. We know you're going to appreciate what Cliffe and Stuart have to say, so be sure to subscribe to their YouTube channel and stay tuned for the upcoming midweek podcast episode where Frank will wrap up the conversation with Cliffe and Stuart on how to effectively engage young people through Christian apologetics.
To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry.
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Ask Cliffe YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@askcliffe
Give Me An Answer (website)
Grace Community Church in New Canaan, CT
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