by Ramon Mayo | Sep 29, 2014 | Headline News |
We’ve all been there. We are engaged in a conversation with a friend about Christ and they bring up a question that we are not prepared for. They have an intellectual objection that we never thought of and we don’t have an answer. Many Christians fear sharing their faith due to moments like this. These moments are the reason apologetics exists. Apologetics is the term given for the Christian defense of the faith. Chris Brooks is the senior pastor of Evangel Ministries and also the founder and president of the Detroit Bible Institute. He also hosts a Detroit-aired daily radio show, “Equipped For Life,”and is the newly appointed Campus Dean of Moody Theological Seminary Michigan. I recently had the opportunity to talk to Chris over about his new book “Urban Apologetics” and apologetics in general.
What caused you to become involved in apologetics?
Pastoring my church in Detroit, which is heavily involved in evangelism and missions. We have been really focused on winning the city for Christ. In 2004 we had some pretty aggressive campaigns and we would send people out and they would come back stumped by the objections they were receiving from the people they encountered. So I decided to dedicate more time to make sure I equipped them before sending them out. What you will find a lot of times is pastors are either not evangelistically driven or if they are evangelistically driven they don’t equip their people.
See it all goes back to scripture. My study of Matthew 28:19 gave me evangelistic passion. I wanted to see my generation won to Christ. That passion had me looking up answers to people’s objections. Seminary made me realize what I was doing was apologetics. So I ended up taking a class in apologetics and coming to understand this is what I have been doing all along, and then finally I graduated with a degree in apologetics.
What inspired you to write a book on apologetics?
Two things. First it comes from a passion for the gospel in the urban community. People have intellectual barriers and need answers to their questions about life, so I wanted to provide the answers from Christ and scripture because most people assume that we don’t have answers.
Secondly it stems from our members being sent out to do evangelism and coming back with the questions and objections of the urban community they were sent to. I took it upon myself to develop a specific ministry of equipping Christians to answer people’s objections regarding the faith.
Why do you believe apologetics are important for the urban context?
Answering people’s questions about the faith is not a suburban, middle class, white thing; it’s a people thing. The objections may be different but we still are called to answer them. The Ferguson issue is a prime example. Many in urban communities are asking, “Where is the God of Justice?” Evangelical Christianity needs to address that.
So I see myself as a bridge between the academic apologists and the urban community. My goal is to spark apologetics in the urban context and at the same time spark urban concerns in the academic apologists context.
Is there a distinction between apologetics and evangelism?
They are both two sides of the same coin. Evangelism is the goal. C.S. Lewis said, “Apologetics is removing the rubble.” It is clearing away the intellectual and emotional barriers. For instance many have intellectual questions such as “Is the Bible reliable?” Apologetics helps to answer those questions.
It is not about presenting a good argument or winning an argument, we are not trying to be the Great Debaters. Like I say in my book, “Apologetics without evangelism is aimless.” When people are evangelizing and sharing the gospel you do not have to motivate them to dig into apologetics. They want to because they want to provide a reasonable defense for their faith in order to win someone to Christ.
At the same time evangelism without apologetics is defenseless. If people have questions and we cannot provide a reasonable answer our evangelism may come to a halt.
What are the main issues that you deal with in the urban context in regard to barriers that keep people from receiving Christ?
There are three barriers, which I talk about in my book: Ethical, Religious, and Social Justice barriers.
The ethical barrier pertains to the morality of the Bible, this is especially true in regard to homosexuality. We have to be able to explain the Christian position on homosexuality in compassionate ways while maintaining biblical conviction. Another area is abortion. This expresses itself in a very distinct way in the urban context because there has always been sensitivity to the black woman’s autonomy over her own body. How do we do that in way that maintains the biblical affirmation of life and at the same time do justice to the history of the way black women have been treated?
The religious barrier has to do with Moorish Science Temple, 5 Percenters, Nation of Islam, Hebrew Israelite communities and Egyptologists. What is our response to the claims of these new religions, which are practiced, in an urban context?
