A young man recently wrote to Billy Graham, who authors a column in the Charlotte Observer here in North Carolina. The young man was questioning a friend’s faith: “Every time I ask her why she believes what she does, her reply is, ‘Because it’s in the Bible.’” The young man acknowledged his skepticism concerning the Bible’s authority and in frustration asked Graham why he should believe. What his friend was doing was serving up a “pat” answer.
The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition, defines a “pat answer” as one that is trite or glib, superficially complete or satisfactory. “Pat answers” assume everyone understands what the underlying meaning really is. The problem is that the real meaning goes unobserved behind what is actually said.
Pat answers have had a very serious effect on Christianity. When Christianity was the dominant religion in America and when it had some influence in society and culture, it presumed everyone knew what it was all about. From a position of authority it responded with pat answers. Christians presumed everyone else knew the substance. Unfortunately, this has served to help undermine that position of authority and influence.
As we know today, Christianity is marginalized in American culture. It does not seem to have much authority and is looked upon critically as having no significant importance. What has happened?
Part of what has happened is that the Church has been asleep at the wheel. There were some who were warning of the impending storm, but most of the Church stayed asleep. We are kind of like the frog in the kettle. The illustration tells us that if you try to put a frog in boiling water he will jump out. However if you put him in cold water and slowly heat up the kettle, then you can boil him.
The world has changed on us much the same way. The changes have been slow over a long time. Few people realize how long ago it began….
The young man was questioning a friend’s faith: “Every time I ask her why she believes what she does, her reply is, ‘Because it’s in the Bible.’”
A QUICK HISTORY
The Mayflower Compact declared that the first Pilgrims intended to share their Christian faith as they settled in their new land. The founding fathers depended on God to guide them through the process of independence and the establishment of this nation. The government even sponsored evangelism among Native Americans.
It appeared this would be a nation which would have its roots in God’s Word and depend on His guidance. The influence of the first and second “great awakenings” had significant impact on the young nation. It appeared this would be a nation which would have its roots in God’s Word and depend on His guidance. Granted, some of the founding fathers were not perfect, but in most cases, they were God-fearing men. However, this was short lived.
In 1859, Charles Darwin introduced his Origin of the Species. This book had a profound affect on the scientific and religious community. Yet, that book did not discard religion or God as Creator of man. It wasn’t until 1871 that his Descent of Man, proclaimed that man evolved from apes. In 1925, the Scopes Trail, totally misrepresented by the play and movie, Inherit the Wind, made headlines over whether it was unlawful to teach evolution in public schools. The Christians won the case, though you would never know it. In 1933, the Humanist Manifesto was written declaring, “We need no God and no savior. We can save ourselves.” One of the signers of the manifesto was John Dewey.
John Dewey had a strategy to rid the public school system of anything that related to God and religion. His strategy called for training a generation of humanists who would teach American children. In the early sixties, school prayer and Bible studies were banned from public schools. It took Dewey’s strategy only 30 years to succeed.
THE NEW DOGMA
Today, few people realize what is being taught in schools and what will soon become common fare. Take for example just one professor who has had a devastating effect on education: Peter Singer. Professor Singer, chairperson for the Center of Human Values at Princeton University is an avowed secular humanist who teaches ethics at the university to future world leaders. However, his “ethics” consist of the ends justifying the means; he is a consequentialist, a utilitarian. Singer seemingly believes and teaches that abortion on demand should be commonplace. He also seeks to promote physician assisted suicide, and euthanasia. Some consider Singer a monster. To his credit, he has assisted famine victims and helped alleviate poverty in some instances. However, he is an atheist who holds to an evolutionary world view.
Educators of Singer’s ilk believe that in some cases, paraplegics, quadriplegics, the blind, and others who suffer and have no hope of a cure should be terminated. Babies born with deformities should be terminated under this chilling worldview. Ironically, Peter Singer is considered one of the brightest minds in academia today.
What is taught at the university level will soon become what is taught at the lower levels. It will filter down through the system until it becomes law. The effects of other legal decisions and advances of atheism have reached all of us today. As Christians, we have lost significant ground in every quarter.
THAT WON’T CUT IT
When we try to use pat answers today we realize they fall on deaf ears, even perplexed minds. “How could you believe something like that?” comes the reply. Pat answers don’t cut it anymore. In one sense, they never did.
But here is some good news…we live in a day of great opportunities for evangelism. You see, Christians are not the only ones guilty of giving pat answers…this is now the world’s mode of operation and communication. Advertising agencies, businesses, governments, and even educators are spouting trite, glib responses to the questions or circumstances surrounding all of us. “Just do it” and “No boundaries” are some of the cliches the Madison Avenue crew has picked up on. “Whatever” is the consummate pat answer today. It is the glib, trite expression that says, “Who cares?”
Here are some others: “That may be true for you,” “You can’t legislate morality,” and “All religions lead to God.” These are all trite, glib, self-refuting, pat answers. We must recognize the nature of the statements and bring them into the light of analysis. Each of these statements contain fallacies which betray the person who uses them.
Today, you have an opportunity to share your beliefs and ask probing questions of others. Of course, you must first understand what it is that you believe. Could you, for example, explain or even state your church’s statement of faith? Do you know what the essentials of evangelical Christianity are? Could you give a somewhat clear description of the Trinity, in terms that would not freak out the average listener?
When you talk about Jesus, to which “Jesus” do you refer? The Mormons have a Jesus. The Jehovah Witnesses have a Jesus. B’hai, New Age, and even the Hindus believe in a Jesus. Just which Jesus are we speaking about?
You cannot give pat answers and should learn how to recognize when someone else is trying to “put one across” on you. This is not a time for Christians to abandon sound doctrine and embrace a lightweight Christianity. This is the time for in-depth understanding of the basics of the faith and a time to engage people in Gospel conversation. This is time for the Church to rise up and meet the challenges it faces.
tags:
Evangelism history Mayflower Pat Answer
