Gregory Koukl is perhaps best known in the USA, for his radio show that he has hosted for 18 years, and the organization he founded called "Stand To Reason". Such an apt name for an organization that is dedicated to defending the Christian faith. I recently attended a local apologetic seminar and it was there that I heard Alan Shlemon give a talk on the use of tactics (the subject of the book), to make us more effective in the way we represent Christ, as ambassadors. Alan is one of the staff members of Stand to Reason.
But this wasn't my first introduction to Greg's work. Running a small group interested in apologetics I had previously shared a Youtube video of Greg explaining how to recognize and critique the philosophy of moral relativism, which is really gripping the western world. He did a great job, I was impressed.
Greg Koukl holds MA degrees in both apologetics and philosophy, has spoken on over 50 campuses and serves as adjunct professor of Christian Apologetics at Biola University, Los Angeles.
It was in the above mentioned seminar that I first heard the ideas represented in the book "Tactics". Some of the ideas aren't new, but they are put in such a fresh light that there is a clarity there that had never struck me before. Before the seminar was over, I knew I needed this book.
The book is not technical, its very easy to understand, yet it deals with fundamental problems we face in reaching out to others. For myself this is a much needed understanding dealing with very practical issues in the context of one on one conversations that you really want to count. As such it doesn't deal so much with the content of apologetics, but how to effectively use questions to draw out the other persons assumptions about reality. It so resonated with me that I can't wait for that next "special" conversation. I have now for some years been familiarizing myself with various apologetic responses to some of the questions that invariably rise up whenever Christianity or religion is the subject, so it's not the arguments, the worldviews and the questions posed that concern me, it is the ineffectiveness, and the frustrating results that often accompany those special talks that excites me about what these tactics teach.
Of course nothing is guaranteed in evangelism, as one pastor, told me in no uncertain terms, "You can't argue people into the Kingdom of God" and I'm not saying he is wrong of course, the work of the Holy Spirit is essential, there is no argument there. But I would now respond, thanks to this book, in a somewhat different manner to those that seem to disparage the use of apologetics, just as I would attempt to respond differently now in those God moments when we are called to "give an answer". The tactics given really are the result of the experience of years of dialogue with those of different perspectives on reality.
If I were to offer a brief sense of this book: There is a saying,
"He that is convinced against his will, is of the same opinion still".That epitomizes a major problem with just presenting arguments and reasons for the Christian faith, and against whatever species of worldview has been adopted by the person you are reaching out to. This book helps us to find ways to help the other explore his or her own worldview and how to get past the natural defenses that so quickly arise in these situations, leading them to join the dots in such a way that they end up convinced that following Christ is their own idea. And that is exactly how it should be. ( Until of course, they are long enough in the faith to realize, that actually it was Jesus's idea all along!)