What is the main difficulty the urban church faces in getting more of its members equipped to provide reasons for their faith?
We have to answer the relevant questions, relevant questions always get people involved. People are interested in real life issues they are facing everyday. Just like this past Labor Day the issue of income equality was at the forefront. What we do in our ministry is take a provocative topic, discuss that topic,in a respectful environment, and make it no holds barred where people are free to ask questions. People come to something like that. We have even seen non-Christians coming.
The Black church can often be guilty of over preaching and under discipling. The one who can win the heart of urban millennial is the one who can answer their questions. And we have to answer their questions based on a Christian worldview.
In your opinion what is a Christian worldview?
A Christian worldview is one that is based on scripture and especially the teachings of Christ.
What are some of the most popular false beliefs you encounter?
Most people are frustrated with Christianity. They have subscribed to some form of humanism that basically says they are god or there is no longer a need to believe in god. There is a large segment of growing black atheists and humanists. Also the issue of homosexuality, which is a hot button issue in the black church context.
What do you think has contributed to the growing segment of black atheists and humanists?
People are looking for an alternative to Christianity because their questions are not being answered.
How has Christian hip-hop advanced apologetics in an urban context?
Apologetics has historically been viewed as an academic discipline. Christian hip-hop is now addressing objections to faith in a very artistic and soulful way. In the urban context we not only need to address the questions of the head but also the longings of the heart.
Who are some of your favorite artists who are doing this now?
Reach Records (artists) especially Lecrae and Tripp Lee. Also Shai Linne. Humble Beast and Propaganda.
What kind of encouragement would you give a young person who is interested in apologetics ministry?
Study philosophy and the laws of logic. Study theology. Know what you are defending before you defend it. Study sociology. Know your community and what people are concerned about. If you answer questions in the wrong way it has the same effect as answering the wrong questions in the right way. For instance the academic realm of apologetics has had a recent focus on Mormonism but that is not a hot button issue in the hood. I would also say for any young person who is passionate to get out and evangelize
Who are some of your heroes or influences in regards to apologetics?
Ravi Zacharias, Chuck Colson, Thabiti Anyabwile, Anthony Bradley, and Wayne Grudem. Also my professor at Biola who is now at Gordon Conwell Dr. Patrick Smith is a black voice in the apologetics field.
Are there a lot of black voices in apologetics?
Yes there are actually. My goal in writing this book was to get a conversation started. To give a general overview and then have others follow up in more nuanced and specific areas. There is not a lack of strong black intellectuals. One of the common perceptions about the black church is that it is inspiration only not philosophy, I want to show we can do both. We have highly competent scholars who handle the intellectual challenges of this generation.
What books would you recommend for those who want to get started learning more about how to provide a defense for their faith?
Reasonable Faith by William Lane Craig.
Liberating Black Theology by Anthony Bradley.
Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem.
True For You But Not For Me by Paul Copan.
Is there another book or upcoming project in the pipeline and when can we expect to see it?
Yes, my next book will be on urban economics. It will talk about how economic issues lead to a rejection of the Gospel and how the church can get involved in those issues.
For more info on Chris Brooks and his ministry of apologetics you can check out this site: http://www.equippedforlife.tv
by Ramon Mayo | Jun 22, 2014 | Headline News |
What does it mean to be a godly man? Pastor Eric Mason has a lot to say on the topic in his new book Manhood Restored. Dr. Mason leads Epiphany Fellowship in Philadelphia and disciples men in an urban environment. He is also a husband (Yvette) and a father (Immanuel and Nehemiah). We had the chance to talk to him about his new book and how it speaks to the African American community and those who live and serve in the urban context.
In what ways does your book address the crisis of masculine identity in the African American community?
First off, the book was written with African Americans in mind. And so I wanted to start with the theological and not just the pragmatic. While there is some practicality in there, I didn’t want to start there. So many times this issue gets framed as a family root problem vs. a separation from God problem. It’s not that the separation from God problem is not practical. We consider it to be theological and practical and an issue that needs to be dealt with.
