Truth Tribe with Douglas Groothuis

Learn more about the Defend Conference: https://www.defendthefaith.net/To learn more about Aaron and his podcast Filter: https://www.aaronshamp.com/podcast Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

(See also the article of the same name at The Christian Research Journal: https://www.equip.org/articles/christian-apologetics-in-a-nutshell.)I. The Need for Defending Christianity as True, Rational, and Pertinent: ApologeticsA. Biblical case for rational spirituality (Matthew 22:37-39; 1 Peter 3:15-16; Jude 3; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5)B. Defending objective truth of Christian worldview in humility and dependence on God (Luke 9:23-26)C. Showing existential significance and consequence of Christianity. Prudential reasoning (Pascal)D. Being wise as serpent, innocent as a dove, bold as a lion (Matthew 10:16; Proverbs 28:1) Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This episode looks at the concept of a Christian worldview or philosophy of life through several propositions, culled from James Sire’s classic book, The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview Catalogue. These are the statements. 1. God is infinite and personal (triune), transcendent and immanent, omniscient, sovereign and good (Exodus 3:14; Matthew 28:18-20).2. God created the cosmos ex nihilo with a uniformity of cause and effect in an open system (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1-2).3. Human beings are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and thus possess personality, self-transcendence, intelligence, morality, gregariousness and creative. 4. Human beings can know both the world around them and God himself because God has built into them the capacity to do so and because he takes an active role in communicating with them (Genesis 1-2; Psalm 8).5. Human beings were created good, but through the Fall the image of God became defaced, though not so ruined as not to be capable of restoration; through the work of Christ, God redeemed humanity and began the process of restoring people to goodness, though any given person may choose to reject that redemption (John 3:1-18; Romans 5:1-8).6. For each person death is either the gate to life with God and his people or the gate to eternal separation (hell) from the only thing that will ultimately fulfill human aspirations. See Matthew 25:31-46.7. Ethics is transcendent and is based on the character of God as good (holy and loving). Exodus 20:1-8; Matthew 22:37-40.8. History is linear, a meaningful sequence of events leading to the fulfillment of God’s purposes in history (1 Corinthians 15).Touchstone proposition for the Christian worldview: “The universe (originally good, now fallen and awaiting its divine restoration) is created by the Triune God, who has revealed himself in nature, conscience, Scripture, and through the Incarnation for the purpose of salvation and judgment that God might be glorified in all things.” Further Resources:1. DouglasGroothuis.com. 2. Douglas Groothuis, “The Christian Worldview,” Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith, 2nd ed. (InterVarsity Academic, 2022).3. Ronald Nash, Worldviews in Conflict (Zondervan Academic, 1992). 4. Nancy Pearcey, Total Truth (Crossway, 2005).5. James Sire, The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview Catalogue (InterVarsity Press, 2020). Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This episode acquaints you with me briefly. I speak of my conversion and ministry since then. Early on, God showed me that he wanted me to teach, preach, and write. I endeavor to bring the truth of Christianity to the world and to build up the church in the faith given once for all to the saints (Jude 3). Because of my work in philosophy and apologetics, my story can be an apologetic for Christianity. I make this case in “Autobiography as Apologetic,” published in The Christian Research Journal: https://www.equip.org/articles/autobiography-as-apologeticIn the podcast, did not mention all the books I have published in the show, so here they are.1. Unmasking the New Age. InterVarsity Press, 19862. Confronting the New Age. InterVarsity Press, 1988.3. Revealing the New Age Jesus. InterVarsity Press, 1990.4. Christianity that Counts. Baker Books, 1994.5. Deceived by the Light. Harvest House, 19956. Jesus in an Age of Controversy. Harvest House, 1996.7. The Soul in Cyberspace. Baker Books, 1997.8. Truth Decay. InterVarsity Press, 2000.9. On Jesus. Wadsworth, 2003.10. On Pascal. Wadsworth, 2003.11. Christian Apologetics, first edition. InterVarsity Press, 2011.12. Philosophy in Seven Sentences. InterVarsity Press, 2017.13. Walking through Twilight: A Wife’s Illness—A Philosopher’s Lament. InterVarsity Press, 2017.14. I Love You to the Stars (with Crystal Bowman). Kregel, 2021. A children’s book.15. Christian Apologetics, 2nd ed. InterVarsity Press, 2022. Contains eight new chapters.16. Fire in the Streets. Salem Book, 2022. 17. The Knowledge of God in the World and in the Word: An Introduction to Classical Apologetics (with Andrew Shepardson). Zondervan Academic. Due: December, 2022.In addition, I coedited, with James Sennett, In Defense of Natural Theology. InterVarsity Press, 2005. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Truth Tribe with Douglas Groothuis is a podcast dedicated to finding the truth through reason, and evidence about what matters most. Our subjects include how to defend the Christian faith (through apologetics), biblical ethics, and social issues. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.