objections of atheists and skeptics about various facets of Christianity . In addition , the 2006 film Amazing Grace offers an excellent model of how Christians should engage in debate and what an appropriate use of debate looks like . It presents a compelling portrayal of Wilberforce ’ s use of refutation and evidence to argue for the abolition of slavery .
RON GORDON : Great examples . I especially like the adjectives the Apostle Peter used to describe how we should share truth : “ gentleness and respect .” Your other two examples , C . S . Lewis and Thomas Aquinas , are excellent models of the type of debate that Scripture calls us to , a debate that exudes humility with a winsome persona .
GRIFFITH VERTICAN : In the coaching that I provide students , character development is as much of a focus as skill development for effective debate . We characterize it as confident humility . This approach is essential if we expect our students to engage with culture appropriately and allow their ideas to be truly heard and understood .
RON GORDON : How important is understanding apologetics and debate for today ’ s youth ? Most folks have heard the saying that schooling is all about learning the three “ Rs ” of arithmetic , reading , and writing . It seems we may be missing a fourth “ R ” with rhetoric . Is that a fair assessment ?
GRIFFITH VERTICAN : Most certainly . If our children can ’ t think well and articulate their thoughts with a winsome spirit , they ’ ll struggle to communicate ideas in any area of their life , whether in a job interview , a business meeting , or even sharing their faith . How do you expect someone to play a violin without being taught ? Why should we then expect our children to be able to defend their faith effectively without training them on how to do so through rhetoric ? We need to teach them the language of debate to prepare them to communicate with logic , reason , evidence , and rhetoric .
If we don ’ t train our children this way , they will be increasingly swept away by the social pressures of our day and attacks from college professors or other influential speakers . Students must start asking logical questions as they look at the actual statistics of what ’ s happening around them to determine how they should live . The increase in drug addiction , suicide rates , and sexually transmitted disease infection rates are escalating at unprecedented levels . Yet , our young people continue living according to the passions of this world . We desperately need our children to learn apologetics and debate to turn the tide of our culture . If we don ’ t teach them , who else will ?
TONYA GORDON : Agreed . Children must be educated to understand and process issues from a biblical perspective and learn effective communication skills . They must also understand their true purpose within the context of the Dominion Mandate and the Great Commission . Parents , churches , and schools must equip them not only to defend their faith but also to make disciples of Jesus Christ and expand His kingdom . Logic and rhetoric skills are critical for this to become a reality in culture .
RON GORDON : Over the past decade , I ’ ve connected with hundreds of Christian schools across the country , and this is an area that I rarely see as a focus . Why aren ’ t Christian schools engaged in this type of training and development with their students ?
TONYA GORDON : Two main reasons drive this . The first is a lack of awareness and appreciation for why this is so important . We must continue elevating this topic to help Christian parents , educators , and leaders realize the criticality of apologetics and debate in thoroughly equipping their students .
Secondly , most Christian school educators operate from a traditional school system mindset . School schedules are configured around the idea that standard courses and credit requirements do not allow for skill areas such as apologetics , logic , rhetoric , and debate . Sadly , if they are even offered , they are treated as electives .
There are multiple ways of resolving this perceived dilemma . For instance , intentionally identifying the right point within the formal curriculum ’ s scope and sequence to inject this training as required classes would ensure that all students are adequately equipped . Additionally , focused planning around incorporating these skills in all K-12 classes would provide students with numerous apologetic and presentation-based learning opportunities . Of course , professional development for educators would need to include training on how to integrate these key concepts and skills .
GRIFFITH VERTICAN : I totally agree . Our educators can ’ t teach what they don ’ t know themselves . We must start with them . While these skill sets may not be evaluated on an SAT or ACT , the importance of logic and rhetoric is undeniable .
TONYA GORDON : When educators teach and implement these skills in their classrooms , their students are much more enthusiastic about learning and actively engage in class discussions . Children who possess these skills build and exhibit strong and respectful confidence when connecting with adults . They also desire to become lifelong learners .
GRIFFITH VERTICAN : I would encourage any Christian schools that would like to learn more about developing a program for apologetics and debate to reach out to Renewa- Nation . I ’ ve been partnering with your team this year and am excited about the future . Glory to God for organizations like RenewaNation that are passionate about teaching children biblical truth and helping train students in apologetics , logic , rhetoric , and debate .
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