It’s not that theology is missing in the African-American community. I just think there is a lack of contextual connection with theology or a biblical worldview. Responding to the theology is a deep need for African Americans. So I wanted to give the church a tool that can help do that. So the book was written with the goal that once a guy read it, he would want to make disciples.
How have you seen Christian masculinity lived out in your own church?
Well, in our church people meet Jesus, meet each other, get married, and have babies. With that in mind, we are big on men being caught up in what God wants them to be in relation to Colossians 1:28.
We’ve seen guys from all walks of life get caught up in what God wants them to be and grow in authentic manhood. Men from prison and street lifestyles. Men suffering from pride and greed. We’ve also seen this happen with those who are involved in homosexual lifestyles or effeminate.
What was your inspiration behind writing this book?
It was less of an inspiration and more of a challenge. “Manhood Restored” comes out of what I already do. It’s my manual on manhood training. I didn’t just want to write on something but to connect it to what I was actually doing. It was something that just flowed out of me doing theology in relation to what was going on in my soul. In fact there is a brother who read it and said, “This is what I learned from you in the last three years.” Now he’s taking 25 to 30 men through the book in Camden, NJ.
What can pastors do to lead men into authentic Christian masculinity?
I think it starts with recognizing that 1 Timothy 3 inferentially states that pastors must be exemplary men and not just disciple exemplary men. So it starts with being vulnerable about our deep need for Jesus Christ and pressing on like Paul says in Philippians 3 to be more like Him since He is our template for authentic manhood.
Next, pastors need to invite men on the journey to be like Jesus Christ. And then lastly they would need to make the development of men an intentional part of the church. Most of Islam, including the cult forms, pride themselves on men’s leadership and discipleship. This shouldn’t be since Christ is the originator. We are letting them get all the benefits!
Would you say that’s a cornerstone of your church?
I wouldn’t say a cornerstone but a major strategic edge. One of the greatest needs in this culture is concerning gender issues particularly on just masculinity and femininity. A lot of times it’s reduced to the political realm, but you just can’t speak into this during an election. When we commit to living in authentic manhood our protesting will be our lifestyles and not just our picket signs.
In what specific ways can young African-American males live out the ideas of Manhood Restored?
Well, the first thing they need to do is realize that only the gospel can make them whole. Next, they need to renounce their functional behaviors and realize that Jesus not only saves their soul but everything else including their manhood.
We have to realize that when 1 Corinthians 16:13 says, “Act like men!” or when David challenged Solomon in 1 Kings 2:2 to “show yourself a man,” the assumption is that somebody has been taught to be one. The assumption is that they have been discipled and so one of the biggest things they can do is to learn what it means to be a man and what it means to fulfill their purpose in this generation like it says in Acts 13:36.
How have you as an African-American male overcome “the crisis of male identity”?
For me, personally, it came through realizing there was a deficiency and that only the Gospel could fill that gap. Next, I sought out mentors who were strong in the areas where I was weak, and I asked them to disciple me. See, one of the things that stops men from growing into authentic manhood is that we have so much pride in regards to seeking help. Our whole culture is turned up on being self-made. We cannot make ourselves. Nobody who is a Christian is self-made.
In what ways does our current culture present an even greater challenge to developing an authentic Christian masculinity?
The blurring of the gender lines is the biggest challenge, and I’m not just talking about the gay marriage thing. There has been a strategic plan to desensitize us to gender differences. Daddy deprivation is a bigger challenge than daddy homosexuality.
There is more daddy deprivation now than in our history including the times when men went off to war. Dudes are going to jail in record numbers or just leaving. There are 1.5 million black men in jail. 65% of children in the African American community are fatherless. You can’t imagine the impact that it has on the shape of our country.
How does “the crisis of male identity” specifically affect young men in an urban environment?
I think crime and daddy replacement. Young males will replace their need for a father with dudes who may not be the most upstanding characters. It’s like LeCrae said, “Even though they do bad things they tell me that they love me.” As a result many men are directionless and lack vision. In general men are more goal oriented, and women are more detail oriented. So in the absence of goals, men are directionless, or they pursue unredeemed goals.
