“Score one” sounds like a intellectual duel to me.
It was not meant to sound that way, merely saying that the response seemed to give credence to the OP’s over generalization. My opinion is not binding, nor do I assume it is necessarily accurate of the reality, just the impression from my own observation of the post.
No one in their right mind would dispute the value of knowing the Bible and quoting it when appropriate.
Great. Now for us to figure out when is appropriate? Perhaps when someone asks one to explain their faith in Christ, that might not necessarily be an appropriate time?
However, Jesus knew scripture better than any of us do, and He did not engage in frequent intellectual battles trying to win people over.
Yes, and He referred to Scriptuer both directly and indirectly. A wonderful example. And when confronted with intellectual “battles” such as in Mt 19 concerning divorce, there He goes with Scripture. He did win people over, hence there are Christians, and He was engaged in “intellectual” battles by the Pharisees and Saduccess, and Scripture was a ready sword.
I do not believe that such battles succeed in winning people over.
Someone asking us to give an explaination of what we believe is not necessarily a battle, it is an opportunity. And sometimes we are called to spiritual battles. 1 Cor 14:6-8 6But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation or of knowledge or of prophecy or of teaching? Yet even lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp? For if the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle?"
Once a person has earnestness and an open heart, then the treasures of the Bible will take root in their soul. But if a person is more interested in proving a point and does not enter a discussion with an cooperative heart, you will get nowhere with them. Then, like Jesus did when confronted with hard-hearted people who were trying to defend their own position a priori, you should walk away from the discussion and not waste your time.
Jesus answered and spoke and taught, and some responded and some did not. It was after He taught that He went on His way.
Regarding “give an account for the hope that is in us,” I don’t believe that this command specified whether we need to give account by quoting the Bible or whether our beliefs can be stated with certitude in alternate ways.
I don’t believe that either, one can give an account without quoting or reference Scripture. It’s giving the account, and how we give it that are important. At the same time, since Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, then it might sometimes be helpful to refer to in when giving an account of what we believe.
Hope in God can be based in intellectual conviction for some, but for others, it is a feeling of certitude that stems from deep prayer and relationship with Our Lord and resides primarily in the heart.
Faith in God does not need to be an intellectual conviction, yet is not inconsistent with reason and knowledge. Many people have feelings about something that is dear to their heart. If they can’t vocalize it, is it much more than a feeling? How do we give an account for a feeling?
Is it not glorious how different we all are and how God accomodates all of our ways?
Yes, yet there is one Gospel, not different Gospels to suit different feellings. If one doesn’t give an account of their hope, how do they really know what that hope is, or whether it is more than a heart felt feeling? Galatians 1:6-8 "I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! " How do we know if we are leaning toward a different Gospel, unless we can express in “a nut shell” the Gospel, and thus compare?
We can certainly come to agreement that both Scripture and prayer and personal relationship with God are essential!
True. So can we describe to others that personal relationship, with or without Scripture, in our own words, since it is a personal relationship? Judas had a personal relationship; perhaps he did not pray and know the Word of God in a way that resulted in personal relationship that led him to faith and trust in Jesus? With all three, did Judas still not understand and believe?
Peace.
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I’m getting better at developing patience due to the exercise. Charity took a while longer, it was so easy at first to just snip back tit-for-tat exchanges with like snarkiness, but the Spirit helped me realize my playing that game did a disservice to Our Lord’s message.