That’s not to say God has not been gracious to single moms. He was gracious to Hagar and Ishmael. But by and large this is what the lack of fatherhood and authentic manhood is doing in the urban context.
by Ramon Mayo | Mar 28, 2014 | Headline News |
African little girl during her English class in orphanage. There is no light and electricity inside the classroom. Around 50-60 orphans live in this orphanage which is located near Nairobi.
Should Christian organizations participate in excluding gay persons from assisting in philanthropic work? Can or should a gay person aware of some Christian denomination’s history of discrimination against them partner with Christian organizations? Would you partner with someone in ministry whom you knew discriminated against someone in a same-sex relationship or marriage?
As head of World Vision Richard Stearns has had to wrestle with these types of questions over the past few days. The answers he came up with have sent a ripple of shock and confusion throughout the evangelical world.
World Vision made a declarative statement saying that it will not employ those in legal same-sex marriages. According to Stearns this was done in order to commit to greater unity in World Vision’s task of taking care of poor and hungry children. Many in the evangelical community see it not as a commitment to unity but a compromise of standards.
Stearns declared in a letter that he was not endorsing same sex marriages but had “chosen to defer to local churches on this issue. We have chosen not to exclude someone from employment at World Vision on this issue alone.” Now World Vision has reneged on this policy decision on the basis of following the authority of the Bible and failing to consult their supporters on this issue.
These decisions over policy will impact many other non-profit and para-church organizations in the near future as the same-sex marriage debate within the American Evangelical church continues to be a divisive issue. World Vision’s initial reasoning in changing their policy was that they are not a church and if those who want to work for their organization are in churches that affirm their same-sex committed relationships then they can join the organization to work for a greater task: tackling poverty and injustice on behalf of the poor.
In the matter of same-sex marriage marriage they planned to defer to the local church. This was the organization’s attempt at making a statement that Christian unity and serving the least of these is more important than people’s sexuality. The repeal of this decision is grounded in World Vision’s commitment to biblical authority and they have stated “marriage is an institution ordained by God between a man and a woman—those are age-old and fundamental Christian beliefs.”
The question Stearns and all who have to face similar decisions must answer is where to draw the line between gray areas and the central tenets of the faith. This is something the church will have to wrestle with not only on the issue of same-sex relationships but also on a whole host of other issues including recent attempts in Arizona and Kansas to pass legislation which allow businesses to discriminate against LGBT people.
But has there ever been a precedent for those of differing beliefs working together for a greater cause?
One case in point is the Civil Rights Movement. The main spokesman for the movement was the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a Baptist minister, but the movement was comprised of a multitude of different groups and individuals who didn’t necessarily hold the same religious beliefs and govern themselves by the same code of morality.
The demonstrators of the March on Washington were Jews, Catholics, Atheists, and Communists. These groups managed to work together for a cause, which was greater than their differences.
In fact, during the 1963 March on Washington one of the deputy organizers, Bayard Rustin, was an admitted same-gender loving man and a former sympathizer with Communists. Despite the controversy Rustin played an active role in the civil rights movement as an adviser and organizer.
King and the other leaders of the Civil Rights Movement believed the greater cause–the fight for equality–trumped their differences. This seemed, initially, to be the route Richard Stearns was taking in regards to the change in World Vision’s employment policy but the verdict is still out on whether the reversal truly embodies a commitment to unity or compromises the gospel call to “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
We can say that Stearns and World Vision are doing great things for the cause of overcoming poverty and injustice on a global scale, but we must also ask the question “Have they missed out on an opportunity to partner and ally with a group that is isolated and shunned by the Christian community?” That is a question that has been left unanswered.
by Ramon Mayo | Jan 14, 2014 | Feature, Headline News |
Okay. You’ve been there before. The choir just transported the worshippers through the gates of heaven with amazing worship. The atmosphere is charged with excitement and the mood is set, but the pastor is not on the same wavelength. The pastor gets up to preach and you can’t believe what just let fly out of his or her mouth. It is biblically inaccurate and those words are being used to manipulate the congregation to give more money.
Maybe you’ve been in this situation or another where a pastor is in error. You expect someone to say something but the whole church just “Amens” and agrees with him. It’s almost like you are an alien or you woke up in the “Twilight Zone”—cue the creepy music. Not only are the church members tolerant of the pastor and his or her antics but also there is no one from the broader leadership community calling the pastor out.
Pimppreacher.com
Enter pimppreacher.com, a site dedicated to reporting the moral and ethical failures of pastors. It is an online space where church members report the violations of their pastors. Many of these violations are not only against scripture but also against the law. While I don’t agree with all of the theology and opinions posted on pimppreacher.com it has provided a outlet for abused members to call their pastors out when other leaders neglect to do so.
Pimppreacher.com only posts articles on pastors who have not adhered to biblical standards 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9. They also steer clear of the pastor’s family. In my opinion a site like this is a godsend as it can warn the members of a pastor’s violations of the bible’s commands. It can also show the world that we in the church don’t tolerate hypocrisy and unethical practices.
In the Black Church it is popular to give leaders a free pass. Usually when someone dares to speak out against someone in ministry they are quick to hear “Touch not mine anointed” or “Don’t put your mouth on the man of God.” The idea is that God calls the preacher/pastor and therefore he is answerable only to God. Therefore there is no accountability between him/her and the congregation or other pastors.
Having been in the pastor role myself I believe that we should give pastors the respect they deserve because it is a tiresome and demanding job to shepherd a faith community. At the same time, I think that when the pastor breaks some of the standards for a Christian leader outlined in the New Testament (1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9) someone should call them to account for their actions.
But is it right for a pastor to let another pastor know when they are out of line? Is it right for church members to correct their pastor? Based on scriptural principles and examples the answer to both questions is an emphatic “Yes!” In regard to church members calling their leaders to account we can examine 1 Timothy 5:19-20. Here Paul lets Timothy know that he is not to receive an accusation against an elder unless two or three witnesses can support it. By stating how these accusations are to be received these verses assume that accusations can be brought against an elder or church leader.
In regard to pastors calling other pastors to account Paul provides an excellent example. When Peter shows prejudice against the Gentiles at Antioch, Paul rebukes him to his face Galatians 2:11-12. Paul went in on Peter in front of everyone! Paul was also vocal in calling out false teachers. He warns Timothy not to follow in the footsteps of Hymenaeus and Alexander in regards to his Christian faith 1 Timothy 1:19-20. Notice that he calls them out by name. Paul also calls out Hymenaeus and Philetus in 2 Timothy 2:17-18.
When leaders are out of line other leaders need to publicly let them know. When leaders are out of line their followers need to let them know. One thing that needs to be taken into consideration is whether the preachers have been given the opportunity to change. The site warns others of their faults and sins but is there a way to offer grace and restore these fallen pastors.
Another thing that we do not know is whether the church members have already addressed these issues with the pastor according to Matthew 18:15-17. Pimppreacher.com has taken it upon themselves to be an advocate for those who feel abused by their pastor but have the members themselves done the biblical thing and talked it out with the offenders. This would be the best way to handle these situations.
What do you think? Should pastors be held accountable by other pastors? Should pastors be held accountable by other members? Is a site like pimppreacher.com necessary?
by Ramon Mayo | Oct 29, 2013 | Entertainment, Feature, Headline News |
Close up of a happy young couple looking at mobile phone
I recently heard Ben Huh the CEO of the popular Internet meme site icanhas.cheeseburger.com say, “The greatest tool for engaging the 35 year old and under crowd is humor.” You have to look no further than the Christian comedy group The Playmakers to see this truth in action. Brothers Kevin and Jason Fredericks along with friend Anthony Davis give us a reason to laugh at the Black Christian culture. Their comedic hijinks and commentary on black church life have made them an Internet sensation with skits such as Stuff Black Church Girls Say and 10 Types of Black Preachers (see below). They have smashed many sacred cows in their attempt to bring humor to the masses but some may think they have gone too far.
Historically, the church hasn’t been a bastion of joviality and humor. Many believe that the church is about being gloomy and somber. That the church seems to take itself too seriously is probably one of the reasons it often gets made fun of. With such a weighty topic as the salvation of millions from hell, our sacred establishments can often be seen as killjoys to all the fun that life has to offer.
After all, most of the time the church is seen as criticizing sinners for going to parties, instead of hosting parties itself. Pictures of long-faced Puritans and old grumpy ladies fill our minds when it comes to our image of church. This makes church and humor appear as far apart as the east is from the west. But what if this is actually not in alignment with the character and content of the Bible?
Contrary to popular belief, the Bible is full of humor. The subtlety and intellectual wit of the Bible is often not seen because of the lens with which we come to it with, but it is there nonetheless. Elton Trueblood, the author of The Humor of Christ, states “Any alleged Christianity which fails to express itself in gaiety, at some point, is clearly spurious.” To put it simply, from the pages of Genesis all the way to Revelation God’s “got jokes.”
- The story of Jacob waking up married to the wrong sister sounds like a plot from a silly Hollywood rom-com flick (Genesis 29:16–30).
- The pictures in Proverbs of a sluggard turning on his bed like a door on hinges (Proverbs 26:14) or of a man sitting on the rooftop to get away from his nagging wife (Proverbs 21:9) had to jar the first readers in a way that Internet memes now jar us.
- The one-liners of Elijah making fun of the priests of Baal (1 Kings 18:27) or of Paul making fun of the Judaizers (Galatians 5:12) are as sharp as anything from the hottest comedians on the comedy channel.
And what does all this humor show us? God has a sense of humor, and He must have one to make such silly and foolish creatures as human beings. If the Bible is full of this humor, then how much more so should the church be full of humor? The Playmakers have caught on to this truth. Their videos expose the foolishness of the many sacred cows in Black religious subculture and, whether intentionally or not, we are brought to a place where we can go back to the Bible and obey what it really says.
Jesus cut to the truth in His sermons by focusing on humorous exaggerated realities in order to highlight convicting principles from God’s word. His hyperbole and caricatures of the Pharisees probably jarred his audience not only because they were so severe, but also because to the 1st century Palestinian mind, they were hilarious. Whitewashed tombs, camels going through the eye of needles, and blind men following other blind men into a ditch had to provoke chuckles from his audience.
The Playmakers comedy can be used in the same way. The 10 Types of Black Preachers and the Stuff Black Church Girls Say are definitely hilarious, and at the same time they remind us of our hypocrisy and disobedience and point to a different way to be the church in the world.
So how far is too far? It all depends on what we are making fun of. If we are making fun of religious people like Jesus often did, then humor is fair game. If we are making fun of God himself, then we are on dangerous ground. The Playmakers remind us that we have sacred cows that need to be smashed and some traditions are just that—traditions—and they have nothing to do with living the life that Jesus called us to live.
In the words of Elton Trueblood “Our problem is that we take ourselves too seriously. That is why we have difficulty seeing the humor of Christ.” On that note let’s applaud The Playmakers for allowing us to not take ourselves too seriously while taking Christ as seriously as possible.
We’ve all been there. We are engaged in a conversation with a friend about Christ and they bring up a question that we are not prepared for. They have an intellectual objection that we never thought of and we don’t have an answer. Many Christians fear sharing their faith due to moments like this. These moments are the reason apologetics exists. Apologetics is the term given for the Christian defense of the faith. Chris Brooks is the senior pastor of Evangel Ministries and also the founder and president of the Detroit Bible Institute. He also hosts a Detroit-aired daily radio show, “Equipped For Life,”and is the newly appointed Campus Dean of Moody Theological Seminary Michigan. I recently had the opportunity to talk to Chris over about his new book “Urban Apologetics” and apologetics in general.